《The Black Leaf Company [Isekai LitRPG]》 001 Survive My mom had loved bush lilies. She''d never owned a garden to cultivate them in, but some of my earliest memories involved watching her dress the beds and dining table in floral patterned cloth. For her fifteenth remembrance day, I ordered a bouquet of bush lilies. Not the cheapest option in Lagos City, but a dent in my pocket meant nothing in exchange for honoring her memory. Or so I intended . . . The night before the cemetery visit, I settled down to sleep and woke in the middle of hell. That wasn¡¯t a metaphor. Red stretched as far as the eye could see, forming a crimson sky that looked nothing like home. Pink clouds hovered over a broken landscape riddled with scorch marks. Despite the wind, the clouds stayed fixed in place¡ªfrozen, like an image captured on camera. A blue screen dinged into existence. The [System] has selected you as a candidate for reincarnation. You have only one objective: Survive. User name: Damien Njoku. Manner of death: Aortic dissection. Integrating data . . . I gaped at the holographic display. The text on the screen unfurled in my mind¡¯s eye, transmitting information within seconds. Candidate of what? I waved my hand across the blue screen. It didn''t so much as budge. I tried a few more times, then raked my hair in frustration. Smooth, barren skin stretched beneath my fingers, revealing that sometime between sleeping and waking up, I''d lost all of my hair. Even my arms looked strange now that I inspected them, causing the breath to hitch in my throat. My skin glowed a surreal white: the color of paper scrubbed with too much bleach. What the hell is this? The blue screen vanished only to be replaced by another. Integration complete. You are now designated as Homunculus 0316. Complete the objectives if you wish to survive. Time remaining: 00:25:00. I yelled at the screen. The words didn''t form, so I tried again only to realize a problem with my physique. A layer of skin extended from the base of my nostrils to the tip of my chin, smooth as a baby''s bottom. The pale ghostly skin covered me from head to toe, leaving me devoid of hair, clothes, nails, and other unmentionables. That last bit miffed me more than I wanted to admit, but a missing schlong was the least of my problems. Seeing how my current location looked nothing like my crappy apartment, I could only arrive at one conclusion: I was dead, and this was the afterlife. Which begged the question. What did dead people do after they died? The next blue screen provided a foreboding answer: New quest: [Survive 01]. Avoid the Flame Guardians'' Rampage. Time remaining: 00:25:00. Homunculi remaining: 1000/1000. Reward: [Born of Affinity]. An earthquake shook the ground. I looked around and realized for the first time that I was not alone. Hundreds of ghostly white people sat or stood around me, staring into space or down at their bodies. The scene made for a nauseating sight. Red sky overlooked a crowd of white poised atop dark earth, the color of clotted blood. And, dark earth constituted a plain that stretched into forever. If these people''s circumstances were anything like mine, death was the common denominator. And, judging from the way they acted, they¡¯d all gained access to similar blue screens. The ground rumbled a second time. What had the text in the box told me to do again? Ah, yes. Survive. I ran my hand through the screen, willing it to vanish. It responded this time. I tried a similar trick on the landscape. Nothing happened. Of course, that wouldn¡¯t work. Something about this place unnerved me, and it had little to do with the sky or the nature of my body. The world here simply acted wrong, layered with conflicting details it had no business conjuring. The clouds didn''t move along with the wind. And the sand didn¡¯t shift beneath my weight. Even the air smelled sterile: hot and sharp like rubbing alcohol, rather than the sulfuric odor more befitting of a hellscape. A dark blot appeared in the sky. It started as a dot, then expanded as it neared the ground. A giant shape landed in the middle of a patch of homunculi, grinding the unfortunate souls into dust. I took one look at the creature¡ªat its massive arms, bulbous belly, and squat, undersized legs. Large, yellow eyes gleamed in a feline face that sported a full length of beard. The creature shrieked. All humor about my current situation evaporated on the spot. A notification appeared above the monster. Flame Guardian LVL 100. Keeper of the Secret Fire. My eyes zoomed in on the first sentence: Wasn''t this what I was meant to avoid? The Flame Guardian raised its arm, and a gigantic sword, carved out of the essence of stars, appeared in its grasp. The sword fell, and a portion of the ground went up in flames. All hell broke loose. I yelled through vocal cords that didn''t exist and fled in a random direction. Forget about this being unreal. If those attacks reached me, I would be in for a world of pain. An eerie stampede followed as the other homunculi took to their heels. Hundreds of people ran about in a panic that mirrored a landslide by way of the lack of screams. Scores fell in the onrush, trampled beneath the crowd. I stumbled past a fallen homunculus, unable to bring myself to turn back and help. All I cared about was putting distance between me and the massive demon that wielded a sharpened star. More blots appeared in the sky. Multiple Flame Guardians landed. They broke the ground on impact, burying homunculi beneath their weight. The Flame Guardians waded into the crowd, conjuring swords and shields of liquid fire. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Each swing set the ground ablaze and launched body parts upward. A few homunculi avoided the attacks, only to die from the sheer heat of the blades. They shriveled in seconds, roasting faster than my eyes could follow. A single Flame Guardian landed a few meters ahead of me. The resulting crash threw me headfirst into the dirt. I rolled with the momentum, doing my best to avoid being drowned by the tide. The other runners veered around the monster. But, despite being big and slow, the Flame Guardian outmatched their movements. Its enormous sword split the ground, evoking a wall of fire. Nearby homunculi shrank into husks. Oh, god. I scrambled away from the growing pillars of fire and leaped to my feet. The air burned with the heat of the swords, but my new body lacked functional sweat pores, which seemed both good and bad. I abandoned the clusters of people and ran in a separate direction, toward the backs of the pursuing demons. The tactic aided my preservation as the Flame Guardians zeroed in on the largest groups. Another notification. Quit it with the dinging, okay?! Current quest: [Survive 01]. Time remaining: 00:20:35. Homunculi remaining: 651/1000. Reward: [Born of Affinity]. 651 people left? Bile rose in my throat. The demons had eradicated nearly a third of our number in less than three minutes. I ducked in alarm as a fiery sword swung overhead, almost coming close enough to fry me. Where could I go? What should I do? This was too morbid to be anything but a dream. The majority of the homunculi adapted after the initial chaos. They imitated the smarter ones now and spread out in all directions around the Flame Guardians. The demons slowed their advance, working for their kills now that the largest groups had been obliterated. I stayed out of reach of the nearest Flame Guardian, adjusting my position as the monster took slow, ponderous turns. My heart thudded in my chest. The ground trembled again. A four-sided pyramid rose in tandem with an earthquake some distance off to the right. It was small enough that I would have missed it entirely, were it not for the bright star that glowed atop its pinnacle. A haptic buzz accompanied the reappearance of the floating text box. No ding followed, as if in response to my complaint. Information filtered into my mind. You have avoided the Flame Guardians'' rampage. Quest: [Survive 01]. Time remaining: 00:18:00. Homunculi remaining: 426/1000. Quest complete. [Born of Affinity] has been added to your traits. The Flame Guardians slowed to a stop. They recalled their weapons and stood stock-still, petrified for all intents and purposes. Hungry cat eyes froze in a perpetual leer above full beards that ruffled in the wind. A few of the surviving people collapsed in relief. I refrained from joining them. The mad scramble had drained me of stamina, but the info on the notification boxes bothered me the most. The words were clear: Survive 01. Which meant the existence of a Survive 02 and possibly 03 to 10. Someone¡ªa homunculus who looked no different from the rest of us¡ªstarted running in the direction of the pyramid. Two others stared at each other and followed after them. What? The text box buzzed. New quest: [Survive 02]. Reach the Pyramid of Rebirth within seven minutes. Time remaining: 00:17:01. Reward: [Against the Odds]. I glanced at the pyramid and the trio who had gotten a head start on the rest of us. If this was some sort of obstacle course, then they had cleared a good amount of ground before the starter even fired his gun. I had never been particularly fit. In real life, at least. This time, however, I was stuck in a new, lean body. I took a tentative step forward and forced my way through the crowd before the slower ones could gather their wits. A pterosaur swooped out of the sky. It glided past the sprinting homunculi, silent as death. Red-hot flames spewed in a geyser from its mouth. It swooped back up from its strafing run, leaving a trio of burnt corpses in its wake. The crowd faltered. Current quest: [Survive 02]. Time remaining: 00:15:13. Homunculi remaining: 423/1000. Reward: [Against the Odds]. Dozens of the strange pterosaurs dived out of the sky. A description popped up as I focused on the nearest of them. Pyronodon LVL 80. Watcher of the burning skies. I didn''t dally after that. I surged in the direction of the pyramid, feeling lightheaded from my inability to properly draw air into my lungs. The Pyronodons opened fire, incinerating our group in numbers. Unlike the Flame Guardians, these new demons were swift, nimble, and airborne. They coursed through the air, belching great gouts of flame. Within two minutes, our numbers diminished. The crowd pressed around me in a mad dash for the pyramid. An entire line of homunculi went up in a column of smoke. No, this wouldn''t do. I shouldn''t run blindly. However, if I stayed in place, the chances were high that I would get boxed in and die. A Pyronodon unleashed an inferno. Twenty pale bodies turned to ashes. Fuck it. I raised my arms and ran sideways across the surge of the crowd. The giant Flame Guardians towered behind us, watching with unblinking eyes. The Pyronodons maintained their aerial assault. However, a brief pause revealed a method to the madness. They focused on eliminating the front line and all of the stragglers. If I looped around to the side of the pyramid, I could avoid most of the aggression that came with taking the most straightforward route. But, did I have the time? The clock ran down on the timer, and I wasn¡¯t interested in learning the consequences of failing the quest. I adopted a circular route despite my misgivings, heart pounding in my throat. A few homunculi hunkered down on the ground. Talk about dumb. A handful of others copied my strategy and ran in wide arcs toward the pyramid. Of the main group who stuck to the direct path, a small number made it past the airborne bombardment. They reached the handholds at the bottom of the pyramid and began the arduous climb to the top. The Pyronodons ignored the climbers, choosing instead to harry those left behind. Homunculi perished en masse, sending the count on the blue screen into freefall. Time remaining: 00:12:19. I so wasn''t going to make it. I abandoned all thoughts of self-preservation and ran head-on for the goal. Staggered lines of charred carcasses obstructed me, interspersed between long patches of flames. A Pyronodon roared somewhere above me. I couldn''t afford to look. Blood pounded in my ears, worsening a vision already clouded by strain. Was this the way I ended? Any moment now, a lucky shot would engulf me, reducing me to a gnarled, smoking corpse. I reached the base of the pyramid before my worst fears could be realized and scrambled for the top. The structure stood taller than it seemed from a distance, roughly the height of a five-story building. A notification popped up as I completed a quarter of the climb. You have reached the Pyramid of Rebirth. Quest: [Survive 02]. Time remaining: 00:10:00. Homunculi remaining: 28/1000. Quest complete. [Against the Odds] has been added to your traits. All of the homunculi who were yet to reach the pyramid exploded in brilliant plumes of dust. One, in particular, reached touching distance but didn¡¯t get a chance to ascend before disintegrating into dust. I turned away from the scene. One thousand people had started this madness alongside me. Now, twenty-eight remained. What purpose had necessitated their deaths? I clenched the handholds and the skin of my knuckles turned even whiter. The pyramid loomed wide enough to obscure the rest of its slopes. Five others hung around me. None stopped to rest, applying lessons from the last encounter. The Pyronodons retreated and hovered in the distance atop the immobile Flame Guardians. I hauled myself up, inch by excruciating inch until I joined fifteen other survivors atop the pyramid. The twelve that remained had probably been wounded in the earlier stages because they took their sweet time joining up with the rest of us. The crowning jewel that I had seen from ground level wasn¡¯t a star. It was actually a brazier. The square-shaped container blazed on the pinnacle, bordered on all sides by thick panes of force. Even from across the strange barrier, I could tell that there was nothing natural about the flame. A good look at it threatened to sear the eyes. Strange shapes danced within. New quest: [Survive 03]. One candidate will win a chance at reincarnation. Prove that you deserve this boon. Warning: If more than one candidate survives to the end of the count, you would die. Time remaining: 00:09:00. Reward: [Migrant Soul]. I froze after reading the message. One candidate? Fog rose from the bottom of the pyramid. It blanketed the ground, swirling up to our feet. The homunculi trapped on the slopes tried to outrun it, but the dense mist rose faster than they could. None of the twelve who had been obscured by the fog resurfaced. Dead silence accompanied their disappearance. I inched closer to the walls of force, even though the mist slowed in favor of wafting just below the pinnacle. Downward movement ceased being an option. Current quest: [Survive 03]. Time remaining: 00:08:20. Homunculi remaining: 16/1000. Reward: [Migrant Soul]. I stared wide-eyed at the homunculus beside me. They mirrored my reaction. Running around for the sake of preservation trumped dying from inertia, however, murder was one line I never wanted to cross. Sadly, without the ability to speak, I couldn¡¯t communicate my intentions. I raised my arms in a placating gesture, hoping the other fellow would understand. One homunculus stepped forward and shoved another off the pinnacle. The latter toppled off with a silent scream into the carpet of mist. The number of surviving homunculi dropped by one. Time froze as everyone stared at their notification boxes and processed the new information. The homunculus I had exchanged gazes with took a tentative step in my direction. Oh, crap. 002 Reincarnate Humans tended to default to their baser instincts upon the collapse of law and order. I¡¯d seen this myself, having lived through a global pandemic. None of that prepared me for the madness in the homunculus¡¯ eyes as they leaped straight at me. I backpedaled in shock, slipping across the narrow footholds. The attacking Homunculus could pass as my doppelganger in every way, but they had probably been a much larger person in the real world¡ªif the way they moved was any indication. They misjudged their reach, lunging with arms that were too short for what they intended. The action left them open to retaliation from me. A strong sweep sent them tumbling down the slope. The homunculus retained enough of their bearing to grab onto a handhold. Loathing bloomed in their gaze, focused squarely on me. They braced their shoulders, intent on returning to battle, only to be interrupted by a tendril whipping up from the mist. The cloudy appendage latched onto the homunculus¡¯ neck. A single tug yanked them into oblivion. Time remaining: 00:08:41. Homunculi remaining: 12/1000. All around me, various homunculi grappled each other in fierce tussles. One duo sailed over the edge, neither able to gain the upper hand over the other. The counter plummeted. I turned in time to see an attacker rush up from behind me. I swung my fists, striking nothing but air. The attacker opted for pragmatism and halted their advance. Pale, yellow eyes sized me up, taking my measure. The homunculus raised pale fists in declaration of a challenge . . . only to topple off the ledge as a punch blindsided them from around the corner. I abandoned my position and inched along the side of the rim. The homunculus who had knocked out the first attacker chased after me. Another person approached in the opposite direction, fleeing a fight. All three of us slowed to a stop. This is bad. This is really bad. The gears turned almost audibly in pallid heads as both homunculi calculated their moves. Stuck in the middle as I was, death had become a certainty. Don¡¯t do this, guys, I pleaded, but where was the mouth? My current dilemma wouldn¡¯t end without a fight. I could stay in place and wait for both to tackle me. Or I could strike and force the proceedings to play out on my terms. The homunculus behind me advanced. I moved forward a few paces, putting me within jumping reach of the other who shortened the gap. Crap. I wasn''t getting out of this the easy way. Full speed ahead then. I ran toward the foremost Homunculus and waved my arms in a display of suicidal intent. This one proved more timid than the other, as predicted. They stiffened at my charge and backed out of reach. But, I was only baiting. I halted the next instant and crouched into a ball. Roaring internally, I leaped backward and slammed my crown into the jaw of the pursuing homunculus. The latter tumbled down the slope without much fanfare. For one precarious moment, my foot slid out into the air. The evil mist swirled idly, urging me to fall. I threw myself against the pane of force. Panic darkened my vision. The second homunculus lingered still in proximity. If they attacked now, anti-gravity boots wouldn¡¯t suffice to save me. Or so I thought. However, the coward had lived up to their nature. They fled the instant I killed the other and vanished around the corner in terror. The counter ticked downward by one shortly after. A few more ticks followed in rapid succession. Current quest: [Survive 03]. Time remaining: 00:03:50. Homunculi remaining: 2/1000. Warning: If more than one candidate survives to the end of the count, you would die. Reward: [Migrant Soul]. Two survivors remained. Two out of a freaking thousand. And I, Damien, numbered among them. My head swam at the implication. Whether by luck or providence, I had made it this far. Yet, relief was the farthest thing from my mind. It would have been a mercy to die while the odds were still insurmountable. This close to the goal, however, with salvation at my fingertips, the fear of failure threatened to cripple me. One person would emerge alive from this clusterfuck. And, it had to be me. It had to be me. The enemy most likely felt the same. Where were they anyway? My side of the pyramid bore no other takers, and the lit brazier hampered my view of the surroundings. I needed a visual at the very least, before I picked my next course of action. A small voice stirred in my head. Really, Damien? Really? You¡¯re doing this? You intend to kill one more person? Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. I ignored the voice. What makes you think you are more deserving of life than they are? Why does this need to be your story? It didn¡¯t, but at the same time, I didn''t want to die. Not after everything I¡¯d endured. The other homunculus wasn¡¯t innocent anyway. They¡¯d killed people to get here, just like me. Sure, we both danced to the tune of powers we couldn¡¯t comprehend, but that only increased my desire to see this through to the end. I needed answers . . . About this. About everything. And I wouldn¡¯t get those if I fell into the mist. My suffering would be for naught. I shuffled along the ledge to a corner of the pane of force and peeked around it. The area beyond stood empty. Another trek brought me to the next corner. Crap. This ought to be an ambush. I¡¯d timed my footfalls as carefully as possible, but the lack of noises indicated the other homunculus was also doing the same. Nevertheless, I had recorded better results from forcing confrontations and wasn¡¯t about to develop cold feet. I peeked around the edge. The surviving homunculus noted me with weary, yellow eyes. They sat in the middle of the ledge, legs tucked beneath their chin. Their gaze held mine for a few tense seconds, and then they ignored me, in favor of staring out into the mist. I gaped at their gall. Hey! That wasn¡¯t the way things worked. Didn''t they get the notification about the consequences of finishing the quest with more than one survivor? The fallen homunculi wouldn''t have attacked with such ferocity if they had a choice. This person knew what would happen in the event of failure. Why had they chosen to sit still rather than claw for their life? Time remaining: 00:02:15. I gestured at them: Get up. They refused. I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists. Get up. The homunculus studied me. For a half second, an elderly man sat in their place, eyes sad and knowing. The image vanished soon after it appeared, but my resolve . . . Heh. I had been a twenty-six-year-old loner before my transportation to this hellscape. Soft-spoken. College dropout. A resident of the chaotic city of Lagos. A good day for me consisted of a twelve-hour shift at work, two servings of beans, and a slow night spent reading web novels. Murderer, I was not¡ªat least, not of my own volition. The pyramid had changed me, but not enough to suppress my revulsion at the thought of wanton violence. What was so special about life that I clung to it above all else? Sure, reincarnation sounded impressive, but if this game was any indication, I wanted none of what its creators were selling. I had lived a shitty life anyway. Might as well be less shitty in death. Time remaining: 00:01:07. I settled down on the ledge. The other homunculus graced me with a nod and resumed his watch over the landscape. I nodded in return. Hurray for humanity and all that jazz. The content creators could go find a goat to bless with reincarnation. Or a Roomba. Definitely, a Roomba. Time remaining: 00:00:10. I closed my eyes and counted in tandem with the timer. It spiraled down, each tick sounding more ominous than the last. Five . . . Four . . . Three . . . Two . . . One . . . You have failed to prove your worth as a candidate for reincarnation. Quest: [Survive 03]. Time remaining: 00:00:00. Homunculi remaining: 2/1000. Quest failed. Now applying consequences . . . The breath withered in my throat. Or at least, that is what would happen if we followed the old way. Lucky for you, we don''t! The [System] will now choose a candidate at random. Please, stand by. My eyes widened, mostly because of the sudden turn of events, but also due to the unexpected shift in tone. Two tendrils shot up from the mist. They dived for our location, even as we scrambled to our feet. The tendrils veered at the last second and snapped around my companion. He managed a horrified look and struggled against the noose. And then, he was gone. Dragged off into the deep and whatever lay below. No! A new message blocked my vision. You have proven your worth as a candidate for reincarnation. Quest: [Survive 03]. Time remaining: 00:00:00. Homunculi remaining: 1/1000. Quest complete. [Migrant Soul] has been added to your traits. What? I''d already made my peace with dying. Random chance? What the heck was that?! The transparent walls guarding the brazier receded. Notification boxes leaped out of the fire and expanded above the pyramid. I got a single look at them before the brazier imploded. Suction waves tugged me into the warp. The agony that followed was like nothing I¡¯d ever experienced. It disintegrated my nerves and burned off my skin. Messages poured into the gap behind my eyelids. The [System] has selected you for reincarnation. User name: Damien Njoku. Available traits: [Born of Affinity], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]. Selecting preregistered race . . . Selection: Dark Elf. Selecting compatible affinity . . . My brain exploded. Multiple affinities detected: User has demonstrated talent in Fear (49%), Pain (23%), Wrath (11%), Despair (11%), and Contrition (6%). You may pick an affinity. The noise went off like a gong in my head. You may pick an affinity. If nothing is chosen, the highest compatible affinity will be selected. Screw you, I said through nonexistent lips. The [System] messages paused. . . . Affinity selected. Selection: Fear. Due to the nature of the trait, [Born of Affinity] has combined with your selection. [Born of Affinity] has transformed into [Born of Fear]. More haptic buzzes. You have received a Legacy Quest! New quest: [Heroic Adventure]. You have been transported from another world! Gather strong allies and avert the Apocalypse. Allies: 0/10. Time remaining: 364 days. Reward: 10,000 spirit orbs. Complete each milestone to unlock extra rewards. [System] Error: Quest has already been assigned. [System] Error? A plethora of new screens bombarded me, red this time, unlike the former blue. Emergency signs hovered over them, blinking in urgency. Reincarnation failed. [System] Error has been detected. The process will now be terminated. The current candidate will be destroyed. A new kind of anguish engulfed me. It left me no time to ponder the text, which had taken a dangerous slant. Blue screens suppressed the red. Hold on just a minute! Termination halted. Employing override protocols . . . Reincarnation will now proceed as intended. Please, stand by. I swirled around in a pool of darkness. The last thing I saw before blacking out was a forest of vivid green . . . And nine hundred and ninety-nine souls who had perished so I could win. 003 Status I awoke face down amid a cluster of foliage. A live band played in my head. Wet grass tickled my nostrils, rich with the scent of soft loam, saturated with dew. I rolled onto my side. The action aggravated my headache, drawing a groan from my lips. Dark clouds wafted past the sky, pushed along by a cool wind that rustled the grass. What was this place? It looked nothing like my bedroom, which meant I was stuck in another of my dreams. Was it morning already? HR would kill me if I turned up late for the third day in a row. Kill. Death. Murder. I snapped upright. Memories from the hellscape flooded my brain. I had fallen into the brazier thingy and burned down to ashes. Before that, I had been a bald, pallid being¡ªsome creature called a homunculus. Color had returned to my skin, judging from my exposed limbs. Arms of a familiar black connected to the rest of a lean, mean body, healthier than I¡¯d ever been in life. Thick, curly hair sat in a mop atop my head. But, most importantly, I had groaned a few seconds ago, signaling a return of the faculties of speech. ¡°Take that!¡± I said, running long fingers across my lips. Laughter bubbled up my throat. The thick hair was a nice change of pace from baldness, even though it spread in an unruly way that seemed difficult to tame. I brushed a hand across it and froze at the sensation of tips jutting from my head. I had long ears. The rest of my facial features had also changed, but my body piqued the most interest. It felt good to the touch, really good, like marble animated. A shirt and pants of soft linen covered my form. Long legs ended barefoot. ¡°What the hell am I?¡± A semi-transparent screen popped up at the question. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 1 Affinity: Fear Class: [?] VP: 19/19 MP: 21/21 Attributes: STR 4, PER 2, END 4, DEX 7 INT 5, WIL 3, V.F 2, MGK 3 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify] Abilities: [Fear Aura]*, [Scaredy-cat] Two colored meters hovered one atop the other in the upper left corner of the screen. The topmost red meter stretched twice as large as the green. I''d spent enough time playing video games in my childhood to know what the text box represented. It was a status screen. Judging by popular conventions, the red meter probably signified my health, leaving green for stamina. A status screen. Gosh. The day couldn¡¯t get any weirder. I would have been more surprised had I not survived an encounter with actual demons. This was pretty mundane in comparison. The status screen bore a sizeable amount of information, principal of which was race. Dark Elf. I didn''t need to be a rocket scientist to infer its meaning. The [System] had reincarnated me just as promised. But, it had enacted a total revamp. The old Damien was gone, that much was certain. The new one . . . well, there were a lot of creatures out there much worse than elves. I could use a fresh start, as long as I hadn¡¯t hijacked some poor sod¡¯s body. I perused the rest of the data. MP most likely referred to mana points. VP? No idea. The other attributes that followed seemed straightforward enough¡ªI probably shouldn''t assume. However, what the heck did traits mean? I had three of them, with the third, [Migrant Soul], greyed out from the others. I also had an affinity. Something to do with fear. Memories resurfaced of the [System] giving me a choice, but none of them explained what affinities represented. Could I control emotions? The ability section seemed to imply so, what with its listing of [Fear Aura] and [Scaredy-cat]. The former possessed the same grey tint as [Migrant Soul], indicating its dormancy. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. What about skills? I shook my head. A quick scan of my surroundings revealed I¡¯d woken atop a mound in a small clearing of grass. A dense forest grew around me. This was bad. Forests went hand in hand with wildlife, and although I¡¯d never lived outside a city, I wasn¡¯t oblivious to the dangers of the wild. I needed to take stock of my surroundings, find water, and build some kind of shelter. Then, I would freak out. But only after finding water. I looked around the forest. What was this place? None of the trees resembled the common species from back home, and why even would the [System] bother with reincarnating me only to plop me back on Earth? I mused aloud. ¡°For a talkative [System], you¡¯re being awfully quiet now.¡± And then, I winced at the recollection of a curling tendril of mist choosing a homunculus at random. No. Deep breaths, Damien. Deep breaths. This was neither the time nor the place for righteous indignation. I¡¯d get a chance to rage against the [System] eventually, but safety came first. That mattered above all else. I returned to the skills section of my status screen and mouthed a word. ¡°Map.¡± A circular screen, akin to radar, appeared beside the first. It depicted an area with a radius of about ten meters. A blue dot waited at the center of the map. Me. Dreadwood, the location read. ¡°That doesn''t sound good.¡± It sounded downright horrible. Was this the part where I started panicking? I ambled to my feet. The trees of Dreadwood looked strange: long, thin, and tall, with star-shaped leaves. Undergrowth peppered the ground in uneven patches, exuding an ominous aura. I didn''t want to venture out into the forest. Not when they bore a name like Dreadwood. Maybe, I would be better off waiting a little more. I sat back on the mound. The [Map] proved fairly interactive. A pinch of the screen caused it to zoom out, with the reverse bringing it back up to scale. Even at its most minimized, the circular area only extended a few more meters. Green hues, signifying the trees, stretched out as far as I could see. How did the [System] expect me to find my way out of here? Sure, the [Map] possessed the four cardinal points, but there was little difference between north and south when both led to nowhere. A rustling interrupted my musing¡ªsoft enough that I would have missed it but for my long ears, which proved to be of use beyond cosmetic design. Something drew closer from within the bushes. Something large. Oi, it seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. Visit your status sheet to learn more about your abilities. I blinked at the pop-up notification, frowned, and glanced over my shoulder. The large creature had gotten even closer. No time to dither. I took off at a dead run, surprised at how easily my muscles responded. A big cat emerged in pursuit. It looked like a tiger, but that was only because of its stripes. Large tusks framed both sides of its maw which sat beneath a crown adorned with spikes. You have encountered your first monster! Activate [Identify]? Y/N. Yes! A pop-up hovered above the creature. Dread Tiger LVL 6. Level six? I was only level one. The Dread Tiger shortened the gap, snarling as it did. New me exploded with energy, but outrunning a tiger was a rather big ask. I gave it my all regardless and crashed through a line of trees. The older [System] messages blocked my vision, creating a navigational hazard. I needed them gone. Why were they acting up now when they¡¯d vanished just fine on their own back at the pyramid? Sudden movements caught my attention. I veered sideways in avoidance of a lunge. Sharp claws glanced off my shoulder, courtesy of a new monster that struck from hiding. The blow missed my throat and threw me across the thicket. The red meter flashed; an indication of damage. The first Dread Tiger slowed at the sight of the second. Each monster sized up the other, growling low in their throats. Their confrontation left me temporarily forgotten¡ªnot that I minded. What was that skill again? Right. [Identify]. The relevant info appeared over the new monster. Dread Tiger LVL 4. This Dread Tiger bellowed a challenge and tackled the other. Both tumbled across the thicket, flailing wildly. I crawled through the bushes and returned to my feet a short distance later. The flight that followed put Olympic runners to shame. I kept at it until my stamina bar halved, and then I collapsed and guzzled lungfuls of air. What the heck was that? First things first: Shut down the freaking [System] boxes. It took a few tries, but I eventually learned the trick to managing pop-ups. A mental command moved all of them to the periphery of my vision. Another command terminated them. The health and stamina bars remained visible in the upper left corner of my sight. The [Map] needed some readjusting and eventually settled in the bottom right. Forget escaping the forest. If I didn''t get my act together, I wasn''t surviving the night. What was the point of reincarnation if I died mere minutes after returning to life? ¡°I need some answers. Where are my notifications?¡± A message icon blinked in the upper right. I¡¯d somehow gotten it to appear while battling with the notifications. It seemed to be a folder for storing stuff for review. I focused on it, causing its contents to unfurl. You have accessed the [System] log. You have received a Legacy Quest! New quest: [Heroic Adventure] You have been transported from another world! Gather strong allies and avert the Apocalypse. Time remaining: 364 days. Allies: 0/10. Reward: 10,000 spirit orbs. Complete each milestone to unlock extra rewards. [System] Error: This quest has already been assigned. There it was again: Those strange words at the bottom. But, before I could parse them, another message appeared. You have received an Origin Quest! New quest: [Lost Kinsman] You have awoken in a strange, deadly place. Find the rest of your clan. Objective: Find the Dark Elf village. Reward: 10 spirit orbs. How about a no? I didn''t care about any apocalypse, and I sure as hell couldn¡¯t find a village if every ten steps put me in danger of being killed. How far was it till nightfall? The canopy of trees made it difficult to gauge the sun¡¯s position, and the thought of wandering around a darkened Dreadwood scared the bejeezus out of me. Food. Water. Shelter. I would plan my next move only after finding those. A pop-up interrupted me. Warning: Spirit orbs are necessary to sustain migrant souls. Ingest one orb a day or die. Time left till next ingestion: 23:44:16. ¡°Oh, for fuck''s sake.¡± 004 Kill and Loot There wasn''t much I could do after a warning like that. I didn''t want to die, therefore I had to eat the orbs, which meant I needed to find the elf village within the next twenty hours. The problem of being snacked on by fauna persisted, but there had to be some way around that. How did the characters in video games get around the issue? Oh, yes. They leveled up. Pretty straightforward to me. Straightforward, my ass. Every game dev knew to populate starting areas with low-level critters. Doing otherwise resulted in a bunch of gamers crying about balance issues. Those Dread Tigers broke the unspoken rule about balance, so maybe survival in this setting required skills in stealth? Ugh. I fought down a grimace and turned to the one thing within my power: the ability to investigate my capabilities. I summoned the character sheet, doing so by mentally saying the word, status. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 1 Affinity: Fear Class: [?] VP: 21/19 MP: 23/21 Attributes: STR 4 (5), PER 2 (3), END 4 (5), DEX 7 (8) INT 5 (6), WIL 3 (4), V.F 2 (3), MGK 3 (4) Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify] Abilities: [Fear Aura]*, [Scaredy-cat] New numbers had appeared beside my attributes¡ªa consequence of the strange pop-ups, which had in turn been caused by one of my abilities. [Fear Aura] didn¡¯t respond to prompting, so I focused on [Scaredy-cat] and thought hard about the word. A new screen appeared. [Scaredy-cat] [Lesser] Sometimes, a ranker needs to stand his ground. Gain a stack of [Fear] whenever you¡¯re frightened. Each stack adds +1 to all stats and lasts [20] minutes. Max: 5 stacks. Cost: None. A little too meh for my liking. The ability would have been much better if it activated on every encounter. Sure, the stat boosts were nice, but I wouldn¡¯t want to fight an enemy that scared me¡ªunless, I had no choice. The extra stats could be useful for fleeing, however. Experimentation could help reveal more in that regard. Did a difference of one mean much by way of stat increments? Or were all five [Fear] stacks necessary for [Scaredy-cat] to be useful? I shelved the issue for later. [Map] didn¡¯t offer much by way of description¡ª A navigational tool. Grants increased awareness of your surroundings. Cost: None. ¡ªwhich left [Identify] as the only other skill I could fire. [Identify] [Lesser] A crutch skill open only to pure magic classes. Gain extra insight upon activation on a target. Cost: None. The text taught me two things. One: Certain skills had class requirements for their acquisition; and two: Despite being classless, I had access to one such skill. The classless bit bothered me more than a little bit, especially with fancy words like ¡®pure magic classes¡¯ being thrown around. I needed to remedy that, more so if it guaranteed a jump in power. ¡°Against the odds,¡± I said, moving on to my traits and forgetting for a half second that I could use mental commands. [Against the Odds] You survived an event with an abysmal chance of success. That makes you special. Congratulations! This trait grants the unique skill: [Map]. This trait grants [Identify]. One technique upgrade unlocked at level 50. I had only two skills, and both of them had come from the trait. Was that the same for my abilities? [Born of Fear] Everyone is gifted with an affinity, but once in a rare while, a person is born as a gift to the affinities. You embody the concept of [Fear]. Take up your mantle and strike terror into the hearts of your enemies. This trait grants 50% resistance to mental effect techniques. This trait grants 10% potency to your Fear-based attacks. In addition, the following abilities have been granted: [Fear Aura]. [Scaredy-cat]. Bingo. I sure as hell didn''t strike terror into the hearts of the Dread Tigers. If anything, I had been the terrified one. Still, it helped to learn that my traits were the sole reason I wasn¡¯t completely defenseless. I should probably find ways to gather more of them. The [Migrant Soul] trait remained dormant and provided zero information, much like [Fear Aura]. A small well of confidence blossomed in me regardless. You got this, Damien. I had survived the madness at the pyramid. A stroll through the wilderness was nothing in comparison. ¡°[Identify]!¡± An infobox leaped out of the foliage. [Harper''s grass], it said, identifying the blades at my feet. I turned the skill on the trees around me: The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. [Deridum tree]. [Elfwood]. [Sword fruit tree]. The last specimen stood over fifteen meters tall with gnarly bark and thin, long branches. The fruit in question hung from thick stalks on the branches and bore great resemblance to cashews if one ignored the long spike that extended from the bottom. That long spike had probably attracted the name, sword fruit. No point dallying. I needed one of those. ¡°Here''s to hoping my 7 in Dexterity means something,¡± I said to myself. It actually did. I climbed the tree with moderate difficulty, managing it with less grace than I intended. Nevertheless, for someone who had never been adept at climbing, achieving that much was a big leap in proficiency. The exercise left me winded upon return to ground level, with two makeshift blades to show for it, courtesy of the fruits. The spikes sat fused to their cores, but they made poor weapons anyway due to a lack of grip. I ran them across a fallen branch instead and sharpened the latter until it narrowed to a point. One hour later, I had created ten stakes and tied them to my waist with cloth, sourced from ripped strips of my sleeves. Not the best of weapons as far as combat went, but I was no longer defenseless. The origin quest provided me with a goal: Find the Dark Elf village. I opened the [Map] and weighed my chances. How the hell was I supposed to find a village on my own in the wild? Search for a path? Or maybe a stream? One of those could lead me to civilization. I sighed and struck out in a random direction that seemed to lead downward. Might as well get to it. A large shape blurred down a tree. I lashed out in reflex, stake leaping into my hand. Warm blood splattered my torso. Dread Viper LVL 2. The dead snake flopped onto the grass, sporting a wound from its neck. An empty health meter vanished above its head. It undulated, revealing a grey belly beneath a coat of black. Snakes possessed the ability to bite even in death, so I backed up a few meters just to be safe. A notification flashed in the periphery of my vision. I forced it to enlarge after a few awkward tries. Hurray! You''ve killed your first monster. You¡¯ve gained XP from Dread Viper LVL 2. Kill more monsters to increase your level. The dead snake spasmed, revealing horrendous fangs. Vertical pupils glared up at me, evoking a degree of remorse. Before reincarnation, I¡¯d never killed anything more frightening than roaches. But, that ship had long since sailed with the deeds I¡¯d committed back at Rebirth. Another text box hovered over the snake. Loot Dread Viper? Y/N. ¡°Yes?¡± The monster sizzled. Odorless smoke wafted off the creature, leaving behind a stretch of ash that scattered in the wind. Snake meat has been added to the inventory. Error: Inventory not found. Monster core [Lesser] has been added to the inventory. Error: Inventory not found. A tiny red gem and a pile of raw meat packed into a neat bundle appeared where the corpse had lain. ¡°Snake meat?¡± I shook my head. What did the [System] mean by inventory? The kind of storage space common in video games? I picked up the gem. It stood at about the size of my largest fingernail, warm and vibrant to the touch. I shoved it into my pocket and resumed my trek. The grass rustled beside me. ¡°That is so not ominous.¡± A regular bunny appeared, poking its head through the grass. Cute, I started to say, when it leaped up and bit me on my shin. Ow! I punted the rabbit into the trees. It returned an instant later, lunging for my throat. I drove a stake into its belly. Guts exploded in a shower of red. ¡°Crap.¡± The rabbit twitched in the throes of death and heaved blood onto the ground. Large fangs poked out of its snout. You¡¯ve gained XP from Dread Hopper LVL 2. So, even the bunnies here couldn''t be trusted?! I sighed and glanced at my shin. The evil rabbit had bitten straight through my pants. Despite hurting something silly, the attack hadn¡¯t drawn blood. Rather, the red bar that signified my health dipped by a little. Loot Dread Hopper? Y/N. ¡°This is so not fun.¡± I fought a few more critters after that. They gave chase the instant they noticed me, leaving few chances to escape. I killed two more bunnies and a turkey-bat creature that moved like it was high on crack. The turkey was named a [Dread Fowl] and came very close to blinding my eyes. It had only gone down after repeated stabs with a stake, and even then, the damned bird kept trying to peck me in death. ¡°Why are you so bloodthirsty?¡± I screamed, stomping the beast''s head beneath my foot. The fight with the Dread Fowl had solved the mystery about the rabbit bite¡ªI couldn¡¯t be deeply wounded as long as I possessed HP. Sure, the monster attacks never failed to hurt, and a good hit tended to leave a scratch. Regardless, I stayed whole through the worst of it. All damage battered my health meter instead. I¡¯d looted all the corpses of their monster cores, even though I kept getting the same error message. The [Dread Fowl] also offered a pile of meat, which was too good to pass up. I ripped more fabric from my shirt and wrapped the meat in a sling across my shoulder. If I didn''t find shelter before the night was up, at least I''d have something to eat. Not that I was looking forward to starting a fire here or wandering around by nightfall. If this world was anything like the games, then monster encounters worsened with darkness. I hadn¡¯t met another Dread Tiger since the initial confrontation, but luck was a fickle thing. Hopefully, the Dread Tigers were the apex predators of this wilderness. I couldn¡¯t imagine fighting anything bigger. I leaped over a log. The lack of shoes meant that my soles scraped punitively against the ground. My entire body was riddled with aches, and my health meter had dropped over forty percent, thanks to the bloody [Dread Fowl]. My stamina had fallen even lower than that. Given that daylight had dimmed by a few notches, evening fast approached. I had to find a good place to shelter in. Anything else probably meant death. Another run-in with a Dread Hopper provided a new notification. Yay! You''ve leveled up. You are now Level 2. Visit your status sheet to assign your new attribute points. I didn''t need any prompting. Status. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 2 Affinity: Fear Class: [?] VP: 20/20 MP: 22/22 Attributes: STR 4, PER 2, END 4, DEX 7 INT 5, WIL 3, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 3 My MP and VP values had increased by 1 upon level up. I still didn''t know what to make of those two, so I filed them for later. I had three points to spend on attributes, but what should I choose? Which was more important? Considering the way the demon turkey had mauled me, [END]¡ªwhich probably stood for Endurance¡ªlooked the most appealing. But I didn''t want to jump the gun. Not until I had explored their meaning in depth. ¡°Attributes,¡± I said. No [System] answer. Ugh. Without guidance, I couldn''t tell which attributes were more important. [STR] seemed clear-cut enough. Likewise, [DEX] for Dexterity. [INT] and [MGK] probably meant Intellect and Magic, but did I need any of those at the moment? Movement registered behind me. Two Level 3 Dread Fowls appeared, unfurling their wings. I didn''t even think. Assign [3] stat points to [End]? Y/N. ¡°Y-yes!¡± I said as the Dread Fowls leaped for my face. I tore into them, a stake in each hand, but they proved more than my match. A single maddened fowl had been a challenge. Two bordered on death. One scratched my cheek with a hooked talon that came close to claiming my ear. The other latched onto my thigh. You have gained a stack of [Fear]! +1 has been added to your stats. We struggled some more. My health meter dipped below the halfway line. You have gained another stack of [Fear]! All stats have increased by 1. I grabbed a Dread Fowl by its wings and pulled in opposite directions. The creature shrieked. HP dropped to zero. It split apart at the arms, splintering bone. I stunned the second bird with a kick, then proceeded to bludgeon it with the corpse of the first. I didn''t stop till both birds turned to mush. ¡°Take that, bastards!¡± I staggered away from the birds, heart thumping wildly in my chest. Two monster cores and two bundles of meat were all I got for my effort, but I¡¯d cheated death once again. A quick look at the [System] log revealed that I had nineteen hours left to find the village and gain a spirit orb. I had lost health and stamina at an alarming rate with no way to recover them. My chances at the moment weren¡¯t looking good. Someone, help? 005 Harkonean I opened my status sheet. Attributes: STR 4 (6), PER 2 (4), END 7 (9), DEX 7 (9) INT 5 (7), WIL 3 (5), V.F 2 (4), MGK 3 (5) The three points to Endurance had helped swing things in my favor, but I¡¯d survived due to the timely intervention of [Scaredy-cat]. The perusal of my status sheet brought my attention to a curious matter¡ªone which I¡¯d formerly ignored: VP: 24/20 MP: 26/22 My VP and MP values both exceeded the maximum by four. Seeing as each stack of [Fear] raised my stats by a single point, it meant the two values worked differently from attributes. Either that, or they were influenced by the latter. I added the puzzle to the growing pile of stuff on the back burner and wiped my used weapons on the grass. I¡¯d lost six stakes in the course of my adventure, leaving me with four. I still wasn¡¯t any closer to finding the Dark Elf village. Frustration began to mount. C''mon, man. Deep breaths. The Flame Guardians couldn¡¯t kill you despite their best efforts. This wouldn¡¯t either. I resumed my trek. The sun fell toward the horizon, casting long shadows beneath the canopy of trees. Sharp jolts shot up my spine with each step, a consequence of my aching feet. I trudged through the dense understory and emerged from the line of trees onto a knoll, populated by harper''s grass. The sound of running water reached my ears. A clear stream traveled just beyond the knoll, babbling its way through the forest. It meandered between the trees, cutting a path through swaths of green. The sight of water reminded me that I¡¯d drank nothing since my reincarnation, though thirst was yet to register. More than that, running water provided a useful clue about where a settlement might be located. I turned around¡ªan act that saved my life. A Dread Tiger had been creeping toward me, and it broke into a run the moment we made eye contact. Dread Tiger LVL 6. Crap. [Scaredy-cat] fired a notification at the edge of my sight, but I ignored it in favor of tossing a stake at the beast. It sailed over the tiger which in turn pounced up the slope. I dug a second stake out of my belt at about the same time that the Dread Tiger lunged for me. Sharp claws tore through my health. The attacks blew out my footing and threw me onto my back. Large fangs snapped near my face. The Dread Tiger must have weighed over a thousand pounds because its weight cut off my ability to scream. Hot, fetid breath bathed me in its attempt to find purchase on my neck. We wrestled down the slope, a process that nearly cost me an eye and a limb. Monster cores tumbled out of my pocket. I glanced at the sparkling red gems and slapped one¡ªquicker than thought¡ªonto the tiger¡¯s face. It disintegrated with a bang. The Dread Tiger tumbled sideways from the shockwaves, though no real damage had been done. I grabbed a new stake and leaped after the creature with a scream. Health armor protected it, blocking my attempt to stab into its neck. Black claws rose in retaliation, and¡ª Fuck. I couldn''t finish the thought. Blood, like flowers, blossomed on my chest. Uh-oh. You have been harmed by the skill: [Bleed]. You are now afflicted with an instance [Bleeding]. Heal yourself if you don¡¯t want to die! The blood loss triggered a consequent drop in HP until my miniature health dwindled into nothing. The Dread Tiger swiped again with its claws. Why did it have skills of its own?! Without the protection of HP, its next strike would certainly disembowel me. Go hard or go home, Damien. Please. ¡°Just. Fucking. Stay down,¡± I screamed, pounding the stake into the Dread Tiger''s neck. Its health meter plummeted, but my strikes didn''t penetrate. A vicious blow knocked me senseless and tore strips out of my flank. Fireworks went off in my brain. I gritted my teeth against the pain and plunged a second stake into the other side of Dread Tiger¡¯s neck. More [Fear] notifications appeared. The twin attacks carved deep into the monster''s HP, at the cost of snapping my weapons. The Dread Tiger curled in a panic. Wicked jaws closed around my forearm, splintering bone and painting black spots across my vision. I won¡¯t die here. The broken stake in my free hand begged to be used. Screaming in defiance, I raised the short length of wood and buried it deep into the monster¡¯s eye. The Dread Tiger grunted. Its health meter emptied and vanished into nothing. Warm blood gushed profusely, coating my hand and chest. The great beast offered a final shudder, and then it collapsed, splaying across the grass. Hurray! You have killed a Dread Tiger. You are now level 3. Visit your status sheet to assign your free stat points. I pried my arm out of the dead tiger¡¯s mouth, sobbing at the pain and the mangled mess it had become. You have unlocked an ability! [Fear Aura] is now available for use. I couldn''t even celebrate. Fatigue bowled me over like a monster truck, leaving me face down in the dirt. The forest blended in a series of colors¡ªa murky potpourri that warned of my impending doom. I was dying, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Damn . . . You have taken damage from [Bleeding]. Heal yourself if you don''t want to die! I glanced down at my wounded arm and flank, unable to understand the obstructive text. Heal myself? How? Your HP has been depleted. Your stamina has been depleted. You have taken damage from [Bleeding]. Heal yourself if you don''t want to die! ¡°Heal me yourself, asshole.¡± A prompt to loot the Dread Tiger hovered over the creature¡¯s corpse. I blearily selected it, blinking as the creature turned into dust. The lesser monster core was something I recognized, alongside the bundle of meat. The fang, however¡ªnow, that was new. It looked like the canine of the dead monster, stained in my blood. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. All three items failed to enter my nonexistent inventory. Neither could I retrieve them, impossible as it was to lift a single muscle. Blood spread out in a pool beneath me. You have taken damage from [Bleeding]. Heal yourself if you don''t want to die! My eyes fluttered closed. The soft expanse of grass gave way to pitch-black darkness, and then to an aromatic garden of bush lilies. Beautiful, orange petals spun in the wind. Maybe . . . if I embraced the bliss, I could leave this unending hell and awaken on Earth again, free to resume the morning commute. Maybe . . . ¡°Who is this supposed to be?¡± Two strange creatures peered down at me. Their dark skin and rich, long braids identified them as humanoid, but their sharp ears and bright eyes were anything but. Both stood over six feet tall, dressed in leather gear tailored for hunting. Long, green cloaks billowed behind them, stained with mud and grass. I recognized these creatures¡ªthe concept of them, at least. Their race¡¯s name hung at the tip of my tongue. But, I couldn¡¯t piece it, not with my brain too muddled to ensure proper coherence of my thoughts. The one who had spoken prodded me with a bow. ¡°We are late. A fact that you''ll notice is no grief to me. We¡¯ve done what we can. All that is left is to raise a pyre.¡± ¡°Quiet, Tybalt,¡± the other said, and her voice rang light and feminine. ¡°He is wounded. We should help him.¡± ¡°Help dubious strangers? Has Dreadwood taught you nothing, my love?¡± The second speaker ignored him. She cradled my head and pressed a vial against my lips. ¡°Drink.¡± A warmth like the rays of the sun blossomed in my belly. The pain in my arm and side receded. I moved my mouth in a bid to issue my thanks, however, given my depleted stamina, the words never made it past my lips. I faltered and succumbed to sleep. Night met me when I reopened my eyes. Not night per se¡ªwooden rafters that marked the ceiling of a hut. The structural beams crossed beneath the roof, illuminated by a small fire that burned within a hearth. A bed of straw lay beneath my back, and a lone window provided a view of the world outside the hut. Stars twinkled across a night sky, untouched by pollution. Ah, yes. I had lost consciousness while fighting a Dread Tiger and would have perished, but for the timely arrival of elves. I sprang upright. Elves! Wasn¡¯t there something about them in one of the quests? ¡°Umm. [System] log?¡± A series of notification boxes populated my vision. I perused them carefully, organizing each one with mental instructions. You have found the Dark Elf village. Quest: [Lost Kinsman] Objective complete. [10] spirit orbs have been added to your inventory. Error: Inventory not found. As you do not yet have an inventory, this quest will remain active. Unlock your inventory to claim your rewards. I sighed in relief. The whole business with the missing inventory rankled me, but I had arrived, at the very least, where I needed to be. No more Dread Tigers. I swiped down the list. Quest: [Heroic Adventure] You have been transported from another world! Gather strong allies and avert the Apocalypse. Time remaining: 364 days. Ugh. This one again. Still, I could afford to ignore it in the interim, considering its healthy duration. 364 days was a lot of time, right? Warning: Migrant souls must ingest spirit orbs to survive. Time left till next ingestion: 14:12:50. How long had I been out? I patted down my pockets, which remained attached to the bloodied linen clothes I¡¯d started with in the forest. All of my loot had been divested . . . or robbed¡ªincluding the raw piles of meat, which annoyed me more than I wished to admit. My health and stamina meters had also been refilled. I pawed my forearm and lifted my shirt to inspect my flank. Smooth, unmarred skin met me, tender to the touch. Got to give it up for magic, yeah? Had I been back on earth, three months would have been insufficient time to recover. ¡°[Map].¡± The circular screen jumped up, with a single title: Harkonean, Dark Elf Village. Not much to go on, probably as a consequence of my skill level. Zooming out on the map didn''t provide any more information by way of text, but it did supply a layout of my surroundings. I currently occupied a hut that sat among a row of many. A large circular area opened up beyond it, an approximation of a village square. Thin walls surrounded the perimeter, almost asking to be breached. . . . Not that I intended to do so. Memory informed me that my elven saviors had both been armed to the teeth. If the same rang true for the rest of their people, conviviality not rashness was the best chance of getting my way. I nudged open the door and peeked out into the night. A dimly lit village peeked back at me. For all the myths surrounding elves, Harkonean looked no different from the typical rural village. Smelled like one too. Wooden huts sat squat on the ground, not high in trees like I¡¯d expected, bearing shabby, rundown roofs. Strange, flameless lamps burned on tall posts interspersed throughout the village. They illuminated narrow dirt paths that formed the network of streets, as well as the animal pens that framed the huts beside them. A Dark Elf kid¡ªfive, maybe six years old¡ªplayed with sticks some distance away from the door. ¡°Stop right there,¡± someone said. A tall guard, dark of skin and face, with tribal markings and long, flowing hair leveled a spear at me. ¡°Come out slowly, stranger.¡± I did as he asked. The guard didn¡¯t relax his stance, even when I raised my arms in what I hoped was the universal gesture of surrender. Dark Elf Guard LVL 16. Really, [Identify]? Not even a name? I didn''t miss the stated level, however. A world¡¯s worth of difference existed between levels 3 and 16. Heck, a level 6 monster had almost sent me on a one-way trip back to the pyramid. This confrontation called for my best behavior. ¡°Um, hello?¡± I said. The elf guard ignored me. ¡°Little one,¡± he said to the child, ¡°please, inform granny that our guest has risen.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the child said, brimming with the massive exuberance common for his age. ¡°Right away!¡± He ran off into the night, faster than I could blink. ¡°Look, man,¡± I started. ¡°I don''t mean any harm.¡± ¡°Man?¡± The Dark Elf bristled. That was probably the wrongest thing to say. ¡°I mean, elf. Elf! I just want to explain¡ª¡± The Dark Elf''s scowl deepened. ¡°Nana will hear your case. Just stay right there. The last thing I want is to spill elven blood.¡± He trailed off with a thought. ¡°Not dark-elven, at the least.¡± I could respect that. I didn''t want my blood spilled either. A few questions wormed their way into my head concerning his capacity to communicate in English, but that could wait for a more opportune time. A few minutes later, another elf appeared. She approached from a side street, footsteps noiseless as feathers. Bright eyes burned like a cat''s, shadowed by thick hair that hung partly braided around her head. Her leather armor looked well-maintained, even in the dark of the night. A longbow jangled on her back, paired with a full quiver of arrows. Long knives completed the ensemble, but I ignored the weapons in favor of staring at the soft features of her face. ¡°Nana will speak to you now,¡± she said, hoisting one of those strange lamps aloft, the kind that burned without flames. ¡°Please, come with us.¡± I followed the two elves through the empty village square. Despite initial impressions, Harkonean was much sturdier than I¡¯d thought. The village had been built on a hill, providing a nice vantage point over its surroundings. Elven guards patrolled walkways atop the main entrance to the village, armed with bows and torches. Running water gurgled somewhere in the distance, and a smith''s hammer rang across the clearing. I¡¯d really left my bed in Lagos, Nigeria to appear in a fantasy world of all places. And, if that wasn¡¯t clear enough, three pale moons glowed in the sky. Three. Yep, definitely not Earth. The elven girl led me to the biggest hut yet. Some kind of longhouse, with an adjoining pen set aside for goats. Surely, not Dread Goats, I thought, passing the bleating creatures. We walked up the short stairs to the longhouse and entered a well-lit hall. A hearth crackled in the center, providing warmth. Lamps hung from lampstands on the walls. Nana the Dark Elf sat draped in heavy native robes, on a high-backed chair carved with intricate leafy designs. Two elven guards towered behind her, bows held at the ready. Unlike her moniker suggested, she didn''t look much older than fifty. Even that figure seemed like a reach when juxtaposed with her short stature. Nevertheless, Nana bore the carriage befitting her age. A certain aura surrounded her that exuded from none of her kin. White, downy hair tumbled around her head, held in place by trinkets. Her small feet failed to reach the ground. And her eyes . . . okay, that was scary. Red eyes burned in a pretty face marked by tribal designs. First impressions matter, Damien. How did one greet a noble elf chieftain? ¡°Great Nana,¡± I said, inclining my head. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Nana¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°The pleasure is yours alone, stranger. You have five seconds to explain what you were doing in my corner of the forest.¡± ¡°Uh¡ª¡± ¡°Especially with this.¡± She nodded, and the male guard who had escorted me gripped the front of my shirt. He tugged and split the linen across the torso. ¡°Tell me,¡± Nana said. ¡°Why did you come wearing the body of my son?¡± 006 Cyran Irithiel I gawked at the elven matron. She stared back, dead serious. ¡°Pardon?¡± I stuttered. ¡°Look at your chest, child,¡± Nana snapped. I indulged her. A black crest curled around my left breast in the form of a tribal tattoo. I hadn¡¯t noticed it back when I was clothed, but it sat now visible atop my exposed skin. Nana watched me with feverish eyes. ¡°That crest marks a Dark Elf as a member of the Irithiel family. In particular, the branch to which I belong. I have a similar carving etched upon my breast.¡± ¡°So . . . we are long lost kin?¡± I joked, ridding myself of the mental image of her chest. Nana glowered. ¡°Do you not have eyes? Surely, you can read the script. You know what it says.¡± A script? I studied the tattoo again. Markings that had erstwhile seemed like meaningless harsh strokes revealed themselves to be some kind of cursive, framed with leafy vines. Alas, whatever magic that governed communication didn¡¯t extend to elven writing. The cursive might as well have been gibberish. ¡°Look, I don''t want any trouble,¡± I started. ¡°It says Cyran Irithiel, you fool. And I marked it with my own hand.¡± A shiver ran up my spine. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. I¡¯ve never met you before now, lady.¡± ¡°Yet, you show up bearing the black leaf crest I created in the same spot it was drawn.¡± Nana''s stone-cold expression didn''t falter. ¡°That¡¯s not a coincidence, child.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your son.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s no way you can be. My son is dead.¡± I blanched at the comment. The rest of the elves watched our interaction with uneasy eyes, shifting their feet. Only one of them showed any emotion other than unease, and that was the tall, handsome guard positioned on Nana¡¯s right. He sneered at me instead through thick dreadlocks and tightened his grip on his spear. Oh, for fuck''s sake. What was this malarkey? For an entity like the [System], with vast amounts of raw power at its disposal, forging a new vessel for my soul shouldn¡¯t have been a problem. What then was the reason for this mess? I went over the details of the quest log in my head. The answer struck me like a slap across the face: You have received an Origin quest! New quest: [Lost Kinsman] Find the Dark Elf village. Oh, hell no. ¡°So, let me get this,¡± I said, wetting my lips. ¡°Your son is dead. And you think I am him returned from the grave?¡± Nana didn¡¯t speak. ¡°Umm, can you tell me how he died and where?¡± A longbow rapped against the ground. ¡°You abuse our hospitality, stranger,¡± the sneering guard said, ¡°if you think we owe you answers to your questions. We¡¯ve had enough of your deceit!¡± ¡°Tybalt . . .¡± Nana warned. The furious elf didn¡¯t relent. ¡°Grandmother, I warned you about this. Strike down this evil creature before it gets a chance to sink its hooks. We are dealing with a changeling!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a changeling,¡± I said in my defense. ¡°And, I¡¯m not an evil creature. Heck, before today, I¡¯d never even met an elf.¡± ¡°Speak another lie and forfeit your tongue.¡± I made a fist and narrowed my eyes at Tybalt. Did all alternate versions of me need to encounter some kind of bully? Why was I being dressed down by this ass? ¡°Tybalt,¡± the only other elf-woman in the hall said in a measured tone, "We found him together. And the High Priest performed an inspection. If the stranger is as dangerous as you say he is, he wouldn¡¯t have come undone by a regular Dread Tiger.¡± Tybalt waved her off. ¡°All part of his ploy. It¡¯s not unusual for weak monsters to be highly intelligent.¡± Weak? The elf-woman spoke before my mouth could run away from me. ¡°We debated this extensively. He had no idea we would arrive at his location. He couldn¡¯t have staged his injuries in the light of those circumstances.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name, child?¡± Nana interrupted. ¡°What do you call yourself?¡± I halted in my tracks. ¡°Umm, Damien.¡± ¡°And how old are you?¡± I wasn¡¯t quite sure how my real age translated to elven years. No point in lying. ¡°Twenty-five.¡± Nana¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°You¡¯re only twenty-five? Yet, you look like this? Where do you hail from?¡± Ah, the loaded question. However, a reply still eluded me. Would it be too much of a faux pas to say, ¡®out of this world¡¯? ¡°Well . . .?¡± Nana pressed. ¡°Apologies,¡± I said. ¡°This might sound unreal, but I . . . can¡¯t describe my origins. All I can say is that this is my first time visiting your forest. I do not know my way around.¡± ¡°What nonsense!¡± Tybalt said. Nana gripped her handrest. ¡°You claim to suffer from amnesia?¡± ¡°No, great Nana,¡± I said, picking my words. ¡°My memory remains intact. However, I do not belong here. Not in Dreadwood or the rest of your world. I found myself emplaced within your forest against my will.¡± ¡°Great this, great that.¡± Nana gestured impatiently. ¡°I need clearer answers. Who brought you to Dreadwood?¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°An entity I cannot describe.¡± ¡°And what was its purpose?¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± Nana¡¯s expression contorted for a fraction of a second before slipping back into neutrality. She studied me with those red eyes of hers, warring with thoughts beneath the surface. The urge to share the full details of my ordeal nearly overtook me, but I kept my cards close to my chest. Nana could react in unpredictable ways upon learning the true purpose of my reincarnation. Especially if said purpose had been granted at the expense of her loved one. ¡°Everybody, out,¡± Nana said. ¡°Save for you: Tybalt, Mavari.¡± The elf guards bowed and exited the hall, leaving the idiot boy and elf-woman whose name I had just learned. ¡°Nana . . .¡± Mavari said, glancing at the matron with concerned eyes. Tybalt spun his bow. ¡°This is getting ridiculous. How much longer must we suffer this scoundrel? I propose incarceration until he perishes or learns to speak the truth¡ªwhichever first occurs.¡± Nana frowned at him. ¡°Do not let me summon the wind to toss you out on your ass, boy. You are not Harkon yet. At least, not until I cease. You will listen, and you will obey.¡± Tybalt glared at her, and then at me, a sour look on his face. Ah. So, that was his bone of contention. Seeing as he was next in line to inherit the, err, high-backed chair, my arrival threatened to disrupt his ambitions. If I truly occupied the body of Cyran Irithiel, son of Nana the chieftain, did that make me Tybalt¡¯s dad? Gosh, no. I¡¯d rather sire earthworms. Nana settled into her chair. ¡°You asked, child, how I lost my son?¡± She waited for my affirmation. ¡°He died in his first year, sickly from birth. Unlike his twin, he never grew old enough to bless these halls with laughter.¡± That . . . complicated things, what with my current appearance looking nothing like a toddler. ¡°How long ago was this?¡± ¡°Sixty years.¡± ¡°Then, you are mistaken. I am not Cyran Irithiel.¡± ¡°Maybe not,¡± Nana said. ¡°But my eyes do not deceive me. Cyran died before reaching adulthood, but I chose to mark him in the way of his fathers all the same.¡± She pointed at my chest. ¡°That crest was painted on before I swaddled him in robes and sent him downstream on a bier. If you are not the real Cyran, then you are a ghost.¡± Dust filled my mouth. The [System] wouldn¡¯t do that, would it? Use a long-dead infant for reincarnation material. The corpse should have decomposed long before my arrival, and the entire affair reeked of inelegance. But, what if that was the point? I had been summoned to this world as some kind of hero to undertake a quest of grand design. What was a noble hero without a noble origin? ¡°Maybe he was resurrected,¡± Mavari offered. ¡°Some evil caster got hands on his corpse and performed this abomination.¡± Nana shook her head. ¡°If he was, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten the dreams.¡± That got my attention. ¡°What dreams?¡± ¡°Nana saw a vision,¡± Mavari said. ¡°A couple of them really, about a strange elf coming to life on Tukor''s mound. She sent us to investigate.¡± ¡°Tell my story for me, why doncha, girl?¡± Nana said dryly. Mavari flushed and ducked beneath her hair. ¡°Wait,¡± I said, glancing at each elf in turn. ¡°You knew about my arrival?¡± Nana smirked. ¡°How else do you think Tybalt and Mavari found you? You dare to claim the luck of the heroes in stories?¡± Tybalt looked unhappy that the Dread Tiger hadn¡¯t finished the job, but I could only wince at the timing of it all. Had I remained at the mound for a few more hours, the Origin quest would have ended much quicker than it had. Curse you, Dread Tigers! ¡°So, that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t put me in shackles,¡± I murmured, more to myself than them, ¡°With dreams like that, you must have imagined some kind of miracle.¡± ¡°I imagined nothing,¡± Nana said. ¡°But that begs the question too. If you are no son of mine, by necromancy or other means, who are you?¡± I glanced down at my hands. ¡°Speak, child. Before the skin wears off my bones.¡± ¡°I don''t know,¡± I said at length. ¡°But I have a name, and it is not Cyran. It is Damien. Damien Njoku. Beyond that, I am unsure of everything else.¡± Besides, I already had a birth mother, who held a special place in my heart. No two-bit elf was going to replace her in this world or another. Nana scoffed. ¡°Damien.¡± She rose to her feet and strode toward the back of the hall. ¡°Nana?¡± Mavari called. ¡°It''s getting late,¡± the elf chieftain said. ¡°We all need some shuteye. Mavari will escort you back to the guest house, Damien. We will continue this tomorrow.¡± I didn¡¯t have enough tomorrows. ¡°Um, there¡¯s a matter I was hoping we could discuss.¡± ¡°Daybreak,¡± Nana said, raising a tattooed hand. ¡°I need to be left to my thoughts.¡± She glanced at me from over her shoulder. ¡°Our kin are swift to extend hatred, Damien. You would do well to remember that. Do not give us a reason.¡± ¡°Come,¡± Mavari said, touching my arm. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± Tybalt followed me with keen eyes as I left, smoldering behind the high-backed chair. He kept up his glare, even as the door slammed shut in his face. For all Nana¡¯s warnings, hatred had already been extended. Good times, eh? Mavari led me back to the wooden hut. A few curious eyes peeked out of nearby windows, following our movements. Word had probably gone around about the strange Dark Elf who had appeared with the Irithiel crest. ¡°Don''t let Tybalt get to you,¡± Mavari said. ¡°He''s very protective of the village. Our people are beset with enemies.¡± ¡°Oh no, I''m not mad,¡± I said. Tybalt was nothing next to some of the bosses I¡¯d suffered during my brief stint in construction. ¡°With how strange the situation is, I''d probably act likewise if I were in his shoes.¡± Mavari smiled. ¡°That''s gracious of you. It''s not every day your deceased uncle returns from the dead.¡± She clasped a hand over her mouth. ¡°Not that you have to be. His uncle, I mean. But with the crest . . . and the visions . . .¡± She stopped rambling and narrowed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re certain that you¡¯re not from around here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I confirmed. ¡°I know nothing about this world. Heck, just this morning, I could have sworn your people didn''t exist.¡± ¡°Even though you look the way you do? Elves are one of the oldest species on Vizhima!¡± Species. Plural. Which implied more than one. ¡°What other species are out there?¡± ¡°You really don''t know?¡± Mavari said, wide-eyed. ¡°Never matter, we can discuss that at length tomorrow. I should probably let you get settled.¡± We stopped in front of the hut. ¡°Dinner was delivered while you were away. I suggest you satiate yourself and retire as soon as you¡¯re able. You¡¯ve been yawning all night.¡± I hadn¡¯t even noticed. ¡°What language do you speak, Mavari? I¡¯m confused about how we manage to understand each other.¡± Mavari eyed me dubiously. ¡°The [System] handles real-time translations. All races understand each other, no matter the language. Except when written, of course.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Mavari glanced at the distant walls. ¡°Damien, was it? I''ll speak the truth to you, because of your politeness. Nana currently stays her hand because of her visions, but all that would change the moment you endanger the village.¡± Her eyes narrowed. In a single instant, she seemed less like a genial young woman and more like a feral hunter. Eerie laughter cackled in the air. Or maybe, it was just my imagination. Mavari hissed. ¡°You do not intend to bring harm to this village, do you?¡± ¡°I do not.¡± Her expression relaxed. She backed away without another word and vanished around the corner. I entered the hut. Someone had indeed visited in my absence to kindle the fire, lay fresh beddings, and leave a warm pot of soup. I dove first for the soup, unbothered to learn its contents. A full stomach allowed me to focus once more on the matter of spirit orbs. I had ten of them¡ªrewarded by the Origin quest¡ªwhich I couldn¡¯t access. The timer had run down to thirteen hours, a count that would put me in dire straits by the time I awoke. I yawned at the ceiling. ¡°I don''t suppose it is possible to request that quest rewards land directly in my pockets?¡± No reply. ¡°Figured as much.¡± I lay on the bedding. Sleep proved elusive, dancing just beyond my grasp. The events of the day hammered over my head. They brought along an unnatural chill that left me shivering beneath the blanket. Warm sweat beaded my forehead. I had been running on autopilot ever since my time as a homunculus, doing my best to survive one disaster after another. I''d made it this far by sheer force of will, but the battles for my life were far from over. The damned timer blinked behind my eyelids, haunting me even in my dreams. Time left till next ingestion: 13:04:28. 007 The Blackreach Dagger I awoke after a night of unrelenting nightmares. Dawn loomed on the horizon, casting golden fingers across the sky and its trifecta of faded moons. The timer in the [System] log inched even closer. Time left till next ingestion: 07:11:42. I summoned my status screen, more to take my mind off the pressure than for any real interest in its contents. The [System] window unfurled: Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 3 Affinity: Fear Class: [?] VP: 21/21 MP: 23/23 Attributes: STR 4, PER 2, END 7, DEX 7 INT 5, WIL 3, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free stat points: 3 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify] Abilities: [Fear Aura], [Scaredy-cat] My initial assumptions remained correct. VP and MP increased by one upon level-up, accompanied by three stat points to assign as I saw fit. [Fear Aura] had been unlocked in the fight with the Dread Tiger. I mentally prodded it, revealing its description. [Fear Aura] [Lesser] An aura-type ability. Inflicts [Dismay] upon your targets. This status condition grants a debuff to attributes that lasts three minutes. Affected targets subsequently gain resistance. Cost: 2 MP/sec. A couple of familiar words appeared in the description. Debuff and resistance were mechanics I understood. Since the [System] qualified [Dismay] as a status condition, it was safe to assume there were many more of them. The more I thought about the overall setup of statuses, the more I felt like a character in a role-playing game. What exactly was the [System] supposed to be? And how had this world been created? Mavari dropped by a few minutes later. I stood by the safety of the lone window in the interim, casting [Identify] at passing villagers. The brief exercise taught me a few things. One: The younger children didn¡¯t have a stated level. The infobox described them in simple terms like Dark Elf Child or Dark Elf Toddler and left it at that. Two: Many of the adults in the village ranked above level ten. A few older children had levels in the single digits, but no other person my age languished at level 3. Mavari, for her part, stood at a whooping level 19. She also bore a descriptor awarded to a few others: Dark Elf Hunter. ¡°Breakfast,¡± she said, offering fresh loaf and meat from a basket, ¡°and a change of clothes. You can¡¯t keep walking around with your shirt ripped down the middle.¡± ¡°Nana¡ª¡± I started. ¡°Nana would speak to you when we are done here. But, breakfast first, and a discussion.¡± We settled down to eat. ¡°I¡¯ll start,¡± Mavari said, folding her cloak into a neat bundle beside her. ¡°What level are you?¡± ¡°My level?¡± I repeated, tearing into the meal. The bread tasted better than it had any right to, even though the roast meat looked suspiciously like Dread Fowl. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell?¡± ¡°Innate sensitivity doesn¡¯t work that way, Damien. I can only glean that you are regular. You lack the weight of a ranker or specialist.¡± . . . Which meant she didn''t possess the [Identify] skill. Seeing as I had gotten my current skills from traits, did that make them uncommon? ¡°I''m level three,¡± I said, watching her expression. Mavari frowned. ¡°Yeah . . . that certainly lends credence to your story. Nobody your age would be that low-leveled.¡± ¡°Is that a bad thing?¡± ¡°Yes, but you can always level up. The surest way to do so is by killing monsters, but everyone hits level ten via natural growth sometime around age twenty.¡± ¡°You mean it¡¯s possible to gain XP without killing monsters?¡± ¡°It is, but only for regulars. And only up to level ten. Beyond that, natural methods of absorbing XP come to an end. As long as one lives up to adulthood, they should reach the benchmark without encountering problems, making your case even more peculiar.¡± I thought hard on her words. ¡°You¡¯ve been using that word repeatedly. Regular. What does it mean?¡± Mavari paused in her chewing. ¡°Heralds, you¡¯re not faking this, are you? It''s almost like teaching a kid.¡± She reached for a jug of milk¡ªat least, I hoped it was¡ªand chugged it down in one smooth motion. ¡°No one is capable of assessing the [System] from birth, Damien. Children remain incapable of viewing [System] windows till their thirteenth year when they awaken. This holds for all [System] races." ¡°And regulars?¡± ¡°Everyone becomes regular upon unlocking their [System]. This is the first caste, starting from level one. Regulars can evolve into something more upon reaching level ten, but resources are limited and seldom accessible.¡± She frowned into her jug. So, the natural progression was from child to regular at thirteen years of age. And then, from regular to something else at level 10. What happened next? Mavari answered patiently. ¡°A series of decisions. Affinities unlock at that level, as do all of the classes. One may either pick an affinity and become a ranker, or select a job and become a specialist. Until this choice is made, regulars cannot advance any further. They are stuck at the threshold.¡± That didn¡¯t sound good. I mulled over the rest of her explanation. Her words highlighted a single problem with my status: the presence of an affinity. If people got to choose one at a certain level, what did that say about my case? The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. [Born of Fear] probably had something to do with it, but just to be sure . . . ¡°Is it possible to possess an affinity right from the onset?¡± ¡°By that, you mean right from awakening?¡± Mavari tapped her chin. My eyes flickered to a breadcrumb on her cheek, but she spoke before I could mention it. ¡°Level one affinities aren¡¯t unheard of. They are typically gifted by traits, but those are uncommon enough that most people never get one.¡± She wagged her finger. ¡°Traits are bad business anyway, what with the loss of choice. Nothing beats the excitement of picking an affinity yourself. But, I guess the early power boost helps make up for it.¡± ¡°And an inventory?¡± I pressed. ¡°Is that also a skill? Or a trait people are born with? I need to unlock one within the next few hours.¡± Mavari snorted. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± She chuckled at my quizzical look and reached for the breadcrumb on her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re level 3, Damien. Inventories don¡¯t open till the tenth. Which means you need to rise seven levels in that time.¡± My heart drummed an allegro. ¡°Mavari, I am about to die.¡± Mavari froze with her index finger stuck between her lips. ¡°Seriously?¡± On any other day, I would have laughed at the thought of elves using casual lingo. Not this time though. ¡°Seriously.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go see Nana then,¡± she said, releasing her finger with a pop. Nana sat in her high-backed chair, dressed in native robes. She demanded the right to the first query¡ªand the second, and the third¡ªand grilled me with the same questions from yesternight, intent on sniffing out deceit. I answered as honestly as I could, leaving out the parts that needn¡¯t be revealed. She steepled her fingers after the final round of questioning and issued a sigh. ¡°I do not like this. You are either telling the truth¡ªif so, then the gods might just be real¡ªor, you are lying. I do not know which to believe.¡± She narrowed her gaze. ¡°You are saying that before yesterday, you had never stepped foot in this world?¡± I nodded in confirmation. ¡°Rankers, the [System], Vizhima¡ªall of these mean nothing to you?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t until I spoke to Mavari.¡± Nana went slack-jawed. ¡°Well, gut me and roast my fingers on a spit. You¡¯re almost like a baby.¡± ¡°He is stuck at level three,¡± Mavari added, ¡°by his admission.¡± ¡°A level three adult,¡± Nana said, a faraway look in her eye. ¡°It sounds like the start of a bad joke.¡± I turned my identification skill on her and nearly crapped my pants. Dark Elf Harkon LVL 50. The heck? Little wonder the [System] had tied my origin to hers. By casting doubts over my identity, Nana couldn¡¯t ignore or abandon me to the wild, which guaranteed the help of a strong mentor for the start of my quests. It was evil. It was dubious, no matter how shrewd. I was taking advantage of the chieftain¡¯s love for her son, and the [System] had been the one to engineer it. Nevertheless, I couldn¡¯t afford to be picky. I had a few hours left. ¡°Can you help with a request of mine?¡± Nana leaned into her chair. ¡°Child, I have a half-mind to throw you out of the village, if only to avoid the trouble you could bring. Your unwillingness to describe your birthplace also rankles me.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand even if I did,¡± I said hurriedly. ¡°My world is similar to this one, but massively different all the same. I do not have words for it.¡± Nana scoffed. ¡°Tales featuring lost strangers populate the legends of Vizhima, most of them tragic.¡± That piqued my interest and also elicited a wince. How many of those tales were actual recounts of people like me summoned for heroic adventures? I shelved that line of questioning. ¡°I need something called an Inventory. Mavari says I can unlock this only at level ten.¡± ¡°Then, Mavari needs to explain better,¡± Nana said. ¡°Inventories unlock after one chooses a path, which rightly occurs at level ten. Exceptional cases are thought to exist among those with traits, but many are red herrings.¡± She lifted her hand. It disappeared with a ripple as though submerged in a pool of water. A moment later, she extricated it, complete with a gem-encrusted chalice in her grasp. ¡°That . . .¡± I said. ¡°That is awesome. Can you help me unlock it before noon?¡± ¡°Noon?¡± Nana eyed me like I¡¯d grown a second head. ¡°Did you not hear a word I said? It takes at least a week for a talented individual to go from levels one to ten, via countless brushes with death. Most people are content leveling up the natural way. About seven years via ambient absorption.¡± The hall lurched around me. ¡°I don¡¯t have that long!¡± Mavari explained in a soothing voice. ¡°Damien needs to do this within six hours, Nana, or die.¡± ¡°Die?¡± Nana crinkled her brows. ¡°How so?¡± I let out a breath and ran a hand through my hair. ¡°I need an inventory to store a material called a spirit orb. Daily consumption of this orb is necessary for my survival, or so the [System] says.¡± I lowered my hand. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have this in your possession?¡± ¡°Never heard of it,¡± Nana said. Of course, she hadn¡¯t. The [System] wouldn¡¯t make it that easy. If heroes were summoned to this world to accomplish great deeds, then spirit orbs were the mechanism meant to keep them in line. I could understand the logic behind it on some level, but the implication was just too dire. ¡°Quick question,¡± I said, wanting to ensure I had all the facts. ¡°Quests aren¡¯t a thing usually assigned by the [System], right?¡± Nana and Mavari shared a look. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I follow . . .¡± Mavari said. Nana wrinkled her nose. ¡°Only quests I know of are those available at the guilds, unless you mean a heroic quest . . .¡± She trailed to a stop. ¡°You¡¯re not claiming to be one, are you? A hero from the stories.¡± ¡°I am not,¡± I said with finality. Neither did I have any interest in playing along with the [System]''s game. I still hadn¡¯t forgotten the way it had killed a homunculus at random after offering us the illusion of choice. Stop the apocalypse? Like hell I cared about that! Once I found a way to resolve this spirit orb conundrum, I would cut ties. Nana watched me with keen eyes. ¡°If I understand you correctly, child . . . you are saying you need a breakthrough within six hours. And, since that excludes the natural method, you intend to level up by throwing yourself at monsters.¡± ¡°Yes¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯d perish,¡± she interjected. ¡°Gruesomely, too. The beasts of Dreadwood have nothing to fear from elves of your power level. And, the moment you grow strong enough to overpower them, you¡¯d run into a new problem: the plateau of growth. Grinding, by its very nature, demands that one seeks increasingly greater challenges to progress.¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t wait around,¡± I said. ¡°I have to try.¡± Mavari frowned. ¡°You intend to accomplish in six hours a feat that demands a week from the best of us?¡± I didn¡¯t answer, keeping my gaze on Nana. The elf chieftain¡ªHarkon¡ªmatched it with a piercing stare of her own. And then, she laughed¡ªloud and boisterous¡ªa sound that belied her years. ¡°My heart may doubt, but my eyes bear good witness. You possess the fire of an Irithiel in your veins!¡± She winded down to a chuckle. ¡°Very well, Damien. You have convinced me. If you survive this venture, I would take it as a sign.¡± She speared her hand into her inventory and flicked it in my direction. I caught the thrown dagger with a deftness that would have shocked the old me. A blade of perfect steel sat naked, attached to a gilded, wooden hilt. [Identify]. The Blackreach Dagger [Greater] An item forged with soul-steel. The blade changes nature according to affinity. Requirement: None. Mavari¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Nana, that¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°My old adventuring dagger, I know.¡± Nana laughed again. ¡°You¡¯ve never let anyone touch this,¡± Mavari cried. ¡°Not even Tybalt!¡± ¡°First time for everything, eh? If Damien here survives, he can return it to me. And, if he dies, be sure to get it off his corpse.¡± I looked from Nana to the dagger at a loss for words. Before now, I had only encountered items of Lesser grade. Greater seemed even higher. But, how high? ¡°Child,¡± Nana said. ¡°Give it a practice swing. You don¡¯t have an affinity now, but if you focus¡ª¡± I grabbed the hilt. Power flooded down my arm and into the soul-steel, painting the blade a deep, devouring black. Nana froze. Mavari did so too, turning a ghostly white. ¡°Damien, you have . . . No, don¡¯t tell me . . . That affinity . . . Fear?!¡± I glanced down at the dagger. ¡°Yeah. I''m sorry I didn¡¯t mention it. I have a trait.¡± The elves didn¡¯t speak. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Nana guffawed. ¡°This isn¡¯t funny,¡± Mavari said. ¡°There''s a high chance our lives could be in danger!¡± ¡°Eh,¡± I said, jumping out of my skin. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mavari scrunched her brows as though in pain. ¡°You don¡¯t know the stories because you are new. The Lord of Terror¡ª¡± ¡°Mavari!¡± Nana barked. ¡°Damien doesn¡¯t need to know all of that. At least, not now with the weight on his shoulders.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°He has six hours, girl. For good or for ill, the presence of an affinity boosts his chances. I¡¯m sending you along with him as his guide. He would need more than mere Dread Tigers to reach his mark.¡± Mavari¡¯s eyes remained transfixed on the blade. She managed a nod. ¡°Damien,¡± Nana said. ¡°I look forward to your return. My interest in you has risen a hundredfold. Ensure you survive.¡± I lowered the dagger and bowed at the waist. The two elves had spoken ominously, but I had more pressing matters to attend to. The mandate was clear: Unlock your inventory, Damien, or die. 008 Attributes ¡°What are you doing?¡± Mavari asked as we put distance between us and Harkonean. The morning sun had risen in earnest, bathing the greenwood in its rays. A few villagers worked in open farmlands that lay on both sides of the path. They did so the hard way, tilling the ground with long hoes and rakes. Despite their visible exertion, they halted upon sight of us to call out in greeting. We returned the favor, as was the elven wont. ¡°I¡¯m trying to figure out my new ability,¡± I answered Mavari, returning my attention once more to my status sheet. ¡°This one is called [Fear Aura]. It causes [Dismay].¡± Mavari peeped nervously at the sky. ¡°[Fear Aura], huh? That sounds foreboding enough. You can test it out when we encounter weak monsters.¡± ¡°Yeah, but what about you? I don¡¯t know if this can be toggled without causing friendly fire.¡± Mavari chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re too low-leveled to threaten me with your abilities, Damien. Nevertheless, the same rule applies to all kinds of auras. Just add a mental command upon activation, and select targets for inclusion or exclusion.¡± Sounded simple enough. I was more impressed that terms like ¡®toggle¡¯ and ¡®friendly fire¡¯ retained similar meanings here in Vizhima. Or was that the [System] ensuring nothing was lost in translation? I glanced at the upper left corner of my vision to confirm the state of my health and stamina meters. VP and MP figures hovered separately on each side of my face. The upper right contained a bunch of faded icons, as well as the [System] log. Notifications minimized in whatever direction I wanted. Gosh, it was almost too much information to handle at any given point. How did the world¡¯s inhabitants stay focused in a fight? Mavari led the way in silence, down a bush path that stretched into the forest. Comfy leather boots protected my soles, staving off the worst of the trek. The Dark Elves had gifted me new clothes for the occasion: a worn leather jerkin, complete with a long-sleeved tunic, snug pants, and sturdy leather gauntlets. I looked like a bloody LARPer. Felt like one too. Which would have been fun were it not for my impending doom. ¡°Hey, Mavari,¡± I said. ¡°Mind explaining some of the values in the status window to me? I don¡¯t want to rely on guesswork.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Mavari said. ¡°Which of them do you need help with?¡± ¡°All. But, you can start from the top if you don''t mind.¡± Mavari hummed. She ducked beneath a low-hanging branch and slipped her bow off her shoulder. I followed after her at a brisk pace, conscious of the dwindling timer. ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°I don¡¯t think your name or race needs any explanation. Classes mean nothing to you at the moment; let¡¯s save it for later. VP and MP represent two different kinds of energy. The first is Vital Power, used for the activation of skills. The second represents Mana Points, the equivalent for abilities.¡± ¡°And both of these rise each time I level up?¡± ¡°Yes. The stronger you become, the greater the amount of Vital Power and Mana Points available to you. You can boost this even further by putting points in Vital Force and Magicka, which is sensible to do for anyone reliant on techniques.¡± I focused on my status screen. Of the eight attributes: [V.F] and [MGK] were some of my lowest ones. ¡°What¡¯s the conversion rate?¡± ¡°1 point in Vital Force for two in Vital Power. The same applies to Magicka and MP.¡± She shot me a worried look. ¡°You haven''t been messing around with your stat points, have you?¡± ¡°Um, I put three in Endurance, but that''s about it.¡± ¡°Fair enough. You can never go wrong with Endurance or Perception. But, don''t assign them thoughtlessly. You gain a finite number of stat points throughout your progress, none of which can be reassigned. Strategic planning is necessary to avoid being stuck with a terrible build upon specialization.¡± Without warning, she flicked a dagger into the bushes. A loud squawk emanated in the direction, anguished enough to curdle the blood. A large Dread Fowl tumbled out of the grass, dagger lodged firmly in its throat. It died in a heap at our feet. Mavari clucked her tongue. ¡°Weak. These wouldn¡¯t help you. We should be looking for bigger monsters, something like an Alpha Dread Tiger.¡± I eyed the dead bird. Nothing about its curved beak or claws screamed weakness as far as I was concerned. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m strong enough for what you are proposing, Mavari . . .¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said, adjusting the brooch of her cloak. ¡°It¡¯s my job to pace you, but you¡¯d need at least two alpha kills to get anywhere close to your desired level. We¡¯re trying to do the impossible.¡± The Dread Fowl disintegrated into ashes. She must have activated a loot prompt that only she could see. ¡°How,¡± I started, ¡°am I supposed to kill stronger monsters if I don''t distribute stat points?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Mavari said, glancing around the bushes. ¡°I¡¯m merely highlighting the importance of forethought. Stat points only increase your attributes by a meager degree anyway¡ª¡± ¡°So, they are useless?¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°No! Let me finish. Stat points represent tiny improvements in attributes within the same tier. This changes each time you tier up.¡± She raised her fingers. ¡°All attributes begin at the Lesser tier¡ªthe tier of single digits¡ªand evolve per multiple of ten all the way up to fifty. Each tier represents a substantial increase in an attribute¡¯s effectiveness. An eight is not much better than a three. But, a ten eclipses both an eight and a three.¡± ¡°A twenty?¡± she continued. ¡°It blows everything below it out of the water. Effective usage of stat points involves raising your core attributes to the next tier as soon as you¡¯re able. Single them out first, then prioritize.¡± She flashed me an easy grin. ¡°It might be wise to turn around, Damien. Dread Fowls often travel in pairs, and you have two racing for your back.¡± I yelped and raised the Blackreach dagger, just in time to skewer two birds who tried to usurp the food chain. ¡°What are the best attributes?¡± I asked with a wheeze, after butchering my way through dinner with only the slightest loss to my health. Mavari chuckled. ¡°The [System] has existed since before the time of elves, and that question still manages to trigger month-long debates. To put it succinctly, different classes have different opinions, rankers and specialists both.¡± ¡°But, I¡¯m currently classless.¡± ¡°You are, and we do not have the time to go down that wormhole. Share your stats, and I would try to nudge you in the right direction.¡± I did as she asked. STR 4, PER 2, END 7, DEX 7 INT 5, WIL 3, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free stat points: 3 Mavari continued our sojourn into the forest, scrunching her nose in thought. I occupied myself with swiping at the mosquitoes that were out in full force in this region. ¡°I think,¡± Mavari said after a while, ¡°that your current distribution supports certain classes in caster or rogue, assuming you intend to be a ranker. Failing that, your head start in Dexterity and Endurance should provide an easier time at several jobs.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hoping an [INT] of five doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m dumb.¡± Mavari laughed. ¡°Intellect has little to do with natural intelligence. Specialists use it to boost job expertise, sure, but for rankers, it assumes the role of Magic Intellect. Consider it to be magic attack and potency, rolled up in one. If you want to be smarter, go read a book.¡± ¡°The attributes work differently for specialists and rankers? ¡°They work differently for specialists, period. Everyone else uses the same template, so I¡¯ll stick to explaining it in those terms.¡± I was already moving on to the next question. ¡°What''s up with Strength and Endurance? What do they modify? Attack and defense?¡± ¡°Yes. Strength moderates attack, physical resistance, and one-half of speed. Endurance is considered crucial because it bolsters the trifecta of health, stamina, and defense. ¡°Vital Force and Magicka cause respective increases in VP and MP, as I said. But they also reduce the casting cost of techniques, which is the collective name for skills and abilities.¡± ¡°And Dexterity?¡± Mavari paused to inspect the trees, probably to confirm our location. ¡°[DEX] functions as a damage multiplier for [DEX]-based weapons. It also raises agility and the second half of speed. Knives and daggers classify as [DEX] weapons. Likewise bows and many others.¡± I glanced at Nana¡¯s dagger, which bore a slight similarity to the wooden stakes from yesterday. I didn¡¯t fancy close-range fighting, but I couldn¡¯t deny having a knack for it. ¡°The last two attributes mean Willpower and Perception, yeah? What do those do?¡± Mavari stopped beside a large swordfruit tree and ran her fingers across a marking on its bark. ¡°Willpower moderates concentration and mental rotundity. It''s a must-have for anyone reliant on sustains. It¡¯s also the primary defense against mental attacks, which include [Fear Aura]. ¡°Perception, on the other hand, modifies awareness and reflexes. If Strength and Dexterity bolster movement speed, then Perception alters reaction time. You shouldn¡¯t neglect its impact; high-ranked combat is notorious for progressing at insane speeds.¡± I let out a whistle. None of the attributes sounded weaker than the others. Sure, a case could be made for choosing between Vital Force and Magicka, but I didn¡¯t have enough information to conclude. Abilities seemed reliant on the nature of one''s affinity. But, skills were no less important, considering I owed my survival to [Identify]. Mavari raised a hand to halt me. Our tireless trek had brought us to a slope that rolled downhill into wild country. Tall green grasses grew thick, waving in the breeze. ¡°We''re here,¡± Mavari said. ¡°Here,¡± I answered. ¡°Where is here again?¡± ¡°Azeron¡±¡ªand the [System] didn''t translate¡ª¡°That¡¯s Corpse Valley in the old tongue. The hunters warn that it has been occupied by a tribe of Dread Tigers. That never happens, unless an alpha is with them.¡± ¡°Um, correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but I''m pretty sure the operative name for a collection of tigers is an ambush or a streak.¡± Mavari paused. ¡°Where did you hear that? That makes no sense.¡± She had a point. Everything about the game of venery made no sense. I steeled my nerves. ¡°So, how do we go about this? You charge in, and I support from behind?¡± Mavari raised an eyebrow. ¡°The [System] awards XP based on participation. It is not unusual for regulars to purchase the help of rankers, but I can¡¯t contribute here. Not if you intend to beat the deadline.¡± A cold hand gripped my heart. Mavari dipped her hand into her Inventory and withdrew a stinking pouch. It dripped with . . . oh my god, was that blood? ¡°Dread Tiger bait,¡± she said. ¡°They can smell this a mile away. I¡¯d help out if it gets too much for you to handle. But for the most part, you are on your own.¡± She handed me the bait and another pouch that jangled in my palm. ¡°Monster cores. Can serve as momentary distractions. Don¡¯t expect them to inflict much damage, but Dread Tigers hate loud noises.¡± ¡°Y-yeah . . .¡± I was familiar with this much, having used the exploit in my last fight. Mavari met my eyes. ¡°This feat you intend to pull off, Damien? I have never seen it done. Nobody rises from low regular to the threshold in a matter of hours. Sure, I have heard stories. But to pull it off, you¡¯d need astronomical luck.¡± You''d need to survive the odds. I shoved the pouch of monster cores into my pocket and held the blood bait in my free hand. The Blackreach dagger thrummed, ready to be used. ¡°Mavari,¡± I said, ¡°I think I know where to put my free points now.¡± She regarded me with a soft smile. ¡°Dexterity?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°If you are certain. High [DEX] builds have a variety of applications.¡± I summoned my status sheet and tossed three points into [DEX]. A new notification appeared. You have upgraded an attribute. Yay! [DEX] has changed from [Lesser] to [Common]. Dazzle your enemies with improved evasion. Deal 2x more base damage using [DEX]-based weapons. Had I made the right choice? Too late to rescind now. I fastened my belt and ventured down the slope. 009 The Daily Grind Hey, it seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. I glared at the popup and continued my descent. Good, ol¡¯ [Scaredy-cat] had become the gift that never stopped giving. The temporary boost to my attributes¡ªa welcome development on any other occasion¡ªdid nothing to allay my fears. One Dread Tiger had succeeded in sending me to the shores of the River Styx. An entire ambush, thus, would grant front seats with Charon. Death by tiger mauling seemed like my lot. But, it trumped the alternative of hunkering in a hut to wait out the end. Take note of my resolve, bastards. Damien Njoku wouldn¡¯t die. Not now or ever on your terms. Striped fur moved within the cover of tall grasses. The monster bait swung in my palm. I tied it off to a belt hoop and settled into a stance. Nana''s dagger trembled in my hand. ¡°Very well, you big, murderous cat,¡± I gnashed out. ¡°Come.¡± The Dread Tiger didn''t come. What the heck was it playing at? I could see it right there, thanks to my evolved senses, but it didn¡¯t attempt to pounce. Could it sense I was a threat? A breeze howled, stopped, and picked up again. Another stack of [Fear] popped up in my vision, raising my attributes by a total of two. I took a single step forward. Two Dread Tigers bounded out of the bushes, rushing at me from opposite directions. Both had advanced up to level six, but that wasn¡¯t important. I was more afraid of their [Bleed] skill. If they got close to me, things would get ugly. Fast. I toggled my one useful ability. [Fear Aura]. A dark mist rose around me, barely perceptible to my sight. Both Dread tigers whimpered and skidded to a stop. Their pupils dilated, ears flattened in terror¡ªthey didn''t get a chance. I closed the distance to the first Dread Tiger and rammed my dagger into its throat. The blade bounced off. Fucking HP. I spun my wrist and tried again. Each strike carved chunks out of the Dread Tiger¡¯s health. Unlike my experience with the homemade stakes, health loss proceeded faster. Common Dexterity put in work, accompanied by whatever benefits the dagger provided. The Dread Tiger snapped out of its daze, much too late to matter. Soul steel bit into its throat and emptied the last of its health. The monster emitted a final strained gurgle as it fell to its side. Blood and bloody matter coated the ground. I rose from the scuffle and turned to face the second Dread Tiger which stood rooted in fear. It bolted from my presence. Smart lad, that one. I jumped after it and landed on its back. The next few seconds left me breathless as the monster attempted to buck me. I clung to its back and plunged the dagger into its side. Over and over, I did this . . . until, with a great heave, the tiger collapsed and threw me onto the ground. A bunch of notifications popped up, regarding the fight. They had thankfully stayed at the periphery¡ªvisible enough that I could maximize them with a thought, but largely unobtrusive to ensure I focused on my survival. As usual, a glance at the messages was all it took for the [System] to transmit the info they contained to me. A couple of messages displayed information concerning [Fear Aura]. Blood pounded in my ears, courtesy of an adrenaline rush that didn¡¯t want to end. I¡¯d killed two Dread Tigers and taken minimal losses from it. Me. I flicked the blood off the dagger with a sharp twist of my wrist. The blade had gone strange again, sporting an inky blackness. The darkness moved with an oily consistency, like motile shadows writ in agony, but the bits that dribbled off the blade curled into smoke. Similar wisps of darkness coiled around my arms. My MP had also fallen by four. I turned off [Fear Aura] to conserve it. That proved to be a mistake. With the aura gone, another Dread Tiger surged out of the bushes. This one looked smaller, leaner, deadlier, with fewer spikes protruding from its head. A female. I reached for [Fear Aura] again, only to get a brief notification. Error: This technique is on cooldown. Cooldown? This world had cooldowns?! The Dread Tiger didn¡¯t slow down in solidarity with my confusion, so I closed my eyes¡ªno, bad form; open them, Damien!¡ªand stuck the blade into its approaching maw. The darkness reacted. They elongated from the tip of the Blackreach, turning the dagger into a short sword. The Dread Tiger crashed into me, wounded but alive. Sharp claws lashed across my face. My health meter staved off the blow, taking the damage instead. But, it did nothing for the intense fear that accompanied being smacked around by two hundred kilograms of Dread Tiger. I gripped the big cat for all I was worth and fell onto my back. Man and tiger struggled fiercely. The former won out. I kept the Blackreach dagger in place until the tiger breathed its last. Warm blood poured down the chest wound and onto my face. Oh my! Aren''t you good at this! You''ve leveled up! Level has increased from 3 to 4. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I forced the Dread Tiger off me with some effort and wiped my face on my sleeve. [Fear Aura] came off cooldown as I panted on the grass. The [System] didn¡¯t mention this, but somehow I knew. An innate awareness of my techniques surged into my brain. ¡°Damien?¡± Mavari asked. ¡°Are you doing okay?¡± ¡°Y-yeah,¡± I gasped. ¡°Pretty stellar, all things considered.¡± Mavari padded around me. ¡°Good. Because you don¡¯t get any potions. Not this early at least. You can only use one of each type every six hours. Watch your renewables.¡± ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°Health, stamina, VP, and MP. Each ingested potion triggers a cooldown timer in the upper right corner of your vision. A fifth category of potions exists for buffs and miscellaneous use, but they don¡¯t get separate timers. Drinking any of those reduces your available cooldowns by a corresponding number.¡± I digested her words. The information could be summarized as four potions every six hours, with no more than one of the same type allowed within that time frame. ¡°What happens,¡± I asked, ¡°if I ingest five in total, or two of the same type within a single duration?¡± ¡°You¡¯d die,¡± Mavari said simply. ¡°But that¡¯s the worst-case scenario. You¡¯re more likely to suffer toxic poisoning, which still leads to death, save for the added benefit of a period of suffering.¡± How was that any better? I wiped my face again. ¡°So, if I¡¯m getting your meaning: The smart thing to do in prolonged fights is to conserve my renewables. I can¡¯t refill them at will.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°What about techniques then? I noticed those have cooldowns too.¡± ¡°They do. The stronger the technique, the longer it takes to recharge. Casters typically recover faster than others, to compensate for their weakness in basic attacks.¡± Heh. Basic attacks. Again with the gaming terms. What kind of fantasy world relied on mechanics like these? I could respect the [System]¡¯s stance on anti-spam, however. Fights would suck if everyone could just duck around corners to drink potions ad infinitum. Mavari tossed me a pouch. ¡°Attach that to your belt. Set of four. Use only in cases of emergency.¡± I studied the contents of the pouch. Bright fluids sparkled in vials, colored red, green, blue, and yellow. ¡°My whole life is an emergency, Mavari.¡± Mavari frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You fought pretty well a moment ago.¡± I did. But for all of that, I was only level 4. Five hours left. Six levels to go. Better make the most of it. I killed five more Dread Tigers and another nine before progressing to levels 5 and 6 respectively. Granted, none of the Dread Tigers had risen beyond the seventh level, and Mavari helped by herding them one at a time in my direction. Despite her best efforts, we blew two hours on this grueling tactic, forcing an early consumption of mana and stamina potions. The latter served as an effective pick-me-up, restoring me to my feet. Going by my math¡ªwhich was admittedly wonky¡ªexperience requirements doubled per level. If nine Dread Tigers had sufficed for level 6, I probably needed another eighteen or so to level up again. Dear god. No wonder Nana had pitied me. This was a fool¡¯s errand, and that was even assuming I could find such large numbers of enemies. I looted the monsters after each kill and handed the items over to Mavari for storage in her inventory. The understory in Corpse Valley eventually thinned out, giving way to rocky ground punctuated by trees. Mavari scouted some distance ahead, undetectable even to my elven senses. She could be quiet when she wanted to be, huh? A possible benefit of her class. In contrast, I bumbled around like an idiot. Trusting her ability to warn me, I diverted some of my attention to the status screen. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 6 Affinity: Fear Class: [?] VP: 24/24 MP: 22/26 Attributes: STR 4, PER 5, END 10, DEX 10 INT 5, WIL 3, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free stat points: 3 A surge of excitement filled me as I studied the increased numbers. I¡¯d erstwhile put three points in Endurance and another three in Perception. The evolution of Endurance had come with a note: Yay! You have upgraded an attribute. [END] has changed from [Lesser] to [Common]. The new tier has granted a 1.5x boost to base hidden stat: Defense Upgrade for further boosts to health and stamina. Endurance was incredible. But then again, if every Regular grew this strong without trying, didn¡¯t that make altercations in this world extremely deadly? I was almost tempted to chuck three more points at Endurance just for the heck of it, but Mavari¡¯s warnings about stat increments came to mind. Stats evolved at every tier which in turn occurred at every tenth. I could raise Endurance to twenty for more defenses, but what did that mean in terms of opportunity cost for other snubbed attributes? The Dread Tigers hadn¡¯t lost out to me in slugging matches. They had lost because of [Fear Aura] and the bonus damage from Dexterity. Strength, thus, would make me even stronger, and that was without factoring in the improved reflexes from Perception. Better be careful. Focusing on one attribute this early could hamper my effectiveness. Not to mention, I had four more levels to go. In case I ran out of MP, throwing a few stat points into Magicka could help out in a pinch. ¡°Damien!¡± Mavari called, ending my musing. ¡°Over here. Quickly!¡± I chased after her. Mavari crouched low to the ground, cloak spooling around her feet. A large boar¡ªthe remnants one at least¡ªhung in her path. The boar dangled between the lowest branches of a deridum tree. Half of its form had been gnawed off, leaving a rotten head attached to a maggot-filled torso. I activated [Identify]. The words ¡®Animal carcass¡¯ rewarded my effort. ¡°That''s a territorial display,¡± Mavari said, rising to her feet. ¡°Alpha Dread Tigers sometimes do this to warn other predators off their territory.¡± I stared at the boar and scratched my chin. ¡°Won¡¯t this achieve the opposite effect?¡± ¡°Wrong. You can¡¯t sense it at your current level, but that carcass emits a terrible aura from the alpha urinating on it. Other alphas would sense this aura and keep their distance, leaving only weaker animals to troop in.¡± ¡°Great. So, what are we waiting for then? This confirms your suspicions. We have an alpha to kill.¡± Mavari raised a bemused eyebrow. ¡°Hold your horses, Damien. How strong do you think an Alpha Dread Tiger is?¡± I frowned at the question. ¡°Judging by the strength of the rest of the group, I¡¯d say maybe . . . level ten or fifteen?¡± ¡°Think bigger. You¡¯d find them between the ranges of twenty and twenty-four.¡± She chuckled at my expression. ¡°Not to worry! That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for. I can handle one alpha monster. All we need to do is ensure you score the last hit.¡± Her cavalier attitude highlighted her attractiveness but did nothing for my nerves. Mavari unslung her bow. ¡°That said, Damien. Alpha monsters are some of the strongest in these parts. Stick close to me and tread with caution. The presence of a marker indicates a nearby lair.¡± ¡°And how are we supposed to find it?¡± Mavari smiled. ¡°Remember when I taught you about classes? Well, you are about to discover why Dreadwood elves favor the Ranger class above all else.¡± The color of her pupils deepened. ¡°This is my skill [Hunting]. Follow at my pace.¡± She jogged off but maintained an inconspicuous profile via the green of her cloak. I watched her recede for a few precious seconds before rousing from my daze. My heart quivered at the thought of the looming fight with the monster, but The Blackreach Dagger sang in my grasp. 010 Stripes Mavari¡¯s [Hunting] skill performed exactly as she had said. It led us to a copse, situated within the valley. We slowed as we approached the alpha¡¯s lair, wary of ambushes. But, nothing of the sort materialized. Sometime during my grinding, I had obliterated the entire group. Mavari¡¯s pupils returned to their usual brown color. ¡°Steady, Damien. I think something is off.¡± I glanced at her from my spot behind the bushes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There¡¯s blood in the air, probably from a recent fight. I can¡¯t imagine another reason why the Alpha Dread Tiger hasn¡¯t made an appearance.¡± ¡°You think a second monster beat us to the chase?¡± ¡°I do not know,¡± Mavari said, and at this, she bit her lip. ¡°But, I suggest we abandon the chase. You¡¯re not strong enough to deal with unforeseen circumstances, especially where alpha monsters are concerned.¡± I mulled over her warning. ¡°Mavari, I have about three hours left . . .¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find somewhere else¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re not sure of that.¡± ¡°I promise¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Mavari stiffened. ¡°Heralds, Damien. Every bone in my body is screaming for retreat . . . But, you are right. You need a solid kill. Continuing like this isn¡¯t going to cut it.¡± She flashed me a look. ¡°Just be sure to follow my instructions. If we are dealing with more than one strong monster, I wouldn¡¯t be able to protect you.¡± I nodded with a gulp. Mavari held my gaze a moment longer, then crept toward the copse. I followed at a sedate pace, surprised at how easy it had become to muffle my footsteps. We broke through the first line of trees. Mavari trod carefully, keeping an arrow at the ready. The shrubs barely rustled in her passing, but then she emitted a small gasp and surged deeper into the bushes. A macabre sight awaited us. The Alpha Dread Tiger had been a nursing mother, or so the scene inferred. The smallish heads of four Dread Tiger cubs hung nailed to trunks of deridum. Their mother was nowhere to be found, but the upturned earth provided a clue about her fate. Mavari wandered dazedly into the scene and ran her fingers across a cut on a tree trunk. ¡°Goblins,¡± she hissed. Goblins, of course. Whenever elves appeared in a high fantasy setting, the little buggers weren¡¯t too far behind. I glanced around the trees, feeling the hairs rise on the back of my neck. ¡°You don¡¯t think they are still in the area, do you?¡± Mavari activated her skill. ¡°No. These cuts are fresh, but I can¡¯t sense the presence of any other creature. A large fight occurred here, mere hours before our arrival. I¡¯d wager it ended with the capture of the Alpha Dread Tiger.¡± ¡°But what about the rest of the ambush?¡± I wondered. ¡°How did the goblins get past without their notice?¡± Mavari frowned. ¡°Damien . . . I¡¯m sorry, but I need to leave. The goblins haven¡¯t left their mountain in decades. If they are back to being active, then the villagers need to be warned as soon as possible.¡± My heart pounded at the implication. ¡°That¡¯s the same as sentencing me to death.¡± Mavari had the decency to flush. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But, between you and my people . . .¡± She shook her head. ¡°You can keep doing what needs to be done. I¡¯ll come find you the moment I locate my kindred. I promise.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Her words rang hollow in my ears. Mavari turned away in a dead sprint out of the copse. I glanced one final time at her receding profile. It saved my life. Crossbow bolts flew out of the bushes, whistling with the promise of death. They scored glancing hits on my arm and thigh even as I ducked to safety. ¡°Mavari!¡± The elf-woman thrummed her bowstring. A gust of wind, filled with the sounds of laughter, swept me out of harm''s way. She bounded off a tree and reached for her quiver. Two arrows left her bow in rapid succession, aimed in the direction of the attack. The air shivered for a second as her arrows streaked past, and then the illusion fell, revealing three Dread Tigers that had erstwhile been camouflaged. The Dread Tigers looked no different from normal, save for the presence of tribal markings and skulls on their heads. Each one bore a harness and a single rider: short, green-skinned creatures with long noses and sharpened teeth. Even without the information from [Identify], I recognized their ilk. Goblin Scout LVL 14. Oh, crap. I really had to be a bottom feeder if mere goblins were stronger than me. The goblins exploded into action, baring jagged swords and primitive crossbows. Their leather armors consisted only of jerkins and loincloths, but their nimble movements ensured they dodged Mavari¡¯s arrows. A fourth goblin stood apart from the rest, moving on foot. The skulls of small creatures adorned its jerkin, complete with a belt made of bones. It waved a weathered staff that thrummed with energy and barked at the riders. Tribal Goblin Sorcerer LVL 17. Mavari took one look at the unmounted creature and paled. ¡°Damien, run.¡± ¡°I c-can h-help you¡ª¡± ¡°Just run, Damien!¡± The goblin scouts advanced. Mavari pelted them with arrows, propelled by sudden wind. Only a couple of those arrows hit their mark, courtesy of the spry Dread Tigers, but the maneuver left the Goblin Sorcerer undefended. He took one hit to the flank before vanishing in a flurry of leaves. Sunlight gleamed in our eyes. Another illusion! The disembodied sorcerer barked a command at his minions who proceeded to take advantage of our momentary blindness. They converged on Mavari who in turn leaped up to defend me. The fur on the Dread Tigers¡¯ front legs stood on end. My instincts screamed in warning. I dived for cover just as the fur exploded, peppering the air with razors. ¡°They¡¯re doing the spider thing!¡± I said. Mavari didn¡¯t flinch. Two wind-borne arrows pierced the air and scattered the needles. A third arrow bounced off a goblin¡¯s eye and threw him onto the ground. His mount continued in a circle, coming for me. Tamed Dread Tiger LVL 10. The unmanned Dread Tiger lunged with extended claws, intent on ripping me to shreds. I responded by throwing a bunch of monster cores in its path. The Dread Tiger sprang aside to avoid the light show but took Mavari''s arrow in its throat. She repeated fire until its health dwindled, putting it down for good. The fallen rider screamed with one hand clasped around his eye. ¡°That¡¯s my Drendren, you stinking, evil bitch!¡± The bowshot had left him with a sliver of health, and he ran for the bushes before Mavari could finish the job. He dropped his crossbow in favor of a horn slung around his shoulder. ¡°No¡ª¡± I began. The horn resounded, loud and fell, forcing a shiver to run up my spine. A goblin rider galloped past and swung at Mavari with a length of chain. His fellow sallied down the opposite flank, firing his crossbow. I tried to intercept them but ran into a wall of sunlight. It dissipated as quickly as it appeared, leaving me with the image of a wounded Mavari falling to her knees. A nearby horn answered the goblins. It echoed around the copse, accompanied by a series of roars. My sensitive hearing gauged that the noises came from less than a kilometer away. The goblin riders cheered at the development. Sunlight again blocked my sight. Mavari snarled. ¡°I¡¯ve just about had it with that sorcerer.¡± She nocked an arrow and smiled at me¡ªa respectable feat, considering that she knelt still in pain. ¡°You need to run, Damien. I''ll follow after I¡¯m done with this.¡± ¡°I''m not leaving you to die.¡± Mavari sighed. ¡°Your words do nothing but shame me, because when the shoe was on the other foot, I abandoned you to your fate. Forgive me, Damien, but I refuse your offer. Do not waste your kindness on the undeserving.¡± ¡°Stop talking like that.¡± ¡°Listen,¡± Mavari said, rising to her feet. ¡°One of us needs to survive this and return to Harkonean. You won¡¯t last three seconds against what is coming. I¡¯ll secure your escape.¡± I tried to debate this, but the words died in my throat. The horn blower kept transmitting our position to the incoming storm of reinforcements. Just yesterday, I worked part-time in a warehouse. This wasn¡¯t my turf. The two goblin riders returned for a second pass. Mavari fired at the one with the chain, missing by an inch. The goblin jeered. ¡°What was that, sow elf? Got the sun in your eye?¡± Mavari whispered, ¡°[Whirlwind].¡± A twister swept through the battlefield and carted me into the air. I tumbled through grasping branches and landed in a thicket. The last thing I saw while airborne was Mavari¡¯s receding form shooting at the revealed Goblin Sorcerer. The rider with the chain swung his weapon. 011 Milkskins I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. Not toward Mavari though. I ran away. [System] notifications buzzed around my head, failing to penetrate the panic that clouded my sight. For long moments, the sounds of pursuit¡ªreal and imagined¡ªhounded my flight. Dread Tigers roared in the distance. I flung the monster bait aside and ran until the roars receded¡ªuntil the breath faltered in my chest. I didn¡¯t see the thicket or the brook behind it and crashed headlong into the water. The stones at the bottom shifted beneath my feet. Cool water surged up my nostrils. I reemerged with a handful of sand and scrubbed myself in a bid to wash off my scent. The action centered me, soothing the worst of my hysteria. The sensation of cool water on my face helped clear my head. Logical thought rose to the surface. Why had the goblins been waiting in the copse on an important day like today? They scarcely left their mountain, going by what Mavari had said. Did the [System] manipulate events in order to test me? No, that shouldn¡¯t be the case. I was reincarnated to resolve an apocalypse. How the heck would I succeed if death lurked at every corner? The [System] notifications revealed that I''d gained three stacks of [Fear] since the arrival of the goblins. Fat lot of good that did, seeing as I¡¯d only hindered Mavari. Nana needed to be warned about the new development, but I couldn¡¯t bring myself to discard the image of a valiant Mavari withstanding the goblin riders. I simply couldn¡¯t. ¡°You¡¯re going to die if you return for her, Damien,¡± I muttered. ¡°You¡¯re not a fantasy hero. You¡¯re a deadbeat dropout from Lagos.¡± The pep talk didn¡¯t stop me from retrieving The Blackreach Dagger which I¡¯d lost during my fall in the brook. A quick look at the [System] log revealed crucial information: Time left till next ingestion: 03:07:14. Mavari had trusted me to go along with her desires, but of what benefit was that to me? Returning to the village guaranteed elven reinforcements at the cost of losing an hour. Mavari would be done for in that time. And, I¡¯d follow shortly after unless a miracle occurred. Selfish though it was, confronting the goblins offered the best chance at survival. I¡¯d be dead in three hours anyway. What difference did it make? I turned around. The memory of Dread Tiger teeth flashed past my mind¡¯s eye, forcing me back in the opposite direction. No need to rush things. A few problems needed to be addressed. Stamina proved the most urgent, having depleted by half during my frantic escape. Health had also been dented, not enough to threaten me, but enough to render me conscious of the sole health potion in my possession. The three unassigned stat points went into Strength, bringing its value up to seven. This increased to ten soon after due to the massed [Fear] stacks. A new message appeared: Ooh. You have upgraded an attribute! [STR] has improved from [Lesser] to [Common]. Your physical attacks now deal 2x base damage. You have gained 10% physical resistance. Very nice. I couldn¡¯t always count on [Scaredy-cat], but as long as [STR] and [DEX] remained at this level, I packed a good wallop. A sudden roar interrupted my musing. I darted across the brook without a moment¡¯s hesitation and slipped between the submerged roots of a tree. A young deer bounded into the water, sporting a bolt in its flank. A second bolt sent it careening into the drink. Multiple splashes signaled the footfalls of pursuers, but the tree roots hampered my view of the scene. ¡°Blast it!¡± a sniveling voice said. ¡°It''s not the runner.¡± ¡°Of course, it''s not, you idiot,¡± a deeper voice replied. ¡°Elves don¡¯t run on all fours.¡± ¡°Then why do we call them cattle?¡± ¡°Why else? It¡¯s because they¡¯re meat!¡± Goblins. As if they didn''t look terrible enough already, their voices were the stuff of nightmares. They spoke with a grating, stuffy-nosed rasp that sounded more fitting on hag witches. A terrible growl, which could only have emanated from a Dread Tiger, punctuated the discussion. A large feline, bearing a sturdy goblin rider, wandered toward the deer. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. [Identify]. Tamed Dread Tiger LVL 16. Goblin Scout LVL 16. The Dread Tiger licked its chops and nosed the deer. Its actions earned it a swift kick from the goblin which caused the Dread Tiger to bristle. The goblin cursed and kicked it again. The tigers weren''t completely under control despite what the description had said. I could use that. ¡°Damn elf,¡± the sturdy goblin said, squeezing the discarded tiger bait in his hand. ¡°He''s given us the slip! We should head back. See if we can''t catch the other one''s butchering.¡± ¡°You go on ahead,¡± his companion said. ¡°I''ll follow soon.¡± ¡°And what would you be doing, maggot?¡± ¡°I got a rumble in my belly. Unless you wanna watch?¡± The sturdy goblin made a face. ¡°Ugh. How did I get paired with a numbskull like you? Bograt won¡¯t let me hear the end of it if I return without a head. He¡¯s been meaning to hijack my party, I tell you.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Get going, you filthy milkskin.¡± ¡°Your sister was bred by filthy milkskins. Wonder how that feels.¡± The sturdy goblin left, amid curses from his companion. I gripped my dagger and peeked with bated breath around the corner of the tree roots. Goblin Scout LVL 10. Tamed Dread Tiger LVL 11. I could take them. The goblin dismounted from the tiger and allowed the great beast to tear into the carcass with gusto. For his part, he approached the tree roots¡ªthe same ones that hid me¡ªand loosened his loincloth. A warty, green behind entered my vision. I didn''t even think. I lunged for the goblin and thrust the dagger straight into his ass. Not the most sporting of moves, but necessity won out over fairness. My arm closed around his throat to prevent his screams. Two deep strikes were all it took to empty his health. The final strike sank into bone, splitting the goblin open from crack to nape. Critical hits existed in Vizhima, judging by the ease I had dispatched the goblin. The Dread Tiger reacted too late, wailing low in its throat. I slipped deeper into the tree roots and activated my aura. Dread Tiger has resisted [Fear Aura]. Hint: Build more Willpower! Oh, come on! The monster threw itself against the barrier with enough force to rock the tree trunk. Strong paws gouged chunks out of the roots. I huddled away from its onslaught just as it froze. The fur on its front legs rose. That goddamn attack. I grabbed the pouch on my hip and lobbed a couple of monster cores into the Dread Tiger¡¯s face. They exploded like miniature fireworks, forcing the tiger onto its back. It yelped in hysteria, snagging a paw between the roots. No time like now. I surged from hiding and plunged my dagger into the Dread Tiger¡¯s chest. The attack failed to find purchase, bounced off by health. I tried again and earned claws to the back for my trouble. But, I had better leverage. With a final thrust, the dagger broke skin and lodged deep into the Dread Tiger¡¯s chest. Blood welled into my hand. You have leveled up! You are now Level 7. Visit your status sheet to assign free stat points. I fell back into the water, gasping for breath. The Dread Tiger had thankfully not activated its [Bleed] skill with the last attack, halving my worries. The dead goblin made for a more gruesome sight than the tiger, and unlike the latter, he qualified as a sapient. But, what did I care? All that mattered was that the Goblin Scouts weren¡¯t as insurmountable as I¡¯d thought. As long as I got close enough, everyone bled. And so do you, a small voice in my head warned. [Scaredy-cat] had helped out again, giving the equivalent of twenty-four stat points from three stacks of [Fear]. However, it couldn¡¯t be relied on. If I wanted to avoid situations like these, I needed to be stronger. Plus, didn¡¯t the other goblin say something about Mavari nearing her end? I scrubbed myself off and returned The Blackreach Dagger to my belt. Feeling a tad more confident, I murmured, ¡°Status sheet.¡± The blue screen appeared. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 7 Affinity: Fear Class: [?] VP: 31/25 MP: 31/27 Attributes: STR 7 (10), PER 5 (8), END 10 (13), DEX 10 (13) INT 5 (8), WIL 3 (6), V.F 2 (5), MGK 3 (6) Free stat points: 3 My MP should have read 33/27 courtesy of the three extra stats in Magicka granted by [Scaredy-cat]. The brief activation of [Fear Aura] had something to do with this, which confirmed my suspicions that I could fire techniques from the excess energy. Other gains were consistent with prior observations: three free stat points per level, alongside a one-point increase in both VP and MP. Did this growth curve remain constant throughout the levels? If it did, and assuming progression was the same for elves and monsters, didn¡¯t that leave me outclassed? A level 15 goblin like the one I¡¯d seen would thus be twenty-four stat points stronger than me. A gulf I could only eliminate via [Fear] stacks. Ugh. I had too little knowledge about the [System] to make educated guesses. Might as well just stick with lifestyle improvements. Put all stat points into [WIL]? Y/N? Since this affected the effectiveness of [Fear Aura], I couldn¡¯t afford to ignore it. ¡°Yes.¡± Done with that much, I turned toward the slain enemies. The Dread Tiger yielded a fang and monster core as usual, though the latter seemed a bit bigger than it should have been. A quick scan with [Identify] revealed that the loot drops were different indeed. Both items registered as Common as opposed to the Lesser types the other Dread Tigers generated. The partially eaten deer offered no loot prompt, but the goblin corpse disappeared after yielding an ear and a second Common monster core. I rolled the former over in my hands. Goblin ear [Common] A popular alchemic ingredient. The goblin had left behind his clothes and a single jagged knife, both of which I ignored. None of the other loot promised an edge over my enemies, but I pocketed them anyway. Mavari still lived somewhere within the forest. And, if the roars continued at their current frequency, I knew where to go. Time to kill some milkskins. 012 Bring It On My HP had dwindled in the last fight, too low for comfort, and yet, I couldn''t suppress the trepidation as I drank my sole health potion. An itchy feeling spread throughout my body as the potion did its job. The health meter surged back up, leaving a red icon in the shape of a conical flask in the right corner of my vision. Similar icons of green and blue waited beside it. As long as those icons remained, further use of the corresponding potions would poison me. And, if Mavari was correct, it took six hours for the potion timers to reset. I had less than three hours to unlock my inventory, making this the last health potion for the duration. As if I wasn¡¯t stressed out enough. I didn¡¯t have any techniques to hide my advance through the bushes. I relied instead on natural grace and painstaking carefulness. The layout of the forest looked the same in every direction, but some racial privilege was hard at work, seeing as I didn¡¯t get confused. I returned to the site of the initial ambush, breakfast tossing in my gut. A small swath of flora lay leveled at the location, leaving the ground clear of cover. Two goblin corpses lay amid the wreckage, alongside a single Dread Tiger. The first goblin was but a lowly scout, complete with a knife and crossbow. The other was the Goblin Sorcerer. He lay with an arrow protruding from his throat, atop a broken staff that still thrummed with magic. The corpses didn¡¯t offer any tooltips, much like the deer. Maybe, the ability to loot creatures only applied to whoever landed the killing blow? Regardless, I divested the first goblin of a set of throwing knives and fished a goblin horn from out of the grass. These I tied to my hip, via hooks on my pants. A long length of chain dangled around a tree, pinned in place by arrows. Mavari didn¡¯t die here, that much I was sure of. But, I could only guess at her current condition. Please, be safe. The undergrowth returned to normalcy further away from the battlefield. Blood dotted the ground, terminating in a third goblin corpse. A flash of green caught my attention¡ªwasn¡¯t that Mavari¡¯s cloak? It fluttered in the breeze, snagged on a low-hanging tree branch. The fabric featured a jagged rip halfway down the middle as if made by a blade. Cloak of Viridian Gleam [Common]. An item favored by Wood Elf Rangers. Contains an enchantment that blends in with greenery. Requirement: Elven race. Cloak of Viridian Gleam . . . Enchantment aside, it made sense that Dark Elves weren¡¯t the only members of their species on Vizhima. The bit about requirements surprised me, especially as the Blackreach had cost nothing to use. Don¡¯t question it if it works, Damien. There would be time enough if you survived this encounter to think about [System] mechanics. A tremor reverberated across the forest: the sound of felling trees. I glanced in the direction of the noise and recognized it as the clamor of battle. A level 7 Dark Elf had no business fighting a goblin party. It didn¡¯t stop me. I threw the viridian cloak over my shoulders and raced to Mavari¡¯s aid. Even with my thoughts jumping all over the place, my racial gifts didn¡¯t relent. I passed through bushes with barely a rustle until I ducked for tree cover about fifty meters away from the scene. Eight Goblin Scouts prowled the area. Each of them brandished jagged blades and rode a large Dread Tiger. An arrow came close to striking one goblin in the cheek, but he ducked with impressive grace and maintained control of his mount. His companions returned fire. Crossbows went thwachk thwachk thwachk. Mavari stood trapped amid the goblins . . . or more accurately, hid high up in the branches of a tree. She peeked out at intervals to rain arrows at the scouts who attempted to fell the surrounding trees to force her out of hiding. The goblins circled her perch, baiting her attacks. They darted in and out of cover, making sport of the entire affair. They intended to wear her out¡ªor so I thought until two of the larger goblins fired flaming quarrels into the roots of the tree. Flames sprang from the bolt tips, joining a growing fire I had initially missed. A ninth goblin crouched behind the rest of the group, hidden away by rock cover. He sat surrounded by bolts, a lit torch, and a jar of oil. Each time a companion rode past his position, he tossed them a handful of flaming bolts. Goblin Engineer LVL 11. I used [Identify] on the rest of the group. Most of the enemies¡ªmounts included¡ªpossessed levels below 15. Two Dread Tigers sat at level sixteen, paired with riders of similar rank. The goblin engineer remained focused on his job, even as I crawled through the woodwork with the hood of the viridian cloak draped over my head. Mavari had probably noticed me from her vantage point, but a chance existed that she mistook me for one of the goblins. Please, don¡¯t shoot me, Mavari. The goblin engineer stiffened. ¡°Who¡¯s there¡ª¡± Oh no, you don¡¯t. I clasped a hand around his neck and stifled his mangled gasp. The Blackreach Dagger flashed in the pattern I¡¯d memorized. Three quick strikes to disable health armor, and a fourth across the throat. The engineer died slowly, triggering a pang of unease within me at the viciousness of the deed. Yellow, toad-like eyes clouded over as the goblin bled in stunned silence onto the forest floor. His companions kept up their attack, oblivious to my presence. One down. I ignored my revulsion and snatched two throwing knives from a satchel on the engineer¡¯s hip. Time was of the essence, seeing as his companions could return at any moment for more ammunition. I doused the throwing knives in oil with shaky fingers and set them ablaze. Then, in a couple of smooth motions, I leaned into my Common Dexterity and launched the knives into the flanks of two Dread Tigers. The large beasts went berserk. One ran toward Mavari, rider in tow, and fell alongside its goblin under a volley of arrows. The other Dread Tiger dislodged its rider and fled for the bushes. I dived out of the way lest it should trample me to paste. The fiery knives hadn¡¯t even pierced skin due to the protection of health, but the Dread Tigers had bolted regardless. I could use that. The goblins shrieked behind me, recovering from their brief confusion. I gathered the torch and oil jar and made for the safety of the trees. One Goblin Scout noticed my movements but stopped short in befuddlement before he could pursue me. Thank you, cloak! ¡°Did you see that?¡± the goblin yelled. ¡°There¡¯s a tree spirit in the forest!¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Tree spirit?¡± his nearest companion asked. ¡°You''re sure it¡¯s not an elf?¡± The dislodged rider sought refuge behind the same rock that had sheltered the engineer. He froze at the sight of the corpse, eyes widening in his head. ¡°Oi, what¡¯s this? Pigsnout¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Pigsnout?!¡± his fellows cried, almost in disbelief. The goblins loped toward my general position, bristling with the need for vengeance. I arced around them, all the while struggling with the lid of the jar. Common Dexterity ensured I kept hold of all the items despite singeing myself on the torch. Goddamn, it hurt. What was the point of health armor if it didn¡¯t do anything for pain? The jar came unsealed. Goblin Oil [Common]. A highly flammable fluid. Keep away from kids and soft-bellied elves. Requirement: None. The goblin oil lived up to its description, coming alight with terrifying ease. Flames rose in a line behind me, giving the goblins pause. I hooked the torch beneath my armpit and slathered the throwing knives in oil. A small quantity remained, enough to encourage me to cut a strip of cloth from my sleeve and roll it into the jar. For the final touch, I raised the goblin horn to my lips¡ª Ignore it, Damien. Ignore the secondhand kiss. ¡ªand blew for all I was worth. The riders faltered. Flames surged onto the greenwood, feeding on the droplets of oil. My erratic heartbeat warned against taunting the goblins, but [Scaredy-cat] fired at that moment, replacing two of the three [Fear] stacks I¡¯d lost. No going back, huh? I changed positions and blew again on the horn. A Goblin Scout snapped. This one stood taller than most of the others and numbered among the stronger pair whom I¡¯d identified at level 16. He reared his mount and charged ahead of the others. I finished the crude Molotov in time to meet his advance. Anger blossomed on the goblin''s face as he finally caught sight of the source of their troubles. ¡°You,¡± he spat, intent on running me down. I launched the jar in lieu of an answer. It flew in a perfect arc, aimed at the goblin''s torso. The bullish goblin sneered in return and swung his knife. Ouch. The makeshift bomb exploded over his arm, dousing both rider and mount in liquid fire. The latter bucked out of control. It unseated the goblin and trampled him, and then it continued in a frenzy onto my path. Tamed Dread Tiger LVL 16. [Fear Aura] responded to prompting. The rampaging beast resisted as expected, but a sudden message appeared. Tamed Dread Tiger is in a state of panic. Mental resistance has thus been lowered. [Fear Aura] has taken root. You have afflicted Tamed Dread Tiger with [Dismay]! I lunged with my dagger and landed on the tiger¡¯s back. My initial strike failed to split open its hide, but I¡¯d long adjusted to the mechanism of health armor. I plunged the dagger over and over into its nape. The Dread Tiger collapsed beneath me. The unfortunate rider groaned as he struggled to his feet. His health had taken a beating, first from the burn and then the trample. But, he was still a Level 16 Goblin Scout. That didn''t stop me. [Fear Aura] poured from my form, forcing his toad pupils to contract to pinpricks. Goblin Scout is in a state of panic. Mental resistance has thus been lowered. You have afflicted Goblin Scout with [Dismay]! I swung for all I was worth. The injured goblin parried my blow, much to his credit. His knife arm trembled, however, and my return strike raked across his belly. The Goblin Scout dove for me only to end up with a monster core to the face. The sudden flash of light and heat did little damage. But, considering that the goblin was already dismayed, momentary blindness worked better than anticipated. I closed the distance to the flailing goblin and punched my dagger into his belly. His health meter bottomed out with an audible zing. I tried again and buried the dagger this time in his throat. It had to be the throat. The goblin died with ugly retching noises. Don¡¯t listen. Keep moving, Damien. A spate of text boxes announced my rise to level 8. Less than I¡¯d expected for both kills, but then again, the Dread Tiger had done some of the work. A crossbow quarrel glanced off my shoulder. It threw me to the ground, which turned out to be a good thing as a second bolt flew past my head. ¡°Hey!¡± one of the shooters said. ¡°That¡¯s no tree spirit. That''s a bloody Dark Elf!¡± Goblin Scouts have resisted [Fear Aura]. Oh, come on. I killed the aura to avoid giving away my position and tried to run. All five riders gave chase, led by the surviving level 16 scout. I had no tricks left in my arsenal; a fact that became increasingly apparent as the big cats galloped after me. ¡°Too weak, maggot,¡± the lead goblin taunted. Too weak. I had three free stat points and Willpower that probably read 6 (8) due to the two stacks of [Fear]. The [System] had warned about the effects of [WIL] on mental attacks. Put [3] stat points into Willpower? Y/N? Yes! Hurray for you, chap! You have upgraded an attribute. [WIL] has changed from [Lesser] to [Common]. Your base mental resistance has increased by 1.5x. Your base mental proficiency has increased by 1.5x. You can now use two sustain-type techniques simultaneously! I darted behind a tree, just in time to avoid a tackle from a Dread Tiger whose paw carved a chunk from the tree trunk. It tumbled and then reoriented itself, doing so with feline grace. [Fear Aura] came off cooldown at that moment, flooding the forest. Tamed Dread Tiger has resisted [Fear Aura]. Goblin Scout has resisted [Fear Aura]. Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake! Why tell me to improve [WIL] if it ended in the same result?! I had lost the torch sometime during the fight with the other goblin, so I crushed a monster core instead atop the oil-drenched knives. They sprang ablaze. The Dread Tiger charged, spurred on by its excited rider. Large claws reached for my face. The blow would have torn through my health had my knives not flown first and struck the tiger in the chest. The dread beast staggered backward, more out of terror than pain. Shadows extended from The Blackreach Dagger in my grasp, borrowing from the wisps of [Fear Aura]. Tamed Dread Tiger is in a state of panic. Mental resistance has thus been lowered. [Fear Aura] has taken root. You have afflicted Tamed Dread Tiger with [Dismay]! I ducked beneath the rider¡¯s quarrel and lashed out in a flurry. The Dread Tiger fought back with awkwardness, hampering its rider more than it helped. A final strike split the beast open from chest to belly. Entrails tumbled out onto the forest floor. The tiger¡¯s aggrieved rider rose from its back and kicked me upside the head. I rocketed into a tree trunk. The blow forced a downward slide in my health meter, but I was more bothered by the fact that I could feel my brain slosh around in my head. Health armor didn¡¯t offer full protection against concussions. It sucked to find out this way. The Goblin Scout pulled a long knife from its belt. This goblin, unlike his peers, had a formidable amount of Strength. Probably 20 or more. Could monsters allocate stat points like we could? For that matter, why did sapient species like goblins count as monsters? No. Focus. That was the concussion talking. I¡¯d come too far to die here. Not at least until Mavari was safe. I rose to my feet, proving that Willpower was at least good for something. I still had the problem of being outmatched even as the fog cleared in my head. My Strength had slipped from 10 to 9 with the loss of one [Fear] stack, forcing me to appreciate firsthand the difference between tiers. ¡°Stringy meat,¡± the goblin said, running a purple tongue across his knife. ¡°I will enjoy this.¡± The other goblin riders waited in the distance, oddly hesitant. [Fear Aura] hadn¡¯t managed to [Dismay] them, but it had done something. Their body language revealed their reluctance to approach the Dark Elf covered in shadows. Apologies to you, Willpower. I switched off the ability and raised The Blackreach Dagger in front of my face. The soul-steel glinted with the light of multiple fires which were a few minutes away from growing unruly. I imitated the bring it on gesture from that one movie with the actor who spoke too little. ¡°Come then, milkskin. We don¡¯t have all day.¡± The goblin bristled. "I''m not a milkskin! My hide is the finest green, just like my mother''s!" Oh? So, milkskin referred to goblins who looked paler than the others? What did that have to do with drinking milk? Regardless, I taunted, "Your mother would skin herself if she saw the beating you''re about to take." "My mother''s dead," the goblin fired. "I killed her myself. Snuck into her cave on my eighth birthday and slit her throat." He laughed at the look on my face. "Deliver a message for me, why don''t you? Tell her ''ugly'' says hi." Yeah, this was why I didn''t trash talk. I was too soft-bellied for it, unlike these monsters. I gripped my dagger and settled into a stance. 013 Dirty Work The Goblin Scout smirked at a spot above my head. I couldn¡¯t imagine what he looked at, but the health meter hovering over his head provided a clue. He could see how much damage he dealt to me. Which meant he knew he only needed two more good blows to finish me off. I was down to a dagger, a single throwing knife, and a handful of monster cores. The latter two were useless to me at the moment. What else did I have? Definitely not time. The goblin rushed forward at the first hint of hesitation. I backpedaled and shoved my hand into my pockets. Something wet fell into my palm, and I tossed it as a form of distraction. The goblin skidded to a stop. ¡°Is that cousin Lagruth? Is that my cousin?¡± Who the hell was Lagruth? I wanted to say, until I glanced at what I had thrown. It was a tattered goblin ear. The Goblin Scout gasped and fell to his knees. He cradled the ear, then glared at me with a look of such rage, I nearly crapped my pants. ¡°You killed him?¡± he choked. ¡°You killed my cousin?¡± Oh, hell. This was one of the two goblins who had earlier pursued me. The one who had been first to return. ¡°Would you believe me if I said I didn¡¯t kill him?¡± The goblin blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Maybe your cousin tripped and fell on my dagger? Freak accident, but weirder stuff has happened.¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± He swung at my throat. His knife blurred with the speed of the swing, but the goblin had gifted me a head start by way of telegraphing. For a half second, I considered parrying the blow. But, a small voice warned in my head that my Lesser Strength probably couldn¡¯t manage it. I ducked instead, causing the goblin to tear a long gash across a hapless tree trunk. I plunged The Blackreach Dagger as I fell into his foot. Shadows sprouted from the blade, dark and dangerous, but they ultimately failed to pierce the skin-deep protections offered by health. The goblin jumped with a yowl and kicked me clean across the face. Mini-explosions went off in my head. My health meter plummeted by another third, and¡ªgoddammit, why was I being pushed around by someone half my size? A stream of expletives escaped the goblin¡¯s mouth as he snatched The Blackreach Dagger from the ground. Health armor had prevented his wounding but did nothing for the pain. More importantly, I¡¯d dealt fair damage to his HP. Three more strikes, and I could draw a second mouth across his throat. ¡°Boss!¡± a goblin cried, racing toward us. ¡°Run away! The elf woman¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t finish his words. An arrow punctured his chest, cutting off the rest of his warning. Only now did I notice that the rest of the party had scattered. Judging from the screams that followed, Mavari was hunting them. The level 16 goblin stared at the grisly sight of his fallen comrade with wide eyes. I didn¡¯t even think. I grabbed the throwing knife and ran straight for him. He turned to meet me, but I was already within reach. [Fear Aura] flared. Goblin Scout is in a state of panic. Mental resistance has thus been lowered. [Fear Aura] has taken root. You have afflicted Goblin Scout with [Dismay]! To the goblin¡¯s credit, he managed to deflect my strike despite the turn of events. He wielded The Blackreach Dagger much better than I did. But, I wore the mantle of Fear. I flicked the throwing knife into his face, and then, just as he tried to backpedal, I clasped the blade of the Blackreach between my palms. My poor fighting skill meant I misjudged the angle and nicked my health on the blade. I¡¯d gotten what I wanted, regardless. The soul-steel responded to my will, devouring affinity. A deep black hue ran down the dagger, forcing the goblin to drop it in shock. I snatched the weapon before it could fall and lashed out like a beast unhinged. The last images the goblin saw were of the Blackreach scything across his face. Mavari offered a hand to help me up from exhaustion. ¡°Damien, I don¡¯t know what to say . . .¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, accepting her help. Mavari smiled. Despite being marred by dirt, leaves, and twigs, her features still looked as soft as ever. ¡°I thought for sure you had managed to get away. When I saw you creeping behind the goblins in the bushes, I almost had a heart attack. I wanted to climb down right there and then.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t think I had it in me, eh?¡± Mavari shot me a dry look. ¡°When I met you, Damien, you were only level three. You had no business fighting Iron-ranked enemies.¡± ¡°And yet, I killed them.¡± ¡°That you did, but don¡¯t get cocky. These goblins were weak even by monster standards. It would have been a different fight altogether if they all possessed affinities. Never forget that. Rankers and awakened monsters both offer a different kind of challenge.¡± She gave me a once-over. ¡°You¡¯re not hurt, are you? Do you need a health potion?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t take one,¡± I said, rubbing my temples which throbbed from the impacts of two kicks to the face. ¡°I still have my potion timers up.¡± ¡°What level are you now?¡± ¡°Eight. Oh, wait¡ª¡± I paused to check. True enough, I¡¯d received a [System] notification from the final goblin kill. ¡°I¡¯m level n-nine.¡± My voice cracked as I said it, mirroring my disbelief at my success. Stolen story; please report. Mavari beamed. ¡°And how long do you have to hit your goal?¡± ¡°Two hours, give or take.¡± Mavari¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°Heralds! I didn¡¯t think it was possible, but you might just end up completing this feat.¡± ¡°Hold on, you mean you always doubted me?¡± Mavari shook her head. ¡°Damien, you have no idea how incredible this is. Even if I wanted to believe, no one can come this far in such a short time unless they are touched by the heavens.¡± Touched by the heavens, huh? There was no denying that the goblins had shown up at a convenient time when I needed stronger enemies. Sure, the choice to stay and fight them had still been mine. And, I would have lost brutally had I made any mistakes. However, I couldn¡¯t ignore the impeccable timing of the coincidence. Or I could . . . I had a banging headache, and I didn¡¯t feel like worsening it by thinking about [System] shenanigans. Mavari led me by the arm to a goblin with an arrow in his thigh. The foul thing crawled on his belly, tracking blood across the grass. ¡°Kill it,¡± Mavari said, handing me The Blackreach Dagger. I stared at the goblin and his empty health meter, and then I furrowed my brows at her. ¡°Would it count?¡± ¡°Yes. No one knows the exact formula, but everyone involved in a monster kill gets a share of experience¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªthat¡¯s proportional to their contribution, right?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes. However, last hits typically earn more XP. If two people are responsible for a monster kill, the [System] grants more XP to whoever delivers the killing blow.¡± . . . making monster hunts a problematic affair. I could easily envision kill steals being a heated issue on Vizhima. ¡°I¡¯m guessing,¡± I said, ¡°that the right to loot is also awarded to the last hit, yeah?¡± ¡°It is. There are special ways to recover the loot of a murdered loved one, but they aren¡¯t always accessible. The unawakened also can¡¯t be looted.¡± Ah. So, that¡¯s what happened back with the deer. Did that mean that normal tigers and dogs and stuff also existed? I killed the struggling goblin without further ado and tried not to think too much about how the [System] had reduced living creatures down to XP. You have gained participatory XP for killing Goblin Scout LVL 12, a [System] message transmitted. ¡°Come on,¡± Mavari said. ¡°We have a few more to finish off. You¡¯re really great at causing chaos. The combination of your aura and the bushfire left the goblins too distracted to mount a proper defense. I had a great time picking them off.¡± We stopped by two more whimpering goblins and four Dread Tigers. The others had died despite Mavari¡¯s best efforts, but the rest were too wounded to escape. I spun Nana¡¯s dagger around and proceeded to carry out the dirtiest work I had ever done in my life. . . . which was saying something, considering I had once worked in refuse disposal. The Dread Tigers passed without resistance, eager to be freed from their pain. The goblins, however, put up a fight. Both of them had been riddled with arrows, which turned the very act of breathing into an exercise in hell. Despite this, they raised their arms in defense as I kicked them onto their backs. I didn¡¯t draw out the deed. The Blackreach Dagger slid from goblin to goblin, stealing their final breaths. The act left me drenched in sweat¡ªnot from exertion, no. But, from a feeling that proved hard to describe. I offered Mavari a tired smile. Even though I didn¡¯t hit level ten, she had saved me a massive ton of work. ¡°Not enough?¡± Mavari asked. I shook my head. She replied with a pout, which sent butterflies fluttering up my stomach. ¡°I was hoping this much would be enough. But, I guess good things don¡¯t come easy. Your bravery got me out of a hairy situation, Damien. And, I also managed to reach level twenty!¡±¡ªshe swelled with pride at that bit¡ª¡°You have no idea how long I was stuck at that bottleneck. I won¡¯t rest until I return the favor.¡± ¡°Glad to be of help,¡± I said, smirking at her enthusiasm, ¡°but I still have some time.¡± I looted the goblins, not out of necessity but because I couldn¡¯t bear to keep looking at their lifeless faces. They offered the usual goblin ear and Common monster core. Same as before, their clothes and gear remained after disintegration. ¡°I feel closer to level ten too.¡± ¡°Being closer won¡¯t cut it,¡± Mavari said, following behind me. ¡°You have no idea how difficult it is to level up on weaker monsters. We need to find more goblins. Barring that, I know a few more places we can hunt.¡± ¡°HP¡¯s going to be a problem though,¡± I said, eyeing the potion cooldowns. My health hovered at less than thirty percent, which was fine for fighting Dread Tigers. Not so much for other monsters. Mavari rescinded her claim to the loot but offered to store them in her inventory. ¡°We¡¯ll manage. You just need one really good kill or multiple smaller ones.¡± I studied one of the jagged knives that lay abandoned on the ground. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with goblins anyway? Are ambushes like this common around here?¡± Mavari pursed her lips. ¡°No . . . at least, not these days. Dreadwood is vast, Damien. Much larger than you think. It¡¯s home to a few sapient species too. Mostly Wood Elves and goblins, though humans aren¡¯t uncommon.¡± ¡°You left out your kin.¡± Mavari caught the knife I lobbed at her and slid it into her inventory. ¡°That¡¯s because Dark Elves aren¡¯t native to Dreadwood. Our people are only recent settlers, in elven years at least. This isn¡¯t our home.¡± ¡°And the goblins?¡± ¡°Monsters. Which is what we call non-[System] races¡ª¡± ¡°They can¡¯t use the [System]?¡± ¡°They can¡¯t. Not the way we do, at least. [System] races have access to the full breadth of choice. Monsters, on the other hand, follow a predetermined trajectory from birth. A Goblin Scout can never become a Goblin Engineer or Sorcerer. A Dark Elf, however, may choose to be a Warrior or Warlock.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Mavari chuckled at my blas¨¦ reply. ¡°If that isn¡¯t clear enough, monsters disintegrate on looting. [System] races don¡¯t.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t explain why they suddenly attacked.¡± ¡°Aye. The hatred between elves and goblins runs as old as time, but goblins haven''t been active since their defeat in the last big battle. They usually live closer to the north, deep within the mountains. This is the first I have seen of a goblin in decades.¡± I glanced around the battlefield. ¡°That sounds disturbing.¡± ¡°It does. In any case, Nana would want to hear of this, assuming they haven''t already been warned. We should hurry back¡ªonce we are done with your problem. If a goblin party has ventured into our neck of the woods, prudence dictates that we warn our allies and start gearing for war.¡± A fire crackled around us, reminding me of my earlier attempt at arson. Wildfires were never pretty, and it would suck to start one within the second day of arriving in a new world. ¡°Um, is there anything we can do about the flames?¡± Mavari shouldered her bow and struck off in a random direction. ¡°Don¡¯t worry your heart. Fires never burn longer than a few hours in Dreadwood. The forest is protected by a special enchantment.¡± She glanced over her shoulder and quirked her lips. ¡°Also, nice cloak. Mind telling me who you got it from?¡± I started to reply. The tall tree¡ªthe one Mavari had commandeered¡ªfinally fell to the ground. I spared a curious glance at the ruckus only to see a Dread Tiger leap out of the bushes. It was the one that had gotten away¡ªthe victim of my earliest attack. The Dread Tiger knocked me off my feet with such force that my teeth rattled in my skull. Mavari yelled something unintelligible, but I could only focus on the claws in my chest. Long strips of skin¡ªmy skin¡ªwent flying through the air before a trio of arrows stopped the Dread Tiger in its tracks. Too little, too late. My health meter blinked empty, and the status corner of my screen showed a familiar [Bleed]. ¡°Oh no, Damien . . .¡± Mavari said with a gasp. ¡°Please, don¡¯t . . .¡± Don¡¯t what? I couldn¡¯t make out her features due to my blurry sight, but the irony of the sudden turn of events wasn¡¯t lost on me. I had come this far, despite the ridiculous quest parameters, and had achieved six levels with two hours to spare. One more level would have seen me complete the quest. Just. One. More. Mavari pressed a bitter substance into my mouth. Her face sat hidden behind the swirling petals of a bush lily. More bush lilies obscured my vision. ¡°Eat this, Damien. Quickly.¡± I managed a final thought before succumbing to the pain: This was so unfair. 014 Spirit Orbs A red pyramid towered over a hellish landscape filled with the broken bodies of pale-skinned homunculi. Its four sides featured a flight of stairs, each of which led up to a fiery star situated atop the pinnacle. An eerie mist wafted over the rest of the landscape, rising and waning in fits and starts. It hid the bodies that littered the ground¡ªthe burnt, bloodied, butchered bodies¡ªonly to reveal them again in all their glory. An arid wind blew the stench of sulfur into my face. I tried to shield my nose and encountered a dizzying loss of sensation instead. . . . which was just as well, seeing as I lacked arms, a face, or anything resembling a body. I simply observed the scene, as though all parts of it were an extension of myself. A rotation of my viewpoint revealed stationary Flame Guardians gathered in a ring around the pyramid. Their cat-like faces sat framed by beards with facial expressions capable of terrifying death itself. Pyronodons flitted around the open sky. But, just like I¡¯d observed in what now seemed like ages ago, the clouds didn¡¯t move an inch as though painted in place atop a crimson canvas. My viewpoint lurched. The ground sped up beneath me until the pyramid returned to focus. And then, the scenery adjusted, like the zoom function on a camera, until I was pressed up against the base of the stairs. A second lurch saw me shoot up the steps to the top of the pyramid, where the brazier waited with blinding fire. Multiple blue screens hovered over the fire, moving at impossible speeds. They expanded and collapsed with such rapidity that the text blurred into an incoherent mess. A thousand of the blue screens vanished right before my sight, only to be replaced by ten thousand more. Those too collapsed before I could parse them, giving way to tens of millions. The entire display left me feeling nauseous despite my current state of disembodiment. I couldn¡¯t for the life of me figure out what the blue screens represented. And, I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to know. The shuffling went on for a second that felt like an eternity. Blue screens sprang up and died in a process that felt like it spanned the entirety of human existence. Then, as if stopped by hand, all of the blue screens in one sector of the glitchy mess froze. A single red screen appeared among them, bearing an emergency sign. It vanished and was replaced by two others. Two became four. Four became eight. Then many. Red. Red. Red. I woke up with a start. Daylight filtered in from a window beside my bed, bright enough to hint at the hour. I was back again on the straw mattress in the same hut from earlier, which wasn¡¯t right. I strongly remembered buckling under Dread Tiger teeth. I should have been dead, and even if I wasn¡¯t, the quest . . . I jerked upright. The quest. How was I still alive? ¡°You have Mavari to thank for that, child,¡± a gruff voice replied. Nana sat in a corner of the room, smoking a pipe. The Blackreach Dagger glinted in her lap, alongside a strange object. The latter looked like a crystal ball, notwithstanding that it was completely opaque and patterned with stars. ¡°Mavari?¡± I asked, pawing at my naked chest. My entire torso sat intact beneath my fingers, as though I hadn¡¯t been mauled by a big cat many times my weight. The faded potion timers still hovered at the upper right corner of my vision. But, I felt great, as if the entire battle had only been a dream. ¡°Yes,¡± Nana said, puffing a stream of smoke. The heady tang of the strange substance curled through the air. ¡°Good to know the fool girl remembers her herbalism. She forced you to feed on goblin ears, a known coagulant. Not the safest way to use alchemy ingredients, but it kept you alive long enough to be treated by a healer.¡± Vague memories of bleeding out over Mavari¡¯s back rose to the surface, as did an intense revulsion from the thought of eating raw ears. I shoved them into the depths of my queasy stomach and opened the urgent notification that blinked in the periphery. Warning: Spirit orbs are necessary to sustain migrant souls. Ingest one orb a day or die. Time till next ingestion: 00:07:19. Seven minutes? I swooned atop the bed. The entire room blurred out of focus, leaving me alone with my heartbeat. There was no possible way I could hit level ten in the time that remained . . . unless I went full murderhobo on the Dark Elves. The Blackreach Dagger nestled idly in Nana''s lap. No, not Nana. Someone else. Maybe the Dark Elves could provide a willing sacrifice or a prisoner on death row? If I asked nicely¡ª What the fuck are you thinking, Damien? I pressed my palms against my cheeks. The awful feeling of revulsion reared its ugly head again, this time focused on me, at the depths I¡¯d just tried to stoop to. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Nana grabbed by the shoulders. ¡°Hey! Are you alright?¡± She steadied me with strong arms and pushed me back onto the bed. I struggled to get the words out of my mouth. ¡°I didn¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t reach level ten!¡± The timer ticked down by one minute, adding to my agony. ¡°Are you sure about that, child?¡± Nana said with a wry smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you summon your status sheet?¡± I stared at the old lady, then did as she asked. The text box unraveled in front of my eyes. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 10 Affinity: Fear Class: Ranker [Potential] VP: 28/28 MP: 25/30 Attributes: STR 7, PER 5, END 10, DEX 10 INT 5, WIL 9, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 6 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura] I honed in on the only piece of information that mattered. Damien Njoku. Level: 10. ¡°H-how?¡± I asked. ¡°How what?¡± Nana said with a grin. ¡°I blacked out at level nine!¡± ¡°That you did.¡± She gathered her dagger and the strange crystal ball, then returned to her seat. ¡°I only know what Mavari told me. You two got ambushed by a goblin party, and you came to her rescue, despite being outmatched and outnumbered.¡± ¡°But, the last Dread Tiger¡ª¡± ¡°Mavari incapacitated it, but bless her soul, that girl has more sense than I give her credit for. You might have been unconscious, but it was a simple matter of moving your limp arm through the motions. She helped you score the last hit.¡± Tears welled in my eyes at that. Freaking, perfect Mavari. ¡°Of course,¡± Nana continued, ¡°that alone wasn¡¯t enough to get you up to level ten. You owe me a herd of Dread goats.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Nana tapped the crystal ball in her lap. ¡°I wasn¡¯t about to let you die, child. Not after you had come so close to success. You better be grateful too. Dread goats are some of the toughest animals to rear, and you cost me forty of them.¡± She wrinkled her nose. ¡°The village would need to get by without milk for a while¡ªnot that we needed it. Some of the hunters had begun to grow soft around the stomach.¡± Her words faded into the background, drowned out by my thoughts. Pressure rose like a geyser in my throat, forming a blockade that strangled my sobs. I hadn¡¯t done anything to deserve the help of the Dark Elves, and yet they¡¯d helped me anyway, at great expense to themselves. It felt . . . nice? The last time anyone had cared about my well-being, I¡¯d been ten years old. And that incident had ended with the loss of someone I¡¯d loved the most. Nana¡¯s voice cut through my musings. ¡°You mentioned something about a deadline. You are in the clear, yes?¡± Oh. Right. I opened the [System] log. The timer on the warning had dropped down to four minutes. But, I focused instead on the most recent information in the log. You have found the Dark Elf village. Quest: [Lost Kinsman]. Objective complete. [10] spirit orbs have been added to your inventory. My heartbeat quickened. ¡°There¡¯s no error message.¡± I returned to the home screen and browsed the waiting notifications. Huzzah! You have leveled up. You are now level 10! Visit your status sheet to distribute free stat points. And, another: You have reached the threshold! [System] classes are now available. Visit a World Shrine to make your choice. Note: Until this process is completed, you can no longer level up or gain XP. This process results in specialization which can only be performed once. Choose wisely! Specialization, huh? Mavari had taught about that. Based on what Nana had said, the vast majority of people unlocked their inventories after the act. I didn¡¯t know what a World Shrine was, but my case was supposedly anomalous. The third notification proved me right: Due to the presence of an affinity, your nature has changed from regular to ranker [potential]. You have unlocked an inventory. Never carry a bag again in your life! ¡°Where¡¯s the Inventory?¡± I murmured. A new table appeared in the center of my vision: a grid of some sort, five by five across. It featured a scroll bar that rolled downward to reveal a multitude of slots, certifying the claim that bags had now been rendered redundant. A small blue crystal occupied the first slot with the number ¡®ten¡¯ scrawled in a small font right next to it. I reached hesitant fingers for the icon and gasped in wonderment as my hand sank into the grid. I withdrew my arm a moment later, complete with a single ball of an ethereal nature spinning in my grasp. Nana took a sharp intake of breath. ¡°Is that it? The thing you need to eat?¡± ¡°Yeah. A spirit orb . . .¡± I¡¯d gleaned from experience that [System] windows couldn¡¯t be viewed by anyone other than the user, but it seemed like Nana didn¡¯t have an identification skill either. I used [Identify] on the orb. [???]. Error: This material is not recognized. Well, that was new. What did that mean about the nature of spirit orbs if [Identify] could not recognize it? ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Nana cut in with a humph. ¡°You¡¯re killing me with anticipation.¡± I grinned at her impatience. Ingest spirit orb? Y/N? Yes. The orb evaporated. Mist-like tendrils raced up my nostrils and into my skin, leaving me aglow. A feeling of satiation percolated in my gut, as though I¡¯d just completed a five-course meal, loaded with haute cuisine. You have ingested a spirit orb. Time till next ingestion: 23:59:59. Automate this process? Y/N? Definitely a yes. I wasn¡¯t scatterbrained, but I couldn¡¯t risk the chance of death by omission. Automating the process also ensured my survival in case I ended up indisposed. Nana watched me with hawkish eyes. ¡°Is that it? Have you settled the doom over your head?¡± ¡°I have. How was it possible that you knew the amount of XP I needed anyway? I thought [System] windows were set to private?¡± ¡°They are, but there are other ways to share your details with others.¡± She raised the black crystal ball. ¡°This here is called a¡ª¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t say palant¨ªr. I don¡¯t think my heart would survive the experience.¡± ¡°What are you on about? This is a viewing stone.¡± A rather mundane name for an evil-looking crystal ball, but it served its purpose. ¡°Would you mind showing me your status sheet?¡± ¡°Hah! You wish. I don¡¯t trust you enough for that. Besides, this stone is too weak to fully reveal one''s status. It only reveals class and level.¡± Ergo, kinda like my [Identify] except more cumbersome. ¡°Fine. What¡¯s next on the agenda?¡± Nana lowered the stone. Her beautiful features creased into a frown that distorted her tribal markings. ¡°I don¡¯t think I like where this is going,¡± I stammered. ¡°You won¡¯t because we need to talk.¡± The elf-matron folded her hands over her lap. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop, but you were murmuring in your sleep. Who killed your mother?¡± 015 A Plane called Earth ¡°I¡¯m not sure I follow,¡± I said, pulling the blanket around my torso. ¡°I heard you clear as day,¡± Nana said with a strong shake of her head. ¡°You kept apologizing for someone¡¯s demise. And, I am pretty sure you mentioned your mother.¡± ¡°I do not want to talk about this.¡± Nana glanced at my sullen expression and then at my hands which had curled into fists around the blanket. The bones of my knuckles threatened to pop, a consequence of how tightly they¡¯d closed. ¡°Very well,¡± Nana conceded. ¡°But, I can¡¯t ignore the fact that you have a family of your own. I¡¯m due a proper explanation at this point. Let¡¯s hear it, then. A description of your home.¡± ¡°You won''t understand if I told you . . .¡± ¡°And, I¡¯d slap you upside the head if you keep using that excuse. I¡¯ve seen things you can¡¯t believe, child. Try me.¡± I took a deep breath to steady myself and relaxed my fingers which had begun digging into my palms. ¡°Whatever I was before doesn¡¯t matter anymore. I¡¯m a regular Dark Elf now, just like the rest of you.¡± ¡°Regular?¡± Nana snorted. ¡°No regular I know of can jump that many levels in the timeframe you did.¡± ¡°I had help . . .¡± ¡°Bollocks. Mavari might have lent you a hand, but the bulk of the outcome came off the sweat on your back.¡± She stared at me with those haunting red eyes of hers; eyes that threatened to bore into my soul. ¡°I¡¯ve seen entire parties of regulars venture out to grind levels, sometimes with a higher-ranked chaperone. Only a scant few manage to reach the threshold within a week. You did it in six hours." She clucked her tongue. ¡°This feat you pulled off, Damien? It¡¯s unheard of outside of true prodigies. No one can attempt it without being blessed with incredible talent or luck.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll probably go with luck . . .¡± ¡°And, I would be inclined to agree if everything about you didn¡¯t scream purpose.¡± Nana extricated her pipe which she had disappeared into her inventory sometime during our conversation. The ornate wooden item appeared in her palm alongside its still burning content. ¡°I get the feeling you are in over your head, Damien. But, I think you know more about your situation than you let on.¡± A heavy silence followed her words. Nana smoked her pipe in the interim, waiting for my answer¡ªbut, what answer could I possibly give? The [System] had summoned me for a Heroic Adventure, that much I knew of. However, spilling the beans meant committing to the quest, and that was an action I was still hesitant to take. Sure, there was something noble about saving a world on the brink of extinction, but I¡¯d never consented to it. And, if an apocalypse waited somewhere in my future, I intended to leg it in the opposite direction. Nana wouldn¡¯t understand. She would want me to accept responsibility, what with the potential survival of her village on the line. Worst case scenario, she might consult with some higher authority. And, I could already imagine how that would go. Nana¡¯s expression crumpled the instant I made up my mind. ¡°Don¡¯t speak, Damien,¡± she said, knocking her pipe against her chair. ¡°If you are just going to lie to me, then I do not want to hear it.¡± ¡°Better to keep quiet than lie,¡± mom would say and rap me on the head. ¡°I raised a better child than that.¡± Ugh. Why were they so similar? I needed to keep my secrets to protect myself. But, the elves had also saved me twice from death. Half measures, then. ¡°I¡¯m actually not Cyran Irithiel . . .¡± ¡°Obviously,¡± Nana said in a dry tone. ¡°No. What I mean is that this body isn¡¯t even mine. I was someone else in my world. Someone different. I woke up in Dreadwood looking like this.¡± Nana sat up with narrowed eyes. ¡°You were a spirit, then? Maybe from another plane?¡± ¡°I was definitely corporeal. Real flesh and blood.¡± ¡°How did you get here? Planar transposition or possession?¡± ¡°Reincarnation.¡± Nana frowned. ¡°That¡¯s considered impossible by every known standard. Some snobs attuned to Consideration like to think otherwise. But, true reincarnation is considered as mythical as dragon tears.¡± I frowned at her words. ¡°I don¡¯t know about all of that, but I was certainly reincarnated. This isn¡¯t my real body or my first time living. For that matter, my world vastly differs from this one.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Well, the basics are still the same. We have forests, mountains, seas, and skies. The sun rises at daybreak and sets at twilight, causing the same pattern of night and day. However, my world has only one moon.¡± I paused. ¡°Oh, and when I say ¡®my world¡¯, I mean my planet because Earth is just one tiny planet among quadrillions in the universe.¡± ¡°Earth? That¡¯s the name of your plane? Why name it after the ground?¡± I faltered. ¡°That . . . actually, I am not sure. I still don¡¯t understand how language works here, but Earth isn¡¯t a plane. Aren¡¯t the inhabitants of this world conversant with astronomy?¡± ¡°We are. But, the term Vizhima covers everything from the world to the moons and stars. Why differentiate them? It¡¯s all one plane.¡± That isn¡¯t how it works. ¡°Anyway,¡± I continued, ¡°like I said, most of the basics are the same across our worlds. The places we differ are in things like magic, monsters, and the [System]. We have none of those. Heck, the races of this world are nothing like ours . . .¡± I petered off. ¡°Yes?¡± Nana urged. ¡°On second thought, scratch all of that. Most of the things I mentioned can be found on Earth, just in different forms. Our scientific advancements can be mistaken for magic, I guess. And, the biggest wild animals can come across as monstrous. ¡°Not real monsters, no¡ªthat term is reserved for the worst criminals and politicians. But, we have entire cultures based around fantasies and myths that feature the kind of creatures native to Vizhima.¡± The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°You¡¯re losing me, child.¡± ¡°Sorry, just organizing my thoughts.¡± I raked long fingers through my hair. Those were two features of my new body I struggled to adapt to: the deftness of my fingers, and the texture of my hair. ¡°What I am saying is that stuff like goblins, magic, and elves are known in my world. But, they aren¡¯t real. They are figments of imagination. My people only encounter them in stories or video games. Not in person.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a video game?¡± A small headache blossomed behind my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s, uh, a type of electronic entertainment that emphasizes interaction with an input device, to gain visual feedback from a display device.¡± ¡°And, ¡®electronic¡¯ is supposed to mean?¡± ¡°A field of engineering. It focuses on devices that manipulate charged particles.¡± I stroked my chin. ¡°Computers, and electronics by extension, produce the closest thing we have to a [System], yet still far apart. You see, there¡¯s this invention called software, and it can . . .¡± The headache blossomed into a full-blown migraine, so intense that I blacked out for a few seconds. Blue screens flickered across my sight. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Nana asked, leaning forward in her seat. ¡°Yeah, one sec,¡± I answered, rubbing my temples. ¡°I don¡¯t think the [System] approves of my effort to explain this.¡± Nana waited for my groaning to stop, then posed a question. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that in the place you come from, elves like me are considered unreal?