Scorching Ascension - [Progression Litrpg Apocalypse]

Soon after the revelation about rifts and other worlds, Liz got up and went to continue her watch. Amelie was quiet for a few moments, and then rolled her shoulders, did a couple of hops to energize herself, then leaned over and scratched the cat behind the ears.

The cat purred happily, little flames dancing over its fur, which didn't seem to hurt the healer.

"Gonna get back to my watch as well," she said before giving him a grin. "Welcome back."

Her sister watched her strut back toward the foliage, eyes full of concern, and she only looked away when Gerald spoke. "I'll go wit her in a few minutes."

Audrey stared at the man for a second and nodded. "Thanks Gerald. I know I shouldn't complain that she's so… motivated. But I worry she'll end up biting more than she can chew," she said, then yawned. "I'll take a short break and I'll replace you."

Ethan excused himself as the two continued eating and found a secluded spot to put some clothes on. With his hole-y pants and torn shoes back on, he turned off both the scales and [Mana Heart]. A groan escaped his throat as the tension in his chest suddenly abated.

Ethan took a few deep breaths, enjoying the cool underground air. He wondered if [Mana Heart] would accelerate his recovery if he'd kept it on, considering its properties, but after considering it more for a couple of seconds, he opted to just keep it turned off. He wasn't sure, but it was still a spellform. It was still a magical effect his body and soul had to maintain, so it probably was costing him something, right?

I'll figure that out eventually, he thought as he went back to the fire and found Gerald sitting alone. He'd been staring into the fire and when he heard the crunching under Ethan's shoes, he leaned over and picked up a roasting skewer and handed it over.

Ethan smiled. "Thanks, Gerald," he said as he took a seat on one of the stumps. He could definitely go for more. He just wished they had some spices around. "When we get back to earth," he said after swallowing the first bite, "I'm definitely chucking some spices into the pouch."

Gerald chuckled, and the two ate quietly, and at some point, Ember took over one of the stumps and laid on it, watching the fire with half-lidded eyes.

After a few minutes of silent eating, Gerald tossed his bare and burnt skewer into the fire, and as he rubbed his hands together, eyes still on the fire, he broke the silence. "I wanted to say sorry. About that… that first interaction we've had."

Ethan grimaced internally, and shook his head as he stared at the burnt skewer in his hand. Emotional talks still made him a bit uneasy, but he also knew the value of not leaving things unsaid. Taking a deep breath, Ethan looked up. "I was being a dick back then, which didn't help. We were all on edge. I'm sorry as well. Let's just put it past us and… move on."

Gerald nodded, and seemed to relax. He rubbed the back of his head the glanced around. Audrey was coming back toward the camp, having gone to the stream. She looked about to get some rest on a shared bed made of leaves and branches. "They're good kids. You all are," he said, and for a moment, the man seemed older. Ethan always assumed he was in his thirties, maybe late thirties at most, but suddenly, he seemed to gain a decade. Gerald looked around for a second, then back down at the fire. "I think this stuff's starting to get to us. Rolling with the punches early was easier, when everyone's running for their lives. But now that we all had the chance to lay down and be alone with our thoughts for a couple of days… it's starting to get heavy. Amelie's pushing herself hard, and she's restless whenever she's not fighting. Audrey's working hard to keep the moral up. Liz can't relax from watching the surroundings lest we get ambushed…"

He trailed off, and Ethan nodded quietly. He wasn't sure what to say, but he didn't disagree. He was doing alright, all things considered, and while he could do without the innocent deaths and danger to those who didn't ask for it, he hadn't felt as challenged and fulfilled in a while. But while it seemed that his companions were adapting as well, there was still a significant amount of struggle below the surface.

I should give them a hand. I can't help out everyone caught in these trials, but I can help these people at least. But what if my help's not enough?

"Anyways," Gerald said as he got up. "We really appreciate your help. Knowing what to expect from this stuff really makes a difference." He rolled his shoulder and gave Ethan a small tap on the shoulder. "I'm gonna go give Amelie some back-up. You should teach her a couple of things. She's a natural."

And with that, the older man left, leaving Ethan and Ember alone. When he glanced at the cat, he found her staring back at him, her black and orange eyes reflected the bright flames of the campfire, contrasting with the soft blue lights of the canopy around them.

"[They're doing decently. But the edges are fraying.]"

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Ethan blinked at the cat, then nodded. "I know."

