Noah exhaled a long tired sigh, his grip tightening on Emma. "It wasn't easy. I just fought for long enough until I was able to hit multiple weak spots of its body to find a way."

  Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Found a way, huh? Sounds like you had it rough over there all alone."

  Noah gave a noncommittal shrug, his expression calm. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is that we're alive."

  Daniel nodded, sensing that Noah didn't want to elaborate. "Fair enough. But still, you pulled off a miracle back there. Don't sell yourself short."

  The group continued on, the dense forest gradually giving way to more familiar terrain.

  The sight of the village in the distance brought a wave of relief, and they quickened their pace despite their exhaustion.

  The group rushed into the village just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the worn dirt paths.

  The sight of them immediately drew attention—villagers and other humans from Earth paused their tasks, their faces etched with shock and concern.

  Yesterday, Noah's group was among the first to return from expeditions, and their efficiency and teamwork earned them a reputation for being reliable and capable. But today, they were battered, bruised, and barely standing.

  Noah carried Emma and Leah gently, his movements steady despite the weight. Daniel followed close behind, his body swaying slightly as he supported Victor's limp form.

  The sack of beast parts at Noah's waist seemed to gleam faintly in the fading light, drawing curious and wary gazes from the crowd.

  A murmur spread through the Earthlings, their whispers mixing with the crackle of nearby torches.

  "What happened to them?"

  "Even they're in such bad shape… What's out there?"

  "They look like they barely made it back alive."

  The whispers stopped abruptly as Darrick, the village head, strode into view. His presence as usual drew attention, his tall frame and stern expression enough to silence the growing unease.

  His sharp eyes scanned the group, assessing their injuries before settling on Noah, who stood at the forefront.

  "You're late," Darrick said, his tone neutral but his eyes betraying concern. "We were starting to think something had happened to you."

  Noah exhaled heavily, his exhaustion evident. "Something did happen."

  Darrick's gaze shifted to the sack tied at Noah's waist, his expression hardening. "What happened there?"

  Noah untied the sack and placed it on the ground with a dull thud. He opened it slightly, revealing the jagged scales, polished talons, and dark, viscous blood stored within, among other beast parts. The faint glow of the beast's blood caught Darrick's attention immediately.

  The village head's eyes widened, and for the first time, a hint of shock crossed his composed features. "These are… parts from an uncommon-grade beast."

  A collective gasp rippled through the villagers. Uncommon-grade beasts were rare and significantly more powerful than the usual monsters that roamed the forest.

  Even experienced E Grade hunters avoided them, as the risk often outweighed the reward.

  Darrick crouched to examine the contents more closely. His fingers brushed against one of the scales, and he nodded to himself.

  "Rockhide Bear," he said, his voice carrying a note of astonishment. "Its rocky scales and glowing eyes… It's unmistakable. These beasts are formidable, much stronger than anything you should have encountered in this area. But it seems to be a young one, so it wasn't at its prime."

  He stood, his gaze settling on Noah and his team. "It's a miracle you're all still alive. How did you manage to kill it?"

  Noah exchanged a glance with Daniel, who gave a slight shrug as if to say, 'You tell him.' Noah sighed, keeping his explanation simple. "It wasn't easy. We had to fight it long enough to find its weak points before focusing on them. Even then, we are in this… state."

  Darrick's expression softened, his respect for the group evident. "You're lucky. Facing an uncommon-grade beast at your level… it's no small feat."

  Noah raised an eyebrow. "Uncommon grade?"

  "I will explain later." Darrick turned to the gathered villagers, his voice firm. "Get them to the infirmary. Now."

  Several villagers moved to help, carefully taking Victor, Emma, and Leah from Noah and Daniel's care. Darrick's attention, however, remained fixed on Noah.

  "Wait," Darrick said, raising a hand. He gestured to the sack. "Place the blood here."

  Noah hesitated but did as instructed, setting the flask of glowing blood on the ground. Darrick picked it up, studying it for a moment before addressing him. "Do you know what this is?"

  Noah shook his head, his curiosity piqued.

  Darrick's lips pressed into a thin line. "The blood of a higher-ranking beast like this is more than just a trophy. It's nourishing. Drinking it can heal your injuries and strengthen your body, especially after a battle like this."

  Daniel, who had been leaning heavily against a post, straightened at the words. "Wait, seriously? It can… heal us?"

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Darrick nodded. "It's not just healing. The blood carries the essence of the beast—its Soul Energy. It won't work miracles, but it can help you recover faster and might even toughen your body over time."

  Noah exchanged a glance with Daniel before looking back at Darrick. "Is it safe?"

  "It's not only safe but also very potent," Darrick admitted. "But for those who've faced such a beast and lived, it's a worthy reward. Your bodies have already been tempered by the battle. This will only help."

  Without hesitation, Darrick poured a small portion of the blood into a simple wooden cup, handing it to Noah first. "You earned it."

  Noah stared at the swirling liquid, the faint glow almost hypnotic.

  He glanced at Daniel, who gave him an encouraging nod while averting his gaze.

  'This motherfucker…' He shook his head and, taking a deep breath, Noah tipped the cup back, the thick liquid sliding down his throat with an earthy, metallic taste.

  Heat spread through his chest almost instantly, radiating outward to his limbs. The aches and pains from the battle began to dull, replaced by a growing sense of warmth.

