Chapter 6

The morning arrived, casting a warm glow over the landscape, which was why the pair began heading off as they continued their journey. "How long will it take to get to the [Safe Zone]?" The boy asked, his voice tinged with urgency, as he was eager to reach their destination as fast as possible.

"It would take a week; however, we're going to take two weeks." Anastasia informed him of this fact, her tone steady and matter-of-fact.

"But why?" He couldn't seem to understand why they would choose to take twice as long.

"To level up." She replied, her voice carrying a hint of impatience, as if the answer should have been obvious. "Do you think you'll be able to survive onwards?" She glanced back at him, her eyes searching his face for understanding. Obviously, he knew that he wouldn't. "We have two weeks to get to the Safe Zone. Why do you think that?"

"Because we are on foot and the monsters?" Elliot's answer came out more like a question than a statement, uncertainty lacing his words.

"If that were the case, it would be a week instead." Anastasia pointed out, her words seeming to hold considerable weight as she had saved him before. "If you ask me, it's so you can become stronger." When she said this, Elliot felt a rush of embarrassment wash over him, his cheeks flushing slightly. "That's why we're going to fight monsters. However, levels aren't your only problem." The woman came to a stop before turning around to face him, no hint of emotions on her face. "You lack confidence." But those words seemed to cast a shadow over him, causing a wave of depression to wash over him. "That's why you're going to deal with them."

Elliot's head lifted at her words, and he followed her gaze as she pointed ahead of them. His sight shifted, and his entire body stiffened in response. Ahead of them were Coisons, eerie creatures lurking in the shadows.

"They are called." She informed him of their species name, her voice calm and steady. "They should help gather confidence." However, Elliot's face went pale at the sight of the looming monsters. "Don't worry. If they get too close, I'll deal with them," Anastasia assured him, her expression unwavering. For some reason, despite the fear bubbling within him, the boy felt a sense of calm wash over him at her words. He realised that having someone like her by his side made the impossible seem slightly more manageable.

Anastasia had meticulously instructed Elliot on how to properly activate his [skill], and now she stood directly behind the boy, who was nervously taking aim at the oblivious Cosions that hadn't yet noticed their presence. "Now fire. Don't second guess yourself." She urged, her voice steady and confident. Once he heard this, Elliot steadied his breath and released the arrow, sending it soaring through the air. The projectile struck true, embedding itself in the head of a Cosion. It appeared to kill the creature instantly, as it fell limply to the ground, lifeless. However, this sudden action did not go unnoticed; the slithering beast, a formidable predator, quickly turned its attention toward the pair and began slithering toward them with alarming speed.

"Ah!" The sight of the approaching threat caused Elliot to panic, his hands shaking as they struggled to grab hold of another arrow from his quiver.

"Calm down. Don't lose your focus." Anastasia urged, her eyes fixed on the beast as it closed in, her demeanour unwavering. "Take a deep breath and face it." She ordered him firmly. Following her guidance, he inhaled deeply, and slowly, he seemed to regain his composure. With newfound determination, he successfully grasped the arrows, firing another shot with precision, and then another. Anastasia couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration as she observed how quickly he adapted to the situation. Each shot was a kill shot, demonstrating an impressive level of skill. Perhaps this remarkable ability stemmed from the fact that he possessed a [Potential] that would make him [Rank S]—an extraordinary trait that could change the course of their journey.

Before long the entire Cosions pack had been killed off by Elliot. He was then using Anastasia's knife to open up the carcasses to pull out the monster's cores. She had to explain to him what they were and why they were taking them. The two continued on to hunt more until night was around the corner.

The sixth day arrived, or rather, it was drawing to a close, and the new pair found themselves having a meal together. As they sat around the camp fire, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of anticipation and exhaustion. Anastasia took a moment to glance over at Elliot's stats, her brow furrowing in concentration. [Insight]

Status

Name — Elliot Hieronymus

Age — 16

Level — 15

Rank — F

Class — Bow User

Stats

Potential — S

Strength — 9 (F)

Agility — 10 (F)

Stamina — 7 (F)

Intelligence — 11 (F)

Senses — 11 (F)

Mana — 10 (F)

Luck — 9 (F)

Accuracy — 17 (F)

Affection — 20 (Saviour) (Teacher)

Skills

Archery (Lv 13)

Quickshot (Lv 10)

Knockback (Lv 11)

Poison Arrow (Lv 9)

Poison Resistance (Lv 11)

Pain Resistance (Lv 13)

His performance was certainly impressive, although it didn't quite match the speed at which she was going. However, she noticed that his [affection] had increased significantly during their time together, and she still couldn't grasp the purpose behind it. It puzzled her, leaving her with a sense of confusion about his intentions. "I think we can move towards the [Safe Zone] now." Anastasia finally spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

"Are you sure?" This came from Elliot, however, it wasn't filled with fear or nervousness like he had been a few days ago. He almost seemed like a different person, exuding a sense of confidence that had previously been absent. It was as if the events of the past few days had transformed him, reshaping his spirit into something more resolute.

"Yeah, if we don't start, we won't hunt down a lot of monsters before we need to make it to the [Safe Zone]," had been her answer and response, her voice steady and unwavering. "You sleep first; I'll wake you up in a few hours to swap." She threw the blanket at him, her gesture both playful and practical.

"Alright. I'll leave it to you," he replied, catching it effortlessly before laying down. Elliot was a lot more polite than she wanted, which was unexpected given their circumstances, but she couldn't deny that his newfound demeanor was somewhat refreshing. However, Anastasia couldn't seem to stop him, so she decided to leave it be for the time being, focusing instead on the challenges that lay ahead. The night was thick with tension, but they had a mission to accomplish, and together, they would face whatever came their way.

The next day, the pair set off early in the morning for the train tracks, their spirits a mix of different types of emotions. The sun peeked through the trees, casting a warm glow on their journey, but once they finally reached the tracks, Anastasia immediately noticed that Elliot's face was unusually pale. A wave of concern washed over her; she wasn't that surprised, at the end of the day, he was still just a 16-year-old boy. Although he might not be the same boy he was just a few days ago, he was still a child grappling with fears and uncertainties that came with their current situation.

"I'm here." She reassured him gently, her voice steady and reassuring. His head swung up to meet her gaze, and she could see the mixture of apprehension and longing for comfort in his eyes. "As long as we travel together, I'll watch your front, and you watch my back." With that, she confidently began to step over onto the track, walking along its length with determination. Elliot watched her with a mix of surprise and admiration, his expression shifting as he struggled to hold back tears that threatened to spill over.

"Right!" He finally said, blinking away the emotion. As he took his first step after her, a large grin broke across his face, illuminating his features and banishing the shadows of fear. It was a moment of newfound determination, a silent promise that they would face whatever lay ahead together.