The presence of the unknown figures weighed heavily on Leav's mind. Their words echoed in his head—You are not ready.
Ready for what?
As dawn broke over the encampment, Leav sat near the main fire, scrolling through his Status screen, a feature he had begun to rely on more than ever.
[Status]Name: LeavRace: Goblin TacticianLevel: 9 (EXP: 74%)Strength: 18Agility: 22Endurance: 21Intelligence: 28Tactics Proficiency: IntermediateActive Skills:
Commanding Presence (Lv.2): Boosts morale and coordination in battle.
Tactical Insight (Lv.3): Improves real-time strategic adjustments.
Enhanced Reflexes (Lv.2): Increases reaction speed.
Passive Skills:
Leadership Instincts (Lv.1): Grants minor improvements in group decision-making.
Battle Awareness (Lv.2): Increases perception in combat.
The slow progression of his EXP frustrated him. He had been stuck at level 9 for longer than he liked, but evolution wasn't something to be rushed. He needed to master his current form before reaching for something greater.
And yet… these outsiders made him feel small, unprepared.
Trek's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"You look like you're about to kill something," Trek said, sitting down beside him.
Leav grunted. "Maybe I should. My level has barely moved since our last fight."
Trek smirked. "So? Leveling is just a number if you don't know how to use what you've got."
Leav shot him a look. "Says the goblin who's been locked in his tent trying to 'figure out' magic."
Trek grinned, unbothered. "You're not wrong. But I'm making progress."
He held up his hand, and for a brief moment, a faint shimmer of blue light flickered between his fingers before vanishing.
Leav raised an eyebrow. "That's new."
"Yeah," Trek admitted. "It's weak, but it's a start. You know how we absorb experience when we fight? I think there's something else we're missing—another kind of energy we're not using properly."
Leav leaned forward. "Go on."
Trek hesitated, then sighed. "Look, I don't fully understand it yet. But I think those figures in the woods… they're using something we aren't. If we don't figure it out, all the levels in the world won't save us."
Leav frowned, absorbing the words.
If there really was another force at play, something beyond raw strength and tactics, then he needed to understand it.
Because if he didn't, they would remain at the mercy of the unknown.
And that was unacceptable.