¡± She waved her hands in disbelief at the last part. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What then does everyone look like?¡± Human, I wanted to say, but I held my tongue. I knew nothing of the relationship between elf and human Vizhimans. If enmity existed between the two, Nana would probably feel better not knowing my real identity. I offered a noncommittal response. ¡°Different. Everyone looked different.¡± Nana took a long pull on her pipe. She exhaled another cloud of sweet-smelling smoke¡ªand, my gosh, I was almost tempted to join her. ¡°A world without real magic, monsters, or elves,¡± she said, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Sounds pretty . . . barbaric? If people don¡¯t have access to the [System], how then can they improve?¡± ¡°By, uh, studying and hitting the gym? Training, I guess.¡± Nana jerked in her chair. ¡°Training?¡± ¡°You sound alarmed.¡± ¡°As I should! Training helps by way of repetition. It sharpens the blade, while the [System] forges it. And yet, no amount of training can help a level twenty hold her own against a level fifty. The [System] doesn''t work that way.¡± ¡°That seems more barbaric . . .¡± Nana chuckled. ¡°You''d think that, wouldn''t you? All a ranker needs to do to get stronger is kill monsters. The more XP she gains, the faster she levels up; and, the higher her rank, the more potent her techniques.¡± ¡°Sounds convenient.¡± ¡°It is.¡± I could see the merit in power by blood. I couldn¡¯t imagine swinging a sword one hundred times to level up one-handed by one. However, the method Nana described also brought its problems. If murder was the secret to further advancement, wouldn¡¯t society simply be divided into killers and non-killers? Nana observed me in curious silence. ¡°You know,¡± she said after a while, ¡°I was half-expecting you to declare you were an angel sent by the gods or something of the sort. You don¡¯t recall how you got here?¡± I wasn¡¯t about to share any details regarding the Pyramid of Rebirth. Too risky. ¡°I went to sleep and woke up in this mess. No warning. No nothing.¡± ¡°Who do you think is responsible?¡± I paused to brainstorm. ¡°A really powerful entity? Or, maybe, a god? I mean, you said you saw visions.¡± Nana adjusted her posture. ¡°We¡¯re not sure actual gods exist. I mean, I think they do, but none of the known gods qualify.¡± She clutched her viewing stone. ¡°What business would a powerful entity have with you anyway? Were you some important person back where you came from?¡± Before my death, I had worked part-time in construction and earned a minimum wage, which when converted came out to about forty dollars a month. Calling me important was kinda cutting it. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, no. Maybe, the [System] planned this out . . .¡± Nana chuckled. ¡°The sun might dry up a river, and the rain might fill it back up. But, both aren¡¯t cognizant of their actions. The [System] is just what it is, child: the [System]. It¡¯s a force of nature as old as time.¡± ¡°So, powerful entity it is,¡± I muttered. The [System] hadn''t seemed like a mere force of nature when it had chosen between me and the other homunculus. But, I could also see how it could have been used as a tool. ¡°What now, Nana?" I asked. "Are you saying that you¡¯ve never seen another case like mine?¡± ¡°Seen, no. Heard, yes. I told you earlier that displaced sojourners are common in the myths and fables of Vizhima. The only problem¡±¡ªshe softened her tone¡ª¡°Almost, every single one of those stories ends in death or utter ruination. They are typically told to espouse the terror of the Heralds, who often play the part of primary antagonists. And, no one beats the Heralds, Damien, not even mysterious heroes.¡± A dense cloud passed beneath the sun, dimming the intensity of daylight by a few notches. ¡°What are the Heralds?¡± I asked. Nana narrowed her eyes. ¡°Who, more like. Remember when I mentioned debates about the nature of gods? Well, there¡¯s a school of thought that regards Heraldry as the ultimate pinnacle of divinity.¡± ¡°And, you don¡¯t believe this.¡± ¡°I should. Vizhima has stood long enough that someone should have uncovered proof of gods, assuming they exist. No one has, so they don¡¯t. And yet . . .¡± You want to believe. A popular conundrum among the religious. ¡°Are there gods back in your home world?¡± Nana asked. ¡°I do not know,¡± I said. I thought there was one, but my reincarnation had thrown my religious beliefs out of sync. Nana¡¯s face settled into an indiscernible mask. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. The entire purpose of a ranker¡¯s existence is to ascend to godhood. The [System] helps facilitate that process. Sadly, only a handful manage it over the ages.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying anyone can become a god just by leveling up?¡± ¡°Anyone can become a Herald. Dreadwood itself was created by one such enigma. We call him the wild god, and the elves collectively flee from his presence." The wild god . . .? "The point I''m making is that godhood by heraldry is open to all. And, now that you have reached the threshold, you have taken the first step on your journey to Ascension. You just have to do it . . .¡± She counted on her fingers. ¡°. . . ten more times.¡± ¡°You reach godhood at level 100?¡± ¡°Beyond level 100. However, it isn¡¯t as easy as it sounds. Grinding gets more difficult the higher up you go. About half of all rankers plateau at Silver. A smaller percentage make it to Gold. The kind of enemies that occupy Platinum rank, however, would kill most Golds in a single hit.¡± ¡°And how many of these ranks exist?¡± Nana shrugged. ¡°Seven of the truth. Right now, you¡¯re regular, which is considered both classless and rankless. Beyond that lies Iron, Silver, and Gold. Platinum, Iridium, and Adamantium make up the upper ranks, while Herald occupies the peak.¡± My heartbeat quickened. On one hand, there was something addictive about gaining more power, especially when depicted in quantifiable terms. On the other: the most adventure I¡¯d seen in my old life involved commuting to work. This world was nowhere as forgiving, and I¡¯d only tasted the tip of the iceberg. A sharp knock resounded on the door. ¡°That¡¯s my cue,¡± Nana said, rising to her feet. She gathered her items into her inventory and smoothened her robes. ¡°I mobilized scouting parties to hunt down the goblins. If those green-skinned shit-piles have started proliferating again in Dreadwood, I need to uncover whatever I can and warn the clans.¡± ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± ¡°Hah! The regular wants to help. Since you¡¯re out of danger at the moment, focus on recuperating.¡± She strode to the door. ¡°Once I¡¯ve handled the problem in my backyard, we may speak further about the future.¡± ¡°One moment, Nana,¡± I said, stopping the elf-matron in her tracks. ¡°The [System] mentioned something about visiting a World Shrine. Do you know where this is located?¡± Nana paused with one hand on the doorknob. ¡°That¡¯s a delicate question, Damien. No one here shares such information for cheap. We can discuss further at a later date.¡± ¡°May I ask something else, then?¡± I waited for her approval before forging ahead. ¡°What rank are you, if you don''t mind revealing.¡± ¡°Why try to hide it? It¡¯s obvious enough to anyone with a proper pair of eyes. I¡¯m Gold-ranked, which puts me about halfway on the road to godhood.¡± She exited the hut after that, leaving me alone in the quiet of my thoughts. 016 Of Kids and Goblin Incursions I roused from sleep at dawn, a habit picked from years of commuting. Nana hadn¡¯t returned all through the rest of yesterday, leaving me to find ways to occupy myself. The easiest way involved tweaking my status screen which had two puzzles that needed to be resolved. The first concerned the six stat points yet to be allocated. I¡¯d wavered between Endurance and Dexterity before settling on the former. [DEX] might have offered increased damage and speed, but [END] boosted survivability. Each attribute sat at a healthy figure of 10, making an increase to 20 the most appropriate objective. The [System] had other ideas, however: Error: Stat cap. Attributes cannot be improved beyond the Common tier at your current rank. Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake. I¡¯d expected power gulfs to exist between ranks, but the [System] didn''t need to enforce them with such heavy-handedness. The stat caps also exposed [Scaredy-cat] as an outlier for its ability to increase attributes beyond the stated limits. I didn¡¯t want to rely on the ability any more than I needed to, but no point in making hasty decisions. I¡¯d shelved the allocation for later. The other puzzle involved my new class: ranker [Potential]. From what I¡¯d gleaned, the regular caste consisted of people without classes¡ªpeople stuck within the lowest grouping of levels one to ten. Something called a World Shrine allowed regulars to advance into any of two higher natures: ranker and specialist. The [System] had probably decided I was a better fit for the former due to my affinity. Mavari had mentioned something similar . . . but, what did that mean for me? I didn¡¯t know if I wanted to be a ranker. For that matter, why had Nana refused to share anything about the shrines? I¡¯d lost sleep pondering that dilemma, which was just as well because a new concern arrived to occupy my attention shortly after dawn. ¡°Mr. Damien!¡± a chipper voice said from across the door. ¡°Are you awake, sir?¡± An insistent knocking followed the query as if the visitor intended to pound the door off its hinges. ¡°Who?¡± I said, stumbling to the entrance. An elf-child stood behind the door with dreadlocks and eyes of brightest red. She flinched at my appearance and looked at me in wonder. ¡°Whoa. So, you¡¯re the handsome stranger everyone¡¯s been talking about?¡± Handsome? I wouldn¡¯t describe myself that way. Then again, I hadn¡¯t used a mirror since I¡¯d arrived in Vizhima. ¡°And who are you supposed to be?¡± I asked the runt, crossing my arms over my torso. ¡°Ack! Where are my manners?¡± The elf-child tapped her heart, then offered her palm in greeting. ¡°My name¡¯s Nilen. Pleased to meet you!¡± I imitated the gesture much to her amusement. ¡°Pleased to meet you, Nilen. I¡¯m Damien, as you already know.¡± Nilen pouted. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pretend, you know. I can see it all over your face. You¡¯re wondering what a girl like me is doing bearing a boy¡¯s name.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not familiar enough with elven culture to tell the difference¡ª¡± ¡°You have Nana''s eyes!¡± Nilen said, already abandoning her former train of thought. "Same with mine, actually, and cousin Tybalt''s. That¡¯s the surest sign that you¡¯re part of our bloodline!" Wait . . . I had red eyes? That was kinda cool. But, still . . . ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go announcing things you aren¡¯t sure of, Nilen.¡± ¡°Maybe, you should start by wearing bigger clothes to hide your crest.¡± I flushed and adjusted my collar to cover the black leaf tattoo. ¡°You¡¯re really smart for your age, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The smartest in my peer group!¡± Nilen said with a grin. I activated [Identify], causing an infobox to appear over her head. Dark Elf Child LVL 4. My gosh. Just yesterday morning, I was weaker than this child. ¡°So, then,¡± I asked, ¡°what does the great, brilliant Nilen want with me?¡± Nilen jumped. ¡°Ah! I almost forgot. Nana sent for me to summon you. She says it¡¯s important.¡± I¡¯d been bored out of my mind ever since my discussion with Nana yesterday. Any reason to leave the hut was a godsend, no matter how trivial. ¡°Lead the way.¡± We meandered through Nilen¡¯s favorite side paths to Nana¡¯s longhouse. Harkonean lay shrouded in dew, beneath a second layer of silence caused by the early hour. Sentries patrolled the walls, looking far more numerous than they did the day before. Nana had taken the threat of goblins to heart, an action that spoke volumes about her leadership. ¡°Do you know your numbers?¡± I asked Nilen, as we neared the longhouse. ¡°Can you tell me how many people live in Harkonean?¡± ¡°I know my numbers,¡± she said with a frown. ¡°And we have about six hundred villagers.¡± ¡°Including women and children?¡± Nilen shot me an exasperated look, which was pretty effective, considering her age. ¡°Of course, it includes women and children. Why would anyone want to exclude us?¡± ¡°Right. Sorry about that.¡± That method of counting was probably used in ancient times to identify fighting strength. A bit redundant here in Vizhima where everyone above twelve had access to the [System]. Nilen peeked at me from beneath her locs. ¡°Um, is it true that you bonked your head and don¡¯t remember much about yourself?¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Well, that was one way to put it. ¡°Kinda. Where did you hear this from?¡± ¡°From the guards! Everyone says Mavari found you near-dead at an even lower level than me.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t that low-leveled,¡± I mumbled. ¡°I was just conserving my power.¡± ¡°Uh huh,¡± Nilen said, with a tone that implied disbelief. ¡°So, why is everyone talking about how you climbed seven levels within six hours? Mavari even said you defended her from gobbers!¡± ¡°Goblins,¡± I corrected. ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± Nilen looked down at her feet. ¡°I wish I could level up that fast. Nana says to take my time; I¡¯m only thirteen. But, you surpassed what I did in a year in less than a day.¡± ¡°I faced a lot more risk, and I had gobbers to fight.¡± ¡°See! You said gobbers.¡± ¡°The point I¡¯m making,¡± I said, resisting the urge to groan, ¡°is that I had a lot more riding on my shoulders. Still do, actually. I don¡¯t wish that on anyone.¡± ¡°I can handle pressure,¡± Nilen said stubbornly. ¡°Mavari says I¡¯m the best with a bow. The best at striking too. But, I don¡¯t care much for physical combat. I¡¯m going to hit the threshold and become the strongest caster Dreadwood has ever seen.¡± Her eyes burned as she spoke, accompanied by a puff of her chest. But then, the fires died, and she deflated. ¡°Don¡¯t tell aunt Mavari I said this though. She¡¯s been my archery teacher ever since I was eight. I don¡¯t want to betray her trust.¡± ¡°My lips are sealed,¡± I said, making an X over my mouth. ¡°There¡¯s just one problem though . . .¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll never be the strongest caster in Dreadwood, because I am already at the threshold. And, I intend to claim the title unless you beat me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± Nilen said, pounding my arm. ¡°You have a pretty big head start!¡± ¡°Git gud then, you little runt. Consider me your final boss.¡± We bickered some more until we arrived at the longhouse. Right from the moment we opened the door, I sensed a change in the atmosphere. Nana stood beside the center hearth, locked in dialogue with nine elves. ¡°We didn¡¯t find goblin caves,¡± Tybalt was saying, ¡°but we found signs of disturbance. The goblins have been foraging deep into these lands, under the cover of magic and night. My best guess is that they are preparing for an incursion.¡± None of the elves so much as glanced at me, despite perking up at my entrance. All nine of them stood ramrod straight, dressed in stained leathers and Cloaks of Viridian Gleam that shimmered in the firelight. Their heavy bows¡ªalmost as long as they were tall¡ªexuded menace from straps on their backs. A trio of elves bore wooden staffs rather than longbows. Magic users, most likely. They dressed with slight differences, favoring looser robes over restrictive jerkins. I¡¯d known that Harkonean boasted a respectable number of combat forces, but they looked even more impressive now that I viewed them in person. Even Nilen understood the gravity of the situation, falling silent at my side. Mavari caught my eyes as I slunk into the back of the hall and offered a faint smile. I nodded in return. She looked tired. For that matter, all of them did. Nana looked like she hadn¡¯t slept a wink in days, and the rest of her people stood matted and stained with muck. Despite all of that, their beauty enraptured me. I had never held much interest in sex and other bedmantics, not for a lack of trying, but because it was difficult to think about dates while scrounging for the next meal. Nevertheless, there was just something enthralling about severe, lithe, dark-skinned men and women, each with a physique chiseled from fine marble. Nana massaged her temples. ¡°A goblin incursion. Dragon¡¯s breath, I never thought I would live to see another one.¡± ¡°What do you advise, grandmother?¡± Tybalt asked. ¡°What else? We need to seek an audience with the Wood King. He¡¯s the only one with the power to summon a conclave and rally the chiefs.¡± ¡°And, you think he¡¯d grant this audience? Grant it to you, that is. The Hinduli? would rather suckle hemlock than abandon their petty squabbles. And, the last time you visited court, an assassin¡ª¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Tybalt bristled at her tone. ¡°I¡¯m as worried as you are, grandmother, but diplomacy is not the way. Harkonean would once again bear the brunt of a goblin advance, and the Wood Elves would permit it if only to rid themselves of us.¡± ¡°Is there anything else we can do?¡± an unfamiliar elf asked. ¡°Unless the other clans are tormented by goblin riders, we remain at their mercy.¡± ¡°They¡¯d let the goblins burn through us before calling a moot,¡± a magic user said. ¡°We need to shore up our defenses.¡± ¡°Why not both?¡± Mavari suggested. ¡°We can prepare for war and still appeal to the conscience of the Wood Elves.¡± ¡°Or we can leave,¡± Tybalt said quietly. Soft gasps emanated from the elves around him, including from Nilen. ¡°Yet again with this rubbish,¡± Nana said, pinching her nose. ¡°Mavari has the right of it. I¡¯ll contact the Wood King and reach out to all who are willing. In the meantime, we prepare for the inevitable.¡± ¡°Grandmother¡ª¡± ¡°One thing we know for certain,¡± Nana continued, drowning out Tybalt, ¡°is that the goblin horde isn¡¯t yet on the move. We have a window to work with, no matter how brief. It is in this regard that I am making a declaration. The World Shrine is open to all regulars.¡± A brief silence followed. The elves had only gasped at Tybalt¡¯s suggestion. This time, they stopped breathing. ¡°Surely, you don¡¯t mean that . . .¡± an elf-maiden rasped, cradling her magic staff. ¡°Are you calling me addled, child?¡± Nana lashed out. ¡°Or do I not know the implication of my words before I speak them?¡± ¡°Harkon,¡± Mavari interjected respectfully. ¡°The World Shrine is best used on elves who merit it. Gifting access to kinsmen without proper conditioning would only weaken us in the long run.¡± ¡°And, what would fielding an army of regulars do to us when the goblins arrive? Think, fool girl! If we do not survive this fight, there will be no long run.¡± The elves shuffled their feet, visible displeasure plastered on their faces. However, it spoke volumes of Nana¡¯s influence that they didn¡¯t try again to contest the matter. ¡°If that is all,¡± Nana continued, ¡°you are hereby dismissed. However, before that: Damien, please, come up here.¡± The elves turned as one to face me. Oh, god. Did I have to be the center of attention? I did as Nana asked, regardless, bowing to make myself as small as possible. ¡°For those who haven¡¯t met him yet,¡± Nana said to the hall. ¡°This is Damien Njoku, our wanderer from outside the woods. You may consider him to be under my protection.¡± The elves murmured among themselves. A handsome fellow walked up to me and bowed in greeting. He tapped the spot above his heart much like Nilen had done and offered his palm. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one behind the loss of our Dread Goats,¡± he said in a voice full of mirth. ¡°Well met, friend Damien. I hope you enjoy your stay in Harkonean.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, imitating his gesture and fumbling all the way. ¡°I¡¯m, err, forever in your debt. I wouldn¡¯t be standing here were it not for your people¡¯s graciousness.¡± The elf-maiden from earlier¡ªthe one with the staff¡ªpeeked over the handsome elf¡¯s shoulder. She was a looker this one, with golden eyes and hair of wavy darkness. Not that beauty served as an effective differentiator among the elves. None of them looked anything less than stellar¡ªnot even Tybalt with his grimace of perpetual constipation. ¡°It pains me,¡± the elf-maiden said after offering her palm, ¡°to welcome you amid such great peril. I promise Harkonean isn¡¯t usually as severe.¡± ¡°Mayhap,¡± Tybalt said, ¡°Damien here is a portend of evil. A calamity unto himself and others.¡± ¡°Tybalt!¡± Nana and Mavari roared in tandem. I didn¡¯t even feel bad. He was kind of right. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, before the hall could erupt with the fury of chastisement. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you summoned me. Most of what you discussed flew over my head.¡± Nana frowned at Tybalt, then turned a softer gaze on me. ¡°This involves you as well as any other. You heard my declaration. I¡¯m lifting restrictions on the World Shrine.¡± Her red eyes deepened. ¡°Rejoice, child. You are now first in line to use it. Prepare to choose a class.¡± 017 The World Shrine I watched from a perch on a stone fence as Nana dealt with the fallout of her explosive statement. An hour had passed since we exited the longhouse, yet Tybalt had come no closer to accepting her decision. He locked heads with Nana for the umpteenth time, starting a shouting match across the street. Nilen cowered behind me, surprisingly timid in the face of snarling adults. I patted her head and glanced up at Mavari who stood nearby with crossed arms, watching the scene. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal with World Shrines anyway?¡± I asked. Why is Tybalt acting like someone stole his candy? Mavari frowned. Despite her rigid posture, her eye bags betrayed the truth of her condition. Whatever mission she had undertaken yesternight had taken a toll on her. She didn¡¯t deserve this, not after all she had endured. ¡°A lot,¡± Mavari said at last, glancing at me. ¡°Every nation desires wealth, power, and resources. World Shrines offer all three, rolled into one.¡± ¡°That makes a fair amount of sense, but I don¡¯t understand.¡± Mavari sighed. ¡°Imagine a reservoir of icy water standing alone in a strategic desert. Everyone who passes through desires to drink from this well. But, there is only so much water and too many travelers. The reservoir replenishes itself too slowly to cater to demand. What would you do?¡± ¡°As a traveler or passive observer?¡± ¡°As a lord who claims domain over the area.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fairly easy. I¡¯d set up a guard around the reservoir and ensure my subjects are given priority. Everyone else pays a token for access, which can be revoked once the water level falls too low for comfort. The revenue generated from the fees would be used to improve our livelihoods or secure alternate watering holes.¡± Mavari nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a fine plan, Damien, but what if your subjects are too numerous to be given free access to the reservoir?¡± I stroked my chin. ¡°Then, they pay for its usage, albeit far less than outsiders. Free access would be restricted to my household and guard.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s assume you tried this. However, the water remained insufficient to serve the needs of your domain.¡± ¡°Then, I''d do the same as I just said, except we¡¯d prioritize by importance. Key people and infrastructure jump ahead of everyone else.¡± I paused to think, then scratched my head in resignation. ¡°No matter how I look at it, the situation would devolve into mindless conflict. The best bet would be to leave the desert altogether or amass even greater resources.¡± Mavari met my gaze with those warm eyes of hers, and then she returned to staring at the squabbling Nana and Tybalt. ¡°Welcome to Vizhima.¡± Oh. Oh. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong,¡± I said, licking my lips. ¡°The World Shrines are the only way to advance from regular to classer. However, they aren¡¯t enough to serve all who wish to use them?¡± ¡°Correct. All World Shrines possess a set number of charges determined by tier. The charges represent the number of times they can facilitate specialization. An expended charge will refill, but only after a period.¡± Oh my god . . . ¡°So, nations scramble for control of World Shrines,¡± I rasped, unable to stop my mind from going into overdrive. ¡°The more of them a nation holds, and the higher the quality, the more classers that nation may field. ¡°The fact that charges are limited means that citizens are required to pay for access, essentially making World Shrines available only to those who can afford it¡ª¡± ¡°Or those sworn into servitude,¡± Mavari finished. I stared at my fingers. ¡°Wealth, power, and resources rolled into one.¡± It sounded fascinating, but I couldn¡¯t imagine a world based on the control of these shrines. Or could I? World Shrines were just another form of the natural resources available on Earth. And, war was war, no matter what form it took. The powerful would joust. The weak would suffer. And, the masses would revolt only to be crushed underfoot or cinch pyrrhic victories. I could now understand some of what Tybalt felt. By offering the service to me pro bono, Nana was stomping on the sensibilities of her people. Tybalt was still a hater though. ¡°How much does it cost,¡± I asked, ¡°to use the World Shrine here in Harkonean?¡± I wasn¡¯t very liquid right now, but the least I could do was someday reimburse the village. Mavari snorted. ¡°Oh, please. The method we discussed is just one way of handling the problem. There¡¯s not a lot of free coin running around in Dreadwood, and we won''t employ such greedy methods among our kindred. ¡°We own a Common Shrine, Damien. It¡¯s enough to serve our needs as long as we prioritize the most deserving . . . like Nilen here,¡± Mavari added, sparing the teenager a smile. Nilen bit her lip. I¡¯d almost forgotten her, even though she remained pressed up against my side. The runt could be quiet and attentive when she needed to be, huh? I¡¯d need to remember that. ¡°What I¡¯m saying,¡± Mavari explained, ¡°is that the children are made to take a series of aptitude tests from ages seven to twelve. The shining stars among them get their pick of the classes. The worst performers . . . well, there is honor in staying regular.¡± No, there wasn¡¯t. But, I wasn''t about to start a debate. ¡°I never really got to thank you for carrying my unconscious ass back to the village.¡± ¡°You saved me first,¡± Mavari replied without missing a beat. ¡°But, let¡¯s try to avoid a reenactment.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The argument between Nana and Tybalt winded down without violence, though both looked eager for blood. Tybalt snarled a final word, then turned back the way he came, leaving his grandmother seething on the path. He strode past us and, like clockwork, fired a glare at me: the kind of look one reserved for things that grossed them out, like a speck of waste on an otherwise sparkling toilet. ¡°One last thing,¡± I mumbled, resisting the urge to flick him off, ¡°when Nana said she intended to lift the restrictions . . .¡± ¡°It means she wishes to give everyone a chance to specialize, including lifetime regulars.¡± Mavari¡¯s tone turned frigid. ¡°I can understand the importance of throwing classers against the goblins as opposed to a bunch of regulars. However, the worst performers on the aptitude tests were the worst for a reason. ¡°Expending charges on chaff to buy a few more minutes would leave deserving people like Nilen stranded when they get to the threshold. And, for the life of me, I cannot tolerate that.¡± Nana waved us over to continue our trek. Mavari walked ahead of me, cloak trailing behind her. For all her kindness, she was not dissimilar to Tybalt. A product of her environment, yes, but just as biased. We stopped in front of a rickety building that sat with its back to a small stream that cut across the village. It looked like a defunct tannery if the leather racks and tall drums that littered the compound were any indication. Nana crossed the chaotic frontage with a familiar ease and rapped against the door. ¡°Sod off,¡± a faint voice said. ¡°Hanno, you witless son of a bleeding dung rat¡±¡ªNana scowled¡ª¡°You have three seconds to get the door.¡± We waited three seconds, and when Hanno didn¡¯t show up, Nana reached for The Blackreach Dagger. ¡°Wait! Wait,¡± an elderly elf cried, tumbling out of the doorway. He brushed white hair away from his face, revealing hairless eyebrows and an odd, misshapen nose. Maybe, I had concluded too soon on the beauty of elves, but Hanno looked nothing like the rest of his kindred. His toothy grin possessed more gaps than teeth, and a large gut protruded out of his robes. He managed to adopt the stench of a brewery despite the hour of the day, a fact that became evident the instant he belched in our faces. ¡°Heh,¡± Hanno said, mighty pleased with his misdoing, ¡°it seems I have been deemed worthy of a visit from the less graceful Irithiel.¡± Bruh . . . ¡°Grandpa Hanno,¡± Nilen cried and rushed out to hug him. ¡°Ay, my sweet, little angel,¡± Hanno enthused, stooping to embrace her. ¡°Come ¡®ere!¡± I activated [Identify], expecting to be disappointed¡ª Dark Elf Priest LVL 41. My jaw dropped to my chest. How could someone so sloppy be so strong? Nana watched Hanno tousle Nilen¡¯s hair before clearing her throat. ¡°I presume the rangers delivered my message?¡± ¡°About the new rules you wish to enforce,¡± Hanno said, still focused on Nilen. ¡°Tough decision, but I cannot begrudge it. The threat on the horizon is no faint matter.¡± ¡°Are you saying you approve?¡± Mavari asked with an edge in her tone. ¡°I¡¯m saying that the Harkon and I have both seen things you haven¡¯t.¡± Hanno rose to his full height, which was pretty impressive, considering he stood a good head taller than me¡ªand, I was pretty tall, even by elven standards. ¡°If this is the best way to save Harkonean, then we must take it without a second thought.¡± Mavari moved to debate further, but I stopped her with a soft palm on her shoulder. She met my eyes and backed off with a sigh. ¡°And you,¡± Hanno said. ¡°Who are you supposed to be?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Damien,¡± I answered. ¡°Cyran, right? You look different from when I last saw you.¡± ¡°I just said Damien.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what you said. I¡¯m not calling you that shit.¡± My left eyelid twitched. Nana intervened before the situation could deteriorate. ¡°He¡¯s first in line to use the World Shrine, Hanno. Just, shut up and get things started.¡± ¡°He might possess the family crest,¡± Hanno contested, ¡°but he is no Irithiel. He shouldn¡¯t be given that which belongs to us.¡± Nana growled. The wind picked up around her, accompanied by the sounds of laughter, much like it had done for Mavari back when we¡¯d encountered the goblins. ¡°I get it! I get it,¡± Hanno cried, backing away with raised arms. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you though. You¡¯re coddling the boy, and he would be in for a rude awakening once he leaves Harkonean.¡± He fled into the building before Nana could respond, covering his head in fear of retaliation. Nana cursed under her breath. ¡°I¡¯m surrounded by idiot relatives.¡± She nodded my way. ¡°Ready, Damien?¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly what I should be ready for.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡± ¡°Can I come too?¡± Nilen asked, turning her eyes to the elf matron. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone specialize in person.¡± ¡°Of course, you can,¡± Nana cooed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have brought you along if that wasn¡¯t my intention.¡± ¡°Guys,¡± I said with an uneasy chuckle. ¡°Maybe, a primer would help? I still don¡¯t know what the process entails. And, there¡¯s also the matter of choices.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get to it after we inspect your stats,¡± Nana said, following Hanno. ¡°You have nothing to fear . . . unless you¡¯ve kept vital information hidden from us.¡± ¡°Me? Hide vital information?¡± I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck. ¡°C¡¯mon, there¡¯s no way.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not being very convincing, child.¡± Mavari coughed from her spot beside me. ¡°Specialization ceremonies are usually kept private, Damien. I¡¯d understand if you don¡¯t desire my participation.¡± Considering that Hanno and Nana had both claimed front seats to the upcoming ritual, it made little difference to exclude Mavari. ¡°Nah, you¡¯re good,¡± I whispered. Her insight could prove valuable. Not to mention, she¡¯d saved my skinny hide twice. ¡°Besides, I owe you a truckload of gratitude for all you have done.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a truck?¡± ¡°It¡¯s, err, a large vehicle of transportation back in my home world.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± We crowded into the hut. The interior looked mostly like I¡¯d expected¡ªnot that I had a clear picture of my expectations to begin with. The hut consisted of two bays, littered with clutter. Scrolls and empty wine flasks featured predominantly with used clothes smattered between. A mattress lay at the furthest end of the room, flanked by a wardrobe and a rickety work desk. An open pantry stood at a corner near the door, filled with storage barrels and more empty wine flasks. Smoke clung like a second skin to the interior, courtesy of a central hearth that burned beneath a covering of tiles. Hanno kicked open a door at the opposite end of the hut, revealing a stairway that descended into a cellar. We followed him down this flight of stairs, guided by the flameless lamps that adorned the walls. The sounds of running water reached me before we hit the landing; the corresponding view stole my breath. Unlike the upper area, the cellar resembled what I imagined a shrine should look like: a sacred place within a chapel of sorts. A semi-dome stood at the opposite end of the hall, bearing a rather intricate apse. The apse contained a circular pool fed by fresh water that ran along conduits near the walls. Sconces illuminated our trek across the stone floor¡ªnot that they were needed, because on a dais built atop the pool and connected by a bridge, a dwarf tree stood, emitting soft, silvery light. World Shrine [Common], [Identify] supplied. Unlocks [System] specialization. The dwarf tree grew in the form of a rough throne on closer inspection, complete with arms and a seat protruding from the trunk. A small group of vines formed a crown that jutted among the branches. No . . . not a crown . . . A headgear. The wooden device emitted no electrical signals, but the similarities to VR machinery were more than obvious. ¡°Well,¡± Nana said, thumping me on the back. ¡°Why are you hesitating? Go, take a seat.¡± 018 Specialization (1) The World Shrine was surprisingly comfy. Thin branches curled around the backrest to enwrap me as I settled onto the throne. The warm trunk hummed with residual energy which shot pleasurable sensations up my spine. I closed my eyes with a sigh and allowed Nana to pull the headgear over my head. It stopped just short of my eyebrows, prickling my scalp. The silvery aura intensified around the tree. Magic suffused the air. Connection confirmed. Please, input your password. I frowned at the notification box which had also appeared as a giant screen above my head. Hanno coughed into his fist. ¡°Deathmage41.¡± ¡°Death mage what?¡± I stuttered. Password confirmed. Would you like to see your status? Y/N? ¡°Yes,¡± Hanno said. Loading . . . The contents of my status sheet populated my vision and the blue screen above me. Everyone gathered to stare at it, Nilen included. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 10 Affinity: Fear Class: Ranker [Potential] VP: 28/28 MP: 30/30 Attributes: STR 7, PER 5, END 10, DEX 10 INT 5, WIL 9, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 6 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura] ¡°Hmph,¡± Hanno said, sticking a finger into his ear. ¡°I¡¯m sure you''re nothing special . . .¡± The words died in his throat. ¡°You have an affinity to Fear?!¡± Nana chuckled. ¡°I told you to prepare for a surprise . . .¡± Her lower jaw fell. ¡°You have three traits?!¡± ¡°Is that [Identify] I see?¡± Mavari said in a fearful tone. Nilen hopped eagerly on her feet. ¡°What the heck is [Map]?¡± I weathered their questions, at a loss for it all myself. ¡°This is impressive,¡± Hanno said, ditching his earlier aggression. He scanned the rest of the list, and then he rubbed his eyes just to be sure. ¡°Most people reach the threshold without unlocking a single technique. You¡¯ve gained four already, courtesy of your traits. Who exactly are you?¡± ¡°He is my guest,¡± Nana said, a touch of pride in her voice. She looked like she wanted to say more but held her tongue. ¡°Aye, that he is,¡± Hanno conceded, ¡°and also your problem. But, three traits? If anyone had told me it was possible, I would have smacked them over the head. One is uncommon enough. Two is rare. Three . . .?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Grandpa,¡± Nilen asked, ¡°why is the class section occupied? I thought regulars were classless by default.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because of his trait,¡± Hanno said, ¡°the infamous born series. Sadly, he¡¯s been pre-attuned to [Fear]. You know what that means, don¡¯t you, Nana? He won¡¯t outrun his fate.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll cross that bridge when he gets to it,¡± Nana replied with an even tone. ¡°For now, let¡¯s get the ritual underway. We¡¯re discomfiting the lad.¡± I couldn¡¯t be happier to begin. ¡°First things first,¡± Nana said, jumping into lecture mode. ¡°What do you know about specialization?¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Mavari had explained some of it to me, so I regurgitated what I remembered. ¡°Um, it¡¯s something you do once you reach the threshold, without which you cannot gain a class.¡± ¡°Something you do . . .¡± Nana said, snorting at my choice of words. ¡°If only specialization was that mundane! It is the most pivotal moment in anyone''s existence, child. Get your choices wrong and suffer the consequences for the rest of your life.¡± That sobered me up. ¡°Specialization offers two sets of choices,¡± Hanno said, still looking at my status sheet. ¡°The first is a choice between specialist and ranker. For the price of one charge, you may pick from a comprehensive list of jobs. The best masons, doctors, and artificers are all specialists.¡± ¡°For the price of three charges,¡± Nana interrupted smoothly, ¡°you may become a ranker. This is the bloodier path and also the road to ascension. The [System] offers thirteen ranked classes, all with different strengths and weaknesses.¡± ¡°How would I know what to pick?¡± I stammered. Nana laughed. ¡°That''s for you to figure out on your own. Everyone has a calling; a gut feeling they can''t ignore. Don¡¯t feel pressured to go with ranker just because of your affinity. If you believe being a specialist is more up your alley, your affinity would simply disappear.¡± ¡°Including my techniques?¡± ¡°Including that, yes. A terrible life awaits anyone who decides to be a ranker. Many are better off without seeing that much bloodshed.¡± ¡°Many also pay,¡± Hanno grumbled, ¡°for the privilege of expending three charges at once. You lose nothing by becoming a specialist. Nothing at all. I have never once regretted choosing to level up by doing the things I love as opposed to striving on a battlefield.¡± Nana shot him a glance. ¡°The specialist classes might not be in his best interests, seeing as he is laden with considerable doom.¡± ¡°Better that than keeping his affinity,¡± Hanno drawled. ¡°The [Lord of Terror]¡ª¡± Mavari dropped her bow. ¡°Sorry,¡± she mumbled, picking it up with shaky fingers. She turned a small smile my way, even though the name had clearly upset her. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be a ranker, Damien, it might help you to know that some classes are better suited to some races than others due to differences in base stats. Elves in general work best in Caster or Rogue.¡± ¡°Bah!¡± Nana said. ¡°That¡¯s what the min-maxers preach. I¡¯ve seen a dwarf Trickster who was nimble like no other. And, let me not get started on my ancestors who were predominantly warriors.¡± ¡°Do you know any elven Shamans?¡± Nilen asked excitedly. ¡°Do you think I can pull it off?¡± I groaned low in my throat. ¡°Guys, I''m getting a bit overwhelmed here. I don''t suppose I could borrow some kind of guide?¡± ¡°A guide?¡± Hanno said, grabbing his sides in laughter. ¡°As in a handbook? Those would only make you more indecisive. Unless you¡¯re a halfwit, you should be able to excel in any category. Just use your gut!¡± A lot of questions burned at the tip of my tongue regarding his penultimate sentence, but Nana plowed through the exchange with the firmness of her title. ¡°The [System] isn¡¯t stupid, Damien. You would get a chance to ruminate. We¡¯re just ensuring you understand the basics.¡± Her words allayed some of my fears, pushing me back into the embrace of the World Shrine. The majority of my scruples remained, but I could afford to give Nana the benefit of doubt. She truly believed in my ability to make the right choice. Did I? ¡°Right,¡± Hanno said, pulling a wine flask out of his inventory. ¡°We¡¯ve only covered the first set of choices. The second occurs if you choose to be a ranker.¡± ¡°No ranker is complete without an affinity,¡± Nana explained. ¡°But, unlike with the first set of options, you are limited in this round. Twenty-two affinities exist in total¡ª¡± ¡°Twenty-four,¡± Hanno corrected. Nana nodded her thanks. ¡°Twenty-four. From that number, the [System] selects a list of compatible affinities for the ranker to choose from. This is usually no more than three or four, determined by your experiences.¡± ¡°However,¡± Hanno cut in sharply, ¡°your trait precludes this round. It traded the chance for you to pick a better option during specialization for a power boost in your regular phase.¡± He drank from his flask. ¡°This power boost cannot be ignored, of course. But, it is up to you to determine whether [Born of Fear] is worth the trouble. The only way to lose that curse is by becoming a specialist.¡± He mumbled something under his breath. Thanks to my advanced hearing, I heard him clear as day: ¡°You should.¡± Hanno was probably right. I didn¡¯t want to admit it, but a chance to abandon all of this and enjoy an easy-going life was too tempting to ignore. The problem lay in the quests. Would the [System] still require their completion if I no longer held the power to do so? My attunement to Fear had helped me survive the goblins. But, did I need to continue with a burden I¡¯d earned at the Pyramid of Rebirth? ¡°What are the other affinities?¡± I asked, more to sate my curiosity than out of any real use of the knowledge. Nana shrugged. ¡°I can hand you a written list after we are done here. The only principle to remember is that affinities are based on the duality of emotions. One virtue to every vice. So, Joy to Sorrow. Pain to Pleasure. Hatred to Love. Wrath to Contrition . . .¡± ¡°Courage to Fear,¡± I whispered. ¡°Aye. That¡¯s how it usually goes. Each one can be devastating in battle, especially when paired with a complementary class. You need to remember this, Damien. If you intend to be a ranker, you should ensure to pick a class that works well with your affinity.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need,¡± Hanno slurred through a mouthful of wine, ¡°to be devastating in battle. A specialist can earn as much fame and coin outside the battlefield. A good Blacksmith is worth more in wartime and peace than ten Rangers¡ª¡± ¡°But, you don¡¯t gain any stat points,¡± Nilen said, enjoying the impromptu lesson. ¡°You told me so, Grandpa!¡± ¡°I do gain stat points. Just not at the rate of rankers.¡± He wiped his lips on his sleeve and belched without restraint. ¡°Bah! I¡¯m wasting breath on you plebs. Pick whatever you fancy.¡± ¡°May we begin?¡± Nana asked. A notification box appeared over my status screen. The following candidate, [Damien Njoku, LVL 10], has been selected for specialization. A suitable cost must be determined. ¡°Variable,¡± Hanno said. Cost has been set to vary between 1 and 3 charges. Proceed with specialization? Y/N? ¡°Wait!¡± I yelped. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready for this. Now that we''ve gotten here, I''ll need more time to¡ª¡± ¡°Proceed,¡± Hanno gruffed. The wooden headgear tightened around my head. Miniature thorns sprang out of it and burrowed into my scalp. The interior of the hall fell away, leaving nothing but pitch blackness. It was just me against the void. No Nana. No Nilen. No Mavari. And, definitely no second chances. 019 Specialization (2) Job or Combat? The simple question hovered on a giant screen in front of my face, complete with a pointer. Each option could be highlighted to pull up a secondary list of choices. I¡¯d never been an ardent gamer back on Earth, yet even I couldn''t contain the rush of excitement that accompanied rifling through the selections. It reminded me of the character creation screens from back in my childhood, with the sole exception that I wasn¡¯t fiddling with a role-playing game this time. I was fiddling with my life. Whatever I chose here would follow me to the grave. And, if I botched it . . . Well, I had about a year to die anyway. Hanno¡¯s arguments in favor of specialists had piqued my curiosity, though the greater part of my interest lay in combat. Without a university degree back in Nigeria, I¡¯d been forced to take on a variety of odd jobs. I¡¯d worked myself to the bone trying to make ends meet and had gained an appreciation of craftsmanship in the process. ¡®My slow days living as a barista in another world¡¯ had a nice ring to it. But, Vizhima was a brutal place, and I wasn¡¯t exactly a light novel protagonist. I scrolled through the blocks in the job section, regardless, in the hopes that I could unearth some hidden cheat. Why were there so many jobs to choose from? Mundane stuff like Teacher and Farmer unfurled alongside complex selections like Demagogue and Patron of the Arts. Further prodding with the pointer revealed a basic description for each. The Tactician class gave me pause. Mostly, because of how awesome it sounded. My Legacy Quest involved gathering strong allies and employing them against an apocalypse. Nothing in the quest description said I needed to lead those allies from the forefront. I could simply huddle in a command tent and throw wave after wave of minions at my problems. Would the [System] consider it a success if I focused on micromanagement rather than fighting? My best guess was, yes. Did I want to risk my survival on the backs of other people? Ugh. As far as world-ending events were concerned, and assuming I interpreted the term ¡®apocalypse¡¯ correctly, the strongest forces in Vizhima were sure to be at play. That included Heralds, Adamantiums, and everything else in between. Could I survive as a specialist in the face of overwhelming opposition? Possibly. But, did I want to play on hard mode? I consumed the info on Tactician and other interesting jobs, and then I shunted them aside to study the combat section of the list. Unlike the former, this section was populated by only thirteen options. The first three on the list filled a single block titled Caster Classes. Warlock, Mage, and Shaman. Simple enough, I guess. Casters were described as powerful rankers who extolled magic above all else. They fired their abilities as spells with a focus on wide-area damage. Consequently, their melee proficiency suffered for it. The differences between the three classes seemed rudimentary¡ªbut, Warlocks fought without needing a magic focus, Mages required staffs or wands, and Shamans worked with totems which doubled as an effective way to shore up their weaknesses. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. I liked the idea of being a magic caster. It seemed criminal to pass up the opportunity to become one after coming from a world where nothing of the sort existed. Snobbing the category was akin to getting the opportunity to dine in the finest restaurant in town only to leave after ordering a glass of water. Mages tended to rock. But, maybe I should inspect other options. The next block of three contained Rogue Classes: Assassin, Ranger, and Trickster. Considering my high Dexterity, this group practically begged to be picked. The accompanying text described Rogues as exceptionally skilled rankers, gifted in infiltration and single-target damage. Tricksters leaned heavily into the espionage side of combat, while Assassins were unrivaled in melee DPS¡ªmy words, not the [System]''s. Rangers, like Mavari, provided death from a distance. And, all three struck a good balance between melee and magic, skills and abilities. Compared to the Caster classes, this was one block I already had experience playing. But, did I want to commit? The Fighter Classes made up the next set of four, and I almost swiped past in disinterest. Fighters were typically the safest choices in most RPGs, but I wasn¡¯t about to give up magic to become a meathead. The irregular number of classes stayed my hand, however. All other blocks contained sets of threes. The Fighter subgroup had four classes to its name: Warrior, Monk, and Samurai were easily recognizable, with Skirmisher rounding out the bunch. Considered the masters of the battlefield, Fighters favored skills and melee over abilities and magic. Warriors seemed proficient in a wide variety of weapons, Monks mostly fought barehanded, Samurais wielded all types of katanas¡ªwas Japan a thing here?¡ªand Skirmishers relied equally on Strength and Dexterity, what with the class¡¯ focus on lengthy polearms. Everyone and their mothers loved lengthy polearms¡ªjust not of this type. The final group¡ªthe Hybrid Classes¡ªboasted unique playstyles for indecisive rankers. Those rankers who desired something different or wished to access the better qualities of multiple categories. Guardian seemed to be a cross between Caster and Fighter, best understood as a tank. Beast Rider incorporated elements from all the other blocks, with the added boon of a companion to provide mounted support. Shifter . . . Hoh? Now, this was different. The infobox provided no clarifying details on Shifter, save that a ranker abandoned most of their affinity privileges in exchange for the skills to manipulate their form. What then to do? Hanno had warned that I was better off relinquishing my affinity, and jobs were the only way to accomplish that. The Tactician specialist role promised to be helpful in the upcoming war with the goblins, but . . . I wanted personal power. The Fighter Classes didn¡¯t interest me, even though the fanboy in me stirred at the presence of Samurai. Hybriders looked more enticing¡ªBeast Rider in particular, but I had too little to work with. What kind of animal companion would I summon if I picked this option? The [System] described it as a random process based entirely on my experiences. Maybe, a lion? I was African, after all. Or a gazelle or something. For that matter, were the Goblin Scouts Beast Riders? Barring that choice, my preference oscillated between Caster and Rogue. Sure, the uncertainty in Beast Rider provided an element of excitement, but nothing beat the reliability of magic power or a dagger in hand. In the end, a good build¡ªlike Nana had said¡ªwas one that achieved harmony between class and affinity. Other rankers would move on after classing to choose from a predetermined list of affinities. I was stuck with Fear. In a way, my predicament proved to be both a boon and a curse. I couldn¡¯t switch affinities. However, because I had the privilege of being attuned beforehand, I could select the best class to match. That realization pretty much sealed my choice. I scrolled back up and selected Assassin. 020 All the Skills You have selected the Assassin class. You are now a verified ranker! Defeat more monsters to progress to the next rank. Current rank: Iron. Due to the presence of the trait [Born of Fear], you cannot select an affinity. This section has been skipped. You have unlocked a ranker-specific skill! [Meditation] has been added to your repertoire. You have unlocked technique choices! You may now select one each from a list of fighting styles, skills, and abilities! A dizzying array of notifications swarmed my field of vision. I remained stuck in . . . whatever this place was supposed to be, surrounded by the oppressive darkness. However, I didn¡¯t feel like an Assassin. Call me na?ve, but I¡¯d expected the selection to bestow me with all the skills¡ªthe relevant ones, at least. A new screen blinked in the corner of my eye: a prompt of some kind that needed consideration. I closed the other notifications and focused on the one, bringing it to the forefront. A simple box unfolded: No class is complete without a fighting style. [Knife-fighting] or [Fencing]? Uh . . . I inspected the boxes. [Knife-fighting] [Common] You are a master of knives, daggers, and short swords. You also manage to avoid pricking yourself! The Knife-fighter is a devotee of quick and dirty wet work, choosing to get the job done above all else. They abhor wasted movement in favor of precision strikes and can slit a throat while blindfolded with two arms tied behind their back! Despite being an expert at using the environment, the Knife-fighter shines best in narrow spaces. And, if the enemy refuses to yield, a kick in the nuts should solve it! PS: You probably shouldn¡¯t rely on this style in protracted combat. Cost: Passive. I chuckled at the text. The [System]¡¯s use of two different voices had been jarring at the start, but I¡¯d since come to appreciate the levity the alternate voice provided. [Fencing] [Common] The Knife-fighter¡¯s antithesis. Imagine a bird with beautiful plumage performing a mating ritual. That¡¯s what you¡¯d look like, you twat, if you pick this option. Blessed with expertise in multiple [DEX]-based weapons, including the deadly rapier, the Fencer aims to debilitate their opponent with gaudy moves and distracting techniques. The more chaotic the battlefield is, the better! A Fencer won''t lose their footing, whether fighting on a stool or a boat in a stormy sea! PS: This technique flourishes in direct confrontation. Cost: Passive. I loved both options, but I already had a playstyle in mind. ¡°Um, knife-fighting?¡± A migraine went off in my head. Memories I couldn¡¯t parse flooded my senses: of fighting kata, backstabs, and duels in the dark. I screamed as my head split open from an information overload caused by the [System]¡¯s intent to smother me in a lifetime¡¯s worth of experience. This was more in line with what I¡¯d expected, but, my gosh, a warning would have been nice. An eternity later, the anguish passed, and I rose from where I¡¯d fallen covered in sweat. A congratulatory message notified me of my success in unlocking the [Knife-fighting] skill. I didn¡¯t look any different, but I sensed a change. Muscle memory informed me that I¡¯d just learned new ways to twist a knife. I flexed my knees and tried a roundhouse kick out of curiosity. I executed it flawlessly. Very nice. Aside from the nod to The Matrix, I could now understand why rankers of Nana¡¯s caliber didn¡¯t care much for training. My entire body itched to put my newfound skills into practice, but other [System] matters needed my attention. You have unlocked a skill choice from the Assassin tree. Please, pick a skill. A skill tree, with a total of twenty or so options, opened up in front of me. Most of the options were locked behind chained boxes save for two skills which proceeded from the starting point. The first skill provided a brief description: [Stealth] [Common] A Rogue¡¯s bread and butter. Ever wonder how someone as clumsy as you might infiltrate an enemy camp? Wonder no more! This skill helps you avoid detection by wiping your footprints and concealing your movements. It also muffles noise emissions, so consider using it on crowded nights for solo leveling! (Wink, wink). Warning: Enemies with a higher level of Perception may see through this skill. You probably shouldn¡¯t perform solo leveling in public. Cost: 2 VP/min. [Stealth] was definitely a skill I could find some use for, but not without inspecting the other: [Trap Expert] [Common] Sometimes, mean people do mean things . . . like layer their lair with enough traps to obliterate an army or boil any intruder that breathes. How unfair! This skill evens the odds and makes things a little more balanced. You can now detect mechanical traps within ten meters and, provided you have the right tools, even disarm them! You''re not exactly a lock-picking expert but say bye bye to simple padlocks and bolts. Want more from this skill? Level it up! Also, notice the use of the words ¡®layer¡¯ and ¡®lair¡¯. Pretty cheeky, right? Try to repeat both as fast as you can! Cost: Passive. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Silly [System] AI,¡± I grumbled under my breath. [Trap Expert] and [Stealth] both promised to improve my survivability, but the latter filled a more urgent need. I couldn¡¯t discount the threat of traps, however. Should a second opportunity arise in the future, I¡¯d make sure to pick the skill. ¡°Stealth.¡± A [System] message confirmed my choice. Data about the skill flooded my brain, though nowhere near as intense as earlier. One last set to go. You have unlocked an ability from the Fear tree. Please, make a selection. A fresh chart of decision boxes filled my vision, replacing the former. This tree stood noticeably larger than the last one, with over fifty boxes locked behind chains. I went straight to the unlocked pair at the bottom and tapped each in rapid succession. [Summon Ghostling] [Common] An ability from the summoning school. You can¡¯t claim to master fear until you force demons to do your bidding! The ghostling is pretty much the only demon a ranker of your level may summon. However, it lacks corporeal form, therefore it can¡¯t hurt you . . . or anyone else. Use it to spook your enemies, and if you catch them off-guard, you might just inflict [Dismay]! Note: This ability qualifies as a foundation technique. Drastic changes may occur in the future. Cost: 5 MP. I so wasn¡¯t choosing this. [Fear Aura] already provided a reliable way to trigger [Dismay], and the ghostling¡¯s incorporeal form didn¡¯t help matters. The second ability was also kinda redundant. [Dark Stalker] [Common] A staple of the Fear tree. Terrorize little children by mimicking the things that go bump in the night. Upon activation, this ability covers the user in a veil of shadow, allowing them to strike or escape unseen. Attacking or being attacked while undercover instantly dispels the veil. Note: This ability erases the user¡¯s scent. Caution should also be exercised in bright lighting . . . if you don¡¯t want to be gutted. This is a foundation technique. Drastic changes are likely to occur in the future. Cost: 5 MP. It was basically a different kind of [Stealth]. Was it too late to return and pick [Trap Expert]? Nevertheless, since the alternative was just too shitty, I went with [Dark Stalker]. I didn¡¯t understand the part about foundations, but there was no one nearby to consult. The blue screens collapsed. Specialization complete. 3 charges expended. Prepare for ejection and onset of adverse reactions. You have five seconds. 5 . . . Hold on. What kind of adverse reactions were they talking about? 4 . . . Oi. 3 . . . How was I supposed to prepare for this? 2 . . . 1 . . . Ejection complete. Go break a leg! I slammed back to the real world. The Dark Elves halted what seemed like a raging debate to glance in my direction. The tendrils of the World Shrine loosened their grip, triggering a relaxation in the formerly thorny headgear. I rose to my feet. ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t feel any different¡ª¡± Blood spurted out of my nostrils, dyeing the floor in red. A searing heat roared from my toes to the tips of my hair. Pressure rose in my skull until my brain erupted like a supernova, blinding my eyes. Black holes littered my sight. ¡°Help me,¡± I managed through another mouthful of blood. And then, I puked and fell flat on my face. ¡°A warning would have been nice,¡± I muttered, curled around a pot filled with vomit. Mavari dabbed a wet cloth around my neck. ¡°Oh, stop whining, you big baby. Your symptoms should pass sometime in the night. No one has ever died from Specialization.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m on my way to breaking that record,¡± I moaned, falling back onto the mattress. ¡°This pain . . . oh, god. Why are there freaking ulcers in my stomach? Is that supposed to happen?¡± Mavari rolled her eyes. The setting sun cast a red glow through the window, bathing the hut in dim lighting. The fever hadn¡¯t abated ever since I¡¯d awoken a few hours ago, but I was apparently in the lucky percentage. About one in ten persons who underwent the ritual suffered a bout of diarrhea. That would have been so uncool. ¡°Everyone reacts differently,¡± Mavari repeated for my benefit, wringing the towel in a bowl of water. ¡°Specialists tend to have an easier time than rankers due to the absence of an affinity. A few hours of anguish is a good trade-off for being reborn. You should be grateful.¡± I glanced at my health bar, which had fallen by over seventy percent due to my illness. HP functioned as a kind of armor-slash-life aura, so it was interesting to note all the ways it could be breached. I forced down a surge of vomit. ¡°Can¡¯t I get a health potion at least?¡± ¡°You can, but it¡¯s pretty useless. Ritual sickness refreshes faster than your potion cool downs. Normal health potions don¡¯t cure diseases, anyway. You¡¯d need a cure ailments or restoration potion for that.¡± She dabbed the towel across my torso, leaning forward far enough that I caught a brief glimpse of skin. She had taken off her cloak and jerkin to nurse me, and my gosh, why did her sweaty skin smell so nice? I averted my gaze. ¡°Piggybacked again, huh? I guess we couldn¡¯t avoid a reenactment.¡± ¡°That we didn''t,¡± Mavari said with a small chuckle. ¡°But, I don¡¯t mind. Elves are rather lightweight. Plus, you''re a pretty pleasant burden, all things considered. I even forgive you for getting vomit on my hair.¡± Why was she so cool? ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be resting though?¡± I asked. ¡°You were out all night on patrol.¡± ¡°I was. But then, I got some shuteye while you were asleep. I also thought you¡¯d appreciate a familiar face in this drab hut.¡± I did prefer a familiar face. And, Mavari did a good job of looking both familiar and fine. Mighty fine, in fact. Our gazes locked as she pressed the towel to my forehead. Was this the start of my first true love? I didn¡¯t have any experience in relationships, so I wasn¡¯t sure how to proceed. The stories always portrayed elves as romantic people who tended to fall in love at first sight. Should I just go for broke? ¡°I enjoy your company, Mavari,¡± I began. ¡°Same,¡± she said, somewhat wistfully. ¡°I love spending time with you. The village could use more outsiders with your perspective. If only my fianc¨¦ could emulate your character.¡± The background music stopped. ¡°Y-you''re e-engaged?¡± ¡°What? You didn¡¯t know? I¡¯m betrothed to Tybalt." She pushed a few errant curls out of her face and adopted an apologetic tone. "I know his actions can come across as a little . . . disagreeable upon first impression. But, he''s really thoughtful in his own way. He just needs more positive influences around him. People like you . . .¡± Her voice blended into word soup, entering one ear and vacating through the other. I spiraled into a bottomless chasm, bereft of both heart and soul. The images I had conjured of a romantic future shattered like glass. Why was she stuck with that bastard? ¡°So . . . Assassin,¡± Mavari said, piercing my thoughts. ¡°That¡¯s a good choice for you, now that I think of it. I assume you got the [Stealth] skill?¡± ¡°And [Meditation], and [Knife-fighting], and another ability called [Dark Stalker]. The last is also a foundation technique or something of the sort.¡± Mavari nodded in approval. ¡°Can¡¯t go wrong with those. Foundation techniques tend to be weaker than others at the start, but the possibility of a future evolution makes up for the early dip in power.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying I should always go with a foundation technique if given the choice?¡± ¡°Heralds, no, Damien. Don¡¯t put words in my mouth. Foundation techniques are rare to begin with, but they are hardly the most useful of options. Lesser, Common, Greater, Grand, and so forth¡±¡ªshe held up her fingers as she spoke¡ª¡°All items are categorized by tiers, as are attributes and techniques. Your techniques improve by a noticeable amount each time you gain a new rank. Why trade the advantages of steady payoffs for a gambit you could end up regretting?¡± She had a point. ¡°Heed me,¡± Mavari said, leaning back on her haunches. ¡°You¡¯re a ranker now, Damien, which makes you a member of the greatest caste in Vizhima. You may not fully appreciate the implications of your decision, but you will come to do so in time. ¡°Within your grasp lies the power to ruin realms and become a nation unto yourself. I just want to be certain that this is your desire.¡± She trailed off at that, which was just as well because I didn¡¯t have an answer. We settled into an uneasy silence punctuated by bouts of dry-retching. A loud horn blared from somewhere within the village. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± I croaked, managing to sit up in bed. I still felt like crap, courtesy of the migraine, but the nausea had started to wane. Mavari frowned in the direction of the lone window. ¡°The horns of Barren-tide. With this, Harkonean has now expended the last of its Specialization charges. We¡¯ll hold a small festivity in honor of the new classers and offer a prayer for the hasty renewal of the World Shrine.¡± She gestured at a pail in a corner of the room. ¡°Freshen up if you can and join in on the fun. The days following this are sure to be arduous.¡± She riffled through her inventory and dropped a silver potion on the ground. ¡°Cure Ailments potion. Don¡¯t tell Nana I did this, but you of all people should get a chance to enjoy the last round of merriment we''d see in a while.¡± She vacated shortly after, escorted by the faint rumbling of drums. I glanced at the potion and then the pail and faced the wall in half-hearted defiance. The last social gathering I¡¯d attended had been my mom¡¯s funeral. I didn¡¯t trust myself to act anything but awkwardly among the elves. 021 The Lord of Terror Despite my misgivings, I shambled out of the hut two hours later. Mavari¡¯s Cure Ailments potion had worked magic on my illness, though faint traces of malaise remained. The elves had gathered around a raging bonfire in the center of the village, built opposite Nana¡¯s longhouse. Nana, for her part, sat on the stairway leading to her home, locked in discussion with a few elf casters. The rest of the villagers occupied the ground and neighboring steps, feasting on food and drink. A small group kept the meals flowing from a kitchen adjoined to the longhouse, but the flutists drew the greatest attention by far. They played a jolly tune in a corner of the crowd, accompanied by quick, insistent drumbeats. Their tranquil expressions, which remained unfazed regardless of the difficulty of the notes, served to rob me of breath. The Dark Elves had no right to be this attractive. No right at all. It made them even more difficult to approach. Nana¡¯s red eyes twinkled as she caught sight of me. She grabbed a wooden cup from a nearby tray and raised it into the air. ¡°To Damien,¡± she proclaimed, ¡°our newly promoted ranker!¡± ¡°To Damien,¡± the rest of the elves cheered, raising their mugs. An unrecognizable fellow nudged me into the crowd. In no time at all, I was surrounded by pleasant faces, all of whom had been dying to meet me. They patted my shoulders and swarmed me with questions I couldn¡¯t remember answering. A fair bit of gossip had made the rounds since my arrival. Everyone had heard about the low-leveled stranger, who possessed a black leaf crest and had earned the right to specialize while fighting the goblins. A few other elves had also partaken in Nana¡¯s generosity, and they hobbled up to me in various stages of ritual sickness. None had been gifted a Cure Ailments potion, but they swelled with tired pride at their new caste regardless. Specialization meant a lot to Vizhimans, didn¡¯t it? Eternal regulars probably felt lower than dirt. Nana plonked a platter of roasted Dread Goat into my lap, interrupting my umpteenth retelling of the fight with the goblins. ¡°Having fun, eh?¡± she said, shooing my audience away. I ignored my queasy stomach in favor of tearing into the goat, which was dressed with herbs and a black sauce that tasted like sin. The stretchy exterior of the meat broke beneath my teeth, flooding my tongue with a sweetness that curled my toes. ¡°Can¡¯t complain,¡± I replied as nonplussed as I could manage. Nana guffawed and slapped me on the back. ¡°Can¡¯t complain? You look like you could perish in bliss!¡± She offered a second helping of meat which I graciously accepted. Good food had been a luxury for me back on Earth. Poor wages meant a life scraping by on bread, noodles, and beans. ¡°Why the big celebration?¡± I asked after filling the black hole in my stomach. ¡°I thought the village would be more concerned about the goblins.¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing this because they are concerned about the goblins,¡± Nana said. She had lit her pipe sometime during my meal and blew a puff of sweet smoke into the sky. ¡°Everyone¡¯s on edge at the moment. I was hoping to bolster morale.¡± ¡°The calm before the storm, huh?¡± ¡°No, Damien. The storm has already begun. This is the short gasp before the ship capsizes over our heads.¡± I shivered at her words. The other villagers continued their merriment, at odds with the impending doom. Tybalt and Mavari huddled on a bench in the distance, engrossed in quiet conversation. They looked so good together, I wondered how I¡¯d managed to miss the nature of their relationship. ¡°Mister,¡± a bunch of kids squealed, running up to me. ¡°Mister!¡± Nilen shoved her way to the front of the group, easily the tallest among her peers. ¡°Show them. Show them, please!¡± ¡°Show what?¡± I asked. ¡°Your affinity! I told them what it was, but everyone keeps calling me a liar.¡± I fought down a gulp, then glowered at Nilen. She averted her gaze, revealing that she knew exactly what she had done. The kids had unfortunately created a ruckus in their race toward me. A group of Dark Elves looked up from their refreshments. Even the flutists slowed their music to stare in curiosity. I scratched my hair. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I should¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, go on, already,¡± Nana said with a mischievous grin. ¡°And, make it dramatic. I want to see the look on their faces.¡± "That is so not a good idea." "We''re a small village, Damien. The news will spread anyway. Better they receive it with full bellies than otherwise." Well, since I had her permission . . . ¡°Gather round,¡± I said in my best imitation of a showman and leaped to my feet. ¡°What you are about to witness will go down as the greatest feat you¡¯ll ever remember!¡± I''d probably delivered that with more cringe than I intended, but the kids lapped it up anyway. They cheered loudly. ¡°Is that your answer?¡± They cheered again. Nilen crossed her arms and inflated her chest: a perfect picture of teenage maturity. But, there was a glint in her eyes and a twitch in her fingers as she restrained herself from bouncing on her feet. The musicians halted all pretense of disinterest and dropped their instruments to observe the scene. It placed a huge amount of pressure on my shoulders. I now had to deliver a shock. [Fear Aura] was probably best in that regard, but I didn¡¯t think the adults would appreciate being put on sudden diaper duty. That left me with one other option. The audience gasped. I couldn¡¯t tell what they saw, but the colors around me dimmed to a muted grey. Orange bled off the fiery bonfire, leaving shades of silver in its wake. The [Dark Stalker] ability wrapped me in shadows, but to my stunned audience, I''d vanished from sight. ¡°Hey, mister,¡± a kid yelled. ¡°That¡¯s not funny. You promised us a show! Where did you go?¡± ¡°This is the show,¡± Nilen said, arms still crossed atop her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t be a moron.¡± I shifted positions. Nana''s gaze followed me with uncanny precision, tracking¡ªto my amazement¡ªmy imprints in the dirt. So, that¡¯s how she wanted to play things, huh? Well, what about this? [Stealth]. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. A few more gasps rose from the crowd. Nana murmured a word that sounded like twat and returned to her pipe. Some of the bolder kids pawed the air around my last known location, but I ignored them to focus on the restless adults. A short-haired elf reclined on a bench at the other end of the bonfire. I squatted behind him and flicked him in the ears. ¡°Boo.¡± The elf jolted with a scream. I didn¡¯t expect him to be easily alarmed, but I also couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at his reaction. More yelps rose among the crowd as I skirted between the lines of Dark Elves. I picked a mug from a serving girl¡¯s tray and placed it on a musician¡¯s head. I held a blade of grass up to a ranger¡¯s nose, then scampered away from his grapple. The children proved to be the easiest targets. Most of them broke down in giggles at the slightest poke, though a few came close to retaliating. One particular elf rocked in a drunken daze, only to tumble as his stool sailed out from under his rump. He sprang up with a sword in hand, promising bloody murder, much to the amusement of the crowd. The gathering soon devolved into a scene of chaos. Riotous laughter erupted alongside snarls as adults and kids made attempts to grab me. Mavari and Tybalt sat in my path, both wearing different expressions. The former chortled at my unfunny antics, while Tybalt glowered like he had missed a bathroom break for the last three months. I slipped a flower stalk into Mavari¡¯s hair and moved to do the same to Tybalt. He growled. ¡°Don¡¯t even dare, outsider. I know where you are.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a wet blanket,¡± Mavari said with an airy giggle. ¡°Damien¡¯s just trying to entertain us.¡± She touched the flower in her hair and beamed in my general direction. Tybalt grumbled a few choice words which I missed on the way to the next target. Fun or not, my little jaunt provided some much-needed practice. [Dark Stalker] served as an effective tool for infiltration on its lonesome, but [Stealth] heightened its potency. The ability had also come with a warning of instability during attacks but stayed up throughout my pranks regardless. Elves closer to the bonfire reacted faster to my presence than elves further away, revealing [Dark Stalker]¡¯s weakness to intense lighting. My empty VP counter also revealed crucial information about energy consumption. Techniques with a per-minute cost drained energy points at the start of each minute, which meant I lost 2 VP when I activated [Stealth] and another 2 once sixty seconds were up. It didn¡¯t matter if I turned off the skill the next second, the lost energy didn¡¯t return. Nilen stood with a defiant expression in my line of sight: a good choice for a final target. I stalked up to her with the last of my MP and¡ª Wham! ¡°Got you,¡± Nilen said, hopping on her feet. ¡°I knew you¡¯d come for me.¡± My gut smarted where her elbow had landed, but the pain was no match for my shock at being anticipated. Nilen stuck her tongue out at my now visible form, pleased with her victory. It had to be a lucky shot. Regardless, I dove forward in retaliation and tickled her for all I was worth. The crowd guffawed at our antics. ¡°What affinity is that?¡± someone asked. ¡°It¡¯s Fear,¡± Tybalt said. ¡°The outsider controls Fear.¡± A hush fell over the crowd. Elves who had erstwhile been laughing trailed into silence. I shoved Nilen, who had just begun gnawing at my leg, and frowned at the gathering of elves. ¡°Anyone willing to tell me what the big deal is with my affinity?¡± ¡°It¡¯s considered taboo,¡± a volunteer said. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t attune it.¡± ¡°A bit too late for that, all things considered.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± an elf-maiden pressed. ¡°Fear cannot be trifled with. The last time anyone tried, they dragged an entire kingdom to death with them¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯d bring a curse down on us all!¡± someone added. Nana jumped to her feet. ¡°Enough with that idiocy. A lot of those stories are old wives'' tales, told for unassuming tickle-brains wet behind the ears! There¡¯s a boatload of nuance missing in this discussion.¡± I shot her a frantic look. ¡°Peace, Damien. I intend to explain.¡± She stopped to blow a stream of smoke into the night sky, closing her eyes to savor the sensation. Three silver moons shone down on our gathering, clashing with the orange of the firelight. Nana opened her eyes. ¡°Despite the best efforts of the holy books, some affinities are more reviled than others among Vizhimans. Envy and Hatred tend to send most people fleeing for the hills, and don''t even get me started on Despair.¡± ¡°Yet, Fear is worse,¡± Tybalt interjected. ¡°It can be worse,¡± Nana agreed, ¡°but only because of its ruler.¡± She regarded me with solemn eyes. ¡°What do you know about the dragon lords?¡± My expression must have clued her in because she laughed soon after. ¡°Right. Pointless question. Before the elves awoke in Vizhima, the dragon lords ruled all of creation. They have since decimated their numbers in ancient battles, but of the survivors, one was known as the [Lord of Terror].¡± A shiver crawled up my spine at the name. It wasn¡¯t just me. Everyone¡ªyoung, old, frail, spry, drunk, sober¡ªshuddered in tandem. A few elves backed away without conscious thought¡ªregulars, by the looks of it. Nana pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Ugh. That name¡¯s particularly eerie to invoke at nighttime. I don¡¯t think it needs repeating.¡± She smoked some more as if to wash the taste from her mouth. ¡°Bottom-line is: one of the surviving dragon lords held dominion over the attunement of Fear. Each time the affinity was invoked, he appeared and destroyed the area.¡± I managed a response after multiple tries. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you warn me of this sooner?¡± ¡°Because it shouldn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s done is done. The dragon lords haven¡¯t been seen in ages.¡± She spared me a small smile. "You won''t be the first to spit in the face of taboos. Nor the last." ¡°And yet,¡± Tybalt said, unable to contain his glee, ¡°none but the most foolhardy of folk dare to do so.¡± He slipped an arm around Mavari as if her mere presence validated his existence. ¡°The dragon lords may have vanished, but right as rain, they would return someday to exact their due.¡± The elf-maiden from earlier shivered. ¡°Dreadwood cannot survive an attack from a dragon lord . . .¡± ¡°Dreadwood is protected,¡± Mavari countered. ¡°But, isn¡¯t it curious¡±¡ªTybalt drowned out his betrothed¡ª¡°that the moment the one with the cursed affinity appeared, goblins arrived on our doorstep.¡± Murmurs broke out among the crowd. ¡°Hey,¡± Nilen said, furrowing her brows. ¡°Stop implying bad things about him.¡± ¡°Tybalt''s right,¡± Nana said. ¡°Not about Damien¡¯s character but about the unlikely string of coincidences.¡± She avoided the look of betrayal on my face and put away her pipe. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have anything to fear from the dragon lords, at least, not in lieu of more pressing threats on the horizon. You¡¯ve seen how harmless Damien¡¯s powers are for yourself. Let¡¯s decide once we are out of the water.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t afford to put this off for later!¡± Tybalt said, slamming his fist against a stair. ¡°We¡¯ve assisted the outsider far more than is sensible. For the price of his Specialization, three of our own lost out on being specialists!¡± ¡°If they had earned the privilege, they wouldn¡¯t have been overlooked.¡± A few of the quiet elves turned furious. Nana had been harsh in her rebuttal though factually correct. But, the words didn''t need to be said. The wounded elves focused their ire on me instead, unable to challenge her words. I sighed into my cheek. So much for overcoming social awkwardness. There''d be no recovering from this. Not unless I found a way to reassert myself. And, there was only one option to take . . . Mavari glanced between the fuming Tybalt and his grandmother. ¡°Um, maybe we can talk this through in private? Damien is too kind to be subjected to this. Not to mention, we need all the help we can get against the goblins.¡± ¡°Damien has been rewarded handsomely for his courage,¡± Tybalt growled. ¡°But, at what point does the Harkon respect the will of the people? You spent our goats and charges all for his sake. What more do you ask the rest of us to give? Our lives?¡± He lowered his voice as though intended for only Nana, but it rang throughout the clearing regardless. ¡°He is not Cyran¡ªno matter how much you wish him to be. Stop being deceived.¡± Nana clenched her fists. I wouldn¡¯t get a better chance . . . ¡°I¡¯ll leave the village,¡± I said, ¡°if that¡¯s what it will take. I didn¡¯t intend to spend long anyway.¡± Mavari leaped to her feet. ¡°Damien, no¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s the right thing to do,¡± I said with a nod at Nana, and a sword cut through my heart. ¡°If a war is coming, then I don¡¯t want a part in it. I''ll take my curse and get out of your hair.¡± The number of dark looks doubled in the crowd. Nana stared at me with those violent red orbs of hers, but I met her gaze head-on, undeterred. As long as I remained in Harkonean, Tybalt would continue being a nuisance. And, the village needed unity at this time above all else. Besides, I had problems of mine that needed solving. Unlocking my inventory had bought me a few more days, but the sooner I got around to permanently resolving the issue of spirit orbs, the better. Nana smirked. ¡°Very well. If that¡¯s what you want, it is not my place to stop you. Consider your specialization fair payment for your assistance. You leave at first light.¡± She retreated into her longhouse with that. The festivities restarted, albeit in a somber mood. Nilen yelled something about unfairness to all who would listen. Mavari approached me for desperate conversation, but I couldn¡¯t hear her over the sound of blood in my ears. Once again, I was alone. Just when I¡¯d settled into a home. But, my choice was for the best, right? It was for the best. Tybalt¡¯s receding smirk boiled the last of the Cure Ailments potion in my gut. 022 The First Farewell Dawn was still hours away when I rolled to my feet. The hut had been my home for a little under three days. I had no reason to be attached to it. Yet, it was with a heavy heart that I shut the door behind me and strode off into the village. My time with the Dark Elves might have ended on a sour note, but the journey that awaited threatened to be worse. It sucked that I couldn¡¯t bring the hut along with me¡ªand, I had tried to shove it into my inventory¡ªwhich left me at the mercy of whatever Dreadwood had to offer. Nana waited behind the longhouse in loose robes and a warm, black cloak. She stared out into a cluttered garden that reeked of fresh earth, lost in thought. ¡°You¡¯d need ten more years of experience as an Assassin,¡± she said without turning, ¡°to sneak up on Nana Irithiel.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to sneak,¡± I said, stopping beside her. ¡°The maid that got the door couldn¡¯t find you in your chambers, so she suggested I search the backyard.¡± Nana didn¡¯t reply. I¡¯m sorry about the way things turned out, I wanted to say. You¡¯ve helped me more than I can ever hope to repay. But, how could I say such words without deepening the wounds? Tybalt might have backed me into a corner, but the final decision was all my own. I could have handled it better. I could have waited for a private moment to share my misgivings with Nana, and yet¡ª ¡°Stalks of nad-irith seldom thrive on their lonesome.¡± I frowned at Nana¡¯s cryptic words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± Nana gestured at the garden. ¡°Nad-irith. The black leaf vine. You never bothered to ask how the Irithiel got their name.¡± I looked closely at the garden. The plants I had mistaken for shrubs were proper herbs, grown tightly together. I¡¯d missed it in the poor lighting, but the foliage they bore weren''t colored the typical green. They were black, just like . . . ¡°Your family crest,¡± I murmured. Nana grunted in approval. ¡°My ancestors came into renown for their expertise in horticulture. We traded herbs across large swaths of Vizhima before relocating to Dreadwood. Nad-irith is still the most commonly smoked herb among the elves.¡± I inspected the plants, feeling the texture between my fingers. Mum had been obsessed with horticulture, so I''d learned early on that plants with black foliage weren¡¯t a rarity. Off the top of my head, I could name mondo grass, huechera black pearl, and the dark star coleus. The nad-irith seemed darker than all of those combined, a purple so deep, it might as well have been matte. ¡°That proverb you used . . .¡± I mused. Nana hummed. ¡°That stalks of nad-irith do not thrive on their lonesome? It¡¯s true for many small plants. There¡¯s a reason they flourish in numbers. Standing on your own invites uprooting or strangulation by weeds.¡± My stomach tossed. ¡°About yesterday . . .¡± ¡°You¡¯re a coward who bites the hand that feeds you and flees from obstacles you deem insurmountable.¡± She let out a tired sigh. ¡°Your harsh words also helped this elf-matron with a decision she lacked the courage to make. Thank you, Damien. And, no need to apologize. I know you meant none of what you said.¡± She shouldn¡¯t be thanking me . . . ¡°I can handle Tybalt,¡± I said with a rasp. ¡°If we can do something about the rest of the villagers¡ª¡± ¡°It will only delay the inevitable. You, child, are like a Dread Tiger stuck among house cats. You¡¯ll tire of this place sooner or later, no matter how loud you mewl.¡± She stared at her hands. ¡°Harkonean is too small a cradle for the feats you can accomplish. It was my mistake to tie you down to the village. Fly while you can.¡± ¡°But, the goblins . . .¡± ¡°We¡¯d deal with those dung bags whenever they appear. You showed remarkable resolve last night. Don¡¯t falter now.¡± I quieted down. The true antagonist here was the [System] which had seen fit to bind our destinies in a cruel twist of fate. On one hand, the son who had lost his mother. And, on the other: the mother who had lost a son. We both carried a burden that the other had been willing to ease. And, if I wasn''t so disgusted at the blatant exploitation of our emotions, I would have been impressed. Nana shoved her hands back under her cloak. ¡°There are many secrets you¡¯ve kept hidden from me¡ªdon¡¯t bother denying it. Some cards are best retained close to the vest. The black-leaf herbs wither on their lonesome. But, a single seed is sometimes enough to populate a garden.¡± You have duties you need to fulfill, the words she didn¡¯t speak continued in my ears. And of the stipulated time, only 361 days are left. 361. The number hung like an executioner¡¯s axe over my head. If I desired to succeed, I needed strong allies, much stronger than Harkonean could offer. The wider world promised great opportunities. But, how could I abandon the villagers to their fate? ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said with a hoarse throat. ¡°I¡¯d stay and help if I can¡ª¡± ¡°Yet, you need to go,¡± Nana completed. ¡°It would save us trouble in the long run. And . . . heavens, what is this argument? It feels like we are constantly switching sides.¡± She made off for a bench and table at the opposite end of the garden and beckoned on me to join her. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Nana waited till I settled in beside her, and then she retrieved a scroll from her inventory. It unfurled to reveal a detailed, hand-drawn map, kept in pristine condition. ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking for this as a gift,¡± Nana said at the look on my face. ¡°It¡¯s my only copy.¡± A single landmass, identified as eastern Vizhima, occupied the entirety of the page. The rest of the continent didn¡¯t make it onto the map, but the artist had sacrificed completion in exchange for thoroughness. I followed Nana¡¯s finger as she swept past various cities and landmarks to stop at the topmost horn of the map. ¡°Dreadwood,¡± I whispered. A single country bordered it to the south: The Princedom of Bargheria. One city sat right on the outskirts of Dreadwood¡¯s southern borders, shaped like a dome. ¡°Skeelie,¡± Nana explained. ¡°Great place, if you don¡¯t mind humans.¡± She traced her finger further downward, skipping past a handful of settlements. ¡°Avillac, capital of Bargheria and throne of His Royal Highness. An ill-fitted title for a bloody serf.¡± I focused on the city she referred to, noting its prominence on the map. ¡°I take it you¡¯re not a fan.¡± Nana snorted. ¡°What gave me away? Humans were alien to these lands before they marched on it in numbers. Now, they strut around and stink up the place, amassing lands and empty titles, while the Hinduli? wither in Dreadwood.¡± ¡°By Hinduli?, you mean the Wood Elves, yeah?¡± ¡°Our less privileged cousins,¡± Nana said with genuine belief. ¡°Still better than humans though, if only marginally. You¡¯d never find a Wood Elf who rejoices at the felling of trees.¡± . . . or a Dark Elf who wasn¡¯t strongly opinionated, but I kept that bit to myself. The Harkoneans were products of an environment that thrived in its own harshness. It didn¡¯t excuse their prejudice, but it helped put things into perspective. Good thing I¡¯d stuck to hiding my identity. Tybalt, for one, would have dug into the truth of my past life with gusto. ¡°I guess that means I¡¯m headed for Skeelie,¡± I said, steering our conversation in the right direction. Nana offered a shrug. ¡°Good place to wet your legs in. The city earns a lot of traffic due to its labyrinth. So, you shouldn¡¯t be denied entry based on your race. Its adventurers¡¯ guild is also well established . . .¡± I ignored the rest of her statement at the mention of the word, guild. If there was one place sure to harbor a lot of strong individuals, it had to be a guild. Every role-playing game felt incomplete without their presence. And, here I was with the chance to experience them in reality. Maybe, reincarnation wasn¡¯t such a bad thing after all. Out of curiosity, I opened my [Map]. It unraveled as usual with the vast greens of Dreadwood. Somewhere outside its range stood the city of Skeelie. If I focused hard enough . . . Error: You haven¡¯t visited this location. However, its position is known. Set a marker to aid its discovery? Y/N? ¡°Yes!¡± I said, startling Nana beside me. A blue waypoint appeared on the southern rim of the [Map]. This was incredible. And to think I had considered [Map] the most useless of my skills. ¡°Skeelie it is, then,¡± I said, affirming my decision. I stared at Nana. Wasn¡¯t she level 50 or something? Didn¡¯t that classify her as strong? ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I could tempt you to come with me?¡± Nana guffawed. ¡°You¡¯re too green to sweep me off my feet, boy. Try again in a few more decades.¡± She trailed off with a frown. ¡°I¡¯ve done enough adventuring to sate a lifetime. I also have a goblin invasion to worry about. So, get on out of here. You¡¯ve taken too long as is.¡± I rose to my feet. ¡°I guess this is goodbye then.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± The Blackreach Dagger thudded onto the table. ¡°No . . .¡± ¡°Take it,¡± she insisted. ¡°I have since grown beyond its power. It would be put to better use serving another Irithiel.¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m not¡ª¡± ¡°If you finish that sentence, I would gut you where you stand.¡± "Nana, this should rightfully belong to Tybalt . . ." "And, I am offering it to a potential hero from the stories." She exhaled a breath. "Tybalt would never forgive me. But, I offer this to you for his sake. If ever you find him or the village at the opposite end of that dagger, remember my generosity." I will. I collected the Blackreach with quivering fingers. Nana¡¯s unspoken intent thrummed in the blade. This was not a gift but a promise, that wielder and weapon would someday return. ¡°I¡¯ll cherish it,¡± I managed to say. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You also need a cloak and a change of clothes. Nothing fancy, but you¡¯re ill-dressed for the journey. Also, potions and a bit of food? The less time you spend foraging, the better.¡± She ended her words with a call for her maid. In no time at all, I was outfitted with a Cloak of Viridian Gleam, a fresh jerkin, and soft leather boots. Nana¡¯s elderly maid also supplied a bundle of dried meat and fruit, about a week¡¯s worth, which all went into my inventory. The next item I received was a small case bearing two sets of health and stamina potions. I identified each of them to be of Lesser value, though of no small cost to the village. Nana finished off the gifts with a box of accessories. It contained a locket and a pair of earrings, all of silver hue. Nothing fancy, according to [Identify], but Nana considered these to be the best of the lot. ¡°It¡¯s customary,¡± she explained, fastening the locket around me, ¡°to gift young elves with jewelry upon their coming of age. You¡¯re way past the age for that ceremony, but I never got the chance to do this for Cyran . . .¡± Her fingers wavered. ¡°How am I supposed to clip the earrings through health armor?¡± Nana chuckled and buried one in my earlobe. ¡°That¡¯s how,¡± she said, ignoring my pained yelp. ¡°You¡¯re practically of royal descent. I won¡¯t have you enter Skeelie looking like some dirty hobo.¡± I fingered my sensitive ears, noting how their puncture had dented my HP. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I can borrow a notebook and a pen? Or scrolls and a quill, whatever it is you use.¡± Nana offered parchment from her inventory. ¡°I assume you need them for note-taking?¡± ¡°That, among other things. Might as well start recording all I¡¯ve learned. This [System] stuff doesn¡¯t come as intuitively to me.¡± I raised a single eyebrow. ¡°Has the village decided on a plan to repel the invasion?¡± Nana spat off to the side. ¡°Try to plead with the Wood Elves. If I¡¯m lucky, I might even talk some sense into them.¡± ¡°And Dreadgoats would fly,¡± Nana¡¯s maid said from behind us. We shared a small laugh. ¡°Tybalt would remain here,¡± Nana continued, ¡°to get our people started on the defenses. We can handle the first few waves of goblins on our lonesome. Bloody them good, even. But, all the villages in Dreadwood would perish if the clans do not work together.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure there''s nothing I can do to help before I leave?¡± Nana snorted. ¡°Harkonean withstood the ages before your arrival, Damien. It will stand long after.¡± I offered a handshake. ¡°See you around then, Nana.¡± She pulled me into a hug. ¡°You too, Damien. Dreadwood doesn¡¯t hesitate to punish unwary travelers, but the outside world? It¡¯s twice as bad. Keep your wits about you or end up losing your head.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I said with a smirk. ¡°I''ve lost my head ever since I got here.¡± Nana swatted my chest. ¡°There are evils in these woods much worse than Dread Tigers,¡± she called as I navigated around the garden. ¡°Watch where you step, and if you catch a whiff of the wild god¡ª¡± ¡°Flee. Yep. Got it.¡± I threw her a wave over my shoulder. The elves on guard duty spanned the walls near the village gates, and although numerous eyes turned at my approach, none tried to hinder my passage. A part of me recognized the selfishness of my actions. Mavari had communicated her intent to speak with me one last time before my departure. A wish I fled from granting, seeing as she was the only other person with the power to shake my convictions. My departure would hit her the hardest¡ªhard enough to plant seeds of loathing. But, this was a sacrifice I needed to make. I looked back at Harkonean one final time, at the dirt paths and ruddy houses topped with thatch. The magic lamps illuminated the longhouse and the cloaked figure of Nana Irithiel watching from the yard. With nothing more to be said, I exited the village. The coming-of-age locket hung heavy on my heart. 023 Hard Enough Emotions alone wouldn¡¯t ensure my survival. Within ten paces from the village, I summoned my status sheet. The background light from the screen illuminated a slumbering Deadwood, still about an hour away from dawn. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 10 Affinity: Fear Class: Assassin VP: 28/28 MP: 30/30 Attributes: STR 7, PER 5, END 10, DEX 10 INT 5, WIL 9, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 6 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify], [Meditation] (New), [Knife-fighting] (New), [Stealth] (New) Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura], [Dark Stalker] (New) I ignored the other techniques I¡¯d gained from specialization and honed in on the first: [Meditation] [Common] The premier skill of all rankers. Focus inward in an appropriate position to tune out all distractions. For the duration of this skill, you regenerate health, stamina, VP, and MP. Avoid use in unsavory areas to prevent attempts on your life! Note: Each hour of meditation restores an equal percentage of renewables. Use wisely! Cost: None. A self-heal technique, huh? Considering the relative rarity of potions, this was sure to come in handy. The newer techniques had also started in the Common tier as opposed to the Lesser beginnings of my older moveset. Nana had taught that all techniques improved with progression . . . and true enough, a perusal of their descriptions reflected the change. Lesser [Fear Aura] had now become Common [Fear Aura], which added nothing new, save for an increase in potency. [Scaredy-cat] now lasted twenty-five minutes¡ªfive more from its base form. And, [Identify] boasted a new range of twice the distance. The biggest change by far was the Common [Map]. I¡¯d happened upon its upgrade during my discussion with Nana, but the skill description provided a clearer picture. [Map] now possessed the ability to set markers on places I¡¯d visited or knew intimately about. Considering a study of Nana¡¯s map had been enough to unlock Skeelie¡¯s location, I could probably do the same for Avillac. I tested the theory, and the waypoint adjusted as expected. On a whim, I mouthed, ¡°Earth.¡± Error: You haven¡¯t visited this location. Discover its position to mark it on the [Map]. ¡°Figures,¡± I grumbled. ¡°There¡¯s no way the [System] would make it that easy.¡± With that route closed off to me, I focused instead on my stat points. The only way to distribute them sensibly was . . . ¡°One point to Willpower and five to Perception.¡± Nicely done! You have upgraded an attribute. [WIL] has changed from Lesser to Common. Your base mental resistance has increased by 1.5x. Your base mental proficiency has increased by 1.5x. You have upgraded an attribute. [PER] has changed from Lesser to Common. Awareness and reflexes have increased by 1.5x. Once again, despite the numbers listed on the screen, I felt no different from usual. Some of the trees at the furthest edge of my vision became sharper in focus, but that could also be attributed to the rising daylight. [Map] helped with the approximation of distances. So, considering my proximity to Harkonean, I could reach Skeelie on foot in five to six days. Eight spirit orbs were all I had left in my inventory. Brutal, huh? Fortunately, the monsters of Dreadwood didn¡¯t come out swinging from the get-go. For the entirety of my first day through the forest, I suffered no ambushes, which was nice in its way but unnerved me more than I liked to admit. A worn dirt path led me down fenced farmlands, built by the elves to cultivate their crops. Farmers nodded as they passed, carting goods back toward Harkonean. News of yesternight had traveled fast among the villagers, and although they acted convivial, many of them looked relieved at my departure. That kinda hurt. I spent the rest of the journey looking over my shoulder, half expecting Mavari to come running down the path. When that didn¡¯t happen, I huddled beneath the roots of a large tree and watched the sun dip beneath the sky. That evening marked my first night alone in the wild, filled with the noises of nature. Sleep came intermittently, if it ever did, punctuated by the maxing of all five Fear stacks. Every creak and shuffle saw me reach for my dagger until, sick with paranoia, I attached it with twine to my hand. The hours passed at a snail''s pace, worsened by the sheer darkness of Dreadwood. A factor that convinced me that city life, after all, beat living in forests. The next morning didn¡¯t proceed any better. Nana¡¯s warnings about the dangers of the forest began with an abrupt dead-end in the path. With nowhere left to go except through wild country, I sat beneath a tree to chart my next course . . . . . . Only to crash into the dirt as a large shape hurtled onto my back. The surprise attack dazed me but failed to suppress my wits. I recovered fast enough to bludgeon my attacker and throw them over my shoulder. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. They skidded on all fours. Dark eyes glared at me from behind a hairless face framed with grey fur that terminated in a tail. Oh, crap. Dread Monkey LVL 8. The monkey screeched and leaped for my head. Common Dexterity kicked in at that moment, allowing me to intercept and slam it to the ground. The creature resisted¡ªall claws and fists and teeth. But, The Blackreach Dagger shone like a star and carved a wide smile across its throat. One point to Damien. Movement above me signaled the presence of a second enemy: another Dread Monkey who had watched the fight from a perch in the branches. It clasped its hands over its mouth, and then it fled across the treetops. ¡°Yeah, run away, you bastard,¡± I called after it. I looted the dead monkey for a monster core and a rotten item called a monkey tail. The latter repulsed me but stayed in my inventory until I could ascertain its worth. The next two hours saw me trek through wild underbrush. Nothing jumped out at me in that time, enough to get me to lower my guard. That proved a careless mistake. The warnings resumed with a tide of riotous screeching. A rancor emerged from the forest behind me, gaining in intensity with every passing second. I didn¡¯t need a notification window to perceive the imminence of peril, but just in case I missed it: Hey! It seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. I broke into a run. Sounds of pursuit followed on my heels, unfazed by my flight. A dark mass swarmed across the treetops. It triggered a second stack of [Scaredy-cat], and . . . Goddammit! I had abilities for this! [Dark Stalker]! Error: This ability can¡¯t be used in bright lighting. Find a shady spot and reactivate. No, no, no! The error message had barely dissipated when the first monkey plunged down from the tree. Its wrathful snarl identified it as the escapee from earlier, who had now returned with friends. Fright ruined my chance to seize the initiative, allowing the monkey to strike before I could grab my dagger. Its pine-shaped teeth bounced off my thigh, forcing a yowl out of my mouth. More monkeys crashed onto our position in a flurry of teeth and claws. Their strikes promised dismemberment but fell short due to the protection of HP. The brutal exchange left me reeling regardless. My health meter wouldn¡¯t hold out at this rate. The Blackreach Dagger sang once again, drawing a line across the lead monkey¡¯s eyes. Breathe. Ten apes rose to fill the gap left by the blinded monkey, seeking to rip chunks out of my skin. I braced my knife in defense and let out a technique alongside my breath. [Fear Aura]. A tangible mist, dark and malevolent, rolled out of my skin. It suffused the monkeys, drowning the forest in its taint. A plethora of notifications buzzed in the periphery of vision, at about the same time that the entire horde¡ªover thirty of them¡ªshied away from the darkness. The Blackreach Dagger trembled in my hand. Breathe! Monster entrails exploded around me like so much confetti. I weaved between the horde, allowing instinct to guide my hand. Monkeys fell over themselves in a bid to escape. But, I didn¡¯t relent. I butchered them for all they were worth. My ears stopped ringing five minutes into the battle. The landscape had turned unrecognizable in that time, dyed in the brilliance of blood. I stood alone in a sea of death and carnage, spasms running down my fingers. But, by god, it felt good. It felt good. Despite the extent of butchery, my level didn¡¯t so much as budge. Lesser-ranked monsters could threaten me in their numbers, it seemed, but offered scant little in terms of grinding. The battle also provided useful insight into the [Knife-fighting] skill. The old me would have struggled to deal with the monkeys, untrained as I was. The Assassin me, however? It was like watching a 90s kung-fu warrior perform kata on steroids. Fighting styles were probably not meant to be used on autopilot . . . if my half-depleted HP was anything to go by. The maneuver had served in a pinch, but the absence of conscious effort meant I took more hits than I should have. I marked that part of my skillset for later improvement. Sheer instinct had saved me this time, but I would eventually run into a fighter who couldn''t be cowed by tactlessness. I needed to keep improving. Especially when the alternative meant an afterlife spent running from Flame Guardians. Loud chatter reached my ears. Two surviving monkeys gibbered from a spot high up in the branches and gestured down at me. I couldn¡¯t reach them, not without an archery skill of some sort, but I couldn''t risk a second gathering of their troop. [Stealth] on. I vanished from sight. Or, at least, I hoped I did as far as the monkeys were concerned. They shrieked in outrage at my disappearance, even though it involved me acting like a mouse and crawling through the underbrush. I traveled in that manner for a good distance before dropping the technique. At 2 VP/min, [Stealth] burned through my Vital Power at a steady pace, but it ultimately got the monkeys off my back, even though I expended all 28 of my VP in the process. A large rock caught my attention, sequestered amidst a clump of shrubs. It offered a good spot for [Meditation] and a chance to regain my bearings. [Meditation] couldn¡¯t be activated without a relevant pose, so I settled into a poor imitation of sukhasana from a TV program back on Earth. The [System] approved. You have activated [Meditation]! Over the course of one hour, your renewables will refill by twenty percent. Continue? Y/N? The forest lurched. I toppled backward into the rock which now sported a gaping maw, complete with jagged rows of teeth. A quick roll sideways ensured I avoided certain death, even though I lost a few strands of hair in the process. The rock monster didn¡¯t like that. It snapped after me, earning empty air for its troubles. Then, it spun on the spot and pulled four pudgy limbs that looked like arms out of the ground. Rock Lurker LVL 7, [Identify] helpfully supplied. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. The Rock Lurker moved with the noise of an avalanche, pulling loose soil out of the dirt. It bared monstrous teeth¡ªthe only feature in its craggy face¡ªand shrieked into the air. A flat, fleshy tongue slipped out of its mouth, spraying drool onto the ground . . . Why was a monster like this even a thing?! I swiped my dagger in time to intercept its charge. The Blackreach Dagger bounced off its exterior, not my brightest idea, but the recoil from the blow threw me aside, allowing me to evade successfully. The monster tucked all four of its limbs into its body and settled for a roll. It crashed through the shrubs in a wide arc and hurtled back around for a second go. My mana flared. Error: Rock Lurker has resisted [Fear Aura]. Oh, come on! I sprang out of the way, evading its passage by a scant few inches. The monster skidded to a stop with a roar. Four short limbs worked overtime to arrest its momentum. It barreled again for me, and . . . hold on, why was I laughing? Why was this so fun? Because you have come to enjoy the thrill, I answered myself. You find yourself once more at the doors of death and have learned to relish the challenge. I most certainly had not! I darted headlong for the monster and sprang aside in an acrobatic display at the very last second. The Blackreach Dagger again did no damage to its hide. But, how else was I supposed to hurt this rock? One of the monster¡¯s stubby limbs emerged as it bowled past, closing around my foot. I got a half second to swear aloud before it flung me sideways into a tree. Time slowed as the Rock Lurker advanced. My health meter flashed in warning, signaling the extent of the damage. Pain flared in my legs, hindering my ability to move. Gotta think fast. I poured [Fear Aura] into my dagger and formed a blade of shadows. Then, I swung backward and above me into the tree. It toppled into the Rock Lurker¡¯s path, halting its momentum. But, only for a few precious seconds, seeing as the monster stopped spinning long enough to tear into the trunk. That was all the chance I needed. I stabbed through the gap in the monster¡¯s teeth, into the fleshy tongue that lay beneath. Once. Twice. Three times. I stabbed as deep as the lengthened blade could go. A health bar appeared over the Rock Lurker at the first instance of damage, and it dropped further until it came to a stop. Green blood spilled out of the monster¡¯s mouth, thick like moss and just as wet. The Rock Lurker''s tongue was probably considered a vital organ. I hadn''t expected it to bleed as much. You have slain Rock Lurker. Loot the monster to claim your rewards. Hell fucking yeah. I brushed sweaty hair out of my face and basked in the afterglow of victory. Looting the monster provided a Lesser monster core and a rhythmic, throbbing rock called a Boulder Heart. I shoved both into my inventory and dusted off my cloak. Dreadwood would kill me if I didn¡¯t find a safe place to meditate. Hopefully, far away from rock formations. As if my journey wasn''t hard enough already. 024 Between Death and Low Water I fought a few more monsters after that. Mostly Dread Fowls, though I suffered a brief moment of panic when I encountered a nest of snakes. My level increased by one sometime around midday. I expected the same three-point increase in stats and one-point increase in energy, but the [System] proved full of surprises. Instead of the usual, it awarded two points to attributes, and two each to VP and MP. I noted the changes down in my parchment, which I¡¯d now taken to calling Damien¡¯s Notes. Stat points were supposedly finite, needing judicious management to achieve a desired build. The fact that they suffered a rate drop the higher up I went didn¡¯t sit right with me, but it just made me more determined to single out core stats. Dexterity, Perception, and Endurance all improved my chances of survival. But, I couldn¡¯t ignore Strength and magic Intellect if I desired to be a more effective Assassin. The twin energy stats of Vital Force and Magicka could wait in the meantime, but what I wouldn¡¯t give for more of those two to rely on. Despite an earlier session of [Meditation], I¡¯d again managed to beat VP and MP down to abysmal levels from all the fighting. I was also running low on stamina, though I¡¯d done my best to preserve my health. A quick look at [Map] revealed I stayed on course, due south for Skeelie. But, a new anomaly had appeared just inside the perimeter of the circle. I frowned at the sight. A cluster of three rocks lay off to the west in depiction of a point of interest. Zooming in on the landmark provided no further information, save that the cluster was greyed out as a result of its unvisited status. To go or not to go? Had this been a video game, I would have rushed over with gusto at the promise of loot. However, facing danger in the flesh rather than as polygons left little by way of wiggle room. If I stuck my nose in a crisis that could otherwise be avoided, I would only have myself to blame. Not to mention, I was much too depleted to entertain further adventure. ¡°Just walk on by, Damien. Just walk on by.¡± My feet ground to a halt. Didn''t the best gear and buffs tend to be hidden in places like this? Imagine finding a dagger better than the Blackreach. Or a lamp. With a djinn. Who could grant three wishes . . . I paced about the spot. What if it was something worse? The landmark could be a goblin trap built to snare unsuspecting travelers or the home of an ancient being seeking to laden mortals with a quest. My paranoia was probably a result of my affinity, but . . . I was going to have to decline, good sir. Not interested in exploring. Not interested, at all. I would continue south and make it out of Dreadwood . . . I ended up meditating in a dell because I was a cautious bastard and needed to be at peak form in case I changed my mind. My elven senses acted differently during [Meditation]. I remained aware of my surroundings¡ªof the wind on my skin and the sweat on my forehead¡ªeven though the sensations reached me as though from across several layers of cloth. The worst disadvantage came in the perception of sound. I wouldn¡¯t hear an elephant approach until they stood right next to me. Getting ambushed during meditation was bound to suck. Not that there was a good time to get ambushed. And, if there was, it was my job as an Assassin to rid people of that notion. Once my renewables were back to maximum, I returned to normal ground. This part of Dreadwood brimmed with undergrowth, forcing me to tread carefully for fear of snakes. I held my dagger close to my chest and plodded through the landscape, watchful of every step. A small bog cut across my path, interspersed with thick clumps of grasses. See that right there? The universe must have thought me a dumbass. Everything about that bog triggered warning bells, from its grotesque mossy color to the way it lay just out of sight of the tallest grasses. The only way the bog could get more ominous was if a black screen hovered over it with the words You Died written in red letters. And, even then, the OSHA rating would still read: Not foreboding enough. I gave the death water a wide berth, then gave it a few more meters just to be sure. The leaves rustled in the trees from a warm wind that blew overhead. Come, stranger. Why do you run? What? Come, said the bog. I won¡¯t bite. Come look into my depths. No, fuck you. And yet, despite my violent reservations, I found myself walking¡ªactually walking¡ªtoward the bog. What the hell was I doing? Come, the bog said. My god. This was mental compulsion. Hypnosis, wasn¡¯t it? And the one defense I had against it was already in the Common tier. My arms shivered at my side, even as my feet hastened to my demise. Bubbles broke the placid surface of the bog, lingering far too long for comfort. Something lay beneath the moldy green. Something expansive. I didn¡¯t care to find out what. Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. I reached a point about fifty meters from the bog. One of the bubbles littering the surface popped. You''re getting really scared, aren''t you? Another round of +1s have been added! Come, my child, the creature cooed, interrupting the [System] message. I took another step and gritted my teeth. First off, I had only one mother, and although she was dead, her spirit would rather die a second time than persist in bog water. Secondly: fuck you. Stop messing with my head! I plunged The Blackreach Dagger into my arm. Pain like a beacon radiated from the impact, rousing me from hypnosis. I sprinted off before the creature could react. A scream emanated from the bog or in my head¡ªI wasn¡¯t sure¡ªas the monster lost the meal it had come close to tasting. I kicked dust behind me, even as I felt the beginnings of another psychic attack. One Dread Monkey landed in my path. It surged up with claws unfurled, aiming for my face. I stepped backward to evade the blow and responded with a dagger strike across its jaw. It died with eyes wide open, scream lodged in its throat. A small group of monkeys gibbered in the trees. Survivors from the last fight, if I guessed correctly. They didn¡¯t notice the danger in the bog or seem to care in the least, but I wasn¡¯t about to fight a second troop of monkeys while the unseen creature screamed in my head. With no other avenue left to me, I sprinted for the landmark. What had looked like a pile of rocks on [Map] was actually a small house, built from stone with slate for roofing. It stood alone in a clearing in the woods, surrounded by a once-garden which had now fallen into neglect. Wild grasses obstructed the area leading up to the entrance, which itself featured vines and other creepers from years of abandonment. [Identify] supplied a brief description: Abandoned Mausoleum. Yes, yes, I could see it was abandoned, you freaking idiot. Thank you for the useless piece of info. The monkeys had stopped chasing after the activation of [Stealth], but they lurked somewhere off in the vicinity. The smart option thus would be to hide beside the mausoleum until the situation cooled enough to allow for a safe escape. But, the smart option wasn''t always the most rewarding. Besides, I had a nagging suspicion that the [System] had intended for me to visit this place and encounter whatever awaited. Might as well get it over with. Two stout pillars framed the short flight of stairs that led to the entrance of the mausoleum. The entrance itself consisted of a set of double doors, stiff from the years of unuse, that cracked open with a strong push. Mausoleums tended to be synonymous with the dead, which in fantasy settings, ironically included the undead. Assuming that creatures like skeletons and draugrs waited within, exploration promised to be a different experience from the usual Dreadwood fare. . . . Which sucked because I didn¡¯t do well with horror. I was a freaking Assassin with the trait [Born of Fear]. I should be spooking things, not the other way around. Why did I have to give in to phobia? Where are you, child? a muted voice said in my head. Come to me. Okay, that settled it. I let [Fear Aura] seep out of my body and into the mausoleum. Nothing came running out, which only worsened my anxiety. It meant that the monsters of the tomb were either too high-leveled to succumb to my abilities or resistant to Fear by virtue of being undead. I didn¡¯t know which was worse. I activated [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker] and crawled into the building, though not before wedging a stick in the doorway just to be safe. The boarded-up windows left the interior dark and musty. Dust motes drifted in the air, illuminated by the sparse lighting that made it through the boards. My elven sight adjusted to the darkness, revealing a decrepit interior occupied by rotten pews. Broken urns and stools littered the corners, lain low on floorboards caked high in dust. Considering how monsters littered every corner of Dreadwood, their absence in the mausoleum sent shivers slithering up my spine. I glanced back at the slightly open door, wondering if it wasn¡¯t too late to make like a cat, the scaredy type at least, and disappear. Despite my inner reservations, my feet continued their foolish trek to the end of the hall. Rotten wood stood there, in a vaguely rectangular pile¡ªthe remnants of an altar since fallen into disrepair. A glass-topped sarcophagus occupied the space behind the altar, bearing a single occupant: a desiccated skeleton. I backed away at the sight. The skeleton remained immobile, doing that dead thing skeletons often did. A cassock covered the majority of its length, complemented by an amice and a skull cap on its head. The skeleton''s position didn''t change, even after I turned away and glanced back again. If it had any intention of surprising me while my attention was occupied, it did a good job of it. ¡°You can get up if you want to,¡± I mumbled. ¡°No point drawing this out.¡± Silence replied me. I sighed and rubbed sweaty palms on my pants. ¡°[Identify].¡± Corpse of Wood Elf Mage. A simple description, which meant the corpse wasn¡¯t a monster. [Identify] typically added a level to those and elaborated further for ranked items. The dead Wood Elf held a scepter in his hands which seemed to be his staff of office. I focused on the item and earned a new infobox for my troubles. Staff of Cleansing [Greater]. A special item containing the affinity of Compassion. Provides protection against weaker monsters and undead. Requirement: [2]. That could come in handy. Greater tier aside, the staff was probably responsible for the absence of Dread beasts in the mausoleum. I didn¡¯t want to steal from a corpse, but he certainly wasn¡¯t using it, and I doubted anyone had employed the services of the tomb in decades. Muttering a silent apology, I unlocked the sarcophagus. The lid slid open with minimal resistance, allowing me to reach in and pluck the staff. The instant I made contact, its power dampened, causing a noticeable drop in ambient temperature. The wooden staff heated up beneath my palm, forcing me to drop it lest I should burn. Error: This item requires [INT] no less than Greater. You are not of the relevant class. Just say it from the start, dammit! I puffed on my fingers, which smarted in a way that signified true damage, and stomped my feet. A soft clank revealed a door I¡¯d missed earlier, nestled in the wall behind the sarcophagus. I tugged the wooden handle to reveal a flight of stairs that descended into the dark. Smiling serenely, I tugged it back shut. Enough with the You Died, okay? The area beneath the altar typically contained a crypt in fantasy settings. However, nothing would make me inspect this one. Not even the promise of a hidden way back to Earth. Murals littered the area above the door, spanning up to an arch in the ceiling. They depicted curious scenes of some tale or fable related to the tomb. One scene showed a trio of hunters meeting a shirtless man in the forest. Another showed that same man giving them a ring. A third, which I interpreted as a direct sequel to the former, depicted one of the hunters, now dressed in flowing robes, addressing a crowd. A flame hovered in his open right hand, a ring in the other. A final scene showed the hunter being laid to rest with the ring entombed alongside him. Hu-hu-hu. Big brain time. There was a puzzle here waiting to be solved. But, what on earth was it about? Except for the crypt that waited at the end of the stairway, the only other coffin was the one behind me . . . . . . which now lay empty, devoid of lid and skeletal occupant. The remains of the Wood Elf Mage floated instead above the altar. Eyeless sockets glared at me, seeing straight through my techniques. One long, bony hand raised the Staff of Cleansing in my direction. The third You Died screen commenced with the sounds of heavy metal. 025 Dead Rising Light rays couldn¡¯t be outrun, which meant the attack that proceeded from the corpse wasn¡¯t made of actual light. A beam of searing energy chased after me, nonetheless, intent on blowing my head clean off my shoulders. I swerved in time to allow it to collide with the wall. The resulting explosion threw me onto the ground and flat on my face. Loud bells tolled in my head. The skeleton mage uttered a word that sounded like a groan. More malice spilled out in that one groan than I had heard in a lifetime. But, the skeleton mage was skeletal . . . if I could be forgiven for stating the obvious. By what power did it manage to speak? A second beam roared in answer. Less thinking, more running, Damien! I scrambled out of the way in time to avoid the magic that gutted the floor. Wooden fragments peppered my back, sharp enough to sting, yet not lethal enough to deal actual damage. Neither [Stealth] nor [Dark Stalker] promised to help in the fight, so I deactivated both to conserve my energy. The tactic only served to embolden my adversary. With little need to navigate the pews, the Wood Elf Mage drifted about twenty meters away to the other end of the room. Prime position to lob magic attacks. The maneuver also afforded it an unobstructed view of the exit, in case I tried to make a run for it. But, today wasn¡¯t a day for cowardice. Instead, I peeked over the pews and cast [Identify] to size up the enemy. Just like I¡¯d guessed, the infobox had changed. Barrow Wight LVL 26. My left eyelid twitched. Level 26? I was still at level 11! A bright sigil formed beneath my feet. I blinked in confusion, then sprang aside the next second¡ªin time to avoid a geyser of white. The magic attack pulverized the rafters and the slates behind it, reducing a section of the roofing to dust. The violent display provided an insight into its firepower. Forget my earlier statement. Bring on the cowardice! I put all of my Common Dexterity to work and raced for the exit. The Barrow Wight didn¡¯t so much as twitch. Intense sunlight radiated from its position, flooding the majority of the room. The light slammed into me with the force of a sledgehammer, leaving me as an indent in the wall. [System] notifications went haywire. You have been struck by [Radiance]. You have been Blinded! Build your Willpower to increase resistance. My eyeballs stung like they¡¯d been immersed in fire. Those goddamn bells tolled again in my head. But, I had enough sense to dive blindly to the floor, even though I nearly lost teeth to a footstool in the process. The telltale sounds of falling rafters informed me of the wisdom of my choice. I stumbled past the geysering magic in a blind daze and sought refuge among the pews. The air grew heavy with palpable pressure. Even with my impaired vision, I could tell that the wight was readying a spell. You really should have picked a Caster class, Damien. Forget about retaliating, I wouldn''t even make it to the exit at this rate. My helplessness left me with only one avenue for a counterattack, and it roared to life at the same time that the last of the dark spots faded. [Fear Aura] rose like an invisible maw seeking to pluck the wight from the air. Its influence seeped into the tomb and the floorboards, corrupting all it touched. I only needed to distract the wight for a few seconds. If I could achieve that¡ª Barrow Wight has resisted [Fear Aura]! The Barrow Wight swung its staff, and a second wave of [Radiance] crashed down on the tomb. Two [Fear] stacks popped up in my vision¡ªthe only colors amid a sea of white. ¡°Mercy,¡± I croaked, over the ringing in my ears. The assault ceased. Mercy? That was it, wasn¡¯t it? The wight was attuned to Compassion! The guess was little more than a gut feeling, but I couldn¡¯t draw any other correlation between the staff, the tolling bells, and the purity of light. I took the gamble. Being right would provide me a way out of the situation. Being wrong, however . . . You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. I staggered into the aisle between the two rows of pews and prostrated before the wight, Yoruba-style. ¡°Mercy! I beg of you. Please!¡± The wight wavered. I couldn¡¯t see through my partial blindness, but the pressure in the air lessened a fraction. Compassion probably didn¡¯t stop its users from killing in cold blood, but this monster had once been a priest. Surely, fragments of its past life remained. The Barrow Wight drifted to the aisle, unsure of what to make of a penitent foe. A tired groan issued from its mouth. I waited with bated breath for the inevitable resumption of hostilities, but the monster simply hovered beside me, at a loss for what to do. Sensing an opportunity, I inched toward the door¡ªprostrate, ass first, like a freaking worm. The hilarity of the motion wasn¡¯t lost on me, but survival by any means necessary meant the death of finesse. I made it about halfway across the aisle before the Barrow Wight thumped its staff against the ground. My heart froze in my chest. A blood-curdling scream issued out of the Barrow Wight¡¯s mouth. Yet, I understood it clear as day: ¡°Death,¡± it said. ¡°Swiftest mercy!¡± It took three minutes to arrive at that conclusion?! Needless to say, I didn¡¯t wait for the rest of the speech. A handful of monster cores detonated at its feet, courtesy of the pouch I¡¯d snuck into my hand. It provided a brief distraction, enough to grant me escape down the aisle. I reached the exit just as a geyser opened up beneath the door. Light magic seared upward, engulfing the entirety of my arm. Pain on the level of dismemberment speared through my skull. But, health armor prevailed, sacrificing over half my HP in order to tank the blow. The close encounter with death supplied a spike of adrenaline. I stumbled through the doorway and out into the light. My elven sight adjusted, allowing one good burst to put distance between me and the mausoleum. The Barrow Wight shouldn¡¯t be able to follow. Boss monsters like it tended to be tethered to their location¡ª Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake. In a stark deviation from everything I knew, the Barrow Wight lumbered out of the mausoleum, like an anti-Messiah on Easter. Light beams rocketed out of its staff and toward my direction, visible even in daylight. Each shot struck the ground with the force of a grenade, leaving large craters around me. I outmaneuvered the barrage, relying on tree cover and elven grace. The dead mage couldn¡¯t aim properly out here in the sunlight, but it didn¡¯t seem to care about its mana consumption. My stamina bar on the other hand hovered near zero. A battle of attrition wasn¡¯t in my favor. Unless . . . ¡°Come on,¡± I yelled, pausing to take a breather beside a tree. The Barrow Wight gurgled and zipped forward at ballistic speeds. I waited until it was within ten meters, and then I threw an obscene gesture in its face. ¡°Get wrecked!¡± [Radiance] exploded around me. I staved off the worst of the damage by shutting my eyes, but the afterimages lingered in my vision. The [System] message provided a welcome relief: You have been struck by [Radiance]. You have Blinded. Woah ho, you have resisted blindness! Resist these nuts, asshole. I surged through the blotches of color in what I hoped was the right direction. A voice entered my head. Back again, child? You bet, I replied. And, I brought gifts. The turbid water of the bog bubbled into view. Greyish clumps floated on the surface, clashing with the green of the weeds. The clumps looked a little too dubious to be mistaken for flora. Something about the way they bobbed in the water put a primal fear in my head. The monkeys? Yep. The goddamned bog spirit had drowned the monkeys. Behind me, the wraith out of hell chased with no intent of stopping. It left me two options, really. Dive into the bog or accept death by illumination? How about neither? I packed some wet earth into my cloak, unclasped it, and launched it out into the water. [Stealth] obscured my movements at the same time. Just buy me a second¡ª! The bog spirit responded first. Massive tentacles¡ªslimy with mucus¡ªrose from the murk and snared my cloak. A half second later, the Barrow Wight attacked, hoodwinked by the ruse. Its visual acuity suffered a drop in bright lighting, just like I¡¯d suspected, leading to a scene where the tentacles collided with hot, white magic. The bog monster shrieked. Mental nails ruptured my skull, generated from deep inside my brain. I screamed despite myself and crashed out of [Stealth]. My health meter slipped further into the red. Whatever the creature had done to me, the Barrow Wight suffered worse. It fell from the air with a moan and slid toward the bog. Tentacles grabbed it before it could rise, curling around its torso. A brilliant burst of light obscured the scene. Even from my spot hidden in the grasses, the heatwave warmed my skin. Had I tried to force the wight into a melee, I would have been on the receiving end of that attack. Judging by the power on display, it would have obliterated me. It didn¡¯t obliterate the bog monster. A humongous creature, who made the word grotesque sound like a compliment, rose from the depths of the algae-filled water. Its squid-like tentacles vibrated with rage, covered in pustulant boils. A stench filled the air with its emergence, enough to knock another tenth out of my health. An infobox appeared at my bidding. Eldritch Leviathan LVL 30. Nope. Nuh-uh. No way. I wasn¡¯t getting mixed up in this. I downed a health potion as I crawled away¡ªand just in time too, for a sudden combination of [Radiance] and mental shriek took me near to my maker. My HP rocketed to a hundred percent a second before the attack. It slipped down again by twenty. The battle between the monsters unfolded like a clash between two forces of nature. Bright lights and wounded shrieks buffeted me, inflicting a skull-splitting headache. I collapsed atop a log of dead wood and heaved for all I was worth. Nothing made sense anymore. Not the fight, or my existence, or the freaking apocalypse. Why did I have to suffer through this? The turmoil ceased after what must have been an eternity. I retched a final time and chanced a quick look back at the bog. The Barrow Wight returned my gaze through sunken sockets. Then, with a defiant moan, it resumed its advance. Straight for me. 026 Memories and Loot The Barrow Wight inched forward across the grass. Half its body had been severed from the ribs downward, leaving it to crawl on its fingers. A long health bar hovered over the monster, forced to appear due to the damage taken. Five percent of HP remained: a quantity that dwindled with each passing second. Behind the Barrow Wight, the carcass of the Eldritch Leviathan lay halfway out of the bog. Smoke curled up from its blistering skin, which had broken under the assault of too much magic. I took in the scene for all of one second before reaching for my dagger. The Barrow Wight snarled as I lumbered up to it. ¡°You . . .¡± it began. ¡°Don¡¯t start speaking now,¡± I said and lobbed off its head. [System] notifications flooded my vision. You have participated in the killing of Barrow Wight LVL 26. You have leveled up! You are now level 12. Visit the status screen to assign your free stat points. It didn¡¯t stop there. I jumped two more levels, blitzing past 12 and then 13. The XP gain left me speechless and would have been even more significant had I done real damage to the wight. The Eldritch Leviathan had borne the bulk of the heavy lifting, however, death invalidated its efforts, resulting in the loss of its share of XP into the void. The Barrow Wight sucked ass for killing the monster. If both had been left near dead, I would¡¯ve been able to enjoy the gains of scoring two last hits. ¡°I guess I should just be thankful for life,¡± I muttered, casting a furtive glance at the leviathan¡¯s corpse. It shrunk rapidly now that it was exposed to sunlight, reinforcing the terrible stench that pervaded the air. Flies surged from the ends of Dreadwood toward the stink, which wouldn¡¯t be alleviated anytime soon now that the only one with the power to loot the corpse was dead. Speaking of loot . . . Do you desire to loot this monster? Y/N? ¡°Please, and thank you.¡± The Barrow Wight withered away, leaving behind a ring, a Greater monster core, and a musty, old sheet called a Burial Shroud. I summoned both items and inspected their properties. Burial Shroud [Greater]. An old sheet, thick with the stench of death. This item preserves corpses and retards the onset of decay. Requirement: None. Ring of the Mana Conduit [Greater]. An item with a magic circuit. Useful as a secondary reservoir of mana. Requirement: None. Didn¡¯t the murals back in the mausoleum depict something about a ring? Heart pounding with excitement, I slipped the ring onto my finger. A new prompt appeared over the first. Assign MP to ring? Y/N? Current charge: 0/50. No wonder the wight hadn¡¯t run out while slinging spells. Considering that my MP currently topped out at¡ªand I paused to check¡ª38, didn¡¯t that make this item overpowered? Why then had it been abandoned in the middle of nowhere? Well, no point looking a gift horse in the mouth. 5 MP assigned to ring. Current charge: 05/50. The Staff of Cleansing which had been in the Barrow Wight¡¯s possession lay broken beneath the leviathan. My Cloak of Viridian Gleam also rested somewhere within the bog. That was easily the bigger loss, but I would take a missing cloak any day over brutal death. The last of the Barrow Wight¡¯s ashes wafted into the wind, bringing an end to the most difficult opponent I''d faced since arriving in Vizhima. All that was left was to decide what to do with my free stat points. I had a total of eight now, thanks to the additional six I¡¯d gained from the triple level-up. The most important stat for an Assassin was Dexterity, so best to focus on that. It left my status window looking like this: Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 14 Class: Assassin Affinity: Fear VP: 04/36 MP: 16/38 Attributes: STR 7, PER 10, END 10, DEX 18 INT 5, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 0 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify], [Meditation], [Knife-fighting], [Stealth] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura], [Dark Stalker] One more level-up would unlock the next tier of Dexterity, but I doubted it would do much good against monsters of the Barrow Wight¡¯s ilk. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. I¡¯d gotten off easy. Had I not managed to set the monsters against each other, it would have been me lying dead in the bog. I needed to get stronger. Every other problem paled in contrast to that singular need. The fetid stink from the leviathan assaulted my nostrils, making for a perfect monster repellant. Too beat to do anything else, I settled down for a round of [Meditation]. ¡°That¡¯s him,¡± one of the women whispered. ¡°The devil kid.¡± The dramatic weeping that accompanied funerals had ended before the gravediggers could finish refilling the grave. All of those who had mourned at the top of their voices now retreated into the canopies, to engage in the two activities social gatherings like this entailed: Gossip, and eat. ¡°I heard he¡¯s responsible for the death of his mum,¡± a voice I recognized as Mrs. Tarkwa''s said, not noticing that I was within earshot¡ªor more likely, not caring. ¡°He always rubbed me the wrong way back when he played with my kids.¡± ¡°But, he¡¯s just a child,¡± someone argued. ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s possible, alright. You don¡¯t give a child a name like that unless you¡¯re prepared for trouble.¡± I blinked past the tears that obstructed my vision and squared my shoulders against the chatter. The gravediggers grunted beneath the harsh rays of the sun, shoveling sand from a pile onto the wooden casket. Each thunk of sand served as a biting reminder of the lasting nature of my circumstances. There was a finality to watching a coffin disappear within a grave. It served as a gut punch: One last reminder that death was very real, and an end to all fantasies of your loved one waking up again. ¡°Did you hear,¡± a woman said, nursing a plate of food, ¡°that he spent a week with the body before a neighbor forced down the door?¡± ¡°That was my husband,¡± Mrs. Tarkwa answered, a touch of pride in her voice. ¡°We had been going mad from the stink, wondering where it came from. Kelvin noticed an oddity with the lady next door; she hadn¡¯t driven out in days. ¡°He paid a courtesy call and found the boy sitting transfixed by her corpse. Chilled him down to the bones, I tell you. He¡¯s had trouble sleeping since.¡± ¡°My god. Why didn¡¯t the child shout for help?¡± ¡°¡¯Cos he¡¯s a devil child, that¡¯s why. I know what the coroner said, about her wounds being self-inflicted. But, the less I see of that boy, the better. I¡¯ve already warned my kids to stay away . . .¡± I drowned out the rest of their words, willing it so with a clench of my teeth. My fingernails dug into my palms, hard enough to draw blood. The stupid adults didn¡¯t know anything. Why did they keep talking¡ª? ¡°Damien,¡± Dad said, resting his hand on my shoulder. I hadn¡¯t heard him approach over the clamor in my ears, but a familiar chill ran down my spine at his presence. Despite myself, I leaned into his touch, if only to forget the whispers I had heard. Dad regarded me from behind glassy eyes, nestled within a solid face that rarely broke into laughter. His matching black suit and dress shirt were stained with grime, courtesy of the sun beating down on his head. ¡°You will clean your tears,¡± he said, wiping at his balding head with a handkerchief. ¡°You are not a little boy anymore; it is time to grow up. The days of hiding behind your mother¡¯s skirt are over.¡± I tried to pull away from his side, but his large hand kept me in place. ¡°You will clean your tears,¡± he repeated. A lump formed in my throat at the warning in his voice. And, so I wiped my face, which just made me cry harder until I dripped with snot and salt. Dad¡¯s hand clamped on my shoulder like a vice grip, a far cry from the embrace I needed. By the time I got the tears under control, the gravediggers had shoveled the last of the sand. Dad nodded at them in approval. ¡°Mabel has agreed to take you in,¡± he said, referring to my stepmom. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for her, considering the rumors about you. You will thank her when we return to your seat.¡± The last thing I wanted to do was share a house with my stepmother, but I had enough intelligence to realize that it would be suicidal to say. Dad plowed on, seemingly oblivious to the tension in my shoulders. ¡°The alternative, of course, was sending you off to live with your cousins, but no child of mine would be reduced to depending on others. Your stepsister is nine, about a year younger than you. I expect you both to get along.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just return to mom¡¯s?¡± I stammered, and at that moment, I realized my mistake. Dad¡¯s brows furrowed so tightly, that I actually heard them crack. ¡°Let me repeat. Mabel is making this sacrifice out of the benevolence of her heart. You will thank her, and you will mean it. ¡°As for the house, we¡¯ve decided against keeping it. The stench of decay has pervaded all that it touched. We¡¯ll put it up for lease and pray some unlucky fool ignores the rumors. If that doesn''t succeed, well, I have no problems tearing down the house.¡± I shot him a confused look, stunned at his hostility. Dad and mom hadn''t been on the best of terms, but he didn''t need to speak with such hatred. ¡°I¡¯ve done you the favor of packing your things,¡± Dad said, putting away his kerchief. ¡°They are waiting in the car. The rest will be discarded or put up for sale. We don¡¯t need any reminders of her . . . personality. We¡¯re all better off without that baggage.¡± By ¡®the rest¡¯, he meant mom¡¯s possessions. Ours. The little ornaments we''d gathered over the years to beautify our home. Dad steered me away from the graveside toward the row of canopies reserved for family. Mabel occupied a spot at the center table, shooting us a glare. Dad pretended not to see it. ¡°The loss of your mom pains me more than you can imagine. But, I always knew she was headed for this kind of end.¡± I clenched my fists. ¡°You don¡¯t suffer the kind of mood swings she does,¡± he continued, ¡°without being addled in the head. What was she thinking doing that in front of her son?¡± I blinked away the memory of that night. Of the tears. Of the gurgles. Of the final smile on her face. None of them knew jack about what happened, about the issues mom had been dealing with. What right did they have to speak negatively about her? ¡°Things would start looking up now that we are here,¡± Dad said with an air of certainty. ¡°You might not realize it in your current state, but in time, you would appreciate being rid of her influence. I should never have left you for so long with her. Look how bad you almost turned out¡ª¡± I slapped his hand off my shoulder and yelled something to the effect of ¡®Shut up!¡¯. Everyone turned to look, from the guests to the master of ceremonies and even the musicians. A silence descended over the gathering, piercing through the roaring in my ears. Dad regarded me with stoic eyes, the perfect picture of calm. However, his rage was evident in the angle of his shoulders, and in the way his lips didn¡¯t so much as quiver. He raised his hand in a placating gesture¡ªa promise of peace now and terror to come. ¡°Damien . . .¡± ¡°Take it back,¡± I said. ¡°Take back everything you said.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time¡ª¡± ¡°Take it back!¡± Dad frowned and squatted to my height. The musicians resumed their playing, in the hopes of diverting attention. But, I no longer cared for any of it. I hated them all. Hated the gossip. Hated the ceremony. Hated the fact that I had to dress up and look pretty for strangers to sigh at my sadness. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand,¡± Dad said, ¡°how delicate your situation is. I have sacrificed everything for you, yet this is how you repay me. Do you think you can survive by yourself out on the streets?¡± The tears resumed in full force, clouding my vision. ¡°I will forgive your tantrum just this once, but I¡¯d expect you to behave if you wish to continue in my good graces.¡± He rose to his feet. ¡°Maybe, the rumors were right: you killed your mother.¡± And, with that final word, he signaled my aunt, making it look like he needed help getting me under control. I woke from my trance a moment later. All my renewables had refilled, returning me to prime condition. The stench had repelled monsters as I¡¯d predicted, but I could have done without that very vivid flashback. Twilight approached, casting dark shadows across the forest. [Meditation] wasn¡¯t ideal for relaxing, if it could conjure memories I¡¯d long since buried. I returned that particular memory to a tank within the depths and sealed it tightly with a lid. Mom was best remembered for the brilliant way she''d lived and not the gruesome manner of her death. An endless sea of trees sprawled ahead of me. I gathered my wits and continued to Skeelie. 026.5 Dilwan Dilwan, chief of Nybala and foremost among the lower lords of the Hinduli?, had just settled down for his mid-day meal when a scout came running into his tree hut. ¡°Trouble, sir! Trouble,¡± the young elf said. ¡°Calm down and speak,¡± Dilwan snapped, glancing forlornly at his lunch. The aroma of herbs and roasted Dread Fowl wafted up from the platter. His large paunch rumbled in impatience, unable to tolerate a moment¡¯s delay in sustenance. Dilwan calmed it with a rub. The young scout, who was somewhere around iron rank, judging by the color of his aura, bore the same rust-red hair as Dilwan. However, that was where the similarities ended. His copper-colored skin looked closer to bronze than yellow, and the muscles on his arms bulged with definition. The young lad frowned at the noise from Dilwan¡¯s gut before refocusing his efforts on catching his breath. Dilwan let the insult slide just this once, after all, he was as benevolent as he was wise. There would be time enough to remind the errant young that his title of village chief wasn¡¯t to be scorned, especially considering that he had held that same title for eighty long years. That time could wait till after lunch though. Or dinner. There was no hurry in life. ¡°I heard the tree nymphs, sir,¡± the boy said, ¡°while on my usual patrol. They were whispering, and I decided to give a listen.¡± Dilwan tapped his fork. Everyone knew that tree nymphs were the best sources of gossip in Dreadwood. The ancient chieftains had taught their children the language of the trees, doing so until the skill had progressed into a racial perk, ingrained from birth. Despite that, the tree nymphs were just that¡ªtrees. And, trees discussed a myriad of useless topics that no one cared to listen to. The village had once employed tree whisperers, whose sole job involved gleaning information from the mindless ramblings of the forest. However, Nybala had since dispensed with that tradition. The only tree whisperers in Dreadwood survived now in the court of the Wood Elf King. If they learned anything important enough for all the clans, they simply sent a bird. ¡°I would have thought,¡± Dilwan drawled, ¡°that you had more important things to do on duty than laze around in a glade.¡± The scout went beet-red. ¡°Well, go on then!¡± Dilwan said. ¡°Tell me what you heard. I would like to resume eating sometime within the hour.¡± The boy comported himself, though his copper skin retained some of his flush. ¡°Apologies, sir. As I was saying, one particular whisper among the nymphs caught my attention. Someone wandered into the wild god''s territory and killed his pet.¡± Dilwan froze. Dreadwood harbored a single god, and though he sometimes disappeared for decades at a time, the Wood Elves avoided any region he frequented. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Where did this happen?¡± he stammered. ¡°North-wise, sir,¡± the scout said. ¡°In the direction of the old tomb, according to the trees.¡± Dilwan trembled. What kind of idiot ventured that far off the paths? The humans knew to never leave the roads while visiting Dreadwood, and no Wood Elf with a proper head on their shoulders dared to venture in that direction. ¡°Did they say who it was?¡± Dilwan asked. ¡°Did the trees mention who did it?¡± ¡°They spoke of an elf, sir.¡± ¡°Well, what kind of elf?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think tree nymphs can tell the difference. They didn¡¯t seem to know.¡± Dilwan groaned into his palms. It seemed lunch was going to be delayed far longer than he¡¯d thought. The wild god wouldn¡¯t go mad over the death of one of his playthings, but the killer risked piquing his interest, and nothing good came out of attracting the interest of a Herald. ¡°We¡¯ll send word to the villages,¡± Dilwan said at last. ¡°If some upstart is out stirring trouble, the chiefs would need to know. Appropriate punishment would be meted to the culprit if we deem the action malicious.¡± ¡°But, that¡¯s not all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not all?¡± Dilwan asked, unable to contain a stutter. ¡°The killer also visited the old tomb and desecrated the corpse.¡± Dilwan whimpered. The old tomb referred to the abode of the Mage Priest, a rather significant landmark in Dreadwood. The Mage Priest had earned renown for being one of a handful of elves to survive direct contact with the Herald. In life, the kindly priest had spent his time interring the dead. In death, the Wood Elves wanted nothing to do with him ever since the wild god was spotted at his funeral. ¡°W-what should we do?¡± the scout asked in a high-pitched tone. ¡°This is the first time anything of the sort has happened.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to think, boy!¡± Dilwan said. ¡°You don¡¯t presume the wild god would take offense, do you?¡± Take offense? Who could presume what beings like that thought? The wild god played games that mere mortals had trouble understanding. Dreadwood, for example, had been classified as a regular spawning ground in the ages before his first sighting. Following his active involvement, however, the forest had changed. Iron-ranked monsters now ran rampant throughout the forest, sprinkled with stronger beasts of Silver. Dilwan massaged his temples. ¡°We¡¯d have an easier time bottling lightning than attempting to predict the wild god¡¯s actions. The only thing we know for certain is that he has been seeding monsters in Dreadwood. Whether or not he harbors a continued interest in the mausoleum is anyone¡¯s guess.¡± ¡°So, our worries are meaningless?¡± ¡°Of course, they aren''t, you fool! What do you think would happen to the elf or village that catches the wild god¡¯s attention? Can anything good sprout from the mingling of mortals with the divine?¡± The scout paled. ¡°We can¡¯t afford,¡± Dilwan continued, ¡°to rouse that old beast into action. We sit closer to the mausoleum than any of the others; we would be first to take the blame. Alert the guardsmen and the hunters. I want the culprit found!¡± The boy raced out of the hut. Dilwan dropped his wooden fork, appetite all but gone. He had been incorrect when he described Nybala as the closest village to the old tomb. One other village stood even closer, but it was filled with Nanduli?, otherwise known as Dark Elves: alien to the woods and as demonic as they come. The wily, old Irithiel had written him of her intent to visit. Something about goblin activity in their neck of the woods. However, the tree whisperers of the Wood King had warned of nothing of the sort. Could the Dark Elves be linked to the unfortunate accident at the mausoleum? Were they finally making a play for control of the domain? ¡°Either way ends in war,¡± Dilwan muttered, and he shoved the fowl aside for a single pomegranate. 027 A Chance Encounter You have consumed a spirit orb. Time left till next ingestion: 23:59:59. A soft glow emanated from my skin, interrupting a modest brunch of bread and a dark stew that wasn¡¯t meant to go on bread . . . if its spiciness was any indication. The automated consumption of spirit orbs required some getting used to. But, it beat having to do so myself. As it was, every day at noon, when the timer neared zero, the [System] sprung into action. I had burned through five spirit orbs since arriving in Vizhima. Five more to go. Unless I received a new quest or uncovered some other way to collect the orbs, my life remained in jeopardy . . . which sounded a little underwhelming, seeing as I¡¯d adopted Jeopardy as a last name since waking at the pyramid. I ate some more bread. Sunlight pierced through an errant portion of tree cover to beat down on my head. Two days of sleeping amid mulch and tree roots left me looking haggard, though mercifully clean-shaven too because of an elven inability to grow stubble. The similarities between elves in Vizhima and those in earthen fantasies were too glaring to ignore. However, overthinking the matter wouldn¡¯t do much to help me, so I focused instead on the one thing within my control: gear. The Ring of the Mana Conduit gleamed proudly on my finger. I¡¯d played around with its mana-storing capabilities for a day and gleaned some useful info. Firstly, the ring stored MP just fine but couldn¡¯t be utilized until I¡¯d depleted my reserves. This solidified its purpose as a backup reservoir but left me vulnerable to a smart enemy, who could divest me of the ring to arrest a second wind. The excess mana granted by the ring also didn¡¯t appear on my status screen. The benefits of this initially evaded me, but I¡¯d since come to realize that it made for a nice sleight of hand should I encounter enemies with the power to peek into my stats. If anything bothered me, it was how the ring, despite being of Greater value, needed no extra requirements. It shared that characteristic with The Blackreach Dagger, making both weapons my most prized possessions. I still didn''t understand why no one had bothered to loot the Barrow Wight since its demise. Did I even want to know? Nevertheless, [Fear Aura] held the distinction of being the only technique in my arsenal with a mana cost. Prized though it was, the ring suited me poorly. Had I been a caster, it would have been a different story entirely. But, I just had to specialize into Assassin. Goddammit, Damien. I scarfed down the rest of brunch and rose to my feet. The leather jerkin creased as I moved, rife with stains and tears. I didn¡¯t need to sniff myself to know I stank to the high heavens. However, water was a luxury in this part of the woods. And, after the last incident with the Rock Lurker, I had no desire to strip naked in a brook only to be introduced to the Rock Lurker¡¯s aquatic cousin. If I reeked with no one around to perceive it, then did I really reek? The Damien magisterium voted no. ¡°Quests,¡± I said, switching my attention to the [System] log in the periphery of my vision. It opened without hassle. The Legacy Quest occupied the top of the list, revealing that I had 359 days left on the timer. This was the only route available for me to earn more orbs. However . . . gather strong allies? What did that even mean? It¡¯s not like I could put out an ad requesting assistance. ¡°Now hiring,¡± I joked. ¡°Party needed to avert the apocalypse. Minimum requirement of level 70 and Greater-tier gear. Wage? What do you mean by wage? The gratitude of the entire world is its own reward¡ª!¡± A loud bang went off in the forest, ending my musing. Birds fluttered off in the distance, chased out by echoes of the disturbance. The ranker in me burned with interest to investigate. But, the old Damien argued in favor of turning away. Curiosity didn¡¯t stop at killing the cat in Dreadwood. It tracked down his mate and their wee kittens and chopped them into fine, little pieces. Eldritch Leviathans were also in short supply in my immediate vicinity, leaving me with no escape by counterforce should I run into another high-leveled monster. All in favor of ignoring the ruckus¡ª? A second bang resounded, accompanied by a muffled shriek. Oh, crap. That sounded like a fight. There was no way I could ignore it now. Steeling myself, I summoned the Blackreach and surged in the general direction of the uproar. I could spare a quick look. If it proved too much for me to handle, I¡¯d nope back the way I came. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. That plan went to shit the instant I arrived at the location. First off: People! And, three of them too. I¡¯d given up hope of finding anyone in Dreadwood. The only other problem? The goblins had found them too. I¡¯d been wondering what those green bastards were up to ever since our last encounter. Nothing good, by the looks of it. A single wagon lay flat on its side, riddled with crossbow bolts. The three people from earlier stood with their backs to it, pressed in a tight formation. One of them¡ªa dark-haired man with a felt hat and goatee¡ªstood farther back than the others. He sported a terrified expression and struggled to rein a skittish donkey about two times his size. His companions, unlike him, cut more interesting figures. Both of them dressed in apparel straight out of a role-playing game¡ªwhich was par for the course, considering the nature of Vizhima. The blond man with the broadsword and worn leather armor bore muscles built to perfection, but it was the black woman with the braids and overlarge witch¡¯s hat that caught the most attention. Her dark robes left little to the imagination, featuring a slit that went all the way to the hip. Her large breasts jiggled as she swung a magic staff, threatening to tumble out of her vestments. Seven goblins surrounded all three, baring yellow teeth. Two walked on foot, while the remaining five rode Dread Tigers. I sought cover behind a tree and performed a quick scan of the situation. The man with the donkey registered as a City Merchant LVL 20. The other two appeared as a Swordsman LVL 18 and a Novice Witch LVL 16. The goblins all ranged between levels 13 and 19, with their mounts falling not too far behind. Two Dread Tigers lay slain, probably from the noises I''d heard earlier. I switched my dagger to my left hand and pondered how best to proceed. The humans could use my help, but I¡¯d learned firsthand how vicious goblins could be. My feet trembled at the memory. Think you can give me a boost, [Scaredy-cat]? Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. And, then another: Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. Sweet. The Swordsman stepped forward and swung his sword. Flames roared up in a wide arc, scattering the goblins. The Novice Witch waved her arms and summoned a tentacle¡ªan actual, fucking tentacle¡ªfrom the ground. It snared a Dread Tiger and goblin both, forcing squeals from their fang-riddled mouths. Those squeals died as quickly as they started, courtesy of a flaming slash from the blond swordsman. I sprang into action at that point, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the burning victims. One unmounted goblin stood with his back to me, making for an easy first target. I latched a hand across his mouth and struck with my dagger. Health armor resisted, but my Greater [DEX] lent more power to the blow. The goblin crumpled, bleeding from the throat. The swordsman engaged a goblin rider, buying me time to duck around a tentacle and disembowel the second foot soldier. Four goblins left on tiger-back. Gotta move fast. I reached my third target of the day only to be interrupted by an ear-splitting wail. One of the goblins had found the dead bodies of their compatriots, and judging by his cry, he didn¡¯t like the sight. I tried to back away into the trees, but two Goblin Scouts circled me from atop their mounts, knives at the ready. The swordsman shot me a surprised look but retained enough of his professionalism to avoid questioning my presence. He refocused instead on his enemy and barked a command to his female companion. She moved as if to assist me and missed the Goblin Scout advancing from her flank. One well-placed strike from a Dread Tiger sent the magic staff flying and the witch tumbling to the ground. The Dread Tiger''s claws had turned black at the moment of impact, clueing me into the application of [Bleed]. Her resultant shriek also helped. The swordsman glanced her way with widened eyes, a complete novice move, and lost the upper hand in his fight. The goblin floored him, then trampled him for good measure beneath the paws of his mount. I returned my gaze to the advancing goblins, who leered at me with toady eyes that gleamed yellow in daylight. The two of them brandished jagged knives that promised tetanus and disembowelment, yet those knives paled in comparison to the salivating Dread Tigers which could deal more damage in half the time. I shouldn''t have joined this fight. The first Dread Tiger charged and ran into my defense. [Fear Aura] blossomed like a wall between us, stopping it in its tracks. You have inflicted Goblin Scout LVL 16 with [Dismay]! You have inflicted Dread Tiger LVL 13 with [Dismay]! I didn¡¯t give them time to react. Two heads went flying, reducing the total number of goblins to three. The combination of [Dismay] and the brutal kills sent the accompanying goblin bolting for the woods. He fell off his Dread Tiger in his haste, allowing me to catch up and run my dagger through his neck. Two more to go. ¡°Don¡¯t move, elf scum!¡± one of the final goblins spat. He spoke in a guttural tongue that managed to taint the [System]¡¯s translation. He also brandished a wicked crossbow that left no room for dissent. My heroics ground to a halt. The goblin¡¯s Dread Tiger growled low in its throat and placed a heavy paw atop the fallen witch¡¯s back. She twitched beneath its weight, hurt but nowhere near out. The second Goblin Scout had gone for the merchant. He gripped the man by the throat, knife shoved up to his face. The merchant''s donkey brayed from somewhere in the bushes. Fucking traitor. ¡°D-drop the knife,¡± the goblin with the crossbow said, ¡°and raise your hands! Or they both get it.¡± His voice trembled as he spoke, proof that he had also been dismayed. The swordsman quivered on his knees, leaning on his broadsword for support. ¡°Please, friend,¡± he rasped. ¡°Do as they say.¡± I would have agreed to his request if I didn¡¯t know that the goblins would kill us the first chance they got. I raised my arms and formulated a plan. ¡°Hey, hey. No need for violence. You critters were the first to attack¡ª¡± A bolt whizzed through the air, faster than I could react. It punched my chest, forcing the air from my lungs. The health meter in the upper right corner went into freefall. The back of my skull made contact with the ground. Goddammit. 028 Guard Duty It hurt! My god, it hurt. I rolled on the forest floor, clawing at the fire in my chest. My last-minute swerve had thrown off the goblin''s aim, changing what should have been a lethal hit into a less dangerous strike. Health armor had absorbed the worst of the damage, forcing the missile to bounce off my skin. ¡°You bastard!¡± the swordsman said, surging to his feet. ¡°Quiet,¡± the lead goblin answered. ¡°Or you¡¯d get a bolt of your own.¡± He pressed his knife to the merchant¡¯s throat and chuckled at the spectacle. The goblin with the crossbow, meanwhile, reloaded his weapon. In thirty seconds or so, he would be ready to fire again. Seeing how the first shot had sent my HP into the red, a second one represented a flying tombstone. The situation boiled down to my life or the merchant''s. Rhetorical question, because I already knew what to choose. Sorry about that, stranger¡ª The Dread Tiger bearing the shooter yowled and sprang off the witch. The sudden movement unseated the goblin, throwing him onto the ground. He reached for his crossbow, but then . . . against all logic . . . his Dread Tiger started humping him. ¡°Stop, boy,¡± the goblin cried, abandoning all attempts at shooting. ¡°It¡¯s me: Yori!¡± The Dread Tiger swung its hips even more vigorously, causing the rest of us to gape in shock. The Novice Witch rolled to her knees and pulled a wand out of her thigh highs. She summoned a tentacle whip into the second Dread Tiger. All three tumbled like bowling pins: goblin, merchant, and dread beast too. No time to gawk. I threw my dagger with as much force as I could muster into the lead goblin¡¯s face. Greater Dexterity powered the weapon, siphoning more health than I expected. The goblin recovered remarkably fast for a bugger his size. A snarl stretched across his black lips, backed by a threat. ¡°You fucking¡ª¡± And then, the swordsman was upon him, carving up the last of his health. No time to celebrate. The other goblin lay pinned beneath his frenzied Dread Tiger, but he had thankfully escaped the worst outcome due to his leather loincloth. He turned around in the grass, bracing his crossbow. The Dread Tiger collapsed in a heap, quarrel protruding from its chest. Tears and snot cascaded down the goblin''s face as he freed himself and turned to the witch . . . the source of the sudden estrus. ¡°You!¡± the goblin spat, gathering his knife. ¡°You caused this. You made me kill Yonyon!¡± He rushed at the witch, who slipped in her fright from the blood coursing down her leg. Her health meter lay empty, and her mana too, given her helplessness. Thankfully, I¡¯d started moving after throwing the dagger. I intercepted the charging goblin and caught his swing by the wrist. He dropped the knife, intent on catching it in his other hand . . . [Fear Aura]. The goblin faltered. Only for a half-second, but still more than enough. I caught the falling knife in my free hand and decapitated him in one clean stroke. The little bugger had lost some HP to the Dread Tiger¡¯s assault, and . . . what the fuck?. . . Was he sporting a boner? Dear god. That image would never go away. An anguished cry signified the end of the last Dread Tiger, which fell under the combined blows of the swordsman and the merchant. The latter had managed to find his nerve, an impressive enough feat that I forgave him for doing so with my dagger. The two men ran toward the bleeding witch, who lay on the ground, cradling her side. ¡°Easy breaths, Nicola,¡± the swordsman said, tossing his greatsword aside to retrieve a health potion from his inventory. ¡°You saved us!¡± the merchant said as she emptied the bottle. ¡°That was an awesome bit of play at a point where everything seemed lost!¡± I coughed into my palm, trying¡ªand failing¡ªnot to look affronted. ¡°Of course,¡± the merchant pivoted, ¡°all of that wouldn¡¯t have been possible without your timely intervention.¡± He was a smooth talker, this one. ¡°Assassin, right? I didn¡¯t think that class would be as effective out here in the wild.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know if he¡¯s a friend, Isaac,¡± the swordsman said, still focused on the witch. ¡°Nonsense,¡± Isaac rebutted, flipping my dagger in one hand. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have helped us otherwise.¡± My eyebrows twitched as he played around with Nana¡¯s heirloom. Any moment now, and I¡¯d tackle him to the ground. ¡°Why¡¯s a Dark Elf revealing himself to us anyway?¡± the swordsman asked. ¡°Their people are as reclusive as they come.¡± ¡°Why¡¯s a human speaking as if I¡¯m not here,¡± I answered. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t he know to be polite?¡± The swordsman blinked, then raised his eyes to meet mine. ¡°I apologize. It¡¯s been a long day.¡± I offered a noncommittal grunt and glared at Isaac. The merchant flushed and returned my knife. Having red eyes made glares three times more effective, it seemed. ¡°Ben,¡± the swordsman said, extending his hand. ¡°Damien.¡± We shook like two kings that had acknowledged the other. Rainbows extended in the background. ¡°Thanks for the rescue,¡± the novice witch¡ªNicola¡ªsaid, now that her wounds had knitted and color had returned to her face. ¡°Other elves would have left us to our fate.¡± Other elves were not former humans, I wanted to say. But, who cared about that? Vizhima was quickly becoming my reality. The sooner I made my peace with that, the better. Isaac inspected my face. ¡°A Dark Elf, huh? And, a good fighter too. I¡¯d heard about a Dark Elf clan living in Dreadwood, but I¡¯ve never done dealings with your people except by proxy.¡± He stroked his beard. ¡°Can I interest you with an offer? We are about two days away from the city of Skeelie. How would you like to join my guard in exchange for three silver?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t cheat him, Isaac,¡± Ben growled. ¡°He deserves a fair wage despite his roots.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I have no intention of cheating him,¡± Isaac said, adopting an affronted tone. He glanced back at me. ¡°Five silver, then. Because of Hardass over there. What say you?¡± ¡°Ten or nothing,¡± Ben snapped. ¡°He saved our lives. You can pay that much in gratitude.¡± Isaac balled his fists. ¡°If you both had done your jobs properly, we wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation.¡± He cleared his throat before the swordsman could respond and turned back to me. ¡°Look, Damien, I still need to be able to turn a profit, or else, this venture would have been for naught.¡± ¡°Ten or noth¡ª¡± ¡°Seven,¡± Isaac said, overriding the swordsman. ¡°How does that sound, Damien? Guard us for the remainder of our journey through Dreadwood and become the proud owner of seven silver pieces.¡± I looked between the two men. Five, ten, fifteen . . . None of those values meant anything to me. For all I knew, both men had staged the argument to get me to accept a pittance. The money didn¡¯t matter, of course. All four of us were headed in the same direction, though they didn¡¯t need to know that. Any information I extracted from them about the broader world could also serve me better than money. Still, I hated being cheated . . . ¡°Thirty silver,¡± I said. Isaac¡¯s expression fell. ¡°My good sir. There¡¯s no way I can pay that much.¡± ¡°Twenty, then. And, I¡¯d like three health potions.¡± ¡°Ten pieces of silver with one health potion.¡± ¡°Twenty with two.¡± Isaac narrowed his eyes. ¡°A guard job for that much? You aren¡¯t even Silver-ranked.¡± ¡°A guard job plus a thank you for saving your life,¡± I added with a shrug. ¡°What need would you have had for money anyway if I didn¡¯t appear? The goblins would have looted your corpse.¡± Isaac floundered. ¡°Well, that is . . .¡± ¡°He¡¯s got you there, Isaac,¡± Ben said with some amusement. ¡°Who would have thought that a forester could out-haggle a merchant of the guild.¡± Isaac spluttered. ¡°Very well, elf. You¡¯d get your payment upon completion of the job.¡± ¡°Fifteen now,¡± I pressed. ¡°The rest later.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push it,¡± Isaac said. ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Ben added. ¡°We have no guarantee that you won¡¯t give us the slip in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°Then, half,¡± I conceded. ¡°You can consider that payment for saving your life. I¡¯m also of high standing back in the village. If we conclude this arrangement on good terms, it might open inroads to further business in the future.¡± Isaac returned to stroking his beard, though he only pretended to hesitate. His eyes had glinted upon the mention of business. ¡°Deal,¡± he said, and then he rubbed the back of his head. ¡°Sorry for haggling. I can¡¯t help it, not when it comes with the class.¡± A specialist, then . . .¡°No offense taken,¡± I said, accepting the payment. I tossed the Lesser health potion into my inventory but kept the coins on hand for a closer look. They bore the portraiture of some ruler on the obverse, who was probably Bargherian, given the inscription on the reverse. Should I bite the coins? I had no way of confirming their authenticity. Oh, well. ¡°Now that you boys are done,¡± Nicola said, recovering her staff. ¡°I propose we put some distance between this place and us. If the goblins have reinforcements, we don¡¯t want to meet them.¡± My eyes bulged as I took in her outfit before snapping back to her face. ¡°Y-yeah. You¡¯re right.¡± Nicola smirked. There was no way her robes were approved for combat. I''d seen strippers perform with more covering than she had on. Not that I''d ever visited a strip club or anything, to be honest. And, I didn''t get that knowledge from adult videos either, okay? Ben clasped my shoulder in a strong grip. ¡°That was quite the scary situation you pulled us out of. If someone had listened to me and chosen not to deviate from the path, we wouldn¡¯t have entered this mess.¡± He shot the merchant a glare, who in turn mumbled something about secret pathways. ¡°I doubt you¡¯d want to visit the city after your job is over, but I owe you a few drinks regardless.¡± I frowned at his offer. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I want to?¡± All three humans exchanged surprised glances. Nicola spoke first. ¡°You¡¯re not worried about the dangers of wandering into Bargheria? I thought Dreadwood elves loathed the Princedom on principle.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± Isaac said with a snort. ¡°Not really. At least, not while they need our grain and cloth.¡± ¡°I have no problems with humans,¡± I said, even though the word sounded wrong in my ears as used to describe others but me. ¡°It¡¯s the humans who should watch their behavior around me.¡± Ben patted my shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll give it a few days and see if you still think like that.¡± We continued our journey, after righting the carriage and retrieving the donkey. Isaac walked alongside Ben in the forefront, leaving Nicola and me to bring up the rear. I¡¯d given up on pretending to look her in the face whenever we talked, so I''d settled on keeping my eyes in front of me. It left me with a view of the ass¡ªnot the kind Nicola sported¡ªbut, better to look at donkeys than embarrass myself. ¡°So . . . the tiger,¡± I said, broaching a topic that demanded my curiosity. ¡°What did you do to it?¡± Nicola chuckled¡ªa sweet, musical sound. ¡°Oh, I threw it into a frenzy. I heightened its arousal for the most familiar object in its proximity.¡± ¡°An affinity, then?¡± I scratched my hair. ¡°Lust?¡± ¡°Pleasure,¡± Nicola corrected. ¡°Mine is the affinity of Pleasure. Not exactly the most popular outside of special uses. But, I¡¯ve done fine with it regardless.¡± ¡°Is that why you dress in skimpy clothing?¡± Nicola evaded my gaze, a more demure behavior than her outfit suggested. I¡¯d initially resolved to avoid glancing her way, but goddammit, even her eyes looked alluring. They glowed golden in her face, a liquid brown infused with sunlight. ¡°Yes,¡± Nicola said, ¡°but not entirely. I¡¯m also an acolyte of the Cult of Carnality. Immodesty is aggressively encouraged among our members.¡± The Cult of Carnality? That sounded like a police raid waiting to happen. ¡°So, err, how does that work?¡± ¡°It just does.¡± Smart ass . . . no, Damien! Don¡¯t look at her ass! ¡°Adherents of the cult¡¯s teachings,¡± Nicola continued, ¡°exalt Pleasure as the greatest affinity of all. Male and female acolytes specialize in order to render services and help the lost. You should visit the temple in Skeelie if you get the chance. It sees high patronage for a reason.¡± Did she just invite me to a brothel? "What about your partner?" I asked. "What''s his affinity about?" Nicola wrinkled her nose. "I didn''t think there was a soul alive who would be unable to recognize Wrath on first glance." Ah. So, anger fueled the flames, so to speak, while Pleasure evoked lust and tentacles. Compassion controlled light and brightness. And, I was pretty sure Mavari''s wind powers had something to do with laughter. There were supposedly twenty-four affinities, all with their strengths and weaknesses. And, I''d somehow managed to snag a taboo. "Yes?" Nicola said. "Yes, what?" I asked. "Go on, then. You asked about my affinity, so it''s only fair to share yours." ¡°I¡¯m, err, not comfortable answering that question.¡± I ignored her narrowed eyes in favor of a change of topic. I couldn¡¯t keep my secrets for long, but I didn¡¯t want to lose my new acquaintances thirty minutes after I¡¯d met them. ¡°What kind of trade does a city dweller hope to find in Dreadwood anyway?¡± ¡°The best kind,¡± Isaac called out. ¡°You can¡¯t expect mere villages to survive without industry.¡± ¡°So, you travel through Dreadwood hawking your wares to the elves?¡± ¡°Via which roads?¡± Isaac snorted. ¡°We simply trade with the Wood King. He maintains an outpost a few miles away from here. We do business with his representative, and he in turn does business with the clans.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never met him in person?¡± ¡°Oh, please, I¡¯d rather not. No one knows the location of his domain. Not from our city anyway. And, Dreadwood gives me the creeps. If it weren¡¯t for the guild, I wouldn¡¯t have taken this job.¡± ¡°Dreadwood¡¯s not that bad,¡± I argued, feeling a tad defensive about my hometown. ¡°Tell that to the goblins. What¡¯s up with them, anyway? None of our reports mentioned anything about their sighting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a recent development.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah?¡± Ben interjected from his spot at the lead. ¡°Because, the last time goblins roamed the forest, the Princedom had to establish a leaguer. And, that was only because they failed to do so the time before that, leaving goblins to raze the cities.¡± Isaac visibly winced. ¡°Nothing good follows the gathering of a goblin horde. But, Bargheria will only act to protect its own. You elves must move fast enough to nip this problem in the bud. If it deteriorates into open war, the losses would be staggering.¡± An involuntary shudder seized my shoulders. If the humans in their faraway cities were scared of the goblins, what did that say about Harkonean trying to stem the tide on their lonesome? ¡°What¡¯s the largest force the goblins can muster?¡± I asked, already dreading the answer. ¡°Going by the old stories?¡± Nicola said. ¡°Tens of thousands. And, if the rumors are to be believed, the wild god is partial to their cause. He won¡¯t lift a finger against them as long as they don¡¯t pursue the destruction of the forest. The goblins are also said to revere him.¡± There it was again. That name: the wild god. The closest thing Dreadwood had to a bogeyman. Here¡¯s to hoping we never crossed paths. 029 Blood and Numbers We located the dirt paths shortly before nightfall, leaving us just enough time to camp beside it. Ben explained that low-leveled monsters tended to avoid signs of civilization, a behavior that guaranteed us a modicum of safety. The trio erected a spacious tent, using a bunch of uprights and canvas from their inventories. Isaac crawled in for an early night¡¯s rest, though not before helping to hitch the donkey to a post. The rest of us huddled around a small campfire for a light dinner of sandwiches. Nicola produced them from her inventory, pre-packaged into neat, little pieces. The chicken felt warm to the touch and melted in my mouth with toe-curling goodness. It confirmed my theory about inventories and their ability to preserve items as stored. My mind ran amok with the possibilities, but all of that could wait until after I¡¯d devoured more sandwiches. ¡°Why bother with a wagon,¡± I asked through a mouthful, ¡°when you can carry all you need in a pocket dimension?¡± Ben paused in his chewing. ¡°That¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard anyone describe inventories as such. Besides, they don¡¯t work that way. There¡¯s a weight limit for each item that can be stored.¡± ¡°Nothing living either,¡± Nicola added. ¡°And, the Wood King ordered a flock of poultry.¡± ¡°What about corpses?¡± I asked. ¡°Instantly gets rejected,¡± Nicola said, shooting me a dubious look. ¡°The [System] doesn¡¯t allow the storage, in any manner, of any part of a [System] species. Monsters are considered an exception.¡± As are animal parts, I thought, staring down at the sandwich. Her answers raised questions about the [System]¡¯s intelligence, considering its ability to differentiate between various types of items. The [System] was just about the closest thing Vizhima had to a god. Yet, Nana had merely considered it a force of nature. Weird. One more thing bothered me. ¡°When you mention [System] species,¡± I said, struggling to articulate, ¡°you imply that they are markedly different from monsters¡ª¡± ¡°Of course, they are,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Why do you even ask? The monsters might be able to view [System] screens and values, assuming they understand them. But, they can never select an affinity or class. Not like we can.¡± ¡°But, goblins are sapient,¡± I argued, unable to wrap my head around the concept. ¡°How are they any different from elves or humans? What makes them monsters, and the rest of us not?¡± The two rankers looked at me like I had grown a second head. ¡°I¡¯m just performing a thought exercise,¡± I said, trying to correct my slip-up. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about this before today.¡± Nicola nodded slowly, hesitant to buy my excuse but still willing to discuss. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how much intelligence a monster possesses. They can¡¯t be anything other than they are. This divide has existed right from the onset of time.¡± ¡°And, the fact that they disappear when looted? Why does that happen?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because they have served their purpose,¡± Nicola said without missing a beat. ¡°Monsters only exist to further our growth. The instant they are dealt with, they have no reason to persist on Vizhima.¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Ben said. ¡°Looted or not, everyone rots eventually. Monsters simply vanish faster. Even without being looted, most monster corpses disappear over the course of a day.¡± He studied me with crumpled eyebrows. ¡°Are the Dark Elves in Dreadwood pariahs or something? All of this should be common knowledge.¡± It was, but I was also six days old. There was still more to Vizhima that I needed to uncover. And, every scrap of info learned meant an increase in my overall wellness. Ben wiped his fingers on a napkin. ¡°I was wondering if you could answer some questions of mine.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I said. He glanced at Nicola, fast enough that I almost missed it, but still slow enough to prove that the questions weren¡¯t solely of his making. ¡°Your affinity,¡± Ben started, ¡°I know you didn¡¯t want to answer back when Nicola asked, but it¡¯s Fear, isn¡¯t it? That''s how you handled the goblins.¡± I held my breath and considered deflecting, but the cat was already out of the bag. No point in lying, not if I wanted to harvest them for more information. ¡°It is.¡± Nicola inhaled sharply. Ben gaped at me, then slowly shook his head. ¡°I knew it. ¡®Didn¡¯t want to believe it, but there was little else it could be. You¡¯ve never heard of the Lord of . . .?¡± He paused and looked over his shoulder as if expecting the night to clamp around him. ¡°I have,¡± I said, robbing him of the chance to finish the name. ¡°And, it just happened, okay? The choice was wrenched from my grasp.¡± ¡°How does such a choice get wrenched from your grasp?¡± Nicola made a noise as if to interrupt, then thought better of it and huddled into her blanket. Her skimpy robes provided little protection from the night chill, which seeped into my jerkin and gnawed down to the bone. I still hadn¡¯t taken a bath¡ªa fact that would have discomforted me back on Earth. Growing up in a tropical city meant a daily routine of two baths at the minimum, but such luxuries now lay far behind me. ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Ben said, interrupting my musing. ¡°But, I hope you stay out of trouble. Should you make true on your intent to visit the city, it would probably be for the best if you kept your abilities hidden.¡± ¡°More than just probably,¡± Nicola said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Damien. You helped us and all. But, every fiber of my being is screaming at me to physically dissuade you from visiting Skeelie.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Ben said. ¡°Let¡¯s not go that far.¡± ¡°I know. But, I have family waiting for me back home. I don¡¯t want to bring damnation down on their heads.¡± I raised my hands in a placating gesture and tried my most charming smile. ¡°I won¡¯t stay too long in the city if that helps.¡± ¡°It would,¡± Ben said. ¡°The dragon lords haven¡¯t been seen in ages. But, old beliefs die hard. A lot of people still expect them to come swooping out of the sky someday and trigger World¡¯s End.