NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 28: Chapter 28 - Leaving!
As Sam walked toward Michael, he opened the system notifications, his eyes scanning the messages that appeared before him.
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have reached level 35]
Ding!
[Source of All Matter
[Source of All Matter
Sam couldn't help but wonder why his leveling seemed so slow. Despite having a title that boosted experience gain by 25%, he had killed over 500 Tier 1 humans, along with countless others before that, and only gained a single level. In contrast, Michael, who had defeated far fewer enemies, was already nearing Level 30 after leaving the dungeon.
Maybe the experience requirements are different for each person? Sam thought, frowning slightly. I'll have to ask the fairy about this later.
As he approached Michael, his younger brother spotted him and hurried over, his expression shifting to one of confusion.
"How's it going? And why are you covered in so much blood?" Michael asked, eyeing him warily. "Are you injured?"
Sam shook his head. "It's not my blood," he replied, his tone calm but grim. "It's theirs." He paused before adding, "Michael, I need you to go back and pick up the 50 people left at the camp. They didn't seem to believe I came to help."
Michael nodded. "Okay, but seriously, go wash yourself. You smell awful."
As Michael turned to leave, Sam called out to him again. "Oh, Michael... is it normal for humans to bleed that much?"
Michael stopped, his confusion deepening. "What are you even talking about?"
"Never mind. We'll talk about it later," Sam replied, waving him off.
Michael shook his head and continued on his way, muttering to himself.
While waiting for Michael, Sam decided to test the newly upgraded Source of All Matter at Strengthen+3. The results were astonishing. He now had full control over whatever he created, requiring far less focus to manipulate it. Simply directing his intent was enough to command the skill, opening up new possibilities.
Curious to push the limits, Sam raised his hand and activated the skill. Moments later, a brilliant light appeared above his palm. He opened his eyes to observe it but immediately shut them as the intense brightness burned his vision. Switching to his mental power, he examined the creation with precision.
The skill had succeeded. Before the upgrade, creating something as small as protons had been nearly impossible—too intricate and beyond his understanding of their composition. But now, it was not only feasible but efficient.
I could use this to develop new skills, he thought, the idea intriguing him. But that'll have to wait.
Soon after, Michael returned with the 50 survivors. His expression was grim, and Sam could sense the discomfort radiating off him.
He must've seen what I did, Sam thought, his gaze steady. I don't blame him for feeling that way. Even I don't feel entirely okay about it.
It wasn't regret, not exactly. It was more like an instinct deep within—a quiet voice reminding him that something about it felt wrong. But what was done was done.
The group began their silent walk back to the camp. The survivors, still in shock, followed quietly behind.
When they finally arrived, night had already fallen. The camp was dimly lit, the faint glow of fires flickering in the distance. Nate came out to greet them, his expression a mix of concern and relief.
"How did it go?" he asked, his voice calm but probing.
Sam and Michael took turns explaining everything that had happened. Nate listened without interrupting, nodding occasionally before finally saying, "I see. You did what you had to do."
After a moment, he added, "Let's get out of here tomorrow."
With that, Nate turned back to tend to the camp, leaving Sam and Michael to process the day's events in silence.
When morning came, Sam stepped out of his tent and stretched, the cool morning air brushing against his skin. The mood in the camp was noticeably lighter—almost festive. Conversations buzzed among the survivors, their relief palpable as they prepared to leave the forest behind and head for the tutorial town.
"Finally! We're getting out of here today," one person said, their voice tinged with hope.
"Do you think the town will be safe?" another asked, cautiously optimistic.
"Safer than this place, that's for sure," someone replied, earning a few chuckles.
Sam's gaze swept over the camp, taking in the smiles and the hurried preparations. For the first time since the tutorial began, people seemed genuinely hopeful.
"Brother!" a familiar voice called out, breaking him from his thoughts. Sam turned to see Eve approaching, her expression serious yet determined.
"What is it?" Sam asked, curious as she stopped in front of him.
"Can you help me?" Eve asked, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of vulnerability.
"Help you with what?" Sam replied, tilting his head slightly.
Eve hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I want to go through the dungeon. I need to get stronger."
Sam studied her for a moment, noting the fire in her eyes. He nodded slowly. "Alright. We'll do that. But first, let's get everyone to the town safely."
Eve smiled faintly, relief washing over her face. "Thanks, Sam. I just... I don't want to fall behind. I need to keep up."
