《Dungeon Realm [LitRPG Progression Fantasy]》 Chapter 1: First Blood The cave walls were damp, and the air was thick with the smell of wet fur and blood. Erin tightened his grip on his sword, heart pounding in nervousness. Somewhere ahead, low growls echoed through the tunnels. ¡°Stay sharp,¡± Garrick said, stepping ahead. His older brother moved with ease, eyes scanning the passage for movement. ¡°Wolves don¡¯t fight alone. If you see one, expect more.¡± His sister, Lira, walked beside Erin. ¡°Don¡¯t let him scare you. They¡¯re just overgrown dogs.¡± A snarl cut through the cave. From the shadows, a pair of glowing yellow eyes locked onto them. Then another. And another. Three wolves crept forward, their bodies tense, claws scraping against the stone floor. One of them, a larger scarred beast, snapped its jaws, warning them to back off. ¡°Go for the weakest one first,¡± Lira whispered. ¡°Fast and clean.¡± The wolves didn¡¯t wait. One of them lunged straight for Erin. His body moved on instinct. He ducked, barely avoiding the snapping jaws, and swung his sword. The wolf twisted mid-air, his strike only grazing its side. The beast landed and spun around; fangs bared. ¡°Too slow!¡± Lira called out. Before Erin could react, the second wolf rushed in from the side. Garrick easily intercepted it, his axe flashing in the dim light. The blade sank into the wolf¡¯s skull, killing it instantly. Erin gritted his teeth. No time to think. He charged forward, feinting to the left before slicing to the right. The wolf flinched, just enough for his blade to land into its neck. A light yelp, then silence. The last wolf bolted, escaping into the tunnels. Erin stood there, panting, his hands trembling slightly. His first real fight. His first kill. ¡°Not bad,¡± Garrick said, pulling his axe free from the corpse. ¡°Could¡¯ve been cleaner, but you didn¡¯t die. That¡¯s what matters.¡± Lira nudged Erin with her elbow. ¡°You scared?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No. Just¡­ it felt different than I thought it would.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Garrick said, stepping over the bodies. ¡°It always does.¡± The three of them moved deeper into the cave. The Wolf Den wasn¡¯t a straight path, tunnels branched in different directions, some leading to dead ends, others looping back around. It was like a maze. Lira pointed to two paths ahead. ¡°Left or right?¡± Erin glanced at both paths. The left path was narrow, swinging his sword would be difficult. The right one was much more accessible, enough for all three of them to fight side by side. His pulse was still racing, but the thrill of battle was already settling in. There were more wolves ahead. And somewhere, deep inside this dungeon, the Wolf King was waiting. He took a breath and made his choice. ¡°Let¡¯s go right.¡± The right tunnel opened into a wider chamber, the air colder than before. Two wolves stood in the center, eyes locked onto the intruders. Their ears twitched, low growls vibrating through their throats. ¡°They knew we were coming,¡± Garrick muttered. ¡°Pick your target.¡± Lira cracked her knuckles. ¡°I got the ugly one.¡± ¡°They¡¯re both ugly,¡± Erin said. ¡°Fine, I got the uglier one.¡± Before the wolves could react, Lira raised her hand, her fingers curling as frost gathered in her palm. ¡°Crystallum Nivis.¡± A sharp ice shard formed in the air and shot forward, piercing the wolf¡¯s side. It yelped but didn¡¯t go down. Snarling, it charged at her, fangs bared. Lira sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Tough guy, huh?¡± She raised her hand again. This time, ice crackled around her fingertips, forming into something much deadlier. ¡°Frostum Lancea!¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A spear of ice shot forward at blinding speed. The wolf barely had time to yelp before the spear impaled its chest, lifting it off the ground and pinning it to the cave wall. It twitched once, and then went still. Lira flipped her hair back, grinning. ¡°And that, gentlemen, is how you kill with style. Your sister, saving the day once again.¡± Garrick rolled his eyes. ¡°Showoff.¡± Erin barely heard them. The second wolf was already lunging at him. But this time, he didn¡¯t panic. The beast leaped forward, and Erin stepped to the side. Its claws scraped the stone where he had been standing. Before it could recover, Erin slashed his sword across its back, cutting deep. The wolf spun, snapping at him, but he was faster. He ducked under its bite, shifting his grip on the sword, and drove the blade into its throat. The wolf let out a weak whimper, then collapsed. Erin exhaled. That¡­ felt easier. Lira clapped her hands slowly. ¡°Well, well, little brother. Look at you. Didn¡¯t even trip this time.¡± ¡°I never tripped,¡± Erin muttered. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Lira smirked. ¡°Next thing you know, you¡¯ll be stealing my spotlight.¡± ¡°Doubt it.¡± ¡°Good. I need someone to carry my bags when I become famous.¡± Garrick snorted. ¡°We¡¯re in a prison, Lira. No one¡¯s becoming famous.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Then I¡¯ll settle for being feared.¡± Erin shook his head, but a small smile tugged at his lips. His sister was ridiculous, but he couldn¡¯t deny it, she was strong. Same for his older brother Garrick. And if he kept going, soon he would be too. Garrick glanced down the tunnel ahead. ¡°No time to rest. We¡¯ve still got more wolves to hunt.¡± Lira stretched. ¡°Then what are we waiting for?¡± *** The wolves fell one after another. With every fight, Erin felt like he attacked cleaner and wasted less energy. His footwork sharpened, his grip on the sword more natural. They carved through the dungeon, room by room. Blood stained the stone floors, the scent of it thick in the air. Then, finally, the tunnel widened into an empty chamber. Garrick exhaled, rolling his shoulders. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± A rest point. Erin had read about these, natural safe zones inside dungeons where monsters couldn¡¯t step foot. No one really knew why, but every dungeon had them. A place to breathe before facing whatever is ahead. Lira flopped onto a rock, stretching. ¡°Ahhh, finally. My legs were starting to hurt.¡± ¡°You barely did anything,¡± Garrick muttered, sitting down. She gasped, clutching her chest. ¡°How dare you? Did you not witness my masterful magic?¡± ¡°I saw you impale a wolf and then spend the rest of the time watching Erin fight.¡± Lira shrugged. ¡°I call that letting him grow.¡± Erin shook his head, smirking as he sat down. His body ached, but it wasn¡¯t exhaustion, more like a dull soreness. And he liked that. Garrick leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ¡°Alright, now that you¡¯ve got some experience, let¡¯s talk.¡± Erin looked at him in confusion. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Dungeons. Levels. How everything works.¡± ¡°I already know some of it.¡± ¡°Not enough.¡± Garrick¡¯s expression was serious. ¡°You just turned sixteen. That means you need to start thinking like a real fighter.¡± Erin stayed quiet. Garrick continued, ¡°This is a Level 1 Dungeon. That means all the monsters are Level 1, and the strongest thing in here, the boss, is at most Level 2. Simple, right?¡± Erin nodded. ¡°Every dungeon has a level cap. The higher the floor, the stronger the dungeons. We¡¯re on Floor 1. The lowest. That means the strongest people here are Tier 1. Levels 1 through 10. No one on this floor can go past that.¡± Erin frowned. ¡°So if someone wanted to get stronger, they¡¯d have to move up?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Garrick leaned back. ¡°Every floor gets harder. Stronger monsters. Stronger people. If you¡¯re weak, you don¡¯t survive.¡± Lira twirled a finger in the air. ¡°And lucky us, we¡¯re at the very bottom of the food chain.¡± Erin wasn¡¯t surprised. He had grown up knowing that the Dungeon Realm was a prison. A world built for those who lost the war eons ago. But hearing it again, from Garrick, made it feel more depressing. Garrick looked at him. ¡°You want to level up?¡± Erin sat up. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Then listen.¡± Garrick held up a finger. ¡°You kill monsters, you gain experience. The stronger the monster, the better the experience.¡± He held up a second finger. ¡°But to actually level up, you need something else.¡± ¡°Energy shards,¡± Erin said. Garrick nodded. ¡°Right. Dungeon bosses drop them. When you absorb an energy shard, it pushes you closer to your next level.¡± ¡°Just bosses?¡± Erin asked. ¡°Yeah. Normal monsters don¡¯t drop them unless you¡¯re on the higher floors.¡± Erin frowned, thinking. ¡°So¡­ technically, someone could just farm weak dungeons over and over to get strong?¡± Garrick shook his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t work like that. The more you level up, the more energy shards you need. You have to fight stronger things to progress. Staying in weak dungeons will only take you so far.¡± Erin thought about that. It made sense. If leveling was easy, everyone would be strong. Lira yawned, stretching again. ¡°Basically, baby brother, kill things, take their loot, and don¡¯t die.¡± She patted his shoulder. ¡°Simple, right?¡± Erin smirked. ¡°Simple.¡± Garrick stood. ¡°Good. Because the boss is ahead.¡± The air in the room felt heavier. Erin looked toward the tunnel leading deeper in. The Wolf King was waiting. He clenched his fist. He was ready. Lira cracked her knuckles, grinning. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you can keep up.¡± Chapter 2: First Shard The moment they stepped into the chamber, Erin felt it. A presence stronger than the other wolves they had fought. At the far end of the room, standing on a raised platform of stone, was the boss, a massive creature with its fur a shade darker than the rest. Its yellow eyes gleamed with intelligence. Four other wolves stood beside it, slightly larger than the ones they had fought before. Their low growls echoed through the chamber. Garrick exhaled, adjusting his grip on his sword. ¡°This is a Level 2 Boss. Lira and I are both Level 4. We can handle it.¡± He glanced at Erin. ¡°You¡¯re not ready for that fight yet.¡± Erin didn¡¯t argue. He wasn¡¯t reckless. The boss was a step above what he could handle. But that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t fight at all. His eyes locked onto the elite wolves. Garrick nodded, understanding. ¡°Alright. You take one of the elites.¡± Lira grinned. ¡°And I¡¯ll deal with the rest.¡± The wolves didn¡¯t wait. They charged. Erin stepped forward, meeting the wolf¡¯s attack head on. Its claws lashed out, but he was faster this time, ducking under the strike and countering with a slash of his own. His blade cut into its side, drawing blood, but the beast barely flinched. It twisted, snapping its jaws at him. Erin barely pulled back in time. Meanwhile, Lira extended both hands. Energy crackled around her fingertips. ¡°Bruma Strigis!¡± A wave of frost erupted from her, coating the floor in ice and slowing the movement of all 5 wolves. Their fur was quickly covered in frost, their growls turning into pained whimpers as the cold seeped into their bodies. Lira smirked. ¡°And now¡­¡± She flicked her hands forward. ¡°Frostum Lancea. Frostum Lancea. Frostum Lancea!¡± Three ice spears materialized in the air and shot toward the frozen wolves, each one striking with precision. The shards pierced through their skulls, killing them instantly. Lira sighed, stretching. ¡°Too easy.¡± Erin wasn¡¯t paying attention. His fight was still going. The wolf lunged again, its movements slightly sluggish from the previous ice spell but still dangerous. Erin sidestepped, bringing his sword up, and this time his blade sliced through the wolf¡¯s neck. It collapsed. He barely even felt tired. Lira clapped. ¡°Look at you, moving like a real warrior.¡± Garrick, on the other hand, was still fighting the Wolf King. But he wasn¡¯t aiming to kill. Instead, Garrick was dragging it out. His movements were calm, precise. Each time the Wolf King lunged, he dodged by a hair¡¯s width, countering with small but effective strikes. Erin frowned, watching. ¡°Why is he taking so long?¡± Lira leaned closer. ¡°He¡¯s showing you how to conserve strength. Watch carefully. Every move he makes is just enough. No wasted swings. No unnecessary dodges. That¡¯s how you fight when stamina actually matters.¡± Erin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he focused on the battle. Garrick wasn¡¯t overpowering the boss. He was outlasting it. The Wolf King grew slower. Its movements became sluggish. Each attack weaker than the last. Garrick took his time. Letting it wear itself down. Then, finally, when the beast hesitated for just a second too long, Garrick ended its life. A clean strike to the throat. The Wolf King collapsed with a final, gurgling howl. Silence filled the chamber. A faint blue glow appeared over the corpse. An energy shard. Garrick exhaled, stepping back. ¡°That¡¯s how you fight smart.¡± Erin nodded slowly. He understood that strength mattered but efficiency was just as important. Lira nudged him. ¡°You ready to get stronger?¡± Erin stared at the shard pulsing with energy. This was it. His first step forward. Erin reached out and grabbed it. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He held the energy shard between his fingers. It looked like any other stone, rough and solid, but something about it felt different. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat. He turned to Garrick. ¡°So¡­ what do I do with this?¡± Garrick wiped his blade clean before answering. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Just crush it. The energy inside will flow into you, strengthening your body.