Luke sprinted through the trees, feet barely grazing the branches as he leapt from shadow to shadow. Above, the Black Bat flapped its massive wings, stirring the air with every beat as it tried to flee. If it got too far... Basic Blood Regeneration would break.

Luke had figured that out already. The skill had a range limit—directly tied to his Perception stat. The higher it was, the farther he could hunt. And right now... the bat was about to cross that invisible line.

Luke moved. He hurled both kukris—black blades slicing through the air like arrows. Thwip. Thwip. Blood sprayed. Bleed inflicted.

Without missing a beat, he activated Magnetic Return—the blades spun back, curved like boomerangs, and snapped perfectly into his hands. The bat flinched, agitated, and scrambled for the cavern ceiling—hanging upside down, wings twitching.

Perfect.

Luke slid beneath the shadow of a massive, root-twisted tree and went still. Hidden. Silent.

And once again—he began draining. One point at a time. Quiet. Invisible. It was practically psychological torture.

Maybe the creature was starting to sense it. Maybe it could feel something gnawing at it. But that was the real beauty of the skill—too slow to notice. Too fast to ignore.

If this had been a different type of enemy, Luke wouldn't have even bothered.

Midnight Wardens? Forget it. Full armor. No exposed flesh. Trying to drain them was like squeezing blood from a statue. And most monsters healed over time. Bleed was a temporary debuff. If the bleeding stopped, the entire effort reset. But this bat... it was still bleeding. Maybe too dumb to care. Maybe too tough to notice. Either way, it didn't matter.

It made for the perfect prey. A strong monster—but one vulnerable to a slow, silent death.

He didn't need to overpower it. Just wait.

***

Luke sat beside Charlie, leaning against a tree whose roots tangled around themselves like the ribs of some ancient beast. His eyes were half-closed, body perfectly still as Meditation worked its magic. Mana trickled back, slow but steady. He let out a long sigh, leaning back until his head hit the trunk. Staring up at the cavern ceiling.

"Charlie... it's like I get out of one problem just to land in an even bigger one," Luke sighed. "Ever since I agreed to get integrated into this system... it's just been nonstop crap. First the routing error, then the criminals, then the fall, then that floor boss... and now this... this cursed tutorial."

He paused.

"Feels like nothing good ever happens to me."

Silence.

Charlie turned her face toward him with an expression... annoyed? Annoyed seemed like a good guess. Luke could feel through the servant connection that his comment had bothered her.

He cracked one eye open. "What now?"

She pointed to the ring on her finger. Then to herself. Then to him.

Luke blinked.

"Oh..." A sheepish smile tugged at his lips. "Right. Yeah. My bad."

He raised both hands.

"I guess... in the middle of all this chaos... I accidentally made a friend."

Luke scratched the back of his neck.

"I didn't mean nothing good ever happened. Just... it'd be nice if all the bad stuff didn't show up so damn often. But yeah... I'm grateful for the good parts. Like... you."

Charlie crossed her arms, giving a small, satisfied nod. For some reason, that landed way harder than he expected. She looked... genuinely happy.

Narrowly dodged that one.

"I've made a few friends. You. Allison. A few back at the Haven. But let's be real... if this was just a jungle survival camp—instead of an actual hellhole with orcs, dinosaurs, and freaking Midnight Wardens—it'd be a way better experience."

Charlie nodded again, like she was saying: 'Fair point.'

Luke shifted his weight, lifting a hand toward the cavern ceiling. A thin current of energy linked to the surface, mana draining steadily as his skill activated.

"The bright side," he muttered, "is that when everything's this completely screwed... it can't really get worse."

The cavern disagreed.

A sharp crack echoed from above. Stone trembled. Pebbles rattled loose, cascading from the ceiling like nervous sweat.

Luke froze. A shift in the shadows caught his eye—and then the Black Bat unfolded its wings with a sudden, violent snap. It dropped from the ceiling with terrifying speed, a blur of muscle and fury. Just before impact, its wings flared wide, slicing through the air like blades of shadow as it crashed into the ground with enough force to rattle the earth.

The screech that followed wasn't just loud—it clawed through Luke's skull, high-pitched and violent.

He shot to his feet, kukris already in hand. "Goddammit! Why did I have to say it?"

He'd known the risk. The bat wasn't stupid. It had felt something draining it from the shadows. It wasn't waiting anymore. Wasn't tolerating.

It wanted blood.

Luke and Charlie moved first, sprinting together. No hesitation.

The bat lunged. Wings snapped forward, releasing a burst of compressed air that hit like a freight train. Luke's body flipped backward, tumbling across the dirt, pain blooming through his ribs. Charlie powered through it. Her iron bones absorbed the brunt of the force, her frame steady. She didn't even flinch.

Sword in hand, she charged, closing the gap with terrifying speed—but the bat met her charge head-on, slamming its body into hers like a battering ram. She skidded across the stone, braced herself, then stabbed her blade into the ground, anchoring against the force. Sparks flew. Dust exploded. But she held her ground—and pushed back.

