As they prepared camp near the zone's central ruins, a shadow moved between the trees.
"You again," Arin muttered under his breath.
Darius Kain appeared, smirking.
"Looks like you're getting stronger. But don't get too confident."
A brief duel ensued. Arin relied on Reflexes + Survival Instinct; Darius tested him with complex maneuvers. Neither was seriously injured, but Darius left a taunting message:
"Next time, the stakes are higher."
[System Hint: Rival encounters increase skill growth potential]
Arin realized that Darius wasn't just a nuisance — he was a benchmark for his own growth.