《World of the Obelisks》 New World He woke to the sound of wind. Not the hum of an air conditioner, not the muffled whir of traffic¡ªjust wind. Crisp, unfiltered, and carrying the scent of rain-drenched earth and pine sap. The kind of scent that hit the lungs in layers. Alex groaned as he shifted on the cold ground, his back aching from the twisted sprawl he¡¯d landed in. Then came the noise¡ªbranches creaking, birds chirping, leaves fluttering. He opened his eyes and saw only green. Canopy above, moss below. His hands trembled slightly as he pushed himself upright. More people were scattered nearby. Dozens, maybe more. A hundred? A woman stumbled past him, wide-eyed, hair tangled. "Where the hell are we?" she muttered to no one. She held a phone like it was a lifeline. Others had started to wake as well, coughing, gasping, looking around with confusion. Someone¡ªa guy in gym shorts¡ªwas vomiting in the bushes. A voice cut through the quiet. "Hey! Anyone else from Seattle?" It was a man in his forties, beard streaked with gray, wearing a REI jacket and a hiking pack that looked more useful now than it had probably ever been. No one answered. Not yet. The silence between the trees held a tight, wary tension. Alex got to his feet, brushing dirt from his jeans. He had his phone too, though it had slipped into sleep mode. Still at 47% battery, checking for any signal, of which there was known. He could see others walking around trying the same, raising their phones into the air in a panic. "Hey, anyone else got no signal", "Where are we?" "What the hell is happening." Panic starts to set in quickly, aided significantly by the paranoia and unknown, screaming and crying children compounding to the sense that had settled in many peoples guts, that something was very wrong. -- It took an hour for most of them to accept it wasn¡¯t a prank or a dream. They did a headcount. 100 people exactly. Ages ranged wildly. There was a girl who couldn¡¯t have been more than twelve, and man in his 80s clinging to a walking stick. It appeared that whatever had happened bringing them all here, was a random event. But most were adults, mostly in their twenties to forties. Some were clearly fit¡ªathletes, hikers, maybe ex-military. Others looked like they hadn¡¯t seen sunlight in years. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. By midday, they''d started calling the place "the Clearing"¡ªa break in the forest where the trees formed a rough circle, just large enough to fit all of them with some breathing room. In the center stood the Obelisk. It rose ten feet high, pure black, matte like obsidian, but with no obvious seams or markings. Nobody could dent it. Nobody could scratch it. Its presence was domineering, an odd structure that appeared to be the only clue as to what has happened to them. It was warm to the touch. A woman named Miriam, who had been a high school biology teacher, had taken the lead. She was calm. Too calm, Alex thought. Maybe she was just trying not to unravel. She was authoritative enough that most listened, in particular as she spoke sense. A courtesy look around their position presented no inclination to any roads or the like, any hope that they can be saved. ¡°Anyone with medical training, come here,¡± she called out. ¡°We¡¯ll need to set up some kind of base triage. I don¡¯t know where we are, but we can¡¯t afford to panic. People will be looking for us, we just need to stay here until they can find us.¡± Four people stepped forward. A nurse. An EMT. A paramedic. One guy who¡¯d done two years of med school before dropping out. They started to assess a number of people with minor injuries, nothing too serious luckily. -- By evening, a fire had been made, having has a number of people collect firewood, a few people had lighters on them, so starting a fire wasn''t an issue. A woman had found berries and bark she swore were edible, but few joined her in eating them. The observant ones, realised that hours had passed at this point, at no help had arrived. They themselves had no idea how they got their, but what really sealed the deal for most was the second moon in the sky. This brought on even greater panic. "What the fuck is going on, how is their two moons?!?" a guy screamed "Shut up man, your not helping" It took 30 minutes before people had finally settled down after others tried to calm them down. People through out theories as to how such an event is possible. Some rationalised they were kidnapped and placed into a state of the art Virtual reality engine, others that they were on a different world altogether. But the Obelisk still drew their eyes. ¡°Anyone else feel sick when you look at it too long?¡± someone muttered. Nobody replied. Alex sat with his back to a tree, knees drawn up, flashlight resting in his palm. He hadn¡¯t spoken much since waking. He was watching people now¡ªtrying to get a read on the kinds of personalities that were forming. Leaders. Followers. People who would break under pressure. People who would take advantage of others. He was always quite practical minded. Already cataloguing the items that he has on hand: Samsung phone - 30% charge Wallet A ring A watch And the clothes on his back. He had no food on him at the time, which presents its own issues. There was already challenges over food, as Miriam has tried to pool up whatever resources people had, such has food and water. Many had been hesitant to give up anything that they had, but luckily, people still haven''t degraded into a purely survival mindset yet. Most where persuaded to give up food, which could then be rationed with persuasion, though no doubt many had hidden a few scraps for themselves. Alex, tired from the days activities nodded off, under the silvery glow of the two moons above. Obelisk makes its move The second morning was colder. Mist rolled in from the trees, silver and damp, curling around ankles like smoke. The fire from the night before had smoldered out sometime before dawn. People huddled close in loose clusters, their breath visible in the morning air. A few had stripped bark from trees and tried weaving rough mats of leaves for bedding. Most had just curled up in coats or whatever they¡¯d been wearing. Miriam stood near the Obelisk, arms crossed. Her hair was tied back now, and she wore a calm expression that didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. The calm of someone balancing on the edge of a very thin line. "We need to start cataloging supplies, other then just food and water" she said, addressing a group of about twenty gathered near her. "Check your pockets, your bags, your clothes¡ªanything useful. Bandages, knives, lighters, even string. We¡¯re going to need all of it." Someone¡ªa guy with a skateboard and a cracked phone¡ªgrumbled under his breath. "This is like a scout camp run by the PTA." "And you¡¯re welcome to go survive on your own," Miriam replied without looking at him. "But I suggest you stick with the people who want to make it to next week." The guy fell quiet. -- Alex was with the group assigned to triage, early on he''s wanted to make himself, useful and whilst they have the energy its better to get the necessary work done for survival. He didn¡¯t have medical training, but he followed along when the EMT¡ªJared¡ª who had asked for help carrying supplies. Jared was short, with deep-set eyes and a matter-of-fact tone that didn¡¯t leave room for argument, he was clearly experienced and would be a solid asset to the group. A basic camp was set up near a fallen log that served as a bench. Nearby lay two injured people: a woman who¡¯d badly twisted her ankle, and an older man who had cuts down his arm from falling into thorny underbrush during the confusion. "We don¡¯t have antibiotics," Jared muttered, wrapping gauze strips torn from a shirt. "If these get infected, we¡¯re screwed." "What about boiling water and cleaning with that?" Alex offered. "Helps, but not enough. Especially out here. We¡¯ll need something stronger eventually." They''ve managed to scrounge some basic medication, but nothing like antibiotics. Luckily they had managed to scrounge some alcohol and things like honey. Some had been transported on their way back from shopping, which gave them a nice amount of supplies, albeit with 100 people it wont last that long. More long terms practices would need to be set up, as the suppliers are only a temporary commodity. -- By midday, someone brought in a rabbit, dead and half rotten, no shot that they can eat it, unless they want to get food poisoning. "We can''t eat that man" The speaker was a tall man, ex-military from the looks of him. Broad shoulders, buzz cut, calm but blunt. His name was David. "What if there is something salvageable, I mean what if its not all rotten, and if we cook it enough shouldn''t it be edible? " someone else replied. "It¡¯s not. Your welcome to try if that''s what you want". Its is clear some desperation is creeping in, from those that know how screwed their situation is, how long will the rations last? Then, a pulse from the Obelisk. Everyone turned, and within their mind a message was conveyed - **Welcome. Make your name known, Sacrifice to the Obelisk, in return power is yours ** Now this had everyone stumped. People where in uproar "What in the fuck does that mean, sacrifice?!?! Like what, each other?" A panicked man shouted. "Shut up, now. Don''t rush to conclusions and stay away from the damn Obelisk" Miriam brought everyone under control again, but it was becoming tiresome for her, the mob panic was a major nuisance and a threat to everyone if it allowed to rule. **Touch the Obelisk with your sacrifice, earn your currency ** Seeing people start riling themselves up again Miriam, walks up to and touches the Obelisk. Risky yes, potentially very foolish on her part, however she needed to do something to cut the cloth of panic. **Choose your Sacrifice ** It was everything on her person. So it wasn''t necessarily living organisms, but could be her own personal items as well. Miriam removes her hand, everyone is watching in silence. A breath of relief seeing nothing bad happen to her. She conveys her findings to the crowd, which is much calmer now, but new questions present themselves. What are these points for? David, with this new information picks up the rabbit carcass and makes his way to the Obelisk, laying a hand on the Obelisk. The rabbit vanished. A soft hum rippled through the air, like distant thunder behind a wall. Words appeared on the Obelisk¡¯s surface. Glowing faintly. +0.3 Points ¡ª Small Wildlife (Rabbit - rotten) David staggered back. The light faded. The stone returned to matte black. Silence. Then chaos. "What the hell was that?" "Did it just take it?" Even with Miriam already having had conveyed that items can be sacrificed for points, seeing it is still a shock to most, and ultimately that organisms can be sacrificed is a cause to alarm for most. David was breathing hard, staring at his hands. Someone else tried. A guy named Raj found a beetle under a rock. He pressed it to the Obelisk. +0.03 Points ¡ª Insect ¡°Okay,¡± Miriam said quietly, ¡°so items, dead things and even living things, seems anything can be sacrificed" She stepped forward. ¡°We need to log every result. Everything sacrificed. Every point gained. We need to try and understand what we are getting into." Someone near the back asked, ¡°What do the points do?¡± Nobody answered. Others also started making sacrifices although of negligible things they found on the floor, nothing of note. Although many still were hesitant. Alex not out of hesitance, hadn''t approached the Obelisk, he was just taking in what others were saying, what something is worth points wise. It died down and Miriam got people back on track. The reality that they aren''t going to be saved had finally set in for most people, it is time for survival. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. By the end of the day a number of basic tasks had been completed, most items catalogued although this wasn''t to say that others couldn''t keep there own things. Toilet paper was shared, same with toothpaste, but again how long will that last. The Obelisk, It stood in the center of the clearing like a sentinel, unmoving and absolute. People began treating it like a campfire without warmth¡ªsitting around it, it had become the focus point of the group. Its mystery a distraction from their own peril. Alex lay awake, back against a cold root, pretending to rest. The phrase still echoed in his skull like a riddle: "Points." A measurement. But what does it buy? If it buys anything at all. People sat around a few campfires that dotted the clearing. Speaking quietly to each other. Miriam sat focused on a fire, running through what they would need to do tomorrow. They''ll have to start hunting and gathering in earnest, she''d asked around and there are those with some experience when it comes to hunting, but this would be with a gun. Luckily they knew how to set up snares and to track so she planned to form a small group to head out in the morning and get a kickstart, before rations start to run low. They also needed to find a water source so another group will have to be formed to achieve this. -- Morning didn¡¯t bring answers, but a deep fog. This ruined Miriam''s plans as it would be foolish to head out into an unknown forest in such conditions, you would just be asking to get lost. She hoped it would clear up at some point throughout the day, they can''t afford to wait and lost daylight. A soft mist hugged the clearing like breath held in suspense. Somewhere, someone had scrawled a ledger in the dirt with a stick. Crooked letters formed a crude table. Name | Sacrifice | Result David | Rabbit | +0.3 pts Raj | Beetle | +0.03 pts Murmurs followed the list. The rabbit had been dead, held in both hands against the Obelisk. The beetle had been alive, held between thumb and stone. Someone tried again¡ªthis time, a frog caught just an hour ago. It squirmed lazily in cupped hands. The result: +0.4 Points. Then a man brought in a crow¡ªdead already, feathers matted from rain. He laid it gently on the stone and pressed down. For a moment, nothing. Then: +0.6 Points ¡ª Small Avian (Dead) It glowed faintly, then vanished. The man stared at his empty hands. "What are we doing? Do you understand our situation. We have rations but for how long? I get that the Obelisk is interesting, but we can''t afford to sacrifice potential food like that" Miriam was getting frustrated by others lack of foresight. A few lucky encounters and they immediately went on to sacrifice potential food. This was a wake up call to most, having briefly been enamored with the Obelisk. Reality slapped them in the face, and it was with Miriam''s sharp words. Those that had sacrificed felt foolish to say the least. -- Later that afternoon, the fog cleared and Miriam sent out her two groups, both led by someone with tracking experience, this was Jason as part of the hunting group and Matt of the water group. The good news is Jared has been monitoring the two patients and they haven''t exhibited any signs of infection, well more so for the male then the female with the twisted ankle. In the clearing, Ellie, maybe sixteen, had fished a tablet from her bag¡ªscreen cracked, battery long gone, for all intents and purposes useless to her. She paused, glanced at the others, and then headed to the obelisk pressing it against the Obelisk with both hands. +3.2 Points ¡ª Mid-Tier Electronics With this, others considered their own things, particularly electronics, as well it they go for a lot of points, people considering what Miriam had said about the point cost for her things as well. David came back before sundown with the food group, they''d been unsuccessful but had set up a number of rudimentary traps which they''ll check in the morning. He headed to the Obelisk with his his multi-tool¡ªa battered thing with rust around the hinge¡ªcupped in both hands. He hesitated only once before placing it. +4.6 Points ¡ª High Utility Tool He exhaled slowly, eyes not leaving the stone. That was quite a lot of points and in doing this he had resolved his next actions. Alex watched from a distance, arms draped over his knees. The quiet was different now, people are starting to enter survival mode, becoming selfish, looking at each other with calculation and caution. Miriam is keeping the peace, Jared being a helpful hand, but for how long. -- Twilight settled over the camp, stretching shadows across bark and bone. The last light faded from the canopy, and then the Obelisk stirred. A low vibration rose beneath their feet¡ªdeep, distant, and wrong. Not sound exactly. Something else. A presence. The surface of the Obelisk rippled, then glowed. PATH SELECTION NOW AVAILABLE 20 POINTS REQUIRED The stone¡¯s face changed. Symbols emerged¡ªnot letters, not English¡ªbut unmistakable. They hung there like etched fire. "What the hell..." someone breathed. A ripple of voices followed. "Wait, these are¡ªthese are anime names." "It¡¯s a joke, right?" "That¡¯s... that¡¯s real?" Miriam stepped forward, slowly, like approaching a sleeping predator. Her eyes traced the names, lips parted just slightly. "This is what it was counting toward," she said quietly. "It¡¯s a... selection." "So, what¡ªpick one and get superpowers?" someone asked behind her. "I have no clue, what do you mean by anime?" looking towards the teenage male, who had brought this up. "Like Naruto is a fictional world created by someone on Earth, like it has Chakra and ninjutsu. That sort of stuff" The explanation whilst lacking, gave some clarity to those ignorant of those worlds. David was silent. He stood like a statue, hands in his pockets, staring at the list. He didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t blink. His resolve had hardened, seeing a goal in sight now, and a particular path, the only one that he was truly aware of. Ellie tugged her hoodie tighter. ¡°What if we pick wrong? I mean what''s the best choice.¡± "I don''t know, they each have their advantages I guess, but its hard to say without knowing what it means to pick a path. Maybe you get like, a random power or something". Everyone went to sleep, with those assigned watch duty staying up, they have 1 hour till they have to wake up the next person. Miriam was being cautious, against the forest but also the group. Many phones had gone dead now, but people kept them hoping for a turn with the solar charger. But most had watches useful to keep track of time. Interestingly their watches seemed to have been aligned with the passing of time in this world not needing to be changed. Most went to sleep dreaming of the Obelisk, some dreaming of home. Morning The list didn¡¯t fade. Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. They glowed faintly in the dark like constellations you could almost reach out and touch. -- Everyone started to go about their chores, starting to settle in. The water group headed out again to find a source. A few went about collecting firewood, some heading into the forest, staying near to the clearing seeing if there is anything to scavenge. The rations were noticeably low now, they would only have a few more days, food and water is a must. Shelters had started to be constructed albeit very rudimentary in nature, but there are some with building experience assisting in the construction. David stood near the fire, sharpening a stick with the edge of a knife of his, his gaze flicking to the Obelisk between every stroke. Miriam sat across from him, elbows resting on her knees, holding a bundle of dried moss she¡¯d tied into a crude sponge. "What are you thinking of choosing" she said. "Ha, I''m that obvious huh" "Just a bit" "My kid at home was obsessed with one of the anime, the only one that I have some inclination as to what it means, I''m going to choose One Piece" The scraping continued. A few others sat nearby. Raj a teachers assistant, was chewing something that looked like roasted root. Ellie had curled up with her back to a tree, hood up, earbuds in even though her phone hadn''t made a sound since they''d arrived. Alex sat off to the side, watching the flickering fire reflect off cautious faces. ¡°What if it¡¯s a trap?¡± Ellie asked suddenly, voice muffled by fabric. The fire cracked. Raj snorted. ¡°What, like pick Naruto and explode?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a stupid thought,¡± Alex said. ¡°it may be risky", looking towards David. ¡°Or does nothing,¡± David muttered. "Could just be bait. Either way we need to find out" -- Someone had used a stick to draw five vertical lines in the dirt, spaced evenly near the Obelisk. Beneath each line, a name: Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, HXH, FT. Tally marks appeared by midmorning. Tiny scratches, mostly anonymous. One next to Naruto. Three by One Piece. One each for Bleach and HXH. Fairy Tail remained empty. A crude survey. A silent vote. It was a way of gaging others thoughts on what Path would be wise to choose. -- Jared had scraped together a rough inventory. Fifteen usable blades. Three lighters. One functioning solar charger, which everyone had their eye on. Two rolls of gauze left, though one had been used to wrap someone¡¯s busted ankle. Some various alcohols and other products like shampoo. The food group brought back what might¡¯ve been wild carrots and the water group returned with information of a stream two hours out, but it ran near a ravine littered with bones the size of oxen. They arranged any containers they had water bottles, and headed back to collect. They should be back before night. This garnered some hope. The traps set had been unsuccessful, but finding some food was a good sign at least, rather then scrounging a frog or small dead bird occasionally, and the find of water was very welcome. -- Alex walked alone that afternoon, circling the Obelisk. He''d similarly like David started to think that they need to pursue whatever the Obelisk holds in store for them, he was just waiting for the results from David. His gaze landed on the list again. Five names. No descriptions. No explanations. Just... choices. He reached out, fingertips brushing the stone. It was warm beneath the surface, like sunbaked metal. He felt nothing else. Then a whisper. Not in his ears. In his bones. 20 Points Required. He pulled his hand back. Behind him, footsteps. Crunching leaves. Ellie. "You though of a path yet" she said. ¡°Have you?¡± ¡°I''m not sure, its hard to choose without being certain what it means. Kind of just waiting till another goes a head, David seems keen.¡± ¡°Yeah¡± he said. ¡°He''ll need 20 points first though, as would we.¡± She looked at the tally lines. "Fairy tail isn''t that popular.¡± Alex glanced toward the campfire. Toward David. ¡°I guess the others are more well known, familiarity and all, at least they have an idea of what it would mean¡± "I guess" Night encroached. Goblins??!? The vote lines were gone by morning. Someone had kicked dirt over them, probably in the night. Maybe more than one person. There wasn¡¯t much talk about it, but everyone noticed. By midday, whispers started circulating¡ªDavid was going to make his choice. He''d collected a number of his belongings and was going to sacrifice them all. Alex saw him early that morning, crouched beside the Obelisk with a bundle of electronics and gear at his feet: a set of binoculars, a firestarter kit, a watch, and an old pair of hiking boots with a worn but still-functional compass embedded in the tongue. One by one, he pressed them to the stone. +2.1 Points ¡ª Military-Issue Binoculars +1.4 Points ¡ª Magnesium Firestarter +3.8 Points ¡ª Tactical Wristwatch (GPS Disabled) +2.3 Points ¡ª Navigation Footwear (High Utility) +7 Points - Phone (High Tier electronics) By the time the compass faded into the Obelisk¡¯s surface, he¡¯d crossed the threshold. -- The camp had changed, too. The air smelled like smoke and boiled bark. Miriam had helped organize a rotation¡ªgroups of five to comb the edges of the forest for edible plants, small game, or anything useful. Someone had rigged a pot from scrap metal and was boiling water gathered from the stream. The taste was metallic, but it didn¡¯t make anyone sick. Shelters were coming together in mismatched clusters: tarp-covered lean-tos, branches lashed with vines, some half-dug into the dirt to break the wind. A few people slept in pits lined with pine boughs. The nights were cold, and the hunger sharpened with every passing hour. Nobody was thriving. But they were surviving. -- David made his move just before dusk. No speech. No warning. Just boots crunching over dry needles. A handful of people paused mid-task, watching. A few stood. Jared looked up from tending a burn. Miriam froze where she was stripping bark into thread. David stopped in front of the Obelisk. He didn¡¯t look back. He placed both palms against the stone. The surface shimmered faintly¡ªlike heat above pavement¡ªand then brightened. The list flared. David moved his hand without hesitation, pressing it over a single name. One Piece. The glow deepened. The other names vanished. PATH CONFIRMED. Then¡ªnothing. To everyone else, the Obelisk returned to its blank, matte silence. But David didn¡¯t move. His eyes tracked something only he could see. The list revealed to him¡ªand only him: One Piece Path ¨C Available Powers and Items Remaining Points: 1.5 Haki (Armament) ¨C 25 Points Haki (Observation) ¨C 25 Points Conqueror¡¯s Haki ¨C 100 Points (Limited) Paramecia-Class Devil Fruit ¨C 80 Points (Unique) Zoan-Class Devil Fruit ¨C 90 Points (Unique) Logia-Class Devil Fruit ¨C 150 Points (Unique) Den Den Mushi ¨C 5 Points Standard Marine Saber ¨C 3 Points Supreme Grade Meito ¨C 300 Points (Limited: 12 Worldwide) ..... Miriam stepped forward. "David? What¡¯s it showing you?" Everyone listened in. He didn¡¯t answer. Not at first. Then: "Its opened up a list of options, all from One Piece, like devil fruits and haki, even items. It all costs points too, some are very expensive.¡± ¡°Would you be willing to write some of it down¡± His gaze shifted to her, then back to the stone. ¡°Yeah sure. Just give me some time.¡± -- That evening, Alex sat near Ellie and Raj on the edge of camp. They watched the trees. The air had weight. Like something had turned its head in their direction. "So David''s first, didn''t seem so bad, no chains bursting out the Obelisk dragging him within" Ellie said. ¡°I know right, finally someone did something with it, but I mean, he sacrificed basically everything he had on him, some pretty useful stuff too, don''t think others are too happy about it.¡± Alex said. She hugged her knees. "I''m thinking maybe Fairy Tail, or Bleach." He was quiet for a while. Then: "Fairy Tail would be useful, has a lot of promise, but it just depends how expensive things will be. You go Bleach you might be able to learn Bankai." "Nah, got to be One Piece, imagine getting a logia, you''d be invincible, well almost." Raj was clearly enthusiastic about One Piece. Alex took a bite out of a slice of bread. "At least your sure I guess" -- That night, more people began whispering about points. Trades started to form beneath the surface, some trading their own food rations for broken electronics, with the obvious aim to sacrifice it to the obelisk. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The Obelisk¡¯s glow had faded, but something else had been lit in its place. By the fourth day, the forest stopped pretending to be quiet. Roars echoed in the distance¡ªlow, guttural things that vibrated through the ground more than the air. One came at dawn, sending birds into a screaming spiral above the trees. Another shook the water pot just after midday, rippling its surface as people froze mid-chew. No one spoke when it happened. A new sense of danger presented itself, the danger wasn¡¯t abstract anymore. -- Alex spent the morning bent over a stone, scraping bark from a thick branch with a sharp rock. The tool was crude, but it worked. By now, his hands were calloused from stripping vines, hauling wood, splitting roots. He didn¡¯t talk much¡ªnever really had. He wanted points. A dream for most, to have the powers from anime, the confirmation that David''s actions brought, cemented a drive in most people. He stood in the shade beside the Obelisk, holding a dead squirrel by its tail. He''d found it, and was quite lucky in doing so, but it had rotted a fair bit, so it wasn''t an option for food. He pressed it against the Obelisk. +0.4 Points ¡ª Small Mammal (Dead) Not much. But it was something. He didn''t want to sacrifice his own items as of yet, they held meaning to him, his phone had a number of downloaded songs and whilst it had gone dead, they have the solar chargers and who knows if the powers from the Obelisk such as electrical ones can be used to charge it as well. He stepped back, glancing at the stone. No glow beyond the brief flare of text. No whispers. No visions. Just silence and weight. ¡°So you making some progress now, huh?¡± Ellie asked, stepping up beside him. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re hunting now?¡± He nodded. ¡°No just found it. It was too rotten for food.¡± She folded her arms. ¡°You still don''t know what you¡¯ll pick?¡± He hesitated. ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ll figure it out when I get there.¡± Ellie nodded. She didn¡¯t press, heading off to see Miriam about something. -- Tensions were building. Jared had broken up an argument near the food cache¡ªsomeone accusing someone else of hiding a ration bar. Miriam had cut the fight short by handing over a bundle of dried mushrooms, but the stares hadn¡¯t stopped. Hunger was sharpening tempers, and the risk of stealing was growing as well as other conflicts. Miriam and Jared worked out a guard rotation for the rations, of which there wasn''t much now at all. In the southwest corner of the clearing, a few of the stronger survivors were digging trenches for waste and talking quietly about fencing. They wanted a perimeter. Wanted something to guard against the forest, but this wasn''t a priority currently -- That night, Alex sat by the fire with his knees tucked close, arms wrapped loosely around them. Sparks danced upward into the black. Miriam sat across from him, flipping through pages of a waterlogged notebook she¡¯d salvaged from someone¡¯s backpack. ¡°I''m trying to keep track of everything, from rations to now damn points and powers.¡± she said. ¡°Your doing too much, see if there others to help out.¡± ¡°You''re not?¡± ¡°Well, I mean I''m trying¡± She smiled faintly. ¡°I kid, your doing enough already. The real risk is we have a few kids and elderly, they cant do too much, so I''m just trying to find roles for them. I''m concerned with the direction this camp is going that they''d be forgotten, or deemed useless.¡± "We talking about the few problems around the camp" Jared sits down raising his eyebrow, clearly insinuating more. "Haaaa, I get the growing tension having negative impacts on people, but there''s a few were it is becoming the norm to be assholes." They sat in silence for a while. Nearby, someone coughed in their sleep. A child whimpered. The wind creaked through the trees like the world itself was shifting its weight. The next Morning. Alex was crouched by the edge of the clearing, fingernails black with dirt. Beetles. Seven of them. He lined their tiny shells along a flat rock and cracked each one into the Obelisk, careful to make full contact. +0.03 Points ¡ª Insect +0.03 Points ¡ª Insect +0.03 Points ¡ª Insect ...and so on. Not much, but it was easy work. Ellie stood nearby, arms wrapped tight against the breeze. She watched the beetle guts smear with a grimace. ¡°I¡¯ll never unsee that.¡± Alex didn¡¯t look up. ¡°They count.¡± ¡°Barely. You¡¯d get more eating them.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not.¡± Their conversation was broken by the arrival of another. They heard her before they saw her¡ªbranches snapping, footfalls unsteady. Camila emerged from the treeline like a ghost dragged back to life. Her shirt was torn across the ribs. One leg limped. She carried something, humanoid. No one moved. Her face was unreadable. She didn¡¯t speak. Just walked past the firepit, past the wary glances, straight to the Obelisk. She dropped it at its base. A heavy, wet thud. Gasps scattered through the clearing as realisation dawned on them on what it is. The creature was small, maybe four feet tall. Its skin was the color of bruised leaves. Elbows sharp. Knees knotted. Its jaw was wide and crooked, filled with jagged, yellow teeth. A goblin. People didn¡¯t whisper. They stared. Stared like children watching something slip from dream into waking world. ¡°What in the fuck is that?¡± Wren said, her voice cracked. A woman, 32 years of age, was a housewife. ¡°A fucking Goblin¡± someone else whispered. ¡°It has to be.¡± "Well if the Two moons didn''t confirm it was a different world, this has to." The goblin twitched, a faint snarl escaping its throat. It was still alive. Camila crouched. One hand pressed to the creature¡¯s chest, the other to the Obelisk, However nothing happened. She stood again. Looked around. Found a rock¡ªsmooth, round, the size of a fist. Then she brought it down. Once. Twice. A crack like splitting bone. The goblin shuddered, then lay still. She repeated the gesture. Both hands against the stone. +2.0 Points ¡ª Goblin (Dead) The letters faded as quickly as they appeared. No one moved. ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Vin muttered. ¡°That was a goblin. That was a goddamn goblin.¡± ¡°Are we... hallucinating?¡± Marcy whispered. Camila looked at them all, then she walked off. A solid introduction to most, Camila. From what has been gleaned, she was a a trophy wife, turning up to this world, extremely well dressed, adorned with jewelry. Although all that jewelry is now gone, which belies the question to others, had she sacrificed it all, and if so, how many point does she have. She''s young, maybe 27 years of age, but she has clearly took to their situation with gusto, unlike the many others. -- The camp simmered into evening. Firelight flickered across silent faces. The stew, made from mushrooms and river weeds, was left mostly untouched. Miriam sat cross-legged by the fire, her fingers absently tracing the spines of her charcoal-marked notebook. ¡°We need to organize watches. Real ones assigning a few each night, for the one hour shifts isn''t going to cut it. No more just nodding off near the flames.¡± Yusuf nodded. ¡°10 per shift. Rotate every few hours.