Niles had leveled up.

  His party members clung to his shoulders, peering at the upgrade options.

  “We better make the right choice,” Niles said, eyes focused.

  “Well, obviously,” Winston added. “It’s life-changing, so we need to consider all possibilities.”

  “I think we should go for the top one,” Felix suggested.

  Vulcan scoffed. “I can’t believe you’re even considering anything else when the third option is clearly superior.”

  Tesla chimed in, “Should we ask the others?”

  Niles dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “Nah, I’m sure they’ll appreciate the surprise.”

  Winston nodded. “Yes, a most welcome surprise.”

  The group—Niles, Felix, Tesla, Winston, and Vulcan—carefully weighed their options for evolving the barrier of Niceland. Then, they noticed Finn strolling inside the barrier. A collective sigh passed through them.

  “Alright, I guess we should consider him too,” Vulcan relented.

  The others agreed. “Let’s go for the middle option.” Niles said.

  He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the choices one last time.

  [Please select which upgrade you want for Barrier-ish.]

  [Outdoor Gym: Receive a fully equipped outdoor gym for exercise.]

  [Playground: Receive a playground with all kinds of children's favorite equipment.]

  [Barbecue: Receive a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with utensils and furniture.]

  “The playground option!” Niles declared, his tone resolute.

  [Selection acknowledged. Playground locked in.]

  A blinding light burst forth inside the barrier, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the glow faded, the transformation was complete.

  Before them stood a vibrant playground—swings, a sandbox, spring riders, a seesaw, and a grand hollow castle with climbers and slides. Picnic tables were scattered nearby, all neatly enclosed by a charming fence.

  “WOW, THIS IS AMAZING!” Niles shouted, grinning ear to ear.

  The rest of the group murmured in agreement, their smiles as wide as charity workers unveiling a new project.

  “FINN! GET OVER HERE!” they called.

  The boy had already noticed the light and was hurrying over.

  Vulcan raised his voice dramatically. “This is for you—engulf yourself!”

  Tesla whistled, admiring the craftsmanship. “This is some seriously nice engineering.”

  Niles beamed. “Now we really look like a proper kingdom.”

  Winston chuckled. “Well, that play castle may not be much, but it’s something.”

  The grown men chuckled and watched as Finn stepped into the playground.

  He brushed his fingers against the swings but didn’t sit down. He climbed the slide once and slid down without enthusiasm. The group continued watching, still smiling—at first. But the longer they observed Finn’s disinterested movements, the more their smiles wavered.

  There was no passion. No joy.

  Finally, Finn turned to them with an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry,” he said. “But I’m too old for this kind of play. I’d much rather practice using a weapon.”

  The men stood frozen, their faces locked in stunned horror.

  Niles took it the hardest. He collapsed onto his knees, defeated. “We… should’ve asked first.”

  Felix let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

  Vulcan gazed up at the sky, wiping away a single tear. “Perhaps… the outdoor kitchen would’ve rusted anyway.”

  As if the system had been listening, a new notification suddenly appeared before them.

  [Note: All of the options were maintenance-free and indestructible.]

  Vulcan read it. His hands trembled. And then, with a guttural wail, he dropped to his knees and slammed his fist into the dirt.

  “MY BARBECUE! NOOOOOO!”

  Off to the side, Wolf stood with his arms folded, helmet concealing his face. He said nothing. But deep down, in the depths of his soul… he agreed with Vulcan.

  Niles sniffled, wiped his eyes, and then—suddenly—sprang to his feet as if nothing had happened.

  “ONWARD TO THE FOREST!” he declared, thrusting a dramatic finger toward the untamed wilderness beyond the barrier. “THERE ARE MORE EXPERIENCE POINTS TO BE GAINED!”

  Then he turned to Felix. “I leave the preparations to you.”

  Felix, now mostly recovered from his injury, nodded. “All fighters, we’re heading into the forest again. Take some time to prepare—we move out shortly.”

