It had been two days since the goblin attack, and while the pyres had long since burned to cinders, their presence still clung to the camp like smoke. Thirteen gone. More wounded. But the survivors were moving again—not because they had healed, but because there was no other choice.
Morning began earlier now. The sun hadn’t yet broken the canopy, but people were already stirring—cutting vines, sharpening sticks, reinforcing the trench line with whatever junk they could spare.
Alex stood over a log, using a sharpened rock to carve the tip of a crude spear. His knuckles were scraped raw. Splinters had burrowed deep into his palm, but he welcomed the sting. Beside him, Theo adjusted a noise trap, tying a bent pan to a stretch of vine above the south tree line.
“No one’s relaxing anymore,” Theo said quietly, glancing at the camp. “Feels like we’re living on a knife edge.”
“We are,” Alex replied. “But at least we’re finally acting like it.”
Behind them, Wren’s voice rang out over the clearing.
“Training group—east side, now. If you’ve got a blade or a stick, bring it. If not, bring your fists.”
David stood nearby, his saber strapped across his back. He gave Wren a respectful nod before calling out to those closer to the Obelisk. “Marine saber training—same spot. Three rotations. If I catch anyone slacking, you’re running perimeter laps with Camila.”
Groans followed, but no one argued.
David was in a good mood, he had bought Armament,
Alex handed Theo the finished spear. “You fancy going out for a hunt?”
Theo nodded. “May as well. Got something in mind?”
“I’ve noticed a cave to the North, told Miriam about it, but figured it might be good to check it out. I’ve got Yusuf on board and Camila.”
“Well lets grab them and go”
At the Obelisk
One stepped forward.
Trish – 21 Points
Age: Late 20s. Former high school gym teacher.
She pressed her palm to the stone. The glow flared, and she didn’t hesitate.
Path Chosen: Naruto
Down to 1 point. She stepped back, jaw tight but satisfied.
Another stepped up.
Nathan – 25 Points
Age: Mid-30s. Worked as a bartender.
He hesitated, then selected One Piece
“5 points left,” Jake noted. “But he’s been saving his phone. That’ll be enough for something later.”
Still, Jake’s attention kept drifting—not to those approaching, but to those watching from a distance. A few faces lurked near the fringes: Vin, still recovering, Matt, who had helped with fencing, and three more who had yet to approach the Obelisk at all.
It was only a matter of time. They cant be far off.
At the stream
“I can feel it now,” Marcy whispered, eyes closed. “The magic... it hums.”
“It’s not enough to feel it,” Ellie said. “You’ve got to shape it.”
“I’ve been experimenting with words,” Li added. “Trying to etch them with intent. Like runes.”
“They might work”
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None of them had spells yet. But their control was improving.
In the woods
They moved quietly, a loose diamond formation. Alex at the rear, Camila leading. Jason had a new spear—crafted with bark and obsidian shards they’d found along the western ridge. Yusuf kept his aura at a low simmer, maintaining Ten without overexerting himself. And Theo followed on tepidly.
“I’ve seen more signs,” Camila said softly. “Tracks not from goblins. Larger. Barefoot. But not human.”
“Could be what left the gouges at the lake,” Jason muttered.
“Who knows at this point.”
“So, where’s this cave Alex.” Camila said.
“About 30 more minutes, same direction, we’ll come across a hill, it dips down into a bit of a valley”
They came upon the cave at last, it had a large mouth, maybe 15ft tall.
They took stock and started to make their way in. Alex lighting up the path with his phones torch. With Theo and Jason lighting up a make shift torch, if something goes wrong they don’t want their only light source extinguished better to have multiple.
“A Mine” Theo gave the worst Gimli impression Alex had ever heard.
“Shut the fuck man” Alex hushed tough he struggled not to laugh. Camila just glared.
“Sorry”
Making their way in the cave, it didn’t shrink but widened, widened into a chasm. Before anyone could say anything, a stern look from Camila kept them shut. The torches barely lit it up. But they heard it, skittering down below.
Seeing no where else to walk, Camila signalled them to head back.
At camp
Roger brought over two fresh spears and a bundle of half-formed arrows.
