ã€ŠThe Dark Otherworldsã€‹


 Prologue

    He was in the middle of the town square when he looked up at the sky. It was as dark as the night. He stared at it, dumbstruck and confused, and looked down to observe the wooden roofs around him. They were lit up by sunlight as if everything were normal.

    In front of this otherworldly phenomenon he screamed. At that moment it was the only logical way for him to get anyone to notice him, to have noticed if something was wrong, and to help him. Villagers came and tried to restrain him, as he was flailing himself maniacally. The miners heard the blood-curdling shrieks and came rushing and they tried to figure out what to do with him. The last thing he saw before his vocal cords burst was shadows gliding downwards into the crowds.

    The village is in ruins. The midday sun hovers directly over the catastrophe. Flickering fires that are about to burn out show signs of a pitiful struggle against the dark force that descended upon the town.

    A silhouette of an old man appears on the horizon, shuffling towards the devastated town. It walks past the village¡¯s famed silver gate, which is left towering amongst the ruins., the old man can be seen holding a dusty notebook of some kind, jotting down his observations of the wreckages casually as he walks towards the town square. As it strolls closer, the illusion breaks and the hunched old man¡¯s face deforms into something completely alien and inhuman. It thinks out loud telepathically.

    They did a number on those villagers, hm?

    Talking to no one in particular, the creature-

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    I¡¯m talking to you, Diem. Are you going to explain why you are here, meddling with our world? Face it, everywhere you go, the Dark World follows-

    I prefer to call it the Otherworld. It¡¯s none of your business to ask my justifications for doing whatever I want to the universe.

    The creature smiles, its face wrinkling into a monstrous uncanny drawing. Even the dying flames seem to naturally lean away as a result. It scribbles down notes while studying the nearby crumbling stone church.

    May I introduce myself, Diem? You¡¯re probably going to kill me anyway. Might as well make myself a named character in the story, right?

    You are Sinner the Wandering. You are here to witness this event because¡­ yes, you will record the story. I¡¯ll let you live.

    Sinner sits and begins to review his writings. If that is what you want, Diem, then I shall do the task. May I ask where our protagonists get introduced?

    If you have any sense of direction around this area, I¡¯m sure you can find it. It will start in Eldenhaven in two days. Be discreet.

    Sinner nods and produces a handful of milky white orbs that seem to glow. They quickly melt together to form a kitty that seems to fall apart at any moment. It bounces around in Sinner¡¯s bony and shriveled hands, apparently grateful for the opportunity to freely move about. Sinner telepathically gives it instructions, and it floats away into the clouds, toward the little town of Eldenhaven.

    The first of its kind.

    The first for your world.

    People will always be second-best. Men are easy to give up once they learn that.

    Then I suppose they will never learn. I¡¯ll see ya later, Sinner.

 Chapter 1: Little Town of Eldenhaven

    Heya, I¡¯m Diem! My full name is Diem Sephyrsan. I am here to tell a story. If you have read the synopsis, you already know all that you need to know, so may I begin then?

    First, I have created multiple plotlines in the same world to merge these stories into one central plot. That prompts the question; which setting will receive the grace of being the starting location for our protagonists?

    I¡¯ll tell you. Or just read the chapter title.

    Enter Durand! How¡¯s it going? Wanna say something? Because we ain¡¯t got all day!

    ¡°Another land, another crowd of random faces¡­¡±

    Next, we have Cenvin, a complete failure of a character, If I do say so myself. What do you have to say(make it quick)?

    ¡°Bro I¡¯m just trying to get some sleep.¡±

    Finally, Lenny the honey badger! Squawk!

    ¡°Help! In a small corner, I weep-¡±

    Okay, you know what? Get outta here, I¡¯m giving you detention(¡°Oh not again¡±).

    Dearest reader, you saw nothing. Let us begin.

    The little town of Eldenhaven lies in the middle of nowhere in a secluded forest. Miles away from the Capital of the Kingdom of Italica, this remote town specializes in trading. Their main source of trade is minerals which come from the nearby town of Silvergate. They then ship it to much larger towns away. Unlike the miners of Silvergate, the people of Eldenhaven do not need to embark on dangerous expeditions in hills with meager rewards. Instead, all they have to do is essentially run what is now called a delivery service. This gives the townspeople more time to work on their quality-of-life aspect.

