I exhaled slowly, trying to keep it together. Two years stuck at 60, no matter how many dungeons we cleared, no matter how perfect our runs were. Now? The numbers on the screen didn’t just mean progress. They meant freedom. Holy fuck, we’re finally moving.


    The skill bumps weren’t massive, not yet, but I’d take them. Better aim. Faster reactions. Smarter movement. My shots would land cleaner, my cover instincts sharper, and my armor usage would be more efficient. And the best part? Every skill that hit Level 10 unlocked a new ability.


    Which ability? No clue. The System didn’t exactly hand out spoilers. But I’d find out soon enough.


    I checked my attributes. Perception was solid. Willpower was holding. Charisma, though? Yeah, that could use some love, but when the hell was I charming anyone in a hive dungeon? Maybe I should try with one of those bugs.


    Focus, Luca. Five points. Where do they go? Perception was tempting – more accuracy, more situational awareness. Intelligence? It could give my planning that extra edge.


    But then I thought about it, the way attributes fed into skills. Higher attributes didn’t just mean better reactions, sharper aim. They boosted how much XP I earned.


    I knew attributes affected XP gains, higher stats meant more skill growth when we fought. But I never really dwelled on the math. That was Danny and Ryan’s thing, the two of them obsessing over skill paths and XP multipliers like it was a goddamn science.


    I just knew that my Perception was high, and that meant my Ranged Weapons skills leveled fast. Every shot, every kill, the System was funneling XP into my skills way faster than someone with lower stats.


    It made me better. Stronger. More dangerous.


    And after two years of stagnation, finally seeing that progress again? Yeah, I was pumped.


    Around me, the team’s voices buzzed over the comms as they adjusted their own attributes. Ryan’s voice cut through the chatter, practically vibrating with excitement.


    “Holy shit, do you realize what this means? The multipliers are insane now! Luca, you’re getting like, what, six times base XP per kill? Maybe more?”


    I rolled my eyes, grinning despite myself. Of course, he was already running numbers.


    “Dude, if we were still capped, I’d be sick right now,” he continued, probably pacing in circles, hands in his hair like a mad scientist. “But we’re not. Which means we need to rerun all our skill growth projections. Danny, I’m serious. We can optimize the hell out of this. The efficiency curve…”


    Danny laughed, cutting him off. “Ryan. Breathe. We just leveled up. We’re not writing a goddamn research paper on it.”


    <hr>


    I closed the profile screen, the display blinking out. Decisions could wait. Right now, we still had a Queen to hunt. Focus on the mission, I reminded myself, gripping my rifle tighter. But fuck yeah, it feels good to be leveling again! We''re gonna fuck shit up!


    Emily’s voice cut through my high. “Don’t get cocky.”


    I turned. She wasn’t smiling anymore. Her grip on the plasma sword was firm, her shoulders tense.


    “We’re in a TL9 dungeon with TL8 gear,” she said, her eyes hard. “The System isn’t just handing this stuff out for fun. It means we’re under-equipped for what’s ahead. One wrong step, and these things will tear through us. We’re not invincible, Luca.” Way to ruin the mood, Em.


    I exhaled, pushing down the buzz of excitement. She was right. I hated that she was right.


    “You’re not wrong,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “But we can’t pretend this isn’t a game-changer. We’ve been grinding the same dungeons for two years, and now? Now we’ve got a shot at something better.”


    She held my gaze, her jaw tight. Then, finally, her shoulders relaxed, just a little. A sigh. “Yeah. Just don’t get yourself killed proving a point.”


    A reluctant smile tugged at her lips as she flicked the plasma blade on again, the glow casting sharp shadows across her armor. “Let’s move.”


    I grabbed her hand, just for a moment. “We’ll watch each other’s backs. We always do.”


    Ryan, ever the showman, swung the rifle up dramatically, pretending to aim it at some imaginary enemy. “So, who’s getting this beauty, anyway?” he asked, grinning. “Captain, you wanna rock the new tech?”


    I hesitated, my fingers brushing the stock of my sniper rifle at my side. “You take it, Ryan,” I said finally, shaking my head. “You’re better up close, anyway, and we’re gonna need someone to test this thing in action. Besides, I’ve got my sniper.”


    Emily still had the plasma sword in her hands. I turned to her. “You keep that. I know you know how to use it.”


    She grinned, her confidence flaring as she ignited the blade again. The sound it made was sharp, alive, and yeah, it was pretty sick. “I won’t let you down, Captain.”