¡± My stomach tossed. ¡°That¡¯s not a thing dragon lords can do, is it? End the world?¡± ¡°They ended their fair share of countries in their time,¡± Ben said with a shrug. ¡°Even the Heralds think twice about locking horns with them.¡± Hoo, boy. I steered the discussion away from that topic. Mostly to prevent hypertension but also to avoid giving more thought to the quest. ¡°So, how did you both end up becoming bodyguards?¡± Ben chuckled. ¡°We¡¯re not bodyguards, Damien. We¡¯re adventurers.¡± I formed an ¡®o¡¯ with my mouth. ¡°You belong to an actual, honest-to-god Adventurer''s guild?¡± ¡°Certified and registered,¡± Ben said, puffing his chest. ¡°Isaac needed armed escort for his little jaunt in Dreadwood. And, since he had a history with us, he approached us for the job.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. Ben¡¯s revelation painted him in a new light, increasing my appreciation for the duo. I¡¯d always thought highly of guilds and adventurers, courtesy of a lifetime of conditioning from roleplaying games. Meeting them in person . . . If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°What¡¯s life as an adventurer like?¡± I asked, almost falling into the campfire with how far I leaned. ¡°Brutal,¡± Ben said. ¡°As if saving the coin for the World Shrine wasn''t bad enough, you find out there isn¡¯t much a ranker is good for except conflict and strife. Sure, joining the Guild grants you a measure of freedom. But, it''s still one relentless fight after another to rank up, earn items, and take higher-paying jobs.¡± ¡°That . . . err, doesn¡¯t sound too fun.¡± ¡°Fun?¡± Ben snorted. ¡°It used to be fun, back in the early days. You start with big dreams about reaching Gold rank and, maybe, even Adamantium. You might even luck out and find a high-tier item during your first few weeks or run into a soulmate at the local tavern." He stared into the campfire. ¡°Then, the hits start coming. A routine quest goes wrong when you least expect it, leaving you clawing for life with 1 HP. Level-ups stop coming easily, and you fall behind on the rent due to an inability to save anything worthwhile after maintaining your gear. ¡°Your dreams of ascension end after the first plateau. You realize you have nothing to look forward to except endless grinding, bleeding, and loss.¡± A pained expression stretched across his face, worsened by the lengthy shadows cast by the campfire. Raw emotion filled his voice, the weight of experience not mere hearsay. I waited in terse silence for him to finish, unable to do as much as breathe. ¡°You know what makes it worse?¡± Ben said into the night. ¡°It¡¯s the fucking inevitability of the whole affair. If you end up being among the thirty percent who don¡¯t die on the battlefield, you either quit the job or become a husk whose entire life is reduced to meaningless numbers.¡± "Blood and numbers," Nicola said. "The ranker way." Blood and numbers . . . That sounded morbid. ¡°But, yeah, it ain''t too bad,¡± Ben said, with a smile that didn''t reach his eyes. ¡°Some people thrive in this profession. All the way down to their graves, at least. Less than one percent of all rankers make it to Adamantium. Makes you wonder what the rest are fighting for.¡± ¡°For family,¡± Nicola said, quietly. Ben didn¡¯t reply. I liked these guys. For a duo of downtrodden adventurers, they still managed to perform admirably at their jobs. They didn¡¯t exactly fit the criteria of strong allies, but wasn¡¯t their steadfastness another kind of strength? They were also closer to my level. If we banded together, we could accomplish stuff we wouldn¡¯t have done individually. I wet my lips. ¡°Are you both interested in starting a party? With me?¡± Nicola blinked groggy amber eyes. ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Just asking. I have a couple of things I need to accomplish, and I would appreciate having honest people like you behind my back.¡± Nicola gave me a look that roughly translated to ¡®What the fuck are you on about?¡¯ I must have cut a ridiculous figure, sitting there with my matted hair and dirty clothes. I¡¯d probably given them more reason to be suspicious of me. Goddammit. ¡°What level are you?¡± Ben asked. ¡°Err . . . fourteen?¡± ¡°And this thing you need to accomplish,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°More so than usual, yes.¡± Ben leaned forward. ¡°Do you have any experience adventuring with a party?¡± ¡°No. Not really.¡± ¡°What about remuneration?¡± Nicola interjected. ¡°Is a ton of money going to be involved?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± The two shared another look. ¡°Damien,¡± Ben started, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°You¡¯re a nice lad, but I don¡¯t think I want to hang out too long with the guy with a taboo for an affinity.¡± ¡°I have family to cater for,¡± Nicola said. ¡°It would be irresponsible of me to go thrill-seeking, not when I can get by with regular jobs from the guild.¡± Smoke wafted into my eyes from the campfire. I wasn¡¯t crying at the rejection, okay? It was just wood ash. I changed tack. ¡°Do you think I would be able to recruit strong adventurers in Skeelie?¡± ¡°As long as you have the coin,¡± Ben said. ¡°Skeelie¡¯s a small city, but it is home to a labyrinth and generates sizable traffic each time the festival approaches. There''s no shortage of expertise, that¡¯s for sure.¡± I furrowed my brows at his answer. Labyrinth? Festival? What did those mean? ¡°May I take the first watch?¡± Nicola cut in, barely stifling a yawn. ¡°I feel like I would be very annoying to deal with if I slept now and was forced to wake later.¡± Ben touched her shoulder sympathetically. ¡°After the mess with the goblins, we would be better served taking the watch in pairs. You should probably retire first, Damien, if you don¡¯t want an intermission in your sleep.¡± I did as he advised. The duo had given me a lot to unpack, regarding rankers and the state of the world. They hadn¡¯t fully satisfied my curiosity, but this much would serve in the meantime. I crawled into the tent and huddled into a ball. Isaac acted awfully chipper as we broke camp the next morning, which was just as well, seeing as he was the only one who had gotten a full night¡¯s sleep. I watched with rapt attention as he rekindled the campfire and earned an eye roll when I pointed out that he could simply throw burning firewood into his inventory. We enjoyed a warm breakfast of bread, tea, and cheese, then continued on our journey. Daylight did wonders for the mood, accompanied by singing birds. Isaac grilled me for every piece of info I could spare on the Dark Elves, but when I stopped being forthcoming, he switched to talking about Skeelie instead. Apparently, Skeelie enjoyed a position of great importance in Bargheria due to the presence of a labyrinth: one of a handful of naturally-occurring dungeons that spawned throughout the world. The Skeelien Labyrinth contributed to the growth of the city¡¯s Adventurer''s guild and ensured a steady influx of tourists and foreign rankers. The attractive taxation rate was the governor¡¯s attempt to capitalize on this, a feature Isaac itched to discuss at length. I let him ramble for long minutes, storing useful information for later. ¡°Can you guess,¡± Isaac said, keeping one arm on the donkey¡¯s flank, ¡°the biggest obstacle to growth in Skeelie?¡± I shook my head, knowing that he would supply the answer. ¡°Dreadwood¡±¡ªhe spat on the path¡ª¡°It blocks off the northern part of the continent and halts all attempts at expansion. Sure, the monsters in it are low-leveled enough, but as long as the enchantment remains, Dreadwood would continue to resist deforestation.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking to an elf, Isaac,¡± Ben warned from the front of the line. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t speak so casually about destroying his home.¡± ¡°Bah!¡± Isaac waved his hand. ¡°The duli? would benefit from urbanization and the free flow of trade as much as we will. Just look at all the opportunities around here waiting to be exploited . . . the moment someone finds a way around the enchantment.¡± ¡°You forget the edict,¡± Nicola said, choosing, for some reason, to walk with one eye closed. ¡°Yeah, that,¡± Isaac conceded. ¡°Dreadwood is the wild god¡¯s domain. No one would act against the forest as long as that old beast persists. But, he won¡¯t go unchallenged for long! That, I can promise you.¡± Nicola perked up. ¡°Trouble.¡± Ben halted our train and drew his greatsword. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Sixty paces and gaining,¡± Nicola said. She closed both eyes this time, focused on a scene only she could see. I didn¡¯t bother looking at [Map]. It would show nothing of use anyway. At least, nothing by the way of enemies. Nicola probably had a spell active, and if her companion¡¯s behavior was any indication, said spell was pretty reliable. Ben shoved a dithering Isaac into the middle of our formation and glanced frantically at Nicola. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°I can''t tell,¡± Nicola hissed, summoning her staff. ¡°Four, maybe five. Definitely humanoid and moving quickly.¡± ¡°Can we take them?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice.¡± We veered off the dirt path into the cover of trees and adopted defensive positions. Ben stood at the vanguard, sword held at the ready. A party of elves¡ªjudging by their cloaks¡ªsurged through the bushes. They looked nothing like Nana¡¯s people, what with their copper skin and light-colored hair. However, their Cloaks of Viridian Gleam were unmistakable in daylight. There was only one other race they could be: Wood Elves, or the Hinduli? in the ancient tongue. The Wood Elves all stood over six feet tall, a trait they shared with their black-skinned cousins. However, their features were nowhere near as nice to look at. While the Dark Elves had cut the picture of an exotic people¡ªwild and alluring at the same time¡ªthe Wood Elves sported such acute features that they ended up being somewhat off-putting to look at. Their copper skin glistened in the sunlight, crisscrossed with green veins. Slanted eyes sat high in their face. Their jawlines tapered to narrow chins shaped like perfect Vs, so much so that they could have passed for living dolls. Ben growled beneath his breath, having just caught proper sight of them. ¡°Wood Elves.¡± The newcomers arrived in a party of six and halted their sprint about thirty meters away. They ignored our defensive stances and strode forward as if enjoying the breeze. ¡°Hail, friends,¡± the elf-woman in the lead said, raising a hand in greeting. Her sharp cheekbones rose like twin ridges on her face, framing an intense stare. Her cropped red hair worsened their severity. ¡°May I request you to follow us back to our village?¡± Isaac frowned. ¡°May I request to decline?¡± The Wood Elf sighed. She jerked her head at her party who fanned out into the bushes. ¡°That was a mere formality, you beef-witted lug. I don''t care if you refuse to follow us of your own volition. Coercion was always on the cards.¡± A dagger snapped into her hand with a deft movement of her wrist. ¡°I do not take kindly to threats,¡± Ben said, brandishing his sword. I looked at him like he had fractured his skull. What do you mean by that, you dolt? We should take this kindly. Very kindly, in fact. We were the ones outnumbered here. ¡°I was hoping you wouldn¡¯t,¡± the Elf-woman said, sporting a grin that made her look insane. ¡°This makes it worthwhile for everyone involved. Now, come. Who wishes to bleed first?¡± 030 Skirmish! ¡°No need for violence!¡± Isaac said, peeking out from behind a tree. ¡°We¡¯re guildsmen from Skeelie. We mean you no harm!¡± The elf-woman scoffed. ¡°There¡¯s little by way of harm you can do to me¡ª¡± ¡°And, you would be right,¡± Isaac said, ¡°had we not entered Dreadwood on the invitation of the Wood King. We might have communicated via proxy, but it still elevates us to the position of guests.¡± The elf-woman stiffened. ¡°You¡¯re one of the merchants who does business with our people?¡± ¡°Oh, honey. Do I look like anything else?¡± Her fingers twitched, filled with the intent to lob her dagger into Isaac¡¯s smug face. ¡°And the people around you?¡± ¡°Bodyguards.¡± A short silence followed. Ben shifted on his feet, unwilling to lower his guard. Nicola stayed hidden somewhere in the periphery, magic spell at the ready. I trusted the two of them to hold their own if it came down to a fight. But, just in case we were in over our heads, I used [Identify]. Wood Elf Scout Captain LVL 20. Oof. That could prove tricky. The other elves behind her were closer to my level, but my heart didn¡¯t agree with the thought of fighting them. Running my knife through the throats of monsters was one thing. Doing the same to people like me? Yeah . . . no. I didn¡¯t want to get comfortable with that idea. Not if I could help it. ¡°You there,¡± the scout captain said. ¡°Dark Elf. Where do you hail from?¡± I stared at her with a blank expression before I realized she was talking to me. ¡°Err . . .¡± Assuming the situation took a turn for the worse, revealing the truth would probably cause problems for Nana. ¡°I¡¯m from the city,¡± I finished. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Isaac and Ben stared at the back of my head. Play along, idiots! The scout captain sighed. ¡°Then, the culprit could easily be any of you. We were sent by our leader to conduct investigations. Someone wandered into the wild god¡¯s territory and disrupted a tomb. Killed one of his pets too.¡± I froze. To my party¡¯s credit, they rolled with the conversation. ¡°The wild god¡¯s pet?¡± Isaac asked. ¡°By that, you mean?¡± ¡°An invasive species,¡± the scout captain answered. ¡°The wild god loves to seed them throughout Dreadwood. They are usually higher level than anything in the region.¡± ¡°Why the hell would he do that?¡± ¡°As a sort of challenge, Isaac,¡± Ben said in exasperation. ¡°Who knows what goes through the minds of the Heralds? But, I don¡¯t think it is right to call those monsters invasive, considering the wild god owns all of Dreadwood.¡± ¡°Right or not,¡± the scout captain said, ¡°it doesn¡¯t change what they are. We¡¯ve lost too many good people to unnatural monsters, which is why all travelers are encouraged to stick to the paths.¡± But, the path connecting Harkonean to the rest of the forest had been terminated. How were the Dark Elves supposed to make it out of their neck of the woods, if the very attempt was treacherous from the start? I didn¡¯t need to think too long for an answer. They weren¡¯t supposed to make it, because the Wood Elves only suffered their presence. Racism. My fingers clenched at the thought. ¡°Nevertheless,¡± the scout captain said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t alter the circumstances. We visited the site of the deed and followed the trail left by the culprit right up to you.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t do it,¡± Isaac said with a dismissive wave. ¡°It¡¯s your word against overwhelming evidence,¡± the scout captain rebutted. ¡°It¡¯s not like we were the only ones on the hunt. Whoever the idiot is, they somehow managed to rile up the monkeys¡ª¡± My heart skipped a beat. ¡°We must have killed over fifty of them while following your tracks. I¡¯ve never seen them so angry.¡± . . . which made no sense to me whatsoever. The monkeys had been violent right from the outset, as though they''d needed no reason to summon a horde. The scout captain raked her eyes over our group. After a while, they settled on me. ¡°You don¡¯t see many Dark Elves outside of Harkonean these days.¡± ¡°He¡¯s one of us,¡± Isaac said. But, Ben didn¡¯t speak, choosing instead to shoot me a wary glance. After our talk last night, he ought to have his suspicions. And, he would lose nothing selling me out to the elves. Ben jutted his chin at the Wood Elves. ¡°What becomes of the culprit if you catch them?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for our leader to decide,¡± the elf-woman said. ¡°Then, we are at an impasse. No law penalizes the killing of monsters in the Dreadwood. You are trying to investigate a crime that doesn¡¯t exist.¡± The Wood Elves raised their bows. ¡°Final warning, knave,¡± the scout captain snarled. ¡°My good elves,¡± Isaac said, ¡°this doesn¡¯t need to end in bloodshed.¡± ¡°It would end whichever way I choose. You are outnumbered and outclassed. I¡¯ll never understand the folly of you adventurers.¡± ¡°But, aren¡¯t you the foolish one here? What do you think would become of your people if you provoke military action between Skeelie and the Wood King?¡± The scout captain flinched. ¡°Let¡¯s agree that this was all just a misunderstanding,¡± Isaac continued. ¡°Good day, and I wish you the best of luck.¡± The scouting party murmured among each other. Isaac made a big show of turning back to the path, signaling the rest of us to follow after him. ¡°Hey, Dark Elf,¡± the scout captain said. ¡°A minute of your time, if you please.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Keep walking,¡± Isaac hissed beneath his breath. ¡°Nice pair of eyes you got there,¡± the scout captain said. ¡°Reminds me of this droll hag I used to know. I don¡¯t suppose you can loosen your jerkin to show me your chest?¡± I ignored her. ¡°The elven chiefs would love to hear this. That, of all the people who could possibly cause trouble for us, it is the kindred of Nana fucking Irithiel.¡± A smirk colored her words. ¡°Who knows? Maybe this time, they won¡¯t stop at destroying the roads. They¡¯ll get some oil and raze your entire fucking village.¡± My temper flared. I squashed it the next moment, but I had already taken a few steps toward the elves. One of the archers trained his bow at me, triggering an activation of [Fear Aura] in reflex. The atmosphere in the gathering changed. The Wood Elves backed away from me with ashen faces, nearly tripping over themselves. The archer from before screamed ¡®monster!¡¯ and fired an arrow into my face. I slapped the missile out of the air with the flat of my blade before even registering the shot. The rest of the elves fired, but Nicola was two steps ahead. She raised a tentacle to deflect the volley while Ben swept Isaac behind the wagon. A spike emerged from the earth, tearing the tentacle in two. Two more arrows thudded into the wagon beside my head. Ben swung his sword, throwing a giant wave of flame at the elves. It broke their composure, but only for a bit. More stone spikes rose from the ground, shattering our vehicle. ¡°No,¡± Isaac cried. ¡°That cost me a fortune!¡± A dark shape blurred past the altered landscape, leaking killing intent. I blocked the blade headed for my chest but missed the kick aimed at my midsection. I sailed into the wagon. A second kick waited as I rebounded and plastered me against a spike. ¡°Stay down,¡± the scout captain said, spinning her dagger. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to stop holding back.¡± ¡°Get bent,¡± I snarled in answer, wincing from the pain in my gut. The elf-woman threw a punch that I managed to dodge. I launched a monster core into her face. She recoiled in shock, enough for my own kick to slam into her torso. She didn¡¯t budge. . . . which, in hindsight, should have been obvious. A Strength value of [7] probably meant that I hit like a teenager. My regular attacks didn¡¯t benefit from the magical boost I gained from striking with my dagger. That kinda sucked. The scout captain attacked me in a flurry, forcing me to deflect her strikes. She struck multiple times in the span of five seconds, scoring hits despite my parries. My back touched the surface of a spike that jutted through the wagon. I hadn¡¯t been pressed this badly in any of my past melees with monsters, proving my lack of experience fighting rankers. A vicious dagger strike raked across my cheek, slicing another chunk from my health meter. Her next slash knocked my blade aside. She pulled back for a follow-up, but Ben¡ªgood, old Ben¡ªcaught the strike on the edge of his sword. The scout captain shimmered. Two duplicates appeared beside her, maniacally swinging their blades. ¡°[Triplicate]?¡± Ben choked, stumbling backward. The duplicates chased after him. The last one¡ªthe real scout¡ªwailed again on me. I swung my dagger in a diagonal slash at her torso. She stepped back with a smirk. The Blackreach Dagger activated at the last second, drunk on the power fed into it. Shadows extended from the tip of the blade, striking the scout captain from ear to cheek. Heh. Take that. The elf-woman blinked for a moment in stunned silence. Then, her features contorted, like water freezing over, causing a chill to run up my spine. Actual Ice erupted from her blade, slithering up to her fist. I didn¡¯t need another warning. I dived aside to avoid the spear of ice, which obliterated the rest of the wagon. A roar emanated from the forest, causing a few of the Wood Elves to halt. I dodged another strike from the elf-woman, earning a graze to the shoulder from her attack. Liquid pain surged into my brain, forcing me to bite my lip to keep from screaming. Ben decapitated the second of the clones and barreled toward us. The scout captain quickly retreated. More roars joined the first one, putting an abrupt halt to the proceedings of the skirmish. All of the Wood Elves retreated into the bushes, in an attempt to decipher the source of the noises. The roars had gotten closer now, mixed in with some howling. I recognized the latter of those sounds. ¡°Dread Monkeys!¡± someone said. ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± the scout captain spat. ¡°We obliterated them just yesterday!¡± ¡°First time, huh?¡± I asked, unable to restrain a grin. Her eyes widened. ¡°You! What did you do to the monkeys?¡± Me?! I was a victim here! Before we could speak another word, the Dread Monkeys arrived, launching up from the grass and out of the treetops. I counted about thirty before they descended on us, kickstarting the second phase of the skirmish. I still had a decent chunk of health, but the monsters could threaten that by sheer numbers, low-leveled though they were. I let my dagger sing, relying on [Fear Aura] and Dexterity to tide the assault. ¡°Help,¡± Isaac shrieked as a monkey dragged him off by the leg. The scout captain glanced his way, tsked, and then she sent a throwing knife into the monster¡¯s skull. I returned the favor by turning [Fear Aura] on a group of monkeys who had succeeded in massing around an elf. Ben split a monkey in two. He tugged my arm, and we surged toward Isaac. Nicola followed after us, bearing the most damage to health. ¡°Why are monkeys here?¡± she panted. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this!¡± ¡°Who cares?¡± Ben said. ¡°We¡¯ll just consider it good fortune. Save your breath. We¡¯re making a run for it.¡± A Wood Elf took note of us as we darted between the bushes. He drew an arrow and raised a cry only to quieten the next instant when a boulder flew past and collided with his head. The four of us froze. The wounded elf stumbled around for a few morbid seconds with a face that had been reduced to papier-mach¨¦. His HP bottomed out, and he collapsed to the ground. He didn¡¯t get up. A new monster strode out of the woods¡ªa Dread Monkey, assuming that the monkeys could grow ten feet tall and partake in body-building competitions. This monster was definitely the source of the noises from earlier and looked even more terrifying in person. Unlike the other monkeys which sported grey fur that bordered on silver, this one¡¯s fur featured red highlights, the color of a once grey cloth washed poorly of blood. Silver chains surrounded its arms and tail, all of which hung twice as long as its torso. The surviving monkeys cheered at its presence, then fled for the trees. The giant monkey howled in turn and beat its chest with its fists. I used [Identify] even as I took a few steps backward. Primal Dread Monkey LVL 31. ¡°It¡¯s Silver-ranked,¡± one of the Wood Elves said, in a voice so high-pitched, it threatened to pop her vocal cords. Similar cries went up among her companions. ¡°It¡¯s Silver-ranked!¡± All of the color drained from the scout captain¡¯s face. ¡°No . . . That can¡¯t be right. Dread Monkeys don¡¯t grow this strong. Unless . . .¡± Her eyes refocused as a light bulb came on in her head. ¡°It¡¯s the wild god¡¯s. One of his pets. Something about its presence causes the monkeys to act the way they do!¡± The monster roared with magical intensity. Half of us fell to our knees. A [System] notification appeared in the corner of my vision. Multiple notifications soon joined it. And, judging by the faces of the other elves, they had gotten them too. You are afflicted with [Dismay]. All stats have dropped by [2]. Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. It seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. I underwent a minor whiplash as my stats suffered a penalty then rose back to normal. The others didn¡¯t have the same luxury, which meant anyone with a threshold stat was now a little weakened. The monster roared again and bounded into our midst. One large arm shattered a nearby tree. Another grabbed Isaac¡¯s donkey and flung it into an elf. The Wood Elves reacted. They fired on the beast, using bows, magic, and a sling in one case. Ice, rock, and wind blasts bombarded the creature. Ben formed a flaming aura around his greatsword¡ª ¡°Really?¡± I said. ¡°That monster is level 31. You are just asking to die.¡± ¡°How do you know its level?¡± Nicola asked. ¡°My donkey . . .¡± Isaac said instead, falling to his knees. ¡°None of that matters,¡± Ben said, hauling Isaac to his feet. ¡°We can¡¯t just run away, because it is going to kill those elves, and after it does, it will chase after us. Might as well make our last stand something worthwhile.¡± Ugh. He had a point. The Primal Dread Monkey swung its arm, striking an elf with its chain. It leaped after the victim immediately after, grounding him to a pulp. The earth user summoned stone spikes to contain it, but the monkey grabbed the dead elf instead and launched him at her head. Ben stepped in at that moment and caught the corpse, though the force sent him sliding backward into a tree. The monkey finally noticed our party. It peeled back its lips in a terrifying roar and charged on all fours. All hell broke loose. 031 Monkeying Around I wasn¡¯t a frontline fighter, so I scrambled for cover. But, that left Ben as the only one with the capacity to weather aggro. He fought valiantly, but the gap between monster and man was just too vast. Within the first exchange, he lost a third of his HP. A moment later, his health meter dipped into the red as the monster won a glancing hit with its chains. Nicola chipped in at that moment, raising a tentacle around the monkey. The scout captain barked orders, and her three surviving companions enacted a well-practiced maneuver. They dashed around the stone spikes and the trees, shooting a plethora of arrows. All of the normal arrows bounced off the monster¡¯s hardened fur without the slightest effect on HP. The enhanced ones, however, sizzled with auras of magic. Loud booms erupted as the abilities collided with the beast, forcing it to stagger. The Primal Dread Monkey''s health dropped by about ten percent. But, with how large that health pool was, it barely even noticed. The monster roared again, refreshing [Dismay]. It moved with lightning speed and grabbed a rock ball that had formed out of an arrow in midair. It launched the ball at a tree, obliterating a large stretch of the forest in a line. An elf-woman scurried out of cover¡ªthe sole caster left among the Wood Elves. She activated her ability and sent stone spikes into the monster¡¯s torso. It chased after her. The scout captain appeared out of [Stealth] from behind them and swung her dual daggers into the monkey¡¯s back. She did good damage by virtue of being the strongest ranker on our team. Though, good in this case didn¡¯t mean much. The monkey responded with a swipe of its tail, which left a sonic boom in its wake. The scout captain dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth and fired an ice spear into its butt. The monster shrieked and turned to face her, abandoning its pursuit of the earth user. Large hammer hands pummeled the ground around the scout. The great plumes of dust that followed obscured the duo, shrouding the outcome of the attack. But, I hoped she escaped. Asshole or not, she was the lesser evil, and we needed all the help we could get against the monster. The Primal Dread Monkey emerged from the dust, matted with dirt. This time, it settled on a new target: the fleeing Nicola. Ben tossed an empty potion bottle aside and raised his sword over his head. He mumbled a technique beneath his breath. Whatever he did sufficed to make the monkey abandon Nicola and race for him. He had drawn its aggro, somehow. A classic tank move. But, that was bad. Ben had used one health potion, which rendered him unable to drink another until six hours passed. He avoided a head-on clash with the monkey, choosing instead to dodge and focus on staying alive. The Wood Elves supplied cover fire, but for all their efforts, the monkey''s health meter remained at sixty percent. Finally understanding my role in the fight, I imitated the scout captain and activated [Stealth]. Our eyes met as I did so, causing her to nod in approval. We both crept to the thick of the fighting. The monkey had its back to us, bent as it was on tearing Ben to pieces. This close to the beast, I could see the corded muscles ripple beneath its fur¡ªfeel the vibrations in the air left by the speed of its passing. Dust from its footfalls clogged my nose and throat, joining the sweat that threatened to blind my eyes. The monkey moved so fast . . . I had trouble perceiving its actions. This was a fight I had no business partaking in; one that surpassed my pay grade and hazard allowance. As if in accordance, the [System] offered another stack of Fear. But, with two stacks already wasted reversing the effects of the debuff, it didn¡¯t do much to help. Ben stumbled on the upturned earth, leaving him at the mercy of the monkey. ¡°Now, Dark Elf!¡± the scout captain hissed. I was already moving. We threw ourselves at the back of the Primal Dread Monkey, seeking purchase in the heels of its legs. Even with The Blackreach Dagger¡¯s unique ability, my attacks still felt no different from using a butter knife to cut through granite. The freaking ape also reacted much faster than anticipated. And, I¡¯d earlier judged it to move at thrice my speed. I weaved between its blows and tail swipes in a half daze, relying chiefly on instinct. Ben raised his sword again and activated the skill that forced the monkey to focus on him. The scout captain and I took advantage of the respite. Our blades raked at the area beneath the monkey¡¯s tail, leaving deep grooves in its HP. I didn¡¯t do as much damage as she did, but goddamn it felt satisfying. The monkey leaped five feet into the air at the triple pinpricks. It landed with an earth-shattering tremor that threw all three of us off our feet. Its powerful tail scythed the air, missing my head by inches, and slammed into the scout captain. She became an imprint in a tree. Over half of her HP evaporated in that one hit. If the monkey had hit me instead . . . I hesitated for a half moment, feet quaking in my boots. ¡°Damien, no!¡± Ben tackled me out of the way of a large fist aimed at my head. It left us both at the mercy of the monkey, and I tensed up in anticipation of the strike. But then, a sturdy tentacle coiled around our limbs and threw us to safety. The Primal Dread Monkey hissed in dissatisfaction and tugged a large stone spike free from the ground. I made myself scarce with [Stealth], leaving Ben to scamper away on his own. An unfortunate elf peeked out of cover to take a shot, and the beast bifurcated her with the spike, tossing it as one would toss a javelin. Ben screamed a challenge. The flames around his sword grew hotter and hotter until they threatened to consume him. Steam hissed from his skin, and he charged at the monster with all caution thrown to the wind. The monkey pivoted to engage him, and the scout captain surged out of the bushes, throwing an empty potion bottle behind her. All three clashed with a series of dizzying blows that resounded across the forest. And, for the first time since the fight began, the Sophonts were winning. Ben and the elf fought in tandem, working with such sync that they seemed to have been married for years. Ben¡¯s sword shrieked with righteous fury, spewing great gouts of flame each time it intercepted the monkey. The Wood Elf darted around them, winning critical strikes with her daggers. Nicola and the surviving duo of snipers chipped in. I could only watch in stunned silence as they whittled away at the monster¡¯s health. The giant health bar over the Primal Dread Monkey dipped to thirty percent. If we could continue like this . . . If we could just win this game of attrition . . . Ben stepped forward for a swing, but rather than a plume of flame, his sword released a weak sputter. He blinked out of his wrath-filled daze, only just realizing that he had run out of MP. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The monster capitalized on the brief window. It raised its gigantic hands over its head and brought its palms together. My ears exploded. You have been struck with [Deafness]! All sustained skills and abilities have been deactivated. You are afflicted with [Dismay]! Since this is already active, the duration has now been extended. The Primal Dread Monkey continued forward, though I could barely hear it over the ringing in my ears. It punched Ben with a heavy fist, then swept the scout captain aside when she tried to intervene. The mild sweep blew another chunk out of her health. But, she vanished into the bushes, [Stealth] covering her movements. The Primal Dread Monkey placed a heavy foot on Ben¡¯s chest and wrenched the sword free from his grasp. It came away with his gauntlet and the entirety of his sleeve. Ben shrieked in agony from a dislocation to the shoulder; a wound made possible by the emptying of his health meter. One more stomp was all it would take to finish him. One more¡ª ¡°Get your filthy hands off him!¡± Nicola screamed, recovering from the thunderclap faster than anyone else. The tentacle that followed did little to bother the monkey. But, it provided a valuable window for the snipers to renew their attacks. A dark expression fell over the monkey¡¯s face, and it rushed through the onslaught of missiles and rocks for the Wood Elves. I dove out of its path and lashed out in passing with my dagger. However, it ignored me in favor of chasing after the elves. The earth Mage managed to duck behind a timely wall of stone, but a ferocious punch sent it cascading around her. Her partner wasn¡¯t so lucky. A single slap sent her head sailing into the trees. The scout captain reappeared with an ice spear in her grasp. Tears and bloody murder painted her face. She targeted once more the region beneath the tail and sent the monkey springing with a yelp. She dodged the retaliatory strikes that followed, diverting attention away from her trapped teammate. ¡°Just you and me now, bastard,¡± the scout captain taunted, hacking out the words. Dirt sullied her face, lending her a maddened image when combined with her bulging eyes. The primal ape pounded its chest. One long roar followed, then another, and then it darted forward in acceptance of the challenge. If the scout captain fell now, there would be no one left to lead the assault. I had to assist her and provide damage support in the way she had done for Ben. But, I was weak. Way too weak. The Pyramid of Rebirth flashed in my mind¡¯s eye, alongside the old man homunculus who had decided not to fight. There are times to lay down your arms, Damien. And, there are times to fight. This is one of them. I put a single foot down in front of me¡ª Hey, it seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. The buff triggered a second notification: [DEX] has now risen from Common to Greater. You deal 4x base damage using [DEX]-based weapons. You have gained the [Dual-wielding] perk. Speed has risen by 2x! Now, we¡¯re talking! I took a second step forward. And, a third. And then, I dashed toward the fight, calling shadows out of The Blackreach Dagger. Rogues weren¡¯t built for frontal assaults, a fact I knew from my experience with the class. The scout captain held her own despite that, using her incredible agility to compensate for her lack of durability. Nevertheless, the monster matched her movements: just as fast and three times as strong. It swung its chain weapons, raising dust and leaving massive craters in the ground. It was only a matter of time before the scout captain made a mistake. But, I intended to extend that window. I ran up behind the monkey and scored a blow on its Achilles¡¯ heel. It retaliated with a back kick. I danced out of reach. The scout captain formed two duplicates to occupy the monkey''s attention. They moved with daggers and minds of their own, tripling the damage she had been dealing. Their deadly battle turned even more chaotic as all four fighters spun around, ripping into each other. I followed them regardless and slashed the monster¡¯s heels from out of [Stealth] each time I saw an opportunity. The monkey released a frustrated howl and stomped the ground. Vibrations rippled outward, jamming into my skull. All four of us lost our footing, and one clone stumbled into the monkey''s path. She disappeared in a cloud of smoke the next second as a large fist separated her head from her shoulders. The two scout captains tried to retreat, but the monkey whipped about like a top. Huge chains swept through the air, severing trees and tearing huge grooves into the ground. They sliced the clone into nothingness who pushed her creator aside to take the hit. The scout captain rebounded with an ice lance, still maddened with rage. But, a backhand from the monkey sent her flying into the bushes. She didn¡¯t get up, assuming she still lived. But, considering the empty health meter, it was safe to assume that her role in the fight had ended. I had to run. With everyone else beaten, Nicola and I were as good as dead. But, I didn¡¯t escape. Not even as the monkey roared into the sky and turned red eyes on me. I matched its glare with a red-eyed stare of my own, making my last stand here in the forest. My arms betrayed my conviction, trembling so hard I almost dropped the dagger. Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. I chuckled at the message. With the fifth stack of [Fear], my Strength finally entered the Common tier. I could now hit for two times base damage thanks to that, in addition to the four times I got from Greater Dexterity. I¡¯d come a long way from the old Damien who only lived for his next meal. Even if I fell here, I¡¯d experienced more in the past week than I had in twenty-five years of life. The monster pounced. I rolled aside with seconds to spare, but its arm still managed to clip me. The glancing blow propelled me into an earth spike and then onto the ground. Blinding pain followed the sinking of my health meter. I fumbled around for a potion in my inventory. Thunderous footsteps indicated the monkey¡¯s pursuit. My fingers closed around the stopper of a health potion, but I''d run out of a chance to drink it. Fuck. I didn¡¯t want to die. I didn''t want to die, after all. But, the monkey loomed just behind me. Nicola emerged from hiding, mage staff brimming with energy. A sigil expanded on the ground, right in the monkey¡¯s path. The primal ape tried to halt its momentum, but the spell had already activated. ¡°Eat shit, asshole!¡± Nicola said. Tentacles bloomed from the ground, as tall as houses and wriggling like worms. They battered the ape with the force of their rising and sent it tripping over itself. The tentacles closed around its limbs, tugging it to the ground. Might contested against might. Nicola swooned, drained from the exertion of her mega spell. But, even her most powerful ability withered in the face of sheer brute force. The primal ape struggled against its bonds, crushing the tentacles into motes of purple light. Its health meter emptied with a zing that echoed throughout the battlefield. I dashed across the clearing. The last ice spear formed by the scout captain lay where it had been abandoned. Frost radiated in a circle around it. I grabbed it in both hands and shivered as an unnatural chill bit into my skin. If the elf could use this, then I could. We were both rogues, after all. [Identify]. Spear of Indifference [Common]. A pure mana construct created from Apathy. Deals ice-based damage upon attack. Note: This is a hybrid weapon. Requirement: Common Strength or Dexterity. I passed either requirement. And, judging from the text, it also benefited from [DEX]-based damage. The Primal Dread Monkey turned as I approached. It destroyed the last of the tentacles in a terrific display of strength. Chain weapons swung for my head, but I had Greater Dexterity, baby. I could do this! I somersaulted over a wild sweep and shoved the weapon deep up its pelvis. The monster doubled over with a whimper. Warm blood showered my hand, clashing with the chill of the spear. I held its pained gaze, even as a hot breath gusted from its nostrils over my face. ¡°Look at me,¡± I said in a steady voice, ignoring the sweat falling over my eyelids. ¡°That skill you use; the one that inflicts [Dismay]? I can do that and more. You will learn real fear.¡± The monster tried to rise. I threw my weight against the spear, twisting it violently. It cried out in pain. [Fear Aura]. Had this been invoked earlier in the battle, the ability wouldn¡¯t have worked due to the sheer difference in levels. But I¡¯d learned from a week¡¯s worth of experiences that dying monsters were very susceptible to the aura I exuded. The monster¡¯s eyes widened as red orbs stared into red. It resisted the first instance of [Dismay]. However, the combination of pain, fear, and death put a brief halt to its actions. The icicle shattered in my grasp. I drew The Blackreach Dagger out of my Inventory and went for the throat. 032 Recovery Who¡¯s a winner? You, that¡¯s who! You have participated in the killing of Primal Dread Monkey. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. Level up! You are now level 15. Visit the status screen to allocate your free stat points. You have unlocked a new bonus technique as a reward for reaching level 15. Visit your status sheet to inspect it! I stepped away from the dead monkey in a daze. My legs quivered beneath me, running on the last dregs of stamina. I¡¯d risen by a single level for the monster kill. Not exactly fulfilling, but also understandable given that it had taken nine of us to slay the dread beast. I probably ranked near the bottom in terms of participation. But, I¡¯d gotten the last hit. That was good enough for me. ¡°Ben,¡± I called, racing toward the wounded swordsman. ¡°Ben!¡± Nicola beat me to it. She knelt beside him, cradling his good hand in hers. Ben¡¯s huge chest went through the motions of breath, proof that he clung still to life. However, a quick inspection of the rest of his features wiped the smile from my face. His brown eyes squinted in pain, enough to prevent full awareness of his surroundings. A fractured humerus poked out of his shoulder, far enough that it revealed the white of bone. I fell to my knees beside them. ¡°Oh my gosh . . .¡± Ben moaned unintelligibly, turning ashen with pain. Blood pooled from his shoulder, coating his face and neck. ¡°We need to help him!¡± I said, retrieving a health potion from my inventory. ¡°Damien, wait¡ª¡± Nicola said. I pressed the bottle to his mouth. Warning: The target is suffering a red potion cooldown. This action may result in death. I withdrew abruptly. ¡°Y-yeah,¡± Nicola said, as I slipped the potion back into my inventory. ¡°We can¡¯t do anything to heal him, not for six hours at least.¡± She turned those golden eyes of hers on me, mired in tears. ¡°I¡¯ve not dealt with anything like this before, Damien. What should I do?¡± What could I do? I knew basic first aid, but none of it could help treat this kind of wound. ¡°We need to irrigate his shoulder. Water, or maybe saline . . .¡± Did germ theory exist in Vizhima? Was it even necessary, considering magic and potions? ¡°To prevent an infection?¡± Nicola tearfully said. ¡°We can deal with that should it become a problem.¡± ¡°Then, we should probably try to staunch the wound¡ª¡± She pulled an entire roll of gauze from her inventory and pressed it against his shoulder. ¡°Not over the bone, no,¡± I said. ¡°Around it.¡± Ben hissed in pain. ¡°It¡¯s not doing much to help,¡± Nicola said. ¡°The bleeding won¡¯t stop!¡± I stared at her bloodied hands, just as lost as she was. The bleeding won¡¯t stop . . . ¡°Goblin ears,¡± I whispered. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Goblin ears! That¡¯s the best shot we have!¡± I pulled a single one from my inventory and crammed it into Ben¡¯s open mouth. After a moment of hesitation, I added one more. Nicola swung her magic staff at my head. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Wait!¡± I said. ¡°The goblin ears can help!¡± Ben made a face and tried to spit them out, forcing me to clamp a hand over his mouth. ¡°Chew it, man. Please.¡± Nicola glared at me in disgust. ¡°Damien, if you just tried to poison him . . .¡± ¡°Why would I do that? Goblin ears possess a coagulant property. It¡¯s the closest we can get to stopping the bleeding without healing him.¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "But¡ª" "Just trust me, okay? I''m speaking from experience." Nicola quieted down. She helped Ben to chew and poured him a drink of water from a gourd. Ben¡¯s tightened expression didn¡¯t ease, but I could have sworn the bleeding tapered off a little. ¡°Here,¡± Nicola said, offering me another pair of goblin ears. ¡°I can¡¯t find Isaac. Just in case he¡¯s wounded . . .¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go. Keep staunching the wound.¡± Nicola trembled slightly. She looked even more fragile than Ben did, coated in blood and muck. Yet, it was with extreme determination that she pressed more gauze to his shoulder, intent on keeping him alive. I darted off across the forest, confident in her ability to handle things. ¡°Isaac? Isaac!¡± Where did he run off to? I hadn¡¯t seen him ever since the Primal Dread Monkey attacked. ¡°Isaac?¡± a labored voice said. ¡°Is that your other friend?¡± The scout captain hacked, dribbling blood from her mouth. She propped herself up against a tree, too wounded to crawl any further. I didn¡¯t exactly pity her . . . but there was no denying that we wouldn¡¯t have won that fight without her contribution. ¡°Your friend . . .¡±¡ªshe winced¡ª¡°I saw him try to drag one of ours to safety. But, that was before the fight got even more chaotic.¡± She turned pleading eyes on me. ¡°I can¡¯t move, but Miriel¡¯s still trapped. Help¡ª¡± ¡°You tried to kill me.¡± The scout captain winced. ¡°No . . . I just wanted to make you more amenable to capture.¡± ¡°Fat lot of difference that makes.¡± ¡°We fought together¡ª¡± ¡°And, it was a jolly good time, girl. But, I¡¯m not going to offer assistance just so you can try to capture me again.¡± Another line of blood made it down her chin. ¡°Please,¡± she said. ¡°I won¡¯t bother you again. I swear on my life! Help Miriel, and I will be in your debt.¡± I studied her as she devolved into sobs. A dangerous feeling consumed me in that moment¡ªthe sound of vengeance whispering in my ears. I held power over the life of another being. But, rather than scare me like it should, it left me feeling intoxicated. Was this a glimpse of the kind of person I could become? The kind of man I always wanted to be? I could do more with my life here in Vizhima. Much more. But, would it benefit me to live exactly the way I wanted? Fuck you, I snarled to inner me, slamming a lid over the brew of my thoughts. I crouched beside the elf. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on that offer, but aside from being left alone, there is something else I want in return.¡± She glared at me with those almond-shaped eyes, clouded with pain. ¡°Speak it.¡± ¡°Goblin Scouts have been sighted in this part of the forest.¡± I searched her eyes for foreknowledge, but she displayed nothing of the sort. ¡°We believe they might be the vanguard of a larger expedition.¡± She blinked a few times. ¡°A handful of goblins doesn¡¯t imply the existence of a horde . . .¡± ¡°What about a handful of scouts accompanied by sorcerers? They have also tried to kidnap elves, humans, and Alpha dread beasts. And, all of these have happened under the noses of your kin.¡± A frown made its way across her face. ¡°That would be worrying, if true.¡± She paused to cough. ¡°Miriel¡ª¡± ¡°I will check on her the instant we are done here. But, we must finalize the intricacies of your debt.¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°The Dark Elves need help against the goblins. I won''t ask for much. All I want is for you to organize a small force capable of disrupting the goblins, from blindspots they don''t expect.¡± The scout captain snorted in my face. ¡°Only the Wood King can mobilize the armies. I am but the scorned daughter of a lowly elf chief.¡± ¡°A scorned blade is still a blade.¡± She shut her mouth at that and angled her head to get a better look at me. ¡°If the Dark Elves fall,¡± I continued, ¡°your village would be next in line. What would you do in that instance? Wait for the Wood King before leaping to its defense?¡± The elf-woman stayed silent. "The goblins are a shared enemy. I''m simply offering a chance to bloody them before they point their blades at you." ¡°Miriel,¡± she said at last. ¡°After I have your oath that you would help preserve the Dark Elves. Of course, your initial promise of calling off the chase still stands.¡± ¡°Miriel,¡± she repeated. I didn¡¯t budge. Realizing that a game of wills would only end in one outcome, she relented with a sigh. ¡°I promise on all that is good and green, I will personally convey your message to the Wood Elves. And, if nothing comes of it, I will visit the theater of battle myself. Now, help my friend or this will all be for naught.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± I had no way of knowing if oaths were a binding element on Vizhima. Nevertheless, I accepted her promise and approached the heap of rubble that had buried her friend. A dainty hand protruded from underneath the debris, stained with mud. ¡°Miriel? Please, tell me you¡¯re still alive.¡± ¡°Help me,¡± a small voice said from beneath the rubble. ¡°I¡¯m struggling to breathe!¡± I pulled a boulder from out of the heap. Heavy lifting was one of my specialties, thanks to my stint in construction. In no time at all, I managed to free her from peril, leveraging the effects of [Scaredy-cat]. Miriel crawled her way out from under her prison, gasping for breath. She was stick thin, even for an elf, and somewhat shorter than the heights that I¡¯d grown accustomed to. Her mage robes threatened to swallow her form. Brown hair hung from her head in twin tails. ¡°You¡¯re not one of us,¡± she said with trepidation upon seeing my face. ¡°Is Rilwan okay?¡± She turned around with wide eyes. ¡°Rilwan?¡± The scout captain answered with a grunt. Both elf-women reunited with lots of hugging. That left Isaac as the only other person that concerned me who was yet to be located. I found him as the elf had suggested, hidden behind a tree. However, the tree had fallen, crushed to smithereens by a boulder which had also leveled a large swath of grass. Isaac wasn¡¯t the target of the shot, but he''d been killed by it either way. I slumped to the ground and ran my hands over my face. I¡¯d known Isaac for a little over a day, but his death still managed to evoke an indescribable frustration. Isaac had been laughing and talking my head off just this morning. Now . . . I switched off after that, unwilling to linger in the solitude of my thoughts. Miriel and Rilwan ended their touching reunion by weeping over the loss of their friends. I rejoined my party. Ben no longer bled as badly, though he had succumbed to the lull of sleep. He shivered as he slept, lips dry and stained from the anguish he endured. Nicola caught my gaze. ¡°Isaac?¡± I shook my head. She understood my meaning and pulled her hat low over her head. The afternoon passed in silence. A silence that bore the finality of endings. 033 Skeelie, at Last The Primal Dread Monkey dropped some impressive loot. I received a monkey tail from it, alongside a monster core and two lengths of chain, all of Greater rank. The chain weapons piqued my curiosity. They had shrunk from their former massive sizes, rendering them less unwieldy. I held the chains in both hands and swung them, marveling at how light they felt. Chains of the Combat Ape [Greater]. A melee-type weapon with specialties in short and medium-ranged combat. Each length of chain can be attached to a blade to unlock new properties and increase its damage. Requirement: Greater Strength or Dexterity. Despite the drop in weight, I couldn¡¯t properly handle the weapons. My first swing nearly inflicted a hematoma on my forehead, and the chains refused to coil around my forearms while being retracted. I would have to learn to wield them the hard way. [Knife-fighting] certainly didn''t help. But, what about the rest of the loot? The collector in me yearned to keep all three rewards for myself, but I didn¡¯t need to read social cues to recognize such a move as a terrible faux pas. The others had sacrificed more in this fight than I had. I might have gotten the last hit, but that didn¡¯t grant me the privilege to act like an ass. I laid the items out on the ground. ¡°How are we going to divide this?¡± The scout captain, whose name I needed to keep reminding myself was Rilwan, looked hungrily at the items. She licked her lips and said in a strained voice. ¡°You¡¯re the last hitter, you get to choose.¡± ¡°Three for three,¡± Nicola said, having never left Ben¡¯s side. ¡°Between us, the Wood Elves, and you, Damien, we constitute three parties. I don¡¯t mind if you go first either.¡± ¡°Then, can we go second?¡± Rilwan asked. I nodded in answer. I already had one greater monster core in my inventory and didn¡¯t care much for herbalism or alchemy. I picked the chains to add some versatility to my arsenal. The Wood Elves picked the monster core with something akin to reverence, a choice that elicited a wince from Nicola. However, she shrugged it off and selected the monkey tail on behalf of her party. Rilwan coughed, still grievously wounded, but not wounded enough to merit goblin ears from me. We opted to wait out the six hours in quiet companionship until their potion timers reset. Rilwan informed us the moment it was up and leaned back to receive a health potion from Miriel. Nicola held hers up to Ben¡¯s lips and cajoled him to drink. Ben had soldiered through his injury in delirium for the duration of the wait. For a few dreadful seconds, the health potion didn¡¯t take effect. But then, steam wafted up from Ben¡¯s arm, smelling of cooked blood and warm eggs. Ben grunted as his humerus rejoined his shoulder, starting with the bone, and then filling in with tendons, muscles, and skin. ¡°Oh, Ben,¡± Nicola said, wrapping the now fully conscious man in a hug. Ben didn¡¯t return it. He stared at the ground with a blank look, and then at his arm and chest which had both been healed. I recognized that look; I¡¯d seen something similar in the mirror the day mom died. Nevertheless, Ben lived now. That was all that mattered. We¡¯d take that win, no matter how minute. Rilwan strode up to me, the perfect image of confidence now that she wasn¡¯t wheezing like a bagpipe. I sighed and grabbed my dagger. ¡°I guess this is where you do your evil laugh and tell me that I was a fool for treating you with kindness.¡± She stopped in her tracks. ¡°What? No. I wanted to inform you of our intent to leave.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I peeked closely at her. ¡°You¡¯re not going to backstab me the moment my guard is down?¡± Rilwan frowned. ¡°You must think me a barbarian, just like the rest of your kin. There is honor among the elves, no matter the color.¡± ¡°Good to know.¡± I relaxed my stance. ¡°Because, we all killed the Primal Dread Monkey, and that beast was definitely seeded by the wild god. I guess that makes you an accomplice?¡± She made a face. The Wood Elves left shortly afterward, hauling their dead, or what remained of them, to be buried in a corner. Isaac''s wagon lay ruined beyond repair, broken atop a wall of spikes. What little we could salvage from it went to Ben and Nicola for safekeeping. Ben seemed out of it. He wandered about in a daze and stumbled a few times over his footing. He eventually took a seat as the three of us discussed our next course of action. Isaac might have hired me, but he had only paid half the fee, leaving me unbound to see out the contract. I assured them that I would do so, either way. Skeelie had always been my destination, and the fight with the monkey had taught me the benefit of traveling in groups. The other issue lay in the consequences of Isaac¡¯s death. Ben and Nicola had failed in their job to protect him, which would attract all sorts of queries once they returned to the city. Isaac''s family would also appreciate the return of the corpse, as would the guilds if only to speed up the investigation. ¡°We¡¯d have to deal with the smell,¡± Nicola said, worrying her lip. ¡°We are still about two days away from Skeelie . . .¡± I produced the Burial Shroud from my inventory. ¡°Maybe, this would help? It supposedly slows decay.¡± ¡°Oh, Damien,¡± Nicola said, sighing in relief. I said nothing about my discomfort at putting the shroud to use less than three days after I''d gotten it. Talk about a definite Chekhov¡¯s gun. I sure as hell wasn''t taking it back, what with the Barrow Wight grinning in my head. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. We cleaned Isaac as best as we could and wrapped him in the shroud. Ben strapped the bundle to his back, cutting a rather morbid picture. ¡°What a day,¡± I mumbled, traveling behind my companions. They hadn''t said a word since we departed, but I could only imagine how they felt. Just yesterday, we had been talking about the hazards concerning life as an adventurer. And, now . . . I shook my head. ¡°Did any of you level up from the kill?¡± I asked, seeking a change of topic. Nicola blinked at me with bloodshot eyes. ¡°I did, but only by one. Ben did too.¡± The swordsman kept striding in front of us, eyes focused on the path. ¡°The trade-off wasn¡¯t worth it though,¡± Nicola continued. ¡°I¡¯d give back every scrap of XP just to avoid this encounter.¡± ¡°Are trips to Dreadwood usually this dangerous?¡± ¡°Not usually, no. Not as long as you stick to the paths. But, between the appearance of goblins and the change in the monkeys¡¯ behavior, all of our current guidelines will need to be discarded.¡± She mumbled the last part to herself. ¡°The guild will not like this.¡± I had nothing to say about guild politics, so I focused instead on my condition. I¡¯d automatically expended a spirit orb during the long wait from earlier, leaving four in my inventory. It meant that I had reached a good time to start panicking. But, deep breaths . . . we should arrive in Skeelie before I use up all four. Someone there was bound to know something about the orbs, and if there wasn¡¯t, well . . . I still had a day to work my charm on Ben and Nicola. I felt like an asshole for thinking it, but the battle with the monkey had helped improve my standing in their eyes. If I got on their good side, they might just be willing to join my Adventure. The other matter that needed attending concerned the bonus technique I¡¯d been granted. A quick review of [Status] revealed the newest addition. [Decoy] [Common] For moments when you need a quick escape. Summon a fleeting, semi-tangible apparition of yourself that lasts for five minutes and can move as commanded. Note: The decoy is incapable of dealing damage. Cost: 5 VP. A technique from the Assassin tree, huh? Why hadn''t I gotten a cool skill like [Triplicate]? Was my affinity influencing the [System] into thinking I preferred to disengage than fight head-on? They weren''t wrong if that was the case. Nevertheless, I suppressed my complaints and continued in silence as a final bit of respect to Isaac. We met little resistance from the spawns of Dreadwood for the remainder of the journey. For the next two days, it was just us and the woods, with nights spent in silence camped beside the path. We continued at a punishing pace the second morning, but I barely even noticed. Signs of human civilization populated the forest this close to the city, and excitement filled me at the thought of visiting someplace new. Ben led us down a winding trail into a stretch of land with thinner grasses and sparser trees, courtesy of lumberjacking. A few crude houses dotted the end of the trail, ringing some form of outpost. The outpost stood unmanned, but the sawmill that waited at the other side of a bridge across from it bubbled with activity. Vague human shapes¡ªsharp to my elven eyes¡ªwandered the shores, engaged in various activities. Speaking of bridges, I¡¯d finally located the mouth of one of the streams that fed Dreadwood, if its course was understood correctly. The water sparkled beneath the sunlight with an ethereal beauty and disappeared south toward the city. After another couple of hours of slow running, with a break in between to meditate and replenish our stamina, we finally came upon the walls of Skeelie. I¡¯d expected lofty castles straight out of the medieval period, but Skeelie seemed a lot more . . . modern. Sure, the standard features of high walls and battlements remained, along with a portcullis built into the city gates. However, something about the city¡¯s aesthetics screamed European Renaissance rather than the Middle Ages, which made sense now that I thought about it. This was a world that functioned on the power of math. It would be silly to expect the populace to keep wallowing in the limitations of their time. A large spire, dark as tar and thin as a lance, rose above the city walls. It didn¡¯t reach the heights of skyscrapers but still made for an imposing enough sight regardless. The top of the spire tapered to a needlepoint, causing extreme discomfort to look upon. Light bent around the needle tip in odd ways, as if under a distortion. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± I asked in a high pitch. ¡°The spire?¡± Nicola answered. ¡°That''s the Skeelien Labyrinth. Or, the gateway to it, at least. Pretty impressive, huh? Ever since its reappearance twenty years ago, the city underwent a resurgence.¡± I could see why. A large throng of people stood in a queue in front of the city gate, waiting to be cleared for entry. We joined them without hassle, although Ben attracted a few looks due to the bundle he carried. A majority of the people seeking entry looked mundane. Peasants, farmers, or merchants, judging by their wares. The thick smells of sweaty skin, spices, and unwashed livestock assaulted my nostrils. However, a smaller set of visitors stood out amid the medley. Adventurers. Human adventurers, to be precise, of all kinds, races, and classes. They radiated an aura that I had come to associate with rankers¡ªa certain kind of pressure that tugged at the fabric of space. Their rough-edged armors came in a variety of styles and colors, and some even carried weapons openly on the hip. A few exchanged pleasantries with Ben and Nicola, but a larger number of them brooded silently, taking in the sights. ¡°Oh, wow,¡± I muttered. ¡°Wow is right,¡± Nicola said. ¡°It¡¯s always like this around the time of the festival.¡± Ben steered us away from the main traffic and toward a side pass built for expediency. Two guards manned the pass, decked in full plate armor and helmets. The tanned complexions of their faces contrasted the silver of their armor, but their dark eyes radiated with the essence of night. An image of a dog and a tree¡ªthe sigil of the Bargherian Empire¡ªdecorated the front of their tabards. The same sigil also adorned the gates. Town Guards, my skill revealed. Levels 18 and 15. ¡°Show your pass,¡± the larger of the two guards demanded, raising a hand to stop us. Ben nodded and procured a badge from his inventory. It lit up like a flare with the addition of MP and projected a blue screen in front of him. An image of Ben, cut in the shape of a passport photo, appeared on the screen alongside his rank and personal information. Nicola followed after him, leaning forward with exaggerated movements that both guards nearly fell into her cleavage. However, the two men sputtered as I walked through the archway. ¡°An Elf?¡± the first guard said. ¡°And, a dark one at that. You don¡¯t see that every day in Skeelie.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a visitor from Dreadwood,¡± Nicola chipped in. ¡°He¡¯s interested in joining the guild.¡± ¡°Visitors still need a gate pass,¡± the second guard said. ¡°Rules are rules, and don''t you circumvent this. Fifty coppers.¡± He paused and scratched his chin. ¡°Make that seventy because of his race.¡± Nicola sidled up to the guard. ¡°How about I pay sixty, and you keep the change without forcing him back into the queue?¡± She reached for her coin purse and dribbled the fee onto his palm. I didn¡¯t know how much sixty coppers amounted to, but Nicola had mentioned working to feed her family. I couldn¡¯t take her money. Not when I had mine. ¡°Let me reimburse you,¡± I whispered, reaching for my inventory. Nicola patted my arm. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Consider it my treat. Were it not for you, Ben wouldn¡¯t be here.¡± The second guard disappeared into an adjoining room, probably to contact whoever needed to ready the pass. The first one studied Ben, or more accurately, studied the parcel on his back. ¡°What¡¯s in the package, big guy? May I have a look?¡± Nicola groaned into her hand. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no avoiding this.¡± ¡°Avoiding what?¡± the guard said. Ben dropped the parcel. He loosened the top part of the shroud, revealing Isaac¡¯s pallid face. The guard blanched at it for all of three seconds. Then, he grabbed his longsword and charged at us. 034 Quests and Shopping I lay in a jail cell two hours later, bored out of my mind. The guards had detained us, though Nicola had hinted that my race might have had something to do with their heightened aggression. We''d been subjected to cordial questioning, regardless, and now awaited a representative from the Adventurers¡¯ Guild to corroborate our accounts. The arrest had brought an abrupt end to my journey through Dreadwood. Rather anticlimactic, not that I was complaining. Crouching tigers and hidden monkeys withered beneath my blade, but human bureaucracy could never be dismayed. Hurray for humanity! I rolled over on the mattress and stared at my stoic companion. Ben sat in a corner of the cell, head down, arms wrapped around his shins. He hadn¡¯t spoken a word since our detention and had only responded to my attempts at conversation with grunts and nods. He probably appreciated the silence, lost as he was in his thoughts. But, dammit, the solitude was grating. How was I supposed to help if I didn¡¯t know where to begin? Loud footsteps clanked in the corridor outside the cell. The guard who had arrested us strode into view and stopped in front of the bars. ¡°Off you go,¡± he said. ¡°Your story checks out. You are the guild¡¯s problem now.¡± A small pop resounded as he unlocked the door, an action that resulted in the dampening of the protective runes built into the cell. Rune magic piqued my interest, but freedom was a more seductive mistress. I rose from the bed and offered a hand to Ben. He accepted it with a distracted air and almost pulled us both to the ground. Goddammit, man. Get yourself together. The guard interrupted us with a thrown badge. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked, picking up the item. ¡°What¡¯s it look like, elf? Those eyes of yours aren''t good for anything?¡± Ooh. Someone had barbs. ¡°That¡¯s a fucking gate pass,¡± the guard continued. ¡°It¡¯s only valid for a quarter. Any longer, and you would need to apply for a resident permit at the courthouse. Though, I can¡¯t see why someone like you would want to stay here that long.¡± I turned the badge over in my hand. It looked nothing more than a piece of wood, hewn into a rough circle. But, I could sense the magic in it. Delicate runes ran around its surface, etched with a fine hand. ¡°Now, get lost,¡± the guard said. ¡°I don¡¯t have all day. Be sure to keep away from trouble in the city. Especially you, sword ears. We¡¯ll be watching.¡± ¡°Sword ears?¡± I asked. Was that some kind of slur? My body might be elven, but my soul was a hundred percent humanoid. I couldn''t be affronted by an insult that meant nothing to me. What a dumbass. I placed the gate pass in my inventory and glowered at the guard. Then, I guffawed. Because despite all his machismo, he still stood over a foot shorter than me. The guard¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What¡¯s so funny, elf?¡± ¡°You are,¡± I replied. "Silly clown." Was that a good insult? Did clowns exist in this world? The barb did the trick because the guard responded by reaching for his sword. Ben stepped in between the two of us, eyes coming alive in his face. ¡°Lower your weapon. He''s a person of interest to the Guild now. Plus, you provoked him first.¡± The guard stood his ground. Ben shoved past him and out of the cell. I followed after him, resisting the juvenile urge to stick my tongue out at the guard. The guard kept a strong grip on his sword, stance tense and loaded. Dark eyes followed us from beneath his helmet all the way out of the room. Creep. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± Nicola said from her spot outside the guard quarters. She leaned against a stone fence, legs crossed atop the cobblestones. Ben stopped short and blinked at her. ¡°You didn¡¯t rush to see your siblings the first chance you got?¡± ¡°No,¡± Nicola said. ¡°I mean, I want to, but that can wait for later. Ezin has requested a meeting. He sounded displeased.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Ezin?¡± I asked, still overwhelmed by my very first visit to a fantasy town. Everything looked both familiar and foreign at the same time. And, the smells . . . could take some getting used to. ¡°The guild master,¡± Nicola said, ¡°of the Adventurer¡¯s. This won¡¯t be fun.¡± Ben¡¯s broad shoulders sagged. ¡°I am just about done with all of this.¡± Nicola pursed her lips. ¡°No, Ben. Not now. The merchants would raise hell over Isaac¡¯s death. Ezin needs our help to get things under control. And, we also need to visit Isaac¡¯s family.¡± Ben didn¡¯t look interested in any of that. He stared at the ground, instead, as if wishing to disappear. ¡°May I tag along?¡± I asked. Nicola paused to think. ¡°No, it would be best if you sat things out in the meantime. Ezin would want to speak with you at some point. But, he would inquire about your abilities, and I can already imagine how that conversation would go.¡± Good point. ¡°Where do we meet up then?¡± ¡°An hour after dusk? We should be done by then. There¡¯s a tavern opposite the Adventurer¡¯s Guild called The Naked Bard. It¡¯s pretty prominent. You can¡¯t miss it.¡± ¡°Naked Bard. Got it.¡± Nicola grabbed Ben¡¯s arm. ¡°It was nice traveling with you, Damien. If you need a place to stay, the city is filled with inns. Try to avoid inns near the main street; they are notorious for putting their guests out of pocket. ¡°Midtown harbors some of the cheapest options for room and board. But, you¡¯d need to move quickly to secure a room. With the festival just around the corner, a lot of good inns will fill up quickly.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. What festival? I wanted to ask, but she was already pulling Ben down the street. I stood there in front of the guard quarters, caked in dirt from my time in Dreadwood. I needed a hot bath and a change of clothes. And then, I would go hunting for a solution to my conundrum. Skeelie was incredible. I¡¯d caught a glimpse of it during the short trek to the guard quarters, but the city looked even better when experienced up close. The first feature that caught my eye was the dark spire. It towered over the rest of the city from its spot at the center, casting a thin shadow in the direction of the sun. Nicola had attributed the city¡¯s booming traffic to an upcoming festival. But, I still didn¡¯t understand what that had to do with the Labyrinth. The situation called for an exploration. And, thankfully, there was no shortage of people to query. A horde of pedestrians milled about the streets, engrossed in some business or the other. A wide roadway extended from the gates up to the spire which sat in an enormous piazza ringed by imposing buildings. Wooden houses clustered on both sides of the roadway, painted in a dizzying array of muted colors. Most of the houses featured a single floor, though a few rose as high as two or three stories. Side alleys branched off the main road at haphazard intervals, wide enough for carriages to maneuver. Most of the alleys were choked with markets, however, teeming with customers and hastily erected stalls. The city smelled lived in¡ªmuch different from the woodsy scent of rural Harkonean. I passed a small bakery with a large number of people queued in front of it, and a roadside vendor preparing kebabs. The aroma of hot food enticed me, but it soon clashed with the less palatable smells of smoke, industry, and refuse bins. ¡°Make way!¡± a driver said, guiding his horse-drawn carriage down the street. I stepped backward into the shelter of an eave and ran into a severe-looking woman carrying a basket of apples. She made a fist at me, noticed my unusual ears midway, and then scurried away in the opposite direction. This . . . This was awesome! The scenery jarred me a little, but it helped put into perspective that I wasn¡¯t just a fantasy elf with strange magic powers. I was a fantasy elf with strange powers in a world and civilization that differed vastly from mine. How did the people of Skeelie plumb clean water into their apartments? What was their cuisine like? Where did they grow medieval staples like wheat, oats, and barley? I had so many questions burning at the tip of my tongue . . . but, spirit orbs, Damien. Remember that. This was no time to sightsee. My pressing goals needed to be solved. I turned off the main street and into a side alley less crowded than others. I specifically avoided the fancy buildings, searching instead for the broken cobblestones and mud paths that were sure to lead midtown. The first clothing shop I entered contained a rough bearded man who exploded in expletives the moment he saw me. The second store slammed shut in my face. The man in the third shop¡ªan actual trader, complete with a level and class¡ªdidn¡¯t care whether I was an elf or a vampire. However, the price tag on the sole shirt I touched bore a bold 25 silver. No freaking way. He tried to entice me with a sixty percent discount on a pair of trousers that were supposedly made from griffon hide. Then, I remembered that he was a specialist and made myself scarce. The final store looked smaller than the three before it, but also homelier and well maintained. A large, brawny woman with mousy, red hair and a shirt ripped at the sleeves stood behind the counter. Town Merchant Level 42. Hoo boy, that was high. I made to exit as quickly as I entered, but she raised an eyebrow at my ragged clothes and studied my face. ¡°You¡¯re not here to beg, are you, dear?¡± I threw my hands up in exasperation. ¡°Why the hell would you think that?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± she fired, and her voice rumbled in her throat. It was a rich voice, quick to laughter. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen an elf visit a human establishment. Usually, when your kind aren¡¯t pursuing blood wars, they resort to snubbing everything around them.¡± ¡°Well, I was here to shop, and the only snobbery I¡¯ve seen is from the townsfolk slamming doors in my face.¡± The woman''s eyebrows rose. ¡°A friendly elf, huh? And, one who can speak without needing to scowl. Where do you hail from? Dreadwood is my likely guess, but we occasionally get news of tribes of wanderers.¡± I hesitated. ¡°Dreadwood.¡± ¡°What can I help you with, then? I presume you¡¯re looking for a change of clothes, seeing how you can¡¯t walk around in those.¡± ¡°That would be nice, yes,¡± I said, studying her wares. She had succeded in pacifying me with a few choice words. Definitely a specialist worth her level. ¡°If it¡¯s not cheap, I¡¯m not buying though.¡± ¡°Cheap?¡± She stepped around the counter and ruffled in the clothing racks. I studied her as she worked. She seemed genial enough. At least, for a human. Maybe I could probe her for more information? ¡°What can you tell me about the festival?¡± I asked in what I hoped was a casual tone. ¡°What¡¯s there to tell? Every three years, the Labyrinth opens up, and every applicable ranker with a death wish comes looking to challenge it.¡± She held a shirt on a hanger up to the light and juxtaposed it against my frame. ¡°The city makes a big deal out of the whole affair, and business picks up for merchants and royals alike. However, no one remembers the foolish kids who go into that meat grinder in search of glory. A good number of them do not return.¡± She picked a different set of clothes. ¡°Festival? That''s an ill-fitting name. Mass funeral, more like.¡± Oh, wow. ¡°I¡¯d have thought,¡± I said, ¡°that the city would care more about preserving rankers, what with how much they cost.¡± ¡°Many rankers are freelancers,¡± the woman explained, ¡°though many more still have to serve the crown until their debts are repaid. It¡¯s all a matter of coin anyway. Live or die, no one cares as long as you pay the specialization fee. If it¡¯s anyone¡¯s job to keep freelancers alive, then it is the Guild¡¯s.¡± I scratched my chin. I technically qualified as a freelancer, though one could say I owed a debt to Harkonean. Freelancer or not, a visit to the guild had gotten more urgent. Someone there should have information about the orbs. Someone like . . . I wet my lips. ¡°Who are the most famous adventurers around these parts?¡± The woman shot me a quizzical look. ¡°That¡¯s an odd question. But, everyone knows Ezin the guildmaster, at least. Excluding him, I¡¯ll probably mention the members of the two strongest parties: Glamring and Red Wyrm.¡± Glamring? That sounded like copyright infringement, didn''t it? Surely, no copy of earth novels had made it to this world. I committed the names to memory. Recruiting the guild master was out of the question, which meant I needed to target the lower-hanging fruits. Would any of the two groups be interested in my abilities? I could easily scale my quest objective if I joined them. But, I had the slight problem of being a Dark Elf in a city that didn¡¯t care much for them. ¡°This should fit,¡± the shopkeeper said, holding up a muted green shirt. ¡°You elves are taller than you have any right to be. But the sleeves on this should be long enough.¡± I glimpsed the price tag, prepared to turn her down, only to find that the shirt cost a measly thirty copper. Not that I could say for certain that thirty copper was cheap, but I got the feeling she wasn¡¯t ripping me off. ¡°Can I get one more of this? And maybe some boots?¡± She smiled wryly. ¡°That can be arranged. But, pardon my saying, you could use some freshening up. You look like you¡¯ve been sleeping in a ditch.¡± ¡°Yeah, I was hoping to find an inn after I was done here.¡± ¡°Tell you what. My brother runs one a few blocks from here. His prices are pretty fair, but he¡¯ll go even lower if I put in a good word.¡± My defenses flared. ¡°And you want something in exchange for that?¡± The shopkeeper smiled. ¡°Not really, no. Just because I am a classer doesn''t mean I care only about material profits. You get to experience the best comforts Skeelie can offer, and I get one Dark Elf who departs someday knowing I treated him nicely. Should an opportunity arise in the future, be sure to bring it here first. To Liliana¡¯s.¡± Merchants were scary. I left her shop with the goods I purchased and reentered the mud path. A haptic buzz signified the appearance of a new notification. Absent-mindedly, I clicked on it: You have unlocked a hidden Legacy Quest! New quest: [{Insert name}, the Explorer] The dungeons of Vizhima are teeming with secrets. Explore them to uncover the truth. Dungeons Explored: 0/5. Time remaining: 356 days. Reward: 5,000 spirit orbs. Complete each milestone to unlock extra rewards. [System] Error: Quest has already been assigned. Bloody hell. 035 The Naked Bard I walked into The Naked Bard, one hour later than Nicola had suggested. I¡¯d taken a hot bath and changed into a set of soft, clean linens. Vizhima had actual plumbing!. . . which was nice, though it seemed to work via monster cores in a way I couldn¡¯t understand. The world''s inhabitants hadn''t unlocked the secret of showers, sadly, though I¡¯d take what I could get. The hot bath helped soothe my nerves and renew my self-confidence. Not the best of buffs, but I needed whatever courage I could muster. The interior of The Naked Bard reeked of spilled beer and wood smoke, befitting of a tavern of its stature. Old floorboards creaked beneath my boots, sprinkled with a mix of herbs and lavender to help combat the smells. Dust motes drifted about the air, made visible by the light from core-powered lamps. A few patrons occupied the tavern, creating a palpable din loud enough to be heard from the outside. I navigated around the squat circular tables until I found an empty corner just waiting to be filled. A barmaid scurried up to me in a frilly skirt, blouse, and a cutesy apron stained in grease. ¡°May I take your order, sir?¡± she asked, nonplussed at the sight of my long ears. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll have a virgin mojito . . .¡± Then I froze, because what kind of menu did taverns serve anyway? ¡°A virgin mojito?¡± the maid said, curling her lip. She backed away a few steps to put distance between us. ¡°We don¡¯t brew those here. And, if you get handsy with the girls, they are obliged to knife you in the gut.¡± ¡°Not that kind of virgin, lady! I mean a cocktail. A cocktail!¡± Her scowl worsened. Oh, god. ¡°What about beer, then? That should be common enough.¡± ¡°We serve ale and wine.¡± ¡°Ah, yes! Ale. Good, ol¡¯ ale. I¡¯ll have a glass of it.¡± My stomach tossed at the thought. I was that guy who nursed a bottle of water while everyone else did shots, mostly because I never got many chances to party. I didn''t consider myself a teetotaler, but I was as close as one could get. Nevertheless, I¡¯d resolved to live life to the fullest this time around, so bring on the beer, okay? Bring an entire keg if you need to, baby. I¡¯m going to drink! The barmaid strutted away with a twirl of her skirt and returned a short moment later with a frothing tankard of ale. I eyed the horrible drink, sighed, and took a tentative sip. It . . . wasn¡¯t half bad. Much better than I¡¯d anticipated. I could see myself ordering another couple, assuming I stayed long enough. Now armed with a drink of my own, I studied the other patrons in the bar. The vast majority of them were definitely rankers, what with their arrogant mannerisms, and the way they didn''t loosen their gear while relaxing. A party of three sat at the table nearest to mine, whispering beneath their breath. Each of them dressed lightly, in dark clothes and boots with a hood over their heads. They hadn¡¯t looked up since my entry, but my gut told me that I would be in for a rude surprise if I thought they weren¡¯t conscious of their surroundings. One of them dug a hand into his cloak and tossed a coin purse onto the table. Another opened it, and a large sum of silver gleamed in the lamplight. The third glared at me from beneath his cowl¡ª I turned away so fast that I almost snapped my neck. A balding man in a comically large suit of armor yelled at a barmaid for a second serving of beer. An olive-skinned woman sat opposite him, dressed in robes straight out of a Shaolin temple. They argued over a map between them, getting heated as time progressed. More people entered the tavern. One of them was a dashing, blonde man with well-kempt hair, flanked by three companions. He looked sophisticated, with his long nose and strong chin¡ªthe kind of man who could star as the titular character in a Bond movie. His soft robes shimmered in the light, bearing intricate designs. And, his entire entourage dressed the same, as if they¡¯d walked straight from a fashion magazine into the tavern. One of the quartet bore black hair, tousled just enough to be classy and messy at the same time. He pulled seats out for the rest of his companions, starting with the blonde. A second man with luscious dark locks signaled a barmaid, leaving the third whose hair was dyed purple¡ªpurple of all colors¡ªto interact with their leader. I ordered a second drink before they could catch me staring. A masked dancer glided out from beyond a side room, dressed in clothes that somehow made her look more obscene than a fully naked woman. Her bare belly sparkled with sweat, revealing a pierced navel that achieved the same effect as cleavage. She gyrated her hips and spun into the blonde man¡¯s lap, only to end up shoved flat on her ass. Ouch. Undeterred, she continued over to a new table that featured a plastered redhead, if the way he sat with face planted was any indication. Her attempts to rouse him proved unsuccessful, so she finally settled on a brick of a man, adorned with chalk and dreadlocks. This one wasted no time in grabbing her waist and settling her on his lap. A shiver ran up my spine like that of prey caught in headlights, and true enough, the three hooded men from earlier glared my way. Their hooded faces made their expressions difficult to tell, but their body language was anything but cordial. One of them tapped a long finger on the table and kept his gaze pointed at me. The rest kept staring while they whispered, unbothered that they had been caught in the act. Oh, god. Vizhima didn¡¯t have a supremacist problem, did it? If all three were planning to jump me because of my race, then I better prepare to start swinging first. I activated [Identify], hiding behind the pretense of taking another sip. City Adventurer LVL 16. City Adventurer LVL 17. City Adventurer LVL 20. All three were stronger than me?! Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats! Thanks for pointing out the obvious, dickhead. I didn¡¯t need that notification. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The man in the overlarge armor from earlier slammed his fist on the table, nearly splitting it in rage. A nearby tankard toppled, spilling beer over the map. The olive-skinned woman fell silent, and then she decked him, faster than I could follow. Half the man¡¯s HP vanished in an instant. She dragged him out of the building by the face, leaving the ruined map on the table. No one so much as batted an eyelash. What the heck was this place? Another use of [Identify] put the female Monk at level 24 and the armored man at level 19. Shouldn¡¯t I be chasing after her? She was the strongest ranker I had seen, outside of Nana. But, what about the blonde man? I turned his way. City Adventurer LVL 25. Oh, fuck yes. He looked a little too vain for my liking, but he was probably more approachable than the woman who could half a person¡¯s health in one punch. The other four members of his party all ranked in the low twenties, which was pretty good as far as I could tell. I needed to join their crew. This was my last chance to gain strong allies and earn spirit orbs. I took a long pull from my tankard and rose to my feet. A handful of sweet, soft, flesh crashed into me, forcing me back to my seat. ¡°Hey there, handsome,¡± the dancer purred, slinging an arm around my shoulder. ¡°Can I interest you in a discussion about the Sisters of Lust?¡± She raised my mug to her cloth mask and downed the rest of the drink. ¡°Nicola?¡± I choked. Nicola blinked at me with hazy golden eyes. The haze cleared. ¡°Damien?!¡± She sprang upright like a person electrocuted. ¡°What the hell? We promised to meet up earlier.¡± ¡°I had some trouble settling in . . .¡± I took in her attire, and then I forced my eyes away from her chest. ¡°What are you doing anyway?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± she spluttered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to . . .?¡± Then, I noticed the way she stumbled on her feet and the lack of focus in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me . . . you¡¯re drunk? Would you like to sit?¡± I rose before she could evade me and helped her into the stool next to mine. Nicola rubbed her arms, looking close to tears. ¡°What the hell happened to you?¡± I asked, clenching my fists. ¡°Is someone making you do this?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. This is all voluntary.¡± She looked away, increasing the tempo of her rubbing. ¡°I told you that I was attuned to Pleasure, yeah? What I failed to mention is that I am also Born of the affinity. I get a power boost anytime I¡¯m, uh . . .¡± ¡°Horny?¡± ¡°Aroused.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°It evokes a temporary high . . . enough to help me forget . . .¡± ¡°You voluntarily put up with this for a few minutes of reprieve?¡± Nicola frowned. ¡°I don''t. I enjoy it. Pays good money too.¡± She hung her head. ¡°But, yeah, I¡¯d have been better off taking the night shift at the temple. My brethren turned me down, however. They are very strict about not proselytizing when off duty.¡± I signaled the barmaid for another mug of ale. I had a feeling I would need it for the rest of the conversation. ¡°So, what was it that you wanted to forget?¡± I asked, watching the frilly skirt swish as the barmaid left to fetch my order. Something about the current Nicola messed with my inhibitions, and not in a good way. My question opened the floodgates Nicola had erstwhile barricaded. She sobbed into her hands, sounding like a broken violin. ¡°It¡¯s Ben. After the meeting with Ezin, he announced his plan. He¡¯s quitting the guild and dissolving our party.¡± ¡°He¡¯s done working in Skeelie?¡± ¡°He¡¯s done being an adventurer. He left the city a few hours ago. ¡®Says he intends to rejoin his parents on their farm in Avillac.¡± She pulled off her face mask and used it to blow her nose. She wasn¡¯t a pretty crier, which was comforting in its own way considering how alluring she looked every other time. ¡°That¡¯s sad to hear,¡± I said. ¡°Ben did seem out of it after the fight, but I didn¡¯t expect him to flare up this quickly. I guess mental health is more important than chasing after numbers.¡± ¡°He should have talked things over with me,¡± Nicola said. ¡°We are a team. That¡¯s what friends are for.¡± She paused to snort, wiping her nose on the makeshift handkerchief. ¡°I can¡¯t count the amount of times Ben helped pull me out of a bad headspace. He didn¡¯t even give me a chance to reciprocate.¡± I felt that, but mostly because I had grown up telling Mom all that bothered me. However, when she had reached her boiling point, she didn¡¯t try to share. I sometimes wondered if things would have turned out differently if I¡¯d taken the time to ask mum about her wellbeing. I shook my head. No. I wasn¡¯t going down that road again. ¡°I¡¯m so lost, Damien,¡± Nicola said, leaning into my shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do. I mean, I need to keep working, for the sake of my family. But, Ben and I have been together since we were teenagers. I can¡¯t imagine starting all over again.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a pretty good Mage, Nicola. I doubt there¡¯s anyone who wouldn¡¯t want you in their party. For that matter¡ª¡± ¡°Empty words, Damien. But, thank you. Most female rankers want nothing to do with me, and the men only want one thing.¡± She whimpered. ¡°Not that I blame them. The combination of tentacles and my . . . peculiarities tend to attract the worst and repulse the best.¡± ¡°Hey, none of that sounds like they are within your control.¡± ¡°I know. But, Ben was different. He didn¡¯t care about any of that or try to take advantage.¡± She huddled into herself. ¡°Sure, I enjoy a good romp now and then, but I prefer a team that sees my worth as a ranker and not as a warm bosom to hold at night.¡± Her eyes misted over again. ¡°Ben . . .¡± Ugh. I would take ten Nicolas as long as I got the spirit orbs, but I felt like a douchebag for trying to poach her while she was at her lowest. The blonde Adonis tossed us a curious glance from over his table. Yes, you, asshole. You are the one I want. Nicola turned her golden eyes on me again and my inhibitions threatened to leak out of my ears. She placed a hand on my thigh. ¡°Hey, I know this may sound weird. But, wanna get out of here together? Put all that elven flexibility to the test?¡± A new group strode into the tavern, interrupting my choking fit. They consisted of three men and a woman, all rankers going by their gear, and young enough that the oldest of them didn''t look too far off from twenty. The tavern patrons sat straighter the moment they entered. All merriment petered to a stop. The four newcomers headed for the bar at the side of the tavern without so much as a glance at the rest of the patrons. Two of them seemed related, sporting the tanned skin and brown hair that was common among the city''s residents. Their long robes identified them as casters, straight from a mission too, considering the grime. The sole woman in their party hijacked a barstool and barked an order at the barkeep. She twisted her lips into an ugly sneer at something he said. Her blond hair cascaded around her shoulders in braids but did nothing to complement her crooked nose which looked like it had been reset more times than she could count. She exuded the mannerisms of a predator, definitely the leader of the pack. That thought died, however, as my eyes fell on the final member of the party: a raven-haired young man of short height, dressed in leather armor. Unlike the rest of his gang, he didn¡¯t radiate malice by merely existing. Hell, had I been distracted, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed him among the group. And, that was what made him scarier. Ever since my specialization, I¡¯d come to recognize the subtle signs that denoted one as a ranker. For some, like Tybalt, it was in the way they walked like they owned the world. And, for others, like Nana, it lay in weary wisdom. All rankers also exuded a small aura, the weight of their presence on the fabric of reality. This guy possessed none of that, yet his gear revealed he couldn¡¯t be anything but. ¡°Byron,¡± Nicola whispered, following my gaze. ¡°He¡¯s the leader of Red Wyrm, the most popular adventuring party this side of Bargheria. Don''t be fooled by their youthfulness, they''re all pretty strong.¡± She looked like she wanted to say more but caught herself. I used [Identify] on Byron . . . City Adventurer LVL 25. The same as the Adonis. . . . and, then on his blonde partner: City Adventurer LVL 24. The blonde stiffened. She sprang from her barstool like she¡¯d been burned and glared around the room. ¡°Who?!¡± Byron¡¯s blue eyes narrowed in his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Beelith?¡± ¡°Someone used a discernment skill on me,¡± she hissed. Byron frowned and closed his eyes. A chill wind roared across the tavern, frosting the exterior of my tankard. The tables cracked with ice. A [System] notification appeared: You have been affected by the ability [Frost Aura]. You have been inflicted with [Slow]. Reflexes and movement have decreased 1.5x. Damage taken from all sources has increased 1.5x. Byron¡¯s eyes shone a frosty color, augmented by three simple words spoken to the rest of the room. ¡°Who did it?¡± The [Scaredy-cat] notification dinged in the corner of my vision. I was fucked. 036 Duelists The already quiet tavern grew deathly still. No one so much as twitched. ¡°A discernment skill?¡± one of the Red Wyrm casters said, obviously unharmed by the frost. ¡°Those are exclusive to the caster classes.¡± He smirked at the woman, thoroughly enjoying the scene. ¡°How did someone like you manage to miss the culprit?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t looking,¡± Beelith said. ¡°All I know is that the discernment triggered my skill.¡± She glared again at the patrons of the tavern. ¡°Is no one coming forward to admit to the deed?¡± Everyone turned their gazes away, unwilling to make eye contact. Even the barmaids had disappeared¡ªwhen did that happen?¡ªleaving the barkeep alone at his post. He too seemed one second away from bolting. ¡°Hey!¡± Beelith said. ¡°Did you not hear me? I need all the casters here to rise to their feet!¡± ¡°No need for that, dear Beelith,¡± a new voice said, breaking the silence. It belonged to the long-haired man from earlier, the blond that had arrived in the company of three others. He flicked his long hair over his shoulder and flashed the younger rankers a winning smile. ¡°Why make so much fuss over a harmless skill? I doubt the caster seriously intended to threaten your life.¡± ¡°Glamring,¡± Beelith said and spat on the ground. ¡°I knew a distasteful substance fouled the air. Good to finally put a face to the miasma.¡± The other members of Glamring stirred. The blonde man shook his head at them, unperturbed. ¡°Disagreeable as always, eh? I daresay your current actions do not paint you in a good light.¡± He spoke to Beelith but kept his eyes focused squarely on Byron. ¡°It would be wise to do away with the aura.¡± Byron smirked. The chill in the tavern intensified. ¡°Byron¡ª¡± ¡°Mathideus,¡± Byron said, without missing a beat, ¡°do you suggest that I turn a blind eye to this incident?¡± ¡°I suggest an increase in wisdom as a former superior.¡± ¡°And, I would accept it were your foolishness not known to me. Having endured your mentorship for a small portion of my youth, I can say with full confidence that there is little wisdom in anything you do.¡± This time, Mathideus didn''t stop his companions from registering their displeasure. His fist tightened around his tankard, though a smile remained on his face. Byron strode into the rancor, somehow managing to look pedestrian despite being the source of the deadly frost aura. ¡°It¡¯s no crime,¡± Byron said, ¡°to discern one¡¯s enemies on a battlefield. But, this is guild territory. Neutral grounds. Using a skill on a ranker here without prior consent¡ªno matter how harmless¡ªamounts to a declaration of intent.¡± He stopped beside my table. My heart skipped a beat. He didn¡¯t suspect me, did he? No. He had no reason to. [Identify] apparently belonged to the caster classes, but I¡¯d managed to circumvent that requirement due to my trait. Besides, irrespective of how reasonable he sounded, Byron''s words didn¡¯t excuse Red Wyrm''s overreaction. This was a party used to bullying people to get what they wanted, and my skin crawled at the thought. Byron stopped beside the hooded men from earlier, who had since hidden their coin pouch. They kept their eyes firmly on the table, unwilling to look up to face him. Byron smirked and glanced at me. At that moment, I became the little boy at the funeral again; the boy who could only cry helplessly as everyone spoke harshly around him. Shame slammed like a wrecking ball into my gut at how quickly I averted my gaze. At how quickly I folded to him. Another stack of [Fear] joined the first. What was the point of being reincarnated if I acted no differently from my former self? Dad¡¯s controlling hand had steered me into a lonely and awkward adulthood, enough to destroy whatever confidence I had in myself. In a sense, reincarnating in Vizhima was a chance to start over. A chance to become the best version of myself that I could. And, this version didn¡¯t flinch. Not to Dread Tigers. Not to goblins. And, certainly not to arrogant teenagers. Byron frowned as my eyes snapped back to his, red matched with blue. He let the challenge slide, however, in order to glare at his target: a frightened Nicola who looked one second away from surrendering her soul. ¡°You¡¯re the only other caster here,¡± he said in a soft voice. Nicola¡¯s eyes widened as she got his meaning. ¡°It''s not me!¡± ¡°The chances that it could be anyone else are slim.¡± ¡°No . . .¡± ¡°I do not condone bloodletting,¡± Byron said, ¡°over matters that can be resolved amicably. But, you should be honorable enough to offer apologies and recompense.¡± Beelith snorted from her spot at the counter. ¡°That works for me.¡± ¡°I d-don¡¯t have any m-money,¡± Nicola said. ¡°And, even if I do, I¡¯m telling the truth. I haven''t learned [Identify]!¡± ¡°Then, bloodletting it is,¡± Beelith said, cracking her knuckles. ¡°A soiled wench like you probably doesn¡¯t understand the meaning of dignity¡±¡ªand her sharpened fangs shone in the lamplight¡ª¡°but this route works for me too. One way or another, you will pay for the slight. Money or blood, your choice.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Pathetic.¡± That last bit came from me. The patrons of the tavern turned my way so fast they suffered whiplash. A second layer of silence descended over the room. Byron regarded me with icy blue eyes. ¡°What did you¡ª?¡± ¡°I called you pathetic,¡± I said, over the sound of my heart hammering in my chest. ¡°Both of you. This has to be the saddest shakedown I¡¯ve ever seen. And, I grew up in a city that reveled in it. I''m not willing to sit by and watch this farce.¡± Beelith chuckled. Her barstool clattered to the floor, shoved by a strong push. ¡°Do my eyes deceive me or is that an elf? Did it just speak? What did it say?¡± Byron leaned forward to lock eyes with me. I met his gaze without flinching, surprised at my courage. His fist tightened¡ª My hand closed around a monster core¡ª Loud clapping resounded across the tavern. The quiet denizens turned to stare at the red-haired man, who had erstwhile been passed out on his table. He joined his palms above his head with riotous laughter and slammed the table for emphasis. ¡°Oh, gods, that was good. That was so fucking good. I haven¡¯t been entertained this much in a long while.¡± He wiped a tear from his eye and showed his middle finger to Byron. ¡°Oi, wanker. I did it. I cast the fucking skill. Why don¡¯t you come here and tell me what you¡¯re going to do about it?¡± Byron didn¡¯t move. His party members surged forward on his behalf, but a quick look from him stopped them in their tracks. The redhead for his part leaned against the wall and inclined his legs on the table. ¡°This is why you butcher kids before they grow into nuisances. If any of these brats had been spanked properly in childhood, none of us would have to put up with their bullshit.¡± Beelith licked her lips. ¡°May I kill him, Byron? Please? I¡¯m sure Ezin will approve.¡± ¡°This has gone too far,¡± Mathideus warned, finding his voice. ¡°I challenge you to a duel,¡± Byron said, tossing a knife onto the redhead¡¯s table. ¡°To the death.¡± Mathideus jumped to his feet. ¡°Hold on now! You know I can¡¯t let that happen. The rules say both duelists must be of equal rank. This man isn¡¯t a silver ranker. You aren''t allowed to fight him.¡± ¡°But, I can fight on Bryon¡¯s behalf,¡± Beelith said, stepping closer to the redhead. ¡°I¡¯m still Iron-ranked. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem, yes?¡± ¡°Fine by me,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I don¡¯t care who it is. I¡¯ll take on all four of you if I have to.¡± Mathideus balked. ¡°You¡¯re new around here, boy, so you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re getting into. Byron and his friends have earned every bit of their reputation¡ª¡± The chill wind emanating from Byron eased to a gentle breeze. The tavern inhabitants once more found it easy to breathe. ¡°Let¡¯s take this outside,¡± Byron said, sweeping toward the exit. ¡°You may come along as a guild witness, Mathideus. Not that I care.¡± The redhead smirked. Without a word, he followed after Byron, hands tucked into his pockets. All six vacated the tavern, Mathideus included, leaving the disgruntled members of Glamring behind. I rose to join them. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nicola said, grabbing my arm. ¡°We just got lucky. We should flee before they return.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave without seeing this to the end,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m curious about that redhead.¡± ¡°And, this curiosity is worth your life?! You have no idea what these guys can do. They aren¡¯t to be messed with!¡± I didn¡¯t say anything else. I left the table instead, chasing after the adventurers. Red Wyrm¡¯s exit had lifted the veil over the tavern, allowing chatter to resume in fits and starts. I stepped out into the night and activated both [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker]. The darkness engulfed me in a way that felt instinctive. Skeelie¡¯s teeming alleyways sat illuminated beneath the lamps that seemed to be a common feature in Vizhima. But, the darkness was oppressive enough that [Dark Stalker] remained intact even though I walked beneath the light. Across the tavern, a sturdy, stone building¡ªthe Adventurer¡¯s guild¡ªtowered over the rest of the street. The six rankers crossed the cobblestones that made up the main roadway and disappeared into an alley. I followed them as they meandered into an empty avenue, some distance behind the guild building. Mathideus raised his hand. ¡°This seems to be a good spot.¡± His expression turned grim, directed at the redhead. ¡°I¡¯m begging you one more time. This is your last chance to do away with this folly.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no turning back,¡± Byron said. ¡°Not after a duel has been accepted.¡± ¡°Why would I want to turn back?¡± the redhead said, sticking a finger into his ear. ¡°Turds are meant to go out, not in. And, as far as I am concerned, this shit is concluded.¡± Mathideus sighed. ¡°Can the duelists step forward and introduce themselves?¡± ¡°None of that is necessary,¡± Beelith said, shrugging off her jacket. ¡°I won¡¯t remember a corpse.¡± ¡°The dueling rules¡ª¡± ¡°Screw the rules,¡± she snapped. ¡°You¡¯re here to witness, not babysit. I can¡¯t wait to lick his blood off my fingers.¡± ¡°And, I," the redhead said, "can tell that yours would taste bad already. Good thing you¡¯re ugly. I won¡¯t regret breaking that nose for the hundredth time.¡± Beelith¡¯s glare threatened to pierce through iron. Enough that I would have fled had I been the object of ire. ¡°Since this match wasn¡¯t endorsed by Ezin,¡± Mathideus said reluctantly, ¡°I refuse to condone a fight to the death. Victory will be decided by submission or incapacitation or the dropping of any of the duelists'' health below five percent. ¡°Should either party try to pursue victory in a manner contrary to the rules or receive aid from non-participants, I will be honor bound to intervene.¡± Byron scoffed. ¡°The last time we did this, your companions didn¡¯t care about honor before intervening to save your life.¡± Mathideus didn¡¯t appreciate the barb if the sudden tightening of his shoulders was any indication. ¡°You will play by the rules,¡± he spat, ¡°or not at all. The past has no bearing on this moment.¡± A terse silence passed between the two silver rankers. Surprisingly, Byron was first to turn away. ¡°Have it your way.¡± The redhead discarded his shirt and dropped low to the ground to perform some stretches. The well-defined muscles of his torso¡ªvisible without a covering¡ªbulged in the lamplight. ¡°Can we start already? I need to finish this and go back to sleep.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Beelith said, settling into a stance. Mathideus gestured with his hands. ¡°All non-participants, please withdraw from the area.¡± He glanced at the redhead who had begun rolling his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re going to fight barehanded? Are you, perhaps, a Monk or a Shifter like her?¡± ¡°Neither,¡± The redhead said. ¡°But, unless you have a quill on your person, this is the way I intend to fight. A quill is the most dangerous weapon I can bring myself to wield against this broad.¡± Mathideus raked a hand through his hair. ¡°Why are you taking this lightly? Do you not understand what is about to happen?¡± ¡°Just stand back and watch,¡± the redhead said, stretching his arms. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have accepted this duel if I was sure I¡¯d lose.¡± Mathideus looked at the redhead, really looked at him, and then he retreated with a grimace. Something in the man¡¯s eyes must have convinced him because he didn¡¯t voice further objections. I crept as close to the fight as I dared, curious about how the enigmatic man would fare against the visibly hostile Beelith. ¡°I¡¯m so going to enjoy this,¡± she said. Her eyes turned feral in the lamplight. ¡°Begin,¡± Mathideus said. Beelith surged forward, changing from a beast-like woman to a woman-like beast in the blink of an eye. Drool splattered out of her maw which lengthened as I watched and sprouted long teeth. The redhead reacted coolly. He stepped in to intercept her with fluid grace, unfazed by her transformation. His bare fist blurred upward into her chest¡ªa textbook-perfect strike. That same fist slammed into the wall beside me, accompanied by his severed arm. Eh? Two more limbs went flying as Beelith butchered her opponent. His head was the last to go, and she clasped it between her palms until it exploded on his shoulders. She spat on his corpse, kicked it, and smirked at a pallid Mathideus. ¡°I believe this is my win,¡± she said. 037 Three is a Crowd ¡°Y-you killed him,¡± Mathideus said, holding a hand to his head. ¡°Gladly,¡± Beelith replied. She swung her arms, ridding them of bloody matter, and shifted back into a fully human appearance. ¡°If this farce is over, we will take our leave.¡± ¡°But, Ezin . . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem now,¡± Byron said, pushing off from the wall where he had been watching. ¡°You chose to act as a witness on behalf of the guild. It¡¯s your job to inform him and bury the body.¡± He nodded at Beelith. ¡°Loot the corpse.¡± ¡°What a load of bullcrap,¡± one of the brothers said and spat on the ground. ¡°All that bravado, yet he dies like a rat just born yesterday! My six-year-old cousin could have put up a better fight.¡± I looked at the butchered redhead, unable to reconcile the outcome with the events that came before it. Like, what the heck, man? You did all that posing only to fold when it mattered? Bile rose in my throat. ¡°Hey, what gives?¡± Beelith said, rising from the ground. ¡°Was this guy a sick fuck or something? There''s only ten copper coins and a slime condom in his inventory!¡± The second caster laughed. "Keep the condom, Beelith. We know you need it." "Oh, you fucking cunt." She leaped at her teammate who ducked with exaggerated motions and hollered at the top of his breath. A shiver shook me as I watched their antics¡ªat the way they acted so unbothered by the scene. Blood still dripped from Beelith''s fingers, yet there they stood, laughing like they''d just left a club. Red Wyrm strolled away shortly after that, with Beelith sharing her annoyance over the paltry XP she had gotten. For one moment as they passed, I felt the terrible urge to stab her with my dagger. But, I was neither stupid nor suicidal. Such a move would only end in my demise. So, I stayed in place, fuming as the last of the quartet of young adults stalked into the night. Mathideus raked a hand through his hair a second time. ¡°Oh, Herald¡¯s breath. I¡¯m going to need a shovel, aren¡¯t I?¡± He scurried away in the opposite direction, muttering to himself. I kept my abilities active, just in case any of them returned, and approached the fallen man. His skull had shattered in the last attack, leaving him unrecognizable. Out of curiosity, I activated [Identify]. Corpse of City Adventurer. He had really bitten it, huh? I walked away. The redhead groaned behind me. A health meter appeared above his corpse, filling back up in front of my eyes. Blood, teeth, and hair bubbled up from out of nothingness, replacing all that he''d lost. His limbs reformed on his torso, as did his head. A moment later, he leaped to his feet, sporting a vulpine grin. ¡°Now, that was a good nap.¡± I dropped my active techniques. ¡°Wait, what? How?¡± The man blinked at me. He stood almost as tall as I did, maybe even taller, which was impressive for a human. ¡°Oh, you. Dark Elf. What are you doing here?¡± ¡°How are you alive?!¡± ¡°Ranker technique. How else?¡± He looked around the alley. ¡°That blonde git would soon be back, so I''d scram if I were you¡±¡ªthen at his ruined pants¡ª¡°Drat. I need a change of clothes.¡± He turned to leave. I couldn¡¯t let him! Loser or not, he had just displayed a technique that was probably unheard of in the entirety of the Vizhima. If this wasn¡¯t the strongest ally I could meet, I didn¡¯t know who. I used [Identify] again. City Adventurer LVL 13. Well, that was a head scratcher. Despite the incredible feat he had just displayed, the [System] revealed he was weaker than me. Was this some kind of trick? To hide his power? ¡°Hey, wait¡ª¡± I said. ¡°Damien?¡± Nicola called, wandering out of an alleyway. ¡°That was so unfair. You left me to pick up your tab.¡± She stumbled into the avenue, still in her belly dancer costume. ¡°I saw Byron and his cohorts leave. They were talking about a dead person. Are you alright?¡± The redhead paused to stare at her. Nicola looked at me. I gaped in turn at the redhead. ¡°Um,¡± I said, ¡°I know this isn¡¯t the best way to introduce ourselves, but how about dinner? I¡¯ll pay.¡± ¡°Dinner?¡± the redhead said, averting his eyes from Nicola. ¡°What¡¯s this? A kiddie party? A real man would know to offer another a drink.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. I¡¯m technically not a man . . .¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with dinner,¡± Nicola interjected. ¡°And, I know a cheap spot. After that scare in the tavern, I don¡¯t think I can handle another tankard.¡± I glanced at the redhead. He glared at me as if contemplating blowing us off. I held his gaze until he turned away. ¡°Whatever.¡± ¡°Great,¡± I said, smirking at my small victory. ¡°Dinner it is, then.¡± My coin purse had taken a dent between shopping and renting a room. I still hadn¡¯t bought any ranker gear, but two extra meals shouldn¡¯t impoverish me. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. If all went well, the redhead would share his secret, and I would find myself one step closer to securing my life. The two gluttons tried to impoverish me. Nicola led us to a night market and then to a roadside cart that sold this world¡¯s version of beef barbecue. The redhead and her managed to devour six plates between them before I stamped my foot. We sat atop a flight of stairs after that, nursing full bellies. ¡°Paz,¡± the redhead said, still bare-chested from after his fight. ¡°Gordo Sangrepaz. But, everyone calls me Paz.¡± ¡°Hi, Paz,¡± Nicola said. Paz grunted. ¡°You two are the ones that did it, right? The ones who used discernment? I can respect that; that kind of guts. Rankers should never be cowed.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do . . .¡± Nicola paused, and the gears turned in her head. ¡°Damien, was that your doing?!¡± ¡°Yeah . . .¡± I rubbed the back of my neck. Nicola shrieked and pounded my shoulders. ¡°Do you know how close I came to pissing myself? What is wrong with you?¡± ¡°Hey,¡± I said, wilting away from the onslaught. ¡°I came to your defense! Plus, I¡¯ve been using that skill all this time, and no one ever raised an eyebrow. I didn''t think it was possible to trigger that kind of reaction!¡± ¡°[Predator Sense],¡± Paz said, stroking his chin. ¡°A high-tier Shifter skill. Very high tier. By the time it becomes available, most Shifters are better off chasing other options. She must have beaten an ogre or something to unlock it this early.¡± ¡°How did you do it anyway?¡± Nicola asked, stopping her pounding to settle for pinching my arm. ¡°[Identify] is only available to magic classes.¡± ¡°He¡¯s special, that¡¯s how,¡± Paz said, pulling a strip that remained of his shirt off his shoulder¡ª Or, at least, I hoped it was. I didn''t want to believe that strip was actually his flesh. ¡ª¡°I could tell from the way he studied everyone in the tavern. But, he¡¯s also green. ¡®Doesn¡¯t know the rules. At the rate he is going, he¡¯ll get himself killed.¡± His words resonated within me, having come close to the mark. He was rather perceptive for a drunk, which made him even more intriguing. ¡°I¡¯ve been careful,¡± I said in my defense. ¡°It¡¯s not like I started the day with the intent to draw anyone¡¯s wrath. Thanks for the assist though. The night would have gone differently had you not intervened.¡± ¡°I hate bullies,¡± Paz said. ¡°Can¡¯t stand them ever since I was little. Sad that I couldn¡¯t fight Byron. I would have loved to engrave my fist into his face.¡± Nicola frowned. ¡°Damien says you got destroyed before you could land a single hit.¡± ¡°Hey! I was just testing her reaction, okay? I didn¡¯t expect her to be that fast.¡± ¡°Still kind of stupid. Beelith¡¯s in the top percentile of rankers in Skeelie. What did you expect to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m much stronger than you think! This isn¡¯t my final form¡ª¡± The two continued bickering. They were both young¡ªnot teenagers, for sure, but only a little older than the members of Red Wyrm. At twenty-five, I probably numbered as the oldest in our trio. These two had grown in a harsh world that defied comprehension. Yet, they found time for levity, even in the shadow of their recent ordeal. ¡°How did you do it?¡± I interjected. ¡°The resurrection thing.¡± Paz quietened. ¡°Only fools share their secrets with strangers.¡± ¡°Alright, then. Let''s both be fools. ''Cos, I was wondering if it''s something you can teach?¡± Paz laughed. The moonlight glinted off his teeth, revealing sharp canines. For that matter, his eyes glowed red like Nana''s, though of a paler hue, less fervent than was common with the Irithiel. ¡°I unlocked that technique with help from my master,¡± Paz said. ¡°Though, I can''t see how it will be of any benefit to you. The act of Specialization cannot be reversed. You''ll never learn anything outside your chosen affinity and class.¡± Bummer. I¡¯d been hoping that wasn¡¯t the case. I¡¯d ruined my chances to mingle with Glamring and would rather blow toads than align myself with Red Wyrm. With two spirit orbs left, I was running out of choices. And, the less said about the second legacy quest¡ªthe one that seemed intent on killing me by getting me to explore dungeons¡ªthe better. Gather strong allies, huh? I inhaled and took the plunge. ¡°I need a party.¡± Nicola stopped humming to herself long enough to raise an eyebrow. ¡°This again? You¡¯re going to have a hard time getting anyone to join you now. Not after you¡¯ve drawn the ire of the strongest party in the city.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about other people. I¡¯m asking you guys. Party up with me.¡± ¡°Damien . . . we¡¯ve talked about this.¡± ¡°That was then when you still had Ben. Besides, everyone at the tavern saw us together during the fiasco. If you had problems joining parties before this, it will be even harder now.¡± Nicola froze. The thoughts cracked in her head, almost loud enough to hear. Then, she shrieked and pounded my shoulders for the second time. ¡°No! You¡¯ve ruined me. Go back to the tavern. Tell them I wasn¡¯t with you!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure Byron would care . . .¡± ¡°Damien,¡± she hollered, clinging to my shirt. Paz rose to his feet, interrupting our antics. He cut an imposing figure when he wanted to, what with his wide muscles and well-defined back. But, I didn¡¯t like his expression. If he looked that serious, then he planned to reject me. Paz patted down his torn pants and cleared his throat. ¡°Dark Elf, what do you wish to accomplish?¡± Um, I have a name, bro. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked instead. Paz kept his gaze fixed at a distance beyond the stairs. ¡°I won¡¯t sugarcoat it. I am destined for greatness, and I refuse to settle for mediocrity.¡± ¡°You¡¯re weaker than us,¡± Nicola said, letting go of my shirt. ¡°Who are you calling mediocre?¡± Despite her proclivities, she held more than a fair bit of pride in her abilities. Paz had no right to mock that. ¡°I am, huh?¡± Paz said, chuckling. ¡°But, levels have nothing to do with strength. Byron might be the strongest adventurer in your insipid guild. But, he is weak as far as I am concerned.¡± He glanced down at me. ¡°Do you understand what I am saying, Dark Elf? Everyone has the potential to be much greater than they are. But, all of that depends on the loftiness of their goals. The more difficult the goal is, the brighter they shine. What is your goal?¡± To save the world . . . But, that wasn¡¯t it, was it? That was the goal the [System] had saddled me with. Were it in my power, I''d chuck the heroic nonsense into the bin. But, I had to care, as long as I needed spirit orbs. Paz narrowed his eyes. ¡°I have a gut feeling that you are destined for greatness too. But, the you in front of me won¡¯t reach your full potential. You come across as flighty, without the drive to change the world.¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Nicola said, springing to her feet. ¡°Who cares about any of that? Anyone with real responsibilities knows that fulfilling them is its own reward! Stop talking like a drugged-up dreamer and focus on reality.¡± ¡°Pray tell, what are these so-called real responsibilities?¡± ¡°Family,¡± Nicola said and gritted her teeth. ¡°Family?¡± Paz snorted. ¡°Deadweights are not responsibilities.¡± ¡°You fucking¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care much for people with weaker goals than mine. They exist to be devoured or trampled beneath my feet.¡± ¡°Nutjob!¡± A part of me stirred at their words. I¡¯d been worried about finding people strong enough to help me, but what made me think I was strong enough for them? Who needed a Hero who was unwilling to become one? Of what use was a person who shied away from wearing his mantle? Paz made his exit, without another glance at us. Nicola yelled some choice words at him and made a rude gesture, but even she soon took her leave. This seemed like a perfect time for the [System] to offer some kind of guidance. But, a new quest didn¡¯t pop up, even as they both disappeared down the street. 038 Ezin The quest system didn¡¯t fire all through that night or the next morning either. I lay awake in bed, frowning at the spirit orbs in my Inventory. The icon bore a bold x2, numerical proof of the onus hanging over my head. I hated this¡ªhated having my well-being tied to quest completion. However, 999 homunculi had died for a chance to be in my shoes. Whining like this did them a disservice. A knock resounded on the door. ¡°Breakfast, sir, if you choose.¡± My stomach rumbled in answer. ¡°In a minute.¡± I got out of bed and headed down to the ground floor of the inn, which held the dining area slash lobby. The innkeeper bore a passing resemblance to his sister the merchant, but he talked less often and only grunted in response to my greeting. His cooking skills more than made up for his attitude, however, and it was with a gusto that I dug into the hot meal of potatoes and fish. A full tummy cleared my head and helped me to reevaluate my options. Paz and Nicola might have turned me down, but I still had an entire guild¡¯s worth of people to approach. I also hadn¡¯t given up on finding someone with knowledge of spirit orbs or how to create them. The [System] wouldn¡¯t make that easy, but I''d never been a quitter. Two days was more than enough to resolve my fate. Two freaking days . . . I speared a piece of fish and popped it into my mouth. The entrance door slammed open. Three young soldiers walked in, clad in standard Bargherian plate armor, complete with the sigils of a dog and a tree painted on the tabard. ¡°Greetings,¡± the lad in the lead said, stopping by the counter. ¡°Is this the residence of one Mr. Damien?¡± I lowered my fork. [Stealth]¡ª ¡°Wait!¡± a soldier said, moving to cut me off. ¡°Please. We are here on official business, pertaining to the guilds.¡± That did nothing to calm my nerves. My most recent business with the guild involved my altercation with Byron, but how had he learned my name? ¡°Damien Dark Elf,¡± the lead soldier said, stepping away from the counter, ¡°we have been tasked with enforcing your summons at the behest of the guild masters. Please, come with us.¡± At least, they were being polite. Nicola had warned that the guild master would want to meet me, but I didn¡¯t expect to be summoned in this manner. Growing up in a city like Lagos had instilled a deep distrust of uniforms within me. Nevertheless, I benefitted nothing from violent resistance. ¡°I¡¯ll come along,¡± I said, ¡°but no cuffs, and I intend to walk behind.¡± One of the soldiers bristled. ¡°Is that lip I am hearing from you, sword-ears?¡± I shot him a bored look, unable to feign offense. He didn¡¯t like my silence, because he reached for his sword. His colleagues stopped him, however, about three-quarters into the draw. ¡°Peacefully,¡± the one I¡¯d identified as the leader said in chastisement to his lackey. ¡°We¡¯d put only one man behind you, Mr. Damien, but you need to understand why we can¡¯t let you out of our sight. This isn¡¯t an arrest, but the guild masters don''t take kindly to disappointment.¡± Guild masters . . . ergo, more than one. Seeing as the matter most likely concerned Isaac, there was a high chance the merchant guild would also be in attendance. Besides, I¡¯d already used [Identify] on the guards. None of them could threaten me, making further posturing pointless. ¡°Very well, then," I said. "Let¡¯s go.¡± The soldiers escorted me out of the inn and into the busy street. We traversed roads that looked more familiar than they did yesterday, though I still had to pay attention to avoid getting lost. The people of Skeelie were out in full force again. Why was this city always so busy? We fought through the foot traffic until we arrived at the Adventurers¡¯ Guild: a wide, two-storied, building¡ªhewn from stone¡ªjust opposite The Naked Bard. The soldiers wasted no time in surging through the double doors. An expansive entrance hall greeted us, arrayed like a bank. Clerks sat behind counters, stamping documents and going through large piles of files. Others attended to an assortment of adventurers, who queued in front of the counters for a variety of reasons. A few of the adventurers carried sacks of strange items: monster parts like claws and teeth. One held the head of a creature that resembled a gorgon in her grip. They submitted those to the clerks and received coins in exchange. Other adventurers visited a large board that hung on one section of the wall. A party of five argued in front of it: kids who didn¡¯t look much older than sixteen. The last group of adventurers reclined in a recreational area that took up half the hall. I thought I recognized the woman in the monk robes from yesterday, but the soldiers nudged me onward before I could get a good look. Ezin¡¯s office stood on the top floor of the guild building, at the end of a hallway adorned with marble statuettes. The soldiers rapped on the carved wooden door and waited until a voice beckoned them to enter. The first thought that leaped into my mind as I entered Ezin¡¯s office was that he had to be a vain buffoon. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The entirety of the room featured lush, red carpets, looking more like a cabaret than any public office. Golden ornaments adorned the walls, gleaming with light that streamed from a large window adjacent to the entrance. A single desk and a pair of double shelves constituted the only bits of wood in the room. Everything else was cushioned velvet or gold. I almost felt bad for tracking my feet across the rug, which looked so immaculate that it was probably maintained by a maid with eldritch cleaning techniques or a Roomba with an affinity. A dark-haired man sat behind the desk, and he spread his hands at our entry. ¡°Ah, Mr. Damien. Please, take a seat.¡± The soldiers bowed behind me and exited as quietly as their armor allowed. Three other people sat on the sofas opposite the Guild master''s desk. Nicola offered a small smile, dressed for once in sane clothes that covered her from neck to ankle. She still wore her oversized witch¡¯s hat but sat like a cornered hare, too scared to fully incline her head. A middle-aged man with prim clothes and a neat beard occupied the sofa beside her. He regarded me with hawkish eyes from over the lid of his goblet. Mathideus rounded out their number, and although his hair looked as perfect as ever in the golden light, he wore an expression of turmoil. I sat on the other side of Nicola, more for her sake than mine. The man behind the desk¡ªthe reason for my summons¡ªsmiled as I settled in. Ezin looked nothing like his opulent office suggested. He wore his dark hair long and ill-maintained, seeming more like a hobo than anyone of repute, especially when combined with his shaggy beard. Nary a piece of jewelry gleamed on his person, though a modicum of vanity still managed to bleed through his attire. His white coat hung heavy on his person, split down the middle to reveal sculpted abs. Muscles like his could cut diamonds and attract the interest of men and women both. But, goddammit, man, just wear a shirt. Why did buff people enjoy showing off their torsos? I suppressed a burning desire to use [Identify] on Ezin . . . But, screw it. The missed opportunity would haunt me for weeks. I activated the skill, readying an excuse in case he reacted like Beelith. Guild master LVL 42. Strong! Ezin turned to Nicola. ¡°This is the elf you spoke about, yes?¡± Nicola nodded. ¡°Very well,¡± Ezin said. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you, Damien¡ª¡± ¡°Who killed Isaac?¡± the other guild master asked, cutting straight to the point. I wrinkled my nose. ¡°The Primal Dread Monkey. Surely, Nicola must have mentioned something about this?¡± The man¡¯s face reddened. ¡°I have never heard of the existence of such a creature in my life! Dread Monkeys never grow beyond low Iron.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what answer you¡¯re fishing for, dude. I can only tell you what happened.¡± Ezin watched me with cool eyes. ¡°You dealt the final blow, then? Nicola simply described it as a large monkey.¡± I mean, I''d learned the monkey''s name due to [Identify], but since I wanted to avoid sharing that detail, this also worked. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°A monster as strong as that,¡± the merchant said, dropping his goblet on a stool, ¡°in Dreadwood, of all places.¡± ¡°Why act surprised?¡± Ezin said. ¡°We''ve known about it, after all¡ªabout the change in Dreadwood''s ecology. Nicola and her party were just unlucky.¡± ¡°Unlucky¡±¡ªand at this, the merchant snorted¡ª¡°That¡¯s a fancy way of saying that the wild god is becoming a bigger pain than he should.¡± Ezin smirked. ¡°I cannot accept this, Ezin," the man continued. "We merchants pay your guild good money for our protection. If you can¡¯t even do that much, what then is the point of our arrangement?¡± Ezin furrowed his brows. ¡°It took nine rankers to defeat this monster, and a total of four casualties. That''s a freak accident, and you know it. The best course of action is to halt our activities in Dreadwood in the interim.¡± ¡°And lose out on the business of precious gems?¡± The merchant shook his head. ¡°Trade with the Wood King helps fill the city¡¯s coffers. Unless you''re proposing that we go into the woods and mine rare gems ourselves. I don¡¯t need to remind you how that ended.¡± The two men frowned at each other. The merchant was first to relent. ¡°What was the other matter we needed to discuss? Something about goblin sightings?¡± "A goblin horde," I corrected. "One that is warming up to wage war with the elves." Mathideus perked up at that and spoke for the first time since I entered the room. "A goblin horde? Surely, you jest. Did you actually see them on the march or is this a conclusion drawn from the ambushes?" "You''re seriously doubting an elf over matters in his home?" I mean, he wasn''t wrong. No one had actually seen the horde, but Nana had been certain. And, I''d take her words anyday over anyone else''s in the room. The merchant clucked his tongue. ¡°Now, this is becoming a real shitshow, isn''t it? We''re going to need to deal with goblins on top of all this?¡± "If there''s any way you could help¡ª" I said. "There isn''t. The elves can deal with their problems on their own." Huh? "But, I''ve been told that goblins are also a threat to the cities of Bargheria." "We stopped them the last time they came knocking, we''ll stop them again." The merchant smirked at me. "If your words are true and not elven deceit, then the Wood King would need items of war to tackle the threat. ''Smells like an opportunity for my people." The acid boiled in my gut. "You witless¡ª" Ezin cleared his throat. "I''m placing sanctions on official excursions into Dreadwood until the guild has investigated these issues." ¡°You can''t do that," the merchant said, "You lack the authority.¡± Ezin simply smiled. ¡°As a representative of the crown, the protection of the city''s inhabitants is my foremost responsibility. We''re starved for manpower in light of the recent festival, but this matter is too severe to brush aside." "If there''s any time to stop being anal¡ª" "Damien has other questions to answer,¡± Ezin said with a raised hand. ¡°And, you have your appointment with the governor"¡ªhe glanced at a dial on the wall¡ª"in less than thirty minutes.¡± The merchant purpled at the casual dismissal. ¡°This isn¡¯t the end of our discussion, Ezin. Your bullishness won''t change the fact that a member of ours perished on your watch. I still want a report and a review of our terms." He adopted a foul sneer. "You rankers don''t get to make decisions that affect both our guilds.¡± He left after that, slamming the door behind him. ¡°Sorry for the inconvenience, sir,¡± Nicola said and huddled into herself. ¡°I can return the advance payment. I don¡¯t want to trouble the guild.¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± Ezin said. ¡°I wrote those contracts myself. Our rankers are protected in cases like these. That said, you won¡¯t be paid the outstanding balance, not after this failure. The merchants would also appreciate a written apology. Anything to make it seem like they have some hold on us.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Nicola said, keeping her expression hidden beneath her curtain of braids. Nicola had mentioned something about working to care for her siblings, which meant the lost payment probably hurt her more than she was willing to admit. My heart went out to her, but I couldn''t see any other way to remedy the situation. Ezin leaned into his chair. ¡°Can I trouble you with a question, Damien?¡± I raised my defenses. ¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like I have much of a choice.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± Ezin said. ¡°There''s scant little you can conceal from my notice. Tell me: how many of the wild god¡¯s pets did you butcher?¡± 039 Second Strike The hairs rose on the back of my neck. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you do,¡± Ezin said with a smile that lacked any warmth whatsoever. ¡°Nicola here told me about your run-in with the Wood Elves. I find it hard to believe they were in the wrong.¡± ¡°That kind of accusation¡ª¡± Nicola said. ¡°Quiet, child,¡± Ezin countered. The simple order stopped her in her tracks. Mathideus stroked his chin. ¡°What level are you, Damien?¡± ¡°He¡¯s level 15,¡± Ezin said, without giving me a chance to reply. Crap. He had [Identify] too? ¡°That makes things a tad implausible,¡± Mathideus said. ¡°No one of his level can handle silver-ranked monsters. Definitely not the type the wild god loves to seed.¡± ¡°And yet,¡± Ezin said, ¡°the Wood Elves believed him to be the culprit. You won¡¯t find a better tracker than a Wood Elf ranger in all of Bargheria. If they had a reason to suspect him, it wasn¡¯t without merit.¡± He leaned forward in his chair. ¡°So, what would it be, Damien? Ready to talk? Or are you still going to hedge?¡± I pondered my answer. ¡°I¡¯ll satisfy your curiosity if you answer a question of my own.¡± Ezin blinked, and then he chuckled beneath his breath. ¡°Very well, elf. Ask away. And, should I dislike the question, I will refuse to answer.¡± That was much better than I¡¯d hoped. ¡°I am searching for an item called a spirit orb. What do you know about this?¡± ¡°A spirit orb?¡± ¡°Yes. Round, glowy thing. About the size of a tennis ball. Looks to be made from pure energy.¡± Ezin glanced at Mathideus, who shrugged in turn. ¡°I have never heard of this spirit orb,¡± Ezin said, ¡°or tennis, for that matter. It sounds like an alchemical concoction. But, expert alchemists don¡¯t come easy in Bargheria.¡± I deflated. ¡°Oh . . .¡± ¡°I would advise you to visit the guild library though. Chances are, even if I do not know it, someone else has written about it.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± I didn¡¯t know the guild had a library. That was the kind of resource I needed in this world. ¡°You would answer my question then?¡± Ezin said, crossing his arms. I glanced at Nicola. It felt like a jerk move to reveal this after she had defended my innocence. But, I had given my word . . . ¡°I didn¡¯t kill the silver-ranked monsters,¡± I said. ¡°Two of them annihilated each other, however, while trying to kill me.¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Sorry,¡± I mumbled. ¡°The Wood Elves weren¡¯t wrong, but they also weren¡¯t right.¡± ¡°A victim of circumstance,¡± Mathideus said, sitting up in his chair. He gave me his full attention now unlike earlier. "That sounds crazy enough that it might just be true." ¡°Would this put me in trouble?¡± I asked, feeling a tad uneasy. ¡°I get the feeling your people hate messing with Dreadwood.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to predict the wild god''s reaction,¡± Mathideus said. ¡°We often send young adventurers out into the woods to . . . bleed them, if you will. A higher-ranked chaperone always follows along, so it is not unheard of for such parties to kill strange creatures.¡± He paused. ¡°You¡¯re probably the first iron ranker to face three silver-ranked monsters and survive. That¡¯s some devil¡¯s luck.¡± Ezin kept his dark gaze fixed on me. What else did he want me to say? I¡¯d already admitted the truth. ¡°Ezin?¡± Mathideus said. The guildmaster snapped out of his stupor. ¡°I believe him. He doesn¡¯t seem to be lying.¡± I sighed in relief. ¡°The goblin matter still needs to be dealt with,¡± Ezin continued. ¡°The upcoming festival leaves us short on manpower. But, I should be able to organize a small party to investigate. Would you like to join them, Damien?" I shook my head. Without spirit orbs, I wouldn''t live long enough to see out the mission. However, I had another request. "Can you deliver a message to a bunch of Wood Elves . . .?" Nicola and I left the cabaret office a full hour later. Ezin had grilled me about the goblins, and then he¡¯d asked again about the silver-ranked monsters I¡¯d encountered. I told him what I could but withheld some information, lest his line of questioning should extend toward Harkonean. He didn¡¯t seem interested in that, however, but he''d raised an eyebrow when I informed him of my wish to join his guild. He gave his endorsement, regardless, which was good enough for me. All I needed to do was take his written note to the clerks and register as a member of the guild. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Sadly, Ezin had other matters to discuss with Mathideus, so I couldn¡¯t grovel at the latter¡¯s feet to gain entry into his party. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I told Nicola as we descended. ¡°I should have said something when the Wood Elves confronted us.¡± Nicola shook her head. ¡°You were protecting yourself, and it all worked out in the end. It¡¯s just . . . I wonder if Isaac would have lived if we''d never met.¡± Ouch. She caught the look on my face and raised her hands to her lips. ¡°Oh, no. I didn¡¯t mean it that way, Damien. You saved us from the goblin attack. I just can¡¯t help but think about how badly everything went. This was supposed to be routine.¡± We re-entered the lobby. ¡°Would your siblings be alright?¡± I asked. ¡°What with Ezin docking your pay . . .¡± Nicola steeled her gaze. ¡°We¡¯ll get by. I spent my last paycheck securing their necessities. As long as nothing major happens, they should be good for a month.¡± I stopped at the back of the smallest queue, behind some guy in wizard robes. I still hadn¡¯t forgotten Nicola¡¯s generosity at the city gates. ¡°You know, I don¡¯t have much leftover, but if you''d like a share¡ª¡± ¡°No, Damien. It hasn¡¯t gotten to that. I can make some money selling off my gear in a pinch. It¡¯s just . . . adventurers are usually placed on a blacklist after big failures like the last mission. I¡¯ll have a tough time finding lucrative jobs for a while. But, that won¡¯t stop me.¡± She balled her fists. ¡°I will take whatever shitty quests I get until I propel myself back up the ladder. I can also work harder at the cult.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to do any of it alone, Nicola. Let me help you. Let us work together.¡± Nicola ducked her head. Her lips wavered, and she blinked a few times at the ground. I had her. One more push and I could snag her into my party . . . which sounded a bit sinister were it not for the fact that I was also at my wit¡¯s end. It also helped that I really liked Nicola. Not the same way I liked Mavari, of course, but just as close. It didn¡¯t matter that there were better spellcasters in the guild. She was the kind of person I enjoyed hanging out with. A hush fell over the hall, drawing my attention much too late. The adventurers around us scattered, abandoning their positions in the queues. I turned around and locked gazes with Byron. His freezing aura was nowhere to be found, but the intensity of his glare chilled me regardless. ¡°You,¡± Byron said. Yes, me, I wanted to retort, but my jaw clamped shut in his presence. A single [Fear] notification flashed past my sight, a harsh reminder of how much the enemy outclassed me. Byron¡¯s eyes roved over my face, then settled on Ezin¡¯s recommendation that sat in my hand. ¡°You¡¯d be foolish to go along with that. Do you think I would ignore the insult of yesterday?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± a new voice said. ¡°What¡¯s this? The Dark Elf and his whore dared to show their face?¡± Beelith entered the guild, alongside the rest of Red Wyrm. They gathered around us, adopting postures that made it seem like they only wanted to talk. But, their sneers were wide and eyes narrowed. Once again, I remembered dad and his withering glare on the day of mom¡¯s funeral. No one had made me feel like that in a while. And, I wouldn¡¯t condone it. Beelith ran a finger across Nicola¡¯s cheek. ¡°Strange. The few times I saw you, you always looked like you were willing to bend over at the slightest request.¡± Her finger ran down to Nicola¡¯s chest, growing a claw in real-time. ¡°Dresses like this don¡¯t suit a mindless slut like you. But, I guess you''re beyond help¡ªnot after running through everyone in Skeelie twice.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a mindless slut,¡± Nicola said in a small voice. ¡°Even worse,¡± one of the casters said, ¡°you¡¯re a sister of carnality!¡± I was starting to tell the caster brothers apart. One had a wider nose and carried a staff¡ªa Mage then, going by [System] descriptions. The other was presumably a Warlock. Beelith continued. ¡°I guess that explains why she is willing to cavort with an elf.¡± She eyed me with a curled upper lip. ¡°Imagine sleeping with that thing. Ugh. Aren¡¯t you scared of disease?¡± Say what now? The Mage laughed. ¡°Oh, you know nothing about this whore. She¡¯s supposedly their brightest member at the temple or something.¡± His brother joined in. ¡°She''s the one whose family is indentured to the bank, huh? I guess that makes sense. Owe the merchants that much money and you would be willing to cavort with anyone, even if they look and smell like him.¡± I almost grabbed The Blackreach Dagger there and then. Not because of the insult to myself. But, because of the barb at Nicola. Byron watched me with calm, blue eyes. Jeez. What was I thinking, allowing myself to get riled up by kids? This game of theirs was far beneath me. I should just grab Nicola and leave. Beelith inserted her claw into Nicola¡¯s cleavage. ¡°What say you, whore? Wouldn¡¯t it be better for me to rip this and reveal your shame?¡± She lowered her finger, causing a tear in the fabric. ¡°A family of slaves. What do you discuss at dinner, I wonder? About what fat merchant your youngest managed to blow¡ª?¡± My eyes widened. Not at her words. But, at the slap that collided with Beelith¡¯s face. It went off like a gun, resounding across the hall. Beelith and Nicola both suffered damage to their health. And, everyone else¡ªmyself included¡ªfroze at the sight. The clerks were first to move, disappearing from behind their desks. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Nicola said, eyes burning with rage. The members of Red Wyrm looked on in stunned silence. Then, Beelith growled. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she did. Sharp claws popped from her fingers. ¡°You fucking bitch.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Ezin said, making his entrance with Mathideus. ¡°Haven¡¯t I made it clear that no fighting is allowed on guild grounds?¡± Beelith removed her claws from my throat. I didn¡¯t even realize I had moved to intersperse myself between the two women. ¡°We did nothing of the sort, sir,¡± Beelith said. Ezin glared at her teammates. ¡°Byron? What is the meaning of this?¡± Byron didn¡¯t reply. Despite the rest of his party backing away in the face of the guild master, Byron remained unfazed. If anything, he treated the guild master¡¯s presence with casual disdain¡ªa display that caused deep grooves to form in Ezin¡¯s face. Good lord. Did Byron not care that Ezin was stronger than him? Or, was he just unhinged? How had the rankers of Skeelie put up with his antics for so long? Byron ignored the directed question. Instead, he leaned closer to me. ¡°This is the second time you have been saved by someone else, elf. There won¡¯t be a third.¡± ¡°No fighting on guild grounds,¡± I teased, ¡°or among colleagues.¡± I raised Ezin¡¯s recommendation. ¡°I guess we are both beholden to guild rules now unless you wish to break them.¡± ¡°Unless,¡± Byron agreed. ¡°But the festival begins in a week. Anything goes within the dungeon.¡± He patted my shoulder. ¡°Try not to participate.¡± He stalked out of the guild, taking his cronies with him. All, except Beelith. ¡°Do you have something to say, Molochia?¡± Ezin asked. ¡°No, sir,¡± Beelith said. She shot Nicola a black look and whispered some choice words beneath her breath. And then, she was gone, leaving the onlookers to breathe a sigh of relief. 040 The Archon Bank I helped Nicola to a seat by a fountain. She grasped her head and breathed harshly enough that I feared her heart would tumble out of her chest. ¡°I don''t know what came over me," she said. "They¡¯re going to try to kill me now, won¡¯t they? What should I do? Where do I go?¡± I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, hoping it offered a modicum of comfort. Nicola shivered. ¡°Heralds. I think I¡¯m going to be sick. I just wanted to keep my head down and give my all to the job. I didn¡¯t ask for any of this!¡± I said nothing and drew her even closer. Nicola was right to freak out, considering what I¡¯d seen of Red Wyrm. But, a part of me approved of the fact she had stood up for herself. One never won against bullies by burying their heads in the sand. I''d learned that much from my experiences with dad. ¡°Damien, what do we do?¡± Nicola said in a small voice. I pondered the problem. ¡°Honestly? There¡¯s no way Red Wyrm will allow this insult to slide. We should expect another altercation, sooner rather than later. Ezin can''t do much to help us outside the guild, so for the most part, we are on our own.¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°We can assassinate them before they get a chance to retaliate.¡± ¡°Where the hell did that come from?¡± Nicola didn¡¯t waver. ¡°You don''t know Red Wyrm like I do, Damien. You''ve never heard of the atrocities they commit in the shadows. We''d do everyone in Skeelie a favor by doing them in. And, if you don''t have the stomach for it, I could hire some people¡ª¡± ¡°Hey! We''re not going to assassinate anyone over this matter. There¡¯s a big difference between that and killing in self-defense.¡± ¡°It¡¯s self-defense if we preempt them. It¡¯s almost certain that they would strike.¡± ¡°And, the next time we need murder to get rid of an obstacle, we¡¯ll call it preemptive. On and on until we become the monsters everyone tries to stop.¡± ¡°Then let us be monsters,¡± Nicola said, rising to her feet. ¡°I have family, Damien. I can''t afford to let harm befall them, all because of a stupid spat.¡± Silence descended over the two of us, punctuated by Nicola''s breaths. I was starting to see her angle. Why wait for an approaching snake to strike when one could kill it before it got started? But, therein lay a slippery slope. Even if one could kill, should they always exercise that option? ¡°You mentioned your family,¡± I said in a quiet voice. ¡°But, think of what would become of them if the authorities uncover your actions.¡± Nicola stiffened. ¡°I''m not going to try to dissuade you any further," I added. "All I ask is that we wait a little more before making concrete plans. If anything, you''re not alone. We''re in this together.¡± Nicola deflated and sat back on the fountain. Maybe a change of scenery would help? The current topic was too much of a downer. ¡°Would you like me to tag along on your visit to your family?¡± I asked, recalling our conversation with Ben from yesterday. Nicola shook her head. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t like what you see.¡± Ah. The Beelith girl had made a snide comment about Nicola''s family. Something about them being in debt. It mattered little to me, what with being poor for most of my life. ¡°There¡¯s no way I could hate your siblings, Nicola.¡± That got her to smile. ¡°Alright, then. I scheduled a visit for today anyway. But, they won''t be expecting you. Ben''s the only one I''ve ever brought along." Her smile dipped. "Just don¡¯t think less of me after your visit.¡± ¡°Oh, please. I¡¯m the one who should be worried. I suck at first impressions." The main street of Skeelie with its teeming vendors caught my attention. "What do you think would serve as an appropriate gift for your family?¡± "Just bring yourself! What''s not to like?" I made my decision right there and then. Nicola was good people, the kind any party would die to have. And, I would get her on mine. Even if it meant sharing her burdens. I didn¡¯t know what I expected, but it wasn¡¯t this. Nicola led me to a large, stone building, situated near the city¡¯s eastern wall. The dull grey paint gave the impression of a place devoid of warmth¡ªa sight that wasn¡¯t bettered by the armored guard that towered beside the gate. His full plate armor was of better material than those of the city guard, and a sigil consisting of two coins and a wreath replaced the Bargherian coat of arms on the front of his surcoat. Merchant Guard LVL 30. The guard didn¡¯t so much as say a word as we approached. Nicola didn¡¯t offer a greeting either, which struck me as odd, considering she was one of the most genial people I knew. It was only after crossing the threshold that I realized why they had dispensed with formalities. The building was enchanted. The very air pressed down on me the instant we entered the courtyard, like heavy curtains draped around my form. [System] notifications glitched in the corner of my vision, triggering a series of haptic buzzes. ¡°Ugly feeling, isn¡¯t it?¡± Nicola said through a grimace. ¡°High-level enchantments were built into these walls. They target classers and interrupt their flow of energy. Trying to cast a technique here will result in a failure to activate, alongside a loss of energy.¡± ¡°So,¡± I wheezed, ¡°it¡¯s a lot like what prison cells are made of?¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Why do they keep kids here?¡± Nicola¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Because they can¡± ¡°And, the city permits this?¡± ¡°Yes. The Archon Bank is more influential than you think. They justify their use of enchantments by saying that the precautions are meant to prevent outsiders from getting brilliant ideas.¡± She hugged herself, signaling her discomfort with the topic. I fell silent as we walked past a barren lawn and into an empty reception. The building looked just as stately on the inside as it did on the out, with stone archways interspersed at intervals over a sterile, marble floor. A single desk stood in an alcove opposite the entrance, protected by sturdy iron rails. A sleepy, old receptionist manned the desk, and she looked up from her book as we approached. ¡°Ah, Ms. Ainsworth,¡± the receptionist said, removing her spectacles. ¡°I had no idea you were scheduled to visit. Is this, perhaps, the last one of the month?¡± She noticed me and her eyebrows rocketed into her hair. ¡°What¡¯s a Dark Elf doing here in Skeelie?¡± ¡°He¡¯s with me,¡± Nicola said. The receptionist continued gaping. ¡°New visitors must seek¡ª¡± ¡°Please, ma''am. Can¡¯t you endorse his visit? Just this once?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking too much of me, girlie.¡± Nicola didn¡¯t reply. The receptionist sighed and put her spectacles back in place. She opened a ledger that sat idle in front of her and grabbed a quill. ¡°What¡¯s your name, young one?¡± ¡°Damien,¡± I said. "Damien Njoku." ¡°And your class?¡± Oh, this should be fun. Nicola stomped my foot. ¡°A¡ªow!¡± The old woman raised an eyebrow. ¡°He¡¯s a Ranger,¡± Nicola told her in a voice laced with syrup. ¡°A Ranger, huh?¡± she mumbled. ¡°A lot of elves seem to prefer that.¡± She stopped writing long enough to glance up from the ledger. ¡°I¡¯m risking my neck for you, Ms. Ainsworth, waiving an authorization like this. I don¡¯t give anyone else the same kind of privileges.¡± ¡°I know, ma''am. And, I¡¯m grateful. Thank you for everything you do.¡± The receptionist nodded. ¡°You know where to go. I¡¯ll have the kids over in a few minutes.¡± ¡°Do they have any complaints?¡± ¡°Just the usual. Too cold. Too tired. Too little to eat. I try to do what I can. But, I¡¯m not the matron, and you know how stringent the bank is with budgets.¡± She blew a strand of grey hair out of her face. ¡°They loved the blankets that I got for them with the last money you offered. But, I can¡¯t continue actions like those without drawing attention.¡± Nicola bit her lip. ¡°I understand . . .¡± I sure as hell didn¡¯t. It sounded like this place was some sort of orphanage, with the exception that everyone here was being held against their will? Nicola led the way to a corridor that branched away from the anteroom and into a waiting area with dusty wooden benches and tables. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, long enough to reveal that the room didn¡¯t see much use. Nicola settled on a bench without bothering to dust it. I slid in opposite her and stared hard at the table. ¡°You have questions,¡± she said. I didn¡¯t bother being witty. ¡°What is this place?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an orphanage¡ª¡± ¡°Really? There are violent prisoners out there who live in better conditions than this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad . . .¡± I fixed her with a blank stare. ¡°Okay, I''ll take that back. It''s really bad here. It¡¯s just . . . the Archon Bank needs a place to keep the kids until they come of age.¡± ¡°Come of age for what?¡± ¡°Indentured servitude.¡± I rose as if electrocuted. ¡°You mean slavery?¡± ¡°What? No. The Kingdom has abolished slavery.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what indentured servitude means! Just dressed in fancy robes.¡± Nicola wrung her hands. ¡°Damien, sit down. Please.¡± I sat with some reluctance. ¡°The Archon bank always collects their debts,¡± Nicola said, looking everywhere but at me. ¡°It sounds nasty, but it is perfectly legal all over Vizhima. Those who default on payments must make up for it in servitude. And, it¡¯s not exactly equivalent.¡± ¡°But, why are kids involved?¡± ¡°Because the debt is bound in blood. My father owed the bank, and then he fled, leaving my siblings and I to pay for his sin.¡± ¡°You mean you once lived here too?¡± ¡°Yes. The Cult of Carnality secured my release.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that,¡± she added in haste. ¡°They didn¡¯t make me work to repay the debt. The cult holds my trait in high esteem and couldn''t bear to see me indentured. I became a carnal sister in gratitude.¡± Well, that explained why someone with as much sense as Nicola mingled with a shady cult. She was too appreciative for her good. ¡°Let me get this straight,¡± I said. ¡°Your siblings are being held until they pay off their share of your father¡¯s debt . . .¡± ¡°Until I do.¡± ¡°And, if you don¡¯t, the bank does what? Sell them off at eighteen?¡± ¡°Lease their contracts to anyone seeking indentured help, at fifteen.¡± Oh, for the love of . . . ¡°So, in the meantime, everyone in the city pretends that this is perfectly normal?¡± ¡°It is. And, the expenses for raising the kids are added to their debts.¡± ¡°That''s exploitation, Nicola.¡± ¡°I know.¡± She drew in a breath. ¡°But, the Archon Bank cannot be opposed. There is nothing I can do about it except pay up. At least, they play by the rules.¡± ¡°How much more do you need?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your money, Damien.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking.¡± ¡°No. Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Nicola . . .¡± She ran a shaky hand through her braided hair. ¡°It¡¯s a little over twelve gold each.¡± Oh . . . That amounted to what? Two thousand, four hundred pieces of silver? Did people here even have that kind of money? ¡°How long would it take to repay that figure in indenture?¡± I asked. Nicola¡¯s eyes glazed over. ¡°About forty years each. The bank pegs the minimum wage for skilled labor at five silver coins a month. Unskilled labor draws even less, at three coins a month. But, all of that only starts counting after their contracts have been leased.¡± Her features crumpled in an expression of grief. ¡°If someone else leases their contract, I¡¯d have a harder time buying it back. I need to secure their freedom before they turn fifteen, and the oldest does so three years from now.¡± My stomach tossed unpleasantly. ¡°Is there a way we can make a lot of money in a short amount of time?¡± ¡°There are ways. But, unless I resort to murder or theft, the dungeon egg is the best chance I¡¯ve got. That route¡¯s as good as suicide, however. My siblings would never let me take it.¡± ¡°Share.¡± Nicola pressed a fist to her forehead in thought. ¡°At the center of every dungeon lies a dungeon egg¡ªa valuable item known for its unique applications in smithing and alchemy. The one in Skeelie is purported to be worth over twenty gold pieces. ¡°But, no one has reached the center of the Labyrinth since the dungeons respawned twenty years ago. And, there is no shortage of people looking to try each time the Labyrinth opens. It¡¯s a fool¡¯s errand.¡± ¡°Then, we shall become fools.¡± ¡°No, Damien.¡± And, at this, she withered, going limp like her strings had been cut. ¡°Half the people who go into the Labyrinth do not return. And, I¡¯ll never forgive myself for dying while my siblings are trapped in this hell. I¡¯ll get the money the hard way, by saving a little from every job I take.¡± But, Nicola was about twenty years of age. And, she still hadn¡¯t come any closer to relieving her burden. Someone was going to have to give between her and the bank. I didn¡¯t know which. 041 Escalation The genial receptionist brought two boys to meet us, both dark-haired and dark-skinned, ages ten and twelve respectively judging by their appearance. Nicola brightened up the moment they entered and rushed out of her seat to hug them. They returned the hug with some reluctance and groaned about her excessive doting. However, their actions were only a front. Somewhere beneath the gruffness lay muted elation at their sister''s visit. It peeked out in the way they exchanged knowing glances with each other and smiled at Nicola''s fussing. Neither of them possessed the exuberance I had come to associate with kids. But, they were Nicola¡¯s siblings, alright. Their eyes burned with the same golden fire that hers did, despite their unsteady gaits. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in an hour,¡± the receptionist said. ¡°That should be more than enough.¡± A wild thought raced through my mind. We could steal the kids and make a break for it before the receptionist could so much as blink. But, that still left the problem of enchantments. And, the shirt slipped down around one brother¡¯s neck, revealing a set of runes painted like a collar. ¡°Damien,¡± Nicola said, waving me over. ¡°Come say hello.¡± Her brothers backed away from me with wide eyes. ¡°Sis . . .¡± the older kid said, ¡°those ears . . . I don¡¯t think he¡¯s human.¡± Nicola chuckled. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s not. Damien¡¯s an elf.¡± The two boys exchanged glances. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen an elf,¡± the younger kid said, pushing his locs out of his face. ¡°He¡¯s not evil, is he?¡± ¡°Oh, come on,¡± I said, throwing my arms in mock exasperation. ¡°Why does everyone have something bad to say about me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the eyes,¡± Nicola said, and she laughed even harder. ¡°It lends you a pretty imposing look.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a problem of genetics. It has nothing to do with my character!¡± The older kid scratched his chin. ¡°Yeah, those eyes of his make him look a little dangerous. ''Doesn''t help that he''s taller than anyone else I know.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like him,¡± the younger said from safety behind Nicola. ¡°I prefer Ben.¡± Hey, now! That kinda hurt. ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with our sister?¡± the older kid said, balling his fists. ¡°If you are just another dirtbag¡ª¡± Nicola thwacked him over the head. ¡°What did I teach you about making assumptions? Damien is from Dreadwood, but he¡¯s still nicer than anyone else in the city.¡± She turned to me. ¡°Damien, meet Theo and Bart. The best brothers in the entire world.¡± She made a cute face and hugged them tightly. ¡°They don¡¯t know much about the outside world except from the stories they hear, so don¡¯t take any of what they say to heart.¡± ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t offended,¡± I said, extending a hand to Theo, the older of the two. ¡°If they are this interested in the company you keep, then they must be good lads.¡± Theo scrutinized my offered hand and wrinkled his nose at the compliment. ¡°Theo,¡± Nicola warned. ¡°Oh, alright.¡± He shook my hand with a grip far weaker than a boy his age should exude. ¡°Nice to meet you, Damien. Just look out for her, okay? Sometimes, she gets into stuff way over her head.¡± ¡°I promise to do so,¡± I replied, to Nicola¡¯s indignation. Bart looked between his brother and me, and then he shuffled forward for a handshake of his own. ¡°You¡¯re from the forest?¡± he asked with furrowed brows. ¡°How do you even live there? I heard it¡¯s full of monsters.¡± ¡°Lots of monsters,¡± I agreed. ¡°But, they¡¯re no match for me. I¡¯m pretty strong.¡± Bart beamed. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m going to be a ranker too. Theo tells me I just need to save up the fee once I get out of here.¡± Nicola bit her lip. ¡°Shush now, okay?¡± Theo said. ¡°What did I tell you about talking about the outside?¡± ¡°But, you said we¡¯d be able to leave soon¡ª¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°You will, okay?¡± Nicola interjected, kneeling to ruffle Bart¡¯s hair. ¡°It might take a little more time, but I promise to get you out of here.¡± ¡°Soon, right?¡± Bart said. ¡°Yes, baby. Soon.¡± Bart stuck his tongue out at Theo. ¡°See? I told you so.¡± But, Theo fell silent and turned sullen eyes on his sister. He knew she was lying. He knew. But, he gracefully realized that his brother didn''t need that knowledge. I returned to my bench after a short while to give the siblings some room to talk. They made use of their limited time to do just that, as well as eat goodies from Nicola''s inventory. The boys also posed occasional questions to me, which I ensured to answer with gusto. I didn¡¯t have the power to change the world, but Paz had been right about my accompanying lack of desire. Stolen story; please report. Now, however, as I watched the Ainsworths laugh despite their circumstances, my blood boiled. ¡°So, where is your father anyway?¡± I asked Nicola, as we made our way through Skeelie with a setting sun painting the backdrop. We had spent the rest of the day traveling around the city, visiting landmarks that Nicola deemed important. She had tried to lure me into the temple, a towering building built for those seeking to experience the cult¡¯s special brand of hospitality, but I had made good use of [Stealth] to avoid that. We wandered the streets now, discussing her mother who had died at Bart¡¯s birth, and her missing dad. ¡°Who knows where that fucker is?¡± she said, crossing her arms behind her hat. ¡°He fled town to escape the bank¡¯s mercenaries. Probably fled all of Bargheria too. My best guess is that he is rotting in a ditch somewhere.¡± She beamed at that part. ¡°Not that he has anything to return to. Everything we owned was seized by the bank. Well, almost everything.¡± ¡°Almost everything?¡± ¡°I reclaimed the house,¡± Nicola said with a triumphant smile. ¡°The noble who bought it at the auction promised to return it if I escorted him for a week. A small matter for a sister of the cult. ¡°Damn fool tried his best to make me beholden to him, but he might as well have been laboring for naught. I gained the house and a few pieces of silver. In exchange, he died of a heart attack a few days later. Figures that a debased mind can¡¯t make up for a frail body . . . or a short stick.¡± She averted her gaze. ¡°Sorry for being crass.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± I said. ¡°You''ve done remarkably despite your circumstances. No one should have to endure that.¡± A rich aroma danced on the wind, the smell of freshly baked pie. Nicola and I paused to savor it. Everyone here loved to eat. I could respect that. ¡°I take it that the house is important to you?¡± I asked. ¡°Not by much, no,¡± she said. ¡°Sure, we all grew up in it. But, I can¡¯t cross the hallway without recalling the night the enforcers forced down the doors and bound us in runes.¡± Her fingers flitted to her neck. ¡°Why keep it then?¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want strangers trampling over one more thing I owned.¡± She wiped her eyes. ¡°It also helped save on rent; homes are expensive in Skeelie. I¡¯d once entertained dreams of living again with my family in those halls. But, that was a long time ago." "So, what''s the plan now?" Nicola grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve filed for a change in the deed of ownership! Once the city approves it, I can sell the house for a fair sum. Six gold pieces, at least. It should help relieve the weight on my back.¡± I kicked a pebble clear across the street. ¡°That''s awesome.¡± ¡°Tell me about it. I¡¯ve saved up a fair bit of money too. I just need to work harder over the next two years to see it through to the end. Theo, first. Then, Bart.¡± Her eyes burned. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± I glanced at the spire towering over the city. Every vein in my body told me that the [System] had intended for me to come here and earn a second Legacy Quest. ¡°The Labyrinth¡¯s still an option . . .¡± ¡°Stop, Damien. Just stop. Ben tried to convince me to participate. But, between his departure and the problem with Byron, I will never sign up for it. I¡¯ll sell the house and work myself to the bone to make up the balance.¡± Yes, but I could also participate on her behalf. ¡°What do I need to do to enter the Labyrinth?¡± Nicola furrowed her brows. ¡°You¡¯d need to pay the guild fee and register a party. Four is the standard number, though three is also approved. The Labyrinth places a cap on the number of participants at two hundred. The window for registrations opens tomorrow on a first-come first-serve basis. It closes once the quota has been reached.¡± I cast my eyes in the direction of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. Dungeon crawling sounded exciting, especially for a noble cause. But, all this was irrelevant. Unless I found more spirit orbs, I would consume the last of them tomorrow, leaving me with barely two more days to live. Nicola grabbed my arm. ¡°Damien, you¡¯re not thinking of going in there, are you?¡± I patted her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left, Nicola. And, it¡¯s not like I¡¯ve found success building a party.¡± ¡°This again? Why do you care so much about it?¡± ¡°Because I have to. It is a matter of grave consequence.¡± Nicola frowned. ¡°How about this, then? My home¡¯s not too far from here. If you have nothing else to do, stop by for a meal. I¡¯ll listen to your story over some ale.¡± ¡°That sounds pretty cozy.¡± Nicola smiled¡ªreally smiled, for the first time since I¡¯d known her. She added a hop to her step and led me first to a grocer, and then the nicer part of the city, which lay to the south, close to the areas reserved for the lords and ladies. Her wide, honest grin proved infectious, and I soon found myself laughing along to a story from her early days at the cult. We turned the corner into Nicola¡¯s street. Our laughter died in our throats. A building burned, completely engulfed by flames from the pit of hell. Great tongues of fire grew larger with each passing second, roaring up into the sky. The conflagration cast a red glare over a group of bystanders who stood around the street. All of them gaped at the chaos. The vivid illumination of the streetlamps dampened the glare, but they did nothing for the expression of sheer horror that unfurled across Nicola¡¯s face. The next moment, she raced for the building, shoes flying off behind her. I chased after Nicola but didn¡¯t try to restrain her. Not when I understood what had occurred. The Ainsworth Manor had become a large furnace. The small, two-story building quailed within an inferno that reeked of magic. The fire consumed everything from the lawn to the pillars and even the fence. The roof buckled with a groan. At that moment, I grabbed Nicola to keep her from wading through the front door. Her legs gave way beneath her, drained of whatever force kept them standing. She wept. My god, she wept. A Mage in the city¡¯s employ arrived some precious minutes after we did, but her water-creation magic did little to combat the fire. By the time she was done, a ruined husk stood in the manor¡¯s wake. And, Nicola . . . Poor Nicola. She flattened herself on the ground, bawling onto the cobblestones. The rest of the night passed in a blur. I could only recall cradling a soot-ridden Nicola in my room at the inn as she created a wet patch on my chest. Each sob struck like a knife, driven into my heart. I sat in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild the next morning. Rankers from all over the region flooded in to register for the festival. Each party pinned their name on a board set up on one end of the hall, and then they hung around to mingle with other rankers. Sometimes, the crowd cheered when a popular ranker stepped up to add their name. Other times, they fell silent when an unknown party appeared. The guild had designed things this way to milk the excitement. I could see why. All of the gathered rankers eyed each other like wolves, despite wide smiles and hearty laughter. The registration window provided a chance for participants to gauge the competition, make deals, and strike alliances. If anyone here wanted the Labyrinth¡¯s treasures, these were the people they needed to beat. The number of participating parties eventually rose to forty. Not a record high. But, a peak nonetheless. Byron arrived around noon¡ªone hour before the deadline¡ªshadowed by his teammates. A hush fell over the crowd as he surveyed the room with disinterest. His heavy armor gleamed in the light, complete with a goat-horned helmet which he carried under his arm. Hey, it seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. Byron approached the guild clerks and requested a slip of paper. He scribbled his party¡¯s name on it and proceeded to pin it on the board. I reached him just as he finished and tapped his shoulder. And then, I slugged him square in the face. 042 Damiens Protection Party To Byron¡¯s credit, he swung back instantly. His punch sailed past the tip of my nose, bearing enough force to shatter my face had it connected. I pivoted and slammed my foot into his jaw. He barely even moved. Recoil traveled down my leg, no different from kicking an armored tank. I¡¯d known from the outset that I couldn¡¯t hurt Byron. Not with my paltry Strength, and definitely not as a level 15 Assassin. That didn¡¯t stop me. Byron¡¯s companions yelled from behind me, finally recovering from their shock. I narrowly evaded another punch from Byron and dug my fingers into my Inventory. The hilt of The Blackreach Dagger sprang into my grasp. And then, Mathideus was there. He interspersed himself between us with a shield in each hand, bringing the fight to a halt. ¡°Stop!¡± A clawed hand closed around my throat. The hand''s owner¡ªBeelith¡ªpressed herself against my back and hissed into my ear. ¡°Last words, elf.¡± ¡°How¡¯s this for last words?¡± a new voice said. A purple tentacle erupted behind Beelith and punted her into a counter. Nicola stood in the doorway, hair glued to her forehead from the strain of exertion. She retained the same soot-ridden clothes from yesterday, but her magic staff glowed in her hand. The caster brothers moved to intercept her, but the last attack left me free to continue. I raced for the unsuspecting Mage in the Red Wyrm party, ready to slam into his back. Large vines restrained me. ¡°Everyone, stop,¡± a grave voice said. Onlookers turned around the hall. A livid Ezin appeared on the stairs that led up to the first floor with a magic staff raised in his grasp. He cut a fearful image with his muscular torso and loose, flowing robes. Vines extended from the bottom of his feet to the combatants, courtesy of a sigil that now faded from sight. Byron stopped pounding on Mathideus¡¯ shield and glared at the bindings. ¡°Ezin, you do not get to interfere. Not now.¡± ¡°Byron¡ª¡± Ezin started. But, Byron didn¡¯t wait for a reply. He freed himself with a short axe pulled out of his inventory and dashed around a bound Mathideus. Straight for me. A wooden chair crashed into his side. Byron weathered the blow and swept the chair onto the ground. He glared at the crowd in search of the attacker. A familiar voice boomed. ¡°Hey there, asshole.¡± Paz! The muscular redhead shoved past the crowd and reached the forefront. Byron¡¯s expression cracked for the first time since I¡¯d known him, eyes threatening to pop from his head. The rest of his party also gaped, including Beelith who lay pinned beneath a mass of vines. ¡°You!¡± Mathideus sputtered. ¡°How are you alive?¡± ¡°Because I want to be,¡± Paz said¡ªa picture of perfect confidence, despite being the weakest in the gathering. He cracked his knuckles and pointed a finger at his adversary. ¡°Long time, no see, Byrot. ''Didn''t expect to cross paths with me again, ei? Just stand there and look pretty. I¡¯ll rearrange your face.¡± ¡°I called for a cessation,¡± Ezin said, thumping his staff on the ground, ¡°and I will get it, or every single one of you rots in jail.¡± The floorboards creaked. More vines surged from the ground. ¡°What happened here?¡± Ezin bellowed. ¡°Mathideus?¡± Mathideus flinched. He glanced at me, then Byron, and uttered a sigh. ¡°Damien started this. He attacked that party unprovoked.¡± ¡°And, I demand recompense,¡± Byron said. ¡°We have rules.¡± ¡°The rules you break?¡± I said with deranged laughter. The vines had caught me mid-leap, a few inches off the ground. An uncomfortable position, to be sure, though it didn''t stop me from swinging languidly in the air. Ezin turned dark eyes on me. ¡°What is the meaning of this, Damien? I pegged you for the reasonable sort.¡± And, I liked to think I was. But, fuck it. I¡¯d soon consume my final spirit orb. If I was going to die, I might as well do it by spitting in Byron¡¯s face. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Nicola butted in before I could let my madness speak. ¡°Ezin, sir. Damien simply fought to defend me. My house was razed yesterday, after our altercation with Byron. ¡± ¡°And, you somehow assumed,¡± Byron said, ¡°that I am the culprit?¡± ¡°Oh, you are, alright,¡± I muttered. ¡°If not, I¡¯ll eat my nuts.¡± ¡°Charming. I suppose you have proof of your allegation?¡± That stopped me in my tracks. I¡¯d initially planned to demand an investigation from Ezin. However, Byron knew more about this world than I did, and something about his smirk told me he was confident that he would never be found culpable. ¡°Alright, you got me,¡± I said, raising my hands. ¡°I started a fight with you because you are a known breaker of guild rules.¡± Byron frowned. ¡°What are you¡ª?¡± ¡°Just two days ago, Byron and his party participated in a duel to the death,¡± I told Ezin, ¡°without your permission.¡± Paz laughed. ¡°That is true. I was the one they dueled against.¡± Ezin glared at me, but I could have sworn that the corners of his lips twitched behind his shaggy beard. ¡°One crime doesn¡¯t invalidate another.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± I said. ¡°But, it rids Byron of any moral standing and paints him in an unfavorable light. I can tolerate a dress-down. Just not from him.¡± Byron snarled. ¡°I don''t care what you tolerate¡ª¡± ¡°If I may,¡± Mathideus said, nodding at Ezin. ¡°I served as a witness in the duel Damien mentioned. Red Wyrm tried to kill that ranker¡ª¡± ¡°A matter you forgot to inform me about,¡± Ezin said dryly. Mathideus faltered. He still seemed flustered by Paz''s appearance, but he gathered himself nonetheless. ¡°Byron also has a problematic relationship with other members of the guild, sir. A complaint that I have repeatedly relayed to you. We also happened upon him provoking Nicola just yesterday, ergo her accusation isn''t without merit.¡± Byron looked like he had swallowed a lemon. He leveled a look of such hatred at Mathideus that actual ice radiated from his feet. ¡°I am aware,¡± Ezin said, ¡°of all that you mention. The complaints regarding Red Wyrm are extensive and currently under investigation.¡± He crossed his arms and ran ruddy fingers through his beard. ¡°This fight,¡± Byron hissed, ¡°isn¡¯t related to any of that.¡± Ezin regarded him. ¡°I''ll argue it is. Damien¡¯s infraction deserves punishment, just to be sure. But, you won¡¯t go scot-free either, seeing as this is the umpteenth incident involving your party.¡± He clucked his teeth. ¡°The attack on Ms. Ainsworth¡¯s home also disturbs me. Further investigation is needed before a verdict can be passed.¡± ¡°Then, do what you need to. However, rules are rules. The elf must be incarcerated . . .¡± ¡°Common sense dictates I incarcerate you both.¡± ¡°I am the victim of an assault. This incident shouldn¡¯t be enough to prevent me from participating in the festival. By pinning my name to the board, I am oath-bound to compete. If I am later deemed culpable, you may order my arrest.¡± Ezin furrowed his brows. ¡°It is true that until proven guilty, I cannot prevent your inclusion in the festival . . .¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°Actually, since I am also something of a victim here, one could argue that my offence is no different from a misdemeanor or tort. I retain the right to participate in the festival.¡± ¡°Too late to join now,¡± Byron said. ¡°Well, therein lies the problem,¡± I said, tugging at my restraints. ¡°I applied long before you got here.¡± The smirk vanished from his face. Ezin flashed me an amused look and strode to the board. He perused it and picked a slip from the bunch. ¡°Damien¡¯s protection party?¡± he said to the room¡¯s hearing. I shrugged. ¡°Has a nice ring to it.¡± Ezin¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°As amusing as this situation is, I must invalidate your submission. A single person cannot form a party. And, we do not allow individuals to enter the Labyrinth on their lonesome.¡± ¡°You forgot me,¡± Paz said. ¡°I''m a member of his party.¡± ¡°And, me,¡± Nicola said coldly. ¡°That¡¯s enough to form one, right? Minimum of three?¡± Ezin glanced at Mathideus. ¡°Can¡¯t fault it legally, sir,¡± Mathideus said. He struggled weakly against his bonds, then stopped to puff blond locks out of his face. ¡°The party name is the only detail needed for submission. Further information is communicated later to the guild.¡± He frowned. ¡°Of course, both parties need to sign an affidavit, pending your judgment.¡± ¡°That seems to be the case,¡± Ezin said, returning the slip. ¡°We will revisit this matter once the festivities are concluded. Let it be known that Red Wyrm and . . . Damien¡¯s party are both cleared to enter the dungeon. This decision will be revoked should another altercation arise.¡± He thumped his staff after that, and a sigil appeared on the ground, sucking in all of the vines. He returned to his office, leaving the guildhall rife with murmurs. Beelith sneered at me. ¡°You should have accepted incarceration, elf. Now, you¡¯re going to be stuck for a week with us in the Labyrinth, where anything goes. What makes you think you would live long enough to attend your hearing?¡± I looked at Nicola and Paz, at their determined expressions, and then at Byron who had adopted a bored look. A small smile tugged at my lips. ¡°Oh, Beelith. What makes you think you would?¡± ¡°Fucking bitch,¡± Paz said, making an obscene gesture. ¡°I¡¯ll eat your corpse.¡± Beelith bristled. I ignored her and gestured at the new members of my team. We walked away from the now disinterested audience and found an empty corner of the hall to discuss. "So," Paz said, "Damien''s Protection Party, huh? You''re shit at naming." I ignored the barb. ¡°Are you two sure about this? You may rescind before I complete the registration.¡± ¡°Dead sure,¡± Nicola said. She sounded calm, but her irises burned in her gaze. ¡°You showed guts today,¡± Paz said. ¡°Much bigger guts than half the idiots here. I can respect that. If you are going after Byron in that Labyrinth, then you bet I¡¯m coming with you.¡± I nodded. ¡°So, you are both fine joining my party . . .?¡± Paz rolled his eyes. ¡°You need a yes written in blood?¡± I grinned and laughed, and then I teared up before I could stop myself. A wave of relief washed over me. ¡°Guys . . .¡± A blue screen interrupted my words. Quest: [Heroic Adventure]. Objective complete! Allies gathered: 2/10. Reward: 60 spirit orbs. I gaped at the screen. A second one appeared, forcing the first to close. You have unlocked a hidden Legacy Quest! New Quest: [Heroic Action]. A hero is more than just his words. Complete great deeds to earn bonus rewards. Reward: Variable. [System] Error: This quest has already been assigned. ¡°The hell are you looking at?¡± Paz said, staring at my dumbstruck face. I couldn¡¯t form the words. My elation at the orbs aside, something about this quest and the others I had gotten bothered me. Why did they all say that they had already been assigned? 043 Statuseses ¡°We need a plan.¡± Nicola and Paz glanced up at me, from their spots around the table. I¡¯d convened our first official meeting in the inn I¡¯d rented. Nicola didn¡¯t have a place to stay anyway, and Paz seemed eager to follow along. The innkeeper had eyed us with suspicion at our initial appearance, but he kept his nose out of our business, choosing instead to focus on the other patrons in the room. A shirtless Paz emptied his tankard, belched, and then he slammed it hard on the table. ¡°What¡¯s there to think about? We enter the Labyrinth when the games begin and go after Byron.¡± ¡°If we do that, we¡¯d die,¡± I said, stressing every word as if talking to a 10-year-old: one who discarded his shirt every chance he got. ¡°In case you didn''t notice, there¡¯s a steep power gap between Red Wyrm and us." "And?" "Byron sits at level 25, Beelith at 24, and the two caster siblings aren¡¯t far behind. In comparison, Nicola¡¯s the strongest of us at seventeen, and you¡¯re the weakest at thirteen.¡± ¡°I told you, this isn¡¯t my final form,¡± Paz growled. ¡°I should be much stronger than this.¡± ¡°Okay, what¡¯s your real level, then? Because my discernment skill has never been wrong.¡± Paz scrunched his features. ¡°I¡¯m not sure . . .¡± I shot him a dry look. Nicola looked up from her drink. She hadn¡¯t touched it since it had been served, lost in thought as she was. But, the chill in her gaze persisted from the fight in the guild. ¡°Whatever we do,¡± she said, ¡°we must ensure we don¡¯t face Red Wyrm on even footing. They have worked together far longer than we have and are considered experienced in dungeon dives. There is a reason they survived the last one intact.¡± ¡°So, we isolate them?¡± I said. ¡°Force each member to fight three of us at once?¡± ¡°In theory. But, that is one tactic rankers often employ against stronger foes. Anyone with half a brain knows to expect it and prepare countermeasures.¡± ¡°Which means we need to be more unpredictable than anyone with half a brain.¡± I could work with that. One benefit my reincarnation granted me was a wealth of foreign knowledge this world¡¯s denizens wouldn¡¯t see coming. But, the benefit worked both ways. I needed to brush up on common ranker tactics to avoid being blindsided by stuff other Vizhimans knew. ¡°I say we take out the casters first,¡± Paz said, relieving Nicola of her drink. ¡°One of them is a Mage; the other a Warlock. Both classes can cause us all sorts of problems in the tight corridors of the Labyrinth. Remove them from the equation, and we¡¯d have an easier time killing the other two.