¡± "Yeah, sit them around the camp as well, as a sort of perimeter." Miriam follows up. Raj said nothing. He was sharpening sticks again, eyes on the trees. Ellie sat close to Alex. Her voice was low. ¡°I keep thinking... if there¡¯s goblins, what else is out there?¡± Josh, hunched nearby, looked pale. ¡°What if they come in packs?¡± ¡°They do,¡± Camila said. She was squatting by the edge of the clearing, cleaning her blade with slow, deliberate strokes. Everyone turned. ¡°I saw three more. Maybe four. They don¡¯t make noise until they¡¯re close. They were carrying sticks, even what looked like clubs¡± ¡°You led them here?¡± someone snapped. Camila didn¡¯t blink. ¡°No that I know of¡± "You didn''t think to bring up this information before?" Yusuf challenged, but Camila just shrugged. Miriam exhaled, tired. That night, as the sky deepened into blue-black and the stars refused to come out, Yusuf and Raj took first watch with 8 others. They sat near the half-finished barricade that had been constructed, spears at their sides, well sharpened sticks, with their backs straight. Li and Marcy shared a blanket closer to the fire. Li was shaking. Marcy gently placed a hand on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered. ¡°No it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s what we¡¯ve got.¡± Wren and Vin sat farther out, arguing over whether goblins could talk. Vin was convinced they could. Wren thought he was trying to make himself feel important. They went back and forth until both of them gave up and sat in silence. Camila didn¡¯t sleep. She just stared into the dark, her fingers never far from her knife. Alex lay in his shelter, eyes open. The sound of insects and wind returned, almost normal. But there was still something just past the firelight. Goblin Hunting time Dawn didn¡¯t break so much as it bled into the trees¡ªgray light seeping between trunks, heavy and reluctant. The air was thick with dew and the scent of wet bark, a sharp earthiness that clung to everything. Marcy sat at the fire pit with her knees tucked beneath her, coaxing smoke from damp tinder with soft, rhythmic breaths. Her fingers worked with the tired patience of someone who had done this every morning for weeks¡ªthough it had barely been a week. She didn''t speak. She didn''t need to. The fire answered in soft crackles. Li arrived with her usual armful of offerings¡ªmushrooms, fern shoots, a handful of wrinkled berries that looked more hopeful than edible. She crouched beside Marcy and laid everything out on a folded scrap of cloth. "Nothing new," she said. Marcy didn¡¯t look up. Li settled beside her, both of them quiet as the kindling finally caught. -- Across the clearing, Roger and Theo were reinforcing the palisade¡ªthough calling it that felt generous. It was more a suggestion of defense: sharp branches lashed together with vine, uneven and brittle in places. They were both builders on Earth so a lot of the construction projects falls to them. Theo winced as he drove another post into the soil. His left hand was swaddled in a blood-crusted bandage. ¡°This one¡¯s already cracking.¡± Roger leaned on his shovel, scowling. ¡°We¡¯re not building Rome, we¡¯re buying seconds. Seconds matter.¡± Theo didn¡¯t argue. He just adjusted his grip and kept hammering. Behind them, a boy named Dev was sketching rough layouts in the dirt with a stick. He didn¡¯t talk to anyone. No one asked what he was planning. -- Near the Obelisk, Josh was crouched low, tongue caught in the corner of his mouth as he tied a snare for the fifth time. ¡°It¡¯s not a puzzle,¡± Yusuf told him, watching from above. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Josh adjusted the twig placement. ¡°I¡¯m an engineering student. Overthinking is the job.¡± Yusuf smirked faintly. ¡°Then let me know when it catches something besides your own boot.¡± They shared a rare, brief laugh, though it died quickly. Josh finally triggered the snare. It snapped tight around an imaginary rabbit¡¯s ankle. ¡°See?¡± he said, sitting back with a grin. Yusuf nodded. ¡°Now do it ten more times.¡± The snares had started to prove successful, bringing in some much need meat, rabbits, occasionally a squirrel. Yusuf got up and headed towards Alex who was sat at the edge of camp, watching the trees. "Hey man" Yusuf greeted. Alex nodded back. "You fancy coming with me into the forest today, don''t want to check the traps alone since the goblin incident" "Yeah sure, we going now?" "That''s the plan." Just as Alex got up to leave with Yusef, Ellie approached with a strip of flatbread in her hand. ¡°Where you off?¡± ¡°Just off to check the snares, hopefully there will be something to bring back, starvation is starting to set in for most¡± he said. She stood beside them ¡°I know right, the rations are only enough for tonight then that is it. Miriam told me.¡± "Shit" Alex took the bread but didn¡¯t eat. ¡°I was hoping at least for another day. Settle in a bit more.¡± Yusuf joined in, ¡°Well it was bound to happen at some point, no point wasting anymore time then, lets head in¡± "See ya" "bye", and they vanish into the tree line. -- Miriam was at her usual place¡ªcenter of camp, notebook balanced on one knee, face unreadable. She flipped through pages filled with notes, arrows, crude maps, names and checkmarks. Her fingers moved like clockwork, efficient, deliberate. Camila¡¯s shadow fell across the page. "How many people are close to twenty?" she asked. Miriam didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Not many. Yusuf is, he got rid of his phone and some other possessions and maybe you.¡± ¡°Any idea on what he''s going to choose?¡± ¡°Afraid not, ask him if your curious¡± Miriam finally glanced up. Camila folded her arms. ¡°How much do you know about the world these paths belong too.¡± ¡°Not much, why?¡± ¡°Well, since its been confirmed that you can get not only the powers of that world but also its items, I figured it''d be important to have diversity with the paths.¡± "Yeah, that could be useful, but we can discuss it when it reaches that stage, as I recall briefly from the Tally, there was quite a bit of variability." They stared at each other for a moment. Then Camila walked off. -- People moved with purpose, but not energy. Hunger made everything feel heavier. Conversations were shorter. Even jokes came slower. Three college kids and Vin, the high school dropout, had taken over a sunny patch near the southern edge of camp. They were tending to what they hoped might become a garden. So far, the dirt had been poked, rearranged, and cursed at, but nothing had grown. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Vin squatted by the plot with a stick. ¡°If something sprouts, I¡¯m calling it Vinroot.¡± Wren just snorted at him. There was laughter¡ªtired, genuine. -- Later, Yusuf came back with a rabbit strung to a branch with Alex who had two rabbits in hand, a triumph. Albeit 3 rabbits are not going a long way for 100 people. They need to start hunting something bigger, goblins are a no go, hunting them will be purely for sacrificial reasons, eating them would just feel wrong to most. But they know there''s deer and Yusuf has seen tracks of what seems to be wild boar. -- As sunset painted the camp in long orange shadows, someone played lo-fi music from a half-busted phone. The melody drifted above the fire, mixing with the smoke. Li passed a cup of nettle tea. It tasted like boiled dirt but was warm. Theo and Raj leaned against the barricade, not talking, just nodding now and then like that was enough. Marcy handed out ash-bread, thin and charred but filling. She handed the last piece to Ellie, who hesitated before taking it. Her hands were trembling. ¡°No one¡¯s okay,¡± Marcy said softly. ¡°But you''ve got to eat, I''m sure things will get better.¡± Ellie didn¡¯t respond. But she ate. -- Night fell. The next day came upon them. Dawn filtered into the clearing like breath on cold glass¡ªcool, diffused, and without urgency. There was no scream. No flurry of motion. Just Camila¡¯s voice from the northern edge of the camp¡ªquiet, certain, weighted with something unspoken. Her tone drew attention like a magnet pulls iron, and one by one, they came. "Tracks," she said simply, crouching low beside an impression in the soil. Roger was the first to arrive, followed closely by Miriam, who clutched her damp notebook as though it might keep the world from slipping further into mystery. Frost-laced grass crunched beneath their boots as they approached the site. Camila ran a hand along the outline of the footprint. Four toes. Broad. Deep impressions where claws or nails had pressed into soft earth. The stride, stretched and deliberate, indicated bipedal motion. "Too large for a goblin," she said. "Walked upright. Long gait. Watched us for a while, then moved off." Miriam narrowed her eyes and scanned the treeline. "Any idea what we¡¯re dealing with?" Camila shook her head slowly, lips thin. "God knows, though I figure if there are goblins why, it could be something like an Orc maybe." "Yeah I guess so. For fucks sake, honestly do we ever get a damn break issues just keep coming" Matt says. -- Breakfast was more ritual than sustenance. Marcy rotated a dented pot over low flame, stirring a thin broth that smelled faintly of moss and bitterness. Bark. Shaved mushroom stems. Perhaps a root or two some meat, a mixture of rabbit and squirrel. The heat was weak, but the motion of eating helped stave off the silence. "Still better than campus food," Wren muttered, tugging her sleeves down over her fingers. "You lived above a ramen place," Vin said, breath steaming in the cold. "That shouldn¡¯t count." Nearby, Dev hunched over a growing diagram scratched into the packed dirt. It had evolved beyond maps¡ªno rivers, no terrain. It was now a sequence of repeating patterns. More like music. Or mathematics. A rhythm scored in soil. Miriam approached, arms crossed. "What are you charting now?" "Sound markers," Dev replied. "Points where people reported hearing something. Or thought they did." She knelt beside him, frowning at the concentric shapes. "So, what. It¡¯s moving around our camp?" Dev shook his head. "I guess, seems to just be observing currently at least." -- The Obelisk waited in the center of camp, silent and unmoving as ever. Twisted roots surrounded its base like fingers reluctant to let go. It offered nothing but presence. Alex walked up to it, silent, his boots leaving barely a mark in the frost. He carried a limp forest bird¡ªlifeless, neck limp, feathers dulled. He pressed it gently to the stone. +0.4 Points ¡ª Forest Bird (Dead) The words flashed, then disappeared. Again, it was too rotten to be food He sat beside the stone, knees drawn to chest, watching the Obelisk¡¯s surface as if it might, at any moment, shift and speak. Ellie joined him after a while, dropping kindling beside the dying coals. "Camila found tracks this morning," she said. "Not goblin. Something larger." Alex nodded, barely. "You think it¡¯s watching us?" He hesitated. "Seems to be" "Yo, fancy going for a hunt" Yusuf shouts over to Alex "I''m starting to feel a bit useless" Ellie says, looking down. "You can come with us if you''d like" "Not yet, I just, get the creeps" "Alright then, See ya" As Yusuf and Alex disappear into the forest, they are joined by Camila. "What''s going on?" Alex asks. "Goblin''s, 6 of them they''ve been lingering near the camp, coming every day for the last couple days" Camila answers. "So, why you telling me this?" "Well, you and Yusuf are quite active compared to others, and majorly seem keen to get points. David is doing his own thing, and i need assistance to kill them" "Hold up, wait, why are we jumping to kill them now" "Look Alex, you''ve got to be realistic here. These are goblins we''re talking about, I think its fair to assume that they''d be similar in nature to the fictional ones on Earth. We figure strike now, before they come in the night. Currently they just seem to be observing us, monitoring our movements, but for how long. How long till Marcy or Li gets their brains bashed in scavenging for mushrooms and berries." Yusef was stern when saying this, he looked resolved. "Fuck man alright, ok. Then what''s the plan." "They''re goblins, small and frail compared to us. They''re only advantage is their numbers, but we go in, act quickly and we can easily take out one each before they no what''s hit them" Camila lays out a very basic plan. "She''s right, only thing we''ve got to make sure on is we''re down wind" . "Alright, lets go" It was a short walk, only 10 minutes. Then they held position. "They''re not here yet, lets wait". Around one hour passed, till a rustle was held. Then 6 goblins were revealed, they has some rudimentary clubs and sharpened sticks but nothing of note. They held, their breath bated. Camila raised her left hand, and with a flurry brought it down, and they moved. No hesitation from any of them. In a few short seconds they were already on the goblins, who squealed in confusion till one of their heads was mashed by a powerful swing from Alex. Before they could collect themselves, Camila and Yusef had already dispatched their own targets. The remaining 3 stood no chance, killed with little chance to resist. As the 3 collected their breaths, they each had a minor grin on their face. Not one of malice, but of success. -- The garden was failing. A mound of dry, stubborn earth, and too little sunlight. Vin and Wren stood over it, the only green a sickly sprout curling in on itself. "It¡¯s cursed," Wren said flatly. "Or depressed." Vin crouched beside it, pressing fingers into dry dirt. "It''ll be fine, its just a slow grower" Wren raised an eyebrow. "If you say so" -- On the eastern side of camp, where the trees thinned into fog and failed light, Theo, Raj, and Roger hammered makeshift stakes into damp earth. Their barricade was rudimentary¡ªscraps of rope, salvaged metal rods, even torn sleeves twisted into tension knots. "We need a kill zone," Roger muttered. "Something to trip or slow whatever comes." "We need more materials," Theo said. "Vines, nails, more cord." "And more hands," Raj added, without looking up. -- By mid-afternoon, the air grew dense. Not with moisture or scent¡ªbut with the kind of pressure that preceded storms. It wasn¡¯t weather. It was anticipation. Under the patchwork tarp that served as a crude communal shelter, Miriam sat with Camila, Alex, Yusuf, and Marcy. A shallow fire crackled nearby, offering little warmth. "We need scouts," Miriam continued. "Eyes in the trees, in the brush. Before whatever''s watching us makes a move, I''ve already stopped people heading out on their own, but we need more done." "I¡¯ll go," Alex said. "Same," Yusuf added, stretching his back. Marcy hesitated. "And if something happens? If they don¡¯t come back?" Miriam didn¡¯t flinch. "They''ll come back Marcy don''t worry. Just see if you can find where it is coming from, or at least what it is." -- Later, Ellie and Marcy worked near the fire, laying out strips of boiled root over sun-warmed stones. The root smelled bitter¡ªacrid and sharp¡ªbut it dulled hunger, and that was enough. "You think they¡¯ll come back?" Ellie asked, voice quiet. Marcy turned a strip. "They¡¯ll return. But maybe not as we remember them." Ellie frowned. "You always talk like you¡¯ve lived through this before." Marcy didn¡¯t look up. "Only when I¡¯m afraid." -- Time passed like breath held too long. The shadows elongated. The fire was rebuilt. The wind moved against the barricades like a creature brushing its claws along canvas. Alex and Yusuf''s scouting duties complete, albeit unsuccessfully, they returned. As night came upon them they took first watch and both headed into the forest with Camila, returning lugging two goblins each to the Obelisk, they had done it discreetly enough that nobody noticed. Each garnered 4 points each, 2 per goblin. Shifting Lines The fifth morning broke over the clearing with a sharp, resinous scent of wet pine and charred cloth. Fog hung low, diffusing light into a pallid gray that rendered all movement spectral. Most people had grown used to fragmented rest¡ªuneven snatches of sleep interrupted by shifting watch duties and night terrors. Marcy was already awake, kneeling by the fire pit. She worked in practiced silence, coaxing embers to life beneath a battered metal basin where a mixture of nettles and root shavings simmered slowly. Her eyes were fixed on the treeline, not out of curiosity, but calculation. Every morning now, she seemed more like a sentinel than a cook. Alex sat nearby, chewing through a strip of dried meat¡ªrabbit or squirrel, likely. It was tough, but warm. Ellie sat next to him, huddled in her oversized jacket, sleeves pulled over her fingers. Everyone had lost weight. Hunger thinned them all. "Think we''ll have enough left for dinner?" she asked, voice hoarse. Alex swallowed and replied without inflection. "Depends on what we pull from the traps. Hopefully we can get something bigger, finally fill our bellies." Across the fire, Jared stirred. He rubbed sleep from his eyes and shifted into a sitting position, joints cracking with the movement. "Or we get a surprise goblin attack." Ellie¡¯s face darkened. "Camila said there isn''t anymore near us though." "And what does that mean, that we can just sit back and relax. Yes there may not be Goblins near us now, but for how long." Jared muttered as he stood. "Its best to be prepared." -- David had been busy trying to scrounge up enough points to unlock haki, though some of the item choices are interesting to him as well. He''s been making some progress since his unlock of the One Piece path, but he''s still a fair bit off from unlocking either armament or observation. Miriam was hoping that he would reach that level soon, returning to assigning responsibilities. Routines had formed¡ªhunting parties, water collection crews, perimeter guards, and structural teams improving the lean-tos and stake lines. Productivity was increasing, but so was tension. Majorly Miriam had also earned enough points, having sacrificed her 3 rings for 9 total points and her phone for 7, with this and some other minor sacrifices, she has recently reached the 20 point mark and is thinking on what to choose. If most would be willing to forgo their own items most could take a large step to unlocking a path, but its hard to get rid of anything from Earth, especially something like a phone with images of family back home. Vin and Wren, ever the cynics, spent their time maintaining the still-unsuccessful garden. The soil resisted their efforts with stubborn hostility. Nearby, Raj, Roger and Theo were reinforcing the southern perimeter with sharpened stakes and repurposed metal fragments. Their handiwork had progressed beyond symbolic defense to something with functional merit. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Around the Obelisk, a different kind of ritual unfolded. Survivors came bearing items to sacrifice¡ªsome mundane, some formerly precious. +0.03 Points ¡ª Tin Can +0.6 Points ¡ª Pocket Radio (Broken) +1.1 Points ¡ª Digital Camera (Low Battery) Points accrued slowly. Every item added to a person¡¯s individual total¡ªunseen by others, quietly transforming personal value into an invisible currency. Camila approached around midmorning, her gait steady, her belt adorned with a fixed-blade knife. She found Alex and Yusuf sitting under the half-constructed overhang, sharpening crude spears. ¡°You two busy?¡± she asked. Alex looked up. ¡°Not really. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Hunting trip. Long range.¡± Yusuf glanced at Miriam, who was coordinating with Ellie and Marcy. ¡°We¡¯ll check in first. Give us ten.¡± Camila nodded and disappeared toward the western treeline. Having checked in they headed towards Camila. David was considering joining them, they seemed to be a pretty successful group, and he needed points, plus it wouldn''t hurt to get some meat for the group. Miriam intercepted him. ¡°You planning on joining them ¡± He stopped "Yeah, I mean I was. What''s up?¡± "I need someone to head out with Jason and Matt, apparently they''ve come across a small lake of some sorts, would be good to check it out" "Alright yeah, can do." -- Camila, Alex, and Yusuf headed west. The forest thickened quickly, trading the open clearing for tight canopies and an uneven floor riddled with roots and decay. Sunlight filtered in dappled shards. After an hour of careful tracking, they reached a glade. The silence here was almost oppressive. Yusuf found dung nearby¡ªdeer or possibly wild boar. Camila inspected a flattened patch of leaves. ¡°Something big slept here. Likely a stag.¡± "How are you so good at tracking" Alex asked. "Well, I had a lot of time on my hands, Husband was busy and all with work. Just something I took up" They moved methodically, communication reduced to gestures and murmurs. Eventually, they spotted movement¡ªa deer slipping through the trees. Camila signaled a halt. They crouched low. Alex¡¯s breath slowed to a crawl. ¡°One clean shot,¡± Camila whispered. ¡°Miss the heart, go for a leg.¡± The throw came fast. Yusuf¡¯s spear struck the hind leg. Camila followed immediately, driving the animal to the ground with a practiced lunge. A single thrust ended it. ¡°Good throw,¡± Alex said quietly. Yusuf wiped sweat from his brow. ¡°We¡¯re eating tonight.¡± -- They returned carrying the carcass suspended between two thick branches. Murmurs followed them into the clearing. Starved eyes tracked every step. ¡°Is that¡ª¡± Vin began. ¡°Deer,¡± Alex confirmed. Within minutes, Jared was skinning the animal with practiced efficiency. Marcy and Ellie prepped the few pots they had, luckily someone had been on utility shop having been buying things for their new house. Nothing was wasted¡ªbones, sinew, hide. Camila kept only a thin strip of hide for herself. She tied it around her wrist, a silent trophy. That night, the stew was thick and savory, with the deer, a few rabbits and squirrels, it was a fairly hefty meal, compared to what they had grown used to. Conversations resumed over small bowls. For the first time in days, people smiled. As spoons scraped bottom, the focus shifted back to the Obelisk. A few stood nearby. Ellie stepped forward. She placed a cracked e-reader against the surface. +2.7 Points ¡ª Mid-Tier Electronics (Non-Functional) No one clapped. No one cheered. But Miriam, watching from the firelight¡¯s edge, nodded quietly. She had been speaking a fair bit to Jake, 21 years of age. He''s been very helpful in giving her an idea of each of the respective anime worlds and their powers, including what each powers mean. After getting the information from David concerning the the One Piece path, they could theorise about the other paths as well. Choices By the sixth morning, the clearing no longer felt temporary. Smoke clung to the trees, and the earth had been stamped down into pathways. The scent of boiling roots and wet bark had become the new normal, and the silence between conversations was less about fear now, and more about preservation¡ªof energy, of patience. Miriam stood at the center of camp, arms crossed, staring at the crude map drawn in charcoal on the side of a stripped tree. Paths fanned outward¡ªone toward the stream, another toward the failed garden, a third in the direction of the lake Jason and Matt had returned from. The lake was real. Deep, still, and drinkable, though the surrounding animal tracks hinted it wasn¡¯t unoccupied. David returned shortly after sunrise, empty-handed but unharmed. He reported calm waters, a few long shadows moving below the surface, and no sign of goblins. Miriam nodded, grateful for the information. She made a note beside the map. Nearby, Alex sat beside a fire, legs stretched out, sharpening a broken piece of metal against stone. Ellie sat next to him, elbows on her knees. "Did Camila say anything to you after the hunt?" she asked. Alex shrugged. "Just told us good work." "She¡¯s intense," Ellie said, voice quiet. "Kind of scary, honestly. But... she gets things done." Alex didn¡¯t argue. Camila had a way of shifting focus, of making the Obelisk feel like a tool and not a mystery. She rarely hesitated, and hesitation was something they could no longer afford. -- At the Obelisk, Yusuf and Jared were cataloging sacrifices. A few others had brought offerings: cracked headphones, burnt lighters, a child¡¯s stuffed toy. +0.2 Points ¡ª Headphones (Non-Functional) +0.05 Points ¡ª Lighter (Empty) +1.4 Points ¡ª Sentimental Item (Stuffed Bear) ¡°That one was hard,¡± Jared said, noting the bear. ¡°Kid didn¡¯t want to part with it.¡± Yusuf looked at the fading glow. ¡°Unfortunately we''ve got to be more practical now¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it -- Raj and Theo had finished the southern fence. It was rough, but solid¡ªrows of sharpened branches bound with strips of cloth and vine. It wouldn¡¯t stop a determined creature, but it would slow one. Roger was working on a tripwire system, using broken bottle shards as noise alarms. The sound of glass tapping together had become oddly reassuring. Vin stood by the garden, hands on his hips, surveying a limp sprout. "Still not dead. That counts as progress." Wren, squatting nearby, chuckled. "If it grows teeth and bites you, I¡¯ll start taking it seriously." -- Camila was hunting again. Alone this time. Not for food, but for points¡ªgoblin trails, signs of any other creatures, or something worse. She moved like she belonged out there, one of the few that had really taken up to this new world. She returned around midday with blood on her hands and a grim look. Two goblins, dispatched silently. Their bodies were dragged into camp under a tarp and sacrificed without fanfare. +4.0 Points ¡ª 2x Goblin (Dead) Camila cleaned her knife and said nothing. Miriam made note of the point value, then pulled her aside. ¡°How many points are you on now? I mean surely you''ve gone past 20 now, all those Jewels you sacrificed and the goblin kills¡± Camila nodded. ¡°Yep, well over¡± ¡°Have you decided on a path?¡± Camila hesitated. ¡°Maybe Fairy Tail. Seems flexible. A lot of variety.¡± ¡°Let me know when you do. I want to see if the system changes depending on the path.¡± "What about yourself, I''ve seen you sacrifice you phone and rings, I figure with a few other minor sacrifices here and there you''d have reached 20 by now" Camila left without getting an answer. -- That evening, Alex joined Jake near the fire. Jake was scribbling in a damp notebook, translating powers he remembered from each anime path. He wasn¡¯t a fighter¡ªmore of a lorekeeper. People had started relying on him for explanations. ¡°Do you think the paths are balanced?¡± Alex asked. Jake looked up. ¡°Not really. Some are definitely stronger early on. But it depends on how creative you are. Nen, for example... super complex. Powerful, but risky. Chakra¡¯s more straightforward, but requires lots of stamina and practice. And also, we have items to consider as well¡± Alex nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯ve been leaning toward Naruto. Something about it feels right.¡± Jake smiled. ¡°Could be a good fit. Just be sure before you commit. No switching once you pick.¡± -- Later, Miriam stood before the Obelisk. She placed both hands on it. PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE 20 POINTS REQUIRED She stared at the names as they flared across the surface: Naruto One Piece Bleach Hunter x Hunter Fairy Tail She didn¡¯t move for a long time. Then she stepped away. Not today. Night fell slowly, cloaking the camp in flickering torchlight. Someone was playing a downloaded song on a dying phone, the speaker tinny but still carrying melody. Around the fire, people sat in silence¡ªnot afraid anymore, but not yet at peace. Something lurks The seventh morning crept in on pale light and silence, the kind that made the air feel heavier than it should. Dew clung to every surface, soaking the makeshift lean-tos and turning the forest floor to sponge. The clearing stirred slowly¡ªno urgency, just the creak of tired joints and the rustle of leaves underfoot. Wren was the first one moving, poking at the fire with a bent fork she¡¯d twisted into a crude poker. She added damp kindling and blew on it gently until it caught. Her hoodie was frayed at the sleeves, and her eyes carried the bruised shadows of poor sleep. ¡°Where¡¯s Marcy?¡± she muttered. ¡°She went to check on the dried roots,¡± Vin said, appearing behind her with a chunk of charcoal in his hand. ¡°Said the ones we hung near the south fence were molding.¡± Wren just nodded and kept coaxing the fire. Nearby, someone stirred in the shelter next to hers¡ªTheo, probably. He snored like he was still in a dorm room. -- Alex was already up, crouched at the forest edge. He was inspecting one of Yusuf¡¯s snares, the string tension loose, the loop collapsed. ¡°No catch?¡± Alex turned to see Ellie approaching, bundled in her patched jacket. Her hair was tied back messily with twine. He shook his head. ¡°Something triggered it, but whatever it was got away.¡± She crouched beside him. ¡°Tracks?¡± ¡°Not clear enough. Could¡¯ve been another rabbit. Maybe something bigger.¡± She looked uneasy. ¡°You think the goblins are still watching?¡± Alex didn¡¯t answer right away. ¡°I think Camila was right to take the fight to them. But they¡¯re not the only ones out there. Remember those larger footprints, haven''t been seeing them lately which is good, but who knows where its gone.¡± At the Obelisk, a small group had gathered. Raj was speaking with Jake, who held his notebook like a relic, flipping through pages as others leaned in. Ellie joined them shortly, hovering near the back. ¡°Any news on the other paths?¡± someone asked. Jake nodded. ¡°Yeah. We know One Piece unlocks haki, devil fruits, items¡ªDavid confirmed that. I¡¯ve got notes on Nen, magic systems, chakra¡ªall of it. What we don¡¯t know is how fast mastery comes. Whether time or effort makes the bigger difference, or whether talent plays a role. I mean i''d imagine it would, but purchasing the power could just make it a level playing field in respect of the power. Might be that only effort is the true determining factor, but I suppose we don''t even know if you can grow the powers yet. David has been trying to gain points to unlock a haki, but it may still be some time.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Fairy Tail sounds fun,¡± Ellie said, surprising herself. ¡°But... dangerous. Magic¡¯s unpredictable.¡± Jake looked at her. ¡°Every path¡¯s dangerous. But if you can adapt, it might also be the most flexible.¡± She didn¡¯t answer, but she stayed nearby as the discussion moved on. -- Camila returned from another scouting trip just before midday, her hands empty, her gaze sharp. She said little, only pausing to report to Miriam that the southern treeline had new claw marks on several trees¡ªhigh ones. ¡°Too high for goblins?¡± Miriam asked. Camila nodded. ¡°Much too high.¡± Jason, listening nearby, frowned. ¡°If there''s goblins, why not trolls or ogres. something worse.¡± "Well lets hope not" Matt said clapping his hands as he got up to go and checks some snares. -- The garden was still failing. Wren dug with her bare hands while Vin tried to sketch some kind of irrigation system on a piece of bark. Nothing they did seemed to make the soil yield. One of the sprouts had wilted overnight. ¡°We need fertilizer,¡± Vin muttered. ¡°Got any goblin poop?¡± Wren asked dryly. Vin smirked. -- David, Matt and Jason had days prior found and reconned the lake, the water was clean, but had found a number of trails nearby the lake, some heavy and wider than a man¡¯s boot. This had been noted by Miriam, the lake itself was about 5 hours away, and the stream that had been found was still closer. Anyways, they had just found some heavier set footprints near there usually water source, the stream two hours away. ¡°Shit¡± Matt said, rubbing his shoulder. ¡°Thinking something much bigger then goblins, probably ogres or something alike¡± Miriam recorded the information, then made a decision. ¡°Tomorrow, I want three scouting groups out. One to the lake. One to the stream. One east. No solo missions unless absolutely necessary.¡± Camila didn¡¯t argue, but her jaw tightened slightly. Yusuf gave Alex a look¡ªone that said he¡¯d be joining him again. -- That night, the fire burned low, casting long shadows across the circle of tents and tarps. Jared sat with Miriam and Jake, mapping out patrol shifts while the rest of the camp settled into uneasy quiet. David lingered near the Obelisk, reading the One Piece path again. He wasn¡¯t close to affording haki yet, but he¡¯d made progress¡ªevery scrap mattered. Miriam passed by, pausing briefly. ¡°Any closer?¡± ¡°Getting there,¡± David said. ¡°Might try for a saber or den den mushi in the meantime. Something useful.¡± She nodded. ¡°Let me know when you do.¡± -- As the sky blackened, the forest beyond felt alive in a new way. Not with movement, but pressure¡ªan unseen weight, like breath held just out of reach. Ellie sat at the fire with Alex, both of them sipping hot water steeped with bitter roots. ¡°You still leaning Naruto?¡± she asked. He stared into the flames. ¡°Yeah. But I think I¡¯ll need a few more kills before I make the call.¡± ¡°You think the others are doing the same?¡± ¡°Most likely, nobody wants to make the first move, we have our theories but if wrong it could backfire. At least we know about the One Piece path¡± She nodded and leaned back, letting the fire warm her face. Across the camp, the Obelisk pulsed faintly. Five names still glowed. Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. Another Group?!? The eighth morning was mist-wrapped and sluggish, thick with the scent of damp moss and sweat-soaked cloth. Camp stirred late, movements slowed by sore muscles and underfed bodies. The deer stew from two nights ago had stretched thin, and now hunger was gnawing its way back in, raw and insistent. Theo¡¯s snoring cut through the quiet until Wren, already up and elbow-deep in dirt, threw a clump of moss at him. He grunted, sat up, and blinked blearily at the early light. "You sound like an engine that needs to be put down," she muttered. "I''m keeping spirits up," Theo replied, yawning. "Someone¡¯s got to be the background music." Wren just rolled her eyes and kept digging at the garden plot. She wasn¡¯t even sure what she was planting anymore. Mostly, it just gave her something to do. Nearby, Vin turned a half-rotted log over with a stick, searching for insects. "Protein¡¯s protein," he mumbled, plucking a wriggling grub.
