As we walked through the forest, Quinn led the way without hesitation, his pace steady and confident as he navigated the terrain. The air was still thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, but the journey felt lighter now that we were finally heading back. We were making good time, and with the low murmur of a river nearby, I knew we were close to our new camp.

  Quinn shot us a grin over his shoulder. "Almost there. Just keep following me; it should be straight from here."

  Alya, who had been quietly pacing besides me, chimed in with a half-smile. "Good thing we’ve got Quinn leading the way. I won’t know where to start looking."

  "It’s normal for a city girl," teased Jack. "When I was little, my brothers and I were always playing in the woods; after a while, you just know where to go."

  Marcus muttered. "It’s all about knowing where to look. Nature's got its patterns. Just have to figure out its rhythm."

  "Well, I would prefer if the rhythm was clearer," Alya muttered under her breath.

  Mary, walking a few paces ahead, glanced back at us with a faint smile. "After the chaos we’ve been through, I’m just happy to actually be heading back to somewhere safe, or safer at least."

  We continued along the trail for another half hour before Quinn came to a sudden stop, holding up a hand to signal for us to slow down. He gestured to the riverbank ahead. "We’re almost there."

  As we exited the treeline, the first thing I noticed was the smell. The air was filled with the rich aroma of roasting meat—skewers of what looked like some large game being cooked over several small fires. It was strange to see it, considering we’d barely been away for an afternoon.

  The next thing that struck me was the sheer amount of work already put into the camp. People hastily constructed shelters out of branches, mud, and moss around the clearing, each offering some protection from the elements. It was rudimentary but serviceable; it was impressive to see how quickly the crafter had worked. The sounds of people working and talking filled the air, and guards were posted along the perimeter, their eyes alert as they watched our approach.

  Suddenly, as if anticipating our arrival, the watchmen spotted us and yelled a warning. The camp stirred into action—more people came into view, some reaching for weapons while others went for the fires. But the tension didn’t last long. Rhea was the first to greet us, her eyes wide as she hurried over, her voice a mix of concern and relief.

  “Are you all okay?” she asked, her gaze sweeping over us, taking in our bloodied and grimy appearances.

  I gave her a tired but reassuring smile. "Yeah, we're fine." I waved a hand at the group. "But we need a bath."

  Rhea let out a soft sigh of relief, nodding. "You all look like you’ve been through hell, except Mary," she said with a smile. ”It’s good to see you all back in one piece."

  Before I could say anything else, Tom arrived at the scene, his usual calm demeanour was replaced with a slight edge of impatience. He stopped just short of us, his eyes scanning each of us with that same analytical look he always had. "How did it go?" he asked.

  “It went more than well; we’ve dealt with the problem, actually…” I glanced at my group, then raised my voice so everyone could hear. "We destroyed the gorg tribe! Killed a lot of them on our way there, including their over-level 25 elites in their caves. The leader, a level 41 giant, is dead. We’ve cleared the area. If there are any gorgs left, they’ll be scattered and easy to deal with now."

  The air went still for a moment. Then, like a wave, the camp erupted into cheers. Some clapped, others yelled, but there was a palpable sense of relief among the people. Not everyone was enthusiastic—some faces were still grim—but the overall mood was one of victory. It felt like the whole camp exhaled in unison.

  I gave a small smile, trying to make the best of the moment. “We’ve brought you safety. You don’t have to worry about the gorgs for now.”

  Tom gave me a slow nod, though his eyes were still cold. “Well done, Elias. That’s a huge relief. We’ll make sure to double-check the area, but we’re glad to have you back.”

  Alya, looking more than a little worn out, shot me a quick glance before looking back at the people who had gathered around us. "Any chance we can get some food now? I’m starving."

  After she said that, the smell of roasted meat became even more enticing. A few of the cooks offered up some meat skewers, their faces proud as they handed out portions to the group. The meat was well-cooked, and despite the simplicity of the dish, it was enough to make my stomach rumble.

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  Rhea handed me a skewer with a smile. "Here. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a good find. We stumbled upon a stag while heading over here."

  I accepted it with a grin. "I’m not complaining. It’s better than the rations."

  Quinn, ever the optimist, was already digging into his own, practically inhaling it. "I don’t care what it is, as long as it’s delicious."

  Gathering around, we exchanged light-hearted comments and jokes, causing the weight of the curse to slightly lessen. There was still much to do, but for now, we had secured a place to rest. The camp had held up better than I expected, and the people were starting to get their bearings.

  Tom took me aside while the camp was settling into its evening rhythm, voices lowering, fires burning down to coals. His hand on my arm was firm and deliberate. We moved a few steps away, just far enough that the crackle of wood and the murmur of people blurred into background noise.

  He rubbed a hand over his face before speaking. “Listen…”

  Then he stopped. Breathed deep. I waited in silence until he found the words.

