Chapter 5 - Grotto Gauntlet
Jaune and I jogged through the quiet, deserted road, the lanterns casting ghostly glows around us. I shot Jaune a grin. "Midnight run, huh? Nothing like running through Grimm territory to get the blood flowing."
Jaune laughed, his hair glowing in the dim light. "Top of my list, really. Right after slaying Grimm and saving the world."
I raised an eyebrow. "Well, slaying Grimm while running sounds like the real dream."
The wind rustled, and our footsteps quickened. A distant howl made me wish the road wasn't so damn long. "They said we'd be heroes," I muttered. "They forgot the part where heroes don't get to pick their shifts."
Jaune chuckled. "Hey, at least we're doing something important...even if it wasn't on the brochure."
The road grew rough, debris scattered everywhere. We spotted bullet holes but no dead Grimm. Odd.
"Grimm attack?" I guessed.
"Possibly. But these bullets? They're avoiding the construction zone. Like they knew not to damage the equipment."
I stopped. Something was off. We continued and reached a clearing. There, a guy in a white helmet was puffing on a cigarette, clearly in charge.
"Hey!" I waved. "Mayor said to clear the road."
He flicked the cigarette. "Mayor, huh? Yeah, we've got a little situation. Stumbled on a Grimm nest while setting up. Tried moving the bulldozer, but it's like Grimm rave out there. Can't turn on the lights, too risky."
"So, you're stuck," I said, folding my arms.
"Yeah, big time. Need to finish the job, but I'm risking more than just the bulldozer if we go out there. Slow as hell and loaded with Grimm. My team needs to guard the camp while I drive it out."
Jaune stepped forward, a grin forming. "We're hunters in training. We'll clear the path, take care of the Grimm, and get your equipment out. Sound good?"
The guy squinted at us, then sighed. "Alright, screw it. I ain't leaving until this job's done. Grab gear, we're gonna need all the help we can get."
He grabbed a flashlight and shotgun. "Follow me. Let's get this mess sorted."
OPTIONAL QUEST: Operation Nightlight
"We were almost done setting up lights for the road to the next town," Doug explained as we trudged through the woods. "Generator's in a cave nearby. Safe from bandits. Our electrician's been holed up there since... the incident."
Jaune perked up. "Incident?"
Doug waved it off. "Grimm. Big mess. We need the bulldozer to clear the road so we can grab the guy. He's probably done by now."
"What's his part?" I asked.
Doug pointed ahead. "Generator connects to all the posts. No generator, no lights."
Jaune nodded. "Old-school setup. My granddad talked about these. Surprised you still use it."
Doug chuckled. "Cheap and works. What more do you want?"
The flashlight carved a path through the dark as we walked. Jaune glanced at me.
"Did we ever get this guy's name?"
"Good point," I said. "Hey, what's your name?"
Doug glanced back, flashlight catching his grin. "Doug O'Riley. Just Doug works."
"O'Riley? That's not local," Jaune noted.
Doug snorted. "Family name. The O'Rileys? Stubborn as hell. We keep it alive."
Jaune smirked. "Unique, for sure. Like... a rusty nail."
"Exactly," Doug said, unfazed.
We reached the bulldozer, its yellow paint dulled by grime and years of hard use. Doug climbed in and started fiddling with the controls. The engine coughed in protest.
From the woods came a low growl, then the unmistakable gleam of red Grimm eyes.
"Doug!" I barked, pistols drawn. "Your bulldozer better work now!"
Jaune readied his shield, smirking. "Feels like a crappy defense quest."
"Defend the guy with no health bar," I shot back.
Doug cursed under his breath. "It's coming—hold your panties!"
Notification: Grimm Nest Extermination Started
Location: The Abyssal Hollow
Completion: 0% Cleared
0/1 Boss
"Doug, seriously! We're not on the menu!" I shouted, pistols ready as the Grimm closed in.