At the center of camp, the Obelisk sat unchanged, but not untouched. People passed it with the same wary reverence they''d once given cemeteries or shrines. Only now, some were growing more bold. A teenage boy named Leo sacrificed his cracked phone. +5.0 Points ¡ª High Tier Electronics (Non-Functional) He didn¡¯t say what path he was saving for, but more and more figured better to survive then just being sentimental. Jake took notes from the side, quietly recording the sacrifice. Miriam stood behind him, arms folded, her gaze unreadable. ¡°More and more people are starting to accept it.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Jake nodded. ¡°Eventually, most of them will have to.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be choosing soon,¡± she added, more to herself than him. Jake didn¡¯t press.
By midday, the three scouting parties were prepping to leave. The atmosphere had grown tenser. The claw marks Camila found still loomed over everyone¡¯s thoughts. There was no denying something larger was out there. Miriam pulled Yusuf, Alex, and Camila aside. ¡°You three head east. Jason, Matt, and Roger will go back to the stream. Jared¡¯s group will head to the lake. Don¡¯t push too far beyond midafternoon. No heroes.¡± Camila gave a single nod. Alex looked to Yusuf, who already had his spear strapped to his back. They left quietly, slipping into the trees.
The eastern woods were different. Denser, more tangled. There was no clear game trail, and the underbrush had a strange pattern to it¡ªlike it had been flattened and regrown, again and again. The quiet wasn¡¯t natural. It was expectant. They moved cautiously, spears ready. Camila stopped suddenly, crouching low. A broken branch. Hair stuck to the bark. ¡°Boar?¡± Yusuf asked. Camila shook her head. ¡°Too coarse. Could be a bear. Or something else.¡± They continued another thirty minutes before deciding to head back. They hadn¡¯t found water or a new source of game, but they weren¡¯t about to test the woods¡¯ patience. Just before reentering the clearing, Alex spotted something snagged in a bush¡ªa torn bit of cloth, black and singed at the edges. Not one of theirs. He held it up. ¡°Someone else?¡± Camila asked. ¡°Maybe.¡± No one spoke on the way back.
When all three groups returned, the atmosphere shifted again. Jared¡¯s group reported movement in the lake¡ªtoo deep to identify, but large. Jason¡¯s team found fresher tracks by the stream¡ªwider, deeper than a man¡¯s foot. Roger estimated weight over three hundred pounds. And then Alex laid the cloth on the fire ring stone. ¡°It¡¯s not one of ours,¡± he said. ¡°Could be a lost item,¡± Miriam said, though her voice lacked conviction. ¡°Or another group,¡± Camila said. A long silence followed. ¡°I thought we were alone,¡± Ellie said. ¡°We never knew that,¡± Jake replied. ¡°We just assumed.¡±
That night, guards doubled their shifts. Camila, Alex, and Yusuf stayed awake late, sitting together near the flickering firelight, sharing what little remained of the root tea. ¡°You think the other groups would be like us?¡± Yusuf asked. ¡°Maybe,¡± Camila said. ¡°Some will be worse and some better, depends I suppose¡± Alex stared into the flames. ¡°Well I suppose we''ll find out¡± Camila nodded. Somewhere in the distance, an animal howled. Low. Deep. Too deep for a wolf. Progress The morning broke beneath overcast skies. The clouds hung low and heavy, sunless and suffocating, muting the color from the world. Mist clung to the clearing like a second skin, pooling in the dips between shelters and wrapping low around legs as the survivors rose slowly into the waking world. Marcy stirred the morning broth with a stick, her movements slow, mechanical. The pot hissed quietly over the fire as steam rose into the damp air. The smell¡ªbitter root, boiled bark¡ªwas unpleasant but familiar now. Comfort, in the absence of anything better. Beyond the fire, Wren and Vin stood in their half-dug garden plot, arguing over bark mulch and the acid content of soil with the tired conviction of people who knew they didn¡¯t know enough. At the Obelisk, something had changed. Two women stood before it, quiet and still¡ªMiriam and Camila. Word spread before they spoke a word. The others began to drift toward the clearing¡¯s center, forming a silent crescent around the Obelisk. The air buzzed¡ªnot with sound, but anticipation. Camila stepped forward. She didn¡¯t hesitate. Her hand met the stone, and the Obelisk responded. Camila ¨C 47 Points PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE The names flared bright against its surface: Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. She pressed her hand to the last one¡ªFairy Tail. The others vanished. Only the Fairy Tail path remained, glowing faintly, visible now only to her.
Fairy Tail Path ¨C Available Powers and Items Remaining Points: 27 Unlockables: Items & Equipment: Camila¡¯s eyes darted across the glowing list, absorbing the implications. Each name was a path within a path¡ªtechniques that could shape water into blades, fire into breath, lightning into skin. Others referenced keys to celestial spirits, companions from another world. She said nothing. She didn¡¯t need to. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. She went on to immediately buy basic magic potential bringing her total points down to 7. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Camila said quietly, stepping back. She left without ceremony, walking past the crowd that had gathered, her expression unreadable. Heading toward Alex and Yusuf who were watching from a distance, Jake scrambled after her, asking a litany of questions, she gave curt but reasonable answers allowing him to compile a fair bit of information, till she reached Alex and Yusuf, who turned with her heading into the forest. David headed to the Obelisk to check his own progress, and to his dismay he had realised there was an option that he had missed, Haki Awareness, in frustration he bought it spending the points he had managed to scrounge up buying Haki Awareness worth 10 points from his path. This would give him the opportunity to train in armament or observation on his own, awakening it without having to buy it, although buying it would be much easier. In embarrassment, he relayed this information to Jake, subtly, due to the shame he felt.
Now all eyes turned to Miriam. She lingered a moment longer, breathing deeply. Then she stepped forward. Miriam ¨C 22 points PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE The same list bloomed again, stark against the Obelisk¡¯s surface. Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. She pressed her palm to Naruto. The others vanished. Naruto remained.
Naruto Path ¨C Available Powers and Items Remaining Points: 2 Unlockables: D¨­jutsu (Bloodline Abilities): 2 Tomoe ¨C 10 points 3 Tomoe ¨C 10 points Items & Gear: Miriam took in the list with careful eyes. It was vast. Deep. Layered. And she''d only just stepped onto the path. But that was the nature of Naruto¡¯s system¡ªslow cultivation, patient growth. She turned to face the others. ¡°That makes three. One Piece. Fairy Tail. Naruto.¡± She looked at Jake. ¡°Each path is unique. All of them offer items and powers. Tools. Abilities. It¡¯s more than just flashy techniques.¡± Jake was already scribbling, soaking in the details. ¡°So chakra is the first key,¡± he murmured. ¡°Everything branches from there.¡± ¡°And the path is... broad,¡± Miriam added. ¡°But structured. You can go elemental. Tactical. Even medical, probably. Depends on what you build toward.¡± ¡°Sharingan?¡± he asked. ¡°Available. But expensive. And limited.¡± He nodded. ¡°Does it say how limited, they are¡± ¡°No, unfortunately not.¡±
As the group dispersed, tension lingered in the air. Alex was walking with Yusuf, Camila just ahead. ¡°Well,¡± Yusuf said, running a hand through his hair. ¡°We¡¯ve got to pick up the pace man, can¡¯t be too far left behind.¡± Alex nodded. ¡°I want Chakra. I¡¯m not far off now, with the goblins we¡¯ve hunted and other bits and bobs.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll go Nen,¡± Yusuf mused. ¡°Feels slept on. Could have more freedom.¡±
That night, the camp felt electric. A shift had occurred, not loud but certain. The Obelisk now held weight¡ªnot just as a mystery, but a gateway. A choice. One that more and more would have to make. The five names still glowed, waiting. Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. A Hunters Rythm The forest swallowed them quickly. Within minutes, the clearing and its low fires were out of sight, the sounds of camp replaced by the distant drip of water and the brittle crunch of boots over underbrush. Mist clung to the trunks, coiling like breath caught between the trees. The deeper they went, the quieter it became¡ªno birdsong, no breeze, just the three of them and the weight of silence. Camila moved ahead with ease, weaving through brambles without a word. Yusuf walked beside Alex, both of them watching the shadows for movement. Camila hadn¡¯t said exactly what they were hunting today¡ªonly that signs of goblin movement had shifted. Something was changing in the woods. ¡°She seems different today,¡± Alex muttered. ¡°Focused,¡± Yusuf replied. ¡°More than usual.¡± They followed her down a shallow slope where claw marks raked across a fallen log¡ªdeep gouges, not from any tool. Camila stopped suddenly, crouching beside a disturbed patch of soil. Her hand hovered above the ground before brushing it gently. ¡°Two of them passed through here,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Light-footed, cautious. They''re scouting.¡± Alex exhaled slowly. ¡°So not hunting yet.¡± ¡°Not yet it would seem,¡± Camila agreed. ¡°We¡¯ll have the drop on them¡± Yusuf glanced deeper into the woods. ¡°We take them?¡± Camila nodded. ¡°Before they regroup.¡± They moved like a unit now, falling into rhythm from repetition. No one spoke unless they had to. Alex had gotten better at reading the terrain¡ªlistening to the creak of branches, the scuff of displaced leaves. He¡¯d even tied strips of cloth over his boots to soften his steps, something Camila had taught him two days earlier. They found the first goblin near a stream, crouched low and sharpening a club. It never heard them approach. Camila¡¯s blade moved first¡ªsilent, swift. Alex grabbed the body before it slumped fully, dragging it behind a tree. Yusuf gave a low whistle and pointed upslope. A second goblin stood there, tense, looking down at the stream with a wooden spear in hand. This one spotted them just as they moved. It hissed¡ªsharp and feral¡ªbut didn¡¯t run. It lunged. Alex stepped forward first. The spear glanced past his shoulder, and he slammed his full weight into the goblin¡¯s chest, knocking it flat. Yusuf struck downward with a sharpened branch, piercing through its eye, ending it in one blow. Camila didn¡¯t smile, but she looked satisfied. ¡°Clean. Quick. Not bad.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°We bring them back?¡± Alex asked, catching his breath. She nodded. ¡°Two points each. Worth the trouble.¡± A brutal roar is heard across the stream, they all turn in unison, and there it is, a bear, bigger them any bear they had ever seen, the height of a person at the shoulder, and even more notable was the two ram-like horns protruding from its head. Before they could make any form of a plan, it charged. Its charge thunderous. ¡°SPLIT UP!¡± screamed Yusuf. They all burst out into different directions, the bear slowing, trying to make a decision on who to follow. Before it could decide a rock slammed into its head, causing it to turn rapidly, it was Alex. The beast began its sprint towards him, covering the 30 metres between them in less the 3 seconds. Yet as it was about to make contact, the odd creature vanished before its eyes. Before it could have a second thought it plummeted, for it had not realised the odd creature was on the edge of a small cliff. Not overly high about 10 meters, but the ground below was rocky. This is where the stream ran off to, making a mini waterfall. But as they say the bigger they are the harder they fall, the bear made contact with ground, a sickening crunch echoed out. ¡°ALEX¡± Yusuf screamed. Running toward the cliff edge. Camila following shortly behind. ¡°Shit man, give us a hand¡± Alex gasping for breath, his fingers grabbing an outcropping. ¡°Fuck me man, how¡¯d you think of that shit¡± ¡°Instincts I guess¡± as Yusuf hauled him up they all took a moment to look down. The bear was still moving, although it was clear it was in its death throes. ¡°I¡¯m gonna climb down, pass us a knife, ill finish it and see if I can take something with us, obviously way too big to drag¡±. Alex spent about an hour after finishing it off, cutting off its head with the ram horns. With this he would take the head of the bear back with him and the others the goblins. All taking a breath to compose themselves, they started to make their way back.
Back at the clearing, the atmosphere had shifted again. News of Camila and Miriam¡¯s path selections had spread, and small knots of people were now discussing powers in hushed tones. Jake was at the center of one such group, explaining what he¡¯d learned about the Fairy Tail and Naruto systems. Ellie was helping Marcy sort dried herbs by the fire, but her eyes kept flicking toward the Obelisk. She was close now¡ªpoints almost there. She¡¯d told Alex before he left that she was leaning Fairy Tail, but there was hesitation in her voice. Shed sacrificed most of what she had on her, and had a final ring that she planned to sacrifice, she was just trying to decide on what she¡¯d pick. By the time the hunters returned, the goblin bodies and the head of this giant bear in tow. A thin drizzle had begun to fall, painting the camp in shifting grey. Miriam approached as they set the tarp down. ¡°Any problems?¡± ¡°Two scouts,¡± Camila replied. ¡°Alone. Quiet. Well, till the bear showed up¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured, how¡¯d you managed that. I was thinking you came across a dead one/¡± Miriam said. ¡°Ill level with you Miriam, we were very lucky¡± Yusuf said. Camila glanced at Alex. Miriam looked between them, then toward the Obelisk. ¡°Surely you two will be close now at least. I¡¯ve noticed that you haven¡¯t sacrificed your phones or out like that, but you¡¯ve been picking up goblin kills every now and then and I¡¯ve seen you make other sacrifices as well¡± Alex glanced over his shoulder, at the obelisk, ¡°Well I¡¯m hoping this¡¯ll be a lot of points, even if it isn¡¯t I should have enough now¡± ¡°Same here¡±. The goblins sacrificed. Alex makes his own sacrifice. ¡°Damn man, can only imagine what that full body is worth. We need to head back there tomorrow, hopefully the forest will be kind to us and leave it alone. You going to choose now?¡± ¡°Nah I¡¯m gonna sleep on it, I¡¯ll do it tomorrow¡± Yusuf nodded to Alex and decided to do the same. Their point totals were 21 for Yusuf and 26 for Alex. They headed to bed, although theyd be up in a couple hours for watch duty. But both were very excited about the prospective choices ahead of them. Attack The Next day came with a shiver. A cold wind drifted through the trees, dry and thin, carrying the scent of blood and old bark. The rain had stopped in the early hours, but its memory lingered in soaked clothes, muddy pathways, and the sullen moods of the camp. Their drenched forms a reminder of their poorly constructed lean-tos. Most go hungry in the morning, a handful of berries is usually the best one can expect, as anything caught during the day is eaten at night. Miriam had planned to use the lake as a fishing source, they had some rope, so they would just need to fashion a hook and some bait. And it would present as a rudimentary fishing rod. Though the news of something large in the water dampened that thought. Alex woke stiff, the bear¡¯s horned head still fresh in his mind. Even now, the image of it plummeting over the rocks stuck with him. It had been too close. Though there only option at the time, one of them would have died to it, they had no chance fighting it. He stretched; shoulders sore from hauling the head back. His boots squelched as he stepped out from under the lean-to, constructed from mainly wood, meaning gaps in the structure. Across the camp, Yusuf was already up, sipping something from a steaming wooden bowl, his expression unreadable. ¡°Morning,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°Barely.¡± Alex crouched by the fire and held his hands toward the heat. ¡°You sleep?¡± Yusuf shook his head. ¡°Not much.¡± ¡°Excited?¡± ¡°Yeah man, I think I¡¯ve settled on a choice now¡± Yusuf raised an eyebrow ¡°What¡¯s it gonna be?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out¡± ¡°Well fuck you then, not telling you my choice either¡±
Miriam stood at the map tree with Theo, marking down updated tracks from the stream and the glade near the old garden site. ¡°We need to stop assuming the perimeter means anything,¡± she said. ¡°The fencing that¡¯s been done may even be a liability, preventing us from seeing whatever¡¯s stalking us. I feel like it won¡¯t even slow it down. If it¡¯s something like that bear that Alex brought back, we¡¯re fucked.¡± Theo nodded slowly. ¡°We¡¯ve seen more tracks. Wider spacing. Something¡¯s pacing the east edge. Clawed footprints, but too heavy for goblins.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°More like the thing that left the gouges near the lake?¡± ¡°Worse,¡± Theo said. ¡°Longer stride. Deeper prints. Could be ogres. Or something we don¡¯t have a name for.¡± Miriam¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°We need to prepare for a breach. I want patrols rotating every hour. Jake¡¯s working on a signal system. Get it in place by tonight.¡±
By midmorning, a new unease had crept into the camp. Li and Marcy were boiling water with added tree bark to stretch the flavor. Even the younger survivors¡ªlike quiet Dev and the group of three engineering students¡ªhad begun checking knives, reshaping spears, whispering among themselves. A scream broke the silence. It came from the south trail, close enough that it felt like it echoed inside the clearing. Everyone froze. Camila was already sprinting before anyone else reacted, blade drawn, Yusuf and Alex on her heels. They found Wren at the tree line, her back pressed to a trunk, eyes wide, hands slick with blood. Vin was on the ground, his thigh torn open, teeth clenched as he writhed. His breathing came in short, panicked gasps. ¡°It came out of nowhere,¡± Wren stammered. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a goblin. It¡ªit stood like a man, but taller. Pale. Black eyes. It grabbed him and threw him like¡ªlike nothing¡ª¡± Camila dropped to Vin¡¯s side, pressing her cloak against the wound. ¡°Hold him still,¡± she snapped. ¡°Where did it go?¡± Wren shook her head. ¡°I think... I think it just vanished. It moved fast. Too fast.¡± Yusuf swore under his breath. Alex was already scanning the tree line, but the shadows were thick. Too thick. They carried Vin back on a makeshift stretcher. Jared and Miriam met them halfway. ¡°Shit,¡± Jared muttered, looking at the torn flesh. ¡°That¡¯s definitely not a goblin.¡± Miriam was already at work, cutting strips of clean cloth. ¡°Whatever it was, it made it through the perimeter.¡± ¡°At least Vin¡¯s alive.¡± Alex said. Jared with the few other medically trained individuals got to work trying to treat the wound with what little they now had, they still had some alcohol, and even honey that Jared had thought tooth and nail to stop others from eating.
That night, the camp was quiet again¡ªbut not from calm. A second fire was lit. More eyes scanned the woods. Fewer people laughed. Camila and Yusuf took first watch, joined by Jared and a quiet girl named Hana who had barely spoken since they arrived. Vin rested beneath the lean-to, breathing shallow. Wren hadn¡¯t left his side. Jake updated his notes. ¡°Something new,¡± he muttered. ¡°Not a beast. Not a goblin. Intelligent maybe... or territorial.¡± Ellie approached Alex near the second fire. Her hands were clasped together for warmth. ¡°You¡¯re going to choose?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah¡± Alex nodded to Yusuf who was heading to the Obelisk, walking towards it himself. -- Miriam sat with Jake, watching ¡°Finally. With the number of sacrifices others have been doing I can only imagine that there are quite a few others close as well. Sacrificing their phones, watches, jewellery¡±. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got a number based on the information you¡¯ve given me and from what I¡¯ve seen. I expect tomorrow we may have many more joining you, Camila and David¡± ¡°How is David? How¡¯s his training coming since getting Haki Awareness.¡± ¡°Not well, he already is aware of the powers in One Piece, and he¡¯s been trying to develop it, seen him walking around camp blindfolded to unlock observation.¡± ¡°From what you¡¯ve told me Observation would be good, especially considering this new creature, from what I¡¯ve heard it may as well be a fucking ghost.¡± They both grew quiet as Alex and Yusuf reached the Obelisk. POWERS! The Obelisk loomed over the clearing, cold and unmoving despite the thin drizzle soaking the forest floor. Rain misted through the canopy, beading on clothes and pooling in the dips of the trampled earth. In the distance, the camp stirred¡ªfires sputtered, voices low. The world felt heavier than it had yesterday. Alex stepped forward first. His boots squelched in the mud as he reached out and pressed his hand to the surface. Alex ¨C 26 Points PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE The five names flared bright against the stone: Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. His fingers tightened. The decision had never really been in question. Naruto. The others vanished.
Naruto Path ¨C Powers and Items Remaining Points: 6 Now Alex just need to get 14 points to get chakra. He chose to sacrifice his ring, a family heirloom, of supposed great value, he had never checked how much points he would get with its sacrifice, but he knew that he may not have another chance. Danger is encroaching, the Ram bear and now this humanoid entity. Sacrifice His total was brought up to 19 points. One away from getting chakra. He still didn¡¯t want to part with his phone, the solar charger is still in working order, and with more and more sacrificing their items and phones, there are fewer people to share the charger with. Its not so much the photo¡¯s on the phone, but the music. He turned, quiet satisfaction in his eyes.
Yusuf stepped up without pause. Yusuf ¨C 21 Points PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE He pressed his hand to Hunter x Hunter.
Hunter x Hunter Path ¨C Powers and Items Remaining Points: 1 Like Alex, Yusuf has been withholding his own items, and like Alex his mentality has changed, better to be alive and live with the memories of his family, not dead with his phone smashed. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Sacrifice With this Yusuf¡¯s point total shot up to 25, and he immediately bought the Aura detection and Activation for 20 points. Spending the next 5 on Ten. A wise move. Jake had pointed out that awakening something like Nen would ideally be done with enough points to buy Ten, however much it would be. As unless one is greatly talented, it may take a long time to get a handle on their aura and keep it contained, consequences would be a lack in stamina. The person would become useless till they got that sorted. With this purchase by Yusuf, he has immediately elevated himself to the camps best combatant. A brief, tightening pulse coiled around him¡ªdifferent from Alex¡¯s warmth. More reactive. Wild. It took Yusuf a second to exhale.
Jake approached the two, his notebook already open. ¡°How did it feel?¡± ¡°Like opening a door I didn¡¯t know was locked,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°Fuck man, you already got Nen then¡± Alex added. ¡°1 point away from chakra.¡± ¡°Ha, gotta catch up, but I¡¯ll tell ye, feels powerful. Had enough to buy Ten right after, I can see a sort of ethereal veil surrounding my body, maybe an inch or two. Hey Jake right this down, after paying points to unlock a technique, it was almost like the basic knowledge and skill of that technique was imprinted on me. I just knew how to do it now. But what I know from the series, I am by no means an expert when it comes to Ten, ill have to practice, see if I can unlock Zetsu and Ren without having to buy it. I guess ill find out how talented I am.¡± ¡°Awesome, thank you. Right tell me some of the options you had, don¡¯t worry I¡¯m aware the list will be extensive, I just need to confirm some things¡± They both walk off from Alex nattering away.
Back at the fire, Ellie watched them from across the clearing. Rain had soaked her sleeves; she didn¡¯t notice. Her eyes followed the two as they stepped back from the stone. She looked down at her hand. A silver ring rested on her palm¡ªher sister¡¯s. She hadn¡¯t been able to part with it before. But now? She has to, she cant be left behind. The scream from yesterday still echoed in her head. Vin¡¯s pale face. Wren¡¯s shaking hands. The stories of pale things with black eyes watching the camp. She stood. And walked.
The Obelisk didn¡¯t announce her, but the moment she reached it, the mist around it seemed to settle. Ellie ¨C 19 Points Sacrifice Now this was a shock to her. She had never brought it upon herself to check the points she would get from sacrificing the ring. But 25 points, she couldn¡¯t believe it. No going back now. Ellie ¨C 44 Points PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE Naruto. One Piece. Bleach. Hunter x Hunter. Fairy Tail. Her hand moved quickly. Fairy Tail.
Fairy Tail Path ¨C Powers and Items Remaining Points: 24 She selected Basic Magic Potential, and the list dimmed ¨C her points dropped to 4. Magic. It wasn¡¯t fire or steel or lightning¡ªbut something stranger. Wilder. Something that pulsed around her fingers now, even as rain trickled down her arms. She didn¡¯t say anything. Just turned back toward the camp. Jake blinked in surprise as she walked by. ¡°You chose?¡± She nodded. ¡°Fairy Tail.¡± He smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll like it. Fits you.¡±
That night, four names were known. David ¨C One Piece Camila ¨C Fairy Tail Miriam ¨C Naruto Alex ¨C Naruto Yusuf ¨C Hunter x Hunter Ellie ¨C Fairy Tail More would follow. Power Time By morning, everyone was energetic, at least more so then usually. The sun was out, and the morning dew hung on leaves, clothes were out to dry, and people felt thankful for a dryer morning. Firewood was collected, anything dry was ideal, but the weather hadn¡¯t made it easy recently. But none of that mattered as much anymore. Everyone felt it now, discussion was abound, people were close now, close to choosing their path. The attack yesterday cementing this resolve, they¡¯ve got to take charge, and the Paths gives them a purpose something to strive for. Near the fire, Jake stood cross-legged with his notebook open, jotting down notes between swigs of bitter pine tea. His pages were more filled now than ever¡ªpoint values, ability notes, cross-references between power systems. His list of known path-takers was growing. By midday, three more names had joined it.
Jason ¨C 22 Points He¡¯d sacrificed his phone, his silver watch, and several deer antlers scavenged from a forest clearing as well as other bits and bobs. He stood at the Obelisk with his hands clenched. PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE He pressed his palm against the stone. Bleach. The camp held its breath as the unfamiliar path opened.
Bleach Path ¨C Powers and Items Remaining Points: 2 ¡°Damn, 20 points for Reiatsu.¡± ¡°Awesome tell me more¡± Jake was in his element, scribbling everything he could down.
