As the forest fell into an eerie silence, Niki stood amid the corpses of the goblins. No crystals were dropped, and he walked back toward his group.


    “What do you think?” Lex asked, looking as if she was holding herself back from snatching the des from Niki’s hands.


    “They are… difficult to use,” Niki said with a frown.


    “That’s why I have the iplete art,” Lex said as she turned on the engine of the vehicle, making it roar to life. “Do you want to keep using it?”


    “So, I can refuse?” Niki asked with amusement, but Lex nodded thoughtfully, her pipe bobbing up and down.


    “This is mypromise. Your gun was the reason you lost, making my win iplete as well. Since my family was only sealing the weapon, the art must be their way of controlling the darkness.”


    Niki’s eyes gleamed when he heard this. An Art that would help him utilize the darkness better? That was pie falling from the sky, one he wouldn’t refuse.


    “If I agree, do I have to stay here?” Niki asked with a frown, but Lex shook her head with a smile.


    “It’s about time that I leave the Ferro Fort.”


    ***


    Niki needed to find the possessed dwarf in almost seven hours. For that, he would have to lure the entity to retrieve the blueprint.


    ‘The crux of the problem is why would the entity wants to possess people?’


    That’s why Niki took out one of the cogs and held it within his hand, waiting for the spiritual entity to try and control him. After a while of holding the cog on his bed, he began hearing voices.


    ‘Go to the dungeon… gather the parts… go back… go back! Go back! Go back! Take people! Go back! Find the key!’


    “Damn, someone is desperate.” Niki threw the cog on the bed as he tried to shake the thoughts away. “Normal people would fall into a trance the moment they touch it.”


    “So, this what possessed the dwarf?” Sergio looked at it with fear. “So scary.”


    “Then why are you trying to grab it?” Niki pped his hand away, but the alchemist seemed unaware of his actions. “This thing attracts people unconsciously.” Niki realized.


    “Put it away, boss!” Sergio jumped off the bed and pointed at it with fear.


    “Alright.” Niki ced it away. “We still need to find the possessed dwarves. But I don’t think we need to do anything.”


    ‘Why?’ Yuxi asked while sitting on the chair with her legs crossed.


    “Judging from the sounds I heard, there’s no way that the person holding this will be sane.” Niki smiled. “They must be nning on how to get the blueprint as soon as possible.”


    “They areing for us?” Sergio looked around, taking out his vials. “We need to prepare. Let’s set up traps!”


    “There’s no need.” Niki shook his head. “It’s time to make use of the dwarf’s corpse.” He said as he disappeared.


    He ran in the dark dimension and left the pavilion. Some dwarves were monitoring them, but Niki ran past them without them noticing.


    He reached the storage area where many machines were kept, close to the door. He had to wait until the door opened as some dwarves brought in games.


    Niki slipped outside and waved his hand, leaving the corpse of the dwarf that he had. He snuck back in as the statue began closing before running back toward his pavilion.


    The process didn’t take more than ten minutes.


    “Hm? You’re back?”


    “Keep the fact that I was away hidden from Lex,” Niki said as he sat back. “The mayhem will begin now.” He said with an evil smile.


    “Bossman, can it be that you’re a viin?” Sergio asked with a hint of unease as he held his bag of potions.


    ‘He tried to kill me, what do you think?’ Yuxi gestured with a speechless face.


    “Ah, that was because he’s cautious.” Sergio frowned as he pondered. “Boss isn’t an evil person. Without him, I would have rotted in that workshop!”


    ‘He’s just using to get potions.’ Yuxi gestured, making Sergio grow ufortable.


    “Hey, I’m still here.” Niki turned toward the mute. “Don’t make me strangle you again. As for you,” He turned toward Sergio. “Think for yourself about the people you choose to be friends with, don’t ask others.”


    “Ah, okay.” Sergio shrunk back. “But you just said we are friends.”


    ***


    There were five hours left before the curse activates, and the dwarves found the body. The tension could be felt in the air as Niki sat in a rxed manner.


    “You guys are here.” Lex walked into their pavilion with a frown. “Good, that’s good.” She sighed in relief.


    “What’s wrong?” Niki asked with a frown.


    “One of the missing dwarves returned,” Lex said with a scary face.


    “That’s good news, then!” Sergio said with surprise. “I didn’t know there was a missing dwarf!”


    Niki didn’t know if Sergio was naturally a good actor or just an airhead. Lex shook her head with a sigh.


    “He returned dead.”


    “Oh,” Sergio blinked. “Dead people can’t walk, though…”


    ‘Yup, he’s an airhead.’ Niki almost burst outughing, but he held himself back. Having Sergio was a blessing because he could make people trust him.


    “I…” Lex was stumped for words, feeling as if whatever she says will be misinterpreted by the alchemist. “We found a dead dwarf at the entrance. He’s one of the missing people.”


    “That’s odd.” Niki frowned. “Can it be that he died at the entrance, or did someone ce his body there?”


    “We don’t know, but the dwarves ced him in one of the storage rooms for now. I just want you to stay here until we can leave. Otherwise, fingers will be pointed.”


    “No one said you coulde with us.” Sergio scowled at her, but Lex simply turned toward Niki with a smile.


    “If you want the art, you’ll have to allow me.” She told Niki as he felt a headache from his growing crew. An alchemist, an archer, and a Gunmaster.


    ‘It’s time to use the Bloodline Talent, Wise Choice.’