Jaune, sword and shield raised, shot me a look. "Feels like a bad side quest."
I smirked. "Escort mission. 'Defend the idiot NPC.' Classic."
Doug, hunched over the bulldozer's controls, yelled back, "Almost got it! Just keep the snacks off me!"
The engine sputtered before roaring to life, cutting through the howls of Grimm with the glorious sound of progress. "Got it!" Doug crowed.
I gestured at the sluggish machine. "This thing runs on spite and duct tape, huh?"
Doug grinned. "You bet your ass. Now hold the line, tough guys!"
The bulldozer rumbled forward, lights slicing through the abyss. Red eyes flickered in the shadows, the growls of Beowolves building into a hungry symphony.
"Slowest getaway ever," Jaune muttered, his grip tightening.
From the bushes, a Beowolf cub lunged. Jaune yelped, flailing like he'd seen a ghost. I put a bullet through the thing mid-air, and it burst into ash.
"Nice reflexes, Jaune," I quipped. "Got any other screams, or is that your go-to?"
"Shut up," he hissed, cheeks flaming.
Doug cackled from the bulldozer. "Guess it's hunters and entertainers tonight!"
Jaune shot me a glare, but I was too busy grinning and reloading. This might be hell, but at least it wasn't boring.
10 XP
10 Lien
"Wow, Jaune, the Ursa Major slayer—taken down by a fluffball." I smirked, dusting myself off.
Jaune grinned sheepishly, brushing his armor. "Hey, I was just giving it a chance to feel brave."
"Brave? Or suicidal?" I arched a brow. "That thing would've gnawed your face off."
"Why not both?" he shot back, earning a sharp laugh from me.
The moment of levity shattered when the bushes rustled, and a red glow cut through the shadows. Before I could react, a Beowolf barreled into me, launching me through not one but two trees like I was a budget action hero.
Ash HP: 65/125
The air fled my lungs as pain crashed over me. My pistols clattered to the ground, and the Beowolf was on me again, claws slicing and teeth snapping. My health bar plummeted like my dignity.
Ash HP: 25/125
"Okay, enough!" I snarled, fumbling out a rusty knife. With a desperate lunge, I jammed it into the Grimm's eye. It howled and reeled, giving me just enough time to chug my last gritty health potion.
Inventory:
Weapons:
- Rusty Knife: 15-25 dmg Rust effect (5 dmg/sec, 4 sec, random chance).
- Ember's Embrace (Dual Pistols) - Rare* 20-40 dmg/shot.
- Sickles - Rare: 60-100 dmg.
Health Items:
- Healing Potions: 0 (you drank it, genius).
Grabbing my sickles, I swung wide, catching the Beowolf in the gut. It thrashed, ripping one from my grip. No time to mourn—I scooped up a pistol and unloaded a shot into its skull. The Grimm dissolved into ash.
I wiped blood from my lip, panting. "Next time, Jaune, you fight the big one. I'll handle the fluffballs."
I snagged my other pistol and yanked the sickle from the dissipating Grimm, deciding to roll with a melee-ranged combo. As I turned, I spotted Jaune neck-deep in trouble—cub snacks swarming him and three adults closing in.
"Babysitting duty, huh?" I quipped, blasting two cubs with my pistol. Their demise briefly lit up the dark, but more shadows rushed in, claws first.
20 XP
Beowolf Cub Fur
20 Lien
"Dodge this!" I yelled, rolling under a cub's swipe. I popped up for a Goomba-stomp, crushing it into mist. Twirling midair, I turned the rest into smoky fireworks with a flurry of shots.
30 XP
Beowolf Cub Fur
30 Lien
Meanwhile, Jaune pulled off a textbook decapitation on one adult. I wasn't about to be shown up, but my bullets pinged uselessly off the next Grimm's hide. Great. Time for Plan Stab.