Sam nodded again, understanding her feelings. Eve had always been competitive, and the tutorial had pushed her into unfamiliar territory. Feeling powerless was something she couldn't tolerate, and he respected her drive to improve.
By mid-morning, the camp was ready to move. People gathered their belongings, forming groups as they prepared for the trek to the town.
"I can't believe we're finally getting out of here," one woman said, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Let's hope the town has actual beds," another joked, earning a few laughs.
As the camp began to move, Nate approached Sam. "You're really helping her with the dungeon after this?"
Sam nodded. "She wants to get stronger, and I think she needs it."
Nate sighed but patted Sam on the shoulder. "Just make sure you both come back in one piece."
With everyone ready, the group started their journey toward the tutorial town. The forest seemed less menacing in the daylight, and the anticipation of reaching a safe haven buoyed their spirits.
Sam stayed at the back, his eyes scanning their surroundings, always alert. He knew the forest well enough by now to not let his guard down, no matter how optimistic the group felt.
When the group arrived at the portal's location, a heavy silence fell over the camp. The scene before them was horrifying. Bloodstained ground, scattered body parts, and the overpowering stench of iron assaulted their senses.
Some people couldn't bear it. A few stumbled back, their faces pale, and others doubled over, vomiting the contents of their stomachs.
Sam felt a pang of guilt as he observed their reactions. He hadn't been able to clean up the carnage himself, and now they were left to confront the brutal reality of what had transpired.
"Th-That's the portal!" someone shouted, breaking the silence. They pointed to the glowing gateway visible amid the ruins of the camp.
At that, a ripple of desperation surged through the crowd. Some couldn't tolerate the sight or smell any longer and ran toward the portal without hesitation, vanishing into its light.
[Tutorial Town Entrance]
One by one, more followed, until what had been a group of 200 had dwindled to just a little more than 50. Those who remained were mostly Sam's family and members of the combat team or other people who think the same as them that they need to get stronger.
Sam scanned the faces of those who stayed, his expression calm but thoughtful. Then, he turned to his parents. "Dad, Mom, take care of yourselves," he said firmly. "I'll take care of the others and follow you later."
His mother's face softened, though worry shone in her eyes. She stepped forward, pulling him into a tight hug. "Sam... you come back to me. I'll be waiting."
Sam nodded, holding her briefly before letting go. His father gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, his silent expression carrying a mix of pride and concern. Together, they stepped into the portal and disappeared.
Turning back to the remaining group, Sam faced them, uncertain. "So... what do we do next?" he asked, his voice steady but unsure. Leadership had never been his strength, and he wasn't used to guiding others.
Michael stepped forward, his voice calm and pragmatic. "How about we start by helping other people? I'm pretty sure most of them are still stuck at the starting point. We can guide them to the town, and then move to explore the other cardinal directions. If we find people along the way, we can direct them too. Who knows, we might even find another dungeon."
Sam considered his brother's words before nodding. "That... makes sense."
The others murmured their agreement, some nodding as well.
"Alright," Sam said, his voice a bit stronger now. "If everyone's okay with this plan, let's get started."
The group began organizing themselves, their resolve building as they prepared to move out. The atmosphere, though heavy, carried a sense of purpose.
[TUTORIAL QUEST]
Quest Name: [The Survival]
Time Remaining: 22 Days 08:24:25
Objective: Navigate the forest and reach the Tutorial Towns located in one of the four cardinal directions.
Rewards: Rewards will be granted based on the progression of your Soul Record, reflecting the growth, achievements, and milestones you have attained throughout the trial.
[SOUL RECORD]
Name: Samuel Barlow
Race: Human / Heaven
Class: Unbound Initiate
Title: Lucky Man 9, Early Access, The First of Skill Wleider, Barrier Breaker,…]
Level: 35 [Tier 1]
[STATUS]
Strength: 38 +12[+215%]
Agility: 38 +12[+215%]
Vitality:38 +12[+215%]
Endurance: 38 +12[+215%]
Intelligence: 38 +12[+215%]
Wisdom: 37 +12[+215%]
Luck: 100 +12[+215%]
Grandmist: 110 +12[+215%]
Undistributed Stats: 0
[SKILLS]: Mental Ruler
[COMMON SKILLS]: language, mathematics, cooking, exercises,….Etc.
[TRAITS]: The Eye of Heaven, Unbound.