By the sixth morning, the clearing no longer felt temporary. Smoke clung to the trees, and the earth had been stamped down into pathways. The scent of boiling roots and wet bark had become the new normal, and the silence between conversations was less about fear now, and more about preservation—of energy, of patience.
Miriam stood at the center of camp, arms crossed, staring at the crude map drawn in charcoal on the side of a stripped tree. Paths fanned outward—one toward the stream, another toward the failed garden, a third in the direction of the lake Jason and Matt had returned from. The lake was real. Deep, still, and drinkable, though the surrounding animal tracks hinted it wasn’t unoccupied.
David returned shortly after sunrise, empty-handed but unharmed. He reported calm waters, a few long shadows moving below the surface, and no sign of goblins. Miriam nodded, grateful for the information. She made a note beside the map.
Nearby, Alex sat beside a fire, legs stretched out, sharpening a broken piece of metal against stone. Ellie sat next to him, elbows on her knees.
"Did Camila say anything to you after the hunt?" she asked.
Alex shrugged. "Just told us good work."
"She’s intense," Ellie said, voice quiet. "Kind of scary, honestly. But... she gets things done."
Alex didn’t argue. Camila had a way of shifting focus, of making the Obelisk feel like a tool and not a mystery. She rarely hesitated, and hesitation was something they could no longer afford.
--
At the Obelisk, Yusuf and Jared were cataloging sacrifices. A few others had brought offerings: cracked headphones, burnt lighters, a child’s stuffed toy.
+0.2 Points — Headphones (Non-Functional)
+0.05 Points — Lighter (Empty)
+1.4 Points — Sentimental Item (Stuffed Bear)
“That one was hard,” Jared said, noting the bear. “Kid didn’t want to part with it.”
Yusuf looked at the fading glow. “Unfortunately we've got to be more practical now”
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
--
Raj and Theo had finished the southern fence. It was rough, but solid—rows of sharpened branches bound with strips of cloth and vine. It wouldn’t stop a determined creature, but it would slow one. Roger was working on a tripwire system, using broken bottle shards as noise alarms. The sound of glass tapping together had become oddly reassuring.
Vin stood by the garden, hands on his hips, surveying a limp sprout. "Still not dead. That counts as progress."
Wren, squatting nearby, chuckled. "If it grows teeth and bites you, I’ll start taking it seriously."
--
Camila was hunting again. Alone this time. Not for food, but for points—goblin trails, signs of any other creatures, or something worse. She moved like she belonged out there, one of the few that had really taken up to this new world.
She returned around midday with blood on her hands and a grim look. Two goblins, dispatched silently. Their bodies were dragged into camp under a tarp and sacrificed without fanfare.
+4.0 Points — 2x Goblin (Dead)
Camila cleaned her knife and said nothing.
Miriam made note of the point value, then pulled her aside. “How many points are you on now? I mean surely you've gone past 20 now, all those Jewels you sacrificed and the goblin kills”
Camila nodded. “Yep, well over”
“Have you decided on a path?”
Camila hesitated. “Maybe Fairy Tail. Seems flexible. A lot of variety.”
“Let me know when you do. I want to see if the system changes depending on the path.”
"What about yourself, I've seen you sacrifice you phone and rings, I figure with a few other minor sacrifices here and there you'd have reached 20 by now"
Camila left without getting an answer.
--
That evening, Alex joined Jake near the fire. Jake was scribbling in a damp notebook, translating powers he remembered from each anime path. He wasn’t a fighter—more of a lorekeeper. People had started relying on him for explanations.
“Do you think the paths are balanced?” Alex asked.
Jake looked up. “Not really. Some are definitely stronger early on. But it depends on how creative you are. Nen, for example... super complex. Powerful, but risky. Chakra’s more straightforward, but requires lots of stamina and practice. And also, we have items to consider as well”
Alex nodded slowly. “I’ve been leaning toward Naruto. Something about it feels right.”
Jake smiled. “Could be a good fit. Just be sure before you commit. No switching once you pick.”
--
Later, Miriam stood before the Obelisk. She placed both hands on it.
PATH SELECTION AVAILABLE
20 POINTS REQUIRED
She stared at the names as they flared across the surface:
Naruto
One Piece
Bleach
Hunter x Hunter
Fairy Tail
She didn’t move for a long time.
Then she stepped away. Not today.
Night fell slowly, cloaking the camp in flickering torchlight. Someone was playing a downloaded song on a dying phone, the speaker tinny but still carrying melody. Around the fire, people sat in silence—not afraid anymore, but not yet at peace.