  Tesla blinked, looking like a worker being asked to pull a double shift. “But we already went into the forest once today,” he protested. “What if I sit this one out and let my summoned friend, Goblin, go instead? I could use the time to examine the engineering of this playground.”

  Niles tapped his chin, considering. “Hmm… I guess that could work.” Then he grinned. “Good thinking, Tesla! That’s why you’re so bright!”

  Tesla chuckled, as if it were the first compliment he’d received since he got to Monster Island (which it was). “Well, thank you!”

  Meanwhile, Felix knelt in front of Finn. “When I return, would you like me to teach you the way of the sword?”

  Finn’s face lit up as if Felix had just handed him the greatest birthday present of his life. “YES, PLEASE!”

  Felix smiled. “Just make sure to get permission from your sister first.”

  Finn’s excitement vanished in an instant. His shoulders slumped. “Oh.” He pouted, already dreading what her answer would be.

  Not far away, Wolf strolled up to Niles. “I’m coming on this expedition. I’m bored.”

  Niles furrowed his brows. “No, you’re staying here to help your father.”

  Wolf scowled. “First of all, he’s not my father. The Xargian Guard are my family.” He crossed his arms. “Second of all, what even is his job?”

  Niles’ grin turned downright devilish. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?” His voice dripped with mystery as he waved his fingers dramatically and drifted away like a ghost.

  Wolf narrowed his eyes. “What?” he muttered, but went to find Vulcan anyway.

  “Old man,” Wolf said, “what exactly is your purpose here?”

  Vulcan folded his arms, hesitating. “Well…” He looked off to the side. “I’m responsible for…” He paused. Then, barely above a whisper, he admitted, “For making and maintaining the latrine.”

  Wolf recoiled like he’d been struck. “WHAT?!” He looked Vulcan up and down in disbelief. “I thought you were a smith back in the capital!”

  Vulcan sighed. “Well, you know… things happened.” Then, perking up, he added, “But hey, I am still recovering from my injuries, so I could use your help.”

  Wolf’s eye twitched. “WHAT?! I’M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE XARGIAN GUARD, NOT A—”

  “THERE’S HONOR IN DOING A GOOD JOB, NO MATTER THE PROFESSION!” Vulcan bellowed, cutting him off.

  From a distance, Niles—who had most certainly been eavesdropping—chimed in, voice full of amusement, “Your father is right, Wolf!”

  Both Wolf and Vulcan shot daggers at Niles.

  “That man is an idiot,” Vulcan muttered.

  Wolf nodded. “The worst one.” But after a long sigh, he relented. “Fine. I’ll handle the manual labor if you do the planning.”

  Vulcan nodded approvingly. “I appreciate it.”

  Wolf grumbled. “I know where we can find some tools. Just follow me.”

  As Niles passed by, he smirked. “Must be nice, spending time with family!”

  Wolf tensed.

  Vulcan patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t mind him. Just focus on the task in front of you. When I was your age…”

  And just like that, he launched into a long, meandering story.

  Wolf groaned. “I hate it here.”

  Felix raised his voice. “Soldiers, assemble!”

  Winston stepped forward, his usual robes swapped for flexible leather armor, a spear in hand. Niles looked nearly identical—same armor, same spear, same misplaced confidence. Goblin the Goblin carried his summoned spear, gripping it with an enthusiasm only a summoned creature could muster. Felix, however, stood apart, clad in heavier armor, wielding both a sword and shield.

  “Just like we practiced,” Felix said, nodding at their formation. “Coordinate your spears.” He turned to Winston. “Any enemies in sight?”

  Winston gazed into the forest, his skill scanning the area. “None at the moment.”

  “Good,” Felix said. “And remember—our weapons exist to keep us alive first. Winning is the secondary goal.” With a final glance at the team, he gave the order. “Move out.”

  They took their first steps toward the forest—when suddenly, Goblin flickered out of formation, reappearing beside Tesla. A glowing red error message hovered next to him:

  [ERROR: Best Friends Forever skill breach. Cannot be more than 50 meters away from your bestie.]