¡± K-kill? Nicola didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Agreed. It¡¯s always easier to target the glass cannons. Beelith takes priority after them by way of sheer physicality. But, we still need a plan to handle Byron. Guardians should never be allowed to control the battlefield.¡± I looked between the two of them, feeling a bit out of sorts. I¡¯d avoided giving voice to it, but I¡¯d known since the fight in the guild that we were well past the point of a peaceful resolution. One party needed to be annihilated: Red Wyrm or us. It just felt weird to hear people I considered good-natured plan murders so casually. A side effect of the brutal nature of their world? I forced my thoughts back into the barrel. ¡°That sounds like a good starting point, but there''s much more we can do. We have one week till the start of the festival. At a minimum, we should all strive to be level eighteen by the time we enter the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°Unlikely,¡± Paz said. ¡°This part of Vizhima is notorious for a dearth of strong enemies. We stand a better chance grinding in the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°But, we¡¯ll still do it anyway,¡± I said, unable to fully come to terms with the fact that Vizhimans understood gaming lingo. ¡°The stronger we are a week from now, the better.¡± Nicola tapped her fingernails against the table. ¡°It¡¯s considered prudent for weaker adventurers to form temporary alliances before a dungeon run. They go out in large groups into the wild to eke out some last-minute XP.¡± ¡°Inefficient,¡± Paz said. ¡°Beating monsters in groups larger than four leads to diminishing returns. And, in a party of five and above, a handful would feed off the efforts of others. You gain more XP and combat intelligence by sticking to smaller groups.¡± ¡°Well, yes. But, smaller groups require a longer resting period between fights. Even if we go crazy with grinding for a week, I¡¯d probably only rise by one level. And, you both would be lucky to do so thrice.¡± ¡°There are strong monsters in the Labyrinth, right?¡± I said, enjoying the discussion. ¡°We can hold off on attacking Byron till we¡¯ve grown in power.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t be sitting idle,¡± Nicola said. ¡°He¡¯d be progressing too.¡± ¡°At a much slower rate than us¡ª¡± ¡°But, equipped with more loot than he¡¯d know what to do with. I don¡¯t want to take that chance. We need to blindside him before he hits his stride.¡± ¡°Or hope that something strong enough does it on our behalf.¡± I scratched my chin. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on the stuff within our power for now¡ª¡± ¡°Gaining levels,¡± Nicola said. ¡°As efficiently as we can,¡± I added. ¡°Which brings us to the next issue . . .¡± The two of them looked up at me. ¡°I don¡¯t know how things are done here,¡± I said, rubbing the back of my head. ¡°And, I apologize if this comes across as offensive. Seeing as we are a team now, I was hoping we could share our status sheets to get a better idea of our capabilities.¡± Nicola and Paz exchanged glances. ¡°It¡¯s not unusual,¡± Nicola said. ¡°But, most parties start by sharing their techniques. Status screens are rather personal. You don¡¯t want to share that unless it is with people you trust.¡± ¡°I¡¯d share mine,¡± Paz said, ¡°if you promise to reveal everything in yours, including your traits.¡± He leaned forward as he spoke. ¡°You hide your secrets well, elf, but you¡¯re special, aren¡¯t you? Just like me.¡± I took a sip from my tankard. Was Paz implying that he was also a migrant from another world? That could be the case, but I best reserve that card until I ascertained his angle. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°I appreciate the gesture,¡± I said at last, ¡°and I will reciprocate in kind. All values available to me are yours to inspect.¡± Nicola sputtered. ¡°D-Damien, what the hell? You aren''t going to think this through? I can say with full confidence that I trust you, but we know next to nothing about this man.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to know?¡± Paz said. ¡°Your nationality, for one. You speak with an accent that''s difficult to place. I also can''t imagine anyone visiting Skeelie to participate in the festival without any teammates whatsoever.¡± ¡°Oi, I don¡¯t know where you hail from either, but you don¡¯t see me asking. What does any of that claptrap have to do with fighting monsters?¡± I hummed into my ale to drown out their screeching. ¡°Anyway,¡± Paz said, crossing his arms, ¡°Distrusting your teammates right off the bat seems like a piss-poor way to run a party. If you can¡¯t trust me enough to share your status, why believe that I¡¯d have your back against Byron?¡± Nicola bit her lip. ¡°He¡¯s right, you know,¡± I said, and shrank back from her withering glare. ¡°Oh, whatever,¡± Nicola said at last. ¡°If we are doing this, we better take it elsewhere. Too many eyes.¡± We withdrew to my room, though not before requesting quills and parchment from the innkeeper. The three of us took separate spots and scribbled on the sheets. I summoned my status screen for the first time in what felt like ages. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 15 Class: Assassin Affinity: Fear VP: 38/38 MP: 40/40 Attributes: STR 7, PER 10, END 10, DEX 20 INT 5, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 0 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify], [Meditation], [Knife-fighting], [Stealth], [Decoy] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura], [Dark Stalker] I knew most of the information on it offhand, but I consulted the screen regardless. The only change I had made in the last few days was put points in Dexterity for consistent damage. I penned down everything on the screen except for [Migrant Soul]. The trait wasn¡¯t available to me, which meant I didn¡¯t break my word. I also wasn¡¯t comfortable revealing my origins to anyone outside Harkonean. The city was much bigger, and Damien from Dreadwood provided a safer identity than Damien the Hero. Finally, we presented our parchments. I studied Nicola¡¯s first. Nicola Ainsworth Race: Human Level: 17 Class: Mage Affinity: Pleasure VP: 42/42 MP: 60/60 Attributes: STR 5, PER 10, END 10, DEX 3 INT 20, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 11 Free Stat Points: 0 Traits: [Born of Pleasure] Skills: [Meditation], [Spellcasting] Abilities: [Ecstasy], [Eros Collector], [Eldritch Eyeball], [Summon Tentacle], [Bloom of Crimson Desire] Nicola caught the look in my eye and buried her face in her hands. ¡°Stop. I know it looks bad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s intriguing,¡± I said. ¡°Seems like a pretty great moveset.¡± ¡°It¡¯s mostly support stuff. I have only one real damaging ability.¡± ¡°The [Bloom of Crimson Desire], huh?¡± She had used that technique against the Primal Dread Monkey¡ªa pretty wicked ability. Paz read the parchment from over my shoulder. ¡°The Pleasure affinity leans heavily toward summons, eh? And, of the eldritch nature too. Summons tend to snowball around the mid-ranks, but you need to keep your build in mind or you will be outpaced by everyone else in the endgame.¡± Nicola snorted. ¡°I¡¯d be lucky enough to reach Silver in my lifetime. Anything beyond that is a pipedream.¡± ¡°You lack ambition.¡± ¡°Hey. I won¡¯t take that from you¡ª¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t unlocked any other skills?¡± I asked before our meeting could derail. ¡°A big weakness of caster classes,¡± Nicola replied. ¡°We¡¯re pretty much sitting ducks once we run out of MP, at least up until [Magic Hand] or [Mage Armor] becomes available. But, if you think that''s bad, just look at this guy¡¯s sheet.¡± Gordo Sangrepaz Race: Human Level: 13 Class: Skirmisher Affinity: Retribution VP: 34/34 MP: 31/31 Attributes: STR 20, PER 10, END 10, DEX 10 INT 4, WIL 4, V.F 4, MGK 1 Free Stat Points: 0 Traits: [Dragon Touched] Skills: [Draconic Aura], [Meditation], [Polearm Mastery], [Overpower] Abilities: [Sanguine Return] ¡°That¡¯s a fair handful of skills,¡± I said. ¡°And just one ability,¡± Nicola added. ¡°Retribution is one of the rarer, more powerful affinities. This guy wins the lottery with it, and then what does he do? Ups and becomes a Skirmisher.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Paz said. ¡°Affinities are chosen after classing up. Plus, I''ve never heard anyone say anything bad about my class.¡± Nicola groaned. ¡°You need to ask? In a world where magic is known to be strong enough to reshape continents, the Skirmisher instead pursues physical might.¡± ¡°Sounds great to me.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t. You¡¯re sacrificing magical power for a less effective, physical one.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m sacrificing an overreliance on abilities for more consistent melee damage. Mages could never understand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Retribution. People would kill for such an affinity.¡± ¡°And, it synchronizes well with my class. I¡¯m not about to prance around in mage robes and a hat.¡± ¡°What does Retribution do?¡± I asked. Nicola pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°It grants control over blood. It¡¯s usually an impressive affinity, especially when combined with Mage, Warlock, or Assassin.¡± Oh, that sounded incredible. A tad horrific, to be sure, but Nicola''s tentacles weren''t the stuff of sweet dreams either. I was more intrigued by another item on the list. ¡°[Dragon Touched]?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, I¡¯ve never seen that,¡± Nicola said, casting a wary look at our resident redhead. ¡°What does it mean?¡± Paz smirked. ¡°Exactly what it says.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve met a dragon?¡± ¡°I have.¡± He didn¡¯t elaborate further, bringing an end to the discussion. But, his brevity only heightened my curiosity. Finally, we moved on to my parchment. Paz¡¯s features went through a myriad of changes as he scanned the list. His expression switched from curious to stunned, and then to elated. He clapped his hands and pointed at me. ¡°Hah! I knew it. I knew you were special.¡± ¡°Because of my affinity?¡± I asked. ¡°Well, that too,¡± Paz said. ¡°But, look at all of these. Two Traits, a [Map] skill, and [Identify] on a Rogue. No way you¡¯re some ordinary chap.¡± ¡°Damien¡¯s just blessed,¡± Nicola said, but she hesitated even as she spoke. Paz narrowed his eyes at me, as though trying to peer into my soul. ¡°[Map] is a high-tier skill usually available to non-combat classes like the Tactician. And, as if having one trait isn''t rare enough, you went ahead to grab two of them!¡± He shook his head. ¡°Does your attunement to Fear not bother you? Every kid in Vizhima knows about the Lord of Terror.¡± I frowned as the [Scaredy-cat] notification popped up again at the mention of the name. My heart thumped wildly in my chest. ¡°I . . . didn¡¯t know of the dragon lords until a few days ago.¡± Paz and Nicola exchanged stunned looks. ¡°Damien, my friend,¡± Paz said. ¡°If you continue showing balls like you did today, I don¡¯t think we¡¯d ever run out of adventure.¡± His eyes glazed over as he spoke. ¡°You might just have what it takes.¡± I shifted my feet, uncomfortable with my turn in the spotlight. ¡°What do we know about Red Wyrm¡¯s abilities?¡± Nicola sighed. ¡°We best settle in.¡± 044 Virtue and Vice ¡°First off, Byron¡¯s a Guardian,¡± Nicola explained to Paz and I, who had taken seats on the bed. ¡°It means we can reasonably expect him to focus on Strength and Endurance above all other stats.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also silver-ranked,¡± Paz added with glee, ¡°which means unlike the rest of us wankers, he has a stat cap of thirty.¡± That . . . could be a problem. Stats were capped at 20 for Iron rankers: a rank that all three of us occupied. And, seeing how my Greater [DEX] granted 4x base damage, I couldn''t even imagine what the next tier would do. ¡°How are the ranks divided?¡± I asked. My teammates looked at me like I had posed a stupid question, in the same vein as whether mattresses were made for sleeping. ¡°Just assume,¡± I added, ¡°that I have lived a very sheltered life.¡± Nicola laughed. ¡°Well, the regular caste starts from level one and ends at the threshold . . .¡± I knew that much. Vizhima had three castes: regulars, specialists, and rankers. Everyone became a regular at age thirteen and entered any of the other two castes at level 10 assuming they had the resources. ¡°The iron rank follows after that,¡± Nicola said, ¡°covering everything from levels ten to twenty-four.¡± ¡°Silver starts from twenty-five,¡± Paz interjected. ¡°And, Gold at fifty. Platinum at seventy-five. Iridium at ninety¡ª¡± ¡°Adamantium, one hundred,¡± I finished. Somewhere beyond that lay the realm of divinity. The rank of Herald. Nicola adjusted her spectacles, which she had pulled from her inventory sometime during her lecture. ¡°As a silver-ranked Guardian, Byron could prove to be a handful for us. It doesn¡¯t help that Guardians, by default, have the largest health and stamina pools of all the classes.¡± I jotted that down in Damien¡¯s Notes. I didn¡¯t know that the health and stamina meters differed for all classes, but if I could hazard a guess, it probably went Fighter, Rogue, and Caster in order of superiority. The Hybrid classes were difficult to place . . . ¡°Do all hybriders get the same amounts of health and stamina?¡± I asked. ¡°No,¡± Nicola answered. ¡°Shifters are slightly less robust than Fighters, while Riders fall behind Rogues.¡± ¡°Casters are dead last,¡± Paz said with a smirk. ¡°Thank you for that astute observation,¡± Nicola intoned dryly. ¡°But, Casters have access to the best abilities in terms of damage and area of effect. That aside, another problem we¡¯d run into with Byron is his affinity. He¡¯s attuned to¡ª¡± ¡°Apathy, right?¡± I said. ¡°Yes. And, it grants him reasonable control of the battlefield. None of us possesses a hard counter to his abilities, which means our best shot at victory is throwing everything we can at him right from the outset.¡± ¡°And, Beelith?¡± ¡°Easier to manage. Shifters don¡¯t unlock many abilities over their lifetime, giving us little to fear from her affinity. What she brings to the table, however, is sheer brawn.¡± Nicola worried her lip. ¡°I dare not engage her in close range.¡± ¡°I can take her,¡± Paz said with a yawn. ¡°Pound for pound, no class deals as much damage as Skirmishers in melee.¡± I raised my eyebrows at him. ¡°The last time you got into a fight with her, she ripped you apart in seconds.¡± ¡°Two reasons,¡± Paz said, raising an equivalent number of fingers. ¡°One: I needed to divert attention away from you both. Two: It also served as an information-gathering exercise.¡± ¡°Wonder how that turned out,¡± Nicola said beneath her breath. Paz ignored her. ¡°Shifters have two core skills. [Alter Self], which is a partial transformation. And, [Shapeshift]: the one you don¡¯t want them to use at night in a dark alley. ¡°I can match her if she limits herself to the former. She¡¯s overconfident enough to try. What we don¡¯t want is an activation of [Shapeshift] while her party members are around to back her up.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the fact,¡± I said, suppressing a strong urge to raise my hand, ¡°that she would be much stronger by the time we enter the Labyrinth. She¡¯s level twenty-four now. That¡¯s one short of silver, no?¡± Nicola nodded. ¡°We can safely assume that the entire party would be silver-ranked within their first few days in the dungeon. The Skeelien Labyrinth denies entry to everyone above level twenty-five. But, once admitted, rankers are free to grow as strong as they can.¡± That sounded useful. Dungeons had level caps which meant Byron would avoid leveling up until he had safely entered the Labyrinth. Was there a way we could use this against him? Force disqualification by getting him to kill a monster . . . or Paz . . . Paz shivered at my gaze. ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± ¡°This [Sanguine Return] of yours,¡± I asked, ¡°how does it work?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sharing that detail.¡± ¡°You asked us to trust you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s way more trust than I require.¡± ¡°It could help inform our tactics,¡± Nicola said slowly. ¡°Plus, you¡¯re the first person I have seen with effective resurrection. I¡¯m curious about its principles.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Paz remained adamant. ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about it.¡± ¡°Nothing special about a broken technique?¡± ¡°Oi. Broken is far from the truth. Sure, my ability helps out in a pinch, but it only offers a single instance of resurrection before going on cooldown.¡± ¡°That makes what?¡± I asked. ¡°One resurrection every six hours?¡± Paz winced. ¡°One every twelve.¡± ¡°And, you get to control when you respawn?¡± ¡°That, and from what body part. There¡¯s a brief delay after dying, but I can hold out from returning as long as I want to secure an advantage.¡± I licked my lips. ¡°And, what about XP? Beelith noted that she won experience points from your fight. Did she lose them after you returned?¡± ¡°No . . .¡± His eyes widened at the look on my face. ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking dare continue that line of thought.¡± But, my mind had already run away with the implications. Paz could offer a [System] exploit in a pinch, but it was of little use to me now, seeing as I was of a higher level than him. I changed the subject anyway for his sake. ¡°What about the two casters? What do we know about their movesets?¡± ¡°The Warlock is attuned to Wrath,¡± Nicola explained. ¡°Again, this will be difficult to deal with because it beats everything we have in terms of sheer firepower.¡± Paz draped an arm around my shoulder. ¡°Damien can assassinate him, no problem, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Big problem,¡± I said, shrugging off his arm. ¡°I burn just as badly as everyone else." I refocused on Nicola. "And, the Mage?¡± ¡°Unknown,¡± she said, ¡°at least, to me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference between the two classes anyway?¡± ¡°Mages get [Spellcasting] as their sole fighting style, while Warlocks unlock [Spellweaving]. In simple terms, Mages require a focus to cast abilities. Warlocks, on the other hand, cast them barehanded.¡± ¡°So, we beat the Mage by robbing him of his focus?¡± Paz snorted. ¡°They can still cast without it. Just much slower.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nicola agreed. ¡°By doing away with a focus, and with the proper allocation of stats, Warlocks sacrifice power in favor of versatility and faster casting times. They do this by throwing spare points into [DEX] until they unlock the Dual Cast perk.¡± ¡°Nasty perk, that,¡± Paz said. ¡°It allows a Warlock to cast two different spells at the same time.¡± ¡°I have that perk too,¡± I said, ¡°given by Greater Dexterity. But, it is called Dual Wield in my case and doesn¡¯t show up on the status screen.¡± ¡°Aye," Paz said. "Perks, as a general rule, are not displayed on the status screen. This includes attribute perks, racial perks, and general ones like the Inventory. It drove philosophers mad for the longest time trying to decipher it. ¡°Besides, the Warlock is the only class able to unlock Dual Cast. Rogues get Dual Wield like in your case, while other classes receive nothing from the attribute. Your perk grants the expertise needed for two-weapon fighting, effectively making you ambidextrous.¡± I glanced at my left hand. How had I missed that? I¡¯d always been comfortable using a non-dominant hand, so maybe that explained why I¡¯d failed to notice the change. Then again, the last two days had been filled with activity. ¡°All of that is true,¡± Nicola chipped in, ¡°but it is highly unlikely that Red Wyrm¡¯s Warlock would focus on Dexterity this early at the expense of other core attributes like Magic Intellect and Magicka. ¡°His Mage teammate, on the other hand, is even more predictable. Mages don¡¯t show much variation in their builds. Their goal is to zone the enemy and catch as many as they can in a single sigil.¡± ¡°Still weak to Assassins though,¡± Paz said. ¡°as long as they don¡¯t see him coming, Damien should melt them.¡± Please, stop overestimating my abilities. ¡°Tell me about attunements,¡± I said, seeking a change of topic. ¡°So far, I¡¯ve learned about Wrath, Compassion, and Apathy, not counting the three available to us.¡± ¡°That leaves eighteen more of them,¡± Nicola said, returning to lecture mode. ¡°I¡¯ve seen less than half of the total number in action. Hell, some affinities are considered rare enough that you never encounter them in a lifetime.¡± ¡°Mind starting from the top?¡± Paz beat her to it by way of a song: ¡°Joy and Sorrow for wind and water. Love for healing, Hatred for spite. Wrath ignites, Contrition encumbers. Two emotions, virtue and vice.¡± He sang in a rich and regal voice, much different from his usual churlishness. His eyes fluttered closed in that moment, as though lost in a memory. Nicola furrowed her brows. ¡°Where did you learn that?¡± Paz blinked. ¡°From back home. It used to be a popular children¡¯s rhyme, traced back to the origin of man.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it,¡± Nicola said, taking a seat beside me. ¡°And, I was tutored by the best teachers as a child. Please, continue.¡± Paz scratched his chin. ¡°Alright, but fair warning, my memory¡¯s not what it used to be. Give me a moment." He hummed and tapped his feet. ¡°Courage for steel, and fame, and mettle. Fear for dread, and shadows, and night. Hope unwavering; death to Despair. Two emotions, virtue and vice. In contrast to holy Compassion. Lies blood and vile Retribution. Pleasure¡¯s horrific, Pain is a jolt. Two emotions, virtue and vice. Greed is empty, void, and devouring. No match for Generosity¡¯s / flowering. But, Envy is poison. Contentment is bliss. Apathy is chilling. Empathy, mystic. Confusion confuses. Clarity exposes. Hasty Impatience Won''t wait for responses. Consideration is whatever it likes. Two emotions, virtue and vice.¡± ¡°Again,¡± I demanded, struggling to write. Paz chuckled. ¡°You won¡¯t learn much that way. The song was designed to be clear in parts and ambiguous in others. You¡¯re better off studying the affinities on a battlefield.¡± ¡°By that time, it would be too late!¡± ¡°Listen,¡± Paz said, and he got to his feet, ¡°if you suckers are adamant about grinding for a week, what say you about braving death at this place I know?¡± Nicola and I exchanged a look. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very safe . . .¡± she began. ¡°Oh, please. Damien wanted it anyway. Plus, are we going to wait around for Byron to set the inn on fire?" He jerked his head for emphasis. "Red Wyrm won''t sit idle for an entire week while we''re right under their nose. If we intend to remain in Skeelie, we best find some kind of safe house.¡± That last bit sealed the deal for me. I hungered for revenge, but not at the expense of innocent bystanders. With nothing more to say, we gathered our possessions. 045 Power Initialization Paz¡¯s idea of a training ground was a small swamp sequestered in Dreadwood about a day¡¯s walk away from Skeelie. We gathered our meager possessions and struck out at midnight, an hour when even the most daring adventurers retreated to their chambers. Paz¡¯s eyesight worked fine in the dark, as did mine. But, Nicola had to rely on her [Eldritch Eyeball] technique to get around. Paz had given two reasons for his hour of choice. Firstly, we couldn¡¯t rule out the chance that Byron would try to assassinate us before the festival. The less attention we drew on our way out of Skeelie, the better. Secondly: a smattering of violent deaths tended to occur outside the city in the days leading up to the festival. We needed to leave Skeelie before the roads became populated with ambushers looking for a quick level-up. And, what quicker way was there to level up than killing fellow rankers? ¡°There¡¯s more to it than that,¡± Nicola said, as we journeyed through a pitch-black Dreadwood. ¡°A good number of adventurers trickle into Skeelie weeks before the registrations begin. By the time Ezin opens the Oath Board, these rankers have since turned restless from missing out on valuable time for preparation.¡± ¡°. . . Causing a lot of them,¡± I inferred, ¡°to go hunting for monsters at the same time.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s less about premeditated murder and more about brutal skirmishes over limited resources. Rankers might offer more XP than monsters of similar levels, but they are tenacious and harder to kill. A fight between rankers can easily go either way.¡± She paused as a large entity trudged past the trees in the distance. A humongous one, to be more exact. Paz tried to get us to engage, but a tentacle from Nicola kept him in his place. We resumed our journey some long minutes later when we were sure the worst had passed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t help,¡± Nicola continued, ¡°that the governor withdraws half the border patrol during the festival to help secure the city. It leaves a lot of crazy adventurers roaming without oversight. The only way to avoid that imbroglio is to stay in the city or ignore the shallow resources on the outskirts and dive deeper into Dreadwood. People who do that sometimes go in search of the wild god¡¯s pets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what we¡¯re doing, right?¡± I asked. ¡°Going after the wild god¡¯s pets?¡± Paz looked back at me and laughed. The swamp he led us to wasn¡¯t much better than fighting fell beasts. It stank with the stench of mulch, stale water, and rotten carcasses. The soil squelched beneath our feet, and the humid air bore flies, mosquitoes, and all things unpleasant. Nicola inspected the bottom of her boots with a curled lip, then swiped at a mosquito that buzzed past her ear. ¡°Why did you bring us here?!¡± ¡°Because,¡± Paz said, ¡°this is the best place to level up without attracting attention. Trust me, I found it while traversing Dreadwood. Monsters even avoid the swamp because of its condition.¡± ¡°If monsters are too scared to come here, how do we kill them?¡± ¡°Quiet. Let¡¯s rest for now. I know a good place.¡± Paz led us into a small cave, obscured by wild brambles. We trudged into the roomy interior, which lay surprisingly clean, as though prepared beforehand. A single bedroll occupied one corner of the cave, and a hearth stood near the far end alongside an empty cooking pot. ¡°You lived here?¡± I asked. ¡°For a while,¡± Paz said, hooking a core lamp to a peg on the wall. ¡°Feel free to sleep in any corner you want. We can go hunting after we wake.¡± We retrieved blankets from our inventories, and a bedroll in Nicola¡¯s case. Then, without further ado, we drifted off to sleep. The swamp still looked as bad as I¡¯d imagined the next morning. But, with daylight out in full force, I could properly examine my surroundings. The majority of the ground was soft and wet, situated on a hill a few meters higher than the surroundings. Huge trees provided excellent cover from detection. A small region of stony earth made for a good place to rest and unwind, terminating in a short ledge that pointed toward the east. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Paz led us to that region, through a terrain peppered with several rocks as though a cliff had been obliterated with several kilotons of TNT. Large boulders stood among the rocks, creating a view that was at once both ominous and intriguing. Wait a goddamn minute . . . I recognized those boulders! ¡°This will be the site of our training,¡± Paz said, turning to face us. ¡°I trained here myself a few weeks back.¡± I looked around the clearing. ¡°Rock Lurkers? Seriously?¡± Paz¡¯s jaw dropped in surprise. ¡°You know what these are?¡± ¡°Are you trying to make a fool out of us?¡± Nicola yelled, getting in his face. ¡°Rock Lurkers seldom rise past the regular rank. Did you bring us this far out to fight them?¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Using my discernment skill, I could see that none of the boulders around us stood greater than level 10. How the heck were these supposed to help us improve? ¡°Calm down,¡± Paz said, making a placating gesture. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid, you know? Among the regular spawns of Dreadwood, Rock Lurkers are the best of the bunch.¡± Nicola and I glanced at each other at the part he said he wasn¡¯t stupid. ¡°Oh, fuck you,¡± Paz said. Nicola sighed. ¡°Look, it doesn¡¯t matter how tough the Rock Lurkers are. At my current level, I¡¯d need to kill over two hundred of them single-handedly to advance by a single point. That¡¯s rather inefficient.¡± ¡°It is. But, I wouldn¡¯t have brought you here if I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d gain something out of it. Let¡¯s just take care of these bastards first, yea? You¡¯ll understand once we begin.¡± Nicola turned to me with a look of pure exasperation. But, I offered a shrug, sighed, and got to grinding. The Rock Lurkers didn¡¯t like that. The instant we got into proximity, a bunch of the monsters rose and barreled toward us. The first Rock Lurker I¡¯d faced had an exterior as hard as diamond, and these were no different. We spent an entire day dodging around boulders and trying to snipe them in the mouth. We used potions when we could, but there was no getting around the six-hour cooldowns. We managed to slay about thirty Rock Lurkers between us before we were forced to call it a day. My arms felt like lead. After some rest and [Meditation], Paz invited me to sparring practice. ¡°Isn¡¯t this kind of pointless?¡± I asked as he led me down a mucky meadow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I have a skill that grants expertise with Rogue-type weapons. I don¡¯t see what fighting with you can do to improve that, within our limited time frame.¡± ¡°I have my [Polearm Mastery] too, but don¡¯t be a blockhead. The fighting styles teach you how to swing a blade. Knowing when to swing one is an entirely different matter.¡± ¡°Sure it is. But, rankers get stronger much faster by leveling up. We can save this exercise for later, maybe till after the festival.¡± Paz ran his large hands through his hair. ¡°Ugh. You¡¯re exactly like I was back when I learned this lesson.¡± He pointed a finger at me. ¡°Listen, all the fighting styles do is teach you how to move your body. Everything else: timing, tactics, and feints, comes from you. ¡°If weapon skills sharpen your muscle memory, actual practice hones your decision-making. You need to strike a balance between both facets to avoid a bloody end.¡± I¡¯d noticed something similar in my first fight with the monkeys, but between the stress of fighting Rock Lurkers and the disappointment, I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to entertain Paz any further. ¡°I still think this can wait until we¡¯ve gotten our levels up.¡± Paz growled. ¡°Tell you what. If you manage to land three strikes on me in a martial arts-only contest, I¡¯ll listen to reason and never ask this again.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a weapon.¡± ¡°. . . leaving me at a disadvantage. Surely, tall, dark, and powerful Damien can win against a Skirmisher who doesn¡¯t own a polearm.¡± ¡°I¡¯m two levels stronger than you, Paz.¡± ¡°And, your daddy¡¯s a donkey. Are you going to keep making excuses to get out of taking the bet?¡± I suppressed a retort because I was sensible enough to see that Paz had a point. If I couldn¡¯t beat him with all that [Knife-fighting] could bring to bear while he fought barehanded, then he had earned the right to teach me without being contested. However, I had also seen his attributes. Paz¡¯s stat points leaned heavily toward the physical, with a twenty in Strength and a ten in Dexterity. This wouldn¡¯t be easy, no matter how much I burned to shut him up. But . . . three strikes were doable, right? Between me and my dagger. I¡¯d die of shame if I couldn¡¯t manage that much. ¡°My kind of person,¡± Paz said with a laugh as I retrieved Nana¡¯s heirloom from my inventory. He lifted his arms and settled into a stance. I settled into one of my own, drawing on the wealth of knowledge available to [Knife-fighting]. It wasn¡¯t a style built for head-on confrontations, but I didn¡¯t intend to draw this out. Paz inched forward with his leading palm open in an imitation of a shield. I tensed in reaction, watching his movement. He blurred out of sight. That fight constituted the most grueling ten minutes I had ever endured. By the time we were done, I sported a depleted health meter and two black eyes. In contrast, I had only managed to tag Paz once. Paz¡¯s punches landed with the force of 20 Strength behind them, enough to make me realize how strong Beelith was to rend him apart. I had considered myself a decent melee fighter¡ªa notion I quickly discarded, thanks to the beatdown. Paz acted surprisingly gracious in victory, and he helped me up from the mud and into the cave. Hours later, we devoured a pot of soup Nicola had prepared. Paz grinned at me from across the cave, finally ready to talk smack. ¡°Sorry for humiliating you back there. Wanna go again tomorrow?¡± I growled into my soup. ¡°Bet.¡± 046 Understanding the Dao The next day, we went out to clear more monsters. The instant we arrived at the spawn point, a dozen Rock Lurkers threw themselves at us. The sudden ferocity of the ambush surprised me, but the monsters couldn¡¯t keep up with three determined rankers. We labored for levels until our stamina depleted, and then we retreated a few paces to catch our breaths. Paz stared down at his muscular torso, which glistened with mud and sweat. ¡°Any moment now. I can feel it. I think I¡¯m close to level 14.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it,¡± Nicola said. ¡°But, this isn¡¯t doing anything for me. If we don¡¯t find some other spawning ground, forget about beating Byron. We¡¯d die to the Labyrinth mobs.¡± She sat in the mud, unconcerned about her hair and clothes. ¡°Just two more days left,¡± Paz said. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± I touched my cheek, which stung from a lucky hit by a Rock Lurker. Despite their low levels, they had managed to put up a fight. Something to do with their base stats? ¡°What kind of mobs populate the Labyrinth?¡± I asked. ¡°The worst kind,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Chimeras.¡± ¡°The fire-breathing lion goats?¡± She wrinkled her nose. ¡°That¡¯s an oddly specific combination, Damien. But, yes. Fire-breathing lion goats are also chimeras. They lend an air of unpredictability to dungeon runs. It¡¯s not advisable to challenge the Labyrinth without a well-rounded party.¡± "Hey," Paz said. "We''re pretty well-rounded for a party of three." Nicola frowned. ¡°Others would say that we are a tad under-leveled and unbalanced.¡± ¡°That ¡®tad¡¯,¡± I murmured, ¡°is doing a lot of heavy lifting.¡± ¡°Look at it this way,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Most parties are usually made up of a tank, a caster, a close-range damage dealer, and whatever they need as an extra. You and I serve the role of squishies in our party, but instead of a Guardian or, at least, a Warrior, we got a Skirmisher with zero defensive skills¡ª¡± ¡°Why bother with defense"¡ªPaz wiggled his eyebrows¡ª"when you can slug an enemy in the face?¡± Nicola touched her forehead in a futile attempt to quell a groan. ¡°Three glass cannons with no one to initiate. We¡¯ll get steamrolled the instant we make a misstep.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯ll try to avoid that,¡± I said. ¡°Making mistakes, that is.¡± I took a seat on a rock and scribbled on the ground with a stick. ¡°What¡¯s our biggest advantage?¡± ¡°Utility,¡± Paz said without missing a beat. ¡°We might not have the best team comp, but we make up for it with classes that synchronize well with our affinities.¡± ¡°And our biggest disadvantage?¡± This time, Nicola answered. ¡°Fragility. Any random team would beat us in a protracted battle.¡± ¡°Poor judgment and protracted battles.¡± I scribbled illegibly on the ground. ¡°Two missteps we must avoid. It means we would be best served sneaking up on enemies and going all out from the start.¡± ¡°Full power from the get-go,¡± Paz said. ¡°My kind of fighting.¡± ¡°It also means you need to be strong enough to handle sustained aggression to create chances for Nicola and me to get into position. What¡¯s the one thing that gives Skirmishers the edge?¡± Paz scratched his chin. Despite his mannerisms, he took [System] matters seriously. ¡°Melee damage. Polearms require equal tiers in Strength and Dexterity. A Skirmisher focuses on these two stats above all else.¡± He didn¡¯t need to finish; I already gleaned his meaning. Strength moderated physical attack and resistance, while Dexterity bestowed agility and added extra damage to any weapon with the [DEX]-based property. Seeing as the two stats also boosted movement speed, Paz wasn¡¯t wrong to brag about his physical offense. ¡°So, why fight barehanded?¡± I wondered aloud. ¡°Without a polearm, you don¡¯t gain the extra benefits from Dexterity.¡± ¡°I simply don''t have the coin,¡± Paz said, managing to look unfazed despite a reddening of his cheeks. ¡°Ranker-grade gear is pretty expensive. And, a regular polearm would break on first contact with a high-grade axe or shield.¡± ¡°Well, that simplifies things. Our first goal, then, upon entering the Labyrinth is to procure ranker-grade items for all three of us.¡± I dropped the stick. ¡°We¡¯re really in over our heads, huh? No money. No gear. And, we are almost a hundred percent weaker than the man we intend to kill.¡± ¡°Welcome to the life of an adventurer,¡± Paz said, slapping my back. ¡°Hopefully, you live long enough to marry, have kids, and retire. Now, go eat and meet me back here for practice.¡± Our sparring session ended the same way as the last time. Paz, once again, proved that we were not equal as far as hand-to-hand was concerned. But, I ended up confirming a few tips I had earlier suspected. Health armor protected the body from true damage as long as one had HP available. But, some attacks could bypass health armor to a degree, of which concussions were the foremost. Critical hits¡ªor more accurately, hits to vital areas¡ªalso caused more damage than usual. This explained why I could kill goblins with quick strokes to the neck but struggle to do enough damage while attacking anywhere else. The aforementioned points reinforced Paz''s philosophy about non-XP improvement. Relying on fighting techniques to do the bulk of the work removed the element of personal intelligence that all rankers needed. Whether that intelligence was enough to close the gap between Byron and I was another matter. But, best to broaden my horizons. I limped back to the cave, regretting with each twinge of my hip that I¡¯d refused to [Meditate] back at our sparring ground. Squelching noises¡ªaudible to my sensitive ears interrupted my thoughts. ¡°Um, Nicola?¡± I said, stopping just short of the cave entrance. Loud shuffling followed. Nicola appeared in a short, linen dress, panting for breath. Damp, black hair clung to her forehead, loosened from her intricate array of braids. ¡°Uh, Damien?! You¡¯re back? You boys finished sooner than I expected.¡± Sweat glistened on her arms and the upper part of her chest, lending her already exotic skin an irresistible sheen. A heady scent filled the air, palpable in its warmth. Something stirred in my loins¡ªdark and fearful¡ªlike the sinuous uncoiling of a snake. You have resisted [Lust]. ¡°Nicola,¡± I cried, slamming back to reality. ¡°Turn it off!¡± Nicola balked. ¡°Oh, goodness. Damien, I¡¯m so sorry. I had no idea!¡± The heat dissipated. The tightness in my pants vanished alongside it, calming my breathing. ¡°Was that your ability?¡± I asked. ¡°[Ecstasy] or something?¡± ¡°It was . . .¡± ¡°Why were you using it in the middle of camp?¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t d-do it on purpose! It triggers by itself whenever I . . .¡± I forced my eyes away from her heaving chest. Whenever she . . .? And, then it hit me. Oh . . . Oh. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Are you that frustrated?¡± The summoned tentacle nearly flattened my head. ¡°It¡¯s not like I have a choice,¡± Nicola said, after accepting my plea for leniency. ¡°You have no idea what it means to be [Born of Pleasure]. The longer I go without gathering Eros, the weaker my spells, and the harder it gets for me to focus.¡± She buried her face in her palms. ¡°The last couple of weeks have been brutal because I couldn¡¯t make time for myself. I''m so fucking tired, Damien.¡± Her voice broke near the end, springing me to action. ¡°Hey, now,¡± I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t need to explain. Not to me. I¡¯m also born of an affinity.¡± Nicola shook her head. ¡°No. We¡¯re teammates now. It¡¯s best to avoid awkward situations in the future.¡± I waited for her to speak. ¡°I received two abilities from my trait after my eighteenth birthday,¡± she said. ¡°One of those abilities¡ª[Eros Collector]¡ªcreated a third energy meter for me alongside HP and stamina.¡± I ignored the obvious question about how the [System] knew that such techniques were best reserved for adulthood. ¡°I¡¯m guessing this third meter measures your level of Eros?¡± ¡°Yes . . . pleasurable activities grant me a measure of energy. It builds up, increasing my arousal, and well . . . I experience release when the meter is at its fullest.¡± ¡°What happens then?¡± Nicola glanced at me with half-lidded eyes. She stood closer to me now¡ªwhen did that happen?¡ªenough that her hot breath cascaded over my chest. ¡°I get so fucking powerful,¡± she rasped. ¡°My spells strike with twice the power, and every step I take sends pleasurable sensations shooting up my skull.¡± Her finger poked my chest. ¡°The euphoria lasts an entire day, but once it¡¯s done, the meter empties, and I get all jittery until I fill it again.¡± That explained why she was so prone to hysterics. I couldn¡¯t imagine that kind of life¡ªliving each day in pursuit of the next release. It put another meaning to thinking with one¡¯s nether. [Born of Fear], in comparison, did nothing to affect my mood. But, Nicola . . . Her hand slipped lower, toward my belt. ¡°Okay!¡± I said, extricating myself. ¡°I should probably give you some space to, err, conclude your battle. I¡¯ll speak to Paz about giving you some alone time. Maybe two hours each day, assuming that will be enough?¡± Nicola stared at me with those sinful orbs of hers, and then she blinked at my hands which kept her at an arm¡¯s length from their position around her shoulders. The fog in her eyes cleared. ¡°Oh, Heralds, Damien. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± I said before she could break down into tears. ¡°I¡¯d help out if I could . . .¡± I paused. No. No. Abort mission! There was only one possible way to help, and I wasn¡¯t taking it. Thankfully, Nicola didn¡¯t pounce on the opportunity, allowing me to hobble out of the cave with mumbled apologies and one hand in front of my pants. Paz took one look at my face as I returned. A wide grin split his lips. ¡°Ran into Nicola, huh?¡± I sat ungracefully beside him. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you knew.¡± ¡°I did. I heard the rumors about her in the tavern. Plus, you don¡¯t need to be a medium to understand the reason she rustles a lot at night. That¡¯s a terrible power she¡¯s got. Terrible and useful.¡± ¡°Useful?¡± ¡°Between the two of you, our enemies will have a hard time battling us while scared and enamored. Imagine decapitating someone who had to defend himself with a boner in his pants! That¡¯s comedy gold.¡± Please, no. The last thing I needed was a reminder of that goblin incident. ¡°Assuming they don¡¯t resist it,¡± I said. ¡°True that.¡± We settled into an easy silence. Paz spoke first. ¡°I saw you scribbling on parchment the other day. What was that about?¡± ¡°Oh, just some notes I¡¯ve been keeping. I don¡¯t want to forget any of the [System] stuff I learn.¡± ¡°You intend to optimize your build? Like some kind of min-maxer?¡± There it was again. Proof that Vizhimans knew terms that inhabitants of a fantasy world had no business knowing. Nicola had done the same when she had mentioned the word, squishies. I''d always suspected that a deep connection existed between Vizhima and Earth. But, of what kind? ¡°That is my intention, yes,¡± I said at length. ¡°To avoid pitfalls and irreversible mistakes. However, to do that, I need more information on [System] mechanics. I¡¯ve gathered little of value so far.¡± ¡°What bothers you?¡± ¡°A few things. For starters, what¡¯s the exact number of stat points a ranker may earn in their lifetime?¡± ¡°Two hundred and seventy-five,¡± Paz said, without missing a beat. I blinked at him. Even Mavari did not know that. ¡°You¡¯re not kidding.¡± ¡°Why would I? A lot of Adamantiums have said the same.¡± 275 . . . Then, that meant . . . ¡°Stat points cap at fifty,¡± I mused aloud. ¡°To max all eight attributes, one would need four hundred points.¡± ¡°Then, don¡¯t max all eight.¡± ¡°Yeah. With two hundred and forty points, one could theoretically raise each attribute to thirty . . .¡± ¡°The Grand tier.¡± ¡°. . . but, that would mean having attributes that are two tiers weaker than the peak across the board.¡± I drummed my fingers. ¡°The smarter choice would be to raise five attributes to fifty and ignore the others, assuming there are no diminishing returns the higher up you go.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t,¡± Paz said with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve seen idiots argue in favor of that: stopping around thirty for a more rounded build. But, that¡¯s plain disingenuous. Unless you have no idea what you are doing, you don¡¯t need to dip a hand in every attribute.¡± ¡°Lean on your strengths and abandon your weaknesses.¡± I could vibe with that. ¡°Though, I suppose a mix of both schools of thought can also be effective. Something like three attributes at fifty, and another three at forty.¡± ¡°Bah. Your first inference was the best.¡± ¡°Tell me about skills and abilities, then,¡± I said, resisting the urge to scribble right there on my parchment. ¡°Is there a process that governs their unlocking? Or, do I keep fighting monsters and hope for the best?¡± Paz crossed his arms behind his head. His abs and biceps rippled as he lay back on a rock. ¡°A little bit of both? Starting from level 20, you gain one technique choice every ten levels. Can be a skill or an ability, depending on your class. But, you¡¯ll need to choose one from a list of options.¡± ¡°And what determines the options you get?¡± ¡°The part about fighting and hoping for the best. The [System] favors rankers who gain XP from enemies many levels above them. This favor comes in the form of improved choices to select from and better rank-up rewards.¡± ¡°What''s the latter?¡± ¡°Another way to learn new techniques. Apart from the choices you gain every ten levels, you also learn a random technique each time you achieve a new rank.¡± He scratched the bridge of his nose. ¡°In your case, your next rank-up reward comes at level 25.¡± This time, I couldn¡¯t refrain from writing. I extricated the parchment and the quill. ¡°What you¡¯re saying is that I get to choose from a list of techniques every multiple of ten. And, the [System] also grants a freebie each time I rank up.¡± I did the math. ¡°That¡¯s a total of fourteen techniques.¡± Paz glanced at my notes. ¡°Remember to include the four you learn immediately after Specialization. Everyone unlocks [Meditation], a fighting style, and two starting techniques. I also forgot about the [System] bonuses at levels 15 and 85. Include that.¡± Oh, yeah. I¡¯d gotten [Decoy] for leveling up after the fight with the Primal Dread Monkey. ¡°Twenty in total,¡± I said with a sigh. ¡°And, more, I assume for anyone with a trait.¡± I studied my notes. The idea of dealing with random elements in the course of completing my build irked me a little, but I could see why the [System] had designed things this way. It was not beyond some asshole to try to level up on the weak by committing mass murder. Placing a penalty on shortcuts made for an interesting approach. Paz laughed when I shared my concerns. ¡°That¡¯s the whole point of the [System], Damien. You can plan your build all you like, but if you aren¡¯t pulling off impressive feats, you¡¯d only end up with mediocre techniques. Punching beneath your level does nothing to help you. And, neither regulars nor specialists provide an iota of XP. ¡°There¡¯s only one route to power available to a ranker: Kill greater enemies.¡± I saved that advice in my notebook: Kill greater enemies. Ben¡¯s commentary from a few days ago about the plight of adventurers struck me as poignant. At some point, this job stopped being fun and became a constant slog of throwing oneself at increasingly dangerous challenges to reap greater rewards. Little wonder Ben¡¯s mental health had suffered for it. ¡°Hold on,¡± I said. ¡°You knew all of this yet brought us here to fight Rock Lurkers below level 10? Won''t that sabotage our growth?¡± Paz rose quietly to his feet. A few seconds later, he sprinted down the swamp. Asshole. We returned to grinding the next morning. The Rock Lurkers attacked first again, forcing us to slip into a tight unit. Our cohesion as a team wasn¡¯t quite where it should be, but we had made good progress syncing our techniques. Nicola killed one Rock Lurker by summoning a tentacle into its open maw. ¡°I¡¯m done for,¡± she said, falling to her knees. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± The dormant Rock Lurkers squirmed. They rumbled in agitation and rolled at a glacial pace, smacking into one another. Each of them that collided remained conjoined until multiple short chains of boulders spun in place. The rumbling evolved into a ground-shaking crescendo¡ª ¡°It¡¯s happening!¡± Paz said, as the forest floor trembled beneath us. "The time has finally arrived!" The Rock Lurkers merged, one atop the other until a stony behemoth towered above the swamp. Smaller chains of rocks formed its limbs, and a boulder-head sat atop an impressive stone torso. Green eyes glowed down at us from deep in its face, bearing such malice that Nicola and I took a few steps backward. Paz clapped his hands in place, oblivious to our terror. ¡°See? I told you. Clearing all those Rock Lurkers wasn¡¯t for naught!¡± I took a look at the green-tongued giant stone golem and the tooltip hovering over its head. Primal Rock Lurker LVL 26. [Scaredy-cat] fired in tandem with the monster¡¯s roar. ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± I muttered. 047 Rock Falls, Everyone Dies I barely read the notification. The Primal Rock Lurker hurled a boulder at us, scattering our party. I snuck behind a tree with the help of [Stealth] and sought cover from the gravel that tumbled around me. Somewhere off to my right, Nicola screamed. ¡°Are you out of your mind, Paz? Why didn¡¯t you warn us about this?¡± ¡°I wanted it to be a surprise,¡± Paz said, punctuated by boisterous laughter. ¡°You should have seen the look on your face!¡± A second thrown boulder drowned out Nicola¡¯s reply. The Primal Rock Lurker moved with purpose now. Its green eyes focused on the fleeing duo of Nicola and Paz, even as it gathered more stones to form fingers on its arms. Each footstep fell with the force of a mini earthquake, threatening to open chasms in the ground. Pebbles materialized out of thin air on its palm. Bullets? ¡°Incoming!¡± I warned, unwilling to take chances. The Primal Rock Lurker fired the pebbles. I ducked behind a rock just in time to avoid the onslaught, but the impacts of the volley caused enough vibrations to subtly lower my health. An entire tree fell beneath the fusillade. Hopefully, my teammates had heeded the warning. Considering how fast the monster¡¯s accuracy was improving, it was only a matter of time before all three of us were peppered to mulch. ¡°Damien,¡± Nicola said, looking around for me. ¡°We need to leave!¡± Leave? I glanced back at the hulking monster. At level 26, it stood five levels weaker than the Dread Monkey that had decimated the Wood Elves. However, Rock Lurkers had some of the best defense stats in all of Dreadwood, making this creature a more difficult foe when compared to its primate cousin. Retreating provided the best chance for survival. But, how did that help us against Byron? If we fled from a level 26 monster, how could we hope to handle a ranker of roughly equal strength? ¡°Stand your ground,¡± I said, joining my teammates behind the rock they had chosen for cover. ¡°We can take it.¡± Nicola sputtered. Paz uttered a whoop. ¡°It¡¯s slow,¡± I said. ¡°That means we have a high chance of successfully making a run for it if things take a turn for the worst.¡± ¡°Are you seriously trying to communicate,¡± Nicola screamed, ¡°over all this noise?¡± Ugh. ¡°Paz, take point," I said, switching gears. "Try to distract it! Nicola and I will chip away at its health.¡± The monster kept advancing with the force of a landslide. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we¡¯re ready for dungeon diving.¡± ¡°This is madness,¡± Nicola said, pausing to drink a blue potion. ¡°We¡¯re too unprepared.¡± But, Paz was already walking toward the Primal Rock Lurker. ¡°Oi, rock face! You big, ugly wanker. Give me your attention!¡± That¡¯s not what I meant by a distraction, Paz. ¡°How¡¯s your Eros meter looking, Nicola?¡± I asked. ¡°Did you succeed yesterday?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said and gripped her staff. ¡°Any spell I use right now is going to deal a whole lot of hurt.¡± ¡°Then, use your biggest. I¡¯ll go help Paz!¡± Paz, for his part, did a good job dodging around the monster. The Primal Rock Lurker wasn¡¯t as slow as I¡¯d first thought, but its speed was still below average compared to its Dread Monkey cousin. Paz would hold his own as long as he had the stamina . . . which had already been lowered in the fight with the normal Rock Lurkers. I could attack the monster from behind, but I doubted my strikes would do enough damage to hurt it. Change of plans, then. If there was anything in my arsenal that my teammates could benefit from, it had to be the [Map]. I activated the mini-screen and surveyed the battlefield, zooming out in search of any feature that could help. A magic sigil went off beneath the monster. Large tentacles bloomed in a floral pattern, denting its HP by about twenty percent. Nice one, Nicola! Paz charged the enraged monster. A fiery aura surrounded his fists as he activated his [Overpower] skill. From what he¡¯d told me, the skill upped his Strength by +5 for a limited time . . . which mattered little as his thrown punch failed to do reasonable harm. However, seeing as the monster was already occupied grappling with Nicola¡¯s tentacles, Paz could wail on it as much as he wanted. And, wail he did. The monster flailed in irritation as Paz''s attacks became too numerous to bear, damaging its HP by a noticeable amount. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A second volley of pebbles forced Paz away and out of the monster''s range lest he should lose his single chance at resurrection. The tentacles disintegrated into petals a short moment later. The Primal Rock Lurker stomped its foot¡ª All three of us crashed to the ground from the earthquake that robbed us of a portion of our health. Paz was first to recover, what with the physical resistance provided by Greater Strength. He charged at the Primal Rock Lurker, [Overpower] burning on his fists. His attack connected, but the monster retaliated with a swipe of its arm, reducing Paz to a spray of blood. I backed away from the brutal display, even as Nicola started preparing another [Bloom of Crimson Desire]. ¡°I need more time!¡± she said. Oh, crap. Our point man had just been obliterated, which meant the role of dodge tank fell to me. While I deliberated on the cons of approaching the monster, the Primal Rock Lurker used another skill. The phantom image of a shield flickered over its form as it drew its arms around its torso. I didn¡¯t need a notification to understand what it had done. The bastard had just upped its Defense! ¡°Get to cover!¡± I said to Nicola in the same breath that I activated [Decoy]. A second Damien materialized out of thin air¡ªand, holy fuck! Was that what I looked like? He darted between the Rock Lurker¡¯s legs with lightning-quick movements, causing the monster to turn and launch a boulder after him. It was a weird feeling, this¡ªwielding the technique. Summoning the [Decoy] felt like being connected to a distant limb, one that didn¡¯t require fine control. The [Decoy] responded quickly to the first order thrown at it, but subsequent commands met sluggish resistance. Nevertheless, it served its purpose, diverting the Rock Lurker¡¯s attention away from Nicola and me. I consulted my [Map] once more and frowned at a feature I¡¯d earlier noticed: A rock ledge that marked the eastern border of the swamp. The Primal Rock Lurker destroyed the [Decoy], an action I didn¡¯t see but felt by way of a haptic buzz to the brain. I stepped in without a second thought, flaring [Fear Aura]. The monster turned fast enough to disorient itself¡ª That¡¯s it. Chase after me. ¡ªand bellowed a challenge. I led it through the wettest part of the swamp to the rock ledge from earlier, hoping the soft earth would serve to slow it down. It seemed to be working too . . . until the monster raised its arms and lowered them for another earthquake. I fell face-first into the mud and noted with dismay that I¡¯d lost another chunk of health. Nicola came in clutch at that moment, casting another [Bloom of Crimson Desire]. The spell didn¡¯t do as much damage as earlier, thanks to the Primal Rock Lurker¡¯s defense skill . . . But, my target was now in sight. Jagged protrusions marked the area where the swamp extended in a shelf and ended in a sizable drop into a stream. Just one more push. ¡°Again, Nicola!¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m out of MP,¡± she called, panting from somewhere behind me. ¡°I¡¯m useless now!¡± Without even thinking, I slid The Ring of the Mana Conduit off my finger and punted it in her direction. Nicola could pull off two uses of her most damaging ability with less than 60 MP. My ring had 50 MP saved up. The Primal Rock Lurker freed itself from the cage of tentacles faster than the last time. ¡°Not over yet!¡± Paz screamed, appearing out of nowhere. The [Overpower] skill glowed on his fist in combination with a frightening new aura. Paz¡¯s eyes glowed red as he moved, leaving twin trails of energy behind him like the taillights of a speeding motorbike. An artificial wind whipped up around him, the only other visible phenomena of his aura. His hair stood on end as a result, fanning out around his head. You are within range of an allied [Draconic Aura]! Your attacks now deal 50% more damage. Your speed and defenses have also risen by 50%. Paz was going all out if he had decided to activate his VP-draining aura. It was also the perfect counter to the Primal Rock Lurker¡¯s defense skill, and it showed in how Paz¡¯s attacks dealt more damage to HP. The Primal Rock Lurker didn¡¯t take kindly to the assault. It gathered stone bullets again, preparing to fire. ¡°Paz, fall back!¡± I warned and created a [Decoy] to take his place. He did as I asked, and none too soon. The Primal Rock Lurker spun like a top, spraying bullets around the swamp. One pebble whizzed past my head with such force that the wind of its passing dented my health. My [Decoy] vanished in an instant, downed by a hail of bullets. But, it bought Paz the window he needed to roll through the swamp and into rock cover. Paz glanced at me with slitted eyes, a question in his gaze. We¡¯d been fighting all morning, and our resources were bound to be scraping the bottom of the barrel. We needed to do something to end this. I needed to do something to end this. ¡°Hey! Big oaf,¡± I said, jumping and waving my arms to catch the Primal Rock Lurker¡¯s attention. It wasn''t my proudest insult, but I''d since learned that I sucked at talking shit. The rock ledge extended behind me like a middle finger aimed at the forest. The water of the stream gurgled about ten meters below. Take the bait, you asshole. The Primal Rock Lurker did. It honed in on me and threw a boulder in my direction. I sprang out of reach. The maneuver put me at the edge of the rock shelf, one step away from falling into the drink. But, I left a final [Decoy] in my place and hung by my arms on the jagged protrusions. An ear-splitting shriek signaled the activation of Nicola¡¯s third mega spell. It caught the monster just as it charged my [Decoy] and sent it toppling over the ledge. The monster¡¯s arm rammed against the rock face as it fell, coming close to shattering my back. Painful vibrations traveled from the rock and up into my skull, taking a toll on my grip. A second crash followed as the Rock Lurker landed in the stream. Water rose in tandem, drenching me from head to toe. I spat out stream water and managed to keep from falling, though it was with some effort that I pulled myself back over the ledge. The small drop had harmed the Rock Lurker less than I''d expected, but it came with the added benefit of leaving it flat on its side. All our efforts had left it just under thirty percent HP. But, victory loomed close enough to be tasted. The monster thrashed about in an attempt to rise, creating a hazard for anyone who dared to jump down with it. I dared, regardless. Paz grinned at me, communicating his intent to follow. So, we lowered ourselves over the ledge, prepared to end things on a high. A large spear of light careened out of the sky and struck the Rock Lurker. More spears of light rained down on the stream, alongside a massive javelin forged out of pure wind. The thunderous impacts sent me fleeing for cover, but it was the [System] message that followed that chilled me. Hurray! You have participated in the killing of Primal Rock Lurker. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated, per your contribution. 048 Kill Steal Kill steal. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. I stood at the edge of the shelf above the broken Primal Rock Lurker, unable to loot it for the sweet rewards we deserved. Paz put my emotions into words. ¡°Oi. What the fuck?¡± A party of three rankers marched out of cover in the direction of our cave. One of them had a shield strapped to his back, while the other wore a bow. The final member carried nothing save for the robes on her back¡ªa Warlock, then. I used [Identify] to discern their levels: 15, 16, and 18, for the Guardian, Ranger, and Warlock respectively. All three looked human, blessed with the light-colored hair and olive skin common among Bargherians. The Ranger smirked as they approached and looked at the swamp in distaste. ¡°See? I told you to follow the sounds of fighting. We wouldn¡¯t have found anything otherwise.¡± The Guardian snorted. ¡°I concede your victory. But, I didn¡¯t expect anyone to hide out in this filth. Gods, it reeks.¡± He spat off to the side. ¡°I''ll never be able to wash the stench out of my boots.¡± ¡°Sorry about the kill steal,¡± the Warlock shouted to us, raising her arms to show she meant no harm. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to intervene, but my teammates were getting angsty. They thought you could use some help.¡± ¡°Bastards,¡± Paz said, taking a step toward the newcomers. I shifted to block him. Something about the newcomers bothered me, and it wasn¡¯t in the way they bantered among themselves despite knowing what they had done. It was the fact that all three had only decided to reveal themselves now that we had exhausted our resources. It made it seem like they had merely stolen our kill¡ªan action that encouraged our indignation and made us willing to listen to any offers of compensation. However, if kill steals were all they¡¯d wanted, they would have taken off immediately after succeeding. These rankers were here for us, whether by opportunity or intent. And, the only reason they hadn¡¯t tried to snipe us from out of cover was greed. They intended to milk every ounce of XP they could get. The Warlock smiled genially, showing off dimples on both sides of her cheek. Her soft features offered a moderate distraction¡ªif I ignored the fact that she was here to kill me. ¡°I don¡¯t mind giving up the loot," she said, "if you will have it. I think it''s only right, considering that we are the ones at fault.¡± ¡°Paz,¡± I whispered. ¡°We¡¯re not engaging them.¡± Paz growled, eyes turning back to normal with the expiration of his [Draconic Aura]. He thankfully didn¡¯t rebel. ¡°Aye, you¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°I think they have another member hidden nearby too. Probably, a caster or a second Ranger. That¡¯s standard practice for approaching an unknown party.¡± ¡°We go over the ledge, then?¡± Paz grimaced as if the idea of retreating put ulcers in his belly. ¡°Yes, Damien. Over the ledge.¡± The Warlock narrowed her eyes. Nicola peeked out from cover, having been smart enough to advance closer to us the instant the Primal Rock Lurker had fallen. I nodded at her. She didn¡¯t hesitate. A magic sigil opened up between the two parties, bearing the last spell Nicola had been charging. The Warlock barked a command at her companions, but the [Bloom of Crimson Desire] halted their advance. One giant tentacle wrapped around the Guardian and slammed him into the ground. I didn¡¯t wait to see the outcome. Paz, Nicola, and I put the scene behind us and sprinted over the ledge. ¡°Watch out!¡± Paz said and shouldered Nicola out of the way of an arrow imbued with Compassion. We landed clumsily on the remains of the Primal Rock Lurker, and then we raced for the trees amid a barrage of magic and arrows. The rough terrain helped hide our escape. But, my heart kept thudding in my chest. We stopped running once we were sure our attackers had lost our trail, but only after we had taken stamina potions and burned even that. I led the team through the bushes and back into the stream, which was our best shot at hiding our tracks. Nicola fell to all fours the instant I called for a halt, down to her last lick of stamina. Paz helped her to a sitting position before she could collapse into the water. He rounded on me. ¡°If you let this slight go unanswered, Damien, I would quit the team.¡± ¡°If you have enough stamina to talk,¡± I replied, ¡°go survey the perimeter. We need a safe place to [Meditate].¡± Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. For one terse minute, Paz looked like he would toss the order back in my face. I wasn¡¯t superior to him in any way, after all. And, we might have been named Damien''s Party, but leader I was not. However, Paz once more showed a surprising amount of restraint. He swallowed his dissent and waded off to do as I asked. I gazed down at my shaky fingers and leaned against the slope of the bank. The events of the past few hours infuriated me, but what did I expect? Vizhima was a dog-eat-dog world, much like mine. And, the powerful seized whatever they could from the grasp of the weak. Yet, why did I feel so angry? ¡°Damien,¡± Nicola said in a quiet voice. ¡°We are going to seek revenge for this, right?¡± The vehemence in my reply surprised even me. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she said, and her voice hardened. ¡°I¡¯m done letting people walk all over me.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m just done.¡± Paz returned a few minutes later with information that we were in the clear. We meditated in turns, leaving one person on the lookout each time. After three hours, we switched locations and repeated the cycle until the day wore on into the evening. All three of us rose with full reserves of renewables, though even that did nothing for the cloud that hovered over our heads. Nicola offered The Ring of the Mana Conduit back to me, but I let her keep it. It was empty now, anyway. Plus, as the sole caster in our team, she needed it more than I ever could. Paz had hit level 14 after the demise of the Primal Rock Lurker. But, a palpable anger simmered within him, enough to boil the air. I met my teammates¡¯ eyes and nodded as slowly as I could. ¡°We''ve rested enough. It''s time to hunt those fuckers.¡± Paz grinned. We made our way back to the camp, picking our route with the careful use of Nicola''s [Eldritch Eyeball]. The ability allowed her to conjure a floating eyeball with a visibility radius of up to two hundred meters. It required the closing of one of her eyes to properly interpret the information, a clause that left her distracted. That distraction paid off in the fact that we could assess the nature of our camp before we finally returned. The enemy had violated it. The Primal Rock Lurker¡¯s corpse had long since been looted, leaving an imprint in its place. The other party had taken umbrage with Nicola¡¯s spell because they hadn¡¯t been satisfied with leaving things at that. They had destroyed every single one of our possessions that they could reach. Ripped beddings lay strewn across the cave floor, alongside pieces of metal that once belonged to our cooking pots. Our clotheslines hadn¡¯t been spared either. All three of the constructs lay dismantled, leaving washed clothes inch-deep in mud. They didn''t need to do that. I only had a single change of clothes! Nicola frowned at the remnants of our sheets, which lay ripped up and coated with urine. She didn¡¯t say a word because nothing needed to be said. Our displeasure would be communicated to them via violence. ¡°They haven¡¯t gone far,¡± Paz said, holding his nose at the smell that issued from the sheets. ¡°These are still fresh.¡± ¡°Can you track them?¡± I asked. ¡°Not without a [Hunting] skill. And, although my senses are good, they aren¡¯t much better than yours. All I can tell you is that they chased after us before returning to commit this atrocity.¡± He paused. ¡°Less than half an hour ago, judging by the smell.¡± I looked around the swamp. Even if the enemy party lingered nearby, we had no way of knowing what direction they had traveled in. Bumbling blindly after them could also land us in trouble, seeing as they had at least one ranger on their team. ¡°I might have something,¡± Nicola said, stirring from her thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but whenever my Eros meter is supercharged, my abilities leave residual Eros on surfaces they touch. I can¡¯t see this residue with normal sight, but I can if I activate [Eldritch Eyeball] . . .¡± Paz and I shared a look. ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± Paz said. ¡°Sex solves everything.¡± I gave the go-ahead to Nicola who rolled her eyes at Paz''s barb. Her eyebrows crinkled as she summoned the magical eyeball again and sifted through the information it provided. ¡°Too much residue,¡± she muttered. Nevertheless, she pointed in a random direction, and we followed, waiting for her to pick up a trail. Paz led from the forefront as an off tank, while I silently brought up the rear. The waning Eros that Nicola pursued wasn¡¯t the best of guides. We had to stop and allow her to reorient herself a few times. After what felt like an eternity, during which we left the swamp and entered sturdier ground, her golden eyes dimmed with rage. ¡°Found them.¡± I swallowed a cheer. Nighttime had fallen during the pursuit, putting us at a disadvantage, though all three of us had ways to compensate. The combination of elven senses and feather walk meant I could travel through the dark forest floor with barely a rustle. Paz had his blessings from [Dragon Touched] to help him navigate, while Nicola directed the proceedings from behind, relying primarily on our movements. We had spared a few breaths to discuss strategy earlier on in the hunt. The other team might not expect retaliation, but they wouldn¡¯t be easily snuck upon. Paz¡¯s [Sanguine Return] had come off cooldown, buying him one shot at a risk-free diversion. The onus of taking out the soft targets fell on me, however. I needed to remove them from the equation before the fight even began. Nicola believed she could handle the Ranger, leaving the Warlock as the prime choice for first blood. We decided to ignore the Guardian for as long as we could. He worked best by taking attention off his teammates and would be easier to kill once he had no teammates left. Sadly, our entire plan hinged on battlefield awareness and control. If we failed to uncover the locations of all four before we moved, well, we best prepare for a bloody fight. ¡°Got any visual yet?¡± I asked Nicola, from behind the safety of a deridum tree. The grasses here grew short and sparse, but the trees stood taller than was usual in Dreadwood. A good location for a party to keep an eye out. But, none of that mattered to an Assassin of Fear. ¡°I¡¯ve got . . . visual?¡± Nicola said, struggling with the wording. ¡°They are setting up around a campfire a few hundred meters away. But, I only see three of them in the vicinity.¡± ¡°The fourth¡¯s on the watch, then,¡± Paz said. ¡°Another Ranger. They shot arrows at us while we fled.¡± I digested the information, surprised at the calmness in my heart despite what was certain to follow. I spun The Blackreach Dagger in my hand. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I can do good damage to that Ranger before the others notice, but I¡¯ll need you to confirm their location, Nicola.¡± ¡°Working on it,¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°The Guardian¡¯s the only one with any residue on him. The others need to be picked out by skill alone.¡± We waited patiently as she directed the [Eldritch Eyeball] to hover over their camp. ¡°There,¡± Nicola said, pointing northeast. ¡°There¡¯s someone situated on a tree just beside the tallest in the area. You can¡¯t miss them. It¡¯s a short distance away from the campfire.¡± I blinked in that direction, unable to spot anyone even with elven sight. The light of the campfire was visible enough, however. I could use that. [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker] enwrapped me like a cloak and pulled me into the night. I dashed toward my target, brooking no hesitation. 049 Death, Swiftest Mercy My heart thumped violently in my chest. If the enemy party expected retaliation, they didn¡¯t show it in their gestures. They talked in hushed voices around their campfire but ate and polished their gear with languid ease. The fact that they possessed two Rangers did wonders for their confidence, and true enough¡ªjust like Nicola had said¡ªone Ranger sat high up on a tree to serve as a lookout. I headed in that direction. The enemy party made small talk, mostly about us, but I couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted. Every muscle in my body tensed with the effort to avoid discovery, even though I knew that the Fear affinity made me a more efficient Assassin than most. The problem came in the fact that I somehow needed to climb a tree and kill a man before he noticed me or, worse, alerted his teammates. [Stealth] helped alleviate that to some degree, but I needed more options. I pulled the Chains of the Combat Ape out of my inventory. It glowed pale in the light of the moons. [Dark Stalker] bled the world of most of its color, but I knew from practice that it also hid the gleam from the chains. The chains were the only rewards I¡¯d kept from the fight with the Primal Dread Monkey. I¡¯d experimented with them in my free time and uncovered a useful application . . . The power of fusion. Not that kind of fusion. Taking The Blackreach Dagger, I attached its weathered hilt to one end of the chain. It snapped into place. You have fused The Blackreach Dagger [Greater] to the Chains of the Combat Ape [Greater]! Since this combination involves a dagger or knife, You have created the weapon: Chain Nail [Greater]! You have unlocked a weapon perk: Meld. Chain Nail can now merge with any surface! I pressed the Chain Nail into the tree trunk. It merged silently with the bark. I clung to the tree and mentally compelled the blade to loosen. It came free with a pop. I stabbed the Chain Nail into an even higher spot and began a gradual ascent up the tree. [Stealth] muffled the noise, but I broke into shivers and cold sweat all the same. In no time at all, I reached the treetop, just one branch below the oblivious Ranger. He looked burlier than I''d expected: a stoic man clad in dark leather with a hood over his face. A large bow rested on the tree trunk beside him. Ornate arrows peeked out of a quiver on his belt. The burly man held a dagger in his hand¡ªa possible precaution, to buy time to fend off sudden attacks before reaching for his bow. If given a chance, he could probably best me in hand-to-hand combat. I intended to give no such chance. I wrapped my arm around his throat and plunged the chain nail into his sleeve. It pinned his weapon arm to the bark, melding cloth and wood. The attack brought an end to the [Dark Stalker] ability, but the man countered before I even reappeared. He twisted with amazing agility and stabbed me with his immobilized hand. I captured his arm in the crook of my elbow in return, albeit at the cost of a small cry of pain. The Ranger bucked violently. His large head slammed into the bridge of my nose, causing the lights in the universe to go dark for one frantic second. I fought through the pain and used the extra momentum to wrap the chains around his throat. The man gurgled. I¡¯d learned from hours of fights with Paz that the instant the Ranger ran out of breath, his HP would start slipping into the red. He knew that too because he tried to work his fingers into the chokehold . . . leaving his weapon arm unattended. For a half second, we nearly toppled out of the tree in our struggle. But, I won the knife and forced it into his eye. Again. And, again. And, again. I didn¡¯t stop until the man''s struggles ended and warm blood flowed down my hand. My heart hammered away at my ribs. You have gained XP from the killing of Ranger LVL 15, the ill-timed [System] notification said. You have leveled up! You are now level 16. Visit your status screen to allocate free stat points. I checked the campfire. All of the grunting we had done should have alerted his teammates. But, they remained oblivious to his death, laughing instead at a joke one of them had made. I allowed my shoulders to relax by a fraction. Nicola could probably tell that I had killed the Ranger. Paz should arrive to support me any moment soon. I could double back to assist his charge or spearhead the assault on my lonesome. The latter appealed to me. The dead man slumped in my arms: A sight that triggered the tossing of my gut. There would be time enough to consider my actions. But, that time could wait. I needed to pick my next target. Striking the Warlock in the middle of her teammates amounted to suicide, but I could get a few hits in before they reacted to my presence¡ª ¡°Someone¡¯s coming,¡± the second Ranger said from back at the campfire, leaping to his feet. Someone surged through the bushes at a breakneck pace for the rankers. Paz! He intended to provide a distraction, and the Warlock and Ranger were all too eager to use him for target practice. I descended to ground level as wind magic battered the night. Paz evaded the magic spell only to run into a series of similarly enhanced arrows from the Ranger. He went down shortly after from a spear to the gut, one created from wind, but he had bought me the time needed to position myself behind the Warlock. [Fear Aura]. Even in the dim lighting, I could see the color drain from the enemy team¡¯s faces. None of them had the Willpower to resist my attack, and judging from the way the male members doubled over at the waist, Nicola¡¯s [Ecstasy] was also in effect. The female Warlock was first to recover, twirling her arms in preparation for a spell. I countered with a move that would have disgusted me two weeks ago . . . I threw the severed head of the man I had killed onto her chest. She paused for a moment to register what I had thrown, and then her mouth opened in the most horrible of screams. Talk about a good opening. My first strike landed solidly on her jaw, terminating her screech. The second bit into her neck. The Warlock recovered from her shock with remarkable resilience and loosed a bolt of wind into my face. [Dark Stalker] activated at that moment, aiding my dodge. Stolen story; please report. The next time I reappeared, I did so from behind her and plunged The Blackreach Dagger into her foot. Since it was still attached to the chains, the dagger forced her shoes into the ground. The Guardian charged at that moment. ¡°Bastard!¡± A tentacle slammed into his shield, striking with such force that he tumbled into the campfire. Two arrows whizzed past my ears in rapid succession, managing to nick me despite my spot from behind the Warlock. I gritted my teeth and slapped the Warlock¡¯s arm aside, diverting her next spell into the ground. She raised her second arm to melt my face and earned another strike to the jaw for her insolence. Her eyes widened at the thought of death. Warm, brown irises dilated behind a vision that none but her Fear-induced mind could see. ¡°Help me!¡± she said. The Ranger fired again. The Guardian surged out of the fire, sporting a skill around his form. I scored another blow across the Warlock''s throat, bringing her HP to naught. But, I couldn¡¯t finish her off. Not with the others bearing down on me¡ª ¡°Any moment now!¡± I said, dashing into a retreat. The Warlock summoned mana into her palms. I crossed my arms in defense, resigning myself to the hurt that was sure to follow. A sigil flashed somewhere in the forest . . . Paz returned at that moment. He sailed into the campfire, propelled by a purple tentacle. The hole in his stomach revealed a peek of his entrails, still in the process of healing, but righteous [Overpower] burned on his fists. The Guardian and Ranger could only watch with wide eyes as Paz brought his fist up into the Warlock¡¯s chest, tearing through the last of her health and into her heart. ¡°Phoebe!¡± the Ranger said. Paz flexed his arms and flared power out into the clearing. You are within range of an allied [Draconic Aura]! Your attacks now deal 50% more damage. Your speed and defenses have also risen by 50%. A rustle of wind was all the warning I got before an arrow slammed into my shoulder. It threw me onto the path of the Guardian, whose fervent swing came close to cleaving my face. I wasn¡¯t about to go toe to toe with anyone specced for defense. I vaulted off the Guardian¡¯s shield and screamed a command at the feral redhead. ¡°Paz, switch with me!¡± Paz didn¡¯t hesitate and rammed into the Guardian with a clang that resounded across the clearing. I darted in turn for the Ranger who tried to create distance for snipes. My shoulder smarted from his last attack which had thankfully not been enhanced with an affinity. I couldn¡¯t allow him to keep shooting. I was already down to fifty percent health. Regardless of my impressive speed, the Ranger moved just as fast. Tears streamed down his face as he fired his bow and used a skill to duplicate the missile. Both projectiles lit up the next second with Compassion, and oh shit¡ª A tentacle surged out of the ground, tanking the impact in my stead. I stepped back into the shadows at that moment, mouthing a ¡®thank you¡¯ to the hidden Nicola. ¡°Stinking elf,¡± the Ranger said, looking around in search of me. ¡°You killed them. Why?!¡± Why indeed? Was he trying to get me to talk or was that the dumbest question he could ask, given his circumstances? His party had tried to ambush us and failed. What had they expected in terms of retaliation? Baby diapers? A short distance away, Paz cackled as he rained punch after punch on the Guardian. The latter huddled behind his shield, waiting for the right moment to counterattack. But, he¡¯d never get it, not with Nicola watching from the sidelines. A nearly imperceptible energy filled the air¡ªa sure sign that she would unleash her mega spell any moment soon. It left the job of killing the Ranger up to me . . . Not the hardest of tasks. But, I was already a little drained. I leaned fully into my [Stealth]-[Dark Stalker] combo and summoned a [Decoy] into the Ranger¡¯s path. The decoy died in an explosion of white. The Ranger fired blindly at me soon after, coming much too close for comfort. He probably had the [Hunting] skill, which leveled the playing field between us. I didn¡¯t have the VP or MP to engage in a protracted battle. The next three moves would determine the outcome of the fight. I followed the Ranger as he flitted between the trees and lobbed a stone near to his right. One. He shot it out of midair with amazing reflexes. My next shot sailed straight for his face. But, it wasn¡¯t a mere stone like earlier. This time, I¡¯d thrown a monster core. A mini explosion went off as his fired arrow collided with the core. Not enough to harm him, but enough to evoke a gasp of surprise all the same. Two. I swung the Chain Nail at his head. The ranger ducked beneath the move, but that and the preceding setup allowed me to close the gap. Three. [Dark Stalker] bled away as I won the first strike on the Ranger¡¯s gut, absorbed by health armor. And then, just like with the Warlock from earlier, I stabbed the Chain Nail into his foot. His longbow slammed into my face with surprising force, interrupting further attacks. I tumbled backward in a daze and tugged the combat chain after me. It threw the Ranger onto his back. He managed to hold on to his bow despite his topple and fired an arrow from his spot on the ground. I rolled aside. His arrow hand dipped into his quiver, but victory belonged to the swift. I crashed down on him before he could fire and drove both blades into his chest. ¡°You,¡± the ranger gurgled. ¡°What did you do to my attributes?¡± Oh. No wonder I had the edge. I had failed in my bid to end the fight in three moves, but if the Ranger was anything like me, he would have his [DEX] sitting at 20 and a few other attributes at 10. [Fear Aura] inflicted [Dismay], which resulted in a loss of two from every stat¡ªa debuff I had learned the hard way from the Primal Dread Monkey. Any stat on the threshold would weaken the instant the enemy was dismayed . . . changing Greater attributes to Common, and Common to Lesser. A Ranger who could deal 4x damage with his bow would find himself moving slower and hitting for only 2x. I didn¡¯t give [Fear Aura] the respect it deserved. Nevertheless, I wasn¡¯t the type to gloat. So, I twisted the blades in the Ranger¡¯s chest and grimaced as he breathed his last. It wasn¡¯t a good feeling taking a human life. But, after one beheading, I was already over the deep end. I would save the self-loathing for another day. My part for now was concluded. Paz and Nicola made short work of the Guardian as I¡¯d expected. All three of us gathered over the beaten man, who lay bleeding on the ground. My heart swelled with heady emotion as I descended from the rush. Not enough to leave me grinning like Paz. But, enough to enjoy the elation that followed the taste of well-earned revenge. We had hatched a plan and enacted it to perfection. The feeling of accomplishment that followed beat the euphoria of sex. Not that I knew what that was like, anyway . . . but, I could imagine it well enough. Paz crouched beside the Guardian. ¡°Mercy,¡± the man moaned through broken teeth. ¡°I concede.¡± ¡°I¡¯m attuned to Retribution, you witless git,¡± Paz said, sticking a finger in his ear. He cleaned it on the man¡¯s armor. ¡°There¡¯s only one way your defeat is going to end. And, I¡¯m going to take my time savoring it.¡± ¡°Just kill him and be done with it,¡± Nicola said with rolled eyes. ¡°There¡¯s grace even in victory.¡± ¡°Grace?¡± Paz laughed. ¡°These fuckers pissed on our sheets!¡± ¡°I¡¯m with Nicola,¡± I said. ¡°I don¡¯t feel right drawing this out. There¡¯s justice, and then there¡¯s this: cruelty.¡± ¡°Spare me . . .¡± the Guardian pleaded again. Paz rose to face me. ¡°You can¡¯t let your enemies take the easy way out. You¡¯d never win their fear that way or their respect.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need any of those¡ª¡± ¡°An eye for a family¡¯s worth of eyes,¡± Paz said, and an ugly expression wormed across his face. ¡°Nothing is more important than your reputation. If your enemies know that death is the only punishment they have to fear from you, they¡¯d never stop coming.¡± He cast his glare askance. ¡°I learned that the hard way.¡± ¡°So, what are you suggesting we do here?¡± I asked in a calm tone. ¡°Torture this man? Of what use would that be to us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the principle of it. A dismembered enemy leaves a more lasting impression than a dead one.¡± Why the hell was that important? ¡°Please,¡± the Guardian said. ¡°I didn¡¯t want any of this . . .¡± ¡°I won¡¯t torture a soul,¡± I said quietly. ¡°And, the more we prolong his suffering, the more uncomfortable I feel.¡± ¡°Then, let me do it,¡± Paz said. ¡°You both may look away if you need to. I won¡¯t stop until his debt is paid.¡± ¡°Paz . . .¡± ¡°His life is ours! His secrets are ours. What do you think they would have done to us if they had won here? Think for a second!¡± He placed a heavy boot on the whimpering man''s back. ¡°This is the way to deal with attempts on your life. Why is this so difficult to understand?¡± I reached for my dagger. "Let him go." Nicola moved first. Her magic staff came down on the Guardian¡¯s head, cracking it open. ¡°Enough,¡± she said. Paz gaped at her with wide eyes. And then, his expression contorted. ¡°You fucking¡ª¡± ¡°Paz,¡± I snapped. ¡°What the fuck is wrong with you?!¡± The redhead stopped mid-lunge and blinked. Nicola looked just as shaken, having raised her staff in her defense. Paz glanced at the two of us in turn. And, then he stalked away, growling beneath his breath. ¡°Did he . . .¡± Nicola sputtered. ¡°Did he just try to attack me?!¡± ¡°He¡¯s dealing with something,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s give him some space.¡± ¡°I told you he''s a nutjob! A fucking loose quiver!¡± I pressed my lips into a line and allowed her to rant. A locket slipped loose from the Guardian¡¯s neck, courtesy of Nicola¡¯s final attack. Given its shape, I could already imagine what it signified. Someone dear . . . Like a lover or a wife, maybe even kids. A tear rolled down the dead Guardian¡¯s cheek. Suppressing the urge to hurl, I turned away. 050 The Calm Before the Storm We recovered incredible loot from the dead rankers. Aside from the items they had stolen from the Primal Rock Lurker, the enemy party carried a load of potions, monster cores, gear, and beddings among themselves. Paz kept the Greater monster core but abandoned the Rock Heart, which I promptly offered to Nicola. The rest we split among ourselves, especially the potions, which would have cost me an arm and a leg to purchase on my lonesome. Paz kept to himself for the most part, stewing in silence. We¡¯d need to sit at some point and settle our differences, but he had my gratitude for sticking with the team. I couldn¡¯t afford to lose a teammate less than one week after forming the party. Forget about invading the Labyrinth, I¡¯d die of humiliation if Byron ever found out. The dead Rangers both wore boiled leather armor, nothing special by the looks of it, but still better than anything I owned. Their bows, however, were the pick of the lot. Common tier, according to [Identify], so I bundled them together with their armor even though none of us could shoot for shit. Nicola grabbed a staff that Paz had emptied out of the Warlock. ¡°Woah. This is ranker-grade.¡± I inspected it from over her shoulder. Staff of the Novice Mage [Common]. A special item made from deridum wood. Adds 5 damage to magical attacks. Requirement: [2]. ¡°Not bad,¡± I said, after relaying the contents of the infobox. Nicola beamed. ¡°An extra five damage can mean a world of difference between death and survival. Anything that offers more power is sure to help.¡± ¡°Sucks that we can''t use these though." I gestured at the bows. "They should fetch you some coin, at the very least. You better take them.¡± Nicola pursed her lips. ¡°Damien¡ª¡± ¡°Did any of you gain levels from all of the fighting?¡± I asked before she could turn down the offer. Nicola nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯m level eighteen. Between killing two primals and a bunch of rankers, the [System] would probably offer great technique choices to me at level twenty. You?¡± ¡°Level seventeen. Not quite what I wanted. But, I¡¯ll take whatever we get.¡± Paz didn¡¯t join the discussion. But, [Identify] put his new level at a whooping level 15 . . . which ultimately meant nothing, considering the enemies we needed to deal with. Nicola gathered all the money we had collected into a single pouch. ¡°Sixty silver and change. I guess we¡¯ll split this three-way?¡± ¡°You can take my share,¡± I offered. Her new staff landed on my head with a bonk. ¡°No, Damien. And, don¡¯t bring that up ever again.¡± ¡°But, I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°You would. Dungeon runs require extensive preparations.¡± She glanced at Paz who didn''t bother returning her gaze. ¡°We could also use the money to shop as a collective. Potions are first on the list, but food and gear are equally important.¡± She tossed the coin pouch into her inventory. ¡°I can''t stress the former point hard enough. The last thing you¡¯d want to do is run out of potions in the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°What about armor?¡± I interjected. ¡°Ranker-grade. That could help boost our chances.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have nearly enough money. And, we''ll find better items in the Labyrinth anyway.¡± ¡°Regular armor, then. For you and Paz.¡± I squinted at her. ¡°Casters can use armor, right?¡± ¡°Everyone can use anything that doesn''t come with requirements, which is the one feature that differentiates ranker-grade items from run-of-the-mill gear." She spun her new staff, testing its girth. "I personally don''t care much for protection¡ª" "Ha ha." Nicola bonked me again on the head. "Seriously, Damien. Dungeon runs are grueling exercises, making stamina a precious resource. Casters already struggle to keep up with other classes in that regard. No point worsening the handicap.''¡± I rubbed my head. ¡°That leaves you in charge of purchases, then.¡± "I''ll make a list. Now, come on. We need to leave. If a second party followed the sounds of fighting, things could quickly get ugly for the three of us." That spurred us into action. We legged it back to camp with Paz bringing up the rear. Yeah, we definitely needed to talk. Me and that redheaded oaf. I found him the next morning meditating near the spawning ground of the Primal Rock Lurker. The defeat of the primal had put a halt to the continuous presence of its lesser cousins. A fact I appreciated, seeing as I¡¯d since grown tired of beating on rocks. Paz frowned as I approached. ¡°You¡¯re not as stealthy as you think, Damien.¡± ¡°And, you¡¯re not meditating,¡± I countered. ¡°Or else, you wouldn¡¯t have noticed.¡± I stopped a respectful distance away, to avoid invading his personal space, and leaned against a boulder after double-checking to ensure it didn¡¯t hide teeth. [Meditation] sometimes caused old memories to rise to the surface. Was that Paz¡¯s aim? To relive a long-forgotten event? Paz kept his back to me. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I was hoping to talk to you.¡± ¡°If this is about yesterday¡ª¡± ¡°Screw yesterday. I have bigger questions than that.¡± That elicited a reaction. ¡°Who are you, Paz?¡± I asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean exactly what I said.¡± "And, this is important because?" ¡°Because I''m curious. Your level says fifteen, yet your confidence says one hundred and fifty. Not to mention, for a homeless bum, you know more about the [System] than people like Nicola.¡± ¡°I had great teachers.¡± ¡°You are nobility.¡± Paz did more than stiffen this time. He turned around. I did my best to restrain a smirk and effected a shrug. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me that way. It¡¯s evident in your outlook on life.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say you were right.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. It¡¯s the only explanation that fits. You talk a big game for someone who tries his utmost to come across as a lout.¡± I raised my fingers as I listed my points. ¡°You speak about topics like purpose, destiny, and respect with a hint of personal experience. ¡°You hide a degree of sophistication beneath a thin veneer of social indecency.¡± I gave his naked torso a pointed look. ¡°Why does such a large disparity exist between your character and personal power?¡± ¡°And, what about you?¡± Paz rebutted, letting go of his pose. ¡°Why does one of the duli? have less knowledge about the [System] than dumb human children?¡± Oi. ¡°You speak about forming a party,¡± Paz said, ¡°for reasons best known to you. You sometimes use strange terms that I have trouble understanding. No one else in recent memory can boast of a fraction of your gifts. How do I reconcile these facts with the image you present of a young, unassuming elf?¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I promise you: the ¡®young, unassuming¡¯ part is not a ruse.¡± Paz regarded me with hungry eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t earned the right to be privy to your secrets, Damien. And, neither have you earned the same from me. Let¡¯s not pretend to be more transparent with each other than we are.¡± ¡°So, about the fight from yesterday . . .¡± ¡°I thought we agreed not to speak on that.¡± ¡°We never did,¡± I said with a winning smile. ¡°I can respect the fact that you feel strongly about some issues¡ªno matter how inane I consider them to be. What I cannot tolerate is your near assault on Nicola. That slip-up cannot go unaddressed.¡± Paz waved his hand in disinterest. ¡°I won¡¯t apologize for who I am, Damien. The only way to prevent a recurrence is to issue my death.¡± ¡°And, I would, should this ever reoccur.¡± ¡°You think you can kill me?¡± Paz snapped. ¡°You have a free resurrect to fuck around. And, find out.¡± We held each other¡¯s gaze. ¡°You actually mean it,¡± Paz said with awe in his voice. ¡°You wouldn''t succeed, of course, but that''s not a big deterrent. You care enough about the woman to try.¡± ¡°I care enough about the both of you,¡± I said, jutting my chin. ¡°The least I ask from you in return is some reciprocity. You have demons that you need to deal with, but so does everyone else. Keep that in mind, okay?¡± I allowed my words to sink in. ¡°And, who knows, if you earn my trust, I might just reveal my secrets sooner than you think.¡± Paz narrowed his eyes. ¡°Spar?¡± I asked because he would rather lose his fingers than concede my point. Paz nodded slowly. We spent the rest of the day hitting each other a little harder than necessary. Paz started smiling again at some point, mostly because I took the larger share of hits. He had a simple outlook on life: a belief that differences could be settled with the exchange of fists. A nagging thought plagued me, regardless. If I struggled this hard to deal with two clashing personalities, how the hell was I supposed to handle a party of ten? A problem for another day, surely. But, social interactions posed a bigger hurdle to an inept like me than any apocalypse . . . We returned to Skeelie on the morning of the seventh day. Our levels weren¡¯t anywhere close to the numbers we desired, but they would need to suffice. The Skeelien Labyrinth opened five hours before midnight, leaving us with barely enough time to shop, shower, and rest. Skeelie had morphed in the time we¡¯d been gone. Ribbons and people in fine livery brightened the streets, matching the pavilions set up in honor of the event. The number of street traders had also doubled in the interim. Everyone with a goose or pot to sell filled all corners of the streets. A three-day carnival had roared in our absence, with canopies extending beyond the city walls. Armored guards patrolled within and around the city¡ªan exercise in futility, considering the high volume of traffic. I glanced at the huge spire in the distance and then at my teammates who followed at a sedate pace. We looked downright haggard in comparison to the merry-goers and managed to draw a few disgusted looks¡ªthough most of that was because of me. I wasn¡¯t about to retire yet despite smelling like a swamp. Aside from the chore I¡¯d drawn, I also had a matter that needed addressing at the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. ¡°Meet up near twilight at The Naked Bard?¡± I offered. Nicola nodded. She had been put in charge of purchasing potions, an endeavor she had pegged at fifty pieces of silver. Paz had volunteered to secure food items with our leftover coin, leaving me with the job of selling loot or trading them for armor. Nicola gave Paz the evil eye. ¡°I better not see a lick of alcohol among your purchases.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t see a lick then,¡± Paz rebutted. ¡°I¡¯ll buy out the bar.¡± ¡°Why you¡ª¡± ¡°How much can you eat in a week anyway? But, no need to nag. I''ll stick to your list.¡± That was another thing I¡¯d learned. The Labyrinth opened for one hour at twilight and wouldn''t open again until three hours had passed. It meant that the final event of the Skeelien Festival lasted a total of five hours with one small problem: Time flowed differently within the Labyrinth. From the moment of the closing of the dungeon to its re-opening, all rankers would have been trapped inside for an entire week. Neither Paz nor Nicola understood the exact mechanics. But, a week in the dungeon equaled three hours in real-time. Just accept it, Paz had said with a small chuckle. But, wasn''t that some kind of [System] exploit? If grinding for one week in the Labyrinth cost no more than three hours on the clock, then the dungeons of Vizhima held the key to preparing for the apocalypse. It had to be an intentional gift on the [System]¡¯s part. But, as with all things, future problems were best reserved for later. I needed to survive my jaunt in the Labyrinth first. Only then would I decide my next few moves. We separated soon after. I strode down the winding streets and alleys of Skeelie until I located the general goods store¡ªthe same one that had welcomed me on my first day in the city. Liliana grinned at me from behind the counter, dressed again in a sleeveless shirt that showed off her biceps. ¡°You! How is it that you always arrive here looking as tattered as possible? I¡¯m not into that kink.¡± I rolled my eyes at the redhead. ¡°I¡¯m here to browse your wares. And, maybe sell some stuff if you are interested?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a pawn shop. Neither do I serve any longer as a fence for the Thieves. My goods are all legitimate.¡± ¡°Wait. What thieves?¡± Liliana simply winked. Ugh. I did not have time for this. ¡°Can you give a rough estimate of the worth of these items?¡± I dropped the bows onto the counter. Liliana studied them, then peered at my face. ¡°These are ranker-grade.¡± ¡°Both Common tier, yes.¡± ¡°You kill any of our people for these?¡± ¡°Uh . . . What if I said I found them in the wild?¡± Liliana snorted. ¡°Right. Ranker-grade items are always in demand, though I don¡¯t care enough to dabble in the trade. I can introduce you to a cousin who deals in armaments¡ª¡± ¡°Where is he located?¡± ¡°And, you best prepare your fine behind to spend the whole day haggling, because people with the Merchant class never pass up the chance to finagle a profit.¡± I didn¡¯t have a choice. ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances.¡± Liliana paused to regard me. She crossed her arms and leaned over the counter. ¡°You¡¯re challenging the Labyrinth, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s the reason you visited Skeelie?¡± ¡°Not really . . . but, yes. I intend to participate.¡± ¡°You know that half of the adventurers who go in there don¡¯t make it back alive?¡± ¡°You might have mentioned that the last time we spoke, yes.¡± ¡°So, why do it?¡± Because of the numbers. Because of a friend. Because the apocalypse was but one year away, and I was going to put that bastard Byron in his place if it was the last thing I did. Liliana¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it? You are the elf that got the adventurers in a tizzy. The one who smacked that idiot, Byron.¡± Eh? ¡°Word travels fast in the city, especially among us merchants.¡± She clapped her hands. ¡°Tell you what, Mr. Dark Elf¡ª¡± ¡°Damien.¡± ¡°Very well, Damien. I¡¯m going to take a gamble on you. Enter the Labyrinth. And, if you make it back alive, I¡¯d buy everything you find.¡± ¡°I thought you claimed you were no longer a fence.¡± ¡°Hey, nothing wrong with doing business. And, good business is business that brings all the right profits." She tapped the counter. "I¡¯ll be charging a small commission on the sales and placing real money on the dark horse everyone else overlooks. If you manage to knock down one of those ranker snobs in the process, I¡¯d consider it a win.¡± I mused over her words. Complex relationships were not my forte, thanks to my former life as a loner, yet even I could tell that she hid her true desire. What was it about the city¡¯s adventurers that bothered her so? Well, whatever. The other shopkeepers in the city simply slammed doors in my face. ¡°Deal. But, I still need to sell these bows. Or turn them in for fair pieces of armor.¡± ¡°My dear Damien,¡± Liliana said and puffed strands of red hair out of her face. ¡°If there¡¯s anything this shopkeeper is known for, it¡¯s that her business is almost always fair. Tell me what you¡¯re looking for. And, I will try to arrange a trade, no problem.¡± I sighed and plucked Nicola¡¯s list out of my inventory. I returned to the inn for a shower and a nap. This time they had no free rooms, considering the volume of guests. However, the innkeeper was kind enough to rent me a bath stall and a small mattress in the cellar for a few hours. I awoke after midday and changed into my stolen leather armor. Then, striking out into the city, I made for The Naked Bard tavern. The large traffic from earlier emptied out of the streets, flowing toward the spire down south for the night¡¯s main event. It left The Naked Bard devoid of patrons, save for my party and a single drunk snoring in the corner. The Adventurer¡¯s Guild was also barred at this hour, though if that was a result of the time or the day¡¯s festivities, I couldn¡¯t tell. It had been open when I¡¯d stopped by earlier to visit. Paz and Nicola looked up as I entered. They¡¯d both cleaned up and changed their clothes, though, in Paz¡¯s case, a wardrobe change meant a new pair of pants and rundown wooden sandals. No shirt, whatsoever. He tended to discard them anyway. Nicola sat in her most risqu¨¦ outfit yet: a see-through robe that revealed the suction cups she¡¯d placed over her unmentionables. She noticed my bulging eyes and turned away. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m going to need all the Eros I can get.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± I said and waved at a barmaid. ¡°I procured a cuirass and gauntlets for you with the sizes you ordered. Simple medium armor too for Paz.¡± I glanced at his footwear. "And, boots." ¡°It¡¯s all useless,¡± Paz moaned. ¡°We¡¯re better off showing up naked. We¡¯ll find better gear in the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°Well, until then, we shouldn¡¯t risk our lives. Your sorry ass also needed a polearm, so take this as a treat. You can thank me later.¡± Paz eyed the poleaxe that I presented him with disdain. ¡°Regular iron? This will shatter after the first few strikes on ranker-grade armor.¡± ¡°Still more expensive than anything you could afford.¡± The barmaid rushed over with three tankards of beer. ¡°So, one week in hell,¡± I said, grabbing a drink. ¡°We have three goals: Emerge alive, secure the dungeon egg, and ensure Byron never bothers us again . . . or anyone for that matter.¡± ¡°I propose a fourth goal,¡± Paz said, reaching for his tankard. ¡°We do all that while ensuring to have as much fun as possible.¡± I ignored him. ¡°To a week in hell,¡± Nicola said in an almost whisper. ¡°To a week in hell,¡± we repeated, making a toast. I downed the bittersweet drink and wiped the froth from my lips. Then, exchanging grim nods, Damien¡¯s Protection Party marched out of the tavern. 051 Dungeon Diver The Skeelien Labyrinth consisted of a flattened disk, formed out of the surrounding sand, with a depressed entrance connected to a short flight of stairs. The black spire¡ªits most imposing feature¡ªprotruded from the center of the disk and into the sky. It towered over the rest of the city and narrowed to a needlepoint that never stopped being distressing to look at. Space warped around the sharpened point in strange ways, visible even in the poor light of night. A large crowd occupied the stone steps and balconies that framed most of the houses in the piazza. It created an image akin to an amphitheater. Bright-eyed spectators cheered with loud voices, looking downright feral in the light of core-powered lamps. Loud drums thudded across the clearing, accompanied by the noisy blares of trumpets and flutes. A few children added their voices to the din, some of them mounted on the shoulders of exuberant guardians. Half the city had turned up for the spectacle, without worry about age, hour, or danger. Bargherian flags, complete with the insignia of the hound and the tree, fluttered on long poles across the clearing. Nicola nudged me in the ribs and gestured at a spot outside the tents reserved for participants. I followed her gaze to find a tall building, adorned with bright tapestries and intricate magic sigils. A small, colorful party watched the proceedings from the highest balcony in the building. Equally colorful guards occupied the stone steps beneath them. ¡°Bargherian royalty,¡± Nicola said with a sneer. ¡°The crown prince shows little interest in the gathering of peasants. But, the queen regent and the governor are both in attendance.¡± I swallowed past the lump in my throat. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I needed the extra pressure, Nicola.¡± ¡°You need that and more,¡± Paz said before Nicola could answer. He had changed into his new armor and stood with his poleaxe slung across his shoulder. ¡°Burn the image of those bastards into your sight. They are the insects we must crush underfoot in order to change the world.¡± Jeez, Paz . . . I started to say before a sudden eruption of flames interrupted my complaint. Ezin strode out of a tent on the other side of the disk and stopped with staff in hand at the entrance of the Labyrinth. His raven hair looked wilder than ever, and neither had he bothered to change into an outfit befitting his status. His long robes fluttered in the breeze behind him, split open across the middle to reveal chiseled abs and chest. What was a Mage even doing with muscles like those? I¡¯d been fighting since my arrival in Vizhima and hadn¡¯t gotten the slightest hint of muscle definition. Ezin raised a hand to quieten the crowd, and the cheers died soon after¡ªan eerie scene to watch. A restless energy replaced the once unbearable din in the piazza, but Ezin directed it masterfully, heightening the crowd¡¯s expectations with slow, languid motions. He lifted a device to his mouth, some kind of magical loudspeaker, and spoke into the silence for all to hear. ¡°Your Grace,¡± he said, bowing toward the royal party. ¡°Your Lordship. If you would both permit me?¡± The queen regent waved a blue handkerchief. I couldn¡¯t get a good look at her from my spot in the tent, but she cut the picture of a delicate lady dressed in voluminous yet majestic attire. The governor¡ªa balding man, judging by the way his head glowed from across the balcony¡ªclapped from his seat beside the queen regent. He oversaw the administrative affairs within the city. Yet, next to his liege, he looked like nothing more than a farmhand. Ezin rose from his bow. ¡°To the good people of Skeelie, I offer my humble greetings. And, to our esteemed guests from far and near, I say, welcome and well met! The sun has turned three cycles since the last event, but here we gather again in celebration of life and adventure. You may cheer¡ª¡± The crowd erupted. Ezin let them have their bit, and then he raised a hand, calling for silence. ¡°You have had the entire week to enjoy the festivities, but the finale is now upon us. As is tradition, each Dungeon Festival ends with a Labyrinth incursion where the bravest and boldest may participate to recover the dungeon egg. This challenge lasts three hours in our world and a week for all who enter.¡± He nodded at the tents containing the challengers. ¡°Once the three hours are up, the Labyrinth opens for a final time. Your goal as a participant is to secure the Egg of the Labyrinth. Failing that, you must locate one of a handful of exits within one hour of the portal¡¯s reopening.¡± I mused over his words. That sounded easy enough. Ezin continued, ¡°This hour isn¡¯t subject to time dilation. The dungeon informs you the instant it occurs. Anyone who fails to escape before the deadline shall get buried in the dungeon, never to be seen again.¡± A shiver crawled up my spine at that. The city might have made a jamboree out of the entire affair, but a very real threat of danger hung over the dungeon divers. Nicola¡¯s clammy hand closed around my own. I turned to offer her the slightest of smiles only to realize she hadn¡¯t held me in a bid to offer comfort. She was shivering too. ¡°Give the threat of death,¡± Ezin said, ¡°the seriousness it deserves. No one has managed to locate the dungeon egg in the nine years since the Labyrinth¡¯s reemergence. And, half the classers who venture within fail to return. We hope, this time, that our participants will be victorious¡ª¡± The crowd interrupted him, louder and more feverish than ever before. The tall spire had lighted up as Ezin spoke, going from matte black to a pale, translucent blue. Ezin didn¡¯t bother to stifle the crowd and barked instead at an aide about misjudging the portal¡¯s opening. The crowd kept cheering. Now that the Labyrinth had opened, they wouldn''t be stopped. But, there within the tents, a silence descended over the rankers. I tightened my grip around Nicola¡¯s hand and swiped past the [Scaredy-cat] notification. Why were the cityfolk treating this like a bloody spectacle? Did they honestly not care that real lives were at stake? ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s too late,¡± I murmured, ¡°to back out of contesting.¡± Paz slapped my shoulder and laughed. ¡°You¡¯re the one who put our name on the Oath Board, not me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made my peace with this,¡± Nicola said, more to herself than us. ¡°I¡¯m just sorry that I couldn¡¯t tell my brothers.¡± ¡°Silence, please,¡± Ezin said, struggling to wrangle control of the proceedings. ¡°The Labyrinth is now open for entry. A total of one hundred and sixty adventurers, split into forty-one parties, had communicated their intent to compete. ¡°Of that number, only one hundred and forty-four adventurers have arrived at this venue. These thirty-seven parties will be invited up to the Labyrinth in the order by which they registered. Without further ado . . .¡± He waved toward the contestants. ¡°Glamring!¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Mathideus emerged from a tent beside ours, wearing gem-studded armor that glittered in the lamplight. His long, blonde hair fanned out behind him, sporting a brilliant sheen. The three men who made up his party strode after him, decked out in hair and armor as immaculate as his. One of them wore his brown hair even longer than Mathideus, while another bore a full head of slightly spiked curls. The third was the goofball I remembered with the purple perm. Where had they found the time to revisit their stylists amid the chaos? The spectators exploded with fervor at the mere mention of their name, proving Glamring¡¯s popularity despite their wardrobe. I liked Mathideus. I would cheer if I could, but something Ezin had said lingered in my mind. Of the 41 initial parties, only 37 remained. Three of those had likely been killed in fights with other rankers, but one of those parties had been obliterated by us. Four parties. Sixteen adventurers dead. And, somehow, my party was responsible for a quarter of the kills. Glamring walked up to the stairs that descended into the dungeon. Two guild officials appeared from the sidelines and requested their badges. They performed the same action I had witnessed Ben do from back at the gates. A series of large infoboxes unraveled above the rankers, revealing their levels. Level 25 for Mathideus. Level 21 for the man with the perm. And, levels 23 and 24 for spiky hair and long-long. ¡°Why do the guild officials need to inspect their levels?¡± I asked my teammates. ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Labyrinth automatically bar entry to anyone beyond level twenty-five?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the gamblers,¡± Paz said. ¡°The stronger the party, the lower the odds. The Merchant Guild has bookkeepers settled all over the place.¡± My stomach tossed. ¡°Ezin permits this?¡± ¡°Believe it or not, Damien, all guilds are united in their need to turn a profit. The merchants ensure that the Adventurers get a cut, and the city levies taxes on all bets placed.¡± He scratched his chin. ¡°Of course, levels alone aren¡¯t enough to help anyone make informed guesses on the outcome of a dungeon run. An underground market exists for the sole purpose of selling information on rankers . . . without the guild¡¯s endorsement, of course.¡± Ah. So, that¡¯s what Liliana had meant by calling me a dark horse. She actually intended to put money on me. If any of the members of Glamring were bothered by the activity, they didn¡¯t give voice to it. They strode down the stairs that led to the dungeon and vanished from sight. The blue spire intensified briefly with their disappearance, then returned to its formerly pale hue. ¡°Pay attention to the way the portal works,¡± Paz said. ¡°It looks like a single entrance, but no two parties start the dungeon run at the same place. The starting area is huge enough that the Labyrinth scatters parties in it at random.¡± Nicola narrowed her eyes. ¡°Am I missing something? How is it that you are well-versed in dungeon lore?¡± Paz stared wistfully at the spire. ¡°I almost wish I wasn¡¯t.¡± A group of three, dark-skinned men¡ªone of whom I vaguely recognized from my first night at The Naked Bard¡ªwere next to be summoned. I¡¯d missed their party name, but all three seemed related, judging by the lines of chalk marking their arms and the way they wore their hair in tight, black locs. The infoboxes revealed their levels as 19, 18, and 19. Pretty even, but nowhere near Glamring in power. The breath misted out of my nose. A familiar chill settled into my bones, causing my lungs to constrict in turn. I spun with wide eyes, in time to see Byron striding into our tent. The surrounding rankers shied away from his presence, leaving him to walk unopposed up to me. Beelith and the two casters sneered from behind him, decked in better gear than the last time we¡¯d met. ¡°I had hoped,¡± Byron said, stopping in front of my face, ¡°that you would be bold enough to follow through on your boast. But, I never expected you to do so. The hubris of the elves knows no limits.¡± ¡°Oh, for the love of . . .¡± Paz said, interspersing himself between Byron and me. ¡°What kind of quick shot are you that you can¡¯t wait to blow your load inside the dungeon?¡± Byron¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Move.¡± ¡°Or what?¡± Paz asked, bringing his impressive height to bear against the shorter Byron. He got in the man¡¯s face and grinned for all he was worth. ¡°Paz,¡± Nicola warned. ¡°Fights aren¡¯t allowed in the tents.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to fight him, Nicola,¡± Paz said. ¡°I¡¯ll only perform cosmetic surgery.¡± Nicola sighed, but her eyes betrayed her intent. They settled on Byron with enough malice to show that she was just as eager to start slinging spells. I placed a hand on each of my teammates¡¯ shoulders before the situation could devolve. ¡°Ignore him. He¡¯s just trying to bait us.¡± Byron smirked. ¡°Some common sense finally peeks through all that bravado.¡± ¡°We promised to finish this in the dungeon, Byron, and we will.¡± ¡°The same way you finished Team Amaranth, huh?¡± The hairs rose on the back of my neck. ¡°A Dark Elf wandered into the guild today,¡± Byron said to the hearing of everyone inside the tent, ¡°with an item he claimed to have found in the wild. It was a bloodied locket, taken off the corpse of a member of Team Amaranth¡ªfor delivery to his widow and estate.¡± My teammates stiffened, but they refrained from glancing at me. They knew that I had divested the Guardian of what was likely his most prized possession, but they hadn¡¯t been informed about its submission to the guild. ¡°You killed them, didn¡¯t you?¡± Byron said with words I¡¯d expected him to say. ¡°You thought to eliminate the competition before the festival even began. How did it feel to pull a knife on unsuspecting comrades? Just another day in the life of an elf?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t kill them,¡± Paz interjected with near-perfect ease. ¡°Dreadwood harbors enough threats to ruin anyone¡¯s day without counting other rankers. You¡¯re telling me you¡¯ve never seen a corpse in the wild?¡± He shrugged his shoulders and tightened his grip on his poleaxe. ¡°What did you want us to do? Pretend like we didn¡¯t see them?¡± ¡°What a stupid point to make,¡± Nicola said, leaping to my defense. She realized as Paz did, the danger of admitting to the accusation. ¡°You can¡¯t honestly be trying to make us look bad for an act of mercy.¡± A lump rose in my throat. My teammates had done the smart thing to lie in my defense, but they wouldn¡¯t have needed to do so had I just ignored the dead man crying on the ground. Byron, for his part, kept his gaze solely on me. ¡°I wanted to believe that. But, Team Amaranth is one of the most beloved parties here in Skeelie. It would take an outsider who knows nothing about our ways to do them in.¡± His face parted in a leer. ¡°And, which outsider is more vicious than the one who attacked me in the middle of the guild? The same one who found the corpse.¡± ¡°Byron,¡± Nicola snarled. But, Byron had said his piece, and a heavy silence followed his accusation. He hadn¡¯t come here to shit talk. He had arrived with a plan to paint targets on our backs. And, judging by the suspicious gazes of other rankers, he had succeeded. Suddenly, the chance meeting back at Dreadwood made a truckload of sense. How much of our fight with Team Amaranth had been down to coincidence? Byron had certainly been listening for news if he knew about the locket. Had he sent parties after us in the first place? ¡°Your words make no sense,¡± I stammered. But, the damage had been done. Every potential ally in the tents now had good reason to be wary of us. If word got around that we were party killers, encounters with other rankers could turn outright hostile. We would be isolated from aid . . . until we ran into Red Wyrm, making us easier pickings than we already were. And, all of it was my fault. Red Wyrm took their leave, walking back the way they came. Beelith threw a final look over her shoulder, lips straining with the urge to cackle. Paz steered me away. ¡°Come.¡± ¡°Not now, Paz.¡± ¡°We have been summoned.¡± True enough, Ezin called into his loudspeaker. ¡°Damien¡¯s Protection Party? Damien?¡± Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, guys,¡± I mumbled to my teammates. ¡°I didn¡¯t think this would happen. I just assumed their family would want to know that they hadn¡¯t gone missing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind for your good,¡± Nicola said with a sigh. ¡°But, I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way. Just be sure to inform us the next time you intend to try something like this, to avoid our being blindsided.¡± Paz laughed as he pushed us out of the tent. ¡°What''s there to worry about? The other parties were always the competition. Now, they can drop all pretense and give us reasons to kill them.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± I said. ¡°Oh, Byron¡¯s going to regret this one,¡± Paz said, waving to the tumultuous crowd. ¡°We¡¯ll level up on the corpses of all takers. And then, when we finally meet, we¡¯d bash his ugly face in.¡± 052 Chimeras As expected, the spectators loved Nicola. Rose petals and wolf whistles bombarded us as we made our way past a gloomy Ezin to the entrance of the Labyrinth. The adulation diminished somewhat on the revelation of our levels. Numbers this low didn¡¯t fill the gamblers with confidence. But, the bookies could shove their odds up their asses for all I cared. Our lives were worth more than a handful of silver. Nicola swayed drunkenly on her feet and steadied herself on my sleeve. A goofy grin stretched across her lips. ¡°Dragon¡¯s breath, that was exhilarating. I¡¯ve not felt a rush of Eros like that in ages. Not even when I use John.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s John?¡± I asked. She eeped and ducked beneath her hat. Nicola¡¯s antics aside, we had a dungeon to explore. I exchanged grim nods with my teammates. And then, without further deliberation, we crossed the stone steps into the dark chasm of a doorway that waited at the bottom. The lights and sounds of the arena blended into mulch. For one brief second, a pyramid of blue screens filled my vision. And then, it was gone. Replaced by utter darkness. I awoke to the stench of blood. An ancient dungeon definitely wouldn¡¯t smell like wildflowers. But, the place as a whole could use a little sanitation. Paz laughed when I mentioned my observation. ¡°The dungeon respawns,¡± he said, ¡°in pristine condition each time. The scent of blood is intentional. It¡¯s meant to unnerve us.¡± We¡¯d been transported to a narrow cell with high walls spaced out at even intervals about two meters across. A single wooden door occupied one wall, sporting a nondescript handle in surprisingly good condition. Ambient pink lighting suffused the room, emanating from an undetectable source. Paz had called this cell a starting point; one of many reserved for groups of invaders. It also functioned akin to a safe room. One could avoid traps and monster attacks so long as they remained within them. Sadly, despite the appeal of such a strategy, the exit portals that spawned a week after the dungeon¡¯s opening did so closer to the center of the Labyrinth¡ªmany kilometers away from the starting points. The dungeon expected us to be proactive about our survival. Dallying here did nothing but cost rankers precious time in covered distance. ¡°Let¡¯s review our plan,¡± I said. ¡°Paz?¡± The redhead leaned against a wall. ¡°We have two options. The first and more common strategy involves taking our time on the fringes of the Labyrinth. The creatures who spawn around these parts are usually of a moderate level. ¡°After we have farmed long enough, and around the halfway mark, we make a push toward the center of the Labyrinth. Don''t bother with finding the dungeon heart. The goal of this strategy is to locate an exit point and escape with accrued rewards. Perfectly sensible for any novice party.¡± ¡°But we aren¡¯t doing that,¡± Nicola said with iron in her voice. She had donned a leather cuirass over her see-through robes and a pair of long gauntlets to protect her arms. ¡°Aye,¡± Paz said. ¡°We aren¡¯t. It might seem safer to spend more time fighting weaker monsters, but the real gains are found deeper within the Labyrinth. Byron might also expect us to employ the first tactic. If he starts his search from the moment he appears, we would be too low-level to handle him by the time he finds us.¡± ¡°Making our options severely limited.¡± I hummed into my fist. ¡°Death by Byron or death by strong monsters. Though, if I may add, the chance exists that Byron could prioritize retrieving the dungeon egg over dealing with us. He could make a push for the center, knowing that we¡¯d inevitably follow.¡± Paz shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t predict with certainty what course of action Byron would take. But, knowing that wanker, he¡¯d try to settle grudges first. I expect him to spend his first day in the Labyrinth on our tail. We¡¯d do well to stay a step ahead.¡± The power of pettiness, huh? It certainly fit Byron. But, wasn¡¯t the Labyrinth too vast to rubbish that notion? Byron should have a hard time tracking us within the Labyrinth. Then again, Paz had warned that dungeons intentionally funneled rankers toward each other. I battled a sigh. ¡°I still think we could use some time to grind. We shouldn¡¯t risk the deeper sections until we¡¯re sure we can hold our own.¡± ¡°What about the middle regions?¡± Nicola asked. ¡°That much should be doable for our levels.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°My proposal was pretty much the same,¡± Paz said. ¡°Either way you look at it, we shouldn¡¯t waste time battling weak monsters.¡± I forced the door open. A wide corridor sprawled beyond the cell, glowing with the same lurid light that permeated every corner of the dungeon. Strange markings riddled the walls, shining a bluish hue even in the poor lighting. Math symbols, I realized¡ªaccompanied by the odd quadratic equation. Something else occupied the corridor, however, demanding my immediate attention. A large shape had been alerted by our emergence from the safe room, and it scuttled toward us at an alarming pace. Its large maw gibbered as it approached, much like the hammering of a sewing machine. I managed to make out pincers and a full row of sharpened teeth before I shouted a tactical command. Nicola moved first. Her [Summon Tentacle] spell surged from the ground, stopping the monster in its tracks. Paz and I pounced on the immobile creature and shredded its health. Corpse of Wolf Crab Chimera LVL 13. ¡°Wolf Crab?¡± I asked. ¡°What part of this looks like a wolf?¡± The top part of the creature resembled a meerkat more than anything else, stuck on the body of a crab. ¡°These guys are easy to deal with,¡± Paz said. ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡± I looted the corpse. It dropped a Common monster core and a single Wolf Crab Pincer for my trouble. We continued forward at a blitzing pace, killing every monster we encountered. The area swelled to the brim with Wolf Crabs, which thankfully didn¡¯t operate in packs. The corridor ran long and narrow without any turns, removing any chances of surprises. After the first three kills, Nicola conserved her MP, leaving Paz and I to tear through the monsters. We eventually arrived at the first bend in our path¡ªa sharp right in the corridor which took us to another turn, and then another again. A horse charged out of the fourth bend. Or, at least, a monster that would have been a horse if red-hot flames didn¡¯t spout from its nostrils. Paz caught its heavy hoof on the shaft of his poleaxe and missed the snake that coiled out of its rear. ¡°Look out!¡± I dashed past him and swung my dagger, bifurcating the lunging creature before it could strike. Dark blood sprayed from the beheaded snake and doused my hand. Pain unimaginable surged up my arm. The horse body attacked again only to meet its end at the tip of Paz¡¯s axe. ¡°Poisonous blood?¡± Nicola asked as I puffed on my hand which had been saved from true damage by health armor. I blinked away the tears and checked the upper corner of my vision. No Poisoned status. ¡°Not poisonous,¡± Paz said. ¡°Acidic. Some chimeras have blood that can boil the flesh. We should be careful.¡± He stomped the horse, crushing its head beneath his boot. I investigated the monster. Corpse of Horse Snake Chimera LVL 13. ¡°So,¡± I said, ¡°every monster here is a fusion of two animals?¡± ¡°Or three. Or four,¡± Paz said. ¡°Any reason why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Damien. It¡¯s a dungeon. Maybe it has to maintain a theme?¡± The butchered horse bled at our feet with its snake tail missing its head. Something about the gray scales on the latter unnerved me, and I sought out the decapitated head to check its mouth. ¡°We probably don¡¯t want to get bitten by one of these,¡± I said, turning the snake¡¯s head over. ¡°It¡¯s a black mamba.¡± Paz and Nicola exchanged confused looks. ¡°What¡¯s a black mamba?¡± Ugh. ¡°Never mind . . .¡± The Horse Snake Chimera proved to be a more vicious foe than the wolf crab. With the latter, we only needed to worry about pincers and teeth. The Horse Snake, however, galloped down the corridors at a blistering pace, attacking with hooves and fury and flames. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, the snake tail had a mind of its own, enhancing the monster¡¯s reach in melee with a series of dizzying strikes. We killed two more Horse Snakes, careful of the blood this time, and arrived at a T-junction that halted our progress. Nicola cursed beneath her hat. ¡°Crap. I¡¯d forgotten that a labyrinth actually meant a maze.¡± Paz grunted. ¡°Let¡¯s just pick a direction at random.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± I said. ¡°There¡¯s an inscription on the wall.¡± Large letters hung near the ceiling, causing a break in the scribbles of math. I¡¯d have missed them were it not for my enhanced sight, which seemed an odd placement, considering the message they conveyed. Welcome to the Labyrinth, trespasser. Seek ye the treasure that lies at the center of the dungeon. Find despair. ¡°Ominous,¡± Nicola said after I''d recited the text. ¡°Choose and be done with,¡± Paz said. ¡°We''ll encounter many more branching paths.¡± I stared hard at the words, unable to peel my eyes. The inhabitants of Vizhima considered dungeons to be natural features, much like the [System], mountains, and lakes. But, there was more to dungeons than that. Someone had created them, hadn¡¯t they? And, seeing as Vizhimans didn¡¯t believe in actual gods, who then had done it? The Heralds? It would explain the cheesy inscription, at least. I studied my [Map]. ¡°The dungeon egg sits at the center of the Labyrinth, yeah?¡± The [Map] skill couldn¡¯t see beyond a few meters, however, it remained the best option for navigating the Labyrinth. A maze of branching pathways filled the map, obscured by a fog that hampered effective distance. ¡°What direction are we traveling in now?¡± Nicola asked, catching on to my use of the skill. ¡°Westward,¡± I said. ¡°But, there¡¯s no way to tell for certain if we are headed in the right direction.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll argue we are. The Labyrinth led us to this point, after all.¡± ¡°Storms and blood,¡± Paz said, tugging at his hair. ¡°This isn''t worth the deliberation. Just choose a path.¡± ¡°Westward it is, then,¡± I said, picking the path on the left. My teammates followed after me. A soft click reached my ears as Nicola walked past a tile. Spears shot out of a wall toward her with the roar of sonic booms. 053 Routes and Choices Paz pushed Nicola out of the way. The spears riddled him, punching large holes in his body. Blood splattered the floor and sprayed onto the wall. Despite the brutal trauma, Paz didn¡¯t keel over. Not immediately, at least. He wavered as his health meter zeroed out. And then, he fell. First to his knees, then to his face. Blood dribbled out of his mouth. ¡°Um, you alright, big guy?¡± I asked. Paz didn¡¯t answer. Nicola clasped her hands over her mouth. ¡°This is all my fault.¡± ¡°Nah, don¡¯t sweat it. Paz should have his rez off cooldown. And, better him than you, really. You don''t have effective immortality.¡± I inspected the tile she¡¯d stepped on. I wasn¡¯t sure, but I¡¯d probably walked across the same spot without triggering the trap. A consequence of the racial perk that all elves were blessed with? Maybe . . . But, there could also be more to it than that. Casters were notoriously slower than other classes, which made them good targets for all kinds of traps. If other traps in the Labyrinth could deal as much damage as this one, we needed to figure out a way to deactivate them for the sake of our quality of life. ¡°Ow, my head,¡± Paz said, rolling to a sitting position. His flesh knitted as he spoke, regrowing organs that had been harmed in the assault. A spear that had been lodged in his chest tumbled to the ground. ¡°That was so not fun.¡± ¡°Oh, you big dolt,¡± Nicola said and pulled him into a hug. Paz glanced at me, at a loss for what to do. I shrugged in return. ¡°So much for regular armor,¡± Paz said, clucking his tongue at his mangled cuirass. ¡°I told you that it was ranker-grade or nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure anything could have survived that,¡± I countered. ¡°Except, maybe, a bullion van.¡± ¡°There you go with odd words again,¡± Paz said and peeled Nicola off his body. He unclasped his cuirass, letting it crash to the ground. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to die, mind you. I was hoping my new skill would protect me. Good to know that it¡¯s not infallible.¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s the technique you got for reaching level fifteen, huh? What is it again?¡± ¡°[Deflect Missile].¡± Paz rose to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s a passive skill that slows projectile attacks within my vicinity. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s not strong enough to deflect anything above a certain size, but I¡¯ll get the hang of it soon, for sure.¡± That sounded useful. ¡°What happens when you deflect a projectile?¡± Paz leered. ¡°I return it in a chosen direction for two times the damage.¡± Nice. With such an ability, we could employ him as a trump card against Rangers. ¡°How does it feel?¡± Nicola piped up. ¡°Dying, that is.¡± Paz furrowed his eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on the other side if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. [Sanguine Return] keeps me in the mortal coil.¡± ¡°So, a kind of limbo? You can¡¯t confirm if an afterlife exists?¡± ¡°Even if it did, I don¡¯t plan to visit, Nicola. This lifetime is more than enough.¡± I inspected the wall trap, more to take my mind off their discussion than anything else. My version of the afterlife featured a pyramid and a bunch of fiery monsters. I wasn¡¯t sure the same held for all Vizhimans. Paz followed my gaze. ¡°Yeah. A Trickster would have been a great addition to our party, especially one equipped with [Trap Expert] or [Danger Sense] skills.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way then,¡± I said, ¡°with Nicola bringing up the rear. Between my elven perks and your [Deflect Missile] skill, we should be able to manage.¡± ¡°Works for me.¡± We resumed our advance, albeit at a less punishing pace. [Map] proved invaluable in helping us maintain a cardinal direction. It led us through winding turns and past attacking chimeras, which we butchered, though gained little XP from by dint of three-way sharing. Paz urged us forward until our stamina meters bottomed out. We downed some potions, ate, and continued again. True enough, time flowed differently for everyone within the Labyrinth. Despite the long hours spent navigating the corridors, the spirit orb timer didn¡¯t advance by more than a few minutes. Where had this exploit been all my life? But, I would worry about that once I caught my breath. It took every ounce of my attention to keep a lookout for traps while also dealing with [Map] and ambushes from chimeras. In what seemed to be about twenty hours since our arrival in the dungeon, we finally found a second safe room. All three of us collapsed inside, barely able to stand. ¡°Four hours to meditate,¡± I moaned. ¡°Or we die.¡± ¡°You mean sleep, right?¡± Nicola said, curling into a ball. ¡°I¡¯m not going to return to a hundred percent with mere [Meditation].¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Paz simply snored. I turned over on my back and studied the safe room. It glowed with the same ambient pink lighting that suffused all of the Labyrinth. Strange images covered the ceiling, carved in the stone, much like the murals I¡¯d seen back at the abandoned mausoleum. The images depicted a variety of scenes, of builders going about their activities. Lumberjacks felled trees in a forest and ferried the logs across a broad river. They erected some kind of structure¡ªa house or a barn, I wasn¡¯t sure which. A taskmaster oversaw the proceedings, though the images blurred at this point, proving too difficult to decipher . . . I awoke to Nicola shaking me vigorously. ¡°Damien,¡± she hissed. ¡°We¡¯ve got company.¡± I forced my eyes to stay open. Across from us, with their backs to the exit, a new party stood in the safe room. All four of them looked just as tired as we did a few hours ago and twice as angry. The only woman in their party limped on one foot, bleeding profusely from the other. Paz faced them with crossed arms, a sneer on his lips. ¡°This room¡¯s taken,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a safe room,¡± the leader of the opposing party¡ªa young man in steel armor¡ªreplied. ¡°Surely, we can share without any problems.¡± ¡°It¡¯s taken.¡± The leader furrowed his brows. ¡°Look, man. I try to avoid altercations with fellow adventurers when I can, but you can¡¯t in good faith expect me to concede. In case you haven¡¯t noticed, the hallways are full of monsters. My party needs a breather.¡± I butted in before Paz could say the first rude thought that jumped into his mouth. My use of [Identify] had put each of the newcomers at levels above 18. We could take them if it boiled down to a fight, but I wouldn''t be the aggressor. ¡°Hey,¡± I said. ¡°I won¡¯t deny other rankers a chance to rest. But, I¡¯m not sure I feel safe sharing a room with you. Why don¡¯t we go about this with some civility?¡± The limping woman frowned the moment I spoke and whispered to her teammates. ¡°It¡¯s him. The Dark Elf. The one who attacked Byron.¡± I can hear you, lady. ¡°The party killers?¡± their steel-clad leader said, not even bothering to lower his voice. ¡°Yes,¡± Paz said with a grin. ¡°No,¡± I spat and glared at Paz. ¡°Byron lied.¡± The other party fell silent. However, the tension in their shoulders remained. This could get ugly¡ª ¡°He¡¯s telling the truth,¡± Nicola said, striding forward to join me. ¡°I remember your faces. I¡¯ve seen you around the guild. You might have heard of me in turn.¡± The leader of the other party stiffened. ¡°You¡¯re the carnal sister. The one who traveled with Ben.¡± ¡°And, I might be known for many things, but violence has never been on the table.¡± She extended her hand. ¡°Peace?¡± The man spent a moment in consideration, then accepted the handshake. ¡°Peace. I¡¯m not a big fan of Byron anyway. As long as we share the room equally and stay in our respective corners, there¡¯d be no hostility from us.¡± I stepped on Paz¡¯s foot before he could answer. ¡°That sounds good, yes.¡± ¡°Though I must warn you,¡± the man said. ¡°Many adventurers actively try to avoid getting on Red Wyrm¡¯s bad side. Don¡¯t expect a lot of help from the parties you meet.¡± He paused, as if reluctant to add. ¡°We caught sight of Byron a few hours ago, for that matter. His party had just cleared a boss¡¯ room by the looks of it. We traveled as fast as we could in the opposite direction, though I could not tell which way they headed. Consider this a tip.¡± Oh, wow. I hadn¡¯t rested enough to refill my renewables, but assuming Paz was correct about the Labyrinth funneling rankers toward each other, hanging around the same vicinity as Byron was akin to suicide. Byron probably didn''t need to use the safe rooms in this region. But, we definitely did. And, if he knew that . . . ¡°Let¡¯s move out, people,¡± I said to my team, paying no heed to the other party. Nicola caught on as we reentered the corridors. ¡°You think Byron¡¯s searching the safe rooms?¡± ¡°Dunno, but I would do so in his shoes.¡± I glanced at my other teammate. ¡°Is it possible to differentiate between safe rooms and monster lairs? ¡°Usually so,¡± Paz answered. ¡°But, I have heard of mimics that lure unsuspecting rankers in.¡± A dark shape barreled out of a corner. We obliterated it before it got a chance to strike. ¡°Left, then right,¡± I said, studying the [Map]. ¡°Left again.¡± We ran down the passageways, reducing the monsters that occupied them to bloody matter. I kept an eye on the miniature layout and missed the chasm that I would have tumbled headfirst into had Paz not grabbed the back of my shirt. ¡°Whoa,¡± I said as he tossed me away from the edge of the drop. ¡°Another trap?¡± ¡°Aye,¡± Paz said. ¡°But, this one seems to have been triggered by someone else.¡± I stared into the dark chasm and tried not to think of a preceding party falling to their doom. I failed. ¡°I can¡¯t cross this,¡± Nicola said, eyeing the divide. It stretched from one side of the wall to the other, about ten meters long. ¡°Same,¡± Paz said. ¡°You¡¯d need [Levitation] to pull it off, or the highest tiers of Strength or Dexterity.¡± Clean wind howled up from the chasm, hinting at a cavern below. I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to kick a stone into the drop for fear of rousing whatever slumbered within. With no other choice left to us, we turned back the way we came. My heart thumped wildly in my chest all through as I imagined Byron bursting out of the next corner. After a few grueling hours¡ªduring which I drained most of my stamina¡ªwe ran into the umpteenth dead end. Unlike the others, however, this one bore a double door, no different from a tavern¡¯s, and an inscription: For those without fear. ¡°Do they mean the affinity,¡± I wheezed, ¡°or the regular emotion?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t know without entering,¡± Paz said. ¡°This is a boss monster¡¯s lair.¡± Nicola crouched over her knees in a bid to regain her breath. She had even less stamina than I did which was another issue we needed to manage. It would suck for our biggest damage dealer to run out of gas before we even got into a fight. ¡°Potion break,¡± I called, reaching into my inventory for a vial of brilliant green. ¡°We¡¯ll take a breather and find some other way around. The last thing we want is to get stuck here. Not with Byron lurking nearby.¡± The boss¡¯ room emitted a hideous aura that, although similar to mine, failed to trigger [Dismay]. I studied the huge double doors as I waited for the potion¡¯s effects to kick in, noting a reoccurrence of the images from before. Where before the paintings had only depicted human builders. This time, it showed a panoply of strange animals trooping toward an underground cavern. It was a scene eerily similar to the flood myths from Earth, except there was no flood, and the cavern seemed manmade, just like . . . Hold on. Did this mean that an ancient civilization constructed the Labyrinth? ¡°This boss¡¯ room blocks the path,¡± Paz said, touching the door. ¡°Obviously,¡± I replied, surfacing from the pool of my thoughts. ¡°No. I mean, it¡¯s not a dead-end.¡± Paz gestured at an insignia on the door. ¡°This is a corridor, guarded by a Way-keeping Boss¡ªone of the special kinds in the dungeon. We¡¯ll be able to continue onward to the other side after beating the monster.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not fighting a special boss,¡± I started to say before Paz kicked open the double doors. Walls sprouted on both sides of our party, slamming into the ceiling. A purple mist rolled out from within the room. Sequestered far within the dark, a pair of inhuman eyes opened above us. They glowed red. 054 The Way Keeping Boss ¡°Are you crazy?¡± I yelled as the noxious mist wafted over our group. ¡°I am,¡± Paz said with crossed arms. ¡°And, you are not crazy enough. We¡¯re never going to beat Byron if you cower away from every chance for growth.¡± ¡°We are not ready!¡± ¡°And, we¡¯d never be if you don''t ditch that mindset.¡± Paz loosened his shoulders. ¡°Special bosses offer some of the best loot in the dungeon. I¡¯m not giving that up.¡± Ugh. He had a point. ¡°Fair enough," I said at length. "But, a warning would have been nice. Forcing us to fight while unprepared is practically suicide.¡± ¡°What do you need to prepare for? We¡¯re best served thinking on our feet.¡± ¡°Um, guys,¡± Nicola said, clasping a hand over her mouth. ¡°I think we¡¯ve been poisoned.¡± True enough, the Poisoned icon appeared in the upper right corner of my vision along with a [System] notification. My health meter slipped downward in tandem, by about two percent. ¡°I¡¯m also low on Eros,¡± Nicola continued with her voice taking on a frantic pitch. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to help as much as I should.¡± ¡°Well, do something about it,¡± Paz said. Nicola shot him a sour look. ¡°No, he¡¯s right,¡± I said, glancing at the pair of red eyes drawing closer to us. ¡°Empower yourself in any way you can. We¡¯ll need your Crimson Desire in full bloom. Soon.¡± The poisonous mist had thrown me off kilter, but we couldn''t afford to linger any further. Since the boss monster wasn¡¯t interested in rushing up to us, maybe we could chip away at its health from the doorway? ¡°Damien, don¡¯t look at me,¡± Nicola said, dropping her cuirass. Her suction cups peeked out from beneath her see-through robes. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that be the opposite?¡± I asked. ¡°I thought your ability works when bathed in multiple sources of lust.¡± ¡°Well, you make me feel self-conscious. I¡¯m a little more ashamed than I want to be.¡± She paused. ¡°I t-think it¡¯s w-working! I just got a small boost in power.¡± Her robes tumbled to the ground. ¡°Woah . . . You¡¯re not thinking of fighting in the nude, are you?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll keep her safe,¡± Paz said, leveling his poleaxe. ¡°Best get moving, Damien. We¡¯d die of [Poison] at this rate.¡± Nicola stepped out of her clothes, keeping her eyes hidden beneath her hat. I almost ordered her to clothe herself, but something about her trembling lips and the shiver in her legs told me that it wouldn''t be necessary. She enjoyed this. ¡°Use your regular tentacle attack,¡± I commanded. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can deal damage from outside the door.¡± Nicola acquiesced. A dim glow of light appeared within the room as a purple sigil marked her target area. The [Summon Tentacle] spell sprouted beneath the monster, then promptly disappeared. The red eyes narrowed. However, the monster didn¡¯t approach any faster. A health meter didn''t appear over its head either¡ªthe surest sign of damage. Drat. So, the demon boss stayed protected as long as the attacker remained outside the doorway. You couldn¡¯t offer me an exploit just this once, [System]? I grabbed Nana''s Dagger. ¡°Once you gather enough Eros, Nicola, start preparing your mega spell. We advance in three!¡± We dashed through the doors. Pink lighting lit up our surroundings, revealing a red and black checkered floor. The activation of the lighting seemed to trigger a subsequent closing of the doors. Noise from outside the room signaled the lowering of the walls. A guttural growl emanated from the boss monster as it finally charged to meet us. Its heavy footfalls landed with thuds that reverberated throughout the room. ¡°Oh, that is one powerful wanker,¡± Paz said. I had to agree. The monster closed the distance in that moment and reared its two front legs in a display of strength. Primal Horse Snake Chimera LVL 25. Oh, god. Not another one of these beasts. The primal horse snake stood twice as tall as I did, covered in a luxurious haircoat that bunched up across its chest. Four, powerful legs supported a horse-shaped body, which swelled with more muscles than Paz¡¯s did. A long, white mane flowed down its equine head, brightened by the flames that issued from its nostrils. However, none of those features scared me as much as the snake. It was always the snake. It rose from the horse¡¯s rear like a fell tail, hood opened in the universal sign of aggression. Poisonous mist spewed from its mouth, bathing the entirety of the room. The Primal Horse Snake Chimera took off at a full gallop toward us. Paz and I flowed forward, dispensing with needless words. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. A grey filter tainted my vision as I slipped from the real world into shadow cover. Paz intercepted the creature from the left, striking with the combined force of [Overpower] and [Draconic Drive]. I struck from out of the shadows on the right, winning shallow strikes in the monster¡¯s flank. Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. Nice. [STR] has improved from [Lesser] to [Common]. Your physical attacks now deal 2x base damage. You have gained 10% physical resistance. Contrary to its bulky appearance, the primal horse snake proved tremendously spry. It swung its hooves at Paz, nearly taking his head. Paz caught the subsequent strike on his poleaxe and winced as the shaft bent inward under the blow. The force threw him onto his back, and he rolled with it to redirect momentum. I materialized behind the monster and jammed my dagger up its hindquarters. The horse snake kicked backward¡ªa move I had mercifully anticipated. I didn¡¯t bother with blocking and flowed instead around the kick. My subsequent strikes raked with harsh intent across its tendons. The hooded snake swiped at me from out of nowhere, nearly scoring a bite. I scrambled for cover, right as an enormous sigil brightened the room. The monster wasn''t so lucky and took the [Bloom of Crimson Desire] to the face. The large tentacles battered it senseless and snapped around its midsection. True to Nicola¡¯s admission, her most damaging ability didn¡¯t land with as much power as it could. But, it would have to do. The Primal Horse Snake¡¯s health dipped by a little over ten percent. An impressive figure, nevertheless. Nicola could only manage three more blooms before she ran out of MP, and that included the mana stored on the magic ring. Paz and I needed to find a way to reduce the monster¡¯s health by about fifty percent between us. . . . all the while keeping an eye on our Poisoned status to avoid succumbing to it. ¡°Think fast, Paz,¡± I warned, as the horse snake fought free of the tentacles and galloped for the redhead. Paz danced around the monster, leaning into the benefits granted by his skills. He fought even better with a weapon than he did barehanded, and it showed in the ease with which he parried the monster¡¯s attacks. The horse snake¡¯s hooves landed with the force of cannons behind them, but Paz stayed one step ahead. His poleaxe scythed the air, scoring multiple hits on the monster¡¯s flank and belly. I emerged from out of [Stealth] on interval to add my damage to the mix. [Dual Wield] meant I could hit for twice the damage, while equipped with a dagger in my offhand. The monster neighed in frustration, torn between focusing on the slippery redhead or the shadowy elf who could hurt it just as bad. It wasted a few moments oscillating between the both of us and got blindsided multiple times for its troubles. Paz and I leaned into the benefits of [Draconic Aura], amped up on the extra speed, strength, and defense. We took advantage of the fact that we both had hands filled with working fingers¡ªa gap that the monster could never hope to close. Frustrated by its inability to connect a single blow, the horse snake reared its head and bathed Paz in a stream of liquid fire. It shaved a massive amount of HP from the redhead, but he managed to roll away before he could fully be burned. A second [Bloom of Crimson Desire] went off beneath the monster. The dungeon walls trembled from the force of the spell. I emerged from out of [Stealth] again to take advantage of the distraction, keeping clear of the monster''s powerful back kick. It bellowed beneath the viciousness of my strikes, then pivoted to kick at my face. The horse snake pounced around me in a dizzying series of jumps. Its strong hooves blurred for my head each time it did so. I avoided the attacks with as much grace as I could muster, then ducked horizontally as the tail snake dove for my neck. The reptile wasn''t having it and returned with amazing muscular control for a second go at victory. Its long fangs seconds sank into my thigh . . . only to eat air as the [Decoy] I¡¯d summoned vanished into nothingness. I struck the writhing serpent thrice from its blindspot and faded back into the shadows. ¡°Some cover, please!¡± Nicola said as the horse snake switched targets and barrelled for the backline. Paz intercepted the monster. His heavy swing connected with a blow that promised a world of hurt, but his poleaxe shrieked at impact, unable to tolerate the abuse. He straightened the weapon in preparation for a return swing and missed the tail snake lunging for his shoulder. That had to sting. Paz¡¯s eyes went white in his head¡ªthe only warning we got before he dropped like a sack of potatoes. The tail snake shook him for good measure, then tossed him aside. Paz remained immobile despite retaining a fair bit of HP. I turned away as the primal chimera trampled his skull, leaving me as the dodge tank until his Sanguine returned. For a brief second, the thought of going it alone suffocated my lungs. But, another magic sigil flared, ensnaring the monster in a bloom of tentacles for a third freaking time. Nicola yelled a few words of encouragement, and . . . goddammit, I couldn''t have chosen a better Mage for our party. She had always been a good shot right from the onset, but her timing on her spells had gotten even more impeccable. The attack brought the chimera¡¯s health to around twenty percent¡ªwhen had we even gotten that far? The wretched creature struggled against its bindings. But, I closed the distance in the interim. I could do this. I struck the tail snake across the snout, fearing no retaliation from the rest of the horse trapped in Nicola¡¯s tentacles. The snake tried to repel me but met the side of my dagger again and again until its entire health meter emptied. The Primal Horse Snake Chimera bellowed in pain and belched a river of flame onto the ground. The raging fire destroyed the persisting tentacles and promised to do the same to me if I didn¡¯t get the hell out of dodge. I shielded my face from the heat and gasped in horror as my tongue shriveled in my mouth. I needed to escape the fire . . . But, not before I aimed a final strike at the vicious snake which overextended in attack. Toxic blood splattered the ground as its vile head separated from the rest of its body. The primal monster screamed, a sound that came across as almost human in nature. Flames like searing torrents spewed out of its mouth. I rolled away to escape the heat and the smoke peeling at my eyes. Twin pinpricks blossomed on my chest. The severed snake head had leaped off the ground and, in my distraction, clamped its jaws around my torso. Oh, hell. The bite didn¡¯t pierce my skin due to the protection of health armor, but whatever it did to my HP affected me all the same. You have been envenomed by Primal Horse Snake Chimera. You have been Poisoned! You have been Dreadfully Poisoned! Health regen has reduced to zero. Stamina regen has reduced to zero. You have been afflicted with [Paralysis]! I tumbled face-first into the fire, limbs as heavy as lead. Nicola¡¯s screams accompanied the other voices in my head. It had been a good fight. But, all things came to an end. This was mine. 055 [System] Error [System] boxes hovered atop a pyramid, fading in and out of existence in rapid sequence¡ªfaster than a human eye could blink. A multitude of screens exploded into being in one second, only to vanish the next and be replaced by an even greater number. Many of the blue boxes glitched in place, creating visual phenomena that threatened to damage the eyes. A section of the boxes, suppressed by the others, glowed an ominous red. Caution signs dotted their surface. I hated this place. A quick turn of my formless body revealed that I had been transported to the Pyramid, with its red skies and blackened earth, ringed by Flame Guardians. The last time I¡¯d been here, I was trapped in the body of a mouthless homunculus. The last time . . . That wasn¡¯t the last, was it? ¡°Damien!¡± The [System] boxes changed. The section with the red caution signs encroached like spilled liquid on the rest of the display, until the blue screens¡ªover a billion of them¡ªglowed red with error messages. [System Error]. What did that even mean? [Multiple deviations detected]. [Access to Source disrupted]. [Preparing Termination . . .]. ¡°Damien!¡± I recognized that voice. An electrical surge rose from the center of the [System] boxes, cleansing them of their contamination. The red screens glitched out and minimized, receding to a section of the display. Blue boxes once again surrounded my vision, but the red had gained ground. Despite receding, they now occupied a larger portion than they had at the start. ¡°Damien!¡± This time, the electrical surge traveled across my chest. Water filled my lungs and nostrils, leaving me gasping for breath. The Pyramid collapsed around me. [System] screens dissipated into motes of light. A tear in reality parted the sky, replacing the atmosphere with a darkness equally as lurid. Oh, god. My head . . . I rolled over on my side and heaved blood¡ªnot water as I¡¯d thought¡ªonto the floor. Paz squatted beside me. ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living.¡± My health meter blinked¡ªso low, that a prick from a needle would suffice to empty it. The Blackreach Dagger pressed painfully against my pelvis. I¡¯d fallen atop it during the fight with the boss. My eyes sprang open at the memory. ¡°The boss¡ª!¡± ¡°Easy,¡± Paz said. ¡°Nicola and I took care of it.¡± ¡°Damien,¡± Nicola cried in her usual manner and wrapped her arms around me. ¡°We thought you were dead!¡± ¡°Stay away,¡± I groaned. Between my lightheadedness and her total nudity, I risked dying a second time. Nicola hugged me even closer. ¡°I thought you were done for. I was beside myself with worry. If we hadn¡¯t found the chest in time, you wouldn¡¯t have made it.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°What chest?¡± Paz held up an empty vial. ¡°Elixir of Cleansing. One of the items contained in the boss¡¯ chest over there. A single vial can cleanse debilitating status effects and improve health regen.¡± I mumbled my thanks. A memory niggled the back of my mind, of a fleeting dream with ominous ramifications. It had something to do with [System] screens. But, try as hard as I could, I couldn¡¯t remember what. Nicola and Paz watched me with worried expressions. I needed to speak up and allay their fears. ¡°Last I checked,¡± I mused, forcing my tongue to work, ¡°you both were poisoned too.¡± ¡°Nothing a Cure Ailments Potion couldn¡¯t handle,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Besides, the status condition stopped refreshing the instant the mist dispersed. You were the only one in need of urgent intervention.¡± That sucked to hear. Then again, I had been Dreadfully Poisoned. A white vial occupied one slot in my potion timer. Seeing as green was also taken, I could drink two more potions of a different type before succumbing to Potion Sickness. It had to be health and mana. Vital Points could wait. I signaled my teammates of my intent to rise, then cleared my throat at Nicola who looked at me in confusion. ¡°What?¡± she asked. ¡°Clothes!¡± I stammered, doing everything I could to look her in the face. ¡°Can you put on some clothes?¡± Nicola eeped and scrambled for her robes. Paz filled the silence. ¡°We got some nice loot from murder horse over there. A monster core, a bundle of Pure Horse Flax, and this!¡± He held up a piece of bone. ¡°It¡¯s a whistle that can charm a single Horse Snake.¡± ¡°If you like it that much,¡± I said, ¡°keep it and give the monster core to Nicola. She¡¯ll definitely appreciate it.¡± ¡°Already did! The flax is yours by the way.¡± He spirited the whistle into his inventory. ¡°Come take a look at the boss¡¯ chest. The real treasures lie therein.¡± The chest in question stood with its back to the wall in the middle of the corridor, unguarded by lock or key. A fully dressed Nicola joined us as Paz emptied its contents, revealing items that shouldn¡¯t have been able to fit. ¡°Oh, wow,¡± I said, staring at the loot. Paz reached for the pick of the lot¡ªa long spear with two points, akin to a j?gerstock. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking this. You both can¡¯t use it anyway.¡± He spun it through the air, testing its weight. ¡°Ugh. It¡¯s almost equally balanced. For polearms, you want one end heavier than the other to maximize the swing.¡± I Identified the spear. Equine Half-pike [Common] A polearm that deals increased damage against rampaging beasts. Requirement: [2]. It seemed I needed to upgrade [Identify] in order to unlock the complete information of more complex items. The notification icon had been blinking forever in my vision, so I opened it with a mental command. ¡°Oh, hey,¡± I said, reading the text. ¡°I¡¯m level 18 now.¡± ¡°Level 17,¡± Paz said with pride in his voice. ¡°I jumped by two!¡± Nicola had also gained a level, which boosted my confidence in our odds a little more. The fight with the Way-keeping Boss had done us a lot of good, minus my near miss with death. The leftover items in the chest included five health potions, a lightly armored vest, and three curious ball-like items, wrapped in cloth bindings. I studied the latter. Sticky Bomb [Common]. A fitting item for guerilla fighters. This hand grenade contains an adhesive that triggers on impact. Inject magic and run down the timer. Requirement: None. Morbid, but useful. I kept the grenades for myself and tossed the vest to Nicola. The only other important matter concerned the distribution of stats, but I already knew what to focus on. I¡¯d since improved my Strength to the Common tier, so I focused instead on leveling Perception. [DEX] couldn¡¯t be increased beyond the Greater tier until level 25, in accordance with the [System]¡¯s rules on hard caps. My stat points rose at a current rate of two per level, leaving me with fourteen points by the time I reached silver rank. I could use all of that number for my immediate needs, or I could save ten of them to pour into Dexterity the first chance I got. The second strategy appealed to me. Nevertheless, after my choices, my attributes looked like this: STR 10, PER 13, END 10, DEX 20 INT 5, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 3. Nicola shared her distribution: STR 5, PER 10, END 10, DEX 3 INT 20, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 15. As did Paz: STR 20, PER 10, END 10, DEX 18 INT 4, WIL 4, V.F 4, MGK 1. Per popular advice, two of the eight attributes needed to be completely abandoned. But, I¡¯d decide after I¡¯d gained more knowledge. Vital Force and Magicka meant more opportunities to activate [Decoy] and [Dark Stalker] respectively. But, the sheer number of stat points needed to get them to a good enough level induced a migraine. ¡°We better move,¡± Paz said through a mouthful of chicken. ¡°The whole point of fighting the boss was to find a faster way out of the area.¡± True that. We continued onto the next corridor. All the while, I checked my quests to ensure that the timer remained the same. So far, so good. The dungeon run was tough, but not as dreadful as I¡¯d first expected. Hopefully, things stayed the same. 056 Sea Locust Chickens We spent the next two days in an endless cycle of eating, grinding, and sleeping. Two new breeds of chimera appeared as we delved further into the Labyrinth: A scorpion goat hybrid with horns, arachnoid form, and stinger to match; and an eight-legged vehicle of death called a Sea Locust Chicken Chimera that sported a rooster¡¯s head affixed to its segmented body. Naturally, the sea locust chickens proved to be the deadlier of the two. A brood of them, made up of five specimens, rushed us in a corridor. Despite lacking the advantage of a surprise, they forced us back in seconds with painful wounds to show for it. ¡°The hell?¡± Paz said, prying himself out of a wall. He had been knocked headfirst into it, courtesy of a rocket punch from a chimera¡¯s forelimbs. I dodged around a similar strike, struggling to see past the blood that obscured my vision. True to form, the Sea Locust Chickens were relentless in attack. A blow to the head had earlier emptied the last of my HP and left a deep cut over my eyelid. Even as I dodged the supersonic punches, one chimera rushed at me with its large beak and gnaw to tear off my head. I slapped its beak aside at the last minute and earned three gashes across the chest. The sea locust chicken brandished its forelegs, all of which were equipped with claws. And, here I was thinking that its forearms and beak were the only weapons I needed to fear. Oh, fuck this. ¡°Paz! Cover me,¡± I said and slipped into the darkness. [Fear Aura] filled the corridor on my command. I typically refrained from activating it while [Dark Stalker] was active, for fear of giving away my position. However, I¡¯d since learned that my non-damaging abilities didn¡¯t disrupt [Dark Stalker]. If anything, they were strengthened by it. Using [Fear Aura] from the safety of the shadows improved its potency, enough that I could [Dismay] enemies who had previously resisted. The sea locust chickens were such enemies, and they froze in terror the instant they sensed my aura. Paz and Nicola erupted in violence, tearing the chimeras apart in the brief window I had granted. ¡°Game, set, and match,¡± Paz said, cracking the skull of a twitching chimera with one end of his j?gerstock. ¡°Where did you learn that phrase?¡± I asked, picking my way around the corpses. The rising difficulty of the chimeras suggested that we had gotten to the more dangerous parts of the Labyrinth, though we still didn¡¯t gain XP at a rate I would have preferred. Paz scratched his chin. ¡°Now that you mention it, I don¡¯t really remember. I think I picked it up in a tome or something of the sort.¡± A tome? That sounded probable. If other Migrant Souls had visited Vizhima before my arrival, a few of them could have written books about their experiences. Paz didn¡¯t seem interested in elaborating, so I poked at the wounds on my chest, noting how my jerkin had gotten ripped up in the process. Useless regular armor. Nicola hummed with satisfaction and wiped the sweat from her brow. ¡°I feel a lot closer to level twenty.¡± ¡°Same,¡± I said. ¡°Any idea what kind of technique you¡¯d like to unlock?¡± She fell into deep thought. ¡°[Mage Armor] or [Magic Hand]. Both are skills that would allow me another way to defend myself whenever I run out of MP.¡± Paz snorted. ¡°Skills, like melee attacks, rely on the value of your physical damage modifiers, and most Mages ignore physicals early on in favor of Magic Intellect and Magicka. You¡¯re honestly better off focusing on abilities.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong,¡± Nicola said with a smile, pleased to know something that Paz didn¡¯t for the first time in a while. ¡°Explain.¡± Nicola¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°It works that way for other classes. However, casters as a rule use fighting styles that force their damage-dealing skills to rely on Magic Intellect rather than Strength. We still depend on Strength for melee attacks, but the majority of our skills aren¡¯t beholden to it.¡± I mulled over her words. ¡°So, in my case where my melee attacks are modified by both Strength and Dexterity . . .¡± ¡°Your damage-dealing skills would do the same,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Rogues and Skirmishers outpace every other class in the damage department for a reason. No one else can leverage the benefits of two attributes in both skills and melee.¡± ¡°A Beast Rider can,¡± Paz said, ¡°with the right template.¡± ¡°True. But, Beast Riders famously have a lot to juggle in terms of stat allocation.¡± Nicola spun her staff. ¡°I won¡¯t always have you two to watch my back. If I must survive as a ranker, I should be able to defend myself against a variety of builds. Collecting more skills would do me a world of good.¡± ¡°Not as much as improving your usefulness in a melee,¡± Paz teased. ¡°But, I guess casters need a weakness to prevent them from melting everyone else.¡± We looted the chimeras and continued down the corridor. ¡°Safe room up ahead,¡± I announced with a sigh. The safe room appeared on the [Map] as a chamber with a cleft in the wall, a typical designation for rooms in the Labyrinth. I could wait long enough to reach it and recover HP via [Meditation], but goddammit, my injuries stung. And, many other things could kill me in that short distance. Paz¡¯s bored drawl cut through my musing. ¡°Hopefully, you¡¯re wrong, and that safe room turns out to be a boss¡¯ chamber in disguise. We could use a few more boss battles.¡± ¡°And, you could use,¡± I said through gritted teeth, ¡°a zipper over your mouth. Try not to jinx this, okay?¡± Still, there was no denying the probability of his words, so I chugged a health potion in preparation for the worst. The wounds on my forehead and chest receded, forcing a sigh of bliss out of my lips. They left the faintest hint of scar tissue on my skin, though this was normal, according to Nicola, and I healed better than most humans. We kept moving in silence until we spied a T-junction at the end of a long hallway. A sturdy wooden door stood across the gap from us, marking the entrance of the safe room. It bore a large insignia on its wooden surface that glowed brightly in the lurid hues of the Labyrinth. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Paz inspected the insignia from the distance which my elven sight made out to be some kind of chest. ¡°That¡¯s not a safe room,¡± Paz said. ¡°That¡¯s an item room. We¡¯ve hit the jackpot!¡± ¡°Are you sure¡ª?¡± I started. But, Paz had already started bounding for the door. No sooner had he begun than he screeched to a halt and raised a hand in warning. ¡°Trap.¡± The corridor seemed harmless to me. ¡°How can you tell?¡± ¡°Magic residue. I¡¯m sensitive to this kind of aura.¡± Because of [Dragon Touched], huh? ¡°Not just you,¡± Nicola said, stopping beside him. ¡°It¡¯s the same for all casters. There¡¯s a power in the air here, the kind you¡¯d expect from active magic.¡± ¡°Enchantments,¡± Paz growled. ¡°No,¡± Nicola corrected. ¡°Runes. Notice the movement of the aura. The magic here is static, not cyclical. That¡¯s typically proof of a Runecaster¡¯s work.¡± I looked at the corridor again. It honestly felt no different from the other corridors we had passed. On a whim, I plucked a copper coin from out of my inventory and flicked it onto our path. The coin bounced once . . . twice . . . and then, it vanished¡ªjust like that, leaving a gleaming inscription of blue on the tile wherein it landed. ¡°Disintegration?¡± I choked. Paz narrowed his eyes. ¡°No. Something different . . .¡± ¡°Teleportation,¡± Nicola said with a finality. ¡°That¡¯s among the rarest of runes. Seeing as they are invisible to the naked eye, it would mean they were etched beneath the stone.¡± ¡°Careful,¡± I said. ¡°We have no way to know for certain. The coin bounced a few times after I¡¯d thrown it. Possible delay of the onset of magic?¡± ¡°Not delayed¡±¡ªPaz tossed another coin down the corridor. It vanished the instant it landed. ¡°Notice how the tile responsible for the deed lights up after the fact. I¡¯d wager that there¡¯s an equal number of marked and unmarked tiles in that space. But, without a divination technique, there¡¯s no way to tell until one of us has been teleported.¡± Crap. ¡°What are we waiting for then, Nicola? Use your eye-thingy.¡± ¡°Excuse you?¡± She squawked. ¡°My [Eldritch Eyeball] may be advanced enough to spot residual Eros and see in the dark. But, it can¡¯t uncover magic traps. Not at its current tier, at least.¡± Paz shook his head. ¡°Useless.¡± I intervened before they could devolve into another one of their fights. ¡°We should probably abandon the item room, then. We are not getting through fifty meters of guesswork unscathed.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Paz said. ¡°We¡¯re not giving this up. The Way-keeping loot might as well be gutter trash when compared to the hoard in item rooms. We can¡¯t afford to lose this chance.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t afford to die either, Paz.¡± ¡°I know . . . But, there has to be a way. You¡¯ve not seen the interior of an item room, Damien. You can¡¯t fathom what you are about to give up.¡± And, you can? Once again, Paz¡¯s spoken experience clashed with his actual power level. Regardless of my reservations, he had managed to sway me, because if we failed to find the dungeon egg, stealing as much loot as we could from the Labyrinth could provide a lucrative alternative. ¡°Okay,¡± I conceded. ¡°We will try another route. If we fail to reach the item room, however, that¡¯s the end of that. I doubt there¡¯s anything good waiting at the end of those boobytraps. And, I¡¯m pretty sure you don¡¯t want to find out.¡± ¡°Fine by me,¡± Paz said. ¡°You¡¯ll be sure to thank me later. Now, forward, scout! Find us a new way through the maze.¡± We did as he requested. I set a waypoint on [Map] to keep us on track, yet we failed to find our way back to the item room until three hours had passed. We returned to the T-junction via one of the other corridors after navigating a dizzying series of turns. Paz checked the hallway for traps and then proceeded to kick the door open. He spread his arms and beckoned us to follow. ¡°Feast your eyes, you bloody wankers, on the kind of rare loot that can only be found here in the Labyrinth. Stuff your inventories until they are full to bursting¡ª!¡± An utterly wrecked room rose to greet us. Paz sputtered to a stop. ¡°Huh?¡± Huh was right. What once had been an item room stacked to overflowing now stood bare and disheveled like the aftermath of a tornado. Mannequins lay dashed against the wall, some with limbs divorced from the rest of their body. Wooden splinters peppered the ground: the remains of storage chests that had been bashed open. A weapons rack keeled dangerously close to the door, but even with the blatant signs of violence, my mind fixated on only one feature: ¡°The items are gone?¡± ¡°Bastards,¡± Paz spat under his breath. ¡°Someone got here before us.¡± ¡°Some people,¡± Nicola said, ¡°And, judging by the look of things, the meeting didn¡¯t end well for one of the groups.¡± She gestured at bloodstains in a corner of the room¡ªa detail I had earlier missed. ¡°Goddammit,¡± Paz growled. ¡°If I find who did this, I¡¯d be sure to kill them.¡± ¡°If you can,¡± I said with an eye roll. ¡°Whoever survived this battle won¡¯t make for an easy kill.¡± Nicola studied the carnage. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you consider it fortunate that we arrived when we did? Any earlier, and we could have been the bloodstains on the floor.¡± Paz ignored her and collapsed to his knees. ¡°This bounty should have been ours!¡± ¡°There, there, big guy,¡± I said, patting his shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll find some other hoard waiting to be looted. I¡¯m sure there are many more in the dungeon.¡± ¡°We spent hours making our way here, Damien. Hours.¡± Nicola shook her head at him and walked out of the door. She ran back in with an ashen face. ¡°Um, guys. You might want to see this . . .¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Chimeras! A whole bunch of them. Headed this way!¡± No sooner had she spoken than a Sea Locust Chicken Chimera barged into the room. Her [Summon Tentacle] spell tripped it up, and I decapitated the segmented mass of murder without a second thought. ¡°No way,¡± I said. ¡°They can enter dungeon rooms now?¡± ¡°This one has been emptied,¡± Paz said, still kneeling listlessly on the ground. ¡°It has lost its protection.¡± ¡°More incoming,¡± Nicola cried. ¡°Spread out!¡± Two more Sea Locust Chickens scuttled through the open door, keeping low to the ground. The fight didn¡¯t proceed as easily the second time around. A hammer punch from one chimera launched me into a wall, despite being blocked. The second chimera dodged Nicola¡¯s spell and flew straight for Paz. [Fear Aura]. The chickens stopped short in their tracks, enabling their dismemberment after a short but vicious exchange. Paz peeked out of the door jamb, done with his funk. ¡°Um, how many chimeras did you count when you looked, Nicola?¡± ¡°About ten. Why?¡± ¡°Ten?¡± Paz chuckled. ¡°You might want to drink some potions. This is about to get ugly.¡± I ducked beneath his arm and peeked into the corridor. The mad clucking gave it away. An entire army of Sea Locust Chickens barreled down the path, scuttling toward us like a squawking, writhing, boiling mass of death. I counted over twenty chimeras before I fell back into the room, struggling to tug mana and stamina potions out of my inventory. ¡°Shit!¡± Paz said, retreating from the doorjamb. ¡°It¡¯s a horde. Spawned right on top of us too. I think they are being led by an Alpha.¡± ¡°An Alpha chicken?¡± I stammered, unable to wrap my head around the incredulity of it. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that is worse?¡± Paz¡¯s answer was drowned out by a roar¡ªlouder even than the cacophony of clucks. ¡°Well, Damien,¡± he yelled. ¡°You¡¯re in luck. What was that phrase you used again? The one about fucking around?¡± ¡°Not the right time, Paz!¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ve done the first bit. Find out came calling a little too early. Brace yourselves!¡± 057 Meat Grinder ¡°Seal the door, Paz!¡± Nicola said, tossing empty potion bottles aside. ¡°It won¡¯t budge,¡± he answered. ¡°I think it¡¯s broken!¡± ¡°You mean, you broke it?!¡± ¡°Those blame games of yours won''t help us beat the chimeras!¡± I opened my inventory and scoured with frantic eyes through the item slots. The weapon I required was nowhere to be found. I must have placed it in a random slot without thinking . . . but, hadn¡¯t I retrieved stuff from my inventory in the past without needing to scroll through the items? Combat chains, I screamed and thrust my hand into the pocket dimension. The Chains of the Combat Ape fell into my grasp. ¡°Paz!¡± I said, attaching a knife to one end of the chains. ¡°Catch!¡± He snatched the weapon out of the air and blinked in confusion. I slipped a second knife into the opposite end and revealed my intention by running to one side of the door. Paz did the same over on his side, and we pressed the Chain Nail into the walls, forming a tripwire that hovered near the ground. The Sea Locust Chicken Chimeras tumbled over it. ¡°Nicola!¡± A [Bloom of Crimson Desire] erupted just inside the doorway. A few of the chimeras met instant demise at the hands of the spell. Others ran headlong into it, tripping over the sturdy tentacles and the trap we had set. I flared [Fear Aura] and set about butchering chimeras from out of [Stealth]. Paz did the same on his side of the room, dancing with his half-pike. I¡¯d always been fascinated with mantis shrimps¡ªa fascination that had lessened somewhat after my first encounter with their chimeric cousins. However, nothing about the current swarm could be looked upon with appreciation. They surged forward in an unending tide of lobster-red, spilling over the floor. For each one I killed, two more rose to replace it. The chimeras soon became their biggest enemies, as their hazardous rush through the obstructed doorway meant subsequent attackers couldn¡¯t proceed safely into the room. They toppled over each other, end over end, and offered themselves as easy pickings on a platter. Nicola¡¯s tentacles also put in the work, brutalizing all the monsters that stepped into its zone. Were it not for the pain in my arms and the sweat in my eyes, I would have swollen with pride at what we had accomplished. We had created a perfect death corridor within seconds, using our wits and thinking on our feet. Sadly, our best effort was far from seamless. The chimeras proved tenacious enough to score hits of their own. By the time my weapon arm finished its final stroke, I stood in bloodied clothes with multiple gashes littered across my form. The item room looked even worse. Corpses filled every nook and cranny, leaving blood, chitin, entrails, and the occasional discarded head strewn across the floor. ¡°Level 18 now,¡± Paz said with pride. ¡°That was a lot of experience.¡± It was. All of the chimeras had ranked between levels 14 and 17. Not enough to bring me to the next level, but after two days of fighting, I felt pretty close. Nicola sniffed at the blood that painted her cuirass. ¡°Gross. Please, tell me this isn''t as bad as it smells. I think I¡¯m going to gag!¡± Paz mumbled under his breath. ¡°At least, we know now that body fluids are definitely not your kink.¡± I tossed Nicola a towel, saving a spare for myself. When I was done cleaning, I turned to my teammates. ¡°Say, you don''t think we killed the pack leader during that slugfest, do you?¡± Nicola frowned. ¡°Wait, what?¡± As if in answer, the giant tentacles dissipated at that moment, revealing a large shape just outside the doorway. Bloodshot eyes peered into the room at us, set in a scarred rooster face. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Alpha Sea Lotus Chicken Chimera LVL 20. I just had to jinx it. Paz yelled a few choice words in alarm, but I couldn¡¯t hear it over the screaming in my head. The alpha chimera raised its large legs over the tripwire and stepped into the mess of corpses we had made. The pleops on its tail end grated noisily against the floor¡ªa promise of death and worse to come. Nicola¡¯s [Summon Tentacle] rose to engage it. The Chimera unfurled its limbs and bifurcated the tentacle with a single swing. Paz charged at the monster. I followed suit, flaring my aura to match his own. Without any communication, we hacked at its legs, approaching from different angles. The alpha chimera shrieked and tried to clobber me with its arms. Another tentacle intercepted the blow. I retaliated even more viciously, sinking my dagger into the soft region between plates of carapace. It bounced off health armor. A tremendous punch from the chimera distorted the air above my head. Spillover damage from the sonic boom punted me aside even though I succeeded in avoiding the blow. My vision spun. Oh no . . . I raised my dagger in a blind parry and felt a heavy weight glance off my blade. The beak of the chimera. Paz struck it across the face before it could attack again, and ugh . . . had I suffered a concussion? I slipped into the cover of the shadows, hoping the corresponding boost in [Fear Aura]¡¯s potency would help it take root. You have afflicted Alpha Sea Locust Chicken Chimera with [Dismay]! Nice. With [Dismay] active, the murder shrimp became a little less formidable. We attacked relentlessly until, with the loss of its health meter, Paz sawed four legs off its side with a single blow. The large beast swayed drunkenly and fell onto the tip of my waiting dagger. I angled my blade with a flourish and dug through its beak and into its head. You have participated in the killing of Alpha Sea Locust Chicken Chimera. You have leveled up! You are now level 19. Visit your status screen to assign your free stat points. ¡°I did it,¡± Nicola huffed. ¡°Level 20. Heralds, it feels so good.