    Zoe let out a dramatic sigh, throwing her hands in the air. “I swear, I better get something cool soon, or I’m throwing a fit. I want a plasma bazooka or something.”


    I couldn’t help but smile. “You’ll get your chance,” I said. “Everyone’s going to get their shot at the new gear. But right now, we’re not done. We keep pushing forward, see what else is down here.”


    <hr>


    Then, as we started checking supplies, that buzz? It soured.


    I popped open my energy cell pouch, checking my energy cells. My stomach dipped.


    We each brought eight energy cells. That should’ve been more than enough. A full loadout, even for a long delve.


    But we weren’t burning through them at normal speed.


    I glanced around. Everyone was reloading, slotting in fresh cells, swapping overheated ones. Ryan’s scattergun alone had chewed through three already.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Fuck.


    My fingers tightened around my rifle. This wasn’t normal. In any other dungeon, we would’ve dropped these mobs faster. But these weren’t normal enemies. They were stronger, tougher.


    TL8 weapons weren’t cutting it.


    I shifted my weight, trying to ignore the gnawing unease creeping up my spine. We’d gotten a Plasma Rifle, a Plasma Sword, that was a good start. But aside from that? Nothing. No extra energy cells. No armor upgrades.


    Would we have enough to make it to the end? I exhaled, forcing my shoulders not to tense. No one else had noticed yet. Or if they had, they weren’t saying it. Not the time. We keep moving. We figure it out later.


    Chris was practically salivating as he shoved those Stim Packs and Nano Bandages into his pockets. "If this is just a taste," he said, "then I can''t wait to see what''s at the end of this dungeon. We''re talking serious upgrades."


    Danny hefted his Warhammer. "And we''re getting that boss kill, too. Plasma gear or not, I want to see what kind of loot the Hive Mother''s hiding." Of course you do, Danny. It''s always about the loot.


    "Then let''s not waste any time," I said. "We keep moving, but we stay sharp. We''re the first ones to see this, and we''re going to make it count." Fuck yeah, we are.


    We regrouped, tightening our formation. The path ahead seemed less daunting now. Maybe it was the new toys. Or maybe I was just high on adrenaline. This is what I live for.


    We moved forward, Ryan''s new Plasma Rifle humming, Emily''s Plasma Sword crackling. Hot damn, that''s a sight. We were finally breaking through the bullshit. The system had finally thrown us a curveball, and we were more than prepared to hit it out of the park. Let''s do this.


    I just hoped we had enough left to finish the delve.


    <hr>


    Zoe led the way, moving like a shadow deeper into the tunnels. It was quieter now, the skittering horde thankfully left behind, but the air still hummed with that weird energy. And the tunnel… it was opening up, widening.


    Then we stepped out of the narrow passage and into… what the fuck?


    If it wasn’t for the lack of a sky, I would think we were outside. This fucking cavern was huge. Like a goddamn universe down here. The tunnel opened onto a massive cavern, so huge I couldn’t even see the other side through the swirling fog. Fog, thick and green, clung to the ground, swallowing everything below knee level in a damp shroud. Above, towering shapes loomed – giant mushrooms? Fungi? Bigger than buildings, their caps glowing with this sickly green light, casting impossible, dancing shadows everywhere. And plants, vines as thick as my arm, weird alien ferns that dripped with moisture, all hung from the unseen ceiling and walls. This was weirder than New Dawn.


    “Whoa,” Ryan breathed, actually sounding awestruck for once. “This is… insane.”


    Insane didn’t even cover it. It was like stepping onto another planet, a whole ecosystem thriving in the dark. The air was heavy, thick, and wet, and smelled like… damp earth mixed with something cloying, something sweet and decaying at the same time. My visor’s environmental sensors were flashing warnings, picking up all kinds of unknown bio-signatures in the air. It was still breathable, though.


    “Fog’s a bitch,” Zoe said, her voice coming in through the communication link. “Visibility’s zero down low. Keep your eyes peeled, especially for movement in the mist.”


    Right. This was why we did this as a party. And Ryan? Ryan was good at this. Breaking down situations, assigning roles, and seeing the fight before it started. I was good at getting in and out, spotting threats before they spotted us. We all had our parts to play.


    "Alright," Ryan''s voice cut through. "Listen up, nerds. We stick to the plan. Zoe and Luca scout ahead. Everyone else stays tight. Joey, Danny, try not to sound like a goddamn freight train back there."


    Cue immediate complaints.


    "Booo," Chris groaned, "Why the hell do you get to lead?"


    Emily, ever the diplomat, sighed. "Are we really doing this now?"