Raj ¨C 25 Points PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE One Piece. He followed David¡¯s lead but was 5 away from Haki Awareness, Jake recorded his choice, impressed by the sudden spread of One Piece users. "that¡¯s two for One piece¡± he whispered to himself. ¡°Could be a new tier forming.¡±
Li ¨C 24 Points Quietly, without ceremony, she chose Fairy Tail, but only had 4 points now, not enough for Basic magic potential , so she walked off. Jake was too late to catch her at the stone. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that one,¡± he muttered. ¡°She seems so... herbal.¡±
David, meanwhile, was working in silence beneath the lean-to near the southern barricade. His hand traced the length of his new item¡ªa long, curved saber. Purchase: Standard Marine Saber ¨C 3 Points It wasn¡¯t flashy. But it was well-balanced, razor-sharp, and sturdy. He¡¯d sharpened it three times already this morning. Roger stood nearby, watching. ¡°Looks real,¡± he said. ¡°Good weight?¡± David nodded. ¡°It¡¯ll do. Until I unlock Armament.¡± Jake pottered over ¡°Awesome, have you tried sacrificing it back. Based on what we¡¯ve sacrificed so far I¡¯d expect something like that to be worth much more¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Matter of fact I did, the Obelisk refused it. But that was expected¡±
In the eastern patch of trees, Ellie sat alone with a stick, practicing channeling magic. Nothing visible yet¡ªbut something shimmered at her fingertips when she focused. The basics of control were harder than she''d expected, but it was there. It was real. Seems she had a talent for it. Wren sat nearby, tending to Vin¡¯s healing wound. ¡°So,¡± she asked, ¡°does it feel like a superpower?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Ellie said. ¡°But it¡¯s there, best way I can compare it is like another limb or sense.¡± ¡°You getting a hang of it?¡± ¡°No where near a spell, id have to buy something, otherwise it would take way too much trial and error, but I can control the energy, just a bit¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell David, he¡¯d be pissed. You spoken to Camila?, she had picked Fairy Tail as well.¡± ¡°No, she¡¯s just hard to approach¡± Looking over she saw Camila head into the forest with Yusuf and Alex. ¡°I just need to get strong enough to join them.¡± Making their way into the forest. As per usual conversation was kept to a minimum, their plan of action already formed. To get the rest of the bear. Yusuf had an edge to him now, his purchase on Ten had given him a much greater degree of control then anyone else currently in regards to their respective powers, he walked up front now. Various tracks were noted, but they couldn¡¯t afford to waste more time, it¡¯s already unlikely the bears body is still there, but if there¡¯s a chance, it¡¯d be worth it. They came upon the cliff. And took in the view, above the canopy of trees, they could see an expansive forest, right up to mountains in the distance. ¡°Well, who¡¯d have thought, its still there¡± Yusuf spoke ¡°Let¡¯s not linger¡± Camila ever solemn. They all climbed down and began butchering the animal, it didn¡¯t take them long, there was some degrading, some critters had been feasting but a lot was intact. Yusuf got the body, although they all hefted it up the cliff with some rope they¡¯d swiped. Alex carried both the legs and Camila the arms. The walk back took an extra hour, slowed by the weight they carried. Walking into the clearing many looked on, most in shock. Bringing it to the Obelisk, Alex was given the body, Yusuf an arm and leg and Camila an arm and a leg. Sacrifice made ¡°That would make it what, a minimum of like 41 points¡± Alex was shocked, a goblin was only 2 points, this really drove home how lucky they were. ¡°Thank fuck for gravity¡± Yusuf laughed. With this Alex now had 37 points, Yusuf 11 points and Camila 21 points. They had picked up some other sacrifices since as well. Alex bought Chakra. His points now at 17. He felt energised, not necessarily stronger, but he could perceive this new energy within him. Control would come with some training. But at 17 points there was no point in waiting he bought Chakra control techniques for 5 points, this immediately granted him a basic level of control, he could stand on water now and walk-up trees, albeit to a basic level, it would take all of his focus. 12 points now. He bought chakra paper for 3 points, a sneaky hidden away item, it would indicate what he could train in and ideally what releases he should invest in. ¡°Spending spree huh¡± Yusuf questioned ¡°Yeah man, may as well¡± ¡°Fuck it then, training comes later¡± Yusuf went ahead and bought Ren down to 3 points now. ¡°Bought Ren, should give me more of edge should it come to it.¡± ¡°You got out Camila?¡± Alex turned to her. ¡°No, everything in the Fairy Tail path is pretty expensive, but I¡¯ve got my eye on a few magics that I want¡± With that Jake came charging over, seeing them at the Obelisk. As he accosted Alex and Yusuf, Camila subtly excused herself.
As dusk approached, Jake added the names to his note log: ¡°That''s nine,¡± he whispered. ¡°Nine out of a hundred. And counting.¡±
As the sun dipped, Miriam called for a meeting. Everyone gathered near the fire, tense and expectant. ¡°We¡¯ve had one attack already,¡± she said. ¡°Vin survived, but barely. We have no idea what else is out there. From now on, no one leaves the camp perimeter alone.¡± ¡°We need hunting teams,¡± Camila added. ¡°And scouts. Two minimum per group.¡± ¡°And training,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°Those of us with powers¡ªwe need to start using them.¡± David nodded, standing. ¡°If anyone wants to train melee, I¡¯m putting together sessions near the eastern posts. Bring a stick if you don¡¯t have a weapon.¡± Camila raised a hand. ¡°Same for tracking and forest survival. Anyone who wants to hunt, meet me in the morning.¡± Ellie, shy but resolute, added, ¡°I¡¯m practicing magic every day near the dried streambed. If you picked Fairy Tail, come find me.¡± The camp was really starting to shape up. Full Stomachs The clearing was softer that morning, the ground still damp from last night¡¯s drizzle. The sun had broken through the trees in narrow slants, scattering golden patches across the camp floor. Warmth lingered in the air. Alex crouched at the streambank, splashing cold water across his face. A trickle of chakra helped keep his focus sharp¡ªTree Walking and Water Walking were simple in theory, but holding control for extended periods strained his focus. He just hopes he has the talent to refine his control further. ¡°Balance on water, but don''t lose balance inside,¡± he muttered, eyes fixed on the ripples. Behind him, Ellie stood barefoot atop a flat stone, hands stretched forward. A faint shimmer flickered at her fingertips¡ªMagic Potential wasn¡¯t a spell, but a pulse, an intuition, it was the magic itself not given form. ¡°I think I felt it again,¡± she said. Alex stood up, wiping his hands on his pants. ¡°You¡¯ll get it. When I look at David still struggling for even a feeling of observation, you¡¯ve made a great deal of progress already. Although who knows magic might be easier than Haki.¡± ¡°Thanks for that¡± she said derisively. He grinned. ¡°I¡¯m kidding¡±, putting his hands up. She smiled, barely. ¡°I want to get some control of the energy first, but as always without a teacher it may be a job for points¡± A few meters away, Yusuf practiced striking with a thick branch, aura clinging like mist to his shoulders. He was sweating heavily, muttering short breaths as he pushed his Ren. Camila sat nearby, sharpening her blade in slow, even strokes. Her eyes tracked each movement Yusuf made, not judging¡ªassessing. ¡°How long can you maintain Ren?¡± she called. Yusuf stopped mid-swing. ¡°What?¡± ¡°How long? I¡¯d say if you can¡¯t maintain it for at least 5 minutes I¡¯d avoid using it in a fight. You run out of juice then your fucked¡± He blinked. ¡°Yeah, Ten will have to be good enough in the meantime. I think its about time that I see what my aura type is, pass us that cup¡± ¡°Alright, you hoping for anything in particular¡± she said ¡°Not sure to be honest. Theres a number of Hatsu that I can learn, or make on my own, getting Netero¡¯s Hatsu would be a massive asset. I think he was an enhancer.¡± ¡°Whose Netero.¡± ¡°Just someone from Hunter x Hunter. Basically, a very powerful old man, one of the strongest in that world¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Then enhancer it shall be¡± Camila jokes. She seemed to be warming up to them lately. Focusing his Nen, something he¡¯s barely got down, thanks to purchasing Ten and Ren. Time trickled on, till barely the water started to overflow from the cup. ¡°Enhancer it shall be, huh¡± Yusuf grins widely.
By midmorning, a hunting group returned¡ªJason, Theo, Wren, and Hana, dragging something heavy across a bundle of vines. Mud clung to their legs and sweat to their brows, but their eyes were bright. ¡°Holy shit,¡± someone breathed. ¡°Is that a boar?¡± ¡°More like a walking slab of meat,¡± Jared muttered as he stepped closer. ¡°Where¡¯d you find it?¡± ¡°Northwest ridge,¡± Theo said, catching his breath. ¡°Tracks were deep¡ªthing must¡¯ve been tearing through undergrowth for days. Got lucky it was cornered near the rocks.¡± ¡°Jason got the hit in,¡± Wren added. ¡°Spear to the chest. It dropped hard.¡± Jason looked embarrassed by the praise but didn¡¯t deny it. Hana stayed quiet, but she helped hoist the body onto a flat slab near the firepit. The smell of raw meat hit the camp like lightning.
Later, as the boar roasted over a low fire, People watched as a few approached the Obelisk, ready to choose their path. Roger ¨C 23 Points He chose One Piece, nodding to David from across the camp. He walked away quietly after the glow faded, muttering about finally having something worth training. Down to 3 points, he went on the buy a Marine Saber like David, now its just a matter of saving up for Haki Awareness, although the Rokushiki package looked good, it was expensive. Wren ¨C 26 Points She hesitated, her hand hovering for several seconds. Then pressed Hunter x Hunter. Down to 6 points. She grinned at Yusuf as she walked back. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one anymore.¡± Yusuf gave her a mock bow. ¡°Welcome to the aura freak club.¡± Theo ¨C 20 Points He selected Naruto, quietly. Down to 0 points, he would need to put some work in before he can buy chakra.
Near the streambed, Ellie practiced again¡ªjoined this time by Li, who had unlocked Basic Magic Potential. It seemed she had quite a few valuable things to part with to amass the points. The two sat on stones with palms open, trying to sense and shape something unseen. ¡°How long did it take for you to be able to start to control it¡± Li asked, eyes closed. ¡°A fair bit of time, but I can only barely use it.¡± Ellie replied. ¡°You think we¡¯ll get spells anytime soon?¡± ¡°Not unless we find something for points¡± Ellie murmured. ¡°Or learn one. But I doubt that¡¯s a route we can take yet, I imagine when someone buys a magic and any spells they might be able to teach others¡± ¡°Well at least¡± Li whispered, ¡°it¡¯s something.¡±
As dusk fell, Alex and Camila patrolled the southern perimeter. The fencing wasn¡¯t strong¡ªsharpened stakes, broken pots for noise traps¡ªbut it gave the illusion of safety. They walked in silence until Camila finally spoke. ¡°Ellie¡¯s getting better.¡± Alex nodded. ¡°She¡¯s putting in the hours.¡± ¡°You care about her?¡± He paused. ¡°Yeah. I do. Reminds me of my sister back home.¡± Camila didn¡¯t look surprised. ¡°She¡¯s not ready for the woods yet.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said. She nodded once. That was enough.
That night, around the fire, bowls were passed out¡ªboar stew, smoky and hot, the richest meal they¡¯d had in weeks. People talked more, smiled easier. They¡¯d go to bed with full stomachs this day. Jared spoke softly with Miriam near the map tree. Yusuf was chatting to Wren about Nen. Ellie practiced flickers of magic over her soup. Alex leaned back, the first warmth of real satisfaction in his chest. Jake sat with his notebook, tallying names: Twelve. Twelve out of a hundred. It¡¯ll be a good night. Training Smoke rose slowly from the morning fires. The sky was pale, cloudless¡ªfor once, a day that promised to stay dry. It made everything feel lighter. Even the cold seemed gentler than usual. Alex was stood barefoot on a trees surface. He wobbled for a second, then corrected. His arms stretched out slightly for balance, face tight in concentration. He was horizontal. This presented another issue they hadn¡¯t really though much about. This is real life, not anime, sticking yourself is one thing, but the core strength to remain there is another thing all together. He can maintain a few seconds but no more, not from lack of chakra control, but his own physical strength. As such Alex has catered his training, to sticking different leaves on his body, and in regards to tree climbing, he can hang upside down for about 10 seconds, but walking up a tree is far beyond him physically. ¡°Only 10 seconds¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯d like to use the lake, but without knowing what¡¯s in it, fuck, its just too risky¡±, He was dusting himself off after his not so elegant landing. The trick isn¡¯t sticking to a tree branch, its not breaking your neck when you drop. ¡°Not bad,¡± came a voice. He looked up to see Miriam watching. She crossed her arms. ¡°Can you give me some pointers; I¡¯ve only just bought chakra.¡± ¡°I can try, but id bought Chakra control Techniques Helps a lot, gives you a basic know how.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s hard-to-find time to get points unfortunately.¡± Alex smiled, took a slow breath ¡°Ill give you some pointers¡± ¡°Thank you¡± she said, smirking. ¡°Lets avoid hanging from the tree for now¡±
A short distance away, Ellie sat with Li and Wren. The three of them formed a small circle near a ring of smooth stones, where Ellie had etched faint magical runes into the dirt with a stick. Nothing active¡ªjust experiments. ¡°I¡¯m telling you,¡± Wren said, eyeing the symbols. ¡°That middle one you drew? Looks like it¡¯s glowing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wishful thinking,¡± Ellie said, though she leaned in. ¡°I don¡¯t get it, how are you so good at this¡± Li said softly. ¡°What are you trying to do¡± ¡°Not sure to be honest, I mean, it just feels like a good training technique I guess, you know, imbuing my magic into something¡± Ellie said. ¡°Well, lets hope you don¡¯t kill us all¡± Wren said. ¡°How is he?¡± ¡°Okay I guess, Jared says the wound isn¡¯t infected, but it¡¯s going to take some time to heal¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. They continued practicing their magic control in silence.
Yusuf sat cross-legged near the eastern fencing, eyes shut. The glow of his aura pulsed more steadily now, forming a faint shimmer around his body though only he could see it. Jake sat nearby, chewing dried root bark, scribbling. ¡°So Gyo¡¯s next?¡± he asked. Yusuf didn¡¯t answer. Not at first. He exhaled slowly, opened one eye. ¡°Trying. I¡¯m practicing Ren and Ten overlap right now. Gyo¡¯ll will be harder, it takes a lot of control, I can tell.¡± ¡°You going to try for a custom Hatsu?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°But right now I just need control. Can''t fire a cannon if you don¡¯t know how to load it.¡± Jake smirked. ¡°You¡¯re starting to sound like Camila.¡± Yusuf shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s not wrong about most things.¡±
David had his new saber out near the edge of the training area, where he and Roger were practicing swings against a dummy they¡¯d lashed together from vines and hardened bark. ¡°Try pivoting your back foot,¡± David called. ¡°You¡¯re losing power halfway through the slash.¡± Roger adjusted. The blade cut cleaner. ¡°Better,¡± David said. He stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°I¡¯ve been picking up a few points, I can almost buy Armament Haki¡± Roger nodded. ¡°Good stuff man. I¡¯m still trying for Haki Awareness, You got any devil fruits in mind¡± ¡°Absolutely, Kaido¡¯s would be nice, but a logia may be the way to go, if we¡¯re the only ones that can use Haki then we¡¯ll be invulnerable. Unless we fall in water I guess.¡± David said with a grin. ¡°Or your unlucky enough to come up against something that your weak against¡± Both men got back to their training. It had to be done sparingly, in regards to their food situation, but if they get stronger, then that means they don¡¯t have to worry about what attacked Vin.
By late afternoon, the hunting team returned¡ªCamila, Raj, Theo, and Hana¡ªthis time carrying a long, sinewy form lashed between two poles. The creature was deer-like, but with longer legs and antlers that curled into odd spirals. Its fur was dark and mottled, almost like moss. ¡°God,¡± someone muttered. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Some kind of forest deer,¡± Camila said. ¡°Bigger than anything we¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°We spotted a second one,¡± Raj added. ¡°But it spooked.¡± ¡°Meat for three days,¡± Jared said, his eyes alight. ¡°We¡¯ll dry half, cook the rest.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t go down easy either,¡± Theo muttered. ¡°Almost gored me.¡±
That night, the stew was rich again¡ªspiced with bark and bitter berries, but filled with real meat not just scraps from a few rabbits caught in the snares. People gathered closer now. Conversations stretched longer. Even laughter returned, hesitant but honest.
At the Obelisk, two more stepped forward. Marcy ¨C 21 Points She placed her hand on the stone without hesitation. Fairy Tail. Her path illuminated. Down to 1 point, she stepped away with a quiet sort of pride. ¡°About time,¡± she whispered. Dev ¨C 23 Points A younger boy, one of the quiet students. He looked uncertain as he stepped up. Jake hovered nearby, just in case. He selected Bleach¡ªjoining Jason. The glow surrounded him briefly, and then faded. Down to 3 points, it would take some time to get enough to buy Reiatsu.
That evening, Ellie walked with Alex near the stream. ¡°You checked your affinities yet?¡± she said. ¡°Yep, Fire, water and earth. And I¡¯m close to affording a release. Fire, maybe. Should give me an inkling in how to work my chakra to that element.¡± ¡°Fitting.¡± Alex raised an eyebrow. ¡°You calling me reckless?¡± Ellie smiled. ¡°You jumped off a cliff to kill a bear. You tell me.¡± They both laughed, quiet and tired, but full.
Back near the map tree, Miriam updated the patrol rotations. Jake stood beside her, flipping through pages. ¡°Fourteen now,¡± he said. ¡°Fourteen out of a hundred.¡± ¡°Not bad, although for most its just having unlocked a path, not a power yet, but we¡¯re getting somewhere.¡± Miriam muttered The Green Wedding It began with a scream. Not the startled cry of a dreamer waking, nor the quiet terror of a lone sentry spotting something in the dark¡ªbut a raw, ripping shriek. It cut across the clearing like a blade, snapping people upright where they slept, shattering the brief calm of night. Miriam was already moving, Knife in hand, cloak half-dragging behind her. ¡°South line!¡± she shouted. The fire hadn''t even gone out yet. Embers flickered across the camp floor, throwing long shadows as figures burst from lean-tos, hands empty or fumbling for weapons¡ªsticks, stones, spears, knives, whatever they had. Then came the second scream. And the third. From the southern perimeter, goblins poured through like ants from a ruptured hill¡ªten, twenty, maybe more. At the front, something taller. Bulkier. A head taller than any goblin, muscle-wrapped and wielding a jagged axe. Hobgoblin. ¡°TO ARMS!¡± Jared shouted, swinging his crude axe toward the wave. The perimeter broke like paper. Stakes toppled, noise traps snapped. The goblins came screaming, eyes glinting with savage hunger, clawed hands lashing out at anyone within reach. Vin, still on crutches, swung a torch wildly as one lunged for him. Camila slammed into it from the side, Knife piercing under its ribs. She pulled free and pivoted¡ªanother came in low. She kicked it in the jaw hard enough to send teeth scattering. Near the center of the camp, Yusuf lit up. His aura flared as he dropped into Ten. Two goblins came at him¡ªone with a club, the other with nothing but nails. His branch struck like a hammer, catching one in the temple caving in its head. It dropped twitching. The other lunged¡ªand he sidestepped, then drove a boot into its ribs snapping bone and sending the creature rolling a few meters. Alex stood over Ellie, who was still scrambling for her stick. A goblin charged them¡ªAlex didn¡¯t hesitate. He tackled it low, dragging it to the dirt. It shrieked in his face before he shoved a sharpened stone into its neck again and again until the body stopped twitching. More were coming. ¡°We hold the line here!¡± Miriam shouted, parrying a blow. ¡°Don¡¯t let them into the center!¡± The center housed the most vulnerable, the few elderly and kids in the camp. Jason roared as he drove a spear into the gut of one, only for another to latch onto his back. He stumbled. Theo yanked the goblin off with a brutal swing of a club, then dragged Jason upright. Blood dripped from Jason¡¯s shoulder, but he stayed standing. The hobgoblin entered the camp like a king. It didn¡¯t rush¡ªit walked. Confident. Stone Axe dripping with blood, goblins swarming around it like rats. Its eyes found David. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. And David saw it coming. He stepped forward, saber in hand. ¡°Hey,¡± he said. ¡°Come on then.¡± It roared¡ªdeep and guttural. Then it charged. David sidestepped the first swing barely. The axe buried into the ground. David slashed across its thigh, drawing thick black blood. It howled and backhanded him. He hit the ground hard and didn¡¯t get up. Kevin, a quiet unassuming man, charged it from the black stabbing it with a wooden spear. It screeched and turned, grabbing and ripping out the spear, but keeping hold, Kevin tugged at it, a foolish action. The beast brought down its axe with no mercy, driving it deep into Kevins head, a bubbling sounds was made as brain matter escaped. The hobgoblin didn¡¯t spare a second look it turned, watching the chaos unfolding with a grin across its face. Goblins were everywhere, the flickering flames offering no light, no moon shining on this night. The eyesight of goblins, better in the dark, lent to them a much needed advantage. The few torches set up offered some reprise for the survivors. Roger seeing the Hobgoblin distracted threw a spear. It buried itself in the hobgoblin¡¯s shoulder. This caused it to screech again, shrill and distracting. But it kept moving forward, swinging madly, chasing Miriam and Jared as they tried to flank it. Elsewhere, Li was screaming¡ªnot in fear, but in effort. Her palms glowed faintly, and with a burst of raw instinct, she forced a goblin backward with a pulse of unstable magic. It wasn¡¯t a spell. It wasn¡¯t pretty. But it bought her time a second of time. Ellie appeared behind it and drove her sharpened stick through the back of its neck, its darkened blood spraying onto Marcy, who screamed in shock and terror. Wren was covered in blood¡ªnot all of it hers. She stood beside Yusuf now, their backs together. ¡°This your idea of training?¡± she shouted. ¡°I¡¯m learning fast,¡± he grunted, striking another down. Jake dragged Dev behind a crate as the boy clutched a gash in his side. ¡°Stay here. Stay down. If they breach again¡ªrun.¡± Turning he saw, saw through the flickering lights someone go down, as goblins swarmed them, ripping them with their sharpened nails and teeth, rending his flesh. The poor women¡¯s broken screams pierced the night, till an abrupt end, she was finished off. The hobgoblin struck Miriam¡¯s hand holding her knife with such force it sent it flying. She ducked the follow-up swing with the axe, rolled, came up with a spear scavenged from a corpse. It snarled at her, wounded now, bleeding from multiple places¡ªbut still very much alive. Alex charged it from the side. Not because it was smart. Not because it was tactical. Because someone had to. He hit its flank hard, knife drawn, stabbing into its side. It roared and grabbed him, hurling him into a goblin. Alex scrambled against it, stab after stab, till it stopped moving. Then Yusuf came. Aura blazing, He¡¯d used Ren, he only had about 30 seconds now, he struck the hobgoblin in the ribs with everything he had caving in the beast¡¯s chest. No more noise. It dropped like a puppet with its strings cut. This caused the goblins to route, their mighty leader cut down. It was all Miriam needed. She didn¡¯t give her people a chance to rest. ¡°FOLLOW, BEFORE THEY REACH THE FOREST, KILL AS MANY AS YOU CAN¡± She was very pissed. The Broken goblins paid no mind to their comrades dropping around them. They fled into the trees, shrieking in disarray, leaving blood and bodies behind. Jared slumped to a knee. Camila leaned on her blade. Yusuf collapsed after reactivating Ten, which was feeble. Alex looked around many goblins had been slain, some still moved with broken limbs. ¡°QUCKLY NOW, CHECK THE INJURED AND THE DEAD, WE HAVE TO SEE WHO WE CAN SAVE¡± Jared screamed. No rest, not yet. The camp was a ruin. Blood soaked the dirt. Shelters destroyed, bodies strewn about. The fire burned low. Smoke curled into the sky. Groans and screams of pains lit up the night. Aftermath Dawn came red. It crept over the treetops like blood seeping through cloth, casting a copper glow across the battered camp. Smoke still drifted from the fire pits, clinging to the ruins of lean-tos. Crows circled above, their cries distant but constant, waiting. The camp smelled of ash. And blood. Alex moved slowly through the wreckage, hands coated in dried gore. His knife was gone¡ªhe wasn¡¯t sure where he¡¯d dropped it in the chaos. His shirt was torn. His shoulder bruised. But he was alive. Not everyone was. Kevin¡¯s body lay covered beneath a torn tarp near the eastern edge, where Miriam had ordered the fallen to be gathered. Beside him, the woman¡ªwho¡¯d screamed as they tore her apart. No one had known her well. A quiet woman with dark hair, always working with the berry gatherers. Her name hadn¡¯t even come to him until Jake said it. Lena. That was her name. And there were more. Eleven others. Faces that had been familiar, if not known. One of the older engineers. A teenager who had just started helping with water filtration. A man Alex only remembered as always being cold, always shivering. All gone. Miriam stood silently before the line of bodies, arms crossed tight, jaw clenched. Her knife was still bloodstained. No one interrupted her. Camila sat on a low stump beside the shattered remains of the south fence, legs stained to the knees with dried blood. She was patching her cloak, methodical, her expression unreadable. Jake knelt by the obelisk, writing slowly. A tally. Dead: 13 Wounded: 9 Goblin casualties: 23 Hobgoblin: Confirmed slain Yusuf leaned over a bucket of water, rinsing blood from his hands, his breathing shallow. He hadn¡¯t spoken since the fight. Not since he¡¯d dropped the hobgoblin with a strike that caved in its ribs. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°You good?¡± Alex asked quietly. Yusuf nodded but didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Used Ren too long. I can barely feel my legs.¡± Alex sank beside him. ¡°Any injuries?¡± Yusuf let out a long breath. ¡°No, just some scratches¡± Ellie sat nearby with Wren and Li, bandaging a gash across Wren¡¯s arm. The three girls were pale, dirt-smudged, but focused. Ellie¡¯s hands trembled only slightly as she tied the cloth. ¡°We lost thirteen,¡± Li said softly. ¡°That¡¯s... too many.¡± ¡°And it won¡¯t be the last time,¡± Wren added, voice rough. ¡°Unless we get stronger.¡± They all looked toward the Obelisk. A few people approached it that morning¡ªquietly, with no ceremony. Stan ¨C 21 Points Path Chosen: Naruto Melissa ¨C 24 Points Path Chosen: Bleach Grace ¨C 22 Points Path Chosen: One Piece None had points left for further purchases, but Jake logged the names. The tally was growing. Seventeen now. Though it would take time to develop. Camila finally stood, walking toward the center where the hobgoblin¡¯s body lay covered. Its stone axe had been claimed already¡ªset aside under lock by Miriam. The thing had bled black and thick. Flies already buzzed around the cloth. ¡°We sacrifice the goblins, burn the people¡± she said. Miriam nodded once. ¡°Tonight.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need to prepare food too,¡± Jared added. ¡°There¡¯s meat left from yesterday, and a few squirrels from the snares. We don¡¯t have the energy to go hunting today.¡± ¡°No one¡¯s hunting,¡± Miriam said. ¡°Today, we fortify.¡± She looked around at the survivors gathered in the clearing¡ªdozens of bruised, bloodied faces. ¡°We rebuild the perimeter. We dig trenches if we have to. Reinforce with whatever you can find. No one leaves alone. And if you can fight, you will train.¡± Silence. Then slowly, people began to move. Alex found Ellie beside one of the fallen shelters, helping re-tie what had once been a support beam. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked. She shook her head. ¡°But I¡¯m here.¡± Near the fire pit, David was fiddling with his saber, his knuckles raw. Roger sat beside him, silent. Neither said much. Yusuf eventually stood and hobbled toward the training area. ¡°If anyone wants to learn Ten, now¡¯s the time.¡± Camila started clearing a new space for hunting gear and weapons, if they were better equipped they may have had more survivors. Plans to spend some points on items rather then just powers started cropping up between people. By nightfall, the bodies had been burned. Thirteen pyres lit the clearing, their smoke rising high into the forest canopy. No words were said. No ceremony given. Only silence. Perhaps unwise, they could have sacrificed them, but it just didn¡¯t feel right Jake watched the flames, his notebook closed for once. Seventeen had chosen. Eighty-three remained. No Time for Grief The ashes smouldered for hours. Even after the pyres had burned down, even after most had turned away, Alex stayed close to the blackened ground. A light breeze carried the scent of charred wood and something heavier. Thirteen souls reduced to drifting smoke. He wasn¡¯t alone. Jake crouched nearby, flipping through the pages of his notebook, but his pen wasn¡¯t moving. Just holding it. Flipping pages. Staring past them. ¡°Forty-six points from the goblins,¡± he said softly. ¡°Eight from the hobgoblin. If we pool them, that¡¯s... fifty-four.¡± Alex didn¡¯t respond right away. ¡°Too late for the dead.¡± ¡°Not for the rest of us,¡± Jake murmured. Across the clearing, Miriam and Camila were speaking in low voices. Both looked exhausted, but clear-eyed. Miriam glanced toward the Obelisk as if weighing something heavy. Jake stood. ¡°We need a system.¡± Alex blinked. ¡°For what?¡± Jake turned to face him. ¡°Point pooling. If someone¡¯s close to unlocking something important¡ªchakra, Nen, a weapon¡ªwe need a way to help each other. Or at least vote on it.¡± ¡°People might not go for it,¡± Alex said. ¡°Everyone¡¯s desperate to get their own strength. To be reliant on someone else is risky¡± ¡°Desperation¡¯s what killed thirteen people last night,¡± Jake replied, sharper than he meant. He exhaled. ¡°Sorry. I just¡ªcan¡¯t watch that happen again.¡±
By midday, the survivors gathered around the Obelisk. Miriam stood beside it, arms folded. ¡°We killed twenty-three goblins. One hobgoblin. We¡¯re not wasting those sacrifices.¡± A murmur passed through the crowd. ¡°Fifty-four points,¡± she continued. ¡°We¡¯re going to start pooling. For specific goals. If we think someone is close to unlocking something that will help us all, we vote. That¡¯s how we¡¯ll survive. Otherwise get your own points in the meantime¡± Jake stepped forward. ¡°Not just powers. Tools. Gear. Weapons. We underestimated that last night. Some of those killed... never had a chance.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Camila nodded. ¡°The axe from the hobgoblin was well made, albeit stone, but beyond that... we need more. Bows. Armor. Haki, Chakra, Aura¡ªit all helps. But only if you live long enough to use it.¡± There was resistance, of course. Some scoffed. Some whispered. But no one shouted. Not after the night before. A vote was cast. And the points went to Wren¡ªwho¡¯d unlocked Nen but hadn¡¯t been able to afford Gyo or any advanced control yet, Nen is relatively inexpensive compared to other routes and Yusuf had proven it was a very useful power to have, as such in the short term it was determined the wisest option. That and her calm under pressure, her close work with Yusuf, and her role in protecting the center during the breach all tipped the decision in her favour. That and David paying for a 5 Marine Sabers costing 15 points in total. She approached the Obelisk quietly. Wren ¨C 6 Points (Pre-pool) +39 Points (Pool) = 45 points She bought: She had 2 points remaining. ¡°Great. David and Roger have been practicing with the Marine Sabers so I want more to train with them, use sticks when sparing, but get used to the weight and feel of the blades. Wren, you train with Yusuf, both of you need to get your Ren stamina up¡± Turning to speak to everyone else ¡°Find the time between hunting, water collection, gathering firewood, all that shit. I don¡¯t want to see people relaxing anymore, if you¡¯ve picked a power train in it. If not gather points, we cant afford this to happen again.¡±
That evening, camp life strained to return to routine. Ellie practiced fine control, this time working magic into a dirt sphere she¡¯d moulded. She¡¯d started calling it glow shaping, but nothing had happened yet. Alex was helping reinforce the fencing with sharpened stakes, alongside Theo and Dev. Miriam passed through, correcting their spacing. ¡°Keep the gaps small,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ll string trip-lines between them tonight.¡± Theo nodded. ¡°What about alarms?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got some old pans. Rope them to the branches. It¡¯s crude, but it works.¡± Near the fire pit, Yusuf was sitting with Wren, watching her practice. ¡°I can see it,¡± she muttered. ¡°Your aura. It¡¯s... thicker than usually¡± ¡°Just Ren,¡± he said. ¡°But yeah, you¡¯ll get used to it.¡± Wren looked toward the forest, then at the others. ¡°We need more like us. Fighters. Sensors. We can¡¯t just train. We need to start planning patrol rotations.¡± ¡°Already spoke to Miriam,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°We¡¯re forming a ranger unit. You, me, Camila, Jason, Alex maybe Theo. We¡¯ll sweep daily. Hunt. Track. Report.¡± She nodded. ¡°Good.¡±
That night, the fire felt warmer. They had stew again¡ªless meat now, just roots and the last of the moss-deer. But it was food. They talked softly. They sat closer. Even those who hadn¡¯t picked a path yet stayed near the core. Jake scratched new names into his notebook: ? David ¨C One Piece ? Camila ¨C Fairy Tail ? Miriam ¨C Naruto ? Alex ¨C Naruto ? Yusuf ¨C Hunter x Hunter ? Ellie ¨C Fairy Tail ? Jason ¨C Bleach ? Raj ¨C One Piece ? Li ¨C Fairy Tail ? Roger ¨C One Piece ? Wren ¨C Hunter x Hunter ? Theo ¨C Naruto ? Stan ¨C Naruto ? Melissa ¨C Bleach ? Grace ¨C One Piece ? Marcy ¨C Fairy Tail ? Dev ¨C Bleach Seventeen chosen still. But now, one more path had been truly explored. And out in the trees, past the range of torchlight, something watched. Not a goblin. Something taller. It did not breathe. It did not blink. It simply turned... and stepped back into the dark. Skittering The air smelled of wet leaves and distant ash. It had been two days since the goblin attack, and while the pyres had long since burned to cinders, their presence still clung to the camp like smoke. Thirteen gone. More wounded. But the survivors were moving again¡ªnot because they had healed, but because there was no other choice. Morning began earlier now. The sun hadn¡¯t yet broken the canopy, but people were already stirring¡ªcutting vines, sharpening sticks, reinforcing the trench line with whatever junk they could spare. Alex stood over a log, using a sharpened rock to carve the tip of a crude spear. His knuckles were scraped raw. Splinters had burrowed deep into his palm, but he welcomed the sting. Beside him, Theo adjusted a noise trap, tying a bent pan to a stretch of vine above the south tree line. ¡°No one¡¯s relaxing anymore,¡± Theo said quietly, glancing at the camp. ¡°Feels like we¡¯re living on a knife edge.¡± ¡°We are,¡± Alex replied. ¡°But at least we¡¯re finally acting like it.¡± Behind them, Wren¡¯s voice rang out over the clearing. ¡°Training group¡ªeast side, now. If you¡¯ve got a blade or a stick, bring it. If not, bring your fists.¡± David stood nearby, his saber strapped across his back. He gave Wren a respectful nod before calling out to those closer to the Obelisk. ¡°Marine saber training¡ªsame spot. Three rotations. If I catch anyone slacking, you¡¯re running perimeter laps with Camila.¡± Groans followed, but no one argued. David was in a good mood, he had bought Armament, it¡¯s only a basic application but he felt like head somewhere to build off of now. Alex handed Theo the finished spear. ¡°You fancy going out for a hunt?¡± Theo nodded. ¡°May as well. Got something in mind?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noticed a cave to the North, told Miriam about it, but figured it might be good to check it out. I¡¯ve got Yusuf on board and Camila.¡± ¡°Well lets grab them and go¡±
At the Obelisk, murmurs had already begun to build. A small group had gathered¡ªpeople on the edge of commitment. Jake stood beside the stone, watching like a quiet sentinel, notebook in hand. His eyes scanned the faces, calculating, guessing. One stepped forward. Trish ¨C 21 Points Age: Late 20s. Former high school gym teacher. She pressed her palm to the stone. The glow flared, and she didn¡¯t hesitate. Path Chosen: Naruto Down to 1 point. She stepped back, jaw tight but satisfied. Another stepped up. Nathan ¨C 25 Points Age: Mid-30s. Worked as a bartender. He hesitated, then selected One Piece. That brought the total for that path to five. ¡°5 points left,¡± Jake noted. ¡°But he¡¯s been saving his phone. That¡¯ll be enough for something later.¡± Still, Jake¡¯s attention kept drifting¡ªnot to those approaching, but to those watching from a distance. A few faces lurked near the fringes: Vin, still recovering, Matt, who had helped with fencing, and three more who had yet to approach the Obelisk at all. It was only a matter of time. They cant be far off.
