The ground trembled beneath them.
The Rock Troll's roars echoed like thunder through the mine's narrow tunnels.
"Move faster!" Miguel shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency.
They sprinted through twisting corridors, ducking falling debris as the mine crumbled around them. The oppressive darkness closed in on all sides, broken only by the flickering flame of their last torch.
Miguel risked a glance back.
The Rock Troll, massive and enraged, squeezed through the tunnels, scraping stone and earth as it forced its way after them.
"We won't outrun it like this!" Elias gasped, stumbling slightly.
Miguel's mind raced.
They needed an advantage — now.
"There!" Sylvara cried, pointing at a side passage barely wide enough for them.
Without hesitation, they ducked into the narrow crevice.
The Troll tried to follow but was too large, its huge fists smashing against the stone walls in frustration.
"Bastards…!" it roared, voice deep enough to make the walls shudder.
The group pushed forward, bruised, bloodied, but alive.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the faintest glimmer of daylight appeared ahead.
With a final desperate sprint, they burst out of the mine's mouth into the open night air, collapsing onto the cool grass.
Behind them, the Rock Troll let out a furious, earth-shaking roar — but it did not pursue.
The Aftermath
Miguel lay on the ground, chest heaving.
For a moment, none of them spoke. Only the sound of their ragged breathing and the distant crackle of the mine settling behind them filled the air.
Slowly, a familiar blue glow materialized before Miguel's eyes.
[Quest Updated: "Survive the Forgotten Mines" - Completed (Partial)]
[EXP Gained: +500 EXP]
[Bonus EXP for Discovery: +200 EXP]
[Miguel – Level 4 -> Level 5]
[Stat Points +5 Earned!]
[New Title Unlocked: "First Explorer of the Forgotten Mines" (+2% EXP Gain)]
Miguel blinked away the fatigue, a faint smile forming.
A surge of strength and warmth coursed through his limbs as the level up took effect.
The others weren't left behind either:
[Party EXP Distributed!]
[Sylvara – Level 4 -> Level 5]
[Serena – Level 2 -> Level 3]
[Elias – Level 2 -> Level 3]
Elias grinned tiredly. "Heh… we lived. And we leveled up."
Sylvara laughed softly, wiping blood from her cheek. "Barely."
Serena, ever the optimist, clutched her staff tightly. "But we did it. Together."
Miguel sat up, wincing at his sore muscles.
Despite their battered state, he felt a spark ignite inside him — the spark of real progress.
Tending to Wounds and Strengthening Bonds
They returned to the abandoned village slowly, limping under the light of a thousand stars.
Inside one of the sturdier ruins, they set up a temporary camp.
Sylvara quickly started a fire with some scavenged wood, while Serena treated their injuries using her improved healing magic.
[Minor Heal II Activated!]
A soft green light enveloped Miguel's arm, closing the worst of his cuts.
"Thank you, Serena," he said gratefully.
She smiled shyly. "I'll keep getting better. I promise."
Meanwhile, Elias practiced conjuring tiny fireballs with a new focus in his eyes.
He wasn't just playing around anymore — he was training.
Miguel observed them, a deep feeling of pride swelling in his chest.
He hadn't just found allies — he'd found comrades willing to build a future with him.
The Strategy Meeting
Later that night, around the fire, Miguel unrolled a rough map he had drawn using charcoal on an old cloth.
"This," he began, "is where it starts."
He tapped the area marking the mine and the village.
"If we're serious about surviving, we need a base. A real one."
Sylvara nodded. "Fortify the village. Secure resources. Set patrols."
Elias leaned forward. "And eventually… drive that damn Troll out."
Miguel smiled grimly. "Exactly. But first, we build."
He pointed to nearby regions on the map.
"Forests for wood. Rivers for fishing. Mountains for mining."
Sylvara's sharp eyes gleamed. "It won't be easy. But if we succeed here, this village could be the seed of a kingdom."
[New Quest Unlocked: "Claim and Build Your Territory"]
[Objective: Establish a base camp. Gather resources. Recruit villagers.]
[Rewards: Territory Ownership, Title Upgrade.]
Miguel clenched his fists.
A real kingdom.
Not a fantasy.
Not a dream.
A reality.
And he would lead it — not by bloodline or fate, but by will, strength, and unity.
A Promise Beneath the Stars
After the meeting, Miguel wandered a little from the camp.
The stars above shone brighter here, away from the smoke and steel of his old world.
He thought of his life before —
Working endless hours in a foreign land, chasing dreams that always slipped away.
Here, he had another chance.
Not just to survive, but to create something that mattered.
"I won't waste this," he whispered to the night sky.
Behind him, Sylvara approached quietly.
"You're different from the nobles I knew," she said, voice soft.
"How so?" Miguel asked.
"You believe in building, not taking."
Miguel chuckled lightly. "Maybe because I know what it's like to have nothing."
Sylvara smiled faintly. "Then maybe… just maybe… you're the lord this land has been waiting for."
Miguel didn't respond.
He simply looked at the stars — and dreamed of what would come next.