Daisuke placed the final stone atop the makeshift tomb of the chimera, marking its grave with a somber expression. The children's excited chatter about the recent battle gradually faded into the background as his thoughts weighed heavily on him.
Despite the creature's monstrous form, it had once been Reginald's mother, twisted by dark forces. The idea of letting anyone consume or harvest her remains for materials felt unimaginable, a desecration he could not allow.
I know she abandoned her husband and children when they fell from grace, but did she really deserve this kind of fate?
Daisuke was stirred from his thoughts by the near proximity of Brek's voice, "So, where do we go from here?"
Straightening up and brushing the dirt from his hands, Daisuke allowed the question to settle. Once more, he found himself drawn inward, surrendering to the thoughts swirling in his mind.
Ideally, I should have them stay in Elmridge Village with April and Mia, but wouldn't I be overstepping by asking the Beastfolk for another favor? Especially considering they don't exactly have a fondness for humans.
Brek sighed and shook his head with a tad of annoyance. "I see you still have that bad habit of channeling your thoughts inwards instead of sharing it with the rest of us."
"I bet he's already conjuring up ideas for a safe place to stick us," Garrett murmured accusingly.
Ribbit nodded his head in agreement.
Daisuke choked on his guilt.
"We know you're great and all," Brek added with an envious gesture of his hand, "especially now that you've acquired all this impressive power, but you can't expect to protect us all our lives."
"He's right!" Garrett asserted. "We all need to become stronger to protect ourselves and others!"
Ribbit nodded energetically.
Daisuke passed an appraising glance over the other children who were all inclining their heads with determination. "In that case, I'll at least accompany you guys to Wonderelle—"
"We'll be fine on our own," Brek reassured, feeling a bit irritated that he needed permission from a kid two years his junior.
A muscle tensed in Daisuke's jaw, his eyes narrowing. But instead of lashing out in outrage, he cupped his chin, calmly assessing the situation. Wonderelle is just one of the many starter villages in the game, meaning there aren't any high-level monsters nearby. If they quietly head toward town, the mobs should only get weaker along the way, so they'll likely be fine on their own.
Without a word, Daisuke beckoned for Ribbit to approach. The portly teen exchanged nervous glances with the others before conceding to the command. When he came to a stop, his eyes widened in surprise as a large, double-edged weapon was materialized and handed to him.
CLANG!
The axe fell to the ground the moment Ribbit's hands coiled around the leather hilt. His face turned red, his eyes bulged, and he farted endlessly as he struggled to lift the weapon. Still, he managed to hoist it over his head, wobbling slightly under the weight. With a deep breath, he swung it once—only to be left panting.
[Mighty Axe +1]
[Rank: Rare
Type: Axe
Melee Attack Power: 310~340 | Durability: 87/102 | Attack Speed: -5%
The Mighty Axe is a brutal weapon designed for devastating blows and overwhelming strength. With its massive, double-sided blade and reinforced handle, this axe cleaves through armor and bone alike, leaving destruction in its wake.

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Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended
FantasyAs a player, imagine having the power to reset your stat points at will - one moment, a warrior cleaving through enemies; the next, a mage wielding devastating spells; then an assassin vanishing into the shadows. No limitations. No weaknesses. Just...