  Tesla’s face twisted in horror. “Oh no.”

  Niles walked over and clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning. “Guess that means you’re back in the strike team!”

  Tesla groaned in defeat, his fate sealed. “Please, heavens, have mercy on me.”

  The heavens had no mercy. Only a set of armor and a spear, promptly shoved into his arms by his grinning teammates.

  And so, against his will and under the unspoken threat of being flung out of the barrier, Tesla begrudgingly joined the expedition.

  With Felix leading, followed by Niles (gleeful as ever), and Winston (scanning the forrest), then Tesla (muttering prayers of survival), and finally Goblin (the goblin) the party ventured into the wilderness.

  They ventured deeper into the forest this time. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor. The air was thick with the scent of grass and wildflowers.

  Winston suddenly whispered, “I see something.”

  At Felix’s signal, they ducked into one underbrush. “Two beings,” Winston continued. “One’s level 18, the other level 20.”

  Felix frowned. “That might be too much for us to handle at our current level.” He hesitated before adding, “We might need Wolf for this.”

  Niles shook his head. “We don’t know if he’ll turn against us.”

  The figures drew closer but remained just out of sight. Then, at last, they saw them.

  “Orcs,” Felix muttered, his voice troubled.

  The creatures were pale, their skin a tone off light peach. Their faces resembled swine, with large tusks jutting from their lower jaws. Their green hair was bound into thick ponytails. The orcs wore only simple folded garments around their waists. One wielded a massive wooden club reinforced with jagged stones, while the other sported metal knuckles with blades extending from them.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Niles studied them. They were bigger than the group, but not overwhelmingly so.

  “We have a saying back in my world,” he said, a grin creeping onto his face. “No one remembers a coward.”

  Tesla, still painfully stuck at level one, nearly choked. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” he hissed.

  Niles just smiled. “YOLO.”

  Tesla blinked hard. “What does that even mean?!”

  Niles kept grinning. “You only live once.”

  Felix sighed but focused on the strategy. “We might have an advantage,” he said. “Orcs are sensitive to light.” He turned to Winston. “Which one is level 20?”

  “The one with the metal knuckles.”

  Felix drew his sword. “Here’s the plan. I’ll get their attention and engage the stronger one. The rest of you gang up on the one with the club. Take it down fast.” He turned to Niles. “Try to flank them.”

  Niles, feeling the adrenaline surge, grinned. “When you say ‘flank them,’ could you be more specific?”

  Felix exhaled. “Sneak up from the side and strike when they’re distracted.”

  Niles gave a sharp nod. “Bamboozling is my specialty. Leave it to me.”

  There was no time for anyone to question that statement. The plan was set.

  The orcs continued their slow march—until, from out of nowhere, Felix charged like a predator unleashed.

  The orcs flinched in surprise, but the one with the club quickly raised its weapon. Felix, however, darted sideways, positioning himself so the sun blazed behind him. The creatures squinted, momentarily blinded.

  Then—several spears struck.

  The club-wielding orc staggered as Winston’s spear plunged into its side, followed by Goblin’s. Tesla’s spear barely pierced the skin, the effort behind it laughably weak.

  The wounded orc roared, lifting its club to retaliate. But with the humans' long weapons keeping it at bay, it struggled to land a hit.

  And then—

  Another spear struck from its blind spot.

  “BAMBOOZLE!” Niles bellowed as his battle cry.

  The orc, despite its sheer bulk, refused to go down. It swung wildly at the spears keeping it at bay, its raw strength shaking the ground beneath them. The fighters withdrew momentarily, repositioning, searching for the next opening.

  Meanwhile, Felix battled alone against the orc with bladed knuckles. The beast let out a guttural roar, saliva spraying as it lunged. Felix barely raised his shield in time, the impact rattling his bones. He countered with swift sword strikes, staying close to limit the orc’s reach. But it was clear—this one had more endurance than the other. Maybe it was the level gap. Maybe it was just meaner. Either way, this fight wasn’t ending quickly.