At the stream, Ellie sat with Li and Marcy, each holding smooth stones pulsing with a faint shimmer. ¡°I can feel it now,¡± Marcy whispered, eyes closed. ¡°The magic... it hums.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not enough to feel it,¡± Ellie said. ¡°You¡¯ve got to shape it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been experimenting with words,¡± Li added. ¡°Trying to etch them with intent. Like runes.¡± ¡°They might work¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. None of them had spells yet. But their control was improving.
In the woods, Camila, Yusuf, Jason, Theo and Alex made their first official patrol as the ranger unit. They moved quietly, a loose diamond formation. Alex at the rear, Camila leading. Jason had a new spear¡ªcrafted with bark and obsidian shards they¡¯d found along the western ridge. Yusuf kept his aura at a low simmer, maintaining Ten without overexerting himself. And Theo followed on tepidly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen more signs,¡± Camila said softly. ¡°Tracks not from goblins. Larger. Barefoot. But not human.¡± ¡°Could be what left the gouges at the lake,¡± Jason muttered. ¡°Who knows at this point.¡± ¡°So, where¡¯s this cave Alex.¡± Camila said. ¡°About 30 more minutes, same direction, we¡¯ll come across a hill, it dips down into a bit of a valley¡± They came upon the cave at last, it had a large mouth, maybe 15ft tall. They took stock and started to make their way in. Alex lighting up the path with his phones torch. With Theo and Jason lighting up a make shift torch, if something goes wrong they don¡¯t want their only light source extinguished better to have multiple. ¡°A Mine¡± Theo gave the worst Gimli impression Alex had ever heard. ¡°Shut the fuck man¡± Alex hushed tough he struggled not to laugh. Camila just glared. ¡°Sorry¡± Making their way in the cave, it didn¡¯t shrink but widened, widened into a chasm. Before anyone could say anything, a stern look from Camila kept them shut. The torches barely lit it up. But they heard it, skittering down below. Seeing no where else to walk, Camila signalled them to head back. At camp, preparations were underway for a more permanent armoury. Jared and Raj were digging a pit near the edge of the clearing where weapons and tools could be stored, protected from rain and theft. Roger brought over two fresh spears and a bundle of half-formed arrows. ¡°We need bows,¡± he said. ¡°Ranged defense. Something for high ground.¡± ¡°Wood¡¯s too soft here,¡± Raj replied. ¡°Snaps too easy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Camila when she¡¯s back. See if she knows any better spots for gathering materials.¡± Nearby, Dev helped tie a new support beam to the lean-to where the injured were housed. He worked in silence, but his hands were steady. ¡°What in the fuck makes that noise¡± Jason finally took a breath. ¡°I¡¯d wager spiders¡± Yusuf spoke ¡°Really, I hope to god not.¡± ¡°Scared¡± Alex grinned. ¡°A fantasy world with spiders, I imagine their bigger than a house spider, so yeah.¡± Camila hushed them and pointed to the other side of the valley. Looking on, they saw it. A spider, heading right towards them. They froze, it froze. They only hear a pre-emptive ¡°Get ready,¡± before the arachnid skittered towards them. It covered the distance is seconds. Theo fell back holding his spear up but dropping his torch. Alex drove his stick into the spiders leg, but it ricocheted off. Camila start to loop around it, lunging forward occasionally, driving her spear, knife on the tip into its legs. ¡°TRY TO AIM BETWEEN ITS JOINTS¡± Yusuf about to make a move, heard squeal. ¡°SHIT. ITS STABBED HIS LEG¡± Theo, before he could call for help, felt himself lifted into the air, the spider winced as it felt a few more nicks to its legs and body, but it was determined. Leaning itself back, it bit down on Theo¡¯s head. Yusuf a second late rammed into its body bolstered by Ren impaling his spear deep into the arachnid and causing them both to tumble down the valley splashing in the stream below. ¡°YUSUF¡± Alex and Camila charged down. Jason remained, paralysed with fear. They could see the spiders legs flailing trying to find purchase. Using a rock, Camila jumped on its back. Alex gave a courtesy glance at Theos mangled head, before stabbing the spider with everything he has. It flailed no longer. Some silence persisted but not for long. ¡°JASON, GET DOWN HERE NOW HELP US¡± Seeing the spider still, he started to make his way down. ¡°LIFT¡± Yusuf, was underneath, grabbing his hand Alex dragged him out. ¡°You alright man¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m fine. I was just trapped. Is Theo alright¡± A solemn shake of the head was his answer. ¡°Fucking spiders.¡± The ranger team returned one fewer, but richer for it. They had managed to lug a good amount of the spider back with them. After a solemn word with Miriam. Camila took the spiders head, and arms to the Obelisk. Sacrifice Camila ¨C 55 points Path ¨C Fairy Tail Wind Magic (Control air currents, create slicing wind attacks, enhance movement.) ¨C 30 points Chosen Camila ¨C 25 points Knowledge flooded Camila¡¯s mind, she immediately grasped basic wind magic spells, and how to manipulate her magic to achieve this. She now just knew how to use it. Before she could go off Jake had made his way to her. Alex and Yusuf went and sat down. Luckily the snares had been full, so quite a bit of rabbit meat to go around, particularly seeing as though the hunting teams were unsuccessful. They had already planned to head out again tomorrow. Even with Theo¡¯s death on their minds.
That night, Miriam stood near the firepit, her arms crossed. ¡°We can¡¯t rely on reaction,¡± she said to those gathered. ¡°If we wait for danger to come, we¡¯ll die¡± Camila nodded beside her. ¡°We¡¯re forming hunting teams, patrols, and more structure. You want to stay alive? You contribute. If you¡¯ve got points, use them. If not¡ªearn them. No more passengers.¡± No one argued. Jake updated his tally beside the flames: Nineteen chosen. Eighty-one remained. A Week goes by One week passed. Not in peace, not in safety¡ªbut it passed nethertheless. The clearing buzzed now with the quiet hum of structure. The smell of smoke no longer meant panic. Morning fires burned low and intentional. The fencing had expanded by ten meters on all sides, reinforced with sharpened stakes, trenches, and rudimentary watchtowers made from scavenged branches. The camp wasn¡¯t a village. Not yet. But it was starting to look like one. Alex woke to the sound of hammering¡ªDev and Roger were working on a third watchpost near the eastern line. The two moved quickly, communicating in quiet grunts. Dev still had a faint scar across his side from the goblin raid, but he worked through it, leaner and stronger now. He was growing. Vin sat nearby, finally upright, flexing his leg cautiously as he tied a simple snare with his fingers. The wound had healed enough for him to hobble on his own, though his stride was stiff and short. "Don¡¯t rush it," Camila said as she passed by, setting down a bundle of vines beside the fire pit. "You don¡¯t want to rip the scar open. Again." Vin nodded sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯ve already heard it from Wren, Marcy, and Miriam.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, moving on. Over the past week, life had become survival by habit. Wren and Yusuf were up earlier than most each morning, pushing their Nen training to its edge. The two of them now led short lessons in aura basics every evening for those interested¡ªJake called it "Ten for Ten," a nod to the time limit and the technique. A few others had joined their sessions¡ªsome only curious, others desperate. Yusuf himself has gained Gyo and Ken for 10 points from each of them. He¡¯d also bought a Nen tutors scroll for 5 points, which explains the core techniques and gives guidance. Alex had made significant progress with his chakra control, able to stick to vertical surfaces for minutes at a time now. Tree climbing had become part of his daily warm-up. His physical strength training was also coming along nicely, as was the same for others. He spent 15 points to unlock Fire Release which gave him the knowledge and skill to turn his chakra into flame, and Water release. He¡¯s had some time to train in both, but his next big goal is the Sharingan, but at 70 points, he¡¯s still a ways off at 22. Ellie had bought Ice make magic, costing her 35 points, she can only use the basics as of now, but with her talent she¡¯s sure to flourish soon. If they ever get to a surplus of meat, such a magic would be handy. Li had bought transformation magic for 20 points, whilst at the basic level it only allows her to change her appearance, she still can¡¯t change her clothes, but the potential of the magic is great, with enough training she could add other features like gills or even wings. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Camila has been flourishing as per usual, going out hunting frequently, usually Alex and Yusuf tag along, although Ellie came a few times, she was given some of their trophies, letting her get enough points for the Ice Make magic. But Camila is already quite formidable, she¡¯d bought a few days ago Earth magic for 30 points and has been exploring that with her wind magic. That and increasing her magical reserves through training. Miriam walked the perimeter every morning at dawn, often alone. She had been quieter since Theo died, though more decisive. Her patrol rotations were stricter now. Her orders shorter. A week of weight behind her words. She¡¯d chosen Medical Ninjutsu for 15 points when she could and has been a big help to Jared. Her training with Alex has gone along nicely as well. The ranger unit had become a permanent fixture¡ªAlex, Camila, Jason, Yusuf, and now Grace. They rotated daily hunts, bringing back rabbits, mushrooms, wild root vegetables, and once¡ªmiraculously¡ªa boar. That hunt had left Jason with a nasty gash down his forearm. But he wore the scar like pride. ¡°Better a scratch than nothing on the spit,¡± he¡¯d said. The boar didn¡¯t last that long though. A full stew night brought real smiles to the camp. That night, they¡¯d even played music, this was off of Alex¡¯s phone, one of the few remaining. Jake sat by the Obelisk each night, updating his tally with neat, disciplined handwriting. He¡¯d recorded seven new path-takers that week.
New Path Selections:
That brought the total to 26 chosen out of 100. Jake kept a tally by power system:
David has gained Observation Haki, spending 25 points, similarly Roger has gained Armament in this time. Other then that Davids progress with Armament has been coming along nicely, though nowhere near full body, They¡¯ve stockpiled a variety of items at this point as well. In particular from the One-Piece path, 5 more Marine Sabers have been bought, bringing the total number to 12. A few den den mushis had been bought, and they have also bought a flintlock pistol for 12 points, it only came with 5 shots though. It was meant for safe keeping. Toward the end of the week, something changed. It wasn¡¯t announced. It didn¡¯t come with a sound or a light. It came in silence¡ªwhen Roger was scrolling through the devil fruit options, looking through some Zoan devil fruits, nothing fancy: UNAVAILABLE The power was grayed out¡ªits count at zero. Devil Fruit (Zoan-type) ¨C Inu Inu no Mi: Model ¨C Jackal Remaining: 0 ¡°That¡¯s... that¡¯s one of the Zoans,¡± he whispered. ¡°What¡± Miriam stood beside him. ¡°What are you on about.¡± ¡°A devils fruits gone, one of the zoans, the jackal fruit,¡± Roger said. Miriam looked to Jake who shook his head. The realization spread slowly. For the first time, the abstract idea of other groups became real. Concrete. Confirmed. The cloth found many days ago had been forgotten by most, but the greyed out devi fruit all but confirms the theory that others had been sent with them. Jake closed his notebook with care. ¡°Twenty-six of us have chosen. Seventy-four still haven¡¯t. And we¡¯re not alone.¡± he said. Resolve The Obelisk stood silent. Even a day after the Devil Fruit disappeared from its list, people still passed by it slower, more deliberately¡ªglancing over its runes like they might flicker again, might reveal something else was gone. But nothing had changed. Only that one word remained grayed out, burned into the minds of all who saw it: Inu Inu no Mi ¨C Model: Jackal Remaining: 0 For Jake, it was a shift. Not just a log. Not just a tally. It was a race now.
Camila stood beside the map tree with Miriam that morning, her arm resting against the hilt of her blade, shed gotten one of the Marine Sabers. Earth and wind magic swirled subtly through her aura, not visible¡ªbut felt. She¡¯d learned to keep it low, simmering beneath the surface, enough to react at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°You thinking what I¡¯m thinking?¡± Camila asked, eyes scanning the crude charcoal map. ¡°Probably,¡± Miriam replied. ¡°We need more than fences.¡± ¡°Walls?¡± ¡°More like layers. And more people who can actually defend them. It¡¯s not just about surviving anymore¡ªit¡¯s about pace. Someone else out there is gathering points. Strong enough to claim a fruit already. I¡¯m not na?ve, our groups pretty good as it comes morality wise, but what about other groups, what if they had an attack like we had, but on the first night.¡± Camila nodded once. ¡°It¡¯s not just that, power corrupts. Unless there¡¯s others to balance it out, it¡¯s not difficult for someone to become a tyrant. We start ranking threats today. Everything we¡¯ve seen¡ªboars, goblins, bears, that spider. Maybe even rumors. We make it public. Clear.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring it up tonight.¡±
Nearby, Wren crouched over a makeshift chalkboard she''d painted using ash and clay. She was scratching a symbol into the center¡ªsomething circular, with four spokes. Yusuf stood over her shoulder, watching intently. ¡°That¡¯s our training wheel?¡± he asked. She nodded. ¡°Outer circle for Ten. Inner for Ren. Center for Hatsu... if anyone ever gets that far.¡± ¡°Travis might,¡± Yusuf said, glancing toward the lean-to where the silent man sat, meditating beneath the morning sun. ¡°He doesn¡¯t talk much. But he¡¯s got intensity. Just needs to unlock Nen. But with the basics in regards to information, well he should progress fast hopefully. Luckily we¡¯ve got Miriams ceremony thing tonight¡± Wren smiled faintly. ¡°We¡¯re becoming instructors now.¡± ¡°We¡¯re becoming targets,¡± Yusuf corrected. ¡°Which means everyone else needs to catch up.¡±
In the clearing near the firepit, Ellie sat beside Li and Hana. The three of them had been talking about magic, with Ellie and Li trying to develop other magic using the knowledge gained from their respective power choices. Hana who had recently chosen the Fairy Tail path, is taking part in the ¡®ceremony¡¯ later tonight that others have taken to calling it. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°We¡¯re getting better¡± Ellie said. Hana nodded. ¡°I still think we need a spellbook,¡± Li muttered. ¡°This trial and error crap is going to get someone hurt. Getting transformation magic helped in understanding magic more buts its specialised to transformation magic¡± Marcy wandered over, hair damp from a morning wash. ¡°If we want assistance that way, there are books and stuff that you can buy. But might be better to buy the power directly, I mean Ellie¡¯s got the Ice make which just made a bunch click for you, no?¡± ¡°True¡± Ellie murmured.
That afternoon, a new hunt set out¡ªCamila, Alex, Grace, and Raj. They followed deer tracks through the western ridge, passing moss-covered stones and corpses of trees blackened by old fire. They didn¡¯t speak much. Alex could feel it¡ªthe pressure. Since the announcement, the confirmation of others, something had shifted. Everyone was working harder. Talking less. Like time was running out. ¡°Up ahead,¡± Camila whispered, crouching low. She pointed at a trail of broken leaves and a faint smear of blood. ¡°Two deer. One injured.¡± ¡°Think we can drive them back to camp?¡± Grace asked, brushing her fingers along the haft of her saber. ¡°No,¡± Raj said. ¡°Not without losing them.¡± ¡°Then we finish it now,¡± Camila said. They fanned out. Alex surged chakra to his feet, sprinting up the slope ahead of the others. A flicker of movement through the trees¡ªhe leapt, crashing into the clearing ahead. The deer turned¡ªwild-eyed, bleeding from its hind leg. Camila¡¯s spear hit first, driving into its shoulder. Alex tackled it from the side, blade in hand. Raj followed fast behind, finishing the second. It was bloody work. But efficient.
By the time they returned, the sun was dipping. Two deer. Four people. A good haul. They passed Matt and Vin, who were dragging buckets of water toward the firepit. Both looked up at the carcasses, and Vin gave a small cheer. ¡°Stew night again!¡± Matt grinned. ¡°Ellie¡¯s gonna freeze some. She¡¯s been dying to test food storage.¡±
Jake was already at the Obelisk when they arrived. He¡¯d been scribbling most of the afternoon, revisiting tallies and predictions. At the bottom of the page, he¡¯d marked a new section: Confirmed Other Groups: Yes First Claimed Devil Fruit: Jackal (Zoan)
Later that evening, as the deer roasted over the flames and voices rose with the scent of cooking meat, Miriam stood by the firepit and cleared her throat. Silence spread like ripples. ¡°We¡¯ve seen what¡¯s out there,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ve seen what this place holds. Goblins. Monsters. Unknown threats. But now we know what we¡¯re really facing.¡± She turned toward the Obelisk. ¡°Others. Like us. But ahead. Stronger. And we don¡¯t know where they are¡ªor if they¡¯re coming.¡± The fire popped loudly. ¡°So starting tomorrow, we¡¯re building more than defenses. We¡¯re building knowledge. We¡¯re listing every creature we¡¯ve seen. Every trait. Weaknesses. Patterns. We¡¯ll study the land. Learn it. Exploit it.¡± Jake stepped forward, holding up a leather-bound log. ¡°We¡¯ll call it the Cradle Bestiary. First entries go in tonight.¡± ¡°Anyone with info¡ªtalk to Jake,¡± Miriam finished. ¡°You want to live? Then act like it.¡± ¡°Now the moment you¡¯ve been waiting for, ¡®the ceremony¡¯ as I¡¯ve heard some of you mention it. As you know we still have a number of tools and items taking over from Earth. The items from our fallen friends. Reality is, we don¡¯t have the luxury to keep mementos, so. Raj, Hana, Grace, Dev, Stan, Melissa, Matt, Vin, Travis, Becca, Harper and Omar. All of you, having awakened your paths, now need power, come forward take these items, sacrifice and grow.¡± They all came forward Raj ¨C One piece ¨C Haki Awareness Omar - One piece ¨C Haki Awareness Grace - One piece ¨C Haki Awareness Matt - One piece ¨C Haki Awareness Hana ¨C Fairy Tail ¨C Basic Magic Potential Dev ¨C Bleach ¨C Reiatsu Melissa ¨C Bleach ¨C Reiatsu Harper ¨C Bleach ¨C Reiatsu Travis ¨C Hunter X Hunter ¨C Aura detection and Activation ¨C Ten Stan ¨C Naruto ¨C Chakra Vin ¨C Naruto ¨C Chakra Becca ¨C Naruto ¨C Chakra Excitement was in the air, many of these individuals were already close to the power, whilst some need much more help. But either way. They can really start abusing the training.
That night, as stars peeked through the canopy and the last of the stew was scraped from the pot, the camp sat a little closer. Plans ahead The fog rolled in with the dawn. Not the thin mist they¡¯d grown used to¡ªthe kind that hung lazily over the streambed and curled around tents like breath on cold glass. This was something else. Heavier. Hungrier. It swallowed the camp whole before the sun had risen, coating every inch in pale-gray damp. It dulled sound. Softened light. The fencing looked like little more than shadowy spikes, and the trees just beyond faded into nothing. Miriam was the first out of the map lean-to, boots crunching in the dew. She scanned the treeline, then raised her voice¡ªlow but clear. ¡°No firewood runs. Visibility¡¯s shit. Stay close.¡± Camila, crouched near the cookfire, looked up from her blade. She was threading a new grip onto the hilt of her Marine Saber. ¡°We¡¯ll do tight patrol loops. Fog this thick? Something could be watching.¡± Raj snorted, though his hand was already resting near his own saber. ¡°Camila, say shit like that after breakfast next time.¡± She didn¡¯t answer. Just went back to work. Miriam walked over. ¡°How¡¯s your Earth magic coming?¡± ¡°Better,¡± Camila replied. ¡°I can shift stone and reinforce trenches, but nothing combat-worthy yet. It¡¯s like the more finesse I want, the harder it gets.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get there,¡± Miriam said. ¡°We¡¯ll need it. If this fog¡¯s hiding something big, I¡¯d rather have walls than hope.¡±
The camp moved slowly that morning. Fires were kept low, not just for heat but comfort. Smoke curled upward into the mist and vanished. Voices dropped to murmurs. Even the birds had stopped calling. Near the clearing¡¯s center, Ellie practiced shaping ice across a wide bark slab, her palms cool and steady. Hana sat cross-legged nearby, fingers splayed over another slab, her concentration etched into every line of her face. ¡°Breathe into it,¡± Ellie said softly. ¡°Feel it before you shape it.¡± A shimmer of frost formed, thin and fragile¡ªbut there. Hana grinned. ¡°I felt it. That was it, right?¡± Ellie nodded, then offered her a scrap of dried rabbit jerky. ¡°Bribery now?¡± Li asked, strolling up with a smirk. ¡°What happened to artistic integrity?¡± ¡°Ice lessons for snacks,¡± Ellie replied. ¡°It¡¯s the new Cradle economy.¡± ¡°Honestly, Hana¡¯s got more talent than I did before I bought Ice Make,¡± Ellie added, more serious now. ¡°You¡¯ve got instincts. Though you¡¯ve got a great teacher¡± ¡°Still wouldn¡¯t mind skipping the trial and error.¡± Hana smiled sheepishly. ¡°Spellbooks are expensive though.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Yeah,¡± Li said, crouching beside them. ¡°Learning Magic without simply choosing a power is definitely more of a long term pursuit. When I bought transformation magic, I just knew how to do it.¡±
Across the camp, near the training ring, Wren and Yusuf were in another Ten-for-Ten session. Travis knelt nearby, eyes closed, his breathing steady. His aura flickered now¡ªnot just sparks, but actual presence. Real control. ¡°Not bad,¡± Yusuf muttered. ¡°That¡¯s cleaner than last time.¡± ¡°He must be close to Ren¡± Wren said. ¡°Another day, maybe two, and he¡¯ll manage it maybe.¡± ¡°You think?¡± Yusuf turned toward her. ¡°Wanna bet on it?¡± Wren raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sure. Loser owes... hmm¡­¡± She reached into her coat and pulled out a long-wrapped bar. ¡°Chocolate?¡± Yusuf hissed. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± ¡°Found it in one of the salvaged bags. Been saving it.¡± ¡°You hoarder. You were going to eat that alone?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t planning to. But if I win¡­¡± Yusuf groaned. ¡°Fine. But if I win, I get half anyway.¡± ¡°Greedy.¡±
Dev stood off to the side, arms crossed, eyes focused on Jason¡¯s stance. Reiatsu shimmered faintly around him, a hazy distortion like heat off metal. His control was still shaky, but it was there. Jason stepped back and gestured. ¡°Again. Keep it compressed at your core. Let it bleed out too fast, you lose pressure.¡± ¡°I feel it,¡± Dev said quietly. ¡°Like it wants to break out. But I can¡¯t shape it.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll come,¡± Jason replied. ¡°Zanpakut¨­ needs you to meet it halfway.¡± Jake stood nearby, noting every detail. ¡°You¡¯re the only three with Reiatsu now¡± he said, tapping his pen against his notebook. ¡°First to Shikai wins bragging rights.¡± Jason raised an eyebrow. ¡°We¡¯re not racing.¡± Jake grinned. ¡°You are now.¡±
Near the southeastern fence, Alex, Matt, and Vin were laying sharpened stakes into a new trench grid, mud caking their boots. ¡°Still feels like overkill,¡± Matt said. Vin grunted. ¡°They came through here last time. I¡¯ll dig till my hands fall off if it means we don¡¯t repeat that.¡± Alex kept his chakra flowing through his limbs¡ªslow and steady, maintaining control even as they worked. His stamina had improved. He barely noticed the strain anymore. Then Matt froze. ¡°What was that?¡± They all paused. A flicker¡ªbarely visible¡ªthrough the fog at the northern edge. The mist rippled, then stilled. ¡°Wind?¡± Vin muttered. ¡°Maybe,¡± Alex said. But his hand slid to the hilt of his blade. They dug slower after that. Eyes drifting north.