    However, recent rumors have spread that trade with Silvergate has been placed on hold. Whispers have been saying: that the mayor is somehow responsible for this. The townspeople worry for the future.

    This is the state of the town when our adventurers arrive. Durand, a human ranger, spotted the walls as he was scouting ahead. Finally glad to have someone to ask for directions in this forest, he goes back and tells his fellow human companions, Cenvin and Brett, to pack up camp.

    ¡°About time,¡± Cenvin muttered as he trudged behind Durand and Brett through the vegetation, ¡°thought you left without us.¡±

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    ¡°You¡¯re part of the plot, don¡¯t worry,¡± Durand replies without looking back. ¡°I would love to leave you, but you have plot armor so Diem¡¯s gonna find a way to have you back anyway.¡±

    ¡°You and your stupid ¡®meta¡¯ prophecies,¡± Cenvin grumbled.

    ¡°Sir, I still want to thank you for what you did back then-¡± Brett begins talking. Durand quickly interrupts.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, man. You¡¯re our squire now. Forget about your past.¡±

    Brett, a ginger-haired teenager, swells at his eyes and nods.

    The adventurers walk through the town gate. Several people study them curiously as they walk by.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go find some loungings,¡± Cenvin quickly volunteers.

    ¡°Then I shall come with you, sir,¡± Brett follows. They wander towards the local tavern, the Whispering Wyrm, leaving Durand to find some quests for them to earn some change.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ retrieve herbs for 20 gp¡­ head to Silvergate and negotiate a new trading route for 50 gp¡­ and help miners mine ores for the smithy- there¡¯s a smithy?¡±

    Without thinking twice, he tears off the mining quest and strolls towards the smithy, coincidentally seated next to the Whispering Wyrm. It¡¯s somewhat shabby and lame. However, the bulky blacksmith seems friendly and enthusiastic.

    ¡°Welcome to the Forge n Tankard, name''s Gregorius. What can I do for ya on this pretty day?¡± he asks.

    ¡°Name¡¯s Durand, I''m looking to see what wares or services you got for sale, I took a job collecting ores from the mines so I thought I would see if I could find something that could be useful."

    ¡°Ah very well then! We certainly have a few mining tools that may fit your needs! Although I do recommend heading to Silvergate if you want to mine. We¡¯re a tradin¡¯ town.¡±

    Cenvin, who also strolled over, suddenly asks, ¡°I see that you have some pretty average and common stuff. Do you have any unlisted items?¡±

    Gregorius¡¯s attitude instantly changes and replies, ¡°Perhaps you should come back tomorrow.¡± He then ushers Cenvin and Durand out. The latter seems furious.

    ¡°Knucklehead, I was about to buy some tools so we can work and get money! What¡¯s your problem?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m SORRY for trying to possibly unlock some special items!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not even out of exposition yet, calm down! There¡¯s no way we¡¯ll get special items from this dude!¡±

    The sky behind them begins to flicker like a broken lamp. Changing and swapping randomly between black and blue. The two clowns stare at the phenomenon, confused.

    ¡°Hey¡­ why don¡¯t the buildings change? They¡¯re still covered in sunlight despite the sky being¡­ dark?¡± Cenvin demands, overwhelmed by the spectacle. ¡°Man, this game sucks!¡±

    You shut that mouth of yours, Cenvin. It will all make sense. Just wait you asshole.

    Out of nowhere, Brett¡¯s scream pierces the stiff air and he comes running out of the tavern, face bloodied and a crazed and haunted look in his eyes. Durand immediately starts sprinting towards the tavern, leaving Cenvin in the literal dust. He¡¯s still overwhelmed.

    As Durand rushes to the entrance of the Wyrm, he sees a nightmarish extravaganza. A gruesome sight, people ripping each other apart, as if driven insane by some kind of means. Bones and skin tearing apart at one another. Durand can hear the local militia in the distance, coming swiftly to address the situation.

    Out of complete nowhere, a macabre wraith of shadows instantly materializes in front of him, perfectly in sync with the flickering of the sky. When the heavens return to blue, the wraith disappears, revealing a crazed maniac behind it who was charging at him. Too late to dodge, Durand takes a deep swipe to the shoulders.