  The second orc, realizing its club couldn't reach the spearmen, changed tactics. It charged. Straight at Tesla.

  The engineer let out a strangled yelp. “OH, MERCY!”

  None of them could stop it with just their spears. Winston yanked his weapon free and drove it into the beast’s side. Niles slashed at its legs, hoping to trip it. Neither attack slowed the monster. It barreled into Tesla, knocking him off his feet with a bone-rattling punch from its hoofed hand. Tesla hit the ground hard, gasping as the air left his lungs.

  “STOP HIM!” Niles shouted, driving his spear forward. Winston followed suit, the weapons biting into the orc’s flesh. Blood poured from its wounds, but the beast refused to fall. It was dying, but it had chosen its last victim.

  It lifted its warclub. Tesla, still sprawled on the ground, was about to be crushed like an insect.

  Then—Goblin the Goblin leaped into the fray.

  With a battle cry that was more of a squeak, he thrust his spear into the orc’s torso. The club still came down, but Goblin took the brunt of it, absorbing most of the impact.

  Tesla gasped, rolled to the side. “Go, Goblin!” he wheezed. Trying to resummon his summoned friend.

  A system error message flashed.

  [Cooldown: Best Friends Forever – Try again tomorrow.]

  Tesla’s stomach dropped. The orc wasn’t done with him yet.

  With a sickening crunch, its split hoof stomped down on Tesla’s hand, pinning him in place. He screamed.

  The warclub rose again.

  But this time, twin spears struck true.

  Niles and Winston’s weapons drove straight through the orc’s skull. The monster let out a final, gurgling breath before collapsing.

  A system message popped up.

  [You’ve defeated an orc – You’ve received 198 EXP.]

  Then, silence.

  Then—

  “WHAT?! NO LEVEL UP?! THIS IS BULLSHIT!” Niles shouted, outraged.

  His frustration was cut short as his gaze snapped back to Felix.

  Their soldier was losing.

  Felix’s armor was battered, his movements slower, each shield block weighing heavier on his exhausted frame. He had fought too much already. He was running out of time.

  Winston suddenly tensed. “LOW LEVELS INCOMING—I THINK IT’S GOBLINS!”

  Niles shouted. “WE NEED TO END THIS NOW AND ESCAPE!”

  Without another word, he and Winston flanked the last orc—the one keeping Felix pinned down. Their spears forced the monster onto the defensive. It snarled, adjusting its stance.

  The tide was turning.

  But they weren’t out of this yet.

  Thwip.

  An arrow buried itself into the ground—just inches from Tesla’s head. He flinched, heart hammering, his crushed left hand throbbing with pain.

  Then—giggles.

  High-pitched, guttural laughter echoed from the trees. Shadows shifted. The goblins were closing in.

  And then—

  A roar.

  The kind that sent birds fleeing from the tree branches, rustling leaves in every direction. A sound none of them could mistake.

  The Big Bonker.

  Felix clenched his jaw. No time to think. With Winston and Niles forcing the last orc onto the defensive, he finally saw an opening. His blade struck—but shallow. Not enough to kill.

  Behind them all. Rustling. A flicker of movement.

  One goblin, faster than the others, sprinted toward Tesla.

  "TESLA, WATCH OUT!" Niles shouted.

  Tesla barely heard him. His eyes darted to the ground, searching—there! His spear. His fingers closed around it just as the goblin lunged.

  With a desperate heave, he flung the weapon.

  A sharp thrust.

  It struck true, spearing straight through the goblin’s chest.

  [You’ve defeated a goblin – You’ve received 14 EXP.]

  The system chimed again.

  [Level increased: 1 → 2. Please select which stats to increase.]

  [Name: Tesla]

  [Level: 2]

  [Strength: 1 → ?]

  [Stamina: 1 → ?]

