Liam stumbled through the forest, his breaths ragged and uneven. The weight of Alex's limp body pressed down on his small frame, but he refused to stop. His legs burned, his arms trembled, but he couldn't let go. He wouldn't.
The village was too far. He had known it from the start. Even if he ran with all his might, Alex would bleed out long before they reached safety. His mind spun, grasping for any alternative. Then, he remembered. His talent—Overseer.
One that gave him knowledge about anything his eyes landed on. If he could find something—anything—that could heal Alex, then maybe… just maybe…
With newfound urgency, Liam forced himself deeper into the undergrowth, his eyes darting across every plant, every root, every glistening drop of morning dew. Text flooded his vision as the system processed each object.
[Bitter Root] - A mildly toxic root that causes nausea when ingested.
Not it.
[Silverthorn Berry] - Used in some basic medicinal pastes, but requires proper processing to be effective.
Not it.
[Venomspike Weed] - A lethal herb that paralyzes upon contact. Not suitable for consumption.
Useless!
None of it was useful. He grit his teeth, pushing forward, his desperation mounting with each useless identification. His thoughts raced.
What do I do? What do I do?!
The moonlight barely pierced the dense foliage above, casting eerie shadows that twisted and danced as he stumbled past them. The darkness seemed suffocating, pressing in on him, whispering that he was too late, that Alex was already slipping away.
No. He wouldn't accept that.
A large tree root snagged his foot, sending him crashing to the ground. Alex's body nearly slipped from his grasp, and panic surged through Liam as he scrambled to pull him close again. His fingers brushed against Alex's chest, now damp with blood. It was warm. Too warm. The wound was still bleeding, soaking into his own hands. His breath hitched.
He wasn't going to make it.
Tears blurred his vision, frustration bubbling inside him. Why?! Why can't I find anything?! He punched the ground, his small fist sinking into the damp earth. His heart pounded in his ears. He had to keep moving. Had to—
A glint of gold.
His eyes widened. His gaze locked onto a single leaf, glowing faintly beneath the roots of an ancient tree. The system's text appeared before him.
[Phoenix Leaf] - A rare, miraculous herb. Upon consumption, restores the user to full health regardless of injuries. Usable only once.
Liam's breath caught. His fingers trembled as he reached forward, gently plucking the leaf from its resting place. It was warm as if holding the last remnants of the sun's light. This was it. This was what he needed.
Wasting no time, he turned back to Alex, his heart hammering against his ribs. His hands shook as he carefully opened Alex's mouth and placed the leaf inside. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, Alex's body convulsed. A faint golden glow enveloped him, the deep wound on his stomach knitting together before Liam's wide eyes. The blood vanished. His pale complexion slowly returned to normal.
Liam let out a shaky breath, his exhaustion finally catching up to him. His hands clenched at the fabric of Alex's shirt as he stared at his face, waiting. Hoping.
Alex's lips parted, a faint whisper escaping. A name. A plea.
"…Mom… Dad…"
Liam's heart clenched.
Alex's brows furrowed, his face contorting in pain as he relived something—something distant, something buried. Liam didn't understand. He only knew that whatever it was, it hurt.
And for the first time that night, Liam felt truly helpless.
The forest was silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. Liam sat there, clutching Alex's hand, not knowing what to do.
But at least… at least he was alive.
And for now, that was enough.
Alex gasped as he jolted awake, his entire body trembling. His mind was still trapped in the last moment—the sheer agony, the darkness creeping in, the sensation of life slipping away. His breath came in ragged gasps as he clutched at his stomach, half-expecting to find himself still impaled.
But then his eyes fell on Liam.
The boy's face was pale, his eyes puffy and red, exhaustion written all over his features. Liam had been crying. He had been desperate. And seeing that, Alex felt something inside him settle. He swallowed hard, trying to compose himself before forcing a smirk onto his face.
"We killed the Boar King, right?" he rasped, his voice rough. "I have elite ball knowledge, this proves it."
Liam blinked at him, confused at first, before letting out a small, relieved laugh. The tension in the air lightened, if only for a moment.
Alex sighed and let his head fall back against the ground, feeling the damp earth beneath him. He was alive. He didn't know how, but he was alive. And that meant he needed to reassess everything.
"Talent," he muttered, pulling up his attribute panel.
Name: Alex Edward
Age: 19
Talent: Cloning [F] [Growth Talent]
Level: 10
Exp: 12/1000
Class: Not Selected (Change Available)
Hp: 700/700
Hp Recovery: 30/M
Attack: 12
Defense: 0
Mana: 20/20
Mana Recovery: 0.01/S
Stamina: 7
Attribute Points: 9
Alex exhaled deeply, staring at his new stats. The increase in level had granted him more points to allocate, and his mana pool had expanded considerably. He flexed his fingers, feeling the renewed strength in his limbs.
"This was worth it..," he murmured, mostly to himself. "I think."
He glanced at Liam, who was still kneeling beside him, watching him intently. The boy had saved his life. Somehow, against all odds, he had pulled him back from the brink of death.
"You did good, kid," Alex said, this time with genuine warmth. "You really saved my butt out there."
Liam didn't say anything—he just looked away, his small hands clenching into fists. Alex let the silence settle between them, knowing that, for now, words weren't necessary.
The battle was over. But what came next? That was a question for another moment.
For now, Alex was just grateful to be breathing.