¡± Erin glanced down at the shard again. It didn¡¯t look fragile, but he clenched his fist around it and squeezed. The shard cracked and then shattered. A sudden warmth spread through his body, like a small flame igniting inside him. His muscles tightened slightly, his breathing steadied, and for a brief moment, he felt sharper. Faster. It wasn¡¯t overwhelming. It wasn¡¯t some massive transformation. But it was there. Lira tilted her head, watching. ¡°Well? Feel any different?¡± Erin opened and closed his hand. ¡°Yeah. Stronger, but not by much.¡± Garrick nodded. ¡°That¡¯s expected. These are just low-tier energy shards. Bosses from Level 1 to Level 3 drop them. The higher the level, the stronger the shard.¡± Lira crossed her arms, smirking. ¡°And before you get excited, you¡¯ll need about ten of those to hit Level 2. So don¡¯t start thinking you¡¯re unstoppable yet.¡± Erin exhaled, rolling his shoulders. He had figured it wouldn¡¯t be instant. Still, this was his first real step toward getting stronger. ¡°Then we¡¯ll just keep going,¡± he said. Lira grinned. ¡°Now that¡¯s the spirit.¡± Garrick gestured toward a small alcove in the chamber. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s grab the loot.¡± Erin followed, his heartbeat picking up. Every dungeon had a treasure chest waiting at the end, the reward for clearing it. Tucked against the stone wall was a large wooden chest. A simple metal lock kept it shut, but as Garrick pushed the lid open, the lock snapped off effortlessly. Inside, the loot gleamed under the light. Erin reached inside and pulled out a sword. It was slightly longer than his current one, the blade polished silver with deep engravings of wolves running along its fuller. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather. The name was carved near the base of the blade: Fangpiercer. Lira whistled. ¡°Now that¡¯s a nice upgrade. Way better than that rusty twig you¡¯ve been using.¡± Erin grinned, swapping out his beginner¡¯s sword for Fangpiercer. He gave it a few test swings, the balance was smoother and the weight was just right. Then, at the bottom of the chest, he spotted two familiar glowing stones. Energy shards. Erin looked at his brother and sister. ¡°Come on,¡± Lira said. ¡°Take it, it''s useless for us right now.¡± Garrick nodded in agreement. He quickly grabbed one and crushed it in his hand. The energy seeped into his body, giving him the same strengthening sensation as before. He crushed the second one, and again, he felt stronger. Not by much, but noticeable. ¡°Not bad,¡± Garrick said. ¡°Three shards in one run. Keep this up, and you¡¯ll hit Level 2 before long.¡± Erin nodded, tightening his grip on Fangpiercer. With better gear and more energy absorbed, he was already looking forward to the next dungeon. Lira stretched. ¡°We¡¯re done here. Let¡¯s head back.¡± *** The journey back through the dungeon was uneventful. The wolves were gone, the eerie silence stretching across the dimly lit corridors. Before long, they reached the entrance, a circular platform engraved with strange symbols. The teleportation platform. Garrick stepped onto it first. In an instant, his body shimmered and vanished. Erin followed, and the world blurred for a moment before he found himself standing at the entrance of Wolf Den. The cave¡¯s gaping mouth loomed before them. It was in complete darkness. No matter how hard Erin squinted, he couldn¡¯t see a thing inside. But he knew what would happen. Step into the darkness, and you¡¯d be teleported back into the dungeon. Erin turned to his brother. ¡°So¡­ when can we go again?¡± Garrick shook his head. ¡°Not yet. Dungeons have a cooldown period.¡± Erin frowned. ¡°How long?¡± ¡°Twelve hours for Level 1 dungeons,¡± Garrick explained. ¡°Stronger dungeons take even longer. But there¡¯s no need to worry, there are plenty of Level 1 dungeons to clear.¡± Lira groaned dramatically. ¡°Ugh, let¡¯s not talk about dungeons right now. I need a bath, a meal, and a bed. In that order.¡± She turned toward the nearby trees, where their horses were waiting, lazily chewing on the grass. Erin followed, mounting his own horse. Echelon City wasn¡¯t far, but after hours of dungeon crawling, the ride home felt like a well-earned break. With the sun dipping below the horizon, they rode off. *** They were at the edge of the wilderness, also called the High Forest. This vast area stretches for hundreds of miles and contains dungeons of nearly every level, even level 10 dungeons deep in the center. However, the outer parts of the forest have been mostly tamed. Outposts are scattered every few miles, and some guilds have even built their own bases nearby. The road continued for a while ahead, the sky slowly dimming from the setting sun. But as Erin rode forward, the massive silhouette of Echelon City came into view. It was a massive city, its towering stone walls reaching to the sky. The city was one of the many beacons of human civilization, built in the middle of nowhere, a place where countless people came for refuge, power, and opportunity. As they approached the entrance, Erin saw the long lines of travelers, merchants, and adventurers waiting to get inside. The city gates were always packed. But the Storm family didn¡¯t need to wait. They followed a separate path, one reserved for known citizens, bypassing the crowds. The guards at the gate recognized them immediately and let them through without trouble. The moment they entered, Echelon City''s streets unfolded before them. Narrow alleys twisted between stone buildings, filled with the endless chatter of vendors calling out their wares. Market stalls lined the roads, selling everything from weapons and armor to food and trinkets. Adventurers moved in groups, some that just came from dungeons, others already preparing for their next run. ¡°Home sweet home,¡± Lira said with a satisfied sigh. They navigated the busy streets with ease, eventually reaching into the inner section of the city, where more notable people live. They soon reached a large courtyard estate tucked within the city. Two guards stood at the entrance, each gripping their weapons with practiced ease. Both guards were Level 5 warriors who had served the Storm family for decades, long enough to see Erin, Garrick, and Lira take their first steps. The moment the trio came into view, the two men broke into wide, familiar smiles. "Look what the forest spit back out," the first guard chuckled, his voice rough but warm. "Was starting to think you three got lost for good." Erin grinned. "You¡¯d miss us too much, Uncle Daveth." The second guard, Harlen, reached out and ruffled Garrick¡¯s hair, a habit from when the boy was barely waist-high. "Quiet as a graveyard here. Boring, without you lot causing trouble." Garrick swatted his hand away, but there was no real annoyance in it. "Give it a day. We¡¯ll find some." Harlen snorted. "That¡¯s what I¡¯m afraid of." Daveth shook his head, but his eyes were fond. "Just don¡¯t drag us into it this time." With that, the siblings dismounted their horses and stepped through the gates, finally back home. Chapter 3: Before the War Begins The Storm residence was peaceful, a big contrast to the chaotic streets of Echelon City. The siblings stepped into the main hall, greeted by the comforting scent of home. The smell of woodsmoke, polished steel, and a faint aroma of their mother¡¯s herbal tea drifted around the room. At the center of the room, Edric Storm, their father, sat in a chair, his broad frame relaxed but commanding. His dark hair was starting to silver at the edges, and his sharp eyes softened the moment he saw his children. Beside him stood Selene Storm, their mother, a graceful woman with a sharp gaze that could catch any detail. The second they walked in, her worried eyes scanned them for injuries. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Edric said, standing up. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. ¡°How was the hunt?¡± Before Erin could answer, Selene was already in front of him, gripping his arms and turning him slightly to check for wounds. ¡°Did anything happen? Were you hurt?¡± she asked, her voice full of concern. Erin sighed. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mother.¡± Lira chuckled from the side. ¡°You act like we fought a war. It was just wolves.¡± Selene gave her a sharp look. ¡°And wolves have teeth, Lira. You should never be careless.¡± Edric let out a small laugh. ¡°She¡¯s right, you know. Many warriors fall because they underestimate simple threats.¡± He turned his gaze to Erin. ¡°But I assume you handled yourself well?¡± Erin nodded. ¡°I did. It was... different at first, but I got the hang of it.¡± Edric¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Good. Your first real fight is something you¡¯ll always remember.¡± The family continued talking for a while, the warmth of home making it easy to settle in. Garrick spoke about Erin¡¯s first kills, while Lira exaggerated her own achievements, earning an eye roll from their mother. But as the conversation went on, Edric¡¯s expression gradually grew serious. ¡°There¡¯s something we need to discuss,¡± he said, his voice quieter now. Selene sighed, glancing at her husband before looking back at the children. ¡°The DeCostas are making their move.¡± The lighthearted atmosphere faded instantly. Edric folded his arms. ¡°They¡¯ve been sending their goons to harass our business. Our smiths, our shopkeepers... they¡¯re being threatened, some have even had their homes attacked.¡± Garrick¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°They¡¯re trying to push us out.¡± Lira scoffed. ¡°Cowards. They don¡¯t have the guts to fight us directly.¡± Selene looked at her children with concern. ¡°We don¡¯t have the numbers for a direct conflict. The Storm family¡¯s main fighting force is just us five, and also Daveth and Harlen outside.¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± Erin asked. Edric exhaled slowly. ¡°That¡¯s what we need to figure out.¡± Erin sat across from his father, as Edric laid everything out. ¡°The DeCostas don¡¯t want a direct fight,¡± Edric said. ¡°If they did, they would have already come for us. Instead, they¡¯ve sent the Tide Gang, a group that works under them.¡± Selene sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°They want to force us out through pressure. The gang harasses our workers, damages our shops, and makes it difficult to do business. They¡¯re trying to push us into submission.¡± Erin frowned. ¡°Why not just deal with the DeCostas directly?¡± ¡°Because we can¡¯t,¡± Garrick said bluntly. Lira leaned back, resting her legs on the chair. ¡°At least, not yet.¡± Edric nodded. ¡°Cassius DeCosta, head of the DeCostas, is a Level 7 warrior. You know your mother and I are only Level 6.¡± Erin stiffened. A gap of just one level didn¡¯t sound like much, but he had already learned from training that a single level in this world could mean everything. ¡°Let''s say you fought him with all your strength alongside dad, would you lose?¡± Erin asked. Selene gave a slow nod. ¡°It¡¯s not just about strength. We¡¯ve only reached about halfway to Level 7. That last step could take years. Plus, it''s not just Cassius. The DeCostas has several level 6 warriors, including their subforces.¡± ¡°Meanwhile,¡± Edric continued, ¡°Cassius has likely been at Level 7 for a while now. We can¡¯t take that risk.¡± His father must have noticed Erin¡¯s emotions because he sighed. ¡°Power isn¡¯t something you gain overnight, Erin. You¡¯ll learn that soon enough.¡± Garrick leaned forward, his arms crossed tightly. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan? We¡¯re not strong enough to take on the DeCostas alone.¡± Edric sat back, nodding. ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s why we won¡¯t be fighting them alone.¡± Lira tilted her head. ¡°Oh? We¡¯re getting backup?¡± Selene spoke next, her voice calm but firm. ¡°There are two other families in this city who share our problems with the DeCostas, the Krauss and Salvante families. They¡¯ve suffered the same way we have. Except for the fact the DeCostas have spent years trying to wipe them out, while they only just now started to target us.¡± Erin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°So we join forces?¡± Edric nodded. ¡°Exactly. Each of those families has at least two level 6 warriors. Together, we¡¯ll match the DeCostas in strength, making it impossible for them to continue harassing us. As for Cassius, he alone cannot stop us.¡± Garrick exhaled slowly. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ actually a solid plan.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Lira grinned. ¡°Yeah, for once, we won¡¯t be the ones getting bullied.¡± Selene gave her daughter a sharp look but didn¡¯t comment. Instead, she continued, ¡°If we continue fighting alone, we¡¯ll be picked off one by one. But if we stand together, the DeCostas won¡¯t dare move against us openly.¡± Erin sat in silence for a moment, thinking. ¡°So what do we do first?¡± Edric smiled. ¡°We reach out to the Krauss and Salvante families. If they agree, then together, we¡¯ll put the Tide Gang in its place. If we succeed, the DeCostas will have to think twice before trying to suppress us again. Don¡¯t forget, the DeCostas aren''t the only family with a level 7 warrior. They have enemies as well.¡± Garrick glanced at Erin and Lira. ¡°Still, we need to be careful. Even if we have allies, we¡¯re still weaker than the top three forces in the city.¡± Edric sat at the head of the table, his gaze calm but serious. ¡°You¡¯re all grown now. It¡¯s time you start thinking about the future.¡± Lira leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. ¡°Let me guess. Train, fight, level up?