“We need bows,” he said. “Ranged defense. Something for high ground.”
“Wood’s too soft here,” Raj replied. “Snaps too easy.”
“I’ll talk to Camila when she’s back. See if she knows any better spots for gathering materials.”
Nearby, Dev helped tie a new support beam to the lean-to where the injured were housed. He worked in silence, but his hands were steady.
“What in the fuck makes that noise” Jason finally took a breath.
“I’d wager spiders” Yusuf spoke
“Really, I hope to god not.”
“Scared” Alex grinned.
“A fantasy world with spiders, I imagine their bigger than a house spider, so yeah.”
Camila hushed them and pointed to the other side of the valley. Looking on, they saw it. A spider, heading right towards them. They froze, it froze.
They only hear a pre-emptive “Get ready,” before the arachnid skittered towards them. It covered the distance is seconds. Theo fell back holding his spear up but dropping his torch. Alex drove his stick into the spiders leg, but it ricocheted off. Camila start to loop around it, lunging forward occasionally, driving her spear, knife on the tip into its legs.
“TRY TO AIM BETWEEN ITS JOINTS”
Yusuf about to make a move, heard squeal.
“SHIT. ITS STABBED HIS LEG”
Theo, before he could call for help, felt himself lifted into the air, the spider winced as it felt a few more nicks to its legs and body, but it was determined. Leaning itself back, it bit down on Theo’s head. Yusuf a second late rammed into its body bolstered by Ren impaling his spear deep into the arachnid and causing them both to tumble down the valley splashing in the stream below.
“YUSUF”
Alex and Camila charged down. Jason remained, paralysed with fear.
They could see the spiders legs flailing trying to find purchase. Using a rock, Camila jumped on its back. Alex gave a courtesy glance at Theos mangled head, before stabbing the spider with everything he has.
It flailed no longer. Some silence persisted but not for long.
“JASON, GET DOWN HERE NOW HELP US”
Seeing the spider still, he started to make his way down.
“LIFT”
Yusuf, was underneath, grabbing his hand Alex dragged him out.
“You alright man”
“I’m, I’m fine. I was just trapped. Is Theo alright”
A solemn shake of the head was his answer.
“Fucking spiders.”
The ranger team returned one fewer, but richer for it. They had managed to lug a good amount of the spider back with them.
After a solemn word with Miriam.
Camila took the spiders head, and arms to the Obelisk.
Sacrifice
- Giant spider (Large Arachnid) (Head)(Dead) – 15 points
- 8x Giant spider (Large Arachnid) (Legs)(Dead) – 14 points
Camila – 55 points
Path – Fairy Tail
Wind Magic (Control air currents, create slicing wind attacks, enhance movement.) – 30 points
Chosen
Camila – 25 points
Knowledge flooded Camila’s mind, she immediately grasped basic wind magic spells, and how to manipulate her magic to achieve this. She now just knew how to use it.
Before she could go off Jake had made his way to her.
Alex and Yusuf went and sat down. Luckily the snares had been full, so quite a bit of rabbit meat to go around, particularly seeing as though the hunting teams were unsuccessful.
They had already planned to head out again tomorrow. Even with Theo’s death on their minds.
That night
“We can’t rely on reaction,” she said to those gathered. “If we wait for danger to come, we’ll die”
Camila nodded beside her. “We’re forming hunting teams, patrols, and more structure. You want to stay alive? You contribute. If you’ve got points, use them. If not—earn them. No more passengers.”
No one argued.
Jake updated his tally beside the flames:
- David – One Piece
- Camila – Fairy Tail
- Miriam – Naruto
- Alex – Naruto
- Yusuf – Hunter x Hunter
- Ellie – Fairy Tail
- Jason – Bleach
- Raj – One Piece
- Li – Fairy Tail
- Roger – One Piece
- Wren – Hunter x Hunter
- Theo – Naruto
- Stan – Naruto
- Melissa – Bleach
- Grace – One Piece
- Marcy – Fairy Tail
- Dev – Bleach
- Trish – Naruto
- Nathan – One Piece
- Camila – Fairy Tail
Nineteen chosen.
Eighty-one remained.