    ¡°Oof!¡± He winces, surprised at the seemingly superhuman strength of the man. He draws his longsword and begins dueling the man in fast-paced melee combat, his superhuman attributes matched with Durand¡¯s skill and weaponry. The man charges, roaring as he once again attacks-

    And that will be the end of the chapter. Anyway, I¡¯m gonna leave you hanging on this cliff right here! Stay well, and stay conscious!

 Chapter 2: Christmas Come Early

    We¡¯ll skip straight to the point.

    The man charges, roaring as he once again swipes his nails towards Durand. Durand blocks it. The maniac then combos attack after attack, aggressively pushing upon Durand. Durand takes step after step backward. As Durand is about to be cornered, the ranger smiles a nasty grin and instantly pierces the man¡¯s body with several organic needles sprouting from the magic he had cast going into the fight.

    The door to the tavern slams down in sync with the body striking the floor. Armed men pour through into the tavern, forming a protective formation blocking the exit. Spears stick in through the open windows, ready to stab anyone who tries going through.

    ¡°It¡¯s the militia!¡± Cenvin cries in expository dialogue. ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡±

    ¡°They can take care of this unholy situation,¡± Brett suggests. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Durand and Cenvin nod their head in agreement.

    As they turn to leave, the same phenomenon occurs again and the wraith reaches out to them. As its hand is about to touch Brett, it disappears, leaving everything normal except for the fact that instead of humans in the building, they find themselves surrounded by gruesome monsters, baring their teeth at helpless prey.

    Cenvin¡¯s fight-or-flight kicks in, and as he prepares to risk the spears by jumping the window, Durand¡¯s determined strike splits the aberration¡¯s head in half. The brains splat across a terrified Brett¡¯s face and clothes.

    As the adrenaline depletes, so does the power of the illusion. Every monster reverts to human beings. Durand and Brett stare in horror at the deed that was just committed to another human.

    By now, the militia had fallen into complete chaos with the maniacs, and Cenvin found himself able to stroll back without drawing notice of the brawlers. The three companions stumble out of the Whispering Wyrm, recovering from shock. Brett was the first to speak.

    ¡°Let it be known that us¡­ we¡­ had never committed manslaughter to¡­ Nobody will know¡­¡±

    Cenvin nods his head and adds, ¡°We will walk away from this place like we have seen nothing that might as well completely shatter our minds¡­¡±

    Cenvin begins to walk away, and pauses, to his annoyance, to find Durand and Brett are following him.

    ¡°Go a different direction please.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Do you eat Spectralroots?¡±

    They turn to face the stranger, a blue-haired woman with similar features to Brett. She wears a cloak decent-looking enough that tell them that she is in an important position of power, and holds a cane like a sword in its sheath.

    ¡°Bright. Mayor Thalia Bright. Pleased to meet you,¡± she does a polite bow and nothing else, establishing herself as the authority in this situation. She looks sadly at the tavern, now catching fire.

    ¡°Pitiful tragedy that our town was hit out of all remote settlements in the world. May I ask if you perceive the sky as dark while the surface is under sunlight?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s trippy,¡± Durand replies, ¡°what¡¯s the point you¡¯re trying to get across?¡±

    ¡°If I have glasses or monocle right now, I would take it off and wipe it disturbingly so that it makes you feel I¡¯m about to announce some sort of tragedy,¡± she pulls out a notebook and reads it, ¡°but I¡¯ll do this instead. Much more practical.¡±

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    ¡°It¡¯s not practical if you don¡¯t tell us what¡¯s going on!¡± Cenvin blurts out. Brett shoots him a confused look.

    ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± He asks.

    ¡°My friends(except you, Brett), you are Gifted. Destined to fight against corruption.¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°Are we supposed to act like you just revealed some huge lore? Is this our origin story?¡± Durand remarks.

    ¡°Follow me. We¡¯ll talk in my office,¡± Thalia replies.

    Turning her back on the burning tavern, Thalia leads Durand and company to her residence not that far away. They walk into her office and sit, patiently waiting for Thalia to speak. From the window, they can see the burning tavern.