A Beowolf blindsided me, sending me tumbling. My sickle dug into the ground, halting my slide just as another lunged at me. I dodged and retaliated, slicing its belly open in a satisfying spray of dark mist.
20 XP
Beowolf Adult Claw
20 Lien
The one that body-checked me charged again, but Jaune came through, his blade slicing it clean in half.
"Not bad," I called out, panting.
"Not bad?" he shot back. "I just saved your ass."
I smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Let me know when you unlock 'not being a Grimm magnet' in your skill tree."
He rolled his eyes, but before he could reply, a Grimm's howl cut through the air. We turned to see the bulldozer pulling ahead.
"That scrap bucket's leaving us behind!" I shouted, reloading. More Grimm poured in like they had a subscription to our suffering.
"This is like fighting in a nightmare!" I yelled, firing into the horde.
"Then wake me up!" Jaune snapped, slicing through a Beowolf. "We've gotta clear this path!"
The Grimm were relentless, their snarling faces illuminated by the bulldozer's headlights. A massive Beowolf charged at us, knocking Jaune back with its sheer weight. I fired at its hind legs, giving Jaune a chance to recover and decapitate it.
"Nice teamwork!" I called out, taking down two cubs with quick shots.
20 XP
Beowolf Cub Fur
Beowolf Cub Claw
20 Lien
"Watch the little ones!" I warned, dodging a cub's leap. "They'll dogpile you faster than Doug on free drinks!"
Jaune chuckled, parrying and slicing through another Grimm. Suddenly, the ground trembled as a creep burst up, snapping at my arm. I dodged, slicing it in half.
10 XP
Creep Claw
10 Lien
Then it came—an armored Beowolf, hulking and swift. Its black plates gleamed under the moonlight, and it snarled like it knew we were toast.
"Hit the gaps!" I shouted, my bullets pinging uselessly off its armor. Jaune rammed it with his shield, creating an opening. I fired into the weak points, but it wasn't enough.
Evolved Beowolf: HP 60/100
"Doug, hit the gas!" Jaune yelled as the beast swung wildly at him.
Doug coaxed the bulldozer to life, its engine screaming in protest. We scrambled aboard, leaving the armored Beowolf behind, its enraged snarls fading into the woods.
As silence returned, I turned to Jaune. "Okay, so what the hell was that? Grimm shouldn't come with DLC."
"Maybe it's a bonus boss," he muttered, his grip tightening on his sword.
"Great," I sighed, watching the trees blur past. "Just what I needed—Grimm that evolve like bad loot crates."
A notification popped up, yanking my attention away from the carnage.
Notification:
Grimm that survive long enough have a chance to evolve into superior versions of their species. Each evolution increases their intelligence, strength, and ability to remember encounters. Higher evolutions are marked with skulls on their health bars.
Perfect. Smarter, vengeful Grimm. Just what the world needed.
Doug's shout cut through my grim realization. "Keep 'em off us, hunters!"
Jaune and I moved instinctively, back-to-back as waves of Grimm swarmed. My pistol barked in rapid succession, each shot thinning their numbers. But for every Grimm that hit the dirt, two more stepped up like they were tag-teaming.
"This isn't a Grimm fight—it's a bad parade," I muttered, reloading.
"A parade? Feels more like we're the grand finale buffet!" Jaune grunted, deflecting a Beowolf's claws with his shield and slicing it down.
Up front, Doug plowed the bulldozer through any Grimm dumb enough to play chicken. "Eyes sharp! We're almost clear!" he yelled, focused on steering the massive machine like a boss.
Finally, the woods gave way to the open Countryside Road, and the construction workers rushed to reinforce us, tools and improvised weapons in hand. Together, we drove back the last of the Grimm. Doug brought the bulldozer to a screeching halt, and for the first time in what felt like hours, silence returned.
I leaned against a tree, catching my breath. "Well, that was a scenic little detour."
Doug wiped his brow and grinned. "Thanks for the assist, hunters. Now let's get this road cleared so we can keep the lights on."