  Daniel eagerly took the next cup, grimacing slightly at the taste but saying nothing as the effects began to take hold.

  One by one, the others were given smaller portions when they stirred, their breathing easing as the blood worked its magic.

  Darrick watched them with a satisfied nod. "Rest tonight. You've done more than enough for one day. But this… this changes things. Uncommon-grade beasts aren't supposed to be this close to the village. We'll need to talk more tomorrow."

  Noah nodded, his body already feeling the subtle effects of the blood. He went toward the infirmary with the rest of the group after picking up all of his loot.

  Inside the infirmary, the faint scent of herbs filled the air. The room was modest but functional, with wooden cots lined neatly against the walls and shelves stocked with basic healing supplies. The villagers had worked quickly to set up resting spots for the injured group.

  Noah helped the villagers ease Leah and Emma onto adjacent cots, careful not to shake them too much.

  Daniel followed behind, helping the villager lay Victor down with a grunt before collapsing onto a nearby stool. The weight of the battle—and the relief of surviving it—was finally catching up to all of them.

  Noah sat at the edge of a cot, his longsword resting against his knee. He gazed at his teammates, their faces pale but peaceful. The glow of the beast's blood had already begun to work its magic, their breathing steadier and some of their smaller wounds visibly healing.

  Daniel broke the silence, his voice low. "You think they'll be okay?"

  Noah nodded, his exhaustion evident in the slight slump of his shoulders. "They will. The blood's working, and they just need rest."

  Daniel leaned back, his gaze fixed on the wooden beams of the ceiling. "I still can't believe we made it. That bear… it wasn't just stronger—it was smarter. I've never seen a beast fight like that even back on Earth."

  Noah didn't respond immediately, his mind replaying the battle in vivid detail. The bear's relentless assaults, its movements, its glowing claws, and the way it had pushed them to the brink of death—it wasn't something he could easily forget.

  "We got lucky," Noah said finally, his voice calm. "If we face something like that again, luck won't save us."

  Daniel snorted softly. "You call that luck? You carried half the team back, took down that monster, and hauled its parts back here. If that's luck, I'd hate to see skill."

  Before Noah could respond, a faint groan broke the quiet. Both men turned toward the sound to see Leah stirring, her eyes fluttering open. She winced as she tried to sit up, her hand instinctively moving to her side.

  "Easy," Noah said, moving to her side. "You're still healing."

  Leah's gaze darted around the room, her confusion giving way to clarity as the memories of the battle came rushing back. "The bear… did we…?"

  "We made it," Noah reassured her. "The bear's dead, and we're back in the village."

  Leah exhaled a shaky breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I thought we were done for."

  "You weren't the only one," Daniel chimed in, offering her a faint grin. "But Noah here decided to pull a miracle out of his ass and save us all."

  Leah's eyes shifted to Noah, gratitude evident in her expression. "Thank you. For everything."

  Noah shrugged, feeling slightly uncomfortable hearing their thanks. "It wasn't just me. We all fought. I just… did what I had to."

  Another groan came from the other side of the room as Victor and Emma began to wake up, their movements slow.

  Noah moved to check on them, offering water and quiet reassurances as they regained their bearings.

  The group spent the next hour resting and talking in hushed tones, the tension of the battle slowly giving way to a sense of camaraderie.

  Despite the pain and exhaustion, there was an unspoken understanding among them—they had faced death together and lived to tell the tale.

  …

  As the others drifted back into a light sleep, Noah stood quietly, his movements light. He strapped his longsword to his waist, the familiar weight feeling much lighter in his grasp.

  The system's interface flickered faintly in his vision, reminding him of the anomaly he had become.

  "I'm stepping out for a bit," he said softly, glancing at Daniel. "Watch over them."

  Daniel raised an eyebrow but nodded. "You sure you're okay? You seem like you're about to die."

  Noah chuckled and shook his head. "I just need some air." With that, he slipped out of the infirmary, the cool night air hitting his face like a calm summer breeze. The village was quiet now, the earlier commotion replaced by the hum of crickets and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

  Noah's steps carried him to the edge of the village, where the forest loomed dark and imposing. He slowly drew his longsword, the blade glinting faintly in the moonlight.

  "I need to be stronger," Noah muttered to himself, his grip tightening on the hilt. "Next time, I can't just survive. I have to decimate those damn mongrels."

  His vision shifted as he looked at his system interface.

  [Status]

  [Skills]

  [Authority]

  [Inventory]

  [Points]

  "Show stats." He softly muttered.

  [Name: Noah Starfall]

  [Title: Classless]

  [Grade: E]

  [Class: None (Classless)]

  [Soul Energy: 11 / 1,000]

  [Species: Human]

  [Strength: 10]

  [Agility: 10]

  [Endurance: 10]

  [Energy: 10]

  [Intelligence: 10]

  [Special Note: Due to the host being Classless, all stats have been divided equally. The current stats are equal to a Common Grade Class.]

  Noah squinted at the glowing interface, his mind buzzing with curiosity. The word "Classless" stood out, both intriguing and frustrating him. He focused on the word, wondering if the system would reveal more details.

  "Show title effects," he muttered softly.

  The interface shimmered for a moment before new text appeared:

  [Title Effects: Classless]

  Classless:

  Unbound by the restrictions of conventional classes. Allows adaptability and evolution without limits. Cannot gain pre-determined class bonuses but has higher growth potential across all stats.