¡± ¡°Level 19,¡± I announced. ¡°We¡¯re getting closer to Silver.¡± Long minutes passed as we recovered our breath. ¡°Loot these bastards,¡± I said. ¡°Before they start to stink.¡± ¡°Too late for that, eh?¡± Paz unfastened the chains and handed them to me. ¡°Nice weapons. You should use them more often.¡± ¡°Nah. I¡¯m better with a knife. I can¡¯t fight as well with these, and I haven¡¯t figured out how to integrate them into my build.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to figure? Your knives go at the ends of the chains. And, they work well at short or medium range, depending on your foe. You just need to practice.¡± The image of the Primal Dread Monkey using its chains as bludgeons flashed in my mind¡¯s eye. I wasn¡¯t getting to that level of expertise anytime soon, but I could also admit that I¡¯d wrecked shit the few times the chains had come out to play. Nicola looted the last of the enemies. The chimeras vanished in waves of dust, leaving monster cores and rooster teeth of the common variety. ¡°What a bummer. We didn''t get a single Greater item for all our effort.¡± ¡°We¡¯d find another item room,¡± I said. ¡°Plus, we got a ton of free XP out of this. That has to take the cake.¡± ¡°Free?¡± Nicola said, pointing at her ruined cuirass. ¡°You call this free?¡± ¡°Free enough.¡± Paz crouched beside the alpha chimera. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, big man?¡± I asked. ¡°A few things.¡± He nodded at the corpse. ¡°See that? Those are fresh wounds on its back. Wounds we did not inflict.¡± I peered at the corpse. A trio of long gashes decorated the carapace, each a full inch deep. Neither Paz nor I could hit hard enough to dent the armor, low-leveled as we were. ¡°Maybe there was infighting among the horde?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Paz grunted. ¡°But, what are the chances that the chickens spawned right beside us.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what I mean. The monsters crossed paths with us by way of pure chance. But, what if they didn¡¯t? What if they¡¯d entered this corridor in the first place because they were being chased . . .¡± ¡°Or chasing after someone else.¡± The sounds of my heartbeat reached my ears. ¡°They did seem agitated, and it would explain why the alpha kept egging the horde.¡± I looted the monster and received the regular items. ¡°We should leave. This place¡¯s starting to give me the creeps.¡± ¡°What?¡± Nicola said. ¡°I just reached level 20! I need to meditate to unlock a new technique.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Paz said, ushering her out of the room. ¡°You can do that elsewhere.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t take long, damn you!¡± ¡°However long it takes is more than enough.¡± We reentered the corridor. The Labyrinth had adopted an eerie silence now that it wasn¡¯t saturated with the mad clucking of chimeras. I consulted [Map] and selected a direction¡ªthe same one that the horde had been running toward. If they had been chasing after an opponent, we would end up behind the latter. And, if they had not . . . well, we couldn¡¯t leave the area soon enough. Paz gripped my shoulder after we¡¯d walked a few paces. ¡°Trouble. Someone¡¯s standing behind us.¡± I turned around and felt my legs threaten to collapse. A short figure stood off in the distance, shadowed by ambient lighting. Large horns protruded from the top of their head. The horns lent a malevolent aura to their physique¡ªa perfect picture of a demon loosed straight from hell. The figure took a few heavy steps toward our group. A special kind of dungeon boss, maybe? Mist issued out of my nostrils, accompanied by a steep drop in temperature. That was no dungeon boss. That was a human decked in heavy armor. ¡°Byron!¡± I hissed, right as the demonic figure broke out into a run. 058 Death is Just a Choice I¡¯d experienced Byron¡¯s [Frost Aura] enough times to recognize it. But, he shouldn''t have been able to find us this fast¡ª Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. And, again: Hey! It seems you are afraid . . . Did the mere sight of a pursuing Byron trigger two [Fear] stacks?! Three more silhouettes rounded the corner behind him, including a large four-legged beast which soon outpaced the rest. It howled in a dreadful voice, shrill enough to thaw the chill in my veins. Only one ranker in Red Wyrm possessed the ability to mimic beasts . . . Beelith. ¡°Nicola,¡± I spat, grabbing the ashen-faced Mage by the shoulder. ¡°Use [Ecstasy] or something! Anything!¡± Nicola blinked. Her golden eyes sparked with life, roused from her stupor. She cast a spell even as I pulled her into a run. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Paz asked, lagging behind us. ¡°We can¡¯t outrun them. Not with [Frost Aura]. We best stay and fight.¡± As if to support him, an earlier [System] notification blinked: You have been affected by the ability [Frost Aura]. You have been inflicted with [Slow]. Reflexes and movement have decreased 1.5x. Damage taken from all sources has increased by 1.5. The movement penalty was bad enough, but did Paz think that fighting with a debilitating debuff to defense was any better? ¡°Damien,¡± he urged. ¡°Do you have a death wish?!¡± I asked. Red Wyrm answered in his stead. The ground beneath us lit up with a gargantuan sigil, brimming with magic energy. It broke apart the next second with a roar that threatened to collapse the dungeon. The [Earthquake] threw us into the walls¡ªheadfirst in my case. My composure plummeted together with my health meter, which fell by over thirty percent. All. From. One. Hit. Fuck. Paz unwrapped himself from Nicola, whom he had been thoughtful enough to shield with his body. Defiance flashed in his expression, but it died the next second as a gigantic [Fireball] barreled down the corridor. The four-legged beast howled in joy and crossed another twenty meters in the blink of an eye. I didn¡¯t even think. I sprang off the wall and flipped out of the way of the fiery ball of death which proceeded to explode in our midst. The resulting wave of heat and flame stole another portion of my health. But, I lived. As always. Paz and Nicola weren¡¯t so lucky. They hadn¡¯t managed to dodge fast enough, though Nicola had summoned a tentacle to absorb the worst of the blast. The heatwave from the resulting spillover threw them to the ground. My heart stung as her cries mingled with the crackle of the flames. We were going to die here if we chose to stand our ground. We had all of the guts and a hint of tenacity, but Red Wyrm had proven to be the better team in the opening salvo. The fact that we had just finished a marathon fight worsened our odds, and . . . Beelith¡¯s wolf form drew closer, followed closely by Byron. The corridor in front of us stretched off into the darkness. We could try to outrun them, but Paz had hit the mark when he said it would all be for naught. Our circumstances left us a choice: Die while running or die while taking a stand. I ached to put Red Wyrm in their place, but the confrontation had happened sooner than anticipated. If we fought them here in this corridor, our chances of victory could sail past zero and enter minus ten. More like minus hundred . . . Byron¡¯s [Frost Aura] extended far enough to stifle the remnants of the [Fireball]. Actual ice formed on the surface of the walls. Beelith howled in laughter. In a few seconds, she would reach the T-junction in front of the item room, which left one route open to us now that a direct escape was no longer an option . . . A hard left into the corridor of runes. I activated [Stealth] and charged for our pursuers. ¡°D-Damien?¡± Nicola sputtered. Paz laughed and followed after me. ¡°Damien, we can¡¯t take them¡ª¡± ¡°I know!¡± I hissed at Nicola. ¡°But, we have to do this. This is our only chance!¡± Paz kept laughing without a care. ¡°You absolute madlad. You think this is a better choice than fighting to the death?¡± I didn¡¯t reply him, but Nicola caught on, regardless, if the way her breath hitched was any indication. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± she said in a high pitch. ¡°You¡¯re asking to die!¡± ¡°Shut up and follow!¡± Our sudden turn must have thrown off the enemy casters because they missed their next shots¡ªa rock ball and a second [Fireball]¡ªwhich sailed over our heads. We had traveled a short distance away from the junction at the start, but we stood closer to it than Beelith who yipped as we charged her, pleased that we had abandoned escape. Oh, we aren¡¯t trying to fight you, you ugly bitch. We just needed a few more seconds to reach the junction. A few more . . . Beelith crouched low to the ground, upping her speed for the final lap before the clash. I arrived at the T-junction at the same moment she did, and¡ª [Dark Stalker]! I blended into the shadows. She lunged in tandem, teeth poised to bite, and sailed past my former position. The dreaded corridor stood just out of reach. Gosh¨Cfucking¨Cdarn it. This was the worst plan I¡¯d ever enacted, and I¡¯d done a lot of stupid shit, including kneeling before a wraith for mercy. I had hinged our entire survival on the slim chance that the teleport runes didn¡¯t result in death. But, I couldn¡¯t run into the booby-trapped corridor, not until I''d ensured the safety of my teammates. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Paz intercepted Beelith¡¯s wild lunge, buying Nicola the time she needed to forge ahead. The shapeshifter was smarter than I gave her credit for. After my vanishing trick, she had surmised that we didn''t intend to fight. She bounded off the shaft of Paz¡¯s half-pike with a force that sent him tumbling and lunged at Nicola¡¯s spine. I interposed a [Decoy] between them before she could connect, but it died the next second beneath an onslaught of claws. Paz righted himself in record time and joined the fray. The twin distractions allowed Nicola to slip past my hidden self and into the teleportation corridor. To Nicola¡¯s credit, she didn¡¯t so much as blink. She ran across the booby traps without sparing a single glance over her shoulder. The tiles lit up beneath her . . . one, two . . . and then she was gone, leaving motes of blue light floating in her wake. ¡°Byron,¡± Beelith cried in a guttural voice. ¡°They¡¯re getting away!¡± Paz swung at her with his half-pike. Seeing as he was confident enough to engage her in this form, Beelith had to be using a lesser skill and not the terrifying [Shapeshift] he had warned about. Despite that, he only intended to feint, and he ducked around the wolf-woman the first chance he got. A bright light erupted from out of nowhere, stealing my vision for a fraction of a second. It left Paz as an indent in the wall. His half-pike clattered to the ground. Oh no. Byron strode into the melee, dressed in heavy armor with a horned helmet on his head. He held a short axe in one hand and a thick slab of iron in the other . . . oh god, was that meant to be a shield? Bright light dimmed into nothing on the shield¡¯s surface, revealing it as the source of the earlier skill. ¡°[Shield Bash], huh?¡± Paz said with a cough. ¡°That fucking hurt.¡± His health meter slipped into the final fifth, while our enemies stood around him in perfect condition. Byron raised his axe. ¡°The elf. Where is he?¡± ¡°Do you have nothing better to ask?¡± Paz wheezed. ¡°Or were you hoping I¡¯d answer?¡± ¡°He used some kind of disappearing trick,¡± Beelith growled. ¡°Not [Stealth] or I¡¯d have sniffed him out. Something more potent. I don¡¯t think he walked onto the runes¡ª¡± Byron glanced at the trap-filled corridor. ¡°He didn¡¯t. For what does he gain by avoiding death if he trades it for an even worse fate?¡± My breathing faltered. ¡°Then again,¡± Byron continued. ¡°Cowards often choose a terrible death over an honorable one. And, the way of cowards, though amusing, is difficult to decipher.¡± Beelith chuckled: A horrible sound worsened by the fact that it emerged from the throat of a wolf. ¡°He might have given us the slip. But, without his teammates, he¡¯ll die in the Labyrinth anyway.¡± ¡°Heralds,¡± Paz swore with a groan, ¡°what a team of fucking bootlickers. Are you sure you¡¯re a wolf? Because you sound like bottom-feeder trash right now.¡± He pried himself out of the wall. ¡°I know it hurts to lose your main enemy, but I¡¯m two times as tough as Damien and just as sexy. Who wants the first lick? I promise to make it worth your while.¡± Oh, Paz . . . The Mage and Warlock remained a safe distance away. The latter sneered at Paz and raised a hand to silence him, though he stopped with a single look from Byron. Paz slipped into a boxing stance. ¡°There¡¯s nothing cowardly about dying the way you choose. They¡¯ve chosen their way. This is mine.¡± [Draconic Aura] flooded the corridor, deepening the red of his eyes. ¡°Come at me if you dare¡ª¡± Byron slammed his fist into his gut, forcing Paz to gasp and lose his lunch. He grabbed him by the hair before he could fall and watched his health bar empty in disinterest. ¡°You¡¯re the one, aren¡¯t you?¡± Byron said. ¡°The one who cheats death. What means do you use to achieve this?¡± Paz groaned. ¡°It¡¯s a very common affinity. I call it: Go to hell.¡± Byron punched him again. ¡°I wonder how long that grin of yours would last. I¡¯m going to kill you and drag your body along with us just so I can do it again and again.¡± He hooked his axe to his belt and raised a small knife to Paz¡¯s chin. Oh, screw that. I threw a monster core at each pair of rankers and appeared behind Paz the moment they flinched. Paz¡¯s eyes widened in surprise then went lifeless as I chopped off his head. Red Wyrm froze¡ªenough time for me to punt the decapitated head into the teleportation corridor. It bounced once and rolled to a stop. And then, it disappeared in a flash of white. The members of Red Wyrm gaped with priceless looks, which gifted me another life-saving second to slip out of reach. Byron reacted first. His [Shield Bash] brushed past my arm and splayed me onto the ground. I avoided a direct hit, yet every bone in my body lit up like I¡¯d been shot with a gun. I gritted my teeth to quell the sensation and rolled away from a wild pounce by Beelith. An earthen wall rose to arrest my movements. However, Beelith switched back to human form at the same time and kicked me through the half-formed wall like a soccer ball. I wheezed as my HP flatlined from the blow, though it held up just enough to protect me from severe injuries. [Dark Stalker] had less than five seconds to come off cooldown which was all I needed to escape the assault. Beelith scaled the crumbling wall of earth with fingers transformed into blade-tipped claws. Her snout remained elongated in anticipation of feasting on my corpse. But, I wouldn¡¯t die here. Not to Byron. Or his cronies. Or even the fucking Labyrinth. I¡¯d survived the goddamn Pyramid of Rebirth! No group of young adults was going to supersede that. The Sticky Bomb I had attached to Paz¡¯s corpse¡ªthe same one I¡¯d earned after the fight with the Way-keeping Boss¡ªdetonated, dousing Byron and Beelith in a spray of guts. Beelith screamed. I took the moment to slip into [Dark Stalker], narrowly avoiding an axe slash to the face. The caster brothers refused to join the fray, what with their teammates caught in the line of fire. They, however, moved toward the entrance of the rune-filled corridor to block off my escape. I had been forced away from the T-junction during the fight. But, I didn¡¯t care, I could just flee the other way¡ª Two abrupt walls of earth and fire rubbished that notion. They rose from the ground, reaching a height close to the ceiling, many times longer than I was tall. ¡°Beelith,¡± Byron said. ¡°Use [Bestial Shape].¡± The blond woman shifted back into her grey wolf form. An evil glint persisted in her eye due to the earlier shower of blood. ¡°You fight dirty, elf,¡± Byron said, peeling Paz¡¯s entrails off his shoulder. ¡°But, I suppose that trait comes with your race. Nothing good ever waits at the end of a dungeon trap. So, I¡¯ll say it just this once: Give up.¡± The wall of flames roared behind me. With my HP gone, I wouldn¡¯t survive the passage. And, even with it available, I had a feeling that those flames could burn a man faster than he could breathe. Byron stepped away in the opposite direction. His [Frost Aura] rose again, catching me by surprise. I clasped a hand around my mouth to prevent the misting of my breath, but it turned out to be futile. [Dark Stalker] handled it just fine. ¡°You have three seconds,¡± Byron said, ¡°to accept my offer of an honorable death. Three seconds, or I will kill you in the worst way possible.¡± He came to a stop, but his message was clear. I could surrender on his terms, or try to brave the walls . . . or him . . . or his teammates who guarded the corridor. And yet, all of those options were nothing but diversions. Byron often acted out of a childish sense of superiority. But, he wasn''t dumb and had earned every bit of his reputation. All of his posturing had to be a ploy, to distract me from his actual plan. ¡°He¡¯s still here,¡± Beelith said and growled low in her throat. ¡°I can smell him.¡± You just admitted earlier that you can¡¯t, lady. Not while [Dark Stalker] was active, at least. Nice try. ¡°What does his affinity do anyway?¡± the Warlock asked, keeping his eyes peeled on his surroundings. ¡°Something to do with illusions,¡± Beelith said. ¡°Confusion, perhaps.¡± ¡°No,¡± Byron answered, and he frowned at the space between his teammates. ¡°It is Fear.¡± The Warlock did a double take. ¡°Fear? Isn¡¯t that kinda stupid?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve faced worse,¡± the Mage said, and he thumped his staff against the ground. I had expected a magic spell, yet nothing prepared me for the gargantuan sigil that appeared without the slightest hint of magical accumulation. The ground between Red Wyrm and the twin walls broke apart, and then it surged upward in a field of spikes. ¡°That had to do it,¡± the Warlock said with a laugh and slapped his teammate on the back. Beelith shifted to support the Mage who leaned now on his staff. ¡°No one can survive this¡ª¡± ¡°No one?¡± Byron said. His [Frost Aura] intensified. ¡°He¡¯s not there!¡± I landed behind the casters and tugged the Chain Nail out of the wall. Byron¡¯s group had prevented me from going through the obstacles, but they¡¯d said nothing about going above. ¡°Of course not,¡± I said. The casters turned around in shock. Beelith¡¯s lupine features contorted in rage. ¡°Filthy elf¡ª!¡± I raised my middle finger in a quiet salute. And then, without looking, I hopped backward onto the runes and dissipated across time and space. 059 Disassembled My feet touched solid ground a mere second later. I raised my dagger in front of my face, prepared for the worst. Nothing attacked me from out of the shadows, which I now recognized to be a long, empty corridor. I didn¡¯t relax my guard, regardless, until two whole minutes had elapsed. ¡°Paz? Nicola?¡± I whispered. Neither of them replied. The corridor stayed quiet, devoid even of the shuffling sounds of chimeras. My desperate gambit hadn¡¯t ended in death¡ªa fact I couldn¡¯t help but be thankful for. But, it had ended in separation. And, after a week spent bonding with my teammates, I didn¡¯t want to be alone again. It kind of hurt. Separation was honestly the best possible outcome, all things considered. I could have been teleported into a spiked pit, an acid lake, or some kind of nest filled with dungeon monsters. If merely separated, all three of us could still unite . . . assuming none of my teammates had perished during their cursed journey through space. Nicola, in particular, was low on all renewables. Her chances of surviving a crowded corridor on her lonesome was . . . not good. Not at the moment, at least. Okay . . . calm thoughts. My teammates were made of sterner stuff than that. I needed to figure a way out of my current situation, or else I would be the only one missing at the reunion. Where the fuck had I been transported to even? All of the Labyrinth¡¯s corridors looked the same, and [Map] didn¡¯t help much to identify my location, what with its inability to display exact coordinates. A waypoint, then? I could tag places I had visited or learned of on the [Map], but doing so required a name . . . and the generic ¡®item room¡¯ simply wouldn¡¯t cut it. There were so many such rooms in the Labyrinth, after all. Sweat dribbled down my forehead as I reviewed my condition. I was alone. Wounded. Drained. In a maze populated by monsters . . . one that was intended to be challenged as a party. My potion timers were all on cooldown which meant that finding a safe place to [Meditate] had become a priority. My thoughts again went to Nicola. Without MP to draw on, she lived at the dungeon¡¯s mercy, shackled to a festival she had never intended to participate in until Byron destroyed her home. Byron. My fingers shook with unnerving ferocity. Everything that had befallen us this past week rested squarely on his shoulders. We wouldn¡¯t have joined the festival if he hadn¡¯t targeted us. And, we wouldn¡¯t have gotten separated if the bastard hadn¡¯t given chase. There were no two ways about it. As long as a member of my party lived, we would see the battle through to its conclusion. Byron would live to regret the fact that we had escaped today. And, I wouldn¡¯t die until that debt was repaid. Not while I had any say in the matter. I looked around the corridor. The persistent pink lighting triggered a surge of nausea that needed to be forced down with conscious effort. I put my best foot forward and surged off in a random direction, relying only on the iron in my blood. A broad shape scuttled out of the nearest passage. I parried its heavy strike without slowing and buried my dagger in its face. Large, pincer-like arms fell as the creature thudded to the floor. Hold on. Pincers? Corpse of Wolf Crab Chimera LVL 13. What? More wolf crabs showed up, only to meet their end at the tip of my blade. No . . . It couldn¡¯t be . . . ¡°This can¡¯t be,¡± I roared. The wolf crabs simply kept coming. There was no denying it now. I hadn¡¯t just been flung clear across the Labyrinth. I had been thrown back to the starting region with less than four days to make my way to the center. Alone. ¡°Delay is not denial,¡± I chanted, munching on a sandwich. ¡°It is only a temporary setback for greater things to come. Ah, dammit. Who am I kidding?¡± I had holed up in a safe room to recover my renewables. The Wolf Crab Chimeras were tenacious, I¡¯d give them that, but after everything I¡¯d faced, they barely presented a challenge. The major problem lay in the fact that I had to do this all over again. I could always keep going westward. But, without my teammates to support me, and without knowing the right direction . . . ¡°Ah, dammit,¡± I said again. Of the initial one hundred and forty-four participants, I was probably the only one stuck in the starting area. Everyone else should have reached the middle regions by now. The odds of failure weighed down on me on all sides, crippling my will to continue. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Why was I so fixated on survival, anyway? I¡¯d done pretty well for a human who had been transported without warning to a fantasy world. No one would blame me if I huddled up into a ball and gave up at this juncture. No one . . . The visage of the old-man homunculus flashed in my mind¡¯s eye. I had already given up once. Nine hundred and ninety-nine souls had died for the chance to be in my shoes. What was that compared to a little setback? Could I be any more pathetic? ¡°Get up, Damien,¡± I hissed. ¡°Get up.¡± If the Labyrinth desired to kill me, it would have to work for it. Tossing me a few kilometers backward meant nothing on the grand scale of things. Nothing, you hear? I leaped to my feet. A renewed burst of energy filled me, courtesy of successful [Meditation]. I chucked the half-finished bread into my mouth and marched out of the safe room to continue my trip. The chimeras never saw me coming. [Stealth] did wonders for silence, even without the boost from [Dark Stalker]. I ran down the winding pathways of the Labyrinth, leaving a trail of corpses strewn behind me. Once again, I stuck westward, using the cluster of the monsters to gauge my position. If their levels got weaker, it meant I had moved away from the center and needed a course correction. If they got stronger, however, I doubled my pace. I didn¡¯t bother killing any chimera I could avoid. The wolf crabs were weak enough that it would take hundreds of them to lift me to the next level. Which reminded me . . . where did all the corpses go? There were over thirty parties in the Labyrinth actively trying to depopulate their surroundings. How did the dungeon manage to keep its hallways clean and pristine? A soft sound reached in my ears¡ªa ping or something of the sort. I ignored it as a figment of the imagination, but it rang again a few minutes later. Definitely a curiosity. I skidded to a stop. My current location provided no obvious hints, but a third ping caused a ripple to form across the surface of the [Map]. That had to be it. I followed the beacon, noting how the pings got louder the closer I approached. [Map] had never shown this kind of behavior beforehand, making me into a fool if I chose to ignore it. I stood close to something that the [System] wanted me to find. Treasure? Or maybe the location of my teammates. The latter thought filled my heart to bursting, and I quickened my steps until I finally located the source. A room with a cleft appeared on the [Map] about a few corridors away, much the same as a typical safe or item room. A final ping rippled outward from its location. And then, the pings stopped and switched to a low thrum. A few hours had passed since I¡¯d begun my speed run. The punishing pace had wrought havoc on my stamina and slender elven muscles. I could use a brief rest . . . and a hug . . . and a shower too. But, I couldn¡¯t imagine why [Map] would point me to this location unless something waited to be found therein. I snuck past a couple of wolf crabs and entered the final corridor. The aforementioned room stood alone in a wall, hidden behind a plain door that bore no insignias. Paz had warned that boss lairs could sometimes appear as safe rooms in a bid to trick unsuspecting rankers. So, maybe a little experiment was in order? ¡°Think fast, uggos,¡± I said, returning to the chimeras. They scuttled toward me with their funny crab walk that would have drawn a smile had I been in any mood for levity. I butchered the first and crippled the second. Then, dragging the still struggling creature toward the unmarked room, I tossed it with all my strength onto the door. The wolf crab bounced off as if repelled by a ward, proof that it couldn¡¯t cross the threshold. Safe! ¡°Sorry, buddy,¡± I said to the dying creature, before putting it out of its misery. The unmarked room opened without any resistance. I peeked into the darkness, hesitant to venture any further. And then, I took the plunge, allowing my feet to carry me into the chamber. The room lit up the instant the door shut, providing a clearer view of my surroundings. What the hell is this? Ding! You have unlocked a hidden objective. Quest: [Damien the Explorer]. New objective: [Find the Traveler¡¯s Room]. Objective complete! Reward: 10 spirit orbs. Complete your exploration of the dungeon to unlock further rewards. I frowned at the notification, and then I minimized it in favor of gaping at my surroundings¡ªor more accurately, the diagram engraved in the furthest wall from the door. The drawing sat squarely in the stone, shaped in a perfect circle that indicated it hadn''t been created by hand. A dizzying array of walls and corridors stretched across the circle. Small squares stood in the walls, marking the location of . . . rooms . . . Bloody hell. This was a map. A map of the Labyrinth. It looked less intricate than mine, but the layout remained the same. And, unless I had ingested something, this was a map of the entire Labyrinth, not like my skill which only showed the general vicinity. The larger map also possessed a feature I hadn¡¯t seen in mine. Because, even as I watched, a glowing orb came alive in the center of the diagram. The dungeon heart. Or more accurately, a simulation of it. It thrummed softly on interval¡ªthe source of the pings I had seen on my [Map]. But, why had it called out to me? Did it have something to do with my quests? ¡°The fuck?¡± someone cried out from behind me. I turned in time to see an armored figure rush through the door. It slammed into my gut and bowled me clean across the expanse into a nearby wall. I came to with my feet dangling off the ground, pinned by a hand around my throat. ¡°Who are you?¡± the armored figure bellowed, keeping me aloft with ease. ¡°Who?!¡± I fought through the pain and reached for my dagger. ¡°Enough,¡± a stony voice said. A strong figure strode into the room, with lush, black hair tied in a long braid behind her. Tightly corded muscles rippled beneath her skin, which glowed a luscious brown, about one shade lighter than Nicola¡¯s. The woman smoothed the wrinkles on her orange monk-like robes. She stopped behind my attacker and regarded me with narrowed eyes. Every single one of her facial features, from her long nose to her slim jaw and blood-red lips revealed her as a foreigner among Bargherians. Hold on . . . I knew this woman. I¡¯d seen her once in passing. But, my current situation didn¡¯t do wonders for my memory. Her brown eyes met mine¡ª You have unlocked a new objective! Quest: [Heroic Action]. Objective: Kill the impostor! A person in your vicinity poses a unique threat to your adventure. Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! Reward: Undefined. What the hell? The woman¡¯s eyes widened at the same time I received the notification. She looked at me, then at a space in the air, then back again at me. My heart sank. I¡¯d finally found someone with a similar quest mechanic. And, judging by her expression, she needed to kill me too. 060 The Travelers Room ¡°Answer my fucking question,¡± the armored figure growled and tightened his grip around my throat. I barely felt it, locked as I was in a staring match with his companion. She cocked her head and frowned. ¡°Who are you indeed?¡± She wasn¡¯t going to do it, was she? Try to kill me. Her robes revealed her to be some kind of Monk, which was probably a bad matchup for me all things considered. But, just in case . . . [Identify]. City Adventurer LVL 29. Yep. Definitely a bad matchup. Her companion clocked in at level 25. Lord have mercy. ¡°Let him go, Logain,¡± the woman said with that heavy accent of hers. ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate the spilling of blood in this place.¡± ¡°He¡¯s trespassing!¡± the armored man said. ¡°Let him go,¡± she repeated. ¡°If he found this place without our help, you don¡¯t want to fight him. It means he was guided by a greater hand.¡± Logain glared at me from beneath his helmet, and then he backed off with a grunt. I fell to the ground, barely managing to land on my feet. The strange woman jerked her chin at me. ¡°Sheath the knife, Damien.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I stammered. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± ¡°Everyone knows the name of the Dark Elf who caused a commotion at the guild.¡± Fair point. I glanced again at the [System] notification and the ominous words written at the bottom: Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! For a quest named [Heroic Action], this objective was anything but. ¡°Sheath the knife,¡± the woman said. ¡°I only want to talk. We both know you wouldn¡¯t win if it boiled down to a fight.¡± ¡°Maybe, I would,¡± I said with bravado. ¡°I¡¯ve faced worse and survived.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t.¡± That stopped me in my tracks. I¡¯d since learned to differentiate between arrogance and unwavering confidence. But, something told me this woman fell squarely in the latter. None of that meant she posed a greater threat to me than Flame Guardians, but I decided to let that slide. ¡°Okay, you got me,¡± I said, shoving the dagger back into my inventory. ¡°You want to talk? Fine. Here¡¯s a question to start with. Who are you people?¡± Logain bristled in his armor. ¡°Careful, elf.¡± ¡°Careful, yourself,¡± the woman countered. ¡°It¡¯s a fair question.¡± ¡°My lady¡ª¡± She glared at him¡ªnothing obvious, just a slight pinch of her brows. But, the brutish man paled and took a few steps backward. It all came back to me now: My first encounter with the duo. They were among the high-rankers I had seen during my first night at The Naked Bard. The quest didn¡¯t trigger back then, however. Something to do with the meeting of our eyes? The strange woman stepped forward and extended her hand. ¡°Proper introductions are in order, Damien. My name¡¯s Kajal. Kajal Undreki. That¡¯s all you need to know. The oaf behind me is Logain.¡± ¡°Kaj-arl, huh?¡± I mouthed. ¡°No. Kaa-jl. I hate when people get this wrong.¡± I could relate. Paz, in particular, tended to butcher my surname. ¡°Alright. Kaa-jl.¡± I accepted her handshake and winced at her much stronger grip. Kajal watched me with curious eyes. ¡°How did you find this place?¡± ¡°I stumbled upon it.¡± ¡°And, how did that happen?¡± Her vice grip tightened. ¡°By pure chance.¡± ¡°Lies,¡± Logain said. ¡°No one finds the Traveler¡¯s Room except by invitation.¡± ¡°No lies here, sadly.¡± I tried to escape Kajal, but she kept her hand locked around mine. ¡°If you please?¡± Kajal ignored me. ¡°Chance has nothing to do with this, Damien. The Traveler¡¯s Room does not appear to the eyes of the undeserving. You are either called to it or you are not.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t follow . . .¡± ¡°It means you shouldn¡¯t have found it in the first place!¡± Logain said. ¡°Not unless you were shadowing us.¡± What the hell was he on about? The room was one of many in the Labyrinth. Though, to be fair, it held the distinction of being the only one equipped with a beacon. If the beacon didn¡¯t reveal itself to normal folk but summoned those thought to be special. Didn¡¯t that mean . . . ¡°You¡¯re [Migrant Soul]s,¡± I said with a gasp. That was the only trait we could possibly have in common. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°You¡¯re a [Migrant Soul],¡± Kajal replied. ¡°What I am yet to decide is whether that makes you an ally or a threat.¡± Logain spluttered. ¡°Surely, there can¡¯t be two of you, can there, my lady?¡± ¡°Two. Three. Ten. Who knows?¡± Kajal shrugged and released my hand. ¡°What this means is that someone is lying. I intend to find who.¡± ¡°I am not a threat,¡± I said, partly because it seemed the proper thing to say, but mostly because I couldn¡¯t afford a confrontation with this oppressive woman. ¡°Then, what are you?¡± Kajal asked, and her eyes traced the outline of my neck. ¡°You¡¯re not the Hero. So, what does that make you? The Adversary? Are you the one to usher in the apocalypse?¡± I¡¯m not the Hero? ¡°If he is to be our adversary,¡± Logain said, brandishing a war hammer, ¡°then we must strike him quickly. It would save lives down the line.¡± ¡°Now, wait a damn minute!¡± I said, backing away. ¡°I am not your enemy or anything else you think I am.¡± I readied [Dark Stalker] to facilitate a quick escape. Kajal placed a strong arm on Logain¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s not be hasty. Not without giving dear Damien a chance to defend himself, at least.¡± ¡°But, you said it yourself,¡± Logain spat. ¡°If not Adversary, who else can he be?¡± ¡°Someone interesting¡±¡ªKajal smirked¡ª¡°There¡¯s a mystery here waiting to be solved. Besides, weren¡¯t you the ones who taught me that nothing ever occurs by chance?¡± ¡°Then, we should take him into custody. Bring him to the masters. An unknown entity like him is too dangerous to leave on the battlefield.¡± ¡°I have a better idea,¡± Kajal said, stroking his cheek. ¡°Why don¡¯t we keep this between us and address it after the festival?¡± Logain recoiled from her touch. ¡°My lady! We can¡¯t possibly¡ª¡± ¡°If he posed a threat to me, your god would have said something about it.¡± Her features hardened as she spoke. ¡°Or is there reason to believe I would be misled?¡± ¡°Y-yes. I mean, n-no! It doesn¡¯t . . .¡± ¡°Secrets, Logain. Till when necessary, okay?¡± I furrowed my brows. Something about her words didn¡¯t add up. The [System] had considered her a threat to me. And, unless I was mistaken, she had gotten the same message. . . . Or, maybe I was mistaken. It was difficult to say. The [System] had contacted her the same time as me, but nothing said the content of her notification had to be the same. Broaching the topic with her was out of the question lest I should open another can of worms. You have unlocked a new objective! Quest: [Heroic Action]. Objective: Kill the impostor! A person in your vicinity poses a unique threat to your adventure . . . Rereading the message did nothing to improve comprehension, and Kajal¡¯s demeanor gave nothing away. I wasn¡¯t the kind to kill in cold blood just because the [System] demanded it. Kajal seemed more or less the same. But, what did the [System] mean by calling her an impostor? This was so confusing. ¡°Damien,¡± Kajal said. ¡°We will continue our discussion at a later date. I have places to be at the moment. And, you do too by the looks of it.¡± She glanced pointedly at the empty spaces beside me. ¡°We both seem to be lacking a few of our people.¡± I tried not to think about the state of my teammates and sought instead a more pressing need. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can teach me about the Traveler¡¯s Room.¡± Logain growled. ¡°You think letting you walk free is not mercy enough?¡± ¡°Hush,¡± Kajal said. ¡°He would have gotten a free demonstration regardless.¡± She walked past the grouchy man and stopped at the wall that bore the dungeon map. ¡°There¡¯s little to teach, Damien. You may consider this room to be the equivalent of a transport hub.¡± ¡°Like some kind of train station?¡± I wondered. Kajal¡¯s smile revealed that she was no stranger to trains. ¡°Yes, exactly like that. You can assess any part of the dungeon via the map, including the dungeon heart.¡± ¡°Wow. That is . . . I mean . . . why haven¡¯t you gone to retrieve it, then?¡± ¡°Because some things are not worth the effort even if they seem so. Besides, I already have what I came for.¡± She touched the miniature heart at the center of the map¡ªthe one that looked like a spirit orb now that I thought about it. ¡°You would be destroyed at your current level if you make a play for the Egg of the Labyrinth. My suggestion? Don¡¯t.¡± The dungeon map activated as she spoke, swelling with blue light. Kajal closed her eyes for a few seconds. And then . . . Nothing. Nothing happened. ¡°This is my stop,¡± she said, disengaging from the wall. I glanced at my own [Map] in the corner of my vision. The cursor that represented my position stood still in a room in the center of a corridor. But, the paths surrounding us looked a little . . . different? Oh, wow. We had teleported. And, not just the three of us. The entire room. Kajal turned for the exit and gestured to Logain. He lingered in position, glaring daggers at my head. He wasn¡¯t the accommodating type, but I cared little for his antics after the spectacle Kajal had just displayed. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± I asked as they headed for the door. Kajal threw a coy look over her shoulder. ¡°For now. Like I said, we will meet again, Damien. Try to survive the Labyrinth in the meantime. Byron intends to leave you for dead.¡± ¡°Yeah, but who are you?¡± I asked, unable to resist. Kajal had shot up the rankings over the last few minutes to become the most interesting person I¡¯d met since arriving in Vizhima. She placed a finger over her lips, coy look still in place. And then, she sauntered out of the doorway, Logain in tow. My sensitive hearing caught snippets of their conversation. ¡°You can¡¯t honestly be interested in that mongrel, my lady.¡± Oi. I heard that. ¡°Zip it, Logain. He¡¯s more interesting than you think. Things are about to get pretty fun in Vizhima . . .¡± Their voices faded out of range. I shook my head and returned to the Traveler¡¯s map, mind running amok with the possibilities. Kajal bothered me as an unknown enigma, but . . . did she just say I could access any region of the Labyrinth? My earlier worries melted in the breeze. What did it matter that I had returned to the start if I could teleport anywhere I wished? Let¡¯s do this, then. I reached out and touched the replica of the dungeon heart. It felt wispy beneath my fingers, much like a spirit orb. A foreign presence hijacked my senses¡ª Expanding the Traveler¡¯s map. Please, select a destination. The presence ran up my fingertips and through the rest of my body until the [Map] screen came alive. Without prompting, [Map] moved to the center of my vision and expanded to cover my sight. I could see it! The layout of the Labyrinth hovered in front of my face. I would have admired the intricate array of corridors had I not been more focused on locating my targets. ¡°Item rooms,¡± I murmured. Markers appeared on the [Map], over ten of them, scattered throughout the Labyrinth. I selected the closest item room and nodded in appreciation as a haptic buzz provided feedback on my choice. Destination selected. Beginning transfer . . . I waited with bated breath. Transfer completed. You may disengage. Wait? That was it? I stepped out of the room to test the outcome and met a foreign corridor different from what I remembered. A quick inspection of the [Map] screen revealed that it had regressed to its original state with one new oddity. I now stood close to an item room less than a corridor away. The Traveler¡¯s teleportation wasn¡¯t pinpoint accurate, but honestly, who cared as long as it provided a faster way to travel. Stifling a whoop, I ran toward my quarry. The item room had been plundered beforehand, probably by Kajal or some other team of rankers. They¡¯d emptied most of the consumables, but a good number of weapons and sticky bombs remained. I tossed everything I could get my hands on into my inventory, and then I retreated to the Traveler¡¯s Room. Fifteen item rooms littered the map. If even half of them stood unvisited, I could leave the Labyrinth with more treasure than I knew what to do with. ¡°Alright then,¡± I said with a grin. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± 061 Infestation You have defeated Lion Roach Chimera LVL 22. You have defeated Lion Roach Chimera LVL 20. Of course, I didn''t account for the goddamned chimeras. The item rooms situated at the outer regions of the Labyrinth were easy enough to access, but those nearer to the dungeon heart posed an entirely different ballgame. A new type of enemy¡ªthe toughest I had yet faced¡ªpopulated the corridors. They stood over seven feet tall with a lion¡¯s head, complete with a mane, crowning the body of a cockroach. Large wings trailed behind the monsters, thankfully ineffective. Short barbs, about the size of needles, ran along the lengths of their limbs. As if that wasn¡¯t terrifying enough, the monsters also possessed a fascination with dying flesh, including the bodies of their companions. The instant any member of their group suffered a fatal wound, the others piled on it and devoured its parts. What was a collection of lion roaches called, anyway? A pride? A cluster? Or, maybe, an infestation? ¡°Morbid,¡± I said, backing away as the chimeras made short work of their dying brethren. One of them looked up at me and hissed. A torn limb dangled in its jaw. I retreated into the shadows before it could advance, but the Lion Roach didn''t relent that easily. It skittered forward with its snout raised in the air and sniffed a few times to find my scent. Sensing nothing, it returned to its meal and ripped the palp clean off a carcass. That¡¯s your brother you¡¯re eating, you fucking bastard! The three surviving chimeras gorged themselves on the bodies of their fallen comrades, giving me a chance to ingest a health potion. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to flee the battlefield, but I ignored them. The trauma of being attacked by giant cockroaches that could jump, crawl, and scale dungeon walls would never truly go away . . . But, without access to the Traveler¡¯s Room, my teammates had it worse wherever they were. This was no place to quit. I placed three Sticky Bombs in front of my path and mentally prepared the four moves needed to end the fight. I banged my knife against my gauntlet to get the chimeras¡¯ attention, and like clockwork, they came running, falling over themselves in a bid to get to me . . . . . . Which made the resulting explosion even better, as all three charged into the epicenter. It didn¡¯t kill them. Three moves to go. The first overgrown roach reached me from out of the blaze, limbs extended with intent to mutilate. I stabbed the Dagger into its neck and ducked to avoid death by barbed limbs. The monster lunged after me, undeterred by its wounds. Its thick mane complicated the issue, blunting the effect of my strikes. I finally cut through on my third attempt and severed its head from its shoulders. Two. I left a [Decoy] for the other roaches to pounce on and struck from out of their blind spot. The chimeras reacted much faster this time. A clawed limb glanced off my breastplate about the same time that a haymaker threw me into a wall. My newfound armor protected me from the needles. But, that had come too close for comfort¡ª I flipped out of the way as one monster dove for my throat and buried my blade into its cheek. One. The second lion roach barely crumpled before the third and final monster jumped into the fray. This one, unlike the others, retained a smidgen of HP. [Fear Aura] flooded the corridor, rushing from out of me to sink hooks into the wounded monster. The lion roach stalled for a single second. Enough time for me to lunge up into its thorax. Zero. The monster survived the hit. Oh, shit . . . It survived?! I raised my arms in time to block a claw attack and felt the barbs press into my gauntlets. Again, I found myself thrown into a wall . . . and, fuck this. Man killed the bugs, not the other way around! I exploded into a flurry and struck the creature with my Fear-enhanced blade until it stumbled under the weight of accumulated injuries and tumbled to the ground. Lymphatic fluid issued out of its wounds, making squelching noises beneath my boots. I stood over the dead creatures¡ªdelirious, disheveled, disgusted¡ªand sneered as [System] messages populated my vision. My current leather armor, which I had salvaged a few hours earlier, now hung mangled beyond repair. I discarded the ruined armor pieces and trudged into the item room that had been guarded by the chimeras. This room, like many others I had visited, lay stripped of its most valuable treasures. It had been looted in a considerate way, however¡ªa quirk I had come to associate with Kajal. Unlike other rankers, she only grabbed the items she truly desired, leaving lots of scrap in her wake. That scrap had filled my inventory to bursting, enough that I considered abandoning the Egg of Labyrinth. None but a few of the salvaged items qualified as ranker-grade. But, given their sheer quantity, I could make a pretty penny selling them to Liliana. Would that penny suffice to buy off the Ainsworths'' indenture? That remained to be seen. However, my inventory had massed into a small fortune in the interim, and I didn¡¯t intend to stop. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. I shoved everything left standing in the item room into my inventory: weapons, gear, alchemically created bombs . . . The latter in particular were my favorite. I¡¯d discovered three variations of them during my travels that I''d nicknamed: Sticky, Smoky, and Boom-Boom. The sticky version remained the most tactically efficient due its ability to be detonated at will, but the smoke and concussion types were no slouches either. I grabbed a helm that felt too delicate to serve as anything other than a decoration and stopped in front of an armor rack covered in dark, lightweight clothing. My breathing faltered. Night Scout Armor [Common] A favorite of Rogue classes. When equipped as a full set, this armor grants bonuses to [Stealth] and [Intimidation]. Requirement: [2]. Kajal had abandoned this?! Then again, I hadn''t met a more enigmatic person. She probably didn''t meet the list of requirements and could intimidate people just fine without a secondary boost. The current level of my identification skill didn''t allow the full unlocking of the item description. However, a single touch of the armor would inform me if it was appropriate for use. I laid my hand on the cuirass and waited for the usual flare that signified incompatibility. When that didn¡¯t happen, I shed my clothing and slipped into the black, velvety material of the Night Scout Armor. Unlike with regular armor fabricated without monster cores, each piece of the Night Scout Armor expanded to fit snugly around my form. For the first time since arriving at Skeelie, I looked the part of an Assassin. Felt like one too. Regular armor simply couldn¡¯t compare; no wonder Paz preferred to go shirtless. The black cuirass terminated in a pair of tassels that hung down to my thighs, complete with boots, pants, gauntlets, and long, fingerless gloves. Four large pouches sat attached to the belt, and I shoved bombs into them just to feel more secure. I retraced my steps to the Traveler¡¯s Room which I had converted to a shelter of sorts over the past two days. The Traveler¡¯s Map revealed that I had visited all of the dungeon¡¯s item rooms save for the last, which stood precariously close to the center of the Labyrinth. Assuming the current pattern of monster spawns continued, the final region would contain the toughest chimeras in the dungeon. Tougher even than lion roaches¡ªa thought that sent shivers creeping up my spine. Despite combing through a good portion of the Labyrinth, I still couldn''t complete the relevant quest. [Damien the Explorer]¡ªtotally not copyright infringement¡ªpromised rewards in exchange for uncovering the dungeon¡¯s secrets. However, what other secrets existed in the Labyrinth? The Traveler¡¯s Room was by far the most interesting thing I¡¯d found, but the [System] considered it a separate achievement. I¡¯d also pieced that the Labyrinth had been constructed by ancient people at the behest of a powerful being . . . but anyone could arrive at that conclusion by looking at the diagrams. The only other place of note was the center of the Labyrinth. If any region harbored secrets to be discovered, it had to be it. Kajal had warned against pursuing the dungeon heart, and something about her tone made me inclined to agree . . . But, what about the Ainsworths? Should Nicola fail to escape the dungeon, I would become the last chance her siblings had at liberation. And, I would never live with myself if I broke that promise. Not until I had exhausted all available options. I settled into a meditative pose. The pain from my injuries faded away as my consciousness detached from my body. [Meditation] helped out in a pinch, though it didn¡¯t provide as much comfort as a good night¡¯s sleep. I approached the Traveler¡¯s map once I was done, brimming with resolve. [Map] expanded until it covered my vision, and then it followed my prompt to settle on the final item room. Destination selected. Beginning transfer . . . Transfer completed. You may disengage. The atmosphere around me changed. An ominous aura filled the room, marked by a transformation in the ambient lighting. The pinkish hue that erstwhile saturated the dungeon had turned a deep red: the color of fresh blood. I glanced over my shoulder with a dry throat, expecting monsters to lunge out of the shadows. Nothing moved behind me. Not even a breeze. Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. Ugh. That was a new low for me. As if I needed more reasons to avoid the center of the Labyrinth. All that was left was for chiptune boss music to play in the background. You don''t need to scare me that much, Labby! I poked my head out of the doorway to find a sterile, empty corridor that stretched almost twice as wide as usual. That by itself was enough to give me pause, but concerning sterility . . . how did the Labyrinth manage to look so pristine? Between my party and the other rankers, we should have butchered over a thousand chimeras. And, three years before that, a separate group of participants had done their fair share of butchering. Where did all the corpses go? Eerie howls emanated from far off into the dungeon, interrupting my train of thought. Muffled shouts accompanied those howls. The shouts sounded too similar to the screams of fighting and dying men. The final item room lay in that direction¡ªLord, I didn¡¯t want to go. Who said I needed to loot it anyway? I could just wait out the rest of the exercise in the Traveler¡¯s room until the exit portals activated and try my luck selling my entire inventory. Let my betters compete for the dungeon heart; I had gained enough goodies of my own. But, what about my teammates? Paz and Nicola wouldn¡¯t stop searching for me as long as they lived. That much I could count on. They¡¯d do their best to make it to the dungeon heart, just like we¡¯d promised. And, they would assume the worst should they find me missing at the center. Where else would I find a crew that complemented me as well as they did? And, how could I leave them without my help should they suffer a second encounter with Byron? Fuck that murderous asshole. I slunk down the passage toward the terrible noises, prepared for the worst. The final item room stood embedded into a wall at one end of a crossroad, again larger than I was used to. The sounds of fighting worsened as I got closer¡ªdid a battle rage right next to the room? My foot snagged across a protrusion that jutted from the ground. I leaped aside with my throat dry in anticipation of a trap. Nothing happened in the long minute that followed, forcing me to glare down at the culprit. A human limb lay beneath my feet: A full arm, decked in blood and dark armor, complete with a sword glittering in its grasp. I balked at the macabre sight, then turned around the corner to view the rest of the corridor. Guts and body parts lined every inch of the walls, just when I¡¯d wondered about dungeon corpses . . . The word ¡®carnage¡¯ couldn''t describe what I looked at, for it was an occurrence far worse than that, given the nature of the bloodbath. Corpses lay strewn about like confetti. Chitin and lymphatic fluids littered the ground¡ªa sure sign of battle with Lion Roach Chimeras. The snout of what seemed to be a giant dog sat among the pile. And, enmeshed among the morbid salmagundi, were the bloodied limbs and torsos of human rankers with eyes staring lifelessly in their heads. I shrank back from the gore and the smell of offal and resisted the urge to hurl at my feet. Death was a reality in the Labyrinth. That much was certain, but why so many people at once? More yells echoed from an area just beyond the crossroad. I wanted nothing more than to return to the Traveler¡¯s Room, but an image of a beaten, bloodied Nicola flashed before my eyes, ridding me of that notion. I needed to aid the survivors in any way I could. Failing that, I had to ensure that my friends didn¡¯t count among their numbers. I glanced at the glittering sword beneath me, unable to bring myself to toss it into my inventory. The rest of my journey through the corridor broke something in me as I waded through mounds of gore and filth. 062 The Last Leclerc ¡°Form up,¡± Mathideus bellowed. The ragtag group of adventurers, about ten in number, formed ranks around him. Mathideus, for his part, stayed at the forefront of the formation, surrounded by members of Glamring. His long, blonde hair¡ªmatted and dyed with blood¡ªflowed like silk behind him. A straight sword hummed in one of his hands; a heather shield in the other. This was a man used to taking charge in the heat of battle. But, the creatures he faced this time were far from ordinary. They advanced in two rows toward the adventurers, forming grotesque silhouettes in the dim shadows of the light. The first row bore the dreaded Lion Roach Chimeras which marched low to the ground, looking like true critters. The second row featured a new breed of monsters. They retained the mammalian skulls of their predecessors, complete with long snouts, large teeth, and triangle-shaped ears. However, that was where the similarities ended. While the lion roaches stood at about seven feet in an upright position, the new monsters towered over them by a good three feet. They¡¯d snubbed the insectoid body in favor of a bipedal one: gaunt, mean, and lean around the ribs. Their flesh glowed a pale hue in the dungeon light, transparent enough that dark organs swam visibly beneath the skin. Two long arms hung low to the ground on each individual, bearing jagged-looking swords. The swords looked to have been fashioned from bone or material equally as pale, though there was no doubting their durability as they scraped along the ground. Each monster wore a tattered loincloth around their pelvis, not so much a fashion statement as a lack of need for armor. [Identify] revealed their effective names: Cynocephalus, which I recognized from myths back on Earth. They could arguably be considered Dog Human Chimeras, but whoever named the monsters seemed tired of that gimmick. The Cynocephali varied between levels 25 and 26, which put them firmly in silver rank. They showed this difference via intelligence and waited as the first row of roaches rushed at the adventurers. ¡°Missiles,¡± Mathideus commanded. The magic users in his group¡ªabout three in number¡ªresponded with spells. The spells decimated the onrush of chimeras, allowing the frontline fighters to clean up the stragglers. I remained in the shadows behind the adventurers, unable to proceed until they cleared a path. ¡°We can win this!¡± a male ranker said, spinning his spear to rid it of insectoid matter. ¡°Focus,¡± Mathideus warned. The man snorted and stepped out of formation, toward the unmoving row of Cynocephali. Bright light sparkled around the tip of his spear as he prepared an ability. I didn¡¯t see the enemy move. One second, the Cynocephali stood in utter stillness. The next, two of them flung their swords at the regrouping rankers. The first sword struck the man with the spear, knocking his weapon from his grasp. The second rocketed toward Mathideus, who managed a last-minute parry. The disarmed man scrambled for his spear, only to miss a third sword that crashed into his skull. He crumpled to the ground, and his head followed last, splitting apart in separate directions. I barely registered the gruesome sight before the Cynocephali roared and commenced their assault. They closed the distance to the adventurers, trampling the surviving roaches as they did. The rankers managed a single volley of spells before the chimeras fell upon them. Bone swords swung down at the rankers, only to be blocked by the shields of Mathideus and another member of Glamring. ¡°Cluster,¡± Mathideus screamed. More spells erupted from behind the front line. Blood, of humans and chimeras both, stained the ground. I dashed out of [Stealth], eager to help now that I had seen enough. Two Cynocephali battered the defenders, knocking three fighters off their feet. They dashed through the breach in the frontline, toward the casters, and would have torn them to pieces were it not for the timely intervention of Mathideus. He swung his sword, and a wall of giant blades rose from the ground. One chimera met its end, trapped between the blades and an onslaught of spells. The other surged through the fence, undeterred by the damage. It clamped down on a Mage before she could respond and tugged the girl¡¯s arm clean off her socket. I reached in at that moment and raked my dagger across its heel. The other rankers responded. Weapons and abilities flew at my position, targeted at the chimera. I nearly died from the spray-and-pray nature of the attacks, but someone needed to keep the chimera occupied. The giant beast finally keeled over with the girl''s arm lodged firmly in its jaw. It would take that prize to the afterlife, assuming chimeras enjoyed that privilege. One of the casters who had nearly killed me in overcompensation snarled in my face. ¡°Who are you? How did you get here?¡± The now one-armed Mage sobbed in the background. ¡°I¡¯m an ally,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m here to help.¡± ¡°That you, Damien?¡± Mathideus asked, chancing a look over his shoulder. He didn¡¯t wait for a reply as the last of the Cynocephali tried to bifurcate him. The monster went down in seconds, courtesy of the fighters who had returned to their feet. ¡°Everyone,¡± Mathideus said, dispelling his sword, ¡°take a moment to regain your breath. Sordius, stop gawking like an idiot and cast a healing spell on Yuna.¡± The man in question, with a beard braided into rows, balked at the command. ¡°I can do healing. But, I don¡¯t have anything to regrow lost limbs!¡± ¡°Just staunch the wound, man,¡± another ranker said. I cleaned my dagger on the skull of a chimera and closed the [System] message informing me of my participation in the kill. Mathideus walked through the group of rankers, patting shoulders and whispering words of encouragement. He made his way to me. ¡°Great timing, Damien. I see you got my request?¡± ¡°What request?¡± I asked. ¡°The one calling for a coalition. We sent word of our plan before the dungeon run began.¡± He stroked his chin and regarded me with curiosity. ¡°You got wind of this, didn¡¯t you? We distributed maps and everything.¡± Of course, they did. And, in true fashion, no one had bothered to inform the Dark Elf or his party. I couldn¡¯t blame Mathideus for this one though. We hadn¡¯t crossed paths since the fight at the guild. The friends of the fallen spearman shoved through the group to recover his corpse. ¡°That¡¯s what this is?¡± I asked, studying the group of weary rankers. Their numbers had fallen to nine with the death of their comrade. ¡°A coalition?¡± ¡°Impressive, isn¡¯t it?¡± Mathideus said. ¡°Many rankers linger around the preceding region, waiting for the exit portals to open. But, we aren¡¯t interested in repeating the same, old strategy. We are forming an alliance to push for the dungeon heart.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°You know where it is?¡± ¡° . . . No. But a group this large is bound to find it. Think about it, Damien¡±¡ªand, at this, he beamed¡ª¡°Almost everyone avoided the final region in the last dungeon run; a run I participated in. Only a handful dared to venture this close to the center. With news of our coalition spreading, we can succeed where our predecessors failed! We just need to wait for more rankers to boost our numbers.¡± But, I had seen Mathideus'' numbers. They had been turned into a gravesite less than five corridors away. ¡°You started,¡± I said, ¡°with a much larger army than this.¡± ¡°Well, yes . . .¡± ¡°And, you still haven¡¯t found the dungeon heart or its location.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a work in progress¡ª¡± ¡°The handful of rankers who ventured this far in the last run didn''t return, did they?¡± Mathideus frowned. ¡°The layout of the dungeon changes between each dive. What matters is that we avoid making the mistakes of the past. We don¡¯t do this as a handful.¡± He gestured at our surroundings. ¡°This penultimate stage was built for group battles. You can tell by the width of the corridors. Our predecessors failed in thinking they could do it alone. I am not plagued by their hubris.¡± ¡°It sure seems like you are¡ª¡± ¡°For the first time since the dungeons respawned,¡± Mathideus continued, drowning out my insult, ¡°a majority of the participants have agreed to gather here and find the dungeon heart together. They are eager to make their mark.¡± Eager to die, you mean¡ªif the corpses from earlier were any indication. The dungeon heart hadn¡¯t been recovered in the last three festivals or in the thousand years before that . . . before the dungeons reappeared. Those figures didn¡¯t bode well for Mathideus or his crew. Or for me. ¡°Where are your teammates?¡± Mathideus asked, looking around. My expression must have changed, because he grimaced and patted my shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m sure they fought valiantly till the end. For what it is worth, I appreciate your talent. We can use an extra rogue.¡± ¡°My teammates aren¡¯t dead. They are simply missing.¡± Mathideus offered a sympathetic look. ¡°Ready on your word, Mat.¡± A familiar man with a tower shield marched up to us. Once again, I found myself distracted by his purple hair, which looked out of place in the world of Vizhima. Another member of Glamring, this one with spiky, black hair, moved among the crowd, helping the weary to their feet. He passed Mathideus, and the two shared an intimate smile they didn¡¯t care to hide. The final member of their party pulled a large roll of parchment from his inventory. He unfurled it on the dungeon floor and pushed his long, brown locks out of his face. I peeked over his shoulder to see a crude diagram of the Labyrinth¡¯s pathways. Some kind of local area map. ¡°We are here,¡± the man said to Mathideus and gestured at a point on the map. ¡°We should come within range of the Labyrinth¡¯s center if we keep heading southward. There are a few other places we could do well to investigate, so I suggest waiting for other groups to catch up.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Mathideus said, ¡°but we can¡¯t keep dallying. The exit portals appear in less than two days. I don¡¯t want to be isolated from them when that happens.¡± I studied their map. Aside from a few glaring errors, it also possessed a lot of blind spots, which was just as well, considering it had been drawn from the memories of various groups of rankers. This was a massacre waiting to happen. Any attempts to coordinate a strike using this would only end in disaster. But, did I want to help them? As far as I was concerned, Mathideus was the competition, not an ally. And, I would not endure all I had suffered only to gift the final prize to someone else. Reservations aside, however, I liked Mathideus. Enough to want him alive, at least. ¡°Mathideus,¡± I said in a casual tone, ¡°you might be better off abandoning your attempt. Your coalition¡¯s falling apart, and you don¡¯t look any better.¡± Mathideus¡¯ visage changed, as did those of his teammates. ¡°You misunderstand, cur,¡± Spiky Hair said and stepped in front of his leader. ¡°We don¡¯t need faithlessness. Not from the likes of you. Just move along and pretend you never saw.¡± ¡°Allen,¡± Mathideus said, casting a wary glance at the rankers behind us. A few of them had perked up with interest at our discussion. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Mathideus said in a low voice to me. ¡°But, I would be hard-pressed to relent at this juncture. Many have lost their lives¡ª¡± ¡°And, more would join them if you continue on this path.¡± ¡°So, what would you have me do, Damien?¡± he said with crossed arms. ¡°I am level twenty-five. Unless I get stuck in a rut for the next three years, this is the last time I enter the Labyrinth.¡± His eyes clouded over. ¡°The Leclerc family might have once been Skeelien nobility, but I¡¯m the last living member of its household. A household that perished over the course of prior dungeon runs. The sacrifices of my family won¡¯t be in vain.¡± But, that way of thinking wasn¡¯t any better. His honest admission impressed me, but Mathideus would sacrifice himself and the lives of others in a silly bid to reclaim lost honor. ¡°Your family wouldn¡¯t want you to die here,¡± I whispered. ¡°Better that than going out with a whimper,¡± he replied. ¡°I can¡¯t play in Skeelie forever. The real challenges await out in the wider world. If I can¡¯t surmount this hurdle, what then does that mean for my prospects as a ranker?¡± ¡°We should move,¡± Allen interjected with a stern glance at me. ¡°Our people grow uneasy. We can wait for reinforcements at the next resting point.¡± Mathideus grimaced and moved over to the rest of his army. He regarded the tired rankers, who in turn stood straighter and mustered what little was left of their courage. ¡°Brethren,¡± Mathideus said, lifting his sword. ¡°Friends and kindred both. Here now we stand on the precipice of glory with our comrades-in-arms lost behind us. But, I must enjoin you: Do not be dismayed! You have chosen courage over safety and cowardice. You have sacrificed comfort for recognition and loss. ¡°As we march into the unknown with only valor to guide us, I promise that you shall not be put to shame. Before this time tomorrow, the Egg of the Labyrinth will be in our hands! Bards shall sing forever of this moment, and your children shall listen to your stories with glee. But first, I must ask. Are you dismayed?¡± The rankers stomped their feet, punctuated by a resounding No! ¡°I will be your backbone!¡± Mathideus said. ¡°Your sword and buckler, and cuirass and helm! I will lead from the forefront, your first line of defense against approaching threats. Should any of you falter, rest assured that I will be there to help you. No one else dies today. No one!¡± A twinge of shame tugged at my gut. On one hand stood Mathideus, doing all he could to rally assistance in beating the dungeon. And then, there was me. Secretive, old me. One of only three people in the Labyrinth who could visit the dungeon heart at will. Maybe I could help them? If we combined Glamring¡¯s might with my access to the Traveler¡¯s room, beating the Labyrinth could turn out to be a cakewalk. I would also save lives in the process. No one else needed to die from pointless exploration. So, why was I reluctant? Revealing the Traveler''s room meant revealing more about myself than I intended. And, although the coalition stood united at the moment, all of that could change the instant the dungeon heart was won. They¡¯ll kill you, a small voice said in the back of my head. They¡¯ll kill you and take your loot. In the end, I trusted only two people enough to share that secret. Mathideus could search for the dungeon¡¯s heart the hard way. However, if there was any way I could help this team . . . ¡°Mathideus,¡± I said, pushing toward the front of the formation. The rankers had begun a slow march forward, with the melee fighters taking the lead. A rogue I had earlier failed to notice, judging by his apparel, ventured ahead as some kind of scout. The group still had a ways to go before reaching the center of the Labyrinth. And, that was assuming they didn''t get derailed. ¡°Hmm?¡± Mathideus said, cocking his head to look up at me. ¡°Are you interested in a bargain?¡± I whispered. ¡°Depends on the terms.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you an advantage against the final boss. All I ask is that you spare some effort to find my teammates if you succeed.¡± ¡°You sound like you are doing me a favor. Everyone who contributes to the conquest of the Labyrinth gets a share of the spoils.¡± ¡°I am doing you a favor, you martyrish git. Promise me this, and I¡¯ll point your people in the direction of an item room¡±¡ªand, out to safety if it comes down to it¡ª¡°It¡¯s the last one in the dungeon. You should understand what that means. The key to beating the Labyrinth could very well lie in there.¡± Mathideus stiffened. ¡°Give me your word,¡± I said, ¡°and I will show you where it lies.¡± ¡°How do you¡ª?¡± The kchak sound of a sprung trap reached my ears. The rogue, who had been sniffing out traps, froze and glanced with wide eyes at the rest of the group. Purple Hair raised his shield and called out a warning. Before he could finish, giant boulders tumbled out of the ceiling. 063 Pariah ¡°[Dome]!¡± The air above Purple Hair''s shield swelled with translucent energy. The energy coalesced into a barrier which deflected the incoming boulders. It saved the lives of the coalition . . . all of them within the area of effect, at least, which included me, Glamring, and three other rankers. [Dome] wasn¡¯t built to protect a large enough group, and it showed in the way the casters at the rear got repelled by the expanding barrier. The boulders rolled off [Dome] and thundered on the surroundings, grinding the casters and the single rogue in the forefront into a bloody pulp. Blood splattered against the outside of the barrier, though to the survivors¡¯ credit, no one lost their meals. I had been at the back of the formation a few minutes ago. Those casters could have easily been me. ¡°No, no, no!¡± Mathideus said, shoving past our tight cluster toward the edge of the barrier. The boulders evaporated as he approached, a sign that they had been created by magic. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Mathideus!¡± Purple Hair said, dropping the [Dome]. ¡°The trap¡¯s not over yet. We have company!¡± Loud growls reached my ears from further up the corridor. The floor itself vibrated as a new mob of chimeras spawned in our vicinity. I counted over ten Cynocephali before one of the rankers, who had looked flighty from the onset, took off in the opposite direction. ¡°Stand your ground,¡± Mathideus said. ¡°Stand.¡± But, he was fighting a losing battle. The members of Glamring slid into a rigid formation, unsupported by the two other rankers who seemed torn between staying and fleeing. A wave washed over me like an electric current. You are in the vicinity of an allied [Rally]! You have gained a stack of [Courage]¡ªstacks only once. Your resolve has been strengthened. Your attacks now deal 50% more damage. Oh, Mathideus. You dirty, little shit. So, this was how he had been keeping his coalition going. ¡°Magic!¡± Mathideus commanded. The Cynocephali closed the distance. Their terrifying bone swords trailed behind them with screeching noises on the ground. ¡°We¡¯re out of casters,¡± I started to say when a member of Glamring¡ªwho I now recognized as a Shaman¡ªpulled a crystal out of his long, brown hair and smashed it between his palms. You have been buffed by an allied [Heroic Defense]. Your Endurance and Willpower have risen by 5! ¡°Barrage!¡± Mathideus said, swinging his sword. His spiky-haired teammate¡ªAllen¡ªswung his polearm in tandem. Lightning rolled down the corridor, backed by a volley of flying swords. The combination attack struck the incoming horde, who simply powered through the damage and charged at our group. We broke apart to receive them. I slipped in and out of the shadows, barely hearing my grunts over the ringing of steel. A bone sword came close to cleaving my head. Another gouged the ground beside my feet. Lightning arced and arrows fell. Loud barks and other guttural noises rose. A barrier shattered nearby with concussive force, throwing everyone in proximity¡ªmyself included¡ªinto the walls. I bounded off the flat of a chimera¡¯s blade and sank my dagger into its eye. It died in silence, damaged already by someone else in our party. Our sole source of buffs¡ªthe brown-haired shaman from earlier¡ªcrushed another of his fetishes. You have been buffed by an allied [Heroic Attack]! Your Strength and Magic Intellect have risen by 5. The interplay between [Rally] and the two heroic buffs energized us, granting a critical advantage over the chimeras. One of the unfamiliar rankers overextended on his swing and took damage from a retaliatory strike. He backed away with an empty health meter and scrambled within his inventory for a health potion. In doing so, he missed the hulking chimera that loomed beside him. Mathideus stepped in at that moment, but the deed had already been done. The ranker¡¯s remains rained against a wall. His teammate froze for all of two seconds, unable to come to terms with his brutal murder. She dropped her bow the next instant and took to her heels. ¡°No!¡± Mathideus pleaded. ¡°Stop.¡± I dodged beneath a vicious swing and earned a glancing hit to my HP. I could escape unscathed if I put my mind to it, but that meant abandoning these idiots . . . The fleeing ranker screamed and scrambled back in our direction. A second wave of Cynocephali had appeared behind us during the melee. They crawled right out of the dungeon floor, howling in rage. The leader of this pack stood a good head taller than the rest of its kind. And, impaled upon its sword, hung the broken body of the first escapee. ¡°Ambush,¡± I warned. ¡°Ambush behind us!¡± Glamring reacted slowly. Despite being adventurers worth every pinch of their salt, there was little they could do to overturn the current situation. The Shaman lobbed a psychic bolt at the new wave of chimeras but succeeded in doing nothing but annoy a couple of them. The chimeras barked in anger and charged down the corridor. They intended to annihilate us, bludgeoned between both groups. ¡°Stand tall,¡± Mathideus said. ¡°Don¡¯t wither!¡± Wither? We risked being uprooted, dude. A peek at my MP showed I still had enough mana left to activate [Dark Stalker]. I frowned at the dilemma, torn between fighting and pulling a runner . . . A tremor traveled through the ground. It started small, then coalesced into an earth-shattering roar. Massive spikes rocketed from the ground, impaling the chimeras. Mathideus? No. He employed techniques of iron and steel. The new spikes rose from pure earth in a similar manner to spells I had encountered two days earlier¡ª Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. The breath issued from my mouth in a puff of mist. A chill wind blew over our group, cold as death and twice as loveless. ¡°Attack,¡± a distant voice said. I couldn¡¯t see beyond the spikes, but the thunderous noise of footfalls resounded from behind the second wave of monsters. ¡°It¡¯s Byron!¡± the Shaman said. ¡°He came with reinforcements!¡± Magic brightened the passage. The entire Labyrinth trembled as the approaching rankers joined the fray. With the enemies on the rear flank now occupied, Glamring exploded with renewed vigor and focused once again on the chimeras at the opposite flank. I moved to help Mathideus, ignoring the way my blood boiled at the mere mention of Byron. I couldn¡¯t defeat any of the chimeras on my lonesome, but I made sure to contribute enough to prove my mettle. The battle ended with victory for the rankers. A sour one for Mathideus, but a much better outcome compared to the annihilation that would have occurred had reinforcements not arrived. Byron prowled the battlefield in his heavy armor and horned helmet. An army of about twenty strong, not counting his teammates, milled around him and looted the monsters. Three hooded figures followed behind Byron¡ªscouts, by the looks of it. Byron scanned the corridor as he spoke with the rogues, seeking out potential threats. His blue eyes roved past the gathered members of Glamring and settled on me. They widened for a fraction of a second, then narrowed just as quickly. A sneer stretched across his lips. That proved enough to do it. The tempest I had been restraining with all of my might slipped from my grasp and coursed through my veins. Multiple heads turned in alarm as I activated [Fear Aura] and strode for Byron. Byron responded with a smirk. He didn¡¯t budge, even as I stopped three centimeters in front of his face. He stared down at me, despite being the shorter one of us. ¡°This mad elf,¡± Beelith said, coming up from behind him. The rogues had gone pale at my approach and made themselves scarce, but aura like mine wasn¡¯t enough to deter Beelith. Byron raised a hand to stop her. ¡°Dark Elf. So, you live¡ª¡± I spat into his face. Not my brightest moment, to be fair, but being spat on by someone he deemed inferior ought to rankle a bigot like Byron. For a half moment, Byron froze, stunned by my gall. He reached for his weapon, and I swung mine, and¡ª ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± a woman screamed. ¡°Why are you attacking him?¡± I emerged from my blood rage with The Blackreach Dagger lined up against Byron¡¯s throat. But, the angle was wrong. Somehow, over the last few seconds, I¡¯d managed to tackle him to the ground. Byron peeked at me from behind the cover of his arms. A ring flashed on his finger, and he smirked up at me rather than retaliate. A shiver crawled down my spine. The bastard had done something. Something to me! ¡°Get off him,¡± a burly ranker said and wrenched me bodily off Byron. ¡°He killed my teammates!¡± I said, even as my head spun with the inability to recall what had transpired over the last few seconds. A [System] notification flashed: You have resisted [Charm]. Charm? Was that how he got me to attack him? ¡°It¡¯s that elf again,¡± someone whispered. ¡°Why does he always go after Byron?¡± ¡°He¡¯s rabid,¡± another said. Byron rose to his feet, making a show of dusting himself off. ¡°Lower your weapon, elf,¡± the burly ranker who had me in his grip said. ¡°And, stifle your aura. This isn¡¯t the place for infighting.¡± Any place was a good place for infighting as long as it involved Byron. But, I had to salvage my reputation. If he had gone out of his way to use an item to make me look bad, I couldn¡¯t begin to imagine what else he had planned. ¡°I apologize for my outburst,¡± I said, after a deep breath, ¡°but Byron isn¡¯t who he pretends to be. He ambushed my party two days ago and forced us to separate. He meant to kill us.¡± ¡°Bold lies,¡± Beelith snapped. ¡°For an elf.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to lie about?¡± I replied, looking around for support. ¡°You all know his reputation. Is any of what I said beyond belief?¡± The rankers lowered their gazes. I¡¯d seen the way they cowered whenever Byron walked into a room. They might fear him enough to follow, but not enough that they considered him a saint. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± a young Ranger in an arming cap said. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that Red Wyrm scares the shit out of me. However, when my party was on the verge of being destroyed, Byron showed up to defeat the chimeras. Maybe he isn¡¯t malicious. Just misunderstood?¡± ¡°Byron helped me too!¡± a second fellow said. ¡°He shared the spoils of an item room with us, even though he didn¡¯t have to!¡± ¡°And let¡¯s not forget,¡± another piped up, ¡°he¡¯s the one who gathered this force. We wouldn¡¯t have survived the battles from earlier were it not for his guidance. And, we wouldn¡¯t have arrived at your hour of need either, elf, were we as short-sighted as you.¡± A chorus of yeahs followed. Byron frowned. ¡°You give me too much credit, all of you. I¡¯m only doing what I¡¯d hoped the strongest rankers had done in my time. The Labyrinth contains more than enough treasure for everyone to partake in . . . as long as we work together.¡± As long as we worked with him? Only a toddler would fall for that ruse. So, why the hell were these adults drinking up his every word? My blood froze as the answer struck me. He had also Charmed them. Subtly enough to remove their reservations about him, but not enough to reveal what he had done. ¡°As for you, Dark Elf,¡± Byron continued, ¡°I tire of your lies. You accuse me of doing exactly what you did when you murdered Team Amaranth before the festival.¡± He rolled his shoulders. ¡°Everyone knows my power level with respect to yours. If I wanted you dead, you wouldn¡¯t be here to tell it. I did nothing wrong in coming to your aid, yet you greet me with blade poised rather than gratitude.¡± ¡°We should have left them to die!¡± Beelith snapped. ¡°No, please,¡± the female Ranger who had attempted to flee earlier said. ¡°Take me with you. I¡¯m not like him. I swear! He¡¯s not even one of us.¡± What? ¡°He¡¯s not one of them?¡± the burly ranker said as I struggled to find the words. ¡°Why are you here then, elf?¡± ¡°Probably to finish off the wounded,¡± Beelith said, ¡°and loot their gear.¡± She stifled a laugh, enjoying the scene way more than she should. The youth in the arming cap glared. ¡°Is that true, Dark Elf? If you desecrated human corpses¡ª¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± I spat. ¡°Listen, all of you! Byron¡¯s manipulating you. He has a ring¡ª!¡± I ducked to avoid a fruit thrown at my head. ¡°Fucking sword ears,¡± someone yelled. ¡°You continue with your lies!¡± ¡°Blight of Vizhima!¡± another said. ¡°If you ever meet an elf and a snake, kill the elf!¡± The rankers inched toward me, bristling with loathing. Byron and his cronies smirked in the background. ¡°You don¡¯t understand . . .¡± I stuttered. Why wasn¡¯t anyone speaking for me? I glanced back at Mathideus and found him still gathered with the other members of Glamring. But, they had shifted enough to reveal the target of their attention. Mathideus swayed on his knees, staring glassy-eyed into the distance. His spiky-haired partner hovered beside him and rested a bloodied hand on his shoulder. The Shaman stood with arms clasped over his head. And, coiled in front of them, cold and unmoving, lay the final member of Glamring¡ªPurple Hair himself¡ªwith a bone sword buried deep in his skull. ¡°What say you in your defense?¡± the burly ranker asked, grabbing me by the front of my vest. ¡°Careful with this one,¡± Byron said. ¡°You must have noticed his aura. He is attuned to Fear.¡± The burly ranker paled and let go of my vest. His companions, who had erstwhile acted like wolves on the hunt, stiffened at his words. ¡°T-the Lord of T-terror?¡± the boy in the arming cap said. ¡°The elf plans to bring doom on all of Skeelie!¡± ¡°Grab him!¡± someone said. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape!¡± I backed away from their grubby fingers and smacked those who managed to touch me. My actions only served to agitate them, and blades appeared in their hands. I turned tail and ran. Missiles and insults sailed over my head. But, it was the blank look on Purple Hair''s face that struck me as I ran past Glamring. He would never cast another [Dome] again. 064 Rogue Dungeon Gosh, I felt like shit. I trekked down the corridor, unable to suppress the tightness in my chest. Byron had proven once again to be my better and had denied me any form of catharsis. It was one thing to go up against a superior enemy. It was another to do so while everyone desired my downfall. Byron had painted a narrative that threatened to leave me isolated even if I defeated him . . . which sucked because how else could I gather strong allies? He had torn down everything I¡¯d built in the span of two encounters. And, he had robbed me of all my goodwill and friends. I banged my fist against the wall and screamed silently into the dark. Blood rushed like a torrent in my ears. I had never desired to hurt anyone as badly as I intended to hurt Byron. But, I would do it. I would rip his spine out of his throat and feed him to chimeras. My trek led me to the entrance of the final item room which I¡¯d originally intended to offer to Mathideus. Like all the others before it, it stood barred behind a single door . . . with one key difference. The insignia on its surface¡ªa locked chest¡ªwas etched in gold to signify its importance as the final item room in the dungeon. Hopefully, I wouldn¡¯t encounter a repeat of the fight with the Sea Locust Chickens. The door parted with a heavy creak . . . An empty item room lay behind it. ¡°Not again,¡± I groaned. Kajal had been here if the hastily opened chests were any indication. However, unlike with the other item rooms, she had spared no expense upturning this one. Where before, she had taken only high-grade loot, this time she had grabbed everything she could. A pang rose in my heart at the thought of the items I¡¯d missed out on. Probably special gear, worth many times their weight in gold. The journey from the Traveler¡¯s Room to this one was also longer than previous expeditions which meant I had nothing to show for my misadventure with Byron or the chimeras. A flash of gold cut through my thoughts, shining from deep within the room. It glowed from beneath a fallen shelf which obscured most of its form. Jewelry? Armor? Maybe a piece of glass? Why had Kajal looted all else and left it behind? I waded through the disheveled room for the item and freed it from its prison. It revealed itself to be an intricate golden mirror, shaped like a dish. The sounds of movement resounded just outside the doorway. Without a second thought, I activated [Dark Stalker] and dove behind a shelf. Whoever approached didn''t care much about being discovered, but I held my breath either way and strained my ears. A shadowy figure ventured to the center of the room. ¡°Damien?¡± she called. ¡°Damien, are you there?¡± Nicola! I almost leaped out of hiding right there and then. However, something about the entire situation triggered my suspicion. How would Nicola know where to find me? Her [Eldritch Eyeball] spell did nothing of the sort. ¡°Damien?¡± the voice continued. Rather than answer, I added [Stealth] atop [Dark Stalker]. ¡°Give it up,¡± a new voice said. ¡°He¡¯s not here. We¡¯re done looking around.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Drat,¡± Pseudo-Nicola said. ¡°How can one elf be so damn sneaky?¡± I crept behind the shelves, stopping when I found a good spot to observe the room. Three men stood at the center of the room, clothed in hooded armor. But, they weren¡¯t ordinary men. They were rogues. The same ones I had spotted earlier with Byron. All three were probably Assassins. But, the one who adopted Nicola¡¯s voice matched a warning Paz had once given me about Tricksters. Unlike his colleagues, who both sat at level 22, the Trickster was one level short of reaching silver rank. Each rogue carried multiple daggers on their person. I doubted they sought me to ask for pointers on knife throwing. One of the Assassins growled. ¡°You¡¯re sure he¡¯s not here?¡± ¡°Not anymore,¡± the Trickster replied and returned to his natural voice. ¡°But, the signs of his passing are fresh. He couldn¡¯t have gone far.¡± He glanced around the room and whistled. ¡°Still, look at this bastard. He looted the whole damn place.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. We can fish the loot out of his corpse.¡± ¡°Before or after bringing him to Byron?¡± ¡°Before, of course.¡± The Trickster laughed. ¡°The combined worth of the items he found could sate us for life. Nothing Byron offers us could hope to match it. If he wanted the elf alive, he should have gone after him himself.¡± The second Assassin rose from a crouch. ¡°Hey. Looks like the elf didn¡¯t grab everything after all.¡± He raised the golden mirror¡ªthe same one that had caught my attention. ¡°What you got there?¡± the Trickster asked. ¡°Not sure,¡± the man replied. ¡°It looks like a shield, but since when were shields designed to be this frail?¡± He peered closely at the item. ¡°What the . . . No!¡± His companions raced to his position. ¡°What is it? What happened?¡± ¡°The item,¡± the man moaned. ¡°It¡¯s cursed. Cursed, I tell you.¡± Cursed? The Trickster hissed. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this. Get yourself together. We still need to find the elf.¡± I backed away, conscious of my footing even though [Stealth] muffled all noises. The Labyrinth was hard enough to beat without professional assassins gunning for my head. If I waited a few hours after they departed, I could probably make it back to the safety of the Traveler¡¯s room in one piece. ¡°Why are you so bothered,¡± the first Assassin said, ¡°about returning to Byron anyway? We already know how this will end.¡± ¡°No, we don¡¯t,¡± the Trickster said. ¡°Or at least, we need to keep pretending that we don¡¯t. Byron¡¯s not going to let the dungeon heart slip from his fingers. We¡¯d only make a move after he reveals his betrayal. I can almost smell the sheer quantity of blood he intends to spill.¡± I stopped short in my tracks. Byron? Betrayal? What were they talking about? Warning: [Dark Stalker] has been deactivated due to insufficient MP. I glanced with wide eyes at the right side of my vision. The icon representing my MP had turned a big, fat zero. My Vital Points on the left also blinked in warning. I looked back at the rogues. They were still talking, albeit focused on the mirror. Assuming they had no special means of detection, [Stealth] should be enough to keep me unnoticed. The Trickster stiffened and looked up at the ceiling. ¡°Problem?¡± one of his teammates asked. ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°But we¡¯ve dallied enough. The elf cannot be allowed to escape us, not now that we know what lies in his inventory.¡± I didn¡¯t even take any of the items . . . The three men exited the room. I waited for a long moment, then retrieved a mana potion from my inventory. The cork slid off with a barely audible pop. I raised it to my lips, keeping an eye on my surroundings. . . . and dodged the blade aimed at my throat. The glint on the bottle had given the attack away, but the glass shattered in return, spilling blue liquid all over my vest. I rolled behind the shelves, taking vicious hits to the back and legs. I resurfaced with The Blackreach Dagger in my grasp and raised it in front of my face. Three figures appeared at my last position, causing the air to shimmer around them. I hadn¡¯t encountered illusions since my first fight with the goblins, but there was no mistaking the affinity. ¡°Damn elf,¡± the Trickster said. ¡°You may hide yourself but not your thoughts.¡± Aww, shit. One of them was some kind of tracker, wasn¡¯t he? They hadn''t noticed me until [Dark Stalker] fell. Talk about bad timing. The three rogues flew at me with renewed bloodlust. Six knives surged at my face. 065 Damiens Gauntlet I really should have paid more attention to my choice of fighting style. [Knife-fighting] sucked at frontal assaults¡ªa lesson that got reinforced within the first few seconds of the scuffle. The three rogues attacked with alarming blood thirst, darting in and out of my guard. Their strikes tore into my health meter, glancing off my arms and sides. A vicious kick slammed into my midsection. I barely had time to grunt before I went sailing . . . through a shelf. And then, another. I landed in a heap of dust. Crap. This was not my kind of fight. Notification boxes crowded the corners of my vision, battling each other for prominence. My health meter had dropped by over fifty percent. My stamina bar had also taken a dip. One message hovered atop all of the others: You have been [Poisoned]. You have been struck with the ability, [Toxic Blade]. Health and stamina now take continuous damage over time. Max: Five stacks. Oh, god. Poison?! The sounds of running feet knocked me back to my senses. The last attack had launched me closer to the exit, though I still stood about ten meters away. If I stayed in this room, I would die. Which meant . . . I vaulted off the ground, dodging the knives thrown at my back. The two Assassins flanked me, hot in pursuit. Their swift strikes found openings beneath my guard. One such blow added another stack of poison. But, I didn¡¯t care. Not when I¡¯d retrieved my saving grace. The Night Scout Armor came with a few pouches attached to its belt, and I¡¯d taken to storing handy weapons in them. I parried two more strikes, and then, I threw a smoke bomb onto my ground. The Assassins gagged. Acrid Smoke Bomb [Common] An alchemical concoction. Releases a cloud of smoke laced with capsaicin. The smoke cloud expanded to an impressive radius. I surged through it, one arm held up in front of my nose. Despite my precautions, I mistakenly inhaled a whiff. It burned. Dear lord, it burned. Pain, like hot needles, rammed into my throat. I raced out of the cloud in a blind daze. A pair of thrown knives bounced off my back. But, I made it. My gosh, I made it. The door to the item room parted with a push of my shoulder, allowing me to tumble out into fresh air and the safety of the corridor. Mana! Need mana now! I popped a mana potion and chugged down its content. A vital potion followed immediately after that. My fingers had just closed around a health potion when sinister energy whipped up around me. ¡°[Throw]!¡± A psychic grip flung me into a wall. The inventory system collapsed, forcing my hand out of its window. I managed to extract a dagger at the last instant, one of many nondescript weapons I¡¯d looted in the Labyrinth. The Trickster emerged from the item room, hacking and spitting. ¡°Give up, elf.¡± I rolled into a crouch. The action hurt my arms, which had borne the impact of the last attack. With my VP and MP values topped off, I wasn¡¯t as defenseless as before. Nevertheless, the poison I¡¯d been afflicted with gnawed worryingly at my health. I was down to ten percent HP and would have died at some point during the fight were it not for the sturdiness of the Night Scout Armor. Thank you, Kajal! I would send her flowers if I survived this. But, that was a pretty big if. You have equipped a melee weapon in your off-hand. The Dual Wielding perk has now been activated. The two Assassins blurred past the doorway, silent as death. They glared at me from beneath their cowls. I smirked and raised a dagger in a mock salute. ¡°Hurts, doesn''t it?¡± And then, I took off at full speed down the corridor. All four of us vanished into [Stealth]. I couldn¡¯t outrun them, not that I planned to. But, out here in the corridor, I had removed the one advantage they¡¯d possessed in the item room: control over the battlefield. The Trickster reached me first. Sparks flew as we clashed at high speed in a deadly dance of blades. I didn¡¯t stop running. The corridors here were wide enough to accommodate twenty men, spread out from wall to wall. I kept my undefended side close to the wall, forcing my attackers to come at me from two directions. It worked for the most part. The rogues couldn¡¯t swing properly without getting in the way of each other¡¯s attacks. However, one Assassin, the one with the [Toxic Blade], pointed his fingers at me. His cronies drew backward, heightening my suspicion. A spray of poison, noxious even to look at, spurted out of his fingertips. I dropped another bomb at that same moment, a concussive one this time, and allowed the force to propel me down the corridor. The combined attacks of bomb and poison spray gave the rogues pause, allowing me to reactivate [Stealth]. ¡°Futile,¡± the Trickster spat. ¡°I know where you are.¡± Right. He had a psychic affinity, one that granted him the ability to detect thoughts or something of the sort. The first Assassin manipulated poison, which left the second as the one behind the illusions. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. All three had affinities built for killing, but mine was better, even though it wasn¡¯t as flashy. I still had [Fear Aura] to use in a pinch. But, timing was important if I intended to capitalize on the debuff. The rogues surged unerringly toward me, true to the Trickster¡¯s words. I raised my knives in defense and sensed the accumulation of sinister energy. [Throw]! I activated [Dark Stalker] and switched places with [Decoy] before the attack could complete. The fake me crashed into a wall and dispelled, though not before the Assassins descended on it in a flurry of blades. This was the reason I had prioritized MP and VP over health. As long as I had my techniques, I could always find a breather. In the time that the killers reoriented themselves, I opened my inventory and downed a health option. ¡°[Decoy],¡± one of the Assassins said. ¡°Classic rogue skill. Though, I¡¯ll admit. I''m surprised he managed to unlock it this early.¡± He glanced at the Trickster. ¡°You can sense him, can¡¯t you?¡± The Trickster raised two fingers to his temple. ¡°I know what to look for now. It¡¯s harder when he pulls that disappearing trick of his, but if I focus enough¡ª¡± I threw a long knife at him. He caught it between his fingers, without even looking¡ª¡°Nice try¡±¡ªAnd then, he noticed the spherical object that dangled from its hilt. The concussive bomb exploded without warning. I rushed after the disoriented Trickster and jammed my blades into his neck. His eyes bulged as his health meter swung downward. Psychic energy rose from his fingertips¡ª [Fear Aura]! The Trickster froze. Whatever he saw in the aura was enough to stun him for one second and allowed me to shove a concussion bomb into his mouth. Flesh and bone fragments painted the corridor and splashed up at me. You have defeated enemy Trickster LVL 24. You have leveled up! You are now level 20. You have leveled up! You are now level 21. Visit your status screen to allocate your free stat points. The two Assassins gaped at me in shock, unable to process the visceral murder of their companion. They slammed back to their senses shortly after, but I¡¯d already gained some distance. ¡°Bastard!¡± one of them screamed. We blurred down the corridor. Poison sprays and a similar technique created from pure color missed me by scant inches. I ducked through them all, swinging my blades. The illusion user scared me the most, but I couldn¡¯t focus on him. The poison user proved more persistent, and it was all I could do to avoid gaining a fresh stack of [Poisoned]. I still had about seven bombs left in my inventory, but all of those were of the sticky type. Two concussion bombs occupied pouches on my belt. If I could just reach them¡ª You have been afflicted with [Confusion]. All stats have been reduced by [2]! [Confusion]? The walls of the corridor undulated like a snake. I swung my daggers in reaction and missed the knife that raked across my thigh. You have been [Poisoned]. You have been struck with the ability [Toxic Blade]. Current stacks: 3/5. A bend appeared in the corridor, a short distance ahead of us. I¡¯d probably misjudged the length in my [Confusion], but none of that mattered. Muffled growls reached my ears, emanating from a point just beyond the bend. Waiting for us. What did the growls mean again? Enemies? A second strike glanced off my ribs. Aargh, dammit! I rounded the bend and slipped into [Dark Stalker]. The shadows responded sluggishly, as though hampered by my inability to concentrate. The Assassins followed me around the bend¡ª ¡ªand fell into the ambush of a quartet of Cynocephali which had been waiting. The chimeras ignored me, cloaked as I was in shadows, but it was only a matter of time. My vision slipped with each passing second as I failed to wrangle my concentration back under my control. Any moment now, I would reemerge in their midst, in prime position to take a bone sword through the head. Just hold on, Damien! The Assassins fought back with poison and illusion. They did a better job than I expected, killing two chimeras in the time it took me to recover my bearings. They didn¡¯t escape unscathed, however, and the poison user withdrew to drink a health potion. It left his companion on his lonesome, who tried creating an image to befuddle the surviving chimeras. The illusion shattered the instant he finished, thanks to a swift strike from a massive Cynocephalus. A second strike dropped the man''s health by magnitudes and threw him onto my path. Screw this. I stepped out of the shadows before the chimeras could reach us and grabbed the disoriented Assassin by the throat. The poison user screamed in warning, but the deed had already been done. I committed the cruelest kill in the history of kills. Warm blood gushed down my hand. The chimeras didn¡¯t take kindly to the intrusion. They launched at me with those earth-shattering swords of theirs, but a last-minute switch with [Decoy] ensured they succeeded only in tearing into the dead. I took a glancing kick as I escaped which forced vomit out of my mouth. The vomit helped clear the last vestiges of [Confusion]. And then, I was off, nursing a stinging arm and the bottom half of my health meter. The Cynocephali should keep the Assassin occupied, what with their ability to locate stealthy enemies by their scent. I consulted my [Map] as I ran, harried by the poison sapping away at my health. The Traveler¡¯s room waited far off in the east, about four corridors away. Another blinking sign in my vision caught my attention: the near-empty stamina bar. It had taken a hit during the chase and had suffered further debilitation from the poison. I couldn''t afford to consume a green potion if I intended to live. I had one more potion slot and priority went to poison¡ª A dark shape leaped with a drawn dagger at my face. I parried the blow and skidded backward from the momentum. Two thrown knives followed in a beeline for my chest. A quick duck and weave sent them sailing past, though not before one knife raked past my hair. I regarded the final Assassin who glared at me with enough vitriol to poison an ocean. His cowl had come loose sometime during the fight, revealing a scarred face beneath a mop of grey. ¡°And so, three becomes one,¡± I mocked. The Assassin scowled. ¡°You¡¯ll eat your words, elf.¡± ¡°Like the way your comrade ate the bomb?¡± I mimicked the explosion of a skull, pleased to see the Assassin flinch at the display. And, to think I¡¯d once given up trash-talking. The Assassin smirked. ¡°How many stacks of poison do you have now?¡± ¡°Four,¡± I lied. ¡°You realize I can see the number from my notifications, don¡¯t you?¡± He twirled his blades. ¡°You don¡¯t want to know what happens when you get to five stacks.¡± ¡°Come on. I love surprises.¡± Somewhere within my inventory sat a Cure Ailments Potion, but I couldn¡¯t risk using it until I was certain I wouldn¡¯t be poisoned again. The Assassin and I circled each other with dual blades raised in front of our torsos. Howls emanated from far behind us, proving that he hadn¡¯t soloed the chimeras. From the faint traces of smoke on his clothes, I could guess how he¡¯d made his escape. However, he had suffered for it. His HP had fallen by a quarter, and from the way his eyes flickered, he was also looking at the health meter that hung above my head. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose,¡± I said, ¡°that I could convince you to make peace and let bygones be bygones? Whatever Byron pays you won''t suffice to revive your friends.¡± ¡°They were my brothers,¡± the man snapped. A moment later, he vanished into [Stealth]. 066 Envy vs Fear I really hated rogues, myself included. There was just something refreshing about a warrior swinging a weapon in your face, or a mage standing in the backline to cast AOE spells. The shanks from out of nowhere that rogues favored grated on my nerves, even though I could be considered a master of shanking. ¡°This is pointless, you know,¡± I said into the corridor. ¡°We both have [Stealth], and I take notice of you during attacks anyway.¡± The Assassin didn¡¯t reply. I inched toward the nearest wall, noting how it stood too far away for comfort. My enemy could stab me thrice before I crossed the distance. And, taunts aside, I didn¡¯t want to find out what happened when the poison stacks reached five. [Stealth] was a great tool for rapid engagement and disengagement, especially in dim lighting. But, it paled in comparison to [Dark Stalker] or true invisibility due to the need to maintain careful movement. And, boy was this Assassin cautious. Which was just as well. He could afford to drag things out and wait for his poison to work. I didn¡¯t possess the luxury. Sure, I itched to kill him . . . to put him in his place for daring to do the same to me. But, I shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. I¡¯d eliminated the bulk of the threat. Byron would get the message whether one or none of his contract killers returned. And, if I was lucky enough, he would send more of them after me, granting the XP I needed to beat his ass. There was no reason to stick around for cleanup. Not when this dude was just as dangerous as me. [Dark Stalker] came off cooldown at that moment, reinforcing my decision. I activated the ability, shifted positions, and bowed in the general direction of the Assassin. Well, then. Adios¡ª A sharp blade carved into my thigh. I lashed out in retaliation, only to hit empty air as the Assassin vanished into [Stealth]. He could see me! He could totally see me! The fucker had just cost me my escape card. Fear rose like a rocket in my gut. Notifications regarding [Scaredy-cat] and the fourth stack of poison buzzed in the periphery. With [Dark Stalker] back on cooldown, I had no choice now but to stand my ground. But, what was the point of that when one more strike could mean my death? ¡°How did you do that?¡± I shouted. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The Assassin maintained his silence. Keep calm, Damien. You need to goad him, not the other way around. He couldn¡¯t sense me earlier through [Dark Stalker]. His psychic friend could do so with some trouble, but this Assassin should have lost that advantage with his demise. The only thing that had changed since the start of our battle was the application of poison, and . . . Oh. I broke out into bitter laughter. An enemy¡¯s health meter typically appeared upon taking damage: a visual cue that both [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker] obscured, going by past uses. However, the poison applied damage over time, which was equivalent to being attacked¡ªone of the conditions that ended [Dark Stalker]. I¡¯d never encountered this particular weakness in any of my other battles, but now that I had, it was obvious from the start. [Dark Stalker] could successfully help sneak past Byron and his cohorts, but inflict some DoT, and I was as good as dead. What a load of bullcrap. Focus, Damien. I still had Cure Ailments in my inventory, but even that meant nothing if I didn¡¯t end the fight. ¡°You know,¡± I said with more confidence than I felt. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered rabbits in Dreadwood who fought better than you assholes. Died better too. I almost feel bad. Must suck that three rogues can¡¯t beat one Assassin whose level is even lower than theirs.¡± No reply, but he ought to have heard me. I wasn¡¯t one to talk smack, but there was little else I could do, considering the circumstances. DoT rendered [Dark Stalker] useless, leaving [Stealth] as my final resort. It wasn¡¯t half as effective as covering myself in actual shadows, and a perceptive enemy could still see through my movements. [Stealth], however, suffered no penalties from attack or damage which was all I needed. ¡°I just want to note,¡± I continued, ¡°that you idiots brought this on yourselves. How much were you paid to do me in? One gold piece? Three? If you used that money to organize a search party, do you think they would find every piece of your brother¡¯s missing head?¡± Movement, like the shifting of light, caught my attention. I turned in time to parry the Assassin¡¯s attacks and answered with strikes of my own. He dropped a smoke bomb at my feet and faded out of sight. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. I faded too, taking advantage of the distraction. The Traveler¡¯s Room stood a short distance away. If I could just¡ª Warning: HP has reduced to zero. True flesh will now take poison damage. With a silent ping, the last of my HP disappeared. Without health armor to cushion the effects of the poison, an excruciating scream rose from my throat. My status condition was no longer a simple notification on a [System] screen. It had become real poison in my veins whose neurotoxic effects caused my toes and fingers to curl. The sudden wave of pain sent me reeling to the ground, thrashing for relief. ¡°That took far too long for my liking,¡± the Assassin said, wading out of the smoke. ¡°You almost broke me, I¡¯ll give you that. But, he who laughs last laughs best.¡± I gurgled in response, my throat clogging up in shock. I¡¯d been keeping an eye on my health meter, but it seemed the fourth stack of the poison had accelerated the damage faster than I anticipated. If four stacks could do this to me? What then could five? Oh, god, no. What then could five?! The Assassin spun his dagger, taking pleasure in my defeat. ¡°Do you feel that? That¡¯s the sensation of Envy swirling in your veins. It¡¯s in meatspace now, which should help you realize how badly you are done for. ¡°People have suffered one stack of my poison in meatspace and wished instead for a bite from a Dread Snake. At five stacks, you would suffer respiratory paralysis and outright septic shock. Yet, even that is too good a death for you!¡± He kicked my head, forcing a grunt from my lips. Without HP to rely on, the kick opened a cut above my eyebrow, sending blood down my face. I could at least take comfort in that. Not in the kick, no . . . I struggled to pull myself back from the brink of painful delirium. . . . In the fact that I had succeeded in riling him up. I¡¯d killed his brothers in front of him and joked about it to his face. There was little chance he would let this end quickly, which allowed me a brief window to retaliate. And, sure, the poison hurt, but not as bad as the venom of the Primal Horse Snake Chimera. This one didn¡¯t cause [Paralysis], at least. As long as I could reach my belt . . . ¡°You¡¯re planning something,¡± the Assassin said, raising his knife. ¡°If you think I¡¯d let you¡ª¡± I didn¡¯t need to think. I poured mana into my belt and tossed it into the space between the Assassin and me. The concussion bombs left in the pouches went off simultaneously, throwing us both off our feet. I summoned a Cure Ailments potion into my hand. It appeared a moment before I hit the ground. The quick drink spread from my throat to the rest of my body like spring water. The torment in my lungs eased. You have ingested a Cure Ailments potion. The [Poisoned] status has been removed. The Assassin returned to his feet and sprang at me with [Toxic Blade] seeking death. Without health armor, I remained at a disadvantage. A single strike would leave me thrashing once more on the ground. . . . if he could hit. I vanished into the waiting arms of [Dark Stalker] without even bothering to stand. [Toxic Blade] struck an empty spot on the ground, and struck again as I rolled to safety. [Fear Aura] flooded the corridor. Assassin has resisted [Fear Aura]! Not! Still imitating a hedgehog, I dug The Blackreach Dagger into his knee. The Fear-infused blade lengthened with shadows and injected [Fear Aura] straight into health armor. The Assassin lashed out with his foot, but the damage had been done. Fear took root within him, halting his movements. You have afflicted the enemy Assassin with [Dismay]! All of his stats had just dropped by [2]. If I was lucky, it meant that any attribute on the threshold had fallen to a lower tier. And, judging by the Assassin¡¯s frantic motions, my guess had hit the mark. Without a single wasted movement, I flew at my quarry. He parried my strike, but his angle was off. The Blackreach Dagger raked across his jugular, tearing a chunk off his HP. I pressed the advantage, keeping the Assassin off kilter. Shadows surged from my blade at the last second of each strike, forcing the Assassin to take damage despite his parries. A wild swing sailed over my head. I ducked beneath it and scored a crushing hit on his ribs. The Assassin staggered backward. Terror consumed him as his worst fears became a reality. He only needed one hit to end the fight, yet, here he was on the backfoot unable to mount a proper defense. He tried to fade into [Stealth] but a punch across the face rid him of that notion. He tried again and took a blind strike across the hip. His labored breathing forced him to miss yet another counterattack, and then, he screamed. Three throwing knives flew from his fingers, slicing the air in front of my chest. I didn¡¯t bother to dodge. [Decoy] sprung alive and intercepted the hit. I stepped aside with movements obscured and made a vicious cut across the man¡¯s torso. His health meter depleted with a zing. The Assassin froze, eyes widening to the size of wall clocks. And then, he fled and abandoned his knife. I lunged in pursuit. The sensation of my blade sinking into his heart released a burst of endorphins that threatened to overwhelm me. At long last, I had won. Incredible work, boyo! You have participated in the killing of Assassin LVL 22. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. I collapsed to the ground. Laughter followed the euphoria and sprang from my throat. I¡¯d fought three powerful rankers and emerged from battle as the only survivor. Tears of victory poured down my cheeks. I wanted to dance . . . to cheer . . . to sing . . . to pump my fist to the adulation of an audience. No one had witnessed the feat I had just accomplished . . . and, maybe that was for the best. Without health or vigor, I amounted to little other than free XP for any takers. And, the Labyrinth contained a lot of them, rankers and chimeras both. I looted the Assassin and stripped him of his armor for good measure. His companions appeared as small crosses on my [Map], each begging to be looted. Sadly, I couldn¡¯t afford to do so. Not now, at least. I limped toward the Traveler¡¯s Room, doing my best to hide my presence. Darkness claimed me the instant I crossed the threshold, bringing with it the sweet bliss of slumber. 067 The Mirror of Remembrance I didn¡¯t feel much better after waking up. My health bar had returned, though it had only managed to rise by sixty percent in the time I¡¯d been asleep. The nasty cut on my forehead had also been sealed. The potion timers in the upper right corner of my vision persisted, but my current HP would have to do. I¡¯d spent about three hours asleep. Any more, and I ran the risk of losing out on precious loot, which was a flying shame, considering what it had cost me. I sallied out into the corridor. The area around the Traveler¡¯s Room lay deserted, though the sounds of distant fighting had doubled in the interim. I ignored the clamor in favor of retracing my steps and frowned as I failed to find the scene of carnage from earlier. Surely, nothing in the layout had changed. The corpse of the last Assassin I¡¯d killed lay splayed on the ground. His brother waited a short distance away. I approached the second corpse quietly for fear of chimeras, but I found him with no trouble amid a trio of slain Cynocephali. Had none of the monsters walked past this hallway? It seemed against their nature to ignore free human meat. I looted the Assassin¡ªcorpse robber that I was¡ªand continued to the Trickster whose brains still decorated the floor. Or at least, that was what I expected, considering the manner he had died. Strangely enough, despite my memory supplying vivid images of the gruesome splatter of grey matter, the area around the Trickster stood pristine. As if someone had used a vacuum cleaner to mop up all the gore. I nudged the headless corpse over with my foot and realized to no small horror that putrefaction had seized the entirety of its back. Except, it wasn¡¯t quite putrefaction. Not in the way I knew it. The entire part of the Trickster that had been in contact with the ground had liquefied: clothes, skin, armor, and all. They had been in the process of dissolving into the ground . . . dissolving into the Labyrinth. I shuddered at the thought. I¡¯d suspected that the dungeon employed some method to rid itself of corpses, but this was the surest proof I¡¯d found. If the dungeon feasted on the bodies, did it mean that the floors were packed with a millennia¡¯s worth of bones? Ugh. Best to kill that line of thought if I ever intended to sleep. The rogue trio provided fair loot, mostly potions and daggers, none of which came close in quality to Nana¡¯s. I got a replacement belt out of my jaunt though and returned to the Traveler¡¯s Room in a much better mood. Some issues remained to be resolved, regarding my status and the allocation of stat points. I raised Perception to 17 and kept the spare points in handy to pump into DEX the first chance I got. An unread [System] notification blinked in the corner, minimized during the fight: You have unlocked a technique choice for reaching level 20! Use [Meditation] to pick your reward. Oh. My. God. I¡¯d forgotten what my recent level-ups implied: a chance to expand my abilities. I liked my current moveset well enough, but it also lacked the oomph I¡¯d seen in a lot of builds. [Dark Stalker] and [Decoy] had succeeded in keeping me alive by the skin of my teeth, and [Fear Aura] had proven to be an incredible debuff. However, I desperately needed an offensive attack to melt my enemies. Something like [Skyfall Hammer] or [Shadow Arm Darkness Mind Laser Pulse Cannon]. A good beam attack would help counter casters and offer a reliable way to shred tanks like Byron. Sadly, if I wanted that, I probably shouldn¡¯t have picked the Assassin class. ¡°No going back now,¡± I said and settled into a meditative pose. My surroundings faded, subsumed by a void of utter darkness. Please, choose a skill. The giant [System] screen split into two options, both of which unraveled with a tap. The first read: [Sneak Attack] [Common] The rogue is a specialist in striking from out of hiding. This technique grants double damage for each attack made from an enemy¡¯s blind spot with a [DEX]-based weapon. Your [DEX]-based weapon attacks also gain a moderate boost to armor penetration. No more would you suffer bullying at the hands of Fighters and nasty Guardians. Caution should be exercised when attempting a sneak attack, however, lest you spill your innards! Note: This technique scales with other sources that improve penetration. . . . It doesn¡¯t improve that kind of penetration. Cost: Passive. Oh? This was far from the [Shadow Arm Darkness Mind Laser Pulse Cannon] I wanted, but a general increase in DPS wasn¡¯t terrible either . . . as long as I could land those [Sneak Attack]s. Between [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker], it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. [Assassinate] [Common] Ever been so certain about a gamble that you choose to go all in? That¡¯s what Assassinate does! Your next strike after activating this skill with a [DEX]-based weapon inflicts five times more damage! It suffers from a long cooldown, sadly, but the tradeoff is worth it. Your [DEX]-based weapon attacks also gain a moderate boost to armor penetration. PS: This technique affects your next strike, so you better land that money shot! Suffer a parry, and well . . . let¡¯s just say no one appreciates an attempted assassination. Cost: 15 VP. Damn. It seemed I had reached a critical point in Assassin builds: the point where damage came online. Both skills offered shred against squishies and tanks, with the difference boiling down to consistent damage versus dishing it out all at once. An Assassin who was confident enough in their ability to land [Sneak Attack]s in the heat of battle would benefit from the former. Otherwise, [Assassinate] was the way to go. In a group fight, it could also help with speedily removing the most dangerous threat. Ugh. Choices. Choices. Ultimately, it came down to my affinity, and being imbued with Fear, I probably made for a better sneak than most Assassins. The only ones better than me in that regard were Illusion-based rogues: Those attuned to Confusion, if I wasn¡¯t mistaken. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. That reasoning helped me make my decision. I selected [Sneak Attack] and watched the darkness recede into the Traveler¡¯s Room. There went my ability to melt my enemies, but I also enjoyed the challenge. I checked my status sheet to ensure all remained in order . . . Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 21 Class: Assassin Affinity: Fear VP: 14/50 MP: 31/52 Attributes: STR 10, PER 17, END 10, DEX 20 INT 5, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 2 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify], [Meditation], [Stealth], [Knife Fighting], [Decoy], [Sneak Attack] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura], [Dark Stalker] . . . And then, I took stock of the items in my inventory. The rogue brothers had been adventurers way longer than I had, and it showed in the way their purses brimmed with coin. I moved the good stuff to the top of my inventory and shoved the useless stuff to the bottom. Each of the rogues had owned a set of throwing knives, all regular-grade, which made for great additions to my arsenal. [Knife-fighting] handled my expertise with [DEX] weapons, so I didn¡¯t bother with practice. One item, a golden shield, hid among the loot. It was the same one I¡¯d seen in the item room: the one which the rogues had stolen. The Mirror of Remembrance [Greater] A unique ornament that once decorated the halls of a Herald. For old memories cherished, never forget. I extricated the golden mirror with careful fingers and grunted in surprise at its near weightlessness. Red tassels dangled from loops affixed to both ends of its diameter. The Assassin who had found this had suffered a brief bout of shock. But, I was more curious about the fact that it had once belonged to a Herald. Light glimmered across the surface of the mirror, pulling my gaze. Blurry images danced atop the glass. I resisted the pull for all I was worth, but the force doubled until I fell through the mirror and into a sea of white. I woke up on an old couch that had no reason to be as comfortable as it felt. Twilight streamed through open windows, veiled by floral drapes. The rich scents of wet earth and fabric softener assaulted my nostrils. A familiar scent . . . almost, like . . . My eyes brimmed with tears before I could finish the thought. . . . almost like home. ¡°Damien?¡± a soft voice said from a spot behind me. A lump rose in my throat. ¡°Done with your nap?¡± No. No. No. Scraping sounds filled the room as someone rose from the dining table to lean over the couch. It was all a trap. I couldn¡¯t afford to look. And yet, against my better judgment, I found myself turning to greet her. Mom didn¡¯t look a day older than thirty. The signs of exertion were there, in the bags beneath her eyes and in the strands of white hair that poked out beneath her scarf. Yet, she looked exactly as I remembered before that fateful day that saw her lose her life. Her narrow cheekbones¡ªwhich I had inherited . . . not in this body though¡ªframed a strong jaw and flat nose. Her brown eyes sat deep in her face. Mom¡¯s features lit up with a smile, and the fading daylight brightened in tandem. She lowered a skinny hand to my face and poked my cheek. ¡°That¡¯s enough sleep for one evening, little man,¡± she said. ¡°Keep it up and you¡¯ll have nothing left for bedtime.¡± Tears poured down my cheek. ¡°Mom . . .¡± ¡°Why are you crying?!¡± she asked in alarm and moved to the front of the couch. ¡°Did you have a bad dream?¡± What part of my life didn¡¯t qualify as one? Between her death and my being forced into Dad¡¯s custody, I¡¯d suffered lots of bad dreams. And, that was without including my shitty life as an adult, the Pyramid of Rebirth, and everything related to Vizhima. Mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders. She managed to envelop me, and I understood now why she had called me little. I was back again in the body of a child, maybe seven or eight, with the plump cheeks and stubby limbs I¡¯d never quite outgrown. Mom also bore noticeable differences that had initially flown past my radar. Traits that separated her from the ideal version that persisted in my memory. Her frame felt lighter for one, skinny and deflated, as though laden with a burden two times her size. Her wrist bones jutted prominently in her arms. A small sheen of sweat burned on her forehead . . . How had I not noticed any of these in the past? The signs of her declining health? The signs that she needed me for a support system as much as I needed her? ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Mom said into my hair. ¡°It was all just a dream.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. I simply cried into her shoulder and tightened my grip around her waist. We stayed that way for a long time until Mom reluctantly pried herself out of my embrace and rose to her feet. ¡°How about some activity to take your mind off things?¡± she said. ¡°We could go sightseeing? Or maybe, you¡¯d like a snack?¡± ¡°Snacks sound good . . .¡± ¡°And, you¡¯re going to help me bake them!¡± She ruffled my hair. ¡°Tonight feels like a good night for cake.¡± I¡¯d forgotten about that. Mom loved to bake. Almost as much as she loved looking at flowers. I matched her enthusiasm and offered a smile of my own. ¡°Sure. Let''s do that.¡± Mom beamed. She tightened her headscarf and grabbed an apron from the sofa. ¡°Let¡¯s see. We have milk, flour, eggs . . .¡± Eggs . . . The Egg of Labyrinth. That had been my most important goal a short while ago. Right now, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Uh-oh,¡± Mom said, pausing her rumination. ¡°I might need to visit the kiosk next door for some butter. Want to come along?¡± A trek outside with Mom? ¡°Yeah!¡± Mom moved to the door and waited for me to follow. I trudged to my feet and stared down at the rug. The dungeon heart no longer mattered. Byron, Skeelie, Migrant Souls, Vizhima . . . each of those problems could be solved by others. I¡¯d take Isekai back to a past life with mom than to a fantasy world ten times over. So, why did I hesitate? ¡°What are you waiting for, son?¡± I was waiting for my friends. They, in turn, also waited for me. We¡¯d made a promise at The Naked Bard to beat the Labyrinth together, so what right did I have to break it the first chance I got? Mom released the door handle and regarded me with saddened eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not coming along?¡± God . . . I couldn¡¯t abandon her. Not again. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of returning home from school to find her lifeless in the living room. ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± I said. But, I didn¡¯t move. Mom was long dead. Gone and buried. I¡¯d watched her bleed out on the floor and held her cold hands in mine until she breathed her last. This dream, beautiful though it was, was nothing but a dream. And, it would be irresponsible of me to linger here when the real lives of others depended on my return. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be a dream,¡± Mom said, ¡°if you don¡¯t want it to be. You accepted your reincarnation easily enough. Why is this any different?¡± I stared at her with widened eyes. ¡°You know about Vizhima?¡± ¡°I would think that a mother would notice when her son returns home looking like a different person.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Nice ears, by the way.¡± I stared down at my arms. I was back in the body of Cyran Irithiel. All six-foot-plus of him, with the red eyes and shaggy hair I never bothered to comb. Mom smiled sadly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to be a dream. This is more you than that will ever be.¡± And, she was right. But, my real mom had also taught me to keep my promises. For once in my life, I was proud of what I had become. And, I could look back at this house . . . at this lovely woman . . . and remember her as the one who shaped me. ¡°I can¡¯t, mom,¡± I managed to say. ¡°I need to go.¡± Mom¡¯s expression broke. ¡°Damien, no . . .¡± I turned away before she could convince me to change my mind, and then I grabbed my hair in an attempt to rip my psyche apart. Mom¡¯s last words splintered alongside the dream. I never got to hear it. Fuck. I wrenched myself away from the vision and crashed onto my back. The Mirror of Remembrance clanged against the floor. I understood now why Kajal had abandoned this item. Not everyone would appreciate being confronted with intimate scenes from their past. Calm down, Damien, I thought and ran my hand across my face. It¡¯s not real. It¡¯s not real. I didn¡¯t abandon my mother a second time. And yet, it felt like I had. Surviving the Pyramid had been nothing but a mistake. If I had numbered among the homunculi to die, wouldn¡¯t we be reunited now in eternity? I had faced down Flame Guardians and all kinds of monsters, but a single mirror was all it took to break my spirit. The hours ticked by on my time in the dungeon. But, there in the Traveler¡¯s Room, I curled up and cried. 068 Last Stop One great benefit about a good crying session was that it allowed for restful sleep. By the time I awoke many hours later, all my renewables were filled to the brim. I fetched the fey item, the so-called Mirror of Remembrance, and stored it in my inventory. I had no interest in returning to the dream world anytime soon, but I also couldn¡¯t bring myself to discard the item. For good or for ill, it had allowed me to speak with Mom one final time, and that was a grace worth appreciating. My next course of action proved a bit harder to decide on. I had three goals that needed to be resolved, though only two lay within my power. The first and most difficult to accomplish involved my teammates. The Labyrinth proved too vast to scour on my lonesome, even with the added boon of fast travel. Unless Paz and Nicola made it to the center of the dungeon, our chances of reuniting were slim to zero. I could still abandon all else to search for my teammates but loathe as I was to say it, that wasn''t the most efficient decision. I had to believe in their tenacity and position myself to receive them whenever they appeared. The second goal involved the goddamned Traveler¡¯s Room and my outstanding quests. To complete the objectives of [Damien the Explorer], I needed to uncover the secrets of the Labyrinth. The dungeon¡¯s center was the only region I hadn¡¯t explored, which segued into the third goal . . . Find the dungeon heart. And, this was no longer optional, considering that Byron had amassed a force capable of doing so. The dungeon run ended tomorrow in twenty-something hours if my internal clock was right. Byron couldn¡¯t be allowed to emerge victorious in this festival, not after forcing my team apart and sending assassins after my head. I had the means to dash his hopes and dreams right at my fingertips. And, I would use it, his followers be damned. I glared at the Traveler¡¯s Map with the model of a dungeon heart spinning at its center. What was going to win out when it came down to it? An army of rankers or the power of teleport? ¡°An army of rankers and the power of teleport,¡± I answered. I needed a crew to take with me to the center. I was under no illusions that I could beat the dungeon on my own. However, obtaining first-hand knowledge of the obstacles that waited would help me pull ahead of the competition. ¡°Very well,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s start with goal three.¡± Expanding the Traveler¡¯s Map. Please, select a destination. ¡°The dungeon heart,¡± I croaked out, even though non-verbal commands worked just fine. Destination selected. Preparing transfer . . . A small lag followed as the Traveler¡¯s Room, well . . . traveled. Transfer completed. Welcome to the Dungeon Heart, traveler. Best of luck. A small pause followed. You¡¯ll need it. Oi, oi, oi. That last bit was so not funny. Who had programmed that message? The Traveler¡¯s Map did not reply. That was a legitimate warning, wasn¡¯t it? Wouldn''t it be smart to back out now that I still had the chance? I shook my head. I didn¡¯t come here to fight the dungeon boss. I only needed to take a peek. After which, I¡¯d flee like nobody¡¯s business. I nudged the wooden door open. A long hallway stretched just outside the room, running in a perpendicular direction. An imposing double door of gold and brass towered in the wall across the gap from my position. The hallway bore a luxurious carpet atop its surface, the color of fresh blood. Golden candles burned on hideous-looking scones, casting long shadows over the ground. I ignored the double door at the moment to focus on a strange mist that hung a few inches over the ground. It curled and wafted in loose formation, never rising beyond the ankles. A few tendrils of mist slithered past my feet and into the Traveler¡¯s room. The mist felt strange to the touch, cool and warm at the same time. An unlikely combination of steam and ice: undeniable proof of magic at work. Two stone archways provided the only points of entry into the hallway, one on either side. Magic barriers of some sort glowed blue in them. Byron¡¯s group would eventually make their way through one of the archways unless the chimeras succeeded in obliterating their numbers. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. I committed the parameters of the hallway to memory and settled my gaze on the large double door that stood opposite my position. A humongous thing of gold and brass; the double door bore depictions of chimeras etched into its surface. A golden basin hung from its lintel, rife with decorations of the same vivid images. Above that, an empty progress meter hovered, alongside a [System] message: Loading . . . Well, that wasn¡¯t ominous. I didn¡¯t need to be a rocket scientist to know that the final boss waited beyond the door. Which sucked, because experience had taught me that opening boss rooms always triggered a fight. I stepped into the hallway. The feeling of ice running down my spine was all the warning I got before a giant mace swung at my head. I ducked by mere inches and leaped aside to regard my attacker. Mist Enenra LVL 27. Again with the odd naming conventions. But, the creature before me could technically pass as a Mist Human Chimera. The enenra wafted gently in the breeze, even though its transparent shape indicated its preference for violence. It loomed a good three feet over my head, forged from pure mist, including its armor which looked like it had once belonged to some eldritch god. Spikes protruded from its epaulets and helmet, the latter of which masked blue eyes set in a blank, featureless face. The Mist Enenra raised its mace which despite being made of vapor promised real pain. A fell light poured out of its eyes. You have been hit by the skill [Evil Eye]. You are now [Dismayed]! All stats have been reduced by two. [Dismay]? That¡¯s my trademark! Did you just use my own spell against me? I rolled aside to avoid its swing and winced at the plethora of [System] notifications that informed me that every attribute at the threshold had just lost a tier. Stupid skill! The Traveler¡¯s Room stood close enough to allow an escape¡ª I crashed to the ground as a large axe slammed against my guard. The enenra had formed the new weapon at the last possible second, along with a third arm that sprouted from the small of its back. The sudden attack cost me a fifth of HP. The progress bar above the double door¡¯s receptacle dinged. Progress till chamber unlock: 0.2/20. What? The Mist Enenra advanced. A sour taste blossomed on my tongue as my gaze traveled from the receptacle to the weapons in the monster¡¯s hands. If the loss of HP had caused the double door to respond . . . time to test my suspicions. I dodged a second blow to the head and retaliated with a strike of mine across the enenra¡¯s heel. My blade passed through its armor with minimal resistance, without distorting the enenra¡¯s form, yet the cut counted as damage. Despite the drop in HP, the progress bar didn¡¯t respond. I brought my arms up in time to block a ferocious kick which launched me across the hallway. My health meter sank from the blow. And, there it was . . . The progress bar dinged like clockwork: 0.4/20. Suspicions confirmed. Mist spouted upward behind me, forming two more enenras. I didn¡¯t plan to wait around. I dove through the open doorway of the Traveler¡¯s Room, narrowly avoiding a mace to the face. The Mist Enenras looked like they would follow me into the room, but then their eyes dimmed, and they stiffened. A short while later, all three collapsed into mist. The progress bar dinged and went empty. All prior progress evaporated with my retreat. I let out a strained breath and shut the door on the hallway. The brief skirmish had cost me some HP, but nothing a round of [Meditation] couldn¡¯t fix. The rogues had spoken about Byron''s intended betrayal back at the item room. I didn¡¯t care much for their words at the time, occupied as I was with survival. But, it all made sense. The receptacle only responded to losses in a ranker¡¯s health. And, Byron currently led an army of rankers toward the final chamber. No wonder he had been playing nice. My stomach tossed. ¡°Crap.¡± I spent another hour recuperating in the Traveler¡¯s room before I ventured out into the corridors. Someone needed to stop Byron, though I couldn¡¯t begin to imagine how to accomplish that. A sinister thought urged me to stop taking action. The rankers accompanying Byron had taken sides against me without a second thought. Let them test their mettle against the trial in the final chamber. It was simply just desserts. But, could I live with such evil on my conscience? Aside from the fact that good people like Mathideus could be hurt by my silence, doing nothing meant letting Byron win by sacrifice. And, I¡¯d rather gouge my eyes out than stay idle as he climbed to glory over a mountain of corpses. For that matter, was it possible that Mathideus also knew about the final challenge? He didn¡¯t seem as confident of his way around the center as Byron, but he was the one who had proposed the idea of beating the Labyrinth as a group. What if that had only been a ploy? The Labyrinth sucked for demanding bloodshed in exchange for its final prize, but the true beasts were the rankers who decided to meet that demand. I had to prevent Byron from accomplishing his plan. No treasure was worth that amount of blood. It was armed with that logic that I returned to the corridor wherein Byron had rescued our group. Sadly, the Labyrinth had other plans. Chimeras filled every nook and cranny of the dungeon, probably in response to enemies getting closer to its heart. The sounds of fighting had also increased in frequency, complete with tremors from the showcasing of powerful abilities. More groups of rankers had made it to the final region, triggering clashes all around my position. One such clash emanated a short distance away. I moved within the shadows, thankful for my skill in hiding, and found the culprits within a few minutes of searching. A party of four squared off against an infestation of lion roaches, led by three Cynocephali. The rankers held their own pretty well. One Warrior with black braids and skin the color of coal brandished a broadsword. He sliced a chimera into two perfect halves. His companions darted around him¡ªand I had to blink to ensure my eyes weren¡¯t deceiving me¡ªon two large leopards made of smoke. One Rider wielded a spear; the other, a bow. However, it was the spell that bloomed amid the chimeras that ground my feet to a halt. A mass of black tentacles ruptured the ground, knocking two Cynocephali flat on their face. Even before seeing the cleavage and familiar pointy hat, a grin snaked across my lips. Found you. 069 [Eldritch Beam] I¡¯d known that Nicola packed a pretty mean punch, but there was something special about seeing her at work. She slapped the limb of a lion roach aside with her magic staff, and then she activated her [Summon Tentacle] spell to pull herself out of the frontline. The [Bloom of Crimson Desire] collapsed into purple motes of light, its purpose spent. But, the havoc it had wrought remained. Nicola¡¯s companions focused their attacks on one Cynocephalus and killed it before it could regain its bearings. They renewed their assault on the weaker roaches, but the sheer mass of the infestation left the rankers overwhelmed. I could remedy that. The air shimmered as [Fear Aura] suffused the corridor. The shadows that obscured me improved its effectiveness, adding a potency I could almost taste on my lips. All of the monsters below silver rank froze on their feet. [System] messages notified me of multiple Dismays. The three unfamiliar rankers gaped at the sudden turn of events. Nicola instead gasped into her palms. ¡°Damien?¡± ¡°Watch out,¡± I screamed because the Cynocephali had not been affected. One of them barreled its way through the lesser monsters and dove at Nicola with its blade. A beam of black energy boiled the air. It rose from Nicola¡¯s staff and launched the monster clean across the corridor. The evil energy distorted the space around it, as though at war with reality itself. Harsh whispers reverberated from the beam, spoken in a language I couldn¡¯t decipher. The strange words invaded my ears and clawed their way into my head . . . ¡°Nicola!¡± The spell ended the next instant, dispelling its effects. The monster it had struck collapsed from the impact, having suffered massive damage to form and spirit. I shook my head to clear it and rushed to help with the rest of the fight. Between the five of us, the monsters fell in short order. ¡°Damien!¡± Nicola said and pulled me into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you made it.¡± I let her hug me and enveloped her in one of my own. She desperately needed a shower¡ªwe both did, what with a week¡¯s worth of blood and sweat. But, my gosh, it was so good to see her alive. ¡°How have you been?¡± I managed to say and pressed my chin into her hair. ¡°That attack of yours packed one hell of a punch.¡± Nicola chuckled or sniffled, an action that her tears made difficult to interpret. ¡°I knew you¡¯d like it. I selected it as a reward for reaching level twenty. It¡¯s called [Eldritch Beam].¡± Oh, wow. That was so unfair. Here I was praying for a [Shadow Arm Darkness Mind Laser Pulse Cannon], and Nicola had unlocked something similar out of her affinity. The [System] didn¡¯t need to rub it in my face. I was just about to inquire about Paz¡¯s whereabouts when I felt a large hand clamp down on my shoulder. ¡°Some nerve you¡¯ve got, elf,¡± a baritone voice said, ¡°laying your hands on the warlord¡¯s woman.¡± I frowned at the man and wrestled the brief surge of irritation that begged me to draw my knife. He was one of the Beast Riders, the one with the bow. His dark skin and tribal markings identified him as a member of a clan of foreigners that had caught my eyes a few times around the guild. I was in no mood to offer niceties, however. Definitely not to a ranker of his level. ¡°Sod off.¡± The Rider blinked. ¡°Aman,¡± his broadsword-wielding companion said. ¡°That is not how to speak to one of the Favored.¡± ¡°But, warlord . . .¡± Aman said. The warlord shook his head. He strode up to me and dismissed his broadsword. Then, placing his hand on his chest, he offered it up in the manner Nana¡¯s kin had once demonstrated. ¡°Greetings, favored one,¡± he said. ¡°This one of lowly stature apologizes for his cousin¡¯s transgression. However, he speaks no lies. The woman you hold is to be my wife.¡± I glanced at Nicola, who met my gaze with frantic eyes. Just play along! ¡°Err, yeah, well,¡± I said. ¡°No harm intended, I guess. Just ensure it doesn¡¯t occur again.¡± It was the first time I had ever been treated with honorary status on account of my race. Sadly, I had no experience acting haughty. ¡°You are too kind,¡± the warlord said, even as Aman grumbled in the background. ¡°You may call this one Nalum. May I request that you release my wife?¡± Nalum sported better muscle definition than his companions, who were all well-defined even by ranker standards. All three came nowhere close to me in height but made up for it with muscles as dense as rocks. Considering that attributes did little for the physique, their musculature showcased an impressive zeal to build by exercise. Such features failed to wow me these days, however. And, I wasn¡¯t about to lose Nicola again without putting up a fight. ¡°You have nothing to worry about, love,¡± Nicola said and extricated herself from my embrace. She sidled up to the warlord and fixed me with a pointed look. ¡°Damien here is one of my companions¡ªone of those who I have been searching for. We were simply swept up in a brief moment of excitement.¡± What the hell is happening here, Nicola? Her pointed expression remained. Despite my reservations, I returned the elvish greeting. It came out with enough sloppiness that Mavari would have suffered an aneurysm. ¡°Yeah, what she said. Damien Njoku, at your service, warlord. May your blade be stained forever in the blood of your enemies, assuming that passes as a greeting.¡± Nalum beamed. However, before he could speak, the second Rider loped up to us, still on his phantom beast. ¡°More enemies,¡± the man hissed and gestured with his spear, ¡°headed south toward our direction. Unless we want to drown in them, I suggest we get moving.¡± Nicola tugged on her hat in frustration. ¡°There¡¯s no possible direction we could travel in that would keep us away from that horde. The dungeon spawns have quadrupled in number. We¡¯ll run out of renewables before making any progress.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°That¡¯s the idea, yes,¡± I said. ¡°The Labyrinth has upped its defenses. A group of rankers draw ever closer to the dungeon heart.¡± Nicola¡¯s companions didn¡¯t appreciate that tidbit. ¡°No!¡± Aman said. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to lose the dungeon heart to anyone else. Warlord, we must proceed!¡± ¡°And, die during the next attack?¡± Nicola asked in a steady tone. ¡°We need a breather.¡± Aman didn¡¯t care. ¡°Retreat is not an option, warlord. We must move forward or return to the clan in shame.¡± Ah. Another Mathideus. It seemed Vizhima never ran short of idiots bound by honor. They were almost as dangerous as the types bound by ambition since they failed to heed common sense. Nalum nodded as his cousin spoke, unsure of the best manner to proceed. His party needed to recover from the onslaught, that much was true, but expediency was also important if they didn¡¯t want to lose their prize. ¡°I know a safe place to meditate in,¡± I said at length, recalling the nearby item room. ¡°We won¡¯t need to retreat, and you may decide on your next course of action without the pressure of battle.¡± Nalum looked surprised at my suggestion. ¡°You¡¯d do that for us, favored one?¡± ¡°Well, yes.¡± Plus, I wasn¡¯t about to let Nicola die because of these fools. ¡°Lead the way, then,¡± he said and summoned his broadsword. The rest of his clansmen fell in step behind him. I ran alongside Nicola at the forefront, unable to keep a stupefied expression from creeping up on my face. ¡°Wife? Really?¡± Nicola groaned. We made it to the item room after another difficult encounter. Nalum stalked around the room, inspecting the empty shelves. His companions slipped away to [Meditate], dismissing their phantom mounts in the process. I sat beside Nicola and offered her a piece of bread. She ate in silence, a subdued expression on her face. ¡°Wife?¡± Nicola scowled. ¡°That¡¯s the umpteenth time you¡¯ve mentioned the word, Damien.¡± ¡°And, you keep refusing to answer. How did that happen?¡± Nicola studied me from under her thick lock of hair. ¡°I was a single breath away from death, Damien. The dungeon had just transported me into a nest of juvenile lion roaches. I had to fight my way out.¡± ¡°Crap,¡± I whispered, inhaling sharply. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Hundreds. I leveled up twice within the first few seconds. However, with no breathing room to refill my reserves, I was one step away from becoming a meal for nymphs. Nalum and his clansmen arrived to save me. We barely escaped afterward.¡± ¡°And you hit them with a good, ol'' dose of [Ecstasy], thereafter?¡± Nicola growled low in her throat. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything! Granted, I¡¯d activated the spell earlier to get some roaches off my back. But, the clansmen are weird. Nalum took one look at me and decided that we were fated to marry.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to play along, Nicola.¡± ¡°Well, tell that to a solo ranker who was stuck bleeding all over an insect¡¯s nest!¡± Ouch. ¡°My bad. It was wrong of me to judge.¡± Nicola took a few seconds to calm her breathing. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t deny my part. Nalum had been informed by an oracle that he would meet his fated one during his time in Skeelie. And, he seemed willing to listen to my every demand under the veil of courtship. ¡°I could have turned him down. But, I couldn¡¯t hope to find you on my own. He¡¯s also treated me with nothing but kindness thus far.¡± We lapsed into a bout of silence. ¡°Not a bad deal in all,¡± I finally said. ¡°You will look great in a wedding dress.¡± Nicola lobbed a clump of bread at my head. ¡°Oh, shut it.¡± ¡°What?¡± I said with a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve moved up in life. No more slumming around in swamps with this Dark Elf. You¡¯re now the warlady of a clan of warriors.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to marry him, Damien.¡± ¡°Why not? It would be good for you. Apart from the wealth of resources he probably has at his disposal, he is one of those alpha-type dudes with bigger muscles than Paz. Think about all the Eros¡ª¡± She lunged at my throat. We eventually had to break up our antics when Nalum sent us a curious gaze. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you didn¡¯t die,¡± Nicola said in a small voice. ¡°Me too,¡± I said and slung my arm around her shoulder. Nalum might be her suitor, but Nicola was family. More so than blood. ¡°All we need to do is find Paz, and our trio will be complete again.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think he has already made it to the center of the Labyrinth?¡± ¡°Oh, I think he will. Paz . . . how do I say this? Paz emits main character energy. I doubt ordinary teleportation is going to stop him.¡± ¡°True.¡± Nicola leaned into my shoulder. ¡°What about you? How did you survive your fight with the roaches?¡± ¡°Uh . . . I didn¡¯t get transported into a nest. I got sent back to the starting area.¡± Nicola bolted upright. ¡°Spill.¡± I did as she requested, covering my adventure from the Traveler¡¯s Room to Mathideus and the fight with the rogues. I omitted the parts about Kajal and [Migrant Soul]s. Not because I didn¡¯t trust Nicola. But, because I wasn¡¯t ready to oust myself as anything other than an elf. Nicola¡¯s breath hitched as I spoke. ¡°You killed three rankers of that level all by yourself? Damien, that¡¯s incredible!¡± I rubbed my neck in faux humility. ¡°Aw, shucks, they weren¡¯t that strong . . .¡± ¡°And, this Traveler¡¯s room,¡± Nicola continued. ¡°It can transport you anywhere within the Labyrinth?¡± ¡°Only to locations within range of a dungeon room. But, I¡¯d like to keep this between us until I''ve fully understood the implication.¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes drifted to Nalum who lingered a short distance away. ¡°That would be for the best. But, you¡¯re thinking small, Damien. With such utility at your fingertips, why didn''t you snatch the dungeon heart?¡± ¡°Well, about that . . .¡± The brightness in Nicola''s eyes dimmed as I told her about my encounter in the final chamber. Before I finished the tale, a pensive frown colored her features. ¡°The receptacle responds to the loss of ranker HP?¡± she asked. ¡°Measures it, more like. Every bit of damage contributes to its progress, but it wouldn¡¯t hit a round figure until a life has been lost . . .¡± I pondered the dilemma some more. ¡°There¡¯s also a chance that it could be satisfied with the mere emptying of health meters. But, anyone with low enough HP isn''t guaranteed to survive a strike.¡± ¡°Not if they use potions . . .¡± ¡°Oh, wow. I hadn¡¯t thought of that. The meter reset on me when I left the area. But, I guess, I should have stayed long enough to determine how it worked.¡± ¡°And, risk your life against the enenras?¡± Nicola shook her head. ¡°Twenty rankers are needed to pass the final test. Or, ten rankers, equipped with health potions. The Labyrinth wants them dead before they can enter the final chamber. And, if not dead . . .¡± ¡°Devoid of HP, at least,¡± I finished. ¡°Which is as good as dead.¡± Nicola chewed her lip. ¡°This makes no sense. Of what use is ritual sacrifice to a dungeon? If blood is all that is needed to obtain the dungeon heart, why put everyone through so much trouble? Many monarchs would willingly sacrifice a hundred criminals to gain access to a dungeon¡¯s treasures.¡± ¡°Many monarchs would,¡± I said in agreement, ¡°but how many monarchs can gather a hundred rankers to offer up in sacrifice?¡± Nicola stiffened. ¡°I see where you are going with this, Damien, but your line of thinking contradicts all I¡¯ve been taught. Dungeons exist to challenge rankers and reward their bravery. The deaths are only a consequence of that.¡± ¡°You say this with certainty, yet you don¡¯t know where dungeons get their power or their sustenance from.¡± ¡°You think the Labyrinth was created to feast on rankers?¡± I didn¡¯t know what to think. But, talking with Nicola helped cement an uneasy suspicion. One that had grown right from the moment I¡¯d seen the dungeon devour corpses. ¡°Anyway,¡± Nicola said. ¡°We have a case where the number and frequency of dungeon spawns have ramped up to unbearable levels. If the dungeon''s goal is to coax enough people to the final chamber, shouldn¡¯t the opposite be the case?¡± ¡°Maybe, that is the point?¡± I said. ¡°The increased difficulty would force rankers to cooperate, leaving them ripe for mass annihilation at the end.¡± ¡°Heralds, Damien. That sounds more damning than you think. If word of that ever gets out, the festival would be terminated.¡± ¡°And, that brings us to the current problem. Word of this did get out, to one person at least. Yet, he leads an army of rankers to the final chamber in the hope of a slaughter.¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I know you need the dungeon heart. But, I can¡¯t justify winning it at the cost of all those lives.¡± I glanced at Nalum and turned back to her. ¡°How useful are the kinsmen in a fight? Because I think it is time we settled old grievances.¡± 070 Marked for Sacrifice Nalum didn¡¯t need much convincing. All it took to get him on board with us was news that Byron had tried to kill his wife. The fact that Byron inched closer to the dungeon heart only served to heighten his ire. No enemy of his would steal his glory. Not as long as he breathed. ¡°The five of us aren''t enough to beat the final chamber,¡± I explained for the umpteenth time, letting exasperation bleed into my voice. ¡°It demands an offering in blood for passage. Ranker blood. There''s no other way to unlock the doors.¡± ¡°So, we break it,¡± Nalum said, stroking his chin. ¡°I don¡¯t think it works that way . . .¡± ¡°Then we let others be the sacrifice.¡± ¡°How can you suggest that?¡± Nalum lowered his hands. ¡°Your words resonate with compassion, favored one. And, I don¡¯t mean this maliciously, but you come across as na?ve. Everyone who entered the Labyrinth did so knowing the risks. What difference does it make if they meet death in the final chamber as opposed to some random corridor?¡± ¡°A lot,¡± I hissed. ¡°It makes a world of difference.¡± Nalum shrugged. ¡°I come from a land, favored one, where such logic would leave you dead in a fortnight. The man who stands in the path of a storm and demands an end to its destruction is naught but a fool.¡± He glanced at Nicola. ¡°The same cannot be said about the man who does so because his loved one stands behind him.¡± ¡°And, your meaning is?¡± ¡°I will help you destroy this Byron, for it is a matter of honor. But, I will not try to repel a storm for people I care little about. Rather than alter its trajectory, I will ride out the chaos and emerge a peerless survivor. Make of that what you will.¡± Nicola interjected with soothing words before I could tell Nalum exactly what I made of it. Nalum was no Paz, but he was still a level 25 Warrior, attuned to Hatred. His two Beast Rider companions sat at levels 20 and 23, Clarity and Hope for the archer and spearman respectively. Once again, we were short on magic classes, but we could still beat Red Wyrm with the proper application of tactics as long as we isolated Byron. ¡°Hatred represents curses and afflictions,¡± Nalum explained as we discussed our plan. ¡°I don¡¯t have a lot of abilities, courtesy of being a Fighter. But, I can weaken the enemy and punish their casters. The rest is up to you.¡± ¡°That is fine,¡± I said. ¡°Your primary target is Byron. Focus your efforts on him. As long as your cousins succeed in distracting the others, I should be able to deal a fair bit of damage. Can you explain their abilities?¡± The Rider whose name I couldn¡¯t recall replied, ¡°I am attuned to Consolation, also called Hope in these lands. I channel the powers of the earth. It allows me to control the battlefield.¡± ¡°And Clarity?¡± ¡°It clarifies things,¡± Aman said with a sneer. ¡°What did you think?¡± ¡°Respect, Aman,¡± Nalum warned. Aman glowered at me. Did an elf kill your mother, bro? I almost blurted out. What was the reason for his wanton aggression? ¡°Clarity is the gift of true sight,¡± Aman said grudgingly. ¡°Armed with its abilities, I can uncover all that lies hidden. How else do you think we led Nicola to you?¡± I furrowed my brows. ¡°Does this mean you can locate Byron anywhere within the maze?¡± ¡°I can . . . unless he travels further than one kilometer from my position.¡± I shared a look with Nicola. She caught my meaning instantly. ¡°Aman, honey,¡± she purred. ¡°Can you keep a lookout for more than one person at a time?¡± ¡°I cannot,¡± Aman said. ¡°My second teammate has not yet been found. He would be of great use to us.¡± ¡°We lost a lot of time chasing after the elf,¡± Aman said. ¡°If we have to do it all over again, forget about stopping Byron, we won¡¯t even escape the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°We lost a lot of time because you were being a pain in the ass!¡± ¡°I will not be spoken to in that manner by a former tavern wench¡ª¡± Nalum¡¯s fist crashed into Aman¡¯s mouth, which was honestly the better option given that I had just reached for my dagger. ¡°Oh, wow,¡± Nicola said in a drab voice. ¡°What a great way to defend my honor.¡± ¡°We will find your friend,¡± Nalum said as though he hadn¡¯t just knocked his cousin flat on his ass. ¡°But, Byron first. I won¡¯t let him reach the dungeon heart while we are off chasing shadows.¡± I¡¯d rather have Paz beside me than any of the three, but a firm look from Nicola stopped me from pressing the matter. ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Here¡¯s what we''re going to do." We had less than a day to see out the rest of our adventure. The sooner we got started, the better. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Despite my misgivings, Aman proved to be a valuable member of the team. Within two hours of searching, his [Find Creature] ability produced results. ¡°Found him,¡± Aman said from atop his ethereal mount. ¡°I''ve found Byron.¡± I looked back at the rest of the group. The relentless monster spawns had left us haggard, down to the bare minimum on all our renewables. We were in no condition to fight Byron, never mind the rest of his army. However, the first stage of the plan couldn¡¯t be resolved with blows. It needed diplomacy. ¡°Location?¡± I asked and extricated my knife from the throat of a chimera. Aman focused on his ability. ¡°He hovers just outside the range of my technique. We¡¯ll catch up to him if we hurry.¡± The hallway bore signs of battle, courtesy of the coalition army who traveled ahead of us. However, those signs gradually disappeared. Again, I was struck with unease at the absence of corpses. The memory of the liquefying Trickster didn¡¯t help. ¡°Take a breather?¡± Nicola suggested. ¡°Not yet,¡± I said. ¡°Byron keeps getting closer to the dungeon heart. We need to act before that happens.¡± A large group of chimeras intercepted us in the next corridor. And, again in the corridors beyond that. Finally, at my wit¡¯s end, I had to make the call. ¡°Take a breather,¡± I said through gritted teeth. The party halted without complaints. The Rider of Hope rapped his spear against the ground and raised stone walls to serve as an encampment. ¡°Three hours to meditate,¡± Nalum said and dropped to the ground. ¡°Would that suffice, favored one?¡± ¡°It would have to,¡± I said, settling into a pose. It didn¡¯t. We ended up being forced to meditate again thanks to more hard fighting. But, Aman succeeded in narrowing down Byron¡¯s location. ¡°I¡¯m going on ahead,¡± I said before the stone walls could be erected. ¡°Catch up as soon as you¡¯re able.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t confront him without us,¡± Nicola warned. I grunted an answer and blended into the shadows. The combination of [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker] left me with little to fear by way of chimera but granted no protection against dungeon traps. Nevertheless, without the need to fight every ten meters, I caught up to Byron¡¯s group. Byron¡¯s makeshift army had swelled since the last time we met. They huddled in the middle of a wide corridor, surrounded by mounds of chimera corpses. Despite their overwhelming victory, the rankers didn¡¯t seem at ease. Shouts and other loud noises made their way up to me as I advanced to their position. I crawled over the pile of dead bodies, groaning inaudibly as my feet trudged through the muck. Two rankers sat farther back from the rest of the crowd, absorbed in [Meditation]. I snuck past them, noting for the first time how the air hung heavy with magic: some kind of ward, which seemed responsible for the dearth of living chimeras. The shouts became clearer this close to the group, revealing a standoff that teetered dangerously close to violence. Byron stood at the center of it, as expected. What I didn¡¯t expect was Mathideus¡¯ presence beside him. Not opposed but united. ¡° . . . we¡¯re stopping here,¡± a woman with hair like raven feathers snarled at the duo. She led a band of rankers, all of whom nodded grimly at her words. ¡°And, I¡¯m telling you we can¡¯t,¡± Mathideus pleaded. "We''ve come too far to retreat." ¡°Did you not hear me?¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯ve lost six rankers already. Six! I¡¯m not going to let any more good people get slaughtered on the altar of your ambition.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfair,¡± Mathideus¡¯ spiky-haired teammate said, the one I suspected to be his partner. ¡°We¡¯ve lost just as much as everyone else. We had to leave the warm body of our sworn brother behind. This isn¡¯t about you.¡± ¡°Which makes it even worse that I am the only one speaking out against this madness!¡± She spat on the ground. ¡°The dungeon spawns haven''t stopped increasing in tandem with our numbers! They will tear us apart!¡± ¡°And, of what use,¡± Byron said, voice cracking like ice, ¡°is your inane suggestion? Your solution to being beset by monster spawns is to sit here and weather the storm until we die or the exit portals open¡ªwhichever happens first.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to put words in my mouth, cur,¡± the woman snapped. ¡°I warned you to retreat ages ago before the chimeras got more vicious! Your stubbornness will end in our deaths!¡± ¡°Retreat?¡± Byron laughed, a lonely, loveless sound. ¡°We can¡¯t take three steps without being attacked by ten chimeras. What makes you think falling back would be any easier than forging ahead?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take our chances. We¡¯ve gained levels and harvested tons of loot. There is nothing left to fight for anymore save for your pride.¡± Byron¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°We all agreed to retrieve the dungeon heart and share the prize.¡± ¡°Retrieve it yourself! We want nothing to do with it. All that waits ahead of you is blood and death.¡± Murmurs resounded across the gathering. I held my breath, unable to believe my ears. What was this brilliant stroke of luck? Could Byron¡¯s plans collapse without my interference? ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± Mathideus said. ¡°We¡¯ve come too far to surrender.¡± ¡°And, we can try again in the next three years,¡± Raven Hair countered. ¡°Except, well, you two can¡¯t, being silver-ranked and all. Is that what this is about? An attempt to win glory in your last chance at the Labyrinth? Do you not feel sorry that your sworn brother died for the sake of your ambition?¡± ¡°You go too far!¡± the spiky-haired man from earlier said, leaping to Mathideus¡¯ defense. ¡°Should I take this as a slight on his honor?¡± The woman stiffened. Proof that despite her bravado, she wasn¡¯t about to dive headfirst into an honor duel with any of her betters. ¡°No,¡± Mathideus said, laying a hand on his teammate''s shoulder. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. This is neither the time nor place.¡± Raven Hair latched onto that, smelling weakness. ¡°You force us to follow and issue threats when we resist. Can the rest of you not see where this is going?¡± She directed the question at the crowd. ¡°Are these the people you wish to follow into hell?¡± The murmurs intensified. A few rankers rose to their feet, daring to stand with the rabble-rouser. The temperature around the gathering plummeted. Precipitation formed on my skin, worsening the chill that had settled earlier into my bones. The breaths left people¡¯s noses in plumes of mist, a feature that would have ousted me were it not for the use of [Stealth]. Byron glared at Raven Hair from the center of his [Frost Aura]. ¡°Leave if you want to. But, I will not tolerate anyone who makes light of the sacrifices of the fallen. You have earned loot and levels from working together with us. You are free to go, once you return them.¡± ¡°You expect me to return a level-up?¡± the woman squawked. ¡°I expect an adventurer to act with honor,¡± Byron said and advanced on her. ¡°I joined this coalition at great expense to myself, lending aid and resources to pull many of you from the brink of death. Dividing our forces now would ruin all of that work and make us easy pickings for the chimeras. ¡°If you would spit in my face in exchange for my help, then I must question your honor. A duel must be had after which dissenters may leave, regardless of the outcome.¡± The chill sank deeper into my veins. Mathideus shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Byron is right. We silver rankers have led from the forefront and taken responsibility for your lives. If you can¡¯t put your faith in our actions, who then can you trust?¡± The raven-haired woman wavered, cowed both by their words and the threat of real violence. Her supporters retreated, leaving her shivering alone in the cold. She lowered her head¡ª ¡°Run away, all of you,¡± I said and stepped out of the shadows. The crowd turned as one to face me. ¡°I have seen the end," I continued. "And, you all are about to be sacrificed.¡± 071 Debate ¡°You,¡± Byron said, cold steel flowing into his voice. ¡°Yes, me,¡± I replied and winked at him. Byron twitched with intent to wipe the smirk from my face. Fortunately, I was too far back for him to reach without plowing through multiple people. A part of me argued that I should have avoided confronting Byron without Nalum and his clansmen for backup. But, I couldn¡¯t let the golden opportunity slip past my fingers. When next would I stumble upon the coalition amid a disagreement? If Byron suppressed the dissenting voices now, they would be less inclined to rebel again later. Sadly, the events of my last run-in with the coalition army had not been forgotten. The hateful rhetoric quickly resurfaced. ¡°It¡¯s the elf!¡± someone said. ¡°How did he get here?¡± "He''s obviously been following us. Hiding while we did all the fighting?" ¡°Nasty sword ears. We should have gutted him then!¡± ¡°Listen to me,¡± I roared, losing my cool in the face of their insults. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what lies at the center of the dungeon. It¡¯s a massive altar built for blood. And, you all are meant to be the sacrifice!¡± Byron laughed. ¡°A lone elf with no friends or notable feats to his name somehow made it to the dungeon heart? I know your kind are vicious murderers, but I didn¡¯t expect you to also tell lies for sport.¡± ¡°Twenty blood sacrifices,¡± I spat. ¡°These are the numbers demanded at the center of the dungeon. The entire point of the wide corridors in this area is to encourage the various parties to group up before challenging the final chamber!¡± ¡°Lies¡ª¡± ¡°The final test doesn¡¯t care about unity or strength! It only tests the resolve of those willing to do everything to achieve their desire!¡± ¡°I tire of your nonsense¡ª¡± ¡°And, Byron knows this,¡± I ended, pointing at his face. ¡°Which is why he intends to drag you all to the finish line whether you want it or not.¡± A deep silence descended over the group. Byron sneered. ¡°You could have saved us the trouble by saying you want the treasure all to yourself.¡± ¡°But, if that is correct,¡± the raven-haired woman from earlier said. ¡°What does he gain by doing this? If the elf simply wanted the dungeon heart, he could have stayed unnoticed while leaving us to do the heavy lifting.¡± The wild look reappeared in her eyes. ¡°Why try to turn us away?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he has a plan¡ª¡± ¡°Did you know about this?¡± Raven Hair asked Mathideus. ¡°Your family is considered to be the foremost experts on the Labyrinth.¡± Mathideus stared at me with a pained expression. ¡°I have heard of no such thing. But, I am also the first of my kindred to make it this far. No one has seen the final chamber since its reemergence.¡± ¡°No one but this vile elf,¡± Byron added. ¡°Surely, you understand how ludicrous that sounds.¡± Raven Hair placed her finger on her chin. The rest of the crowd waited with bated breath, deferring to her as the chief dissenter. ¡°That may be so, Mathideus,¡± she said at length. ¡°You might also be lying.¡± Mathideus paled. ¡°I swear on my honor¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if he''s lying,¡± I interjected at that moment. ¡°But, the truth of the matter cannot be sugar-coated. Should all of you make it to the final chamber, twenty would perish. And Byron knows this. His entire plan hinges on bringing you all to the final lap alive.¡± ¡°What do you want, elf?¡± Byron snapped. ¡°Why do you harass me at the slightest opportunity?¡± ¡°Stop playing the victim¡ª¡± ¡°Victim? Is that what you call this? We had a confrontation at the tavern that has since been settled with a duel, yet you¡¯ve hounded me relentlessly ever since! You attacked me unprovoked in the middle of the guild. You eliminated a party of adventurers because you thought we might be affiliated. And now, this?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a convenient way to spin the truth¡ª¡± ¡°What is, you wretch? The fact that you were the last person to establish contact with Team Amaranth before their disappearance? Or the fact that you have been shadowing Mathideus and me without any intent to contribute to the preservation of these lives?¡± Raven Hair threw me a suspicious glance. ¡°Look,¡± I said, ¡° I¡¯m not going to get into any of all that with you. You played me like a goddamn fiddle the last time. And, that is on me¡ª¡± ¡°So, this is your revenge for perceived grievances?¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°This is my last attempt to reveal you for the bastard you really are!¡± I looked around the crowd. ¡°Seriously, this is Byron we are talking about. The Byron¡ªof Red Wyrm! Do you think he is helping you out of the goodness of his heart? He intends to butcher you!¡± ¡°Yet, all I have done,¡± Byron said, ¡°since the dungeon run began is rescue and defend all who I came across. The same can¡¯t be said for you, elf. Who here owes their life to your intervention?¡± Um, a few people in Mathideus'' party. But, considering they didn''t raise their hands, they might as well be bigots. Or dead. Byron raised his axe. ¡°I have never seen the dungeon heart. But, I intend to make history by being the first of this generation to do so. Anyone who fights beside me will share in that glory. If you wish to believe the elf, I won''t begrudge you. But, I don¡¯t plan on listening to his drivel any longer.¡± ¡°Then get lost,¡± I said. ¡°Continue on your way and leave these people behind. They want nothing to do with you!¡± Raven Hair snorted. ¡°That may be the case, but I¡¯m not letting a fucking elf tell me what to do. I might not agree with Byron, but he is human at least, which is more than I can say for you.¡± Wait, what? You¡¯re bringing the race card into this now?! I turned to the only person who could understand me. ¡°Mathideus?¡± Mathideus grimaced and scratched his chin. ¡°I suspect you are a person of good character, Damien. But, you indeed have unresolved issues with Byron. Is that what this is about?¡± ¡°You know it isn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Then, it is your word against his,¡± Mathideus said, ¡°and against ours too. If what you say is true, it implicates all of us who formed this coalition. And, let me be clear: I have no such ulterior motive.¡± ¡°Then, what about this?¡± Mathideus¡¯ spiky-haired partner said. ¡°Assuming the elf has truly been to the final chamber, his claim should be easy enough to prove. If we scout ahead and things are as he says, we don¡¯t need to continue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with this,¡± Byron said. ¡°As am I,¡± Mathideus added. ¡°This is probably the best resolution given the circumstances. Right, Damien?¡± No . . . not right. I hadn¡¯t arrived at the final chamber via the usual means. There was a lot I didn¡¯t know about the environment or its rules, and I couldn¡¯t reveal the Traveler¡¯s Room to this crowd either. Byron also looked nonplussed about the turn of events, which was all the warning signs I needed. If things played out like Glamring proposed, then I had just tossed a wrench into his plans. Unless . . . he had countermeasures for this. Once they got to the final chamber, there would be no escape. ¡°No¡ª¡± I started. Howls echoed from further up the corridor. A nearby explosion rocked the ground. The crowd of rankers turned to watch a large wolf barrel in our direction. Three rankers followed behind her. And, behind them, a small army of Cynocephali. ¡°Byron!¡± Beelith cried through her lupine maw. Byron grabbed his shield. ¡°Wards. Casters. Now.¡± Magic attacks brightened the corridor with practiced precision. They sailed over the heads of the fleeing rankers and bombarded the chimeras. The assault bought Beelith¡¯s party the time they needed to reach our position, but the chimeras continued in pursuit. Raven Hair pulled an item out of her inventory, some kind of wand, and waved it above her head. A ripple passed through the air, causing the hair to rise on my nape. The Cynocephali slowed to a crawl, and then they wandered away from the corridor with glazed eyes, as though they hadn¡¯t been chasing prey just two seconds ago. Beelith ditched her wolf form and doubled over to pant. The other members of Red Wyrm: the Mage, the Warlock, and a fourth ranker I didn¡¯t recognize, sprawled on the ground around her. I had been wondering where Byron¡¯s loyal minions had disappeared to and was thoroughly pleased by their absence. Couldn¡¯t I catch a break? ¡°Beelith?¡± Byron said, kneeling beside her. He reached for her shoulders with kind fingers that betrayed none of the evil in his heart. ¡°We found it, Byron,¡± Beelith hissed, bearing a mouth full of fangs despite dispelling [Bestial Shape]. ¡°The last chamber! It¡¯s defended by a plethora of chimeras, but it is possible to force our way through.¡± Byron¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°How far away?¡± ¡°About one kilometer,¡± the unidentified ranker said. ¡°But, we must hurry. We spotted another group of rankers heading for it!¡± The crowd of rankers murmured among themselves. ¡°Then, the time to act is now,¡± Byron said, raising his shield. He glared at the group. ¡°You¡¯ve heard our arguments, and you¡¯ve heard that of the elf. We¡¯ll abandon the prize if it proves too difficult for us to achieve. But, I won¡¯t stop here. Let true sons and daughters of Vizhima follow after me.¡± ¡°You plan to kill these people!¡± I said. ¡°And, you have goals that don¡¯t align with ours. Who do you work for, elf? And why are you so focused on stopping our unison?¡± His words this time hit me like a deluge of icy water. The fact that the scouts had spied another group of rankers headed for the dungeon heart didn¡¯t help my case. Even Raven Hair, who was Byron¡¯s second biggest hater in the gathering, shot me a look of distrust. ¡°Follow us, Damien,¡± Mathideus said. ¡°If your words are true, I promise to put an end to this the first chance I get.¡± "You couldn''t even save your teammate," I replied. Mathideus recoiled at my words. ¡°We''ve rested enough,¡± Byron said and marched to the forefront. ¡°Everyone, move out!¡± The crowd dispersed, and then they broke camp and assembled into a predetermined formation. I pleaded with them for all I was worth, but although a few uncertain eyes glanced my way, none paid heed to my words. ¡°Mathideus,¡± I said, grabbing his shoulder. ¡°Listen to me! You¡¯re all going to die!¡± ¡°I¡¯m already dead, Damien,¡± Mathideus said, prying my fingers off his cuirass, none too gently. ¡°Death has become a companion, not an enemy.¡± ¡°Your mind is clouded with grief!¡± Mathideus patted my shoulder. ¡°Come with us, Damien. Your presence will help put my mind at ease. Maybe we can save everyone together.¡± ¡°I''m sorry, but I cannot.¡± A sad smile graced his lips. ¡°Then, this is goodbye. We¡¯ll meet again once this madness is over. For both our sakes, I truly hope you are wrong.¡± He jogged after the rest of the party and joined the rear of the coalition alongside the surviving members of Glamring. That second sentence of his had to be the worst death flag I¡¯d ever heard, but I wasn¡¯t about to sit back and moan impotently at yet another defeat. I turned back the way I came and found a rocky encampment built into the dungeon wall. A trio of chimeras pawed curiously at it, but I ignored them and scaled the walls. ¡°Damien?¡± Nicola gasped and roused from [Meditation]. ¡°Did you find them?¡± Nalum and his clansmen shook themselves awake. ¡°I did,¡± I said, resisting the urge to curse. ¡°Change of plans. Byron and his people are forging ahead. We¡¯ll intercept them at the final chamber.¡± 071.5 Mathideus Mathideus was many things. A husband. A noble. A Warrior. A cosmetic enthusiast who spent long hours each day grooming his hair. But, a fool he was not. Damien¡¯s warnings were ill-timed and not wholly unrelated to his enmity with Byron. However, Mathideus considered himself a good judge of character. And, Damien was good. Sure, the elf had many secrets of his own and seemed ignorant of the larger world outside Dreadwood. He also tended to act uncomfortable in his skin and wielded a taboo affinity. However, Damien wouldn¡¯t have made such wild claims if he didn¡¯t believe them. And, Byron, for all his newfound charisma, remained one of the most terrifying individuals in Skeelie. The Guardian of Apathy might not be capable of mass murder, but Mathideus considered himself a good judge of character. And, Byron was bad. So, it was with a high level of discretion that he issued suggestions¡ªnot commands because there were no commands among sworn brothers¡ªto the members of Glamring. If they caught wind of foul play, they were to engage Red Wyrm¡¯s casters and keep Molochia Beelith off his back. His blade, on the other hand, would be pointed at Byron. Victory in the face of such odds would be hard to pull off, especially without Pastorius to keep enemy attacks at bay. And, at the thought of Pastorius, his heartbeat faltered. Glamring had consisted of the four of them for as long as he could remember, and now . . . No. This wasn''t time for grief. Glamring would have to beat Red Wyrm with a one-man disadvantage. But, this was where Maybelline¡ªthe raven-haired firecracker¡ªcould help. The woman was a powerful Shifter in her own right, and let it not be said that ravens quailed before wolves. A firm hand slipped into his. Allen, his partner, sought him with worried eyes. ¡°Do you need a break? I can force Byron to issue one if you ask.¡± ¡°No,¡± Mathideus said and returned the squeeze. The coalition had taken two breaks already. Asking for another would ruin the momentum. ¡°Let¡¯s be done with this madness. The longer we dally, the more my heart wavers.¡± Allen nodded. He shared a look with Jesse, their Shaman, who pulled a trinket out of his dark hair and crushed it. A warm feeling enveloped Mathideus, restoring his HP. Mathideus whispered his gratitude for the healing, then pushed his way to the front of the flank. The chimeras kept coming. Many times, during the fighting, he lost sight of his brothers. But, they always reappeared beside him, slinging magic and steel. Allen swung his polearm, wounding a swath of monsters with a single arc of lightning. The strange scent of burned air that followed his attacks reached Mathideus¡¯ nostrils. More chimeras. ¡°Halt!¡± Mathideus said, protecting an injured ranker. She lay prone with a chest wound and breathed in slow, uncertain gasps. ¡°Halt, dammit!¡± Mathideus repeated over the sounds of fighting. Byron didn¡¯t make the call. He roared from his spot on the frontlines and bashed a chimera with his shield. Byron also refrained from activating his powerful [Frost Aura], which had the benefit of slowing the chimeras¡¯ movements and enhancing the damage they took from all sources. Mathideus could understand that, considering how low his own MP had fallen due to sustained use of [Rally]. However, without it, the coalition would have since fallen into despair. He needed to conserve his renewables, especially if Damien was right. But, he couldn¡¯t bear to see another ranker die. He gritted his teeth and upended a health potion into the dying woman¡¯s mouth. No [System] warning followed the action. Which was good. Her life could yet be saved. The chimeras didn¡¯t let up. ¡°We need a break, Byron,¡± Mathideus hissed, stomping up to the Guardian. ¡°Just a little more,¡± Byron said over the sounds of fighting. ¡°Then, we¡¯ll take three hours.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a little more!¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Byron fixed him a glare but eventually acquiesced. He ordered a holding action, which caused their rankers to activate their wards. It didn¡¯t stop the flood of monster spawns. But, at least, the chimeras wouldn''t trouble them while they desperately meditated. The real problem lay in the fact that they had just expended their final breath. The casters would need to regain their MP which meant an end to the assortment of barriers. ¡°Enemy team!