[A Lv. 4 human has been defeated]

[+25 EXP]

[155/200 EXP]

[Bonus for fighting with your soul linked partner]

[+100 EXP]

[255/200 EXP]

[You are now level 12]

[You have gained +2 free stat points]

Erin got up from Earl and examined the experience points she had managed to receive. Even though she didn’t get the EXP from defeating the burningsnake, she thought what she had got instead was more than a suitable substitute. Besides, there was a good chance that there would be an opportunity for her to get more EXp when she arrived at the Red Zone, or at least that was her hope.

The pale needle was naked from the Earl’s unconscious body going out in a rather smooth motion, it was something she still wasn’t completely used to. HEr ears started to pick up some noise and lifting her head she could see Layla and Peter running over. Earlier, Layla was able to carve out the crystal from the burningsnake thanks to Peter making her a mud knife, and had the crystal on hand.

Meanwhile Quinn had managed to arrive with the others, with Fex by his side. Quinn didn’t look like he was in the best condition, and the same could be said for Layla and Peter.

"Good, all 4 of you defeated their team. Let’s continue heading out," Erin commanded.

However, instead of getting unanimous praise for vaguely complimenting her team like she thought, instead she got a crowd of complaints. Sound started to come out of each of their mouths and the entire team had basically talked all over each other, making it impossible to listen to a single one, it was a blur of noise, which made Erin frown.

Out of all of them there was only one person that didn’t complain and that was Fex.

"Hold on, stop it. One at a time!" Erin yelled to cut through the noise taking a sought step back, it was hurting her head and giving her a slight headache, after staring at the group she then pointed at Layla, "You go first."

"Erin, my bow broke. I can’t fight without it, and half of us are injured," Layla then gestured to the large cut on her arm. She didn’t just talk or point out her own injuries but the rest of the groups as well. She then pointed at Quinn’s broken shoulder, and Peter holding his head where he was smacked.

"We’ll just use the first aid kit on Quinn, and go," Erin snapped.

"You’re just going to let me stay injured after all I’ve done for you?" Layla blurted out, a hint of betrayal in her voice. She had bled for Erin, helped her out when she needed it most, and now wasn’t getting anything in return.

"I— that’s not what I meant."

"Then what are you saying?!" Layla shot back.

"What she’s saying is that we have to go back," Quinn finished Erin’s words for her, "As much ’fun’ it is to risk our lives for some crystals, I don’t want any of us to die."

"I knew this was going to happen... This is why I didn’t want to go," Peter whispered.

Secretly, Peter knew Jerry had a healing ability, but he opted not to tell the others in case Erin was going to force him to heal them, thereby making it so they had to go to the red zone. They had already experienced so much trouble, and Peter wanted to live, he was sure that the others would understand his decision but maybe not Erin.

Erin continued to look at her team up and down and she could feel it, a strange rage that was bubbling up in her. Erin growled at the incompetence of her team. They were on their second day, and the only crystal they had to show for it was just a singular intermediate tier one. At this rate, they were going to be dead last. The word last hung in her head, this was something that could never happen, something she couldn’t accept.

"We HAVE to go," Erin demanded then stomped ahead of their group.

Layla ran in front of Erin, and grabbed her arm, trying to stop her from abandoning them.

"Hey! You can’t just go run off to your death!" Layla objected, then harshly whispered, "Look, I’m sure you can do this by yourself when it’s night time, but you still need to hold that."

Erin knew what exactly Layla was implying. She looked down at Layla’s hand on her, then shook it off. However, despite being free, she did not continue to run off.

"Let’s head back, and worry about this later. It’s not worth it to risk our lives to get first place," Layla continued to reason, "We can get more beast crystals another day when we’re all healed, and I have a weapon again."

Erin clenched her fists, and stared off in the direction of where the other teams had gone. All of them were gone from her vision, way past the horizon line. Even if they were to make it to the red zone, the other teams would’ve gotten all of the beasts by now.

"...Fine."

Everyone else let out a sigh of relief. Right before they left, Layla picked up her arrow, and they began their walk back.

—

Amy’s eyes blinked once, twice, before they were no longer glossed over. She looked around, only to find she had actually lost the fight against Erin’s team. Actually, her entire team lost.

"What?!" She yelled in disbelief, then got up from her knees, "Jerry? Where’s—?!"

"...I’m here..." A meek short boy said, coming out of hiding.

"Go and help the others, I can’t believe it, but we lost!" Amy cried.

Jerry nodded, and went over to heal Earl, while Amy went over to help Pierogi. Using her flame whip, she had melted away the ice around their legs, and Earl soon unearthed the rocks surrounding Garret.

Once they were back to normal, everyone gathered together. Jerry was tending to everyone’s injuries, but the tensions were high, and Amy got up in Earl’s face.

"What was that!? You said that they should’ve been easy, and we get our asses handed back to us!" Amy complained, then smacked her face and groaned, "Ugh, I can’t believe it, I got beaten by some stupid level 1 student... He HAD to have cheated!"

"Yeah, we teamed up with you two because you promised us riches," Pierogi huffed, jabbing their finger in Earl’s direction, "The only thing we got were—"

Earl then grabbed Pierogi’s arm and twisted it into an awkward position, causing a sickening cracking sound.

"ACK—!" They yelped, which caused Garret to instinctively want to jump to his friend’s defense.

"Now, now, what did I say about questioning my leadership. Don’t worry guys, we’ll get back at them," Earl said in such a casual tone despite Pierogi’s arm, "And remember, I only let you guys join me because I saw potential in you. Without me, you would have no chance at any form of backing. No future."

Jerry quickly ran over to heal them, and Pierogi wanted to retaliate, but they knew it was true.

Pierogi came from an Original family, one that passed down the doppelganger ability for generations. They were meant to inherit the leadership position, as they were an only child. However, after their parents found out that Pierogi couldn’t raise their MC beyond that of a level 3, all of the support and backing they once had suddenly vanished. Instead, said support went to their undeserving cousin who, in Pierogi’s eyes, never suffered ONCE for his position.

Amy and Garret had similar backgrounds. Not quite from Original families, but they had been treated as weak by the world for so long that they were willing to do anything to stop it, and claw their way to the top. It was why the three of them had become friends, and why Earl was interested in using them.

By dangling promises of Duke’s support to them, Earl could pretty much get them to do whatever he wanted.

Garret didn’t like it, but he was willing to turn a blind eye given that he would’ve never gotten a level 4 strength ability book, nor his gauntlets if it wasn’t for Earl. This was only temporary, a stepping stone for getting up higher in the world.

"Don’t you dare touch Pierogi like that again," Garret threatened.

"Of course, I wouldn’t dream of it," Earl replied, "I don’t take pleasure in hurting my teammates you know."

"Look, I’ll still be willing to work with you, JUST to get back at them," Amy snarled, recalling the memory of her being beaten so easily, causing her to clench her fists so tightly they turned pale. She sniffled, then looked away to not show the others she had tears in her eyes, "I WONT let myself get beaten by a level 1 again."

"Now that’s the spirit!" Earl cheerfully replied.