Jaune sheathed his sword, shaking his head. "Next time, let's skip the Grimm parade."
I chuckled, wiping Grimm guts off my boots. "Yeah, I've had enough evolved murder monsters for one night."
A deafening crash shattered our brief respite—a Boarbatusk barreled into the bulldozer, flipping it like a toy back into the woods.
"Are you kidding me?!" I snapped, pistols drawn. "Can't we catch a break?"
Jaune groaned, brushing dirt off his armor. "Guess the Grimm think the parade's still on."
Doug climbed out of the wreckage, shaken but intact. "Just a scratch. I'll grab the jack and fix it."
As he disappeared into the camp, I turned to Jaune. "Alright, we just need to—DUCK!" I shoved him aside as the Boarbatusk came rolling back, a spiky bowling ball of rage.
My bullets ricocheted harmlessly off its bone armor, and its charge launched me straight into a tree.
Ash HP: 5/125
Jaune helped me up just in time to block the next charge with his shield, grinding the beast to a halt. Its soft underbelly gleamed.
"Jaune, toss it!" I yelled. With a grunt, he flipped the Grimm into the air, and I unloaded every shot I had. The Boarbatusk hit the ground in a lifeless heap.
Boarbatusk - Level 3
HP: 0/150
Rewards:
25 XP
Boarbatusk Bone Plate
Grimm Crystal
25 Lien
Doug returned, jack in hand, shaking his head. "Missed the finale, huh?"
I smirked. "Don't worry, the highlight reel's just me eating dirt."
He got to work on the bulldozer while Jaune and I kept watch. "You know," Jaune mused, scanning the treeline, "Grimm parades, flying Boarbatusks... all this chaos is starting to feel like a normal Tuesday."
"Normal's overrated," I said, stretching my bruised arm. "Keeps life spicy. And occasionally, really painful."
With a triumphant grunt, Doug righted the bulldozer. "Back in business!"
"How long to the cave?" Jaune asked, clapping Doug on the back.
"Fifteen minutes, tops. Should be smooth from here."
I raised an eyebrow. "Define 'smooth.'"
Doug grinned. "You'll see."
We loaded up, and the bulldozer roared to life, headlights cutting through the darkness. A few stray Grimm tried their luck, but Jaune and I dispatched them with practiced ease. Ahead, the cave loomed like a mouth waiting to swallow us whole.
"Next stop: the abyss," Jaune muttered.
"Can't wait," I replied, pistols at the ready.
The tension was thick as we rolled toward the cave, only to spot a dimly lit campsite on the roadside. A lantern flickered over a crumpled sleeping bag, and the faint glow of a dying fire painted the woods with dancing shadows.
Doug parked the bulldozer, and we hopped out, weapons drawn. The woods around us felt wrong. Then, a figure in a blue jumpsuit emerged from the shadows, SMG at the ready.
"Whoa, take it easy!" I called, raising my hands. "We're with Doug!"
The guy—Volt—lowered his gun but still looked ready to snap. "Sorry. Long night."
"Join the club," I muttered.
Volt sighed. "Been wrestling with the wiring in the cave. Grimm keep crashing the party."
"Sounds like a blast," Jaune deadpanned. "How close are you to done?"
"Just need to hook up the generator," Volt said, rubbing his temples. "But I've got to check the dust regulator first. Any damage there, and this whole thing blows sky-high."
Doug nodded. "Jaune and Ash, go with him. I'll stay here and keep the Dozer warm."
Inside the cave, the vibe was nightmare chic: dim lighting, eerie echoes, and walls that looked like something out of a Grimm art gallery. Volt immediately started fussing over the dust pipes, muttering something about slow flow.
"What's the problem?" Jaune asked, shield at the ready.
Volt grumbled, prying open a hatch. "The flow's all wrong. If I don't fix this, the lights won't work, and we're toast."