  “Elias,” he said at last, quieter now. “I’m genuinely glad you came back alive. All of you. I mean that.” His jaw tightened. “But we can’t do this again. We can’t keep splitting up like this. It’s dangerous. And we need unity if we want to survive this… this damn tutorial.”

  I didn’t answer right away. I let the words settle, let them sink past my defences instead of bouncing off them.

  And the worst part was that I agreed with him.

  If the goal was for everyone to finish the tutorial together, with minimal loss, then yes. We needed cohesion. Shared pacing. Mutual support. A single, careful advance towards the beacon.

  It was logical. Sensible. Humane.

  It was also everything I didn’t want.

  I could feel the curse inside me, quieter now, almost content after what I’d done today to earn some peace. I was close. Closer than I’d ever been. Another trait evolution, and then I still had a token unused, burning a hole in my status. And eventually, inevitably, I would need the crown. One of the seven kings’ crowns. There was no getting around that.

  To face that kind of enemy, I needed power. Not incremental growth. Not careful steps. I needed momentum. Achievements. Levels. Skills pushed to their limit.

  And staying here, protecting a camp, organising watches, rationing food, dragging everyone forward at the speed of the slowest… that would bleed me dry.

  I looked at Tom. He was exhausted. Still under level ten. No major achievements. No evolutions. All his time was spent holding the group together with grit and stubborn decency. Alya, barely a third his size, could put his ass on the ground without breaking a sweat after only a day of fighting.

  He was sacrificing his growth for everyone else.

  “I disagree,” I said finally, keeping my voice calm. “I think we should push people more. This place was designed to test us. To strain us. To separate the wheat from the chaff.”

  His expression hardened, disbelief flashing behind his eyes, so I raised a hand before he could cut in.

  “Don’t misunderstand me,” I continued. “I’m not saying we abandon anyone. I'm not advocating for abandonment. I don’t want anyone to die.” I paused. “But some losses will be inevitable. Pretending otherwise won’t change that.”

  Tom opened his mouth, then closed it again.

  “There’s a middle ground,” I said. “A compromise that gives people safety without chaining those who can move faster.”

  He studied me, breathing slow and controlled. “I’m listening.”

  I nodded. “We form an advance group. Small. Voluntary. Only people who want to push themselves, who are willing to take risks and grow fast. We move ahead, clear threats, thin monster populations, and mark safe routes.”

  I gestured vaguely towards the dark forest beyond the firelight. “The tutorial already told us that defeating a regional king unlocks a safe path. That’s not flavour text. That’s infrastructure. If we take the lead and do the hard, ugly work, the rest can follow with far less danger.”

  Tom’s eyes narrowed, thoughtful now instead of angry.

  “They won’t be alone,” I added quickly. “Not truly. They’ll still have guards, shelter, and time to level at a safer pace. And we’ll circle back when we can. This way, nobody gets left behind… but nobody gets held back either.”

  Silence stretched between us.

  Then I added, softer, “I want you with me, Tom. Not because I need another fighter, but because you’re the one person everyone here trusts. If you’re part of the advance group, they won’t see it as abandonment. They’ll see it as leadership.”

  He looked away, towards the camp. Towards the people laughing quietly around the fire. Towards the shelters they’d built with shaking hands and stubborn hope.

  “You already decided. And now you’re asking me to leave them,” he said.

  “I’m asking you to make sure they survive,” I replied.

  Tom was quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, weighed down by responsibility.

  “…You’re right about one thing,” he said. “If we move as one, at the same pace, we won't make it. And we won’t even notice until it’s too late.”

  He exhaled, long and tired. “I can’t do this.” In that moment, my hopes of having another strong companion watching my back vanished like smoke from the fires disappearing into the night sky. “I am a soldier, Elias; contrary to many of my comrades, I became a soldier because I wanted to protect my country. I fought in Afghanistan during the war, then I participated in many other missions before becoming a colonel. I will not abandon these people.”

  I was surprised to learn that he held such a high position in the chain of command; his expertise would have been invaluable.

  He continued. “If you want to proceed with this idea, I won’t oppose it, but we must do it properly.” He raised a finger at that. “We do it properly; we set up a system of communications and periodic exchange of information, and we set the course together. Moreover, if we find ourselves in a particularly bad spot, I want to know we can rely on you and you’ll come to our aid if needed. Deal?” He gave me his hand.

  I met his gaze, then I grabbed him by the forearm. “Deal.”

  He nodded once. “Then we’ll talk to the others tomorrow. Carefully.” A pause. “They’re not going to like it.”

  I allowed myself a thin smile. “They don’t have to like it. They just have to survive.”

  Tom snorted despite himself. “God help us,” he muttered.

  No god will help us here, but I needed no god, just myself.

  20 chapters ahead!