¡± someone yelled, barely an hour into the break. True enough, shockwaves resonated across the neighboring walls, proving that the competition had caught up to them. Byron shifted restlessly, but Mathideus dissuaded him with bared teeth. ¡°We are not moving until half our forces are back to full strength, at a minimum.¡± ¡°The end lies just beyond this hallway.¡± ¡°We are not moving.¡± Byron growled, then schooled his features. ¡°As long as the wards stay active.¡± Mathideus agreed. Two hours later, the wards failed. The chimeras rushed through the breach, screaming their challenge. They consisted of every breed of vermin he had faced since the start of the dungeon. Slow Wolf Crabs with their sideways advance; poisonous Horse Snakes with their hooves, and tails, and flames; Sea Locust Chickens with their powerful club arms; hordes of cannibalistic Lion Roaches . . . and, leading the charge, the super-powerful Cynocephali which had taken Pastorius¡¯ life. Mathideus once again found himself inundated with fangs and claws. And, just like before, Byron¡ªdespite leading from the forefront¡ªdid not activate his debuff. Even Molochia Beelith, who should have been difficult to miss in a melee, had abandoned [Bestial Shape] and vanished into the crowd. Mathideus did not like this, but there was only so much he could do while drowning in a wave of monsters. Guts and visceral matter rained upon his head, joining the sweat that poured down his brows. The taste of salt hung heavy in his mouth, along with the hint of something else . . . Trepidation? Fear? The latter in particular was nearly alien to him given that he was attuned to Courage. The assault from the chimeras intensified the further in they traveled. A few more rankers fell. Mathideus was just about yelling for aid when a landmark he hadn¡¯t seen since the dungeon run began loomed into view. A flight of stairs led up to a translucent barrier contained within a stone archway. The barrier itself glimmered with the blue hue of magic energy, inviting the rankers to share in its respite. ¡°An exit!¡± someone said. ¡°The final chamber is near!¡± ¡°No one gets left behind! Bring everyone who can¡¯t stand across!¡± The last comment was made by Byron, who stopped to help two wounded rankers to their feet. Cheers erupted among the crowd. A frenzy overcame the rankers, instilling within them a second wind. Mathideus swept his longsword across swarms of chimeras, dulling the [System] notifications before they even appeared. He had leveled up sometime during the battle, although he wasn¡¯t completely certain. All that mattered was that he stood now at the foot of the stairs with dead chimeras sprawled around him. The last of the Leclerc he was; the first to come this far since the Labyrinth reappeared. And yet, he wavered. ¡°To me!¡± Byron said, charging up the steps. ¡°Stop,¡± Mathideus said weakly. ¡°We should organize a small party. Scout ahead . . .¡± No one listened. They stormed up the stairs, spurred on by the Cynocephali that chased after them. Where was the other coalition? They should have reached the staircases by now, assuming they didn¡¯t burn themselves out in their advance. It was also possible that they had been eliminated, though Mathideus shuddered to think about the losses. Up ahead, Byron vanished through the barrier and into whatever lay behind it. Other rankers followed after him, driven by euphoria. A few who had chosen to help the wounded lagged. The chimeras gained on them. ¡°No one gets left behind,¡± a Warlock chanted, skipping down the stairs to secure their passage. ¡°Help them, Mathideus!¡± He released a [Fireball], buying time for a couple of rankers to hobble past. Mathideus joined him in his defiant stand, and the sword of the Leclerc sang again. Lightning sparked from his side, proof that Allen wasn¡¯t far behind. Between them and the Warlock, they cut a path for the stragglers to climb. This Warlock . . . wasn¡¯t he the one on Byron¡¯s team? The one denoted as a Warlock of Rage. Byron had shown a surprising change in personality, but Mathideus didn¡¯t expect his lackeys to also be capable of honorable deeds. It was odd that the Warlock didn¡¯t immediately follow Byron through the barrier. The members of Red Wyrm were known to be fiercely protective of their leader. Then again, the entire coalition had fallen into a frenzy the moment the final goal came into sight . . . Mathideus frowned and plunged his sword into the throat of a rampaging Lion Roach Chimera. The entire coalition had fallen into a frenzy . . . Frenzy . . . Rage . . . [Frenzy]? Mathideus stiffened, and the sand fell from his eyes. You have resisted Charm. The Warlock grinned at him. ¡°Great work, eh?¡± His gaze drifted to Mathideus¡¯ sword which now stood poised at his neck. ¡°You . . .¡± Mathideus started. ¡°You did this. You controlled their actions.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! There¡¯s only one affinity I know of that can induce this sort of behavior. And, you are attuned to it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± a new voice said. ¡°I¡¯m the one you should hold responsible.¡± Byron appeared behind the Warlock. The same Byron who had been first through the barrier . . . except that version of him was fake. The real Byron tossed Allen down the stairs. But, Allen didn''t stir. Blood flowed down his head. Mathideus took one look at his unconscious partner, and then he lunged at Byron for all he was worth. A large clawed arm slammed into his side, blowing a chunk of health off his HP. Beelith cackled in his ear. Mathideus tried to retaliate, but an ice cone punched into his gut. He held onto his sword, burning with intent to defend himself, but his arms didn''t move as he desired. He was just too tired and angry and confused . . . None of the four members of Red Wyrm had passed through the barrier. They had urged the coalition through with no intention of doing so themselves. "Traitors!" Mathideus yelled, but he lost that train of thought as another clawed attack smashed into his side. The ground churned beneath him, turning from a flight of stairs to a steep incline before he could find his balance. As Mathideus tumbled down into the waiting arms of the chimeras, one thought flashed through his mind. I¡¯m so sorry, Damien. 072 Twenty-three The journey back to the Traveler¡¯s room proved twice as hard for a mere party of five. We conserved our potions, using [Meditation] instead to recover our renewables. The arduous tactic caused us to spend multiple hours crossing a distance of about two kilometers. We eventually made it to the Traveler¡¯s Room with about six hours to spare before the exit portals opened. Two, if we counted the four hours needed to meditate again. The endless grinding thankfully hadn¡¯t been for naught. Each of us had gained levels for our struggles. I now sat at a healthy level 23, two up from my fight with the rogues. Nalum had reached level 26, solidifying him within the silver rank. Aman and his brother had risen to levels 22 and 24 respectively. And, Nicola? She had also cracked level 24. One more, and like Nalum, she would join the hallowed group of silver rankers. She already wrought havoc on the battlefield with [Eldritch Beam] and [Bloom of Crimson Desire]. I couldn¡¯t begin to imagine how another ability would improve her arsenal. ¡°What is this place?¡± Aman the Beast Rider asked. He studied the Traveler¡¯s map with a look of wonder on his face. The grueling hours of fighting as one unit had softened me to his excesses. He was almost amiable now. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I said, refreshed and ready to continue. ¡°All that matters is that it can get us to the final chamber.¡± ¡°And, you just so happened,¡± Nalum said, ¡°to find this room lying around, favored one?¡± It was standing around, I wanted to say. But¡ª¡°Someone else found it. I was simply fortunate to run into them.¡± Nicola wrinkled her features at my explanation, but I averted her gaze. Circumstances had pushed me into revealing my hand to more people than intended, but I still intended to leave this city without drawing attention to my status. ¡°Then, it is true what they say about the elves,¡± Nalum replied with a short bow of his head. ¡°Greatness finds your kind wherever you walk.¡± The Dark Elves in Dreadwood didn¡¯t have a lot of greatness going for them, what with their crude huts and lack of water closets. Still, Nalum¡¯s reverence was much better than the scorn I received at the hands of others in the city. ¡°Why do you do that?¡± I asked, referring to his mannerisms. ¡°I had assumed that humans in general do not take kindly to elves.¡± ¡°Many in the Kingdom do not know better,¡± Nalum said with a shrug. ¡°They look with disdain on those who are different¡±¡ªhe gestured at himself¡ª¡°and hide ingrained biases behind long-standing grievances. In Unkulunki, we teach our little ones to recognize the good and evil inherent in each person, regardless of appearance." Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "Including yourself?" Nalum smiled. ¡°I do not consider myself to be flawless, favored one. And, neither are you. I simply respect your heritage as one of the firstborn sons of Vizhima. It won''t stop me from drawing my blade if you wrong me. But, I have no reason to show hostility simply because you exist.¡± I mulled over his words, then leaned toward Nicola. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t reconsider your decision to abandon the marriage?¡± The elbow she subjected me to was not entirely undeserved. ¡°How do you activate this?¡± Nicola asked, tracing her fingers across the etched lines of the map. ¡°I hook it up to mine,¡± I said. ¡°Watch.¡± The Traveler''s Map did its thing. Expanding the Traveler¡¯s Map. Please, select a destination. I focused on the dungeon heart. Destination selected. Preparing transfer . . . Transfer completed. Welcome to the dungeon heart, Traveler. Best of luck. Don¡¯t say it. Don¡¯t you dare fucking say it! You¡¯ll need it. Ugh. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Nicola asked dubiously. ¡°Anticlimactic, I know. But, we are now outside the final chamber.¡± Nicola glanced at the door. An eerie silence emanated from the area from beyond it. The corridors we¡¯d left earlier had sported a hellish hue, but the lighting here looked even more insidious. Aman¡¯s next words shattered the silence. ¡°We¡¯re late.¡± ¡°Late?¡± I asked with my eyebrows raised. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Byron¡¯s here.¡± Without another word, Nalum strode forward and kicked open the door. The breath stopped in my throat. A sheen of fine mist bathed the hallway, stopping just a few inches above the ankle. It helped hide the blood, but not its stench, and that was without accounting for the gore that lined the walls. Corpses filled the hallway, brutally torn apart by the foes they had been battling. Many of them¡ªrankers . . . no, not rankers . . . people¡ªhad died with horrified expressions on their faces. A horde of Mist Enenra turned to face us as we walked through the door. Most of them dissipated or were in the process of doing so, having accomplished their purpose. A short distance away from the massacre, at one end of the corridor, a magic barrier changed in real-time from green to blue. And, arrayed in front of it, the members of Red Wyrm waited. Byron stood in the lead, his horned helmet back on his head. He pulled his axe from out of the chest of the raven-haired woman with a squelch that resounded around the hallway. The meter above the receptacle dinged. Loading completed. Progress until the chamber unlocks: 22/20. The progress counter ticked upward in real time, changing to 23. The huge double door swung open. The cold, calculative part of me noted that the three extra deaths had been unnecessary, their sacrifice superfluous. The humane part yelled that none of these people had needed to die just so one man could sate his greed. Byron¡¯s eyes widened as we entered the hallway from an exit that had formerly been hidden from his vision. Our gazes locked from across the corridor, through the evaporating bodies of the enenras. A nasty smile curved across his face. The smile of a man who had achieved his desire. The smile of victory. I didn¡¯t bother with words. I grabbed The Blackreach Dagger and let it do the talking. 073 Earth, Mist, Fire, and Sex The enemy Mage lowered his staff and triggered an [Earthquake]. Large tremors traveled through the ground, changing the landscape. I bounded off the walls and the rising slabs of stone to avoid being thrown off my feet. The maneuver put me amid a duo of Mist Enenra who were yet to dissipate. The first one tried to cleave my head with an axe but fell short of matching my speed. The second one swung its hammer at my chest. I misjudged the parry and caught the blow against the flat of my blade. The force of the attack sent me careening into the wall . . . and, goddammit, I understood why the coalition army had lost. The Mist Enenra weren¡¯t meant to be challenged by normal rankers. Their strength alone proved that they had been created to break anyone who made it this far. I couldn¡¯t hope to match them, but I didn¡¯t need to because the Beast Riders rode at that moment to my defense. Aman¡¯s arrows fell with devastating force on the Enenra, granting me the reprieve I needed to turn my attention to Red Wyrm. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Nalum and Nicola emerge from the Traveler¡¯s Room wherein they had retreated to avoid the [Earthquake]. The Enenra clashed with the Beast Riders, matching their attacks with intense ferocity. Aman yelped after a nasty hit to the torso. But, his assailant collapsed into mist before it could finish the job. The second Enenra lost mass with each passing second, and . . . goddammit, there were too many things to focus on at once. A deafening roar filled the corridor, sprouting from Red Wyrm¡¯s direction. It preceded the arrival of a gigantic fireball that surged from beyond the curtain of dust and mist that covered the battlefield. I rolled aside in time to dodge the blast, but the others weren''t so lucky. The Rider of Hope picked up the slack. He stuck his spear into the ground and summoned a great wall of stone. Unwavering earth clashed against ballistic fire, until with an explosion, both dispersed, bathing the region in shrapnel. A large shield covered my vision. I didn¡¯t even think. I vaulted over the attack and raked my weapon across the back of the aggressor. The Blackreach Dagger bounced off with a clang, rebuffed by heavy armor. And then, Byron turned. His kick went off like a shotgun in my gut. Blood and spittle flew from my mouth. I fell onto the path of the lone Mist Enenra and rolled to avoid decapitation at the tip of its blade. Beelith¡¯s massive wolf form thundered down the corridor. Nalum rushed to meet her, but a fist made of stone flew for his head. Nicola conjured a tentacle to intercept the speeding missile . . . And then, I dodged again as the Mist Enenra pressed its advantage. It raised its sword a third time, poised for a swing. Red eyes glowed with malice within its helmet. I tensed my knees in preparation to dodge. But, the strike never came. An axe emerged instead from the side of the Mist Enenra and swept through its stomach in brutal disembowelment. Byron stepped through the cascade of mist that followed, as though he hadn''t just done the impossible by killing an Enenra in a single strike. ¡°Elf,¡± he said in that blas¨¦ manner of his, ¡°by what sorcery did you arrive here?¡± ¡°By way of the Fuck You Express,¡± I answered and squared my feet. ¡°That¡¯s how.¡± Byron frowned at the Traveler¡¯s Room. Behind him, Wolf-Beelith reached the Rider of Hope and clamped her massive jaws around his leopard¡¯s neck. I could almost hear the crunch of bone from my position ten meters away. What happened to a Beast Rider¡¯s mount if it died in battle? Wait, this wasn¡¯t the time. Byron approached me at a sedate pace and rested his axe on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding secrets of your own, elf,¡± he said. ¡°I initially assumed you had learned of the final chamber via some kind of divination. But, this . . .¡± He glanced again at the Traveler¡¯s Room, not quite understanding what he was seeing. ¡°This is beyond expectations.¡± ¡°And, what about you?¡± I asked, even as individual battles raged around us. Another [Fireball] collided with an [Eldritch Beam] somewhere in the distance. ¡°How did you learn of this place if none who enter may escape?¡± A giant stone fist threw Aman off his mount. Nalum leaped to his aid and intercepted further attacks. ¡°Because,¡± Byron said, ¡°I was part of the coalition that found this corridor three years ago: The only member of it to survive. The barriers reopened once the prerequisites were met.¡± ¡°You saw firsthand the madness that stood here and kept that information to yourself?¡± ¡°I saw firsthand the cost of victory.¡± A ranker''s corpse obstructed his forward advance, and he crushed the dead man''s head without a second thought. ¡°I played the game exactly how the Labyrinth wanted.¡± Nalum sprang out of the mist at that moment, broadsword aimed at Byron¡¯s neck. Byron¡¯s heavy shield pulsed once, and the resulting [Shield Bash] blew Nalum clean off the ground. Nalum, a level 26 Warrior, had ample points thrown into Strength and Endurance. And yet, Byron had swatted him aside like he was naught but a fly. If Byron could manhandle his peers with such disgusting ease, what would he do to me? Uh oh. It seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. Not the time, man! I didn''t need to know I was scared, though the stat boost helped make things easier. Sadly, Byron stood at a level far above me in both actual skill and mathematical terms. And, if his last showing wasn¡¯t proof enough, the infobox that appeared upon my use of [Identify] confirmed it: City Adventurer LVL 27. In contrast, I had only just reached level 23. Two ranks short of Silver. I had also lost a good amount of HP from the two attacks earlier taken. Byron adopted a faraway look. ¡°The dungeon runs are rigged, elf. Rigged to fail. There¡¯s no success to be had if you don¡¯t play by the rules. I spent a long time thinking about the things I could have done better after the disaster of the last coalition.¡± ¡°And, this was your answer?!¡± ¡°It was. There is no easy way to get past this challenge. Heralds, if my last companions had known about that room of yours, they could have gotten to safety. Not to mention, the people who died here today did so because you were being a secretive little shit.¡± My eyebrows twitched. ¡°Fuck you. You¡¯re not going to pin your crimes on me.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Yea. You do not need to accept responsibility. However, the fact remains that every single one of them died because you, their savior, weren''t willing to commit. You tried to beat my gamble without placing all your cards on the table. That either makes you a fool or someone who wanted this outcome. The choice is yours.¡± No . . . I did my best to stop this massacre, even when the very people I wanted to save lined up against me. Byron had no right to name me an accomplice! So, why did my heart feel heavy? What good came out of protecting my identity if it caused innocents to lose a chance to escape? Byron must have picked up on my inner turmoil because he smirked and shook his head. ¡°Know this and know peace, elf. The Labyrinth isn¡¯t fair. No part of the entire world is. I watched my colleagues die once, and then I escaped thereafter barely clinging to life.¡± He raised his shield. ¡°I have returned for a second go. And, this time, I will not flee.¡± [Frost Aura] suffused the corridor. The sudden chill sank its withered hands into my bones which were already hindered by my hesitation. I tried to move, but the lethargy that consumed me proved as real as the Apathy from which it was born. Byron exploded forward with deceptive speed. . . . And, Nicola flung me aside, via a tentacle coiled around my hip. She followed up with an [Eldritch Beam] as black as ice was cold. The wails of the damned emanated from the blast. Insidious whispers crawled into my head. The beam of sheer vileness slammed into Byron. . . . or rather, his [Shield Bash]. Byron shrugged off the residual damage and gestured with his axe. Precipitation formed at the tip of his weapon. A giant ice cone rocketed toward Nicola. She deflected it with a narrow use of her beam. The blowback hurt her anyway and threw her across the ground¡ª Get up, Damien! And then, Byron was there. ¡°Nicola!¡± I warned. A flash of light from a nearby scuffle interrupted my vision. I regained it in time to see Byron brush Nicola¡¯s staff aside with a swing of his shield. He drove his axe into her chest, going through the last of her HP and straight into meatspace. Nicola gurgled. ¡°That¡¯s my wife,¡± Nalum screamed. He launched himself at Byron and called upon his ability. His sword gleamed with a wicked aura aimed at the object of his Hate. I ignored their skirmish and slid over to Nicola. She blinked up at me, eyes rolling in her sockets. I forced a health potion down her throat, getting copious amounts over her neck and chest. A heartbeat passed. And then, another. Nicola gasped. Goddammit. If I¡¯d only been a few seconds late, I would have lost her forever. Tears flowed freely from my eyes as the bleeding stopped and her sternum recovered. Byron had managed to get into my head, but I¡¯d been the one to let him. No more. Who cares if my actions had condemned these people to death? I reserved the right to prioritize my well-being over that of others! Nicola¡¯s HP inched upward. But, without her to occupy the casters, the tide of the battle had turned. Aman took it upon himself to redirect any magic attacks. He achieved this by using an ability in conjunction with his bow. It caused the casters to focus on him in turn, which quickly left him overwhelmed. Nalum held his own against Byron this time, courtesy of his curses. A particularly vicious clash saw Byron heave blood despite parrying the attack. But, the gap in skill between them prevented Nalum from pressing the advantage. Beelith dominated the second Beast Rider, who had abandoned his mount to fight her on foot. He possessed some skill with the spear, though nowhere near sufficient. The large wolf tore through his health with ease. Beast Riders weren¡¯t meant to fight without their mounts; a lesson that Beelith inflicted with pulsating joy. I carried Nicola in my arms and put distance between us and the rest of the fight. If things continued as they did, we were going to die. Why did I revert to weakness each time I faced Byron? I should be stronger than this. I should¡ª The barrier at the end of the corridor shimmered, drawing the attention of everyone in the vicinity. Two burly rankers stepped out of it. Their bloodstained clothes and mangled hair spoke of long hours of exertion, but their eyes gleamed with flames that indicated their resolve. For a half second, silence reigned over the corridor as the newcomers took in the scene. The Mage of Hope moved first. Earthen shackles rose from a giant magic sigil and coiled around the pair. The Warlock of Rage unleashed a wall of fire. One of the newcomers managed to free himself and fled back through the barrier. The other screamed as the flames intensified and burned him alive. Damn. ¡°Byron,¡± Beelith yelled in half-bark, half-speech. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this.¡± ¡°I''ll finish them off,¡± Byron said and weaved around Nalum¡¯s assault. ¡°We¡¯ll finish them off,¡± Beelith said. ¡°The other coalition has caught up to us. We can¡¯t lose the prize, not after coming this far¡ª¡± She lunged at the Beast Rider and snapped his spear in half. ¡°Plus, you need to conserve your arsenal for the final boss. Go. We¡¯ll handle things here.¡± ¡°Not without you three.¡± ¡°The dungeon heart, Byron!¡± Byron grimaced. Nalum swung at him again, but he spring-rolled beneath the attack this time and emerged at a dead run for the final chamber. ¡°Stop him!¡± I said. Nalum pursued. Aman fired an arrow. For all Byron¡¯s might, he couldn¡¯t outrun all of us. And, he knew this too. He dipped his hand into his Inventory and retrieved a bell. I barely had time to call out a warning before he rang it. A loud noise ruptured my eardrums. You have been afflicted by the item: [Banshee¡¯s Shriek]. You have been [Deafened]. Status Duration: One minute. The onset of deafness acted like a small stun, forcing me to my knees. Nicola groaned and tumbled from my arms. Byron disappeared through the open chamber in the time it took us to reorient ourselves. His Mage teammate raised his staff and summoned a wall to seal off his passage. Without words, Aman dismounted from his leopard and sent the beast bounding after Byron. Nalum leaped into the air and landed on the passing feline. The two scaled the earthen wall right before it joined the ceiling. The final chamber now sat barricaded. ¡°Just us now,¡± Beelith said, chuckling deep in her throat. ¡°Just us, witch,¡± the Rider of Hope hissed. He retreated on foot and discarded his ruined spear alongside two used potion bottles. ¡°You lost the moment you allowed our chieftain to chase after your leader.¡± Beelith laughed, an unnerving sound coming from a wolf. ¡°A man who chases death should not be stopped. He should be left to find exactly what he seeks. Byron remains undefeated in battle. And, he won¡¯t lose now at the hands of a barbarian whose biggest accomplishment is ruling a chattel in the middle of nowhere.¡± ¡°Damien,¡± Nicola said, dropping a used mana potion of her own. ¡°Do you think we can take them?¡± I looked at the massive wolf Shifter and the two casters behind her. Numerically, we held the advantage with four on three. But, our two Beast Riders had lost their mounts. Red Wyrm also consisted entirely of silver rankers as opposed to our group which languished in Iron. My fingers trembled at the memory of the [Frost Aura] Byron had unleashed. The jump from Iron to Silver seemed small, but in reality, both ranks were far from peers. Beelith had crushed a supernatural leopard between her jaws, and the Warlock had flash-fried a fellow ranker. I still had [Sneak Attack] to deal double damage from out of stealth, but that alone wouldn''t suffice. If I could just reach the casters who waited at the backline . . . An entire Cynocephalus¡ªall eight feet of it¡ªsailed past the magic barrier and into the wall of fire. A tall figure arrived after it, using the dead chimera as a gangway to cross the fiery blockade. Short hair the color of blood sat on a rugged face. The naked torso that followed glistened with sweat. A heavy metal spear hung across his shoulders¡ª ¡°Paz!¡± Nicola and I screamed at the same time. Beelith growled low in her throat. Paz smacked the butt of his spear against the ground, looking mighty pleased with his entrance. He smoothened his short hair and grinned at Nicola. ¡°Whoa, what the hell? You survived!¡± His eyes settled on me. ¡°Damien, you bastard son of a sewer-dwelling wasp. A pox on you and all who had a hand in your upbringing! I owe you a punch for that beheading.¡± ¡°Not the time, Paz,¡± I said, unable to suppress a smile. Paz¡¯s grin stretched even wider. ¡°Not the time, eh? Well, I guess you might be right. Am I correct in assuming that these wankers are responsible for attacking my new subordinates?¡± Beelith bristled. Paz glanced at her, then at the shriveled ranker corpse in the fire. ¡°Never mind. I think I''ve gotten my answer. Come then, mutt. It''s been a while. Let''s finish what you started.¡± 074 Wolf of the Blood Moon Beelith attacked before Paz finished speaking. The enemy casters did too. As did Nicola. A large boulder formed out of thin air and rocketed down the corridor, only to meet its demise at the end of Nicola¡¯s [Eldritch Beam]. Paz scaled the wall of fire and vaulted over Beelith¡¯s charge. He landed in the path of the enemy Warlock who waved his hands around to conjure a flaming arrow. Beelith charged again, drawing Paz''s attention. ¡°Look out!¡± I said. The air rippled around Paz. Without even looking, he waved his spear and deflected the arrow into the enemy Mage. The flaming missile exploded upon contact with the Mage''s back and threw him onto his face. Paz followed up with a strike at the galloping Beelith. But, she evaded it and raked her claws across his side. He switched to a new stance, flaring [Draconic Aura]. ¡°Futile,¡± Beelith said and spun around for a second go. ¡°I commend you for picking the [Deflect Missile] skill. But, try using it to stop these teeth!¡± She dashed forward with a snarl, ready to tear into flesh. Paz adjusted his grip on his spear and sidestepped her at the last possible second. He smacked her across the skull, punting her into a wall. Aman tackled the fallen Mage, who was still reeling from the sudden snipe to the back. The Warlock tried to help his friend, but a summoned tentacle slapped his chest and launched him through the barrier. Paz chuckled at the wounded Beelith who floundered on the ground. ¡°Not so strong, are you,¡± he said, ¡°now that the level difference has been narrowed? Get up, fleabag. I¡¯ve not paid you enough for the last encounter.¡± . . . Which was a big boast coming from him, but Paz seemed to have gained some levels. A quick use of [Identify] put him at the cusp of silver rank¡ªlevel 24¡ªjust like Nicola. I had killed three rogues in the time we had been separated. How the hell was I the weakest member of our trio?! The Warlock returned through the barrier, unharmed by the wall of fire. A spark of flame grew between his palms: a [Fireball] waiting to be unleashed. ¡°Think fast, Paz,¡± I said, emerging from out of [Stealth]. I threw two knives at him with all the strength I could muster. Paz understood the assignment. He activated his [Deflect Missile] skill and propelled the knives in the direction of the Warlock. The skill doubled the speed of the knives, extending their reach. The Warlock dodged one knife in an impressive display of agility, but the other struck the flame between his hands dead on. The [Fireball] detonated prematurely, throwing Paz, Beelith, and the Warlock in different directions. The abrupt explosion also ended the scuffle between Aman and the enemy Mage, flinging both aside like ragdolls. The Mage lost what remained of his health but landed too far away for any of us to press the advantage. I pulled a disoriented Paz away from the conflagration and nodded in approval as Nicola¡¯s tentacle grabbed Aman. We took a moment to regain our breath. ¡°Damien, you bastard,¡± Paz said, shaking his head. ¡°You made it out of that mess with the teleportation tiles, huh? And, I thought I was the undying one.¡± I helped him to his feet. ¡°You don¡¯t know the things I¡¯ve suffered.¡± ¡°And, neither do you. I can''t even begin to explain what I''ve survived.¡± ¡°Boys,¡± Nicola said, ¡°sorry to interrupt your pissing contest, but we still have a fight that needs to be won.¡± ¡°We always win our fights,¡± Paz grumbled. ¡°Stop nagging us, mom.¡± I stifled a chuckle. This was it. The camaraderie I had missed over the past two days. I¡¯d known Paz and Nicola for less than two weeks and already felt closer to them than anyone in my adult life. Was this why Byron had become so broken? Because he had lost his friends? Beelith, now back in human form, rose to her feet. Despite the damage taken, her health meter remained at its peak. It seemed her wolf form came with a separate HP which forced her to revert once expended. The Warlock of Rage and the wounded Mage sheltered behind her. They rapidly emptied potion bottles. ¡°Annoying,¡± Beelith spat. ¡°These flies won''t stop buzzing. They get us to waste our time here while Byron faces the final challenge alone.¡± Her blond hair came loose from its braids and fell over her eyes. The effect lent her a deranged look that wasn''t helped by her crooked nose. ¡°It¡¯s just us and them,¡± the Warlock said. ¡°I caught a glimpse of the outside when I fell through the barrier. The area beyond this corridor is swarming with chimeras. All nearby rankers have fled for the portals.¡± I perked up at that. Portals? The exit portals had appeared? Beelith sneered. ¡°Great. I guess we can go all out now. Pity. I wanted to reserve this for the final boss.¡± ¡°Damien,¡± Nicola whispered. ¡°Get ready.¡± For what? Beelith howled, a sound of utter rage that had no business coming from a human throat. Her skin split open¡ªactually, split open¡ªto reveal red pulp and slimy innards. A bloody mass climbed out of her flesh. Paz tensed from his spot beside me. ¡°Ugh. If that¡¯s what I think it is, then our situation has just gotten hairy. She¡¯s using [Shapeshift], the premier Shifter technique.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Not-Beelith kicked the husk of her old body aside. In her place stood a massive bipedal monster with long arms, stout, digitigrade legs, and a powerful torso. I knew this creature. I had seen it numerous times in various media back on Earth. The fur was a dead giveaway, and if that wasn¡¯t enough, the drool-dripping snout helped clear all doubt. Beelith had just transformed into a goddamn werewolf. ¡°D-demon!¡± the Rider of Hope said, clutching a vital potion. Without his spear or his mount, he seemed utterly useless. His leopard mount hadn¡¯t returned after being killed by Beelith. A limitation of Beast Riders, perhaps? Nevertheless, the man made his tribesmen proud by standing his ground. He pulled two machetes out of his inventory and rolled his wrists. Beelith crouched onto all fours and snorted a single word that sent chills running down my spine. ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Now, Damien!¡± Nicola said. A magic sigil flared beneath the members of Red Wyrm. They pounced away, but it had only been a feint. Nicola instead fired an [Eldritch Beam] through the wall that had been erected over the final chamber. ¡°Go!¡± she said. ¡°What? No!¡± I stammered. ¡°It¡¯s five versus three. We stand a better chance fighting them and going after Byron together!¡± Beelith bounded toward our group, crossing half the distance in a single stride. Paz rushed to meet her. ¡°Don¡¯t argue, Damien. You know she''s right!¡± The machete-wielding Rider dashed forward to support him. Both fell under a vicious tackle from Beelith, who was massive enough to pin each man down with a single arm. ¡°Damien!¡± Nicola said. ¡°We can¡¯t let Byron win while we¡¯re stuck here.¡± ¡°But, Nalum¡ª¡± I said. A flaming missile flew for my head. Aman fired an arrow into its path, causing it to divert off course due to his ability. Fuck! I shot my teammates one final look and took off in a dead run for the chamber. A flying rock fist punctured my chest, but I had traded places at the last moment with a [Decoy]. The real me surged through the breach in the wall and landed in a field of darkness. Ferocious magic rocked the area behind me, threatening to collapse the wall. More noises erupted as the battle in the corridor commenced in full. Once again, I was alone, leaving my friends to fend for themselves. This time, there were no teleportation tiles or easy ways out. I took a brief moment to gather my wits. Whether or not I liked the current situation didn¡¯t change the fact that my teammates depended on me. We had made a promise in the tavern to beat Byron and win the dungeon heart. Our future safety depended on it. That, and the fate of Nicola¡¯s siblings. Byron had casually murdered twenty-three rankers for a chance at victory. Chickening out now was akin to endorsing his actions. And, honestly, fuck Byron. He was the driving force behind my participation in the festival. I¡¯d known from the moment I placed my name on the guild board that either of us would die. And, it wouldn¡¯t be me. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, thanks to my racial perk. It was too easy to forget that being an elf granted advantages not documented by the [System]. I could move near soundlessly in difficult terrain and possessed enhanced senses. But, none of that mattered right now, seeing as the darkness had started receding. An exit stood at the end of the unlit passageway, illuminated by bright yellow lighting. It was a welcome change from the red hue that colored the rest of the Labyrinth. But, change here could only mean a few things¡ªnone of it good. I followed the golden light to the mouth of a large chamber built like a royal court. Brilliant, red tapestries hung from the walls, connected to a distant ceiling crisscrossed by rafters. The grand theme of the outer corridor continued here, with intricate gargoyles and creepy scones erected on the walls. A lush, red carpet extended from the doorway to a large pit at the other end of the hall. Blood-colored mist rose from the pit, which looked eerie enough to make my skin crawl without the enhancements. A dais occupied the area beyond the pit, complete with a throne, as though built for a king to enjoy the sight of his enemies falling to their deaths. And, atop that throne, a gothic scepter hovered. The scepter gave off a mysterious energy, one that repulsed and attracted the mind at the same time. Despite their intriguing designs, neither the black scepter nor the pit commanded the most attention. That honor belonged to the deadly fight that raged a heart-stopping distance away from the drop. Byron and Nalum clashed with a creature that looked straight out of a fever dream. It was a wolf crab and a horse snake, a sea locust, a chicken, a lion roach, and a Cynocephalus all at once. Parts of its body wafted in the breeze, hinting at a similarity to the Enenra. The giant beast wielded countless arms and legs that twisted in ways they had no business doing. Five rotten mouths shrieked in five grotesque heads, each resembling a different animal. The beast exploded with movement, powered by muscles that writhed like giant worms beneath its skin. Even from this distance, an overpowering stench of rotten flesh clouded my tongue. I had barely finished processing what it looked like, when [Scaredy-cat] went haywire and issued three Fear stacks. Three fucking Fear stacks. Byron and Nalum had abandoned their enmity to join hands in battle. They had managed to whittle the beast to half of its health. What remained stood at a value multiple times my own. [Identify] supplied a single name: The Chimera LVL 30. A transparent barrier occupied the doorway to the final chamber. Unlike the barriers outside, this one did not block the senses from examining the interior. A flick of a pebble proved that it allowed inward passage: a mechanism intended to trap potential intruders. This was what the Labyrinth wanted us to beat? A level 30 monster? The strongest enemy I had faced was the Primal Dread Monkey at level 31. But, even that would fall in no time to The Chimera. Did the base template matter, then? Was it possible for two monsters of the same level to differ greatly in power? It probably was, considering the same also applied to rankers, but that mystery could wait. What mattered now was that my friends and the [System] somehow expected me to fight this beast. A single blow with multiple arms sent Nalum skidding much too close for comfort to the pit. Byron responded with an ice cone, but The Chimera shrugged off the attack. The beast then whaled on Byron with over thirty arms attacking from multiple directions. Byron raised a transparent wall to defend himself. It shattered like glass. He pulled an item from his inventory . . . And, a loud bang went off, shoving The Chimera a few meters toward the pit. The pit . . . All three combatants employed the same strategy as they danced around the chamber. The pit signified instant death, thus highlighting the importance of victory by battlefield removal. The Chimera had already claimed one casualty in battle. A shift in the position of its arms revealed the broken body of Aman¡¯s leopard mount. The Chimera held the corpse like a trophy, waving it with multiple arms above its head. A nasty strike nearly earned it a second trophy had Nalum not succeeded in pulling off a dodge. You can still run now, a small voice said in my ear. This fight is clearly beyond the likes of you. What does a former shut-in know about honor or the struggle of life and death? Crawl away, Damien. Let Byron get his due. Crawl away . . . I looked back at the distant corridor which trembled with the impact of battle. Across the barrier, The Chimera kept waving its prize. Red tapestries dangled from a ceiling covered in rafters. Steeling myself, I stepped through the doorway. 075 Stray The Chains of the Combat Ape settled in my hands. The familiar weight of its ranker-grade steel provided some succor as I set my plan in motion. [Stealth] and [Dark Stalker] worked in tandem, veiling me from the combatants in the room. They would learn of my presence soon enough, but for now, secrecy was important. I used [Identify] on the chains to pull up its description. Chains of the Combat Ape [Greater]. A melee-type weapon with specialties in short and medium-ranged combat. Each length of chain can be attached to a blade to increase its damage. Requirement: Greater Strength or Dexterity. The addition of daggers to the tips of the combat chains converted both into Chain Nails, which unlocked the hidden property of melding with objects. I stuck the nails into the wall and began the arduous climb under the cover of darkness. Nalum and Byron continued their fight with The Chimera, which caused my heart to shudder each time they passed beneath me. Climbing like this left me exposed to attacks. Hopefully, the Chimera possessed no techniques that could override [Dark Stalker]. Down on the ground, Nalum activated an ability that caused the monster a great deal of hurt, judging by the shrieks. Byron''s [Frost Aura] poured in full blare, applying debuffs. The three combatants moved at a dizzying pace, switching seamlessly between attack and defense. But, although the monster kept losing health, the rankers also depleted their reserves. I focused back on the climb and eventually gained a foothold on the rafters. Vertigo swept in as I chanced a look downward¡ªtalk about a steep drop. This far up, I could glimpse the interior of the pit, and . . . What the hell was in there? The pit remained pitch black despite my vision perks, but a dreadful aura wafted up from it, like steam from a broth cooked slowly over a fire¡ªif the broth was sourced from maggot stock and chunks of rotten meat. The red, mist-like aura smelled as bad as it looked. Yep. Definitely not going in there. Not for a million bucks. I steadied myself on the rafters. The wooden beams were thick and wide, built to hold the weight of multiple grown men. It took some effort to avoid slipping off, but my elven perks came again to the rescue. The entire structure seemed to have been built on purpose, to offer some vantage to Rangers and long-distance fighters. I couldn¡¯t nock an arrow to save my life, but I owned something even better. Bombs. Seven of the sticky spheres of death sat idle in my inventory. They wouldn¡¯t be of much use in a frontal assault on The Chimera, but a frontal assault wasn¡¯t the plan. The key benefit of the Sticky Bombs lay in their ability to be remotely detonated. And, I intended to exploit that to the fullest. I dug the items out of my inventory and got to work. It was tricky business, choosing what intersections to fix the bombs in a bid to maximize spread. My engineering knowledge¡ªor lack of one¡ªdidn''t help matters. But, destruction of this scale didn¡¯t require much finesse. Just give me big boom-booms. With the bulk of my plan set in motion, I now faced a single problem: Ensuring I didn¡¯t kill Nalum. Beneath me, the fight had taken a new dimension as The Chimera unleashed an ability it had previously kept hidden: health regeneration. Its HP, which had fallen to the final quarter during my time in the rafters, now hovered in the mid-ranges. Byron fought valiantly, though he only delayed the inevitable. As a level 27 Guardian, his high Strength, Endurance, and Mana cost him valuable points in Magic Intellect. And, it showed in the ease with which the Chimera shrugged off his abilities. Byron''s health meter had surged back up too, courtesy of a health potion, but The Chimera dented it with each glancing hit. Ah, I could just stand by and do nothing, right? The Chimera seemed capable of dishing out divine punishment on my behalf. However, a powerful blow sent Nalum skipping across the ground, and judging from the way he refrained from healing himself, he had exhausted his potion cooldowns. You better thank me for this, Nicola! I slid down a long tapestry by way of the Chain Nails and crashed to the ground. [Stealth] muffled all noises. The Chimera took an ice cone to one of its five faces and roared with enough ferociousness to stop a baby''s heart. Nalum . . . didn¡¯t look so good. Byron had intervened before The Chimera could finish him off¡ªa decision born not out of camaraderie but out of the importance of Nalum''s powerful curses. With only about twenty percent health available to him, Nalum didn¡¯t seem keen on rejoining the battle. He leaned heavily on his broadsword, as though resigning himself to his fate. The proud nature of his clan won out eventually, and he rose to his feet. With a soft sigh, he strode toward the melee. However, this was no time for martyrdom. ¡°Nalum, stop,¡± I said. The big man flinched. ¡°Favored one?¡± I was still hidden by my techniques, which said a lot about his awareness. ¡°Back away. Now.¡± Nalum¡¯s eyes steeled. ¡°An Unkulunki man does not flee from battle.¡± ¡°Then, an Unkulunki man will die.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Death does not scare me, favored one.¡± ¡°What about death by a trap meant for someone else?¡± Nalum frowned as he digested my meaning. ¡°Aye,¡± he said at last. ¡°That would not be the most honorable way to go.¡± We retreated toward the doorway which sat protected by a small arch, the sole cover in the hall. Byron glared over his shoulder. ¡°You hide, coward? Even after I had saved your life?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bite,¡± I whispered before Nalum could respond. ¡°He is also the enemy.¡± ¡°Yes, but I do not like this, favored one. It goes against everything I''ve been taught.¡± ¡°You were taught not to kill two birds with one stone?¡± Nalum grimaced. ¡°I was taught the importance of honor. That man is my enemy. If we must settle our grievances, we would do so head-on.¡± Unfortunately for him, I had no problems settling grievances from a distance. An increasingly frustrated Byron traded blows with The Chimera. It was admittedly satisfying to watch his actions get more frenetic the closer he inched to despair. Do me a solid, Chi-darling. Kill that motherfucker. Byron weathered a hammer blow on his shield that sent shockwaves reverberating across the hall. The force drove him backward and onto his back. In one smooth motion, he pulled an item from his inventory: a cloudy, glass vial. ¡°You want to hide, then?¡± he snarled and glared at Nalum. ¡°Hide.¡± The glass vial exploded. A cloud of thick, dense smoke obscured him in a wide radius, also hiding his health meter. My stomach churned at the implication of his change in tactics before The Chimera even rolled to a stop. The monstrous creature peered through the smoke, searching in vain for its prey. It turned around in a semicircle. Five pairs of eyes fell on us. ¡°Favored one?¡± Nalum stammered as The Chimera barreled in our direction. Drat. Byron and The Chimera didn''t get nearly enough time to pummel themselves as I¡¯d intended. It was too early to spring the trap, but we could die at this rate. I shelved the Chain Nails and commanded the magic in the Sticky Bombs to detonate. Nothing happened, and I paled at the realization that I had somehow botched the plan. The Chimera had gotten close enough that I could see the whites of its eyes and hear the sounds of its five different mouths shrieking in cacophony. The rafters collapsed with a deafening series of booms. Wooden beams, as thick as tree trunks, thudded to the floor. Chunks of sawdust plummeted in tandem with the beams, peppering the ground. Even beneath the archway, we weren¡¯t free from harm. Multiple pieces of wood came flying and knocked me out of [Dark Stalker]. A cloud of dust rose in consequence of the assault, punctuated in places by the last of the falling rafters. The Chimera . . . Where was The Chimera? A hulking mass of muscles and limbs sprawled prone beneath a great length of wood. Without a moment''s hesitation, I waded into the carnage and buried my dagger into the gap between one pair of eyes. The Chimera squealed. I weaved around its grasping arms and repeated the process for each of its heads. Without the protection of health armor, The Chimera''s flesh offered little resistance to The Blackreach Dagger. The last head to fall was the lion roach, and it blinked at me with slit pupils as I sank the dagger into its skull. The Chimera issued one last shuddering breath. Its flailing arms wilted to the ground. You have participated in the killing of The Chimera LVL 30. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. You have leveled up! You are now Level 24. You have leveled up! You are now Level 25. You have unlocked a new bonus technique as a reward for reaching level 25. Visit your status sheet to inspect it! You are now Silver Ranked! Only a few more steps left to Ascend! Visit your status sheet to uncover new benefits! I dismissed the messages, giddy with elation. This was a fair jump in levels, especially considering the XP had been shared three ways. I looked back at Nalum, eager to know if he had gained any benefits. Nalum¡¯s blank eyes stared back at me. You have participated in the killing of Warrior LVL 26. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. No . . . Nalum had been struck by multiple bits of wood, including one shaped like a stake that punched through his neck. It had plowed through the remnant of his HP and into his throat. Blood trickled down the wound, casting scarlet rivers atop the earth of his skin. My stomach churned. ¡°Well, well, look at what you¡¯ve done.¡± Byron appeared from the dust cloud with his heavy shield lowered at his side. He ran his free hand through his hair, which lay matted with dust and sweat. I should have known he¡¯d survive. The [System] hadn¡¯t issued any notifications concerning his death. However, he had taken a fair amount of damage during the bombardment, bringing his health meter down to the final thirty percent. Just enough that I could win. Byron picked his way through the rubble. ¡°It is said that the only thing people have learned from experience is that most people don''t learn from experience.¡± I knew that quote. A version of it, at least. ¡°The chieftain here has paid the price,¡± Byron said, ¡°for your long stretch of ignoring warning signs. You will try again to triumph over me, and you will meet death at the tip of my axe. For you have learned nothing.¡± The scepter¡ªthe one that hovered over the empty throne¡ªglowed from its spot at the other end of the chamber. The top unfurled to reveal a small orb that had not been made by any mortal hand. One moment, the orb burned like the sun, fiery enough to sear the gaze. The next, it glowed with moonlight, soft and soothing upon all it touched. Yet again, the orb glittered with the likeness of a thousand stars set in the night sky. Light and dark clashed in equal measure within its confines. I didn¡¯t need [Identify] to confirm its nature. That much was obvious enough. The dungeon heart. The elusive treasure that had consumed the lives of thousands of rankers and monsters over the ages. For the first time since the dungeons reawakened, the Egg of the Labyrinth was finally on display. And, goddamn, it was beautiful. Byron knocked back a stamina potion. ¡°You have my thanks, elf, for your aid in defeating The Chimera. All of the pain and sleepless nights of the past three years have finally borne fruit. The Labyrinth¡¯s prize is mine¡ª¡± ¡°Yapfest,¡± I said and spun my dagger. ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck about your monologues. You want me dead. I want you dead. That''s good enough for me.¡± Byron smirked. ¡°You still have an appetite to wet your blade after your last brilliant kill?¡± I forced the image of the dead Nalum out of my brain. It returned, regardless. ¡°I''m fine with the turn of events, just to be clear,¡± Byron said. ¡°I always intended for every single one of you to die in the Labyrinth. The drunk and the whore will follow. As will the barbarians.¡± I slipped into [Stealth]. Byron summoned his axe and slammed it against his shield. [Frost Aura] exploded outward in a bitter gale, freezing the moisture within the air. The biting cold gnawed at my flesh and inflicted a series of penalties: 1.5x decrease to speed and reflexes, and an accompanying 1.5x increase to damage taken from all sources. Byron followed up with a sweep of his axe. I met him halfway, bent on the kill. 076 The Fall His initial strike had only been a feint. But, so was mine. I ducked around his strike and raked the knife hidden in my second hand across his face. Byron evaded in time and retaliated with his shield. But, I had seen him fight enough times now to predict his actions. I went low and scored a hit on his ankle. And, like clockwork, his foot shot for my face. I already knew the kind of damage he could deal with his mule kick. Never again. I caught his foot in mine and allowed the force to propel me away from range. Byron smirked. He had only been feeling me out¡ªthe bastard. Though we had been equally matched all through the opening salvo, [Knife-fighting] simply wasn''t suited to this kind of combat. [Frost Aura] also poured out of Byron, slowing my movements. He had to know this which meant he was intentionally matching my pace. Sooner or later, he would kick into full gear and try to catch me off guard¡ª Sooner! I pulled off a perfect somersault and avoided Byron''s charge. With all the vehemence I could muster, I slashed him across the jaw. Byron blinked. His HP dropped a little, thanks to the vicious attack. He refrained from rubbing his chin though his infuriation was clear as day. ¡°You have improved, elf,¡± he said. I spared no words for him and checked the [System] messages. I had been saving stat points since level 21 to pour into Dexterity the moment the stat cap was lifted. The rewards for my prudence were well worth the wait. You have upgraded an attribute. [DEX] has now risen from Greater to Grand. You deal 6x base damage using [DEX]-based weapons. You have gained a mild boost to armor penetration. The damage increase from 4x to 6x was satisfactory enough, but the boost to AP was even more welcome. I had only one source of that earlier thanks to [Sneak Attack]. But now, I could hurt Byron more than he could hurt me . . . before debuffs, at least. Dexterity wasn''t the only attribute that had improved. A total of four Fear stacks meant I also enjoyed benefits in Perception which had increased from 17 to 21. [PER] has risen from Common to Greater. Awareness and reflexes are now 2x better than the base value. The improved reflexes from Greater Perception helped counter some of the movement penalties inflicted by [Frost Aura], which explained why I reacted better this time as opposed to during past altercations with Byron. The upgrades didn''t guarantee victory, however. That came down to battle smarts and the application of techniques. I''d gained a new technique from crossing Silver Rank, but there was no way I could pull out an entire status sheet during this battle. Byron and I circled each other, watching for openings. He could no longer handle me with casual disdain, now that I had proved my mettle. I also had a fuller health meter and unused potion cooldowns, though the portion of his HP that remained easily surpassed my own. Guardians had more health than rogues, after all. The ground crackled beneath us. ¡°[Icy Terrain],¡± Byron hissed. A dense sheet of frozen water covered a wide portion of the room. It froze my soles, causing agonizing pain to shoot up my thighs. The double assault from [Frost Aura] and [Icy Terrain] worsened the bitter cold. But, more than that¡ª The new technique granted DoT! My HP dipped, an issue compounded by [Frost Aura]''s defensive debuff. Byron had just set a timer on the fucking battle. And, by applying tick damage, he had removed my ability to use [Dark Stalker]. I needed to escape the ice. Before I could lift my leg, however, an ice cone punched me in the gut. The damage disrupted my concentration, forcing [Stealth] from my grasp. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. I skidded across the frozen terrain, crossing my arms in defense . . . and spied Byron hot in pursuit. The resulting kick launched me off the ground. A second ice cone followed from above. I spun in midair, taking a glancing hit to the shoulder, and shattered the ice upon a foiled landing. DoT ticked. The vicious combo left me hurt and disoriented, so much that I couldn''t roll away. A heavy boot pressed down on my chest. ¡°Do you understand now,¡± Byron said, ¡°the difference in worth between us?¡± He lashed out with his axe, ridding me of a chance to reply. I caught the blade in both hands, inches away from my face. Force strained against force. But, I couldn''t win this struggle, not with my Strength being much less than his. Byron tensed his muscles, causing the axe to sink. ¡°Die.¡± I really didn''t want to. But, he left me no say in the matter. DoT ticked again, and, Oh, fuck it . . . Byron and I were now equal in rank, which meant a technique I''d been withholding returned as an option. [Fear Aura] flared out of me, casting long shadows upon the ice. Byron resisted it after a flinch, but that was all the reprieve I needed. I slammed my dagger into his wrist and got him to drop his axe. We scrapped for a moment and separated, with no one gaining the upper hand. Sweat poured down my nose and solidified halfway to the ground. The magical armor that swirled through my body¡ªaptly represented by the health meter¡ªhad plummeted past the thirty percent mark. Had Byron been a caster or someone with a few more tiers in Magic Intellect, the battle would have since turned dire. Thankfully, he was only a Guardian, which gave me a fighting chance against his low-powered abilities. His active techniques also seemed to hammer his MP, and the rest of his renewables didn''t fare better. Byron had been involved in a long stretch of fighting up to this point. He had probably exhausted a few potion cooldowns. Did I dare to turn this into a battle of attrition? The DoT from [Icy Terrain] ticked with a hearty no. A fifth tick could signify the end of the technique, but I wouldn''t wait around to confirm it. Neither would Byron. He charged again, grabbing his axe as he advanced. We resumed our deadly dance of weaves, parries, and feints. Byron shoved his shield hand into his inventory¡ª Oh no, you don''t! I intensified my attacks to preempt whatever he intended. A shield wall manifested between us, transparent, as though made of glass. Byron pulled a javelin from his inventory and flung it with all his might. The javelin pierced the shield wall and shattered it into thick fragments that peppered my health. I ignored the glass shards in favor of focusing on the weapon aimed at my chest. Judging by the force with which it had obliterated the shield wall, the javelin packed as much punch as The Chimera. The Chains of the Combat Ape materialized in my arms and swung with enough force to knock the missile aside. It gave Byron the opening he needed to try a tackle. There was little else I could do. We fell to the ground with the shield interspersed between us, keeping me from using my chains. ¡°Bastard!¡± I snarled. For all my elven nimbleness, Byron proved to be better on the floor. He packed so much mass and dense muscles. And, his shield pressed with the weight of a boulder on my lungs. What would happen if I died here? Would I return to the fiery pyramid, a mouthless homunculus once again? Or would that be my final death from which there was no resurrection? DoT damage ticked. I didn¡¯t want to die. I could not afford to do so after coming close to victory. Byron pressed down with even more force, causing black spots to creep into my vision. I didn¡¯t want to die! Oh no! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. You have upgraded an attribute! [INT] has improved from [Lesser] to [Common]. Your magic attacks now deal 2x base damage. You have reached the maximum amount of stacks allowed by [Scaredy-cat]. The ability has now entered cooldown. Magic Intellect didn''t mean much to me, but a +1 increase across the board helped, if only minutely. Sadly, minutely meant shit against Byron. And, I remained pinned beneath his shield. I managed to free an arm. If I could just¡ª [Frost Aura] subsided and the frozen ground turned to sleet. Byron slipped, looking just as shocked as I felt, which only meant one thing: He had expended his MP. I twisted upward with a shout and wrapped the Chains of the Combat Ape around his neck. Byron tried to outmaneuver, but I had him beat in spryness. Our positions limited our range of movement, though I retained access to the other weapons that mattered: My teeth. HP or not, all humans felt a primitive terror when an enemy chewed down on their ear. Byron was human too, for all his Apathy. He yelped and threw me aside, sliding from my grip. I shelved the combat chains and attacked instead with The Blackreach Dagger. Darkness followed. The next instant saw myself airborne, courtesy of a [Shield Bash] to the face. Blood spurted from my nose. The streaking blood signified the loss of basic protections¡ªand true enough, my health meter emptied with a zing. Byron¡¯s wicked laughter reached my ears. ¡°Goodnight, elf.¡± I didn¡¯t get a chance to reply. We had inched closer to the pit sometime during our tussle, caught in the throes of murder. The gaping chasm now opened behind me, revealed through dust and smoke. I scrambled for purchase, but there was nothing to hold. The sleet-covered ground gave way to thin air . . . I, Damien Njoku, fell into inky darkness. I fell. 077 Defiance of the Fall My life did not flash before my eyes. It was a shitty life anyway, spent as a bottom feeder. I did think of Paz and Nicola . . . and Mavari and Nana, stuck in Harkonean. A foul stench assaulted my nostrils, like that of a hundred bodies rotting beneath a bog. It clawed at my eyes and forced puke to crawl up my throat. Whatever waited at the bottom of this pit, I didn''t want to see it. But, it sure as hell seemed eager to meet me. I summoned the combat chains. The Blackreach Dagger had gone missing in my fall, but I had a bevy of knives in my inventory to choose from. Good thing I had stored the chains before that last attack, or I would be singing a very different song. This was my only shot at survival, and I intended to turn it into a freaking Gatling gun. I picked two knives at random, careful to keep a tight grip on the chains. My heart thudded like a bongo drum. Hot winds buffeted me, coming from deep below. There had to be a lava pit at the bottom, judging from all the heat and sulfur . . . assuming the pit even had a bottom, in which case, I was truly fucked. Falling for eternity was not a great way to go for a fabled hero of Vizhima. I attached the knives to the combat chains and used the winds to throw myself into a spin. After a few unsuccessful tries, I finally touched a wall of the pit. The Chain Nails melded with the stone¡ªgod bless its ability. Gravity won out, however, and I slid off the hilts. I dropped by a few more meters, an exercise that did not help my heart. The chains I''d wrapped around my forearms arrested my fall, but I struck the wall with jaw-breaking force. I hung there suspended by chains, disoriented but alive. Very alive. A slimy coating, fungi of some kind, covered the wall. It felt like crap against my armor. How could any living organism survive in this heat? Unless, of course, the fungi weren''t normal organisms. Maybe, they were monsters, coughed up by whatever lay beneath. Oh, for fuck''s sake. Blood trickled down my nostrils and a cut on my forehead, the latter of which blossomed into a throbbing headache. I awkwardly retrieved a health potion from my inventory and guzzled its contents. The room-temperature potion soothed like ice on my chapped lips. After a short delay, my health meter wound back up. ¡°Oh, god,¡± I sighed as the pressure eased in my skull. The Greater monster core had seemed like the best drop after our battle with the Primal Dread Monkey. But, I could now say that the combat chains were a steal. Thank you, Wood Elves! Far below my feet, a distant light glowed. The sour winds effused from it, like vapor from an active volcano. What lay beneath couldn''t simply be a lava pit. It could also be the entrance to hell. The top of the pit glowed a golden hue meters above my head. Byron would be circling to his prize at this moment, after which he¡¯d head outside to reinforce his teammates, assuming a victor hadn''t already emerged. I couldn¡¯t let that happen. There was also a small chance that he would first try to support his teammates, then return for the dungeon heart later. However, considering the way his eyes had glowed upon catching sight of the ultimate prize, I wouldn¡¯t bet on it. Byron valued the dungeon heart above all else. And, he wouldn¡¯t leave until he had pried it free from its perch. But, how could I stop him? The last bout had cemented the gulf in quality that existed between me and Byron. I could fight on par with him, even hurt him, but he was just much better. Byron had expended his potion cooldowns, but he was still strong enough to remain a threat . . . as long as he had his techniques. His MP had run out earlier, however. I, on the other hand, possessed the benefit of potions. I just needed a foolproof way to deal a lot of damage. If I had my Shadow Arm Laser . . . Wait a minute. Didn''t I unlock a new technique for reaching silver rank? Status. Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 25 Class: Assassin Affinity: Fear VP: 36/63 MP: 52/65 The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Attributes: STR 10 (15), PER 17 (22), END 10 (15), DEX 30 (35) INT 5 (10), WIL 10 (15), V.F 2 (7), MGK 3 (8) Free Stat Points: 3 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul]* Skills: [Map], [Identify], [Meditation], [Stealth], [Knife-fighting], [Decoy], [Sneak Attack] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura], [Dark Stalker], [Silhouette] (New) My VP and MP values caught my eye, even though I''d only intended to skim past both. [Scaredy-cat] had granted 10 points to MP and VP each for the five stat points put into the Vital Force and Magicka attributes. Those additional points were considered temporary and didn''t change the value of the maximum number. However, as of my last check at level 24, the maximum figures of my VP and MP rested at 56 and 58 respectively. . . . which implied an addition of 7 to the maximum count. I also had three free stat points, even though I should have spent everything I''d saved on Dexterity. The normal progression had been a two-point increase so far to MP, VP, and free stat points per level-up. Did Silver Rankers enjoy way more than that? Rifling through the notification tab provided an answer: Silver Rank rewards: You have received a bonus of free stat points. Bonus: [3]. You have received a bonus of Vital Power and Mana Points. Bonus: [5]. You have gained the following perks: [Insight], [Enhanced Body]. Climb more ranks to improve them! So, bonuses had been added atop the usual increases. The perks [Insight] and [Enhanced Body] were interesting, but on closer investigation, they provided nothing spectacular, as was common with most perks. [Insight] allowed one to distinguish rankers from specialists and regulars. [Enhanced Body] protected against natural diseases. If both improved with rank, could this be how Heralds attained divinity? An interesting thought. But, one I couldn''t afford to pursue now. Since [DEX] had hit the stat cap, I threw all available points into Perception instead to ensure the benefits remained after the expiration of the Fear stacks. Satisfied, I moved on to the technique section wherein one ability was labeled new. It wasn''t a beam attack like I''d hoped. But, it was no less intriguing. [Silhouette] [Greater] You possess a living shadow. Your mastery over Fear has grown strong enough to force your shadow to obey your whims. Cost: 20 MP to activate battle mode for a total of 10 minutes. Note: At your current rank, [Silhouette] only possesses basic attack and defend functions. It, however, counts as a [DEX]-based weapon for you. 20 MP? That made it downright uneconomical for dungeon runs. Ten minutes, however, was good enough for single combat, as long as I micromanaged its use. [Silhouette]''s greatest selling point was that it functioned as a [DEX]-based weapon, which rendered it unhampered by my low [INT] stat. I could deal 6x base damage with [DEX] weapons, not counting the bonuses to armor penetration. It granted me the potential to strike from above or below, without losing DPS. But, what did the [System] mean by basic attack and defense? How far could [Silhouette] travel away from my side? Gosh, I wanted to run a series of rigorous experiments on the ability, but with a fight waiting for me above, it would need to undergo a trial by fire. Limited functions aside, I could at least count on the technique to improve in the future. [Silhouette] had arrived at the Greater tier¡ªthe tier that corresponded with silver rank. And, just like the time I had gained my first rank, all my other techniques had also improved from Common to Greater. The urge to peruse each of them in turn to learn what had changed overpowered me . . . but, this wasn''t the time. Right now, all that mattered was climbing to the surface. I heaved myself back onto the hilts of the Chain Nails and began the arduous journey up. The combat chains rattled as I ascended. To rebirth. And, revenge. Byron, the greedy bastard that he was, had gone after the dungeon heart. No surprise there, I would have done the same. But, at least, act concerned about your teammates! Metallic fragments peppered the ground around his feet, belonging to the scepter which he had destroyed to secure the prize. Byron stood with one boot on the throne, appraising the dungeon heart with reverence in his eyes. The ever-changing orb danced atop his palm. Golden and silver and everything at once. Hallowed light splayed across the room, finding reflections in Byron''s eyes. Yeesh. Talk about an obsession. I could almost hear the words ¡®my precious¡¯ escape from his lips. Most importantly, Byron had left his back wide open. And, I was a bloody Assassin¡ªa fact the [System] constantly reminded me of with its choice of techniques. I switched out my weapons¡ªregular daggers this time¡ªand walked up to him with [Stealth]. My attack struck for double damage across his nape. Byron howled. He sprang away with surprising agility¡ªunwounded, but devoid of a fair bit of health. His gorget had thrown off my angle, and his Endurance compensated for the rest. I ducked around the wild swing of his axe and backed away to gain some distance. Byron clutched the back of his neck, eyes roving in his sockets. He glared at the space in front of him, as though trying to uncover [Dark Stalker] by sheer force of will. He failed catastrophically. Fear wasn¡¯t as good at offense as Apathy or Rage. But, in its region of influence which was concealment, it thrived above all else. ¡°I should have known,¡± Byron hissed, ¡°that you would somehow find your way back here.¡± He kept his axe hand on his nape and crouched behind his shield. ¡°I didn¡¯t get any notification of your death, but I assumed you had fallen too far to return.¡± I didn¡¯t reply. ¡°The fight is over, elf. Your friends are being butchered as we speak. I already have the dungeon heart. Is there any benefit in continuing this quarrel?¡± Of course, there was. The first benefit came in the satisfaction of looting the dungeon heart from his corpse. The second? That was his corpse. ¡°Answer me, elf!¡± I remained silent, allowing him to stew. It wasn¡¯t prominent, but the beginnings of a new emotion registered on Byron''s face. The beginning of Fear. For the first time since the dungeon run began, he finally realized his own mortality. He wasn¡¯t broken, no. His pride protected him from such emotions like a carapace, even against a vicious enemy he couldn¡¯t see. But, he was scared, which meant I had a chance. Low health, no potions, no renewables; Byron was ripe for the slaughter. As long as I didn¡¯t fall into the trappings of overconfidence, victory was mine to seize. I took a deep breath and activated [Silhouette]. The shadows that concealed me fell. Dark tendrils bubbled beneath my feet. 078 Silhouette Twenty-four affinities existed within Vizhima: one virtue to every vice. I''d learned the capabilities of a good number of them by now, including their strengths and weaknesses. But, I was most familiar with mine. Fear was the affinity of dread and terror¡ªof shadow, darkness, and night. With it, I could inflict potent debuffs and strike my enemies unseen. It was also considered a taboo affinity due to its affiliation with a Dragon Lord who claimed it as his domain. I''d always wondered about that because, unlike other affinities, Fear didn''t offer much by way of destructive power. I was wrong. My own shadow came alive beneath me. Something hideous stirred within it . . . something old. Despite its ancient nature, a sensation of childish awe passed from the monster to me as though it viewed the waking world for the first time. Or, at least, the first time in a while. Byron attacked the instant I reappeared. He wasted no time with theatrics, seeking to cleave my head. I issued a mental command to [Silhouette]: Defend. The black tendrils erupted. They rose from my shadow, forming a wall that parried Byron''s blow. Byron handled the new development with ease, even though he flinched in shock. He charged again from a different angle and walked into my counterattack. I lashed out from out of cover of the black mass, scoring hits on the weak points of his armor. He interposed his shield between us. [Silhouette] reacted without prompting. A single tendril punched the region between Byron¡¯s arm and shoulder. Another threw off the aim of his swing. I retreated, wary of Byron¡¯s [Shield Bash]. But, he activated nothing of the sort. It seemed he had run out of both VP and MP. ¡°Your friends are dying,¡± Byron said and retreated under a flurry of tendrils. ¡°It doesn''t matter what happens here. You lose either way.¡± I recalled my shadow and faded into [Stealth]. [Silhouette] resisted, eager to pursue. But, I would have nothing less than total obedience from my own fucking shadow. And, it quickly respected my will. I¡¯d been beaten by a cornered Byron once. Prudence took precedence over punitive action. Besides, he had backed out of range, too far for [Silhouette] to travel . . . The shadow monster bristled, almost in chastisement. Byron was within five meters after all. Did it mean it could reach? Byron, for his part, read my movements well even through the covering of the [Stealth]. We circled each other, planning our moves. He still had some of that arrogance in his gaze. I intended to erase it. Very well, shadow. Do your thing. [Silhouette] extended. It stretched across the gap of five meters, rippling across the ground. Byron had only a moment¡¯s notice before he was forced to defend against a mass of tendrils. Each one of them struck with as much force as I could muster. And, though he put up a good defense with his shield, a few tendrils slipped past his guard. Byron retreated again with great loss to HP. His eyes grew frantic now, which was good. I could almost smell the fear pouring out of him. But, a wolf was still a wolf. He wouldn¡¯t break, not until I buried a dagger in his throat. Byron adjusted his stance. ¡°I will say this for your benefit, elf. You have no idea the kind of power Beelith wields. Shifters of her kind are worth their weight in gold. She will rip your friends, limb from limb, bone from accursed bone.¡± I graced him with silence. Byron made a small noise of frustration in his throat. He raised his arm, and the ring on his index finger glowed. An unnatural hatred for him rose in my gut, enough to drown out all other emotions. I would have lost myself to the spell were it not for my shadow. It seized the initiative to resume its attack. [Silhouette] rose like a tidal wave, stopping Byron from taking advantage. It bought me enough time to concentrate . . . You have resisted [Charm]! Byron did a much better job defending himself against the onslaught this time. But, the sheer mass of the tendrils threw off his balance. I moved in for the kill¡ª Defend. [Silhouette] intercepted an axe blow aimed at my head. The timely parry allowed me to slip past Byron¡¯s guard and slash him in the face. Shadowy tendrils filled the gap, pounding his arms and chest. Assuming his lack of renewables had only been a ruse, Byron could take advantage of my proximity to retaliate. I braced myself in anticipation of his techniques . . . Again, no such retaliation came. Byron rolled away with a whimper instead, health down to the final sliver. ¡°Stop, elf. I give up. You can have the dungeon heart. This isn¡¯t worth it.¡± I vanished into [Dark Stalker] and brushed damp hair out of my face. Byron didn¡¯t like that. ¡°Have you lost your mind, elf? I¡¯m giving you the chance to become the victor! What is more important? Your vendetta or your companions? Every second you waste here is better spent going to their rescue!¡± Of course, I cherished my companions. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten this far without their help . . . which was why I trusted them to survive without mine. Byron abandoned teammates for the sake of his ambition. But, I abandoned mine out of trust. We had already reunited once against the odds. We would do so again. Unfortunately for Byron, he wasn''t privy to my thoughts. All he could tell was that I had no interest in chatting. His nostrils flared, eyes going wide in their sockets. ¡°No! I won¡¯t lose like this. I¡¯ve given too much to be defeated by the likes of you! If I can¡¯t have the prize, no one else will!¡± He tossed his axe aside and pulled the dungeon heart from his inventory. With a defiant cry, he ran toward the pit, intent on throwing it in. I followed in pursuit. Byron smirked. His shield arm went up, right as the other dropped. A sudden [Shield Bash] brightened the chamber, catching me in the face. It was the final technique he¡¯d been reserving, and it was angled to catapult me into the pit. . . . if I¡¯d taken the bait. Byron''s greed was known to me, however. And, anyone who knew of his greed could tell that he''d rather eat nails than relinquish the dungeon heart. To that end, the me that chased after him had only been a [Decoy]. And, Byron gaped as he wasted his final technique. I struck from the shadows. Two daggers and multiple tendrils punctured his side, forcing him to the ground. Each struck for 12x damage, thanks to Grand Dexterity and the bonuses from [Sneak Attack]. Blood flowed freely from Byron¡¯s wounds¡ªnot enough to kill him, but enough to send [Silhouette] into a frenzy at the scent. The wayward shadow tugged at its metaphorical leash, pleading for a chance to kill. Don''t make it messy. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. [Silhouette] shuddered in delight. A large mass of tendrils surged toward the kneeling Byron. ¡°Mercy,¡± he whispered. ¡°That¡¯s not my affinity,¡± I said. And then, I watched as my shadow tore him apart. You have participated in the killing of Guardian LVL 28. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. Level up! You are now level 26. Visit your status sheet to assign free stat points. I discarded the messages, more interested in Byron¡¯s loot. A new notification appeared. You have completed a heroic deed! You have defeated a sworn enemy. Quest: [Heroic Action]. Objective complete! [5] spirit orbs have been added to your inventory. I blinked at the screen. [Heroic Action]? Wasn¡¯t that the same quest that tried to get me to kill Kajal? The description was rather vague: Quest: [Heroic Action]. A hero is more than just his words. Complete great deeds to earn bonus rewards. Reward: Variable. [System] Error: This quest has already been assigned. Well, there was no greater deed than sending Byron to hell, especially with the Labyrinth tied to a quest of its own. [Heroic Action] seemed geared to reward reincarnators who stayed true to their path. The whole issue with the [System] errors didn¡¯t stop bothering me, but all that could wait. Byron carried a lot of loot, as expected of a Guardian of his level. The Ring of Heightened Emotions functioned exactly as the description said, and the Flying Javelin benefitted from the Strength used in its throwing. However, my real joy came in finding The Blackreach Dagger among his possessions. That was one item I could not afford to lose. His armor, shield, and helmet were all ranker-grade too. But, they were of Common quality and didn¡¯t provide additional benefits. A bell named Banshee¡¯s Shriek was another of his most prized possessions, able to cause a brief three-second deafness. Once I was done with his corpse¡ªor what remained of it¡ªI refocused my attention on the battle in the corridor. None of its participants had come to reinforce us, lending some truth to Byron¡¯s words. No . . . Paz wasn¡¯t easily defeated, the cockroach that he was. And, Nicola had grown into her own in her time in the Labyrinth. Beelith might be a werewolf, but my teammates were also monsters in their own right. They would take their pound of flesh from Red Wyrm, and more. The Chimera¡¯s corpse steamed beneath the rubble, releasing a foul smell. The monster looked just as grotesque in death as it had in life, the stuff of nightmares. It offered a Greater monster core and a lump of pulchritudinous meat called Amorphous Flesh. Amorphous Flesh [Greater] Spawned from the entrails of The Chimera. This item is considered a precious smithing material. A smithing material, huh? Something this horrible seemed better suited to alchemy. Still, I had gained another useful item. Liliana the shopkeeper would help determine its worth. With a heavy heart, I moved onto Nalum''s corpse and eased him into a decent position. The Warrior chieftain looked solemn even in death. His long hair fell in locs around his shoulders, freed from their bindings. Loot Warrior LVL 26? Y/N? I couldn''t desecrate his corpse. Not only would it be dishonorable, but his party members would not take kindly to learning that I had killed their leader. I gathered his broadsword into my inventory, however, just in case they needed a keepsake. The barrier obstructing the doorway had faded with The Chimera¡¯s death. I crossed the threshold into the dark passageway and made the trek back to the preceding corridor. Muffled voices reached me from beyond the passageway, heightened in intensity. They traveled across the stone wall that had since been reduced to rubble. I helped myself to a stamina potion, just in case another fight awaited me. [Silhouette] stirred with eagerness, though its battle mode had since expired. ¡°You!¡± a shrill voice said. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! We can¡¯t leave Damien all by himself.¡± A grin stretched across my lips. Nicola! ¡°I didn''t say that,¡± an exasperated Paz retorted. ¡°I only suggested that you take the time to Meditate. Damien¡¯s not alone in there. And, you are no help to him as you are.¡± ¡°He could be dead by the time we finish!¡± ¡°And, that¡¯s why I will go after him. I have more HP. You look like a breeze could bowl you over. Kill you, even.¡± ¡°Your HP¡¯s not much better than mine.¡± ¡°And, your mana?¡± ¡°Water,¡± someone moaned. Probably, Aman. A scrambling noise emerged from the other side of the rubble. ¡°Bastard,¡± Nicola said. ¡°If you¡¯re going, then I¡¯m going too.¡± ¡°Thankfully,¡± I said and scaled the debris, ¡°there¡¯s no need for that. We¡¯re officially done here.¡± My teammates gasped. Too bad I didn¡¯t own a mobile phone. It would have been great to capture the looks on their faces. Nicola was first to recover from her shock. She shrieked and wrapped me in a hug. ¡°Damien!¡± I giggled into her hair and felt the muscles in my back ease for the first time in a while. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s me.¡± Paz nodded sagely. ¡°I knew you¡¯d survive. No rival of mine would die before hitting gold rank.¡± Since when did we become rivals? ¡°Byron?¡± Nicola asked. ¡°Dead,¡± I said. The rest of his crew? I didn¡¯t need to ask. Beelith¡¯s human form lay unmoving in the corridor, crumpled within the epicenter of a [Bloom of Crimson Desire]. Her caster teammates sprawled not too far behind her, lost among the other corpses. Paz, Nicola, and Aman had pulled off the impossible . . . but, the Rider of Hope was nowhere to be found. Nowhere alive, that is. Aman sat beside a corpse, which had been mauled, shredded, and beheaded for good measure. I could only imagine the horror the Rider had endured in his final moments. Why was there so much death? Nicola closed her eyes at my declaration and inhaled. ¡°Good.¡± It also felt good to me. The old Damien would have trembled at the thought of killing anyone, but the current me would resurrect Byron and kill him all over again if I could. Aman rose to his feet. He hobbled up to me, leaning on the wall for support. Blood dribbled down the side of his shoulder via a nasty gash. My stomach dropped. ¡°Where is the warlord?¡± Aman wheezed, staying upright by mere force of will. ¡°You should be meditating,¡± Nicola said quietly. ¡°The warlord,¡± Aman repeated. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, forcing past the lump in my throat. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± I killed him. Aman shut his eyes for a brief moment and whimpered in grief. He did it so softly that my elven ears barely caught it, but it inflicted a deep wound upon my soul. ¡°Did Byron do it?¡± he asked. I shook my head. ¡°He died fighting against The Chimera.¡± Please, don¡¯t press for details. If you do, I will have to answer. ¡°The final boss, huh?¡± Aman lowered his head. He stiffened, as though struck by lightning, and narrowed his eyes at me. ¡°It was the final boss who killed him, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Paz said, placing an arm in front of me. ¡°You dare accuse him of¡ª¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t the boss,¡± I said aloud. ¡°Not completely, at least. Nalum suffered tons of damage against The Chimera, but the killing blow was inflicted by a trap I¡¯d set.¡± The others glanced at me. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry,¡± I said and withdrew Nalum¡¯s broadsword from my inventory. The battle-worn weapon sat heavy in my hands. ¡°I warned him of the trap and tried to get us to safety. It was the only option I had to kill The Chimera, but a freak accident happened . . . I don¡¯t know what to say . . .¡± Aman glared at the sword and then at me with an ugly look on his face. ¡°You killed him? I knew your kind couldn¡¯t be trusted.¡± His fingers twitched. ¡°You did it to gain sole possession of the dungeon heart, didn¡¯t you?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfair,¡± Nicola protested. ¡°Damien could have lied to you, but he chose to tell the truth.¡± ¡°Will his truth bring back my cousin?¡± Aman spat at my feet. ¡°Demon.¡± ¡°What¡¯s done is done,¡± Paz said. ¡°We need to consider our next course of action. The exit portals won¡¯t stay open much longer. We have less than half an hour.¡± Aman squared his feet. ¡°Honor demands that I exact vengeance for the life taken.¡± ¡°Honor can roll in a ditch,¡± Paz said. His heavy spear appeared in his hands. ¡°Vengeance is mine to endorse as I deem fit. Watch your next words, cur, lest they bleed from your throat.¡± Dammit. This was turning into a clusterfuck, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Please, stop,¡± I said. ¡°No more. Too much blood has been shed today.¡± I nodded at Aman. ¡°I accept your honor duel. But, in your current state, it won¡¯t be a fight. We should leave now and settle differences later.¡± ¡°No¡ª¡± ¡°Listen here,¡± I snarled and shoved the broadsword onto his chest. He staggered backward, weakened as he was. ¡°I will not add one more corpse to this altar of atrocity. Are you so eager to join your companions that you''ll challenge me as things stand? Is Aman of the Unkulunki naught but a fool?¡± The strain in Aman¡¯s shoulders eased. For a second, he swayed onto the side of common sense. But, then he pulled a dagger from his inventory and lunged at my face. Paz stepped in smoothly and cracked his spear against Aman¡¯s skull. Nicola groaned. ¡°Tell me you didn''t kill him.¡± ¡°I wish I did,¡± Paz said and slung the unconscious man across his shoulder. ¡°You only need to give the word, Damien, and I will slit his throat. An enemy shouldn¡¯t be left alive to strike later at your heart.¡± I shook my head. ¡°No. I meant every word I said. I won¡¯t take any more lives for the benefit of the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll kill him outside it, then.¡± ¡°Paz.¡± Paz shrugged and followed Nicola into the Traveler¡¯s Room. I cast a forlorn look at the corridor before shutting the door. The receptacle above the final chamber gleamed. Loading completed. Chamber unlocked: 23/20. 079 Damien the Explorer Our part in the Skeelien festival should have ended right there, but the final puzzle remained unsolved. As I stood facing the inert Traveler¡¯s Map with its imitation of the dungeon heart, an elusive answer tugged at my soul. Nicola groaned. ¡°Damien, you''re amazing and all, but you didn¡¯t pay attention during Ezin¡¯s opening speech, did you? The exit portals stay open for one hour and one hour only. If we miss the window¡ªa window that began while we were trading blows with Red Wyrm, mind you¡ªwe¡¯d be stuck in the Labyrinth forever!¡± ¡°Of course, we wouldn¡¯t want that,¡± Paz said with laughter. He returned to studying the Traveler¡¯s Map which had captured his attention since he entered the room. ¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s just . . . there¡¯s something I need to do.¡± Nicola¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Does this have anything to do with your secrets?¡± ¡°Yeah . . .¡± ¡°Then, you should probably get to it. We don''t have much longer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to try harder to dissuade me?¡± ¡°Damien, my friend,¡± Paz chimed in with a laugh. ¡°I think we can all agree by now that you are not normal. Whatever task you must accomplish might as well be an act of fate. Now, show me how this thing works.¡± I placed a hand on the fake dungeon heart. It came alive with a hum. [Map] expanded until it crowded out my vision. ¡°Exit portals,¡± I said. Blue pinpricks dotted the region around the center of the Labyrinth, signifying the location of portals. We could jump to any one of them at our discretion as long as they stayed open. Aman chose that moment to groan on Paz¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What should we do with this bastard?¡± Paz asked. ¡°We¡¯ll drop him off,¡± I said. ¡°I just need to find an area that¡¯s safe enough . . . hold on.¡± I activated teleport. The entire room traveled to a corridor that contained an exit portal in its center. Paz opened the door to reveal a vortex of swirling blue magic right in front of it. He whistled. ¡°Here¡¯s your stop,¡± I told the groggy Aman as Paz lowered him to his feet. ¡°There are a few monsters, but you shouldn¡¯t encounter any problems with a distance this short. The rest of us aren¡¯t ready to leave yet.¡± Aman looked at me with an expression of pure hate. He spat at my feet and limped out of the room. ¡°Ungrateful bastard,¡± Paz hissed. I glanced at Nicola. ¡°I probably owe you an apology too.¡± ¡°No, Damien,¡± she said. ¡°You don¡¯t. Nalum isn¡¯t special to me. I appreciate his help and kindness, but everything else he intended was all in his head.¡± Cold but reasonable. Nalum had practically forced his proposal on Nicola, a deed she chafed at, considering her experiences and the situation with her family. ¡°Wait,¡± Paz said, ¡°what did he intend?¡± I steered the discussion away from that line of inquiry. ¡°You never told us how you managed to reach the final chamber.¡± Paz waved nonchalantly. ¡°By doing what I do best. I got teleported onto a team of adventurers. Scared them shitless, what with being a disembodied head and all. Which reminds me, I still owe you a punch for that.¡± I chuckled. ¡°It didn¡¯t take long,¡± he said, ¡°to figure out a course of action after that. Mathideus had been coordinating efforts before the dungeon run started in a bid to form a coalition. All surviving rankers pressed forward with that goal in mind.¡± ¡°Yeah. I met Mathideus. He eventually joined up with Byron¡¯s group. But, I don¡¯t think he made it to the final chamber. The Mist Enenra wouldn''t have been able to beat him that easily.¡± ¡°Damien . . .¡± Paz frowned. ¡°Mathideus is dead. My own group rescued his companion¡ªthe one called Allen?¡ªjust outside the barrier. He warned us of Byron¡¯s betrayal.¡± ¡°Oh . . .¡± ¡°Anyway, it came down to a vote, and four members of my group agreed to flee via the exit portals. Three of us dissented. . . And, well, you know what happened.¡± I nodded in response. Relief filled me on one hand that Mathideus had not been in cahoots with Byron. But, an intense sadness weighed down on me because he had died for the cause, despite my warnings. Paz noticed the change in my mood. ¡°Hey, if anything, meeting Allen convinced me that you were also at the final chamber. There was no way you would miss a chance to fight Byron. Glad I was right.¡± He patted my shoulder. ¡°Now, how long do you intend to keep us waiting? I didn¡¯t want to mention it while we had company and all. But, isn¡¯t there something you need to reveal?¡± The answer that eluded me finally hit home. ¡°Paz, you fucking genius!¡± I said and retrieved the treasure from my inventory. Every locked secret needed to be unlocked. And, every lock needed a key . . . an imitation of which stared at me in the face. My teammates gathered around the glowing orb in my palm. The Egg of the Labyrinth [Greater] A dungeon heart. Whoever holds this holds the full power of the Labyrinth in their hands. The Egg is a potent alchemical ingredient for its tier. You will not find much better. Nice. Nicola swooned at that moment, only to be caught by Paz. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°By the Heralds,¡± she said. ¡°You found it. You really did. I know you promised to do so, but I didn¡¯t dare to dream.¡± She struggled to her feet. ¡°Damien, do you know what you have done? You¡¯re the first person to recover the Skeelien treasure in over a thousand years . . .¡± ¡°We,¡± I said. ¡°We are the first. We did this together.¡± And, now, a riddle needed to be solved. I held the dungeon heart up to Traveler¡¯s Map. It lined up perfectly with its simulacrum on the wall. ¡°I know time is sparse, but I can¡¯t leave the Labyrinth until this mystery has been solved.¡± I lowered my gaze. ¡°If you both wish to leave now, I¡¯ll understand. I also promise to return in one piece.¡± Nicola glanced in the direction of the exit portal. She sighed and shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re with you, Damien.¡± Paz grinned. ¡°Do you even need to ask?¡± I beamed at their words. Trust like theirs hadn¡¯t been easy to build. I couldn¡¯t afford to disappoint. Besides, I had a good feeling about my decision. The item description confirmed as much. The Egg of the Labyrinth granted its owner power over the dungeon. And, what kind of power would it be if it lay at the mercy of its domain? Numerous rankers had died in the madness Byron had orchestrated. But, he wouldn¡¯t have gone that far if the Labyrinth didn¡¯t demand it. I had to know why . . . to make sense of all the slaughter. I slotted the dungeon heart into place. Expanding Traveler¡¯s Map. Please, select a destination. I took a deep breath. ¡°Show me the secret.¡± The Traveler¡¯s Map hesitated. Destination selected. Preparing transfer . . . Oh. My. Gosh. Transfer completed. You may disengage. The wall containing the Traveler¡¯s Map crumbled with a deafening roar. Brick and mortar zipped off into the void, pulled away by an invisible vortex. Paz whistled again. A dark passageway unraveled where the Traveler¡¯s Map had been. Steeling myself, I stepped through it. For someone attuned to Fear, I hated the dark just as much as I reveled in it. The corridor here lacked the natural lighting that permeated the rest of the dungeon. An impermeable darkness stretched as far as the eye could see. Even with my sight perk active, each step forward felt like a tumble through the abyss. Nicola huddled up to me. ¡°Damien, you don¡¯t think the dungeon heart is gone forever, do you?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can retrieve it. Somehow.¡± The light from the Traveler¡¯s room winked out behind us as if daring my statement. Paz dug a gem-powered lamp out of his inventory. ¡°What?¡± he said at my pointed look. ¡°I have a vision perk too, but I¡¯m not going to risk falling into a trap. Whatever¡¯s in here is probably aware of our presence anyway.¡± I gulped at his words. We continued through the darkness, giving up all pretense of stealth. [Silhouette] had turned reserved since we entered, so much so that I couldn¡¯t tell if it still existed in my shadow. The lamplight barely helped. At some point, the walls seemed to fall away, leaving tall pillars of gloom standing in their place. Even the ground turned to pitch beneath us, as though we walked atop a long stretch of nothing. My heart thumped erratically in my chest. What did I hope to find here in the deepest recess of the Labyrinth? Wasn¡¯t I content enough with winning the dungeon heart? Regardless, we continued against all hope and reason into the void. A small breeze picked up as we traveled, bearing a stench. The breeze soon turned to a gust, then to a steady wind, and then to an actual wall of air we had to struggle across. Through all this, the stench intensified until it became unbearable, dissuading us from speaking lest we should inhale a mouthful. My eyes watered with each step, and just when I¡¯d had enough, the wind and darkness stopped. The bars of a large cage towered in front of us. Not just large¡ªhumongous¡ªwhich made me wonder about the size of its prisoner. Red mist wafted through the bars of the cage, and I recalled now why the stench had seemed so familiar. It was the same odious smell that effused from the pit back at the final chamber. I had finally found the source. Or more precisely, the source had found me. The red mist was so overpowering that it brightened the gloom. And yet, the interior of the cage remained dark and inviting, as though urging us to walk through the gaps. Paz spoke with a stutter for the first time since I¡¯d known him. ¡°C-can we talk now? I feel we should talk now. Because what the fuck is this?¡± Nicola simply shivered by my side. Her hand had slipped into mine at some point, frigid despite the muggy air. I couldn¡¯t tell how far we had traveled or how long. The exit portals had probably closed. It would suck to bring my party this far only to kill them at the end. ¡°Let¡¯s turn back,¡± I said. And then, I sensed it. The rousing of a great entity within the cage. It moved from its resting spot to the perimeter of the bars, quicker than I could scream. A suffocating pressure bore down on my lungs. My very skin melted into a puddle, ridding me of all senses and presence of mind. I could no longer feel Nicola¡¯s hand in mine or smell the foul wind that issued from the cage. My sight ended in darkness, and my ears became like vacuums. A morbid face appeared in my mind¡¯s eye, burning like the sun. Nothing about the face looked human, bestial, or even monstrous in appearance. It was merely unnatural, like a phenomenon that shouldn''t exist. Facial organs blended together in a sickening potpourri. An eerie wrongness filled me as I gazed at the apparition which stood attached to a colossal body that occupied the void. Even in my formless state, the creature seemed capable of perceiving all of me at once. And, I could also perceive it. That part scared me the most. This is the Hero? It chuckled in a guttural voice. Hero. Hero. Hero. Or merely a fake? A fake. A fake. A fake. Real or not. Your soul is known to us. We will meet at the end. The end. The end. The end. The grotesque creature vanished alongside the rest of the darkness. Brick and mortar flew past my face. A powerful force tugged me back into the Traveler¡¯s Room . . . or, maybe, I willed it myself. I wasn¡¯t exactly sure. The force threw me against the ground, amid a tangle of Paz and Nicola. The dungeon heart resumed its position on the wall. A blue screen appeared: You have uncovered the truth of the Skeelien Labyrinth. Quest: [Damien the Explorer]. Dungeons Explored: 1/5. Time remaining: 347 days. Objective complete! Reward: [20] spirit orbs. Nicola shuddered and threw up on the floor, right beside my head. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± I didn''t know what to say. Paz glanced at me with a strange expression. Then, he grimaced and closed his eyes. Ezin had concluded the dungeon run. He stood with his back to us, covered in lamplight as he gave the final speech. Only four hours had passed in real time since we had entered the dungeon, yet the fanfare remained, despite the late hour of the night. A large number of spectators had begun making their way out of the arena, however. They trickled out of the stands and staircases, reeking disappointment. Even the royal party seemed to share in their disgruntlement. The Queen Regent was nowhere in sight. The governor had transformed his alcove into an informal meeting for his political allies. Over half the rankers who had entered the portals did not return, but the majority of the spectators didn¡¯t care. All that mattered to them was that the dungeon heart had not been found. A young specialist¡ªone of Ezin¡¯s aides¡ªdropped his slate in shock as we exited the Labyrinth through what should have been a defunct portal. A few members of the audience gasped. Ezin turned to inspect the source of the commotion and stiffened as our trio made its way out of the locked dungeon. A deathly silence engulfed the rest of the piazza. My teammates stood quietly at my side, battling demons of their own. Neither could comprehend the apparition they had seen within the darkness. I couldn¡¯t either, but at least, I had context to draw from. My awakening at the Pyramid had involved much worse. The spire of the Labyrinth glowed one final time behind us. The silence worsened, taking a nosedive into awkwardness. I raised my hand. ¡°Um, we found the dungeon heart.¡± A miniature star burned in my palm. The people of Skeelie watched in silent wonder. And then, they erupted into cheers. 080 Two is Company Skeelie had changed, or more accurately, it had returned to normal. The merchant stands and crowds of merrymakers had thinned shortly after the conclusion of the festival. The high-ranking nobles were the first to leave the city, followed quickly by the visiting rankers. A few tourists remained to partake in the afterglow of what Skeelie had to offer. But, the Labyrinth had been the biggest draw. With its future uncertain, Skeelie needed to reinforce other areas of its economy until a new dungeon heart appeared¡ªhowever long that took. A boisterous mood endured in the rowdiest parts of the city, where coin and drink flowed freely and the bookers operated their stalls. Even the high-end taverns retained a good number of patrons who wished to partake in gossip. Out here in the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, however, the mood was anything but buoyant. A large crowd gathered behind the guildhouse, staring at a field of tombstones. Of the one hundred and forty-four rankers who had entered the Labyrinth, only a little over fifty had returned alive. Many of them stood now with other rankers, guild staff, and families of the deceased. They had no corpses to bury; such was the nature of a dungeon run. Each of the deceased instead occupied a spot on a tombstone alongside numerous others. A lot of the names had been added recently, evident in the fresh engravings. Many more, however, were victims of six other dungeon runs that preceded this one in recent memory. The adventurers called this field The Cemetery of Broken Dreams. I liked to think of it as The Cemetery of Wasted Lives. The death toll had soared in percentage this time around, mostly because of Byron whose name had unfortunately been added to a tombstone. None of the members of Red Wyrm deserved a spot here. But, time and place, Damien. Time and place. This funeral was dreary enough without rightful indignation being added to the mix. The general sequence of events played out much differently from the ones back home¡ªless colorful and musical¡ªbut unpleasant all the same. I adjusted my top hat which I¡¯d thrown alongside a cloak over the Night Scout Armor. I¡¯d removed the armor exactly once since leaving the Labyrinth for reasons better not remembered. My height and complexion worked against me, however, because I easily stood out in a crowd. A few eyes wandered my way, whispering about the Hero of the Labyrinth. Up ahead, a grim-faced Ezin continued the funeral rites. His dark robes obscured his chiseled abs for once, though his black hair remained as unruly as ever. He lifted a censer and walked around the tombstones, spreading incense. A solemn chorus went up as he did so, accompanied by a small group of clerics. Ezin passed a tombstone bearing the names of the members of Glamring. The sole survivor of that party: a spiky-haired Skirmisher called Allen stiffened beside me. He had once looked like an idol cut out of the front cover of a K-pop magazine. Now? His gaunt cheeks and limp hair betrayed his grief. The two of us had made our case against Red Wyrm to the guildmaster. Ezin had conveyed his trust in us, but optics was important. Byron¡¯s betrayal would eventually be revealed to the rest of the city. However, mourning came first. Such scandals could easily destroy the Guild¡¯s reputation at a time when it needed a show of strength. Promising regulars banked on the Guild¡¯s clout to secure Specialization in the coming weeks. I understood all that. And yet, I couldn¡¯t stop the bile from rising in my throat as Ezin laid Byron to rest alongside those he had murdered. Paz and I would visit the cemetery later to vandalize his tombstone. It was only just desserts. Speaking of Paz, he and Nicola had disappeared somewhere within the crowd. Aman was another notable absentee, and that worried me the most. The Unkulunki tribesman had vanished ever since the night of the festival, putting our honor duel on hold. Common sense had probably gotten through to him, but other issues remained. Aman numbered among a handful of people who knew about the Traveler¡¯s Room¡ªa secret I¡¯d refrained from sharing with any other, including Ezin. The guildmaster had spotted the inconsistencies in my retelling of events, but he didn¡¯t pry too deeply. Kajal was, of course, another person who knew about the Traveler¡¯s Room, and the one I longed to speak with the most. Unlike the rest of us, she had known of its existence before entering the dungeon¡ªa feat that made her the most informed person in all of Skeelie. Kajal probably had answers regarding [Migrant Soul]s and the cage at the bottom of the Labyrinth. However, she had also gone missing. How fast could all of them travel? The chorus ended with the conclusion of the procession. After a brief eulogy, Ezin dismissed the crowd. I shared some kind words with Allen over the loss of his partner, and then I made my exit. Paz and Nicola knew where to find me. Our dungeon business had not yet been concluded. Liliana¡¯s shop stood in a rundown alley in Skeelie¡¯s business district, tucked away from prying eyes. [Silhouette] slumbered beneath me as I maneuvered through the alleyways, unwilling to confront the heat of the sun. It had seen constant battle since the fight with Byron . . . an issue I didn¡¯t want to think about. The shadow monster roused briefly as I let myself out of the sun and into Liliana¡¯s shop. It soon went back to sleep, finding nothing of interest. Liliana glanced up at me from behind the counter. Her red hair looked as ruffled as ever, and her toned arms bulged out of the sleeves of her clothes. Pieces of armor, weapons, and other miscellaneous items lay scattered on the counter around her. ¡°What the hell are you wearing?¡± she asked. I touched my cloak and top hat¡ªneither of which went quite well with leather armor¡ªand affected an affronted look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my attire?¡± Liliana rolled her eyes. She returned her attention to the gear, all of which I had looted out of the Labyrinth. A long piece of parchment dangled from her hands with which she took stock. The [Insight] perk had accompanied my transition to Silver: a technique that granted one the ability to sense aura and ranks. Liliana had no rank to speak of, but she still carried a different aura than the majority of the populace: the aura of a specialist. She had now become a level 44 Merchant, two up from when we met. ¡°What?¡± she snarled upon noticing my gaze. ¡°For a half moment there,¡± I said, ¡°you looked capable at what you do. I almost fell for it.¡± ¡°Haha,¡± she said drily. ¡°Well?¡± I placed a lump of meat on the counter. The same one I had looted from The Chimera: Amorphous Flesh. ¡°Have you found any information about this yet?¡± Liliana shook her head. ¡°I have lots of interested buyers if you are ready to sell. But, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a smith in this town or all of Bargheria who can successfully handle that item.¡± ¡°Bummer.¡± ¡°The same goes for that mirror of yours,¡± she said, referring to The Mirror of Remembrance. ¡°I¡¯m a fence, not a scholar, Damien. I can sell both for a pretty sum, but you¡¯re not going to get any answers from my sources about their nature.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± I said, unwilling to relinquish possession of either item just yet. ¡°How much would I get for the rest?¡± Liliana glanced briefly at the hoard. ¡°Two, maybe three gold pieces. Most of them are of good quality, but they aren¡¯t ranker-grade save for a precious few.¡± ¡°How much would I get for them without your steep commission?¡± ¡°Oh, come on now. I value our business relationship. Why would I do anything to jeopardize it?¡± I could think of many actions someone with the Merchant class could take to outsmart an idiot Assassin. And, if I could think of them, Liliana knew them too. ¡°Besides,¡± she continued, ¡°you can¡¯t say I don¡¯t bring benefits to the table. Where else would you find someone like me?¡± Which was true. As a former fence of the Thieves¡¯ Guild, Liliana excelled in discretion. Her connections had helped me in my quest to quietly offload the dungeon heart for a massive thirty gold pieces. How she had managed to do so without attracting undue attention boggled the mind. Three days had passed since the conclusion of the festival, and everyone in Skeelie assumed that I retained ownership of the dungeon heart. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°By the way,¡± Liliana said, ¡°the client has communicated their satisfaction with the purchase. That was probably the best deal I have ever closed! We¡¯re about to see a surge in business, Damien. A surge! You will do well to keep bringing me goodies.¡± ¡°You¡¯re yet to reveal the identity of the client.¡± Her features creased. ¡°Stop asking. I¡¯m never going to tell. We connect buyers to sellers, and goods to those who desire them while maintaining the anonymity of all persons involved. I won¡¯t break the code.¡± I held her gaze for a little while. ¡°Very well. We have other business to discuss.¡± ¡°Oh? You are hiding another massive treasure that you wish to sell?¡± ¡°Are profits all that you think of?!¡± I took a deep breath and lowered my hat. ¡°This time, I¡¯m willing to buy. Get me everything you can find on displaced Heroes in Vizhima. Tomes, journals, grimoires . . . The rarer they are, the greater your reward.¡± Liliana frowned. ¡°Displaced Heroes? Like the ones from the stories of yore? The stuff of folktales?¡± ¡°The particular themes I¡¯m searching for include reincarnation, transmigration, and the end of the world.¡± Liliana regarded me cautiously. ¡°You¡¯re a strange elf, Damien.¡± ¡°I learned a lot in the Labyrinth.¡± ¡°Well, then. Challenge accepted! It should offer a change of pace from my usual routine. But, I¡¯m going to expect more than just monetary compensation for my efforts. You¡¯re going to give me a right of first refusal to any future treasures you find.¡± ¡°Valid only for one year,¡± I said. ¡°That works for me.¡± We shook hands on the deal. A [System] window opened with a mental command. Quest: [Heroic Adventure] You have been transported from another world! Gather strong allies and avert the Apocalypse. Allies: 2/10. Time remaining: 344 days. One year was enough time to fulfill my deal with Liliana. But, it was also the only time I had. Paz and I waited outside an imposing building for Nicola to appear. The Archon Orphanage looked as depressing as the last time I¡¯d been here with its faded stone walls, private guards, and eerie silence that betrayed nothing of its army of child prisoners. Nicola had been extremely nervous on the way to the orphanage, but she had steeled herself before walking through the threshold. Paz studied the large building from our position across the street. He rested his back against a wall and let out a long whistle. ¡°There are more enchantments in that building than there are around the entire city. The Archon Bank doesn¡¯t mess around, but this is overkill.¡± I tightened my fists. ¡°It¡¯s not something to be impressed with, Paz.¡± ¡°It is. Enchanters are some of the most desired specialists. However, none that I know of are capable of such work. We¡¯re talking high-level specialists here, Damien. Level 70 and above. I didn¡¯t know Skeelie possessed enough influence to attract such types.¡± ¡°The Archon Bank does.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± He glanced at the guards that defended the entrance. ¡°Indentured servitude, huh? Doesn¡¯t get worse than this.¡± ¡°They¡¯re children, Paz.¡± ¡°. . . Which means absolutely nothing in Vizhima. If they can eat, they can work. And, if they can do that, they can earn their freedom. Trust me, the alternative is much worse.¡± He said the last part with sadness as if recalling a painful memory. ¡°Well, nothing about this makes it right,¡± I said. ¡°Imprisoning children until they can legally be sold off is a ploy straight out of a villain¡¯s handbook. I don¡¯t care if it is lawful. The Archon Bank should burn.¡± ¡°Oh, I agree with your sentiment, alright. I care little for the Bank. This is one aspect I am willing to change about the world. The question is, are you?¡± I didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Yes.¡± Paz grinned in approval. ¡°There are forces in this world, Damien. Forces that can obliterate us where we stand with as little as a thought. If we intend to best them, we must level up as soon as possible. Gold rank, next. Then, Platinum, Iridium, Adamantium . . . and, we shouldn¡¯t stop there.¡± ¡°You wish to become a Herald?!¡± ¡°We should both attain that at a minimum.¡± Paz regarded me with unflinching eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll attract undue attention the further up we climb. Best to ensure our enemies think twice before crossing our paths.¡± I mulled over his words. I had courted death more times than I could count in a bid to rise from Iron rank to Silver. Granted, all three of us had finally crossed the threshold, but what made Paz think that our luck would continue? There had to be thousands, maybe even millions, of rankers out there with the same goal in sight. What made us better than all of them? ¡°Why do you care so much about this, Paz?¡± I finally asked. ¡°About amassing power?¡± Paz grimaced. He said nothing for a long while and contemplated his answer. ¡°It¡¯s because the last time I had power and failed to hold on to it, I lost everything important.¡± He stared at the sky. ¡°I was na?ve, Damien. Na?ve to think that change could be enforced with steadfastness and gentle prodding. It earned me a knife to the back.¡± He had power? When we met, he had only been level 13. Had something forced him to weaken? ¡°What are you talking about, Paz? Were your parents some kind of nobility?¡± Paz chuckled. ¡°Nobility? Hah! The last thing anyone would accuse them of is being noble. I am but a mere vagabond, Damien. A vagabond who once longed for a better world. Now, I intend to destroy it.¡± A small silence passed. ¡°By destroy,¡± I said, ¡°you don¡¯t mean in the sense of an apocalypse, right? You mean something more normal like toppling the world¡¯s systems?¡± ¡°Same difference.¡± Paz shifted his red eyes from the sky and settled on me. ¡°And, you? What is it you intend to accomplish? What did you see at the bottom of the Labyrinth?¡± ¡°You saw the same thing I did, Paz.¡± ¡°Explain it.¡± I ran a hand through my hair. ¡°There¡¯s a creature trapped there; one which gains sustenance from the lives of slain rankers. If my theory is correct, one such creature should exist at the bottom of every dungeon.¡± ¡°That . . . contradicts all I¡¯ve been taught. No one really knows who created the dungeons, but it is generally believed to be the work of ancient Heralds, going by the murals in the dungeons anyway. Why would the Heralds trap demons underneath?¡± I had no answer. Not until I¡¯d spoken to Kajal. Paz scratched his chin. ¡°You say, these monsters are sustained by the dungeon runs? Why not the other way around? What if they are the batteries that keep the dungeons running?¡± I didn¡¯t know that batteries were a thing in Vizhima. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the purpose of the dungeon hearts?¡± ¡°Aye. You¡¯re probably right. Wait a minute . . . You don¡¯t think gods exist, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to think.¡± I sighed at the ground. ¡°I only know that those monsters are going to emerge from the dungeons someday. And, the world as we know it will end.¡± In one year, in fact. Or less. Paz turned pale. Our ordeal beneath the Labyrinth had been harrowing, even for a ranker as stalwart as him. ¡°That¡¯s a terrible thought, Damien. I don¡¯t think anything of the sort has ever happened in Vizhima.¡± He paused. ¡°Is this why you were so eager to build a party?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not . . . unrelated.¡± ¡°A secret for a secret, huh? Very well, we¡¯ll share what we know in time. Here I was seeking to change the world, and here you come dropping an element of change onto my lap.¡± ¡°Destruction is not Change, Paz.¡± ¡°Philosophers would disagree. Which begs the question: If the dungeons and dungeon hearts were your priority, why sell the Egg of the Labyrinth to help Nicola?¡± I narrowed my eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Paz remained unfazed. ¡°I¡¯m sure you realize the worth of a dungeon heart. Not from a monetary perspective¡ªthere is only so much you can sell it for. What I am asking is why you chose to give away an item that could provide answers for you in the future. Especially to someone who sets you backward?¡± ¡°Nicola doesn¡¯t set me backward. And, she is my friend.¡± ¡°And, mine too, believe it or not. But, if your goal is to build a party for whatever reason, you must realize that by liberating her brothers, you have effectively removed her from our team.¡± My stomach tossed. ¡°You¡¯re saying that I should have left them to the Archon Bank?¡± Paz chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯m informing you of the consequences of your choice. Your decision will cost you the dungeon heart and Nicola. Skeelie is too small a nest for us to dwell in, and wherever we go, Nicola won¡¯t follow. Her family is her most prized possession.¡± He smirked at my balled fists. ¡°The Damien I know is also a shrewd bastard. You suspected this, didn¡¯t you? And yet, you made your choice. Sorry I couldn¡¯t make you feel good about your decision. Best get used to it.¡± I bit down on my tongue. A short moment later, Nicola emerged from the orphanage with her brothers in tow. Theo and Bart looked just as underfed as the last time I¡¯d seen them, with their jutting collarbones and neat but decrepit clothes. Both wore their hair tidy and cropped, an attempt by the orphanage to act like they cared. They looked in wonder at the streets around them, then at the sky, and finally at the defunct spire of the Labyrinth. Their golden eyes¡ªevery bit as bright as Nicola¡¯s¡ªgleamed in the light of the sun. ¡°Hey!¡± Theo, the older and consequently taller sibling said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your friend, Nicola?¡± ¡°The elf?¡± Bart said, looking around. He spotted me and recognition bloomed on his sunken face. The two boys waved animatedly as if I didn¡¯t stand less than twenty meters away. Tears streamed down Nicola¡¯s face as she joined them, waving at Paz and me. The children¡¯s exuberant movements caused the collars of their large shirts to slip past their necks. The runic seals that had once occupied positions around their throats were nowhere in sight. A lump rose in my chest. ¡°You know, Paz. I had my doubts, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever regret it.¡± Paz shrugged in response. ¡°If I can¡¯t save a dear friend from despair,¡± I continued, ¡°what chance do I have to save an entire world?¡± ¡°To change it,¡± Paz said. ¡°And, I will say your chances are pretty minimal. Damien¡¯s Protection Party has just taken a big hit from the loss of its caster.¡± He glanced at Nicola¡¯s siblings and sighed. ¡°Well, you know what they say. Two¡¯s company, three¡¯s a crowd. I guess we are fine until the next big quest.¡± Nicola wasn¡¯t the only cherished person I needed to save. I touched the spot on my armor which concealed the tattoo that connected me to an entire village. ¡°Our party name is a bit antiquated, don¡¯t you think?¡± I said. ¡°It has always been distasteful, but I¡¯m not the idiot who registered it at the Guild.¡± He jutted his chin at me. ¡°You will be pleased to find that a change is in order.¡± ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± I strode across the street to meet the Ainsworths and grinned back at Paz. ¡°How about The Black Leaf Company?¡± 081 Free Level-ups News traveled fast about Damien Wyrm Killer, despite my best efforts to silence them. Within days, I had become the most popular ranker in Skeelie and all of Bargheria. Everyone and their mothers knew about the Dark Elf from Dreadwood and his merry company¡ªthe first ones to beat the Labyrinth in over a thousand years. Everyone and their mothers also tried to gut me in the hope of stealing the dungeon heart. I slid my dagger out of the skull of the latest contender¡ªa level 28 Shifter who thought it wise to ambush me in a dark alley of all places¡ªand leaned against a wall to catch my breath. [Silhouette] stirred beneath me, flailing long tendrils in the air. ¡°What does this make it now?¡± I wondered. ¡°Six?¡± ¡°Seven,¡± Paz said from a nearby rooftop. He kicked the body of a second assailant to the ground. The corpse crashed beside me, bleeding from a broken skull. ¡°They¡¯re getting bolder,¡± I said. ¡°I didn¡¯t think they would see us getting plastered in The Naked Bard and take the bait.¡± ¡°Free level-ups, eh?¡± Paz said with a laugh. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call this free.¡± The would-be killers had died with shocked looks on their faces, proof that they didn¡¯t expect to be completely overwhelmed. One would think that conquering a dungeon granted a certain level of infamy, but no . . . our assailants kept thinking we were flukes. How many more enemies did I need to butcher before the city ran out of parents, offspring, and kin? Surely, someone would step in to stop these pointless deaths. Paz dangled his legs across the edge of the roof. ¡°You know, you¡¯ve gotten better at it these days.¡± ¡°Better at what?¡± ¡°Killing.¡± He helped himself to a bottle of ale which he had filched from the tavern. ¡°You were never the type to hesitate, but I daresay you have gotten more vicious.¡± He raised the bottle in a mock salute. ¡°That last move you performed there? Sticking the knife in his ear? That¡¯s straight out of a butcher¡¯s playbook.¡± Ouch. Paz had the dishonor of being the most violent person I knew. Getting commended by him on the subject matter didn¡¯t sit right with me. I reached out to [Silhouette], willing the restless tendrils to come to a stop. They withdrew from my touch and ignored the order. Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake. ¡°I¡¯m just about done with this city,¡± I said and cleaned my dagger. Paz snorted. ¡°I have been asking to leave ever since the Labyrinth business was concluded. What¡¯s stopping you?¡± ¡°You know what is.¡± ¡°I most certainly do. You repeat it every other day. But, unless you wish to do something about it right this minute, you should keep quiet and enjoy the loot.¡± ¡°We are going to slip up eventually, Paz. We can¡¯t keep doing this.¡± ¡°Eventually is far away.¡± He vaulted over the rooftop. Paz had put on even more muscle since the first day we¡¯d met. He still had his mop of red hair and an aversion to shirts, but he compensated these days with a fascination with beads. Perhaps more worryingly, Paz now displayed a marked increase in bloodthirst. It probably had something to do with his affinity, but the stench of blood never strayed far away from him these days . . . or me, for that matter. People frequently cowered whenever I entered a room. A lot of it had to do with my height which was imposing even by Vizhiman standards. But, most of it came from the fact that I now looked as dangerous as I felt. The Black Leaf Company had filled the vacuum left by Red Wyrm to become the most famous party in the city. A title that did wonders for our reputation but little to dissuade the assassins. Paz offered up his bottle of ale. I winced at the lid but accepted it anyway, considering our closeness. ¡°Damien, my friend,¡± Paz said and slung his arm around my shoulder. ¡°If there¡¯s anything about you that hasn¡¯t changed, it is the fact that you remain a complete worrywart. We¡¯re silver rankers now. We should act the part.¡± ¡°Hard to do so when our company is now down to just two people,¡± I said in a sullen tone. ¡°Yeah, well. I¡¯m sorry things didn¡¯t work out between you and Nicola¡ª¡± ¡°You make our relationship sound like something it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°The most expensive friendship in the world! Do you realize what we could have done with all that money?¡± ¡°Buy more weapons?¡± I said dryly. Paz pointed at my face for emphasis. ¡°You learn quickly. This is why ranker parties are best composed of a single gender. Never a mix of both. Emotions start clouding judgment.¡± ¡°You say this yet you enjoy spending time with Nicola¡¯s siblings as much as I do.¡± ¡°More so than I enjoy time with their demon sister,¡± Paz grumbled. ¡°But, you get the point! We made a lot of sacrifices for her sake and have nothing to show for it.¡± ¡°You have free level-ups.¡± Paz chuckled. ¡°Alright,¡± I said, crouching over the dead Shifter. ¡°Let¡¯s loot these bastards and call it a night.¡± ¡°A bit too early to retire, eh?¡± a new voice announced from the entrance of the alley. Paz and I sprang upright. A lanky figure¡ªthe owner of the voice¡ªstrolled into the moonlight. The sleeves of his kimono fluttered in the breeze: an actual kimono, the first I had seen in Vizhima. The newcomer tugged on the sleeves and adjusted the straw hat on his head. Geta sandals adorned his feet, clacking on the cobblestones. Considering how strongly he reeked of booze, it was a wonder how he didn¡¯t tip over . . . or how we failed to notice him earlier. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Paz rolled his eyes. ¡°Oh, great. Another taker.¡± ¡°Me?¡± The newcomer burped. ¡°I¡¯m just a village drunk.¡± ¡°A drunk would have known,¡± I countered, ¡°to lie low upon hearing the sounds of fighting.¡± ¡°This drunk is really bad at acting like one,¡± the newcomer said. I activated [Identify]. The silver rank granted [Insight]: a perk that could tell a person¡¯s rank by the intensity of their aura. It helped make decisions regarding fight or flight. The drunk newcomer cast hues of soft silver upon the fabric of reality, but [Identify] painted an even clearer picture. The skill had risen to the Greater tier with my increase in rank, which meant it could now glean a target¡¯s class in addition to level. Samurai LVL 40. The blood froze in my veins. Paz summoned his heavy spear and yawned at the drunk. ¡°Come at us, then. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± ¡°No,¡± I whispered, ¡°He¡¯s level forty.¡± Paz had enough common sense to perform a double take. ¡°Seriously?¡± I didn¡¯t bother to confirm. Between Paz¡¯s level 27 and my level 28, this was going to be a brutal fight. Even worse than the fight with the Primal Dread Monkey. And, I considered that to be my toughest fight in Vizhima. A level 40 Samurai could kill the Primal Dread Monkey in three hits¡ªfour if I wanted to be generous. A twenty-six stat point gap existed between the newcomer and me. Twenty-fucking-six. That was enough to raise two of my attributes to the next tier. The Samurai smirked at our hesitation. ¡°I see you both have good heads on your shoulders. I¡¯ll keep this simple. My client wants this thing in your possession called a dungeon heart. And, being the wise and benevolent client that he is, he is not unwilling to pay for the item.¡± Paz frowned. ¡°Why spend money on your contract if he intends to purchase the dungeon heart?¡± ¡°Because this gentleman isn¡¯t being genuine, Paz,¡± I said. ¡°He¡¯s running a scam, and considering where I come from, I take serious offense with that.¡± ¡°What the hell¡¯s a scam?¡± The Samurai answered before I could. ¡°I hate it when my enemies have more sense than I do. Well, it was worth a shot. Paying for the dungeon heart was never an option. But, wouldn¡¯t you prefer to settle this matter over warm bodies rather than cold corpses?¡± Paz raised his spear in acceptance of the challenge. ¡°There are going to be three corpses left in this alley by the time we are done. And, neither my friend nor I are included in that number.¡± Um, Paz, you might want to tone down the bravado. ¡°Will it help,¡± I interjected, ¡°if I told you that the Egg of the Labyrinth is no longer in our possession?¡± The Samurai took a moment to consider his answer. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose it will. Word from the grapevine is that you turned down an offer from the Governor¡ª¡± ¡°Because he tried to rip me off! Do you know what it means for a merchant to offer better rates than the fucking governor of the city?¡± The Samurai laughed. ¡°You have my answer then. No, it won¡¯t help.¡± He dipped his hand into his inventory¡ª I commanded [Silhouette] to move. Shadow tendrils rose from the darkness and surged toward the Samurai. I had been in enough battles to learn that [Silhouette] possessed enough force to puncture bone and armor. However, the Samurai unsheathed a katana from his obi and repelled my shadow with a single swing of his sword. His other hand emerged from his inventory, clutching a gourd. ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t,¡± Paz said and charged at the Samurai. [Draconic Aura] glowed in his eyes. The usual [System] message notified me about a fifty percent boost to speed, attack, and defense. You go, Paz! Paz swung his spear with cataclysmic force. But, just like before, the Samurai parried the blow. He chugged the content of his gourd even as his sword hand kept Paz at bay. ¡°Ah, the impatience of youth. You¡¯re not going to survive me if this is the best you can do.¡± Paz growled and intensified his attacks. The two blurred in a deadly dance of sparks and ringing steel. A vicious strike sent Paz reeling backward. And then, I surged from the shadows with The Blackreach Dagger aimed at the Samurai¡¯s nape. [Sneak Attack] promised double damage which could prove devastating atop the boon from [Draconic Aura]. Before my attack could connect, however, the Samurai¡¯s katana flashed. My arm bent an angle, plunging my dagger into my neck. I gurgled with incredulity as my own weapon carved a chunk out of my health. The Samurai pressed his advantage, forcing us into a blade lock. It wasn¡¯t the best of maneuvers, but the bastard was simply that arrogant. Dark eyes locked gazes with mine from within a pale face ravaged by stress lines. The Samurai winked and tipped his bamboo hat at me. And then, he followed up with a flurry that cracked the stones beneath my feet. Each blow landed with enough force to shatter the bones of my wrist. My HP fell despite my parries¡ªI had to create some distance! Paz reinforced me from behind the enemy with a tangible aura glowing around his fists. That was his [Overpower] skill which added +5 to Strength. For the next few seconds, we forced the Samurai onto the defensive. He handled our simultaneous attacks with annoying ease. A parry here, a sidestep, a dodge, another sidestep . . . Again, his katana flashed. This time, it threw Paz¡¯s heavy spear off course and sent it glancing off his thigh. Much like I had done earlier, Paz¡¯s eyes widened at the feat he had just witnessed. ¡°[Riposte]?¡± he murmured. The Samurai brought his sword around and cut deep into his torso. It gave me the opening I needed to activate [Silhouette]. Multiple shadow tendrils sprouted at point-blank range, seeking to impale the enemy. A moment later, I coughed blood onto the cobblestones as every single one of those tendrils met the Samurai¡¯s sword and launched back at me. A follow-up kick blasted me clean across the alley. The Samurai sidestepped a thrust from Paz and threw him bodily after me. In less than three minutes since the fight began, we had both lost all our health. ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± the Samurai said with a shake of his head, ¡°that these are the heroes who conquered the Labyrinth? I almost feel bad for trying to kill you now.¡± He took another sip from his gourd, which had not left his hand all through the skirmish. ¡°You might want to reconsider your position, boys. Just give me what I need.¡± Paz struggled to his feet, bleeding all over the ground. ¡°You can have it when we are dead!¡± What the hell, man? Unlike you, I don¡¯t have fucking resurrection! ¡°We need a plan,¡± I said, rising to my feet. ¡°I hate to admit it, but you and I have finally met an enemy who is better than the both of us combined.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that damned [Riposte] skill of his,¡± Paz growled. ¡°There has to be some cooldown we can exploit. If I occupy his attention long enough for you to use [Silhouette] . . .¡± [Silhouette] shuddered beneath me, as though averse to the very idea of engaging the Samurai again. I touched my side and came away with my hand wet with blood. The Night Scout Armor had protected me in multiple battles against rogues, chimeras, and Byron. Yet, against this Samurai, it amounted to little more than duct tape. ¡°We should probably retreat,¡± I said to Paz. ¡°We¡¯re incapable of winning this.¡± ¡°Err, hello?¡± the Samurai said. ¡°You know I can hear you, right?¡± Paz glanced at me and deflated with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re probably right.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, ¡°I knew you would say that . . . wait, what?¡± ¡°I said, ¡®You¡¯re right¡¯,¡± Paz repeated, as though the very words caused him to lose teeth. He returned his spear to his inventory. ¡°We¡¯re not beating this bastard.¡± ¡°Activate Protocol Lost Jaegerstock, then?¡± ¡°Activate.¡± ¡°Ooh, I¡¯d like to see you try,¡± the Samurai said. And then, he threw his gourd into the air. Paz ran headlong at our adversary but not before showing his back to me. I dropped the smoke bomb I had been hiding and called on [Dark Stalker] to wrap me in shadows. The Samurai sheathed his sword. ¡°Pathetic. There¡¯s nowhere my blade can¡¯t reach.¡± He drew his weapon and cut the alley in two. The entire alley. Paz¡¯s torso flew cleanly off his waist. I threw a nice helping of MP into [Silhouette] and raised a mass of tendrils to cover my escape. The Samurai¡¯s attack bifurcated the shadows . . . and the smoke . . . and the rooftop of a small building I sought cover in. The entire structure collapsed with a tired groan, but not before I fled unharmed through an open window. The same could not be said about the rest of the alley. In a single slash, the Samurai had ripped up the entire area as though stones and bricks were nothing more than wet paper. As I ran through the darkness, clutching Paz¡¯s severed finger, one thought flitted through my mind: You call these free level-ups?! 082 Summons ¡°Let me get this straight,¡± Liliana the shopkeeper said. She had opened her store to find Paz and I passed out in the entryway. It had taken five minutes to stifle her shrieks and another five to stop her from running us through with a knife. Right now, she stood with arms crossed in front of us, a blood vessel throbbing in her temple. Her usually bright features had taken on a hue that matched her hair, and her entire head seemed two seconds away from erupting at the neck. ¡°You were ambushed by a contract killer in the dead of night,¡± Liliana continued, ¡°and thought it best to seek refuge in my shop?!¡± I leaned against the counter and rubbed my head to stave off a growing migraine. Yesterday¡¯s defeat against Samurai Champ-loo left a bitter taste on my tongue. But, Liliana was justified in her anger. I turned on the charm. ¡°You¡¯re a known player in the underworld, Liliana. No one would encroach on your territory without good reason, making this the safest place in Skeelie.¡± Of course, that was a lie. Liliana¡¯s infamy would do little to stop the Samurai from hounding us to her location. But, Paz and I had run out of safe places to hide in. Liliana leaned forward with a sneer on her face. ¡°You''re telling me that your best course of action after your ordeal was to break into my premises and risk painting a target on my back?!¡± ¡°Oh, shut your yapping,¡± Paz said and rubbed the last vestiges of sleep from his eyes. He scratched the finger which he had since regrown from, thanks to [Sanguine Return]. ¡°In case you didn¡¯t hear him, the bastard who tried to kill us wanted the dungeon heart. He¡¯ll learn we sold it to you sooner or later and come for your head.¡± ¡°Well, good luck to them! The dungeon heart has since passed into its purchaser¡¯s hands. You''re taking our relationship for granted, don¡¯t you think?¡± She poked my chest as she spoke. ¡°We¡¯re not friends, Damien. We¡¯re business partners.¡± ¡°Friendly business partners,¡± I corrected. Liliana glowered. ¡°Hey now,¡± I said. ¡°You stand in the presence of the greatest party in Bargheria. Surely, it would be wise to remain in our good graces.¡± Liliana¡¯s pinched lips expressed what she thought of that. ¡°We¡¯ll get out of your hair,¡± I said and ushered Paz toward the exit. ¡°You do that,¡± Liliana said, grabbing a broom from the corner. Paz ground to a halt. ¡°Wait! I¡¯d like to know more about our attacker. How much would it cost to gain that information?¡± Liliana snorted as she swept. ¡°In case you didn¡¯t notice, there are lots of people after your heads. You will be better served finding rankers who don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡± ¡°How many of them are dirty Samurais who enjoy stiff drinks?¡± Liliana stopped sweeping. ¡°You were attacked by a Samurai?¡± ¡°A high-level one at that,¡± I said. ¡°Somewhere around level 40. Very close to Gold.¡± A curious expression wormed across her face. ¡°The Samurai class isn¡¯t common in these parts. And, a ranker that strong can¡¯t enter Skeelie unnoticed unless he is aided by the guildmaster . . . or one of the nobles.¡± I shuddered at the thought. A noble was the sort of person to hire a contract killer of great expertise for a small matter like this. But, Ezin? What need would he have for hired hands when he could do the job himself? Sure, he had offered to purchase the dungeon heart from me after the festival, but he didn¡¯t seem displeased either to learn that I had other plans. ¡°There aren¡¯t many places,¡± Liliana said, ¡°that a ranker of such skill could hide without drawing attention. Maybe, in a noble¡¯s estate?¡± I recalled the Samurai¡¯s tattered robes and his peculiar gourd. ¡°He seemed the type to spend his time around taverns, instead. Or slums.¡± ¡°Then, that is where you should start from. I¡¯ll send the word out on your behalf. A search should cost you around fifty silver.¡± Paz snarled. ¡°Are you trying to bleed our pockets, you greedy wen¡ª¡± I smoothly overrode him. ¡°What about we don¡¯t pay, and you help us find this person who could also pose problems to you should the right information fall into his hands.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me, Damien?¡± Liliana said. I touched my chest in mock affront. ¡°Me? Threaten you? Why, I would never. Still, you have to admit that it¡¯s in your best interests to identify this man.¡± ¡°My best interests leave me with coins in my pockets.¡± ¡°. . . And keep you alive to enjoy it.¡± Liliana scowled. ¡°Ugh. I knew you were trouble from the first moment I saw you. It¡¯s a bad omen to make a Merchant to do any business pro bono. Fine. Get out, then. Leave poor Liliana to track down this mysterious Samurai on her own.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll make it up to you in some way.¡± ¡°Oh, you will.¡± I made for the exit. ¡°Damien,¡± Liliana said. ¡°You might want to visit the guild. A message arrived for you at my brother¡¯s inn last night, delivered post-haste.¡± I wrinkled my nose. What could be important enough that warranted a summons from the guild? And, then it struck me: Dreadwood. The scouts had returned. Paz eyed me with interest. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d like some company?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in later.¡± I bade goodbye to both and strode off in the general direction of the guild. Daylight rose on a warm, summer morning. But, deep inside me, my heart shivered with frost. The Adventurers¡¯ Guild hadn¡¯t changed much since the festival, and just as well, considering a mere eight days had passed since the conclusion of that fiasco. The biggest change lay perhaps in the doom clock that hovered over my head. I summoned my quest log as I approached the guild, out of habit to remind myself of my goals. A blue screen unraveled: Quest: [Heroic Adventure]. You have been transported from another world! Gather strong allies and avert the Apocalypse. Allies: 2/10. Time remaining: 339 days. Reward: 10,000 spirit orbs. Complete each milestone to unlock extra rewards. 339 days, huh? It had taken me about twenty-six days to go from regular to silver rank. A good deal of it was thanks to the time dilation of the Labyrinth. But, I would need to reach gold rank in a similar timeframe if I wanted to be ready by the end of the year. What rank was considered ready enough for the Apocalypse? Level 100? That seemed like a pipe dream. At level 28, I had made it over a quarter of the way, but the road wouldn¡¯t get any easier. It would only grow harder. Perhaps, more worryingly, I hadn¡¯t managed to gather new allies since recruiting Paz and Nicola. Each new ally granted thirty spirit orbs, and I had . . . eighty right now in my inventory. Not enough to tide me over till the start of the Apocalypse, which meant I needed to up my recruitment drive or find a new dungeon to challenge sometime within the next three months. Entering new dungeons was out of the question, right now at least. Recruitment was easily the better choice. Skeelie, unfortunately, had a paucity of strong people I could trust, and even worse . . . none of them trusted me. Maybe the time had come to sell my pitch to Ezin? ¡°Yeah, right.¡± The sturdy stone walls and arched windows of the Adventurers¡¯ Guild looked subdued in the morning light without the throng of foreigners that had erstwhile filled the grounds. A handful of rankers however occupied the wooden benches that covered half of the grand hall, creating an area similar to a lounge. At the opposite end of the entryway, the participation board had been removed. A quest board hung in its place but didn¡¯t see much patronage, judging by the number of unpicked quests that littered its surface. Many rankers had lost their lives in the chaos of the Labyrinth, and the survivors weren¡¯t too eager to return to the field. However, for every life lost, a survivor had grown stronger, causing a change in the power dynamics within the guild. The Black Leaf Company sat now atop the food chain as evidenced by the looks I commanded the instant I walked into the guild. More adventurers would make their marks in the weeks that followed. The chatter among the guild clerks died down as I walked up to the reception area. A few rankers even scurried out of the way. Beating the Labyrinth had earned me a good deal of notoriety. But, most of it came from the rumors about my role in the annihilation of Red Wyrm. . . . not that I¡¯d ever admit to it. [Silhouette] stirred within my shadow as I traversed the guild. It returned to sleep soon after, finding nothing of interest. The shadowy fiend tended to act lethargic during the day, a behavior that irked me, but I wouldn¡¯t trade the little bastard for the world. Silhy was my answer to Nicola¡¯s [Eldritch Beam]: another way for me to deal damage and snuff the life out of my enemies. I couldn¡¯t use it for much yet beyond simple combat actions, but its potential for utility made it the most precious of my techniques. Someday, Silhy and I were going to conquer the Apocalypse. And, when that happened, we would return to the Pyramid and rip the Flame Guardians a new, bloody¡ª ¡°Mr. D-damien!¡± a demure-looking guild clerk with spectacles and wild, frizzy hair said. ¡°Is there something I can do for you?¡± She squirmed in her seat and averted her gaze, her way of expressing discomfort with my choice to stop at her counter. Mr. Damien, huh? The other guild clerks hunched over their desks. Was I that scary? I spared her a small smile if only to alleviate her suffering. ¡°Hi. I hear that I¡¯ve been summoned by the guild?¡± The demure girl stuttered. ¡°Oh! T-that¡¯s . . . yes, t-that¡¯s true! Master Ezin mentioned something of the sort. However, I¡¯m not s-sure this is a good time . . .¡± I leaned across the counter, causing her face to lose several shades of color. ¡°What time do you think would be good for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll c-check with the guildmaster,¡± she squeaked and leaped to her feet. I said nothing else as she excused herself and scurried up the stairs. The other guild clerks remained focused on their tasks as if by ignoring me, I would somehow vanish from existence. I hated using my clout for intimidation, to avoid becoming another Byron. However, the days since the festival had been spent in ceaseless worry over the fate of the elves. Paz and Nicola were family to me, but Harkonean was the place of my birth. Ezin had stopped me from rushing into Dreadwood the last time around. But, I had little reason to keep dallying in Skeelie. I needed new information on the state of the forest. Anything less . . . ¡°The guildmaster will see you now,¡± the girl said upon return with her face flushed and hair disheveled. I followed her to the top floor where Ezin resided and then into his office which was just as lush as I remembered. Polished wooden furniture sat atop rugs of soft velvet that basked in the daylight streaming from a giant window. Ezin reclined behind his desk. His luxurious robe hung unclasped around his torso to reveal his impressive muscles. Green eyes peered at me from within the wild brush of hair and beard that covered his face. Two other people occupied armchairs in the office. They turned as one to face me, cradling cups of tea. The first of them was a short man in fine robes and . . . No. Not a short man. A freaking dwarf! I¡¯d never seen a Vizhiman dwarf before today, but the short height, large hands, and leather-like skin were dead giveaways of race. This dwarf had blue eyes set in a well-worn face with a nose that looked as shapely as it was bulbous. But, where was the beard?! Everything I knew about dwarves in popular culture told of scruffy beards that grew near the ground. This dwarf had a beard alright, but it was fine and well-trimmed, no more than dressing across the face. The other person in the room, with long hair made of night and skin the color of dusk, beamed as she saw me. ¡°Kajal?¡± I gasped. 083 Elves, Goblins, Dwarves, Oh My ¡°It¡¯s Kaa-jl, Damien,¡± the enigmatic woman said with a sigh. ¡°Try to keep up.¡± She dropped her tea cup on Ezin¡¯s desk and smoothed her robes. ¡°You know each other?¡± Ezin asked, looking at each of us in turn. I tried to answer only to be interrupted by a haptic buzz. An old [System] notification resurfaced. Quest: [Heroic Action]. Objective: Kill the impostor! A person in your vicinity poses a unique threat to your adventure. Kill them! Kill them! Kill them! Reward: Undefined. Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake. I¡¯m not killing anyone just because the [System] demanded it! What the hell did it take me for? An Assassin? Oh, wait . . . ¡°Damien and I got acquainted during the dungeon run,¡± Kajal explained in that controlled manner of hers. ¡°Though I must admit, I was as surprised as anyone to learn that he had beaten the Labyrinth.¡± . . . A feat I would never have accomplished without the Traveler¡¯s Room. But, Kajal knew that. The big question was: Did Ezin? If Ezin had learned my secret from Kajal, he didn¡¯t show it. He ushered me to a seat. ¡°Good, good. It removes the need for one set of introductions, at least. You met us at an opportune time, Damien. I¡¯m glad you could join.¡± ¡°Is this about what I think it is?¡± I asked, sitting beside Kajal. However, my question was interrupted by the dwarf¡¯s deep rumble. ¡°This is the Hero of the Labyrinth?¡± he said with actual surprise. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me I would be working with a Dark Elf, Ezin.¡± ¡°Damien¡¯s from Dreadwood,¡± Ezin explained. The dwarf scrutinized me with light, blue eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t say . . .¡± ¡°What?¡± I asked. ¡°Do you have a problem with elves?¡± That would be so clich¨¦. Almost every fantasy world featured some kind of grudge between elves and dwarves. ¡°I would have thought,¡± the dwarf said, ¡°that you¡¯d have a problem with me.¡± I blinked at the reply. ¡°We dwarves are responsible, after all, for the genocide of your people. I¡¯m yet to meet a Dark Elf who didn¡¯t remind me of that fact.¡± Oh wow. Talk about dropping bombshells. I didn¡¯t know how to respond to that because I technically wasn¡¯t an elf. Should I feign anger on behalf of my adopted race? ¡°Well,¡± I said, ¡°it¡¯s an issue of the past¡±¡ªhopefully¡ª¡°Neither of us can do anything about it now.¡± The dwarf smirked. ¡°Oh, we can¡¯t, alright. But, I approve of the deed all the same. Had my ancestors not performed it, who knows what would have become of my people?¡± ¡°Careful,¡± Ezin warned. This maggot-brained stone eater wanted to start something, huh? I¡¯d given him the chance to drop the matter peacefully, but he seemed hellbent on being rude. Kajal watched the scene unfold with a twinkle in her eyes. She probably found the matter intriguing, considering I wasn¡¯t from Vizhima. Was there a rulebook [Migrant Soul]s needed to follow in situations like these? Ultimately, I sighed. ¡°Yeah, screw you too, cretin. Let¡¯s just get back to the matter at hand.¡± Ezin interjected before the dwarf could speak. ¡°Damien, Medekeine. Medekeine, Damien. I¡¯ll admit that this wasn¡¯t how I expected introductions to begin.¡± He glanced at me. ¡°Medekeine is here on behalf of the Dwarrow Lords. He can rightfully be considered an ambassador of sorts. However¡±¡ªand at this, he turned to dwarf¡ª¡°Damien is a registered member of our guild. I expect you to extend him the same courtesy as me.¡± ¡°No offense intended, guildmaster,¡± Medekeine said and pointedly ignored me. I returned the favor and asked the question I cared about. ¡°Is this about Dreadwood?¡± ¡°It is,¡± Ezin said. ¡°So, the scouting party is back?¡± My heart thudded in anticipation. ¡°What did they find? How are the elves doing?¡± Ezin clasped his fingers. ¡°No, Damien. The scouts did not return.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡ª?¡± ¡°He means,¡± Kajal said kindly, ¡°that we have good reason to believe that the entire scouting party is dead.¡± I gaped at her. ¡°The entire . . .?¡± ¡°The last time I received word from them,¡± Ezin said, ¡°was six days ago. They promised to send another familiar in three days. That did not happen.¡± ¡°So, maybe, they aren¡¯t dead. There could be other reasons for their failure to communicate. Capture, perhaps, or incapacitation.¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± He didn¡¯t sound convinced. ¡°What did they say then?¡± I asked. ¡°The last time you communicated. Surely, they had something to report?¡± Ezin glanced at Medekeine. ¡°They confirmed the existence of a goblin horde.¡± I balled my fists. ¡°And, the elves?¡± ¡°The Wood Elves are at war.¡± ¡°No, not them. My people. What did they say about my people?¡± ¡°I did not receive any specific mention of your kind.¡± Crap. ¡°This meeting is about the horde, then,¡± I said. ¡°Skeelie is your priority, so you intend to discuss ways to protect the city. I don¡¯t think I can contribute¡ª¡± ¡°What great loss that would be,¡± Medekeine drawled. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°¡ªbecause I intend to leave for Dreadwood the first chance I get. Is there anything else I should know?¡± Ezin frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not heading to Dreadwood alone, Damien.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I will. I have a party¡ª¡± ¡°What I mean is that I summoned you here for a mission.¡± He placed a scroll on the desk. ¡°The Dwarrow Lords and the Merchant Guild have each sponsored quests into Dreadwood. They humbly request the assistance of the Hero of the Labyrinth.¡± Medekeine bristled so hard that his armchair vibrated beneath him. ¡°Guildmaster, I do not desire his assistance.¡± ¡°You asked for my strongest adventurers.¡± Ezin shrugged. ¡°Here they are.¡± ¡°I will not proceed with an elf in my party!¡± ¡°Then, you won¡¯t proceed at all,¡± Ezin said, and the desk creaked beneath his fingers. ¡°Damien has as much reason to join this venture as anyone. You will need him. With Dreadwood crawling with goblins, the last person you can afford to turn away is a native of the forest. He will be your guide.¡± Huh? What right did he have to decide this all by himself? ¡°Um, Ezin,¡± I said. ¡°I thought you banned the merchants from conducting business in Dreadwood?¡± ¡°I did. But, the survival of the Wood Elves is now at stake. They need weapons and supplies to fight this war. And, they have requested it for no small amount of gems.¡± Kajal chuckled. ¡°The merchants can¡¯t ignore a chance to turn a profit, huh? Even with an existential threat on the horizon.¡± ¡°And, the dwarves?¡± I asked. ¡°How are they involved in any of this?¡± Ezin paused, unsure of how to answer. But, he need not have bothered. The dwarf replied with gusto, as though educating a belligerent child. ¡°Because every goblin horde spawns within the mountains. And, the areas beneath the hills and mountains and dells are all considered dwarric domains.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, that doesn¡¯t answer my question.¡± Ezin jumped in with an explanation, though he failed to hide his smirk. ¡°Medekeine is a Tinfolk dwarf from the mountain nation of Alam?. The Tinfolk have historically assisted Bargheria in battles against the goblin horde. He¡¯s been sent by his masters to assess the current threat.¡± Medekeine¡¯s brows twitched at the mention of the word, masters. He seemed to dislike that. ¡°Then, he should consider the threat assessed,¡± I said. ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed the existence of a goblin horde.¡± ¡°That we have,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°But, my interest does not lie solely in the gobs. What the Dwarrow Lords wish to confirm is the current nature of goblin leadership . . . because our quest may take either of two dimensions depending on who leads the horde.¡± He drew out his next words, savoring my attention. ¡°We might either be dealing with a Goblin Prince, and the Wood Elves stand a good chance of emerging victorious . . . or we are faced with a Goblin Calamity, and you don¡¯t want to know what that means for this city.¡± I could probably imagine. The name Goblin Calamity sounded ominous enough. ¡°I have notified the Governor and the Crown Prince, regardless,¡± Ezin said. ¡°Skeelie will be ready if the Wood Elves fall. However, we must secure a brief window to muster our forces. This is the reason why I favor the sending of aid to the elves.¡± ¡°You¡¯re using them as a bulwark,¡± I said in realization. ¡°The merchants might be in it for the coin, but each elf that lives to see another day is one human that need not be slain in battle.¡± Ezin¡¯s green eyes gleamed. ¡°Make no mistake, the elves won¡¯t have it any other way. They won¡¯t condone large numbers of human forces trampling through their forest until all has truly been lost.¡± But, that was untrue. For Nana, at least. If there was one thing she wanted, it was aid for her people. ¡°The Dark Elves are my priority,¡± I said. ¡°My priority is your priority, elf,¡± Medekeine said, ¡°as long as you are employed in this expedition.¡± ¡°Then, save your employment.¡± I turned to Ezin. ¡°The two quests are related but not inclusive, yes? I will help the merchants deliver the items to the Wood Elves. After that, I work on my own.¡± ¡°That arrangement is possible,¡± Ezin conceded, ¡°but unwise. You would find Medekeine an irreplaceable ally on your journey, and in you, he would have a guide. For the safety of everyone involved, the two parties undertaking the quest must act as one. I lost good people in my scouting party, Damien¡ªall of silver rank. We can¡¯t afford a repeat.¡± ¡°Damien and I are not going to die,¡± Kajal said at that moment as if it was a fact of the world, as sure as the sky was blue. ¡°You should be more worried about the trouble you¡¯ll have on your hands when news of the impending horde reaches the cityfolk.¡± She paused to take a sip of tea. ¡°We can¡¯t expect Damien to act in Skeelie¡¯s interests and overlook his family. So, I propose we do all three. We escort our esteemed guest, Medekeine, here. We deliver the supplies to the elves. And, while we are at it, we help Damien secure the lives of his family.¡± Medekeine growled. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t he offer a reward if he intends to include a quest?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure there are other ways Damien could return the favor.¡± Her words sounded jovial, but knowing what she did about me, they were anything but. Regardless, Kajal had proffered a solution that worked for everyone. Ezin thought so too because he nodded in appreciation. ¡°It is settled, then. Kajal, and Damien, you two would ensure the safe delivery of the merchandise to the Wood Elves. You are also to assist Medekeine in the investigation of the goblin horde. Should you learn news about Damien¡¯s family, you are authorized to intervene, but not in a manner that would jeopardize your quests.¡± He drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the desk. ¡°Considering the multi-faceted nature of your mission, Kajal will lead the party to manage all conflicting interests. I hope this won¡¯t cause any problems.¡± Medekeine looked like he took issue with that, but he ultimately snorted. ¡°I pray you return safely,¡± Ezin continued, ¡°but if you don¡¯t, the quest rewards will be transferred to a beneficiary of your choice. You may leave at first light tomorrow once you have concluded preparations.¡± ¡°How many rankers do we need?¡± Kajal asked. ¡°The fewer the better,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°A party of five is considered optimal. But, six also works in case we need to split up. Elven boy here can serve as our liaison.¡± Kajal sighed. ¡°I have one available partner that could come with me.¡± She glanced at the rest of us. ¡°You¡¯ve already mentioned you travel alone, Medekeine. But, what about you, Damien? Any suggestions?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, ¡°I have two.¡± ¡°We could also recruit that Skirmisher . . . What was his name? Allen of Glamring?¡± Ezin shook his head. ¡°Allen is in no state to join your company. He has requested extended leave.¡± Kajal arched her brow. ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll work with what we have. When do I meet the representative of the merchants?¡± ¡°I will arrange for the meeting once the hour is up. Before then, there are other matters we must discuss.¡± He fixed the rest of us with a pointed look, implying dismissal. Sadly, I also wanted to speak with Kajal. A huge number of questions ran unbridled in my mind since our encounter, and, despite my best efforts, she hadn¡¯t been an easy person to find. I could wait another day if it came down to it. But, the sooner I understood this affair with [Migrant Soul]s, the better. Ezin seemed insistent on speaking to her privately though. Aw, shucks. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave, then,¡± I said. ¡°See you at the city gates tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ezin said, and his expression softened. ¡°Are you still beset by contract killers, Damien?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t get me started! The last incident occurred last night! You need to do something about border security. How do these guys keep slipping into the city undetected?!¡± Kajal gasped. ¡°You¡¯re targeted by assassins, Damien?¡± ¡°Well, not Assassin assassins. Though a couple were of that class. The last hitman was a drunk Samurai who is still hiding somewhere in the city!¡± ¡°A drunk Samurai?¡± Ezin said. ¡°I know a few who fit that bill.¡± ¡°They¡¯re after the dungeon heart!¡± Medekeine said with a chuckle. ¡°Are humans still primitive enough to shed blood over artifacts that have dwarven substitutes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do something about this, Damien,¡± Ezin said. Yeah, right. ¡°You promised to do so the last three times.¡± Medekeine stroked his jaw. ¡°This dungeon heart . . . it remains in your possession, yes?¡± ¡°No. I sold it off a few days ago.¡± ¡°How sad. Now I can¡¯t use that as an excuse to leave you for dead.¡± Kajal and Ezin frowned. ¡°A joke,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°It was just a joke.¡± He looked with disdain at his teacup. ¡°By the way, your hospitality is lacking, guildmaster. I don¡¯t suppose you could spare some ale before we leave?¡± I would spare my fist down his throat before our quest was over. But, I needed to do a few things first. 084 Schemers I waited for Paz at The Naked Bard. He strolled in sometime around noon, carrying his heavy spear on his shoulder. A thick sheen of sweat covered his naked torso, gleaming with sunlight. Skeelie was liberal about decency from what I¡¯d seen. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for the city folk to wander around in various shades of undress, but have some shame, man. Just because he looked better than everyone else didn¡¯t mean he had to rub it in their faces. Paz settled in at the opposite end of my table. ¡°You look like shit,¡± we said simultaneously, then broke out into laughter. Despite the early hour, the tavern was half full. Adventurers, it seemed, did little other than drink, brawl and die. The fresh lavender sprinkled on the floorboards of the tavern helped mask the musty smells of beer and unwashed bodies. Wood smoke joined the brew, pouring from a kitchen behind the bar. For a short moment, my stomach ached with longing for homemade jollof rice, but I shoved it down and ordered a round of beer. A chubby girl, barely into adulthood, approached our table with something akin to reverence. It was the same table Paz had slumped over during my first encounter with Byron. A table that had now become synonymous with our company. ¡°What were you doing?¡± I asked after we had emptied two rounds of beer. ¡°Training,¡± Paz said and nudged the spear beside him. ¡°Training?¡± ¡°That would be the logical conclusion following the events of last night.¡± Oh. We had both been beaten blue-black by the Samurai. And, Paz didn¡¯t take kindly to being beaten by anyone, except on his terms. ¡°There was nothing we could do,¡± I said. ¡°We did well to escape despite the circumstances. Levels are all that matter in Vizhima.¡± I raised my drink. ¡°Blood and numbers?¡± ¡°Blood and numbers.¡± Paz accepted the toast. ¡°I still don¡¯t like it, Damien. I hate being this . . . frail. We need to find new ways to increase our levels. Our current methods are too slow.¡± ¡°Well, I have good news for you, friend. I have received a quest . . .¡± Paz listened in silence to the details of the mission. I¡¯d never told him about Kajal, so he asked questions regarding her identity. He was visibly surprised to learn that she had been the first one to find the Traveler¡¯s Room, but I left out the part about [Migrant Soul]s. Paz hummed. ¡°Dwarves, elves, humans, and goblins. Sounds like the start of a great adventure: A fitting quest for The Black Leaf Company to tackle.¡± ¡°You love this adventuring thing, huh?¡± ¡°How are you holding up?¡± Paz asked. ¡°You must be worried about the family you left behind.¡± I paused mid-drink, shocked at the kindness in his tone. ¡°Uh, I feel more than a little uneasy. I can¡¯t wait to confirm their safety.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll help them if they need it. But, I¡¯m sure they are fine.¡± Yeah . . . ¡°Have you ever faced a goblin horde, Paz? What should we expect?¡± Paz chuckled in his throat. ¡°I have never seen one, Damien. The last goblin horde crossed Dreadwood about fifty years ago. They were ultimately stopped before they could reach the rest of Vizhima by a coalition of men and dwarves.¡± He furrowed his brows. ¡°Skeelie will be hit the hardest though, due to its position. It takes a while for the powers that be to turn their eyes toward this region.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You must have noticed now that the monsters that spawn nearby are of regular or iron rank¡ª¡± ¡°Except the wild god¡¯s pets.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± Paz nodded. ¡°Except that. Rankers who reach silver rank can either remain in Bargheria and stay at their current levels or migrate to other regions. The larger world is more punishing and inhospitable than the north but also more rewarding.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying that we currently occupy the weakest part of the world?¡± ¡°One of the weakest, yes. Bargheria tends to attract a sizeable number of regulars due to its lack of natural challenges. Agriculture, in particular, is one of the region¡¯s strengths. ¡°But, the world is dominated by classers, Damien. And, the more of them a nation possesses, the greater its progress in commerce, industry, and arts. Steep challenges attract powerful specialists and rankers who in turn accelerate regional development.¡± ¡°And, the most developed nations,¡± I finished, ¡°number among the strongest¡ªa trait that grants them the right to oppress the weak.¡± I leaned back in my chair. Pity I didn¡¯t own a map; it would have been great to visualize. ¡°Which nations are considered world powers, then?¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Norduli?nor,¡± Paz said without missing a beat. ¡°But, the true answer is any nation that boasts of a Herald as its patron. This includes the Beastmen Enclave, Kholindon, Dweorgaheim, the Hellfire Kingdom, and the Human Dragon Ascendancy.¡± ¡°H-hellfire? Human Dragon? What the heck is wrong with you people?¡± Paz kept talking. ¡°Weaker nations ally themselves with the world powers for protection. Bargheria, for example, is a vassal state of Kholindon. This is important to remember, Damien, because while the Heralds aren¡¯t seen in everyday life, their influence consumes the world.¡± There it was¡ªthat word again: Herald. The absolute pinnacle of power in Vizhima. One such Herald occupied nearby Dreadwood. Oh, wait . . . ¡°I take it Dreadwood doesn¡¯t count as strong?¡± Paz shook his head. ¡°The Wild God is notorious for avoiding politics, but he does serve as an effective deterrent within his domain.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of being a deterrent if he won¡¯t even stop the goblin invasion?¡± Paz looked as perplexed as I felt. ¡°Hell if I know. My best guess is that he is truly as mad as they say.¡± We lapsed into a short bout of silence, during which I mulled over everything Paz had said. If the strongest nations boasted of the support of the Heralds, then it was also safe to assume they controlled the most potent World Shrines. Skeelie harbored a World Shrine here in the city, but it was too weak to satisfy a good portion of the city¡¯s prospective classers. An inhabitant of Skeelie needed to be either highborn, influential, or sworn in servitude to the crown to gain the privilege of specialization. Daring souls who fell into none of those categories had to make the trip to Avillac instead¡ªthe capital of Bargheria. A venture that cost them even more in time and coin. Seeing as Bargheria owed allegiance to another kingdom, I couldn¡¯t imagine them being in complete control over their own World Shrines. It sounded like a shitty situation for a weak nation to be in, but poor countries on Earth also suffered a myriad of shitty situations, none too different. Ultimately, the world powers were the places I needed to visit if I hoped to recruit powerful rankers for my company. My jaunt in the Labyrinth might have saved me some time on the clock, but the countdown to the Apocalypse hadn¡¯t slowed since my return. I sipped some beer. Eh. The Apocalypse could wait. What was the point of stopping it if I couldn¡¯t even save the Dark Elves in Dreadwood? Paz watched me intently. ¡°What?¡± I asked. ¡°It just struck me,¡± he said, ¡°but we haven¡¯t decided what to do about the Samurai.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to decide? We¡¯re leaving Skeelie tomorrow.¡± Paz growled. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee he won¡¯t return for a second go.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there¡ª¡± ¡°Damien . . .¡± Ah. There it was. The slight change in tone. Paz tended to do that when he had something important to say. ¡°One of my prerequisites for accepting your leadership,¡± he said, ¡°was your determination to change the world.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°You showed some of that determination when you stood up against Byron and entered the Labyrinth for Nicola¡¯s sake. Has that fire diminished?¡± I considered my answer. Paz sometimes made it easy to forget that his friendship had not been extended cheaply. We had skirted around the topic ever since the company¡¯s formation, but Paz had made it clear that he desired power and great deeds above all else . . . for reasons best known to him. I¡¯d live the rest of my days peacefully if I had the chance. But, the [Sysyem] had abducted that chance and beat it over the head with a length of iron. Many of the rankers who would join me in the future had expectations of their own. And, they¡¯d only meet mine if I met theirs in turn. In that sense, Paz served as a reminder. No one would work with me if I kept them dissatisfied. ¡°What do we do about the Samurai then?¡± I asked, knowing I would regret the answer. Paz hummed in approval. ¡°We teach him to never mess with us again.¡± ¡°The last time we fought, he was the one who taught us a lesson.¡± ¡°And, we¡¯d forever live with that shame if we let it slide, Damien! Winning the fear of our enemies is important. And, fear is a currency you know something about.¡± True. But, his suggestion was just plain terrible. ¡°Desiring victory is one thing, Paz. But, desire alone won¡¯t bridge the gap in power between that killer and us. How do you intend to cross it?¡± ¡°Well . . . I figured I¡¯d leave the planning to you.¡± I offered him a deadpan stare. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going into a fight with nil odds of victory, Paz. If you can¡¯t at least come up with a way to avoid defeat, then all that talk of standing above our enemies can rot in hell.¡± ¡°Alright. Alright. I was just making a joke. Remember the ability I unlocked for reaching silver rank?¡± That got me to sit up. ¡°The one you refuse to tell me about? Hell, you still haven¡¯t told me what technique you unlocked at level twenty.¡± ¡°I¡¯m keeping that one a secret. Especially from you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Paz made a sarcastic gesture with his hands. ¡°My bad,¡± I said. ¡°We agreed to withhold sensitive details until we were ready to speak.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, Damien. I believe in your good judgment as I do in mine. However, should anything you withhold put my life in danger, I need trump cards of my own. Rest assured, this is not a decision that affects our party.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Tell me about your most recent upgrade, then.¡± ¡°I unlocked a technique that could give us a fighting chance. It¡¯s called [Retaliate].¡± That sounded ominous. ¡°What does it do?¡± ¡°It accumulates all damage taken while it is active, and as long as I don¡¯t die, I can return it for twice the power.¡± ¡°That sounds like something I¡¯d expect from a Pok¨¦mon.¡± ¡°What . . .?¡± ¡°That sounds like a great technique, Paz,¡± I corrected. ¡°If triggered at the right moment, you can take the Samurai by surprise. The problem comes with keeping you alive . . .¡± Paz grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me . . .¡± I said. ¡°This new technique works with [Sanguine Return]?¡± ¡°Aye. [Sanguine Return] cleanses all buffs after activation. But, [Retaliate] isn¡¯t a buff. I also exist in a non-physical state between resurrections. So, am I truly dead?¡± My brain ran amok with the implications. ¡°Too risky. Death is death, especially considering your killer gains XP whether you resurrect or not. You¡¯re better served firing [Retaliate] before you kick the bucket.¡± Paz touched his spear. ¡°What do you think I have been doing all morning, Damien?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve tested the theory?¡± Paz smirked. ¡°Now, who¡¯s aboard the plan?¡± 085 The Cult of Carnality I couldn¡¯t hide my eagerness. The mission to seek revenge on the Samurai was no longer as foolhardy as I¡¯d initially thought, though much effort still needed to be put into the planning. Paz¡¯s moveset was very good at punishing enemies who outperformed him, and just as well, considering he was attuned to [Retribution]. ¡°What about your [Deflect Missile] skill?¡± I asked. ¡°Won¡¯t that help you fend off the enemy¡¯s finishing move?¡± Paz helped himself to the last serving of beer. ¡°No. [Deflect Missile] only works against small-sized projectiles. It can¡¯t do anything against [Fireball] or the Samurai¡¯s [Flying Slash of Death].¡± ¡°What about the other annoying skill of his? The one he used to reflect our attacks.¡± ¡°[Riposte]?¡± ¡°Yeah, that. It¡¯s way better than [Deflect Missile], then?¡± ¡°Hah! While [Riposte] may be the superior technique, it only allows the swordsman to counter any melee-based attack right before it connects.¡± ¡°By melee you mean?¡± ¡°Piercing, slashing, bludgeoning. All of which sadly makes up most of our arsenal.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not beating that Samurai if we don¡¯t find a way around [Riposte], even with your [Retaliate].¡± Paz ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°It¡¯s a rare skill, exclusive only to swordsmen¡ªSamurais and Warriors both. Unlike [Deflect Missile], it doesn¡¯t count as a passive, which means it possesses some sort of cooldown.¡± ¡°Then, my job will be to find out what.¡± I glanced down at [Silhouette] which slumbered still within my shadow. In a battle between techniques, [Riposte] could counter [Silhouette] eight times out of ten. But, now that I knew what to watch for, the Samurai had lost the element of surprise. ¡°Alright, we¡¯re doing this,¡± I said, unable to believe I had agreed to Paz¡¯s incredulous plan. ¡°Assuming the Samurai is hiding somewhere in Skeelie, how does this work?¡± ¡°We just need to wait out in the open. He will come to us himself¡ª¡± ¡°No. Negative. Nein. Cancel that. We can¡¯t afford to be at his mercy this time around.¡± ¡°What do you suggest?¡± I leaned back in my chair. ¡°It¡¯s time for the spider to sally out of the web.¡± ¡°Oh, I can get with that,¡± Paz said, and a demonic grin covered his face. ¡°What say you about visiting a friend?¡± An impressive temple stood in Skeelie¡¯s western district, tucked into a nice part of town. On the surface, it looked like a regular medieval structure, built with grey stone and slate tiles for roofing. A simple courtyard surrounded the grounds, rife with carefully trimmed hedges. The temple lacked any statues fashioned in the images of patron gods, but what it possessed was just as curious¡ªif not more so. Large tentacles, about the height of a man, stood at odd intervals around the courtyard. The tentacles were cut from marble and adorned with the suction cups common in octopi. They stretched their grotesque limbs toward the sky, as if in imitation of an eldritch fiend rising from the deep. ¡°Now, this is . . . something,¡± I said with awe. ¡°First time?¡± Paz asked. ¡°What gave it away?¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t want to assume . . . But, I heard elves suffer from a loss of virility as a consequence of their natural long lives.¡± ¡°Wait . . . What first time are you talking about?!¡± Paz chuckled. He led the way across the courtyard, right up to one of two lavish entrances built into the temple. A guardsman, dressed in the city¡¯s formal military gear, gestured at a steel box beside the door. ¡°Uh . . .¡± I said. Paz laughed again and dropped two silver pieces. ¡°The crown thanks you for your generosity,¡± the guardsman said in a drab tone. He opened the door and ushered us into a small reception area. I didn¡¯t know what to expect, but the mildly scented interior, complete with braziers of incense and fresh flowers lining the walls, was plainer than I¡¯d imagined. The barren marble floors and understated furniture spoke of a simpler lifestyle than one would expect from a cult. Especially one of such renown as the Cult of Carnality. A short counter occupied one end of the wall, opposite a row of wooden pews meant for guests. ¡°This is rather homely,¡± I started to say when a pale-skinned woman in dark robes sauntered out of a backroom behind the counter. My eyes bulged. I was no stranger to beautiful women, thanks to Nicola, but there was just something about the newcomer¡¯s appearance that demanded attention. She wore her brown hair in a tight bun behind her head, revealing a slender jaw and rather delicate neck. Her full lips featured a touch of lipstick, which helped accentuate her graceful features and rather stern nose. An actual leather collar adorned her neck, and although her black robes were loose, they featured a slit that went all the way up to her waist. The woman made it to the counter before noticing us and raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Oh. New faces? I would have remembered such strapping young lads.¡± Even her voice seemed perfected to whisper sweet nothings in the ear. ¡°Just tell me what you need, honey, and I will ensure an acolyte sees to your demands.¡± ¡°Um,¡± I said. ¡°We¡¯re not here for acolytes.¡± ¡°Oh? You came for a confession instead?¡± ¡°No. Not that . . .¡± ¡°What is it, then? We don¡¯t do public sermons until the seventh of the week.¡± She settled at her desk and offered us a bowl of almonds. ¡°We¡¯re here to see Nicola,¡± Paz said, turning down her offer. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The woman let out a small sigh and said with forced sweetness. ¡°Sister Ainsworth is no longer available for any services, including requests and consultations. She does, however, hear confessions on the seventh of the week.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not interested¡ª¡± ¡°I have a bevy of young acolytes for you handsome lads to choose from. Sister Isolde is well sought after and currently has a free schedule. Or, if the sisters aren¡¯t to your tastes, Brother Brendan may¡ª¡± ¡°Are you even listening?!¡± The woman frowned. ¡°Look, darling, I get it. Everyone from far and wide wants some time with a Hero of the Labyrinth. But, Sister Ainsworth is a bit of a big deal now. Even if you were to offer one thousand in gold¡ª¡± I stepped in before Paz could blow his top. ¡°Just tell her Paz and Damien wish to speak with her. We¡¯re members of the same party.¡± The woman narrowed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you¡¯re the companions who beat the Labyrinth alongside Nicola?¡± I pointed at my ears. She instantly paled. ¡°Oh, gosh. Oh! Please, have a seat! I¡¯ll send word to Sister Ainsworth right away!¡± She scrambled out of the counter. ¡°Alongside Nicola,¡± Paz said, shaking his head. ¡°Can you believe this?¡± I settled on a pew. ¡°You know she has lived in Skeelie ever since her birth. She¡¯s pretty well known among rankers here. In contrast, we¡¯re practically strangers.¡± Paz looked around the reception. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Should we request a few acolytes now that we are here?¡± I groaned into my palm. ¡°Damien!¡± Nicola said and launched out of a side door. She wrapped her hands around me and almost succeeded in lifting me off the ground. ¡°I know I told you two to come find me whenever, but I didn¡¯t expect you to visit the temple!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be refunding us for the donation to the crown,¡± Paz said. Nicola shot him a sour look. ¡°Paz . . . I see that no one has managed to remove that head of yours from its shoulders yet.¡± ¡°Not for a lack of trying,¡± he said smugly. ¡°Though you are also welcome to pitch in.¡± I chuckled and patted Nicola on the back. We hadn¡¯t spoken much since the events of the Labyrinth. She had been busy securing the release of her brothers and finding a place to live as a family. Nicola still looked the same as ever. Her full cheeks, dark skin, and warm golden eyes radiated with life. Her attire, however¡ª ¡°What the hell are you wearing?!¡± I said as I looked over the rest of her body. Her robes, if they could even be called that, were cut in a different design from her fellow sister. They clung tightly to her body, riding high up her thighs. The dubious ensemble featured an array of belts, straps, a pair of thigh highs, and actual six-inch heels. ¡°It¡¯s a symbol of my status!¡± Nicola said proudly. ¡°You have no idea how much Eros I gather from passing glances alone.¡± ¡°Sorry, Sister Nicola,¡± the other woman said. ¡°I had no idea they were your friends.¡± ¡°Oh. Don¡¯t apologize, Brigitte. I should have notified you beforehand.¡± Nicola paused. ¡°Keep word of this out of Mother¡¯s ears, though. I¡¯m not sure she would approve of the intrusion.¡± ¡°I take it,¡± I said, ¡°that the cult does not allow courtesy calls?¡± ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t a courtesy call.¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°Brigitte, schedule a room. Damien has just become a paying devotee. I¡¯ll foot the bill.¡± ¡°Wait. What?!¡± Nicola grabbed my arm and pulled me through the side door. ¡°Paz . . . Well, I don¡¯t care what you do. I suppose you¡¯re not a first-timer here. You can request any of the other acolytes to put up with your nonsense.¡± ¡°Oi!¡± Paz said. ¡°I also came to speak to you!¡± Two more guests arrived as Nicola whisked us away. They beamed the instant they saw her and adopted downcast looks when we vanished through the door. ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked in a tiny voice. Nicola led me through a hallway and into a lush parlor hidden away from the reception. A handful of guests sat in plush cushions around the room, drinking wine and speaking in hushed tones to beautiful people covered in dark robes. The air here smelled strange, heavily charged with perfume and lust, just like one would expect from a carnal cult. A few occupants¡ªmen and women both¡ªshowered the half-naked Paz with appreciative looks as we passed. Nicola didn¡¯t linger. She ushered me past this region and into another corridor, adorned with red carpets and sinfully-sculpted statuettes. A series of rooms, secured by wooden doors, lined the walls on both sides of us. A few of those rooms seemed occupied. Strange noises escaped from them . . . Oh gosh. ¡°N-Nicola,¡± I said, ¡°when you spoke about requesting an acolyte . . .?¡± Nicola grinned. ¡°The acolytes here have all been taught the ways of the cult. The promising ones get a chance to specialize in the Pleasure affinity. But, they don¡¯t see enough combat for it to matter anyway. ¡°You can find whatever you want here, Damien. We have slime tanks and tentacle pits. Dungeons, torture cells, vore rooms . . .¡± ¡°Vore rooms?!¡± I gasped. ¡°Oh? Interested?¡± ¡°What part of my tone made it seem like I was?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch that Paz,¡± Nicola warned our teammate who had picked up a naked bust. She turned back to me. ¡°We have everything you can wish for here and more. Sure, we¡¯re not as exhaustive as the temples in larger cities like Kholingar, but we do our best.¡± She sighed with a dreamy gaze and clasped her cheeks. ¡°Walking these halls fills me with so much Eros. On really busy nights, I manage to fill my pleasure meter three times over!¡± My head spun as we walked further down the hallway. In some ways, this expedition proved to be even more dangerous than fighting in the Labyrinth! Who knew that brothels could be so overwhelming? Up ahead, an acolyte emerged from a room with a mop and bucket. He bowed at Nicola, and I forced myself not to look at the contents of the room he had been cleaning. ¡°I can understand beating the Labyrinth,¡± Paz said, ¡°but how come you¡¯re such a big deal around here? Are your talents really that amazing?