Arthur sat on a nearby rock, his gaze shifting between the sleeping survivors and his sister, Lily, who was still deep in her meditation, assimilating the new skill from the Random Crystal. The soft hum of the night provided a backdrop to his thoughts as he opened up his status screen.
"Level 18, huh?" he murmured to himself, scrolling through the details. It had taken a lot of effort to get here, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his progress was slower than it should be. Even after defeating all those slimes, including the powerful Life Slime, he had only gained two levels. It wasn't that he wasn't grateful—far from it. He knew that the experience points he'd gained were likely a result of the Life Slime's unique affinity with his Legend. The creature had relied on the element of light to heal its brethren, making its essence particularly compatible with Arthur's powers. Still, he had expected more.