¡± Edric chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s part of it.¡± He glanced at Erin. ¡°Strength decides everything in this world. If we want to secure our place in Echelon City, we must keep growing stronger. That means more dungeons, more battles, and more experience.¡± Garrick nodded, thoughtful. ¡°We need to level up fast. If we stay stagnant, we¡¯ll always be at the mercy of stronger forces.¡± Selene, who had been quiet, suddenly smirked. ¡°Oh, and you three should also consider finding yourselves a partner soon.¡± Lira nearly choked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Garrick''s eyes widened. ¡°We¡¯re in the middle of dealing with life and death, and you¡¯re worried about marriage?¡± Selene shrugged. ¡°The Storm bloodline won¡¯t continue itself.¡± Garrick sighed, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Mother, please.¡± Edric chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on survival first.¡± The conversation eventually ended, and Erin returned to his room. He sat on his bed, his mind replaying everything that had happened today. But his thoughts drifted toward something else. No one in his family knew his true goal. It wasn¡¯t just about making the Storm family stronger. He wanted his own power. His own army. Right now, definitely no one would follow him. He was only Level 1. But that would change. He clenched his fist. ¡°I need to level up first.¡± Ten energy shards were required to reach Level 2. He had only absorbed three. He needed seven more. Grinding dungeons. Gaining shards. Leveling up. That was his first step. *** The next few days passed in a blur. Edric didn¡¯t allow Erin to go out for dungeons alone since it wasn¡¯t safe at the moment. Erin spent most of his time training by sparring with Garrick and Lira whenever he could. But today was different. Today was the day his father had called for an important meeting, the discussion of their alliance with the Krauss and Salvante families. The Storm family gathered in their main hall, waiting for their guests. Erin had only heard stories about these two families, but today, he¡¯d finally meet them in person. The first to arrive was Valka Krauss. The man was a walking wall. Tall, broad, and built like a war machine. His presence alone felt oppressive, his movements rough, like a beast that could smash through anyone in his way. The Krauss family was small like the Storms, only six members strong, but each one looked like a trained fighter. Valka stomped into the hall, his heavy boots thudding against the floor. His piercing eyes swept over the Storms like he was sizing them up. ¡°So, this is the Storm family,¡± he said, his voice rough like grinding stone. ¡°Heard you got a problem with the DeCostas. About time someone had the guts to stand against those bastards.¡± Erin stiffened under the intensity of the man¡¯s presence, but Edric remained calm. ¡°It¡¯s a problem we all share, Valka. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± Valka let out a deep laugh. ¡°Damn right. I¡¯ve been waiting for an excuse to start cutting them down.¡± The second arrival was the Salvante family, and they couldn¡¯t have been more different from the Krauss. Lucian Salvante walked in with the air of royalty. His sharp, angular features, deep blue cloak, and composed posture screamed nobility. If Valka was a wild beast, Lucian was a refined predator, elegant yet no less dangerous. He was one of the well known mages in Echelon. Behind him, the members of the Salvante family followed, each one dressed similarly. Lucian gave a small nod to Edric before speaking. ¡°It is good that we are finally having this discussion. The DeCostas have overstepped their bounds for too long.¡± His voice was smooth and controlled. ¡°This alliance is long overdue.¡± Edric stood up, his gaze passing over both families. ¡°We¡¯re all here for the same reason. The DeCostas have been suppressing our families, using their connections and their lackeys to choke us out. The Tide Gang is their current weapon against us. That¡¯s where I want to start if everyone agrees.¡± Valka grinned, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Just say the word. We wipe the gang out, leave their corpses as a message.¡± Lucian exhaled lightly, shaking his head. ¡°Violence alone won¡¯t always yield the best results.¡± He leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the table. ¡°Why not control the Tide Gang instead? If we control their leader, we could turn them into an information network. A spy force under our control.¡± Erin saw the irritation flash in Valka¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s weak. Controlling the gang won¡¯t send the message we need. The DeCostas will just replace them.¡± Selene frowned. ¡°Not to mention, the Tide Gang¡¯s leader is a level 6 warrior. Do you really think we can fully control him?¡± Edric crossed his arms. ¡°If we fail to keep him in check, he could betray us. That¡¯s a risk unless we kill him. But at that point the Tide Gang won¡¯t be of any use.¡± Lucian thought for a moment before nodding. ¡°A fair point. Continue.¡± Valka smirked. ¡°Finally, some sense.¡± The tension in the room didn¡¯t fade after agreeing to eliminate the Tide Gang. If anything, the air grew heavier as the three families began to discuss the when and how. Lucian Salvante leaned back, tapping his fingers on the wooden table. ¡°We need to strike at the right moment. If we wait too long, we risk losing the opportunity.¡± Valka Krauss scoffed. ¡°There¡¯s no need to overthink it. Pick a night, bring the blades, and burn their whole damn base to the ground.¡± Lucian sighed, ignoring the outburst. ¡°The Black Reaper, the leader of the Tide Gang, is rarely in his base. But I happen to know where he does go.¡± He smiled slightly. ¡°A brothel called Rose.¡± Selene raised an eyebrow. ¡°You seem oddly well-informed about this place.¡± Lucian didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Knowing the habits of important people is what keeps a family like mine alive. The Black Reaper visits Rose almost every night, drinks himself stupid, and leaves barely able to stand. If we strike there, he¡¯ll be vulnerable.¡± Valka grinned. ¡°A drunk rat¡¯s easier to kill.¡± Garrick, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. ¡°What about protection? Even if he¡¯s drunk, he won¡¯t be alone.¡± Lucian nodded. ¡°Of course. He always has two Level 5 warriors guarding him. But¡­ they drink too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sloppy,¡± Edric muttered. ¡°The DeCostas put their trust in him, and this is how he runs his gang?¡± ¡°The Tide Gang isn¡¯t an elite force,¡± Lucian replied. ¡°It¡¯s a bunch of criminals who know how to throw their weight around. Their strength comes from numbers, not discipline.¡± Valka cracked his knuckles. ¡°Then we cut down the numbers.¡± Edric leaned forward. ¡°If we¡¯re striking the Black Reaper at Rose, we also need to hit the gang¡¯s base at the same time. If we take too long dealing with him, the rest of the gang might rally.¡± Lucian gave a slight nod. ¡°A two-pronged attack. I agree.¡± Valka grinned. ¡°So do I. But I call dibs on taking the Black Reaper¡¯s head.¡± Edric exhaled. ¡°We¡¯ll assign the strongest fighters to Rose, while the main force crushes their base. The biggest risk is if the gang has anyone stronger than we expect.¡± Lucian shook his head. ¡°The Black Reaper is their only level 6 warrior. Their second-in-command is a level 5, and most of their elite fighters are level 4s. Those two level 5s that guard the Black Reaper? That''s all they got.¡± Edric looked at everyone. ¡°I want to move in two days. That¡¯ll give us some time to get ready and hit them hard before the DeCostas get word of our alliance. Everyone agreed. The Storms, the Krauss, and the Salvante had two days before war. Chapter 4: The Reaper Falls For the next two days, Erin trained relentlessly. With the battle against the Tide Gang approaching, he knew he couldn¡¯t remain weak. Every spare moment was spent refining his sword swings, improving his footwork, and sparring with Garrick. His brother was ruthless, pushing him to his limits, making sure he learned the hard way. Even Lira joined in occasionally, freezing his feet to force him to adapt to different situations. But no matter how much he trained, he was still just level 1. That was about to change. Late in the evening, his father, Edric Storm, called him into his private study. The room was simple, bookshelves lined the walls, filled with old tomes and battle records. A single candle flickered on the wooden desk. Edric sat behind it, holding out seven glowing energy shards in his palm. ¡°These should be enough to get you to level 2,¡± he said, placing them on the desk in front of Erin. Erin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re giving these to me?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been lying around,¡± Edric said casually. ¡°I wanted you to get your own energy shards, since depending on yourself is a good way of training. However, since the battle with the Tide Gang is tonight, you need to become stronger.¡± Erin reached out, feeling the familiar pulsing energy within the shards. Without hesitation, he crushed them one by one in his hands. The energy surged through his body, stronger than before, flooding his muscles, making his mind sharper. It wasn¡¯t anything overwhelming, but he could feel it. Level 2. Erin quickly did some movements, and he found out his strength has increased by almost two times alongside with his increased speed. He clenched his fists, adjusting to the power. ¡°So¡­ how many do I need for level 3?¡± Edric exhaled. ¡°Over 100 low-tier energy shards.¡± Erin¡¯s jaw tightened. That was an insane jump. ¡°Levels are easy in the beginning,¡± Edric continued. ¡°But the higher you go, the more you need. That¡¯s why after we¡¯re done with the Tide Gang, you¡¯ll have to start grinding dungeons. It¡¯s the only way to grow strong fast.¡± Erin nodded, but another thought nagged at him. ¡°After we take out the Tide Gang¡­ won¡¯t the DeCostas target me while I¡¯m grinding dungeons? I¡¯ll be their enemy then.¡± Edric smiled slightly. ¡°That¡¯s why you won¡¯t be fighting as Erin Storm.¡± Erin looked up, confused. ¡°You¡¯ll have another identity,¡± Edric said. ¡°When the time comes, everything will be taken care of. You just need to focus on getting stronger.¡± Erin slowly nodded. *** At night, a few blocks away, just outside Rose, the high-end brothel deep in DeCosta territory, a group of figures lay in hiding. The Storms, Krauss, and Salvante warriors had positioned themselves in the alleyways, their weapons drawn. And then, he stepped out. The Black Reaper emerged from the brothel doors, a cocky grin on his rugged face. His dark cloak barely hid the two women clinging to his arms, giggling as they whispered in his ears. Behind him, another two people staggered, chuckling drunkenly. Their armor was loosened, weapons barely hanging on their belts. He was arrogant. Sloppy. A perfect target. Or so they thought. "Now!" With a roar, Valka Krauss was the first to strike. The berserker warrior lunged, his massive greatsword carving through the air with brutal force. The Black Reaper twisted aside as the blade slammed into the cobblestones, shattering them in a spray of stone and dust. Drunk or not, his instincts were razor sharp. With a twist, he threw one of the women into the path of the attack, her scream cut short as Valka was forced to redirect his blade at the last second, barely missing her. The woman collapsed, unconscious from fear. "Tsk, tsk." The Black Reaper smirked, adjusting his coat. His voice was slow, casual. ¡°I was having such a good night.¡± Lucian¡¯s eyes turned cold. "Virtus Explosio!" A blinding lightning explosion burst forth from Lucian Salvante¡¯s hands, aimed directly at the Black Reaper¡¯s chest. The blast erupted like a thunderclap, shaking the air with raw energy. BOOM! Dust and debris shot everywhere. The brothel¡¯s walls splintered, the wooden beams groaning under the impact. And yet, he was still standing. Smoke curled from his coat as he stepped out of the dust cloud, rolling his shoulders. "Not bad," he muttered. "Now it¡¯s my turn." He moved. In a blur of motion, the Black Reaper dashed forward, his body twisting unnaturally fast. His dagger slashed at Lucian''s throat. CLANG! Edric Storm intercepted him mid-strike, his blade meeting dagger, sparks flying. A flicker of surprise crossed the Black Reaper¡¯s face. "Huh. You''re pretty good." Edric''s grip tightened. "And you''re not getting out of this alive." The two clashed, their weapons a blur. Each strike was met with equal strength, Edric¡¯s swordplay against the Black Reaper¡¯s unpredictable movements. Meanwhile, Lucian wasn¡¯t done. He raised a hand, eyes flashing. "Fulminis Iactus!" A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, a spear of raw power aimed at the Black Reaper''s back. He twisted again at the last second. The bolt grazed his shoulder, sending electricity crackling across his body, but he didn¡¯t stop. Before it could penetrate into his body, he directed the lightning towards the bodyguard closest to him. "AGHHH!" The guard screamed as the lightning struck him full force, his body convulsing before he collapsed. The other level 5 warrior, now sober with fear, unsheathed his sword, but an arrow whistled through the air. THUNK. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The Salvante archer, one of the other level 6 fighters, positioned on a nearby rooftop and fired a precise shot, hitting the guard straight between the eyes. Two down. But the Black Reaper remained unfazed. Valka roared, his berserker strength finally unleashed. He charged again, this time recklessly, swinging his sword. The Black Reaper smiled. Even while drunk, somehow he was still faster. He ducked under Valka¡¯s wild swings, his movements flowing like water. His dagger flicked out, slashes opened up on Valka¡¯s arms and legs, blood spilling onto the stone streets. "Too slow," he taunted. Valka snarled, ignoring the wounds, his rage fueling him further. He grabbed the Black Reaper''s coat, pinning him in place. "Got you now, bastard!" A glow formed behind him. Lucian¡¯s final spell. "Nova Detonat!" A star-like orb appeared in Lucian¡¯s palm, then shot forward. The Black Reaper¡¯s eyes widened. With inhuman flexibility, he moved aside, planting both feet on Valka¡¯s chest and kicking off him. The impact sent Valka stumbling back, just in time for the Nova Detonat to explode. BOOM. A wave of pure energy engulfed the area, erasing the brothel¡¯s entrance in a violent burst of flames. When the smoke cleared, the Black Reaper was still standing. Burned. Bleeding. But grinning. "I haven¡¯t had a fight this good in years." He wiped the blood from his mouth. ¡°Too bad I¡¯m still stronger.¡± Selene, who had been healing Valka¡¯s wounds, suddenly stepped forward. She lifted her staff, casting a shimmering aura over her allies. "You¡¯re strong, but you''re outnumbered." The Black Reaper glanced around. He exhaled slowly. ¡°Tch. This is getting annoying.¡± The Black Reaper exhaled, shaking out his arms. Blood dripped from the cuts Valka had managed to land, and burn marks scorched his coat from Lucian¡¯s spells. He rolled his shoulders, his usual cocky grin replaced by something colder. Edric narrowed his eyes. Something wasn¡¯t right. The man before them had taken everything. Lightning, explosions, berserker strength, and he was still standing. A terrible thought crept into Edric¡¯s mind. "Wait¡­" His grip tightened on his sword. "You¡¯re not level 6, are you?" The Black Reaper smirked. "Took you long enough. Just leveled up not long ago, lucky me." A burst of energy exploded outward from his body. The air turned heavy. The weight of his strength pressed down on everyone present. Valka cursed. "Shit. He¡¯s been holding back." Lucian¡¯s eyes darkened. The realization sent a chill through the group. The Storms, Krauss, and Salvantes had gathered all their level 6 warriors, thinking they outmatched him. But now¡­ They were facing a level 7 combatant. The Black Reaper cracked his neck. ¡°Now that the warm-up¡¯s over, let¡¯s get serious.¡± He moved faster than before. One second he stood still, the next, he was in front of Valka, dagger flashing. A deep slash tore across Valka¡¯s chest. Blood sprayed into the air. The berserker warrior roared, trying to counter, but the Reaper was already gone, twisting away, striking again. CLANG! Edric barely intercepted him, sword meeting dagger once more. But this time, the force behind it sent shockwaves through Edric¡¯s arms. This was the power of a level 7 warrior. Edric gritted his teeth. No choice but to fight. He pushed forward, sword clashing against dagger, each strike sending sparks into the night. His technique was fluid, honed by years of battle, but the Reaper fought like a shadow, slipping through openings that shouldn¡¯t exist. Edric barely dodged, feeling the tip of the dagger graze his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. "Virtus Explosio!" Lucian unleashed another lightning explosion, but the Reaper spun, using Edric as cover. The spell blasted against the stone behind them, missing entirely. Selene¡¯s voice rang out. "Fortis Clypeus!" A golden barrier formed around Edric, shielding him from the next attack. Valka lunged again, using his sheer strength to force the Reaper back. But it wasn¡¯t enough. The Black Reaper fought like a ghost. Strike. Dodge. Counter. Twist. Slash. It became clear they couldn¡¯t beat him in a straight fight. Valka¡¯s breathing was ragged, fresh wounds littering his body. Lucian¡¯s mana reserves were draining fast, each spell barely grazing the Reaper. Edric¡¯s arms burned from the constant strain, but he pushed forward. A lucky strike cut deep into the Reaper¡¯s side. For the first time, the Black Reaper stumbled back, blood dripping from his ribs. Selene immediately took advantage, chanting another spell. "Vinclum Terra!" Golden chains shot up from the ground, latching onto the Reaper¡¯s limbs. Edric saw his chance. He raised his sword, aiming for the killing blow. "Tch." A sudden pulse of energy erupted from the Reaper¡¯s body. The chains shattered. Before anyone could react, he vanished, appearing several feet away. His breathing was heavy. His coat was torn, his body bleeding. But he was still standing. He glanced at the wounds on his arms and torso. His smirk returned. "Not bad," he admitted. "Tsk tsk, if I wasn¡¯t drunk you all would be dead by now." Valka spat. "Bastard." The Black Reaper wiped the blood from his mouth. "But I¡¯m not dumb enough to die here." He turned and ran. *** The Black Reaper ran, his movements still unnaturally fast despite his wounds. Blood dripped from his side, his breathing sharp and ragged, but his instincts screamed at him. Run. Regroup. He had underestimated them. He twisted through the dark alleys, vaulting over crates and slipping between buildings. The Storms, the Krauss, the Salvantes, they were still on his tail. Suddenly, an arrow pierced his back. The Black Reaper grunted, stumbling for a moment before pushing forward. THWIP! A second arrow sank deep into his shoulder. He gasped. His body lurched forward, legs faltering. His speed slowed. "Got you," the Salvante archer murmured, already nocking another arrow. Valka charged ahead, closing the distance. "He¡¯s done for!" Edric pushed harder, sword ready. Lucian¡¯s hands sparked with magic. "He¡¯s heading for the market!" Chaos erupted. The Black Reaper burst into the open streets, where merchants and townsfolk still roamed under the glow of lanterns. People screamed. Vendors scattered. Carts toppled, and frightened civilians ran in all directions. The warriors didn¡¯t stop. The Reaper twisted and weaved through the panic, desperately seeking an escape route. But his body was betraying him. The arrows in his back burned. His legs felt heavy. His breath came out in painful gasps. And his pursuers were right behind him. He reached the center of the market square, chest heaving. Blood dripped onto the cobblestones. He turned, eyes burning with rage as his enemies surrounded him. "You think this is over?" he growled, voice dark and venomous. "You think the DeCostas will just sit back and let you get away with this?" No one responded. Lucian merely lifted a hand, arcane energy swirling at his fingertips. Valka cracked his knuckles. "You¡¯re out of tricks, Reaper." The Black Reaper spat blood and grinned despite it all. "You¡¯ve just signed your own death warrant." He exhaled, shaking his head. "The DeCostas will burn your families to the ground. Your mothers, your fathers, your children. They¡¯ll gut them in the streets and¡ª" "Enough." Edric moved first. His blade cut deep, slashing across the Black Reaper¡¯s chest. The man staggered, choking on his own blood. Valka was next. A crushing punch to the gut made the Reaper double over, coughing violently. Lucian raised his hand. "Nova Detonat." A small, bright orb of energy formed at his fingertips, then shot forward. The explosion engulfed the Black Reaper, sending him crashing to the ground. He groaned, barely alive, his once defiant gaze flickering. Selene¡¯s voice was cold. "This is what you deserve." Valka raised his fist one last time and brought it down. CRACK. The Black Reaper''s body went limp. Silence followed. His blood pooled onto the stone streets. His life, his terror, his reputation, gone. *** Edric exhaled. "It¡¯s done." Lucian glanced around at the chaos surrounding them, civilians still running, guards surely on their way. "We need to leave." Valka wiped blood from his hands. "Let the DeCostas find his corpse. Let them know their strongest hound is dead." Chapter 5: The Tide鈥檚 Last Stand While the level 6 fighters hunted the Black Reaper, another battle raged on the other side of the city. The Storms, the Krauss, and the Salvante forces had descended on the Tide Gang¡¯s base. The Salvante mages struck first, unleashing a storm of magic. Fireballs, lightning bolts, and waves of power slammed into the fortress-like compound, shattering the front gates and sending gang members screaming as they were blown apart. Then, everyone charged in. Erin sprinted forward with his sword drawn, his siblings right beside him. The air was thick with smoke, blood, and screams. The Tide Gang was responding fast. Dozens of people poured into the courtyard, some half-dressed, others already armed and ready. A horn blared from deeper inside the base, reinforcements were coming. But Erin didn¡¯t care. A gang enforcer lunged at him, a jagged knife flashing in the firelight. Erin sidestepped, twisted, and drove his sword into the man¡¯s gut. One down. He yanked the blade free just as another enemy came for him, a level 2 brute wielding a spiked mace. Erin ducked the first swing, feeling the air whoosh over his head. He retaliated with a quick slash to the man¡¯s arm, drawing blood. The brute snarled and swung again. CLANG! The impact rattled Erin¡¯s bones, but he held his ground. Then, before the brute could raise his weapon again, Erin lunged forward and sliced the man¡¯s throat. The brute collapsed, gurgling. Erin panted, heart racing. He had barely recovered before a third enemy attacked. This one was faster, daggers flashing. Erin was forced on the defensive, parrying the quick strikes. The thug was skilled, weaving between Erin¡¯s counters. Suddenly, a knife slipped past his guard. Erin hissed as the dagger cut into his side. But he didn¡¯t freeze. He countered. His sword flashed forward and a clean thrust struck through the thug¡¯s chest. The man jerked, eyes wide, before falling limp. Erin pulled his sword free, breathing hard. All around him, the battle raged on. Garrick fought with calm precision, cutting down gang members one after another. Lira moved like a shadow, ice shards piercing enemies from afar while she dodged incoming attacks. The Krauss warriors were relentless, their berserker-like brutality carving a path through the enemy ranks. However the Krauss ventured too deep inside enemy territory. One of the Krauss warriors fell, his chest split open by a massive war axe. A Tide Gang warrior, level 4, stood over the corpse, his weapon dripping with blood. The Krauss warriors bellowed in rage. The Storm family guards, Daveth and Harlen, moved in, cutting through gang members to reinforce the Krauss. A Krauss fighter charged at the level 4 warrior in fury, ready to take revenge. But Erin couldn¡¯t focus on them. More enemies came. A pair of level 2s rushed him. Erin met the first one head-on, sword against sword. Sparks flew as their blades clashed. The second thug circled around, trying to catch Erin¡¯s blind spot. ¡°Bruma Strigis!¡± A wave of frost swept through the battlefield, and the second thug stumbled, his legs coated in ice. Lira. Erin took advantage of the distraction, breaking through his opponent¡¯s guard and plunging his sword into the man¡¯s chest. The second thug, still struggling to move, had no time to react before Erin¡¯s blade cut him down. Another two kills. His heart raced, adrenaline fueling his movements. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The Tide Gang was losing. Their numbers were shrinking. Erin¡¯s blade dripped red as he pressed forward, cutting through another enemy. His muscles burned and his wound worsened, but he continued to fight. Some Tide Gang members tried to run. But they barely made it five steps before an arrow pierced them, fired from one of the Salvante archers perched on the rooftops. A small group of Tide Gang fighters had gathered at the other end of the courtyard. One of the level 4 warriors left, a giant of a man, raised his sword and bellowed, ¡°HOLD THE LINE! DO NOT LET THEM THROUGH!¡± The remaining Tide Gang forces pushed forward, refusing to fall without a fight. Garrick, standing near the center of the battlefield, took in the scene with a sharp gaze. His sword dripped with blood, and he exhaled, steeling himself. The Storm family warriors, along with the Krauss and Salvante fighters, tightened their formation. The next clash was brutal. The Tide Gang fought like cornered animals. Slashing, kicking, and biting in sheer desperation. One Tide Gang fighter grabbed a fallen sword and rushed Lira from the side. But before he could land a blow, a massive axe cleaved him in half. The Krauss warrior who delivered the fatal strike grinned, his armor splattered with blood. ¡°Weak.¡± He spat. Then suddenly, a spear burst through his chest from behind. The Krauss warrior¡¯s eyes widened in shock as blood spilled from his mouth. He staggered, glancing down at the weapon impaling him. Another Tide Gang fighter stood behind him, gripping the spear with both hands. ¡°Got you,¡± the gang member sneered. The Krauss warrior let out a guttural laugh. Then, with the last of his strength, he grabbed the Tide Gang lieutenant by the throat, lifting him off the ground. ¡°Not¡­yet.¡± He crushed the man¡¯s windpipe with one hand before collapsing to his knees. The Tide Gang lieutenant died instantly, and the Krauss warrior fell beside him, unmoving. Erin clenched his fists. Another ally lost. But they had no time to mourn. The battle raged on. Gang members dropped one by one, their forces crumbling under the assault. Some threw down their weapons and begged for mercy, only to be cut down by the Krauss and Storm fighters. Others tried to escape, but the Salvante blocked them. Those who remained fought to the bitter end. The gang¡¯s last few fighters stood back-to-back, their backs against the main hall of the compound. They were outnumbered, exhausted, and wounded, but they refused to surrender. A heavy silence settled over the battlefield. One of the last Tide Gang warriors spit blood onto the ground. ¡°If we¡¯re dying¡­ we¡¯re taking some of you bastards with us.