EX-Grade Grass

Chapter 7

Ren barely made it back to the safe zone before dark. Every step sent a sharp pain through his side. He sold the cores quickly, bought stronger medicine, and left without talking to anyone. The black stone Kael had given him sat heavy in his pouch the whole time.

When he opened the door of the small house, Lisa took one look at him and pulled him inside.

“You’re hurt worse than yesterday,” she said. She made him sit and checked the bruise. It had turned dark purple. “What happened this time?”

Ren told her the short version. Three men from the Kane family found him again. A stranger named Kael stepped in just long enough to stop them from finishing the job. Then Kael gave him a choice and a black stone.

Lisa’s face went pale. “You cannot trust people who hide their names. And the Kane family will not stop.”

Luna wheeled closer. Her eyes were wide. “Will they come here?”

Ren shook his head even though he was not sure. “I’ll keep hunting far from the city. They want me, not you.”

He took the medicine and went to his room early. Sleep did not come easy. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Drake’s sword or Kael’s calm face. The stone stayed in his hand most of the night.

Morning came gray and quiet. Ren’s side still hurt, but the medicine had helped. He ate a little, told Lisa he would be careful, and left before the sun was fully up.

He did not go to Floor 1.

He used the badge and chose Floor 2.

The air felt heavier here. Rabbits were bigger. Some of them had red eyes and moved faster. Ren stayed low and used the grass more carefully. He grew thin blades that flew quiet and far. He trapped legs before the rabbits could jump. One by one he cleared a path deeper into the floor.

By midday he had collected more cores than the day before. His level rose to 3. The extra strength made the pain in his side easier to ignore. He kept moving.

He was checking a small cave when the black stone in his pouch grew warm.

Ren froze. He pulled it out. The stone was glowing faintly.

A voice spoke from it, clear and close, like Kael was standing right beside him.

“You went to Floor 2. Smart. The Kane trackers are still searching Floor 1. You have until midnight. My employer is willing to raise the offer. Protection for the two people in your house as well. But only if you accept before the time ends.”

Ren stared at the stone. “How do you know about them?”

“We know many things,” Kael’s voice answered. “The Kane family has already sent people to watch the commoner streets near your home. They have not acted yet because they are waiting for orders. That will change soon. Crush the stone if you want our help. Or throw it away and take your chances.”

The glow faded. The stone went cold again.

Ren stood in the quiet cave for a long time. Protection for Lisa and Luna. That was the part that cut deepest. He could take hits. He could run. But if the Kane family went after the only two people who had ever cared for him, he would not forgive himself.

He put the stone away and kept hunting. He needed more cores. More strength. Anything that might give him another choice.

Near evening he found something different. A wide clearing where the grass grew taller and darker than anywhere else. In the middle stood a rabbit the size of a small horse. Its fur was gray with black stripes. Red light glowed in its eyes.

Inspect finally worked.

Elite Rabbit. Level 6.  

HP 180.

The rabbit saw him and charged.

Ren did not try to take it head-on. He ran to the side and made the tall grass around the clearing rise like a wave. Thick stalks wrapped the rabbit’s legs. Sharp leaves cut at its eyes. The rabbit burned some of the grass with a strange red energy that came from its mouth, but Ren kept growing more.

He formed a long spear and drove it into the rabbit’s side when it stumbled. The spear held. He grew a second one and a third. Each time the rabbit broke free he slowed it again with new vines.

It took almost ten minutes. When the big body finally fell, Ren was breathing hard and his side felt like it was on fire again. But the rabbit was dead.

Harvest gave him a larger core that shone with a faint green light, thick fur, and a lot of meat. Experience pushed him close to level 4.

He sat down for a moment to rest. The black stone stayed quiet in his pouch.

The sky above the dungeon was starting to darken. Midnight was only a few hours away.

Ren stood up and began the long walk back toward the teleport point. He had enough cores to sell for real money this time. He could buy better medicine. Maybe even a cheap weapon. But none of that would stop the Kane family if they decided to move on Lisa and Luna tonight.

He reached the safe zone just as the lights came on. He sold everything quickly. The old man at the stall raised his eyebrows at the uncommon core but paid without questions. Ren bought more medicine and a simple short knife, then left.

The streets near home were quieter than usual. Ren walked faster. When he turned the final corner he stopped.

Two men in dark coats stood across the street from the small house. They were not looking at the door. They were looking at the windows. One of them noticed Ren and smiled a little.

Ren’s hand went to the pouch. The black stone felt cold.

He could crush it right now. Call Kael. Accept whatever chains came with the help.

Or he could try to handle two more Kane men alone while his side still hurt and his mana was low from the elite fight.

The men started walking toward him.

Behind the thin walls of the house, Lisa and Luna had no idea what was coming.

Ren’s fingers closed around the stone.

He had only seconds to decide.