Doug's voice crackled over the radio. "Grimm are hitting the camp. I'm holding them, but some are slipping through. Stay sharp!"
The distant boom of shotgun fire underscored his message. Volt's fingers danced across the terminal's controls, and with a triumphant beep, the machinery roared to life. Unfortunately, so did the Grimm.
"Here we go," I muttered, pistols ready.
The first wave was a Beowolf cub—adorable, if you like murderous puppies. I dodged its lunge, putting a bullet through its skull.
10 XP
10 Lien
The next wave wasn't so cute: five adult Beowolves.
Jaune held the line with his shield, while I played pest control. My bullets found eyes, hearts, and whatever else would make them stop breathing. One tried to get cute, lunging from behind, but a gut shot ended its ambitions.
By the end, I was panting, surrounded by 5 dissolving corpses.
100 XP
100 Lien
Volt emerged from the shadows, looking impressed. "Terminal's fixed. Dust flow is semi-restored. But we need to hit the generator terminal next if we want full power."
"Great," I groaned, wiping Grimm gunk off my jacket. "Lead the way, Mr. Wizard."
As we ventured deeper into the cave, the air grew colder, heavier. The tunnels whispered promises of more trouble ahead. Typical night.
We rounded a bend, and there it was: the generator, glowing faintly like a dying ember of hope.
"This is it," Jaune muttered, gripping his sword. "Let's get it running before something ugly shows up."
"Too late," I quipped, side-eyeing the ominous shadows.
Volt ignored us, all business as he approached the generator. He flipped a few switches, and the machine roared to life, bathing the cave in shaky light. For a glorious moment, everything seemed fine.
Then the roar came.
It wasn't just any roar—it was the kind that made your soul consider packing up and leaving. Before we could react, a massive arm smashed through the wall, swatting Volt like a bug. He hit the ground hard, blood splattering.
"Volt!" I screamed, rushing to him as Jaune threw up his shield.
From the dust and rubble emerged our worst nightmare: a colossal Beowolf. This wasn't your average furball—its body was decked out in fire dust crystals and armor made of solid rock. It looked like it had just crawled out of hell for a cheat day.
"Great," Jaune muttered, staring up at it. "That's fair."
The Beowolf growled, its fiery gaze locking onto us. "You ready for this?" I asked, drawing my pistols.
"Nope," Jaune said, raising his sword. "But let's make it regret coming here."
Rocksnarl - Level 10
HP: 1600/1600
Debuffs Active:
Slowness: Moves like it's running on dial-up.
Confusion: 50% chance it punches air instead of you.
Jaune and I locked eyes. "Ready to die stupidly?" he asked.
"Always," I replied.
The generator buzzed behind us, casting just enough light to showcase the behemoth of rock and fire barreling toward us: Rocksnarl. Its armor looked impenetrable, which my pistols confirmed as the bullets ricocheted like they were in a bad action movie.
"Okay, plan B!" I shouted.
Jaune didn't wait for instructions. He charged, sword flashing. Clang. Nothing. His strikes bounced off like he was smacking a tank. Rocksnarl retaliated, sending him tumbling into a wall like yesterday's trash.
"Jaune!"
Before the Grimm could finish him off, I took aim at one of its glowing fire dust crystals. Boom! The crystal exploded, taking a chunk of its armor with it.
"Now!" I yelled. Jaune roared back to life, plunging his sword into the exposed flesh. Rocks snarled in agony, and we shaved off a measly 150 HP. Only 1450 to go. Great.
The Grimm, understandably pissed, turned into a rolling death ball, spikes erupting from its back. It careened through the cavern, wrecking everything in sight. I dodged left, Jaune dove right, and Volt? Still unconscious.
"Can't you not get knocked out for one mission?" I grumbled, hauling Volt to safety.
The rolling nightmare suddenly stopped, leaped into the air, and unleashed an energy blast that sent me flying. The heat scorched my everything. HP: 0/125.
