Power and Fun

"NOTICE :- LEVEL UP ↑(LEVEL 4)"

"HP:- 250↑(350)"

"MP:- 100↑(200)"

"PHY:- 10 ↑(25)"

"ATC:- 10 ↑(15)"

"SPE:- 10 ↑ (15)"

"DEF:- 10 ↑ (20)"

"Skill:-LV 1↑(2)"

"NOTICE:- You may go back in time(max 3 hours)"

As the notification flashed before Alex's eyes, his heart raced with excitement at the sight of his newfound buffs. With each stat increase, he felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, filling him with a newfound sense of confidence and determination.

"Level up... HP increased... MP increased... Physical strength... Attack power... Speed... Defense... Skill level..." Alex murmured to himself, his eyes widening in disbelief at the magnitude of his enhancements.

Eager to share his excitement with someone, Alex glanced over at Ethan, but then hesitated. He knew he couldn't reveal his newfound abilities just yet. After all, they had agreed to keep their adventures low-key until they were sure they could handle whatever challenges came their way.

With a grin, Alex made a silent vow to himself. He would wait until the time was right, until they had proven themselves worthy of their newfound strength. And then, in a month's time, when they had conquered their next quest and emerged victorious once more, he would finally reveal the truth to Ethan.

"Hey, Ethan," Alex said with a mischievous grin, glancing over at his friend. "Since Agatha is busy finding us a new task, why don't we take advantage of the break and have some fun?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Alex's suggestion. "What did you have in mind?"

Alex's grin widened. "Well, there's a water park not too far from here. I thought we could head over there and enjoy some slides, maybe challenge each other to a race down the lazy river."

Ethan's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect. "That sounds awesome! It's been ages since we've had a chance to relax and have some fun."

With their spirits lifted, Alex and Ethan quickly made their way to the water park, eager to leave their worries behind and enjoy a day of laughter and adventure. As they arrived, the sound of splashing water and children's laughter filled the air, inviting them to join in the excitement.

As Ethan stood at the top of the towering slide, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension, Alex grinned mischievously beside him.

"Ethan you wuss. It's just a slide, how scary can it be?" Alex encouraged, trying to reassure his friend.

Ethan glanced nervously down the steep, twisting path of the slide, feeling a knot of uncertainty form in his stomach. "I don't know, Alex. It looks pretty intense."

But before Ethan could protest any further, Alex made a bold declaration. "Tell you what, Ethan. I'll go down with you!"

Relieved by Alex's offer of solidarity, Ethan nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Alex. That means a lot."

Ethan took a deep breath and prepared to launch himself down the slide. But as he hesitated for just a moment, steeling himself for the exhilarating plunge ahead, he glanced over to find Alex conspicuously absent.

"Alex? You fucker, where'd you go?" Ethan called out, his voice tinged with confusion.

But to Ethan's dismay, there was no response. It quickly became apparent that Alex had made a hasty retreat, leaving Ethan to face the daunting slide alone.

As Ethan pushed himself over the edge of the slide and began hurtling downward, the rush of wind drowned out all other sounds. But amidst the whooshing noise of water rushing past him, Ethan could swear he heard something else—a familiar sound that sent a chill down his spine.

"Laughter".

Not just any laughter, but the unmistakable, mischievous laughter of Alex. It echoed through the cavernous slide, taunting Ethan as he descended further into the unknown.

"You sneaky bastard!" Ethan yelled, a mixture of amusement and exasperation colouring his voice as he realised what Alex had done. "You said you'd go down with me!"

But there was no reply, only the echoing laughter that seemed to follow Ethan as he spiraled downward. And as he emerged at the bottom of the slide, soaked to the bone but grinning from ear to ear, Ethan couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of Alex's sneaky escape.

"Alex, you're such a pain in the ass," Ethan muttered good-naturedly to himself, shaking his head in mock annoyance as he climbed out of the pool.

As Ethan and Alex basked in the afterglow of their aquatic adventure, a sense of unease began to creep over them. The laughter and joy of their day at the water park slowly gave way to a nagging feeling that they were forgetting something important.

"Ethan, do you hear that?" Alex whispered, his brow furrowed in concern as he glanced around the bustling water park.

Ethan furrowed his brow in confusion, straining to hear over the sounds of splashing water and children's laughter. "What are you talking about, Alex?"

"It's Agatha, are you actually deaf." Alex replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's looking for us."

Ethan's eyes widened in alarm as he realised Alex was right. They had been so caught up in the excitement of their impromptu outing that they had completely forgotten to inform Agatha, their guild leader, of their plans. And now, it seemed, they were about to face the consequences of their forgetfulness.

"Shit, you're right," Ethan muttered, his heart sinking as he scanned the crowd for any sign of Agatha. "What do we do now?"

Alex chewed his lip thoughtfully, his mind racing as he tried to come up with a plan. "We need to lay low until she stops looking for us. Maybe we can sneak back to the guild hall without her noticing."

