Dmitriy would not have said that words could physically harm him, but his party was quickly convincing him otherwise. They managed to persevere through over an hour of repetitive arguments, while his headache was only getting worse.

Against this cowardly assault even his shiny new shield could not protect him. It was enough to make him wonder whether it was an actual weakness. Could this be considered training, then?

He groaned as he watched Millie waving her arms and gesturing at the wheat field. She must have found yet another combination of words that came down to the same thing: bad visibility plus venomous snakes equals very high danger.

To be fair, it was a strong argument and not easily dismissed. Only, he'd heard it often enough that by now, he thought he might prefer to test his improved constitution against a snake's venom rather than sit through another repetition of it.

Still, he had not found a way around it. If only he could think of an acceptable solution, then he could start shouting and pushing people to move. Without an actual proposal, calling for everyone to shut up and move on would just be foolish.

As he looked around for anything that might help, he noticed Tasha standing away from the group, seeming to practice her Ability on stones she was throwing. Hadn't she found clever solutions before?

"Natasia!" He called out as he approached. "How diligent, to be training even now. The makings of a true warrior!"

"Hey," she said absently, throwing another stone up. He watched as it suddenly changed direction and seemed to pick up speed before it landed in a patch of moss. There was a line of rocks at her feet, neatly ordered from small to big.

"I'd call it experimenting instead of training," she said quietly, without looking up at him. "I'm trying to figure out the limits of my new Ability, including how the energy spent scales with the weight of the projectile."

Dmitriy nodded approvingly. He was not foolish enough to deny that knowledge could be a form of strength. It was good to know one's limitations.

"This is a good thing. I may come to you with questions before choosing an Ability myself. But I wanted to ask you about this field of snake-dogs. We seem to be stuck. You have faced them before."

"Kobe killed one of them," she shrugged, "but I don't know much except that their venom is highly deadly. I don't get the rush to move on, anyway. There's so much more experimenting to do."

"Hmm. Let me ask you a different question. I want to borrow your brain for this, yes?" He paused and she looked at him, lifting an eyebrow.

"Imagine you are me. Mighty, yet impatient. You don't want to go around the field, but also don't want people to get bitten by hidden snakes and die. How would you solve this problem?"

She was already turning back to her stones, but at his question she pivoted to face the field of wheat stalks. He wasn't offended by it at all; she was a singularly focused woman, and he could respect that.

For a while, Tasha just frowned as she stared at the field in silence, until her eyebrows suddenly lifted. She looked at the ground they stood on, back at the field, then at the sky as she sucked at the tip of her index finger and stuck it in the air, nodding approvingly.

"I'd just burn the whole thing," she said calmly, then turned back to her stones, effectively dismissing him.

Dmitriy blinked as he stared at the field, considering, and then his eyes lit up as he turned back to the group with a wide grin.

"Comrades! I have excellent news!"

***

Not much later, their party was silently looking out at a burning wheat field, the roaring blaze leaving little room for casual conversation. There was only a soft breeze, but in exactly the right direction, spurring the flames on to clear a path through to the next zone.

Dmitriy had been elated when not a single word of protest was spoken against the idea. People seemed dumbfounded, blinking and frowning as they looked at the field, mouths opening as if to raise an objection, only to close them again without saying a word.

Still, even when setting it aflame they'd used an abundance of caution, stuffing some kindling into a dried bamboo stalk which they then lit and tossed into the field from a safe distance. Despite Dmitriy's claims that this was unnecessary, not much later they spotted two of the pug-snakes lurking at the edge of the field. Perhaps they'd been drawn in by their noisy arguments.

The creatures remained standing there at the edge of the burning field, angrily hissing at them even as they burned to death. That had been disturbing enough to wipe even his smile away. Nobody knew what to make of this unnatural behavior. Tasha had been frowning deeply as she muttered about needing more experiments. Perhaps she would have some possible explanations.

The field burned long enough that they decided to set up camp. The next morning, they arose to the sight of a smouldering field of ash, the air still thick with the heavy scent of smoke. The fire had burned wide and far, cutting a huge swathe through this yellow zone. Since this part of the zone was only a long band of yellow separating two dark green ones, it should be enough to get them all the way across without danger.