Luke ducked into the treeline, using the shadows for cover. His kukris spun in his hands—one, two, three—flung in tight, calculated arcs. Each blade struck its mark and returned to him with spectral precision. Again. Again. Cut it. Bleed it. Keep the pressure constant.

The bat twisted violently, letting out a furious roar. Its fangs gleamed in the torchlight, wings pounding the air with chaotic rhythm, scattering leaves and dirt like a localized storm.

Then Luke felt it.

The air shifted—barely. A subtle pulse. A vibration deep in his bones, low and strange. Something was coming. The fight was far from over.

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Echolocation!

The bat dove—low, fast. Trees snapped under its weight, branches shattered as it tore through the forest with jaws wide. Luke flipped back, twisting midair, and one kukri carved across the bat's snout, opening a shallow line of red. Charlie was already there, sword biting deep into its flank, blood spraying across the stones.

The creature shrieked and twisted violently. Its wings snapped open, generating a blast of wind that hurled Luke backward. Air ripped from his lungs as he slammed into the ground, tumbling hard. The bat closed in again, bleeding, furious—faster now.

Luke caught its next charge on instinct. He deflected a bite, blades sliding along wet fangs, staggered, rolled, then sprinted back into position. Clash. Dodge. Spin. Cut. Keep moving. Keep the distance tight—but controlled.

Charlie barreled in from the side. A straight punch landed clean, and her sword followed—a sweeping arc aimed at its ribs. The bat reeled, stumbled—then lashed out. Its wings snapped inward, trapping her in an instant. Jaws lunged. It caught her.

Muscles straining, wings flared, the creature launched skyward, dragging her into the air.

Luke froze. She was too far. Out of range. If she died in that creature's grip, outside the reach of his soul's tether—she'd be gone. Permanently.

He ran. Kukris spun in his hands—thrown, one after another—but the bat was already climbing higher, wings pumping hard, hauling Charlie toward the cavern ceiling. Then it latched itself upside down, claws hooking into the rock. Its head lowered, fangs bared, and sank them deep into her side.

Charlie was being killed.

Then—silence.

A scream tore through the cavern, but it wasn't Luke's. It was the bat's. A sound of pure agony.

The creature convulsed mid-air, wings faltering as a roar of pain echoed across the stone. Its grip collapsed. It fell.

But Charlie was already moving. Still alive. Sword in hand, spectral chains burst from her gauntlet and hooked into the beast's back, yanking her upward. She flew toward it like a missile, spun mid-air, and carved her blade through its flesh—deep, brutal, ragged.

Landing atop its back, she anchored herself, then drove her sword down with everything she had. Together, they crashed.

The earth split with the impact. Blood splattered across the stone.

Then—stillness.

A flicker of blue crossed Luke's vision.

[Princess Charlie has slain Black Bat (Captain Beast) – Level 26]

*The [Death Knight] class of Princess Charlie has reached Level 20! (Class Bonus Points Acquired)*

[A new Class Skill is available.]

[An item has been added to your inventory.]

The bat lay still. Motionless. Dead.

Luke let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, then laughed—low, exhausted, but real. For the first time in days, the tension eased.

Charlie jogged over, raising her hand. Luke slapped it with a tired grin.

High five.

It worked.

Days of draining it, bleeding it out bit by bit, holding back, waiting for the exact right moment. And the trap had sprung perfectly. A skeleton with no blood—Charlie had been the perfect bait. The bat had tried to feed... and found nothing but bone and iron. That's when she struck. Full force. Right at the top of the cavern.

Luke turned to her, grinning. "Guess we make a pretty damn good team."

Charlie nodded—if she could've smiled, she would've. Her excitement radiated through every movement, practically bouncing in place. No time wasted. Luke opened his inventory, tapping the loot notification. His eyes widened as the window opened.

[Black Bat Cloak (Rare)] Description: A cloak as black as the void. Helps blend into shadows and reduces fall speed. Enchantments:

[Bat Wings (Rare)]: Reduces fall velocity. Bonus: +5 Agility Requirement: Level 20+ in Assassin class.]

Luke didn't hesitate. The plain gray cloak he'd been wearing was gone in an instant, replaced by the black fabric that settled over his shoulders like it belonged there.

Hood up. Perfect fit.

"So... I'm Batman now," he muttered, glancing down at himself.

The realization hit. Everything—his armor, gloves, and now this cloak—was pitch black.

"I'm not complaining. Actually... kinda like it." He tugged the hood slightly, letting a smirk pull at the corner of his mouth. "Do I look good?"

Charlie didn't hesitate. She nodded. Nodded so hard her skull rattled like it might fly off her spine: 'Yes. Always.'

"Alright..."

Luke swept his gaze across the cavern. Listening. Watching. Waiting. Making sure nothing ugly had heard the fight and come looking.

Silence held. No danger.

Good enough.

He stepped into a shaded spot between the trees and opened Charlie's interface. She'd finally hit Level 20.

