Mina's hands stayed clenched around the dagger even after the monster lay still and dead. Her shoulders trembled and tears fell freely, but she didn't make a sound now. Just shallow and uneven breaths
The system's cold blue text flashed in the corner of her vision:
[Level Up] — Level 20 Reached.
[New Skill Acquired] — Blood Resolve.
She didn't even blink at it. The notifications meant nothing to her right now even though before she wanted to level up faster.
What did a new level matter when her parents were gone—no, worse than gone—when she'd been forced to kill them herself?
Clyde crouched beside her, his voice low but firm. "We need to move."
She didn't answer. Her hands came up to cover her face, hiding the red-rimmed eyes and the way her jaw shook.
"Mina," Clyde said again, a little sharper this time. "We can't stay here. The noise will draw other monster to come to us."
Still nothing. Just a muffled breath, wet and shaky.