Jim had been the one to throw the burning spear into the field, and was therefore credited with the dead pug-snakes. It was close to 400 Value, which was evenly distributed within the team. Dmitriy felt that they should be cheering at such a great turn of events, but the mood was somber as they set out.

The ground crunching under his feet with each step, Dmitriy kicked up a cloud of black dust as he strode across the ashen field at the front of the group. After a few coughing fits, everyone had taken to wearing some kind of cloth to protect their nose and mouth. Beyond that, barely anything was said.

After a few cheerful days, the gloomy silence felt heavy and uncomfortable. Dmitriy felt that there was this unspoken sense that their party had committed a grave sin by burning the field. It was not really worth addressing, everyone just picking up the pace instead, which allowed them to make excellent time through the zone. The only stops they made were for Tasha to cut into a few of the snake corpses that looked less badly burnt, hoping to harvest the venom sacks.

After just a couple of hours they were through, without a single attack. It was the safest they'd been since the very start of the Reset. He gave Tasha a nod of respect as they kicked the ash off their boots and surveyed the next zone.

This was a vexing landscape, all grey rock in unnatural constellations. It looked somewhat like an abandoned quarry where giant children had been playing, competing against each other to build the highest possible pile of rocks. The entire landscape was made up of grey boulders and stones in all possible shapes and sizes. Some lay scattered across the ground, but many more were piled together to form rough pyramid shapes of different sizes. The largest of them were like small mountains, while others barely reached Dmitriy's height.

Not a single beast was visible, so Kobe and Millie were sent out to scout as they had the highest Perception aside from Dericka.

While they waited, Dericka once again pulled him aside to discuss the possibility of going around the next yellow zone. This approach reminded him of how the managers at the factory used to handle difficult announcements; pulling people aside one by one ahead of the meeting to stop the group from revolting.

"You know I do not like to overcomplicate things. This matter is very simple. We need to grow our strength and resources. After this Reset, those two are almost the same, anyway. We will grow both by challenging higher zones, so that is what we must do. To go around a yellow zone is… To deny this reality, yes?"

Dericka nodded.

"Your logic is sound. But if you'll excuse me for adding one complication," she said, smiling disarmingly, "we do have two little girls with us. That's also a reality. Don't you think it would be irresponsible to put them in more danger than is necessary?"

Dmitriy laughed mirthlessly.

"Too much danger. Yes. And where will you keep them, that is safe? Buried in a deep pit?" His eyes were sad as he smiled. "The matter of children, I think, is also simple. In the old world, strength was not a high priority, yes? Education, connections, money… These things were more important for success."

He paused, looking at Dericka for confirmation, and she nodded, waving for him to continue.

"Now, it is all about strength. I have heard the girls asking to hold spears, to be given Value to increase their Stats. To deny them that in this new world is a mistake. It is the same as… As denying them education, in the old world. It's something they need in order to thrive. Perhaps some day we will return again to the old ways, but until then, I fear that the weak will not live good lives."

It was Dericka's turn to shake her head.

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"They're too young, Dmitriy. What you say is probably true, and perhaps we should go so far as to train teenagers. But to put a spear in the hands of an innocent little girl? I mean, Jesus Christ. That's like cutting a piece of our hearts out. We can't just give up on our humanity like that."

Dmitriy drew himself up, his smile fading. This was the kind of thinking that could only come from people who were raised with privilege.

"I had to hunt from the age of nine. I was lucky enough not to have to fight other people, but I did get hurt sometimes. If I failed, we would go hungry. It was a hard childhood, but it has given me strength. I would not say that I regret it."

It was not all true, strictly speaking. But he had done some hunting in his youth, and he was sure his childhood had been less privileged than theirs. A bit of embellishment was necessary, sometimes, to make your point.

She put her hand on his arm then, looking at him with some kind of sadness in her eyes. He had to push down a flash of anger. Dericka meant well. The woman had a kind soul, filled with sympathy. That was not the same as pity.

"And we get to benefit from that strength today. I'm really happy we have you with us. I hope we can all be strong enough to let those girls hang on to their innocence longer, even if just a bit. It's a precious thing, and a sad thing to lose, I think."