"Ugh, fine, Jaune, you do it," I groaned, collapsing dramatically.
Jaune, to his credit, didn't waste the opening. Using rubble as a launch pad, he drove his sword into Rocksnarl back. The Grimm howled, giving me just enough time to squeeze off a flurry of shots into its exposed belly. Sixteen rounds hit, another 360 HP gone.
Rocksnarl - Level 10
HP: 780/1600
Finally, with a desperate lunge, Rocksnarl teetered over the edge of the cavern and fell into the abyss, its roars fading into silence.
Jaune dropped to the ground beside me, panting. "You good?"
"Dead, but thanks for asking."
As we sat in the wreckage of the fight, I frowned. Wait a second. No XP. No notification. I stared at the cavern's edge, dread pooling in my stomach. means... it's not over.
I peered over the edge of the cavern where Rocksnarl had fallen, my stomach sinking as I saw the Grimm impaled on a jagged rock, barely clinging to life.
Rocksnarl - Level 10
HP 300/1600
Without hesitation, I raised my pistols and let loose a storm of bullets, each one slamming into the beast. After a few seconds, Rocksnarl finally went limp, disintegrating into mist with its rocky armor left behind in a sad pile of rubble.
Rocksnarl Drops:
Granite Shard – Crafting material for weapons or armor.
Rocksnarl Claw – A nice little trophy for up-close-and-personal fighting.
Petrified Essence – It's magical, don't ask me what it does.
Grimm Crystal – Because we totally needed another crystal.
Rocksnarl Trophy – A souvenir for surviving this hellhole.
400 XP
400 Lien
Progress Update
Location: Abyssal Hollow
Completion: 100% Cleared
Rewards:
Heavy Attack – Weapon buff.
Grimm numbers reduced.
500 Lien
500 XP
Title: Grimm Exterminator Novice
I felt a twinge of unease. "Something's off," I muttered, glancing over at Jaune, who had finally managed to get Volt on his feet, though barely.
"Hey, what's up?" Jaune asked, seeing the shift in my posture.
"I need to check something," I said, already making my way over to Volt, still unconscious. Jaune nodded, carrying him like a ragdoll, probably because his own muscles were starting to question their life choices.
I quickly scanned the area, my HUD flashing a yellow waypoint on a nearby wall. Hidden chest. Typical.
"Volt's stable, but get over here," Jaune called out, glancing at the lifeless body of our third wheel.
I reached the wall and immediately watched the chest dissolve into light. Of course, it had to be another chest, but at least this one was useful.
Loot:
Blacksmith Tools
Box of Metals
500 Lien
500 XP
Loot in hand, I jogged back to Jaune, who was looking at Volt like he was about to pass out any second.
"So, uh... that Grimm was a little... much," Jaune said, wiping sweat off his brow. "Did you ever fight something that big?"
I frowned, my mind briefly flashing to the Beowolves and Creeps I'd encountered. "No... I don't think I've ever faced anything that big," I admitted. Then, realizing how that sounded, I added, "But it was super interesting."
Jaune raised an eyebrow, but we both knew what I meant.
"Training's never been about Grimm like that," Jaune said, looking away as if trying to avoid the truth. "Mostly it's just... training with weapons and stuff. You know, the basics."
"Yeah, I noticed. You're pretty good at not paying attention," I teased. "Honestly, I didn't think you'd make it into Beacon, but I'm glad you did."
Jaune chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, me too. But hey, once I'm in, I make it work. Always have." He paused, his gaze drifting to the horizon, lost in his thoughts.
It was silent for a moment, except for the echo of my snarky comment bouncing around in the air. And then, with Volt still barely hanging on, we made our way out, the weight of our ordeal pressing on us like the Grimm we'd just fought.
Suddenly Doug's Dozer's headlights cut through the darkness, a much-needed beacon of hope.