By midday, the fog had thinned slightly, but it didn¡¯t vanish. A strange hush still gripped the forest. It was in that quiet that David and Grace returned from a short-range hunting run with nothing but bark shavings and a bundle of withered mushrooms. ¡°Nothing¡¯s moving,¡± Grace said. ¡°Like the forest just¡­stopped.¡± David set the mushrooms down beside the ration tent. ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem if this keeps up.¡± Miriam called a meeting that evening¡ªno stew, no fanfare. Just a ring of torches around the central fire. ¡°This fog might be natural. Might not,¡± she began. ¡°Until it¡¯s gone, no solo trips outside the inner perimeter. No long-range scouting.¡± ¡°What''s the theory?¡± Camila asked, crouched low. Jake answered instead. ¡°Could be a creature with territory, could be terrain-based. Fog like this might precede a migration¡ªor a predator. In some worlds, it¡¯s camouflage. Or warning.¡± ¡°And where¡¯d you get that from,¡± said Callum. A middle aged business man best describes him, not a particularly active helper, but he¡¯s taken to criticising everyone else when he gets the chance, though he¡¯d never offer any idea of his own. ¡°It¡¯s better to assume the worst¡± Jake shot back. ¡°Alright, alright. We¡¯re treating it as threat,¡± Miriam said. ¡°Grace, Alex, Raj¡ªnight watch. Camila, Wren, Yusuf¡ªtrain your teams. Everyone else, be ready for early calls.¡± Alex watched the fire for a long time after, one hand idly resting on the hilt of his blade. The fog drifted behind them, still thick. Still silent.
Jake¡¯s Updated Tally: Total Chosen: 31 / 86 Remaining: 55 The Fog By morning, the fog hadn¡¯t lifted. If anything, it had thickened. Pale and wet, it hugged the ground like breath from something vast and unseen. No sun reached the clearing that day. The light that did filter through came silver and soft, without warmth. Alex woke early, drawn by a sound. It wasn¡¯t an alarm, or screaming, or combat. It was softer than that. Repetitive. A dull tapping. He stepped from his lean-to barefoot, breath puffing slightly in the cold. His eyes adjusted to the mist just in time to see Jason pacing along the southern trench line, blade unsheathed, tapping it against his leg in a slow rhythm. Not frantic. Not panicked. But watchful. ¡°You hear something?¡± Alex asked. Jason didn¡¯t turn. ¡°No. But I can¡¯t sleep. And I don¡¯t like how quiet the forest is.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Alex said. ¡°I know what you mean.¡± Behind them, camp had begun to stir. A few torches glowed dully through the fog¡ªyellow halos barely cutting more than a few feet. The usual clangs and groans of early work were gone. Even Dev and Roger¡¯s hammering on the new tower frame had stopped. Wren appeared out of the mist like a ghost, hair tied back in a tight braid. She carried a bucket in each hand, water sloshing with each step. ¡°Fog¡¯s thicker toward the east,¡± she said, setting the buckets down. ¡°Can barely see the second post.¡± ¡°Should we send scouts?¡± Jason asked. ¡°Not yet,¡± Wren said. ¡°Yusuf and Camila are doing a sweep of the inner perimeter. Raj is posted with Grace and Matt in the northwest. We¡¯ll keep rotation tight until it lifts. Sending someone out in this fog is just asking for them to get lost.¡±
By midday, the camp had gathered near the central fire for warmth. No one ventured more than a few meters beyond the fencing. Even chores¡ªwood splitting, snare checking, mushroom sorting¡ªwere done in silence. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Jake sat beside the Obelisk, his notebook balanced across one leg. ¡°Still at thirty-one,¡± he muttered, scratching at his temple. ¡°No new path takers.¡± Ellie sat across from him, slowly turning a small icicle between her fingers, molding it into different shapes. ¡°They¡¯re probably waiting. The fog¡¯s got everyone spooked.¡± ¡°I get that,¡± Jake said. ¡°But waiting too long is its own kind of risk. What happens when another Devil Fruit disappears?¡± He didn¡¯t say the other thing aloud. What happens when someone else comes here? Nearby, Dev practiced slow footwork drills beside Jason. He kept an eye on Jason¡¯s Zanpakuto, he couldn¡¯t wait till he got his.
At the training ring, Yusuf stood with Travis, guiding him through a breathing exercise. The air shimmered faintly around them¡ªbarely perceptible threads of aura curling in the mist. ¡°You¡¯re holding it better,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°Now push it out. Not with force¡ªlike a pulse.¡± Travis exhaled slowly. A ripple of Ren burst out from him, brief but real. Wren, leaning against a nearby post, gave a satisfied nod. ¡°Told you he¡¯d get it by today.¡± Yusuf grimaced. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Chocolate¡¯s yours.¡± She held out her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll share it later. Maybe.¡± ¡°Generous of you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡±
Elsewhere, Li sat cross-legged beside Hana near the stream¡¯s edge, the two of them hidden by fog but comfortable in silence. Both were attempting rune shaping, carving patterns into soft clay plates they¡¯d dried over the past week. Clay recovered from the stream they¡¯d been using. ¡°I think this one channels heat,¡± Li said, tracing a circle. ¡°Maybe a spell amplifier.¡± ¡°Or a stove,¡± Hana muttered, wrapping her coat tighter. ¡°Either way, I¡¯ll take it.¡± They laughed quietly, the sound muffled by the air. Then, without warning, a shape passed behind them¡ªdistant but real. A silhouette. Tall. Thin. Too far to make out. The girls froze. ¡°Did you see that?¡± Hana whispered. Li didn¡¯t answer. She was already on her feet. But the fog held still now. Silent again. They ran.
Back at the camp, tension spiked the moment they returned. ¡°Tall,¡± Li said breathlessly. ¡°Seven feet, maybe. It didn¡¯t move like a goblin. Too quiet.¡± ¡°Where?¡± Miriam asked. ¡°South¡± Hana said. ¡°Near the bent pine.¡± Miriam turned to Camila. ¡°Take Jason and Grace. Check it. Don¡¯t engage unless you¡¯re sure.¡± They vanished into the mist without another word. Alex moved to stand beside Ellie, who was gripping her half-finished icicle like a dagger. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. But her eyes didn¡¯t leave the fog.
Camila, Jason, and Grace returned an hour later, weapons ready but unbloodied. ¡°Tracks,¡± Camila said. ¡°Too big for goblins. Bipedal. But not barefoot.¡± ¡°Shoes?¡± Jake asked, shocked. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Camila nodded grimly. ¡°Something out there walks like us.¡± They didn¡¯t hold a meeting that night. But the watch was doubled.
Jake¡¯s Updated Tally: ? Naruto ¨C 8 ? One Piece ¨C 8 ? Fairy Tail ¨C 6 ? Hunter x Hunter ¨C 5 ? Bleach ¨C 4 Total Chosen: 31 / 86 Remaining: 55 Callum The fog hadn''t lifted. A week of gray mornings had dulled the senses of most in camp, but today, there was something sharper beneath it. The cold clung tighter. The wind barely moved. And though the fencing still stood, it felt like the Cradle was holding its breath. Miriam paced quietly near the central firepit, arms folded, eyes flicking toward the northern treeline. The others were already stirring¡ªCamila at her post sharpening stakes, Jake muttering to himself near the Obelisk, and Dev... sitting alone. He wasn¡¯t glowing, not exactly, but something shimmered faintly around his skin. A low, ambient pressure. Reiatsu. The first signs of it. Jason stood across from him, feet wide apart, breathing slow. ¡°Okay,¡± Jason said, ¡°best advice I can give is pretty lacklustre. Meditate¡± Dev nodded. ¡°I¡¯m trying. But other than a general sense of something else, I can¡¯t do anything else with it¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± Harper said, stepping in. She crossed her arms. ¡°Only Jason has some control, but he¡¯s got a Zanpakuto, which may assist in that.¡± ¡°Point is,¡± Melissa added, ¡°we¡¯re figuring it out together.¡± They didn¡¯t spar. Not yet. They were still learning how to walk, spiritually speaking. But standing in the field together¡ªReiatsu users side by side, testing their breath, their energy¡ªwas a start. Jason having had bought Hakuda training, spends his time helping the other Bleach path users with their hand to hand combat. He¡¯s by no means a master, but buying it had given him a basic level of ability, and the know how of how to train and progress.
Near the training ring, the Ten-for-Ten group had grown to eight now. Wren and Yusuf didn¡¯t lead like teachers¡ªthey trained side by side with the others. Wren¡¯s control of Ten was cleaner, more consistent, and Yusuf¡¯s Ren bursts were starting to hold longer. They had taken on the role of instructors as they had a head start, but ultimately, they are as new as the others. As the others listened in it was clear they were interested in choosing Nen as well. Travis sat across from them, aura flickering faintly. ¡°How long can you hold Ren for¡± Yusuf said. ¡°40 seconds¡± Travis muttered through grit teeth. ¡°Impressive, I¡¯m up to 3 minutes now, almost the 5 minute mark.¡± Wren sat nearby, offering a half-smile. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re going to surpass me at this rate, I better up my game.¡± The group was silent for a while after that. Aura shimmered faintly in the haze. The fog curled around their feet. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Ellie sat with Li and Hana near the eastern edge of the camp. A slab of bark was their table, their practice board, and their sketchpad. Lines of ice spread slowly across it, not perfect, not beautiful¡ªbut real. ¡°Try it without moving your fingers,¡± Ellie said softly. ¡°Think of it forming first. Feel it there.¡± Hana bit her lip and tried. A faint chill crept from her palms, barely visible. Li raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s getting close.¡± ¡°Still cracks when I push it though,¡± Hana said. ¡°Maybe I need to buy something.¡± ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Ellie said. ¡°Ice Make helped me, but I think talent counts too. You¡¯re already more controlled than I was when I started.¡± Li leaned back. ¡°If this fog doesn¡¯t lift, we¡¯re all going to be sitting around shaping bark for weeks.¡± ¡°Better than getting eaten,¡± Hana said. That earned a couple dry laughs
At the fencing, Matt and Vin were reinforcing the trench grid with Alex. It was slow work¡ªmuddy, repetitive¡ªbut there was rhythm to it now. They worked well together. They also had to do some watchtower maintenance. Nothing fancy by any means, the ¡®towers¡¯ themselves are only a meter off of the ground, and very rickety, hence the constant maintenance. ¡°You think anything¡¯s out there?¡± Vin asked, glancing into the fog. ¡°Maybe,¡± Alex said. ¡°But nothing¡¯s charged us yet.¡± ¡°Yet, your raising death flags man¡± Matt muttered. Alex didn¡¯t respond but had a grin on his face. He kept moving. Kept working chakra through his legs as he lifted stakes, not because it was faster¡ªbut because it helped him focus. Training could happen anywhere. He needed to get as used to using chakra, so it becomes like breathing to him. That was when the shouting started.
Callum had been arguing again. He was standing near the Obelisk, voice raised. ¡°You¡¯re telling me we¡¯re putting all our points into people who haven¡¯t even done anything yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about what they¡¯ve done,¡± Jake replied calmly. ¡°It¡¯s what they¡¯re working toward.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen Wren get stronger. I¡¯ve seen Alex practicing his fire thing. But why the hell is Travis getting all this attention when he hasn¡¯t even¡ª¡± ¡°He trains every day,¡± Wren snapped, walking up. ¡°And if you¡¯ve got a problem, why don¡¯t you get stronger yourself?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been trying!¡± Callum shouted. ¡°But I don¡¯t have garbage I can throw into the Obelisk like some of you do. I didn¡¯t come in with rings or watches!¡± ¡°You think any of us had it easy?¡± Camila appeared, silent and cold. ¡°You want pity? Go dig trenches. You want power? Earn it.¡± Callum¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I¡¯m saying we vote. Publicly. On where points go. No more of this silent favouritism.¡± The silence was sharp. ¡°Fine,¡± Miriam said from the firepit. ¡°We vote. Tonight.¡± She turned to the others. ¡°You all heard him. Callum wants a say.¡± ¡°For fucks sake,¡± Camila muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s find out what the camp wants,¡± Miriam said.
Later that evening, under torchlight, the fire pit was crowded. Jake stood with his notebook. ¡°Proposal: community votes on point pooling. Simple majority. Majority rules. Speak your minds.¡± Some agreed. Others were quiet. Most just listened. By the end of it, the vote passed¡ªbarely. From now on, point pooling would require a full group vote. No more spontaneous handouts. No more side deals. Callum smirked. Wren didn¡¯t look at him. She just sat beside Yusuf and focused on her breathing. ¡°We keep training,¡± Yusuf whispered. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Fucking politics. Can¡¯t escape it.¡± she said. ¡°Bad move by Miriam.¡± ¡°Maybe, but unfortunately, these people, like us, come from a civilised world. They love to vote. And if ignored, well, desperate times¡±
Jake¡¯s Updated Tally Path Count: Shadows in the Mist
The fog clung tighter than ever. What had begun as a morning nuisance had become a suffocating presence¡ªthicker, colder, heavy enough to choke the edge of sound and smear movement into suggestion. Campfires hissed and crackled, their glow absorbed by the pale curtain that refused to lift. The Cradle, once vibrant with wary routine, now moved like a creature afraid of its own breath. David stood at the southeastern watch post, unmoving. His Observation Haki was stretched to the limit. He felt them. Not goblins. Not animals. They were scattered, crawling just outside his range, always shifting, too erratic to count¡ªsome small, others unnervingly large. The emotion he read was not hunger, not fear. It was patience. Predatory patience. He exhaled slowly and opened his eyes. ¡°Miriam.¡± She turned toward him from the firepit, where she had been reviewing the latest bestiary entries with Jake. The moment she met David¡¯s eyes, she stood. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, already walking toward him. Camila joined her halfway. ¡°They¡¯re circling,¡± David said. ¡°Multiple¡­ somethings. They¡¯ve been out there for a while, but they¡¯re drawing closer. I don¡¯t know what they are, but they feel coordinated.¡± Camila¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Eyes on us?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± David murmured. ¡°But it feels like they¡¯re waiting for something.¡± Jake arrived, breath short. ¡°Could be a timed pattern. A hunt. Maybe they only strike when conditions are right.¡± Miriam nodded once. ¡°Then we don¡¯t wait. Camila notify the others, we must be ready.¡±
By dusk, the Cradle was ready. Patrols were doubled, stationed just inside the fencing in rotating pairs. Ellie and Li had filled clay pots with quick-freezing slush in case ranged defense was needed. Wren and Yusuf positioned themselves at opposite ends of the camp, helping others anchor their Nen or sharpen focus. Dev, Harper, and Melissa had formed a tight triangle near the west, Reiatsu humming low. Even Vin had joined the wall with a spear, his limp all but forgotten. Alex climbed a low watch scaffold with Camila and Grace, clutching his saber in one hand, chakra preloaded in his feet. ¡°You ready for this?¡± he asked her. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m ever not?¡± she said, though her grip on the saber was tense. The fog thickened with the sun¡¯s descent. Lights were hung between watchpoints¡ªglass jars of animal oil and string soaked in fat. They flickered like ghostly eyes, painting the clearing in orange and black. Then came the howl. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Low. Wet. Guttural. Not canine. Not even animal. Another answered it. Then another. Then silence. Jake whispered under his breath, ¡°Here it comes.¡±
It began near the east fence. A scream¡ªDarren¡¯s voice¡ªcut through the air. Something lunged from the mist, a blur of limbs and snapping teeth, slamming into him and dragging him into the mud. Blood hit the dirt before anyone could react. ¡°CONTACT EASTERN POST!¡± Miriam shouted, blade drawn. From the fog, shapes emerged. Elongated bodies, hunched and sinewy. Gray-skinned. Not goblins¡ªtaller, slicker. Their eyes were pale, glowing faintly like fungus in a cave. Four-limbed but humanoid, with spines like broken coral erupting from their backs. ¡°WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE?¡± Grace yelled. ¡°Focus!¡± David screamed. ¡°Defensive positions!¡± Camila bellowed. Earth surged beneath her feet¡ªjagged stones rising from the ground, forming a crude wall as a beast slammed into it. Alex leapt forward, his blade igniting with a small gout of flame as he slashed downward, cleaving through one of the creatures'' shoulders. It shrieked¡ªnot in pain, but fury¡ªand kept coming until Camila speared it through the neck, emboldened with her wind magic. To the west, Yusuf had activated Ren, trading powerful blows with one of the larger beasts, fending it off while Harper stabbed towards the smaller ones with her spear. ¡°Keep them back! Don¡¯t let them cluster!¡± Near the firepit, Ellie froze a creature¡¯s leg mid-leap, shattering it with a thrown rock. Li pulled a wounded Jared to safety, Hana shielding them with a thin but growing barrier of raw wind. Wren tackled another creature mid-charge, driving a stake into its chest. It thrashed and bucked, its blood steaming on the ground. They kept coming. Dozens of them. David fought near the southern trench, his Observation Haki sparking with precision. ¡°One more behind!¡± he shouted, and Dev turned just in time to slice into it with a burst of raw Reiatsu, the blow sloppy but enough to knock it back. He had no time to celebrate his successful use of his power. Jason came charging towards him to assist, his Zanpakuto a flurry of vengeance. A scream of pure terror made Jason turn, he only got a glimpse of her face, before she was dragged, flailing into the fog, Mary, a quiet women, he¡¯d only spoken to her twice before. Another scream went up¡ªRaj, cornered against a post. Vin was there in seconds, ramming a spear through the beast¡¯s throat. It collapsed in a gurgling heap. Raj stared, pale but alive. David was a blaze of fury, his marine saber flashed, he used his left arm as both a shield and a mace, Armament encasing it in invisible armour, bolstering his strength. Roger was with him, and a number of other One piece path users, all fighting together, sabers to hand. Then, something changed. The creatures¡­ hesitated. One by one, they hissed and pulled back, retreating just beyond the firelight. Alex crouched, panting. ¡°Are they¡­ regrouping?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jake whispered from behind a barrier. ¡°They¡¯re afraid.¡± A deeper growl filled the air. From the fog, a new form emerged. Twice the size of the others. Its back bristled with bone. Its arms were longer, claws almost dragging. Its mouth split unnaturally wide, lined with jagged fangs. Its eyes were human. The Cradle held its breath. ¡°Focus all fire!¡± Miriam yelled. Ellie sent a flurry of ice spikes, the size of fingers, strengthened with magic at the creature. Jared had the Flintlock pistol, aimed, and fired. The bullet hit, but didn¡¯t take it out. The beast staggered back. Then Camila struck. Her wind and earth magic surged, lifting her on a burst of air as she plunged her saber into the beast¡¯s chest. It screamed. Alex leapt beside her, flames wrapping his blade as he struck its throat. Wren and Yusuf followed, both with Ren activated, their combined force overwhelming it. It fell. With a final, trembling roar, the remaining beasts screeched¡ªand fled. One by one, they vanished into the fog.
It took hours to count the dead. Darren, who was on watch was gone. So were 13 others. Half a dozen more were injured, some seriously. Jared would live, as long as he avoids infection. But they had held. The bodies of the fog-beasts were already being dissected and documented. Jake was sketching one¡¯s limbs as David and Miriam discussed how to mount the heads near the fence. ¡°Let them know we¡¯re not prey,¡± Miriam said. As dawn broke, the fog finally began to recede. Sunlight returned. But no one celebrated. Jake updated the Obelisk log with trembling fingers: Fog Creatures ¨C 34 slain Alpha Variant ¨C 1 slain Casualties: 14 dead, 7 wounded Total Confirmed Survivors: 72 Cradle Status: Holding They had survived. But only just. Aftermath - The Fog has Lifted The fog had lifted, but its presence lingered in the minds of all who had survived the night. What remained was devastation. Fourteen dead. Seven wounded. The fencing splintered in places, trenches collapsed from the weight of bodies and blood. The morning came cold, and quieter than usual. Not solemn¡ªjust tired. The Cradle moved like a grieving beast, slow and deliberate. Miriam stood near the center firepit, arms crossed, eyes sunken but alert, she¡¯d stayed up most the night using her medical ninjutsu. David approached, his saber at his hip, its blade still stained at the edge. ¡°We¡¯ve accounted for everyone,¡± he said. ¡°Bodies recovered. Wounded stabilized.¡± She nodded. ¡°And the beasts?¡± ¡°Thirty-four, plus the Alpha. Jake¡¯s already organizing the sacrifice.¡± Miriam looked toward the Obelisk. It loomed in the mistless morning like it always had¡ªunmoving, uncaring, yet their only path forward. ¡°Let¡¯s begin,¡± she said.
A slow procession formed. Survivors carried corpses of the creatures¡ªgray-skinned, spine-covered, now limp and oozing¡ªdragged or hauled with care. The Alpha¡¯s body took four people and two spears tied with vines to move. Jake stood at the Obelisk, notebook in hand. They were to check the amount of points they could obtain from each of the dead. ¡°Fog-Beast,¡± Jake called, ¡°Four points each.¡± They moved quickly. ¡°Fog-Beast... four points.¡± ¡°Another¡ªfour.¡± ¡°Alpha variant... twenty points.¡± It took an hour, but when it was done, the tally was clear: Total: 156 points in total. Now they just had to assign who can sacrifice what. Murmurs rippled through the camp. ¡°That''s... a lot,¡± Raj whispered. ¡°Game changing, if one person used it all, they could get formidable devil fruit from the One piece path, Fairy Tail they could learn dragon slaying magic.¡±
Near the Obelisk, the Cradle¡¯s informal leadership gathered: Miriam, David, Camila, Jake, Wren, Yusuf, and a few others. Survivors formed a wider ring around them. ¡°We have 156 points,¡± Miriam said, projecting her voice. ¡°And we need to decide¡ªtogether¡ªhow to spend them.¡± Suggestions came fast. ¡°Fortify the trenches,¡± Jason said. ¡°We held the line, but just barely. We buy items, anything to that end.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°What about Muskets and more Flintlocks, we could really outfit ourselves with guns¡± Jared offered up. ¡°We need gear,¡± Ellie said. ¡°Better weapons, armor, or enchanted tools. Most of us are still fighting with sharpened sticks.¡± ¡°We should pool to unlock abilities,¡± Wren added. ¡°If we had more Nen users out there... more support, even one or two extra could¡¯ve saved lives.¡± Then Callum stepped forward. He hadn¡¯t spoken during the fog fight. Hadn¡¯t been seen, even. But now his voice cut cleanly. ¡°I agree with Wren¡± he said, ¡° Let¡¯s use the point to let others catch up¡± Several heads turned. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ll be included?¡± Grace asked. ¡°Why not?¡± Callum shrugged. ¡°I hadn¡¯t seen you last night, no blood on you either¡± Grace rebuked. ¡°Power is only as good as who wields it¡± ¡°It was chaotic, are you trying to suggest I ran¡± Grace didn¡¯t respond, just staring at him. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when he¡¯s on my side¡± Wren whispered. ¡°We need to give everyone a chance to fight for themselves.¡± ¡°I agree with Callum.¡± Jake said, tone neutral but cold. ¡°We need more capable people, though I¡¯d add a push for healers. We¡¯ve got 7 people, though stabilised at this time, they¡¯re now out the fight for at least the next few days. They can¡¯t hunt or scavenge.¡± ¡°Alright enough, we agreed that it¡¯ll be by vote, lets come up with a damn plan.¡± Miriam said, silencing them all. The group began arguing almost immediately for another twenty minutes. Back and forth. Ellie proposed splitting the points in three: defense, gear, and powers. Raj backed her. Jake did too. Eventually, a vote was taken.
Point Allocation (Confirmed) Total: 156 points Callum muttered something under his breath and stormed off before the decisions were finalized. He hadn¡¯t been chosen for investment of points. Camila didn¡¯t even look at him. ¡°Let him sulk. He¡¯s not getting any stronger waiting for someone else to save him.¡± There was no point in waiting. ¡°Right let¡¯s get started¡± The sacrifices and point deductions appeared as such ¨C Powers ¨C 86 points Miriam ¨C Wound Closure Technique ¨C 18 points Roger ¨C Observation Haki - 25 points Grace - Observation Haki ¨C 25 Points Raj ¨C Armament Haki ¨C 25 points Dev ¨C Zanpakuto ¨C 15 points Items ¨C 70 points Marine sabres ¨C 5x ¨C 3 points (15 Points total) (Total Sabers ¨C 17) Flintlock Pistols (4 shots) ¨C 2x - 12 points (24 points total) (Total Flintlocks - 3) Kunai ¨C 9x ¨C 2 points (18 points total) (Total Kunai - 9) Shuriken ¨C 1x ¨C 1 point (1 point total) (Total shuriken ¨C 1) Tactical Marine Coat ¨C 4x ¨C 6 points (24 points total) (Total Marine Coats - 4) Luckily people hadn¡¯t been, slacking as such the 86 points could go further, making up the difference for them to get a power. The Marine sabers had proven useful, but with other skillsets developing they had explored different routes such as the kunai, the shuriken was just to make up the 1 point left over. The Tactical Marine Coats had some defence to them, as such the frontline will have use for them. And with that people began to disperse. Miriam immediately headed off to treat the wounded with her newfound firepower, Wound Closure technique. Jake was still busy scribbling in his book.
As the Sun Set A quiet settled over the camp that night. A sombre meal was shared¡ªdeer stew and boiled roots. Nothing much, many leftovers that had been scrounged up, people will go hungry tonight. The dead were honoured with a ring of torches. No speeches. Just silence. Some cried. Some drank. Some cleaned their blades again and again. The bodies burned, nobody dared suggest they be sacrificed, though there is no doubt some were thinking it. David sat beside Miriam atop the south tower. ¡°We made the right call,¡± he said quietly. Miriam didn¡¯t answer for a long time. Then: ¡°Every attack, we suffer many casualties. We can¡¯t afford it. We need to step up, grow faster. The trainings coming along nicely, but it¡¯s not fast enough. We need to actively seek out points.¡± They watched the forest, now visible again, trees lined in the golden light of dusk. Below them, the Cradle stirred. Not celebrating. But breathing again. Jake updated the Obelisk log by lamplight. Fog Creatures ¨C 34 slain (4 points) Alpha ¨C 1 slain (20 points) Total: 156 points Casualties: 14 dead, 7 wounded Points allocated: Combat (86), Gear (70), Total Confirmed Survivors: 72 The Skies are not Ours The Cradle didn¡¯t sleep. Not anymore. Even after the fog had vanished, shadows clung to the corners of thought. The camp stirred at odd hours now¡ªwary eyes scanning treelines, twitching at the sound of snapping branches, firewood cracking too loudly. Grief had no room to settle; the urgency of survival pressed too hard. Camila¡¯s boot struck mud as she climbed the ridge north of the camp, a woven sack slung over her shoulder. Alex followed, winded but determined, clutching a length of rope and a half-used torch. Yusuf brought up the rear, his eyes scanning the underbrush with careful precision. Ren glimmered faintly around his form¡ªtight, refined, maintained with a discipline he hadn¡¯t possessed two weeks ago. ¡°Hear that?¡± Camila whispered, crouching. ¡°Water,¡± Alex muttered. ¡°That stream you found earlier?¡± ¡°Not unless it started growling.¡± Yusuf narrowed his eyes. ¡°Stay low.¡± The trio moved along a small incline, edging toward the noise. The brush ahead thinned slightly¡ªjust enough for them to spot it. A bear. Larger than the one they¡¯d killed before, its coat patchy, its ribs marked with jagged scars. More worrying: its eyes were fogged pale, not blind¡ªtainted. It was sniffing near a cluster of rocks, drool dripping onto the moss. ¡°Think it¡¯s like the beasts?¡± Alex asked. ¡°Let¡¯s not find out up close,¡± Camila said. ¡°Pull back. We can mark the area, report to Miriam.¡± ¡°Or kill it for points,¡± Yusuf offered. Camila looked at him. ¡°You in a hurry to fight another mini-boss?¡± Alex chuckled nervously. ¡°Let¡¯s survive the week first.¡± They turned¡ªsilent and slow¡ªand melted back into the trees.