¡± Nicola rolled her eyes. ¡°The founder of the cult, Geraldine, was also [Born of Pleasure]. That trait has not been seen in a hundred years and certainly not in the Skeelien Temple since its inception. It offers me a lot of clout within the grounds and is the only reason the cult paid for my release from the Archon Bank. But, enough of that.¡± She kicked open a door and shoved me inside. ¡°Paz, wait out here. I¡¯ll kill you if you dare peek.¡± My heart rate skyrocketed. ¡°What will we be d-doing?¡± ¡°Oh, Damien,¡± Nicola purred. ¡°You came to me for this, right? I¡¯ll show you a time you¡¯ll never forget.¡± The fittings in the room were as lush as the rest of the hallway. A comfy-looking bed sat beneath thin, linen drapes. Someone had possessed the bright idea to equip the room with not just a sofa and a wardrobe, but also a shower stall surrounded by freaking glass walls. I had never visited a place like this in my former life, but my heart wasn¡¯t ready¡ª ¡°I didn¡¯t come to do this, Nicola!¡± Nicola stiffened. ¡°Huh? What did you come for, then?¡± Paz guffawed and sprawled on the sofa. ¡°We came to talk about our plans: two of them.¡± Nicola looked like she wanted to sink into the ground. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s . . . that¡¯s alright. I guess I have not been an easy person to reach.¡± I plonked on the bed and gestured at her to join me. She did so and averted her gaze. She was probably disappointed. But, I had also not conveyed any intent to do . . . whatever she had in mind. ¡°So, you know about my family in Dreadwood . . .¡± I started. ¡°Your family?¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh, how could I forget? The goblin horde! Have you received news from the guildmaster?¡± ¡°I have. We spoke this morning. The scouting party didn¡¯t return, but they confirmed the horde¡¯s existence. For now, my primary concern is ensuring the Dark Elves are safe.¡± ¡°To do that, you¡¯ll need to travel to Dreadwood . . .¡± ¡°Yeah. Ezin has authorized the formation of a party¡ªone which would deliver supplies to the Wood Elves and investigate the goblin horde. We will be joined by a dwarf noble and other rankers from the guild.¡± ¡°Fucking dwarves,¡± Paz interjected. ¡°That¡¯s racist,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Nah. I don¡¯t mean it in a bad way. I¡¯ve gone on enough adventures with dwarves to respect their hardiness. Vizhima has been unkind to them, and some of that aggression bleeds into their mannerisms.¡± Paz¡¯s words stood at odds again with how low-leveled he had been when we¡¯d first met. Nicola must have noticed it too because she wrinkled her nose. ¡°Anyone who listens to you would think you have lived a thousand lifetimes. You¡¯re younger than twenty-five.¡± Paz shrugged. ¡°Age has nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I said, ¡°we will be working with a dwarf who has already proven to be a real pain in the ass. Mind you, none of this is public knowledge at the moment to prevent mass panic. I¡¯ll cut right to the chase. We leave at dawn tomorrow. Would you be coming along?¡± Nicola glanced at me, then at Paz, and stared at her feet. I knew what she was going to say before she said it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Damien. But, I don¡¯t think I would.¡± 086 Player Manager ¡°Hah. Called it,¡± Paz said. Nicola kept staring at her feet. I glared at Paz and squeezed Nicola¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t let it bother you. I figured you might not be available, but I didn¡¯t want to leave the city without giving you notice. You¡¯ll always be a member of this team.¡± ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°I owe you an explanation¡ª¡± ¡°Nicola . . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that . . . I have my brothers around again for the first time in years. They need time to settle into society . . . become a family again . . .¡± ¡°And, that won¡¯t happen if their big sister leaves on a quest that could probably take months to complete.¡± I pulled her into a one-armed hug. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Nicola.¡± ¡°You say so, but it is not fair to you. You entered the Labyrinth to save my family, yet I can¡¯t return the favor in your time of need.¡± Paz started to speak, but I interjected before he could make another unwelcome remark. ¡°I won¡¯t be going alone. I still have Paz¡ª¡± ¡°Because you can count on my support,¡± he said, ¡°A party¡¯s bonds should be indestructible. The Black Leaf Company comes first.¡± ¡°Please, shut up.¡± I rubbed Nicola¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Listen, you don¡¯t owe me any favors for the Labyrinth. Seeing you together with your brothers is its own reward.¡± Nicola remained downcast, which I¡¯d expected. But, that¡¯s why my next request was important. Talking with Paz had taught me the importance of keeping my teammates satisfied. And, this was one way to make Nicola feel like she mattered to the team. A part of me felt bad for messing with her emotions. But, Nicola needed a way to lighten her guilt and regain confidence in her importance to the company. It was my job to manage the various personalities in my party . . . like a bloody player-manager. ¡°Well,¡± I said, ¡°if you want to help, there is one matter Paz and I are struggling with.¡± Nicola¡¯s golden eyes gleamed. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°The contract killers haven¡¯t let up. You might not know this since you stay out of the spotlight, but Paz and I have never stopped dealing with them. One killer, in particular, almost took our heads.¡± Nicola¡¯s eyes adopted a dangerous glint. ¡°It¡¯s been over a week since the dungeon run ended! Why would anyone think that the Egg is still in your possession?¡± ¡°Because they are rankers,¡± Paz said as if that answered the question. ¡°The lure of a challenge is too great to ignore.¡± ¡°Well,¡± I said, ¡°we¡¯ve lured a good number of those bastards to their graves. The latest challenger, however, is a level 40 Samurai. That¡¯s not an enemy we could simply hope to defeat.¡± Hell, the only people I knew of who could face the Samurai in a fair fight were Nana and Ezin. And, all three were above my pay grade. ¡°A level 40 Samurai . . .¡± Nicola shook her head. ¡°Either way, you escaped alive, didn¡¯t you? What is the problem?¡± ¡°We escaped,¡± Paz said. ¡°That is problem enough.¡± He didn¡¯t elaborate, but he didn¡¯t need to. Nicola knew enough about Paz to recognize the signs of his pride being hurt. What bothered her was the fact that I didn¡¯t try to dissuade him. She sought me with questioning eyes, and I shrugged in turn. Dying for the sake of pride wasn¡¯t up my alley. But, I needed Paz¡¯s respect if I intended to keep him in the party. Nicola held my gaze for a few moments and nodded. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°We intend to strike first,¡± I explained, ¡°before he gets a chance to come at us again. We¡¯ll need that [Eldritch Eyeball] of yours. You told me it improved when you ranked up?¡± One advantage of Nicola¡¯s weakest technique was that it allowed her to function as a scout. [Eldritch Eyeball] had evolved upon reaching Silver Rank, granting her the ability to locate targets within its perimeter. She could now remotely seek out known entities in addition to those tainted by her Eros. ¡°That¡¯s all well and good, Damien,¡± Nicola said, ¡°but without a visual reference, the Eyeball would fail to distinguish the Samurai in a crowd or uncover where he might be hiding, unless . . .¡± I grinned at her. [Eldritch Eyeball] aside, Nicola had unlocked a new technique for ranking up¡ªone I knew very well. ¡°. . . unless I combine it with [Identify],¡± she finished. ¡°You put a lot of thought into this, huh?¡± The greatest benefit of unlocking [Identify] was that it cost zero MP and allowed Nicola to use it through her [Eldritch Eyeball]. She still needed to narrow down potential hiding spots in the city, but as long as the Samurai crossed the Eyeball¡¯s path, Nicola would spot him. In the span of one rank, she had become a better scout than me. Did I misinterpret the issues? Was it me, not her, who needed validation from my teammates? ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Nicola said with steel in her voice. ¡°But, I also have one request. Let me join the fight.¡± ¡°As long as you leave the final blow to me,¡± Paz said and grinned at the ceiling. ¡°That wanker¡¯s head is mine.¡± I nodded in agreement and asked to share our status sheets. Nicola went first: Nicola Ainsworth Race: Human Level: 25 Class: Mage Affinity: Pleasure VP: 63/63 MP: 99/99 Attributes: STR 5, PER 10, END 10, DEX 3 INT 30, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 20 Free Stat Points: 0 Traits: [Born of Pleasure] Skills: [Meditation], [Spellcasting], [Identify] Abilities: [Ecstasy], [Eros Collector], [Eldritch Eyeball], [Summon Tentacle], [Bloom of Crimson Desire], [Eldritch Beam] Paz winced. ¡°You should have prioritized Perception over Magicka. You gain more benefits from faster reaction times at this level. Not to mention, Damien¡¯s magic ring helps alleviate your reliance on MP.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll work on that next,¡± Nicola said. ¡°You have no idea how mana-hungry casters can be.¡± ¡°All the mana in the world won¡¯t help avoid a speeding projectile.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± I said, ¡°but investing in Magicka also reduces the cost of abilities. Nicola¡¯s greatest strength at this point is her staying power. She might be weaker in solo battles, but she should be fine as long as she doesn¡¯t stray too far from the party.¡± I tapped her parchment. ¡°Your [Bloom of Crimson Desire] used up 25 MP in the past. How much does it cost now?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Nicola grinned. ¡°Twenty.¡± Oh wow. In addition to my magic ring which granted 50 MP on a full charge, she could now cast her most devastating technique seven times before she needed to meditate. That was a good trade-off. I went next: Damien Njoku Race: Dark Elf Level: 28 Class: Assassin Affinity: Fear VP: 69/69 MP: 71/71 Attributes: STR 10, PER 20, END 16, DEX 30 INT 5, WIL 10, V.F 2, MGK 3 Free Stat Points: 0 Traits: [Born of Fear], [Against the Odds] Skills: [Map], [Identify], [Meditation], [Stealth], [Knife-fighting], [Decoy], [Sneak Attack] Abilities: [Scaredy-cat], [Fear Aura], [Dark Stalker], [Silhouette] As usual, I omitted [Migrant Soul] from my traits. Paz seemed appreciative of my stat distribution, but as promised, he hid the trump card he had gained for reaching level 20. He wasn¡¯t the kind to make choices out of malice, however. If he needed to keep this secret for his safety, I would allow it because he respected mine. Gordo Sangrepaz Race: Human Level: 27 Class: Skirmisher Affinity: Retribution VP: 71/71 MP: 65/65 Attributes: STR 30, PER 20, END 10, DEX 20 INT 4, WIL 4, V.F 4, MGK 1 Free Stat Points: 1 Traits: [Dragon Touched] Skills: [Draconic Aura], [Meditation], [Polearm Mastery], [Overpower], [Deflect Missile], Redacted* Abilities: [Sanguine Return], [Retaliate] ¡°You rely a lot on sustains,¡± Nicola said. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you put more points into Vital Force or Willpower?¡± ¡°All in good time,¡± Paz said. ¡°For now, I can activate [Draconic Aura] and [Overpower] just fine. The rest are passives, save for [Retaliate]. We should probably discuss the capabilities of our enemy.¡± ¡°He¡¯s level 40,¡± I said. ¡°That gives him around 120 stat points?¡± Paz nodded. ¡°I''ll expect him to have thirty points in Strength and Perception. And, another thirty in either Endurance or Vital Force. He would need the latter for his skills; the rest to destroy his enemies. This won¡¯t be an easy fight.¡± ¡°When have we ever had it easy?¡± I said and flopped onto the bed. ¡°Very well, Nicola. Do your thing.¡± A lone figure traveled through Skeelie¡¯s network of alleyways, sticking to the shadows. Twilight fell over the city, causing the shadow of the inactive Labyrinth Spire to retract its reach. The twilight soon gave way to darkness, punctuated only by the light of two moons in the sky. A third moon hid behind one of these, shadowed at the moment but present, nonetheless. Dark clouds¡ªunnerving to look at¡ªobscured the stars, seeming to rise from the direction of Dreadwood. The lone figure navigated its way past a noisy tavern filled with city folk who had gathered to unwind after a hard day at work. It continued onto a night market, lined with hastily erected stalls and roadside vendors. It didn¡¯t spare a glance at any of the goods on display, not the sizzling grills of meat or the audacious women with bodices hanging low over their chests. Onward the lone figure went, across a well-worn path ringed by gem-powered street lamps. And then, it disappeared down a narrow flight of stairs into an avenue that ended in a row of abandoned warehouses. The buildings here had seen better days before being gutted by fire. Now, they stood worn and blackened by soot until someone with authority recalled their existence. A pair of homeless men, wrapped in cloaks fished out of a nearby trash heap, stared at the lone figure as it passed. Something in the figure¡¯s demeanor must have spooked them because they made themselves scarce. The lone figure stopped in front of a dilapidated building and stuck one hand in the air. A gourd manifested within its palm, rife with the smell of alcohol. ¡°Stalking¡¯s not nice, you know?¡± Paz appeared from the side of a building, heavy spear in hand. ¡°Apologies. The last time I let someone else do the stalking, they tried to bifurcate me.¡± ¡°They succeeded too,¡± the Samurai said and took a swig from his gourd. ¡°Interesting ability you¡¯ve got there. Retribution, was it? The last time I saw such techniques was during my travels through the Ascendancy.¡± Paz didn¡¯t reply. The Samurai continued, ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect you to come looking for a rematch. Ten points for unpredictability, at least. You saved me the trouble of finding you myself, though I can¡¯t help but notice the absence of your friend.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t be joining us today,¡± Paz said. ¡°You scared him pretty good the last time around. A rematch is the last thing he wanted.¡± ¡°My good man, do you take me for a fool? Surely, you can come up with a better lie than that.¡± Without missing a beat, the Samurai threw his gourd into a nearby alleyway. It shattered against the wall with incredible force. Nicola stumbled out of hiding, drenched in alcohol. ¡°And, that makes two . . .¡± The Samurai frowned. ¡°Wait, the elf wasn¡¯t a girl. I take it you are the third member of the team.¡± He wagged his finger at Paz. ¡°Was this your great plan? Getting more of your people to die by my hand? You made me waste a good drink.¡± ¡°Oh, the plan is just getting started,¡± Nicola said. She scurried out of range and hid behind Paz. The Samurai cocked his head. ¡°What are you . . .¡± And, then his words died on his lips because, at that moment, he pitched a tent. Nicola¡¯s [Ecstasy] didn¡¯t work on enemies with more Willpower than her. But, the Samurai must have failed that battle because he staggered on his feet. The damning wave of pleasure rolled down his groin, hopefully enough to keep him distracted. ¡°Now I have heard of dirty tactics¡±¡ªhe stared at his pants¡ª¡°but, you didn¡¯t need to hit below the belt¡ª¡± Paz dashed forward at that movement, triggering his trademark sustains. The Samurai unsheathed his katana and met his charge. The cobblestones cracked beneath the two fighters as they strained against each other¡¯s weapons with all their might. Through it all, they maintained easygoing smiles. ¡°You¡¯re strong,¡± the Samurai said, ¡°for someone of your level. Alas, strength alone does not win battles.¡± ¡°Neither does dual-wielding,¡± Paz said with laughter. ¡°Which sword do you intend to use? The upper or the lower.¡± ¡°Hah! I¡¯m sure you¡¯re just dying to find out.¡± ¡°I honestly can¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Yet.¡± The Samurai¡¯s katana glowed. One sword became two, then ten, then twenty. Multiple strikes, like the blurring of a hummingbird¡¯s wings, crashed down on Paz. Paz deflected a good number of the hits, but many slipped past his guard. He ignored the damage taken from the skill and sprang aside. That was Nicola¡¯s cue. A tentacle blossomed beside the Samurai, breaking the ground in two. He cut it apart with no wasted movements. Paz tried a side thrust, only to meet the first [Riposte]. The skill diverted the head of his heavy spear into the ground, forcing him to lose his footing. The Samurai swept his katana across Paz¡¯s neck . . . a move the latter dodged by bending backward at the waist. Paz pulled his spear from the ground with impressive core strength and aimed the rising motion at the Samurai¡¯s jugular . . . Another tentacle sprouted. This one met a second [Riposte] that sent it crashing into Paz¡¯s torso. The Samurai parried the strikes that followed with disgusting ease, even though Paz attacked with the force of hand grenades. The two men exchanged multiple blows in quick succession, enough for their weapons to blur in their hands. ¡°This is why you lose,¡± the Samurai said, as though he faced an evening breeze rather than a series of lightning-quick strikes. ¡°I have learned your skills and affinities, while you know little of mine.¡± He slammed the hilt of his sword into Paz¡¯s gut and continued with a diagonal slash. Paz responded with a crushing overhead slam that opened a crater in the ground. He grabbed the Samurai¡¯s sword hand before he could fully retreat. ¡°Got you!¡± The katana glowed. Multiple blurs erupted from the weapon¡ªthe same technique as earlier. Paz took every single hit of the Samurai¡¯s skill this time, losing the majority of his health. He retained his grip on the man¡¯s arm, regardless. The Samurai hummed. ¡°Did it ever occur to you that I allowed myself to be found? Your best chance at victory was avoiding this fight.¡± Paz¡¯s skin glowed an angry red, but he ignored the barb and his injuries to pull the man into his spear. The Samurai rolled with the blow¡ª ¡°Nicola!¡± The tentacle that appeared this time was larger, stouter, and more grotesque than before, powered by the Eros Nicola had absorbed at the temple. The Samurai had no hope of deflecting it the normal way, so he used a third [Riposte]. That was my cue. One theory Paz had proffered about [Riposte] was that it offered a set number of uses before going on cooldown. Because the Samurai could use it multiple times in a fight, it didn¡¯t cost a lot of VP. The skill was also too strong to be a passive, which reinforced his argument. The Samurai couldn¡¯t spam it forever; a cooldown needed to happen at some point. We¡¯d guessed at numbers between three and ten and settled at five. Three seemed more likely, but five was the safe bet. My teammates had burned three of those uses, which left the last two to me. From my spot in the shadows, I activated [Silhouette] and ordered it along the ground. [Silhouette] advanced at first with trepidation, but it enjoyed the night way more than I did and soon reached maximum length. It jutted upward in a series of tendrils, aimed at the Samurai¡¯s back. ¡°And, there¡¯s our elf,¡± the Samurai said, as he rolled out of the way. No [Riposte]. I¡¯d staggered the tendrils to emerge in two waves. Wave number two leaped to my command. The Samurai swung his sword in a powerful arc, catching every single shadow tendril in that one swing. But, still no [Riposte]. Three uses, confirmed. I crossed the distance under the cover of [Dark Stalker] and rammed my blades into his spine. 087 Samurai The Samurai coughed up blood. Nothing beat the satisfaction of landing the double damage of [Sneak Attack]. And, with dual-wielded daggers, I quadrupled the benefit to boot. I also enjoyed the fifty percent boon to speed and attack granted by Paz¡¯s [Draconic Aura]. All in all, it made for a pretty successful ambush. ¡°You have a dangerous ability, elf,¡± the Samurai said, staggering forward. ¡°A dangerous ability, indeed. Forget about the dungeon heart. That affinity of yours would bring even more enemies.¡± I didn¡¯t care for idle discussion. I needed to finish this while we held the upper hand. Even equipped with all my benefits, I had only managed to shave about twenty percent of his health. I commanded [Silhouette] to attack in tandem with me. ¡°[Strength before Death],¡± the Samurai whispered. The atmosphere on the battlefield changed. The Samurai moved much faster than he did before, blurring past my tendrils. He vaulted over my head and kicked me into [Silhouette]¡¯s waiting arms. Again, I¡¯d ordered [Silhouette] to stagger its attacks, and it did so with gusto. The second barrage punched through the Samurai¡¯s HP. He grunted at the damage taken and knocked the tendrils aside. And then, despite being wounded and off-kilter, he parried a blow from Paz. I dashed in from the opposite side, ready to compound his problems. His katana glowed. A [Riposte] to end all others that had come before it swept my knives aside and into Paz¡¯s gut. Paz cried out in pain. My daggers tore through the last of his health and into his flesh, but the Samurai wasn¡¯t done. He sheathed his sword . . . No! I slammed my feet into Paz¡¯s chest in a bid to throw us both in opposite directions. If my guess was right, the Samurai was about to unleash his long-range technique . . . Sadly, it had only been a feint. I succeeded in getting Paz to safety but couldn¡¯t defend myself against the Samurai¡¯s sheathed strike. It knocked me into the side of a building with enough force to bury me in the wall. [Silhouette] rose to protect me. But, Nicola responded a second faster. She fired her pitch-black [Eldritch Beam], and the night turned darker by dint of the dreadful wails that emanated from the attack. We had planned for this moment, of course. If I failed to take advantage of [Riposte]¡¯s cooldown, [Eldritch Beam] was next on the cards. It dealt both force and mind damage: Two types that the Samurai couldn¡¯t defend against. The Samurai must have known this too because he employed a different tactic. He cut the air from top to bottom in a seamless strike, causing a wave that traveled across the alley. That wave met [Eldritch Beam] head-on and parted it in separate directions. My jaw dropped in shock. The wailing that accompanied the beam also ceased, as though the spirits of the damned watched in disbelief. The severed beam continued left and right in two halves, destroying multiple warehouses. But, the flying slash did not stop. It traveled toward Nicola, intent on taking her head. She ducked in time and lost the top part of her hat. Paz rushed at the Samurai barehanded, all traces of his cool-headedness gone. His right leg suffered for it, sawn at the thigh. It flopped on the ground in a macabre dance, painting the alley in blood. A lesser man would have fainted from the pain, but Paz was made of sterner stuff than that. He clamped onto the Samurai¡¯s torso with his three remaining limbs and screamed at Nicola. ¡°Now, dammit!¡± A gigantic magic sigil covered the ground. All of the mana that Nicola had been preparing since the start of the fight surged into her most devastating ability. The [Bloom of Crimson Desire], powered by Eros, was larger than any version of it she had ever cast before. The petal-like explosion of tentacles completely engulfed the two fighters, sentencing Paz to death and leaving the Samurai¡¯s fate ambiguous. For the second stage of the spell, the tentacles attacked all enemies within its reach, but there was nothing left to fight. A [System] notification flashed: You have participated in the killing of Skirmisher LVL 27. A suitable amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. The [System] didn¡¯t announce the death of the Samurai, which meant he lived even though he couldn¡¯t be found. I put myself into the Samurai¡¯s head and tried to figure out his next course of action. A big attack like the [Bloom of Crimson Desire] would cause his attention to shift to Nicola. She had her [Eldritch Eyeball] out, however, which warned her of surprise attacks. I was also vulnerable enough to be the next target. Gotta remedy that. I pried myself out of the wall and summoned a veil of shadows. The conversation between Paz and the Samurai played in my mind:Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Did it ever occur to you . . . that I allowed myself to be found?¡± That was probably a simple brag unless . . . the bastard was just like me! There were many ways for rankers to avoid detection, and if he possessed anything as good as [Dark Stalker] in his arsenal, then Nicola¡ª! I ran atop the crimson tentacles and directed [Silhouette] to lengthen ahead of my shadow. It reached Nicola at about the same time that the Samurai appeared behind her. [Eldritch Eyeball] warned her at that moment because she raised her staff, but with Perception like hers, she couldn¡¯t possibly react in time. [Fear Aura]. My signature move spread throughout the alley, joining the night. It didn¡¯t have the backing of a ton of Eros behind it which caused it to fail in inflicting [Dismay]. Nevertheless, [Fear Aura] caused the Samurai to falter. And, that was enough. [Silhouette] closed the distance at that moment, but rather than attack and risk a [Riposte], the tendrils gathered Nicola and swept her out of the Samurai¡¯s path. I emerged from [Dark Stalker], blades spinning in hand. Bastard! The Samurai parried my blows. He had taken damage from Nicola¡¯s mega spell, enough to reduce his health to thirty percent. Victory was not so far beyond reach now . . . an idea I rid myself of within the next two seconds of our exchange. The buff the Samurai had activated earlier was still in place. Meanwhile, I had lost the boon from [Draconic Aura]. A single swing from his sword left my arms shaking from the parry, and . . . fuck it . . . I vanished into [Stealth]. Frontal attacks were not my forte, no thanks to [Knife-fighting]. Despite [Stealth], the Samurai continued his attacks with uncanny precision. [Dark Stalker] went on cooldown, leaving me to survive on pure skill alone. I dodged a nasty slash that cost me a sliver of health. Another blow glanced off my side. A third blow landed helplessly against [Silhouette], just in time for the resurrected Paz to rejoin the melee. Nicola fired a second [Eldritch Beam] at that point, leaving the Samurai beset on three sides with nowhere to run. In a feat of ingenuity, the bloody swordsman ducked around Paz and unleashed a [Riposte] that diverted [Silhouette] into the incoming beam. The resulting collision sent all three of us skidding¡ªor skipping in my case¡ªalong the ground. ¡°Skirmisher,¡± the Samurai said, ¡°I knew you lived regardless of the [System] notification, but it amazes me to see that technique in action again. Retribution is one hell of an affinity.¡± ¡°Samurai,¡± Paz said and righted himself. He had done well to cling onto his spear, but his newly refreshed HP had taken a small dent. He leveled his weapon at the Samurai. ¡°This ends now.¡± ¡°On that, we agree.¡± ¡°Cocky. Then again, you can¡¯t seem to help it.¡± The Samurai glared at his groin and spat on the ground. ¡°Again with the crappy jokes. This has gone on far too long.¡± I couldn¡¯t agree more. We had entered the final stage of our plan, after failing to end the battle with three surprise attacks. Everything boiled down to Paz¡¯s [Retaliate] now, as long as it could hit. The Samurai¡¯s flying slash had proven able to stop force damage. One person between Nicola and I would need to lure out his attack. I caught her eye and communicated my intent. ¡°No!¡± Paz said before we could begin. ¡°Stay out of this, you two. I¡¯ll finish it in one strike.¡± The Samurai clutched his hat. ¡°You¡¯re either crazy or you¡¯re speaking the truth. Which is it?¡± ¡°Guess.¡± Paz took a step forward. ¡°I have faced your ultimate technique and survived. It is time you faced mine.¡± ¡°Um, Paz,¡± I said, ¡°I don¡¯t think we should be announcing our plans to the enemy.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Either he dies with this or I do.¡± He activated [Overpower] and [Draconic Aura], boosting his strength, speed, attack, and defense. His eyes glowed a deep red, lending him a feral look. His bruised skin pulsed with veins that stood out against the red hue of his flesh. Earlier bravado aside, the Samurai sensed that Paz was not bluffing. He shifted warily and adjusted his stance. A pale light gleamed at the tip of Paz¡¯s spear and intensified one second before he blurred from sight. The Samurai waited for his attack, and . . . [Riposte]. Paz¡¯s spear plunged into the ground. A crushing blow struck his shoulder, forcing him to his knees. The Samurai blinked in disbelief. ¡°That was it?¡± Paz struggled to rise. He didn¡¯t get a chance to, however, because the Samurai swung at his neck. Paz raised a bare fist to intercept the strike. It wouldn¡¯t be enough . . . A blinding flash ignited at the point of contact between blade and arm, launching the Samurai . . . his katana . . . and two entire warehouses behind him into the air. The flash burned hot enough to occlude my vision and brighten the night. When it receded, a wide crater stood where the Samurai had been. The ground lay scorched as though beneath great heat. All of the damage Paz had received so far had been reflected at our enemy two-freaking-fold. Paz chuckled and rose to his feet. ¡°How¡¯s that for [Retaliate]? I wasn¡¯t sure it would work, but I suspected a parry would qualify as a hit. Way easier to trigger that way.¡± I gaped at him, then at the aftermath of the technique. Screams resounded in the distance, most likely from passersby who had just witnessed the eruption. ¡°That was . . .¡± I struggled with the words. ¡°Jeez, Paz. Did you kill him?¡± Paz frowned at a spot in the air. ¡°No [System] notifications. But, I can¡¯t imagine he¡¯d survive for much longer. He should have lost a limb or two after that. And, you won¡¯t find a healer with [Regenerate] around these parts.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯ve won?¡± Nicola said, collapsing to the ground. ¡°No! We¡¯re better served searching the direction he flew off in, just in case.¡± ¡°Heralds,¡± Nicola said and cradled her ruined hat. ¡°My legs aren¡¯t responding to my commands. I don¡¯t think I want to be in another fight that intense.¡± I shared her sentiments. Without a notification from the [System], we couldn¡¯t confirm our victory. Yet, we had achieved an impossible feat here all the same. The Samurai was strong enough to make Byron seem like a high school bully. Byron could have grown more powerful if he lived long enough to reach level 40. Too bad he rotted now in the Labyrinth. Paz wandered off in the direction of the attack, unwilling to relax until he had laid the issue to rest. Nicola and I joined the search, keeping our eyes peeled. Again, the Samurai had disappeared without any tracks, though we did find a large helping of blood. After thirty minutes of relentless searching, we finally called it a night. ¡°I think I need a drink,¡± I said and yawned into my palm. ¡°Food too,¡± Paz chirped. ¡°And, comfort,¡± Nicola said. ¡°I¡¯ve lost all my Eros.¡± She frowned at our wary glances. ¡°What? I didn¡¯t say I needed to do the comforting. Someone in my vicinity better get hot and steamy, however, or it¡¯s gonna be a difficult night.¡± ¡°Drunk night at the Cult, then?¡± Paz suggested. ¡°That should provide all of our needs.¡± ¡°I¡¯m up for it,¡± Nicola said. I didn¡¯t disapprove. We strolled through the streets with linked arms, laughing at the top of our voices. It was the most fun I had enjoyed in a while: a fitting end to my last night in Skeelie. Dreadwood and the goblin horde awaited tomorrow. But for now, I had some peace. 088 My Little Div Nicola joined us at the city gates at dawn. I stifled a yawn as we watched the sunrise¡ªall five of us, including her kid brothers: Glenn and Bart. The Ainsworth boys looked healthier than the last time I¡¯d seen them, though most of their social awkwardness remained. They harried Paz as we waited for Kajal to finish inspecting the wagons delivered by the merchants. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Bart, the younger sibling, asked as Kajal threw us a curious glance. ¡°Damien¡¯s woman,¡± Paz said. ¡°Though I don¡¯t particularly like her.¡± He chuckled as he noticed my glare. When did I say anything like that?! Bart glanced at his sister. ¡°She¡¯s a looker, isn¡¯t she?¡± Nicola said with a glib look. ¡°Are you sure you can trust her?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to think so,¡± I said. ¡°She helped me in the Labyrinth. But, one can never be too sure.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t,¡± Paz said and frowned at Kajal¡¯s back. ¡°There¡¯s something off about her . . . about people who command silent power.¡± That might be because she wasn¡¯t native to Vizhima. Just like me. However, Paz had not shown any hostility during our first meeting. ¡°Will you two be fine without my help?¡± Nicola asked. ¡°I noticed your new party doesn¡¯t have a caster.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the umpteenth time you¡¯re asking,¡± I said and patted her shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine; it¡¯s just some goblins. I might not look like it, but I¡¯m a pretty experienced goblin hunter. I¡¯m more worried about you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I looked around to ensure that no one was eavesdropping and gave her a pointed look. ¡°The Samurai¡¯s not dead. I¡¯m not comfortable leaving you alone while he lingers somewhere in the city.¡± ¡°I can protect myself¡±¡ªher eyes strayed to her brothers¡ª¡°though I understand your point. I''ll speak to the Matron about granting us room at her estate, just in case.¡± The estate of the leader of the carnal cult was probably not the best place for minors to stay in, but I trusted Nicola¡¯s judgment. She wrapped me in a warm hug. ¡°Do what you need to do and come back safely, alright? You too, Paz.¡± She glared at the redhead. ¡°On second thought, I don¡¯t care if you return or not.¡± ¡°Ouch,¡± Paz said and touched his chest. ¡°Don¡¯t skip your meals,¡± Nicola said. ¡°I know you both love meat, but if you don¡¯t eat your vegetables, all the stats in the world won¡¯t save you from malnourishment.¡± ¡°I eat my veggies,¡± I said with an affronted look. Though, I¡¯d admittedly purchased enough chicken roast to last for six months. It was a pity that inventories didn¡¯t exist on Earth. The sheer ability to preserve food indefinitely without spoilage would end world hunger. Kajal waved me over. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s our cue.¡± I shared another hug with Nicola, flicked both her brothers on the foreheads¡ªmuch to their indignation¡ªand jogged up to the alluring woman. ¡°You have good companions,¡± Kajal said, as I fell in step beside her. ¡°How did you find them so quickly?¡± By quickly, she meant in the time since I¡¯d reincarnated on Vizhima, right? ¡°I ask myself that every day.¡± Kajal¡¯s brown eyes crinkled in a smile. She looked breathtaking in the light of dawn with lean muscles rippling beneath her orange-colored robes. Her midnight hair fell in waves behind her back, tied into a single luscious braid. ¡°The Mage isn¡¯t coming along?¡± she asked. ¡°Nicola, was it?¡± ¡°No. But, Paz is. He¡¯s a Skirmisher, probably the best fighter in the entire city.¡± Kajal cocked her head. ¡°Oh?¡± That sounded like a challenge, considering that she was also a fighter. And, why were her mannerisms so damn graceful? ¡°We won¡¯t run into any problems, would we?¡± I asked. ¡°Without a caster in our ranks.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to think so, but Medekeine has a summon that could cover us in that regard. The real dilemma involves the caravan. We can¡¯t afford to tug deadweight after us on a mission like this.¡± We approached the rest of the team, who had commandeered a spot beside the city gate to finish their preparations. Kajal¡¯s companion¡ªa short, bald, burly man in heavy armor¡ªfrowned as he saw me. He wore the same scowl I remembered as if the entire world disgusted him. ¡°Elf,¡± he said. I grinned in response. ¡°Short human whose name I remember but definitely won¡¯t speak.¡± Logain glowered. ¡°I see your recent triumph did nothing for your manners.¡± He glanced at Kajal. ¡°This party of yours is a disaster waiting to happen.¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± she warned. The other short person in our party: the dwarf, Medekeine, didn¡¯t bother acknowledging my presence. He smoothened his leather armor and focused instead on our leader. ¡°That took you long enough. I thought the merchants would never stop yapping. Well, then. Chop chop. Where¡¯s that guildmaster of yours to sign off our journey?¡± ¡°Ezin has no further instructions for us,¡± Kajal said. ¡°He won¡¯t be stopping by.¡± ¡°Is this all there is to our party, then?¡± Logain asked. ¡°Just the four of us?¡± ¡°Five,¡± Paz said and vaulted over a wagon. He raised the tarp on the vehicle to peek into its interior.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Logain scowled. ¡°A muscle head? Really? Is this the best we could do?¡± ¡°A muscle head?¡± Paz repeated. ¡°Someone, fetch this bastard a mirror.¡± He dropped the tarp and turned an imposing glare on Kajal. Alarm bells rang in my head. You better not try anything untoward, mister . . . Kajal flashed him a winning smile. ¡°Paz? Damien tells me you¡¯re the best fighter in the city.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to prove it.¡± Paz jerked his thumb at the line of wagons. ¡°You¡¯re the party leader here, right? What¡¯s the plan concerning those? The goblins would hear us approach from a distance if we traveled with those vehicles.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll break them up,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Each person would carry what they can in their inventory. The heaviest items should be moved to a single wagon. We¡¯ll travel with that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still not ideal. A workhorse won¡¯t make our journey easier.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need a horse.¡± She nodded at Medekeine who retrieved a sturdy, metal cage from his inventory. A black snake crawled out of it and onto the ground the moment it opened. Smoke rose from its skin, filling the gap between our group. Wait a minute . . . A young girl appeared in place of the snake, eyes wide with curiosity. Wild, black hair fanned out behind her, dotted with weeds and brambles. A single rag covered her from neck to shin, which might have once been white but now sported a dirty brown color. A collar gleamed around her neck . . . A collar . . . ¡°What the fuck is this?!¡± I said. ¡°Peace, Damien,¡± Kajal answered. ¡°It¡¯s not what it looks like.¡± The young girl paled at my voice. She cowered and raised her arms above her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, master. Don¡¯t hit me! Please!¡± ¡°What part of this is not what it looks like?!¡± I said. ¡°Are you stupid or something?¡± Logain asked. ¡°Can¡¯t you see that¡¯s a monster?¡± I glanced again at the girl. [Identify]. Bound Div LVL 44. ¡°B-but . . .¡± I said, ¡°she¡¯s just a little girl.¡± ¡°And, you¡¯re a fool,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°This little girl could slit your throat if you so much as relaxed your guard.¡± He glared at her. ¡°Get up, fiend!¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t hurt me!¡± she said and glanced at me with pleading eyes. ¡°Master elf, please help!¡± ¡°Drop the act!¡± Medekeine roared. Dark markings appeared on the girl¡¯s tanned skin. She fell to the ground, writhing in pain. ¡°Master elf! Help!¡± Kajal placed an arm on my shoulder. ¡°I know such scenes are difficult for people like us to witness. But, don¡¯t be fooled by her appearance, Damien. Divs are some of the deadliest creatures in Vizhima. You don¡¯t want to help her.¡± Medekeine rattled the empty cage. ¡°If you don¡¯t get up now, you blasted brat, I swear I¡¯ll invoke a curse!¡± The little girl stopped writhing. She sat quietly for a small moment, then struggled to her feet. ¡°No, don¡¯t do that. I will be a good slave, sir. I promise!¡± ¡°Divs, huh?¡± Paz said, curling his lip. ¡°A natural one is rare enough, but a bound one is worth the cost of a small army. How did you manage to get your hands on something this valuable?¡± ¡°Who cares?¡± Medekeine said. He pointed at the slave. ¡°You will assist Lady Kajal in organizing the wagons. And, if you make trouble for her or try anything untoward, I promise it will be your last!¡± The girl bowed at the command. Her brown eyes watched me from beneath her bangs: dull and anguished. A lump formed in my throat. An hour after dawn, a small party departed with no fanfare through Skeelie¡¯s massive gates. They consisted of six people and a heavy wagon built for rough terrain. The wagon contained large barrels of oil that inventories couldn¡¯t accommodate: a resource that the Wood Elves needed in their fight against the goblins. The Bound Div pulled the wagon, somehow managing the feat despite her small stature. Kajal had explained the nature of obedience seals: the dark markings that flared up on the Div¡¯s body on occasion. They¡¯d been placed to prevent her from harming her master or going against his instructions. Divs were apparently notorious for finding loopholes in agreements. Medekeine had installed a slave collar as a failsafe should the obedience seals fail. He had warned us to treat her like we would an enemy, but I couldn¡¯t stand the sound of her labored breaths as she struggled with the wagon. I glanced behind me to check if she needed some help¡ª Kajal sighed. ¡°She can manage it just fine, Damien. Divs are notoriously powerful beings.¡± ¡°You say that, but she is just a kid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not her real appearance, man,¡± Logain said. ¡°Honestly, how did you survive this long with such a weak heart?¡± ¡°Watch it,¡± Paz warned. Medekeine for his part sat atop the wagon. He studied a crude map in his hands and dropped it with a sigh. ¡°The paths have probably changed since my people last visited Dreadwood. Pity. I would rather not depend on an elf.¡± ¡°We can rely on Damien,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, I am also familiar with the route . . .¡± Was that because of [Map]? ¡°. . . We¡¯ll head first for the Wood King¡¯s court. We can learn more about the goblin horde there.¡± She spared me a small smile. ¡°Sorry, Damien. But, your family would have to wait.¡± I stared at the distant forest, which stood only about three hours away from the city. The other major paths leading away from Skeelie branched off in different directions. Those paths shared all of the traffic, which caused us to draw looks as we advanced toward the woods. A lot of those looks had to do with the fact that a child served as our workhorse. Medekeine sitting atop the wagon didn¡¯t help matters. ¡°I¡¯m fine with the plan,¡± I told Kajal. ¡°Any help we give the Wood Elves would help all of Dreadwood. In the meantime, shouldn¡¯t we get acquainted with our capabilities?¡± Kajal winked. ¡°You should be able to tell what we are capable of to a degree. Anyway, I¡¯ll go first. I¡¯m a level 30 Monk, attuned to Empathy. I use abilities like [Telekinesis] and debuffs. My fighting style is [Martial Arts], and I am probably the best fighter you know of in the city.¡± The last tongue-in-cheek part was directed at Paz. Paz looked excited. ¡°I have trained with Monks. Isn¡¯t [Martial Arts] considered inferior to other fighting styles like [Pugilist] and [Weapon Arts]?¡± ¡°Oh my. Where did you hear that from?¡± ¡°You really know nothing, oaf,¡± Logain said as if Kajal¡¯s achievements were a source of pride for him. ¡°No one can beat the lady in hand to hand!¡± I confirmed Kajal¡¯s words with [Identify]. It truly was as she said: Monk Level 30. Paz gritted his teeth. ¡°Level 27 Skirmisher here. Attuned to Retribution. All Skirmishers get [Polearm Mastery] as a fighting style. You probably want me on the frontline no matter the enemy.¡± ¡°A dog of vengeance, huh?¡± Medekeine said. ¡°That¡¯s a fearsome affinity you¡¯ve got there. Why waste it by being a Skirmisher?¡± ¡°Polearms are just better. You?¡± Medekeine raised his hand. It turned into a scaled claw. ¡°Shifter. Level 38. Confusion. Don¡¯t expect much by way of abilities from me. But, I have the [Brawler] fighting style, and the trifecta of [Alter Self], [Bestial Shape], and [Shapeshift].¡± He returned to his map. ¡°Do give me a wild berth in battle. I¡¯d hate to kill any of you unintentionally.¡± ¡°You can try,¡± Logain said. ¡°I¡¯m a level 27 Guardian with [Shield Mastery], attuned to Compassion. Or Mercy, as they call it in some places. I double as a healer and buffer. None of my allies die under my watch.¡± He nodded at me. ¡°Your turn, elf.¡± ¡°He has a name,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Assassin,¡± I said simply. ¡°Level 28. [Knife-fighting]. I move unseen and strike from the shadows . . . because I am attuned to Fear.¡± Logain and Medekeine went pallid. In the silence that followed, the little div laughed. ¡°You¡¯re all going to die.¡± 089 Heroes and Adversaries Medekeine pointed. ¡°Pain.¡± The obedience seals reappeared. The div let go of the wagon and fell screaming to the ground. ¡°You¡¯re hurting her,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m hurting it,¡± Medekeine answered. He kept his eyes on the div whose skin started to smoke. Her screams intensified¡ª ¡°Stop it,¡± I warned. ¡°Or else?¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Kajal affirmed. ¡°Our party dynamics would suffer if we don¡¯t learn to consider each other¡¯s reservations.¡± That was what she was worried about? Medekeine seemed dead set on defying her order. He held Kajal¡¯s gaze for a terse moment¡ªa perfect image of dwarven pride. Eventually, he scoffed and released his hold over the div. The little girl whimpered. ¡°Not a pleasant affair,¡± Logain said, ¡°dealing with monsters. But, she did threaten our demise.¡± ¡°She probably refers to the Lord of Terror,¡± Paz said. ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon for ancient monsters to hold him in high regard.¡± I knelt beside the div. ¡°That doesn¡¯t justify our reaction. She reserves the right to her opinion just like us.¡± The div looked at my extended hand with curious eyes and accepted my offer. Her thin hand settled in mine; I helped her to her feet. Medekeine scoffed. ¡°A right to her opinion? Heh. You have no idea what she is or what she has done.¡± The neighbors had said similar things about me too after my mother¡¯s death. I couldn¡¯t compare my situation as a child to the div¡¯s. But, it made us kindred spirits of sorts. Who did Medekeine think he was? ¡°Let¡¯s keep going,¡± Kajal said, taking the lead. We continued past a busy sawmill that handled all of Skeelie¡¯s lumber needs, and then we crossed a wide stone bridge built over a sparkling stream. The stream flowed out of Dreadwood and cut a path through the sawmill before disappearing in the distance. An outpost stood at the other end of the bridge, forming the first line of defense against invaders from Dreadwood. Back when I¡¯d first arrived at the city, this outpost had been unmanned. Now? It bustled with encampments and defensive fortifications, reinforced by troops from the city guard. A platoon of about fifty soldiers manned the outpost, casting wary eyes in the direction of Dreadwood. Kajal spoke briefly with the captain of the platoon who allowed us passage through the camp. On the outskirts of Dreadwood, where the forest lay thinned by lumberjacking activities, a squad of rankers¡ªcasters by the looks of it¡ªworked hard to raise a border wall. ¡°Good luck keeping the goblins out with that,¡± Logain said as we passed. The casters shot us annoyed looks. Again, Kajal stopped to speak with them. And, I marveled at the ease with which she commanded respect. We followed a dirt path into the forest, leaving the casters behind us. ¡°What did they say?¡± I asked. Kajal replied aloud for the benefit of the others. ¡°Ezin has imposed a gag order. The soldiers can¡¯t speak freely about their activities, but they have been tasked to establish a barrier around the forest line. Potential invaders would be funneled through carefully selected kill zones.¡± She glanced at the forest. ¡°The lumberjacks aren¡¯t pleased, however. They sense unease from the soldiers, but with little to go by, they worry that the city is being high-handed.¡± ¡°They worry rightfully,¡± Paz said. ¡°All of this secrecy is unnecessary. The people will learn about the potential invasion soon enough, causing the city to devolve into chaos. Ezin probably intends to eke out as many charges as he can from the World Shrine while he has the chance.¡± ¡°I¡¯d do the same in his position,¡± Logain said. ¡°Who are we to judge?¡± ¡°We shouldn¡¯t,¡± Kajal affirmed with a nod. ¡°The soldiers, however, warn of strange activity in the forest. They say it isn¡¯t unusual for a fey cloud to rise at night these days, somewhere in the north. It has prevented them from sending scouts into the forest.¡± Medekeine growled. ¡°The goblin mines. If we wish to find the leader of this horde, that is where he will be.¡± The goblin mines? From what I¡¯d learned, the little critters resided in a mountain range to the north. Those mountains were also closer to Harkonean than any other elf village. Hopefully, we weren¡¯t too late. Kajal led us through the forest, sticking to the path. We encountered a few monsters of the Dread Hopper and Dread Snake variety. However, most of them scurried away as we approached as if sensing our power. Dusk soon fell upon the forest, bringing an end to the first day of our journey. We camped beside the dirt path and built a small campfire to stave off the cold. [Silhouette] roused as dusk deepened into night, taking great interest in the sight of the forest. I ordered the little monster to remain hidden within my shadow and snarled when it disregarded the order. It subsequently obeyed. Silhy was still too weak to use for anything other than combat, which sucked because I could use a scout. Something about Dreadwood felt off tonight like a favorite shirt worn inside out. Where before the forest darkened rapidly with the onset of night due to its enchantments; the night didn¡¯t come easily this time, as though the trees were scared of what it would bring. I discussed my reservations with my teammates. They hadn¡¯t noticed anything out of the ordinary during our journey, but they deferred to my expertise on all things dark. Kajal and I won the first watch, which offered a welcome distraction from the weirdness in the forest. I waited for the others to sleep and approached her atop a mound. She turned to me with a smile, having anticipated our discussion. ¡°India.¡± ¡°What?¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°That¡¯s where I¡¯m from. India. You?¡± ¡°Nigeria.¡± Kajal hummed. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a Nigerian. Nice to meet you, Damien. I didn¡¯t expect to run into another [Migrant Soul] so soon.¡± ¡°Me either. Another person from Earth, huh? You¡¯re actual proof that Vizhima is not one long, fever dream.¡± ¡°I hope it isn¡¯t!¡± Kajal laughed. ¡°You have no idea how terrified I was after my arrival. Oh, what am I saying? I¡¯m sure you do. No one can dream up a setting with this much detail.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised.¡± We chuckled at the joke. ¡°You have questions, yes?¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m curious what makes you think I am better suited to answer.¡± ¡°The Traveler¡¯s Room,¡± I said. ¡°And, Logain. You both seem to have a better grasp on whatever is going on.¡± I glanced in the direction of the tents. ¡°Is he also a [Migrant Soul]?¡± ¡°Logain? Gosh, no. He¡¯s the first of my allies.¡± That caught my attention. ¡°You have the same quest I do?! The one that requires a team?¡± Kajal¡¯s eyes matched the stars in the sky. ¡°Tell you what, Damien. I¡¯ll share everything I know if you tell me what you found inside the Labyrinth. I had to abandon a quest during the dungeon run . . .¡± ¡°[Kajal the Explorer], huh?¡± ¡°Yes. That one.¡± I considered my options. It won¡¯t hurt to share that information, right? Especially with a fellow [Migrant Soul]. The more people that knew about the danger of The Apocalypse, the better my chance of stopping it. ¡°I found a creature within the Labyrinth,¡± I said. ¡°Some kind of angel or demon . . . I¡¯m not really sure. I think it¡¯s connected to the end of the world.¡± Kajal took a moment to reply. ¡°The Apocalypse, huh? It¡¯s only three hundred and thirty-eight days away.¡± ¡°Then, you have been tasked to stop it like I have?¡± ¡°I think you should take a seat, Damien.¡± She made room for me atop the mound. The area was too small to contain two people without them pushing up against each other. Kajal didn¡¯t lean away. ¡°Where to start from?¡± she said. ¡°Oh, yes! The Pyramid of Rebirth. Was it the same for you?¡± ¡°The same?¡± I chuckled. ¡°Flame Guardians. Pyronodons. A thousand homunculi . . .¡± ¡°And, one survivor. You get your traits after you beat the challenges and reincarnate. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s [Born of Fear] and something else for you?¡± ¡°[Against the Odds]. I also got a tutorial quest after I reincarnated. This is crazy! No wonder the [System] warned of an error.¡± ¡°What error?¡± I glanced at Kajal. Pressing up against her warm body like this did no favors for my nerves. ¡°The [System] errors. They¡¯re right there at the bottom of every quest. You don¡¯t have them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t . . .¡± Kajal frowned. ¡°Damien, what is your main quest called?¡± ¡°[Heroic Adventure], why?¡± Kajal ran a hand through her hair. ¡°Haa. That¡¯s also the name of my main quest. And, you see . . . there can¡¯t be more than one Hero at a time.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t follow.¡± ¡°Every Hero who gets sent to Vizhima receives the same tutorial quest to visit the holy temple in Avillac. Or, at least, that¡¯s what the Masters say. The [System] prepares for the Hero¡¯s arrival by showing the Masters signs and portents.¡± Just like it had done with Nana . . . ¡°Bottom line is,¡± Kajal continued, ¡°there can only be one Hero. One Hero to the North. An Adversary to the South. Both are vital to the Apocalypse.¡± I recalled our meeting in the Labyrinth. ¡°I¡¯m not the Adversary . . .¡± ¡°I know. The location of that [Migrant Soul] has already been confirmed. It¡¯s the reason Logain didn¡¯t kill you on the spot¡ª¡± ¡°He can try.¡± ¡°No, listen,¡± Kajal turned to face me. ¡°The last Apocalypse happened thousands of years ago. No one remembers what that looked like. The current Masters only have a few notes to work it, but they won¡¯t hesitate to remove anyone that threatens their plans. Two Heroes may have been sent to defend Vizhima at some point in the past, but until I confirm that, we need to hide your existence.¡± Oh, great. The last thing I needed was more killers gunning for my head. ¡°Won¡¯t Logain be a problem, then? He knows about me . . .¡± ¡°Logain might be an acolyte of the temple. But, he is loyal to me. As long as he understands my reasons, he would respect them.¡± She gathered my hand in hers. Her skin felt warm to the touch¡ªalive, as though a divine fire danced beneath her flesh. We were already too close for comfort, and her action put us even closer. ¡°Beating the Labyrinth,¡± she said, ¡°has drawn more attention your way than you can imagine. Never reveal that you are a [Migrant Soul] to anyone, Damien. For your safety. Who else knows about this?¡± I wanted to say, but then I shook my head. ¡°No one.¡± ¡°Good. Keep it that way.¡± ¡°The [System] wants me to kill you though.¡± Kajal¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Same here! That¡¯s the major reason I kept you alive. I do not like being told what to do.¡± ¡°Cheers to that.¡± We lapsed into a short silence which allowed us to ruminate on all we had shared. ¡°Where does that leave us, then?¡± I asked. ¡°Do we work together to stop The Apocalypse? Kill this Adversary guy or something?¡± Kajal shot me an odd look. Even without the light of the campfire, I could read her expressions quite well in the dark. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother you,¡± she said, ¡°to kill a person just because the [System] asks? The Adversary is someone who went through the Pyramid and its challenges, just like us.¡± ¡°Yeah . . . it bothers me.¡± Especially if the Adversary was being forced to act against their will. However, my experience with the old man Homunculus had taught me the [System] would always get its way. What then could we do if it boiled down to us versus them? Kajal released my hand. I instantly missed her warmth and the smoothness of her skin. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she said. ¡°Fate won¡¯t lighten our load regardless of our desire. The Masters tried to take matters into their own hands and eliminate the Adversary. They failed woefully. He was last spotted leaving the Beastmen Enclave for the orc settlements. He¡¯s out of their reach now.¡± ¡°And, what about you? What do you intend to achieve here in Dreadwood?¡± ¡°What indeed? Is stopping a goblin horde not reason enough?¡± When I didn¡¯t answer, she sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right. It isn¡¯t. This is simply where I am expected to be. Make no mistake, none of what we do happens by coincidence. ¡°Famine, war, dungeon awakenings, catastrophe . . . the arrival of migrant souls triggers a chain of consequences that accelerate Vizhima¡¯s demise. In doing so, the [System] provides theaters for migrants to level up rapidly. It encourages us to actively seek places of conflict.¡± ¡°And, what is the point of all of this?¡± I asked. ¡°What is the point of yanking us from Earth to play this sick game?¡± ¡°Damien . . .¡± ¡°If the [System] holds the power to save or destroy the world, why involve us in its shenanigans? It doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± I wasn¡¯t stupid enough to think that I had a great future waiting for me on Earth. Heck, if the [System] was to be trusted, I had even died in my sleep. A second chance at life beat death of any kind whatsoever, but I had been robbed of a choice in the matter. A small breeze blew past our camp. The leaves of the surrounding deridum trees whispered in its passing. It was only a breeze, but that uneasy feeling I had harbored since the night began intensified. [Silhouette] shivered beneath me. Kajal picked up on my unease. ¡°Damien? What is it?¡± I looked at the sky. A black mass bore down in the distance, carried by the breeze. It seemed like a cloud, though the term curtain was probably more accurate. Clouds weren¡¯t meant to be that dense or thick. Complete darkness overtook the forest wherever the cloud passed¡ªenough that my elven eyes struggled to pierce the gloom. The feeling of wrongness doubled within me as it approached, even as the stars winked out of existence. ¡°Damien?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something!¡± I hissed. ¡°Something in that cloud. The campfire. Douse the campfire!¡± 090 Nightfall We barely managed to make it. The rest of the camp stirred awake as Kajal and I put out the fire. Paz emerged from his blanket, swinging his heavy spear. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who?¡± ¡°Not now, Paz,¡± I yelled. ¡°Take cover!¡± We didn¡¯t have enough tents. I rolled under the wagon, hoping it would suffice. The rest of the team found hiding places inside the tent or within the wagon. Someone even used an ability. Where was the div?! The last time I¡¯d seen her, she lay curled up by the fire. No time to worry though! The unnatural cloud sailed over the campsite and covered it in a field of darkness. [Silhouette] went into a frenzy, stretching long tendrils in the air. The shadow monster shrieked in excitement¡ªor at least, it would have if it possessed the faculties to do so. Something about the eerie darkness appealed to it. And, after a few seconds of hiding with bated breath, I finally realized why. This wasn¡¯t a phenomenon caused by weather or any strange magic. This was the result of an affinity, one I knew all too well about. [Fear]. A ranker had created this cloud. And, as if in confirmation, a [System] message appeared: You have been affected by the ability, [Nightfall], due to your connection to Fear. You have gained a boost to all five senses! Your [Fear]-based techniques have grown 2x more potent! This potency may affect attack power or mana cost depending on the technique. A buff that affected all [Fear] users regardless of alignment? Who could do such a thing? S-surely, not the Lord of Terror. He had no business in Dreadwood . . . unless he had come looking for someone. Looking for me. A strange chill seized my heart. ¡°Damien!¡± A high-pitched scream cut through my thoughts. Not in the same voice that called me, but somewhere far off in the distance. A pair of strong hands pawed at my legs. ¡°Damien!¡± ¡°Kajal?¡± I roused from my stupor. How long had I been lying beneath the wagon? ¡°Whazzit? What happened?¡± The night had turned even darker beneath the cloud which had completely obscured the moons and the stars. Regardless of it all, Kajal¡¯s pristine features remained visible to my eyesight . . . thanks to the buff I¡¯d received. She tensed up as I made my way out of hiding. One of her arms rested against the wagon to preserve her sense of direction. ¡°Are you alright?¡± she asked. ¡°You didn¡¯t reply when we performed a roll call earlier.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The screams in my head intensified. ¡°Who¡¯s that? Who¡¯s screaming?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t hear a thing . . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s the sound of battle,¡± a guttural voice said. It emanated from a burly figure who occupied the mound Kajal and I had earlier shared. It cocked its reptilian head as if listening to something in the darkness. Wait . . . reptilian? Indeed, a giant lizard stood on the mound, complete with a tail wrapped around its limbs. A Shifter, then. Medekeine? ¡°There are vague sounds of fighting,¡± Medekeine continued, ¡°somewhere in the distance.¡± They weren¡¯t vague to me. I could hear them just fine; cries, steel, and all. Another effect of [Nightfall]? ¡°Elves, then,¡± I concluded. ¡°We should help them.¡± Medekeine growled. ¡°Our quest takes priority, elf. We can¡¯t allow ourselves to be derailed.¡± ¡°We. Should. Help. Them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m with Damien,¡± Paz said, itching for a fight. Kajal took a moment to consider our options. ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree, but the rest of us can¡¯t see in the dark as well as you two¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too bad,¡± Paz said. ¡°As well as you three, then. We need to know what we are up against, at the least. Damien, can I trust you to scout ahead? Paz and Medekeine will lead the rest of us after you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine by me.¡± I looked around the campsite. ¡°Wait, where¡¯s Div?¡± Everyone else was accounted for, including Logain who watched the night with sword and shield in hand. ¡°Back in her cage,¡± Medekeine hissed. ¡°She tried to make a run for it during the chaos.¡± ¡°Well, resummon her,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Someone needs to pull the wagon.¡± She glanced in my general direction. ¡°You made a big fuss about the approaching darkness, Damien. But, nothing happened. What did you see?¡± I licked my lips and contemplated my answer. ¡°The darkness isn¡¯t caused by a mysterious cloud. Someone on the enemy side shares my affinity.¡± Logain cursed aloud. ¡°Oh, great. Just what we needed, huh? A conflict between two Fear users. This is a disaster waiting to happen.¡± Kajal hummed. ¡°A spell potent enough to exert influence over the entire forest? Are you sure about this, Damien?¡± ¡°Positive,¡± I said. She frowned at my reply. ¡°It¡¯s imperative then that we treat this matter with even more caution. Go. Return before taking action to share what you see.¡± I nodded and vanished into the shadows. With the boost from [Nightfall], [Dark Stalker] didn¡¯t cost any MP to activate. None at all. The slightly monotonous hue that colored the world whenever I cloaked myself in shadows seemed sharper than ever. Even [Silhouette] approved of the changes as it mimicked my movements. Something about the spell in the sky made the both of us stronger. And, it scared me in a way I didn¡¯t want to admit.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Hey, it seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. Well, thank you for that. [Scaredy-cat]¡¯s timely activation did little to alleviate the dryness in my mouth. Fear was my thing: The one feature that distinguished me from other rankers in Vizhima. Learning that someone else shared my affinity triggered a childish tantrum within me that I hadn¡¯t felt in years. And, to make matters worse, the other person seemed better at using Fear than me! If a single ability of theirs could affect the entire forest, what other techniques did they have in their possession? The sounds of fighting drew closer, cutting through my musing. Multiple flashes of light glinted through the gaps in the trees. I upped my speed, relying on [Stealth] to move noiselessly through the underbrush. Hopefully, the other Fear user was somewhere in the vicinity, so that I could thank them for casting a spell to my benefit. A strong outline moved in the direction of the battlefield with enough force to send vibrations running up my feet. Loud roars cut through the forest: the sound of a wounded beast . . . or an enraged one. With only about two hundred meters left to go, I would be better served retreating after a peek. Whatever waited beyond those trees was probably above my pay grade¡ª Oh, hell no. The outline I¡¯d spotted earlier had just gotten clearer. It moved through the forest like a whirlwind, felling numerous trees in its wake. A small group of humanoids¡ªabout five in number¡ªstrived against that beast. A separate but larger group fled for the trees. That group¡ªnumbering upward of thirty humanoids¡ªseemed composed entirely of regulars. They ran in a panic for places of hiding, without heed of the battle around them. The whirling outline had already killed a good chunk of rankers and regulars alike. It swung two great chains in a wide arc and struck down one of the defenders. The chains tore deep grooves in the ground and cut through flesh like it was butter. A second enemy, which I¡¯d initially missed, picked up the slain humanoid and devoured its flesh. It pounded its chest with gusto and roared into the heavens. I¡¯d suffered nightmares after my last encounter with only one of these monsters. Two of them now stood before me. Primal Dread Monkeys, both at level 35. [Silhouette] shivered at the sight. You feel that too, buddy? I had already accomplished Kajal¡¯s mission. There was no need to stick around and die in the slaughter. The humanoid rankers¡ªWood Elves if their almond eyes and ochre skin were anything to go by¡ªput up a valiant defense against the Primal Dread Monkeys. But, I knew how that story ended. The monsters would crush all four rankers, and then they¡¯d go on to butcher the rest of the group. Regulars were people who didn¡¯t get the chance to specialize, stuck at level 10. The caste also included children and teenagers below that level, still in the process of climbing to the threshold. Indeed, the regulars that fled the battle now included elf children, alongside adults and a small number of the elderly. The Primal Dread Monkeys would kill them all. That alone was enough reason to disobey Kajal¡¯s orders. But, who was I kidding? These were Primal Dread Monkeys¡ªthe strongest enemies I had faced in Vizhima. I had always wondered how the current me would fare against these guys. I couldn¡¯t relinquish the chance. Steeling myself, I pulled The Blackreach Dagger out of my inventory . . . then another dagger . . . and then, the Chains of the Combat Ape. The [System] description was clear: Chains of the Combat Ape [Greater]. A melee-type weapon with specialties in short and medium-ranged combat. Each length of chain can be attached to a blade to unlock new properties and increase its damage. Requirement: Greater Strength or Dexterity. The addition of daggers to the chains formed the aptly named Chain Nails which allowed me to meld the blades to other objects they touched. The boon from [Nightfall] remained active. Time to see what it could do. The nearest monster was a wicked specimen of an ape with ragged, silver fur, strong arms, and a long, prehensile tail. The elves had whittled its health to just over fifty percent. It seemed capable of killing them before they could finish the job. The monkey dashed aside to avoid a rain of arrows. I met it as it landed with [Sneak Attack] procced on both of my blades. The resulting damage shaved a thin slice off the monkey¡¯s health¡ªnot enough! The Primal Dread Monkey responded with a backhand which sailed over my head. At Grand Dexterity, I was more than its match in speed. However, the next few blows stretched my reflexes to the limit, only for me to be blindsided by a vicious tail swipe. Defend. [Silhouette] leaped at the order. A mass of shadows rose to intercept the monkey¡¯s tail only to shatter a second after it connected. That second was all I needed to [Stealth]-roll to the monkey¡¯s undefended flank and strike its kidney. It cried out in pain. I rolled beneath a retaliatory attack and swung my daggers with even more lethality. Backward I went again, to dodge a vicious three-hit combo that nearly took my head. [Silhouette] protected me with a mass of sharp, black tendrils. But, the monkey powered through the pain and launched its chains right through the tendrils. The first chain tore a strip off the shoulder of my Night Scout Armor. The second¡ª Ye-ouch! I caught it squarely on a barrier formed out of my dual Chain Nails. The force punted me clean across the battlefield and into the path of the second Primal Dread Monkey. Two of the elves occupied this monster, struggling in vain against its thick hide. My health meter flashed. The blow I¡¯d just taken would hurt tomorrow despite the protection of health armor. No time to think though. I rolled out of the way, as one of the elves¡ªa Skirmisher¡ªcharged at the monkey. Blood showered the ground the next instant as her head exploded beneath the monkey¡¯s palm. Thanks to the boon granted by [Nightfall], [Dark Stalker] returned from cooldown. The second monkey slammed the spot I had occupied one second before I escaped into the shadows. It roared in anger, baring yellow teeth. This monkey retained over eighty percent of its health, making it my priority. I¡¯d done all I could to the first one. The elves could take it from there. They did just that. On the opposite flank, the surviving rankers charged the first monkey, inspired by the battle cry of a leader whose paunch wobbled visibly beneath his leather armor. The Primal Dread Monkeys tried to close in on us. Not on my watch. Attack. Silhy trembled in delight at the command. It exploded in a surge of tendrils, cutting off the path of my enemy. The monster did well to avoid the strike, and the next one after that, which I¡¯d staggered. It ended up beside a tree. Talk about a chance. I spun out of [Dark Stalker] and slammed a Chain Nail into its foot. [Silhouette] provided an aerial platform that enabled me to vault cleanly over the monkey¡¯s strike. I caught its passing fist in the second Chain Nail but lost out in a contest of strength before I could pin it to the tree. The monkey darted aside, or tried to anyway before finding its foot merged with the ground. I completed a loop around its arm, binding that limb to its restricted leg. The primal beast strained against the chains with enough force that they actually cracked. And then, with its free arm, it reached for its foot. [Fear Aura]. My signature technique flooded the battlefield, picking only the targets I chose. With the potency from [Nightfall], it achieved instant effect. The Primal Dread Monkey froze with its hand around my Chain Nail, losing two points in each stat to [Dismay]. Any attribute that sat at a perfect multiple of ten had just dropped to a lower tier. [Silhouette] rushed forward in a crazed frenzy. Shadow tendrils punched the monkey¡¯s face and neck, choosing areas that promised maximum damage to HP. I didn¡¯t give the mental order to stagger the attack, but [Silhouette] did so all the same. Three waves of tendrils crashed into the monkey with the ferocity of siege weapons, bringing its HP down to half in an instant. The enraged monkey returned to its senses and tugged the Chain Nail from its foot. It crashed through [Silhouette], shattering the tendrils with the force of its passing. I had already used [Dark Stalker] twice tonight, but the monkeys could see through [Stealth] if they focused hard enough. I once again entered the shadows to avoid the chains swung at my head. It consigned [Dark Stalker] to another brief cooldown. Gotta be careful now. [Silhouette] reformed beneath me, itching to get back in the fight. On the other side, the first Primal Dread Monkey endured a beating from the elves, following the onset of [Fear Aura]. It regained its bearings soon enough and returned to its feet. The monkey in my corner threw a tantrum at my disappearance. All three of the chain weapons in its possession scythed the air and shattered entire trees. The Primal Dread Monkey upped its assault by hurling a rock in my general direction. It missed by a mile. I threw my Chain Nail into the flying rock and activated the [Meld] perk. Then, banking on its momentum, I redirected it in a wide arc into the face of the other dread monkey. The rock hit home, spraying the elves with blood. Huzzah! You have participated in the killing of Primal Dread Monkey LVL 35. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. The sudden death changed the dynamics on the battlefield. It left three nearly-dead Wood Elves staring stunned at a corpse and one monster driven to the point of rage. The last attack dumped me out of [Dark Stalker], and with nothing left between us, the Primal Dread Monkey charged. I stood my ground to meet it¡ªwhen it suddenly stopped and threw my Chain Nail across the gap. Right into my head. 091 Ill-Fated News [Decoy] collapsed from the hit, leaving the Chain Nail stuck in the ground. The Primal Dread Monkey faltered, unsure of the kill. I once again owed my life to quick thinking and anticipation . . . and to [Decoy]. It was such a simple technique, yet it served me better than any special ability could. Who needed a [Shadow Arm Darkness Mind Laser Pulse Cannon] when my current techniques worked just fine? Maybe, my moveset wasn¡¯t so bad after all¡ª Focus, Damien. The real me crouched in the grass, having left [Decoy] to stand in my place. As long as I remained immobile, the Primal Dread Monkey would have difficulty seeing through [Stealth]. I could finish the battle with [Sneak Attack] if I timed things properly . . . But, the Primal Dread Monkey roared in fury. It raised its palms above its head . . . I knew that technique¡ª Clap! A thunderous wave exploded across the forest. Many of the regulars fell on their faces, stunned by the technique. I managed to hold my ground, but my eardrums suffered all the same. The damage affected my health meter and summoned a [System] message. You have been struck with [Deafness]! All sustained skills and abilities have now been deactivated. You are afflicted with [Dismay]! All stats have been reduced by [2]. The sudden reduction caused me to drop by one tier in Strength, Perception, and Dexterity, each of which had been sitting at 11, 21, and 31 respectively thanks to my lone Fear stack. In the blink of an eye, I¡¯d gone from silver rank to Iron as far as the potency of my attributes was concerned. It meant certain defeat if I remained in battle, but where could I run to? The Primal Dread Monkey charged, leveling the ground in its wake. The entire forest vibrated with the force of its advance. Those vibrations reached my ears as though through a curtain of water. But, my hearing was shot, and my balance suffered as a result. I managed to dodge despite the odds and avoided the monster¡¯s initial assault. Its large hand closed around my foot¡ª ¡°[Silhouette]!¡± I didn¡¯t need to shout, but my senses were all jumbled up. Black tendrils punched the monster¡¯s arm, forcing it to launch me into a tree. My head rang with the force of the impact, obscuring my vision. Pain radiated across my back. The Primal Dread Monkey pivoted, abandoning the fallen Wood Elves to chase after me. Again, I could only rely on vibrations to maintain my sense of awareness. The air currents shifted¡ª I rolled aside and avoided the Chains of the Combat Ape which obliterated the tree behind me. The monkey continued without pause. Heavy chains flattened the ground over and over in an attempt to squash me. I escaped the barrage and raised [Silhouette] in my defense¡ªand, just in time, because a combat chain shattered the mass of tendrils and flung me into the air. The Primal Dread Monkey stomped around in jubilation. Curse this crap. I had become weaker than I was at the start of the battle, and unless something changed, I was going to die. Hey! It seems you are afraid. +1 has been added to all stats. Yes! A surge of energy filled me as my stats returned to the threshold. I vaulted neatly over the next attack and swung my Chain Nail to pin the monkey¡¯s weapon to a tree. The Primal Dread Monkey tugged, but the fused chains didn¡¯t come loose. With a guttural roar, it uprooted the entire tree. I retracted my Chain Nail at that moment to send its weapon flying into its face. To its credit, it caught the combat chains between its teeth without flinching. We glared at each other from across a gap of ten meters: man versus monkey. I had about seventy percent of HP left in my health meter; the monkey had only forty. Even then, its raw HP outsized mine. It could also kill me with two clean hits which tipped the battle in its favor. My hearing remained completely ruined. [Nightfall], however, was still in play. [Dark Stalker] returned from cooldown as a result with record speed. And, [Silhouette] had shown remarkable increases in speed, power, and reflexes . . . All things considered, the monster and I were even. Victory boiled down to whoever took the most chances. And, I put those chances in my favor by taking the first step. The movements of the air currents changed. I raised my blade in anticipation of the monkey¡¯s attack; it did not disappoint. It crossed the distance between us in a single bound, raising large hammer fists above its head. Despite the circumstances, a grin cut across my face. This was my chance to prove that I had surpassed the old Damien. And, to be honest? Fuck this monkey. I stepped aside in the same manner the Samurai had done against my party. And then, calling on [Dark Stalker], I vanished into the shadows. [Silhouette] attacked from the opposite flank before the monkey could react and launched multiple tendrils into its side. The Primal Dread Monkey spun around in a wide sweep, flattening the entire area around it with its chains. I rode my shadow tendrils into the air just before they shattered and landed on the monkey¡¯s shoulder. My dagger sank into its neck and fused in place. The rest of the chain went around the arm that tried to swat me. It left the monkey tied with one arm to its neck. And, I procured an extra dagger to stab at its nape. The monkey screamed. It saved itself from falling flat on its face with its free arm and lashed out with its tail. Again, I read the air currents to step out of range, and then I faded into [Stealth]. With most of its health gone, the Primal Dread Monkey became the fiercest it had ever been. It kicked and bit, spun, snapped, and shrieked. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! However, [Silhouette] had reformed in the shadows, and it pleaded even now for a chance to finish the job. ¡°Do it,¡± I said. The monkey dove forward on three limbs and crashed into a wall of shadows. Its great head fell from its shoulders and toppled to the ground. Who¡¯s incredible? You are, that¡¯s who, boyo! You have participated in the killing of Primal Dread Monkey LVL 35. An appropriate amount of XP has been allocated per your contribution. You have leveled up! You are now level 29. You have leveled up! You are now level 30. Visit your status sheet to allocate your free stat points. You have unlocked a technique choice for reaching level 30! Use [Meditation] to pick your reward. Oh, wow. I¡¯d forgotten I was due for another one of these. Paz had taught me that technique choices happened at every tenth level, with extra rewards granted each time a ranker ranked up. It came out to a total of twenty techniques gained across one¡¯s lifetime, including [Meditation], a fighting style, and two bonus rewards gotten at levels 15 and 85. The only other way to unlock extra techniques in Vizhima was by the acquisition of Traits. I boasted two active traits: [Against the Odds], which offered the techniques, [Map] and [Identify]; and [Born of Fear], which bestowed [Scaredy-cat] and [Fear Aura]. Sadly, there was no known way to acquire additional traits or swap out old ones. Traits appeared in Vizhimans during Awakening . . . or in the case of [Migrant Soul]s, during the process of reincarnation. Nevertheless, a new technique choice meant I could finally get the [Shadow Arm Darkness Mind Laser Pulse Cannon] I desire. Please, make it a reality, [System]! I¡¯d promised earlier to stop asking, but I was just joking, okay? ¡°You saved us,¡± one of the Wood Elves¡ªthe one with the paunch¡ªsaid with a tone of reverence. He seemed to be the leader of this bunch, of which only three rankers remained. The rest wandered around in the dark, searching for the regulars who had fled to safety. I fished my Chain Nails out of the battlefield and looted the slain monkeys: an action that granted me two extra sets of Combat Chains. Paz would probably benefit from one of them. ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do.¡± The Wood Elf stiffened and narrowed his eyes. His eyesight probably wasn¡¯t as good as mine in [Nightfall], but he was still an elf regardless. ¡°Wait . . . Don¡¯t tell me . . . you¡¯re Nanduli?? How are you even here?¡± Nanduli? was Old Speech for Dark Elf, but his question sounded strange. ¡°What do you mean?¡± A ruckus resounded across the forest. A large reptilian beast bounded on all fours in our direction, followed swiftly by a half-naked man with a spear. ¡°Paz?¡± I asked. ¡°Damien?¡± Kajal answered. ¡°Is that you?¡± She rode atop the reptilian monster, squinting in the direction of my voice. She looked at home atop the large lizard, but I couldn¡¯t for the life of me imagine how she had convinced Medekeine to serve as her mount. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Damien?¡± she asked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you return after scouting the situation?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± I said. ¡°The elves needed my help. They were being attacked by two Primal Dread Monkeys.¡± ¡°Your mission here is more important, Damien. You could have easily waited for reinforcements.¡± I had the situation under control, but I didn¡¯t say that aloud to avoid challenging her authority. Kajal understood the words left unspoken, however, and let me off with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll speak more about this, Damien. But, not right now. Report on the situation.¡± ¡°Apologies,¡± the elf with the paunch finally said. ¡°Who are you people? Dreadwood is not in the best state at the moment. If you¡¯ve come to stir up trouble¡ª¡± Kajal glared in his direction. ¡°We¡¯re emissaries from Skeelie, sent to give aid to the Wood King. You¡¯re a Wood Elf, yes? Do you have news to share about the goings-on in the forest?¡± The young div lumbered into view at that moment, pulling the wagon with Logain perched atop it. She glanced at me with curious eyes, and then at the elves, seeing just fine in the dark. The Wood Elf balked. ¡°Just the five of you? What could you possibly hope to accomplish here?¡± ¡°Six,¡± Medekeine hissed. ¡°A talking drake?!¡± The Wood Elf reached for his inventory, then mustered his composure. ¡°No . . . a Shifter. You¡¯re truly adventurers from the human kingdom, then?¡± ¡°And, from the dwarves.¡± ¡°Elves, goblins, humans, dwarves . . .¡± The Wood Elf shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s happening all over again: the goblin war. Sadly, it¡¯s too little too late. I¡¯m Dilwan, the leader of this expedition. One of the chieftains in Dreadwood.¡± He certainly didn¡¯t look the part. Most elves stood tall and lanky, with well-defined and rather exotic features. Dilwan, on the other hand, seemed closer in appearance to a deadbeat human dad. [Identify] placed him as a level 38 Shaman, a rather high rank. How could that be? He was stronger than each Dread Monkey, yet he had failed to defeat them even with help. Was there something I¡¯d missed? ¡°What are you doing here, Chief Dilwan?¡± Kajal asked. ¡°You¡¯re far away from home.¡± ¡°Home, eh?¡± Dilwan said with pained laughter. ¡°We don¡¯t have a home. The goblins besieged Nybala three days ago. It fell yesterday to flames and rage. The elves you see here could be the only survivors.¡± ¡°The elven villages are falling?¡± I asked. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± he said. ¡°We had the misfortune of being in the path of the goblin advance. We tried to flee in the direction of the Wood King¡¯s domain, but Goblin Riders chased after us and split our party into two groups. This group had nowhere else to turn than in the direction of Skeelie¡ª¡± ¡°Must be pretty bad,¡± Paz said, ¡°if elves are willing to seek refuge in human cities.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need refuge,¡± Dilwan hissed. ¡°We simply need a place to regroup and organize. We¡¯ll join the Wood King once we¡¯ve gathered our forces.¡± . . . Which sounded a lot like seeking refuge, bro. Why were you lying? ¡°Skeelie will take you in,¡± Kajal said, as though her words were final. ¡°You need only speak with Ezin the guildmaster. You¡¯re about a day¡¯s walk away from the border. Maybe two, because you travel with dependents.¡± ¡°The entire forest has turned against the Hinduli?,¡± Dilwan lamented. ¡°The wild god has abandoned us. It¡¯s the reason our village was destroyed . . . the only reason we have been beset by his playthings. This all began when an enemy entered his grounds and desecrated his temple.¡± ¡°Oh, wow,¡± I said and adjusted my collar, ¡°who would do such a thing?¡± The air suddenly felt hot and clammy. Dilwan continued, ¡°If you intend to visit the Wood King¡¯s court, you would be better served returning to your city. An army of goblins occupy the grounds between this region and his domain. You won¡¯t get far.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t intend to,¡± Kajal said. ¡°I hear the Wood King has outposts established for business with my kind.¡± ¡°And, you think that those outposts would remain after the onset of war? Hah!¡± Dilwan regarded her with crazy eyes. ¡°Tell you what, if you help us locate our survivors, I will personally lead you to the Wood King¡¯s domain. As a chieftain of Dreadwood, I possess the authority to bring emissaries to his court.¡± ¡°You just said that an army of goblins stands between us and the Wood King.¡± ¡°Then, you can accept my help or navigate your way past that army on your lonesome. Good luck completing your mission without knowledge of the current lay of the land.¡± Kajal pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll need to discuss this with my party.¡± ¡°Take all the time you need. It¡¯s not like we can travel much further beneath this blasted spell.¡± That caught my attention. ¡°You know the cause of the strange weather phenomenon?¡± ¡°The goblins, alright,¡± Dilwan said. ¡°They emerged from their mountain on the night of its first appearance. And, they have only grown stronger under its influence ever since. It¡¯s strange magic, I tell you. The power of Fear. Nybala would never have fallen otherwise.¡± ¡°Damien,¡± Kajal said, ¡°the rest of you too. Come aside for a moment. We need to talk.¡± I walked past Dilwan. ¡°How is it,¡± he said abruptly, ¡°that one of the Nanduli? made it this far?¡± ¡±What do you mean?¡± Dilwan raised his brows as if my question was nonsensical. ¡°Last we heard, Harkonean was the first village to fall. It¡¯s said that the goblins descended on it in their thousands and razed it to the ground.¡± No . . . ¡°Is this not true?¡± Dilwan asked, watching my reaction. ¡°That¡¯s all the tree whisperers say. The goblins have also not stopped singing praises of their exploits. One such goblin is called Galagor the Chief-killer . . .¡± Chief-killer? ¡°. . . because he broke the spine of old Nana Irithiel.¡± 092 Technique Choice The muscles stiffened in my jaw. A stale dryness made its way across my tongue. Nana was Gold-ranked; the strongest ranker I¡¯d met in Vizhima. We had parted ways only three weeks ago, which wasn¡¯t enough time for her people to be wiped out of existence. A sinister voice crawled into my head: It is. ¡°You lie,¡± I told Dilwan, unable to think of anything else. ¡°I lie?¡± the elf chieftain spat. ¡°Do you think I have nothing better to do than trade tall tales with you? Are the Dark Elves in Harkonean capable of resisting a goblin horde all on their own?¡± I muttered something unintelligible. ¡°The entire northern part of the forest has been overrun!¡± he said. ¡°Any elf unfortunate enough to occupy or visit those parts is now long dead¡±¡ªhis lips quivered¡ª¡°including my daughter.¡± Paz pulled me away. ¡°Come, friend. There¡¯s much yet to discuss.¡± ¡°But, this¡ª¡± ¡°I know,¡± Paz said with a calm tone. ¡°I know. We¡¯ll search every rock if we have to, every hill, crevice, and dell. But, you can¡¯t focus on that. Not now.¡± We huddled together with the rest of the group. Medekeine had shifted back into human form, but his eyes remained reptilian to retain the vision benefits they provided. Kajal offered me a sympathetic glance. ¡°I think it¡¯s smart to accept Dilwan¡¯s offer.¡± ¡°Smart?¡± Medekeine squawked. ¡°Joining a train of refugees would only slow us down.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be gone by tomorrow,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Besides, Dilwan is right. We know nothing about the current state of Dreadwood. Learning what we can from him is fair payment for helping his people. You also glean more information about the goblins, in turn. How is that not a win?¡± Paz pointed at his ears. ¡°You know the elves can hear you, yes?¡± ¡°I do.¡± . . . Which was Kajal¡¯s way of confirming her intent. She wanted to show the elves that we could be trusted. And, part of that trust involved letting them listen in on our discussion. However, I wasn¡¯t interested in any of her diplomacy. Dilwan¡¯s words plagued me all through our debate. Nana and Mavari were among the first friends I¡¯d made¡ªin this life and the other. Were they truly dead? Nilen and Hanno, too. What about Tybalt? I hated the dude but not enough to wish him a cruel fate at the hands of goblins. I stumbled around in a daze after we dispersed to help the elves establish a perimeter. Even if the Nanduli? survived, Harkonean was burned to the ground. The weight of that news trumped every other issue, including the confirmation that a Fear user stood among the ranks of the goblins. Paz and Kajal watched me with worried expressions as I went through the motions. Eventually, Kajal approached. ¡°You can stop now, Damien,¡± she said. ¡°Rest up.¡± ¡°No¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s an order. I won¡¯t pretend to understand the situation, but nothing Dilwan says is final until you confirm it with your eyes. Rest now. We need you for tomorrow.¡± I didn¡¯t argue¡ªmostly because she was right, but also because my displeasure could only be directed at myself. I had abandoned the Dark Elves to find allies and earn spirit orbs: a decision entirely of my making. I wasn¡¯t proud enough to believe that my presence would change the overall outcome of the battle. But, Nana could have survived had I been there to help her. My heart ached something fierce. Ultimately, I found a secluded spot in the forest and focused on the one thing that could occupy my thoughts. Stats. I had to get stronger. If the goblins had soldiers that could fight on par with gold rankers, then I needed more power to compete. The fight with the Primal Dread Monkeys had strengthened me by two levels, granting four stat points in total. I chucked them into Endurance, bringing the total to 20, and got a [System] message: You have upgraded an attribute. [END] has changed from Common to Greater. You have gained a 2x base boost to the hidden stat: Defense. Your health and stamina meters have also been reinforced. True enough, the red and green bars in the upper left corner of my sight lengthened by a substantial margin. Health and Stamina increased silently in the background the higher up one went, but Endurance provided a noticeable boost. Mavari had once told me that she considered Endurance to be the most important stat. And, thinking of Mavari . . . No. Stop that. I wouldn¡¯t go down that route. They all lived. They had to. I would accept nothing less. Completing the stat distribution left the technique choice as the only matter unfinished. I closed my eyes and activated [Meditation] by way of my usual yoga pose. The forest faded into utter blackness . . . which was a wild thing to say, considering how dark it was already under [Nightfall]. A giant [System] screen towered over my head. Please, choose a skill. Just you wait, gobbers and rival Fear users. I¡¯d show you why I alone throughout heaven and earth deserved this affinity . . . My eyes returned to the [System] screen. Hold on. Choose a skill?! Didn¡¯t that mean I would get options from the Assassin class, rather than my affinity? What the hell, man? Could you not see I needed a boost to match the enemy¡¯s [Nightfall]? The [System] screen unraveled into options, as though ignoring my complaints. [Blindsight] [Greater] Gotten tired of dealing with Tricksters and pesky Assassins? Say less, comrade! This technique grants the ability to see with both eyes closed, even through thick smoke! Compared to [Dark Vision], [Blindsight] is superior. You can see perfectly within a range of 50 meters regardless of lighting or vision-obscuring effects. It also allows the user to see through [Stealth] and most kinds of invisibility, making it a must-have for battles with rogues. This technique is so rare, that other rankers would trade their sons and daughters for it.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. . . . You sadly can¡¯t trade techniques. PS: This skill in its current state does not permit seeing through physical barriers and obstacles. Get your mind out of the gutter, lout! Cost: 5 VP/min. Oh, wow. My elven perks offered utility similar to [Dark Vision], but [Blindsight] was a significant upgrade by all metrics. It was a pity that it couldn¡¯t see through obstacles, but its ability to detect hidden enemies was definitely its biggest strength. The note at the bottom also implied additional functionality as one climbed up the ranks. It was very possible for [Blindsight] to become overpowered in the future. Combined with [Nightfall], this skill would allow me to terrorize enemies in Dreadwood. But, I needed to check the other one first. It read: [Impostor] [Greater] A Trickster¡¯s bread and butter! Were you born ugly? Do you have a hideous nose or odd rabbit teeth? Do you sport a washboard on your chest rather than bountiful blessings? Were you born into the wrong body? Were you born into the right body but enjoy kinky play anyway? Suffer no more! This skill allows you to assume the appearance and mannerisms of anyone you desire . . . as long as they classify as humanoid. A loss of over ten percent HP in a single strike undoes the technique. You can maintain the transformation for an entire day otherwise and may refresh it at the start of each day. Do note: The transformation caused by this technique is thorough, down to the very bits! . . . It includes those bits. Cost: 30 VP. I chuckled despite myself. The dual nature of the [System] notifications never failed to amuse me. Also, why did the [System] offer me, an Assassin, skills that belonged to the Trickster class? Did it have to do with the quality of enemies I¡¯d killed? Or was there some overlap between both classes? Probably the latter, but I wasn¡¯t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Sadly, as riveting as [Impostor] was, it did nothing to help my damage. [Blindsight] worked better with my build . . . Or maybe, that was the point. Nicola was a crowd-control Mage and already on track to become an efficient scout. Paz was an off-tank melee damage dealer who could also buff his allies. I was only good at killing, which was all an Assassin needed. But, unless I expanded my moveset, I ran the risk of becoming hyper-specialized. [Impostor] it is, then. The void faded into the forest with my selection of the skill. A few of the sturdier elves moved in the distance, helping Logain to set up a watch. With nothing left to do, I found a corner and settled to sleep. I dreamed of bloodshed. We repelled attacks from a few more monsters that night. The others handled it, however, allowing me to sleep. The next morning, the Wood Elves prepared for the final phase of their exodus. ¡°Just keep heading southward,¡± Kajal said. ¡°You aren¡¯t far away from the border. Ezin will be eager to hear all you have to tell.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Dilwan said and shared parting words with his rankers. Only two of them remained now after the fight with the monkeys. Those two would be responsible for protecting the refugees, who numbered about thirty strong. As the Wood Elves set out in the opposite direction, Dilwan turned to us. ¡°Well, what now?¡± [Nightfall] had faded a few hours before dawn, leaving the sun to once more take hold of the forest. Dilwan looked the same as I¡¯d estimated last night, with rust-red hair, ochre skin, and green, oval-shaped eyes. He wore a strap of fur around his shoulder to signify his position. A necklace of trinkets dangled on his neck. His paunch rumbled audibly without breakfast. And, why was a guy like this considered Nana¡¯s peer? Kajal answered his question. ¡°We¡¯ll find your missing people as promised. Do you have any idea where to begin?¡± Dilwan grimaced. ¡°It has to be the site of the attack, a few kilometers north. Hah . . . what am I even doing? I should be heading to safety, not jumping back in the fray.¡± He stared at his feet. After a short moment, he composed himself. ¡°We need to abandon the wagon if we are to move with haste. It will attract too much attention. The goblins have grown bold enough to patrol the areas they¡¯ve conquered.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll ditch it only as a last resort,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, we can travel with it at no cost to speed. We have a div in our employ.¡± ¡°A div?! You mean those monsters of destruction? The same ones who can go toe to toe with Gold rankers?¡± Dilwan gave me a curious look. ¡°I¡¯m not the div,¡± I said. ¡°I would be surprised. But, that¡¯s not the reason I¡¯m looking. I can tell an Irithiel by those eyes alone.¡± He frowned. ¡°What were you doing frolicking with humans while your kinsmen fought for their lives? With your power . . .¡± ¡°Damien¡¯s a hero of the Labyrinth,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, he¡¯s no superhero. You don¡¯t need to place more expectations on him.¡± ¡°A hero of the Labyrinth, huh?¡± Dilwan shook his head. ¡°If only we could face chimeras rather than goblins. Nybala might have survived.¡± He struck down the path, muttering to himself, ¡°What even is a superhero?¡± The rest of us followed after him. With the invasion throwing the local fauna into a frenzy, we didn¡¯t leave the path for fear of sudden encounters. Every creature seemed on high alert in Dreadwood, including the trees, the birds, and the wild god¡¯s freaking pets. I ended up at the back of the convoy alongside the div. Dilwan handled navigation just fine, which freed me up to keep an eye on the rear. The div glanced at me with a perplexed expression, brown eyes shaded by a curtain of black hair. Her small pre-adolescent frame shuddered as she pulled the wagon along, somehow defying the laws of physics. ¡°Sorry,¡± I said. ¡°I just realized that I never asked your name.¡± She kept her eyes on the path, ignoring my question. It was a heart-wrenching sight. Ancient spirit or not, she still looked like a ten-year-old girl. And, even though she could manage it just fine, it was wrong to have her pull the wagon after us . . . dressed like a slave: barefoot and rags. None of my shoes fit her tiny feet. Only ranker-grade items possessed the ability to adjust to the size of the wielder. However, I still had the top hat that I¡¯d worn to the guild funeral. It should at least provide some shade from the sun. Without thinking, I retrieved it and placed it on her head. The div gasped. ¡°Master?¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± Medekeine roared and charged at my position. ¡°What did you do?!¡± ¡°I gave her a hat,¡± I said after my initial shock. ¡°Surely, in this heat¡ª¡± He knocked the top hat off her head. ¡°You don¡¯t get to that! You don¡¯t get to give her anything!¡± The div let go of the wagon and cowered from his wrath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, master! Don¡¯t hit me, please!¡± ¡°Stop acting up!¡± Medekeine said. ¡°When have I ever laid a hand on you?¡± I reached for my dagger but stopped myself. This wasn¡¯t the time to give in to emotions. There was a lot about this world that I needed to learn. And, what if, in giving the div the hat or even a sock, I had committed a blunder like in that one fantasy series? ¡°Explain,¡± I said. Medekeine snarled. ¡°Maybe, you should have considered that before doing whatever you wanted.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a div, elf,¡± Logain said in his place. ¡°They don¡¯t get to keep possessions. The more of it they own, the stronger they become.¡± I glanced at him and then at the girl who cowered at our feet. How was that even¡ª ¡°There are many stories,¡± Logain continued, ¡°of unassuming people treating bound or wounded divs with kindness. Cots, clothing, accessories . . . even cutlery. It never ends well. Once a div regains lost power by tying itself to its possessions, bloodshed quickly ensues.¡± ¡°Then, send her away,¡± I said to Medekeine. ¡°If she is such a security risk, why keep her around?¡± The dwarf¡¯s face purpled. ¡°You try to embolden my slave, then tell me how to treat it?¡± ¡°Not it. Her. She¡¯s a living being.¡± ¡°She only lives as long as I permit!¡± Paz interspersed his spear between the two of us. ¡°Back off, shorty. I don¡¯t like your attitude.¡± Medekeine growled. ¡°Div.¡± Without warning, she sprang from her position and kicked Paz in the neck. He blocked it with his forearm and skidded a few inches backward. ¡°Ouch.¡± I restrained again from summoning my dagger. ¡°Call her off.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Medekeine smirked. ¡°He threatened me first.¡± Kajal loomed behind him. ¡°Call. Her. Off.¡± A strange presence shimmered in the air behind her, like the pressure of wind rolling down a mountain. She fixed a look of pure granite at the dwarf: a perfect return of the no-nonsense woman I had seen back then at the tavern. Dilwan snorted. ¡°You call Wood Elves barbaric, yet you fight among yourselves with minor provocations. You couldn¡¯t find a better way to settle your issues?¡± ¡°Oi,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m not going to take that from the lowlives who isolated my people.¡± Medekeine ordered the div to stand down and glowered at Dilwan as if affronted at the very thought of a Wood Elf chastising him. Logain pointed at a distance above the treeline. ¡°That¡¯s not normal, is it?¡± Smoke. A dark stream of it rose in the north. 093 Wooden Linings Wood Elves didn¡¯t burn wood out of respect for the wild god. Smoke like this could therefore only be the handiwork of goblins or the result of a recent battle. We were too far away to inspect whatever it was. But, the rising smoke filled us with a sense of urgency. If the goblins were active in the vicinity, there was no telling when they¡¯d cross our path. ¡°Make haste,¡± Dilwan said, sprinting through the forest. He wove through obstacles like a sprite, leaving the undergrowth undisturbed in his passage. The rest of our party couldn¡¯t move with similar grace, save for me. They did their best to travel as noiselessly as possible. However, the punishing pace, combined with the speeding wagon, hampered their efforts. Dilwan led us to a section of the path that cut through a dell. ¡°Here,¡± he said. ¡°This was where we first noticed the pursuers.¡± Warm wind rustled through the treetops. Medekeine crouched and inspected the ground. ¡°Goblin Riders, huh?¡± ¡°On large Dread Tigers,¡± Dilwan said. The elves didn¡¯t leave footprints, but the area was filled with indents made by massive paws. A few other signs offered a full picture of the story: torn sandals, an abandoned backpack, and claw marks left on trees by passing Dread Tigers. The smoke kept rising in the north. ¡°We¡¯ll move quietly now,¡± I said, even as the hair rose on my nape. ¡°At what point did both groups get separated?¡± ¡°Follow,¡± Dilwan said. We traveled past even more signs of pursuit. Expended arrows denoted the point at which the elves started fighting back. Paz studied them intently. ¡°What are the chances that the others are still alive?¡± ¡°Maximum,¡± Dilwan said. ¡°My own group got the short end of the stick, but the other had twice the number of rankers and fewer regulars to boot. Some of my fiercest fighters counted among their number. They won¡¯t lose to mere Goblin Riders.¡± . . . Says the elf whose village recently got destroyed. I refrained from pointing that out, however. Hope was a poison: one which I also imbibed to the point of drunkenness. Dilwan deserved a silver lining after all he¡¯d been through, though the crinkle in his forehead revealed that he wasn¡¯t free from doubt. We crept stealthily through the forest, cautious now that we knew we neared a recent battlefield. Before long, we came across the first Goblin Rider corpse. And, his deceased mount. Dilwan said, ¡°This is where we went off in separate directions.¡± He gestured further off into the forest, in a direction where the trees grew narrower even for Dreadwood. ¡°The plan was to lead them so far off the path to provoke an attack from the wild god¡¯s pets.¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing this worked,¡± Kajal said. ¡°It worked for us,¡± Dilwan confirmed. ¡°In no time at all, their pursuit was hampered by a troop of Dread Monkeys.¡± ¡°And, you joined in killing them,¡± I said, ¡°which caused the primals to come after you.¡± Dilwan regarded me with curious eyes. ¡°You know an awful lot about the monkeys, considering they are only a recent addition to the fauna in Dreadwood.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had my fair share of run-ins with them.¡± ¡°Did you now? A scouting party of mine clashed with a Primal Dread Monkey three weeks ago . . .¡± His eyes widened. ¡°They mentioned meeting a Dark Elf . . .¡± Eh? ¡°Can we get on with this already?¡± Medekeine said. ¡°The air here smells foul. Like sewage three days old.¡± Dilwan reluctantly returned to the terrain. ¡°The other group went off in this direction. Half of the Goblin Riders peeled away at this point to give pursuit.¡± He retraced their steps, relying on his keen elven senses. ¡°If my guess is right, they fought off the goblins successfully and continued toward the southern border . . .¡± There it was again. That painful hope. But, it turned out that Dilwan was right. The Wood Elves had successfully repelled the goblins, judging by the next scene we encountered. There wasn¡¯t a single monster corpse left lying around, but the signs of battle remained. Hastily erected mounds stood out among the battlefield, indicating where slain elves had been buried. Dilwan stared at those graves and made a fist. ¡°Not bad,¡± Logain said. ¡°They were indeed as hardy as you said. I can offer a small prayer of Compassion for the deceased.¡± Medekeine snorted. ¡°A prayer to whom? We have no gods.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you think. But, there are forces in this world beyond your understanding.¡± Did he refer to the forces behind the summoning of Migrant Souls? ¡°Do what you want,¡± Dilwan said, shutting down a potential argument between the two. Logain beamed and faced the corpses. He mumbled some words and clasped his hands in prayer. A brief burst of radiance emanated from his form. Distant bells tolled in my head. I could almost hear a choir singing in the distance, but that faded at the onset of a fresh breeze that blew through the gathering. It erased the stench of death. ¡°What did you do?¡± Dilwan asked. ¡°I activated [Hallowed Ground],¡± Logain said, wearing a serene expression for the first time since I¡¯d known him. ¡°This should help protect the gravesite from scavengers and monsters.¡± Dilwan shivered, then said in a choked voice. ¡°Thank you.¡± We allowed him a moment¡¯s reprieve.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°The elves survived then?¡± Kajal said, tapping her chin. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll find them soon enough.¡± ¡°I told you they would,¡± Dilwan said, swelling with pride. ¡°We lost the village due to foul magic. But, out here in the forest, we are in our element.¡± He resumed his role at the front of our formation, scouring the forest for tracks. ¡°When this is over, I will take you to the Wood King. You shall witness the Hinduli? in all their glory.¡± Medekeine stiffened a few meters in and raised his head. Dark scales appeared across his face. ¡°There¡¯s another site of battle. Not too far off.¡± Paz checked the air. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°More slain goblins then!¡± Dilwan said. He surged in the direction that Medekeine pointed, increasing his pace. The rest of us followed cautiously. I glanced once again at the ominous column of smoke in the distance, and then I turned my attention to the matter at hand. Medekeine led us down a slope and into rugged terrain. I flanked the group from the side and came across the first goblin corpse. This time, it hadn¡¯t been looted. More corpses filled our path: goblins and Dread Tigers both. Dilwan beamed. ¡°The steel of the Hinduli? can never be dulled. These goblins learned the truth of the world firsthand.¡± He suffered one crucial blind spot, however. The corpses had not been looted. The only time a Vizhiman ignored the chance to loot was when a greater need hampered their ability to do so. One such as death. Paz bade us to a halt. ¡°We should probably stop here.¡± Dilwan rose from beside a goblin corpse that he had been inspecting. A knife wound punctured its side. ¡°What do you mean? These are good signs! The goblins didn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Paz gestured solemnly at a cluster of trees. The foremost of them looked like any other swordfruit tree, with its stout trunk and large branches. But, high up the trunk, a pale corpse dangled . . . Tall, humanoid, ochre-skinned . . . with both arms nailed above its head. Dilwan trembled. ¡°No . . .¡± The rest of us froze. Wood Elves, over twenty in number, decorated the cluster of trees. Some of them bore grotesque wounds on their necks and chests; others had been disemboweled. Each shared a similarity, however: crucifixion in death. And, in some cases, the Wood Elves had been crucified alive, only to bleed away in helplessness. Dilwan uttered a loud cry. He stumbled toward the trees, fell, and then crawled on all fours through the grass. A broken howl spilled from his throat. The sight wounded the hearts of all of us, including brash Medekeine who turned away for a few seconds. Logain muttered a prayer under his breath. Paz wore an inscrutable expression on his face, but he rarely reacted to violence, no matter how gruesome. I knew what the goblins were capable of, having fought them myself. But, this level of brutality . . . Gosh. They hadn¡¯t spared a single soul. Rankers, regulars, adults, and children. All dangled from the tree trunks, nailed at the hands. Many had died before the act, but many more had bled to death. I closed my eyes to stop the bile from rising in my throat. Kajal knelt beside Dilwan, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. Even the div seemed conflicted, watching it all with an odd look on her face. She didn¡¯t need to see this. No matter what the others said, she was still a child. Wasn¡¯t there something I could do? [Identify]. The skill could help differentiate between the living and the deceased. If we could save even one elf¡ª! Corpse of Wood Elf LVL 10. Corpse of Wood Elf LVL 10. Corpse of Wood Elf LVL 4. Corpse of Wood Elf LVL 10. No! I needed one. Just one. Please! Goblin Scout LVL 29. I flung a knife before the notification fully appeared and knocked an arrow out of the air. The shooter, who had emerged from hiding among the corpses, blanched. ¡°Attack!¡± I said. ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡± Kajal tried to turn, but an arrow struck her in the head before she could finish. A swarm of goblins rose from the forest floor, as silent as death and just as fatal. They had erstwhile been hidden by illusion magic, and, goddammit, why hadn¡¯t I seen that coming? A series of buffs and debuffs went off on all sides. You are within range of an allied [Draconic Aura]! Your attacks now deal 50% more damage. Your speed and defenses have also risen by 50%. You are affected by an enemy spell: [Seeking]! All missiles will now hone in on your position. You are within range of an allied [Heroic Defense]! Stamina has risen by 25%. Defense has risen by 50%. You are affected by the skill [Evil Eye]. You are now [Dismayed]! All stats have been reduced by two. Hey, it seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. The [System] screens bombarded me with an influx of information, thankfully staying in the periphery of my vision. Did all of those techniques leave me better off or worse than at the start? Paz¡¯s [Draconic Aura] was recognizable among the clutter, and [Heroic Defense] seemed friendly if unfamiliar. The combination of [Evil Eye] and [Scaredy-cat] gave me whiplash, however. And, what the hell was [Seeking]?! Medekeine roared, causing most of the goblins to falter for one moment. He took the chance to assume [Bestial Shape] and crouched to the ground. A massive, four-limbed lizard stood in his place. In the light of the sun, I could finally see it for what it was. The long tail, black scales, and stubby limbs joined a thick trunk that sported a beefy neck. It raised its massive head and tasted the air with a pink, forked tongue. Medekeine¡ªin Komodo dragon form¡ªdarted at a goblin. Blood painted the grass. Paz danced nearby with his spear, catching an arrow between his teeth. He skewered a goblin that leaped at him from out of the undergrowth and advanced on another. Kajal needed my help . . . but, she seemed to be doing just fine. Together with Logain, they protected a stunned Dilwan who reacted the slowest to the ambush. The arrow that Kajal had been shot with hovered a few inches from her head. I faded into [Stealth]. One devious goblin had been waiting for a chance to gut me and blinked as I appeared behind him. [Sneak Attack] tore through his health, and [Silhouette] finished the job. I weaved around a tree and pinned another goblin to the trunk by his throat. His crossbow clattered out of his hands as he choked in disbelief. Thanks to the double damage of [Sneak Attack], I didn¡¯t need to strike more than twice. Another goblin met a horrid end on the tip of my blade. The latest maneuver took me out of the thick of the fighting, enough that I could finally assess the situation. Fuck. A large number of goblins converged on our position, pouring out of the woodwork. The initial assault featured the weakest of the pack who brought knives, bows, and crossbows to bear. A separate group made up the second wave, looking bigger and more physically imposing than the rest of the litter. Farther back in the distance, a pack of ten Goblin Riders watched. Three Goblin Sorcerers stood among their number, equipped with hooded cloaks and gnarled wooden staffs. It brought the total number of ambushers to a little over fifty. How long had they been in pursuit? This was a losing fight unless we took control of the momentum. ¡°Paz¡ª¡± I said. A bright flash emanated from behind a tree. A lightning bolt followed the next instant and struck me dead in the chest. Pain radiated from the point of contact, setting my ribs aflame. I ended up with my back to the ground. The blasted [Seeking] spell had left me with no chance to dodge. I didn¡¯t even see the caster. Grasses rustled around me. Two pairs of toad eyes approached my position and peered down at my face. The goblins behind them smirked and brandished their daggers. And then, they stabbed at my chest. 094 Goblin Slayer [Silhouette] moved first. A large mass of shadows sprang over my form, blocking the initial assault. It only served to enrage the goblins who shrieked and hammered my defense. Heavy blows thudded upon the shadow, failing to penetrate its hide. I had to move and continue the fight, but the pain . . . my gosh, the pain. The Night Scout Armor burned from contact with the lightning bolt, like a massive weight pressed upon my chest. The goblins didn¡¯t let up. They really wanted to kill me, huh? Maddened leers wove across their features as they stabbed for all they were worth. They reaped the reward of their efforts. In no time at all, spider cracks appeared across my shadow. [Silhy] was a good boy, however, and having gone up against much worse, including almighty Byron, it wouldn¡¯t give up yet. And, neither should I. Not when I had [Fear Aura]. The atmosphere on the battlefield changed. The goblins blanched as the sinister aura rose from me and covered the battlefield. Their yellow toad eyes dilated in their ugly, green faces. One of them took a few steps backward, voice trembling with reverence. ¡°Master?!¡± I ignored the stream of [System] notifications that announced the onset of [Dismay]. [Silhouette] took the chance to fade back into my shadow, and I rose in exchange: an incarnate of death. The first goblin was brave enough to put up a defense. I slashed mercilessly at his eyes. Health armor protected him, but it took a rare kind of bravery to ignore a hit to the eyeball. The goblin flinched in shock, giving me the window I needed to tear through his neck. His spine broke beneath my blade, killing him before he fell. The second goblin abandoned his knife and reached for something in his pouch. I flicked his companion¡¯s blood in his face and tackled him to the ground. He was strong, this goblin. Way stronger than me. However, with two buffs propping up my defense, there could only be one winner of our tussle. That winner was me. I left the goblin as a carved-up mass on the forest floor and took stock of our situation. The enemies reacted slowly. [Fear Aura] had improved in potency since I¡¯d attained silver rank, but it didn¡¯t explain the way they gaped in my direction. It allowed my companions to mount a comeback. Komo-keine tore a goblin to pieces with his massive maw and bashed another with his tail. Logain stepped in to finish the job, striking with his sword. Radiant light erupted at the point of contact, launching the unfortunate goblin into the air. Kajal had taken even more arrows since I¡¯d seen her. But, none managed to reach her actual body. They hung in midair, swirling around her as she moved. She resembled a character straight out of a wuxia flick if wuxia MCs made sport of turning goblins to paste. Dilwan had also joined the fight, but he moved sluggishly, beset by grief. [Fear Aura] proved his saving grace, helping him escape a cluster of attackers. One of the larger goblins pointed at me. ¡°Dark Elf,¡± he screamed. ¡°Kill! Kill him!¡± The goblins shook themselves out of their daze. Slowly but surely, they recovered from whatever it was they had seen in my aura. And then, as if a fire had been lit in their bellies, they shrieked at the air and converged at my position. I didn¡¯t wait for them to arrive at my doorstep. I went knocking first. The one who had given the command wore a single leather pauldron that denoted him as a goblin of significant rank. He only got a chance to blink before I dashed forward in [Stealth] and reappeared behind him. To his credit, he tracked my movements just fine and swung his scimitar. But, that had only been the bait. I couldn¡¯t count on pure [Stealth] against a perceptive enemy. I had other tricks up my sleeves. The goblin¡¯s eyes widened as he cut through my semi-tangible [Decoy]. And then, I in turn cut through him. He survived the slash and rolled away. Arrows thudded at my position. Defend. [Silhouette] intercepted the missiles, eager to please as always. I chased after the retreating goblin and ran into another burly one who attacked from behind a tree. His blade missed my nose by mere inches. More arrows fell from the sky. I bodily hauled him into their path, grinning as the arrows riddled his back. The goblin bit my arm in an act of defiance. That would be his last. The Blackreach Dagger lengthened with shadows and ruptured his gut. With the dead goblin still hanging on my dagger, I chased after his fleeing comrade and kicked him in the back. He rolled with surprising grace and retaliated . . . only to find his scimitar stopped by my shield. My dead goblin shield. I rode him down with the deceased between us and knifed him repeatedly through the corpse. The Blackreach Dagger replicated my affinity for a small amount of mana. The extended blade that formed, as a result, plunged first through the corpse and then into the body of the struggling goblin. Lungs. Gut. Neck. I didn¡¯t stop as long as he breathed. Each plunge of my dagger worsened his terror, until with a scream, he cried: ¡°Mother! No more! Please!¡± My final strike pierced his mouth and burst out of his nape.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. More [System] notifications appeared. Any goblin who hadn¡¯t been affected by [Fear Aura] yet succumbed after that horrific display. Another bright flash emanated from Logain¡¯s weapon as he struggled to keep up with Kajal. Kajal for her part inched toward my position, flinging goblins aside without physical contact. Paz¡¯s [Draconic Aura] had not yet receded, which confirmed his safety. But, where was the div? The cart remained in place, though I didn¡¯t expect her to stay by its side. Ah, never mind. A brief window in the battlefield revealed Div on her knees, pummeling a goblin with her bare fists. Another flash signified Logain¡¯s reuse of his attack. Wait¡ª ¡°Silhy!¡± The lightning bolt crashed against my shadow, reducing it to dust. As long as I remained affected by the [Seeking] spell, I was practically a sitting duck. I couldn¡¯t even pinpoint the source of the attack, what with the way it curved and bent. And, judging by my health meter, I could only take one more direct hit. Komo-keine roared: An actual technique that intensified the effects of [Fear Aura]. The goblins still held a numerical advantage, but their ambush had broken completely. The second wave had joined the battle now, proving fiercer than the first. I killed two more of the nasty critters from out of [Stealth], keeping an eye out for the hidden caster. The ten Goblin Riders who watched from the distance unnerved me, but they were yet to move. The Goblin Sorcerers, on the other hand . . . Oh, fuck. Whatever they were doing, it couldn¡¯t be good. The three Goblin Sorcerers waved their staffs in a circle, pooling their mana together. The sky above them rippled with energy. Everyone else was too occupied to notice. It came down to me. [Dark Stalker], however, didn¡¯t fare well in bright lighting. I could probably sneak up on them if I circled the area, but aside from the risk of arriving after they were done, how was I supposed to deal with ten Goblin Riders and their caster supports all on my own? The lead goblin in particular seemed buff enough to match Paz in arm wrestling. He stood a good foot taller than his peers, which only put him around five feet. A quick use of [Identify] denoted him as a Goblin Captain LVL 33. That was one powerful foe. The other goblins around him¡ªRiders by the looks of it¡ªwere equally as strong. They rode iron-ranked Dread Tigers which bared their teeth at the fighting, restless from the stench of blood. I¡¯d die the moment I charged into that gathering, but someone had to disrupt their plans. I just needed to get rid of the hidden caster first, the one who used [Seeking]. There was only one way I could think of to beat him, but that left the Goblin Sorcerers unchecked till I was done. Paz blurred past nearby, and . . . yes . . . that would do it. Paz. I ran toward the redhead, abandoning all attempts at stealth. The hidden caster was sure to be watching, and by acting defenseless, I could bait them to take a shot. Paz frowned as I knifed the goblin he had been fighting from behind. ¡°Big guy!¡± I said and jerked my head toward the Goblin Riders. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of them. Someone else is on my tail, however. Think you can help?¡± Paz brushed me aside without speaking and intercepted a lightning bolt aimed at my back. He punted it into the forest with his [Deflect Missile] skill. A nearby tree toppled to the ground. ¡°Go,¡± he said and chased after the caster. He didn¡¯t need to tell me twice. The rider group would notice my approach if I tried my usual methods. But, they wouldn¡¯t see my trump card coming. I snuck behind a tree and, for the first time since I¡¯d gotten it, I activated a technique: [Impostor]. Nothing fancy happened. No bright flash or display of power followed the activation, but a [System] screen appeared in my gaze. It looked like a character creation UI from video games back on Earth. A humanoid outline occupied the left side of the screen, opposite an interesting array of toggles and sliders. There were many customization options to choose from: height, color, hair, build¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the time! I needed a quick transformation . . . Create a persona from memory? The [System] asked. The image of the last goblin I had killed jumped into my mind. Persona selected. Unnamed build 001: [Goblin Scout]. The screens faded right after, leaving me standing closer to the ground. Oh, my days. I had become green-skinned and short. With spindly arms, sharp teeth, and a rather sickly figure. Was that snot dripping from my nose? The transformation was so comprehensive that even my armor changed its appearance. I could feel the soft weight of the Night Scout Armor on my skin, but my eyes revealed a crude breastplate and loincloth covering my form. Gobbo-Damien or Damelin, a.k.a me, grinned in an unnerving way. One that stretched my lips up to my ears. I ran across the battlefield, moving in my new body with such ease that it seemed like I¡¯d been born in it. The Goblin Captain snarled as I approached his posse. He drew his crossbow and stopped me within ten meters. ¡°Foul wench. Do you intend to flee?¡± Don¡¯t tell me . . . this body belonged to a female goblin?! How was I supposed to tell the difference? In my excitement, I hadn¡¯t peeked beneath my loincloth. And, now that I thought of it, my nethers felt strangely breezy. Ah, wait. I needed to act the part. ¡°I¡¯m not running away!¡± I squealed, surprising myself with how authentic I sounded. ¡°I have news, captain. News!¡± Was captain the right term to use? I knew way too little about goblins or their customs. The only thing I could say with certainty about them was that they considered milkskin an insult. Correct or not, the Goblin Captain didn¡¯t listen to my words. ¡°Return to battle.¡± He primed his crossbow. ¡°We do not deviate from the plan.¡± His Dread Tiger hissed to emphasize the threat. I had since outgrown my fear of Dread Tigers, but I shivered all the same to sell the ruse. Behind the Goblin Riders, the sorcerers prepared their spell. The area around them swelled noticeably with magic, enough to affect the movement of the wind. They had entered the final stages of their preparations. What words would allow me into their circle? Ah, yes . . . ¡°It¡¯s about the Fear user, captain!¡± I shrieked. The Goblin Riders flinched. Bingo. ¡°I have stolen something from him! Something that boosted his power. Look!¡± I unveiled The Blackreach Dagger and crossed my fingers. The Goblin Sorcerers entered the final stages. Any moment now . . . ¡°Bring it,¡± The Goblin Captain said with a slight stutter in his voice. ¡°Bring here, ugly!¡± Ugly? My brother in gobliness, have you looked in a mirror? Regardless, I had succeeded at my job. I scurried up to the filthy bastard and presented the dagger¡ªnot. A timely stumble allowed me to trip exaggeratedly and land smack dab in the middle of their gathering. It put me within two meters of the nearest sorcerer. Shadow tendrils bubbled up from the ground. I hadn¡¯t placed much hope in [Silhouette]¡¯s ability to kill off the goblins, but I¡¯d failed to account for the boon from [Sneak Attack]. The first sorcerer died before he hit the ground. The others took damage but barely escaped. ¡°Bastard!¡± the captain screamed. I grabbed The Blackreach Dagger and braced myself for the toughest fight of my life. The captain didn¡¯t look at me, however. He gaped instead at the spot above the sorcerers, going pale in the face. A large rift opened in midair, tearing through the fabric of reality. Disrupting the sorcerers had ruined their spell, with the bonus points of causing it to spiral out of control. A large torrent of water crashed out of the rift onto our position. Oh shit. 095 Nameless The water hit the ground with an earth-shattering roar. The Goblin Riders and I bore the full brunt of the attack, losing our footing in two seconds flat. The cascade struck with the force of battering rams¡ªhundred, no, two hundred strong. Darkness followed a loss of consciousness as I plunged into the deep. The icy water numbed my senses, forcing me into a weird state of limbo. I saw and heard nothing for what felt like an eternity. And then, I awoke to the sensation of water filling my lungs. My spirit returned to my body to find it swept in a shrieking tangle of goblins and Dread Tigers. The torrent pulled us apart and surged toward the rest of the battle. I flailed around for something to hold, but the raging water that poured from the rift showed no signs of stopping. It only increased. Thankfully, the rift couldn¡¯t be forced open any wider. The incoming water squeezed through the aperture, which reduced the volume that came through each second but worsened the force. What the hell had the Goblin Sorcerers done? Opened a rift to the bottom of a river? How much more devastating would the spell have been if I didn¡¯t interrupt their casting? The only answer I got was in the form of drowning. A struggle that ended when I crashed into a tree. The tree groaned with the strain and toppled backward, joining a few others that did so in rapid succession. The initial water damage had also knocked me out of [Impostor], placing me back into the body of old Cyran Irithiel. That body was not going to drown today if I had any say in the matter. The Chains of the Combat Ape appeared in my hands. But, where was The Blackreach Dagger? I¡¯d been holding onto it seconds before the freaking rift opened. Crap. I summoned two regular-grade knives instead and formed Chain Nails out of the combination. And then, using all of my strength, I latched onto the next tree I passed. The Chain Nails fused with its trunk. That tree groaned too and grew cracks across its surface, threatening to fall. I abandoned it in search of another and finally attached myself to the largest I could find. The water kept pouring. Everyone had gone missing now, including my teammates and the goblins they had been fighting. Our heavy wagon bobbed in the distance and vanished beneath the surface. It boggled my mind to think that the Goblin Riders had planned to do this all along: kill us alongside their minions. Was there some path for recourse that the goblin scouts could pursue? Surely, the HR equivalent of the goblin horde would not tolerate this flagrant abuse of power. One large deridum tree swept past my position, bearing a crucified Wood Elf on its trunk. My chest tightened at the desecration of the corpses, but I took succor in the fact that they no longer served the goblins¡¯ nefarious purposes. The water served as a cleanser in that regard to wash away the hideous atrocity. I lost sense of time as I clung to the tree, sopping wet and soaked to the bone. The rift eventually closed after a while, bringing an end to the artificial flood. It left a wretched scene of flooding and devastation, with one humanoid¡ªa Dark Elf¡ªglued to one of the few safeholds that remained. The water would spread in due time or seep into the ground. Or it might not. I had no idea how any of this worked. For now, I simply floated in the water, conscious of the fact that I couldn¡¯t swim. It turned out that having a high Dexterity stat was all one needed to traverse water in a semi-manageable way. I had lost most of my HP during the flood, but I didn¡¯t take a health potion, not until I was certain that the battle was done. The Night Scout Armor weighed heavily on me as I swam, but it was nothing that Common Strength couldn¡¯t bear. Out on the horizon, the sun descended in announcement of the imminence of night. My most prized possession¡ªThe Blackreach Dagger¡ªhad gone missing in the fiasco. Paz and the others were nowhere to be found. And, oh god . . . this was like the teleportation tiles in the Labyrinth all over again. I swam around some more, alternating between trees for handholds, until I reached a point where the water tapered off into muddy ground. I flopped in the mud and reached for a stamina potion to restore my perilously low green meter. The fading sunlight shone on my face. Water sloshed around in my lungs. I wheezed and retched at intervals, hating everything about Vizhima. This was so pathetic. A few minutes later, I¡¯d regained enough fortitude to return to my feet. A collection of [System] messages awaited me, but despite the number of kills, I didn¡¯t manage a single level-up. More importantly, I didn¡¯t kill any of my companions. I had no way of knowing if my interference with the sorcerers¡¯ spellcasting counted as a valid means of contribution. Whatever the case, I was thankful that I didn¡¯t get XP for any tragedies. Paz would survive based on [Sanguine Return] alone. And, Medekeine¡¯s Shifter class did wonders for his resilience. Kajal didn¡¯t seem the type to go down easily, but the same couldn¡¯t be said about Logain and his heavy armor. I''d like to think that he survived alongside the others. However, a search and rescue would help allay the worst of my fears. The exercise took me alongside the edge of the lake to the feet of a trapped Dread Tiger. A tree had fallen over its thigh, pinning it to the ground. I freed it from the chains of life and was just about to loot its corpse when a figure wandered out of the water. ¡°Div?!¡± The young girl blinked up at me. Without saying a word, she tugged our wagon out of the drink and toppled heaving to the ground. The wagon must have been made out of ranker-grade wood because it remained upright, despite a few areas of damage. A couple of the rock oil containers had sailed off in the chaos. What remained could still do wonders for the elves.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to,¡± I said, watching the little girl. ¡°What if you¡¯d drowned?¡± ¡°Master gave me an order,¡± she said, ¡°to protect the cargo with my life.¡± A quick look at her health meter showed she had taken that order literally. It blinked empty with recent damage from her voyage underwater. ¡°Hold on.¡± I ruffled around my inventory. ¡°Let¡¯s get you a health potion.¡± Div shook her head. She raised her hand and muttered a word. ¡°[Heal].¡± Golden light surrounded her, infusing her with magic. Her health meter rose, and she repeated the spell two more times to fill it to the brim. ¡°That¡¯s . . .¡± I stuttered. ¡°That¡¯s an affinity. Which is it?¡± ¡°Love.¡± She glanced casually at me. ¡°Do you need healing?¡± ¡°I guess?¡± Div gestured for me to crouch without rising from where she lay. I did as she asked and allowed her to pat my head. Okay . . . this was odd. Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be some malevolent creature? ¡°[Heal].¡± Soft light bathed me. It evoked the sensation of a hug, as though from a lover or a worried parent. I almost caught a fleeting glimpse of my birth mother in that light. The affinity of Love, huh? Monsters sometimes possessed affinities, but the only ones I could think of were goblins and now, Divs. Was there some correlation between sapience and access to the [System]? ¡°That¡¯s a pretty nifty ability you¡¯ve got there,¡± I said. ¡°Why did Medekeine say nothing about it?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m only allowed to use my abilities at his discretion,¡± she answered with a shrug. ¡°In the event of his absence, I will use them to further his goals.¡± ¡°And, you¡¯re fine with this? With being a slave?¡± Div sighed. ¡°Can you free me, sir?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t even know where to begin . . .¡± ¡°It¡¯s the cage. Master has it. Whoever holds my cage commands my obedience.¡± ¡°And, what would happen should he perish with this cage in his possession?¡± ¡°I¡¯d also die.¡± Well, that was morbid. I skirted around her request. ¡°Since you aren¡¯t dead yet. It¡¯s safe to assume that the angry dwarf lives. Is it possible for you to locate him?¡± ¡°. . . No.¡± I pretended to ignore her hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re alone now in either case. Why not run away?¡± Div adopted a forlorn look. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Right. Obedience seals. Not to mention, I had no idea how collars and other magic contracts worked. ¡°How did you end up a slave, anyway?¡± She didn¡¯t reply. Too sensitive? I¡¯d always wanted to talk with her out of earshot of the others. I couldn¡¯t tolerate the ownership of slaves: humans and monsters alike. But, until I learned more, everyone else acted like slavery was perfectly normal for Divs. ¡°You don¡¯t need to answer that,¡± I said. Div accepted the offer. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± We sat around in silence a little while longer. No matter how I looked at it, she still acted like a child. How could anyone treat her with such hatred? ¡°Can I have your name?¡± I asked. Div opened her mouth, paused, and considered her words. ¡°I don¡¯t have a name.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never been called anything in your life?¡± ¡°. . . Everyone just calls me Div.¡± ¡°That¡¯s like saying I should be fine with being addressed as Elf. You need a proper name.¡± Div sat up slowly and stared out over the makeshift lake which ebbed with flotsam and jetsam. ¡°You can call me whatever you want, sir. I will accept it if that is your desire. But, I don¡¯t think that Master would be pleased.¡± ¡°The short fiend doesn¡¯t need to know. And, can you stop referring to me that way? My name is Damien.¡± ¡°Damien . . .¡± ¡°And, yours will be . . .¡± I frowned. A name was an important gift. The only one that a person received at birth and took to their graves. It could even be described as the ultimate possession. Possession, huh? Div¡¯s eyes narrowed at the look on my face. ¡°Is something wrong, Damien?¡± I replied with a chuckle. ¡°That was pretty devious of you. Making it seem like it was my idea.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°You get stronger the more possessions you amass. What could be more valuable than a name?¡± The div¡¯s expression changed. A black look crossed her face, of unbridled rage so carefully repressed. She schooled her features the next second, but the damage had been done. I placed my fingers inside my inventory. Just in case. ¡°Apologies then, sir,¡± she said. ¡°I won¡¯t take any more of your time. We need to find your companions.¡± ¡°Aye.¡± What was that just now? Had Logain and the others been right about her, after all? Div rose from the mud and grabbed the wagon. A glint caught my eye. ¡°Down!¡± I said and tackled her to the ground. A knife raked past my cheek, dropping my health. The wielder landed with a thud and kicked me in the face. Div and I went skidding through the mud. A large goblin, large for them anyway, stood near the wagon, wearing a sneer. He brandished a dagger and fixed his baleful, yellow eyes squarely on me. His broad, muscular physique looked unusual among goblins. Hold on¡ª ¡°You!¡± the goblin hissed. ¡°You did this to us. You fucking shit!¡± Ah, yes. The Goblin Captain Level 34. I rose to my feet. ¡°I¡¯m in no mood for this, dude. You should have just gone quietly into the forest and continued on your way.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll gut you where you stand!¡± Really? Couldn¡¯t he see that he was outnumbered? Div might not have much by way of combat skills, but she was freakishly strong and a healer to boot. ¡°Stay back, div,¡± I said. ¡°Heal me when needed. I presume you can do so without the need for touch?¡± No answer came. ¡°Div?¡± I glanced down at my side. No one occupied the area. Not the girl or her shadow or any being whatsoever. Div had somehow disappeared over the last few seconds. The fuck? ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The Goblin Captain grinned. ¡°Your friend got cold feet? Doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re the one I want.¡± Div couldn¡¯t teleport. Not that I knew of. But, again, I knew scant little of her abilities. Had she somehow returned to Medekeine¡¯s side? Surely, she wouldn¡¯t abandon me out of spite. The goblin spun his dagger: a rather intriguing weapon with a dark hilt and long, steel blade. It shared a similar design to one I had seen before. Oi . . . ¡°That¡¯s mine,¡± I snarled, ¡°you little thief. Give it back!¡± ¡°Finders keepers, eh?¡± The goblin said. ¡°This belongs to me now. If you want it, I can place it in your skull!¡± ¡°You talk a lot of smack for someone who lost an entire platoon.¡± ¡°And, you¡¯re the numbskull who managed to kill his allies!¡± ¡°A numbskull is much better than a filthy milkskin.¡± ¡°I am no milkskin!¡± He pointed the dagger at me. A tremendous weight slammed onto my shoulders, trapping my feet in the mud. It restricted my movements, enough to prevent me from lifting my head. The invisible force depressed the ground in a circle around the goblin. Ah. This was one of those monsters, huh? The kind who possessed an affinity. The goblin came running for me. 096 Less I¡¯d gotten more familiar with the affinities over the past two weeks. And, I¡¯d managed to single out the most dangerous ones among their ranks. Despair was universally hated due to its ties to necromancy, while Pain, Apathy, and Wrath numbered among the best in terms of pure damage. Hatred was another fearsome affinity that, aside from the use of curses, allowed the user to create mysterious illnesses. Compared to those five, Fear¡¯s only source of infamy was its connection to the Lord of Terror. It helped create effective Assassins, but users of Fear would never be able to obliterate a battlefield or bury a third of the world in ice. Other affinities too excelled at what they did best . . . as long as they were placed in the right hands. The goblin¡¯s hands counted as such. Contrition spilled out of him and pinned me in place, heavy with the weight of unnatural gravity. I¡¯d expected gravitational control to work best on a caster, but the Goblin Captain integrated it into his fighting style with ease. Such was the weight of the force pressing down on me that the sounds of my cracking bones reached my ears. I had no hope of moving in that situation, so I did the next best thing. A dark mass of shadows intercepted the goblin, unhindered by the increased gravity. The attack forced the little bastard back into the water, ending his control over the area. I used the momentary breather to gather myself, and then the next wave of shadows chased after him. The goblin flew. Maybe flight wasn¡¯t the right word to use, but he glided across the water¡¯s surface to avoid my attack. He rushed back inland toward me, again without touching the ground. Not good. I avoided his charge by relying on every point of my Grand Dexterity. The goblin reoriented himself as he blew past and pivoted in a manner that revealed an absence of weight. His strike, however, landed like a meteor against my blade, shattering the steel into numerous tiny pieces. Quick reflexes saved me from being stabbed in the chest, but I missed his little green foot which collided with my gut. It was my turn then to crash into the drink. Water bubbled up my nostrils and ears. ¡°Foolish elf.¡± The goblin laughed. I floundered in the water and ordered [Silhouette] back into the fray. It rose from my shadow on the water''s surface, looking like a beast of void. The goblin dodged the tendrils by darting about at rapid speed. He even performed a handstand mid-dodge as though in mockery. Now you¡¯ve done it. I triggered [Fear Aura]: an action that made the forest seem a little bit darker. [Silhouette] shuddered in delight, approving of the change. Goblin Captain has resisted [Dismay]! Oh, come on! Nevertheless, the goblin stumbled and came to a stop. He glanced at me with a perturbed expression. ¡°You dare?¡± ¡°Of course, I do,¡± I said. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to have that affinity!¡± ¡°Why? Because it¡¯s the same as your benefactor¡¯s?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed! You disrespect the Lord of Terror!¡± I chewed on his words. ¡°Are you saying that the Lord of Terror is somewhere in these lands? Are they responsible for [Nightfall]?¡± ¡°I say nothing.¡± The goblin adopted a fighting stance. ¡°Now that I am here, you have two things to answer for.¡± The ground around him trembled. Loose pebbles levitated into the air. I floated still in the water, but I could recognize a dangerous technique when I saw one. ¡°I will be your annihilation,¡± the goblin said, and then he punched the air with his unarmed fist. I didn¡¯t wait to see what happened. The space above me parted with the roar of displaced air. I dove into the water one second faster, avoiding the invisible force by the skin of my teeth. It broke the water¡¯s surface, parting an area in a straight line into two equal waves. That ability would break bones and decimate HP if it connected. How was this even legal for a non-caster class? Granted, monsters couldn¡¯t use classes like the [System] races did, which theoretically put them at a disadvantage. None of those theories would matter, however, if I got hit with that technique. Gathering my wits about me, I plunged deeper into the water. [Stealth] could apparently be used while swimming which facilitated my escape. I crossed the lake in total silence and surfaced at another point, hidden by trees. The Goblin Captain stood a short distance away, watching for my reemergence with sharp, yellow eyes. It was times like this that I enjoyed being an Assassin. What was the point of fancy techniques if one didn¡¯t possess the sneakiness to use them? I snuck up to the goblin and jabbed a long knife into his nape. It shattered on contact. ¡°Found you,¡± the goblin said, and then he hit me with a punch that scrambled my intestines. His little fist struck with the force of a speeding car made of titanium, powered by propulsion engines. Contrition, it seemed, allowed him to not only lighten his mass but also increase it. It explained how my first knife had broken on contact with his, and how the second had failed to scratch his skin.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. My HP went from ninety percent to sixty in that one punch. But, the goblin didn¡¯t let up. He adjusted his footing and followed up with another beam of invisible force. [Silhouette] rose in a wall, composed of three layers. Each layer crumbled after the other, leaving the residual force to slam into my gut. It propelled me backward into a tree and left me lying wounded against the trunk. The only reason I didn¡¯t become a smear in the forest was [Silhouette] which absorbed most of the damage. My health meter fell by another thirty percent, regardless, and turned a deep red. Blood spewed from my mouth onto my cuirass which hung mangled on my chest. ¡°Ouch . . .¡± Deep in my shadow, [Silhouette] curled up in slumber; down for the count until it could reform itself. ¡°Elves, humans, dwarves,¡± the goblin said as though each name was a curse, ¡°always the same. Just because you are [System] species doesn¡¯t make you better than us.¡± Huh? I could barely hear a word. I had definitely suffered a concussion: one type of damage that health armor offered little protection against. Nevertheless, if there was one thing I¡¯d learned from goblins, it was the inability to go quietly into the night. ¡°Do lions care about the opinions of sheep?¡± I wheezed. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You said it yourself. I¡¯m a [System] specie, and you¡¯re a fucking monster. An animal of similar worth to goats and horses.¡± I adopted a bloody grin because even though I didn¡¯t believe that, I needed to say anything to buy time until my head stopped hurting. ¡°And yet,¡± the goblin said, ¡°here you are lying wounded at the hands of said animal. Your party of supposed rankers didn¡¯t notice that they were being followed¡ªdidn¡¯t even sense the trap until it had been sprung! You only survived by way of sheer luck!¡± ¡°Yes. A scorpion might kill a man with its sting, and a pack of wolves could maul him, but neither action makes either animal a higher being.¡± ¡°I am better than you. Our difference in ability proves it!¡± ¡°So, why then do my kind, not yours, hold dominion over the world?¡± ¡°Because your people destroy.¡± ¡°No. We create and destroy in equal measure.¡± The black spots faded from my vision. Any moment now. ¡°You were simply born less. Like cockroaches, you infest and invade our places of habitat. You may even establish nests with thousands of brothers and sisters. ¡°Ultimately, however, you are doomed to be squashed beneath our feet. While we build towering monuments and reach for the stars, you will never amount to much beyond vermin.¡± I laughed despite the pain. ¡°This is because we are created greater, and you are less.¡± The words flowed like poison from my tongue. Who would have thought the secret to outperforming goblins in trash-talking lay not in insults but in intelligent-sounding arguments? Granted, everything I¡¯d said was hot trash. But, my motto in Vizhima was: win by any means necessary. The goblin kept his eyes downcast, fist going pale green around The Blackreach Dagger. He struggled to make an argument, but goblin education didn¡¯t equip him with the tools. Eventually, he snarled and sprayed spittle on the ground. ¡°Then, try to beat me if you¡¯re so great, fucking elf maggot!¡± He charged at blinding speed with the dagger aimed at my throat. ¡°Chain Nail, bitch.¡± The heavy chain¡ªwhich I¡¯d prepared in anticipation¡ªflew from my palm. It slapped his wrist and knocked The Blackreach Dagger out of it¡ªor so I¡¯d hoped. Instead, the Chain Nail bounced off, repelled by a sheath of gravitational waves that flowed from the dagger. Nana¡¯s weapon could absorb the affinity of its wielder. How could I forget? The goblin spun in midair like a drill. I threw the last of my Vital Points into [Impostor]¡ª He slammed into the tree. His attack missed my chest, thanks to [Impostor] shrinking me by approximately three feet. He pulverized the spot above my head, causing the entire trunk to collapse beneath his mass. I rolled out of range and wrapped the chains around my arms. The goblin blanched. ¡°You . . . Stop! Stop wearing my face!¡± Oh, right. I had chosen the first image I could think of in that split second, which ended up belonging to the goblin opposite me. I struck a silly pose and imitated his mannerisms. ¡°I knew you were inferior, but goddamn, wearing your body puts it into perspective.¡± The goblin howled. A wave of crushing force descended from the sky and forced me to the ground. The damage inflicted surpassed the ten percent threshold, dispelling [Impostor]. My lungs burned like they had ruptured in my chest. Muddy ground embraced my slender knees. The goblin wasted no time with words. He moved with purpose, wielding the Contrition-coated dagger. One blow from that blade was all it would take to end my life. And, with [Silhouette] regenerating in my shadow, I didn¡¯t stand a chance. I needed something. Anything at all to turn the tide. I could still crane my neck and move my fingers. What did I have in my inventory? Byron¡¯s loot? No . . . The goblin dove for the kill. At the same time, I threw an item at his feet. Sunlight glinted off the surface of The Mirror of Remembrance: One of the few treasures I¡¯d retained from the dungeon. The goblin stumbled as his gaze fell onto the mirror. Gravity returned to normal. The Mirror of Remembrance pulled anyone who stared at its surface into a vivid dream: one in which I had seen my mother. The dream lasted however long it took in the mirror world, but out here, in reality, only a single second passed. I didn¡¯t know what the goblin saw, but it was enough to break his control over gravity. I tackled him to the ground before he could use another technique or increase his mass. The goblin did the latter only to find both of his arms fused by his gauntlets to the ground. He strained against the Chain Nails with all his might, but the Meld perk wasn¡¯t easily dismissed. He next tried to lighten his weight, but the results remained the same. Any objects fused by the Chain Nails became inseparable. I grabbed The Blackreach Dagger from where it had fallen and grinned at the goblin. Pouring Fear into its blade, I descended on the little bastard and carved him up. The enhanced ranker-grade weapon cut through his increased mass with minimal difficulty. He resisted at first, but with his most dangerous abilities on cooldown, he succumbed in short order. The goblin released a wet, raggedy breath as I pressed the bloodied dagger to his throat. ¡°Spill,¡± I said. ¡°Who commands the horde? A Goblin Prince or Goblin Calamity?¡± The little bastard laughed. ¡°What about the Fear user? Who is behind [Nightfall]?¡± I made an incision into his throat to get my point across. The goblin glared at me, looking but not quite seeing. ¡°You [System] species and your dirty tricks. You could only beat me because of the benefit of inventory.¡± I couldn¡¯t let him talk his way out of a cooldown. I put weight on the dagger, wetting my hand with blood. ¡°Spill!¡± ¡°Hrrgh . . . I have nothing to tell you, elf. I had no intention of leaving alive anyway if I lost this fight.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for pride, fool. I can spare you if you give me what I need.¡± ¡°Is that what lower animals do?¡± the goblin said. A single tear rolled down his cheek. ¡°I won¡¯t because I am not less. I am not.¡± Oh, man. What was this? Why didn¡¯t he go out shrieking and fighting for his life? My dagger hand wavered for a second. And then, I steeled myself and claimed the kill. Goblin blood flowed freely to the ground. A sour taste bloomed on my tongue. 097 Party System The [System] announced my increase to level 31. Nine more to go till I unlocked my next technique. I looted the Goblin Captain for an ear and a new item called a Goblin Finger . . . which looked exactly like the name implied. Another alchemical ingredient. Pity that I didn¡¯t know any Alchemists. The Goblin Captain withered to dust and dispersed in the wind. A rather anticlimactic end for a monster of his power. I wasn¡¯t sure how I¡¯d managed to pull off a win, but I frequently survived the odds. According to my traits, at least. ¡°Watch out, Damien!¡± A large Dread Tiger and its accompanying Goblin Rider barreled toward me from out of cover. I raised both arms to defend myself, but with [Silhouette] reforming in my shadow, it would only prove futile¡ª The Dread Tiger slammed into an invisible pane of force which threw it and its rider onto the ground. Kajal landed between them, sporting a subtle glow on her fists. She jabbed the Dread Tiger: once in the face and twice in the ribs. A ripple emanated from each point of contact, dealing both physical and magical damage. The wounded Dread Tiger tried to mount a comeback, only to find itself crushed beneath an invisible wave of force. The Goblin Rider fared much better. He didn¡¯t seem to possess an affinity, but he made up for it by being twice as ferocious. He wove between Kajal¡¯s impressive display of [Martial Arts] and screamed in her face. His dagger strike landed cleanly on her cheek. I flared my aura to provide support . . . It didn¡¯t change the outcome. The goblin overextended on his next strike and crashed into the telekinetic power that Kajal controlled. It launched him into the air, then tugged him back down again. She punched him repeatedly, combining her blows with [Telekinesis] to keep him juggled. Her combo ended with another pull, and then she shoved her open palm through his chest. I whistled as she wrung her hand free of blood. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± ¡°[Ki-empowered Strikes],¡± she said nonchalantly. ¡°You should pay more attention to your surroundings, Damien. You know better than that.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± Kajal smirked. ¡°That was some quick thinking back there, interrupting the Goblin Sorcerers before they could finish. I didn¡¯t expect their captain to try to kill us alongside his people.¡± ¡°They¡¯re animals,¡± I started to say and stopped. That wasn¡¯t right, was it? The Goblin Captain had displayed the capacity for complex thought and existential dilemma, even though his methods were cruel. I retrieved the Chain Nails and The Mirror of Remembrance, looking for any excuse to occupy my thoughts. Kajal shivered at the sight. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± ¡°The mirror? I found it abandoned in the Labyrinth.¡± A small frown tugged at her lips. ¡°That¡¯s a dangerous item, Damien.¡± ¡°I suppose.¡± ¡°No. Listen to me. You don¡¯t ever want to use it lightly.¡± Too late for that now. ¡°As long as I win, I don¡¯t care what method I use.¡± I recalled the extra sets of combat chains in my possession. ¡°Here¡±¡ªI tossed her a pair¡ª¡°Should come in handy.¡± Kajal inspected the weapons. ¡°Chains of the Combat Ape, huh? Sounds nifty. Though I don¡¯t think I¡¯m skilled with these.¡± Stating the proper name of the weapon confirmed her ability to use [Identify]. ¡°Pretty handy, eh?¡± I said. ¡°You can attach daggers to it to unlock the meld perk. It¡¯s great for climbing vertical surfaces and trapping your enemies.¡± Kajal tried a few moves with the chains. My jaw dropped to my chest. It had taken me weeks with all my Dexterity to achieve half her level of competence. Should I have chosen the Monk class, after all? I looked out over the water which glowed red in the light of the setting sun. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have a hard time finding the others, huh? Div surfaced a few minutes earlier, but she vanished on me without notice. I wonder where she went off to.¡± ¡°Probably summoned back to Medekeine¡¯s side.¡± Kajal shelved the weapons. ¡°Her appearance confirms the fact that he lives, at least.¡± Of course, the dwarf would survive. Terrible people rarely ever get their comeuppance in life. ¡°What about the others . . .¡± ¡°Logain¡¯s alive.¡± Kajal said, ¡°What about Paz? Can¡¯t you tell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a telepath.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Not that, dummy. The Party System. Do you not use it?¡± ¡°Party System?¡± Kajal cocked her head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn that from your tutors? How else do you keep track of those who join their fate with yours?¡± I¡¯d never heard of such a thing. But, just in case, I focused on a spot in front of me and whispered the words. A [System] screen appeared. ¡°What the hell?¡± I said. ¡°It actually exists!¡± The Party System screen contained a single page composed of tables. My name occupied the top of the screen alongside a large section with the prompt: [Enter Party Name]. Below that, ten rows represented the profiles of each member of my party. Only the top two had been filled; the other eight remained empty. However, I was more interested in the symbols that accompanied each name. A circular symbol stood out among the others, indicating condition. Despite being colored red and green respectively for Paz and Nicola, it displayed a single term: Alive. Kajal watched the look of relief spread across my face. ¡°You¡¯re kidding. You really didn¡¯t know?¡± I answered with a nod. This would have saved me a lot of grief if I had access to it in the Labyrinth. Why was the [System] so determined to get me to play on hard mode? ¡°What was your tutorial quest about?¡± Kajal asked. ¡°I had to find a village and unlock my inventory within twenty-four hours.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°Because of the spirit orbs . . . Hold on, do you not use those?¡± A familiar orb appeared in Kajal¡¯s palm. It misted in the breeze, tangible and intangible at the same time. ¡°Of course I do. I consume one a day automatically. But, the masters had a few orbs preserved from antiquity in anticipation of my arrival.¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say. That was so unfair. It meant she didn¡¯t face the same race to hit level 10 as I did. Not that I wished that for anyone. She also apparently didn¡¯t receive any [System] errors. Was I truly the impostor between us? I¡¯d earned the skill, after all . . . A section of the Party System screen, one tucked into the upper left corner, depicted my available spirit orbs and the countdown till the Apocalypse. It currently listed 78 orbs and 337 days. I still had enough spirit orbs to carry me comfortably through the next two months. The impending Apocalypse, however, remained daunting. ¡°What more can you tell me about the Party System?¡± I asked, shifting the topic to one that wouldn¡¯t trigger my righteous indignation. ¡°What¡¯s left to say?¡± Kajal said. ¡°You can inspect the status sheet of all your teammates with it, and you can also find potential recruits. The masters say that ranking up provides more options, but I¡¯ve met little success so far.¡± I could find potential recruits? A search icon near the party name proved her right. It opened a map with a bunch of markers: all of which moved about to signify roaming people. These were rankers that the [System] considered worthy enough to join the fight against the Apocalypse . . . as long as I could convince them. The markers in relative proximity to us seemed to represent Wood Elves. Hell, if we followed them, we could even find the Wood King¡¯s domain! ¡°That was always the plan,¡± Kajal said after I shared my thoughts with her. ¡°But, without a guide, we¡¯ll struggle to avoid the goblin patrols or convince his sentries.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there,¡± I said. ¡°I guess it¡¯s impossible to find our teammates using this system?¡± ¡°That function doesn¡¯t exist at our current rank. We just have to hope we run into them at some point. If the div was just here, chances are that she would lead Medekeine in our direction.¡± ¡°Yeah . . .¡± Yeah right. Div probably hated me after I refused her request to grant her a true name. She was bound to obey Medekeine¡¯s orders, but nothing stopped her from hiding the truth if left unasked. I fiddled around with the Party System some more, mostly to check on Nicola who remained at level 25. It felt strange being able to read the status sheet of someone other than me, almost like an invasion of privacy. For that reason, I refrained from opening Paz¡¯s sheet. He possessed a skill that he didn¡¯t want me to learn about: a decision I needed to respect. Kajal settled on a fallen log. ¡°We just have to wait. We¡¯ll give Medekeine a few hours to show up, and then we¡¯ll find some shelter for the night. This ambush would have turned out a lot worse if the goblins had waited for [Nightfall].¡± ¡°True that.¡± I joined her on the log. The smoke that wafted on the horizon eventually thinned out, but it didn¡¯t make me feel any better if it meant that a goblin army was currently on the march. My ears perked up at the sound of rustling. A large creature moved nearby in the forest. Kajal and I adopted defensive positions only for Medekeine, with Div in tow, to emerge from the greenwood. The dwarf had abandoned [Bestial Shape] to return to his normal form. He shot us a haughty smirk, which looked fitting on his roughshod face. ¡°Kajal,¡± he greeted, ¡°elf. That was one hell of a battle, wasn¡¯t it? Congratulations on making it out alive. It seems you surface dwellers have grown hardier than I remember.¡± Was that praise or insult? ¡°Is this all that is left of our party?¡± he asked. ¡°No,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, it will have to do. We¡¯ll seek out the Wood King on our own and hope for an eventual reunion. We will, however, refrain from traveling after dark.¡± ¡°No real dwarf fears the night.¡± ¡°You must be mistaken then. I am no dwarf.¡± ¡°A pity,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°Strong women like you can easily achieve great deeds in Alam?.¡± I ignored their banter to watch Div inspect the broken wagon. She walked past me with her head bent, expression reserved. Nothing in her body language implied resentment, but I knew better than to assume that was the case. She was a monster, after all. Div managed to get the wagon up and rolling again, allowing us to follow the Party System toward the highest concentration of potential allies. Paz, Logain, and Dilwan were nowhere to be found, but I didn¡¯t worry too much about it now that I had been reassured. Our journey was uneventful for the most part. Div and Kajal offered words only when asked, while Medekeine seemed content to mumble to himself. At night, we found shelter atop the deridum trees, watching the constellations blink out of existence behind the veil of [Nightfall]. As with the night before, my senses sharpened under the strange magic. [Silhouette] grew more restless, itching to prowl. Kajal and Medekeine slept on nearby trees, snoring in the latter¡¯s case. Div slumbered within the dwarf¡¯s inventory, trapped in her cage. No one would notice if I took the chance to wander, would they? So, wander I did. 098 Wanderings Cool wind flitted past my face. Boundless energy surged up my veins as I slunk through the undergrowth, encased in shadows. [Nightfall] was incredible. The eerie technique covered Dreadwood in a sheet of inky blackness, flowing from the sky to the ground without any seams. Under its influence, I became one with the shadows in a way I couldn¡¯t explain, as though there were no boundaries between my skin and the darkness that blanketed it. Every step I took filled me with indescribable emotion. The forest seemed sharper and deadlier; bursting with life. The sounds of Dreadwood at night time erupted like a live band in my head. Even the kiss of the wind on naked skin lingered like a lover¡¯s touch, spurring me to greatness . . . to longing . . . to dread. I understood now why [Silhouette] wanted to explore, but I didn¡¯t wander for the sake of doing so. I wandered for the goblins. The nasty critters enjoyed the night as much as I did if Dilwan¡¯s words were to be believed. They would also be on the prowl, probably toward or away from the earlier column of smoke. I needed to get a sense of scale, of the kind of numbers the goblin forces could muster. More than that, I needed to see them in action during [Nightfall]. And, there was no safer time than now to do so. Unsurprisingly, the markers in the Party System that pointed me in the direction of potential teammates were also ideal for finding ongoing battles. It took some time to navigate through the wide expanse of forest, but I quickly learned three things. One: We had underestimated the extent of goblin influence. Goblin patrols marched on predetermined routes through the forest, defending territory they had won from the elves. I refrained from killing any members of the patrols¡ªeven though I could do so in a heartbeat¡ªbecause I didn¡¯t trust my ability to restrain [Silhouette] from committing wanton violence. The patrols were made up of the runts of the litter anyway, Goblin Scouts and Soldiers, who were still dangerous enough and armed to the teeth. Secondly, Martial victory alone didn¡¯t explain how the goblins had managed to proliferate throughout Dreadwood. They probably had ways to conceal their movements, and I soon uncovered a few. Tunnels. The goblins had established a multitude of them across the forest. They used those tunnels to coordinate their forces and transport large numbers of units without leaving tracks. A lot of patrols seemed to appear out of nowhere only to vanish completely a few hours later. The tunnels were also difficult to find with the naked eye, and if I couldn¡¯t find them under [Nightfall], I doubted the Wood Elves fared much better. The third bit of information I gleaned was that, despite the circumstances, the Wood Elves retained the upper hand. Dilwan¡¯s village might have fallen in record time, but the same didn¡¯t hold for the rest of the elves. For now, at least. A squad of goblins had assaulted an elven outpost only to perish gruesomely in the attempt. The outpost had subsequently been abandoned, but not before the goblins paid the price. The smoke that had risen earlier came from the aftermath of an ambush involving two large groups, which had ended in elven victory, judging by the signs. Further inspection revealed an area that the goblin patrols avoided by a rather wide berth. That area teemed with the markers of potential recruits: the Wood King¡¯s domain. Even from a distance, I could taste the potent magic in the air. This was a region that didn¡¯t wither in the face of [Nightfall]: one that could also prove hostile to me. To complete the first part of our quest, we needed to visit the Wood King. Only then could I focus on confirming the fate of the Harkoneans. By the time I made it back to the others, the sun had begun climbing into the sky. Kajal watched me with cold eyes, lips drawn tightly across her face. ¡°Wait,¡± I said before she could speak. ¡°This was important. I work so well under darkness, it would have been foolish to avoid scouting in it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s foolish,¡± she said with a sigh, ¡°is failing to inform your party members before you went off on your own. No one needs a teammate who doesn¡¯t listen to instructions.¡± ¡°What if I told you that I managed to figure out how the goblins spread rapidly through Dreadwood?¡± Kajal¡¯s eyes sharpened. ¡°How?¡± ¡°They are using tunnels.¡± ¡°Tunnels?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not unheard of,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°The goblins avoid tunneling out of their mountain for fear of encounters with dwarves, but it has always been a possibility.¡± He stroked his chin. ¡°The Lords of Alam? hold stewardship over these lands. They control the entirety of The World Under throughout northern Vizhima from Dreadwood down to Kholindon. Goblin exploration of this scale would not go unnoticed . . .¡± ¡°Yet, it has thus far,¡± I said. ¡°These tunnels weren¡¯t constructed in the days preceding the invasion or even in weeks. They were holed out far ahead in advance of this fight.¡± ¡°The Tinfolk would not permit¡ª¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s either your people knew about it and chose not to take action, or they didn¡¯t. They sent you up here, after all. Maybe their awareness of The World Under isn¡¯t as expansive as you think.¡± Medekeine furrowed his brows. ¡°Damien,¡± Kajal said, ¡°what are the chances that any of those tunnels stretch toward Skeelie?¡± ¡°Impossible to say. Though if I¡¯m a goblin leader establishing a network to facilitate attack, why stop at Dreadwood? If they plan to assault human cities eventually, it only makes sense to extend construction.¡± Kajal groaned. ¡°Ezin will need to know this.¡± ¡°There¡¯s more.¡± I explained the situation between the goblin patrols and the Wood King¡¯s domain. Kajal listened attentively. ¡°So, you believe that the elves aren¡¯t in danger of losing?¡± ¡°The Wood King¡¯s position seems unassailable. But, the goblins have succeeded in isolating the villages from each other and the center. That doesn¡¯t bode well.¡± ¡°For all of us.¡± Kajal glanced at Medekeine. ¡°What do you think about this?¡±This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The dwarf, who had been lost in thought since his last words, stirred. ¡°I say that we get the portion of the quest that involves the Wood King over and done with. We need to uncover the truth about the goblins, which might lead us down one of those tunnels.¡± I shuddered to think of it, of fighting in clustered spaces far below the Earth. But, the possibility had always existed ever since we stepped out of Skeelie. It wouldn¡¯t result in a complete disaster, would it? Kajal relayed a message to Ezin. She achieved this by way of a leatherbound book which she wrote in. ¡°It¡¯s a Scribbler,¡± she explained. ¡°It¡¯s been enchanted to allow communication between two linked books.¡± ¡°Can I buy a pair from you for one gold piece?¡± I asked. Kajal snorted. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t sell them for ten gold pieces even if I owned a pair. Ezin has access to resources we can only dream of. This is one of them.¡± She dumped the book in her inventory. ¡°He¡¯ll reply once he sees the message. In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan to sneak past the patrols.¡± The best way I could think of involved avoiding the patrol routes; the ones I¡¯d memorized anyway. The goblins showed a massive reduction in activity during the daytime, allowing us to cover some ground. The worst obstacles turned out to be the Wild God¡¯s pets. They had gotten even bolder in the chaos, and it didn¡¯t help that they occupied the places outside the paths that we now had to take. Between the three of us¡ªand Div¡ªwe managed to avoid suffering any casualties despite a few close calls. Div proved to be a capable support unit when she didn¡¯t overightly overpower monsters with brute strength. Her healing ability could be used at range, and she rarely took damage even when surrounded by foes. We had just been entwined by a strange vine-like creature, when golden light flared from her position, freeing her limbs. She then proceeded to rip the monster to shreds with her bare hands with some help from Kajal. I whistled aloud. ¡°Incredible.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get used to relying on her,¡± Medekeine warned. The creature Div had killed turned out to be a Primal Dread Creeper LVL 34. Medekeine claimed the loot under a clause in the [System] mechanics that allowed Div¡¯s last hits to also count for him. ¡°Why are you so hostile toward her anyway?¡± I asked him as Div resumed pulling the wagon. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when it has anything to do with you,¡± he said. Touch¨¦. We traveled like that for a while with frequent interruptions until I directed my teammates to take cover. ¡°Goblins!¡± We crept up a mound. The wagon couldn¡¯t come with us, so we abandoned it in the forest. A squad of goblins, whom I¡¯d thankfully heard from a distance away, crept along the forest floor below us, seemingly following our tracks. ¡°Ugly fuckers,¡± Medekeine whispered. ¡°I see Goblin Scouts and Soldiers, however. No Sorcerers in sight. We can take them.¡± I confirmed with [Identify]. ¡°How can you tell the difference?¡± ¡°Just look at their builds. The Scouts are all short¡ªshorter than regular goblins anyway¡ªwith lithe, lean physiques. The Soldiers are burlier and much rounder in the belly. They also tend to favor heavier weapons: maces and clubs.¡± The goblins snuck closer to our last position, where the wagon still stood. ¡°Usually,¡± Medekeine said, ¡°the quality of goblin classes we encounter is a good indicator of how large the horde has become. Goblins evolve into Scouts and Workers in peacetime, ruled by Chiefs. ¡°As conflicts erupt among them, Soldiers, Sorcerers, and Engineers begin to appear. The onset of a goblin horde, however, sees the most promising among them advance into more powerful classes. Soldiers become Captains. Sorcerers become Grandmeisters. Engineers become Geniuses. And, Scouts and Workers transform to the more effective Riders and Rovers.¡± ¡°And, the Chiefs?¡± I asked. ¡°Where else do you think Goblin Princes emerge from? The strongest of the chiefs become Princes. And, from those¡ª¡± ¡°A Goblin Calamity,¡± I finished. The goblins found our lost wagon and started squealing among themselves. ¡°Attack,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Now.¡± An arrow fell between the eyes of one Goblin Soldier. He reeled backward, wounded but not dead, and then he picked the fallen arrow from the ground. His eyes widened with recognition, but a second missile ended the cry on his lips. More arrows plummeted upon the group, erupting with affinities of Apathy, Pain, and Joy. The goblins tried to mount a defense, but they had been caught utterly unaware. I turned to Kajal. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you planned that. Because that¡¯s so cool.¡± ¡°No . . .¡± she said. ¡°It isn¡¯t me.¡± A group of Wood Elves bounded into view, dressed in leather armor and Cloaks of Viridian Gleam: an item that held a cherished spot in my heart. The Cloaks helped camouflage the wearers out in the wild; the perfect tool for Rangers and other rogues. The elves that assailed the goblins weren¡¯t mere rogues, however. They sallied in on reindeer¡ªactual reindeer¡ªand attacked from atop their mounts. The first set of riders remained at bay, firing their bows. A second set chased after the scattered goblins and butchered them like mice. The tactic proved as effective as it was gruesome, enough that no goblin remained breathing in five minutes flat. The Wood Elves cantered around our wagon on their over-large deers, surprised by its presence. Kajal ordered a descent from our position, using gestures to communicate for fear of triggering the sensitive hearing of the elves. A Wood Elf blocked our path. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he said and cocked his beautiful head of dark brown hair. ¡°Humans and dwarves in Dreadwood at this time?! Is this the start of a coalition?¡± ¡°It could be,¡± Kajal said. The Wood Elf brandished an ¨­dachi. My heart skipped a beat at the memory of the last Samurai I had fought and his goddamn [Riposte]. True to form, [Identify] placed this elf as a level 37 Samurai. ¡°Distasteful,¡± he said. ¡°We will not abide humans soiling Dreadwood in their numbers! The same can be said about dwarves.¡± Distasteful? ¡°You there.¡± He jutted his chin at me. ¡°Can the Nanduli? stoop any lower? What business do you have with these two? Or has your recent mishap taught you no better?¡± Recent mishap? Did he mean the destruction of Harkonean? Medekeine chuckled. ¡°Time again without fail, I am reminded of the reasons why I hate the elves. Each time I meet a new one, I feel like punching their face in.¡± The Samurai tightened his grip on his sword. ¡°You misunderstand your current position.¡± ¡°You, on the other hand, are too stupid for misunderstandings. Is open hostility the best the elves can think of to survive the horde?¡± ¡°There is no horde. Just a rabble of errant goblins whom we would soon expel . . . after we deal with you.¡± Kajal interjected before Medekeine could worsen the situation. ¡°We¡¯re emissaries from Skeelie. Here to help the war effort.¡± ¡°There is no war,¡± the Samurai said. ¡°Be that as it may,¡± Kajal continued smoothly. ¡°The Wood King requested our services. We come bearing supplies from the merchant guild, including the cargo you see below.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rock oil, sir,¡± one of the Wood Elves who inspected the wagon shouted from below. ¡°Rock oil?¡± the Samurai repeated. ¡°From the finest oil seep in Bargheria,¡± Kajal said. ¡°We also have food, weapons, and leather. Iron ore too and refined steel. Just about anything you could think of to assist you in wartime.¡± The Samurai narrowed his gaze. ¡°There is no war! Do you take me for a liar?¡± Yes. ¡°Either way,¡± he said. ¡°I must ask you to leave all those items behind.¡± Kajal scowled. ¡°We are with the guild¡ª¡± ¡°The merchants will receive their payment in full once we have conveyed the items to the Wood King.¡± That sounded dubious. ¡°No can do,¡± I said. Kajal concurred. ¡°I¡¯m under strict orders to exchange cargo after confirming payment. If you do not have the means to complete the transaction at this moment, I am fine with waiting until you are ready.¡± The Samurai speared his sword into the ground and leaned forward with a smile. He was a handsome one, in the eerie bug-eyed way Wood Elves tended to be. ¡°Only the worthy may enter the Wood King¡¯s domain. And, since our outposts are closed at the moment, you only have me to deal with. That was my best offer.¡± He glanced lazily at his sword. ¡°The alternative, however . . .¡± Below us, the squad of Wood Elves brandished their weapons. About fifteen of them surrounded our position, still mounted on reindeer. This wouldn¡¯t be easy. Medekeine spat at the Samurai¡¯s feet. He ordered Div to his side and adopted a fighting stance. ¡°Very well. What are we waiting for then? Let it not be said that a dwarf would ever pass up a chance to trade blows with an elf.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± the Samurai said and swung his sword. 099 Invitation Kajal scrawled furiously in her book. ¡°What are you doing?¡± the Samurai asked. ¡°Nothing much,¡± she said. ¡°Do you imply that I don¡¯t deserve your attention or have you lost your mind?¡± ¡°Neither.¡± She finished with a flourish, adding her signature to the page. ¡°This here is a Scribbler. I¡¯m letting the guildmaster know that the Wood King has broken faith with the city.¡± The Samurai froze for all of one second, and then he bared his teeth. ¡°We haven¡¯t broken faith. I simply can¡¯t let outsiders into our domain.¡± ¡°You say that, but were it not for this device, you would have killed us and looted our corpses. Or tried to, anyway. I¡¯m just ensuring that the guildmaster knows exactly what transpired.¡± She returned the item to her inventory. ¡°So, shall we continue?¡± The Wood Elves below us murmured among themselves. Nice gambit, Kajal. The threat of guild action wouldn¡¯t stop determined murderers, but it seemed that elves knew enough about Ezin to respect his might. The Samurai sheathed his sword. ¡°Shrewd. I didn¡¯t mean to cheat you, but our current situation has caused changes in the way we handle such issues.¡± ¡°There is no war,¡± Kajal said with a shrug. ¡°There is none indeed, but we can¡¯t keep operating trade posts in the current clime.¡± He ordered his party to stand down with a raise of his fist. ¡°You may come with us. We will summon a messenger of the court to negotiate with you on the Wood King¡¯s behalf.¡± ¡°That works for us.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t work for me,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°The elves have shown spinelessness and faithlessness. There is nothing that stops them from stabbing us in the back.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to come along, dwarf,¡± the Samurai said. ¡°We only need one of you to parley.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll parley with all four of us,¡± Kajal said. ¡°I¡¯m the leader of this party, but I won¡¯t feel safe without my companions.¡± The Samurai considered her for a long moment, and then he broke into a smile. ¡°Tenacious. Someone of your character will fit right in with us. We need to move, regardless. The scent of death attracts goblins and all sorts of evil monsters.¡± ¡°But there is no war.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± He descended from the mound. ¡°Quick thinking,¡± I said to Kajal. ¡°That would not have been an easy fight.¡± ¡°Maybe so,¡± she said. ¡°But, keep your guard up. We¡¯re not yet out of the water.¡± We joined the Wood Elves below. The reindeer they rode were actually monsters as I¡¯d suspected, but of the regular rank. These weren¡¯t Beast Riders¡¯ summons, as those mounts tended to look more distinct. However, it begged the question: How did one go about training reindeer for battle? Div moved to the front of the wagon. ¡°A Div?¡± the Samurai said after consulting with a caster in his party. ¡°You own a Div?¡± Medekeine grunted. ¡°I don¡¯t see how it matters to you, elf.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± The Samurai sheathed his ¨­dachi and mounted a waiting deer. ¡°I have a true name, by the way, even if it is of no use to you. You may call me Seeker! I¡¯m a soldier in the service of the Wood King.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stick with ¡®elf¡¯,¡± Medekeine said dryly. ¡°Why ask the humans for aid,¡± I said before he could worsen the situation, ¡°if you believe that the goblins aren¡¯t a threat?¡± ¡°Do we seem threatened?¡± Seeker retorted. ¡°The aid is for the villages who can¡¯t fend for themselves. Back in the Wood King¡¯s domain, all is at peace.¡± He led his party in a canter down the forest. ¡°You do realize, don¡¯t you,¡± I said as our journey commenced, ¡°that the goblins now control a large portion of Dreadwood?¡± ¡°Do ants control a house,¡± Seeker asked, ¡°just because they scurry about?¡± What kind of analogy was that? ¡°Well, yes. In a sense. And, even if they don¡¯t, ants do not raze villages. We encountered an elven chieftain a short while ago. His village, Nybala, had been plundered by goblins.