Tyler’s hands had gripped the arms of the ornate dining chair he was sitting on, his heart starting to beat faster and louder, so much so that he could feel it in his chest. It was like that moment at the edge of a diving board or when he was about to test some new code at work, a feeling of adrenaline that something was about to happen, something here that was not going to be good.
All eyes were still on him. He thought of Penny still laying in the grass. He couldn’t blame these people — someone they knew had just been murdered.
Al’s voice suddenly screamed in his head.
“Run. Run. RUN! Too many numbers, way too many!”
Tyler flinched as Keith clapped his hands and turned toward him.
“Oh, this is Tyler. Worked on campus with most of us. Caught up with him this morning a little south of here.”
He gently slapped Tyler on the knee.
“Glad I did as well, wouldn’t be here right now if not. Got myself into a right pickle and Tyler here was good enough to help out.”
Tyler kept still in his chair, his eyes moving from Keith to the rest of the people and back. He wasn’t sure how this was going to play out. The warning from Al screamed in his mind and the notion of getting up and backing away was growing stronger by the second.
A few heads turned to look at one another, some slight, almost unnoticeable nods. Then the man addressed as Bill raised a hand and lazily waved at Tyler.
“Alright, mate? I’m Fred,” another man said, bald, pot-bellied with a goofy smile on his face.
“Nice to meet you,” Shahan said, getting up. “I better go and check on Helen, though. See you all in a bit.”
People nodded as Shahan quietly walked away, Bill moving round and taking Shahan’s seat as if replacing him as the designated driver.
“Heck, this is well messed up. We are losing too many people. What’s Rafe said about all this? He have any clues to what happened?” Bill said while grabbing a drink from the upturned crate.
Tyler relaxed as the conversation turned from him and focused on Penny and what the camp was doing to find out what had happened. These were just normal people dealing with unusual circumstances.
“Oh, nice numbers,” Al said almost to himself, than Tyler.
The conversation continued, even turning to more mundane things, with Tyler joining in. Everybody taking it in turn describing what they had been up to. Everyone apart from a small, young man with long hair towards the back — he just kept staring off towards the open field behind the tent. Some people handle or grieve in different ways, Tyler thought, not wanting to highlight anything.
A little over an hour passed as they all chatted, when Carl headed over, head slumped and feet dragging along the ground, as if he was lost in his own world. He looked smaller than Tyler remembered.
“Hey,” Tyler said carefully. “You alright?”
Carl flinched, then nodded quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, sorry about earlier. I just—” He gestured vaguely back toward where Penny’s body should have been. “Wasn’t expecting… that.”
Tyler nodded. “None of us were.”
Carl swallowed. “Didn’t mean to freeze.”
“It happens,” Tyler said. And meant it.
Bill jumped up off his seat and addressed the group, a large smile on his face.
“Well, why don’t we get you to level two, champ. We caught ourselves another boar, tied up out back, so to speak. I can tell you all now, I am looking forward to something a bit tastier than this old rubbish.”
He kicked the crate, a few stacks of protein bars falling over.
Keith caught Tyler looking at the man and stepped in to clarify what was going on, leaning over and speaking directly to him.
“Killing anything seems to get some experience, even a little rabbit or boar. Well, that is at low levels. Bill here has been trying to get Carl levelled up, offering up his hunting spoils. But Carl here, well as you can guess, he’s not the one for this sort of thing.”
Carl backed away, holding his hands up in defence.
“I’m good, I’m good. I just wanted to pop over. I’m helping Rafe, just grabbing some stuff, I best get back.”
He turned and almost ran away from the group, not looking back.
“That kid is going to get lost in this new world if he don’t start stepping up. I don’t see things getting much easier around here. Hell, Penny — she was level four, wasn’t she?”
A few nods followed as Keith got to his feet, a sly smile on his old face.
“Why don’t we let Tyler here do it. He’s only level one, so it should give some experience for him. And I don’t think anybody here wants to forgo a nice meal tonight.”
Bill just shrugged and nodded. “You OK with this, putting this animal down, that is?”
Tyler wasn’t sure how he felt. He didn’t have a problem with eating meat — after all, burgers were a part of his weekly diet — but killing.
“Get numbers. Gets numbers!” Al nearly sung in his mind.
Keith answered for him. “I don’t think he’ll struggle. Took down a Myxid all by himself.”
“You said he was a level one.”
“I did.”
Fred jumped up from his seat. It looked almost comical as he shot three feet in the air, like he almost floated, his large belly and thin arms looking almost weightless.
“Well, I have to see this now. Maybe we should untie it, see what he can do.”
Tyler reacted instantly, not wanting to escalate matters and make things into something more dangerous.
“Tied up is fine. I can help out. We all have to eat, don’t we?”
Fred deflated slightly but still held his goofy smile on his face as everyone got up and started following Bill beyond the tents and to a thick patch of trees.
A large boar was tethered to a large tree. It stopped rolling on the floor when the group approached and started squealing and darting about, defending its position.