    Danny, traitorous bastard that he was, clapped Ryan on the back. "Let the guy have his moment. He loves this shit."


    I smirked, adjusting my rifle. "Exactly. Ryan lives for this. Plus, this way, I get to run ahead and do my thing."


    “Oh, of course,” Emily said dryly. "You just want to sneak off and play lone wolf."


    "No," I shot back. "I just don’t want to be stuck listening to Ryan’s tactical lectures all night."


    "Aww, babe," Ryan cooed, "you love my tactical lectures."


    Zoe cleared her throat, already moving forward. “Less talking. More walking.”


    And that was that.


    Zoe moved first, vanishing into the misty expanse. I followed, my visor flicking through thermal scans, trying to pierce through the haze. Behind us, the others followed. Danny and Joey stomped in their Rhea Vanguard suits, each step a metallic thud. Emily and Chris flanked Ryan, watching for threats.


    Ryan, of course, was already complaining about terrain visibility and muttering about how great a deployable sensor grid would be right now.


    And me?


    I just kept my rifle steady and my breathing slow. Time to find out what the hell was lurking in this place.


    The fog was everywhere, this thick, swirling green soup that clung to everything. It was like wading through a cloud made of cold sweat. My armor was sealed, but I still felt it, that damp, clammy chill creeping under my skin. The air smelled stale, dense with rot and something oddly… sweet.


    Zoe moved ahead, slipping through the mist like a ghost, her presence more felt than seen. Our private comms were already linked, just the two of us. The rest of the team? Noisy as hell behind us. Heavy boots on damp stone. A muttered curse from Ryan about visibility. The occasional hum from Chris adjusting his gear. They were stomping through the cavern like they were on a damn parade.


    We moved ahead, slipping through the mist like shadows, keeping our steps light.


    "I love this part." A whisper over private comms. "Just us. No distractions. No waiting for Ryan to take an hour setting up his turret. No getting stuck behind Danny when he forgets he’s basically a walking tank."


    I snorted. "Right. Because you hate spending time with those two."


    She clicked her tongue. "No, dumbass. I’m trying to land one of them, and they’re too fucking oblivious to notice." Oh, here we go.


    I kept my rifle steady, pretending I wasn’t grinning. "Right. And that must be so frustrating for you, huh?"


    "Infuriating," she replied. Bull. Shit.


    If Zoe loved anything more than the thrill of a fight, it was shamelessly chasing those two idiots around. And them? So fucking dense it was almost tragic.


    Danny? A big lovable moron, completely blind. Probably thought Zoe was just messing with him, the way she messed with all of us.


    Ryan? Overconfident, cocky as hell, but somehow too goddamn clueless to realize when Zoe was practically throwing herself at him on a silver platter.


    And, of course, I was totally above all that nonsense.


    "Uh-huh," I deadpanned. "You hate it. Totally."


    Zoe just huffed. "Fuck you."


    I chuckled, keeping my eyes sharp as we moved deeper into the cavern. Just the two of us, slipping through an unknown world, the first to ever set foot here.


    I smiled. "You just love sneaking around like a little shit."


    "Duh," she said, and I could practically hear the grin. "What’s the point of being an Assassin path if I can’t abuse the hell out of it?"


    I didn’t argue. We both loved these moments. Comfortable. Private. Just us, the two of us, moving through an unknown world that nobody had ever set foot in before.


    For a second, I caught her looking at me. Something in her eyes, just a flicker of something before she glanced away, back to scanning the fog.


    The fog swirled as I stepped forward, and then I saw them.


    Shapes. Shifting in the haze.


    My grip on my rifle tightened. At first, I thought they were more of the bugs we fought in the tunnels. The same chitin-plated bastards, big and armored. But they weren’t attacking. They weren’t even looking at us.


    Some of them were hacking at the giant fungi, using branch-like appendages to carve glowing chunks into woven sacks slung across their backs. Others were clustered around bulbous resinous growths on the cavern walls, scraping at them with delicate precision. It looked… methodical.


    "What the hell are they doing?" I whispered.


    Zoe crouched next to me, scanning the scene. "Harvesting? Farming?" She sounded almost amused. "I thought we’d be fighting a hive of killers, not space beetle farmers."


    "Yeah, well, I don’t see any pitchforks," I muttered, adjusting my scope. "And the last time I checked, farmers don’t have mandibles that can take your arm off."


    Behind us, Ryan’s voice crackled in over comms. "Luca, you seeing this?"


    "Yeah."


    "You thinking what I’m thinking?"


    I sighed. "That depends, are you thinking about shooting them?"