Back at camp, Miriam hovered over Jared¡¯s shoulder in the med tent, applying a precise touch of chakra to the stitches along his ribs. The Wound Closure Technique had already begun to prove its worth. Jared¡¯s fever had broken. Two other wounded had been stabilized without losing limbs. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°You should¡¯ve gotten this sooner,¡± Jared groaned through clenched teeth. ¡°Could¡¯ve saved us a lot of bandages.¡± Miriam didn¡¯t smile. ¡°Then buy it yourself. Obelisk¡¯s still standing.¡± He grunted in response, too weak to argue further. Outside, the training ring rang with clashing steel. Grace and Raj sparred with sabers, both now wearing newly acquired Tactical Marine Coats. Their movements were tighter, more confident¡ªbut still raw. Roger observed from the sidelines. ¡°Keep your elbow high, Grace,¡± he called. ¡°You''re dropping the guard on your left.¡± ¡°Yeah? Tell that to my cramping arm,¡± she shot back. Meanwhile, Wren and Dev practiced control drills at the edge of the clearing¡ªDev¡¯s Reiatsu now able to flare outward briefly without destabilizing him. Jason stood beside them, offering suggestions without interrupting the process. ¡°I don¡¯t care who gets Shikai first,¡± Wren said between breaths. ¡°But I am betting Dev pukes from overtraining first.¡± ¡°Already did,¡± Dev muttered, not breaking stance. ¡°Twice.¡± ¡°Respect,¡± Wren said.
By mid-afternoon, a meeting was called near the firepit. Jake stood beside the Obelisk with a fresh map. It was scrawled with new markings¡ªcircles, lines, shaded areas. Next to him stood Ellie, Hana, and Li, each of them holding copies of the Cradle Bestiary. ¡°We¡¯ve started logging active hunting zones,¡± Jake announced. ¡°Places we know have goblins, animals, and potential hazards. There¡¯s also a new addition.¡± He tapped the top of the map. ¡°A bear. Camila found it this morning¡ªHuge, we need to keep it monitored, make sure it doesn¡¯t start making its way here. And if it does, we prepare.¡± A screech was heard, above, high in the cloudless sky a beast bigger than anything they¡¯d seen flew over. ¡°Is that a Griffin,¡± someone said ¡°It¡¯s huge¡± added another. ¡°Everyone! Stay still¡± The beast circled once and moved on. ¡°You get that Jake¡± Alex asked. ¡°Yep, ill add it to the book¡± The novelty of seeing such a majestic creature of family had worn off for most now, there only thoughts was please don¡¯t come back. Camila stepped forward. ¡°Disregarding the Griffin for the moment. We¡¯re forming an exploratory party tomorrow. Controlled approach. I want Alex, Yusuf, Ellie, and Grace with me. Maybe one more. We¡¯ll scout it, if we feel we can kill the bear, we¡¯ll do so.¡± Callum¡¯s voice cut through from the back. ¡°Convenient how the same people get picked for every important mission.¡± Jake¡¯s pencil snapped. David stood. ¡°You want in?¡± ¡°I want it to be fair,¡± Callum said. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Then join us¡± Camila replied flatly. ¡°Well, maybe not this one. I¡¯m just saying you can¡¯t go making decisions without the rest of us¡± Miriam stepped in ¡°They¡¯re going to risk their lives to neutralise a threat to all of us, I¡¯d ask that you take such things into consideration before opening your mouth.¡± There were a few stifled laughs. Callum said nothing more.
That night, the stew was thin¡ªjust root vegetables and a few scraps of dried squirrel. Spirits were low, but not broken. Camila leaned beside the fire with Alex, her wind magic curling a breeze through the flames. ¡°You scared?¡± she asked. Alex nodded. ¡°Terrified.¡± ¡°High risk, high reward.¡± ¡°I pray that we return to more than rabbit scraps¡± Jake updated the logs by lamplight as always. Confirmed Survivors: 72 Cradle Status: Holding Next Objective: Neutralise huge bear Camila the Mage The morning air was colder than expected. Alex stood near the firepit, hands over the last flickers of flame, watching the pale sky lighten through the trees. Across the camp, Grace tightened the straps on her Marine coat while Ellie double-checked the supplies in her satchel¡ªrations, canteens, a vial of thickened ice sealed in a bark stopper, just in case. Yusuf arrived next, his spear slung over one shoulder, and a satchel of rope and makeshift bandages on the other. He nodded once at Alex, his expression unreadable but focused. Wren offered them a tired wave from where she was finishing Ten drills with Travis near the outer ring. Camila joined last, her saber sheathed, boots laced high, and a small leather-bound notebook in hand. ¡°We ready?¡± she asked. Alex nodded. ¡°We missing anyone?¡± ¡°No,¡± Camila said. ¡°I¡¯m not bringing Callum.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Grace muttered. They didn¡¯t speak more than necessary. The group gathered at the northern gate as Miriam handed Camila a wrapped satchel¡ªsalted meat, some water and bits and bobs. ¡°Good luck¡± Miriam said. ¡°Remember, return if it looks too much of a challenge.¡± Camila tucked it into her pack. ¡°Hopefully it won¡¯t come to that.¡± Alex adjusted the strap of their own pack, glancing at the horizon where the first hints of dawn began to shimmer. The forest, though familiar, held an air of unease this morning. They shared a glance, something between camaraderie and warning, and then Camila turned to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±
The ridge was steeper than it looked on the map, and the forest more tangled. The five of them moved cautiously, Alex and Grace ahead, Yusuf and Ellie watching the flanks, Camila in the rear, eyes always scanning. Grace¡¯s observation flaring as best she can. The path veered toward the stream they¡¯d seen yesterday, the one Alex had mistaken for growling water. Moss lined the stones now, dew still thick. Birdsong was absent. ¡°Area still feels dead,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°No squirrels, no bugs. Whatever¡¯s wrong with that bear... it¡¯s repelling everything.¡± ¡°Same as the fog-beasts,¡± Ellie added quietly. ¡°They affected the land too.¡± Camila marked a tree with chalk. ¡°Don¡¯t lose your nerve yet. If we find the den, we scout, not engage.¡± They moved deeper, through low-hanging vines and twisted trunks. It wasn¡¯t long before the signs became obvious: torn bark, gouged trees, claw prints the size of dinner plates. A small stone outcrop rose to their left. Alex crouched. ¡°Tracks. Fresh.¡± Yusuf knelt beside him. ¡°Single bear. It¡¯s circling. Still bleeding from the hind leg¡ªprobably from the last scuffle. Might¡¯ve hunted something nearby.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going. Slowly,¡± Camila said. They crossed a shallow dip, where leaves had formed a natural basin. Ellie suddenly stiffened, hand raised. ¡°Wait,¡± she whispered. ¡°Look.¡± In the center of the hollow, a carcass lay torn open. Not a deer. Not a goblin. ¡°Boar?¡± Grace asked. ¡°No tusks,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°But... bigger than a deer. Some kind of wild ox?¡± It had been gutted with terrifying precision. Flayed open from neck to stomach. But it wasn¡¯t just the bear that had fed. Around the carcass, thin trails in the dirt. Not claws. Not paws. ¡°Human?¡± Alex whispered. ¡°No shoes,¡± Camila said. ¡°Barefoot. But... too light.¡± ¡°Goblins?¡± Grace asked, grimacing. Camila¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Most likely¡± The group fanned out, weapons drawn. The forest held its breath. First came Grace¡¯s warning. Then came the growl. Not from the trees¡ªbut from beneath. The earth cracked, a snarl erupting from a hollow behind the ridge. A shape lunged¡ªmassive, matted, its breath thick and wrong. The bear. Fog still clung to its ribs. ¡°MOVE!¡± Camila shouted. The group scattered as the bear crashed through a tree, splintering it like kindling. Alex rolled sideways, chakra surging to his feet as he vaulted behind a stone outcrop. Grace ducked low, slashing out as the bear passed¡ªher blade catching against its fur like it was iron. Ellie raised both hands, magic forming into a frozen shield just as the beast turned toward her. The ice shattered under its claws, but it slowed the impact. ¡°Don¡¯t fight head-on!¡± Yusuf shouted. ¡°Circle it!¡± Camila dove to the right, drawing both wind and earth magic in tandem. She kicked up dust and bark, sending shards of stone lancing toward its back. Alex followed her lead, slashing with fire-imbued chakra¡ªbut it barely flinched. ¡°It¡¯s fog-tainted!¡± Camila yelled. ¡°Same resilience as the others!¡± ¡°Then we take it like we did the Alpha,¡± Grace called. ¡°Overwhelm it!¡± They fought like a machine¡ªimprovised but coordinated. Yusuf¡¯s Ren flared bright as he rammed the spear into the bear¡¯s ribs. Ellie struck low with freezing blasts. Camila battered it with gusts of slicing wind. Alex baited and distracted. Grace hammered at its flank with all her strength. The bear roared, staggered, and for a moment¡ªstilled. Then Alex leapt forward, chakra surging through his legs as he brought the saber down, flame flashing. The strike hit home. The beast shuddered... and collapsed. Panting, bloodied, they stood in the silence that followed. A breeze stirred the leaves. They had won, but not flawlessly. Grace was bleeding from her side. Yusuf had a torn shoulder. Camila¡¯s wind magic was almost depleted. Ellie trembled from overuse. Alex knelt beside the corpse. ¡°You alright Grace?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not too deep.¡± ¡°We need to move, I don¡¯t want to risk goblins showing up¡± Camila ordered. ¡°We¡¯ll tie the rope around the bear and drag it¡± ¡°Yeah let¡¯s get out of here¡±
Back at the Cradle, they returned with the bear intact, it had been a long slog for them all, but they returned triumphant. Miriam came over to check on the injured, she started to treat Grace¡¯s wound. David met them at the gate. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± ¡°Victory,¡± Camila muttered. ¡°Barely.¡± They made the sacrifice at the Obelisk that evening. Tainted Bear (Fog-Altered): 50 points. Jake noted it down quietly. And then updated the Bestiary. ¡°Camila should get the sacrifice, she deserves it¡± Alex says. ¡°Agreed¡± Yusuf followed up. Whilst they could split the body up, Camila has been a massive asset, and it was deserved. ¡°Well good job, you¡¯ll be happy to know we¡¯ve got boar for dinner¡± Jake grinned. ¡°Good Stuff¡± Yusuf¡¯s stomach growled at the thought of a full meal. Camila approached the Obelisk. Whilst she had been looked over the for points from the goblin and fog beast attack, she¡¯d been busy herself. Camila ¨C 26 points Sacrifice Tainted Bear (Fog-Altered): 50 points. Camila ¨C 76 points Magic (Ethernano) Expansion (Large) - 60 points She had her eyes on this for a while. She still has a lot to do with regards to exploring he wind and earth magic that she had bought, limited by the amount of magic she has. To grow it naturally, would take time, and with this purchase, she can both train her magic more often and also stay in the fight longer with regards to her magic. She felt her magic capacity swell in size, only those who have chosen the Fairy Tail path and Basic magic potential could tell that such a change had occurred, though the depths of the change Camila went through was something they had no idea on. Cradle Status: Holding. Total Confirmed Survivors: 72. Next Objective: Growth Jutsu Three days had passed since the hunt, and the Cradle hadn''t slowed. The threat of the fog-tainted bear was resolved, but it just felt like every time they put out a fire another would appear in its place at this point. But the story of its death lingered. People were talking¡ªabout the fight, about the danger, about Camila¡¯s wind-fueled assault and Alex¡¯s flaming strike. Gossip is all people had for entertainment now, that and the stories they are hearing from successful hunts. Some romances started to crop up as well, as people started to truly set into routine, acceptance. Alex sat on a wide stone near the eastern fence, hands outstretched, palms slowly cycling chakra. The surface of the rock steamed faintly. He exhaled, drew a long breath, and formed a seal. Three small projectiles of flame burst from his mouth, scattering across the training ring with a light hiss as they collided with damp straw dummies. ¡°Damn man,¡± Wren muttered from nearby, arms crossed. ¡°we¡¯ll just sit back and let you deal with any threats now¡± ¡°Ha, can¡¯t wait¡± Alex stood, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°You want to spar?¡± Yusuf called as he jogged by, shirtless and still bruised. ¡°Nah man, I need a brake¡± He¡¯d used his gathered points purchasing Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu and Water Clone Technique. The clones were shaky, half-formed things that barely lasted a minute, but they were progress. His practice for control with the Chakra control techniques has been a massive success, progressing nicely with the Jutsu¡¯s he had bought. His next targets, Sharingan for definite, well that and a boost to the amount of chakra he has. Nearby, Camila sat cross-legged under a tree, a shallow crater of wind and dirt around her. Her magic pulsed gently¡ªless volatile than before. Her control had visibly improved since expanding her reserves. She no longer needed to strain just to shape a gust or grind stone into jagged shards. She could do both now, and more. ¡°I swear she¡¯s glowing,¡± Ellie murmured to Grace as they walked by with a pile of cloths from the med tent. ¡°She¡¯s terrifying,¡± Grace replied. ¡°And I love her.¡± ¡°Buying that magic expansion has sped up her training significantly. We¡¯re gonna be left in the dust.¡± David passed them both, heading toward the western watch post with Roger and Raj. All three now wore Tactical Marine Coats. Patrols had been doubled again after a few strange sounds at night: rustling with no wind, footsteps with no source. Nothing had emerged since the bear, but no one wanted to be caught off guard again. Typical hunt for goblins and even a hobgoblins had occurred, but nothing of particular note, Camila is becoming a force unto her own, she had killed 7 goblins and a hobgoblin on her own. Though she was pushed to share the sacrifices with others, seeing as how strong she already is. Politics. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Callum, as usual, was nowhere useful. But was playing his hand, there was still many not with a path chosen, and he had learnt he could manipulate them. Jake sat by the Obelisk, updating two lists. One was the current tally of survivors who had unlocked powers. The other was smaller¡ªbut growing. New sacrifices, minor and large. Some had brought beetles. One woman, Cara, had offered a fresh kill from a solo squirrel hunt. Five points here. Two points there. Enough to push some people over the edge. One of them had already taken the plunge. ¡°Stephan finally chose a path,¡± Jake said that evening around the fire. ¡°Really?¡± Miriam asked, stirring a pot of roots and dried mushrooms. ¡°Yeah. Naruto path. Said he¡¯s tired of hiding and wants chakra.¡± ¡°Good.¡± David said. ¡°He¡¯s got, what, twenty points saved?¡± Grace asked. ¡°Roughly. Maybe more.¡± Jake flipped through his notes. ¡°I think he might pick Chakra tomorrow.¡± Li approached with a makeshift crate of herbal poultices, catching the tail end of the conversation. ¡°About time. Half this camp¡¯s still waiting for someone else to protect them.¡± Jake gave her a flat look. ¡°Not everyone¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t ready,¡± Li said. ¡°But I picked a path. I¡¯m still learning. So should they.¡± Camila stood and stretched, her arms arching overhead. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time we organize another group hunt. Something medium-risk. We need more points flowing.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve heard then¡± Jake asked ¡°Yep, what. 5 more devil fruits have been obtained, and I¡¯ve just checked the Obelisk. Someone claimed Fire Dragon Slaying Magic¡± ¡°Fucks sake, so what. It¡¯s down to one then?¡± ¡°Yeah, 150 points. I wonder how they got that much.¡± The mention of the other groups growing made everyone shut up, it was a tough topic. Many was hoping to make contact, safety in numbers and all. But others felt a danger from these groups, that they must be viewed with caution. ¡°So ill add that to the list then. The falcon fruit, leopard fruit, bear fruit, the weapon body fruit, the wax fruit as well as the jackal and now a top tier magic. At least Logia¡¯s haven¡¯t been claimed yet¡± ¡°So, tomorrow then?¡± Ellie asked. ¡°Another expedition?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll plan it tonight,¡± Camila said. ¡°Maybe bring Matt and Becca. They¡¯ve both been training.¡±
As night fell, the Cradle settled into the closest thing it had to rest. It was looking like a shanty town with all the makeshift shelters, lit by torches. People gathered in small clusters, sharing food and whispered stories. A few practiced quietly at the edge of the clearing¡ªLi shifting her face into different forms; Travis meditating under a tree, aura thin but present; Harper pacing with her spear, Reiatsu low and stable. In the distance, a faint call of some nocturnal bird echoed. No fog. No monsters. But the fear hadn¡¯t left. It had just grown quieter. Jake wrote the night¡¯s log, as always. Confirmed Survivors: 72 New Path-Takers: 4 (Stephan ¨C Naruto, Amy ¨C Fairy Tail, Dave ¨C One Piece, Astrid ¨C One piece) Alex: Phoenix Fire Jutsu (10), Water Clone Technique (4) Cradle Status: Holding Next Objectives: Continue point acquisition. Prepare for high-value sacrifices. Encourage more path selections. And at the bottom: The year is moving. The Obelisk won¡¯t last forever. Echoes through the Trees The rain started just before dawn. Not heavy¡ªjust enough to dampen the leaves and coat the clearing in a soft sheen of dew. It made the Cradle feel smaller somehow, as if the world beyond had shrunk even further. Fewer people were moving around early. The firepit sputtered beneath a tarp, and a handful of survivors waited out the drizzle inside their lean-tos, sharpening weapons or talking in hushed tones. Alex stepped outside with a cloak over his shoulders and his hood pulled low a basic clothing item, a number of clothes had been bought from the world of Hunter, after all most people¡¯s clothes was very worn and damaged. He joined Yusuf near the eastern fencing, both of them squinting toward the woods. The fog hadn¡¯t returned, but the forest was unusually still. ¡°You hear that last night?¡± Yusuf asked. Alex shook his head. ¡°I passed out after training. What happened?¡± ¡°Grace and Raj were on watch. They say they saw lights in the trees. Campfire glow. Camila¡¯s already looking into it.¡± Alex frowned. ¡°You thinking survivors.¡± ¡°Could be something else.¡± Yusuf said grimly. ¡°But yeah. Could be them.¡±
At midday, Camila called a meeting by the Obelisk. Miriam stood beside her, along with Jake and David. Camila looked restless¡ªmore than usual¡ªand the moment the small crowd of survivors had gathered, she spoke: ¡°We found a trail,¡± she said. ¡°Not old. Someone moved through the northern woods two nights ago. Cooked food. Used fire.¡± Jake stepped forward and held up a small burned scrap of cloth. ¡°Found this half a mile from the ridge. Burnt fibers. Cotton, or something close to it. And considering we¡¯ve not come across anything that wears clothes, most likely human.¡± Murmurs spread. People were on edge already¡ªthis just pressed deeper into the crack. ¡°So what now?¡± Grace asked. ¡°We reach out?¡± Camila hesitated. David didn¡¯t. ¡°We scout. Quietly. No contact unless we¡¯re sure they¡¯re not hostile.¡± Miriam nodded. ¡°Agreed. This world hasn¡¯t been kind to any of us. If they¡¯re armed, and they¡¯ve survived this long, they might not be friendly. We can¡¯t afford complacency, we need to prepare for any scenario¡± Callum¡¯s voice cut in before anyone could stop him. ¡°Or they might be exactly what we need.¡± Everyone turned. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°We¡¯ve been scraping by,¡± Callum said, stepping forward. ¡°We lost fourteen people in one night. If there¡¯s another group¡ªif they¡¯re stronger¡ªwe need to consider joining forces. Or letting them help us.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯ll just hand us help?¡± Ellie asked. ¡°What if they want the Obelisk?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t even know we¡¯re here,¡± Camila said coldly. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it that way until we know who they are.¡± Callum smiled thinly. ¡°You¡¯re afraid of them.¡± ¡°Callum, just shut up,¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not saying we run into their arms. I¡¯m saying we be open to possibilities.¡± Yusuf stepped forward. ¡°Look he¡¯s right, we may be able to help each other, but I agree to err on the side of caution¡± Alex just watched on, as time passed, he¡¯d found himself almost enjoying this world, or rather chakra, he couldn¡¯t wait to see how far he can go with it. But he couldn¡¯t be bothered with everything else, especially the growing political sentiments. He¡¯s become more withdrawn, stopped training with others as much. Wanting most days to go out into the world, to explore and hunt. The griffin sighting had kindled a fire like no other. What else is out there?
By early afternoon, a team was already assembling. Camila, Grace, Yusuf, and Raj would form the scout team. They¡¯d take a long route east through the treeline to approach the trail from the opposite side. Observation Haki, Ren, and stealth techniques would be their best tools. They¡¯d leave before dusk. Alex approached the firepit where Jake was rechecking gear. ¡°I should go with them.¡± Jake shook his head. ¡°Camila wants you here. If they¡¯re aggressive, we need strength at home too.¡± Alex didn¡¯t argue, but he wasn¡¯t happy about it.
That evening, as the scout team vanished into the trees, those left behind tried to keep up routine. Li led a short sparring session. Travis ran Ten cycles. Ellie and Hana practiced magic shaping with Ice, Hana was really getting the hang of it now. Alex split logs, each strike a little sharper than the last. Two hours later, they returned. Grace¡¯s face said everything before she even spoke. ¡°They saw us first,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯re strong,¡± Yusuf added, wiping blood from his cheek¡ªnot his own. Camila looked rattled, but composed. ¡°It didn¡¯t come to a fight. They sent someone forward. One speaker.¡± Miriam stepped forward. ¡°And?¡± Camila hesitated, then said the word: ¡°Marcus.¡± Jake blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Marcus,¡± she repeated. ¡°Tall guy. British accent. Wielding a blade. Not normal steel¡ªa Zanpakut¨­.¡± Several people straightened. Even Dev, who had been eating quietly, stood still. ¡°They have an Obelisk like us, as expected,¡± Camila said. ¡°He didn¡¯t say how many had unlocked paths, but they¡¯re organized. Tents. Patrols. Strategy. Like us.¡± ¡°Did they threaten you?¡± Miriam asked. ¡°No. He was... diplomatic. Polite. Too polite though.¡± ¡°What did he want?¡± Camila looked at Jake. ¡°Information. About the Obelisk. He knows there are others.¡± ¡°Does he know about us?¡± David asked. ¡°Well, he does now, any competent tracker would likely be able to find our camp. Their camps about 4 hours away.¡±
Later, as the camp settled into tension-laced silence, Jake updated his notebook. New Information Logged Confirmed: Presence of another group. Leader/Speaker: Marcus. Wields a Zanpakut¨­ ¨C Bleach Path. Group Status: Armed, organized, polite¡­ uncertain intent. Recommendation: Remain alert. Fortify perimeter. Do not initiate contact without consensus. Alex sat by the fire with his saber across his knees, staring at the flame. He didn¡¯t speak for a long time. He¡¯s going out tomorrow alone.
Confirmed Survivors: 72 Confirmed External Group: Yes (Marcus-led) Status: Uncertain Next Objectives: Prepare defenses. Scout eastern ridge. Monitor Marcus¡¯s group. The world was no longer empty. And that changed everything. Trolled Alex left at the crack of dawn. A pack slung over his shoulder. Saber at his back. A dull warmth of chakra thrumming beneath his skin. No grand announcement. No dramatic exit. Just a quick nod to Yusuf the night before, and then silence. The forest welcomed him like it always had: cold, quiet, alive. The early climb up a ridge east of the Cradle left his breath short but his mind clear. When the wind shifted and the sun began to rise, he caught sight of something that made him stop dead in his tracks. A giant eagle¡ªsoaring above the canopy. ¡°Fuck me.¡± Wings longer than a hunting lodge, feathers white and gold like they drank sunlight. It circled once above the distant ridgeline, casting a vast shadow before disappearing into the clouds like it had never been there. Alex just stood and watched, stunned, a child again. In awe. He didn¡¯t say a word. They¡¯d all had tunnel vision since arriving in this world. Survival-oriented, for good reason. But they¡¯d missed the beauty of it¡ªthe wild, untamed expanse of it. A world where wondrous creatures roamed freely.
By late morning, he reached a river. He crouched at its edge, refilling his canteen. That¡¯s when he saw it. A stag. Not just any stag¡ªwhite-furred, antlers like polished bone. It stood across the water, drinking calmly from the stream. Its reflection rippled in the current, but the animal itself remained motionless. Alert. Aware. Unafraid. It looked at him. He looked back. He made no move to draw his saber, or throw one of the two kunai tucked in his side pouch. It just felt wrong. And then it turned and vanished into the brush like smoke in wind.
The scent hit next¡ªrot, damp meat, decay. The forest went quiet. Then came the footsteps. Heavy. Unhurried. Confident. Alex crept behind a fallen log, lowering his presence. Then it lumbered into view. A troll. Seven feet tall at least. Hunched. Pale flesh stitched with scars. Its belly sagged. Its hands dragged over roots and moss like it barely needed to lift them. But it moved with purpose¡ªhead pulled back, bulbous nose twitching in the morning sun. Alex backed away. But it smelled him first. With a sudden snap of its neck, its eyes locked onto him. Narrowed. Curious. Hungry. Then it charged¡ªroaring, snapping limbs underfoot. He didn¡¯t run this time. He was done running. He funneled chakra to his lungs, drew a long breath, and weaved the hand signs. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!¡± A volley of fireballs erupted in a tight stream, catching the troll mid-charge. It shrieked¡ªloud and pained¡ªbut pressed through the flames. The pungent stench of burnt flesh hit his nose. He ducked to the side, slashing out with his saber, now cloaked in flame. A deep gash opened in the troll¡¯s thigh¡ªburned. He saw the flesh twitching, trying to close. It swung back, a massive arm grazing his shoulder. He stumbled, rolled. Its healing had already begun¡ªbut the burns weren¡¯t closing as fast. So fire slows it down. Troll confirmed. Alex unleashed another burst of flame, aiming for its chest and throat. Skin bubbled and blackened. This time, it staggered. He surged forward. Chakra into his feet. Blade raised. The troll swung. Alex ducked. A blast of water¡ªa half-formed water clone popped and blinded it. Alex came up behind, leapt high. A final, downward slash. The troll dropped. A crash that shook the dirt. Alex stood panting. Sweat-drenched. Bruised. But alive.
Dragging the body was hell. He rolled it onto a tarp, tied it down, and started the slow march back to the Cradle. Muscles screamed. Blood dried. The forest watched in silence. But no one dared cross him. Not today.
Back at the Cradle, three days of drizzle and tension had done little to lessen the camp¡¯s pressure. Camila had led a goblin sweep the day before¡ªfour kills and a hobgoblin pike brought in. Points were split among the group, but not without more mutterings: favoritism, point hoarding, imbalance. People forgot fast that it was Camila risking her life out there. Yusuf, Grace, and Ellie had returned to regular training rotations. Ellie helped Hana refine her ice manipulation into something that resembled actual offense. Grace had been sharpening her Observation Haki. Yusuf trained with Wren and Travis¡ªthey¡¯d unlocked Zetsu now, but were avoiding more advanced Nen techniques like In or Hatsu until they had more points or enough time to master them properly.
Jake sat by the fire, scribbling in his notebook. Miriam treated minor scrapes, Li assisting as always. Becca was still working on her chakra control, trying to stick leaves to her arms, laughing each time one peeled off. The One Piece crew was training hard. David, in particular, had made a big purchase that morning: Full Body Armament Haki. Forty points gone in a blink. But skipping what could¡¯ve taken months or years of training? It was a trade worth making. He couldn¡¯t coat his blade yet with Armament, but being able to coat his full body, he was becoming a walking tank. And no one could question his new status. Camila finally had competition for the most formidable.
Not all was calm. Callum had gathered a few more of the pathless into quiet meetings, whispering about the growing gap between the powered and the powerless. ¡°Voice for the voiceless,¡± he called it. When David caught wind, he half-joked about putting Callum in the ground. Miriam wasn¡¯t amused. ¡°I¡¯m not wasting medical chakra on that man,¡± she said, and that was that.
Then came the shout. ¡°Figure near the eastern ridge!¡± Weapons half-drawn. Eyes sharp. People scattered toward vantage points. Then came the limp. The cloak. The saber across the back. Alex. Dragging a massive troll behind him. Callum recoiled. ¡°What the fuck is that!?¡± Jake leaned forward, licking his lips. ¡°Something for the Bestiary.¡± Alex dropped the body beside the Obelisk with a grunt and collapsed next to the firepit. ¡°Victory?¡± Camila asked. Alex gave a slow thumbs-up, eyes closed. ¡°Big guy. Not friendly.¡± ¡°Glad you¡¯re alive,¡± Miriam said, already checking his shoulder. ¡°Idiot.¡± Jake cackled. ¡°You¡¯re cooking tomorrow.¡± Alex didn¡¯t answer. He just lay back and stared at the sky. The world¡¯s bigger than they know, he thought. And I¡¯ve only scratched the surface.
Sacrifice:
Jake¡¯s Updated Log: Not Another Alex sat beside the firepit with Miriam wrapping his shoulder, her movements quick and clinical. He winced as she applied a thick, bitter-smelling salve. ¡°You¡¯re lucky it didn¡¯t tear your damn arm off,¡± she muttered. ¡°Had to go on your own, huh?¡± ¡°I just knew what I was trying to do,¡± Alex replied, trying not to hiss at the sting. ¡°Just... didn¡¯t want to ask anyone else to risk their life.¡± ¡°And what do you think we¡¯ve all been doing this whole time?¡± she snapped. But her touch softened as she tied off the final bandage. ¡°You did good.¡± He nodded, eyes drifting to the smoke spiraling up from a pyre nearby. A boar was roasting on a spit, a rare treat. Around them, the Cradle stirred¡ªrain-slick earth muffling footsteps, firelight flickering beneath tarps, weapons being cleaned, sharpened. No formal meeting. No announcement. But everyone moved with purpose, like a living machine with a hundred tired limbs. Jake was already seated at the Obelisk, hunched over his journal, scribbling with furious intensity. He still hadn¡¯t picked a path. And yet, Alex suspected he was sitting on a hoard of points. Watching. Calculating. Across the clearing, Camila trained alone. Waves of compressed wind burst from her palms, ripping through straw and wood dummies she¡¯d dragged into place herself. Her movements were efficient¡ªpracticed. Sharp. She¡¯d grown since the fog-beast attack, since the bear. There was something undeniable about the way her magic bent the world now. A few younger survivors gathered nearby to watch. Camila didn¡¯t look at them. She just kept going.