    Thalia begins to explain. ¡°You¡¯ve seen that wraith, their kind is no good. That is why there are people like us who have fascinating abilities that enable us to achieve things no other mortal can.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s your ability? You have one too then, right?¡±

    ¡°My ability is Memory Link. It doesn¡¯t assist me in fights except for allowing me to be proficient with weapons, but I can also use it to help speed up the gift-developing process. I¡¯ll be using it to help you fully develop your gift.¡±

    ¡°Oh boy, here¡¯s the supernatural help part of the hero¡¯s journey,¡± Durand whispers to Cenvin, ¡°We¡¯re rushing this plot quite fast.¡±

    Cenvin raises his hand to ask a question.

    ¡°Are there any drawbacks or side effects that can also come? Because this seems too nice and simple.¡±

    ¡°Your very personality might change, depending on some unknown factor associated with your ability. Sorry, that¡¯s all we know.¡±

    ¡°I noticed how you said ¡®we¡¯ there. Who¡¯s your associates?¡±

    ¡°I apologize. That is confidential.¡±

    Durand, who had been thinking carefully, asks, ¡°What¡¯s in it for us? We¡¯re not going to save the world for nothing.¡±

    ¡°Good question,¡± Thalia replies. ¡°If left alone, the Kingdom of Italica will devolve into a living hell. It will be converted to another Realm of Ruin. As a ranger, I¡¯m sure you must hate to see your precious Earth corrupted and dead. ¡±

    ¡°Ya got me, it¡¯s in character for me to agree,¡± satisfied, Durand steps back. He elbows Cenvin.

    ¡°You accept, or you¡¯ll get the fleas,¡± he whispers to him. Cenvin shudders. He nods rapidly.

    ¡°Right, so what now?¡± Cenvin asks as the tavern collapses in the window. Shadows fly out from the burning wreckage into the woods.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Just sit still and let me do my thing,¡± Thalia says as she makes herself comfortable on a couch. She closes her eyes. For a moment, she seems to be sleeping. Durand and Cenvin receive Thalia¡¯s memories of developing her gift, speeding up the development of their gift tenfold. A moment passes in silence and she opens her eyes.

    ¡°You have your gift now.¡±

    Cenvin seems unimpressed.

    ¡°So¡­ all you did was to make the sky stop flickering? It¡¯s just black now,¡± He tries to make sense of the sight of the Earth being illuminated by sunlight under a night sky.

    ¡°In due time you will get an ability,¡± Thalia says. ¡°Now, if you will be polite and get Brett in here¡­¡±

    By the time Durand and Cenvin are summoned back again, what¡¯s left of the tavern has completely burned away. The sky seems denser than ever; night falls. The townspeople sit in the town square in silence to mourn for their losses. The two adventurers sit down on their respective chairs, their cheerful mood dimmed by the sadness outside.

    There is a sense of urgency in Thalia¡¯s voice. Brett¡¯s expression is neutral.

    ¡°Now all you have to do is find your ability. That will be up to you, every single person''s ability is different. They range in purpose and power, and most peoples'' abilities come from interaction with the Otherworld. Therefore, I recommend you head to Silvergate. I have not told the townspeople yet, but Silvergate has been attacked and overrun by a horde of Vulture Spectrals. It will be dangerous, but it¡¯s there where you will probably receive your ability. I have horses prepared. The road leads directly to it, you won¡¯t get lost. The forest is dangerous. If you come across any strangers, do not trust them. They could be from Starmetal.¡±

    A scream can be heard from the town square. Thalia nods to Brett and shoves them into the doorway.

    A slimy monster made of bloody human limbs tears through the wall and crashes into Thalia¡¯s thin body. Debris flies everywhere, obscuring vision. Cenvin shrieks in surprise and Brett drags him out of the town hall.

    A mangled body falls from the sky and splats onto the ground next to Durand¡¯s foot. Brett spots the horses waiting beside the gate and rushes towards it.

    ¡°Brett! Get Cenvin on the horse! He¡¯s fallen into a coma!¡± Durand shouts while drawing his sword, noticing a few wraiths gliding towards them.

    Durand grunts as his mind falls under attack. The town hall nearby collapses to the ground.

    The wraiths close in. Durand swings at one of them, striking but not killing it. As he is about to succumb to the mental pressure, Brett charges into one of them on a horse, giving Durand ample time to get on his horse and escape. They ride out of the gate as fire begins to flare behind them. Spectrals can be seen lifting bodies into the air. The riders rush down the road and leave the burning town behind them. Soon, the only thing visible is the tip of the fires and a prickling warmth from the distance.