¡± The last dozen or so Tide Gang fighters stood in a desperate formation, backs against the crumbling walls of their base. Blood dripped from their wounds, their eyes filled with fury and hopelessness. One of them, a battle-scarred brute wielding a jagged sword, stepped forward. ¡°Come on, then! Let¡¯s end this!¡± Garrick didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Kill them.¡± The final clash was quick and merciless. Erin rushed forward, cutting down a weakened gang member with a clean strike to the chest. The man let out a sharp gasp before collapsing into the dirt. To his right, a Krauss warrior swung his axe, splitting another enemy¡¯s skull in half. The crack of bone echoed in the night air. A Salvante mage raised his hand. ¡°Fulminis Iactus!¡± A bolt of lightning shot forward, piercing through two gang members at once, their bodies convulsing violently before falling motionless. One by one, the last Tide Gang fighters fell. But suddenly a level 3 warrior from the Tide Gang lunged out of nowhere, grabbing Erin by the throat. ¡°Let me go, or I snap his neck!¡± the man roared, tightening his grip. The world spun for Erin as he gasped for air, struggling against the iron grip. His vision blurred. His sword slipped from his fingers. ¡°Crystallum Nivis!¡± A sharp ice shard shot through the air. The Level 3 thug¡¯s head jerked back as the shard buried itself in his skull. His eyes went wide with shock, and then his body went limp. He dropped dead, releasing Erin. Erin coughed, stumbling forward, and turned to see Lira lowering her hand, a worried look on her face. ¡°You good, little brother?¡± she asked. Erin took a deep breath, nodding. ¡°Yeah¡­ thanks.¡± A brief silence followed as everyone realized there weren¡¯t any enemies left standing. A triumphant roar erupted from the allied families. They had won. The Tide Gang, wiped out. The stench of blood still clung to the air, but the battle was over. The last of the Tide Gang lay dead, their stronghold in ruins. One of the Salvante warriors turned to the others. ¡°We should start searching the place. Weapons, armor, coin. If it has value, we take it. We¡¯ll divide the spoils up after.¡± Everyone nodded, and without hesitation, the warriors fanned out, rummaging through every room of the Tide Gang¡¯s base. Erin moved with them, stepping over bodies as he entered a side chamber filled with crates. He kicked one open, revealing stacks of silver coins and small energy shards. His eyes gleamed. ¡°Jackpot.¡± Lira leaned over his shoulder. ¡°Not bad. But let¡¯s see if they have anything better.¡± She grabbed a handful of the coins and tossed them into a bag. Across the hideout, the Storm, Salvante, and Krauss warriors were busy collecting everything of value. One of the Krauss men hefted a large black-iron greatsword. ¡°This thing¡¯s heavy as hell,¡± he muttered. Meanwhile, one of the Salvante mages pulled open a dusty chest and found several bottles of alchemical potions. ¡°These might be useful,¡± he remarked, passing them to another mage. The entire process took no more than twenty minutes. By the time they were finished, every last valuable item had been stripped from the hideout. A whistle cut through the air. Erin turned toward the entrance, just as his father, Edric, and the rest of the level 6 arrived. Valka Krauss, his massive form covered in blood, let out a barking laugh. ¡°Looks like you finished up without us!¡± Lucian Salvante, looking far more composed, stepped forward. ¡°I assume everything has been gathered?¡± Garrick nodded. ¡°Everything of value is secured.¡± Edric¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the area before nodding in approval. ¡°Good. Let''s move to a safer place to divide it.¡± Selene approached Erin, her gaze softening as she noticed the fresh cut on his side. Without a word, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, her magic already shimmering at her fingertips. A warm, golden light enveloped the wound, knitting the skin back together seamlessly. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Erin shifted slightly, the lingering sting fading under her healing touch. He gave a small shrug, trying to downplay it. "It''s nothing." Lira snickered beside him. ¡°Almost got yourself choked out, though.¡± Erin scowled. ¡°I was distracted.¡± Selene chuckled before turning back to the group. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any more time. We¡¯ll talk details once we get back.¡± Chapter 6: The Cost of Victory As the victorious warriors left the ruined Tide Gang base, the mood was not as triumphant as expected. Not for the Krauss family. Valka Krauss stood still, his large frame shadowed under the moonlight. His bloodied fists clenched at his sides as he stared down at the two fallen warriors of his family, people who had fought alongside him for years. They had come into this fight as six. Now, only four remained. A tense silence hung over the group. No one dared speak as Valka knelt beside the bodies, his breathing heavy but controlled. One of the remaining Krauss warriors, a scarred man named Erwin, placed a hand on Valka¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll bring them home.¡± Valka didn¡¯t respond at first. His eyes were locked on his fallen kin, as if memorizing their faces one last time. Finally, he exhaled. A slow, deep breath. ¡°They died as warriors,¡± he muttered. ¡°But this isn¡¯t the end.¡± Lucian Salvante, standing a few steps away, watched with his usual unreadable expression. ¡°Losing people is never easy.¡± Valka scoffed, shaking his head. ¡°Easy? My family¡¯s nearly wiped out.¡± His voice was hoarse, filled with an anger barely contained. ¡°Six warriors. That¡¯s all we had left. And now? Four.¡± Edric stepped forward. ¡°The Krauss name still stands, Valka.¡± Valka let out a dry laugh. ¡°Does it?¡± His gaze flickered to the remaining members of his family, three warriors who had given their all tonight, just like the two who lay dead before them. The battle had been a victory, but the cost was steep. The others gave him space as he and his surviving warriors carefully lifted the fallen, their bodies wrapped in whatever cloaks they could find. They weren¡¯t leaving with riches or loot. They were leaving with the dead. Garrick watched as they began their slow march back toward their home. He turned to Erin, voice quiet. ¡°The Krauss are strong, but¡­¡± Erin finished the thought. ¡°They won¡¯t last much longer.¡± Lira crossed her arms, frowning. ¡°Even if we work together, they can¡¯t keep taking losses like this. They charged deep into enemy territory without waiting for us. Daveth and Harlen almost didn¡¯t make it out alive trying to help them.¡± No one responded. Lucian sighed. ¡°Let''s go everyone, we need to leave before any of the city guards arrive.¡± *** The Storm and Salvante families moved quickly through the streets, their boots crunching against the stone roads of Echelon City. The war had only just begun. As they neared the Salvante estate, the difference between their worlds became more apparent. The streets here were clean, polished, and patrolled by private guards in shining silver armor. The estate itself was massive, a giant mansion with towering marble pillars, grand staircases, and golden chandeliers that reflected the flickering candlelight. It was a place that reeked of nobility, opposite to the bloodstained battlefield they had just left behind. When they stepped through the iron gates, Lucian Salvante led the way, his violet cloak swaying with every step. He moved with the air of a noble, his expression unreadable as he gestured for the others to follow. ¡°Come. The Krauss deserve their share.¡± Inside, the great hall was prepared for their arrival. A long amber table stretched across the chamber, its surface quickly covered with the spoils of war. The wealth of the Tide Gang was spread out before them, gleaming under the golden chandelier. Everything was listed down: - 60,000~ silver coins - 1,537 low-tier energy shards - 71 mid-tier energy shards - A pile of basic iron weapons - Ten low-grade weapons The moment the loot was revealed, silence fell over the room. Garrick folded his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the wealth. "Not bad for one night¡¯s work." Lira let out a low whistle. "Honestly, I expected less." But despite the riches before them, no one smiled. The battle had come at a cost. Lucian was the first to speak. ¡°The Krauss suffered the greatest loss. We all agreed before the battle that every family would take their fair share, but the Krauss gave up two of their own.¡± Edric nodded. ¡°Then they get the largest portion. Half of everything.¡± No one objected. *** The loot was divided accordingly. Once everything was tallied, Erin¡¯s gaze lingered on the energy shards. Power. That¡¯s what they represented. Every shard absorbed meant getting stronger. He clenched his fists. This is what he needed. But there was no time to celebrate their gains. The room grew heavy as the conversation turned to what came next. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Lucian exhaled, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Now that this is settled, the real war begins.¡± Edric¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The DeCostas won¡¯t stay silent. We just took out their biggest goons. They will retaliate.¡± Lira crossed her arms, smirking slightly. ¡°Let them try.¡± Garrick shot her a sharp look. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be reckless. We won tonight, but this was just a gang. The DeCostas are on another level.¡± Selene, their mother, sighed. ¡°Then we prepare. Train harder, level up, and be ready when the time comes.¡± A silence settled over the room. Everyone knew this was only the beginning. The war for Echelon City had begun. *** As the Storm family made their way back to their estate, the tension from the night¡¯s events still clung to them. The Tide Gang was no more, their stronghold reduced to nothing, and the Black Reaper was dead. Victory belonged to them. Yet, not everything felt right. Selene, riding beside Garrick, finally spoke up, ¡°The Salvante family is a lot stronger than they let on.¡± Her words made Erin blink. He hadn¡¯t expected that. Garrick turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Selene sighed. ¡°We saw Lucian in battle. His spells weren¡¯t just strong, they were too controlled, too effortless. He wasn¡¯t fighting like someone struggling, he was holding back.¡± Their father, Edric Storm, gave a small grunt from the front of the group. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± That caught everyone¡¯s attention. Garrick frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve thought about this too?¡± Edric exhaled. ¡°Of course. The Salvante estate is massive, yet they only claim to have twelve family members. That doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The Salvante estate was one of the largest in Echelon City, an enormous property with multiple wings, courtyards, and even its own private training grounds. For years, they had projected an image of a smaller, tightly-knit family, but their wealth and resources suggested otherwise. Garrick narrowed his eyes. ¡°So, they¡¯re hiding something?¡± Selene nodded slowly. ¡°They have too much wealth, too much land. And now that we¡¯ve seen how their warriors fight, it¡¯s clear they¡¯re not showing everything.¡± Lira scoffed. ¡°Which means they don¡¯t fully trust us.¡± The alliance between the Storms, Salvante, and Krauss had been forged out of necessity to take down the DeCostas, but that didn¡¯t mean it would last forever. Edric¡¯s voice was calm but firm. ¡°We need to be careful. We fought side by side today, but if the Salvante have hidden strength, they might not always be our allies.¡± The family rode in silence for a while after that. As they neared the Storm estate, Erin shifted in his saddle. There was something else he needed to ask. ¡°Father, about the energy shards¡­¡± Edric glanced at him. ¡°What about them?¡± Erin hesitated. ¡°Can I have some?¡± Lira grinned at him. ¡°Oh, so now you want to absorb more power?¡± Erin smiled cheekily. ¡°Maybe some mid-tier energy shards?¡± Garrick smirked. ¡°You don¡¯t even know how dangerous mid-tier shards are, do you?¡± Lira laughed. ¡°A mid-tier energy shard holds ten times the power of a low-tier one.¡± Erin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That much? It wasn¡¯t in any of the textbooks I¡¯ve read.¡± Selene nodded. ¡°The textbooks you read only talk about the basics. They only start dropping in level 4 and above dungeons.¡± Garrick continued, ¡°A level 4 and above can absorb them safely. But a Level 3 or lower?¡± He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous. Your body isn¡¯t strong enough yet.¡± Lira grinned. ¡°You could try, but it¡¯d probably wreck your insides.¡± Edric gave Erin a firm look. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some low-tier shards. You¡¯ll stick to those until you reach Level 4.¡± Erin sighed in defeat. Garrick smirked. ¡°Which also means you need to train. A lot. You shouldn¡¯t rush levels, it would only affect your future.¡± Lira nudged him. ¡°Better get used to dungeons, little brother.