Meanwhile, the camp simmered. Tensions weren¡¯t high yet, but they were climbing. Callum had gathered a few of the pathless the night before, murmuring under the pretense of fairness and representation. ¡°Callum¡¯s really pushing for point distribution to himself and the rest of them,¡± Grace whispered to Alex over breakfast. ¡°Thing is, they probably already have enough points for a path. They just aren¡¯t spending it.¡± Alex stirred his bark-and-bitter-leaf tea. ¡°Feigning weakness. Keeps them from having to hunt. No power, no expectation.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± she said. ¡°Now he¡¯s working to make it so they can reap what actual hunters earn.¡± ¡°He¡¯s preying on the uncertain,¡± Alex muttered. ¡°Says we¡¯re consolidating power, acting like warlords.¡± He snorted. ¡°What a fucking slime ball.¡± ¡°Miriam knows,¡± Grace added. ¡°But she¡¯s refusing to make a move.¡± Near the food stores, David stood with Yusuf and Raj, arms crossed, deep in discussion over the next training rotation. His presence had shifted since acquiring Full Body Armament Haki. The day before, he¡¯d shattered a goblin¡¯s wooden shield with one punch, following through to cave in its chest before sending it flying a few meters back. Such a sight gets people talking. Particularly when he uses Hardening now, able to harden his full body, becomes a veritable terminator, at least to goblins. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Jake leaned toward Miriam near the Obelisk. ¡°Strength¡¯s becoming the new metric. I¡¯ve heard whispers. Some think David should lead.¡± Miriam didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll push back?¡± Jake shook his head. ¡°No. But others might push him forward.¡±
Ellie and Hana worked in the north field, magic crackling between their hands. A small frozen blade shimmered between Hana¡¯s fingers before cracking and dropping to the dirt. She sighed. ¡°Closer,¡± Ellie said with a grin. ¡°Fifth one today.¡± Hana beamed. ¡°Can I fight soon?¡± ¡°Soon. How many points have you got?¡± ¡°Twenty-eight,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Planning to get Ice-Make Magic soon.¡± ¡°With how much you¡¯ve been practicing, you¡¯ll flourish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t jinx me,¡± Hana muttered, but she couldn¡¯t stop smiling.
Late that afternoon, a scout burst into camp¡ªpanting, drenched, wide-eyed. ¡°Movement¡ªnorth of Marcus¡¯s camp,¡± she gasped. ¡°Big group. Not the same as his.¡± The camp froze. ¡°Another group?¡± Miriam¡¯s voice was low, incredulous. ¡°Fucks sake. How many?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t get close enough to count. But it¡¯s more than a dozen. They¡¯re loud, fast. From what I could tell... all men.¡± Jake paled. ¡°Wonderful.¡± David muttered, ¡°That makes three. Including us.¡± A meeting was called within the hour. Survivors gathered near the Obelisk, half listening, half watching for signs of danger. ¡°They¡¯re getting closer,¡± Camila said to the gathered crowd. ¡°We don¡¯t know what they want. I say we avoid them until we understand more about Marcus¡¯s group.¡± ¡°Are they connected to Marcus?¡± someone asked. ¡°No,¡± Jake replied. ¡°Different camp. Different layout. Marcus¡¯s group is tight. Clean. These guys... not so much.¡± ¡°Confident,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°Or reckless.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t afford a confrontation,¡± Miriam added. There were murmurs of agreement. But also doubt. Fear. The knowledge that the world was growing smaller, and more dangerous, with every day.
That night, the core group sat around the firepit: Camila, Jake, David, and Alex. The flames were low, smoke drifting quietly into the dark. ¡°They¡¯re multiplying,¡± Jake said quietly. ¡°Feels like yesterday when we thought we were alone.¡± ¡°Others are expanding,¡± Camila replied. ¡°Confident now.¡± David leaned forward. ¡°We need information.¡± Alex stared into the fire. Then said: ¡°I¡¯ll go. Again.¡± Camila raised an eyebrow. ¡°Alone?¡± Alex shrugged. ¡°Worked last time.¡± Jake groaned. ¡°He¡¯s going to die, and I¡¯m going to have to write poems.¡± Alex smiled faintly. ¡°Give me two days. I¡¯ll just watch. No contact.¡± Camila didn¡¯t answer right away. Then: ¡°Fine. But check in. Every day. And don¡¯t be stupid.¡± He nodded, already thinking about rivers and trees and creatures that watched from the sky.
Jake¡¯s Updated Log Raiders Alex slipped through the trees before dawn, a satchel on his back, kunai at his hip, saber slung across his shoulders. Chakra hummed beneath his skin¡ªsteady, coiled. This wasn¡¯t a hunt for food. Not a trek for solitude. This time, he was tracking people. The third group. Two days. That¡¯s what he¡¯d promised. In and out. No contact. Just eyes and information. The forest changed the farther he went. Thicker trees. The ground damp, untouched. No goblin trails. No scratches on bark. No warped trees from fog-beast territory. It was unclaimed. Uncharted. And as the first streaks of sun crested the ridge, he saw it¡ªa thin curl of smoke rising into the pale sky. Alex crouched, slipped chakra to his soles, and ghosted up the ridge without a sound. At the top, peering through the underbrush, he saw them. Tents. Crude ones, could have been bought from any Path. Not like Marcus¡¯s people with their structured layout and canvas lean-tos. These were poorly maintained and arranged. And there were men¡ªmany of them. Shirtless, armed. With a variety of weapons. Some lounged by the fire. Some sparred with little care for restraint. He counted twenty-five at least. And at the center of it all¡­ a cage. Wooden. Reinforced. Something inside stirred, weakly. He couldn¡¯t make out what¡ªuntil one of the men, bald and tattooed, dragged a woman toward it. She stumbled with every step, her knees buckling. Blood ran from a cut at her temple. The man barked something, shoved her through the bars. The others laughed. Alex¡¯s stomach turned. His hands curled into fists. No Obelisk in sight. Either hidden or elsewhere in the camp. But it didn¡¯t matter. These weren¡¯t survivors. They were raiders. He backed away, inch by inch, chakra coiled and ready to burst. Then he sprinted, low and fast, not daring to look back until the trees swallowed the camp behind him.
Back at the Cradle The morning had been quiet. Rain gone, mist lifting. A fire crackled low beside the central clearing where Becca and Hana practiced chakra control drills. Camila stood nearby, arms folded, her own training half-ignored as she watched the girls. Two spirals of air twisted around her shoulders like restless birds¡ªher control had grown immensely since her magic expansion. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Becca held her breath, focusing. A leaf stuck to her palm, then fluttered off. Hana, seated beside her, held a small frozen blade in one hand. It lasted thirty seconds this time before shattering. ¡°Better,¡± Ellie said, crouching beside her. ¡°Five seconds longer than yesterday.¡± Hana¡¯s grin was sharp. ¡°I¡¯ve got thirty-five points now. Think I¡¯m finally ready.¡± ¡°Then get over to the Obelisk,¡± Ellie said, nudging her. ¡°You¡¯ve earned it.¡± Across the clearing, David spun a kunai through his fingers, testing its weight. He¡¯d been sparring with Roger and Raj earlier, and though the fight had ended, his presence still loomed¡ªmore confident, more imposing. The upgrade to his Armament Haki gave him a great sense of confidence, though he''s not arrogant, recognising his stamina is finite, and his defences not impenetrable. Even so, It hadn¡¯t been a cheap investment, but now? He was second only to Camila in power. Travis and Wren ran through Nen cycles in the distance, Yusuf watching with his arms crossed. ¡°Zetsu¡¯s still leaking,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± Travis said through gritted teeth. And off to one side, in the corner by the cracked water barrel, Callum gathered his usual cluster of pathless followers. Quiet murmurs. Words like consolidation and fairness. He hadn¡¯t trained. He hadn¡¯t helped on any hunts. But he was building something. Miriam noticed. Grace noticed. ¡°Let him dig his own grave,¡± Grace whispered, watching from beside the ration tent.
That Evening Alex returned at dusk¡ªmud-streaked, sweating, silent. He didn¡¯t collapse this time. He walked straight to the firepit, where Miriam, Camila, Jake, and David had already gathered. His eyes were cold. Focused. Miriam didn¡¯t wait. ¡°What did you see?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not like Marcus¡¯s group,¡± Alex said. ¡°They¡¯re worse. Way worse.¡± Jake straightened, already pulling out his notebook. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°At least twenty-five. All men. All armed. Clubs, blades. Some have powers. I saw one with Armament Haki, using his arm like a bat. Another had a sword that screamed when it moved. I don¡¯t know¡ªmaybe Nen, maybe Fairy Tail magic.¡± David¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Were they organized?¡± Alex shook his head. ¡°No. Messy. Brutal. There¡¯s a cage at the center of their camp. I saw a woman¡ªshe was being dragged back. Blood on her face. They threw her inside like nothing.¡± Camila¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Obelisk?¡± she asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t see it. Could be hidden. Could be somewhere else. Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Jake scribbled faster. ¡°They¡¯re raiders,¡± Alex said. ¡°They¡¯re not surviving. They¡¯re conquering.¡± Silence fell. ¡°What do we do?¡± David asked. ¡°We prepare,¡± Miriam said without hesitation. ¡°We fortify the eastern flank. We keep our heads low. If they find us¡ªif they even suspect we¡¯re near¡ªwe¡¯ll have a war.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back out tomorrow, hunting¡± Alex added. ¡°Alright, try and nab a deer or something. Gives less reason for others to complain.¡± Alex nodded once and walked toward the ration tent.
Jake¡¯s Log ¡ª Night Entry Preparations before the Storm The Cradle stirred early. No rain this morning, just a bitter wind slipping in through the eastern trees. Sharp, dry. The kind of cold that crawled into joints and made people double-check their gear. Camila stood at the northern watchpost, eyes fixed toward the east, arms folded. Her Marine coat flared slightly in the wind. She hadn¡¯t spoken much since Alex¡¯s return the night before. When she did, her voice was quieter, more clipped. Like something in her had locked into place. Below, near the firepit, Miriam wrapped a bandage around Grace¡¯s forearm, her movements brisk and muttering. ¡°Can¡¯t you train with sticks again?¡± she asked. ¡°Not if we want to be ready,¡± Grace replied through clenched teeth. ¡°Yeah, well¡ªmy Medical Ninjutsu isn¡¯t omnipotent. You lose an arm, you lose an arm.¡± Grace gave a half-smile but said nothing. The cut wasn¡¯t deep, but it had bled enough to make a point. David passed by with Yusuf and Raj in tow, all three geared up for patrol. David sharpened his saber absently as Yusuf spoke mid-stride. ¡°I say we move the logs closer to the inner perimeter,¡± Yusuf said. ¡°Stack the rest in triangle formations. If we¡¯re flanked from the east, we can bottleneck them there.¡± ¡°Smart,¡± David said. ¡°But I want spear traps too. Low to the ground. Simple. Fast.¡± ¡°We can set it today,¡± Raj added. ¡°Give me Wren. Maybe Li.¡± ¡°Wren will hate that,¡± Yusuf said with a grin. ¡°Don¡¯t care.¡± ¡ª On the north end of the camp, Ellie and Hana were resetting their makeshift training range¡ªa row of wooden and bark targets propped between rope stakes. The frost that formed around Hana¡¯s feet as she worked shimmered faintly in the morning sun. Her magic had surged in strength since buying Ice Make. The time she¡¯d spent building her foundation had paid off¡ªshards now formed in clean, controlled arcs, sharp and deliberate. ¡°Ice daggers today?¡± Ellie asked. ¡°No chance,¡± Hana replied, brushing her bangs from her eyes. ¡°May as well flex my newfound power. Spears.¡± Ellie raised an eyebrow. ¡°Let¡¯s see who can hit the most targets.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°You¡¯re on.¡± ¡ª By mid-morning, something had shifted. The tension, once subtle and unspoken, now settled across the camp like a low mist. Heavier. Not fear, exactly. Not yet. But awareness. The quiet understanding that danger wasn¡¯t just claws and fangs anymore but man. Jake sat beside Becca and Wren near the Obelisk, flipping pages in his weather-worn notebook. They had a rough sketch spread between them¡ªcrude lines marking potential choke points, defensive formations, fallback positions. Camila had left them a quick scrawl earlier, based on Alex¡¯s recon. ¡°You think they¡¯ll find us?¡± Wren asked. ¡°Eventually,¡± Becca murmured. ¡°You never know, they might hit Marcus¡¯s camp first,¡± Jake said. ¡°Hadn''t even thought of that, we should probably warn them.¡± ¡°Camila¡¯s already planning a trip,¡± Miriam said, stepping over to join them. Jake fell silent for a long moment, staring at the Obelisk. ¡ª At the Edge of the Camp Callum leaned against a tree, arms crossed, his coat collar pulled high. Beside him, Cara and Dylan stood close¡ªboth pathless, both quietly disgruntled. ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time,¡± Callum said. ¡°Before they get so strong they don¡¯t bother listening anymore.¡± Cara shifted uncomfortably. ¡°They¡¯re the ones risking their lives.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re the ones who keep this place running while they go out and play hero.¡± Dylan nodded. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong. We don¡¯t get time to hunt. They come back with trophies, with points¡ªand then keep the spoils.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve given us sacrifices,¡± Cara said, voice low. ¡°A lot, actually. There''s just so many of us.¡± Callum didn¡¯t respond, just watched as Alex emerged from Miriam¡¯s tent. Stiff, clearly sore, but walking with purpose. The saber was strapped to his back. His cloak was already tied. ¡°They make the rules,¡± Callum said. ¡°I just don¡¯t think we should follow blindly.¡± ¡ª Alex¡¯s Quarters Alex packed light again. Just like before. The bruises on his shoulder hadn¡¯t faded, but he could move without flinching now. He hadn¡¯t told anyone except Camila. He didn¡¯t plan to. This wasn¡¯t a mission. It wasn¡¯t revenge. He just needed to see the world. Another knock at the wood frame of his lean-to. It was Grace. ¡°You planning to say goodbye this time?¡± she asked. He raised a brow. ¡°You heard?¡± ¡°Everyone knows.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± She smirked. ¡°But bring back something worth the trouble, yeah?¡± He gave a faint grin. ¡°A stag, maybe.¡± ¡ª Nightfall Alex stepped beyond the firelight without fanfare. A shadow slipping into trees. His chakra pulsed quietly through his limbs. No hesitation. No second thoughts. Back in camp, the fire crackled low. A stew boiled slowly in a pot, but few lingered near it. David sat beside Jake and Camila near the Obelisk. Camila was sharpening her saber again. Jake reread old entries, his hand twitching like he wanted to add something but couldn¡¯t. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible?¡± David asked. ¡°What?¡± Jake murmured. ¡°That we won¡¯t make it.¡± Camila answered. ¡°It¡¯s always been possible. The difference now is¡ªwe¡¯re not alone. I¡¯ll head to Marcus¡¯s camp tomorrow. See what he has to say.¡± The flames flickered in silence. And beyond the Cradle¡ªfar to the east, deep into the woods, over hills and ridges unmarked on any map they¡¯d drawn¡ª Smoke curled above a third camp. Jake¡¯s Log (End of Day Entry) Harpies The morning hue did little to assuage the tension of the camp, there was too much to do, fortifications, hunting and gathering, firewood and water runs. There didn¡¯t seem to be a moment of respite. Camila stood at the north gate, arms folded, a sealed scroll tucked under one arm. David was nearby, speaking with Raj and Roger about rotating patrol groups. Wren practiced her Hatsu shaping again, this time with Travis and Yusuf alternating roles between attacker and observer. Ice slashed in the air behind them¡ªHana, throwing spears at freshly carved logs, Ellie offering pointers in between her own blasts. Yusuf had been saving up for quite some time now. He¡¯s bought two powers, Aura Expansion (Large) ¨C 40 points, a similar power to what Camila had bought. It gives him much more Nen to work with, other then that he bought Big Bang Impact ¨C 30 points. This gave him Ko as an advanced technique, but the principle of Big bang impact was using Ko, and bolstering the destructive power with enhancement Nen for a devastating strike. Yusuf was becoming a very formidable character now as well. Callum hadn¡¯t shown his face all morning, but no one was asking where he was. Jake muttered to himself beside the Obelisk, checking lists, cross-referencing tallies. ¡°Too many mouths,¡± he whispered, pen scratching paper. Miriam passed by, tired but steady, and paused to glance over his shoulder. ¡°Anyone new pick a path?¡± Jake shook his head. ¡°Not today. There should be quite a few capable of choosing a path now and most likely get the respective foundational power. With all the sacrifices others have given up through complaints¡± ¡°Then maybe tomorrow, why won¡¯t they take a damn path¡± she murmured.
Alex - Eastern Ridge The forest was quieter than expected. Alex moved with practiced silence, his body light, chakra controlled. Every footfall placed with intention. Birds scattered now and again, but most of the wildlife stayed hidden. He was on a hunt¡ªbut not just for food. He¡¯d planned to track something substantial. Something worth points. The river was his guide. It meandered east, deeper into unfamiliar territory. He followed its edge, hopping smooth stones, ducking under fallen branches. The trees here leaned taller, denser, the air cooler. By midday, he saw the tracks. Hoofed. Deep. Heavy. But unlike the white stag he¡¯d seen before, this creature didn¡¯t walk lightly. It dragged, scuffed the soil. Its gait uneven. Wounded? Alex crouched, brushing his fingers along the marks. Blood. Fresh, it must be close. He followed slowly, kunai in hand, saber at the ready. Then he saw it. Not far ahead, across a slope of moss-covered rocks¡ªsomething massive moved. It was not a deer. Not a boar. It was¡­ armoured. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. A quadruped, its hide plated in bark-like scales, low to the ground like a lizard but with legs like a stag. Its horns were asymmetrical, one broken halfway down. It limped, favouring its right side. Its eye, large and slitted, tracked him the moment he stepped into view. It let out a low, thrumming noise. Alex didn¡¯t raise his blade. He just stood, assessing. ¡°You¡¯re hurt,¡± he said aloud, voice soft. The creature did not retreat. But it didn¡¯t charge either. Then he saw it¡ªwedged under its shoulder: a wooden spear. Could be from other humans, maybe goblins Alex circled slowly, keeping his distance. It watched. When he moved left, it adjusted. But it didn¡¯t strike. He flicked through options in his head. Fire wouldn¡¯t help. It would panic the thing. But maybe¡­ He formed the hand signs. Water Clone Technique. A shimmering duplicate peeled off his side and stepped opposite him. The creature turned toward the clone, confused¡ªbut didn¡¯t move. Alex slid forward, slow as breath, and in one swift motion pulled the spear from its hide. The creature shrieked, twisting toward him, but stopped just short¡ªbloodied but not hostile. He backed off. It blinked once¡­ then turned and lumbered away into the trees. He didn¡¯t follow. Instead, he picked up the spear. He¡¯s no expert, but it seems to be too well made to be goblin, most likely human. He just hoped it wasn¡¯t the Raiders group. Alex moved on. Till the forest broke into a large clearing, of rocky terrain. That¡¯s when he heard it, a guttural low thrumming, and heavy footsteps. What revealed itself to him was a creature of great size. He figured it must me at least 30ft tall, around 10 meters or so. Humanoid, pale skin with no hair. Its limbs were long and gangly, its arms dangled past its knees. He quietly retreated back into the forest. No chance I¡¯m fighting that and winning. He carried on, giving this new area a wide berth.
Back at the Cradle - Late Afternoon David set a stack of sharpened pikes against the inner fencing while Raj dug in another post. Camila returned from her visit to Marcus¡¯s camp, a frown etched across her face. ¡°What did he say?¡± Jake asked, pulling up beside her as she dismounted from her perch on the watch scaffolding. ¡°They¡¯ve seen them too,¡± Camila said. ¡°The raiders. But they¡¯ve stayed back, for now.¡± ¡°And Marcus?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not interested in a direct alliance, but he¡¯s not opposed to mutual warnings. I gave him a den den mushi with a direct line to us. If they spot movement east, he¡¯ll signal.¡± ¡°Sounds¡­ civil.¡± Camila didn¡¯t reply.
Dusk Alex returned just before dark, not empty-handed. Two hares dangled from his satchel. Not impressive, but food nonetheless. But it was the 4 winged demonic looking women like creatures he had dragged back on a tarp. Other then that he had news. ¡°They may be hunting further than we thought,¡± Alex said. ¡°Did you fight?¡± Jake asked. ¡°No. But I found some sort of creature that had a wooden spear stabbed into its flesh. The spear is most likely human, so it¡¯s either Marcus¡¯s group, or there¡¯s.¡± ¡°Damn. But do tell what are these creepy things¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m thinking Harpies¡± ¡°Sacrifice them as fast as you can¡± ¡°Still issues with Callum and his rabble¡± Jake just gave him a knowing grin. Before walking off. ¡°Time to redraw the threat map,¡± he muttered. Alex ¨C 58 points Sacrifice Alex ¨C 90 points ¡°Finally¡± Sharingan - 70 points Two tomoe ¨C 10 points Three tomoe ¨C 10 points Alex ¨C 0 points Miriam walked over and handed Alex a canteen and a dried slice of boar. ¡°Eat first. We¡¯ll talk later.¡± He nodded and walked to the fire to sit down, the soft light flickering against his tired features. Above, clouds loomed, but no rain fell. The Cradle was quiet again, for now.
Jake¡¯s Log (Night Entry): Next Objectives: Skins The cold hadn¡¯t left. Smoke rose from the firepit, drifting toward the dull grey sky. The air was crisp, but not biting¡ªjust enough to keep fingers stiff and people moving. The morning hum of activity had returned, but it felt... subdued. David stood near the fencing, arms folded, watching Yusuf and Raj direct others in reinforcing the eastern line. Thin stakes were sharpened by hand, woven between logs into low barricades. Every few minutes, someone would pass by with more rope and wood. They were building like they expected to be attacked tomorrow. ¡°Thicker here,¡± Yusuf called, pointing to a narrow slope just beyond the tree line. ¡°If they come through, it¡¯ll be through this bottleneck. Camila said the terrain bends them inward.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s probably right,¡± David said. ¡°Let¡¯s get Hana to freeze the ground there later, make it slick.¡± Raj raised a brow. ¡°Hana?¡± David nodded. ¡°Miriam¡¯s wanting her to be more involved after getting ice magic.¡± ¡°Make¡¯s sense¡±
By the Training Field Hana¡¯s ice cut cleanly now. She¡¯d grown quieter since learning Ice Make¡ªmore focused. Beside her, Ellie watched her conjure a narrow lance of ice, whisper a word, and send it crashing into a straw dummy from fifteen feet out. ¡°Perfect angle,¡± Ellie said. ¡°That¡¯s the rib shot.¡± Hana nodded, breath steady. ¡°How do I make it faster?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got the control. Work on burst-casting. Like this¡ª¡± Ellie raised her palm and flicked her fingers outward. A small disk of ice spun into the air and shattered on a tree trunk. Hana tried. Her first one cracked and spun sideways. The second one hit. They smiled, faint but real. Nearby, Travis and Wren argued about In again¡ªTravis insisting he could brute-force his way into mastering it, Wren snorting every time he failed to keep his aura hidden for more than three seconds, Wren had bought In, allowing her to give some valuable insight for Travis in how to use it, but at this rate it¡¯ll take months before he can use it in any meaningful way. ¡°If they¡¯ve got other Nen users, In is the technique to have.¡± ¡°I know, but I¡¯m trying to save up for a hatsu¡± ¡°You¡¯re a transmuter right?¡± ¡°Yeah¡± ¡°What you thinking, bungee gum? maybe Killua¡¯s Godspeed? At least you won¡¯t have to experience most of your childhood being tortured.¡± ¡°Maybe, unless I think of something to develop my own Hatsu.¡± Li practiced her transformations across from them. Her face morphed slowly into Jake¡¯s for a second before it half-melted into something between Jake and David. She cursed and started again.
Callum ¨C Outer Edge of Camp Callum wasn¡¯t working. Again. He stood just outside the food tent, talking quietly to Dylan and Cara. ¡°How many points are you two on now?¡± he said. ¡°43¡± Cara said, biting her lip. ¡°Do you not feel bad. I mean most times they bring goblins back or a hobgoblin they now give all of us a share.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°It¡¯s only fair, with all we do at the camp¡± Callum rebuked. Dylan scowled. ¡°He¡¯s right, I¡¯m on 48 now. Do you have any idea about the others Callum?¡± ¡°Most of them have enough to unlock a path now, and even a power like you two. When Camila goes out to hunt she always brings back a lot of Goblins, 3 hobgoblins the other day, when she¡¯d gone out with Yusuf, Ellie, David and Roger. And well what, we got two of them and a number of goblins as well.¡± ¡°How many points are you on now then?¡± Cara asked. ¡°73. We can¡¯t keep delaying path selection, maybe only one or two more days, but there¡¯s no way that Jake doesn¡¯t know we should have enough points. Think Miriam just wants to keep the peace¡±
The Obelisk Jake sat cross-legged beside it, rereading old entries and reorganizing the tally sheets. No one had taken a new path recently. The logbook showed dozens who could¡ªwho had enough points saved up. They should even be able to by chakra or Haki as soon as they buy their path as well. He flipped through until he reached Alex¡¯s page. 90 points. All spent. Sharingan: Three Tomoe. Jake rubbed his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s a massive boon. I wonder if he can get to Mangekyo or even Rinnegan. Though both are limited in number.¡± Miriam sat down beside him. ¡°That would be a massive asset to have, though from what you¡¯ve told me, he¡¯d need to have the chakra to back it up. How many confirmed powers now?¡± ¡°Forty-two,¡± Jake said. ¡°A few more trickling up. Still thirty uncommitted.¡± ¡°And of those, how many loyal to Callum?¡± Jake didn¡¯t answer. A rhetorical question.
Alex ¨C Outskirts, Midday He wasn¡¯t far. Not this time. Alex had decided to stay close, areas he¡¯d already explored, he wanted to test out his Sharingan. He¡¯d circled east again, checking for more signs of the raiders, the giant humanoid, or anything unusual. The forest was still. Silent. But not empty. He crouched beside a set of prints¡ªnot human. Hooved again. A trail heading north, deeper into unfamiliar territory. The soil was cold under his fingers. Behind him, the trees groaned. Alex stood, one hand on his saber. He¡¯d heard from Camila about a goblin encampment, they¡¯d been avoiding it on account of the numbers, at least 30 goblins, 5 hobgoblins, and something huge, they suspect its an ogre. He was wanting to scout the camp today at least, then he planned to speak to Camila about a war party.
Marcus¡¯s Camp ¨C Afternoon Camila arrived near dusk. She didn¡¯t ride. She walked, cloak tight, saber slung high. One of Marcus¡¯s sentries met her at the perimeter. He greeted her with a nod. ¡°Still standing?¡± ¡°Just barely,¡± she said. Inside, the camp was larger than before. More tents. Better structure. More weapons on display. Marcus met her near the center. He looked tired, but unbothered. ¡°They¡¯re hunting further,¡± Camila said without preamble. He nodded. ¡°We figured. One of our runners saw movement close to the cliffs. Thought it was your people.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well shit¡± Marcus paused. ¡°Well not to worry the way they are currently heading.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡± ¡°Have you come across, the skins yet?¡± Camila said nothing. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a no. We¡¯ve had some encounters, odd creatures. Pale, hairless, misshapen. Aggressive. The cliffs they have headed to has a cave loaded with these creatures, they don¡¯t seem the overly cautious type, so I¡¯m guessing they will head in. And hopefully they¡¯ll take a hit to their forces.¡± ¡°Only a maybe though¡± Marcus added, ¡°Well yeah, it is a matter of if. In the meantime, will try to keep an eye on them, and as always prepare.¡± Camila raised an eyebrow. ¡°You sound awfully calm about everything¡± ¡°Experience. When you see a person torn apart by a few skins it puts things into perspective.¡±
Back at the Cradle ¨C Evening The fire crackled again. The smell of hare stew drifted over the camp. Alex sat across from Grace having returned with a few rabbits and a couple hares, this added to other hunting teams, have a fairly meaty stew. He was slowly sharpening his blade. He hadn¡¯t said much since returning, his mind distracted, focused on the camp he saw, it¡¯ll be a tough task, but one of immense rewards if they can pull it off. Yusuf and Raj discussed Nen theory again, Raj had been a fan of One Piece and Hunter, and though he¡¯d chosen the One Piece path, he enjoyed providing his insights with regards to Nen. Wren laughed at Travis, who had once again failed to suppress his aura. Becca finally managed to balance two leaves across her arm using chakra, and nearly shouted when they didn¡¯t fall. Jake stood alone near the Obelisk. A relatively peaceful sight.
Jake¡¯s Log (Night Entry)