The notification pulsed at the corner of his vision. Luke tapped it. A new list of skills unfurled.

[Silent Blade Style (Rare)]: A refined combat technique focused on precision, speed, and exploiting gaps in enemy defenses. Rewards duelists who strike with calculated, surgical lethality. For those who prefer control... and elegant kills.

A pure combat style. Lethal. Efficient. And long-term? Invaluable.

But... not right now. Not for what was coming.

If he could barely keep up with the Mantis's speed... Charlie wouldn't stand a chance trying to time attacks this precisely.

Luke scrolled to the next option.

[Phantom Blade (Rare)]: Summons a spectral sword that floats alongside the Death Knight, attacking and defending autonomously. Reacts intelligently to combat but requires a constant flow of mana to stay active.

Luke's eyes sharpened. Now that... was interesting.

Charlie had mana to spare. Most of her toolkit relied on stamina, not mana. An autonomous weapon could completely shift the flow of a fight—especially when dealing with multiple enemies.

Without hesitation, he flagged it as a favorite. Then kept scrolling.

[Blade of the Fallen (Rare)]: The Death Knight's sword feeds on the death of enemies. Each kill empowers the blade. When fully charged, it can unleash an explosive wave of energy.

His expression tightened. Pure, raw power.

"That... might actually be strong enough to rip one of that mantis bastard's arms clean off. Maybe..."

It was a stacking skill. The more enemies killed, the more devastating the final attack. And unlike Phantom Blade, this one only required kills, something Charlie was really good at.

High risk. Massive payoff. But no room for mistakes.

Luke scrolled again.

[Spectral Barrier (Rare)]: A translucent barrier that rises to absorb incoming damage, whether physical or magical. It consumes mana while active. While the barrier holds, it reduces damage taken, allowing the Death Knight to withstand brutal blows and devastating spells alike. Fireballs, lightning bolts, and other high-level magic are included. However, its durability has limits. Powerful strikes can shatter the barrier, and maintaining it depends entirely on your mana pool. Use it wisely. Like any defense, it comes at a cost.

A magic barrier!

With this skill, Charlie would finally gain access to a defensive ability—something to counterbalance her otherwise aggressive kit. Luke immediately imagined using it against the mantis. It was perfect.

We can use this to survive its blows... buy me time to counterattack.

Not just that. The skill had long-term value. It was essentially a shield—a lifeline for Charlie.

He considered her fighting style. Sword in one hand, Iron Fist in the other—always charging in. He wasn't sure how the barrier's activation worked yet, but at the moment, practicality didn't matter. All that mattered was surviving the mantis.

The interface slid to the final option.

And Luke froze.

[Spectral Arrow Barrage (Rare)]: A spectral circle manifests above a chosen area, raining down a hail of ethereal arrows. Hits multiple enemies. Mana-based. The maximum distance scales with the Perception stat.

He read it twice.

"Damn... that's actually awesome."

It was a ranged option for Charlie. Sure, the mana cost would be brutal, but if it worked, this skill could be the key to beating the mantis.

His thumb hovered over the screen as he scrolled, jaw tightening.

"This is rough…"

Every skill wasn't just an upgrade—it was a commitment. A direction. A definition of what kind of fighter Charlie was going to become. And right now, Luke's own survival hinged on killing a monster he could barely follow, let alone react to.

"I couldn't even parry. Couldn't counter. I got wrecked in seconds..."

If Charlie faced that thing head-on, she wouldn't last. Her HP pool wasn't built like his. She needed time. Defense. Utility. Something to hold aggro and open brief windows for him to strike. Not just raw power—she needed to survive.

But that was the dilemma. Other skills could help her survive, sure—but in different ways.

The arrow barrage tempted him. It wasn't just damage—it was disruption. A sudden rain of spectral strikes might throw the mantis off, force it to reposition. It could buy precious seconds. Keep Charlie at a distance, far from the kill zone, and still let her contribute. If her Perception stat scaled high enough, it could even become a reliable mid-range cast.

Could they kite it? Stay mobile, chip it down over time? No. He already knew the answer. The mantis was too smart. Maybe it would fall for the trick once. Maybe. But after that, it would adapt—step out of the area of effect, reposition, and rush whoever was casting. There'd be no second chance.

Still, Luke didn't need it to work twice. He only needed one clean opening. Just a few seconds of chaos—just enough time to go all in. Luke up close, Charlie backing him with everything she had. Hit hard, hit fast, end it before the mantis could recover.

It was risky. High-reward. The barrier skill, on the other hand, was stable. Predictable. A fallback. If the mantis turned on Charlie, she might survive behind it. Might. But even that wasn't guaranteed. It came down to this: offense versus defense. Burst versus sustain. A blitz kill or a war of attrition. One shot to end it—or a long fight where they might lose everything.

Luke exhaled, eyes locked on the five available skills.

His mind made the call.

[Princess Charlie has acquired the Class Skill: ... ]

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