  [Speed: 1 → ?]

  [Magic: 1 → ?]

  [Spirit: 1 → ?]

  Tesla was about to choose strength—but then he remembered.

  He scowled. "This better work, Niles," he muttered, more distrust than confidence in his voice.

  "...Magic."

  The system confirmed.

  [Magic increased by 1.]

  Tesla took a breath, rising to his feet. More goblins emerged from the underbrush, eyes glinting with hunger. He squared his shoulders.

  "Go, magic!"

  Nothing happened.

  His eye twitched.

  Then, like a cruel joke, realization hit him.

  Magic didn’t even unlock until level 10. And even then, no one knew what kind they'd get.

  "...This is why no one levels magic," he muttered, gripping his spear. With his left hand useless, he held it awkwardly, like a fisherman preparing to harpoon a whale.

  "We need to get out of here!" Felix shouted.

  Tesla turned to the others—just in time to hear a scream.

  It was his own.

  A raw, adrenaline-fueled war cry as he sprinted straight at the remaining orc. Some people would probably describe it as highly feminine. The beast jerked its head toward him, instincts kicking in. Tesla hurled his spear—

  And missed.

  Or at least, it looked that way.

  The weapon phased past Felix and plunged deep into the orc’s gut. The monster staggered—an opening.

  Niles and Winston struck from both sides, weapons slashing through flesh.

  Felix wasted no time. With one powerful leap, he closed the distance—

  And in a single, clean arc, took the orc’s head.

  [You’ve defeated an orc – You’ve received 248 EXP.]

  [Level increased: 13 → 14. Please select which stats to increase.]

  Felix didn’t even wait for the system’s next prompt.

  "Speed!"

  [Speed increased by 1.]

  His voice cut through the battlefield.

  "GATHER UP! WE RUN—NOW!"

  Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted toward Niceland, shield raised. The others followed, adrenaline fueling their escape.

  "DON’T STOP! JUST RUN THROUGH THEM!"

  Goblins swarmed their path, armed with daggers, clubs, and arrows. But Felix was a bulldozer. His shield plowed through like a lead blocker in American football, carving a path forward.

  They ran. Fast.

  Then—

  "LEVEL 70 INCOMING!" Winston shouted.

  From the forest, carrying its massive stone hammer, the Big Bonker charged after them.

  Niles wasn’t one for swearing.

  But if he was, this would have been the moment he dropped the biggest f-bomb of his life.

  Inside the barrier, Finn, Lina, Vulcan, and Wolf froze. Whatever they had been doing no longer mattered. The distant chaos was no longer distant—it was getting closer.

  Wolf moved first. Instinct.

  He lunged for his weapons.

  Then, through the trees, they saw it.

  Felix, Niles, Winston, and Tesla—running for their lives. A small army of goblins swarmed behind them. And leading the charge, gaining ground with every step—

  The Big Bonker.

  The massive beast lifted its stone hammer, ready to strike.

  Wolf didn’t hesitate.

  "I’ll take care of the big one!" he growled, sprinting straight at the minotaur—

  THWACK.

  He smacked into the barrier like a bug on glass.

  Niles’s restrictions were still in effect on his movements.

  Wolf groaned, dragging himself off the ground. "That dense idiot…"

  Vulcan and Finn ran up beside him.

  "RUN FASTER!" Vulcan shouted.

  "THE BIG BONKER IS GAINING ON YOU!" Finn added.

  The hammer fell.

  Aimed directly at Tesla.

  He was already injured, and even at full strength, he wasn’t fast enough.

  Niles shoved him out of the way.

  Tesla hit the dirt hard—but the hammer missed. A lucky break.

  "Get up!" Niles barked, spinning to meet the oncoming goblins. He slashed with his spear, keeping them at bay long enough for Tesla to push himself up.

  "FELIX!" Niles yelled.

  Felix glanced back—saw the opening—and took it.

  Lina had just arrived at the barrier in time to see him move.