    Someone should keep track of the death count. Everyone in the town dies(supposedly), so with Eldenhaven¡¯s population of 129, we have 129 deaths. Write that down! I sure hope the number doesn¡¯t drastically increase later!

 Chapter 3: Lore Dumpling

    So far, our adventurers have escaped Eldenhaven! However, the tutorial is not over because every tutorial needs a final boss! I wonder what they will encounter once they reach Silvergate, but they are fatigued and need to rest for now.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to Silvergate,¡± Brett says as they gallop, ¡°Thalia told me it¡¯s dangerous, full of perils.¡±

    Cenvin, who had been woken by Durand shortly after they made their escape, chuckles and responds with a threatening tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re coming with us, bud. Deal with-¡±

    Durand swings at Cenvin with his longsword but misses.

    ¡°Brett is a friend! He is under my care, so you will consider his opinion,¡± he whispers to Cenvin, ¡°you don¡¯t want his loyalty to wane, eh? If you

    don¡¯t mess with him, he won¡¯t backstab us. NPC behavior.¡±

    Cenvin nods in understanding. Durand turns to a confused Brett.

    ¡°You can stay outside the gate, watch our stuff,¡± he assures. Brett smiles and nods.

    After a while, the weary riders dismount their horses and begin to set up camp. Brett offers to make a campfire while Durand and Cenvin go into the woods to hunt for something to eat. Cenvin initially doubted going against Thalia¡¯s advice and trekking into the woods, but his hunger and

    Durand eventually persuaded him.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine,¡± Durand says as they shuffle through the dense vegetation. Cenvin seems to be nervous.

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re going to stay next to me the whole time and we will not get lost.¡±

    Durand¡¯s voice loses its body as trees cover the moonlight, ¡°Don¡¯t kill yourself over it! Just get some squirrels and we¡¯ll have dinner.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Cenvin whispers as he tries to find his way with his hands, ¡°Durand? You still there?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Be quiet, you¡¯re going to scare all the animals away.¡±

    They stealthily find their way through the woods. After a few minutes, Cenvin asks again, ¡°Still there?¡±

    ¡°Of course, now shut up.¡±

    ¡°Hey Diem, can I have some night vision?¡± Nearby, Durand scoffs.

    No lol.

    ¡°You have to ask God to give you cheats?¡±

    ¡°Shut up, it was worth a try.¡±

    Durand starts shouting but his voice gets muffled. Sounds of a struggle can be heard, but it slowly melts into the deadly darkness of the forest.

    ¡°Durand?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Durand says as he attempts to stand up, ¡°Something attacked me, but it was feeble.¡±

    Lighting a torch, Cenvin casts his gaze on a black bunny, almost blending in with the dark environment. Durand kicks it into a boulder. It bounces off the rock and leaves a slimy dark residue on it.

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    ¡°I don¡¯t think I wanna eat this thing,¡± Cenvin comments.

    Abruptly, Durand shouts, ¡°Behind you!¡±

    Cenvin hastily turns around, swinging his torch and catching another bunny in midair. It falls to the ground and he finishes it off with a shortsword. Even Durand by now seems fearful.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get outta here!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t agree more,¡± Durand says as he takes off in the general direction of the road. Cenvin follows swiftly.

    So, Brett, how¡¯s your day been?

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t be worse, thanks to you,¡± Brett mutters. ¡°When are they coming back anyway? It¡¯s been three hours.¡±

    He points at the turkey roasting on the cackling campfire.

    ¡°You put that there, didn¡¯t you? I blink and boom, miraculous turkey. They don¡¯t even exist in these parts.¡±

    Woah, NPCs had never talked back to me before. Gotta fix that.

    ¡°Wow! A turkey just launched itself onto a stick and roasted itself! How nice of it to provide us with dinner!¡± Brett exclaims.

    That¡¯s much better!

    ¡°BRETT!¡± A voice as hoarse as sandpaper blows through the air. Durand and Cenvin come crashing out of the woods, breathless. Cenvin seems particularly furious.

    ¡°Thank the lords! You know what we had to evade in there? Wraiths! Spectrals! Dark, shadowy cursed bunnies! WE KILLED SO MANY OF THEM MY CLOTHES ARE INK-BLACK! TALK ABOUT HYGIENE!¡±

    ¡°Turkey!¡± Pushing the fuming Cenvin aside, Durand walks next to the fire and sits, reaching out his hand for warmth. He gives Brett a proud look. ¡°Did you catch it while we¡¯re gone?¡±

    Staring into the abyss, Brett nodded. He makes eye contact with me. Good job!

