"I wonder what this one does in a fight," Jack said, leaning forward.

  The most recent skill Jack had unlocked was Tenderizing Repercussions, a song born from the synergy of [Butchering] and [Bard]. He had the system play it, closing his eyes to focus on each note.

  The rhythm pulsed steadily, driving like a marching beat. Its lower tones were grounded and deliberate, setting a powerful cadence. But the ending was where the melody truly shone—a cascade of soaring arpeggios and sharp intervals that hinted at chaos and triumph, like the final moments of a heated battle.

  Jack grinned. "This one’s going to be fun."

  The first section came naturally, its repeating riff easy to grasp. The ending, though, was trickier. Jack’s fingers stumbled at first, but the hours he’d spent practicing arpeggios and scales kicked in, guiding him through the quick successions and shifting intervals.

  After a few minutes, the system finally registered his efforts.

  You’ve played [Tenderizing Repercussions].

  Performance Rate: C-

  100XP in [Bard]

  No beasts were detected nearby. Skill failed.

  Jack groaned, slumping back. "Again, with a failure?!" he muttered, exasperated. The skill clearly needed a battlefield to reveal its effect.

  "Figures," Jack said with a heavy sigh. But he wasn’t about to let the challenge beat him. He raised the ocarina again, diving into the melody.

  Each repetition of the ending felt smoother, his fingers learning the quick transitions with growing precision. After a few more attempts, Jack lowered the instrument and smirked. "I’ll try it in the next fight and figure out what it does then."

  With two new songs under his belt, Jack’s confidence swelled. His gaze flicked to the fire as he tightened his grip on the ocarina.

  "Time to up the ante," he muttered.

  [Soulful Performer] was supposed to trigger additional buffs when Jack hit high performance rates. He was ready to push the limits and see just how far it could take him.

  Jack shook out his hands and wrists, trying to loosen the tension. This wasn’t just about playing well—it was about breaking through to something greater.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Jack brought his ocarina to his lips and began playing the first melody he’d ever learned.

  You’ve played [Sitting Wind].

  Performance rated: A

  +250XP in [Bard].

  +1 stamina every 5 seconds for 10 minutes.

  "Oof! Not even an A was enough?" Jack groaned. As far as he could remember, he’d never earned a rating higher than A. For the game to require something beyond that felt insane.

  It’s not impossible, he thought. It can’t be. Otherwise, why would this skill even exist?

  Jack paused, trying to think of ways to improve. He thought back to the days when music had been his whole life. His favorite guitarist came to mind. What set him apart wasn’t —not just his technical skill, though he had that in spades. It was something deeper: his ability to make the guitar sing, as if it had a soul of its own. Every note he played told a story.

  Jack had always admired how effortlessly the guitarist blended precision and passion, never letting one overshadow the other. It wasn’t just about hitting the right notes—it was about the feeling behind them, the ability to transport people with a single melody.

  How can I do that? Jack wondered. His ocarina wasn’t a guitar, but the principle was the same. He needed to stop thinking like a player chasing a perfect performance and start thinking like a musician telling a story.

  Closing his eyes, Jack took a deep breath, and shifted his focus. It wasn’t just about accuracy; it was about emotion. He closed his eyes and imagined a swaying breeze rolling over hills, blades of grass moving in harmony. Bees floated lazily through the warm air, their hum blending into the melody. Jack poured everything into the song, letting the emotions carry him.

  When the song ended, a notification popped up:

  Performance rated: A+

  +500XP in [Bard]

  +1 stamina every 5 seconds for 10 minutes.

  [Soulful Performer] activates: +50 stamina for 10 minutes.

  “Wow,” Jack muttered, staring at the notification. A simple melody, performed perfectly, had rivaled the buffs granted by chefs or the museum. Not only could he recover stamina, but he could increase his stamina bar.

  Suddenly, the potential of his bard profession became crystal clear. If he could consistently perform songs at an A+ rating—or even higher—he could make his entire party significantly stronger.

