Morning came like a blessing.
Sunlight pierced the canopy in broken streaks, painting the damp earth in gold. The forest smelled of moss and smoke, the remnants of yesterday's inferno, but for the first time in days, the air felt light. They had slept like logs, the kind of sleep that comes after blood and fire, after surviving something that should have killed them.
Victor stretched, groaning like an old hinge. "Best sleep I've had in years."
Raul smirked, rolling his shoulders. "You snored like a dying boar."
Victor shot him a glare. "Better than sounding like a knife salesman in your sleep."
Arin chuckled, strapping his sword to his hip. "Enough. We've got work."
Victor was already pulling out his hammer, checking the edge, muttering about dents. Raul sharpened his daggers with slow, deliberate strokes, the sound soft but sharp enough to cut through the quiet.
Arin's voice broke the rhythm. "Before we move out… why don't we finish the upgrades?"
Both heads snapped toward him.
"Hell yeah!" they said in unison.
Arin grinned. "Let's start with Victor. He fought like a beast. He deserves it."
Victor puffed his chest. "Finally, some long overdue respect."
Raul snorted. "Don't let it go to your head."
Victor's Panel
Arin opened the glowing red screen.
___________________________
Subordinate: Victor
Core Talent: Blacksmithing
Rank: Soldier (65%)
Talent Skills: Steelcraft, Forgemind
Regular Skills: Advanced Hammer Mastery, Basic Shield Mastery
----------
Upgrade: Locked (Unlock with 100 Lord Coins)
Lord Coins: 442
___________________________
Arin spoke calmly. "Unlock."
The red text ticked.
100 Lord Coins have been consumed.
Subordinate Victor's Upgrade Panel has been unlocked.
A new block shimmered into view.
___________________________
Upgrade Panel (Victor):
Upgrade Rank to Captain — 1000 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Advanced Hammer Mastery > Blackforge Technique — 200 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Basic Shield Mastery > Advanced Shield Mastery — 100 Lord Coins
Current Lord Coins: 342
___________________________
Arin tilted his head. "Hammer or shield?"
Victor's face turned serious, a rare sight. "Hammer costs more. And we've got enough damage dealers. No matter how much I hate it… We need a tank. Shield makes more sense."
Raul blinked. "Did the sun rise the wrong way? Who are you, and what have you done with Victor?"
Victor scowled. "Shut up, man. I was being considerate."
Arin grinned. "Mark the day. Victor grew a brain."
Victor threw a pebble at him. "I'll throw the hammer next."
Raul smirked. "You'd miss."
Victor growled. "Try me."
Arin laughed, shaking his head. "Okay, shield mastery it is."
Do you want to upgrade your subordinate Victor's skill: Basic Shield Mastery into Advanced Shield Mastery?
Confirm (Y/N)
Arin didn't hesitate. "Yes."
The command sank like a stone into water. The panel shimmered.
Command confirmed. Skill has been upgraded. 100 Lord Coins consumed.
___________________________
Upgrade Panel (Victor):
Upgrade Rank to Captain — 1000 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Advanced Hammer Mastery > Blackforge Technique — 200 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Advanced Shield Mastery > Guardian's Stance — 200 Lord Coins
Current Lord Coins: 242
___________________________
Victor blinked, rubbing his temples. "Whoa… this feels weird. Like… information flowing into my head."
Raul smirked. "Don't strain yourself."
Victor flipped him off. "I'll strain your face."
Arin chuckled. "Now, who's next? Decide between you two."
Raul grinned. "Rock, paper, scissors."
Victor's eyes lit up. "Hell yes. I love gambling."
They crouched like warriors about to duel for honor, except it was rock-paper-scissors. Best of three.
Raul tried to cheat, using his Combat Sense to predict Victor's moves. But Victor… Victor was chaos incarnate. No thoughts. Head empty. Just ounga bunga.
First round: Victor wins.
Second round: Victor wins again.
Third round: Raul stares in disbelief as Victor wins a third time.
Raul threw his hands up. "What? What kind of cheat is that? I didn't win once!"
Victor grinned like a king. "Skill issue."
Arin laughed so hard he nearly dropped his sword. "This is the best day of my life."
Raul glared. "Rematch."
Victor smirked. "Cry harder."
Arin sighed, still grinning. "Okay, Victor again."
___________________________
Upgrade Panel (Victor):
Upgrade Rank to Captain — 1000 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Advanced Hammer Mastery > Blackforge Technique — 200 Lord Coins
Upgrade Skill: Advanced Shield Mastery > Guardian's Stance — 200 Lord Coins
Current Lord Coins: 242
___________________________
"Shield again?" Arin asked.
Victor nodded. "Must, for survival."
Do you want to upgrade your subordinate Victor's skill: Advanced Shield Mastery into Guardian's Stance?
Confirm (Y/N)
"Yes."
Command confirmed. Skill has been upgraded. 200 Lord Coins consumed.
This wasn't a regular upgrade.
Mana surged, raw, violent, visible. It crawled across Victor's veins like molten steel, glowing faint red. His muscles tensed, his breath hitched. Pain clawed at him, sharp and brutal, his head feeling like it would burst.
Then it stopped.
Victor stood still, chest heaving, sweat dripping. His eyes, once restless, now burned steady, noble, unshakable. He looked like a wall carved from iron.
He straightened slowly, voice rough. "Uh… guys? What just happened to me?"
Raul whistled low. "You look like you're constipated."
Arin's panel flickered:
Guardian's Stance: Increases defense drastically. Reduces stagger. Grants temporary damage absorption when the shield is raised.
Arin grinned. "Congratulations. You're officially a Tank."
Victor flexed his arms, shield strapped tight. "Hell yeah."
Raul smirked. "Finally living up to your big mouth."
Victor grinned back. "Big mouth, big shield."
Arin laughed, shaking his head. "Alright. Enough jokes. We move soon."
They packed their gear, weapons gleaming under broken sunlight. Raul spun his daggers, eyes sharp. Victor strapped his shield, stance steady, hammer resting across his back. Arin checked his panel one last time,
Lord Coins: 42.
The goblin danger was over. But the Misleading Woods wasn't done with them yet.