Not Enough Food

After trudging through endless hours once more, the trio finally settled down, forming a circle. Luna sprawled out in front of Dean, her head resting on his lap while he gently caressed her furry head. With a mischievous grin plastered on his face, Dean addressed his companions, who were begrudgingly nibbling on their remaining crusts of bread. Their expressions conveyed clear annoyance towards Dean, who was well aware that he had made yet another colossal blunder.

"Why didn't ya just buy the whole darn store, knowin' we can stash things in our storages forever?" Adam questioned, his mouth full as he took an enormous bite of bread. Dean, feeling the need to justify his actions, attempted to defend himself as he responded.

"I had no idea we'd be needin' more, so don't go puttin' the blame on me. Point your finger at this gorilla over here," Dean retorted, jabbing his finger accusingly at Jasem. In response, Jasem swiftly grabbed a nearby stick and flung it towards Dean, who effortlessly dodged it

"You know I gotta eat a whole lot, so don't go tossin' your mistakes my way," Jasem retorted to Dean, his tone slightly defensive. Dean, feeling a sense of underappreciation, finished his bread and plopped down beside Luna. He averted his gaze from the two, fully aware that he couldn't possibly win this argument, no matter the words he chose to utter.

"Yeah, look away when you know you fucked up" Jasem grumbled, mirroring Dean's actions by reclining on the ground. His hand rested on his growling stomach, emitting loud rumblings that signified his ongoing hunger. Although he had finished his bread, his appetite remained unsatisfied, leaving him yearning for more.

Adam observed the two silently for a brief moment, a mixture of exasperation and understanding etched across his face. Letting out a weary sigh, he followed suit and reclined on the ground, having finished his own meal.

Adam's mind was consumed with contemplation, pondering over potential solutions to their pressing food predicament. Lost in thought, he directed his gaze towards the velvety night sky adorned with a myriad of shimmering stars. The captivating view captivated him, drawing him into a world of wonder and fascination.

Adam reminisced about his childhood nights, when he stayed up late, urging everyone to turn off their lights. He cherished those moments of stargazing before drifting off to sleep.

While Adam immersed himself in the captivating spectacle above, Dean, reclining on the opposite side, abruptly interjected. He had keenly observed an unsettling occurrence that no one seemed to be acknowledging.

"Hey, guys!" Dean's voice pierced the tranquility of the moment, interrupting their thoughts. "I don't know if you've noticed, but something strange is happening to me. I'm feeling stronger than I've ever been before."

"What do ya mean?" Adam inquired, his gaze still fixed upon the celestial canvas above. Meanwhile, Jasem, who had been lost in his own thoughts about Amanda, redirected his attention towards the conversation, now fully engaged alongside them. Seizing the opportunity, Dean resumed speaking.

"I mean, think about it," Dean continued, his voice filled with intrigue. "We've been walking for nearly 10 hours straight, and yet, none of us feel the least bit fatigued. Isn't that something worth delving into?" Adam, who had just grasped the gravity of Dean's words, swiftly sat up, his curiosity piqued. He instinctively reached into his storage and retrieved the whiteboard he had acquired from the church, his eyes widening as he began to examine his own status.

"You're right," Adam said, his eyes fixed on the board displaying his character's status. With a surge of excitement, he discovered a newfound power within himself, a set of skills he had never possessed before. Not only had his level increased, but his entire being seemed to radiate a newfound strength.

Name: Adam Jones

Level: [2] Exp: [9%]

Class: Hero

Skills:

[Million tongue SS], [Higher Regeneration S], [Analyze SS], [Time Acceleration SSS], [Time Stoppage SSS+] [Good Stamina A+] [Battle Tested C+] [Professional Lair A+]

After Adam shared the news about his updated status, Dean and Jasem couldn't contain their curiosity. Eagerly, they followed Adam's lead and accessed their respective status windows, hoping to uncover similar changes. 

Name: Jasem Kamel

Level: [2] Exp: [25%]

Class: Hero

Skills:

[Million tongue SS], [Higher Regeneration S], [Diamond Skin S], [Tough body A+], [Unmatched Stamina A+] [Battle Tested A+] [Unwavering Spirit A] [Iron Fist A+]

Jasem's gaze fixated on his status, and a smile began to slowly spread across his face. As he delved into the details, a surge of satisfaction washed over him. The changes that had materialized within his status were undeniably advantageous. Among the alterations, he discovered an active skill, pulsating with untapped potential, along with two passive abilities that promised to enhance his capabilities in future battles. 

Dean's companions turned their attention towards him, their eyes filled with anticipation. Adam and Jasem exchanged glances, awaiting Dean's reaction. A smile initially illuminated Dean's face as he gazed at his status board. However, that smile quickly faded into a furrowed brow as his keen eye caught something peculiar, something that didn't quite align with his expectations.

Name: Dean Watson

Level: [1] Exp: [0%]

Class: Hero

Skills:

[Million tongue SS], [Higher Regeneration S], [Telepathic Communication SSS], [Shock Waves A+] [Battle Tested B] [Good Stamina A+] [Lustful eyes S+] [Blood Contract SSS]

Dean's gaze darted back and forth across his status board, a mixture of confusion and sadness etched into his features. He locked eyes with Jasem and Adam, his voice quivering as he struggled to find the right words. A pang of concern rippled through his friends, their worry mounting with each passing second. 

