The sky was already dark as Kyle and Nate emerged from the dense forest. Their steps were weary but their spirits were high. They had been hunting for hours, encountering a variety of mana beasts, including another Tier-4. Both were satisfied with their haul, though Kyle had handled most of the beasts with little effort.
As they reached the edge of the forest, Nate turned to Kyle. "Unfortunately, I won't be joining you tomorrow," he said with some regret in his tone. "I've got to go with my dad and the rest."
Kyle nodded. "Sure, it was nice hunting with you, though."
"Nice for you, maybe. You didn't even need me. I can count the number of times I had to cast a spell," Nate said. "You'll be fine on your own."
Kyle grinned but stayed quiet, letting Nate continue.
"Are you planning to climb the tower too?" Nate asked.
"Yeah, I will," Kyle replied confidently.
