Chapter 5 – Zarya's Evolution
After a night of rest, Renji slowly opened his eyes, hearing the soft sound of breathing beside him. Zarya was already awake and, to his surprise, had grown significantly — now the size of a teenage polar bear. Her white fur glowed under the soft morning light that filtered into the cave, and her massive paws pressed against the rocky ground with renewed strength.
Renji blinked a few times, still adjusting to the sight.
"Zarya... how do you feel?" he asked, curiosity and concern in his voice.
Zarya looked at him, her eyes glowing faintly.
"I feel stronger," she said simply, then raised a paw and slammed it into the ground. Cracks instantly formed at the point of impact.
Renji's eyes widened. Floating faintly above Zarya's head was the number "Level 5." He couldn't hide his astonishment.
"You leveled up to five after eating that gem..." he murmured. "That means you can actually help me in battle now."
Zarya smiled, her sharp teeth gleaming.
"I want to fight. Smash all of them!" she roared, her voice full of raw excitement.
Renji looked at her thoughtfully. She was definitely showing signs of being a battle maniac.
"Right... she's Russian... and a polar bear..." he muttered to himself. "Kinda obvious she wouldn't be a pacifist."
Before heading to the castle marked on the map, Renji and Zarya decided they needed food. It had been a while since they'd eaten, and their energy was running low. The forest was vast and full of life. Soon, they came across a pack of boars.
There were five, each around level five. Zarya charged in with a roar, her claws tearing through the first boar before it could react. Renji followed, his katana flashing as he moved in a quick arc, slashing the side of another boar. The fight was quick but fierce. Zarya's brute power and Renji's agility made them an unstoppable team.
After the battle, they gathered wood and stones to make a small campfire. Renji lit it with two flint stones, and soon the aroma of roasting meat filled the air. As they sat by the flames, Renji looked at his status screen, reflecting on his growth.
[Status before assigning points]
Name: Renji Costa Nakamura
Class: Druid
Level: 4
Skills: Animal Healing, Memory Sharing, Animal Affinity
Attributes:
STR: 9 | INT: 6 | AGI: 8 | END: 3 | MANA: 2
Points to Allocate: 8
Renji thought carefully.
"My speed and strength are solid for now," he said aloud. "Time to balance things out."
He dragged his finger across the interface:
+3 to END (Endurance)
+3 to INT (Intelligence)
+1 to STR (Strength)
+1 to AGI (Agility)
[Status after assigning points]
Name: Renji Costa Nakamura
Class: Druid
Level: 4
Skills: Animal Healing, Memory Sharing, Animal Affinity
Attributes:
STR: 10 | INT: 9 | AGI: 9 | END: 6 | MANA: 2
Renji nodded, satisfied.
"This should help both in combat and casting spells later."
Zarya, licking grease from her paw, looked on with interest.
"You seem proud of yourself," she said.
Renji gave a wry smile.
"I am. We're finally starting to get stronger."
They sat in silence for a few more minutes, the fire crackling gently. The air was cool and slightly damp, filled with the scent of earth and roasted meat. Birds chirped above, and small creatures scurried through the underbrush.
Renji stood up, brushing the dirt from his pants.
"Alright, let's go. The castle won't wait."
Zarya rose beside him, her massive figure moving with surprising grace. They packed up, put out the fire, and followed the directions on the map they'd found with the goblin mage.
The journey through the forest was long and winding. Trees towered overhead, their branches forming a canopy that dimmed the sunlight. Strange sounds occasionally echoed — distant howls, rustling leaves, and the low growls of unseen creatures. Still, Renji and Zarya pressed forward.
As they walked, Renji found himself thinking about the castle.
"Who lived there? Why did the goblin have a map? Is it full of monsters or...?"
"Maybe treasure," Zarya interrupted, reading his thoughts. "Or enemies. Or both."
He chuckled softly.
"With our luck? Probably both."
They reached a hill overlooking part of the forest. In the distance, partially hidden by mist and overgrown vegetation, stood a ruined stone structure — the castle. Its towers were broken, and vines wrapped around its ancient walls. A sense of unease settled over Renji.
"Looks abandoned," he whispered.
"Or haunted," Zarya added, which didn't help at all.
Renji rolled his eyes.
"Let's hope it's not cursed too."
As the sun began to set behind the trees, casting long shadows, the duo moved toward the castle, unaware of the dangers waiting inside.