A day later...
Ryan jolted awake, heart racing, and blinked at the time. It was just past four in the morning. Through the window, the first faint streaks of dawn stretched across the sky.
Yesterday had been a blur. He had pushed his level all the way to thirty-three, leaving the rest of the guild trailing far behind. The sheer pace of his climb had stunned them, and more than a few were left muttering in disbelief.
Naturally, everyone demanded to know his secret. When Ryan finally let slip the truth about the Forest of Decay, the commotion died down. One by one, the guild members split into smaller parties and hurried off to grind for themselves. No one questioned now why the Forest carried such a reputation as the fastest path to power.
