As the carriage continued its steady journey toward Dragondale, DK found himself unable to sit still. The knowledge of his upgraded Swift Strike technique filled him with anticipation. He stared out the window, lost in thought, and began making small gestures with his hand as if wielding an invisible blade. His fingers moved fluidly, mimicking the precise motions he had practiced in the simulation earlier.
Lucy, seated across from him, noticed the subtle movements. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she leaned forward. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
DK blinked, startled out of his focus. "What? Nothing," he replied a little too quickly, dropping his hand to his side.
"Don't give me that," Lucy said, her arms crossing. "You've been acting weird ever since Prickly Grove. And now you're waving your hand around like you're casting spells or something. What's going on?"
DK hesitated, searching for a believable explanation. "It's... uh... something I picked up during the fight," he said finally, trying to sound nonchalant. "Just practicing a bit, you know? Keeping sharp."
Lucy raised an eyebrow. "During the fight? You learned something new while you were fighting off a swarm of explosive cactus monsters?"
DK shrugged, feigning casualness. "Yeah. When you're in the middle of that kind of chaos, you adapt. I figured out a way to improve my strikes. It's nothing fancy, just... refinement."
Lucy's gaze lingered on him, her skepticism clear. "You figured it out during the fight," she repeated slowly. "And you're already practicing it?"
"Exactly," DK said, leaning back and offering a grin. "Impressed?"
Lucy didn't answer immediately. Instead, she studied him like she was trying to solve a puzzle. Finally, she sighed and shook her head. "You're something else, DK. Most people would be happy just to survive a fight like that, and here you are, coming up with new techniques."
"What can I say?" DK replied, spreading his hands. "I'm a quick learner. By the way what do you think my level is at. I know we can now learn about my level and core in the testing center. "
Lucy rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward in a reluctant smile. "I think you might at level 4 or 5 and you are picking things up quite fast for someone who came out of coma with a non workong nexus core. But a warning, just don't overdo it. You're still recovering, and I'm not about to drag you to Dragondale half-dead because you decided to train in the middle of a bumpy carriage ride."
DK chuckled but nodded, acknowledging her concern. He glanced out the window again, the dense forests and winding paths reminding him how much more he had to learn about the world—and about himself. The idea of testing his new skill burned in his mind. "Speaking of training," he began, "do you know if there's another area like Prickly Grove nearby? A place with lots of creatures to practice on?"
Lucy frowned, tilting her head in thought. "You really want to jump back into a fight so soon?"
DK shrugged. "I just want to see how much better I've gotten. It's not like I'm planning to pick a fight with another mini-boss or anything."
Lucy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're relentless, you know that? Fine, there's another place like Prickly Grove not too far from here. It's called the Hollow Thicket. Similar infestation problem, but instead of cactolus, it's these vine-like creatures. They're weak individually but can tangle you up if you're not careful. They aim to stop the movement, stab you with their thorns and then suck away the blood out of you"
DK nodded, excitement sparking in his eyes. "Perfect. How far is it?"
"About a half-day's ride," Lucy said reluctantly. "But let's not make any detours unless you're absolutely sure you're ready for it. Those things might not be explosive, but they'll swarm you if you're careless."
DK grinned. "Noted. I'll be careful."
Satisfied with his plan, DK closed his eyes briefly, summoning the system interface in his mind. The glowing blue text appeared, overlaying his vision as he silently issued his next command.
System, give me a new quest. Something related to the Hollow Thicket.
The interface flickered, processing his request before a new screen appeared.
SYSTEM
NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: TANGLED IN VICTORY
Objective: Defeat 5 vine fiends in the Hollow Thicket.
Bonus Objective: Defeat the Elder Vine Fiend.
Reward: +1 level, +4 Strength, +3 Dexterity, Magic technique (Tier 1).
Timer: None.
DK's smile widened as he read the quest details. The lack of a timer was a relief, though the challenge of defeating an "Elder Vine Fiend" intrigued him. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to test his new technique without the same level of pressure as his last quest.
Closing the interface, he leaned forward, his grin uncontainable. "Change of plans, Lucy. Let's head to the Hollow Thicket."
Lucy groaned, her hand coming up to her forehead. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Maybe," DK said with a chuckle. "But you've got to admit, this is more fun than sitting in a carriage all day."
Lucy shot him a look, but there was no real anger behind it. "Fine. But if you get tangled up and can't get free, don't expect me to save you without making you owe me. And this time I am joining your fight."
"Deal," DK said, settling back into his seat. As soon as DK accepted to do the quest with Lucy the objectives updated to be more difficult.
As DK relaxed back into his seat, feeling satisfied with his plan, the faint blue glow of the system interface flickered back into view.
---
SYSTEM UPDATE:
Quest Difficulty Adjustment: Co-Op Mode Activated
Objectives Updated:
Defeat 10 vine fiends in the Hollow Thicket.Bonus Objective: Defeat two Elder Vine Fiends.
Rewards: +1 level, +6 Strength, +4 Dexterity, Magic Technique Unlock (Tier 1).
---
DK's eyes widened at the sudden shift. The objectives had essentially doubled, and the prospect of facing two Elder Vine Fiends instead of one made his earlier excitement waver slightly. He couldn't help but chuckle at the system's audacity. "Guess it doesn't want me slacking off," he muttered.
Lucy caught the faint shift in his expression. "What now? You're not having second thoughts, are you?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Not at all," DK said quickly, masking his apprehension with a confident grin. "Just thinking how lucky I am to have such a capable partner to back me up."