The morning sun filtered through the dusty windows of the tavern, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. Ryan rubbed his eyes and stretched, the ache in his muscles a constant reminder of the battle from the day before. He glanced around to find Arya and Grent already awake, seated at the table with steaming bowls of porridge in front of them.
"You're up," Arya said, her tone flat but not unkind. "Eat. We've got a long day ahead."
Ryan slid into the seat across from her, grabbing the bowl set out for him. The porridge was bland but warm, and it did wonders to settle his growling stomach.
"So, what's the plan?" he asked between bites.
Arya pointed toward the tavern's far wall, where a large wooden board was covered in scraps of parchment. "That's the bounty board. It's where adventurers like us find work. We'll start there."
Grent grinned, slamming his empty bowl down. "Time to earn our keep, kid. Let's see if you can handle real adventuring."
After finishing his meal, Ryan followed the others to the board. The parchment scraps were scrawled with various quests, ranging from simple tasks like gathering herbs to more dangerous missions involving monster hunting. Arya scanned the board with a practiced eye, her fingers brushing over the papers.
"This one looks promising," she said, plucking a notice from the board. She handed it to Ryan, who read it aloud.
"'Wanted: Cave Spiders. Infestation near Whispering Hollow. Reward: 50 silver pieces.'" He glanced up. "Spiders? Really?"
"Don't underestimate them," Arya warned. "Cave Spiders might be low-level, but they're vicious in groups. And their venom can kill if you're not careful."
"Sounds fun," Ryan said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Grent chuckled. "You've got to start somewhere, kid. Besides, it'll be good practice for using that new sword of yours."
Ryan sighed. "Fine. Let's do it."
The journey to Whispering Hollow took most of the morning. The group trekked through rolling hills and winding forest paths, the air growing cooler as they approached the hollow. By midday, they reached the entrance to a dark cave, its mouth framed by jagged rocks and thick cobwebs.
"Well, this is inviting," Ryan said, peering into the shadows. A faint clicking noise echoed from within, sending a shiver down his spine.
Arya handed him a small vial filled with a pale green liquid. "Antidote. In case you get bitten. Try not to need it."
"Comforting," Ryan muttered, tucking the vial into his belt pouch.
Grent hefted his hammer, his grin as wide as ever. "Stay behind me, kid. I'll clear the way. Arya, keep an eye on the rear."
The group ventured into the cave, the dim light from the entrance fading quickly. Ryan's HUD adjusted, the darkness replaced by a faint green overlay that highlighted their surroundings. The walls were slick with moisture, and the air was thick with the smell of decay.
A skittering noise made Ryan freeze. He tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes darting around the cavern. From the shadows, a spider the size of a dog emerged, its multiple eyes glowing faintly.
[Cave Spider] - Level 2
"Here we go," Grent said, stepping forward. The spider lunged at him, but he swung his hammer with practiced ease, smashing the creature against the wall. It burst into glowing fragments, leaving behind a faint shimmer of loot.
"One down," Arya said, nocking an arrow. "Don't let your guard down. There'll be more."
As if on cue, more spiders emerged from the darkness, their legs clicking against the stone. Ryan's heart raced as three of them skittered toward him.
"Focus, Ryan!" Arya called, loosing an arrow that struck one of the spiders. "Keep your movements tight. Don't overextend."
Ryan nodded, raising his shield just as the first spider lunged. Its fangs scraped against the metal, and he countered with a quick slash of his sword. The blade bit into the spider's body, and it let out a high-pitched screech before collapsing.
+10 XP
A second spider circled him, its movements erratic. Ryan took a deep breath, focusing on its glowing weak points highlighted by his HUD. When it lunged, he sidestepped and drove his sword into its abdomen.
+10 XP
The third spider hesitated, as if sensing its companions' fate. Ryan took the opportunity to strike, his sword cleaving through its spindly legs. It collapsed, twitching, before disintegrating into pixels.
+10 XP
"Not bad, newbie," Arya said, her tone begrudgingly approving. "You're getting the hang of it."
Grent let out a laugh as he smashed another spider. "The kid's a natural. Keep this up, and you might survive after all."
Ryan wiped sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding. "Yeah, great. Let's just hope there aren't any bigger ones."
Arya and Grent exchanged a look, but neither said anything. Ryan's stomach dropped.
"There's a bigger one, isn't there?" he asked.
"Just keep moving," Arya said, motioning for him to follow. "We're almost to the nest."
The cavern opened into a large chamber, the walls covered in thick webs. In the center of the room sat a massive spider, its body glistening like polished obsidian. Its name floated above it in crimson letters:
[Broodmother] - Level 5
"Of course," Ryan muttered. "Why wouldn't there be a giant spider?"
Grent cracked his knuckles. "This is what we came for. Stick to the plan: I'll draw its attention. Arya, hit the weak spots. Ryan, you take out any smaller ones that get in the way."
"Got it," Ryan said, though his hands were trembling.
Grent charged forward with a battle cry, his hammer slamming into the Broodmother's leg. The creature let out an ear-piercing screech, rearing up on its hind legs. Smaller spiders poured from the walls, swarming toward Arya and Ryan.
"Here they come!" Arya shouted, loosing arrows with rapid precision.
Ryan gritted his teeth, focusing on the swarm. He slashed and stabbed, his movements growing more confident with each kill. His HUD flashed with notifications:
+10 XP +10 XP +10 XP
Despite the chaos, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He was holding his own.
A sudden scream snapped him out of his focus. He turned to see Arya pinned against the wall, one of the Broodmother's legs pressing down on her. Grent was grappling with the creature, trying to pull its attention away.
"Ryan!" Arya shouted. "Aim for the eyes!"
Ryan's stomach churned, but he nodded. He sprinted toward the Broodmother, dodging smaller spiders as he closed the distance. His HUD highlighted the creature's glowing red eyes, and he activated his new skill: [Quick Strike].
Time seemed to slow as Ryan leapt into the air, his sword arcing toward the Broodmother's face. The blade struck true, piercing one of its eyes. The creature let out a deafening shriek, thrashing wildly.
Arya scrambled free as Grent delivered a crushing blow to the Broodmother's abdomen. The creature collapsed, its legs twitching before it disintegrated into a shower of light.
+100 XP
Level Up! (Ryan is now Level 3)
Ryan fell to his knees, panting. His health bar was low, and his arms felt like lead, but he couldn't help but smile.
"We did it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arya walked over, dusting herself off. "Not bad, newbie. Maybe you're not as useless as I thought."
Grent clapped him on the back, grinning. "You've got guts, kid. Keep this up, and you might just survive in this world."
Ryan looked at the fading particles where the Broodmother had fallen. For the first time, he felt like he belonged.
"What's next?" he asked.
Arya smirked. "Plenty more bounties where that came from. Welcome to the adventurer's life, Ryan."