Feeling the energy coursing through their veins, Ethan and RageHeart wanted to quickly find something to battle.
They sought to test their current prowess, gauging their power in the moment—an idea echoing in both Ethan's mind and RageHeart's.
Mia, however, pondered the source of their heightened energy and apparent excitement.
Despite their recent exhaustion after a grueling battle that seemed on the brink of defeat, a sudden surge of energy overtook Ethan and RageHeart. A moment later, they stood revitalized, defying the fatigue.
Eventually, after listening to their conversation, Mia unearthed the reason for this abrupt transformation.
Both Ethan and RageHeart had leveled up.
Learning of this development, Mia felt genuine happiness for all three of them.
Mia celebrated their growth and also felt happy she was with these two.
Truthfully, Mia didn't relish being carried around; her disdain for her own weakness drove her desire to match the strength of her two companions.
Despite her yearning, Mia recognized that swift change wasn't likely, given the current pace of progress.
Nonetheless, she held onto hope for her own transformation.
The sensation of being nothing more than a burden weighed heavily on her—a sentiment she wished to shed.
While Mia delved deeper into her thoughts, Ethan and RageHeart engaged in conversation.
"I've noticed something about the undead, RageHeart," Ethan said, swinging his arms to dispel the slight unfamiliarity in his body post the power upgrade.
The boost in strength seemed manageable, aiding their swift bodily adaptation.
Martial training also played a role in this adjustment.
Although minor challenges persisted, Ethan and RageHeart believed they wouldn't significantly affect their battles.
"What have you observed, Aurora?" inquired RageHeart, his focus on the surroundings.
"In the recent fight against the undead, I sensed increased intelligence," Ethan initially said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
After a moment's reflection, Ethan continued with confidence, "It's not just that they've become smarter; they've actually grown smarter. Their attacks have become unpredictable."
RageHeart took a moment to ponder Ethan's words before responding.
"Now that you mention it, I remember one of the undead catching me off guard with an unexpected attack. Odd for something considered thoughtless due to its... well, deceased nature," mused RageHeart.
However, RageHeart wasn't finished.
"We must remain vigilant, Aurora," RageHeart advised, adding, "Despite potential benefits in this place, we mustn't disregard the danger."
Absorbing RageHeart's cautionary words, Ethan nodded, internalizing his advice.
Although Ethan harbored excitement about various aspects—the prospect of farming for experience, the thrill of undead battles, and the mysteries beneath the golden light—he remained acutely aware of the inherent peril of this world.
Despite its dangers, Ethan's anticipation for an uncertain future continued to grow.
"Let's cover a long distance before it gets late," Ethan suggested, looking at the darkening sky alongside RageHeart and Mia.
Time was hard to gauge, but as it grew darker, they sensed night approaching.
Without a sun or moon to confirm, it was hard to be certain but the growing darkness did support their thoughts.
Ethan's words prompted them to pick up their pace slightly.
Their goal was the temple on a distant hill.
Before reaching it, they had to defeat the obstructing monsters.
The distance didn't worry them as much as the immediate challenge did.
*****
"To think it would break this easily," Ethan muttered, his voice tinged with surprise and a hint of expectation, as he recalled the events that had led to this moment.
While they were still on their journey to the temple just minutes ago, an undead wolf had abruptly materialized from the wall nearby, catching them off guard.
Reacting on instinct, Ethan swiftly closed the distance and slashed its neck with his sword.
The act had been purely intuitive, and it was only after the fact that Ethan realized he had covered the 7-meter span between himself and the wolf in mere seconds.
Before RageHeart could even respond to the unfolding situation, Ethan had already severed the head of the undead wolf from its body.
Ethan hadn't anticipated dispatching the creature so easily, but his attention was diverted when his sword shattered into pieces.
On the verge of mourning the loss of his weapon, and amidst the realization that he had moved faster than he had ever thought possible, Ethan's focus shifted to two undead creatures in the distance.
Having detected the commotion in their vicinity, the undead beings were swiftly converging on his position.