"This way of thinking, it is a luxury, Dericka. You need to accept that the world has changed. Strength is what matters now. Children will have to grow up much sooner, yes. That is one of the things we must accept, and probably not even the worst of them," he said, meeting her eyes.

She took a deep breath then, letting it out in a long sigh. He could see the shift in her, her eyes fixed with determination now.

"That will be up to their mothers, in the end. All I want to ask from you, is to stick with the group, even if we decide on a detour."

He drew himself up again.

"You think I'm too weak to challenge a yellow by myself?"

She shook her head.

"Not at all. It's the other way around, my dear comrade. None of us are used to this. Our childhoods were spent in playgrounds instead of hunting. We need your strength. Those little girls need you to protect them."

Dmitriy grunted noncommittally.

"I will not give you any promises. It would depend on what the prey looks like. I will not go back to stomping rabbits or insects to death."

Disappointment and concern were plain on her face, but he would stand by his opinion. It was a worthy cause, to protect others. But they would not grow stronger by leaning on him. To avoid yellow zones would be to invite weakness into their group. If Dericka began to make choices that kept their Party weak, he would not suffer her leadership any longer.

***

When the scouts reported nothing more than bits of movement hidden in the shadows, their Party had no choice but to proceed. They did so warily, moving in a tight formation with Jim, Dmitriy and Kobe on the outside. Most of the women carried bows, with the exception of Dericka, who held a spear.

Forced to take a meandering path between the huge piles of rock while keeping their attention on the many holes that enemies could pop out of, their progress was slow. Still, they did not increase the pace, maintaining caution as they crept over the rocks, trying to keep noise to a minimum.

Their enemy finally revealed itself right when they passed between two huge mounds of rocks. Six green-skinned monkey-like creatures crept out of their holes, screeching and hollering at them. But instead of charging down the slope to attack their Party, the creatures began to throw stones. They were not large beasts, but their arms were long and muscular and they used them well, whipping the projectiles down at the party with dangerous speed.

"Take cover!" Dericka shouted as she ducked down behind a boulder.

Dmitriy raised his shield high, stones bouncing off with sharp cracks. From the impact felt in his arm, it would be dangerous to take one to the head. He saw Kobe hesitate to his left, looking for a way up, but he knew there would be no charging up that steep and treacherous slope.

"Archers, return fire!"

As stones continued to rain down on them, he looked over his right shoulder to see Elza hiding behind a boulder while Millie and Tasha were nocking arrows as they tried to find a good angle. A moment later he heard two snaps of bowstring, then a pained squawk from one of the beasts.

Dmitriy moved a few steps back, closer to one of the boulders the others were hiding behind. Another glance to the left showed Dericka twisted around to look towards their rear. Likely considering a retreat, given how poor their position was. He thought he caught Gerald clutching at a shoulder, possibly already hit.

Another two snaps of string. He waited, but when no sound came, he risked a glance over the rim of his shield to see six uninjured beasts continuing to hurl rocks down at them.

This was not going well, but with only his shield, he would not be able to turn the tables. It was time to finally purchase an Ability, then. It had not been his top choice, but it was perfect against these foes.

[Reduce Momentum]

When activating this Ability, you will be able to designate a fifteen by fifteen foot square pane within a forty foot radius from your body. For as long as the Ability remains active, any solid object entering the pane from the chosen direction will be immediately subject to a reflecting force which contains the opposite of its current direction and 90% of the energy.

The effect of [Reflect Momentum] would have been more useful, but its range and size were too limited to protect many people at the same time.

"Archers, gather behind me! I will use an Ability to slow the rocks!"

He didn't hear any footsteps yet. They must be hesitating.

"I will start in five seconds, then run to me with bows at the ready!" He shouted again, then started loudly counting down as he got the settings of the Ability in order.

At the count of one, he activated [Reduce Momentum]. Immediately, all the rocks that were headed for them lost most of their speed and fell down to the ground. Tasha had been the first to move, Millie and Marie joining next while Elza just watched, wide-eyed. He gestured at her to come over.

They went to stand in a row behind the Ability, stones clattering down as they took aim and calmly returned fire.

He watched as Tasha loosed an arrow, far too high, but then it suddenly changed direction to strike one of the green apes right in the neck. Millie and Marie missed their first shots, not having the same Ability, but corrected quickly. Millie hit on the third shot, Marie on her fifth. By then, Tasha had already taken out the rest of the beasts.