¡± *** The days following the battle against the Tide Gang passed in a blur. The city guards moved quickly, cleaning up the destroyed market and restoring order to the streets. Meanwhile, the DeCostas quietly took over the old base of the Tide Gang. But there was no word from them, no threats, no demands, just silence. Everyone in the Storm family watched their movements, feeling uneasy. The lack of response could only mean that the DeCostas were planning something, and whatever it was, it wouldn¡¯t be good. Erin spent most of his time training and absorbing the energy shards his father had given him. Fifty low-tier energy shards, enough to push him halfway to level 3. But the process wasn¡¯t instant. He could only absorb five shards at a time before his body needed a few hours to recover. The first time he tried to push past his limit, a deep, searing pain had shot through his veins, forcing him to stop. Garrick had laughed at him. ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot. You¡¯ll kill yourself if you get too greedy.¡± Lira, of course, joked about it. ¡°Look at you, acting like an impatient donkey. Slow down little Eri¡± Despite their teasing, Erin kept at it. Training, resting, absorbing shards, and repeating the cycle. He could feel the difference. His body was getting stronger. His movements were getting sharper. But he still had a long way to go. One evening, as the sun dipped below the walls of Echelon City, Edric gathered Erin, Garrick, and Lira in his study. Selene was handling things elsewhere, leaving just the four of them. Their father leaned against his desk, arms crossed. ¡°It¡¯s time we discuss your new identities.¡± Erin raised an eyebrow. ¡°New identities?¡± Edric nodded. ¡°Now that the DeCostas know we¡¯re against them, we need to move carefully. You won¡¯t be using the Storm name when you¡¯re outside.¡± Garrick rubbed his chin. ¡°Makes sense. So, what are our names?¡± Edric smirked. ¡°You¡¯ll be Darrick Vale. Lira will be Kira Vale. And Erin, you¡¯ll be Ferin Vale.¡± There was silence. Then Lira burst out laughing. ¡°Wait, wait. Ferin, Darrick, and Kira? Really? You basically just changed one letter!¡± Garrick let out a chuckle. ¡°That¡¯s not very creative, Father.¡± Erin blinked. ¡°Yeah, I feel like anyone with a brain could figure it out.¡± Edric rolled his eyes. ¡°The point isn¡¯t to create some elaborate disguise. The point is to make sure no one immediately ties you back to the Storm family. Your faces aren¡¯t well-known. The names are just an extra layer of protection.¡± Lira grinned. ¡°So, if someone asks if I¡¯m Kira Vale, I just have to pretend I don¡¯t know what a Lira Storm is?¡± Edric gave her a flat look. ¡°Yes. Try not to make it complicated.¡± She snickered. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Father. If we¡¯re going to use fake names, I think we should go all out. Maybe I should be ¡®Kira the Huntress¡¯ or something.¡± Erin grinned. ¡°Oh, definitely. And Garrick could be ¡®Darrick the Merciless.¡¯¡± Garrick smirked. ¡°And you?¡± Erin struck a dramatic pose. ¡°Ferin the Strong.¡± Lira let out a fake gasp. ¡°Amazing. We sound like some wandering band of warriors.¡± Edric sighed. ¡°Are you three done?¡± They laughed, but the mood eventually settled. The importance of this disguise wasn¡¯t lost on them. Edric¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game. The DeCostas will come for us eventually. If they recognize you, you¡¯ll be targeted. Do you understand?¡± Garrick¡¯s smirk faded. ¡°We understand.¡± Lira nodded. ¡°Yeah. We get it.¡± Erin nodded as well. Edric exhaled. ¡°Good. From now on, when you¡¯re outside, you¡¯re the Vale siblings. Get used to it.¡± They all agreed. This was just the beginning. Chapter 7: The Girl with Black Tendrils Erin sat on his bed, staring at the last low-tier energy shard in his palm. After days of absorption and training, he had finally reached halfway to level 3. Just another 50 and he¡¯ll level up. He crushed the shard in his grip, letting the warm energy surge through his veins. His muscles tensed as the last remnants of power settled into his body, and then¡­ it was done. Erin let out a sigh. It was time to head out and enter dungeons again. He needed real combat experience, not just the sparring his siblings put him through. He pulled out a dungeon guide from his desk, flipping through its worn pages. Echelon City had dozens of dungeons scattered across its outskirts, each with varying difficulty levels. Some were beast-infested caverns. Others were ruins crawling with undead. But one, in particular, caught his eye. Abyss of Demons Enemies: Notes: Chance of dropping from boss: Erin smiled. Perfect. He closed the guide and stretched. His mind was made up, this was the place to train. Plus, he really wanted a full set of that Abyss gear. He¡¯d seen others wearing it, and it looked awesome. Erin¡¯s plan is to grind this dungeon until he gets the Bloodforged Husk, Hellrender, and Hellshell. No stopping until then. Just as he stood up, his door swung open. ¡°Yo, little Eri, where are we going?¡± Lira. Erin groaned. ¡°We?¡± She grinned. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re not going alone. I¡¯m coming with you.¡± He rubbed his temples. ¡°I don¡¯t need a babysitter, Lira.¡± Lira put a hand on her hip. ¡°Oh, sure. I¡¯m totally ¡®babysitting¡¯ you.¡± She made air quotes. ¡°I just think someone needs to be there in case you do something stupid and die.¡± Erin scowled. ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± She smiled. ¡°Mom said so.¡± Erin sighed in defeat. ¡°Fiiine.¡± Lira clapped her hands together. ¡°Great! Where we going?¡± *** The morning sun bathed Echelon City in a warm glow as Erin and Lira stepped out of the Storm estate. The streets were alive with merchants setting up their stalls, workers carrying crates of goods, and adventurers heading toward their next dungeon dive. Erin adjusted his cloak, a simple brown one that did little to stand out. Lira, on the other hand, had tied her hair up and changed into more casual adventuring gear rather than the brightly colored robes she always walked around with. "Alright," Erin muttered, slinging his pack over his shoulder. "We leave a note for the family, and we¡¯re gone." Lira gave a thumbs-up. "Already did.¡± "Nice." With everything set, they started toward the city gates, the only way in and out of Echelon City. The closer they got, the more crowded the streets became. The outer walls of the city loomed ahead, massive and intimidating, with two separate entryways leading out. One for noble families, merchants, and high-ranking adventurers, a much faster, guarded gate where records were kept. One for commoners, mercenaries, and travelers, a slower, but less strict route. Erin naturally started walking toward the first option, but Lira suddenly grabbed his shoulder. "Wait." He turned. "What?" Lira¡¯s expression had stiffened. "If we use that gate, the inner city guards might recognize us." Erin¡¯s eyes widened slightly. He hadn¡¯t thought about that. The Storms were known, especially after the attack on the Tide Gang. Inner guards who worked directly under the city¡¯s noble families might be familiar with their faces, even with fake identities. Lira pointed to the other gate. "We go there. Outer guards handle travelers and random adventurers. They won¡¯t know us." Erin frowned. "The line¡¯s huge." "So? You wanna risk getting questioned?" Erin raised his hands for peace. The line stretched far, with merchants hauling wagons, mercenaries chatting in groups, and wandering adventurers waiting their turn. The outer guards didn¡¯t seem too strict, mostly just glancing at papers, checking weapons, and waving people through. When it was their turn, they handed over their fake identification. "Ferin Vale and Kira Vale, huh?" The guard, a bulky man with a thick beard, glanced between them and their papers. "Heading out for a dungeon?" The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Erin nodded. "Abyss of Demons." The guard smirked. "That one¡¯s a nasty one. Be careful." Lira grinned. "We will." With a casual wave, the guard ushered them through. As soon as they were out of earshot, Erin let out a breath. "That was easy." Lira shrugged. "Told you. Outer guards probably have never seen us. They might recognize dad and mom but definitely not us." The sun hung high in the sky as Erin and Lira walked down the well-traveled road leading out of Echelon City. Unlike many of the wealthier adventurers who rode on horseback, they went on foot. Horses were expensive. Riding to a dungeon on horseback would only draw attention. How could two poor adventurers afford a horse? And besides, the road was beautiful. The forest stretched far on both sides, the wind making the grass sway periodically. Clusters of trees lined the path. Travelers passed by, some merchants leading wagons, some mercenaries heading to their next job, and a few groups of adventurers chatting loudly about their recent dungeon runs. Lira stretched her arms and yawned. ¡°Ah, fresh air. I swear, being cooped up in the city is the worst.¡± Erin smirked. ¡°You¡¯re just lazy.¡± She gasped. ¡°Excuse me? I¡¯m a very hardworking lady.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. You ate like a whole chicken last night and went straight to bed. I don¡¯t even know how you¡¯re not putting on weight.¡± Lira gasped again, this time clutching her chest. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d say that to your beloved older sister. After all I¡¯ve done for you.¡± ¡°What have you done for me?¡± She paused. ¡°¡­I saved you from being choked.¡± Erin smiled cheekily. ¡°Oh yeah I forgot about that.¡± They kept walking, the breeze brushing against them. Lira hummed, then looked at Erin. ¡°You know, I¡¯m almost at level five.¡± That caught his attention. ¡°Seriously?¡± She grinned. ¡°Yup. A little more, and I¡¯ll be stronger than Garrick.¡± Erin chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re never gonna let him live that down, are you?¡± Lira smirked. ¡°Nope. He always acts like he¡¯s the responsible older brother, so I have to remind him who the real talented one is.¡± They laughed, the conversation flowing naturally between them. After a while, Erin noticed Lira¡¯s expression soften a little. She stared ahead, eyes filled with hope. ¡°What?¡± Erin asked. She took a deep breath, then sighed. ¡°I have a dream, you know.¡± ¡°To annoy Garrick forever?¡± She snorted. ¡°Well, that too. But I mean a real dream.¡± Erin glanced at her. ¡°Okay, what is it?¡± Lira smiled, but this time, it wasn¡¯t her usual playful smirk. ¡°I want to be a powerful sorcerer,¡± she said. ¡°Not just some strong adventurer, I want to be great. The kind of person people talk about for years. And to do that, I need to go to Sprite Academy.¡± Erin raised a brow. ¡°Sprite Academy? The one in the Aurelion Empire?¡± Lira nodded. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s the best place in the empire for magic training. Only the most talented mages get in. If I could go there¡­ I¡¯d finally be able to push past my limits. Maybe I¡¯ll even ascend to the second floor.¡± Erin was quiet for a moment. He never really thought about it before. His sibling¡¯s ambitions, what they wanted. Lira always acted carefree, like she didn¡¯t have a serious side. But hearing her talk like this¡­ He grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll make it. No doubt.¡± Lira blinked, then laughed. ¡°Hah! Look at you, being all supportive.¡± ¡°I can take it back if you want.¡± ¡°No, no. I¡¯ll take it.¡± The journey was long, but with moments like these, neither of them minded. By the time Erin and Lira arrived at the Abyss of Demons, the sun was setting behind the horizon, casting a deep orange glow. The dungeon¡¯s entrance loomed ahead, a jagged black cave mouth that seemed to swallow all light around it. The air was eerily still, the only sound being the occasional gust of wind rustling through the grass. "We finally made it," Erin muttered, stretching his sore arms. "Yeah¡­ but I¡¯m dead tired." Lira let out a yawn, rubbing her neck. They had been walking all day, and their legs ached from the long journey. The thought of diving into a dungeon now felt like a terrible idea. "We¡¯ll set up camp and go in tomorrow," Lira decided. "No point rushing in half-asleep." Erin agreed. They found a flat patch of land not too far from the dungeon entrance, far enough to avoid any surprise attacks but close enough to reach it easily in the morning. With quick movements, they set up a small camp: a fire pit, their bedrolls, and some rations for dinner. As the night continued, the fire crackled softly, providing warmth in the chilly air. Erin lay on his back, staring at the stars, while Lira hummed to herself, sharpening a small dagger. "Tomorrow should be fun," she said. Erin smirked. "You just want to show off." "Obviously." They laughed quietly before exhaustion took over. Lira extinguished the fire and the two eventually drifted into sleep, their weapons within reach, just in case. *** A distant voice pulled Erin from his sleep. His eyes snapped open. He turned his head and saw Lira already awake, sitting up with narrowed eyes. "You heard that?" Erin whispered. Lira nodded. "Voices. That way." She pointed toward the east. They crouched low, moving carefully toward the sound. Through the darkness, they spotted a group of adventurers, five of them, standing in a loose circle. Their torches flickered, revealing their faces. But it wasn¡¯t the adventurers that caught Erin¡¯s attention. It was the small figure trapped between them. A little girl stood in the center, her back facing Erin and Lira. She looked no older than eight or nine, dressed in tattered clothes. Her long black hair reached past her shoulders, and her bare feet stood still on the dirt. One of the adventurers stepped