  Felix threw his shield, slamming it into the Big Bonker’s eyes.

  The minotaur grunted, throwing up an arm to protect its face.

  Exactly what Felix wanted.

  He gripped his sword in both hands, leaped forward, and slashed at the beast’s front leg.

  The blade met thick hide. Too tough.

  The monster stumbled but didn’t fall.

  Goblins swarmed him.

  Felix whirled, his sword flashing in a blur, cutting down two—three—four in quick succession. The experience points rolled in.

  "RUN!" he roared.

  Tesla ran.

  The barrier was close—but still too far.

  Goblins poured in from every direction.

  Niles and Felix fell into formation, retreating step by step.

  A goblin lunged, dagger raised—

  Niles’s spear struck first.

  [You’ve defeated a goblin – You’ve received 15 EXP.]

  Winston was just steps from the barrier when he saw the fight unfolding behind him.

  He swallowed hard.

  Then he turned back.

  Felix and Niles needed help.

  The Big Bonker raised its hammer.

  It wasn’t a downward strike this time—it was a wide, sweeping swing meant to clear the battlefield.

  "DUCK!" Felix shouted.

  He and Niles hit the dirt.

  The massive hammer whooshed over them, missing by mere inches.

  Then came the goblins.

  Dozens of them.

  They swarmed, piling onto Felix and Niles in a frenzy of snarling teeth and rusted blades.

  Tesla collapsed inside the barrier, panting hard. He had made it. He was safe.

  But as he turned, he saw Felix and Niles pinned down.

  Vulcan grabbed Tesla’s spear.

  Finn snatched the sword Wolf had brought.

  They charged from the barrier.

  The first goblins barely saw them coming.

  Vulcan thrusted hard, skewering two in one motion. More fell before his relentless assault.

  [Level Up.]

  "Strength!" he roared.

  Finn clashed with a goblin his own size. Their weapons met—sparks flew—then Finn’s blade found its mark. A lucky strike from a superior weapon.

  [Level Up.]

  "Strength!" he echoed.

  Winston struck next, his spear finding flesh.

  [Level Up.]

  "Strength!"

  With the sudden reinforcements, Felix and Niles fought their way back to their feet.

  "RUN!" they bellowed.

  Vulcan grabbed the child and hurled him through the barrier.

  Niles, Winston, and Felix pushed their bodies to the limit, sprinting for safety.

  Then—BOOM.

  The Big Bonker slammed its hammer against the barrier with a final, ear-splitting blow.

  Lina fell to her knees, clutching her ears. She reached out instinctively, her arm trembling.

  The minotaur’s eyes locked onto her.

  It tilted its head, almost… thinking.

  Did she control the barrier?

  A low, guttural growl rumbled from its chest.

  Then, with an annoyed grunt, it turned and walked away.

  The goblins followed.

  Silence fell.

  Then—

  "OH NO, YOU DON’T!" Niles wheezed, staggering to his feet. "YOU DON’T LEVEL-BLOCK ME!"

  Before anyone could stop him, he charged back outside.

  "NO—NOT AGAIN, SIR NILES!" Winston shouted. "HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?!"

  One goblin lingered.

  A familiar one.

  It raised a bow—loosed an arrow—

  THUNK.

  The arrow struck Niles chest—

  But this time, he was wearing leather armor.

  He grinned. The arrow had reached Niles flesh but it was merely just a scratch.

  "THE SAME TRICK WON’T WORK ON ME TWICE!"

  The goblin’s eyes widened in horror.

  Niles lunged, spear thrusting forward.

  Inside the barrier, the others were still catching their breath.

  “Niles,” Felix gasped, struggling to rise. “I need to— I have to go to him.”

  Vulcan pushed him back down. “You’re in no shape to fight anymore. Just rest.”

  Winston wiped the sweat from his brow, staring in disbelief.

  “Did he just say, ‘The same trick won’t work on me twice?’” Winston muttered. “Because, uh… it totally did.”