“Here, come behind it while we distract it, and a quick sharp jab in the back of the neck. Not too high though — you don’t want to hit the base of the skull. The knife will just jump back out and you’ll piss the thing off.” Bill said, handing Tyler a small hunting knife, while also imitating some elaborate stabbing gestures with the blade for good measure.
Tyler’s heart was beating loud in his chest, and his palms were sweating as he circled around the boar, the rest of the group standing in front of it, jeering.
Tyler didn’t want to overthink this. He was scared he’d talk himself out of it. So, without hesitation, he crept up behind the creature, located the target on the back of the neck, and lunged. He struck, feeling the knife slip into the boar as it squealed loudly. The noise made him panic and he stabbed it a further three times until its legs gave out and it fell to the floor.
He stepped back, panting, hands shaking, looking at the boar as the crowd yelled — only for it to be drowned out by a notification:
TARGET TERMINATED: Wildgrove Boar (Mature)
EXPERIENCE GAINED: 32
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
TOTAL EXPERIENCE: 2 / 200
LEVEL: 2
Congratulations.
You have reached level 2
Stat points increased
You have 1 free stat point
198 XP until next level
Congratulations
You have climbed further than you thought possible, you have shown the capacity for growth and with it comes evolution. You now have access to foundational paths.
Select foundational Path: Yes/No
A wave of euphoria passed through him, a feeling of power and confidence he had never felt before washing over him in waves. He was lost in the feeling for a moment until Al cheered in his mind.
“Yippee, numbers, numbers, numbers!”
Tyler ignored the deranged AI and looked at the place behind his eyes where his status menu was located.
ENTITY STATUS
Name: Isaac Vane
Race: Humanoid
Class: N/A
Profession: N/A
Level: 2
Experience: 2 / 200
Attributes
? Strength: 4
? Dexterity: 5
? Stamina: 3
? Intelligence: 6
? Wisdom: 5
? Perception: 4
1 free stat point available
HP 150/150
VERGE INTEGRATION: SCHEDULED
TIME UNTIL EVENTS COMMENCE: 17:01:43
He had gained a level, his status had changed and he could feel it in his body. All his physical attributes had risen by one point, and even though the change in his body was subtle he could feel it. It was if his muscles had tightened every so slightly, not growing bigger but denser, as if new fibres at woven into them. He flexed his hands, noticing how much tighter his grip was, how much more strength he felt.
He wouldn’t say he felt superhuman by any stretch of the imagination, but the difference was still stark. As if he had not given the gym up a few years back after gaining his new position as team lead but had continued going every day and improving himself.
He briefly remembered one of Al’s jumbled sentences from before, everybody loves numbers, he understood why, if this increase happened at every level up, who wouldn’t want more numbers.
He had also gained fifty Health Points, does that make him more healthy, more alive, harder to kill. Does it add anything to his life expectancy. His mind reeled with a thousand questions, and he smiled again. Something to find out, he after all loved knowing how things and in turn the world worked. And now it seemed there was a whole new world to discover.
There was also a notification screen he could see, the same information was displayed in there that flashed across his eyes a moment earlier about levelling up and congratulating him, now saying he had access to foundational paths, but beneath this text was one very inviting question.
Choose you foundational path now
Yes/No
Without much thought, Tyler mentally confirmed yes and eight options game into view.
Path of Dexterity — Uncommon
You have shown an innate ability within this foundation, moving when others hesitate, adapting instinctively. You use your surroundings as an extension of yourself. Attacks pass by you instead of striking. Mere objects have become weapons in your hand.
The Path of Dexterity is for those who advance through motion, timing, and control they move ever forward
Walk this path to be a presence that is always where it needs to be, and never where it shouldn’t.
Plus 1 Dexterity per level
Plus 1 free attribute per level
Path of Durability — Uncommon
You have shown the ability to take a blow and continue forward.
Your body endures pain but does not break; it recovers and becomes stronger.
The Path of Durability is not an easy one to walk. But walking it will build an unbreakable foundation that others could only dream of.
Walk this path and become as unmovable as a mountain and as resilient as the march of time herself.
Plus 1 Durability per level
Plus 1 free attribute per level
Path of Strength — Uncommon
You have shown the ability to strike hard and fast. Resistance has no barrier for your strength; where others succumb, you push forward with resolve.
The Path of Strength rewards those who would impose their will on the world through power and strength.
Walk this path to become a force so strong others will fear your very presence — a force that must be accounted for.
Plus 1 Strength per level
Plus 1 free attribute per level
Path of Wisdom — Uncommon
You have shown restraint where others act without thought.
You assess, adapt, and hold when others would act, weighing options that would fracture lesser minds.
The Path of Wisdom rewards those with control, strengthens judgement, and aids restraint.
Walk this path and clarity of mind is all but assured, as you understand all those around you.
Plus 1 Wisdom per level
Plus 1 free attribute per level
Path of Intellect — Uncommon
You have shown to be a keen observer of patterns, questioning outcomes while seeking understanding where others blindly accept.
The Path of Intellect rewards those who want to know more, where knowledge is power.
