Going Back to the Village

Arthur's footsteps echoed faintly as he exited the bustling streets of Caldera and entered the inn. 

His summons were still out in the wild, relentlessly hunting and farming for him.

Each kill they made fed him experience points, pushing him ever closer to Level 15. The notification chimes in his head were much less frequent now—small bursts of progress that kept him moving.

"Almost there," he muttered under his breath, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

He pulled out the Village Protector Insignia, its familiar glow pulsating in his palm.

"Time to see what Charles has been up to."

With a flick of his wrist, Arthur activated the insignia.

[Teleportation to Village #420 initiated…]

In an instant, the world around him blurred. The walls of the inn dissolved, replaced by swirling shadows and fleeting bursts of light. Then—

A soft thud.