¡±Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. A scowl made its way across Seeker¡¯s face. ¡°Dilwan. It pains me to admit, but with an idiot like him leading them, I didn¡¯t expect his people to repel a single band of Goblin Riders.¡± ¡°Their battle was more difficult than that, and you know it.¡± ¡°You waste your breath,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°Can you not see? These fools are in denial. The sudden turn of events has scrambled their minds.¡± ¡°So says a beardless,¡± a Wood Elf maiden interjected. The others joined in laughter. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you found the courage,¡± she continued, ¡°to ascend on your own to the surface. Have the Tinfolk become so lowly that a beardless is the best they send to represent them?¡± Medekeine¡¯s features darkened. ¡°Shut your mouth, elf. You know nothing about our culture.¡± ¡°True,¡± the elf maiden said. ¡°We tend to not care about what mold is up to until it grows in our house.¡± She had quite the tongue on her, huh? Did she imply that Medekeine¡¯s lack of a proper dwarven beard wasn¡¯t by choice? ¡°You too, Dark Elf,¡± the elf maiden said. Huh? What did I do? She glared at me as though she had found something unpleasant on her boot. ¡°You abandoned Harkonean to accept a job as a lackey to a dwarf?¡± ¡°Is there something up your ass?¡± I fired. ¡°Or is it just the way your saddle was constructed?¡± The Wood Elves gasped. ¡°Language,¡± Seeker warned from his spot in the lead. However, he didn¡¯t seem offended by the exchange, considering the way he chuckled. ¡°The pariah looks like one,¡± the elf maiden cried. ¡°Speaks like one too!¡± ¡°Damien.¡± Kajal touched my shoulder. ¡°Do not take their bait.¡± It was hard not to, especially when I recalled the hints the Harkoneans had dropped about their maltreatment in Dreadwood. My grievances aside, I wouldn¡¯t make any headway by aggravating the Hinduli?. So, I¡¯d let the elf maiden¡¯s antics slide. For now. Come to think of it, didn¡¯t the Wood Elves back then imply that they had been behind the destruction of the road connecting Harkonean to the other villages? The Wood Elves were just as culpable in the murder of my people as the goblins. ¡°You laugh,¡± the div said quietly. ¡°But, you are all going to die.¡± Everyone turned to stare at her. ¡°A threat?¡± Seeker asked, summoning his ¨­dachi. The air around Kajal swelled. ¡°You have insulted my companions and me enough for one evening. This ends now if you still care about business.¡± ¡°Easy,¡± Seeker said with a cheeky smile. ¡°Let¡¯s just call it even and let bygones be bygones, alright?¡± It turned out that the Wood King¡¯s domain was even larger than I¡¯d estimated. It took two more days of traveling to make any progress. Goblin sightings became nonexistent this close to the heart of Dreadwood, and [Nightfall] didn¡¯t seem as ominous or as empowering. The attacks from the wild god¡¯s pets remained consistent. But, with our current numbers, even those were a breeze. Our true challenge lay in dealing with the Wood Elves and the constant need to keep an eye on their movements. We had taken to sleeping away from the main group, keeping watch in groups of two. I monitored Paz¡¯s progress through the Party System. He remained alive out there and even grew by two levels to boot. Kajal confirmed Logain¡¯s good health, which left Dilwan as the only one whose status remained ambiguous. To my amusement, the Party System marked Seeker as a potential ally in the fight against the Apocalypse. He was certainly strong; I¡¯d give him that. He had earlier cut a Rock Lurker in two with a casual swing of his sword: a feat I couldn¡¯t manage despite also being silver-ranked. However, Seeker displayed none of the hax skills I¡¯d encountered in the fight with the Skeelien Samurai. Unlike the latter, who beat his enemies into submission with [Riposte] and long-range slashes, Seeker relied instead on his affinity to deal damage. The Wood Elves fought like a well-oiled unit, lending some credence to the fact that they feared nothing from goblins. But, they hadn¡¯t seen the crucifixions either, which only made their bravery seem like ignorance. On the third day of traveling, a messenger arrived from the Wood King¡¯s court. She galloped toward us on her reindeer, cutting a dashing figure. ¡°The Wood King extends his greeting to the visitors from Skeelie,¡± she said. ¡°He also grants permission to travel across his realm and enter the hallowed halls of Nyneveh.¡± ¡°Well, that changes things,¡± Seeker said. ¡°Rejoice, you filthy scumbags! You are the first outsiders in a century to be bestowed with this boon. This is no small honor!¡± ¡°What? No!¡± Medekeine said. ¡°We¡¯re fine with dealing with a proxy and getting on our way.¡± ¡°We should visit,¡± I said because I had questions for the bastard who oversaw this realm. ¡°Agreed,¡± Kajal said. ¡°There¡¯s no better place than this kingdom to find the answers we need.¡± Medekeine chuckled morosely. ¡°This won¡¯t end well. There¡¯s something wrong with these elves. Rotten, I tell you.¡± But, Kajal and I wouldn¡¯t be dissuaded. We traveled onward with Seeker and his group, alongside the new messenger. Kajal maintained contact with Ezin at intervals, updating him on our current situation. The Scribbler only had a few empty pages left. Caution needed to be exercised to avoid running out of space. Ezin¡¯s messages were terse, according to Kajal. Rumors of the trouble in Dreadwood had started spreading through the city. It triggered a mad dash among the nobles for the use of the World Shrine, an asset that the city needed in the upcoming war. The effects of [Nightfall] were also not pronounced within the city, though the evil cloud sometimes crossed beyond the walls. Ezin estimated that Skeelie needed two more weeks to prepare for the invasion, but he said nothing about how he expected us to procure that window. We were still brainstorming over it when by the fifth day of traveling with Seeker¡¯s crew, the topography changed. We arrived at Nyneveh: the capital of Dreadwood. 099.5 Felusidan The orc¡¯s axe cleaved the head of the highlord in two. The corpse toppled to the ground, landing gracelessly in mud. The elves of the second cohort, who had previously broken through the main army of the orcs, watched in stunned silence. Fear rose like a stench on the wind, joining the other ghastly smells of blood, offal, and excreta. The fright that filled the cohort was distasteful but not unexpected. Regulars and specialists could do great things in their numbers but posed little threat to rankers of high levels, starting from Gold. The orc, a towering specimen even by orcish standards, lowered his axe. He radiated waves of golden power, invisible to the naked eye, across the battlefield. His burly hands rested against the base of his weapon, pressing it into the mud. Large canines jutted from both sides of his mouth; a clear sign of his advancement in age. The orc said nothing, which was statement enough, considering the deed he had just accomplished. Loose strands of black hair, tied in a top bun, fell over his face. He stood facing the elves, like a mountain of green stone that couldn¡¯t be traversed. A pristine kimono hung tied around his waist, revealing his imposing physique. The orc militia behind him¡ªunwashed, ignoble, and clad in black lacquered armor¡ªerupted in a frenzy. They started with roars which eventually gave way to growls and then to song. This one was called Till the Elven God Falls, a chant that had existed since before the century began. They have killed many. But, we¡¯ll kill one. They ravage and steal, plunder and burn. Fair is their skin, but black their hearts. So labor we must. Till the elven god falls. ¡°My Lady!¡± an elf runner cried, reaching her on horseback from across mounds of orc corpses. ¡°My lady! His Highness calls!¡± Felusidan raised the visor of her helmet. Heat escaped in the form of vapor, misting across the steel. Her braided hair, damp with sweat and blood that was not hers, itched against her nape. Sometime in the last few minutes, she had rid her vicinity of all living enemies. The fighting continued between the two main armies, though it had dwindled to pockets of resistance after the beating the orcs had endured. The second cohort had been instrumental in that victory before seizing the initiative to engage the rear army of the orcs. And now, they¡¯d been stopped by the appearance of the gold ranker who killed their highlord commander. Felusidan spared a tired glance at the singing orcs and accepted the runner¡¯s horse. With the main army broken into clusters, she rode with little difficulty toward the center of command: a palisade erected on a small hill far behind the reserves. That palisade was protected by a squad of four casters, all of them elves who specialized in barriers. An Orc Assassin had earlier tried to sneak past the four, only to meet a gruesome end at the hands of enchantments. The air rippled around Felusidan as she dismounted and handed the horse off to an eager squire. The gallant steed complied with instructions, despite standing in an area saturated with magic. Stouthearted horses like this one likely hailed from Kholindon where the humans treated horses as friends and siblings. Felusidan spared a few kind words to the steed in the old tongue, and then she entered the palisade to the notice of four familiar faces. She removed her helmet and bowed deeply in respect. ¡°Your Highness.¡± The first and most familiar of the faces regarded her with a grin. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°Well what, sir?¡± she asked. Felluvian chuckled. He stood in ash-colored, ranker-grade battle robes¡ªhis preferred style of dress¡ªwith arms clasped behind his back. A rapier of good quality dangled from one side of his belt. A short wand occupied the other. His blonde hair, every bit as deep as hers, flowed neatly down his back, adorned by a circlet on his head. ¡°Do not act like that, dearest sister,¡± he said. ¡°You know what I speak about. What do you think?¡± Felusidan sighed. ¡°I can take him.¡± The three elves behind them blanched. ¡°With all due respect,¡± the oldest of the trio, vice commander of the second cohort and a Tactician by trade, spoke. For the life of her, Felusidan couldn¡¯t recall his name. ¡°You mean no respect,¡± Felluvian said. ¡°But, go on.¡± The Tactician winced. ¡°Highlord Haldir was a fearsome fighter, second to none but you in our army. Yet, he lost with such ease to an opponent of similar rank. The lady has proved her mettle in countless raids, but she is only Silver. She can¡¯t beat that orc.¡± Another elf spoke. This one served Felluvian as his retainer and second-in-command. Though younger than the first speaker, he was also a Tactician because Felluvian never allowed rankers to perform jobs better suited for specialists. ¡°Your Highness,¡± the younger Tactician. He spoke with a soft voice as if used to revealing his thoughts only when certain. ¡°We don¡¯t need to take this gamble. There are other ways to deal with gold rankers. If the Soldiers occupy his attention long enough, we can roll our scorpions and casters into position.¡± ¡°Prolonging the fight,¡± Felluvian said, ¡°and causing needless death. Think about morale. Half our army just watched an elven lord lose in a fair duel to an orc. If we don¡¯t follow it up with a show of strength, what do you think will happen?¡± ¡°Pandemonium,¡± the third elf answered from her spot on a chair behind the sole table in the room. This elf¡¯s name was one Felusidan recalled, being a close friend of hers. Lyrissa wore her black hair short, as was common among elf-maidens serving in the High King¡¯s army. She was rather small, for an elf at least, but the blueness of her eyes went unmatched by all but the most noble of Norduli?. The other elves shivered as she spoke. The Pandemonium she referred to didn¡¯t infer a simple onset of chaos. It meant [Pandemonium]: the unique trait that sometimes appeared among a gathering of orcs. Felusidan had once been forced to hold a line against a handful of orc Soldiers consumed by the trait. She had barely escaped with a sliver of health and new scars added to her collection. Out on the battlefield, the orc song swelled in ferocity, spreading even to the isolated pockets of the militia who resisted the elves. A series of cheers went up as the gold ranker slaughtered a second elf challenger. ¡°Idiots!¡± the younger Tactician said and ordered a squire to relay instructions to the second cohort. Horns were sounded to order them to hold until an appropriate challenger could be sent. The older Tactician turned to Lyrissa with a measured gaze. ¡°What are the chances of [Pandemonium] appearing in this battle?¡± Lyrissa closed her eyes. As a Warlock attuned to Clarity, she made for a fantastic augur. ¡°Eighty percent if we defeat Bor with methods outside single combat. Seventy percent if we fail to beat him convincingly in a duel. The duel must be fair.¡± ¡°Then you must challenge him, my lord!¡± the Tactician said. ¡°You are the only gold ranker left in this station.¡± Felluvian smiled wryly and fingered his wand. With the Light Elves fighting wars on two fronts against the orc clans and the Beastmen Enclave, all of the strongest fighters had been sent off to the latter. The Enclave, like Nordulinor, enjoyed the protection of a Herald. And, although the Heralds maintained positions of neutrality for fear of mutually assured destruction, there were other ways they could tip the scales without being seen or felt. ¡°If I faced Bor in battle,¡± Felluvian said, ¡°my victory would be certain, but it would be perceived as a fight between two unevenly matched combatants. Or do you not think so, Lyrissa? What are my chances in a fight?¡± ¡°Ninety percent,¡± she said. Felluvian frowned, as though the existence of a ten percent chance of defeat was worse than an insult to the Heralds. ¡°And, how likely is [Pandemonium] to occur following my victory?¡± Lyrissa furrowed her brows. ¡°Fifty percent.¡± She massaged her temples with dainty fingers. ¡°Sorry. I think I am running out of steam.¡± The older Tactician grimaced. ¡°I see. Your victory, while total, might not be perceived as an embarrassing moment for Bor. His loss to a fellow Gold won¡¯t do enough to break the rising spirit of the orcs.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also the way the prince fights to consider,¡± Lyrissa said. ¡°With his range advantage, he could easily trigger a sense of unfairness.¡± Felusidan took the opportunity to speak. ¡°What are the chances of [Pandemonium] breaking out if I win?¡± Lyrissa winced as she leaned again on her ability. ¡°Ten percent.¡± Yes, Felusidan thought. That should do it. Beating a Gold in direct combat was astronomically difficult for a Silver, especially with a level difference of five and above. If she pulled it off without seeming at a disadvantage, she could snuff the fighting spirit of the orcs right in its cradle. Felusidan grabbed a green potion from her inventory and downed it in one go. ¡°I¡¯m moving out.¡± The younger Tactician paled. ¡°My lady? You didn¡¯t ask about your likelihood of victory.¡± ¡°Why bother?¡± Felusidan said and slipped on her helmet. ¡°The path to lowering the number of casualties is clear. We must take it.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Do not die, dearest sister,¡± Felluvian said with a laugh. ¡°I watched the fight between the orc and Haldir. He possesses a near-absolute defense. But, I guess, so do you.¡± Felusidan ignored him. ¡°He¡¯s a level 52, love,¡± Lyrissa warned, ¡°You¡¯re only level 45. Do not take this for granted.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± With a final bow, she left the palisade and ordered the squire to return the horse. Now mounted, she rode in the direction of the second cohort which remained in a deadlock between the orcs and elves. Her first cohort was on the precipice of victory. The Soldiers and rankers attached to it could finish their side of the battle without her contribution. Whispers rose among the ranks of the Norduli? as Felusidan approached. They began with incredulity and grew stronger over time. ¡°It¡¯s The Rose!¡± ¡°The Rose!¡± ¡°The Rose of the Battlefield!¡± Felusidan stopped in front of the orcs, in the wide gap occupied by . . . what was his name again? Bolchis? Boris? Boris the orc regarded her with raised eyebrows and black, deep-set eyes. His voice boomed from his chest like thunder rolling downhill. ¡°So, you are the one they call The Rose? I expected someone . . . fairer? You don¡¯t seem to fit the beauty standards of your people.¡± ¡°An orc that enjoys conversation,¡± Felusidan said. ¡°I expected someone sterner. You don¡¯t seem to fit the warrior standards of your people.¡± Bolchis didn¡¯t so much as smirk. He was a tough one, this orc. Then again, Felusidan was pretty bad at conversations. The large orc raised his axe and rested it against his shoulder. ¡°Why does Felluvian not come? He has enjoyed his campaign of raiding and pillaging for far too long. Why chicken out now at the last hour?¡± ¡°I am a highlady of the Norduli?,¡± Felusidan said. ¡°Any treaties made with me are as good as Felluvian¡¯s. I will suffice.¡± ¡°Yes . . . you reek of slain blood, of my family. Of my kindred. I shall not treat with you. I only have this to say: Recall your armies and retreat. The orcs will not abandon their ancestral home just because you want a dungeon.¡± ¡°Our negotiations have failed, then. I challenge you to a duel.¡± Boris laughed. ¡°You? A mere silver ranker? Come at me if you wish to die.¡± Felusidan grinned and punched herself in the face. The sudden damage caused her health meter to appear above her head, visible to all. At sixty percent, many would consider her HP too low for a fight to the death with a gold ranker. But, that was the point. It needed to be low, even though it put her at risk of death because impressions fucking mattered. Borgus had taken damage in his fight against the highlord, but a gold ranker¡¯s health and stamina meters easily doubled those of Silver. Worried murmurs began spreading among the elves behind her. Even the orc soldiers laughed and jeered at her health. They took up another song and pounded their breastplates with massive forearms, showing signs of the danger of the come.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Break. Snap. Strike. Bash. Hellish maidens and princes fell. Smite. Crush. Crack. Smash. Slit their throats and rip their ears. Murder. Gut. Slaughter. Slay. Butcher. Snuff. Torture. Flay. Claw. Bite. Boil. Choke. Drink their blood and sip their tears. Felusidan let the noises wash over her. This was it, huh? Another brush with death. Would the underworld finally receive her after all this time? Or would she eke out another victory? She abandoned her horse and nodded in satisfaction as it cantered back toward the elves. A heavy shield appeared in one of her hands; a worn mace in the other. Both weapons were ranker-grade of the Grand variety. The gold-ranked orc watched her with bored eyes. Yeah, you do that, Felusidan thought. The more disadvantaged she seemed at the start, the greater the impact of victory. She took a deep breath and activated the technique gifted by her trait. [Bulk Up]. Her muscular frame doubled in size, swelling to bursting. Her ranker-grade gear adjusted to match it. The [System] announced a ten-point increase in Strength and Endurance, lifting the two attributes from 30 to 40. Felusidan grinned. You have upgraded an attribute! [STR] has improved from Grand to Epic. Your physical attacks now deal 8x base damage. You now have 40% physical resistance. Base speed has risen 3x! You have upgraded an attribute. [END] has improved from Grand to Epic. You have gained a 4x base boost to the hidden stat: Defense. Your health and stamina meters have also been reinforced. The silver rank normally capped stats at 30 points which put her far behind the orc with his stat cap of 40. Thanks to [Bulk Up], however, she could now comfortably match him in Strength and Endurance. It would have been great to save the skill for later, but she got the feeling that she would die a humiliating death if she didn¡¯t use it from the start. Borkruff¡¯s eyes narrowed at her sudden transformation. ¡°You¡¯re the first elf I¡¯ve seen who can put on as much muscle as an orc. They call you The Rose, yet you are anything but. The Anvil would have been a more fitting name. Is that it? Is the moniker meant to be tongue-in-cheek?¡± Felusidan snarled, ¡°I¡¯ll put your tongue between your cheeks before this is over.¡± He probably meant the name as a compliment. But, an orc was the last person she wanted to hear from on musculature. She advanced with her shield held high in front of her, watching the enemy for signs of movement. He remained relaxed. Grimacing, Felusidan darted down the rest of the way and swung her mace at his head. The orc parried with a speed that belied his size and sent her reeling backward. They tested each other in eerie silence. Guardian against Warrior. Silver versus Gold. The fighter block, which included Warriors, Monks, Samurais, and Skirmishers, surpassed all other classes in close combat. Guardians, however, were built to endure, and their sole fighting style¡ª[Shieldmastery]¡ªoften proved the bane of ferocious fighters. Regardless, Felusidan retreated first from the opening exchange, panting hard. Her shield arm shuddered in pain, threatening to drop. The orc fought like a siege weapon, mustering enough force behind each strike to crumble castle walls. He observed her retreat with boredom and stepped forward in pursuit. Felusidan struck at that moment. All of the speed she had been reserving exploded beneath her feet, allowing her to sweep under his guard. The orc managed a blink before her mace fell on his skull. He tumbled backward for the first time since he arrived on the battlefield, grunting in pain. The orcs behind him gasped. Their crude song faltered in their throats. Felusidan didn¡¯t press the advantage, not because she couldn¡¯t, but because she painted a picture of perfect confidence by doing otherwise. The old orc, for his part, touched his jaw and regarded Felusidan. Rather than depict annoyance, he instead rose calmly. The air around him became denser¡ªheavier¡ªas was common with the skill, [Aura of Might]. He tensed his knees and jumped thirty feet into the air. A [Power Slam]?! Felusidan strained her muscles and rolled out of the way. The orc¡¯s descent went off like a bomb, opening a crater on the ground. Multiple onlookers: elves and orcs both, reeled from the shockwave. Large boulders went flying from the impact, but Felusidan swerved past them all and resumed her attack. The orc met her halfway, catching her mace in his hand. She responded with a shield to his face, but it bounced off without inflicting damage. And then¡ªow! Felusidan crumbled as his headbutt landed on her skull. Bright lights painted her vision, forcing her to bite her lip in an attempt to center herself. She scored a few hits of her own, but the orc remained unharmed. His next strike met her shield with the force of a trebuchet and sent her skipping across the mud. A dark sheen painted his skin. [Iron Skin]! Felusidan realized. The bastard was attuned to Consideration. The affinity excelled in transforming one material into another. And, true enough, the orc manifested above her like the wind, using [Wind Walk] to cross large distances. Felusidan rolled out of range, but he pursued relentlessly. His strikes pounded her shield, releasing shockwaves that rattled her bones and teeth. With just three techniques, he had changed the power dynamics between them. [Wind Walk] enhanced his mobility, while [Iron Skin] and [Aura of Might] improved his defense and attack respectively. It also didn¡¯t help that he could afford to take more damage than her by dint of his larger health meter. Each deflected strike cost Felusidan a smidgen of health, enough that she could barely consider the similarities between the orc¡¯s kit and hers. Mud specks sprayed the battlefield, hurled by the shockwaves that followed the orc¡¯s attacks. His clansmen cheered in support, approving the approaching demise of the foolish elf-maiden. Felusidan used a technique: You have activated [Heroic Defense]! Stamina has risen by 25%. Defense has risen by 50%. She weathered the next shockwave and pulled a spear from her inventory in one smooth motion. The speartip was covered with enchantments that grew sharper the stronger the defense encountered. The orc sidestepped her spear thrust¡ª ¡°Pathetic,¡± he growled. He aimed for her neck and opened a new crater in the ground. Felusidan appeared behind the orc, completely unharmed. ¡°Oh, snap. I didn¡¯t want to use this yet.¡± The orc stiffened in shock but responded fast enough to attempt a second decapitation¡ªif she remained in place. Felusidan instead reappeared above his head and thrust her spear into his skull. The fatal blow inflicted critical damage, negating in totality the benefits of [Iron Skin]. The orc howled and slipped a short distance away, becoming one with the wind. ¡°That ability,¡± he said. ¡°[Teleportation]?¡± Felusidan didn¡¯t reply. Instead, her orientation of the landscape changed, putting her behind the orc. He read her intention perfectly but reacted a fraction too late. Her speartip found his side even as his axe slammed into her shield. He winced at the damage and backpedaled to put distance between them. ¡°Greed. Fitting for an elf. And, that spear. It is an enchanted weapon, yes?¡± Felusidan shrugged. Sure enough, hers was the affinity of Greed¡ªof want, consumption, and devouring¡ªwhich granted the user access to the Void. Pound for pound, however, it was much weaker than an all-rounder like Consideration. So, she wouldn¡¯t let him control the narrative. Perception was everything. To that end, she reserved her remaining two uses of [Teleportation] and charged at the orc. He planted his feet to receive her. But, she wasn¡¯t done yet. Felusidan threw her spear. It sailed toward Bodan¡¯s chest, who snatched it out of the air before it could connect. His green features creased with incredulity at the manner with which she had given up her trump card. But, that had only been done to coax his greed: the most powerful emotion in all sapient beings. The moment she entered his range, Bodan attacked with her spear, unable to resist the lure of killing her with her own weapon. Felusidan had already anticipated that, and she shattered the haft with an axe pulled from her inventory. Realizing his error, the orc raised his main weapon in time to parry. But, Felusidan¡¯s shield glowed . . . [Taunt]. . . . and forced Bodan to lunge at her against his will. Her axe crashed against his mouth with enough force to break teeth and fangs. His [Iron Skin] shattered her axe instead, but Felusidan followed up with her shield. She punched him in the face with the boss of the weapon, seeking to concuss rather than deal damage. The orc recovered from the daze of [Taunt], and then, with a bone-chilling roar, he landed a devastating uppercut on her chin. Felusidan¡¯s ears popped from the force, but she managed to bring her shield around in time for his next strike. Her world exploded in white. You have been hit by the skill, [Stunning Strike]! You have been stunned. Your sight and hearing have also been sealed. Duration: [5] seconds. Ah. She had been careless. Of course, a Warrior like him possessed techniques to punish turtling Guardians. She hadn¡¯t been paying attention to her HP either, which now entered its final third. Five seconds was enough time to die. The orc grabbed her leg, a sensation that she barely felt, and slammed her face first into the mud. He repeated the slam. And, Felusidan knew instinctively that the final blow loomed. She just had to hope that her preparations would hold. Please. The orc¡¯s weapon bounced off a spectral shield that appeared over her chest. A web of cracks emanated from the point of contact, driven by the force with which he¡¯d struck. The orc once again displayed a degree of caution at odds with his power. He shifted backward and away into [Wind Walk] to regard the new development. A spectral knight shimmered into view above Felusidan, hunched over her form. It lifted its tower shield and rose to an impressive eight-meter height. Full plate armor covered it from neck to toe, complete with a helmet and tassel on its head. Long, silvery hair flowed in the wind, matching the ghostly hues of its armor and gear. The spectral knight pointed a slender arm at the orc. A longsword coalesced in her hand. Blue eyes gleamed from behind its visor, burning with intent. The intent of death. Now freed from the stun, Felusidan groaned and labored to her feet. Grime caked her hair and face and otherwise well-maintained armor. The specter supported her from behind, poised and regal in ways that Felusidan could only hope to be. A single rose decorated its cuirass, engraved in the plate. This time, it was the elves that cheered. ¡°Rose!¡± ¡°The Rose is here!¡± Boris the orc watched the specter with furrowed brows. ¡°What is that?¡± Felusidan shrugged. The proper name for the creature was [Void Knight], an inhabitant of the region peculiar to Greed. While other Guardians unlocked [Shield Wall] or [Shield Bash] upon reaching the silver rank, Felusidan had instead gotten this from her affinity. The [Void Knight] stared at the cheering elves with an upturned chin, as though in disdain. ¡°So, this is your trump card . . .¡± Boris said, permitting her silence ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. This fight¡¯s over anyway. You¡¯re not leaving here alive.¡± Indeed, all that remained of Felusidan¡¯s health meter was a measly ten percent. Boris, on the other hand, still possessed over fifty percent of his gigantic health bar. However, who needed HP when the Void was on her side? Her only worry lay in the fact that the orc had been careful with his techniques. With his trump card yet to be unleashed, he possessed the upper hand in the duel. ¡°Charge,¡± she whispered. The [Void Knight] swept forward. Its speed surprised the orc who raised his axe to parry. The void sword passed through his weapon and into [Iron Skin] without disrupting health armor. The orc¡¯s eyes widened, and then he screamed. This was the greatest advantage of the [Void Knight] after all: its ability to assume the properties of the Void at will. Bolchis tried to disengage from the summon, but the [Void Knight] was relentless. He slipped into [Wind Walk] only to revert a short moment later after the spectral sword passed through his form. The passing sword dealt soul damage, a type that no ranker could resist as long as they lived. Bolchis clutched his chest in agony and tried a [Stunning Strike]. His weapon sailed harmlessly through the [Void Knight], though the energy that powered it inflicted some damage. A health meter appeared over the specter¡¯s head. It ignored it in favor of retaliation. Its void blade erupted in a deadly series of strikes, which Bolchis needed to avoid rather than parry. The orc did well for himself, but the strange qualities of the [Void Knight] overwhelmed him. He took multiple hits again to his soul and hurled blood onto the floor Quicker than anyone could blink, Borkruff leaped high into the air. His axe glowed with power in a bid to destroy the surrounding landscape. Felusidan chose that moment to teleport behind him, trading soft earth for the emptiness of air. The broken spearhead, which she had retrieved in the chaos, slammed into the orc¡¯s spine and then his heart. He crashed painfully to the ground, rolling in one smooth motion to regain his footing. Felusidan and the [Void Knight] fell upon him, besetting him from opposite sides. Enchanted spearhead and intangible sword plunged at intervals, slipping through the otherwise insurmountable defense of his skin. The large HP that had once solidified his position as a proud gold ranker dwindled into nothing. The orc triggered [Wind Walk] to evade Felusidan and earned a void blade for his trouble. He returned to face the specter and took Felusidan¡¯s shield to his face. The [Void Knight] slammed him to the ground. Go on, Felusidan thought. Show me your trump card. The orc¡¯s features contorted. His axe quivered for one moment, and then it exploded with growth. It swung in a wide arc that extended far beyond the confines of their vicinity, killing a handful of the onlookers on both sides where they stood. Felusidan avoided the attack by teleporting into the air. But, she used the last of her [Teleportation] charges in the process, sending the ability into cooldown. The [Void Knight] wasn''t so lucky. It failed to make a full transition to intangibility in time, taking a glancing hit that flung it off its feet. The orc retracted his axe to normal length and watched Felusidan fall. ¡°You have used your [Teleportation] ability five times. This is your limit.¡± Felusidan winced. It always sucked to fight enemies who had encountered her abilities before. Borke, or whatever his name was, extended his axe for one last strike. Airborne as she was, she wasn¡¯t dodging it. The giant axe parted the wind in its passing. It would crush her like a fly. End her life on its blade. The gates of the underworld beckoned Felusidan, cajoling her to give in just this once. Felusidan activated the [Void Knight]¡¯s special skill. It caused them to switch places just before the axe strike landed. The specter took no damage, having completed the transformation to intangibility. The orc glanced in shock at the [Void Knight]¡¯s previous location only to find Felusidan lunging with spearpoint in hand. The blow slammed into his gut. Wind issued from his extremities, seeking to cart him to safety. Felusidan pulled his thoughts back toward her with [Taunt]. And, like clockwork, he abandoned all escape attempts. Influenced by the skill, Bolchis lunged mindlessly at her throat. The void sword emerged from his chest, stopping him in the tracks. He turned reflexively toward the specter only to gasp as Felusidan¡¯s spear plunged again into his chest. The [Void Knight] stabbed a second time, and a third, as did Felusidan, until the wounded orc stooped listlessly between him. His fearsome health meter, which had once stood in the representation of the greatness of gold rankers hung empty over his head. The orc¡¯s eyes, blinded with pain, found Felusidan¡¯s gaze. Blood dribbled down his chin. ¡°Thorn . . .¡± he whispered. ¡°You are no rose. Just a thorn.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said. And then, she beheaded him with his axe. Felusidan didn¡¯t cheer or raise her fist in victory. She simply grabbed the decapitated head by the hair and strode toward the elves. Her health meter still had a sliver left in it. But, she didn¡¯t drink a potion or heal herself. Again, impressions mattered. The [System] released a stream of messages, informing her of her level-ups. [Void Knight] followed behind her like a bodyguard, radiating silent approval. The stunned Norduli? parted ranks to allow The Rose of the Battlefield to pass. The equally stunned orcs gaped after her form. A cry went up among the elves. ¡°For Rose! Killer of gold rankers!¡± ¡°For Rose! For Rose!¡± The light elves charged, spurred on by their commanders and the elvish horns of battle. They formed a wave of steel and blades that swept past the corpses of Haldir and the orc. The filthy orc Soldiers tried to mount a valiant resistance, but they eventually crumpled like wet paper beneath the wave. A great victory was secured on the rice plains that day, home to The Cave, the ancient dungeon of the South. Felluvian smirked as his sister tossed the decapitated head at his feet. ¡°You do the Elodir name proud. What level are you now?¡± Felusidan took a moment to check. ¡°Level 47.¡± ¡°Good. No more big battles. I need you to lead the expedition into the dungeon. Until then, you must do all you can to remain at Silver.¡± Felusidan excused herself from the palisade and finally allowed her [Bulk Up] skill to fade. She dropped in size, going from a hulking bruiser-type to a brawny, less-hulking elf. She needed a bath and a stiff drink, in no particular order. The latter had to be the good stuff that a few of her cohort members smuggled, not the watered-down wine that Felluvian allowed on campaigns. The old orc had hit her as hard as she hit him. A ringing persisted in her ears. Ah, yes, Felusidan thought as she ordered her specter to return to the Void. His name was Bor. 100 The Wood Kings Domain Giant trees ringed the kingdom. These weren¡¯t deridum trees like I was used to or the swordfruit trees that had helped me in a pinch during my first day in Vizhima. These were of a different kind: massive, pale, and stout of trunk and branches. Large enough that two full-grown men could walk comfortably side by side along its branches. Green leaves swayed in the summer breeze, contrasting nicely with the grey hues of the trunks. A few of the leaves shimmered with a golden haze, probably in anticipation of fall. Natural inlets popped up at intervals in the trunks. No, that wasn¡¯t right . . . The inlets were definitely man-made and came in various sizes¡ªsome the height of doors, others the width of windows. Vine-based bridges, twined among the branches, allowed transport between the trees. The Wood Elves hadn¡¯t hollowed out the trees because they liked the aesthetic. They actually lived and conducted business in them. Each tree was, therefore, a garrison and wall, a fort and home all by itself. Orange butterflies fluttered around the branches, turning the scenery even more serene. ¡°Incredible,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but say. Medekeine tried to offer his usual insults but couldn¡¯t come up with a retort. ¡°You can repeat that,¡± Seeker said, spurring his reindeer along. ¡°Few kingdoms in this world can hope to match the glory of Nyneveh. The trees here are as ancient as Vizhima itself.¡± [Identify] seemed to concur, what with its description: Monarch Tree. Native to Dreadwood. An ancient specimen held in high regard among the Wood Elves. It seldom grows in regions outside the forest. I could see why. Each root of the monarch tree was a fortress all by itself. They stood equally as stout as the branches in places where they surged from the ground, creating a dense and impenetrable barrier across the undergrowth. Passage was granted via large gates at the base of the largest tree, which served as the main entrance to the Wood King¡¯s hallowed realm. Sentries kept watch on both sides of the gates and high up in the trees. They nodded at Seeker¡¯s party as we passed, remaining alert despite their claims of peace. The interior of the monarch tree looked no different from my imagination of a tree home, with smooth wooden walls, furniture that grew out of the surroundings, and old dusty smells. Entire flight of stairs, all made of wood, blossomed from one region of the tree room to another. We bypassed them to enter a guard station for preliminary questioning. Kajal hummed under her breath. ¡°This is no mere woodwork or enchantment. Someone created most of this with an affinity.¡± ¡°Generosity?¡± I asked. ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything else. It seems to be the doing of a Herald or an Adamant, at least.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think too much of it,¡± Seeker said, revealing without shame that he had been eavesdropping on our conversation. ¡°We only need to nurture the monarch trees to get them to do our bidding.¡± ¡°Someone made it that way,¡± Kajal replied and said nothing else. The Wood Elves were meticulous in their interview. Kajal was ordered to submit a seal from the guildmasters and answer questions about our experiences during travel. She handled the query with ease, as was her manner. Beyond the tree wall, Nyneveh proper awaited, and I lost my breath for a few seconds at the sight of the kingdom. Everything seemed so green, and bright, and colorful. A luxurious meadow stretched as far as the eye could see in the area ringed by the trees. It featured clusters of shorter trees and courtyards hewn out of polished, white stone. Fountains sparkled every tenth step of the way, coursing from springs that surged beneath the ground. A few of the white stone structures seemed to be residential buildings, but the majority of Wood Elves lived in tree huts built into the ring. The system of vine-based bridges continued here, creating a network of gangways high up and low to the ground that the Wood Elves traversed. Reindeers pastured in fields when they weren¡¯t working, isolated by stone walls that indicated their pens. Orchards sprouted around the meadow at intervals, featuring all kinds of fruit. Seeker carelessly plucked an apple from one orchard as we passed and offered it to Kajal. ¡°For you, fair lady.¡± Kajal rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you can see that I am neither fair nor lady-like.¡± ¡°The sentiment remains. We may have gone at each other¡¯s throats the first time we met, but you¡¯re guests of the Wood King now.¡± He bit into the apple when she rejected him again. I finally found my voice. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a kingdom like this to exist in Dreadwood.¡± The elf maiden with a sharp tongue smirked. ¡°Your kind are the barbarians, not us.¡± ¡°To the Light Elves,¡± Medekeine said, ¡°you are both barbarians.¡± The Wood Elves glared at his comment. Seeker simply laughed. We continued past the lush fields, down a path of cobblestones that seemed incapable of wear. A couple of lingering Wood Elves performed double takes as they saw us. Word soon spread throughout the kingdom of the strangers in the hallowed realm. In no time at all, a sizable group of bystanders gathered around us. They murmured among themselves, pointing at Div, Kajal, and Medekeine. The dwarf took umbrage with that. ¡°One would think that your people have never seen the dwarrowfolk before.¡± ¡°One would be right,¡± Viper Tongue Elf-maiden said. ¡°I certainly didn¡¯t expect your kind to be so . . . small.¡± ¡°Do not speak to me, wench.¡± ¡°The name¡¯s Svani. And, may I share the reason why they stare at you so much?¡± She chuckled aloud. ¡°¡®Where is his beard?¡¯ That¡¯s what they¡¯re saying.¡± I didn¡¯t need to look at Medekeine to tell that his expression had darkened. We stopped in front of a dwarf tree that stood like a centerpiece in the middle of a meadow. I recognized its throne-like structure, gnarly trunk, and crown of vines instantly. A World Shrine¡ªof the Greater variety. This one looked a little bigger than I remembered from Harkonean. Back then, over a month ago, I had sat in the shrine and started my journey to Ascension. I¡¯d probably die before I reached level 100, but I¡¯d outdone myself by coming within thirty percent of the mark. Beyond level 100 awaited Ascension and the rank of Herald, but that was a degree of power that I couldn¡¯t even wrap my head around¡ªnot that I¡¯d ever admit it to Paz.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. A simple mansion stood behind the World Shrine, cut out of the same white stone as the rest of the structures in Nyneveh. An elf emerged from the sole exit of the mansion, barefoot and dressed in long, flowing robes. Golden power spilled out of him, invisible to the naked eye but not to my [Insight] perk. All of the elves who accompanied us fell to their knees, including Seeker¡¯s party who alighted from their mounts. I didn¡¯t need a skill to confirm his identity. The golden aura was proof enough. But, just in case . . . [Identify]. A [System] screen appeared: Beast Rider LVL 53. My god. An actual gold ranker. Only the second one I¡¯d ever met in Vizhima. The gap between Iron and Silver had been pretty steep, but it always seemed like a divide that could be surmounted. Byron was terrifying to face in battle, but I¡¯d also survived two encounters with him by relying on cunning. The same could not be said about the gulf between Silver and Gold. Now that I had more combat experience, I could estimate the difference in raw power, not levels, between my opponents and me. If the Samurai of Skeelie dwarfed me like a great wall of stone, the Wood King was the fucking Colossus of Rhodes. He smiled, and I almost felt compelled to kneel in his presence. My knees actually bent a little: an action that caused me no small alarm. This was a demi-god, after all. One nearly halfway up the path of Ascension. The Wood King wore his red hair in a neck-length mullet with a crown of actual thorns placed on his head. He looked both ancient and young at the same time, courtesy of wide hazel eyes set deep in his sockets. He permitted the Wood Elves to rise with a wave of his hand and smiled kindly at us. ¡°Now this is a sight that I haven¡¯t seen in years,¡± he said in a honeyed voice. ¡°Elves, humans, and dwarves all arrayed together. It calls for a feast, don¡¯t you think?¡± Kajal bowed. ¡°Your Highness. We have arrived from Skeelie¡ª¡± The Wood King wagged his finger. ¡°That can wait. Firstly . . .¡± He retrieved a black orb from his inventory. ¡°We don¡¯t usually get visitors from outside Dreadwood, but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that there are no secrets in Nyneveh.¡± I recognized the black orb in his hand: A viewing stone. Nana had used one to track my level. This stone was, however, of the Grand class, according to [Identify]. Kajal grimaced. This was bad. If I touched the stone, they would learn my affinity. And, that could prove an unpleasant affair, considering the other Fear user that ran rampant in Dreadwood. There was also the bit about my [Migrant Soul] trait to be worried about. Nothing good would come out of this. Medekeine glared at the viewing stone in the Wood King¡¯s hand. ¡°I decline.¡± ¡°I must insist,¡± the Wood King said. ¡°And, I ignore your insistence. Is this what you consider hospitality among the elves? We are here to do business, not win your friendship.¡± A few of the gathered Wood Elves hissed at his tone. The Wood King maintained a kind smile. ¡°Ah. The brashness of the dwarrowfolk. Alas, without honesty, there can be no trade.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind leaving. Your people seem to think that there is no war after all.¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± Kajal interjected. ¡°I am the leader of this envoy. While I understand your reasons for doing so, you must understand why rankers vehemently oppose attempts to unravel their secrets.¡± ¡°This is a viewing stone of the Grand tier,¡± the Wood King countered. ¡°While its ability to peer into one¡¯s status is expanded, it still cannot unveil traits or techniques. Surely, this is not an extreme request, is it, for your safe passage through Dreadwood?¡± That sounded like a threat. Kajal thought so too because she gave in with a sigh. ¡°It is your domain.¡± She stepped up to the Wood King and placed her hand on the viewing stone. Kajal Undreki Race: Human Level: 31 Class: Monk Affinity: Empathy VP: 77/77 MP: 89/91 Attributes: STR 30, PER 22, END 20, DEX 5 INT 2, WIL 10, V.F 3, MGK 10 Free Stat Points: 0 The Wood King smiled. ¡°It is rare for a fighter to raise Magicka over Vital Force. But, I¡¯m sure you have your reasons. And, you, master dwarf?¡± ¡°Do it,¡± Kajal said. Medekeine glowered like he had been force-fed ghost peppers. Eventually, he acquiesced. Medekeine of the Tinfolk Race: Dwarf Level: 38 Class: Shifter Affinity: Confusion VP: 117/117 MP: 87/87 Attributes: STR 30, PER 20, END 30, DEX 5 INT 4, WIL 10, V.F 16, MGK 1 Free Stat Points: 0 ¡°Stalwart as expected,¡± the Wood King said, ¡°from a dwarf.¡± He passed over the Bound Div and focused on me. ¡°Now for you, my Dark Elf friend.¡± I reached for the viewing stone¡ªthis was so dangerous¡ªand stopped midway. ¡°Friend?¡± ¡°Are we not?¡± ¡°Do Wood Elves isolate their friends from communicating with them?¡± The Wood King cocked his head. ¡°Ah. You must be speaking about the unfortunate circumstances of Harkonean.¡± ¡°Is that what you call it,¡± I hissed, ¡°when you destroy the roads leading from my village?¡± ¡°Damien . . .¡± Kajal said. ¡°What about the aid that the Harkon no doubt requested,¡± I continued, ¡°in the fight against the goblins? Did you lift a finger to improve their chances?¡± ¡°There is no war,¡± the Wood King said. ¡°The goblins are crucifying your people in the forest!¡± A few of the Hinduli? around us blanched. ¡°There is no war,¡± the Wood King repeated. A hint of irritation crossed his features. ¡°I slew the Goblin Prince in the last invasion with these very hands. Those stragglers you see, playing at being a horde, will be annihilated the instant the host of Nyneveh rides forth.¡± ¡°Your Highness,¡± I said, making sure to inject every bit of sarcasm into the title, ¡°there are a lot of fallacies present in your comments.¡± The Wood King¡¯s irritation deepened into a scowl. ¡°You presume to know more about the horde than I do?¡± ¡°I presume to know a faulty argument when I hear it. While you wait for the opportune moment to strike, a window to save lives is thrown to the wolves. You failed your people.¡± ¡°I failed no one. The average Wood Elf is worth more than twenty goblins. We will not fall.¡± ¡°And yet, my village¡ª¡± ¡°Your village?¡± the Wood King smirked. ¡°The Harkon indeed attempted to create a coalition, but she needed the backing of the other chieftains to succeed. Alas, Harkonean has made enemies of all its neighbors¡ª¡± ¡°Are you being serious, right now? You¡¯re playing petty politics while an enemy runs around your house with fire and oil. In your bid to get the goblins to do your dirty work for you, you destroyed not just Harkonean, but also the Hinduli? village of Nybala!¡± Medekeine chuckled: an odd sound in the silence of the gathering. The Wood King bared his teeth. ¡°Nybala¡¯s destruction was no fault of ours. The loss of elven lives wound me, but the other villages will hold until Nyneveh concludes preparations.¡± He spread his arms. ¡°Even during the last invasion, not a single blade of grass was harmed here in my domain. The wild god protects us.¡± ¡°The wild god doesn¡¯t care.¡± The Wood King stiffened and returned the viewing stone to his inventory. ¡°We will adjourn our discussion here. Seeker, see to it that the others are provided with rest and bedding. The Dark Elf, however, must be thrown in jail. See that he remains there until he returns to his senses.¡± Seeker gleefully placed his odachi against my throat. ¡°What? No!¡± Kajal said. ¡°I won¡¯t stand for this!¡± But, the Wood King didn''t reply, retreating into his mansion. ¡°Consider this mercy,¡± Seeker said into my ear. ¡°The last time a Dark Elf spoke out of turn in Nyneveh, they returned home saturated with poison.¡± The rest of his party surrounded me, pulling weapons from their inventories. Kajal tried to intervene, but the bystanders blocked her path. I wasn¡¯t particularly worried. This wasn¡¯t the best outcome, all things considered. But, I¡¯d given the Wood King a piece of my mind and avoided revealing my affinity in the process. I extended my hands to Seeker and offered a wink. ¡°Be gentle.¡± 101 Evil to Eden Incarceration freaking sucked. I was no stranger to it, having been imprisoned during my initial arrival at Skeelie. But, there was just something off-putting about the sight of bars and the sensation of enchantments that typified most jail cells. Like other structures in Nyneveh, the jail cell sprouted out of the cambium itself. The wooden bars grew from within the tree, creating rows of effective cells within the prison. Each cell was sturdy enough to hold a rampaging ranker, but it was the collar around my neck that kept me detained. I couldn¡¯t access VP, MP, any techniques, or even my inventory as long as the collar persisted. Heck, my status sheet refused to appear on command. However, my attributes were still mine to use as I wanted. Not that it mattered. Common Strength was too weak to shatter the bars, and I didn¡¯t intend to provoke the Wood King any further. The fucking bastard. I¡¯d now spent two nights in the dark, musty cell with no spaces for ventilation. And, right on cue, the [System] triggered the automatic consumption of a spirit orb, bringing my available total¡ªif my calculations were right¡ªto seventy. A ruckus rose from beyond the walls of the monarch tree, reaching my sensitive ears. It didn¡¯t sound too bad, or at least, I hoped it didn¡¯t. Nothing would suck more than to be trapped in jail in the middle of a crisis. My thoughts wandered to my companions¡ªKajal in particular. What the hell was she up to ever since my incarceration? She didn¡¯t bother to visit, which stung a little despite my unwillingness to admit it. Hopefully, she succeeded in negotiating my release. I was polite enough to stay put to avoid worsening the situation. But, I hadn¡¯t forgotten my original goal in coming to Dreadwood. If I was forced to spend one more night here, then the Wood Elves were responsible for whatever happened next. I paced around the cell. [Silhouette] remained inactive within my shadow, heeding none of my prompts. The Fear-based monster had been difficult to tame ever since I unlocked it three weeks ago, but it had also become a constant presence at my side. Seeing it lie dormant now as a result of the collar, a part of me couldn¡¯t help but growl in frustration. This wouldn¡¯t do. This wouldn¡¯t do at all¡ª The door to the jailhouse swung open. A harried-looking Kajal walked through the doorway and glowered at me from across my cell. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I blinked at the lockpick that I¡¯d retrieved from the sole of my boot and hid it with a chuckle. ¡°Nothing.¡± Kajal grimaced. ¡°Damien Njoku, you know better than to cause further trouble for me after the lengths I have gone to secure your release.¡± She deflated with a sigh. ¡°How are you holding up?¡± I spread my arms and fixed her a pointed look. Really? Kajal snorted. ¡°Right. Silly question. Sorry that I couldn¡¯t come sooner. The Wood King proved difficult to get a hold of. Without his express permission, you were barred from receiving visitors.¡± ¡°What changed now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave that as a surprise. We have an urgent meeting with him in the meantime. I made it clear that your release is non-negotiable.¡± My eyes teared up. ¡°Kajal . . .¡± ¡°Ugh. Stay away from me.¡± She acted stern, but her lips curled upward slightly. ¡°I understand the reason why you thought it necessary to do what you did. It was probably the best option at the time. But, the situation has changed.¡± She leaned against the wooden bars. ¡°We may need to reveal your abilities to the elves.¡± Ugh. I couldn¡¯t imagine that conversation going swimmingly. Hey, I am a user of the taboo affinity, Fear. But, I am not the same user currently terrorizing Dreadwood. I know it¡¯s rare for two Fear users to appear at the same time, but it¡¯s just a coincidence, m¡¯kay? ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Kajal said. ¡°I¡¯ll handle that conversation if it comes down to it.¡± I conceded with a sigh. ¡°You certainly have a way with words . . .¡± ¡°Of course I do. I was an influencer back on Earth.¡± The casual reveal caught me off guard, enough to trigger a round of choking. ¡°We''re ready now,¡± Kajal called out toward the doorway. Two Wood Elves entered the prison, brandishing strange wands. They tapped the wooden bars with the wands to unlock them, and then they did the same for the collar around my neck. [Silhouette] stirred from its slumber. ¡°Don¡¯t try anything suspicious,¡± one of the jailers growled, ¡°you Dark Elf mutt.¡± ¡°Ah. Racism,¡± I replied. ¡°How quaint.¡± I ignored him and followed after Kajal. ¡°Influencer, really?¡± Kajal grumbled. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have told you that.¡± ¡°Why? There¡¯s nothing wrong with it. Not with the job, at least. I simply can¡¯t imagine you sitting in front of a camera to advertise makeup and stuff.¡± ¡°Who said it had anything to do with makeup?!¡± Whatever the case. Kajal cut a strong, quick-tempered profile with her [Martial Arts] and potent negotiation skills. I could see her being a military officer in her former life or a director in a respectable company. She didn¡¯t give the impression of a social media personality. ¡°What kind of content did you specialize in?¡± I asked as we left the jailhouse. ¡°Dancing.¡± She gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not answering further questions on this matter.¡± We walked a little while longer. ¡°So . . . like and subscribe if you enjoyed this video?¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Kajal groaned. Nyneveh looked as breathtaking as ever despite the negative impression of it that I¡¯d gained after spending two nights in prison. The jailers led us in the direction of the center where the World Shrine stood. Nervous energy filled the air, having permeated the city in the time that I¡¯d been gone. Wood Elf regulars huddled in clusters, speaking among themselves. A ranker party prepared to ride out in the distance, performing a last-minute check on their supplies. More sentries patrolled the grounds and treetops, doubled in number. Something had happened to send the Wood Elves into a tizzy, but Kajal seemed to have other issues on her mind. We continued past the World Shrine and toward the large, stone building that occupied the area behind it. The Wood King had emerged from the building the last time around, which made it his royal manor or office, at least. The royal manor gave off a regal appearance, despite being a bungalow. Marble columns added to the aesthetic, holding up a flat-topped roof. Heavy wooden doors opened with some effort, ushering us into a great hall beyond. A large bundle of energy sprang to its feet. ¡°Damien!¡± ¡°Paz!¡± I screamed. The hulking man evaded my high-five and grabbed me in a headlock. ¡°You fucking clown! Did you intend to drown me alongside the goblins?¡± I chuckled as he rubbed his powerful knuckles against my head. ¡°It¡¯s not the worst thing I¡¯ve done to you, is it? You can add this to the list of injuries I¡¯ve inflicted alongside beheading and dismemberment.¡± ¡°Cursed wanker!¡± Kajal let out a sigh. The rest of the people in the hall turned disgruntled looks at us. But, I didn¡¯t care. Paz was back. That was all that mattered. ¡°How did you get here?¡± I asked him once he freed me from his grasp. Paz glanced behind him. ¡°Long story. Let¡¯s just say that we were lucky to meet up with the chieftain. We¡¯ll talk about the rest later. I think the Wood King is about to rupture his spleen.¡± Indeed, the Wood King watched us with an expression of irritation from behind a large table at the center of the hall. A few people occupied seats around him. One of them was Seeker with his shoulder-length brown hair and impish grin. He glanced lazily in my direction, showing no remorse for my incarceration. Logain sat beside him¡ªwe were so back!¡ªlooking like he had lived through a war . . . or twenty. He had traded his heavy armor for comfortable linen clothes, but the signs of weariness tainted his features. Dark bags hung beneath his eyes, lending an even greater air of severity to the pious Guardian. His cue ball head which typically served as a mirror in a pinch now sat obscured beneath a short growth of hair. For that matter, Paz didn¡¯t look as relaxed as his attitude portrayed now that I studied him. He masked his weaknesses beneath a veneer of boisterous laughter, but the cracks were there for those close to him to see. Both men had survived horrific ordeals in the time we¡¯d been separated. And, Dilwan provided clear proof of that. Together with Medekeine, he rounded off the number of people gathered in the great hall. But, whereas Medekeine sat alone, glowering at everyone who so much as engaged him, Dilwan instead squirmed in his chair, cradling his left arm which ended in a stump. ¡°May we begin?¡± The Wood King said. Coming from anyone else, that sentence would have sounded like a request, but from a gold ranker, it was anything but. We took our seats. ¡°Dark Elf,¡± the Wood King said, without so much as a glance in my direction. ¡°I assume you will control yourself much better this time around.¡± Yeah, fuck you too, bozo. I didn¡¯t give him the benefit of a reply. He didn¡¯t seem to mind, having said his piece. The Wood King would not permit a repeat of obstinacy. That much was clear. Kajal cleared her throat. ¡°Your Highness, thank you for allowing our comrades into your kingdom.¡± He waved her off. ¡°The gratitude is rightfully Dilwan¡¯s to receive. Were it not for his presence, my hunters would have killed your friends on the spot.¡± Paz made a face. ¡°Our gratitude stands, regardless,¡± Kajal said. ¡°I take it that by summoning us, you are now interested in conducting business?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll purchase all you have to offer,¡± the Wood King said as if that was ever in doubt. ¡°The extra supplies will go a long way in shoring up our weaknesses . . .¡± His gaze lingered on Dilwan. ¡°I might also require a second round of deliveries.¡± ¡°That might not be possible, what with the current situation in the forest. We¡¯ll need a safe corridor that extends from Nyneveh to the border.¡± ¡°I can provide that corridor.¡± ¡°The forest is crawling with goblins, Your Highness.¡± ¡°I can provide that corridor,¡± he repeated. ¡°In the presence of the host of Nyneveh, the goblins shall crumble like dust. There is no war.¡± Dilwan made a small sound in his throat. The Wood King frowned. ¡°You will get your chance to speak, Chieftain of Nybala. Once I am done here¡ª¡± ¡°There is no time!¡± Dilwan said, unable to persist in silence. He placed his butchered arm on the table for all to see. ¡°Every minute we dawdle, the goblins grow ever stronger. We can¡¯t trust the villages to handle them on their lonesome. Summon an Elven Meet!¡± Seeker chuckled. ¡°Have you lost your mind, failed chieftain? The Wood King has assured you of the impossibility of defeat.¡± ¡°That is not enough!¡± Dilwan said. His stump of an arm trembled on the table. ¡°I have faced the goblin horde. I have watched them charge without fear of death at our walls and barriers. They turned our farmlands red with the blood of our kin. This is different from the last time!¡± ¡°You failed because you are weak. Nyneveh won¡¯t fall so easily.¡± ¡°But, at the cost of how many lives?! By the time the goblins arrive to test your assertion, none of the other villages will remain.¡± I studied the three Hinduli?. Something about the behavior of the Wood King¡¯s folk was at odds with the level of the threat. The goblins were feared in this part of Vizhima for a reason. Why then did they play with fire? Unless . . . ¡°You wish to weed out the weak,¡± I said aloud. ¡°No. That¡¯s not quite right.¡± The Wood King sneered. ¡°I didn¡¯t request your opinion, boy.¡± ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t,¡± I said, ¡°but your actions are at odds with reality. Getting rid of the goblins sooner rather than later is the wiser option, regardless of your confidence is victory.¡± I looked him in the face. ¡°Unless there¡¯s some hidden goal you intend to achieve. But, what is it? What could you possibly stand to gain by putting the lives of your people at risk?¡± Paz groaned in his chair. ¡°More hidden agendas. This is the dungeon festival all over again.¡± Dilwan glanced at the Wood King, eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. ¡°Is this true?¡± ¡°It is not,¡± Seeker said. ¡°I¡¯ll imagine it is,¡± Medekeine interjected, thoroughly enjoying the show. The Wood King turned baleful green eyes on me. ¡°And, what if it is? Do you claim to possess more wisdom than a Gold?¡± His terrifying gaze stifled all dissent in the room. But, not my own. ¡°Power has nothing to do with wisdom,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s one thing to wait for the right moment to strike. It is another to live long enough to know how that decision ends. If you are using the goblins to systematically eliminate your undesirables . . .¡± ¡°Like the Dark Elves?¡± the Wood King said¡ªmy knuckles clenched at his tone¡ª¡°I do not need goblins to accomplish that much.¡± ¡°Crazy,¡± Paz muttered. The Wood King continued, ignoring the jibe. ¡°I am stronger, wiser, faster, and more knowledgeable than the old me. And, that version of me was sufficient enough to defend Nyneveh and end the invasion. If I reserve my hand, it is because I, a king, see something that you, a mongrel, cannot.¡± I held his gaze despite the pressure. ¡°Mongrels have teeth too.¡± ¡°Of that, I am all too aware,¡± the Wood King said. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse us, we the Hinduli? have much to discuss. A proxy of mine will conclude business on my behalf.¡± His gaze lingered on Dilwan. ¡°This will be lengthy.¡± I had more to say about my suspicions and rightful anger regarding the attack on Harkonean. But, I¡¯d flown as close to the sun as I dared for now. Paz was back, and I longed to learn all he had encountered. He shared my sentiment. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Paz said and leaped to his feet. ¡°I, for one, have had enough scheming and cowardice to last the night. Boy, have I got news for the rest of you . . .¡± 102 Invade the Invaders ¡°The goblins took prisoners,¡± Paz said, once we left the great hall. ¡°Dilwan, Logain, and I came across a slave train headed for the north. It was nasty work setting them free, but we managed to glean a lot from that battle.¡± ¡°Nasty work?¡± Logain squawked. ¡°The Chieftain lost an arm in that fight. I almost died. You died, for that matter!¡± ¡°Death is just a nuisance,¡± Paz said as if that made any sense. ¡°Not everyone dies when they are killed.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Whatever the case,¡± Paz continued, ¡°we finally made it to Nyneveh alongside the freed captives. But, they weren¡¯t the only ones. Many of them confirmed the sighting of other trains of prisoners, including a few full of Dark Elves.¡± My blood ran cold. Paz, in his way of kindness, allowed me a small moment to digest the information. ¡°I know it sounds terrible, Damien, but we know now that some of your kinsmen still live. If the goblins have taken the captives down to their caves¡ª¡± ¡°Then, we free them,¡± I concluded. ¡°No questions asked.¡± ¡°Question.¡± Medekeine raised his hand. ¡°Do you think I care about any of this?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, we all knew we¡¯d enter the goblin caves at some point. It¡¯s the fastest way to complete your mission and mobilize the dwarves before the situation spirals out of control. Surely, the task isn¡¯t too daunting for a dwarf like you.¡± Medekeine harrumphed. ¡°I fear no goblin. Neither do I care for your childish attempts at provocation. I¡¯ll go wherever suits me but expect only the bare minimum from me in any issue that concerns the elves.¡± Kajal didn¡¯t answer, lost in thoughts of her own. She had a lot on her plate as the leader of the expedition. It was a pity that I needed to pick her brains. ¡°What do you think the Wood King is up to?¡± I asked her. ¡°I have a few theories,¡± she said. ¡°Nothing concrete at this point. But, his actions are dubious enough for all to see. He was indeed instrumental in ending the last goblin war but surviving one horde should have made him apprehensive of another.¡± Her brows furrowed as she spoke. ¡°He shows none of the signs.¡± Logain scratched his chin which had seen an explosion stubble in the time we¡¯d been separated. ¡°You speak the truth. The Wood King doesn¡¯t strike me as the cowardly type either. No one who has achieved Gold can ever be accused of cowardice.¡± He lowered his voice. ¡°Be that as it may, we must warn Ezin to expect little from the Wood Elves. by way of cooperation. Bargheria must pursue sole responsibility for its defense.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Kajal said, smiling at the balding man. And then, she punched him in the face. He toppled with a cry. ¡°My lady!¡± ¡°Idiot,¡± Kajal hissed. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that a little water was all it took to keep us apart for days?!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t little¡ª¡± Kajal stomped his chest. The rest of us excused them as they devolved into their usual back-and-forth. Their dynamic was a strange one, sometimes reminiscent of a master-servant relationship, other times like siblings. ¡°What level are you now?¡± Paz asked me. ¡°Thirty-one.¡± I peeked at his information. ¡°How are you level thirty-two?!¡± Paz beamed. ¡°It¡¯s been a rough couple of days. I got a great skill out of it too: [Second Wind]. It refills my health and Stamina meters by one-third.¡± Talk about increased staying power. As if Paz wasn¡¯t relentless enough in battle as things stood. ¡°Well, I unlocked [Impostor].¡± Now, it was Paz¡¯s turn to be intrigued. ¡°Isn¡¯t [Impostor] the special skill that all Tricksters would give an arm and a leg to unlock? You¡¯re telling me you can transform into anyone you choose?¡± ¡°Anyone at all.¡± I smirked and pumped my chest. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that my transformations are indistinguishable from the originals.¡± ¡°Bullshit. Transform into me, then.¡± I furrowed my brows. Medekeine had wandered away, bored with our discussion. But, there was no reason to hold back, regardless. We were all on the same team; information sharing meant the difference between life and death. Not to mention, [Impostor] could prove invaluable on our journey. ¡°Fine.¡± I activated the skill and created a new template named after my teammate. Paz paled at my transformation. ¡°Dragon¡¯s breath, is this what I look like now?¡± He circled me, whistling at my appearance. ¡°Nice muscles you have on you if I do say so myself. Though, I¡¯m not sure this is fooling anyone.¡± ¡°Bloody wanker,¡± I said with a guffaw. ¡°Even your mother won¡¯t be able to tell the difference.¡± ¡°Bloody hell!¡± Paz doubled backward. ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that ever again!¡± I erupted with laughter. ¡°Where did your armor disappear to?¡± Paz asked, poking my chest. ¡°It¡¯s somewhere underneath,¡± I said, unsure of how exactly [Impostor] worked. ¡°It feels like I¡¯m wearing an extra set of clothes, atop everything else I have beneath.¡± ¡°So, if you transform to Logain?¡± I focused again. My form shimmered for a brief second, leaving a short, balding man standing in my place. My version of Logain came clad in heavy, steel armor, including his recent stubble and short growth of hair. Paz touched my pauldron. ¡°So, this isn¡¯t real armor?¡± ¡°No . . . At least, I don¡¯t think so. It still feels like I am wearing the Night Scout Armor, albeit I feel strangely encumbered when I walk.¡± I paused to consider. ¡°This is an exploit waiting to happen, huh?¡± I removed one of the heavy gauntlets. It dissipated into a silvery mist in my hand. ¡°Apparently not.¡± ¡°The gear you create using [Impostor] doesn¡¯t exist,¡± Paz said, ¡°except when in direct contact with you.¡± ¡°There goes any hope of duplicating stuff, but I guess I can find some uses for that.¡± ¡°The [System]¡¯s not easy to fool, Damien. Greater men than you have tried.¡± Paz inspected my armor some more. ¡°Do you gain any of the benefits of Logain¡¯s gear?¡± I checked the [System] icons. ¡°Nope. Nothing. [Impostor]¡¯s creations seem purely cosmetic. I can¡¯t generate weapons either.¡± ¡°Well, [Impostor] is considered the ultimate Trickster skill for a reason. There are other ways to mimic the appearance of others, using Confusion or the lesser skill, [Plasticine], for example. Most don¡¯t hold up to intense physical examination, and they certainly don¡¯t bestow you with the behavior of your targets.¡± I grinned as he spoke. I had missed Paz¡¯s extensive knowledge of the matter of Vizhima. For a braggadocious brute, he had established himself as the best authority on the [System] in my circle. I tried a new template, this time of an unarmored Logain, dressed as he currently was in simple linen cloth. It didn¡¯t require a fresh transformation. The armor simply faded away.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Don¡¯t! Please stop,¡± I said and covered my head. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt me, my lady!¡± Paz chortled. ¡°Medekeine, next!¡± I helped myself to a vital potion and transformed into the grumpy dwarf. ¡°What¡¯s more distasteful than a goblin? I¡¯ll tell you, alright? It¡¯s an elf.¡± ¡°Now, Nicola!¡± I switched to the busty, dark-skinned Mage. Her atrocious robes spilled down to the floor, accompanied by a large witch¡¯s hat on my head. ¡°D-Damien, a-are you crazy? What do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± Paz bent over in laughter. Oh, wow. This felt kinda nice. Unlike with the masculine transformations, Nicola¡¯s frame was rather light and . . . bouncy? Her mage robes barely managed to contain her chest, and I cupped them in both hands lest they should spill. A painful blow collided with my skull, knocking me face-first into the grass. Kajal towered behind me, cracking her knuckles. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked in a syrupy sweet voice. Paz fell on his back this time around, unable to contain himself. The fucking bastard. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think,¡± I said. ¡°I was just testing the skill!¡± And then, I noticed in horror that I was back to my usual self. Did Kajal delete over ten percent of my health in that one hit? What the hell were her fists made of? Concrete? Kajal¡¯s sneer of disgust didn¡¯t wane even with my explanation. ¡°I would have expected that from your friend, Damien, but not you.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Enough with this silliness. I¡¯ll go finalize talks with the elves. The rest of you, wait patiently till I return without causing any trouble.¡± She glared at her teammate. ¡°Come, Logain.¡± The balding man limped after her. ¡°Yes.¡± Paz dried his eyes, still beset by laughter. ¡°Alright, one more. Ezin this time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m all out of VP, Paz.¡± He visibly deflated. ¡°Drat. This was the most fun I¡¯d had in a while.¡± A short moment passed. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you five silver if you transform into Nicola again.¡± I rolled my eyes. It took Dilwan an eternity to emerge from his meeting with the Wood King. In that time, Kajal successfully concluded negotiations and got us to transfer all of the cargo we had on us to the Wood Elves. In return, we received a payment of precious stones, many of which possessed magical properties. I wasn¡¯t the type to be swayed by riches, yet I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the wealth of the elves. We had just finished finalizing the agreement when Dilwan ambled out of the royal manor with a despondent look on his face. Logain¡¯s features softened. ¡°I take it that the talks didn¡¯t go as intended.¡± ¡°Yes . . .¡± Dilwan said, ¡°I mean, no. Not that. The Wood King has agreed to convene a Meet.¡± He looked a far cry from the chieftain I remembered with a more severe demeanour and his belt clasped tighter around his waist. Dark rings circled his eyes, sitting even deeper in a now sunken face. His left arm only served to complete the picture. ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Logain said. ¡°Why then do you look so disheartened?¡± ¡°Because he is being punished,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Or is that not so, chieftain?¡± Dilwan trembled, then steeled himself. ¡°It is so. But, the Wood King is right. The responsibility for the Nybalan dead falls on my shoulders. I must make amends.¡± If anyone asked me, Dilwan had suffered enough. It was obvious that he didn¡¯t have combat ability on par with his level, probably from years of neglect, but he had done his best with the hand that he had been dealt. I¡¯d watched him labor to escort the Nybalan survivors to safety. And, he had gone on to lose an arm while freeing elven prisoners. ¡°Paz, Logain,¡± Dilwan said, ¡°this is goodbye for now. It was my pleasure to journey with such stalwart companions, but I must ride forth to gather vital intel about the Meet. There are other tasks I must accomplish while at it too. The goblins cannot be allowed to conquer any more villages.¡± ¡°Dilwan,¡± I said, ¡°how are you expected to accomplish this with only one arm?¡± ¡°What about it?¡± Seeker said, emerging from the manor. ¡°Regenerators are worth their weight in gems, a scarce commodity in these parts. We don¡¯t have any regen healers in the entirety of Dreadwood. He¡¯ll just have to make do.¡± Dilwan shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s no real hindrance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Seeker said in a rather unfriendly tone. He patted the chieftain¡¯s shoulder and grinned at the rest of us. ¡°The Wood King again thanks you for your undertaking. As he earlier stated, should the merchants be willing to conduct further business, he would be happy to oblige.¡± Kajal grimaced. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Failing that,¡± Seeker said as if he hadn¡¯t heard her, ¡°your time in our hallowed kingdom draws to a close. You must vacate at first light tomorrow while the Wood King looks to the future.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need to wait,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m ready to leave right this moment.¡± Seeker¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Then, I will provide escorts to hasten you on your journey.¡± My fingers twitched reflexively. Was that a threat? Kajal fixed her warm, brown eyes on Seeker. Her beautiful features narrowed to a dangerous glare that threatened to combust iron. Naturally, Seeker remained unfazed. ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°Does it not bother you,¡± she said, ¡°that the elves refuse to cultivate better relationships with their allies in this war?¡± ¡°There is no war¡ª¡± ¡°Yet, your people are dying. If you dislike the term so much, call the goblin invasion whatever you want. Nevertheless, a person who turns a blind eye to reality does not make a show of strength¡ª¡± ¡°They are examples of Fear,¡± I finished. Seeker went rigid and blinked at us with almond-shaped eyes. Finally, he hissed. ¡°Leave. Now.¡± It couldn¡¯t happen faster. I exchanged parting words with Dilwan who had gathered four of the bravest elves among the rescued captives to join him on his assignment. The Wood King had been kind enough to provide them with riding mounts, but the general mood among them remained dour. Dilwan, however, took it in stride, walking with a gait that displayed his resolve. His new party was indebted to him, at the least, and they showed their appreciation by listening with a keen ear to his words. ¡°You need to hear this, Damien,¡± Dilwan said and pointed me to an elf in his party. ¡°Menelhar here met a Dark Elf during his time in captivity.¡± The elf in question nodded politely. He bore a scar across his face, which went over his eye and to his scalp. ¡°The chieftain is right. There were many goblin trains headed for the tunnels. A few of them dragged Dark Elves along. I managed to speak with a ranker, Varil by name¡± I didn¡¯t recognize it. ¡°What did he say about Harkonean?¡± ¡°The same fate that met Nybala also met them. The Nanduli? planned to abandon the village at the onset, but they eventually decided to stay and fight.¡± My stomach churned. ¡°And, the Harkon?¡± ¡°Fell in battle to a goblin.¡± Oh, Nana . . . ¡°There are some ridiculously strong specimens among the goblins,¡± Menelhar said. ¡°You should beware, even if you¡¯re Silver. Only a Gold could hope to slay someone like Irithiel.¡± I didn¡¯t care about the goblin¡¯s power level. I remembered the name from a previous discussion with Dilwan. Galagor, huh? He would die by my hand. ¡°Where do you think the goblins were taking them?¡± I asked. ¡°The prisoners, that is.¡± ¡°To work the goblin mines,¡± Menelhar said. ¡°Where else? I know a few captives who were herded that way, mostly able-bodied elves: regulars and specialists. Rankers are considered too troublesome to tame, but they enjoy the rush of subjugating the strongest among us. The rest are used for . . .¡± He stammered to a halt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t want to think about it.¡± ¡°And, the kids?¡± Menelhar¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Right. No need to answer that,¡± I said. ¡°Did Varil say anything about the current state of my village?¡± Menelhar shook his head. ¡°I expect it to be crawling with goblins. Same as ours. But, shortly before he was whisked away, he proclaimed his belief in an impending rescue. Sadly, we were the ones whose train was assaulted by the chieftain, not his.¡± And yet, Menelhar was ready to jump right back into the fray. The elves were hardier than I gave them credit for, huh? Also, what did the Dark Elf mean? Did his belief in a rescue imply that there were survivors? Dilwan mounted his reindeer. ¡°We¡¯ll ride hard for Nyrein, east of here. And, then for Aranvir. Of the four standing villages, those two are the most insulated. Their chieftains would need more convincing. ¡°The others will be eager to attend the Meet, with the threat of goblins breathing down their necks. We have information that more villages are involved in skirmishes with the goblins.¡± ¡°I wish you all the best, Dilwan,¡± I said. Dilwan nodded. He paused for a little while and added in a strained breath. ¡°You¡¯re headed for Harkonean, yes?¡± ¡°That is most logical,¡± I replied. ¡°Part of me wants to see the fate of the village with my own eyes, but I also recognize the risk involved in the undertaking.¡± Dilwan winced. ¡°It pains me to say this, but your Harkon visited Nybala a few days before Harkonean fell. She wanted my help; I didn¡¯t give it. Heralds, I feel like a fool.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because of my daughter. She traveled in Harkonean¡¯s direction shortly before its fall. I haven¡¯t heard a word about her since.¡± Oh. ¡°If you find anything . . .¡± Dilwan faltered. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll keep an eye out,¡± I turned to Menelhar. ¡°The Dark Elf you encountered. Do you remember where he was taken?¡± Menelhar offered me a stiff look. ¡°I just said that they were being herded to the mines.¡± ¡°Yeah. But, in what direction?¡± He started to speak, then stopped to consider the question. ¡°The goblin mines are set in the north, beneath the Fanged Mountains . . . but, the goblins seemed to be taking tunnels that headed slightly away. Toward the west.¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Dilwan asked. ¡°Maybe I shouldn¡¯t be heading for Harkonean.¡± I sighed and waved the duo farewell. ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to invade the invaders.¡± 103 Grishnak Seeker and his party escorted us out of the Wood King¡¯s domain. ¡°If I heard you correctly,¡± he said as we traveled through the dense undergrowth of the forest, ¡°you do not intend to return to the human establishment?¡± The Wood Elves traveled on deerback while the rest of us journeyed on foot. Without any need for her services, Medekeine had relegated Div back to his inventory. I had a thousand questions regarding the mechanism of her storage, but Medekeine became tight-lipped whenever the topic of the div was broached. We walked in pairs, with Kajal and the dwarf trailing the elves while Logain brought up the rear. Seeker kept an eye out on the path, leading his party in a fanned-out formation. ¡°Let me understand,¡± he said, blinking in confusion. ¡°Rather than journey back to your cozy city and ignore all of this goblin business, you intend to extend your time in Dreadwood?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kajal said. Seeker nodded sagely. ¡°Yes, she says. And, this is because the Dark Elves are your priority?¡± ¡°They are not my priority,¡± Medekeine mumbled. Kajal kept her features taut. ¡°We are obliged to help Damien on his quest.¡± Seeker glanced at us with incredulity. ¡°I like a good suicide mission when I hear one, but what are you hoping to find? Harkonean is probably no more than dirt and rubble at this time.¡± ¡°Our party, our choice.¡± Seeker¡¯s eyebrows rose even higher. ¡°If you have the time to do this, why not accept the request of the Wood King? It pays good money, and you city dwellers never stop itching to fondle our gems.¡± ¡°Language,¡± Paz drawled. Seeker winked at him. ¡°I¡¯ve delivered your request via Scribbler,¡± Kajal said. ¡°If the guilds are up to it, they¡¯ll send another cargo train your way. Our part in this is done.¡± ¡°Pity,¡± Seeker said. ¡°I doubt the humans can find another courier as strong or exquisite as you.¡± I made a face at his comment. Seeker¡¯s companion, Svani, mimicked gagging motions. Kajal took the compliment in stride. ¡°You could lend us your assistance if our departure bothers you that much.¡± ¡°I assure you it does.¡± Seeker said. ¡°The mere thought of your beautiful skin getting carved up by goblin knives hurts my soul.¡± ¡°Maybe your soul would hurt less,¡± I suggested, ¡°if you shared information with us regarding goblin activity.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to tell? You see goblins, you kill them. Nothing more to it.¡± Paz had to restrain me from lobbing a rock at his face. The fucking bastard. We arrived at the western border within three days. Seeker¡¯s crew made themselves scarce shortly after, chasing a goblin lead. It left our original party to our devices, reinforcing the fact that we had been separated for longer than we¡¯d been together. ¡°I take it that we are not going to Harkonean,¡± Paz said, once we came free of our minders. Logain gawked at me. ¡°We aren¡¯t?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a fool¡¯s errand, anyway,¡± I said. ¡°The village is destroyed, but not its survivors. That offers a clear course of action.¡± Kajal showed no surprise, having arrived at a similar conclusion. ¡°This will be different, Damien. Way harder than wandering into goblin-controlled territory. You are proposing that we enter their tunnels to chase after their captives.¡± ¡°He is proposing what?¡± Medekeine spat. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be in support of this?¡± I asked. ¡°You want answers about the horde. You¡¯ll get them. Where better to find this than under the earth?¡± ¡°Dangerous,¡± Logain said, shaking his head. ¡°We¡¯ll be up against hundreds, possibly thousands, of goblins. And, all this while getting bogged down with captives.¡± He spat on the ground. ¡°No offense, Damien, we have no guarantee that any of the Dark Elves are alive at this moment. There is no rational justification for your suggestion.¡± ¡°There is,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Sooner or later, we will need to enter the tunnels. Why not now? Before it becomes even harder?¡± ¡°I will not rescue a single elf,¡± Medekeine said. ¡°We should be headed in the direction of the Fanged Mountains to find the leader of this horde. This stupid side quest will cost us precious time.¡± Paz leered at him. ¡°Get a headstart then, why don¡¯t you? The rest of us can follow after you once we are done here. Or your corpse. Whichever we find.¡± Medekeine purpled. Logain cleared his throat. ¡°Am I the only one who thinks that the lot of you are forgetting something? The goblins are active throughout Dreadwood, but we still don¡¯t know from whence they come. How do we find their prisoners in this massive forest?¡± ¡°Leave that to me,¡± I said. ¡°To you?¡± Logain frowned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the redhead and I are the only ones here who have encountered a goblin train. What makes you think¡ª¡± ¡°How many days would you need, Damien?¡± Kajal interjected. I considered my plan. ¡°One night. One night is fine.¡± ¡°You have it,¡± Kajal said. ¡°The rest of us will conserve our energy for when we need to move.¡± We didn¡¯t stray too far away from Nyneveh¡¯s borders to avoid unnecessary encounters. But, we gleaned the current state of the forest just fine. In the time we¡¯d spent within the peaceful borders of Nyneveh, Dreadwood had gone to shit. Tall columns of smoke formed permanent features on the horizon, an indication of war. The general feeling of unease that we had grown accustomed to had since progressed into full-blown paranoia. I spent most of the evening fiddling with [System] screens while the others prepared for the night. As the sun descended beneath the treetops, I made my way back into our makeshift camp. ¡°So,¡± I said, presenting myself for their appraisal, ¡°what do you think?¡± Paz gagged. ¡°Kill it! Kill it with fire!¡± Kajal took one look, and though she maintained a cool expression, her complexion paled. ¡°Damien . . .¡± ¡°Disgusting,¡± Logain said and spat. Medekeine added a snide comment, something about elves and inbreds, though I didn¡¯t particularly care. ¡°Come on,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°Damien¡±¡ªPaz winced as he addressed me¡ª¡°this is the single most hideous image that I have seen in all my years. And, I have witnessed some truly horrible sights since leaving my mother¡¯s womb.¡± ¡°Why does it look like you smell?¡± Logain said and wrinkled his nose. ¡°Urgh. I really don¡¯t want to touch you. If you were a real enemy, I would have walked away in the opposite direction.¡± Ouch. Kajal covered her mouth, as though suppressing the urge to hurl. ¡°That¡¯s an impressive disguise. Did you create it all by yourself?¡± ¡°Well, yes,¡± I said and puffed my chest. All three shrank backward. ¡°Oh for heaven¡¯s sake!¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s just a disguise. I think I did a good job, all things considered.¡± ¡°This is what you spent hours creating?¡± Paz asked. ¡°I mean, I knew goblins were meant to be hideous. But, why go so far?¡± He mock-gagged again. ¡°You bastards don¡¯t understand the craft. I¡¯ve studied the goblins, okay? They cherish features that we larger humanoids take for granted.¡± ¡°But, did your nose need to be that big?¡± Kajal asked. ¡°And runny? I think I can see your sinuses.¡± I raised my green nose into the air. The others winced again. Bah! True art was wasted on these plebs. I¡¯d spent long hours on the [Impostor] configuration screen to create the greatest goblin specimen. Yellow teeth that looked like they could tear into tree bark? Check.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. A hooked nose that put those of hag witches to shame? Check. The greenest of skin? Check. Wispy strands of hair that floated on my scalp? Check. A layer of dirt and sludge that indicated I hadn¡¯t showered in years, including accompanying body lice? Check. And, to top it all off, a rotund figure to suggest good health with an extra foot or two in height over regular goblins. I called this form: [Grishnak the Unbreakable]. And, he possessed something unbreakable beneath his tattered leathers too if anyone caught my drift. Huhuhu. ¡°You¡¯re honestly the ugliest goblin I¡¯ve seen,¡± Kajal said with a deadpan expression. ¡°Which just means,¡± I explained, ¡°that I¡¯m one to kill for, according to goblin sensibilities. You¡¯re just being racist in assuming that your views on attractiveness are inherently superior to those of others.¡± Kajal narrowed her eyes. Logain behind her audibly gulped. ¡°Anyway,¡± I said, hastily changing the topic, ¡°I¡¯ll find the location of the goblin prisoners. Or a goblin camp, at the least. Lie low and wait till I return.¡± Indeed, the artificial darkness approached in the distance, deepening the onset of night. It looked and felt even more sinister outside the domain of the Wood King. How were the Wood Elves not bothered by this development? ¡°One last thing¡±¡ªI turned to Kajal¡ª¡°What does [Identify] say?¡± She activated her skill. ¡°Goblin Scout Level 23.¡± Her eyes narrowed further. ¡°I see. Even to the [Insight] perk, you cast hues of greyish power upon reality.¡± Which meant that [Impostor] could be used to manipulate not just clothing and appearance, but also class, level, and rank. The more I thought about it, the more incredible it seemed. Wasn¡¯t this skill too overpowered for its tier? The Trickster class had always seemed like the weakest of the thirteen, but if as little as five percent of Tricksters managed to unlock [Impostor] in their lifetime, they could commit atrocities that would humble the more powerful classes. I parted ways with the others and made my way through the treacherous landscape of Dreadwood under [Nightfall]. [Silhouette] awoke as I traveled, seeming even stronger than I remembered. ¡°You ready to hunt, buddy?¡± I asked the shadowy monster. It shivered in delight, and then it paused as it noticed my appearance. A few seconds later, it shrank back into my shadow. Oh, come on now! Not you too. I traveled for a while in that manner, abusing the hell out of [Dark Stalker] since it required no MP. Nybala and Harkonean lay somewhere in the northwest, the closest villages to the Fanged Mountains in the north. Both regions could reasonably be expected to harbor increased goblin activity. But, I need not have bothered. The goblins were everywhere. Small bands of them crawled through the forest under the protection of [Nightfall], almost as quietly as I did. They didn¡¯t even try to avoid the paths. If anything, they treated the roadways like an extension of their territory. The goblins who manned the surface served as patrols and lookouts, but even then, one thing was certain. They didn¡¯t patrol at random. They watched the western roads as if forming a leaguer around the region to keep enemies in. My heart throbbed with the realization that the west harbored a majority of the tall pillars of smoke. Another elf village was under siege somewhere yonder. But, the Wood King did nothing for them, which meant that there was little I could do in turn. I avoided the bands of patrolling goblins and ventured instead in the opposite direction in search of clues. If the goblins intended to isolate the western elves from the rest of their kin, then they would need a reliable source of supplies to sustain their efforts. I still hadn¡¯t found a single goblin tunnel after all my sleuthing, but unless they had access to mass teleportation, the goblins couldn¡¯t travel without notice via other means. The freed captive that I¡¯d spoken to back in Nyneveh¡ªMenelhar, was it?¡ªhad also confirmed the existence of the tunnels. So, where did the goblins hide them? Or was there something at work that prevented their enemies from finding the tunnel exits? Goblin Sorcerers tended to specialize in Confusion, which was basically illusion magic. Ugh. Did I need to reveal myself to one of the patrols before I could learn their secrets? I continued my investigation far into the night, across large acres of forest, and just when I¡¯d given up hope of finding any clues, riotous laughter reached my ears. Three goblins stood around a tree, some distance off the beaten path. Their throaty cackles and shrill voices exposed their lack of unease in the magic-infused forest. Ease didn¡¯t equal unawareness, however. These goblins were anything but. Each of them could see well in the darkness, doubly so in [Nightfall]. They were also armed to the teeth, as the little critters loved to be. A slender Wood Elf rounded off the number of sapients in their gathering. She stood with her head lowered to her chest, limbs bound to the tree. The Wood Elf didn¡¯t stir all through their cackling . . . Because she was dead. Blood dripped from her abdomen onto the grass, seeping from a ragged wound that could only have been inflicted in the cruelest of ways. Righteous anger stirred in my gut. But, I stamped it down in exchange for thinking like a goblin. I wasn¡¯t Damien now or any humanoid ranker. I was the monster: Grishnak the Unbreakable. Grishnak wouldn¡¯t react with anger at the sight of a dead elf. Grishnak would cheer and piss all over the corpse. The goblins passed something between them, making small talk. I dropped [Dark Stalker] and lumbered into their gathering. ¡°Oi, What¡¯s this?¡± I sneered. ¡°What¡¯s this we have here?¡± The goblins reached for their weapons. ¡°Who goes?!¡± the apparent leader snarled, brandishing a nasty-looking scimitar. He blinked as he took in my appearance. ¡°Oh, a fellow maggot, huh?¡± And then, he hurled. The others behind him panicked at the sight. ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± one of the two said, in a decidedly feminine voice. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Tomburk? Did he throw something at you?¡± She glared at me, intent on charging only to stop in her tracks. She blanched¡ª¡°Ugly!¡±¡ªand retched off to the side. The third goblin went green around the face, which was saying something, considering his complexion. ¡°What is this supposed to be?¡± My eyebrows twitched. ¡°I am Grishnak¡ª¡± ¡°A damn ugly fuck, that¡¯s what you are,¡± Tomburk said and wiped his mouth. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be called Ugluk instead? With a face like that, who needs Fear to win the war?¡± My vision blurred. I¡¯m not crying, okay? I just have something in my eyes. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Tomburk snarled, waving his scimitar. ¡°This is a long way off from your patrol route, uggo.¡± ¡°I am Grishnak¡ª¡± ¡°Run him off,¡± the female goblin shrieked. ¡°I suffer mental damage just by looking at him!¡± Okay. That was one step too far. ¡°You fucking bastards,¡± I growled. ¡°Do you not realize that you are just as hideous as I am?¡± ¡°Just as hideous?¡± The third goblin gasped. ¡°If my mother gave birth to a sibling like you, I¡¯d kill it with a pillow!¡± ¡°Kill them both even!¡± the female said. ¡°Yuck. Now, I have lost my appetite.¡± The third goblin pointed at Tomburk. ¡°See. I told you we would have been better off working the mines. Once you start mingling with the other clans, you end up meeting inbreds!¡± My fist trembled with barely suppressed rage. Calm down, Damien. ¡°How is any of this my fault, mate?¡± Tomburk asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that our coalition featured any of these types.¡± He glanced at me and shaded his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s your clan name, uggo?¡± Clan name? ¡°I have none,¡± I said. Tomburk shook his head. ¡°Abandoned at birth, I see. Well, with a face like that, I don¡¯t blame your mother. Whatever the case, the Captains don¡¯t condone breaking ranks. You should rejoin your squadron.¡± My eyebrow twitched at the jibe. I was going to murder every single one of these goblins before the night was over. But, I needed some information first. ¡°My squadron''s dead, you worm,¡± I said. ¡°We were escorting slaves back to the tunnels when we were ambushed by the filthy mud elves. I¡¯ve been running ever since!¡± Tomburk¡¯s features softened. ¡°Oh? Such is the tale of many of a maggot. The same happened to our squadron a few hours ago.¡± He pointed at the corpse. ¡°This one was too slow to escape alongside the rest. We¡¯ve made her an example.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still ugly though,¡± the female goblin said. ¡°He is,¡± Tomburk agreed. ¡°But, if he¡¯s been running from elves, we can cut him some slack.¡± He lobbed an item at me. I caught it deftly. ¡°The Captains will have our heads if they learn what we¡¯ve been doing,¡± Tomburk said. ¡°But everyone does it, eh? Who¡¯s to know if no one tells? Now, you are in on it too.¡± I stared at the item in my hand: a gnawed human leg, or elf¡¯s, to be precise. It had been chopped off the corpse hanging on the tree. And, eaten. An irrational rage boiled in my gut. No, not irrational. I had seen the goblins resort to crucifixion, torture, and even beheadings. Flesh-eating was the obvious natural progression. Everything they had done here could have also been done to the Dark Elves in Harkonean. The Wood King did not wish to lift a finger to repel the invasion, but it didn¡¯t mean that the elves deserved this, Nanduli? or Hinduli?. ¡°That was the best part!¡± the third goblin cried. ¡°Feast on the other leg!¡± Tomburk spat. ¡°I¡¯ve lost taste for it, anyway. You can¡¯t tell me you still want meat after looking at that mug.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had my fill of elves,¡± I said, setting the butchered limb on the ground. ¡°I¡¯ve had my fill of everything tonight. Can I join up with you?¡± ¡°Over my dead body,¡± the female goblin remarked. I grinned at her. Grishnak will remember that. ¡°It¡¯s just until we return to camp. Surely, you can be kind enough.¡± Tomburk narrowed his eyes. ¡°Camp? You mean The Pit?¡± ¡°Aye.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so fun about that? We¡¯d just be made to perform menial tasks all over again. We¡¯re better off joining the fighting in the west.¡± ¡°Not if we return as heroes.¡± All three frowned at my words. ¡°What do you mean, ugly?¡± Tomburk asked. ¡°Listen,¡± I said and pulled an item from my loincloth. ¡°This is a weapon stolen from one of the elves.¡± The Blackreach Dagger gleamed in my hand, indistinguishable in the darkness. I poured some mana into it, and it erupted with shadows. The goblins backed away from the display. When I didn¡¯t attack, however, a dangerous glint shone in their eyes. I recognized that look. ¡°What is that fell blade?¡± the female goblin asked. ¡°A construct of Fear,¡± I said. ¡°What do you think the Captains will say if we return with this?¡± Tomburk glanced at his colleagues. ¡°Great things will be said if they allow us to claim credit for its discovery. It¡¯s a fine weapon, after all. Fitting for the Chief or the Dragon Lord.¡± He touched his forehead as he spoke, a gesture imitated by his companions. Wait . . . what Dragon Lord? ¡°Assuming that those bastards recognize our accomplishment,¡± Tomburk continued, ¡°we could very well be given a chance to evolve.¡± The bit about the Dragon Lord had thrown me for a loop. But, I didn¡¯t miss how the situation had become about us. Our accomplishment rather than mine, huh? ¡°So,¡± I said, ¡°you¡¯d let me join up with you?¡± ¡°With what you managed to find?¡± Tomburk shrugged. ¡°Sure.¡± He yelled at his companions. ¡°Alright, you maggots! Listen up. We are done here. Grab whatever you need.¡± They scurried about to obey his instructions. ¡°And, you¡±¡ªTomburk tossed a strip of cloth at me¡ª¡°I might have agreed to help you, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I need to suffer your ugly looks any longer. Cover up your face!¡± The stench of sweat and dead roaches rose like a fog over the cloth, but I tied it over the lower half of my face regardless. The goblins stripped the dead elf for meat and armor, and then they scampered off into the night. I followed them as quickly as I could. They didn¡¯t mean an actual Dragon Lord, did they? 104 Saluk Despite my initial reservations, Tomburk and his gang proved to be competent scouts. We made it through Dreadwood as midnight progressed without rousing the attention of other goblin squads. When the pace slowed down a little, I asked the question burning on my tongue: ¡°About the Dragon Lord . . .¡± ¡°You bastard,¡± Tomburk hissed, nearly jumping out of his skin. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t use that name without making the sign!¡± What was the sign again? Oh, yeah. I touched two fingers to my forehead and watched the goblins do the same. ¡°He¡¯s not really a dragon, is he?¡± ¡°Is that a joke?¡± Tomburk asked. ¡°Why would he use a name like that if he was anything but?¡± He peered in my direction. ¡°You¡¯re not one of those losers, are you? The ones who refuse to abandon the wild god¡¯s worship? The Dragon Lord gave us power and [Nightfall]. What has the wild god ever done for us?¡± Ah. This was getting intriguing. ¡°So . . . the Dragon Lord¡±¡ªI performed the gesture¡ª¡°is somewhere beneath the ground?¡± The unnamed goblin shot me a black look. ¡°You ask a lot of stupid questions for a scout, Ugluk.¡± It¡¯s Grishnak to you, fool. Either way, his words were warning enough to dial down on my inquiry. I didn¡¯t want to appear suspicious this close to my goal. Who could I blame it on? Ah, yes. ¡°The goddamn elves bashed me over the head more times than I could count,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m doing my best to keep all I know from leaking outta my ears!¡± Tomburk clucked his tongue in sympathy. ¡°Bloody elves. We¡¯ll get back at them, that¡¯s for sure. Once this war is over, we¡¯ll be the ones in control of the North.¡± That was terrifying to think of: a surface nation of the stinky, little gobbers. I could only hope that Skeelie, and Bargheria by extension, were putting some drastic measures in place to stop the goblins. The Wood Elves had botched the chance to seize the initiative by fumbling their initial response. We eventually surged through a thick patch of underbrush and arrived in front of a sturdy deridum tree. It looked no different than the others around it, but I marked it on my [Map] just to be sure. Tomburk searched the surroundings with beady, yellow eyes. ¡°Clear,¡± he pronounced and glanced at me. ¡°Well?¡± Well, what? I pretended to scan the area. ¡°Clear.¡± Tomburk began to respond when the female goblin snarled and shoved me out of her way. ¡°Oh, for the love of . . . Move aside, fool!¡± She made an incision on her palm with a jagged knife, permitting the blade to run through her health armor and break her skin. Pressing her bleeding palm against the tree trunk, she muttered a single word beneath her breath. ¡°Saluk.¡± A tired groan resounded across the forest, moments before the roots of the deridum tree slithered aside to reveal a massive hole. Space itself withered around the pit like petals flying off a flower. The dark aperture grew large enough to accommodate two full-grown men in its passage. Rune marks, formerly invisible to the naked eye, glowed dimly on the tree. The female goblin wrapped her hand with dirty bandages and spat on the ground. ¡°If you cowards squirm this much at the sight of your blood, I fear to think what would happen if you experience that time of the month.¡± She gestured at me. ¡°You first, ugly.¡± Ugh, that was not good. Going first would leave my back exposed which was the last thing I wanted at the moment. The goblins watched me with narrowed gazes, however. No getting out of this, huh? I lowered myself to the ground and slid down the hole into a musty tunnel. They followed after me. ¡°Saluk,¡± the female goblin repeated, causing the hole to reseal itself above our heads. Tomburk sniffed the air. ¡°What is that smell? Did someone let their Dread Tiger do business here again?¡± I didn¡¯t care about the smell. I focused instead on getting my eyes accommodated to the passage which possessed nary a source of lighting. The benefits of [Nightfall] didn¡¯t stretch below the earth, triggering a noticeable drop in visual acuity. ¡°So . . .¡± I said. ¡°You can walk right, uggo?¡± Tomburk snapped. ¡°We¡¯ll follow behind you.¡± I recalled the dangerous glints that I had seen in their eyes, back when I¡¯d revealed the dagger. It had come down to this, huh? No need to prolong it. They had chosen the best location for their murder theft, considering that the tunnel only proceeded in one direction. It was a pity that we couldn¡¯t travel far enough to locate the actual goblin camp, but I could do that on my own.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. I took a few steps into the darkness. And then, without so much as a hint of premeditation, I turned and raked my dagger across Tomburk¡¯s throat. Tomburk responded perfectly, having been prepared to do the same. But, he suffered a fatal miscalculation. While all four of us cast waves of greyish light upon the fabric of reality, mine was false because I was actually silver-ranked. Tomburk started to call out a warning to his cronies, when [Silhouette] jutted from the ground and speared him into a wall. He retched blood onto the shadow tendrils, blinking in bewilderment. ¡°Huh?¡± The others faltered for a brief second, but it was all I needed to seize the initiative. I kicked the female goblin in the face and dashed behind her for the third goblin in their group. He lifted a dart-blower to his lips, probably equipped with poison, but I kneed him in the jaw before he could finish. To his horror and mine, the dart blower slipped past his mouth and into his throat. He clasped his neck in a bid to get it out, and I turned away at that moment to meet the female¡¯s charge. She fought well for an iron-ranked monster, especially for her size. Her jagged knife clashed with certainty against my blade. She cursed as she fought me, spraying spittle across my face. And then, she over-extended, allowing my dagger to punch through her gut. A second strike depleted her health armor, enough that a brutal kick broke her nose and catapulted a few of her teeth. She flew headfirst into a wall, and I was reminded again that goblins possessed too little weight. I checked the third goblin, whose HP had depleted at a steady pace as he suffocated to death. The dart blower remained stuck in his throat, causing him to hack phlegm and spittle onto the ground. I plunged my dagger into his jaw to end his suffering. No need to draw out his death, even if he was a goblin. Tomburk snarled, still pinned to the wall. ¡°What are you doing? What¡¯s the meaning of this, Ugluk?!¡± ¡°What does it look like?¡± I said and cleaned my dagger on the dead goblin¡¯s shirt. ¡°I¡¯m killing would-be murderers.¡± The female goblin whimpered at my feet, clutching her wounded face. Who¡¯s the ugly one now, Miss Broken Nose And No Teeth? ¡°Mercy,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Don¡¯t beg!¡± Tormburk spat. ¡°We do not beg!¡± ¡°Here¡¯s how this works.¡± I leaned against the wall and toyed with my dagger. ¡°I need one of you to point me in the direction of the prisoners. What can you tell me about your camp?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll tell you nothing,¡± Tomburk said, and then he froze. ¡°Wait. Our camp? You¡¯re not a goblin?¡± ¡°Ding. Ding. Ding. I only need one of you two alive. You have five seconds. Who¡¯s volunteering to help?¡± Both goblins fell silent. But, it was only a matter of time. In the face of death, something had to give. And, although they were sapient¡ª ¡°Neither,¡± the female goblin said in a quiet voice, still cradling her jaw. ¡°Feel free to kill us both.¡± Tomburk nodded. ¡°You¡¯re an elf, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re using a magic trick! I¡¯d rather die than give you what you want. And, you better kill me too. Or, I¡¯ll reveal to everyone that the elves have found a way to fool our senses!¡± Well, that was . . . unexpected. Both goblins were meant to fall over themselves in a bid to survive per my calculations. I could respect their camaraderie in their last moments, but they had tried to kill me too. ¡°Silhy,¡± I commanded. The shadow monster shoved a few more tendrils into Tomburk¡¯s chest, ending his life. Blood splattered the female beneath him, who made a small sound in her throat and turned away. The darkness in the tunnel deepened as I activated [Fear Aura]. I crouched beside her. ¡°Look at me.¡± She kept her face buried in the ground, unable to do so. A [System] notification went off, announcing the success of [Dismay]. ¡°Look at me,¡± I repeated. The female goblin shivered and snuck a glance at my face. I couldn¡¯t tell what she saw under the influence of [Fear Aura], but her lower lip trembled. ¡°Dragon Lord?¡± That was so wrong. ¡°I¡¯m not . . . Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re going to tell me all you know, okay? Don¡¯t wanna end up like the others, right?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m searching for the Dark Elves from Harkonean,¡± I said. ¡°Where can I find them?¡± The goblin trembled, trying desperately to resist my aura. After a few seconds, she relented. ¡°You¡¯re at the right place. You can find them here. In Galagor¡¯s camp.¡± Galagor? ¡°And, where is that?¡± She gestured at the walls. ¡°There are rune marks inscribed on it. Flare your magic energy. They¡¯ll show up for you.¡± I did as she suggested. I placed a hand on the wall and compelled a burst of mana to rise to the surface. It cost only a single point of MP. Nothing happened. ¡°You lie?¡± I said, reaching for my dagger. ¡°No!¡± she stammered. ¡°It does work! Or, at least, it should have if you were a goblin.¡± Huh. I gazed into the darkness. Nothing stopped me from exploring the tunnels on my own, but with the branching paths and the possibility of running into other goblins, I¡¯d probably cause more harm for the prisoners than good. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a goblin,¡± I said, ¡°despite my current appearance. It¡¯s decided, then. You¡¯re coming with me.¡± ¡°My L-lord?¡± ¡°Did I speak Spanish? Did you not hear me?¡± ¡°What¡¯s Spanish?¡± Oh, right. ¡°Just get up before I let your entrails out of your gut.¡± She rose unsteadily to her feet. Blood dribbled down her chin and onto her vest. Her toady eyes still held a bit of that goblin madness, but [Fear Aura] kept her cowed for now. The tunnel entrance needed cleaning to hide the occurrence of the fight, so I set her to the task. As for the others, I commanded the [System] to loot their corpses. ¡°No, wait!¡± the female goblin said. Both corpses disintegrated before she could finish, leaving a smattering of dust alongside their gear and armor. She stared at the dust and choked. Why was she getting emotional? Monsters tended to dissipate a few days after death anyway if they weren¡¯t looted. Tomburk and his friend had both been reduced to Goblin Ears in my inventory. Or did she want to do something with their corpses? Whatever the case, she cradled the empty clothes and held them to her cheek. I spared her a thoughtful moment, and then I muttered the password at the roof of the tunnel. ¡°Saluk.¡± The earth gave way to the oppressive darkness of [Nightfall]. 105 The Iron Teeth Paz chortled upon my return at dawn the next morning. ¡°What is this?¡± he said. ¡°We sent you on a scouting mission, and you return with a wife?¡± I rolled my eyes and ushered the goblin, whom I¡¯d bound with combat chains toward the group. She stumbled into the gathering, staring between me and others with a bewildered expression. She had since learned that I didn¡¯t look exactly as I appeared, but it was still weird for her to see a goblin interact casually with humans. ¡°Kreeta here¡¯s my captive,¡± I said, yanking the chain. ¡°She will lead us to the goblin camp.¡± Kajal studied Kreeta whose stringy hair fell over her wounded face and sharp, yellow eyes. ¡°She is a goblin, Damien. That makes her a monster with values that are incompatible with ours. Can she be trusted?¡± I glanced at Kreeta and flashed her a toothy grin. ¡°What do you think, ugly? Can I trust you?¡± A hint of malice flashed within her features before she remembered the beatdown that she had suffered at my hands. She lowered her head, shelving her defiance. ¡°You¡¯re the ugly one.¡± Well, some of her defiance at least. ¡°What was that?¡± I said, cupping my ear. ¡°Care to repeat?¡± Kreeta gritted her teeth. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± I turned my attention to Medekeine who watched the scene with a curled upper lip. ¡°Can you please summon the div to heal her face?¡± ¡°I¡¯d sooner gut her and roast her on a spit.¡± He eyed the goblin, sheer hatred written on his features. ¡°These animals don¡¯t deserve our kindness. Use her for what you must. After that, she must be disposed of.¡± ¡°You can try, mountain fucker,¡± Kreeta hissed. I slapped her over the head. She howled and lunged at me, only to stiffen as I narrowed my gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t make this difficult for me, idiot,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ve already promised to give you your freedom if you do as I say.¡± Medekeine laughed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t need its hands to lead the way, does it? You should cut them.¡± ¡°Enough with your cruelty,¡± Logain said. He approached us in full plate armor and laid his hands over the goblin¡¯s face. She tried to bite him at first, but he calmed her with a whisper: ¡°Every living thing is deserving of heaven¡¯s Mercy.¡± ¡°Even goblins?¡± Paz asked. ¡°None of us chose the circumstances of our birth.¡± ¡°No, seriously. Even goblins?¡± Logain ignored him. Bright light poured from his hands and into Kreeta as he called on the holy power of Compassion. A short moment later, he released her to reveal a fixed nose and recovered teeth. Kreeta pawed her face, openly displaying relief and gratitude before she shook her head as though ashamed to receive favors from an enemy. Logain for his part rubbed his hands, which still glowed with the light of the heavens. It was good to know that he could serve as a healer in a pinch. However, I¡¯d wanted an excuse to get Div out in the open again to stretch her feet. Now that I thought of it . . . wasn¡¯t it impossible to store living beings in the inventory? It probably had something to do with Div¡¯s cage. Maybe in the way that Western genies were tied to their lamps. Ugh, I had so many questions about her that remained unanswered. But, this wasn¡¯t the time. Kajal wrinkled her nose. ¡°Gosh, Damien. How long are you going to stay in that form? You¡¯re depressing to look at.¡± Right. I still hadn¡¯t let go of Grishnak¡¯s skin. I shed the false persona and returned to my usual self, much to Kreeta¡¯s astonishment. ¡°D-dragon L-lord?¡± she said and made the sign. Paz erupted in laughter. ¡°Dragon Lord? Who? Him? Surely, you jest.¡± ¡°But, his affinity . . .¡± Kreeta said, unsure of his meaning. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the one?¡± ¡°His affinity, huh?¡± Paz took a moment to consider and arrived at the proper conclusion. ¡°You¡¯re saying that the Lord of Terror is here in Dreadwood?¡± ¡°Do not call him by that name!¡± The rest of the party looked on in disbelief. I wasn¡¯t certain that I believed her claim, but there was no denying that another Fear user fought on the goblins¡¯ side. It was just mind-boggling to imagine him as the Dragon Lord of lore. ¡°He¡¯s somewhere within the tunnels,¡± I told Paz. ¡°Apparently.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right,¡± Logain said. ¡°A Dragon Lord is equivalent to a Herald in power. If there was one in Dreadwood, neither side would be alive right now to continue this war.¡± ¡°But, he exists,¡± Kreeta said. ¡°He gave us the [Nightfall]!¡± ¡°Someone certainly did,¡± Logain agreed. ¡°But, a Dragon Lord?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Those monsters haven¡¯t been seen in Vizhima in ages. And, if by some stroke of luck, you are actually correct . . .¡± He glanced at me. ¡°Then, the Dragon Lord is after my head,¡± I finished with a sigh. ¡°There¡¯s a reason everyone steers clear of my affinity.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Well, it was nice knowing you,¡± Paz said, maintaining his levity. Kajal pursed her lips. ¡°There¡¯s a lot about this conflict that we do not know or aren¡¯t sure about. The wild god has proven that a Herald can coexist with lesser creatures without interfering in their affairs. Can the same be said about the Dragon Lords?¡± No one answered. It seemed that the apex dragons were even more mysterious than the Heralds. ¡°What does it matter?¡± Medekeine said. ¡°Whatever it is that we are up against, I refuse to abandon the assignment. And, if we encounter the dragon bastard, the elf can serve as a peace offering.¡± Gee, thanks. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you before that happens,¡± Paz said matter-of-factly. ¡°But, I agree with the first part of your statement. An encounter with a Dragon Lord should not be counted as an obstacle. It is an opportunity.¡± Logain furrowed his brows. ¡°Do you consider it a good thing to go up against Dragon Lords?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Of course, Paz would say that. His suicidal drive for power was unnatural even among powerful rankers. But, there was something else he hid that I didn¡¯t want to bring up among strangers. It was his trait, [Dragon Touched], the source of his [Draconic Aura] skill. Kajal eyed him in a way that suggested that she had also put two and two together, but she mercifully abandoned that line of thought to focus instead on the rescue. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the plan, alright?¡± We set out soon after. The gentle prodding of Kreeta revealed that goblins were at their weakest in the morning hours when entire groups rested from the activities of the night. A few sentries watched the tunnels to warn of intruders, but they posed easier challenges than entire squads of goblins. I had recovered my VP since the fight with the goblins, just in time to spend another 30 points reactivating [Impostor]. That left me with 45 points to use in battle, minus vital potions, which wasn¡¯t too bad for the rescue mission as long as I rationed its use. This time, I selected the appearance of the slain Goblin Captain, the one attuned to Contrition. He seemed to be a person of good standing within the horde, enough to make our mission easier. The real conundrum lay in the method of infiltration. ¡°What about we mimic a goblin slave train?¡± I suggested. ¡°With a captain at the lead, we shouldn¡¯t rouse too much suspicion.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the obvious plan,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, goblins are an unpredictable sort. We have no idea how they bind their prisoners¡ª¡± ¡°Rune cuffs,¡± Logain said. ¡°I can imitate them if I put my mind to it. But, without enchanting skills, they can¡¯t be activated.¡± ¡°That solves one problem, then,¡± Kajal said. ¡°We have three goblins leading three prisoners. You¡¯ll need to discard your armor, Logain, to sell the part.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the third goblin?¡± I asked. Medekeine smirked and activated a skill. Shifters possessed three transformation techniques in their arsenal, the most common of which was [Bestial Shape] which allowed them to morph into one enhanced animal, predetermined at specialization. [Shapeshift] was the scariest of the bunch¡ªand I shuddered as I recalled Beelith¡¯s werewolf form. A Shifter attained a cross between monster and man with [Shapeshift], granting them the benefits of both. Unlike [Bestial Shape] which offered temporary health as its main advantage at the expense of locking most techniques, [Shapeshift] kept the Shifter¡¯s entire moveset available to them while boosting their attributes. The third and weakest of the three skills was [Alter Self], known to grant minor augmentations to the user like the formation of claws and teeth. Those changes sufficed to help Medekeine lengthen his nose and change the color of his skin. He now resembled a rotund goblin if one looked at him in poor lighting. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t have a beard. Paz wasn¡¯t the type to let an opportunity for jokes to pass. ¡°You should stick with this appearance,¡± he said. ¡°Fits you much better.¡± Kajal smiled at the barb. ¡°All that is left for us to do now is to determine the fate of the goblin.¡± ¡°True,¡± Logain said. ¡°It is our guide, but nothing stops it from exposing us while undercover.¡± ¡°So, we cut out her tongue,¡± Medekeine said lazily. I glared at him. ¡°That¡¯s too cruel.¡± ¡°We should consider it,¡± Kajal said and met my horrified gaze with equally unflinching eyes. ¡°Anything less will put our mission in jeopardy. It¡¯s either her life or those of the elves.¡± Kreeta squirmed behind us, unable to mount a defense. ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°That¡¯s a bit too much for me.¡± ¡°Logain can heal after we are done,¡± Kajal said. ¡°No.¡± I had no problem killing an enemy in the heat of battle, but I didn¡¯t enjoy cruelty against one I had captured. It sounded hypocritical, yes, but I still had human values that Vizhima¡¯s world of continuous violence hadn¡¯t suppressed. Shouldn¡¯t the same hold for Kajal? How could she suggest such barbaric deeds with uncaring ease? ¡°I see no problems with it,¡± Paz said. Of course, he didn¡®t. ¡°Neither do I,¡± Logain said. ¡°Heaven charges us to be kind to all things that breathe, but leaving the goblin with the ability to speak poses too much risk. As the lady said, I can heal it once we are done.¡± I gritted my teeth. ¡°We are not removing her tongue! That would raise too much suspicion if anyone addressed her directly.¡± ¡°Then, what do you suggest?¡± I mulled over the matter. ¡°Let¡¯s keep her gagged instead.¡± ¡°Do you think that is safer?¡± I ignored him and glared instead at Kajal. She met my gaze with those warm, brown eyes of hers. Come on, fam. We are Earthlings. We should act better than Vizhimans on this issue. Kajal nodded slowly. ¡°We¡¯ll go with Damien¡¯s suggestion. But, whatever comes out of it is your responsibility, okay?¡± ¡°Lily-livered elf,¡± Medekeine said with a scoff. Kreeta breathed a sigh of relief. About two hours after dawn, we arrived at the entrance of the tunnel. The earth around the unremarkable tree had solidified, looking no different than the forest around it. Medekeine, Kreeta, and I posed as goblins, leading the others behind us, chained and blindfolded. Kreeta cut her palm to produce the blood key, but I was the one who uttered the password due to the gag and face mask that hung over her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t let me down,¡± I told her as the ground collapsed in front of us. ¡°Perform admirably, and I promise to let you off in one piece. I¡¯ll also relinquish the ears of your friends.¡± Kreeta¡¯s yellow eyes held mine for a long moment, and then she jumped into the tunnel. The rest of us followed cautiously. Logain sighed. ¡°I take it that the lady and I are the only ones unable to see in the dark?¡± ¡°Stay in character,¡± I hissed and tightened the blindfold on his head. The chains and iron cuffs that I had bound them with jangled, inscribed with the fake rune marks that Logain had observed during his clash with the slave train. Kajal didn¡¯t seem comfortable being blindfolded either, but she trusted in my ability to lead her to safety. Paz acted like . . . well, Paz, more interested in the promise of battle than in the route it took us to get there. I handed the chains off to Medekeine and assumed control of the group. We followed Kreeta¡¯s directions, the actual prisoner in the convoy, keeping her between Medekeine and me. She knew the tunnels by heart but demonstrated the proper way to activate the directions inscribed on the walls. We managed to walk a short distance when two sentries stepped out of alcoves in the tunnel and pointed crossbows at us. ¡°Squad name and captain!¡± they hissed. I started to reply when Kreeta reached for her mask. 106 12 Miles Below Kreeta stopped short upon encountering the gag, and then her eyes widened as she caught my expression. I glared at the sentries and leveled them with my best look of disdain. ¡°Are the tunnels too dark that your putrid eyes don¡¯t see?¡± The goblins shuddered. ¡°So sorry, captain. We didn¡¯t see you there.¡± I curled my lip. It seemed that I had made the right choice by selecting the appearance of the Goblin Captain. However, with most of my goblin knowledge coming from the little Kreeta had shared, I couldn¡¯t exactly sell the part. Thankfully, [Impostor] filled the gap, granting me the mannerisms and speech patterns peculiar to goblins. ¡°Sorry for yourselves,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you lot the next time we cross paths. Now, clear the way and get out of my sight.¡± The sentries glanced at each other, then at the prisoners we led. ¡°Are those humans? If you need escorts¡ª¡± ¡°Fucking vamoose!¡± The sentries squeaked and scrambled into the safety of the alcoves. ¡°Vamoose?¡± Paz chuckled under his breath once we¡¯d crossed the vicinity. ¡°Who says vamoose?¡± I ignored him and focused instead on the tunnels. The dark, musty passageways narrowed the further we traveled until Paz and Kajal both had to stoop to avoid bruising their heads. We transitioned from a flat path to a steep incline downward, and yet, Kreeta kept issuing instructions that took us deeper into the earth. The walls of the tunnel contracted until we couldn¡¯t move without brushing up against the sides. Loose dirt rained on our heads. A small lump formed in my throat, gradually growing larger as the telltale signs of suffocation settled in my lungs. It was all in my head. The rational part of my consciousness knew this and assured me of my ability to breathe. Despite its best efforts, an irrational dread seized my bones, progressing into a full-on panic as we embarked on another descent. Kreeta and Medekeine handled the situation just fine, cave dwellers that they were. But, Kajal and Logain breathed as harshly as I did, uncomfortable with the oppressive walls of the tunnels. I was just about to call for a break when the tunnel opened up again into a wide path. The air here tasted fresher somewhat, cleaner too, and cooler on the face. I sighed in relief despite myself and took a moment to gather my breath. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Medekeine said. ¡°Our young elf lordling can¡¯t handle a little cave diving?¡± ¡°Shut it,¡± I rasped. ¡°Can¡¯t stand the thought of crawling through the deep bosom of the earth?¡± ¡°Medekeine¡ª¡± ¡°This is nothing to us, dwarves. We¡¯ve created tunnels throughout most of the known world. I once had an estate right next to a magma stream . . .¡± His words petered off as his expression darkened. ¡®Had¡¯, huh? How far had we traveled beneath the surface? And, could the captives be expected to retain their sanity after spending long weeks within the earth? Every fiber of my being warned about the danger of pressing forward, and yet, we kept walking toward our doom. Oh, gosh¡ª Hey! It seems you are afraid! +1 has been added to all stats. The sudden message caused me to chuckle. Trust [Scaredy-cat] to pop up in my time of need. It had been a while since I¡¯d triggered the technique, but the reminder helped calm my nerves. I didn¡¯t just have an affinity for Fear, I was born of it since my first day in Vizhima. Other sophonts could worry about being stuck with goblins in the tunnels. But, the goblins were the ones who needed to worry about me. Fear was the master of shadows and darkness which meant that its influence extended far below the ground. The realization helped me stand a tad straighter. I studied the wide passage and glanced inquisitively at Kreeta. Almost there, she conveyed with a nod. A few more sentries watched us from hidden alcoves as we traversed the passage. Their keen eyes followed our train, rapidly losing interest when they noticed my rank. A couple of them snored in their positions, which was good. As long as they didn¡¯t bother us, Kreeta wouldn¡¯t have any chances to oust our party. Even now, she watched the alcoves with hopeful eyes as though hoping for a miracle. I prodded her ribs. ¡°Stop doing that.¡± After a few more minutes of traveling, the air became noticeably warmer. ¡°Nitrates,¡± Medekeine hissed and sniffed the air. ¡°That¡¯s the smell of goblin munitions.¡± ¡°They produce bombs here in the tunnels?¡± I asked. ¡°Most likely. Either that or they transport them from the Fanged Mountains.¡± Medekeine grinned. ¡°This makes our job easier, doesn¡¯t it? Goblins are notoriously bad at observing safety protocols.¡± The entrance of a large cave loomed in the distance. Two other tunnels joined ours, all converging at the cave¡¯s mouth. A handful of Goblin Scouts manned the entrance, all fully armed, as illuminated by crude torches on the walls. They cheered as they saw us and gathered around our convoy. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± A rather pale-skinned goblin leered at Kajal. ¡°Humans? Here in the forest?¡± ¡°Can we eat them?¡± another goblin asked. ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡± yet another said. ¡°You¡¯ll get worms and all kinds of diseases. Stick to the elves!¡± My eyes narrowed despite myself. ¡°Move.¡± The goblins reluctantly parted. ¡°You can leave the slaves here with us, captain,¡± the pale-skinned goblin said. ¡°We¡¯ll take them to the pens, nice and quiet. You must have better things to do.¡± His eyes met Kreeta¡¯s, and he performed a double take. ¡°Oi. Isn¡¯t that little Kreeta? What are you acting all quiet for?¡± I placed a hand on Kreeta¡¯s nape and squeezed in warning. ¡°She¡¯s with me. We have business with the other captains. And, I can handle my affairs myself.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± One of the goblins prodded Kajal inappropriately and my heart leaped into my throat as the muscles of her body tensed. She refrained from striking, however, maintaining the appearance of a bound, hapless prisoner. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be rude, captain,¡± the pale goblin said, ¡°but if the humans have started sending soldiers into Dreadwood¡ª¡± ¡°Did you not hear me the first time, milkskin?¡± I snarled. The pale goblin flinched at the barb. His colleagues quietened and looked away, hints of dismay written on their features. Their reactions revealed that I¡¯d used the insult correctly for the first time in my life. Milkskin seemed to be a derogatory term for goblins with fair-complexioned skin like him. Now, I felt bad. The pale goblin shuffled out of the way, ordering his men back to their positions. I snarled for good measure, to sell the ruse and avoid further interrogation. We proceeded past the mouth of the cave into the yawning interior that lay beyond. I pretended not to notice the gazes that burned into my back. What now? I started to ask Kreeta when the words died in my throat. An artificial cave, most likely hollowed out by magic, stretched out in all corners of the darkness. A few crude torches of stave and hemp illuminated specific portions, though the light was mostly swallowed up by the sheer vastness of the cave. A wide stone bridge extended from the entrance and down to a sprawling area. Crude stone pillars stabilized the ceiling which towered a few meters over our heads. Down in the camp proper, the bare ground was covered with green as far as the eye could see. And, I didn¡¯t mean grass. Every inch of space was occupied by goblin bodies who snored on the rocky ground. They slept without mats, pallets, or items of demarcation, making it difficult to tell where one goblin ended and another began. A rough estimate put their numbers at a few hundred if not over a thousand. This was what the Wood King expected the elf villages to handle on their own. A second stone bridge led from the entrance to a distant part of the cavern. Rows of iron cages stood there, propped up against the wall. Dread Tigers of all shapes and sizes, some no older than cubs, occupied those cages. They hissed at nearby goblins and pinned for the blood and visceral matter that tainted the area. I shuddered to think about the source. The goblins gave the areas near the Dread Tigers a wide berth, with only the bravest daring to sleep in front of the cages. I could use that. My attention was soon drawn, however, to the presence of chambers, hewn in the stone, that served as special rooms barred from the rest of the populace. Medekeine spat on the ground. ¡°Of course, it stinks. To think that the Tinfolk are so occupied with infighting that they allow such vile habitats to form in their domain.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Go find the prisoners. I have investigations of my own to perform.¡± ¡°Too dangerous,¡± I said. ¡°We can¡¯t afford separation.¡± ¡°¡®Too dangerous,¡¯ he says. Maybe you should have considered that before we entered this godforsaken lair to free some elves. I am only here for news about the Goblin Prince, nothing more.¡± ¡°But, Kreeta said¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what she said!¡± I suppressed a growl of frustration. Kreeta hadn¡¯t been very helpful during interrogation, but she had revealed that there were, at least, rumors of a Goblin Prince. No one had seen him yet, however; a condition that was also true for most of the Goblin Chiefs. The upper echelon of goblin leadership refused to venture out of the mountains for reasons best known to them. That information was good enough for the rest of us to work with, but Medekeine and his unhealthy obsession with the horde were far from satisfied. Kajal chose that moment to make her thoughts known. ¡°I¡¯m with Damien. There¡¯s at least one insanely powerful monster connected to this camp. We will do our chances of survival some good by sticking together. We cannot afford to draw attention to ourselves.¡± My stomach tossed. Galagor was the goblin she spoke about, the one who ruled this army with an iron fist. He was the only Goblin Chief to join the advance forces, and his presence had hastened the fall of Nybala and Harkonean. Galagor was currently off in the west, coordinating the attack on another elf village. He was reportedly the goblin that had killed Nana Irithiel, and although every bit of me burned with the desire for revenge, I knew just as well that this wasn¡¯t the time. For our sake, Galagor would remain away from his lair until we had pulled off the rescue. Only then would I go hunting for the bastard. A nearby goblin noticed us and began a hasty climb up the stone bridge. We had probably lingered long enough to draw suspicion, so I cleared my throat to warn the others. The goblin¡ªa short, thin figure with a hog ring in his nose¡ªscreamed at the top of his lungs. ¡°That you, Hagar? You dare show your face here?¡± Hagar? Was that the name of this skin? ¡°What do you want?¡± I snapped, despite the pounding in my chest. I knew next to nothing about the character I impersonated save for the fact that he was a Goblin Captain. And, just my luck, the goblin that approached us was also of the same class, LVL 35. ¡°What do I want?¡± the newcomer parroted and stopped in front of my face. ¡°You took our best Sorcerers and got them killed in a needless fight on the surface! Greed magic? Really? You know we were saving that for the assault on the villages!¡± Oh, crap. It seemed like a survivor or two had made it out of our early battle in the forest to report the events. Hagar¡¯s true fate remained unknown, however. One point in my favor. But, the captain opposite me seemed displeased. I wouldn¡¯t have to serve punishment for what Hagar had done, right? ¡°Where have you been anyway?¡± Hog Ring yapped. ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks since you were last seen by any of our people. Galagor¡¯s anger reached a tipping point. How do you intend to resolve that?¡± ¡°Um . . .¡± I stammered. ¡°With an apology, perhaps?¡± Thankfully, Hog Ring was easily distracted because he abandoned his line of query once he noticed the others. ¡°Humans!¡± he hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me! Are these the same bastards that butchered your squad?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hog Ring¡¯s scornful gaze changed to one of admiration. ¡°Good. That¡¯s the Hagar I know. This will appease the others. We¡¯ll eat some new meat for a change, starting with breakfast.¡± What?! ¡°You, there,¡± Hog Ring said and gestured at Kreeta. ¡°See the slaves off to the butcher. Inform him that I want them skinned pretty good!¡± ¡°No, no, no,¡± I said. ¡°I need to question them before they are slaughtered. Interrogation, torture, and then the pot.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t do that!¡± Paz suddenly announced. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything! I¡¯ll tell you all you want!¡± His voice sounded normal, for a hysterical person that is, but I¡¯d known him long enough to recognize the laughter in his tone. The freaking bastard! Did he not understand our situation? ¡°Quiet!¡± Hog Ring said, drawing his knife. ¡°Or I¡¯ll gut you where you stand!¡± Kajal and Logain both whimpered, enhancing the scene. Their acting was too obvious for someone like me. And yet, Hog Ring bought it hook, line, and sinker. He waved his knife a few times, reveling in his cruelty, and punched Paz in the gut. Paz¡¯s expression dipped just the slightest. ¡°I guess you have a point,¡± Hog Ring conceded and sheathed his knife. ¡°Very well, your lackeys may take them to the slave pits. Tell old Braka to welcome them with thirty lashes each!¡± He cocked his head. ¡°Nevertheless, Hagar, you must come with me. We have much to discuss.¡± Kreeta started to gesture when I again palmed the back of her nape. Hog Ring narrowed his eyes. ¡°Why are you acting suspicious, maggot? Did you not hear me? Take the prisoners to the slave pits!¡± ¡°She¡¯s mute,¡± I said and nodded at Medekeine. ¡°Oi, Az-fess. Go along with her.¡± Medekeine glowered at me. ¡°You seem like a rather unusual goblin, Az-fess,¡± Hog Ring said¡ªand I swear Paz chuckled¡ª¡°You¡¯re not one of those inbreds from the Nkuruk clan, are you? Either way, come along, Hagar. Quickly now. Best we get it over with before the others wake up.¡± Hog Ring scampered off before he even finished speaking, down the stone bridge and across the pile of sleeping goblins. He walked atop them as he went with no qualms about his actions. I glanced at the others and said beneath my breath. ¡°Seems like separation is inevitable. I guess I¡¯ll leave the freeing of the prisoners to you?¡± Kajal nodded slightly. She looked me in the eye through her blindfold. ¡°Should we wait for your reappearance before we begin?¡± I studied the gaping cavern, teeming with hundreds upon hundreds of slumbering goblins. ¡°Too risky. The sooner we get out of this place, the better off we¡¯ll be. I¡¯ll manage on my own. You just focus on saving yourselves. Kreeta¡±¡ªI offered her a frown¡ª¡°Don¡¯t make trouble, and I promise that no harm will befall you. The others will leave you bound in a spot where you can stay out of harm¡¯s way until you are found by your goblin siblings. I¡¯ll keep my end of the deal and leave the ears of your colleagues in a gravesite near the tree.¡± Kreeta audibly gulped and nodded. Kajal interjected, ¡°I¡¯ll rescue as many Dark Elves as I can, Damien.¡± ¡°Thank you. And¡ª¡± ¡°Should I find the Harkon or anyone called Mavari, I promise to prioritize their safety.¡± I beamed in gratitude. ¡°I wish us good luck, then. See you all on the other side, assuming I don¡¯t join your escape.¡± ¡°That sounds ominous,¡± Logain said. But, I was already hopping across goblin bodies to catch up with Hog Ring. 107 Galagor Hog Ring headed for one of the special rooms built into the cavern¡¯s walls. ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± I asked as we stomped sleeping goblins beneath our feet. They alternated between cursing at us or squealing in pain before returning to sleep. The light from the nearby torches cast shadows over Hog Ring¡¯s face. He glanced at me from over his shoulder and bared his teeth. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time if we wish to get ahead of the other clans. Rumor has it that the war of succession will soon be resolved. And, you know what comes next after that nonsense is over.¡± I actually didn¡¯t. Hog Ring went off on a tangent about the goblin clans and their alliances but didn¡¯t mention anything about the Dragon Lord or the rumored Goblin Prince. I humored him with noncommittal responses as he spoke, taking the chance to observe my surroundings. We faced less than a five percent chance of making it out of the cave alive if the goblins uncovered our presence. The existence of a single exit, defended by hundreds of enemies only served to worsen our chances. Narrow tunnels waited beyond that, filled with sentries and¡ªif I knew anything about goblin tactics¡ªbooby-trapped in case of an assault. Kajal was probably brilliant enough to free the prisoners without raising a ruckus. But, she couldn¡¯t pull off miracles. Which was where I came in. As the true [Impostor] within our party, it fell on me to buy us the window we needed to make our escape. Could I leverage Hagar¡¯s standing within the horde? ¡°Where are the other Captains?¡± I asked the still-yapping Hog Ring. He replied without taking a breath. ¡°Out on the surface. They decided to establish a temporary camp in the west. This elf village is harder to seize than any of the others. We¡¯ve lost many maggots.¡± That was refreshing to hear. We passed a room that smelled like an outhouse and another that reeked of oil. The next room had livestock in it¡ªDread Goats, I realized¡ªtypified by the gamey smells of hide and droppings. Another room effused uncomfortable heat, backed by a couple of dying furnaces that glowed visibly within its confines. A smithy, then? Or a cookhouse? What else did the goblins eat other than meat? Three more chambers stood further away from our position, veiled by torn curtains to maintain a sense of privacy. Hog Ring approached the largest of the three and cleared his throat to announce his presence. The vast room beyond the curtain consisted of a crude desk and a cloth bed, stuffed with thatch. Piles of items and weapons, in various stages of disrepair, lined the walls. A wizened, old goblin with greying eyebrows sat at the desk, reading a scroll in candlelight. And, dangling on the wall behind him . . . ¡°No!¡± The old goblin looked up sharply. ¡°No?¡± I couldn¡¯t find the words because up there on the wall hung the corpse of old Nana Irithiel. Nothing mattered again at that point. Not the plan. Or the prisoners. Or even my fucking life. My feet moved before I could stop myself in a beeline for the aged goblin¡ª ¡°Hagar!¡± Hog Ring roared. His tone knocked me to my senses. I stood now in front of the old goblin¡¯s desk, breathing harshly. The old goblin shot me a curious look from across a pair of crude spectacles. ¡°Explain.¡± I reached for my inventory¡ª Nana took a shuddering breath. No way . . . ¡°Explain,¡± the old goblin repeated. The words reached me as though from a distance, struggling to pierce through the haze of rage. I bit my tongue to stifle the burning within me and looked the old goblin straight in the face. Galagor. It had to be him. There was no one else he could be. He cut a rather frail image for a creature that had supposedly defeated Nana Irithiel. And yet, impossible as it was to believe, there she hung behind him like a life-sized trophy. The elf matron swayed on the wall, strung up by a series of rusty rune-crafted chains. Her matted grey hair, stained with dried blood, fell over her face. A large wooden pillory immobilized her arms and neck, inscribed with even more runes. Her once colorful robes lay shredded and torn, revealing bruised, bleeding skin. Some of those wounds seemed reminiscent of lashes . . . And, goddammit. My vision reddened again. Galagor watched me with narrowed eyes, reaching for something beneath his desk. Come on, Damien. This could wait. Nana still breathed, and that was all that mattered. If I didn¡¯t act now to remedy the situation, I would jeopardize the mission and what remained of her life. With no option left, I fell to my knees. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I failed.¡± Hog Ring sputtered at the display. But, I had made my choice. Hagar was a prideful Soldier who had risen to the Captain rank on the back of his effort. Taking a knee didn¡¯t seem like a good choice among goblins, but a strange intuition pushed me in that direction. It was probably [Impostor] at work. The technique allowed me to copy mannerisms, bringing my behavior in line with that of Hagar¡¯s. Despite that, I held my breath. Galagor raised a bushy eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s fine¡ª¡± And then, he fired a crossbow from behind his desk, aimed at my chest. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The quarrel hit Hagar¡¯s gauntlets, which I raised in an X-shape to intercept the shot. The solid leather nearly buckled under the momentum of the missile and threw me onto my back. A [System] screen buzzed in the periphery. Warning! You have taken 8% damage to HP in one hit! Do note that [Impostor] unravels following a single damage instance of 10%. My blood turned frigid. Thankfully, Galagor didn¡¯t continue the attack. He smirked instead and nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Apologies will not suffice, Hagar. In any other circumstance, I will have your head.¡± Hog Ring looked conflicted, glancing between his leader and me. I saved him the trouble and picked myself off the ground. ¡°Problem?¡± Galagor asked. He raised his crossbow for appraisal as if he hadn¡¯t just tried to murder his subordinate. I glanced at Nana whose chest trembled with shallow breaths. ¡°None, sir.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Galagor lowered his weapon and lifted his spectacles off his face. He produced a dirty rag to clean the crude lenses which seemed to be held by glue. ¡°We are short on strong fighters at the moment, Hagar, so consider this mercy. However, you cannot be forgiven for going missing and losing an entire squad. Without your Sorcerers, the conquest has ground to a halt.¡± ¡°I apologize.¡± ¡°Do not test my ire. What good does an apology do? Even now, I struggle with the desire to rend you limb from limb.¡± Try it and see, imp. I could picture a fossil like Galagor leading the goblin army with his wealth of experience, but he didn¡¯t strike me as someone to fear. Not only did he not seem like a combatant, but Galagor¡¯s aura painted the area around him in a silvery glow. Only a Gold could hope to defeat another Gold. And yet, my eyes did not deceive me. He had somehow captured Nana and pilloried her like a common slave. ¡°Galagor, sir!¡± Hog Ring said. ¡°Hagar might have made a grave mistake. But, he didn¡¯t return empty-handed. He captured some humans from the surface to make up for his blunder!¡± Galagor stopped his cleaning. ¡°Oh? The humans have finally joined the war?¡± ¡°No,¡± I said and swallowed hastily. Gosh, my arms stung. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. But, those three were members of a scouting party, either operating on their lonesome or some other¡¯s behalf.¡± ¡°And, you managed to capture them using what resources?¡± I thought up an excuse in record time. ¡°A good number of my soldiers survived the initial assault. We eventually regrouped and enacted revenge. At great cost.¡± Galagor furrowed his brows. ¡°So, rather than return, you chose to spend an entire week and change locked in battle with the humans?¡± ¡°And, the elves. It was a fight beyond my control. At some point, we were hounded all the way to Nyneveh.¡± I sucked at lying. The longer this went on, Galagor was bound to find a loophole in my story. [Impostor], however, lent me a straight face. Damien might have been a jittery liar, but Hagar the Goblin Captain enjoyed the respect of those around him and the confidence it granted. Galagor paused for a second time at the mention of Nyneveh. ¡°You entered that foul domain?¡± ¡°As close to it as I dared,¡± I said. ¡°I made it back here after surmounting its challenges.¡± ¡°I see. Nyneveh cannot be touched. Not yet, at least. Not until the horde comes pouring out of the mountains. The window until that happens grows ever shorter.¡± Hog Ring went pale in the face. ¡°The rumors are true, then? About an end to the struggle for succession? When that happens, the survivors will come for your head!¡± Really? Was Galagor an enemy of the other Goblin Chiefs? What the hell were they talking about? Galagor tapped the scroll which he had been reading. ¡°All the more reason why we must hasten our plans. We have two World Shrines now. One more to go. You have performed admirably, but we are behind schedule.¡± He scowled at me. ¡°That is why I am sending you, Hagar, to bolster our western forces. You will make up for this setback with your life if need be.¡± Hog Ring perked up. ¡°It seems the other captains are botching the war effort. Let me go, sir! Let me lead the troops.¡± ¡°No. I have a different task for you. One that requires finesse. In a few days, I will return to the Fanged Mountains. Someone needs to keep the horde oblivious to my movements. A huge distraction will help.¡± I listened with rapt attention, connecting the onslaught of information with the little I knew. A goblin horde typically began with an increase in inter-goblin conflict, leading to the evolution of more powerful classes. At the peak of that evolutionary chain was the Goblin Calamity. But, that class hadn¡¯t been seen in ages. It was more common for a Goblin Prince to emerge as leader of the horde. And, according to Kreeta, one Prince had supposedly assumed the mantle. Why then was there still fighting among the goblins? Nana groaned in the background, delirious with pain. Her presence scrambled my nerves, hampering my ability to think clearly. An overwhelming feeling of relief swelled in my chest at the fact that she had survived the odds. But, that joyous feeling clashed with hatred for Galagor at her plight. Sadly, this wasn¡¯t the time. Galagor had more information than anyone else on the situation in Dreadwood. So, I strangled my wrath and raised the question: ¡°Have you learned anything new about the situation in the mountains, sir?¡± Galagor smirked. ¡°A few things. More heads are going to roll over the next few days once the Prince¡¯s hibernation is complete. They will not enjoy my surprise.¡± He glanced at Nana. ¡°You¡¯ve been staring at the hag an awful lot, Hagar. Unfortunately, I need her alive. If you need some other soul to whet your thirst for vengeance on, torture one of the other slaves.¡± I bowed at him for fear of revealing the emotion on my face. Galagor grabbed his crossbow and rose to his feet. ¡°Nevertheless, you two may leave the situation in the Fanged Mountains to me. Prepare to depart for the western front, Hagar.¡± ¡°Right now?¡± I asked. ¡°Why not?¡± I struggled to think of a reason. Hog Ring, with his inability to stay quiet, provided one. ¡°The first batch of munitions will be ready by tonight, sir. If time is of the essence, I propose that we grant Hagar and his reinforcements permission to deploy them.¡± Galagor took a moment to consider. ¡°Permission granted. I am also curious about these humans whom Hagar captured. They might yet reveal some secrets when put to the test.¡± He clucked his tongue at Nana. ¡°This one held out brilliantly, as expected of a Gold. Hopefully, I¡¯ll find a softer target.¡± That could not be allowed to happen. Unassuming though he was, Galagor seemed to possess a rather mean streak. And, he would probably notice that something was amiss should he encounter the others. ¡°I will grill the humans and reveal their secrets,¡± I offered. ¡°I have a bone to pick with them anyway. You shall not be displeased with my work.¡± Galagor shrugged and placed his spectacles on his nose. He walked around the desk, toward us and the exit of the room. ¡°I¡¯d still like some time with them either way. But, that can wait till my return. We¡¯ll chop the strongest into pieces and send their parts to Skeelie.¡± Hog Ring frowned. ¡°You want to force the humans into battle before we finish with the elves?¡± ¡°You make such inane claims¡±¡ªand this time, Galagor¡¯s yellow eyes glinted¡ª¡°The elves are already finished. I¡¯m just ensuring that the horde finds enough enemies to occupy themselves with by the time they emerge from hiding. Now then, follow me to the surface. I have some final instructions to impart.¡± He turned to me. ¡°You have earned a second chance in my army, Hagar. Do not disappoint.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I lowered my head. Hog Ring and Galagor vacated the office, leaving me alone with Nana. This was our chance. With two of the strongest goblin officers away, we had little blocking our chances. Kajal would be working to free the other prisoners at the moment, which meant that I could focus on the only one that mattered. I approached Nana and reached for her face. 108 Irithiel ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, goblin,¡± Nana rasped in a voice that sounded like sandpaper. A small sheen of sweat coated her forehead, visible beneath dirty grey hair. Wounds and bruises littered her skin; the signs of continuous injury that never properly healed. All of those wounds pointed toward torture, and my hands trembled as I arrived at that realization. Nana had saved me in my first few days in Vizhima, yet these monsters had deemed it fit to treat her like a dog. I lost the tight rein that I had been keeping on my emotions, enough for [Silhouette] to rise like a vast curtain behind my back. No, I told the monster, even though I longed for nothing more than to let loose on the goblins. I wrestled the black tendrils back under control and cupped Nana¡¯s face. She flinched away from me, feverish to the touch. The pillory swayed gently around her neck. ¡°Nana,¡± I managed to say through my tears. ¡°It¡¯s me, Damien.¡± Nana remained silent. She had either dozed off or failed to hear me, which was expected with a fever of that degree. She stirred in time, however, and cocked her head. ¡°Cyran?¡± That was the name of the body I had inherited. The life I¡¯d stolen that wasn¡¯t meant to exist. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Cyran . . .¡± Nana repeated. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be right. You reek of goblin shit . . . sound like one too.¡± She coughed¡ªslowly, painfully¡ªand hacked phlegm out of her throat. ¡°Have you not had enough of this, cur? Do I need to suffer another one of your curses?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really me, Nana,¡± I said and retrieved a water skin from my inventory. ¡°I¡¯m here to get you out.¡± Nana resisted at first for fear of poison, but her thirst eventually won out. She lapped up the drink and refused a second one, choosing instead to clear her head. ¡°Prove it.¡± I got her meaning. ¡°We had a final discussion back in Harkonean the morning I left. You urged me to try my chances in Skeelie.¡± ¡°Bah. Anyone could get that by rifling through my head.¡± ¡°What about the marking on my chest? The crest you designed with your hand?¡± ¡°I have a similar one on my chest, numbskull.¡± Right. I¡¯d forgotten how much of a hardass she could be. Sighing, I retrieved The Blackreach Dagger and placed its worn hilt in her hand. Nana stiffened. ¡°No . . . It can¡¯t be. It really is, huh?¡± Her cracked lips parted in a gasp. ¡°Damien! You came back . . .¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I am saying, old hag,¡± I said softly. ¡°But, how? Why here? Were you also captured by the goblins?¡± ¡°No. My friends and I came to help.¡± ¡°You made friends . . .¡± My heart faltered at the emotion in her voice because it sounded like something my real mother would say. I had become something of a loner after mom¡¯s death, not really by choice, but because living with my father had left me fucked in the head. Mom would have encouraged me to go out and make some friends. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said at last. ¡°I did.¡± Nana smiled despite her wounds. ¡°Good thing, then! I was worried about your alien ass. You struggled so much in the village that I considered it a death sentence to send you off to the city.¡± She shook her head again to clear it and returned the dagger. The chains clanked around her arms. ¡°So, have you resolved that spirit orb problem of yours?¡± ¡°I have. For now.¡± I frowned at her shackles. ¡°Let me get you down from there.¡± Nana shook her head. ¡°You can¡¯t. There¡¯s an alarm spell inscribed on the pillory, alongside other runes. Should anyone try to break the bindings, the entire army will be notified.¡± I bit my lips in frustration. ¡°I can¡¯t leave you hanging here!¡± ¡°I have hung here for long enough already, boy. A few more minutes don¡¯t matter.¡± She froze before she could finish. ¡°Galagor! Where¡¯s Galagor? I heard him speak a short while ago, but I was too delirious to care.¡± ¡°He left for the surface. There¡¯s no better time to escape.¡± Nana paled. ¡°No, Damien. We won¡¯t be getting out that easily. Not from him. The goblins aren¡¯t the scariest monsters in this cave. It¡¯s him. Just him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a silver-ranked monster, isn¡¯t he? We can take him.¡± ¡°Listen when I speak, boy! It¡¯s not about power, even though he has that in spades. It¡¯s the way he thinks that is different. Galagor has more wits about him than most Goblin Geniuses.¡± ¡°But, you¡¯re a Gold ranker. There¡¯s no reason why you would lose to him in a fair fight. The rumors are untrue, yeah? About your defeat. Surely, he used some sneaky means . . .¡± Nana¡¯s features hardened. ¡°I won¡¯t accept that excuse. I lost fair and square on my turf. He¡¯s of Hatred, Damien. That makes him difficult to handle. Even now in his absence, his influence suffocates the entire dungeon.¡± She shook her bangs out of her face. ¡°You should leave before his demons learn what you are up to. I don¡¯t know how you snuck in here, but a Dark Elf stands out extremely well among goblins.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no Dark Elf,¡± I said. ¡°Not now, at least. I¡¯m using [Impostor]. Can¡¯t you see?¡± Nana¡¯s lips narrowed into a line. ¡°Nana . . .¡± my voice wavered. ¡°You can see, right?¡± Hearing nothing, I lifted her bangs. Nana¡¯s stately features remained pristine despite her torment, but a hideous burn scar ran over her eyelids from end to end. I let out a strangled gasp. ¡°Oh, stop your whingeing,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s not like I lost my head.¡± ¡°Did Galagor do this too?¡± ¡°Who else could it be?¡± [Silhouette] escaped my control again. Its long tendrils stretched out beneath me, quivering for blood. I understood now how Galagor had managed to keep a gold-ranker under control. With no vision, access to techniques, and the inability to regain HP, Nana was no different from ordinary regulars. Maybe even worse. ¡°We have a healer,¡± I gnashed out. ¡°Two. I¡¯ll bring them over.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Needless,¡± she said. ¡°Once you are ready to move, just break these chains and give me a health potion. I¡¯ll get out on my own. Your friends are the ones you need to worry about. And, the others . . .¡± ¡°Are the other villagers trapped here too?¡± ¡°I . . . don¡¯t know. We were captured weeks ago, Damien. A lot of us Nanduli?. Some survivors made it to the safety of the hills. But, it¡¯s all been a blur. Tybalt . . . Tybalt was taken prisoner too. But, the goblins dislike rankers . . .¡± She didn¡¯t need to finish. The goblins had been eating their captives, using them as emergency rations in the war. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll meet up with the others. We¡¯ll get you out, Nana. I promise.¡± ¡°Prioritize the other prisoners over me,¡± she said. ¡°The instant you break these chains, you will be faced with resistance. It might be prudent to focus on everyone else.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving without you, Nana. I don¡¯t care who stands in my way. I¡¯ll kill them all.¡± Nana opened her lips to argue, but then she sighed. ¡°I made a grave mistake, Damien. Tybalt was right. We should have evacuated rather than depend on the Hinduli?.¡± She clenched her fists. ¡°Very well. Run along. Do what you must. Whenever you return, I¡¯ll be ready.¡± I offered her a nod. And then, struggling to keep [Silhouette] in check, I ventured out of Galagor¡¯s abode. We only had a little time left on the clock. The goblins could rouse at any moment, and there was no telling when their decrepit old leader would return. I wanted to go up against Galagor¡ªto show him exactly what I thought about Nana¡¯s imprisonment. But, all in good time, Damien. I would rescue the prisoners first. After that, I¡¯d punch him in the face. The slave pits and the animal pens shared the same chamber, protected by a couple of barely conscious sentries. I let myself in without so much as a glance from them and trudged along a short tunnel that had been kept lightless on purpose. Pure misery hovered like a fog in the air, filled with the stench of sweat, waste, droppings, and unwashed flesh. Two large pens occupied the chamber at the end of the tunnel: one for goats, and the other . . . Oh gosh. The duli? filled the pen, most of them stripped naked, devoid of clothing and armor. A few stood tied to whipping posts while others bled from freshly inflicted wounds. Many of the elves lay corralled in their own filth, chained one to another in rather haphazard ways. The Hinduli? seemed to make up the majority, though I counted a sizable percentage of Dark Elves from Harkonean. The captured elves watched a commotion that brewed in front of their pen with morbid fascination. A new batch of prisoners had arrived, stripped of their clothing and dignity. Three goblin jailers¡ªSoldiers by the looks of it¡ªtried to whip them free of health armor. One prisoner resisted. ¡°Paz . . .¡± I said with a groan. He grabbed the thorny whip before it could strike him, causing the flustered Goblin Soldier to redden. ¡°Stop that!¡± the goblin said, right before Paz, with the casual ease of [Overpower], drove his fist through the goblin¡¯s chest. All three Goblin Soldiers, including the wounded individual, gaped in stunned silence at Paz. The wounded one buckled, and his companions realized rather belatedly that the shackles binding their new prisoners were not truly enchanted. Before they could scream, Kajal and Logain grabbed both and strangled them to death. ¡°That was not part of the plan, Paz,¡± Kajal said as she laid the goblin whom she had just murdered gently to the ground. ¡°Works better this way,¡± Paz said. ¡°You heard the little shitbags. They intended to drop us in a torture chamber. Whatever runes they have emplaced there are certainly not fakes.¡± ¡°But, what about the other goblins?¡± a Dark Elf cried from within the pen. He glanced at Medekeine who watched the proceedings with a wide grin on his face. Medekeine kept Kreeta rooted beside him with a large hand around her neck. The female goblin stared at her deceased comrades on the ground and trembled in her leathers. ¡°What about me?¡± Medekeine grouched. ¡°He¡¯s with us,¡± Kajal said. She realized then that she was in her undergarments and retrieved her torn clothes from where they had been discarded. ¡°Paz, Logain, release the prisoners. I¡¯ll dispose of the bodies.¡± ¡°Feed them to the Dread Goats,¡± I said and appeared from the shadows. ¡°They¡¯re omnivorous from what I remember.¡± Many of the elves gasped and fell back from my presence. ¡°Hagar!¡± I winked at them. ¡°Surprise! You now have a friendly neighborhood goblin working on your team. How many of you are rankers?¡± The elves looked at each other, unsure why a fight hadn¡¯t broken out with my appearance. A short-haired Wood Elf raised her hand tentatively. More followed. I counted eight rankers, which was about ten percent of the total elves gathered. Not too bad as far as an attack squad went. But, with most of them being iron-ranked, they wouldn¡¯t do much to improve our chances. Regulars and specialists could defeat lower-ranked monsters if pushed to the wall, but it was a hard ask for them to do so without affinities or combat skills. Kajal didn¡¯t care. She ordered the release of the classers first and offered potions to those in need. Armor and weapons were then gathered from inventories and shared among the regulars. Everyone who could hold a weapon was expected to fight, though the rankers would do their best to keep all others alive. Kajal frowned. ¡°Damien, the people you mentioned . . . the ones you were searching for. Did you learn anything about them?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± I said. ¡°I found Nana.¡± And, just in case¡ª¡°Hey, Dark Elves. Is anyone among you named Tybalt or Mavari?¡± A frigid voice announced from the back of the pen. ¡°What¡¯s it to you, Hagar?¡± I recognized that voice. I leaped into the enclosure and waded through the jumpy elves until I found the speaker. Tybalt had seen better days. His thin frame bore the same scars and welts as the rest of the elves, revealing his harsh treatment at the hands of the goblins. A health potion had done wonders for his wounds, though not for his complexion. His usually rich-colored skin had faded to a pallid tone in his time in captivity. His trademark Irithiel eyes sat sunken in his face. Tybalt clutched a longbow between his arms, moving just enough to reveal the two stumps on his right hand. Another example of goblin horror, albeit he seemed unbothered by his condition. His beautiful black locs had been shorn cruelly on one side of his head, following a wound taken to the scalp. ¡°Logain,¡± I said, ¡°please, heal.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t do anything about missing body parts,¡± Logain answered. ¡°Limbs, fingers, organs¡ªall too complex for my technique.¡± My heart sped up. ¡°What about eyes?¡± ¡°Depends on the extent of damage. The worse it is, the harder it becomes to return to full function.¡± ¡°A goblin concerned about my wounds?¡± Tybalt smirked. ¡°What a strange day this is.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a goblin, idiot. It¡¯s me, Damien.¡± Tybalt frowned. ¡°Damien?¡± His eyes widened. ¡°You were always a goblin?¡± If he wasn¡¯t already in a pitiful state, I would have smacked him over the head. ¡°But, how?¡± Tybalt said. ¡°You attacked us at Harkonean.¡± He glanced at his hand. ¡°You chewed off my fingers.¡± ¡°That was the real owner of this body, not me.¡± I steadied my voice. ¡°Nana . . . Nana is . . .¡± ¡°Dead. I know.¡± ¡°No, she lives. Galagor¡¯s keeping her imprisoned in his chamber¡ª¡± I stretched my arm to stop Tybalt before he could rush to his feet. His sunken eyes gleamed dangerously. ¡°You kept the Harkon waiting in chains while we sat here dawdling? Her mere presence could change the outcome of our escape!¡± ¡°I will rescue her,¡± I said through gritted teeth. ¡°We will rescue her. But, you better calm that hot head of yours. I¡¯m not letting you jeopardize our efforts.¡± Tybalt opened his mouth as if to rebuke me but thought better of it and returned to the floor. He seemed to have matured some during my absence. Though, that probably had something to do with the fact that I had come to his rescue. At level 31, I was now stronger than him. [Identify] put him at level 29, which showed impressive growth since our last meeting. He possessed enough levels to match Byron at his peak¡ªprobably even best him. However, after my encounters with the Samurai and the Wood King, such paltry levels now seemed a huge distance away from true strength. And, that was only compared to gold rankers. How much stronger, then, were platinum, iridium, and adamantium rankers? ¡°Damien?¡± a small voice said from among the gathering. ¡°You¡¯re that Damien?¡± Paz whistled. ¡°Someone seems popular among his people.¡± The speaker, a Wood Elf maiden¡ªthough maiden was an ill-fitting term for a hunk like her¡ªwith short red hair and a scar across her cheek, lumbered toward me. She had on loose-fitting leather armor which showed off her tanned arms, adorned with tattoos. She also looked mightily familiar. ¡°Rizzler?¡± I asked. ¡°It¡¯s Rilwan,¡± she snapped and slugged me in the gut. 109 Enchanter ¡°You led me to this,¡± she hissed. ¡°You forced me to leave my family and help your stupid clan!¡± ¡°Nice to see you too, Rilwan,¡± I wheezed. I¡¯d been wondering about her whereabouts. A long time ago, I had extracted a sworn promise from her in exchange for her friend¡¯s safety. She had promised to help Harkonean against the goblin invasion . . . ¡°If you¡¯re here,¡± I said, ¡°then I guess you kept your word?¡± Rilwan looked like she would throw another punch. ¡°You set me up! You knew how bad the situation was, yet you didn¡¯t communicate that.¡± What the heck was she talking about? I told her everything I knew! ¡°Rilwan and her squad helped harass the goblin supply lines,¡± Tybalt said. ¡°Their efforts bought Harkonean a few more days of freedom. Unfortunately, without a proper coalition of the elves, it was all for naught.¡± ¡°You say that, but I should have been in Nybala fighting with my people.¡± She eyed me with distaste. ¡°Because I was off honoring your promise, I wasn¡¯t there for my village when it fell!¡± ¡°We saw the outcome of that battle, kid,¡± Logain chipped in. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you could have done.¡± Rilwan glared at him. ¡°Who are you calling a kid?¡± A proverbial bolt of lightning struck me. ¡°Hold on. You¡¯re Rilwan from Nybala . . . And, the chieftain is . . .¡± It all made sense now. ¡°Dilwan is your father?!¡± Rilwan turned around so fast that her head nearly flew off her shoulders. ¡°You met my father? Is he . . .¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine. Last we spoke, he was spearheading the effort to convene an Elven Meet.¡± The elves murmured among themselves at the revelation. Some of their words, especially those directed at the chieftain, sounded unkind, but Rilwan buried her face in her hands to stem the tears. ¡°Oh, thank the Heralds,¡± she sobbed. ¡°He made it . . . he made it out alive.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have the luxury of time,¡± Kajal said in a stern yet melodious voice. ¡°We have about two hours left till the cave bustles with goblin activity. What do we need to know?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no beating Galagor,¡± Tybalt said in a dour tone. ¡°He is only Silver, but he holds the rank of Goblin Chief. He is also attuned to Hatred.¡± Kajal twitched. ¡°Hatred is scary. But, it¡¯s not the worst affinity around.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t?¡± Tybalt¡¯s hands tightened around his bow. ¡°No other affinity grants the user the power to summon actual demons. Galagor possesses at least one summon that can obliterate an army of silver rankers. There¡¯s no winning that battle.¡± Paz hummed. ¡°So, we avoid the goblin with demon-summoning powers. Or you could just let me handle it if we run into him.¡± ¡°No, Paz,¡± I said. ¡°Galagor is mine. But, we¡¯re best served fleeing without drawing his attention. He left for the surface a short while ago.¡± ¡°No offense,¡± Rilwan interjected. ¡°You both seem confident enough in your abilities, but Nana Irithiel is a freaking gold-ranker. Won¡¯t it be wiser to leave Galagor to her?¡± It would. But, after all she had suffered at his hands, I couldn¡¯t vouch for her mental state. ¡°We¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there. We need to secure her release first, and an alarm spell has been enchanted onto her bindings.¡± Kajal looked up with knitted brows. ¡°The instant we break them, all hell breaks loose within the cave.¡± She frowned at the elves. ¡°Is anyone here an Enchanter or a Runesmith?¡± A few elves raised their hands. The most advanced among them, a petite Wood Elf with a cute lisp, spoke up. ¡°I can try to deactivate them, but alarm runes are tricky to spot. At level 39, I have a seventy percent chance or thereabouts to succeed.¡± That wasn¡¯t too bad. ¡°Getting you out to Galagor¡¯s chamber will prove tricky.¡± ¡°I¡¯m attuned to Confusion,¡± a Dark Elf volunteered. ¡°I can alter her appearance with [Seem].¡± ¡°That solves one problem,¡± Kajal said. ¡°But, unless you can mask the entire group with your illusions, the original issue remains.¡± She tapped her chin. ¡°Do we have anyone attuned to Hope or otherwise bestowed with an ability to mold the earth?¡± No hands this time. Of the eight enslaved rankers, four, including Tybalt, were Rangers. Three were casters, including the confusionist from earlier. And, the last¡ªRilwan¡ªwas a Trickster. Little wonder the elves had lost rapidly to the goblins. They really abhorred diversity, huh? Kajal sighed and rubbed her forehead. ¡°We have no choice, then. Medekeine, I¡¯ll leave it to you. Just avoid bringing the entire cave down on our heads.¡± The dwarf grinned. ¡°Finally.¡± He shoved Kreeta aside and cricked his neck. ¡°I can track the munitions by smell alone. How large do you want the explosion to be?¡± ¡°Large,¡± Kajal said. ¡°Enough to distract every single goblin in the cave.¡± ¡°But not enough to kill us,¡± Logain grumbled. Medekeine strode toward the exit. Before he passed the goat pen, he turned to grin at me. ¡°Might want to get a headstart, elf. I¡¯ll wait fifteen minutes, but no more than that. Try to complete your task before I finish.¡± ¡°Can I borrow the div?¡± I asked. Medekeine clammed up. ¡°I really need her healing,¡± I pressed. ¡°And, I promise not to try anything untoward.¡± Kajal voiced her support. ¡°He will have an easier time sneaking around with her than with Logain. We are going to need all hands on deck if we wish to survive this place in one piece.¡± Despite myself, I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Deck. One piece.¡± Kajal glowered at me. Medekeine looked at us like we had both lost our heads. ¡°I am not letting that monster out of my sight. It¡¯s mine.¡± That was strangely possessive. ¡°You can summon her to you whenever you want, dude. I only need her services. For the good of us all.¡± Medekeine spent the better part of the next minute contemplating his choice. ¡°It is a monster. You absolutely cannot treat it like a [System]-specie.¡± ¡°Noted.¡± ¡°I mean it, elf. The div has more in common with the goblins than it has with us. Both species are closer in behavior to the chimeras you fought than to the elves.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. I recalled my encounter with Hagar and Kreeta¡¯s group. I wasn¡¯t sure I believed that, but this wasn¡¯t the place for arguments. Medekeine grudgingly released the div from her cage. She transformed from a white snake into a little girl, a display that stunned the elves. I glanced at the Enchanter and the Confusion user in turn. ¡°Well, what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s do this.¡± Two goblins hurried out of the slave pit, passing the still-snoring goblin sentries. One was Hagar, a Captain in the goblin army with a dagger in hand and a coiled snake around his neck. The other was a nameless individual who needed to avoid physical inspections at all costs. The unusual duo made their way across piles of slumbering goblins, some of whom veered dangerously close to consciousness, and entered a chamber that had been partitioned off in the wall. That room served as the office and sleeping quarters of Galagor the Goblin Chief. It was also a place of torture for his sworn enemy: Nana Irithiel. Nana perked up as the Wood Elf-in-disguise and I entered the chamber. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I brought an Enchanter,¡± I explained and nodded at the Wood Elf to commence operation. She approached the pillory and pulled a quill, scroll, and inkwell from her inventory. Nana shook her head. ¡°This won¡¯t work, Damien. I haven¡¯t heard of many Enchanters in Dreadwood who are worth their salt.¡± The Wood Elf¡ªwho currently resembled a goblin¡ªdrew an offended breath. ¡°I led the team that maintained the wards back in Nybala. I might be inexperienced, ma¡¯am, but I know my onions.¡± ¡°Oh. Another Nybalan. Maybe if your chieftain had accepted my request, neither of us would be here.¡± ¡°Nana,¡± I warned. She chuckled drily and said to the Wood Elf. ¡°Forgive this prickly old lady. Give it all you got, dear.¡± The Wood Elf went to work, recreating the goblin runes on her scroll in a bid to decipher them. I tapped the snake around my neck and backed away as it took the shape of Div. Except that she didn¡¯t land. Div remained seated on my shoulders, watching the scene unfold in front of her with a curious expression. Her small hands settled in my hair, and she tapped her bare feet against my chest. ¡°I doubt your master permits this sort of impudence from you,¡± I said as she leaned over my head to stare at Nana. ¡°Are you talking to me, Master Damien?¡± she asked. This fucking brat. So, that¡¯s how she wanted to play things, huh? I had probably become her least favorite person in the party¡ªnot counting Medekeine¡ªafter my refusal to grant her a name. I sighed and let her down to her feet. ¡°Medekeine made you promise to follow my every command. So, use healing. Now.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that, Damien?¡± Nana asked. ¡°A Bound Div,¡± I replied. Nana performed a double take. ¡°You don¡¯t mean that kind of div, do you? The dangerous, shapeshifting monsters who live under the earth and are perpetually at war with the dwarves?¡± ¡°Yes, that kind¡ªwait, what?¡± Nana tsked at me. ¡°Now, you¡¯re friends with divs. Back when we met, you couldn¡¯t even fight Dread Tigers without having a panic attack.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± Div grabbed Nana¡¯s face. ¡°Can you heal her?¡± I asked. ¡°I know that healing techniques have limitations¡ª¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do this with [Heal], master.¡± My heart sank. ¡°But, I have access to [Greater Restoration].¡± Div threw me a glance as she spoke and ran tiny fingers across Nana¡¯s eyes. A green aura coalesced around the blind matron, highlighting her scars until they diminished into skin. Nana sighed as the wave washed over her and opened her eyelids to reveal her trademark Irithiel eyes, bloodshot and dry. I heaved in relief. Nana stared at Div and then at the Wood Elf jotting on the scroll. She appraised me with a glance, then returned to Div. ¡°Huh. I didn¡¯t expect to ever regain my sight. You even mended my back which that asshole broke.¡± ¡°Heal her repeatedly,¡± I instructed Div, ¡°until she is back to full health.¡± ¡°Compassion?¡± Nana mumbled as Div¡¯s ability again bathed her form. ¡°No, this feeling . . . this warmth . . . Love?¡± She looked Div squarely in the face. ¡°That¡¯s a rather odd affinity for your kind to possess, lass. Divs are among a handful of monsters that can influence their choice of affinity. If you wanted to kill dwarves, shouldn¡¯t you have picked a more terrifying attunement?¡± Div answered with silence, then repeated her casting of [Heal]. ¡°Is she that unusual?¡± I asked Nana. ¡°I¡¯ll say she is,¡± Nana replied. ¡°Divs are known to be [Formless], but they almost always default to an appearance that fits their mental state. You see, they are created not born. But, it¡¯s rare to find a div who doesn¡¯t identify as a senior or an adult in their prime of life.¡± Div turned to me with eyebrows drawn taut. ¡°I have finished your task, master.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t,¡± I noted. ¡°Heal her again.¡± A part of me was curious about the nature of Div¡¯s circumstances, but we were running out of time. Medekeine had promised to wait only fifteen minutes, and we had about ten minutes left if my internal clock was right. ¡°How¡¯s the decryption going?¡± I asked the Wood Elf. She wiped a bead of sweat off her brow. ¡°Slowly. Enchantments are like languages, and runes are the words with which they are written. Sigils, then, correspond to phrases.¡± She pointed at a set of sigils splattered across her scroll. ¡°The problem lies in the meaning of the runes. The [System] usually handles translation between spoken languages. Written ones are a different matter entirely. ¡°Vizhiman species display divergence in their understanding of letters, and this dissimilarity bleeds into their use of enchantments. Elves and humans share a common tongue, so there is overlap in our enchanting structure. Goblins, however . . .¡± ¡°. . . are different,¡± I said. ¡°. . . are monsters,¡± she finished. ¡°I tried studying their unique take on enchantments back in the slave pit, but with too little to work with, my knowledge has too many gaps. Sure, the goblins make use of a few common runes, but the way they fold into sigils . . .¡± Div pointed at a sigil on the scroll without prompting. ¡°This contains the standard rune ¡®mana¡¯ and another for ¡®take¡¯. The structure used here often denotes something that must be obstructed. Putting them together . . .¡± The Wood Elf¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°To seal mana!¡± ¡°And, this is for ¡®strength¡¯,¡± Div continued, moving onto another sigil, ¡°closely intertwined with the compound rune ¡®gift¡¯.¡± ¡°To give strength, huh?¡± Nana said. ¡°I don¡¯t feel strong.¡± ¡°Not to the user,¡± the Wood Elf said, and her eyes lit up as if a switch had been flicked on in her brain. ¡°It¡¯s a sigil that reinforces the material. Some runes determine which sigil applies to what, and each of them exists in harmony with the others! I can see the runes for ¡®gift¡¯ repeated along with one for . . .¡± ¡°Noise,¡± Div answered. ¡°And, this jagged line that appears on repeat is an important clause, ¡®break¡¯ or ¡®shatter¡¯.¡± ¡°To offer noise when shattered?¡± I asked. ¡°Is that your alarm spell?¡± ¡°To cry when broken!¡± the Wood Elf corrected. Div backed away silently. ¡°If I break this down into its components,¡± the Wood Elf continued, ¡°and restructure them in this way . . . I can overlay the original with a new sigil to muffle the noise! The goblin language might be unfamiliar, but their method of enchanting is far too primitive.¡± She chuckled wryly. ¡°As expected of monsters. What time do they have for academic pursuits when they spend their days lusting after slaughter?¡± That sounded hella rude, but Div didn¡¯t so much as twitch. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to help out,¡± I told her, ¡°but you did anyway. Thank you.¡± Div simply shrugged. The Wood Elf scribbled some more at a frantic pace. ¡°If I put this here . . . and here. Oops! A trap rune. How nasty. Then, what about this?¡± After a few more minutes, she was ready to commence. ¡°This should do the trick,¡± she said and scrawled with chalk on Nana¡¯s pillory. She added a few lines that extended to the chains and concluded the enchantments by placing her hand on the construct. The sigils glowed blue with the addition of her magic energy. ¡°You may free yourself now,¡± she told Nana. I suppressed the urge to clap. My near-death experiences in Vizhima had granted me a pretty uncharitable view of specialists since they rarely did anything as flashy as rankers. Sure, Liliana back in Skeelie would never go hungry with her Merchant class, but it still rocked to see specialists outperform rankers on the field. Nana flexed her arms and shattered the pillory, dropping to the floor. She grinned as access to her stats, inventory, and techniques all returned. ¡°Not bad¡ª¡± A high-pitched whine emerged from the wood shards, cutting her off and splitting our eardrums. The whine reverberated all through the chamber and the space beyond. It bounded off the walls, louder than any siren, and echoed far off within the cave. The Wood Elf¡¯s illusion face took on an ashen hue as the deafening noises reached a crescendo. ¡°I don¡¯t understand . . .¡± she stammered. The alarm spell ended. From beyond the chamber, fresh noises, capable of knocking terror into old bones, reached my ears. One was a goblin horn, a sound that I recognized from past encounters. It boomed deep within the recesses of the earth, alerting all nearby goblins to the state of affairs. The other began like a tumult, rolling downhill: the promise of slaughter to come. The shrill cries of a thousand waking goblins reached us from across the doorway, seeking blood.