Getting Stronger, Part One

{Zenith}

As Zenith remained stranded in the desolate world with its ominous crimson sky, a notification from Helmyr caught her eye.

Oath Made 

Trait Gained

Servant of the Purifying Flames

{Killing undead yields 50% more EXP. Additionally, killing players who have recently killed other players also yields 50% more EXP.} 

[Alright,] Zenith nodded. [Is this what she meant by 'following her commands'? Not literal commands, but rather, an incentive to kill people she'd want me to kill? I'll take it.] 

Once she had absorbed the message, Zenith took a moment to remind herself of where she was.

She was still in that dungeon. The sky was still a bloody sheet wrapping over the world, and Zenith's lower half was still submerged in cursed waters.

All this did, however, was make Zenith's mind churn with possibilities. 

[... Maybe, just maybe, I can use this situation to my advantage.] 

With determination flickering in her eyes, Zenith resolved to turn adversity into opportunity.

Sensing her resolve, Tamira materialized before Zenith in her serpent-like form, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"What's your plan, Zenith?" Tamira inquired, her voice laced with intrigue. "Are you actually going to fight things here?"

"Maybe."

Tamira blinked.

"I... would like to remind you that the enemies here are formidable, to say the least, you know." 

Zenith regarded Tamira with a determined expression, her mind already formulating a strategy.

"I'm aware of that. But, they aren't unbeatable. Trust me," Zenith thought, rising out of the waters. "If things work like I think they do, my plan should be enough." 

"I am very curious to see what you do. Good luck." 

Just like that, Tamira popped out of existence. 

Zenith looked around. 

As Zenith cautiously navigated the blood-red river, her senses heightened to the slightest movement or sound, she remained acutely aware of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

[... A feather touches me the wrong way, and I might die. I need to be cautious about this.] 

Every step she took sent ripples through the crimson waters, casting eerie reflections of the twisted trees that lined the riverbanks.

Her heart raced with anticipation as she scanned her surroundings, searching for any sign of potential adversaries.

The air hung heavy with the stench of decay, and the distant sounds of snarls and growls echoed through the desolate landscape, a constant reminder of the perilous world she found herself in. 

Suddenly, movement caught Zenith's keen eye.

A lone kobold feasting upon the remains of one of Dylan's fallen comrades, its gnarled form hunched over in the dim light.

Level 25

MP: 150/150

It was no exaggeration to say Zenith was an ant compared to this thing. 

And yet, with a silent determination, Zenith approached it. 

[Okay... Now, how do I do this?] 

Summoning her courage, Zenith yelled out: 

"HEY DOUCHEBAG! OVER HERE!"

The creature's head snapped up.

Its yellow eyes narrowed in response to her taunts, glaring right at her. 

For a tense moment, the kobold hesitated. 

Zenith held her breath, her muscles coiled like a spring, ready to react at a moment's notice.

And then, with a sudden burst of movement, the kobold charged towards her, its razor-sharp claws poised to strike.

But as it drew nearer, the kobold skidded to a halt, its reptilian eyes widening in fear as it reached the edge of the cursed waters surrounding Zenith.

At that moment, Zenith calmed down a little. 

[So far, so good.] 

A triumphant smirk tugged at the corners of Zenith's lips, but victory was not hers just yet. 

The air hung heavy with tension as Zenith stood at the edge of the cursed river, her eyes locked on the kobold lurking just a few meters away.

[Moment of truth. I hope this works.] 

Steadying her nerves, Zenith took a deep breath, her mind racing. 

If it did, getting to the point where she could actually protect Asuka would get a whole lot easier. 

Slowly, deliberately, Zenith took a step forward, her gaze never wavering from the kobold's predatory form.

The creature tensed, its claws poised to strike, ready to rend flesh from bone if only Zenith wasn't out of reach. 

To the point where the instant Zenith's foot touched the dry ground outside the cursed waters, the kobold lunged forward with lightning speed, its claws slashing through the air.

[Shit!] 

Zenith wasn't faster, not at all, but she expected this, even if did still frighten her to an extent. 

With a calculated sidestep, Zenith narrowly avoided the kobold's vicious swipe.

The creature's momentum carried it forward, its foot inadvertently dipping into the cursed river. 

"AAAAAHHHH!" The kobold let out an almost human scream, shrieking at its mere touch. 

[Now!?] 

Seizing the opportunity, Zenith sprang into action, her muscles coiling with pent-up energy as she closed the distance between herself and the wounded kobold.

With a fierce determination burning in her eyes, she reached out to grab hold of the creature, intent on dragging it fully into the cursed waters.

But, her opponent wouldn't be so easily bested. 

In a sudden blur of motion, the kobold lashed out with surprising speed, its claws slashing through the air.

Pain exploded through Zenith's abdomen.

The razor-sharp claws tore through her flesh. It was a miracle her intestines hadn't spilled out onto the ground. 

[If that caught me just an inch deeper...] 

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Zenith didn't allow herself to linger on that thought.

She staggered back, her vision swimming with waves of dizziness. With trembling hands, she pulled a Minor Healing Potion out of her Inventory, her fingers closing around the cool glass vial. 

Without hesitation, Zenith uncorked the vial and swallowed its contents in one swift motion, the healing elixir flooding her body with a soothing warmth that dulled the sharp edges of her pain.

Though the wound remained, its severity had been lessened, allowing Zenith to steel herself for the rest of what she needed to do. 

Rising to her feet once more, Zenith fixed her gaze upon the kobold with unwavering determination.

[Okay... Attempt #2.] 

She would not be deterred, not by pain nor fear nor the relentless onslaught of her enemy. 

She needed this.

With grim resolve, she stepped forward once more. 

The kobold, sensing her renewed determination, launched itself at Zenith with primal fury, its snarls echoing through the air like a death knell.

But Zenith was ready, having just gone through this once. 

As the kobold was about to collide with her, Zenith pulled back once again. 

The kobold sunk into the water after her.

The weight of the kobold bore down upon her with crushing force.

[AAAAGH!]

For a moment, Zenith feared the kobold was going to hold out long enough to drown her in the water. 

That did not happen. Instead, the kobold let out a final, pitiful screech as its life force was extinguished, its body collapsing on top of Zenith. 

Amidst the chaos, Zenith found herself smiling. 

Mainly because of the message that appeared. 

EXP Gained: 1000

EXP: 1025/80

Level Up!

WST Gained: 2500

WST: 3150

[It worked,] Zenith floated in the water, staring up at the crimson sky with a stupid grin on her face. [It actually worked.] 

Tamira appeared in front of her. 

"Well done!" The snake told her. Zenith heard confetti pop even though she couldn't see any. "That was quite clever! Now, to be clear," she descended a little, "remember what I said about your EXP gains dropping if it becomes too clear that you can defeat your enemies easily? As funny as it would be to see you reach level 100 like this, in the interest of fairness, my superiors cannot allow this to happen. They will allow you to do this again 1 more time, but that's it. If you're going to keep grinding here after that, you'll have to do it legitimately." 

"That's fine," Zenith responded, rising out of the water, and dragging the kobold's body behind her to loot it. "I've always preferred working hard anyway."