My stomach gave a low grumble. Breakfast first—then the Kobolds. There were Level 4s roaming out there, and I needed three of them down before I could reach Level 5.

  I only hoped the training I’d put in would be enough. At least Fleetstep gave me an escape plan; if things went badly, I could always run.

  As I ate, I tried to fuel more than just my body. I worked myself up, running through every scenario, every strike and dodge in my head, building the confidence I’d need when the time came.

  I left the apartment and had to remind myself—this was the real world. The simulation had been eerily close to the New York now in front of me. If someone dropped you here without warning, I wondered, would you even be able to tell the difference?

  Dodging past a few lower-level Kobolds, I pressed on, searching. Finally, a Level 4 came into view, loitering in front of a store. I stayed back, watching until it started to move. If I was going to stand a chance, I needed the battleground to work in my favor.

  The Kobold turned down a street cluttered with cars—some still in the lanes, others jammed along the curb. Perfect. If there was ever a place to tilt the fight in my favor, this was it.

  I waited until I was positioned with cars all around me, then I deliberately made a noise, hitting the car next to me with my staff. As expected, and from my experience with the simulated Kobold, it immediately stormed over.

  The Kobold stormed closer, claws raking across the pavement. I raised my hand and cast Stun — the pulse of magic froze it mid-lunge. In that heartbeat of stillness, I carved into it with a Mana Slash.

  The pause gave me room to scramble onto the car behind me. Mana trickled back into my grip while the Kobold shook itself free, just enough to fuel another strike. The second Mana Slash hit harder, driving it back across the hood with wounds carved deep into its hide.

  Fleetstep surged through my legs, and I vaulted onto the next car. The Kobold smashed into the one I had left, metal shrieking as the body caved in. Its head snapped toward me, eyes wild with fury, and it charged again.

  I used the last flicker of Fleetstep to leap back to the original hood. My mana crested just in time. Arc Lash cracked through the air, lightning wrapping around its gauntlets and throwing it to the ground.

  I didn’t have enough left for another spell, but I still had my staff. I dropped down, breath ragged, and swung for its head. The strike landed — but the Kobold lunged one final time, claws tearing across my stomach. White-hot pain flared, real this time. No reset. No second chance.

  Gritting my teeth, I raised the staff again and smashed it down with everything I had. Bone split. The Kobold went still. At last, it was finished.

  I needed to heal. I retrieved the advanced health package. The salve and potion appeared in my hand.

  I looked at the description and wondered if I needed the potion. I frowned and wondered if I ever checked my HP levels. I did check the base amounts but current, I fought and need to check how clow to death I was… Not sure.

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  I applied the salve on my cuts and…

  “Health point status?”

  I placed the potion back, not thinking I would need it, and a message popped up.

  Good to know… I guess.

  “Loot”

  I was more than satisfied with the epic food packages. Even better, an advanced knowledge shard appeared among the rewards.

  Nice.

  Claire and I had already decided—we’d use the shard together.

  As I walked on, my thoughts circled back to combat. I was still taking too many hits, and that had to change. My HP would eventually improve, but how fast? And why hadn’t I bothered checking it before now?

  If I had to guess, Endurance was probably the stat tied to it. The moment I thought it, a window popped open in front of me.

  Isn’t the system just wonderful.

  The thought was half sarcasm, half a grudging kind of admiration.

  I checked my HP levels and Mana. I was ready to go. Two more Kobolds and I will be Level 5.

  I walked a few blocks before I picked up a Level 4 Kobold on my Mini-Map.

  I moved closer but kept my eye on the surroundings. There were still cars but not as many as the first fight. I just had to make it work, because the Kobold spotted me already.

  It stormed between the cars, eyes burning, gauntlets raised. I thrust my staff forward. The stun locked it mid-stride, its body trembling against the invisible grip. I didn’t waste the opening—mana surged, and a Slash tore across its chest. The Kobold staggered, bellowing as energy burned into its hide.

  I retreated, waited until it lurched forward again, then hurled a second Mana Slash, keeping my distance. It staggered, corrected itself, and came charging once more.

  The third Slash dropped it to its knees.

  I slipped around a car, circling to its back. The Kobold lifted its head, confused, not seeing me, and stormed forward again—burning what little strength it still had after three strikes.

  Arc Lash cracked through the air and sent it sprawling. I ducked behind a delivery truck, then edged forward to watch it rise once more. Anger rolled off it in waves, its head snapping side to side as it searched for me.

  I held my position, then stepped out at just the right moment. The Kobold spotted me and stormed forward, barely missing the truck. I triggered Fleetstep, bounding onto the truck’s roof, springing to a nearby car, and dropping down again to open space.

  Distance bought me seconds, but the Kobold had my scent now. I retreated, stalling, until I cast another Mana Slash.

  Too late. The strike landed, but momentum carried it through. I tried to summon a shield—only to realize I was dry on mana.

  Its claws raked across me, shallow but stinging. Desperation fueled me. I swung my staff hard, connecting with its skull. The Kobold collapsed, finally still.

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  first Royal Road chapter of each pair. The second one won’t have pictures. If you want to see all the art together (or earlier), it’s on Patreon with the combined chapters!