Sitting down, Jason summoned Scraps. "Okay, bud, we need to go over a few things before the next fight."

  "Now how do I open up your stats screen?" Jason mumbled, examining Scraps.

  New tab available. Tattoos.

  Opening the tattoo tab, Jason quickly found what he was after.

  Health: 180 / 180

  Mana: 5 / 5

  Attributes:

  Strength: 14

  Constitution: 18

  Dexterity: 10

  Willpower: 2

  Intelligence: 1

  Gains 4 to Strength and 1 to Constitution and Dexterity per level.

  Skills

  Vine Whip (common) – Lashes at a single enemy. Deals minor damage. Can cause stagger or trip if the enemy is smaller or off balance.

  Jason patted Scraps on the head and glanced over to Maggy. "Scraps' Strength is already fourteen," Jason said, rubbing his chin. "The next fight is going to be rough if the Alpha has a similar progression."

  "No kidding. We'll have to be real careful how we handle it."

  Jason and Maggy took care of their own level-ups. Jason put 5 points into Strength, 3 into Dexterity, and 2 into Constitution.

  "You do know we don't have to fight this thing, right?" Maggy asked.

  Jason pulled some dried meat from the pouch of storage and tossed it to her. "I know, but I can't move on until I..."

  Maggy gave him a sidelong glance.

  "We deal with this."

  "You know you're being melodramatic about this," she said, taking a bite of the meat. "But I can't blame you one bit."

  As they ate, they made their way to where they first met the beast.

  Jason winced as he looked over the obsidian pillars along the hillside. I still feel it in my back from the last time I was here. Now where is that pile of weeds?

  There it was—his rematch. The beast that had humiliated him, left him bleeding, gasping for breath. Today would be the day he'd settle the score.

  Alpha Brierhound – The relentless ruler of the pack. Larger, faster, and far more cunning than its kin. Its coiling vines move like living chains, striking before prey can react.

  Race: Rootspawn

  Level: 10

  Grade: F

  Jason's brow furrowed as he spotted two other Brierhounds lurking behind the Alpha.

  Jason turned to Maggy, grinning. "Let me take the Alpha. Can you handle the other two on your own? I'm going to need Scraps to take it down."

  "Not a problem. Do what you need to do."

  "You take the first shot. Wipe one out, and I’ll get the Alpha's attention. Just give me a moment to get into position."

  Ethereal energy danced along her wooden staff. A lance of green light shot forward, striking the nearest Brierhound. A ghostly shimmer spread through the creature before its eyes flared one last time. With a final, strangled howl, it collapsed.

  Jason let out a low whistle. "Remind me never to get on her bad side," he said to Scraps.

  The Alpha and the remaining Brierhound turned to Maggy, locking onto her with glowing, predatory eyes. The Alpha charged, closing the distance at an alarming rate.

  It was fifteen feet away. Her palms began to sweat.

  Now only ten.

  "Jason..."

  Scraps leapt from behind a pillar of obsidian and rammed into the Alpha's side with a charge of his own, knocking it over.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Jason was already mid-swing, following right behind Scraps. He brought his mace down with a heavy crack onto the Alpha's head, splintering the bark-like plating. A vine lashed out toward him—he ducked, barely avoiding it.

  The Alpha rolled to its feet with a guttural snarl, locking its gaze onto Scraps. It stomped the ground and vines shot toward Scraps. The attack struck true. Bark splintered, wood flew, and Scraps was thrown a dozen feet away.

  The Alpha turned slowly toward Jason.

  "Here we go," Jason muttered.

  The Alpha stalked toward him, each step deliberate. Its eyes scanned him and everything between them.

  I need to get it angry, or we're in deep crap, Jason thought, jaw clenched.

  He dug into his pouch and threw a handful of rocks, pelting the beast. The Alpha growled—the sound of grinding wood on wood.

  "That's it, you stupid dog!" Jason shouted as he threw another rock.

  It let out a roar and charged. Its vines twisted and lashed, claws tearing through the cracked earth.

  Now. Jason smirked and gave the silent command.

  Scraps, having recovered during the standoff, had moved into position. Two of his vines ripped through the air, smashing down onto the Alpha and slamming it into the ground.

  Jason stepped in, preparing another strike, but a loud crack from Maggy's fight pulled his attention. He stepped too close. The Alpha bit down, hard onto his foot.

  CRACK.