  The others nodded.

  But in Niles’s world, things were different.

  With a triumphant thrust of his spear—

  [You’ve defeated a goblin – You’ve received 20 EXP.]

  Then—

  [Level increased: 8 → 9. Please select which stats to increase.]

  Niles roared.

  Not just a victory yell—a scream so loud and proud that the entire goblin army and even The Big Bonker turned back toward him.

  Their eyes met.

  Niles grinned. “I win.”

  Then, with a smirk, he declared: “Strength.”

  [Strength increased by 1.]

  Without another word, he bolted toward the barrier.

  And then—

  A new system message flickered into existence beside him.

  [Please select which upgrade you want for Barrier-ish.]

  Niles’s grin widened.

  “Alright, guys. Let’s see what awesome new thing we get this time!”

  Winston slumped down beside him. “It better be worth all this trouble.” He glanced around—everyone was battered, bruised, and covered in faint green healing lights.

  The options appeared:

  [Lesser Carpentry: People inside Niceland learns the basics of carpentry.]

  [Lesser Horseback Riding: People inside Niceland learns the basics of horseback riding.]

  [Lesser Cooking: People inside Niceland learns the basics of cooking.]

  The group huddled around Niles.

  “We need to pick wisely,” Niles said, eyes serious.

  “This could be crucial to our future success,” Winston added.

  Tesla, still half-sprawled on the ground, nodded. “There’s a lot of potential here…”

  Vulcan sniffed “If only we’d picked barbecue last time, we could’ve been living like kings right now with that cooking perk.”

  Felix just laid on the ground. Quiet. Resting.

  The team debated, throwing around ideas.

  Lina, mentally exhausted, simply lay back in the grass, letting out a relieved sigh. A faint smile touched her lips.

  “Thank the heavens you all made it back.”

  Wolf glanced at Finn.

  “…Is this a normal day?”

  Finn shrugged. “Sort of.”

  Wolf pointed at Tesla. “That man’s left hand looks crushed.”

  Finn glanced over and nodded. “Yeah… he’ll probably realize it soon enough. With the healing inside the barrier, it’ll fix itself eventually.”

  Wolf folded his arms, expression unreadable behind his helmet. “I truly don’t understand you people.”

  Finn nodded again, this time with a hint of resignation. “Me neither.”

  They both turned their attention back to the group. The adults were still deep in discussion, debating the system upgrade.

  Then—Niles’s voice cut through the air.

  “Guys, guys! We must also consider… which option is the coolest?”

  Tesla, ever the naive optimist, pumped his broken fist. “Good point, Sir Niles!”

  The others nodded in agreement.

  “Cool and practical—that’s the way to go!” someone muttered.

  Wolf let out a long sigh. “They’re going to pick the horseback riding skill, aren’t they?”

  Finn’s face paled. “…Probably.”

  Wolf turned his head, looking. “There aren’t any horses here.”

  Finn nodded grimly. “That’s true.”

  Then—

  “WE’LL GO FOR THE COOLE— I MEAN, WE’LL GO FOR THE HORSEBACK RIDING SKILL!”

  The group erupted into cheers. Excited chatter filled the air.

  [Selection acknowledged. Lesser Horseback Riding locked in.]

  Handshakes, grins, pats on the back—victory.

  And then—

  Silence.

  “…By the way,” Vulcan asked, brows furrowed. “Do we actually have any horses in camp?”

  Niles swallowed hard. “I… haven’t seen any.”

  Winston cleared his throat. “Well… we did pick for the future, right?”

  Then—

  Tesla let out an ear-piercing scream.

  “AH! MY HAND! IT HURTS SO BAD! SOMEONE GET A DOCTOR!”

  Niles exhaled in defeat. “We literally murdered the only doctor who set foot here.”

  The group burst into laughter.

  Wolf buried his beastly helmeted face in his hands. “They’re not normal.”

  Finn nodded, completely deadpan. “Agreed.”