Ethan nodded in agreement, a sense of determination settling over him as he squared his shoulders. "Right. Let's get out of here before she finds us."

With that, Ethan and Alex made a hasty retreat from the water park, their hearts pounding with adrenaline as they dodged through the crowds in an attempt to evade Agatha's searching gaze. As they slipped away unnoticed, they couldn't help but share a nervous laugh, knowing full well they were in for quite the scolding when they finally faced their guild leader's wrath.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a voice boomed behind them, causing both Ethan and Alex to jump out of their skins.

"Boo! You little rascals!"

It was Agatha, their guild leader, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she appeared seemingly out of thin air, having jumped out from behind a nearby concession stand.

Ethan and Alex froze in place, their hearts pounding in their chests as they turned to face Agatha, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

"Agatha! You scared the living daylights out of us!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mixture of relief and exasperation.

Agatha chuckled, her laughter rich and hearty as she clapped a hand on each of their shoulders. "Consider it payback for disappearing without a word, you two. I've been looking all over for you!"

Ethan and Alex exchanged sheepish glances, realizing they had been caught red-handed. They knew they were in for a scolding, but in that moment, all they could do was laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

"Sorry, Agatha. We didn't mean to cause any trouble," Alex apologised, his voice contrite.

Agatha waved off their apologies with a dismissive gesture, a playful glint in her eye. "No harm done, boys. Just remember to let me know next time you decide to go off on an adventure, alright?"

As Alex, Ethan, and Agatha made their way back to the guild hall, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestone streets, an uneasy feeling settled over them. Ethan couldn't shake the sensation that they were being watched, his senses on high alert as they navigated the dimly lit alleyways.

Suddenly, Ethan's keen ears picked up the sound of footsteps behind them, but when he glanced over his shoulder, there was no one there. Frowning in confusion, he quickened his pace to catch up with Alex and Agatha, his mind racing with uncertainty.

As they rounded a corner, Ethan's heart skipped a beat as a figure materialised out of thin air, stepping into their path with a casual smile. It was Jake, a fellow adventurer from the guild, his presence unexpected and somewhat unsettling.

"Hey there, folks!" Jake greeted cheerfully, as if he hadn't just appeared out of nowhere. "What's the rush?"

Alex and Agatha exchanged puzzled looks, clearly unaware of Jake's sudden appearance. But Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about Jake tonight, something that set him apart from the other adventurers in the guild.

"Jake, where did you come from?" Ethan blurted out, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.

Jake's smile widened at Ethan's question, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Oh, you know me, Ethan. I have a way of popping up when you least expect it."

Ethan's brow furrowed in confusion as he studied Jake more closely, a dawning realisation washing over him. Despite his easy going, Jake exuded an aura of strength and confidence that Ethan hadn't noticed before. It was as if he had a presence that commanded attention, even when he wasn't trying to.

As they continued on their way back to the guild hall, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Jake than met the eye. And as he stole a glance at his fellow adventurer, he couldn't help but wonder what other surprises Jake had up his sleeve.

As Jake casually mentioned his upcoming A+ rank mission to Agatha, Ethan's eyes widened with excitement. The prospect of joining such a high-level mission filled him with a sense of exhilaration and anticipation.

"Agatha, please! We've been waiting for a chance like this!" Ethan pleaded, his voice pleaded with eagerness as he turned to their guild leader.

Agatha raised an eyebrow at Ethan's enthusiastic plea, considering his request for a moment before turning her gaze to Alex, who stood beside them, his expression more reserved.

"And what about you, Alex? Do you think you're ready for an A+ rank mission?" Agatha inquired, her tone measured as she assessed Alex's reaction.

Alex hesitated, his mind racing with doubts and uncertainties. The thought of tackling such a challenging mission filled him with a sense of trepidation, but deep down, he knew that this was an opportunity they couldn't afford to pass up.

"I... I'm not sure," Alex admitted reluctantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But if this is what it takes for us to grow stronger, then maybe it's worth a shot."

While Ethan was enthusiastic about the opportunity, Jake, who had been quietly observing the conversation, remained skeptical. He had his doubts about Alex's readiness for an A+ rank mission, especially after noticing that Alex hadn't detected his presence earlier.

"Agatha, are you sure about this?" Jake interjected, his voice tinged with concern. "Alex still has a lot to learn, and an A+ rank mission is no joke. We can't afford any mistakes."

Agatha considered Jake's words for a moment, her expression thoughtful as she weighed the risks and rewards of allowing Ethan and Alex to accompany him on the mission. She knew that Jake's concerns were valid, but she also believed in giving her guild members the opportunity to prove themselves.

"Jake, I understand your concerns. But I have faith in Ethan and Alex," Agatha replied, her voice firm but reassuring. "They've shown great potential, and I believe they're capable of rising to the challenge. Besides, this mission could be a valuable learning experience for them."

Jake nodded reluctantly, conceding to Agatha's decision despite his lingering doubts. He knew that he would need to keep a close eye on Ethan and Alex during the mission, not only for his safety but also for Ethan and Alex's.