"Well done everyone!"

Dericka ran up to them, congratulating the women on the excellent shooting and Dmitriy for thinking on his feet. They agreed to some changes in the formation, putting Dmitriy in the front and the archers behind, with lookouts on the sides and rear to keep watch for more ambushes.

Due to the rough terrain and their cautious approach, they moved slowly. There were two more ambushes, which were handled well; most of the group hanging back while Dmitriy shielded the four archers with his Ability as they picked the creatures off one by one.

As much as they wanted to get out of this zone, traveling through the night was far too dangerous, so they were forced to set up camp. They eventually chose a formation that had the shape of a cove, allowing them to move out of sight, shielded from any ambushes.

Having built their confidence and with everyone feeling eager to leave this unsettling zone, they picked up the pace the next day, pushing through a few more ambushes to reach the next one. Everyone was relieved when nothing worse than the green monkeys showed up and they finally spotted the rolling, green hills of the dark green zone to the east.

"Okay everyone, we have a yellow zone to the north, connecting straight to our destination, or a dark green to the east. For now, let's march along the border and do some scouting," Dericka announced.

As they passed the final stony mound of this zone, the yellow zone finally became visible to their left. There was a brief silence, broken by Kobe.

"Damn. Next to that lush grass it kind of looks like that swamp from The Lion King, doesn't it?"

The underground of grey granite continued in that zone, with some stones and boulders scattered across. Instead of the piles of rock, there stood colossal leafless black trees, their sharp, crooked branches casting ominous shadows over the landscape. With the absence of any plants besides some patches of dead, brown grass, this lifeless zone stood in stark contrast to the vivid green next to it.

"Pah! Whatever beasts are hiding there will be nothing against our might!" Dmitriy called out, but it failed to raise any cheers, the group staying in quiet focus as they began to march over the grassy hills.

Dericka decided that they should stick together and hike up to the highest hill as a lookout point, instead of sending out scouts. It took the better part of an hour, during which no beasts revealed themselves.

Dmitriy had been covering the rear, so he was last to summit the hill, finding people pointing and gasping. The reason quickly became obvious; on one of the flatter hills below, there was what could only be a human camp, and it was under attack.

Two packs of what he thought were wild dogs were circling a wooden fence, some of them testing it by pushing with their paws, snapping angrily at the spears that stabbed at them. There were perhaps ten people spread out behind the wooden barricade to defend their small camp, outnumbered two to one by the dogs. They needed to go and help them. Dmitriy let out an angry grunt, looking at Dericka.

She looked almost like a deer in headlights, standing there frozen and wide-eyed.

"Dericka!" Kobe yelled, eyes fixed on her. Clearly, he was thinking the same.

The woman flinched slightly, her eyes flicking over to Millie and the girls. She had to be worrying about their safety, but these were people in need of their help. Was she considering to simply abandon them?

"We must-" Dmitriy began to say, but Dericka interrupted him with an angry shout.

"I know!"

She cursed and bit at her bottom lip.

"There are too many of those dogs and we said no reckless fights."

"I'm not going to just stand by-"

"I know, goddamnit!"

She cursed again, then took a deep breath, in and out. He hadn't seen her get angry like this before.

"We'll approach cautiously. The best we can do is peel a few off and take them out from the high ground. Nobody rushes in."

She paused, focusing first on Dmitriy, then on Kobe.

"Nobody. Rushes. In," she repeated slowly, "Understood?"

Both men nodded reluctantly.

"Dericka! It's too dangerous!" Millie pleaded, fear plain in her voice.

Dericka didn't look at her, closing her eyes as she set her jaw.

"It'll be safest if you stick close to the group. Let's go!" She opened her eyes and started down the hill before any more objections could be voiced.

Dmitriy thought she looked sad then, instead of angry.

He caught a glimpse of a bewildered Millie and Elza, daughters starting to cry as they clasped at their mother's hands. They truly feared for their lives. He couldn't help but feel the pull of sympathy. Perhaps his time in the US had been making him soft.

"Stay close. I will keep you safe," he found himself saying, before turning to march down the hill.

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