"Doug!" I yelled, waving. The Dozer rumbled closer, but the sight of claw marks across its surface made my stomach drop. I rushed over, swung open the door—and nearly had a shotgun barrel in my face.
I dove just in time, the blast ringing in my ears as Doug's panicked voice rang out. "The Grimm'll never take me alive!" he shouted, wide-eyed, looking ready to hurl himself out of the Dozer.
"Doug, it's us!" Jaune shouted, cradling Volt, who was looking worse for wear. "We've got Volt. He needs help."
Doug poked his head out, looking both confused and relieved. "Oh, uh, sorry. The Grimm horde did a number on me," he muttered sheepishly. "I'm... I'm not great with surprises."
"Let's go, Doug," I said, motioning for him to drive. "We're wasting time."
Jaune carefully climbed into the Dozer with Volt, while I scrambled to the side, still shaky from nearly becoming shotgun target practice. I reached for my last health potion, only to hesitate when I saw Volt.
"System, can I use this on others?" I asked.
"Yes," it confirmed.
I handed the potion to Jaune. "This should help with Volt's injuries. Just get him to drink it."
Feeling useful for once, I collapsed into a corner, exhausted, trying to steady my breath. My body felt like it had been through a meat grinder, and I was too worn out to care.
I pulled up the system menu. The HUD popped up:
Inventory
Quest/Mission/Objectives
Trophies and Milestones
Lien/XP/Skill Points
Abilities/Skills/Magic/Combat Styles
My eyes went straight to Skills and Combat Styles—what was I supposed to do with them? I opened Skills first, expecting disappointment. Instead, one of the nodes shook like it was having a seizure, and—bam—there it was: Heavy Attack.
A quick video showed a mannequin swinging a sword, red energy gathering along the blade before slicing through stone like it was butter. Then it showed a revolver glowing red, shooting through a giant mech.
That was... cool. No cooldown. Just a two-second charge. Definitely useful for when I wanted to make something explode, but probably not in front of Doug and Jaune unless I wanted to look insane.
Next, I checked Combat Styles. Three glowing circles appeared: one with a pistol, one with a sickle, and one with a crossed weapon emblem. A prompt popped up:
"Combat Styles enhance proficiency. Even if you've never picked up a weapon, the system ensures you don't immediately drop it on your face."
I thought about that. If I had a sickle, I'd probably cut myself just holding it. That seemed useful.
Curiosity hit me next: Leveling Up. What did it even mean? The system casually popped up an explanation:
"Levels are granted based on mastery. Humans max out at Level 5. Faunus get Level 6. Grimm bosses always sit at Level 10, but difficulty varies due to mutations."
I squinted at that last part. Difficulty varies? The boss Grimm we'd just fought was a level 10, and I barely survived. That did explain why I had nearly shit myself in terror earlier.
Then, a sharp sting reminded me of my own injuries. Blood smeared my jacket, and the pain in my back reminded me that Rocksnarl wasn't the only thing I needed to recover from.
"Shit," I muttered, wiping some of the blood off my jacket. "I've got to stop bleeding out."
I turned and saw the blood smear on the Dozer's window. Fuck. That was noticeable. I wiped it on my pants and casually tapped on the glass.
"Hey, Doug, how long 'til we get to town?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"About 15 minutes," Doug answered. His eyes were still wild with worry.
"Any chance we can go faster? I've... really got to get to a doctor."
Doug glanced at me, seeing the blood on my back. His expression shifted. "Ash, you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just drive. I'll be fine, just... hurry," I said, forcing a grin.
He hesitated but then floored it. "Sure thing. You just rest, kid."
I sank back, staring at the stars above. Everything hurt, but I was too tired to care. I'd survived. Barely.
Author's Note:
Name: Ash
Level: 1
Class: Unknown
Lien: 2,085
Skill point:6
XP: 535/900
Health: 0/120 (5)
Mana: 0/80
Aura: 0/10
Health potions 0/5