"You look happy, Koko," Ahrie said, glancing at her as they walked.

"Me? Hehe." Koko smiled wide, her cheeks still glowing from excitement. "Of course! I gained a bunch of Exp after successfully summoning Rocky!"

Ahrie leaned closer, hand on his chin. "Ohhh… and how much are we talking?"

"Fifty Exp," she said proudly.

Ahrie froze. His eyes widened. He started counting on his fingers like a madman. "Fifty…? That's equivalent to fifty monsters—GODDAMN!"

Koko blinked, confused. "Wait… aren't you a healer?"

"Yeah," Ahrie said flatly.

A small UI flickered in front of Koko's eyes—it was a message from her Ent. She read it silently, then nodded. "Right… right…"

She looked at Ahrie. "You're supposed to get Exp when you heal, or… do healer-related stuff, my Ent said."

She pointed at Min. "Like how he gets Exp for blocking and stuff."

Min gave a smug thumbs-up, proudly smacking his tiny shield like it was an achievement.

Ahrie deadpanned. "Are you even blocking though?"

Then he squinted at her. "For real? I didn't get any Exp…" He tilted his head, jaw tightening.

Koko blinked. "Don't tell me you haven't gone to the Temple?"

"Temple…?" Ahrie's face went blank.

Koko stared at him, disbelief painted across her face. "How the hell do you have a skill if you never went to the Temple?"

Ahrie scratched his cheek. "Ahhh… skill… yeah. Got it inside a forest."

Koko's expression short-circuited. "Forest?" she repeated, her tone glitching between confusion and judgment. Then she sighed. "Whatever…"

She crossed her arms, explaining like a teacher dealing with an idiot. "Listen. The Temple's the one that manages the Skill Gacha—and class. You can change your class progression there with a cost if you don't like what your Ent gave you."

"I tried it before," she added, rolling her eyes. "Cuz this freakin' Ent of mine wrote my class progression as Barbarian."

She leaned close to Min, pointing at her face. "Do I look like a barbarian to you? Hah?!"

"I like cute things," she said defensively, hugging Rocky tight to her chest.

A small UI popped up beside her:

[You kinda resemble one…]

"SHUT THE F UP!" Koko yelled at the air.

Ahrie snorted.

"So yeah," she continued, brushing it off. "That's about it. Costs some weird-looking coin to change classes, but hey—better than being stuck as a barbarian, right?"

"Right now, you're classless," Koko said flatly.

Ahrie puffed his chest and proudly showed his ring. "But I have a Healer's License!"

"Dummy!" Koko snapped, smacking her forehead. "That just lets you join raids or treat nobles! It's for credibility—not your class.

Min scratched his head. "Don't tell me there's a license for tanks too…"

Koko squinted at him. "Yeah. For ranking—typical game crap. F-Class and above."

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't tell me you don't have one."

"Hehe…" Min smiled awkwardly.

Koko stared at the two, unimpressed. "What a weird duo."

Her Ent chimed a new message on her UI:

[You're one to talk.]

"Your opinion doesn't count!" she hissed, glaring at the floating text.

Then, realizing what she said, she quickly covered her mouth.

"Ehem… that wasn't very lady-like," she muttered under her breath, straightening her back.

She inhaled sharply, whispering to herself, "Relax… there's a lot of people watching…"

Ahrie and Min exchanged glances, scanning their surroundings. Nothing. Not a damn thing moved.

Min leaned closer to Ahrie, lips barely parting. "You sure about this one?"

Ahrie sighed, tossing his hands in the air.

Oii, hold this bag for a while—" Ahrie said, tying the bag tight on the horse's side.

"Don't break the fucking thing, got it?"

The horse blinked once… then nodded.

Koko's eyes caught something twitching in the bushes near a tree.

Without thinking, she leapt off the horse and sprinted over.

A small, cute lizard head peeked out

"Awwww, how cute! Wanna join my squad?" Koko asked, stars in her eyes.

Ahrie and Min came running after her.

The lizard looked at Koko—then at Ahrie—completely calm.

But when its eyes landed on Min… it blinked. Once. Twice…

Crack. Bones shifted.

Muscles swelled. Skin stretched tight as the "tiny" creature began to stand—rising, rising—until it towered over the trees.

Then it screeched.

All of them bolted.

"If you change your mind—call me!" Koko yelled while sprinting for her life.

The horse galloped beside them.

Ahrie was scribbling mid-run. "Big-ass lizard"

"I'll come back for your head when I'm stronger!"

"Bro, cover your damn face next time!" Ahrie shouted at Min. "You some kind of monster magnet or somethin'?!"

Rocky hurled a rock at Min's head.

"Oii, you lil shit!" Min yelled, dodging.

The squirrel stuck out its tongue, smug.

Min snatched it mid-run, gripping the tongue. "Wanna lose this, huh?"

Rocky panicked, flailing wildly.

"Stop it!" Koko smacked Min's hand.

