’How the hell do I unlock my second contract slot?’ Alicar thought as he followed the rest of the group, his mind racing with possibilities. ’I really need it right about now.’
"We got a place where we’re relatively safe," Leon explained as they walked through the forest. "It has food reserves and a bit of furniture we can use to rest."
On their way to that safe place, a massive Scorched Bear appeared before the group, its form blocking their path.
[Scorched Bear Lv.10]
[Rank: Common]
Many of the others shook in fear as they saw that thing, because even though it was much weaker than the sun beast, it was still a level 10 monster and incredibly dangerous.
And yet, Leon didn’t even hesitate for a moment as he charged forward.
SMASH!
With a single one of his punches, the monster immediately collapsed, dead, its body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
"Good, that’ll be dinner for tonight," Leon grinned widely, as if what he had done was nothing special at all.
He grabbed the monster’s corpse over his shoulder as he marched forward, carrying it with ease.
After around thirty minutes of constant walking through the dense forest, the group finally reached the safe place Leon spoke about.
It was a cave entrance hidden between a few trees and rock formations, fairly difficult to see if you hadn’t known about its existence.
"Here it is," Leon said calmly as he turned around to face the group. "Alright, you’re about to meet my... companions, they might be grumpier than me, but don’t mind it."
Alicar and Iris stared at each other at that moment, a faint understanding igniting between them without words.
They knew that if they ever wanted to get out of this place, and fast, they would need Leon and the people in this cave.
The cave entrance was dark and foreboding, but Leon walked inside without hesitation, and the others followed cautiously behind him.
The group slowly filed into the cave, their eyes adjusting to the dimmer light as they took in their new surroundings.
The cave opened up into a surprisingly spacious area, with crude furniture made from wood and stone scattered around the space.
There were chairs, a table, and even some shelves carved directly into the cave walls, all of them showing signs of careful craftsmanship.
Two figures sat in the corner, both of them looking up as the group entered, their expressions wary and guarded.
Alicar immediately used his ability to assess them, curious about who else had survived this long in such a hellish place.
---
[Name: Sera Voss]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 10]
[Vessel Potential: Excellent.]
---
[Name: Darian Cole]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 10]
[Vessel Potential: Good.]
---
Both of them were impressive in their own right, having survived in this nightmare realm alongside Leon.
"New faces?" the woman, Sera, asked with a raised eyebrow, her voice carrying a hint of suspicion.
"Fresh meat," Darian added with a dry laugh, though there was no malice in his tone.
"They were sent here by Rick," Leon explained as he dropped the bear corpse on the ground. "Same as us."
Sera and Darian exchanged a look, then nodded slowly, understanding the situation perfectly.
"Well then," Sera said as she stood up, "Welcome to hell. Hope you’re ready to fight for your survival."
"Make yourselves comfortable," Leon said as he gestured toward the furniture. "It’s not much, but it’s home."
Alicar watched as Darian walked over to one of the chairs and sat down, clearly proud of his work.
"Did you build all of this?" Alicar asked, genuinely curious about the craftsmanship on display.
"Yep," Darian replied with a nod, a hint of pride in his voice. "My class is [Artisan Crafter], which lets me build just about anything with the right materials."
"It’s been a lifesaver," Sera added, her voice carrying a note of appreciation. "Without him, we would have been sleeping on the ground this whole time."
"Well, I did sleep on the ground for six months when you two weren’t here," Leon sighed, "I can guarantee you that it’s not pleasant."
Alicar made a mental note of that, realizing how valuable such a class could be in a place like this, and also, the fact that Leon had been by himself at the start.
Iris, meanwhile, was examining the cave walls with interest, her eyes scanning the rough stone surface.
"Alright," Leon said as he clapped his hands together. "Let’s get that bear cooked up. Everyone’s probably starving."
He gestured for Darian to help him, and the two of them began preparing the Scorched Bear corpse for cooking.
The others gathered around the table, their stomachs growling at the thought of food after everything they had been through.
It didn’t take long for the meat to be ready, the aroma filling the cave with a rich, savory smell that made everyone’s mouths water.
Leon carved the meat into portions and distributed them to everyone, making sure that each person got a fair share.
"Eat up," he said as he sat down with his own portion. "You’re going to need your strength."
Alicar took a bite of the Scorched Bear meat, and immediately felt a warmth spread through his body.
The meat was surprisingly tender and flavorful, far better than anything he had eaten in a long time.
More than that though, he could feel his body responding to the meal, a subtle energy flowing through his veins.
"It’s... rejuvenating," Alicar said, surprised by the sensation.
Leon nodded knowingly, a faint smile on his face. "Monster meat does that, especially when it’s from higher-level creatures."
"The higher the level of a monster, the more likely it is to be beneficial to an awakener," Iris explained, as she was someone who had grown up with this knowledge.
She took a bite of her own portion, savoring the taste with obvious appreciation.
"Back home, I had the opportunity to eat a lot of delicious high-level monster meat," Iris continued, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
It was one of the few perks of being from a prestigious family, getting to enjoy meals that most people could only dream of.
The group ate in relative silence for a while, each of them focused on the meal and the energy it provided.
After everyone had finished eating, Leon leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.
"I suppose I should tell you more about our situation," he said, his expression turning serious.
...
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