Once the battle was over, Lucen collapsed onto the dirt, eyes drifting up toward the golden sky, the same one Alpha had seen before his final breath. Then he heard the notification sound.
[Level Up]
[Passive Skill: Battle Instinct (Rank Up)]
(Novice) → (Intermediate)
He wasn't as surprised, or irritated, or even elated as he was before when he heard the level-up notification.
Maybe it was the exhaustion dulling the edge of excitement, or maybe he'd just grown used to this surreal system that had become part of his life. Either way, he was too tired to care, or even sit up for that matter.
"You alive?" Harlik's voice came from nearby, followed by the crunch of boots on dirt.
"Not sure," Lucen said, his voice hoarse. "Are you?"
"Who knows, can't even tell anymore." Harlik shrugged his shoulders as he let out a tired laugh, slumping beside Lucen, sword still in hand, the blade covered in blood and soot.
"So any casualties?"