Rocky immediately went back to mocking him.

Even with a big-ass lizard tearing through the forest behind them, it somehow wasn't a big deal.

The big, muscular lizard bent its knees—then jumped.

The ground split as it came crashing down, a shockwave ripping through the dirt.

They all dove aside, barely escaping the crater it left behind. Dust and gravel filled the air.

"Tch…" Ahrie gritted his teeth, drawing his rapier.

"I said wait till I get stronger, you fucker!" he shouted up at the monster.

Min shot him a glare mid-dodge. "Do you think it'll listen just because you say so?"

"You're the target, dumbass. You want me to back off instead?"

Min clenched his jaw. "…No, boss. You're right."

The lizard let out another shriek—raw, violent, echoing through the trees.

Ahrie turned to Koko. "You. What can you do?"

Koko pointed dramatically at Rocky.

Ahrie blinked. His shoulders sank.

In a blink, the massive lizard was already beside him.

Ahrie's eyes widened—caught off guard.

Its claw slashed toward his face, but he dropped low, twisting into a ridiculous Jojo pose mid-dodge.

The beast followed up with a kick—then a stomp—each strike heavy enough to rattle the ground.

Ahrie rolled out of the way, but a burst of shattered stones peppered his side.

"Tch—annoying bastard…" He grinned, brushing the dirt off.

Meanwhile, Koko had already set up a blanket like she was on a picnic, casually preparing tea.

Rocky stood beside her like a guard squirrel, tail raised and serious as hell.

Ahrie straightened his rapier, cracked his neck, and gave Min a look.

"—slow it down."

"Got it," Min replied, twirling his short knife.

They moved in sync.

Min rushed first, knife flashing in his grip—he slashed at the creature's leg—clang!—the blade barely scratched its scale, but it was enough to make the lizard flinch.

Ahrie darted behind it, sliding across the dirt, blade flashing like lightning.

He went for the tendons, the joints, anything that would break the rhythm of its movements.

The lizard swung its tail—Min barely dodged it.

The shockwave sent dust spiraling up around them.

Ahrie leapt through the haze, slicing into its knee, leaving a shallow but stinging cut.

The lizard roared, turned, and slammed its claw down where he stood—BOOM!—the impact carved a crater into the ground.

But Ahrie was already behind it, stabbing deep into its thigh.

"Not so fast now, huh?" he smirked.

The lizard's tail suddenly snapped around like a whip—caught Ahrie mid-taunt and sent him flying into a tree.

He hit, groaned, and spat blood.

Ahrie was gasping for air, one hand pressed on his ribs.

"Damn bastard packs a punch…" he grinned through the pain.

The massive lizard stomped forward—then vanished from sight for a split second—only to reappear right in front of him.

Its leg twisted back—THUD!—and a powerful kick connected square on Ahrie's chest.

"Ghh—ARGHH!" he spat out, body flung across the field like a rag doll.

He crashed, rolled twice, dirt clouding around him.

"RIEEE!" Min shouted, gripping his knife tight. He glanced at his small shield… then shook his head. "Damn it…"

"Oii, Rocky—do something!" Koko yelled.

Rocky puffed up, scooped a rock, and hurled it with all his might—

Thunk! It slipped mid-throw, bounced twice, hit a tree, and flew the opposite direction.

Rocky froze, eyes following the rock's tragic path.

Koko sighed. "Seriously…"

At the Ent's office…

Ahrie's Ent was already losing it.

"Nooo! Nooo! Don't die! We can't die yet—"

Sprout #02 – Linnene: R.I.P.

Sprout #03 – Essos: We will miss you, bud.

"OII! Don't jinx it! We're not dead yet!" Ahrie's Ent barked back.

Sprout #03 – Essos: I think I saw him put his bag on the horse…

Ahrie's Ent thinks for a moment, Hmmm… bag… baaag… gasp… Potions!

"Ohhh my daaays, you're right! Genius! Thank you very much!"

Ahrie's Ent began scrambling through files, flipping switches and tapping on runic panels.

"Okay, okay, think—there's gotta be a way to contact him—"

Sprout #01 – Hypergyphon: Why bother? Bro's already unconscious.

"Hmmm…" Ahrie's Ent muttered, eyes narrowing. He yanked out a thick, dusty rulebook from a shelf.

"Yes… yes… this could work…"

He pointed a finger upward. "Hold on a sec—I'll find Min's or Koko's Ent. You three, watch him for me."

Sprout #01 – Hypergyphon: Kaaaay.

Sprout #02 – Linnene: sent a like emoji

Sprout #03 – Essos: Good luck.

Ahrie's Ent kicked open the office door and sprinted through the corridor, violently rattling handles one by one.

"MIN!? KOKO!?—nope, wrong door, sorry!"

Next door. BAM!

"MIN!? KOKO!?—sorry! Sorry, my bad again!"

The whole hallway echoed with his voice as confused Ents peeked out of their rooms, clutching coffee cups and papers.

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