Walk this path to think faster, use concepts others have no domain over, and go beyond what others cannot perceive.
Plus 1 Intellect per level
Plus 1 free attribute per level
Path of Perception — Uncommon
You have shown to notice what others simply dismiss. Details leave a mild impression in your mind that coalesce into action.
The Path of Perception rewards those who see where all others are blind — who feel, smell, and hear before others can even see.
Walk this path to be the all-seeing, to know where you must go to stand at the apex of your race.
Plus 1 Perception per level
Plus 1 free attribute per level
Path of Insight — Rare
You have shown the ability to understand more than is shown. You question not only your reality, but your place within it — asking not only what, but why.
The Path of Insight rewards clarity rather than power, understanding where none was thought to exist.
Walk this path to understand the system — and even beyond.
Plus 3 free attribute per level
Path of Variance — [UNDEFINED]
????????????????????????????????????????
This path does not conform to established parameters.
Selection is not recommended.
Plus 1 to all stats per level
Tyler stared at the list, re-reading it several times. Was this a choice that defined who he was—who he was going to be in this new world? Things had moved fast over the past day, faster than he would have liked. But if the world was going to stay like this, he needed to make the right choice here or fail moving forward with everyone and everything.
He could almost see the shape of the people who would choose them. The ones who already knew what they wanted to be or dreamed in most cases. I want to be strong, fast, smart.
Rafe had obviously chosen Strength. His grip earlier that day was no joke, and if he’d got the same rarity—uncommon—and was now level five, he would be well into the double digits for strength.
Tyler’s hands made fists as he felt his new power, and he shuddered at thinking what Rafe was now capable of. But being strong was never Tyler’s ambition, not in that way. He wanted to be more, and maybe there was more here. After all, these were just foundational paths; they might open up into more as you increased your level. But for now, he dismissed this as an option.
Path of Durability was dismissed almost immediately. It might be great to feel invincible, but who really wanted to stand there taking hit after hit until your opponent tired themselves out? It just felt wrong—and very painful. It made him think of Keith. Of standing back up even when you shouldn’t be able to. Of surviving long enough for someone else to win the fight.
Path of Dexterity bothered him, and he wasn’t sure why. It fit how he had fought so far, and it appealed to him—not getting hit was favourable. Yet if he was already doing that, why choose it as a path? He could just work on it himself. If he picked it, was he choosing growth, or just doubling down on instinct and hoping instinct stayed enough?
His eyes slid lower down the list. Wisdom. Intellect. Perception.
These felt more dangerous, but also double-edged. Wisdom might sound noble, but he imagined Penny and thought—what if he could know with absolute clarity how Penny had been killed, yet still be unable to stop it? Knowing was one thing, but being able to react, to do something about it, was something else.
Intellect sounded powerful until he pictured Rafe justifying what he’d done in neat, logical steps. Why he had threatened him. Why he was fearful of a new person. Why he was trying to protect those near him. He would have to concede to that logic, and he wasn’t about to do that.
Perception—Tyler exhaled slowly. Now this one sounded good. Great, in fact. Having eyes in the back of your head, sensing when trouble was about to start. But on its own? You would see an attack earlier, but it would still hit you. He debated a little longer, but again, being able to see everything without the ability to act just felt off to him.
Then his gaze caught on Insight, and this was a rare path, so it should be better than the rest. It didn’t promise strength or safety—hell, it didn’t even promise answers—just the possibility of understanding. His heart missed a beat, and he could feel a tight sensation rise in his chest. He didn’t immediately know why until he thought about the system and the others in it.
Everyone was reacting to the system. Numbers were going up. They were getting skills, forming paths that met the rules of the system—Strength, Dexterity—but he didn’t want that. He wanted to question. He wanted to know what was happening.
Al’s voice slid in then, quieter than before, as if he had been giving Tyler the time he needed to reflect on his options.
“Oh… that one sees me too.”
Tyler stiffened. That got his attention.
“What do you mean, sees you?”
“Well, not me me. But me when I am more me. Paths make you louder; this one makes you closer. I like it.”
“Closer to what?”
“I’m not sure. I did know, didn’t I? Or maybe I didn’t.”
Tyler sighed. He thought for a second that Al might have just been helpful. Though he had an inkling he had, in some way. He had only spoken up when Tyler had fixated on this path. It also gave an extra stat point per level compared to the other six, and he wasn’t restricted in where he put them. But before he made his choice, he had one more option to consider.
Path of Variance.
The system actively warned him against choosing this option, though he had no trust in a system that would do this to a civilisation. People had been separated, buildings destroyed—hell, people had died. So trusting the system was in no way certain. It also gave multiple stat points, one for each attribute per level. That would soon add up.
The lack of information worried him though. What if it was detrimental in some way? Ultimate power, but at a cost. Like Midas and his golden touch—the power to turn anything into gold, but unable to hug the person you love. That thought scared him. Enough not to take the risk.
Making up his mind, and seeing that Al had nothing else to say, he selected his choice.
You have chosen Path of Insight
Please confirm
Yes / No
Tyler mentally selected the Yes option.