At first, when he'd asked Ember to watch over the group, he hadn't felt that attached to them. He liked them, sure. They were decent people and like many, they didn't deserve to end up as sacrifices or die to some lizards in the middle of nowhere. It was easy enough for him to have the level fifty cat watch over them. Now though, seeing them like this, he felt conflicted.

Soon enough, Ember won't be enough to stave off the swarm of monsters. He wasn't sure if she'd been actively helping, but whether she did or not, she might not be able to stand up to a swarm of water monitors.

"[I resent the thought, but it is not wrong,]" Ember said as she twirled her tail back and forth. "[The rift will keep spewing stronger and stronger monsters as it stabilizes, and soon I will not be enough. They handled themselves well so far, but rifts are no trivial matters. Even where I'm from. Amelie is doing well. She found her purpose. But the other three are still in the fog and if they don't find their resolves, they won't last long.]"

Ethan nodded, staring down at the fire. "I think they'll pull through. They're acclimating. It has barely been two days since this started, and they must be exhausted. They'll find themselves."

Ethan had a good feeling about it. Gerald seemed to be the 'lost' out of them, but as he sat around and watched, he believed Liz and Audrey were on the way too. It was just a gut feeling though.

"[Good. Because while your lot has not had to deal with the nature of the universe, I can tell you that without a firm path only death waits. Believe me, if you had not gotten this opportunity, this… tutorial, if you'd been left to fend for yourselves back where you came from as mana ran amok, the deaths would have been much more numerous. I can't even imagine the chaos… between the monsters and your own people turning over each other, if one in ten survived I'd be shocked.]"

That was a valid angle Ethan hadn't thought of.

"Yeah… it would have been a battle on two fronts."

The tutorial has probably saved more lives than it had taken, and more would die before the week was out. He knew that logically, he couldn't save every innocent person in this tutorial. He just couldn't. He was no hero and honestly, he didn't want that kind of responsibility. But these four? They'd been nothing but friendly. He saved their bacon once or twice, but they never stopped working hard and it wasn't a weakness that they were struggling. Even Ethan, with all of his levels, has had to retreat back from the swarm below.

He had enjoyed the feeling of freedom and adventure for a couple of days, and nothing said that it would need to end. But would still be fun knowing he left this group to die when he could have just stuck around and fought closer to them?

No. Not at all. That's not who I want to be.

Ethan stared into the fire. He didn't want to take responsibility for every living being, but if someone was decent in his vicinity and he could help, he owed it to himself to do so. He had to.

Luther had helped him when he didn't have to. He had saved his life.

Ethan sighed and considered the situation. He had a feeling the main quest had something to do with this rift. It couldn't be a coincidence. Would the tutorial be over once they finished the quest? Would everyone be thrown back to Earth to deal with what was going on there?

I guess I'll know when it's done, which should be in a bit more than five days once I'm done resting. For now… the rift.

"How did you deal with them, back where you're from? Rifts? Is there a way to close them?"

The cat stood up and sat on her haunches, facing him. "[It depends on its tier. If it's within our grasp, we take it. Otherwise, we leave, and we let those who can handle them deal with them. There is a lot to be gained from rifts, but there is also a significant amount of danger as well.]"

She glanced toward the figure of Audrey sleeping, then her eyes roved around as she continued. "[If you care for their safety, it is time to fully commit or to leave them fend for themselves. I will soon not be enough. When me and my sisters hunt, we hunt. We either attack or we retreat. Waffling in between is how you get gored.]"

Ethan exhaled slowly and looked down at his hands, then at the tree Liz had climbed. At Audrey, fitfully turning around as she tried to get some sleep, then in the direction Amelie and Gerald had gone.

"[What will it be? Will you help them, or do we leave them to level or die?]" asked Ember, tail swishing about as she gave him another yawn.

He could be their vanguard. He could push into the fray and they could work on the stragglers.

With my new upgrades, I could output a lot of firepower. Heh. Firepower.

Ethan chuckled, then focused back on the new strategy, already including the four in his plans. He could keep the bulk of the monitors off of them. He'd still get all the fragments and level he wanted, but he'd have an eye on them and give them a push. Because once the tutorial was over, he had the sentiment that they would all need powerful and trustworthy people around.

Ember hopped on a log and dropped on her side, yawning again."[It looks like you've come to a decision, then. What is it?]"