  It’s easier said than done, though, Jack thought. Perfecting every performance isn’t going to be easy.

  Still, the possibilities were too exciting to ignore. What other buffs might his songs unlock?

  An idea came to him. There was another melody he felt confident he could play to near perfection, but for that, he’d need to relocate.

  Jack headed to the back of the fortress, near his beehive. The bees flitted over the wall, diving toward the steep cliffs beyond to forage for nectar among the sparse shrubbery and flowers. Despite the cold, they kept working, though Jack noticed another bee had succumbed to the weather and lay motionless at the colony’s gate.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Jack crouched by the hive, his gaze lingering on the lifeless worker. “Poor bee,” he murmured. A pang of guilt tugged at him—the sight of another fallen bee was a harsh reminder of their fragility in the cold.

  “Is there anything I can even do?” he muttered. Bees needed nectar to survive, but he couldn’t shield them from the chill as they flew. All he could do was gain levels in [Beekeeping] hoping to unlock some skill which boosted their resistances.

  Straightening, Jack pushed aside his sadness. If he wanted to help the hive, he needed to focus. The song’s effects might be just what they needed. He brought the ocarina to his lips and began playing Morning of Spring, a melody he’d practiced countless times.

  His first attempt was shaky, earning him a B.

  “I got too melancholic from that dead bee,” Jack muttered, rubbing his hands on his pants in an attempt to relax. This melody was supposed to be cheerful. He closed his eyes and tried to shift his focus.

  Happy thoughts, he reminded himself. He pictured Snowy grazing in a field. He thought of Lydia and the thrill he’d felt when she agreed to go out with him. A warm memory of his parents’ gift surfaced, their decision to support his gaming career filling him with gratitude. He thought of Horace bickering with Marie. Finally, his mind wandered to a vibrant field of flowers, each bloom swaying gently in a soft breeze.

  Just as the cheerful mood began to settle in, a notification blinked into view, interrupting his thoughts.

  AmariNinja has discovered a new hidden package: Armory.

  “What?!” Jack exclaimed, quickly checking the details.

  Armory

  The fallen soldiers fell due to a lack of manpower, not of good equipment. If only there had been more men to don the armor and pick up arms.

  Package effects:

  Worn equipment receives 100 bonus durability. Bonus only lasts inside the Breach.

  “Woah! Good buff!” Jack couldn’t help but exclaim.

  “I love you, Amari!” Horace messaged immediately.

  “Thanks!” Marie added.

  The buff was incredible, especially for Horace, who tanked most of the team’s damage. Amari had come through again.

  “And I got defensive about him wanting to search the fortress…” Jack muttered, feeling his cheeks redden. “What did I miss?” He made a mental note to ask Amari exactly where he’d found it.

  His competitive spirit ignited, Jack lifted the ocarina again.

  On his third try, he finally managed a calm, steady performance that elevated the melody.

  You’ve played [Morning of Spring].

  +500XP in [Bard]

  Performance rated: A+

  Your bees work harder.

  [Soulful Performer] activates: +20% movement speed for all bees for 30 minutes. Increased resistance to disease for 30 minutes.

  The hive came alive with activity as the bees moved faster, their tiny bodies darting back and forth with renewed energy. Jack smiled, watching them work. Not only had the usual productivity bonus been triggered, but this time, they got a movement speed bonus and increased resistance to diseases.

  Hopefully, this helps them fight the cold, too, he thought.

  The buffs granted by [Soulful Performer] were elevating his already-powerful songs, taking them to an entirely new level.

  This made Jack wonder: What would [Soulful Performer] do for his other songs?

  Angry Void—could its taunting melody become even more potent, drawing enemies more effectively?

  And Sonic Valley—if it was already strong enough to confuse an adult allosaurus, what would happen with [Soulful Performer] boosting it?

  Even more tantalizing were his intermediate songs, like Clay Dome and Dance of the Turtles. These melodies already had significant effects, but what would happen once they were boosted even further?

  There was only one way to find out. Jack needed to perfect his skills.

