[Level 141]

  The number hovered over the predator’s black skull like a grim banner, the tabulator ring once again proving its value.

  'It has this function, too?' he thought, watching the display flicker slightly as the predator’s thrashing caused ripples of motion in the faint glow.

  To be at a level over fifty marked this beast as a Centra-class predator, a tier beyond the Slayer-level creatures Kaiser had faced before. In his rough estimations, Slayer-class beasts were likely those he encountered during the fiery woods campaign in the defensive war. Back then, eyeless warhorses had been terrifying enough to instill dread among even the most desperate defenders. But a Centra? That was an entirely different league—a rarity he had only encountered twice in his time wandering the Shattered Realms.

  The first had been a dinosaur-like, colossal behemoth, towering and relentless, undeniably far stronger than the airborne nightmare before him. However, even this current predator couldn’t be underestimated. Its raw ferocity and adaptability whether in the sky or land were unlike anything he had faced before. For even an entire group of Players armed with their diverse abilities had ultimately abandoned their fight against this predator.

  In any case, the ring’s ability to analyze and assess the creature's strength amazed him once more. Whether it relied on his own memories or drew from some database beyond his understanding, the creators of this artifact were undeniably geniuses. To craft a tool so attuned to survival in this broken world was nothing short of brilliance.

  Still, none of that mattered now. Both he and Hazie wanted nothing more than to get as far away from this winged abomination as possible.

  Groaning slightly, Kaiser forced his aching body upright. Every muscle screamed for rest, his legs trembling from exhaustion, but at the same time, felt a flicker of pride knowing he pushed through, relied on sheer will alone instead of his immortality. The soreness was a reminder of what he had endured and overcome.

  He extended a hand to Hazie, helping her up as she swayed slightly, equally spent. They stumbled deeper into the cave. The predator’s enraged screeches reverberating behind them like a promise of vengeance. Its long, sinewy neck twisted and strained, its beady eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The deadly beak snapped against the cave entrance, sending echoing sounds that sent chills through their bones.

  For now, though, the narrow opening keeps it at bay.

  Both of them collapsed against the cool stone walls further inside the cave, their chests heaving as they tried to catch their breath. Kaiser leaned back, tilting his head against the jagged rock, his gaze locked on the creature. It thrashed and clawed, its talons scraping against the stone, but it couldn’t force its massive body through the narrow passage.

  It was both dreadful and oddly relieving to watch the abomination thrash and strain, its futile attempts to reach them a grim testament to its overwhelming hunger. The narrow entrance mocked its might, trapping its sinewy neck and rendering its powerful body useless. It was so close to its prey, its deadly beak snapping just inches from the cave floor, yet it couldn’t close the gap to take the bite it so desperately craved.

  Kaiser leaned back against the jagged cave wall, his chest still heaving from the mad sprint, and allowed a grin to creep across his face.

  'Jokes on you, creepy birdy, I don't taste good. The first creature that tested me got its stomach ripped open and the second burned.'

  He glanced at Hazie, who sat slumped beside him. Despite the grime and exhaustion, there was something about her that seemed untouched, unyielding—like she refused to let the chaos of this world dull her charm. The thought struck him unexpectedly, and he found himself wondering: was she the real target here? Between the two of them, she did seem like the more... Tasty choice.

  As if sensing his gaze, Hazie's eyes turned in his direction, though they failed to find his. The darkness was oppressive, rendering her vision useless, while Kaiser’s sharper senses allowed him to discern the faint outlines of their surroundings. The world they're in was already dim due to the sea that shrouds the sky, and only got darker within the cave where almost no light is present.

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  “Kai?” she called out softly, her voice tinged with unease.

  The only source of light came from the cave's entrance, where the predator's grotesque form thrashed and snarled, it struggles a haunting reminder of how close they’d come to death. Feeling lost and partially disoriented in the pitch black, Hazie instinctively reached out.

  Her hand brushed against something firm, and Kaiser’s low, amused voice broke the silence. “I wouldn’t put my hands there if I were you.”

  She froze. “Wha—what did I… Wait, is that your—”

  A sudden chuckle from him cut through her flustered stammering. “Relax, It’s the sleeping bag. Why, did you think it was something else?”

  The silence that followed was palpable, save for the distant screeches of their trapped pursuer. Eventually, Hazie let out a long, exasperated sigh, her initial embarrassment giving way to resignation. “You’re unbelievable,” she muttered, shaking her head in the darkness.

  After a moment, a soft chuckle escaped her lips as well, surprising even herself. “Of all the great men that could accompany me out there, why does it have to be you?”

  “Blame your own bad luck,” Kai quipped, looking away for he would rather gaze at the dreadful skull than her after hearing that.