forward, a gruff man with an axe strapped to his back. "Just give us the relic, kid. We know you have it." The girl didn¡¯t respond. A taller man sighed. "She¡¯s not talking. Just grab her and take it." The first man reached out, his hand closing in on the girl¡¯s arm. Then, something horrifying happened. A black tendril shot out from the girl¡¯s back, moving faster than Erin could process. It pierced straight through the adventurer¡¯s stomach. He choked, his body going rigid as the tentacle pulsed. His flesh withered instantly, his skin turning gray and shrinking against his bones. In less than a second, his entire body collapsed into a husk, nothing but dried skin wrapped around bones. A gust of wind blew. The man fell down dead. The other four adventurers staggered back. "What the¡ª?!" The tall man snarled, drawing his sword. "What the hell is she?! KILL HER!" They lunged at the girl. The girl tilted her head slightly, her hair shifting just enough for Erin to see her dull, lifeless eyes. Then she moved. Four more tentacles burst from her back, whipping through the air. The first one wrapped around a man¡¯s throat and yanked him off his feet. He struggled, trying to pry it off, but the tentacle tightened like a noose. His face turned purple. His veins bulged. CRACK. His neck snapped, and she tossed his lifeless body aside. The third adventurer tried to swing his sword, but the girl was too fast. A tentacle wrapped around his arm and yanked hard. The sickening sound of tearing flesh filled the air. The man screamed as his arm was ripped clean off. He collapsed, blood pooling beneath him, his breath coming out in weak gasps before he stopped moving entirely. The last two adventurers tried to run. They didn¡¯t make it. A tentacle shot forward, piercing straight through one of their backs. It curled, then ripped upward, slicing through his chest and splitting his torso apart. Blood sprayed onto the dirt. The final man barely had time to react before a tentacle wrapped around his waist and squeezed. His bones cracked. His screams turned to gurgles. His ribs caved in. A few moments later, he wasn¡¯t moving. Silence. Erin and Lira didn¡¯t dare breathe. The girl stood alone, surrounded by the corpses of the adventurers. The tentacles slithered back into her body, vanishing as if they had never existed. She turned her head slightly. Her empty eyes locked onto Erin and Lira¡¯s hiding spot. Erin¡¯s heart pounded, his hand moving towards his sword. Lira gripped his arm, her breathing shallow. For a moment, the girl just stared. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. The only thing left behind were the bodies. Chapter 8: A Relic鈥檚 Curse Erin and Lira didn¡¯t stick around. As soon as the little girl vanished into the darkness, they exchanged a look and bolted. Neither of them spoke, their legs moving on instinct as they sprinted back toward the main road leading to Echelon City. The cold night air rushed past them, and their hearts pounded in their chests. They didn¡¯t stop running until they reached the dirt road, far from the massacre they had just witnessed. Erin bent over, hands on his knees, catching his breath. "What the hell was that?" Lira shook her head, still breathing heavily. "No clue. But I am not staying anywhere near that place." Erin straightened, glancing back in the direction of the Abyss of Demons. He still felt uneasy, but Lira¡¯s face turned back to normal. "Should we report it?" he asked. Lira scoffed. "Nah. Relics go crazy all the time, nothing new. If we report it, we¡¯ll just end up responsible for leading them here, stuck answering endless questions and wasting time." It was true. Demonic relics existed, items that granted immense power but had dangerous side effects. Some made the user insane. Some consumed their life force. Others took complete control of the wielder¡¯s body. The girl could have been just another victim. However one thing was certain. None of the wielders will live long. Erin nodded. ¡°We should still report it to father, see if he knows anything about it.¡± Lira agreed. "Either way," she said, "we¡¯re not doing that dungeon. No way. Not with that thing running around." Erin nodded. "Alright, so where to next?" He reached into his bag and pulled out the dungeon guide again. Flipping through the pages, Erin scanned for something that fit their needs. A dungeon with level 1-3 monsters, decent loot, and away from the Abyss of Demons. His finger stopped on a name. Magic Woods Enemies: Notes: Chance of dropping from boss: Erin looked up at Lira. "What about this one?" Lira¡¯s eyes gleamed. "Elderwood Spire? That staff is so rare, I didn¡¯t know they dropped from this dungeon. I¡¯ve seen them before in a level 5 dungeon." She grabbed the guide from his hands and scanned the details herself. "Hah! Sounds like it was made for me. We¡¯re going." Erin smirked. "I figured you¡¯d say that." Magic Woods was about a two-hour journey from their current location. Compared to the day-long trek they had just endured, it wasn¡¯t too bad. "Alright, let¡¯s go," Erin said. Lira nodded. "Yeah. The sooner we get moving, the better." *** The road to Magic Woods was peaceful, at least, for the first hour. Erin and Lira walked at a steady pace, enjoying the night breeze. The sun still hasn¡¯t risen, but the light from their torch cut through the darkness. Then, they heard the growl. A deep, guttural sound rumbled through the trees ahead. Erin¡¯s body tensed as he instinctively reached for Fangpiercer, his trusty sword. Lira stopped beside him, her fingers already glowing with icy blue energy. From the tall grass, a pack of wolves emerged. There were three of them, prowling forward with sharp eyes. Their bodies were lean and powerful, resembling the ones from Wolf Den, except these had a streak of silver fur running along their backs. Their presence seemed to be more dangerous, their fangs glinting. Lira smirked. ¡°Hey, Erin. You¡¯ve fought level 1 wolves before, right?¡± Erin gave her a deadpan look. ¡°Obviously.¡± She grinned. ¡°Well, how about a level 3 this time?¡± One of the wolves stood taller than the rest, its silver streak more pronounced. Unlike the others, its eyes glowed faintly yellow, and its muscles were bulkier. Erin rolled his shoulders. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take it.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Lira raised a brow. ¡°Really? No complaints?¡± ¡°You were going to make me do it either way.¡± Erin muttered. Lira laughed. ¡°Fair point. Go on, little bro. Show me what you¡¯ve got.¡± The pack wasn¡¯t waiting for their conversation to end. Two of the smaller wolves lunged forward, snapping their jaws. Lira reacted instantly. ¡°Crystallum Nivis!¡± A shard of ice shot forward, slamming into one of the wolves¡¯ heads. It let out a yelp and staggered backward, blood dripping from the wound. The second wolf kept coming, but Erin was already moving. He sidestepped its pounce and slashed Fangpiercer across its neck. The wolf let out a strangled cry before collapsing. That left the big one. The level 3 wolf growled low, locking eyes with Erin. It crouched, ready to pounce. Erin didn¡¯t wait. He dashed forward, dagger in hand. The wolf leapt at the same time. Erin ducked low, narrowly avoiding its fangs as he slid underneath its body. He lashed out, dragging his blade across its underbelly, but the wolf twisted midair, avoiding a fatal hit. It landed and spun around instantly, swiping with its claws. Erin barely had time to block, raising his dagger to parry. The force sent him skidding backward, his arms stinging from the impact. Lira whistled. ¡°Fast little guy, huh?¡± Erin gritted his teeth. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be helping.¡± Lira grinned. ¡°Fine, fine. Frostum Lancea!¡± A spear of ice formed in her hands before launching toward the wolf. But the beast dodged, its enhanced reflexes saving it from the attack. It dashed toward Lira now, sensing the mage as a greater threat. Erin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lira, move!¡± Lira didn¡¯t panic. Instead, she smirked. ¡°Bruma Strigis.¡± A cold mist exploded from her hands, coating the ground in frost. The wolf¡¯s paws slipped on the ice, throwing off its charge. That was Erin¡¯s chance. He dashed in from the side, plunging Fangpiercer into the wolf¡¯s shoulder. The beast howled, twisting to bite him, but Erin rolled away just in time. The wolf, now injured, glared at him with wild eyes. Blood dripped from its shoulder, and its breathing grew heavier. But it wasn¡¯t done yet. With a last, desperate move, it lunged at Erin again, but this time he was ready. He sidestepped, raised and swung his sword. The blade sank deep into its throat. The wolf gagged, stumbling forward before collapsing onto the frozen ground. Silence followed. Then Lira clapped. ¡°Not bad, Erin. Not bad at all.¡± Erin wiped his brow, breathing hard. ¡°That thing was fast.¡± Lira nodded. ¡°Yup. That¡¯s what happens at level 3. The difference isn¡¯t just strength, it¡¯s speed and reaction time too.¡± Erin looked at the dead wolf, then at his sister. ¡°How can you tell everyone¡¯s levels? I usually just guess based on their size and appearance. But you, how do you know a person¡¯s level?¡± Lira smiled. ¡°Finally, a smart question, little Eri. Once you reach level 4, you can get a magic sensor rune from a runesmith. It lets you sense the level of anyone, as long as they¡¯re not more than five levels above you.¡± She smirked. ¡°Take that little girl who killed those adventurers, for example. She¡¯s only level 1¡­ but her relic packs enough power to take down five level 4s.¡± Erin nodded, eyes wide with surprise. ¡°But what if she gets even stronger?¡± Erin frowned, unease creeping into his voice. ¡°Something feels¡­ off. Shouldn¡¯t we report this to the guards before she becomes a threat?¡± Lira stretched and shook her head. ¡°Cases like this happen all the time. Even if I touched that relic, I¡¯d be completely under its control, and it feeds on life. A child like her? She won¡¯t last long. Hell, even I¡¯d be dead in a few days at most.¡± She let out a sigh. ¡°For all we know, she¡¯s already gone. Once that thing takes hold¡­ there¡¯s no coming back.¡± "Is there any way to lock it away so it can never hurt anyone again?" Erin pressed. "If that girl''s already dead, someone else will find it, and then they''ll become its next victim." Lira gave a slow nod. "The only way to truly end this is for someone to dominate the relic completely. That takes willpower strong enough to match its hunger." She crossed her arms. "Otherwise? It''ll keep jumping from host to host until it''s finally captured and sealed in a warded vault. But even that requires someone mentally strong enough to move it without being corrupted." She gestured in the direction of Echelon City. "Most just mark the relic''s location and quarantine the area. Those red X''s in your dungeon guide map? Each one marks a relic too dangerous to approach." "I see..." Erin murmured, the pieces finally clicking into place. *** The journey to Magic Woods took longer than expected, and by the time Erin and Lira arrived, both were feeling the weight of exhaustion. The entrance to the dungeon was a massive gaping hole in the ground, surrounded by twisted roots and towering trees. A faint mist hovered around the entrance, making it feel almost alive. Lira stretched her arms above her head and groaned. ¡°Alright, before we go in, we rest. I¡¯m not fighting beastmen while half asleep.¡± Erin nodded. They had been woken up in the middle of the night by that strange girl and hadn¡¯t had a proper rest since. They found a soft patch of grass away from the dungeon entrance, where they could still see if anyone, or anything, approached. Lira sat cross-legged, leaning back against a tree, while Erin lay down, staring up at the sky. The cool morning air helped soothe his aching muscles. A few hours passed. When Erin woke up, he felt refreshed. His body no longer felt sluggish, and his mind was clear. Lira was already up, stretching her legs. ¡°Good?¡± she asked. Erin sat up, rubbing his eyes. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do this.¡± They approached the dungeon entrance. Up close, the hole was even more unsettling, a perfect circle of absolute darkness. There was no visible bottom, no stairs, just pure blackness that seemed to absorb all light. Lira grinned and gestured toward it. ¡°After you.¡± Erin rolled his eyes. ¡°Sure. Make your little brother go first.¡± And then he stepped in. WHOOSH. A rush of wind hit him, but aside from that, he barely felt anything. The world around him vanished in an instant. One moment, he was in front of the cave, the next, he was somewhere entirely different. Erin¡¯s feet landed softly on a grassy surface. He blinked. They were in a forest. At first, he thought they had teleported outside, back to where they had just been. The trees were nearly identical to the ones outside the dungeon. The air smelled the same. Birds chirped in the distance, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. But when he looked up, his eyes widened. The sky was bright blue, with the sun shining overhead. ¡­But it was still early morning outside. Lira appeared next to him, dusting off her clothes. ¡°Alright. We¡¯re in.¡± Erin was still staring at the sky. ¡°How is there a sun in a dungeon?¡± Lira smirked. ¡°The same way there¡¯s a sun in this entire prison world we live in.¡± Erin turned to her. ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain anything.¡± She laughed. ¡°Magic, dummy.¡± Erin sighed. ¡°That¡¯s not an answer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the best answer you¡¯ll get.