The Western Forest was quiet save for the crunch of boots against the undergrowth.
Shafts of sunlight broke through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor.
Lucas tightened his grip on his dagger, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees. Somewhere up ahead, he could hear the faint clinking of metal — proof that they were on the right path.
"Corrupted Miners," Kael muttered beside him, his sword resting casually on his shoulder. "Don't let their appearances fool you. These NPCs are tougher than they look."
Lucas nodded, his heart thudding in his chest.
He'd read the quest description multiple times, but it hadn't prepared him for the thought of fighting humanoid enemies.
Monsters were one thing, but these were once people — miners who'd been cursed or infected. Now, they were little more than mindless attackers.
"Ready?" Kael asked, his tone light but his posture alert.
Lucas took a breath, steeling himself. "Yeah. Let's do this."
The two crept forward until the trees parted to reveal a small clearing.
Two miners stood near a broken wagon, their pickaxes gleaming ominously in the sunlight. Their bodies were twisted and gaunt, veins glowing with an unnatural purple light.
They moved in jerky, unnatural motions, like puppets on frayed strings.
Kael didn't hesitate. He broke into a sprint, his sword flashing as he activated Crimson Strike, a skill Lucas recognized from their earlier fights.
The blade arced through the air, slamming into the first miner and sending it reeling backward with a guttural snarl.
Lucas followed Kael's lead, circling the second miner. He activated Quick Slash, darting in to land a hit before retreating.
The miner swung its pickaxe in retaliation, but Lucas dodged, his reflexes sharper than they'd been in his earlier fights.
"Focus on the legs!" Kael called out, his voice steady even as he blocked a heavy swing from the first miner. "Slower targets are easier to handle!"
Taking the advice to heart, Lucas aimed his strikes lower, his dagger slicing through the miner's calf. The creature staggered, its movements becoming more erratic.
Kael finished his target with a decisive blow, his sword cleaving through the miner's torso. The creature dissolved into shimmering light, leaving behind a small pile of loot.
[You have gained 15 EXP.]
[You have collected Rusted Pickaxe x1.]
Lucas grinned as his own target fell moments later, disappearing into the same glowing particles.
[You have gained 15 EXP.]
[You have collected Miner's Pouch x1.]
"Not bad, rookie," Kael said, tossing Lucas a lopsided grin. "You're getting the hang of it."
Lucas smiled back, his confidence growing with each successful fight. "Thanks. Let's keep moving."
The path through the forest was winding, dotted with patches of sunlight and shadows. They encountered more miners in groups of two or three, each ambush a test of coordination and timing.
Kael moved like a seasoned predator, his strikes precise and devastating.
He seemed to know exactly when to press the attack and when to fall back, his movements a perfect balance of aggression and control.
Lucas, meanwhile, found himself improving with each fight. His dodges were more fluid, his strikes more deliberate.
He even managed to use his environment to his advantage, luring one miner into a patch of dense undergrowth where its movements were slowed, making it easier to land a killing blow.
By the time they reached the midpoint of the forest, Lucas's interface was buzzing with notifications:
[You have gained 10 EXP.]
[You have collected Miner's Boots x1.]
[You have gained 20 EXP.]
[You have collected Nexus Coins x5.]
"Man, these guys drop a lot of loot," Lucas said, crouching to pick up a small pouch left behind by their latest victim.
Kael chuckled, wiping his blade clean on a piece of cloth. "Yeah, but don't get used to it. Early-game mobs are generous, but higher-level enemies tend to hoard their treasures."
Lucas opened the pouch, his eyes widening as the interface displayed its contents.
[You have collected Nexus Coins x10.]
"That's... thirty Nexus Coins so far," Lucas muttered, doing the math in his head.
Kael raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Not bad. At this rate, you might actually make a decent profit from this run."
The forest grew denser as they pressed on, the trees casting deeper shadows.
The ambient sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves were replaced by an eerie stillness. Lucas couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
"You feel that?" he asked, his voice low.
Kael nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah. We're getting close to the mine entrance. Stay sharp."
They moved cautiously, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of moss on the ground.
The corrupted miners became more frequent, their attacks more aggressive as they neared the source of the corruption.
At one point, Lucas found himself surrounded by three miners, their glowing eyes locked onto him with unsettling intensity.
He fought back the panic rising in his chest, activating Quick Slash to take out one of them before rolling out of the way of another's pickaxe.
Kael was at his side in an instant, his sword cleaving through the remaining two miners with practiced ease.
"You alright?" he asked, offering Lucas a hand to help him up.
"Yeah," Lucas panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it. But you might want to invest in some better gear soon. That starter set won't cut it for long."
Lucas nodded, making a mental note to visit the marketplace once they were done with the quest.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the mine, both of them were breathing hard but grinning. The pile of loot in their inventories was growing, and Lucas's EXP bar was inching closer to Level 3.
"We're a good team," Lucas said, surprising himself with the admission.
Kael smirked. "Don't get too sentimental, rookie. But yeah, you're not half bad."
Lucas laughed, feeling a camaraderie he hadn't experienced in years. He hadn't had friends in well… a long time.
"Alright," Kael said, drawing his sword again. "Let's see what's waiting for us in the mine."
Lucas nodded, gripping his dagger tightly. Whatever lay ahead, he felt ready for it.