  He picked up his ocarina and began working through his repertoire, striving for perfection in every melody. Each note needed to feel effortless, flowing from instinct rather than thought. He wanted to make his music second nature—an extension of himself.

  As he practiced, another notification appeared:

  Hidden Package Unlocked: [Heracle Moles Outsourcing].

  Description:

  You’ve discovered a pouch of Heracle Seeds, prized for their ability to attract the legendary Heracle Moles—small, powerful creatures known for their incredible digging prowess. These industrious moles have an uncanny ability to carve through even the hardest terrain, making them invaluable for excavation in mountainous and rocky regions.

  Package effects: You have found 20 seeds that summon Heracle Moles to dig in the designated area. By planting these seeds strategically, you can direct Heracle Moles to dig trenches, tunnels or loosening the soil.

  “Woah! A second hidden package. Just like that, huh?” Jack muttered, blinking at the message.

  If he was interpreting this correctly, the package could simplify digging in rocky terrain.

  In the mountains, breaking through stone was backbreaking work, but this package offered a clever solution. Horace had done his best with the terrain, placing stakes wherever he could find cracks, their pointy edges facing the direction of incoming waves. But if the ground were softer, burying stakes and creating ditches would’ve been far easier.

  Jack imagined the possibilities—fortified defenses, obstacles to slow enemies, and trenches to protect the carriage and, eventually, the wall. This package would really help them with their preparation.

  Turning his focus back to his ocarina, he lingered on Sonic Valley and Clay Dome. Both melodies carried immense potential, and Jack wanted to push them to their limits.

  Suddenly, the noise of approaching horses broke his concentration.

  Jack glanced toward the main gate as Horace and Marie came rushing in. They dismounted quickly, their urgency drawing Jack’s attention to the clock. There were still over ten minutes left.

  “You guys are early,” Jack said, a little bitter about having his practice interrupted.

  “You don’t want us fighting on an empty stomach, do you?” Marie shot back, hands on her hips. “Besides, we need to summon the wave early to get that achievement.”

  “Shoot! You’re right!” Jack exclaimed, panic setting in. “I still have to cook!” He’d completely forgotten.

  Amari appeared moments later, drawn by the commotion. “Hey! How’d it go?”

  “It was good,” Marie replied, a hint of pride in her voice. “I got a hidden package just in time.”

  “Was it the one in the grass field with the dirt mounds?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “Cool. I found an armory hidden in the citadel,” Amari added casually.

  “What? In the citadel?” Marie asked, baffled.

  “It was hidden behind a secret door, right behind the captain’s suit of armor,” Amari explained.

  Jack couldn’t help but stand a little taller. It wasn’t him who had missed the hidden package—it was Marie. Vindication felt sweet, but there was no time to savor it. He had work to do.

  Jack hurried over to Esther. The trip had clearly been hard on her; she looked exhausted, her movements sluggish.

  “Are you alright?” he asked gently.

  “Yes, just hungry,” she said with a faint smile.

  “Got it. You just rest for now.”

  Jack withdrew the [Bushcraft] profession from her and turned his attention to the fire, which was dangerously close to going out. Without [Kindle], he hadn’t been able to maintain it properly, but now he quickly fed the flames and placed a cooking pot over the rekindled fire.

  Unfortunately, all he had to work with was honey. “What’s the point of bug meat if it doesn’t even last long enough for a meal when it matters?” Jack muttered in frustration. Still, he worked with what he had, preparing a basic meal as best he could.

  Once the food was ready, Jack served it, letting his team help themselves. He noticed Esther’s expression brighten slightly as she took a portion.

  Then, as he wiped his hands on his pants, Jack glanced at his notifications. His jaw tightened. While he’d been rehearsing, some important notifications had slipped through. Now, they caught his attention.

  He turned to his teammates. “Give me a moment. I’ll be back,” he said, already moving.

  “Sure,” Amari replied. “We’ll finish eating and get ready to head to the carriage.”

  "Very well," Jack muttered as he dove into the tunnel where he’d left the mead to age.