¡± Erin shook his head but didn¡¯t push further. This world, the Dungeon Realm, had always been a mystery. No one really knew how things worked. Why did the sun rise and set like in the real world? Why did the dungeons have unique ecosystems inside them? Some things just¡­ were. Lira patted his shoulder. ¡°Enough questions. Let¡¯s start exploring.¡± Chapter 9: Hunting Beastmen Erin and Lira walked through the dungeon, the air filled with the sound of leaves rustling and distant chirps. They moved quietly, careful not to make too much noise. The ground was soft with grass and moss, and the trees towered above them. After about twenty minutes of walking, they heard something. Crunch. Snap. Erin turned his head and saw a figure walking just ahead. It was tall and wide-shouldered, covered in fur, and holding a thick wooden club. Its snout was long, like a wolf, and its eyes were yellow. A beastman. It spotted them. With a loud growl, the creature charged forward, club raised high. Its feet slammed into the ground with heavy thuds. Lira stepped back and glanced at Erin. "He''s yours. It''s only level 1." Erin nodded. The beastman roared as it swung the club down. Erin sidestepped the attack, feeling the wind from the swing pass by his face. He slid in, slashing across the beastman¡¯s chest. The beastman growled in pain and spun to attack again. Erin ducked low, rolled behind it, and stabbed deep into its back. The creature let out a final snarl before collapsing. It twitched once, then went still. Erin stepped back and exhaled. Lira clapped slowly. ¡°Bravo. That was clean.¡± They kept moving, following a narrow path through twisted roots and low shrubs. After a while, they stepped into a wide clearing. In the middle of the clearing, three beastmen were lounging around. One leaned against a tree, eyes half-closed. Another was chewing on something. The third was lying on its back, staring at the sky. Lira¡¯s eyes lit up with mischief. ¡°Want to see something cool?¡± Erin grinned. ¡°Always.¡± She stepped forward, raising her hand. Her fingers glowed with icy blue light. She whispered the words: ¡°Glacies Caelorum.¡± Above the clearing, the air shimmered. Suddenly, a massive ice meteor appeared in the sky, spinning fast, crackling with frost. It let out a high-pitched whine as it crashed down into the clearing. The beastmen barely had time to react. BOOOOM. The ice slammed into them, exploding in a wave of frozen shards. The impact left nothing but crushed bodies and a crater of frost. Steam hissed from the ground as the air dropped to freezing. Lira brushed her hands off. ¡°That¡¯ll teach them to nap on the job.¡± Erin laughed. ¡°Showoff.¡± They walked past the frozen crater and deeper into the dungeon. The woods got thicker. The sounds of animals faded, and the trees twisted closer together. That¡¯s when they heard voices. They crouched behind a bush and peeked out. In another clearing, six beastmen stood around. Five normal ones circled one that was taller, more muscular, and wearing a bone necklace. Its eyes glowed faint red, and it held a jagged axe in one hand. Lira narrowed her eyes. ¡°That might be a miniboss.¡± Erin looked at her. ¡°Can we take them?¡± She smirked. ¡°You kidding? Let¡¯s go.¡± Lira started the fight. She raised her hand and shouted: ¡°Crystallum Nivis!¡± An ice shard launched from her palm and slammed into one of the beastmen¡¯s chest. It howled in pain and fell back. The others turned and roared. Erin charged forward. His sword flashed as he slashed one across the stomach. The beastman swung back, but Erin ducked under it and stabbed upward through its chin. Another beastman jumped at him, but Lira caught it mid-air with an ice spike. ¡°Frostum Lancea!¡± The icy spear ripped through its side and pinned it to a tree. The miniboss roared and rushed toward Erin. It swung its axe in a wide arc. Erin blocked it with his blade but was pushed back hard. His arms shook from the force. ¡°Lira!¡± he shouted. She raised both hands. ¡°Bruma Strigis!¡± A wave of icy mist blasted from her palms. The miniboss slowed, frost covering its legs. Erin moved in. He dodged a slow swing and stabbed deep into its thigh. The beastman howled and grabbed at him, but Erin rolled away. Lira launched another ice shard, hitting the miniboss in the eye. It screamed and swung blindly. Erin ran forward and plunged his blade deep into its chest. The beastman gasped once, and fell. The last two beastmen growled but started to back away. Erin didn¡¯t let them. He dashed forward, cutting down one before it could run. Lira froze the last in place, and Erin finished it with a clean thrust. When it was over, the forest was silent again. Lira wiped sweat from her forehead. ¡°Now that was fun.¡± *** Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Erin and Lira kept exploring, cutting down any beastman that got in their way. They were deep into the dungeon now. The fake sun above was still shining bright, even though they knew it had to be hours since they entered. The forest around them started to look different. The trees were thicker here, their trunks dark and twisted. The leaves above formed a dome, letting only a strange green glow through. Roots covered the ground and the air felt still. Then, the path opened up. They stepped into a wide circular clearing, almost like a natural arena. The trees made a wall around it, and in the center stood a towering beastman unlike the rest. It was massive, almost twice the size of the others they had fought. Its fur was dark brown, and it wore metal armor across its chest and shoulders. In its hand was a thick mace, glowing faintly with green runes. Beside it stood four level 2 beastmen, each looking the same as the level 2 miniboss they had just fought. Around them were eight more level 1s, pacing and snarling. Lira narrowed her eyes. ¡°This is it.¡± Erin looked at her. ¡°The boss?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yeah. That big guy in the middle¡­ level 3. The others are guards. Four level 2s, eight level 1s. Pretty standard for a dungeon boss room.¡± She paused and added, ¡°This is where the Elderwood Spire drops. It¡¯s a rare mage staff. I hope it drops.¡± Erin raised a brow. ¡°Can¡¯t you just buy it?¡± Lira scoffed. ¡°Fifty mid-tier shards for one? No thanks. I¡¯d rather earn it.¡± She cracked her knuckles, eyes glowing. ¡°Let¡¯s clear this place.¡± Without waiting, she charged forward. ¡°Bruma Strigis!¡± A wave of cold mist blasted into the nearest group of beastmen. Three of the level 1s were frozen in place before they even realized what was happening. Lira danced between them, firing off spells with easy grace. ¡°Crystallum Nivis!¡± ¡°Frostum Lancea!¡± Each spell hit its mark. One fell, then another, then another. The ice spears pierced them cleanly, dropping them where they stood. Erin followed right behind, sword ready. He quickly clashed with one of the level 1 beastmen. It was stronger than the others from before, but he still managed to take it down after a few solid strikes. But then the level 2s joined in. Erin blocked a heavy club swing from one, but the second came from the side. He barely dodged, stumbling backward. Another beastman rushed in and slammed him with a shoulder tackle, knocking him to the ground. He rolled quickly, avoiding a deadly follow-up swing, and scrambled to his feet. ¡°Lira! Bit of help!¡± Lira was busy, flinging spells and dodging attacks like she was dancing. One of the level 2s got close, but she froze its legs and then shattered them with a wide ice blast. ¡°You¡¯ve got this, Erin!¡± she yelled over her shoulder. Erin grit his teeth. ¡°Easy for you to say¡­¡± He charged the beastman in front of him, slashing at its leg. It howled and swung back. Erin ducked, then stabbed into its gut. It collapsed. Another one came, snarling. He blocked its attack and countered, but his arm was getting tired. His breathing was heavy now. Two more beastmen came at him. He backed off quickly, but not fast enough. One of them swiped at his arm and cut deep. ¡°Gah!¡± Erin yelled in pain, clutching his bleeding arm. He tried to fight with just one hand, but his strikes were weaker now. A beastman slammed into him and sent him flying to the ground. The level 3 boss had noticed. It roared, a deep guttural sound that shook the trees, and charged. Erin barely had time to react. The massive axe swung down like a falling tree. Erin rolled to the side, but the blade grazed his back, cutting through his skin. The pain was sharp, and blood soaked through his shirt. He gasped, stumbling to his feet, his vision spinning. ¡°Lira¡­¡± he said weakly. The boss raised its axe again for a killing blow. ¡°Glacies Caelorum!¡± A giant ice meteor slammed into the boss¡¯s side, knocking it off-balance. Lira appeared beside Erin, hands glowing, eyes furious. ¡°Touch my brother again and I¡¯ll freeze your organs, you overgrown mutt.¡± ¡°Frostum Lancea!¡± The spear flew and pierced the boss¡¯s shoulder. It roared in rage, but she was already casting another. Ice spikes formed around it, slowing its movements. She turned to Erin. ¡°Stay back. I¡¯ve got this.¡± Erin didn¡¯t argue. He stumbled to the edge of the battlefield and collapsed against a tree, clutching his wounds. He watched as Lira unleashed spell after spell, her body moving with speed and power. The boss tried to attack, but she danced around its strikes, freezing its arms and legs bit by bit. ¡°Crystallum Nivis!¡± The final shard hit it right between the eyes. The boss froze in place, then shattered into icy chunks. Lira quickly cleaned up the remaining beastmen still laying around in pain and rushed over to Erin. ¡°You okay?¡± He smiled weakly. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll live.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Dummy. You¡¯re not supposed to tank the boss.¡± Erin chuckled. ¡°You said I got this.¡± *** The fight was over, but the adrenaline was still there. The forest around them was quiet again, though the fake sun above kept shining like nothing had happened. Broken shards of ice, the scent of blood, and bits of beastmen fur littered the battlefield. Lira helped Erin sit on a nearby rock, then crouched in front of him. Her face had changed from confident sorceress to concerned big sister. She didn¡¯t say anything at first. Just stared at him with narrowed eyes like she was checking every cut. Erin gave her a weak grin. ¡°You look like Mom when you do that.¡± Lira blinked, then sighed. ¡°Erin, I¡¯m sorry.¡± He looked at Lira in confusion. ¡°For what?¡± She looked away, face tight. ¡°I wanted you to train. You¡¯ve been getting stronger, and I figured you could handle a few level 2s. But I forgot you¡¯re still just level 2. I let you go toe to toe with two level 2s and then the boss got to you. I thought the boss would have targeted me. That was my fault.¡± Erin scratched his head with his good arm. ¡°I did survive, right? Not bad for the youngest Storm.¡± She stared at him for a second, then smirked. ¡°Barely survived. You looked like a sack of potatoes by the end.¡± ¡°Hey, a very tough sack of potatoes.¡± Lira laughed, but then her face softened again. ¡°Still, I should¡¯ve helped sooner. You¡¯re not a random stranger. You¡¯re my little brother.¡± Erin shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You let me fight, and I learned a lot.¡± ¡°You learned what it feels like to nearly get chopped in half,¡± she muttered. He chuckled. ¡°I also learned you have excellent timing.¡± Lira shook her head and stood up. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s patch you up before you bleed on the grass and attract anything else.¡± She pulled a small pouch from her waist and opened it. Inside were clean cloth wraps, a thin bottle of healing nectar, and a little metal tin of ointment. ¡°Take your shirt off,¡± she ordered. Erin slowly peeled off his shirt, hissing a little as the dried blood pulled at his skin. The wound on his back looked worse than it was, red and raw, but not deep. Just a nasty cut that ran across the upper part of his back like a claw mark. Lira soaked a cloth in water from her canteen and gently wiped away the blood. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look too bad. Just a skin cut. No muscle damage.¡± ¡°Told you. Tough potato.¡± She smiled, then reached for the nectar bottle and uncorked it. The scent was strong, sweet and herbal, like crushed mint leaves mixed with honey. She poured a bit on her fingers and leaned over to rub it into the wound. Erin flinched. ¡°Cold!¡± ¡°Stop squirming.¡± Her fingers moved in slow circles, pressing the nectar deep into the skin. The pain started to fade. A gentle warmth spread across his back, and he let out a low sigh. ¡°Wow. You¡¯re good at this. Ever think about becoming a healer?¡± Lira didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°You could open a massage shop. Storm Spa. I¡¯d be your first customer.¡± She snorted and smacked his arm with the back of her hand. ¡°Stop talking while I¡¯m touching your sweaty back.¡± Erin grinned. ¡°Come on, admit it. I¡¯m the best patient you¡¯ve had all day.¡± ¡°You¡¯re also the only patient I¡¯ve had today, dummy.¡± They both laughed. The tension from earlier slowly melted away with the humor. After a while, she finished wrapping the wound in a clean bandage and helped Erin put his shirt back on. ¡°There. All patched up. Try not to get hurt again.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± She raised a brow. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have to follow you around forever.¡± ¡°Sounds like a nightmare.¡± ¡°It will be. That¡¯s the big sister guarantee.¡± They sat in silence for a moment, the sounds of the dungeon forest around them quiet and peaceful again. Erin leaned back, closing his eyes for a second. ¡°Thanks sis.¡±