  Pain flared white-hot up his leg. He screamed and brought the mace down with a roar, smashing the Alpha's head until it released him.

  Scraps dove onto the Alpha, tearing chunks of wood away with vicious bites. The Alpha howled, squirming to escape, but Scraps’ vines coiled pinning the it down. With a final thrash, the Alpha fell limp.

  Level Up! Level 5 to 6

  Scraps Level Up! Level 2 to 5. Stat points allocated.

  Jason dropped to the ground, gasping. His leg throbbed—hot, sharp, and swelling. He’d felt pain before, but that bite? That one was going to stick.

  "Not bad..." he murmured, looking at the Alpha’s corpse.

  Jason looked to where Maggy had been fighting. She stood victorious over her own opponent and rushed toward him.

  "You okay?" she asked.

  He gave her a weak thumbs-up, wincing. "I think... that went better than last time."

  Maggy grinned, her relief evident. "Yeah, I'd say so. You and Scraps make quite the team."

  Jason grinned through the pain. "Thanks. Next time, though, I’d like to win without breaking something."

  Jason turned to the fallen Alpha. Scraps was still tearing into. "Okay, buddy, that's enough." He called Scraps back. Ink pooled and reformed, coiling back onto Jason’s arm.

  Jason crawled over to the beast.

  Vines of the Brierhound Alpha (Uncommon) — Can be moved with mental commands. If not of the Rootspawn race, there will be a major delay.

  Bark of the Alpha (Uncommon) — A small chunk of bark that is surprisingly durable.

  Finding nothing else, Jason winced as he began to stand. Then, he noticed Scraps running down his arm onto his hand. Scraps stood, lifting one leg and pointing like a hunting dog.

  "Do you see something?"

  Scraps ran in a quick circle, then pointed.

  Jason placed his hand on the Alpha. "This?"

  Scraps turned his back toward Jason.

  "I'm gonna take that as a no."

  He tried again with no luck. He repeated the process until he reached a spot where Scraps had done the most damage.

  Scraps ran in circles and pointed again.

  "Alright, if you say so." Jason ripped it free. "I don't know why you want..."

  He trailed off as a sudden warmth pulsed through his fingertips. The chunk shimmered faintly.

  Core of the Alpha (Rare) — If a Brierhound consumes this core, it will evolve into an Alpha.

  Holy crap. This is huge, Jason thought.

  He immediately resummoned Scraps and offered it.

  Warning: Must be Level 10 to evolve. If consumed early, the item will be lost.

  Jason snatched the core back before Scraps could eat it. Scraps looked up and whimpered.

  "Later, buddy. Don't worry. It'll be yours soon enough."

  A stupid smile spread across Jason's lips as he looked over the fallen Alpha. Just days ago, this creature had nearly killed him—left him bleeding in the dirt and clinging to breath. Back then, he was overwhelmed. Terrified. Thrown into this wasteland by an overpowered chandelier with a god complex and stripped of control.

  But now? Now he stood over a creature that had nearly killed him a few days ago. Bruised, yes. Limping, sure. But he had won.

  He had found something he had lost: purpose. It sounded dumb, even to him. But there it was, quietly pulsing beneath the pain and exhaustion. Beneath the frustration of being dragged into these brutal Games... was pride.

  He had taken a hit. Nearly broken again. But he got back up. He fought. He endured.

  Jason looked to Maggy—still watching him with a tired but proud smile—then down at Scraps, coiled beside him, his head leaning against Jason’s leg. This wasn’t luck. This wasn’t just survival. This was his moment.

  Scraps twitched slightly, one vine curling around Jason's arm and gave a gentle squeeze, as if to say damn right it was. Jason chuckled.

  Maggy stepped closer and knelt beside him. "You're not the same guy who ran from that thing a few days ago," she said quietly.

  Jason shrugged, still grinning. "Took a few broken bones to get there. But we are both getting there."

  She laughed, scratching Scarps head. "Yeah, I guess so."

  Scrap's wagged his tail-like vine, and let out a small bark.

  Jason's grin widened, the words forming slowly but solidly on his tongue.

  "Hey... that's not half bad. I will Capture, endure, and ascend."

  We Hit the Goal!

  Next Week’s Challenge:

  We’re aiming for 100 followers and 15 ratings by the end of next week! If you’ve been enjoying Jason, Scraps, and the chaos of the Games, consider dropping a follow, rating, or comment, it really helps visibility and motivates me to push even harder.

  Capture, endure, and ascend.