"What's happening?" Jasem asked with worry.

"Is it because of the blood?" Adam chimed in.

Dean wiped away his tears and shook his head, his voice filled with sadness.

"I'm still level 1. Why did you two level up and not me?"

Silence lingered as Adam sighed, explaining the situation to Dean.

"We leveled up because we defeated a monster, Dean. You haven't had that opportunity yet. You knew we were in another world, but not about this?"

Dean nodded, remembering the leveling system from the book. He shared his skills with his friends and put away his status board, determined to catch up.

As Dean prepared to lie back down beside Luna and drift off to sleep, his friends halted him. Curiosity and concern filled their expressions as they sought an explanation for the Blood Contract skill he had acquired. Worried it might have negative implications.

Dean, feeling weary and longing for rest, let out a tired sigh before responding to his friends' query. He glanced at them, trying to gauge their reaction, before explaining further.

"Yes, the details of the Blood Contract skill reveal that I can form binding agreements with others using my blood. Anyone who consumes my blood will be unable to betray me and will meet their end if I perish."

Jasem and Adam's attention immediately shifted towards Luna, their apprehension evident. After Dean finished speaking, they exchanged glances filled with relief, realizing that Luna's actions against the bandits had been driven by her loyalty to Dean rather than any malicious intent.

They were afraid especially Jasem, who was ever vigilant and cautious. he held an underlying fear that Luna might harbor anger towards them solely because they were human. This fear lingered, causing him to remain on guard, unsure of what her reaction might be and whether it would lead to any harm inflicted upon them.

"Is there anything else we should know?" Adam inquired, his gaze fixed on Dean, a glimmer of uncertainty in his eyes. Dean met his friend's gaze before shaking his head softly, indicating that there were no additional revelations to share. With a sigh, Dean laid himself down, his gaze drifting away from his friends, signaling his need for rest.

Jasem and Adam silently studied their new skills on their status boards before putting them away and drifting into a peaceful slumber.

Dean, sensing his friends' presence as they settled down, opened his eyes with a mischievous glint. A smile tugged at his lips as he retrieved his status board, eager to delve into the hidden depths of his newfound SSS skill. His eyes scanned the secret details etched on the board, secrets he had yet to reveal to his companions. 

Skill: [Blood Contract SSS]

[Passive]

Make a blood contract with another creature by making him consume your blood by any means, and have yourself an ally for the rest of your life. Your subjects would not be able to betray you at all. The creautre who receives the contract would die immediately if they try and harm the Master, or if the Master die. The Master also would be able to use the Skills of the subjects freely once every day.

[Contracted Subjects] [1]

1- Name: Luna Highsand

Level: [79] Exp: [68%]

Class: Highsand Warrior - Slave

Skills:

[Blood Receiver S+] [Battle Tested S+] [Intermediate Highsand Swordsmanship A+] [Highsand swordsmanship: Slash S] [Highsand swordsmanship: Stab S] [Raging Sword A+] [White Claw S+]...

A surge of happiness enveloped Dean as he learned that he could see Luna's status. But what truly filled him with sheer joy was the knowledge that he had a fiercely loyal and unwavering ally in Luna, someone who would never betray him, no matter what.

Dean's smile broadened as he scrolled through Luna's skills, realizing they far surpassed the capacity of his own status board. The sight filled him with intrigue, leaving him curious about the life she had led before joining him.

Feeling satisfied with his exploration of the status board, Dean closed his eyes, allowing the weariness to overcome him. With a gentle touch, he carefully stowed the board away. As sleep beckoned, he positioned himself behind Luna, wrapping his arm around her protectively. His gaze was fixed upon her, even as she looked away, finding solace in the closeness they shared.

As the morning sun illuminated the campsite, Adam woke up and glanced around. He noticed that Jasem was missing but saw Dean and Luna peacefully cuddling, both wearing contented smiles. After a few minutes, Jasem returned with a rabbit in hand and greeted Adam. They exchanged morning pleasantries before Jasem started preparing the rabbits for breakfast. 

"I see you found something to eat" Adam said to Jasem, who smiled as he started skinning the rabbits as best as he could

"I got lucky, I was taking a leak and found these two standing before me and looking at me for some reason without moving , so after I finished what I was doing I grabbed a sword and killed them immediately"Adam nodded in acknowledgement before settling back, propping himself up on his hands. His gaze shifted to Dean, who was still peacefully slumbering. Turning his attention back to Jasem, who was diligently preparing breakfast, Adam spoke once more.

"What do you think we should do today?, there is a town in our way, should we go there or pass by it?"

Jasem finished skinning the rabbits, though his work was a bit sloppy. He glanced at Adam in silence, contemplating their next move before responding. "We should head to the town to buy some food. Unless you want to rely on these rabbits every day, assuming we're lucky enough to catch them," Jasem suggested.

Adam nodded in agreement, understanding the need for variety in their meals. He decided to give Jasem some space as he excused himself to go and relieve himself.

Meanwhile, Jasem took charge, starting a fire to cook the rabbits he had just hunted, ensuring a satisfying meal for the group.