  'I'm not too bad of a company, right? I mean, a literal goddess would be crying because I'm not by her side.'

  “I wouldn’t call it that. Honestly, I’d rather deal with a delinquent like you over some self-righteous, holier-than-thou gentleman who’d collapse after carrying me for ten steps.”

  Kai raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his gaze. “Oh? Is that a compliment I hear?”

  “Hardly,” Hazie said flatly. “I’m just stating facts, nothing but the pure truth without lies—unlike *you,* who’d rather watch me struggle because you’ve got trust issues. If you’d been honest from the start, we could’ve come up with a better strategy and maybe even taken that thing down.”

  Kai scoffed, his tone hardening. “Oh, right, my bad. Sorry you didn’t get everything handed to you on a silver platter, *princess.*”

  Hazie crossed her arms, her frustration barely restrained. “This isn’t about what I want, Kai. It’s about trust—something you clearly have none of.”

  His grin vanished, his voice cutting like a blade. “And who the f*ck are you to lecture me about trust? I hid things to protect myself. And guess what? The moment you found out, as expected, you dragged me into playing your risky games.”

  “I did,” Hazie admitted without hesitation. Her voice was steady, professional, even disarming. “But let’s get one thing straight—one way or another, this was always about survival of the masses over the two of us. It was our ultimate goal, Kaiser — to kill that thing. Because I’m not about to lead that monster back to the camp with you.”

  Of course, he understood that the group's value overweights his. Hazie won't prioritize his both of them over the majority and would rather die here than come back with the airborne terror at their tail.

  Kai ran a hand down his face, sighing heavily. “I know... Screw it. Call me a liar if you want, but that doesn’t change the fact that we both pulled our fair share of crap. We lied, hid things, and made things harder than they had to be. And for what? Dumb, unnecessary headaches.”

  Hazie’s expression softened slightly, but her tone remained resolute. “I’m not saying we haven’t both messed up. But... Apparently, this isn’t working, Kai. If we keep pulling in opposite directions, we’re not going to make it out of this alive—or worse, someone else will pay the price for our mistakes. We don’t have to like each other, but we do need to believe in each other enough to survive.”

  Kai’s eyes narrowed, skepticism written across his face. “And you just expect me to flip a switch and trust you? After everything?”

  “No,” Hazie replied, her voice calm but firm. "Genuine trust takes time, and I’m not asking for blind faith. But you can start by giving me something to work with—no more half-truths, no more secrets that could get us killed and overcomplicate things . I’ll do the same for you. If we’re going to survive, we need to be a team, whether we like it or not.”

  Kai snorted, his tone dry. "Sounds more like a business deal to me.”

  “It’s a start,” Hazie countered with a returning smile. “And maybe, if we’re lucky, it’ll turn into something better. But for now, it’s what we’ve got. You don’t have to like me, and I don’t have to like you, but we *do* have to survive. Together.”

  Kai studied her for a long moment, his jaw tightening as if weighing her words. Finally, he gave a grudging nod. “Fine. But let me make one thing clear—pull that kind of crap on me again, Hazie, I won’t forget it.”

  “Fair enough,” Hazie replied with a faint smile, extending a hand toward him, in the blinding darkness. “Let’s call it a truce.”

  Kai hesitated, his gaze shifting between her hand and her friendly expression. Then, with a resigned sigh, he clasped her hand in a firm shake. “Guess we’ll see how long this lasts.”

  “For both our sakes, let’s make it work,” Hazie said, her tone softening before adding, “Let’s be friends. Officially this time.”

  Kai raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Friends, huh? That’s a bold move. You sure you want to be friends with someone like me?”

  His only two friends were... Not the best person to be around with, to say the least. Kaiser is afraid Hazie might become just like them.

  “Yes, I do,” Hazie replied, surprising him with her straightforwardness. She shrugged lightly. “I actually think you’re an interesting person. Besides, if we’re going to keep working together, I’d rather not feel a stranger to you. So how about we introduce ourselves properly this time—no lies, no half-truths? You already know plenty about me, as much as anyone does, there's not much to say about me. So... you first.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because I’m curious,” Hazie said, her tone firm but not unkind. “And between us, you’ve got plenty to explain, Kai. I'd like to know who you are, really?”

  His lips faltered, his face turning unreadable as he leaned back against the cave wall, crossing his arms. He let out a quiet sigh, as if debating how much to share.

  “Fine,” he said at last, “But don’t expect a happy story.”

  Hazie tilted her head. “I’m listening.”

  Kai let his eyes drift upward, as he began. “Once upon a time, a brat was unluckily born and It all started…”