    ¡°What a squire!¡± Durand laughs. ¡°Better than Cenvin! Hey, did you hear that? An NPC¡¯s better than you!¡±

    ¡°Wait until I level up,¡± Cenvin groans, messaging his cramped legs. He looks at the roasting meat, the smell of food coming into his nostrils.

    ¡°This turkey is cooked now, right?¡± He tears a piece directly from the body and begins chewing. ¡°Could use more salt, but I¡¯ll take anything.¡±

    Without another word, the three begin a very late dinner. They eat ravenously as if the unseasoned, barely cooked meat were some dish from a king¡¯s feast. It¡¯s making me hungry. Hold on, be right back¡­

    ¡­made myself some instant noodles! Anyway, have they finished their meal yet? They¡¯re talking about something; let¡¯s zoom in.

    Bellies full, Cenvin lies in a half-sleeping position, picking his teeth with a sharp bone. He had just stabbed his tongue with it accidentally and wasn¡¯t in a sociable mood. Durand sneaks a peek at him, which he caught.

    ¡°Did you always tend to go into comas?¡±

    ¡°Uh, no? It¡¯s very weird to me too.¡±

    Brett furrows his brows.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a dormant disease in you that has finally woken?¡± He offers. Cenvin waves that thought away.

    ¡°Nah, that¡¯s stupid!¡±

    ¡°Or perchance-¡± Brett started again, but Cenvin cut him off.

    ¡°Why is this all about me? You never told us your backstory, why don¡¯t you do it now? We can¡¯t fully trust you unless you talk, eh?¡±

    Brett sighs and cups his head. Durand did not react. He wants to hear it too. Finally, under the silent peer pressure, Brett bends, albeit a bit unwillingly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ I was born in Italica City. Two days after my birth, my family was cut off from each other. I lost both of my parents and my older sister. Why? You know, the war and everything. My aunt carried me out of the city. We lived on the outskirts of a small town and worked random labor for a living. Everything was going great, and then it became hell.

    ¡°Invisible monsters. I woke up one day to my aunt clawing at a bush outside. She had been driven crazy and she threw herself to poison ivy. It was a special kind, a kind that decayed your flesh as fast as a spider would crawl on its webs. I ran through town, seeing people getting smashed by an invisible force, witnessing a child eat his father alive- he was dead too, just some cruel entity playing a puppet.

    ¡°I escaped. I went for over a month without food. I was really at the end of my rope when you kind sirs found me. I can¡¯t be more grateful,¡± he bows.

    ¡°Interesting, about the same of what you told me,¡± Durand observes, ¡°but one new thing. You never told me you had a sister.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know I had an older sister!¡± replied Brett. ¡°She told me herself, or something like that. It just appeared in my mind.¡±

    Cenvin claps his hands.

    ¡°Thalia Bright!¡±

    Brett nods sheepishly. Cenvin, initially happy for Brett, then remembers what they saw happened to her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry that you didn¡¯t have a longer reunion.¡±

    Brett laughs hoarsely.

    ¡°Can we just sleep now?¡±

    Cenvin and Durand nod and begin making a comfortable place to sleep. They soon fall into a deep slumber. Actually, I think Cenvin fell into a coma.

    Cough, cough, ahem.

    TO CENVIN - THE ABILITY OF POCKET DIMENSION, YOU CAN ENTER A POCKET DIMENSION AND TRANSPORT ANYTHING INTO IT. THE ONLY LIMIT IS YOUR MENTAL ENDURANCE.

    TO DURAND - THE ABILITY TO CHANGE STATES OF MATTER, YOU CAN CHANGE ANY MATTER INTO THREE STATES: GAS, LIQUID,

    AND SOLID. IT IS NOT PERMANENT AND YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE A SMALL AREA OF SPACE.

    TO LENNY - oh wait I forgot, he¡¯s not here yet. Oh well!

    The next day, an arching silver gate rises amongst the trees.

 Chapter 4: Little Town of Silvergate

    What a pleasant morning! That is, if you ignore the fact that the sky is pitch black yet everything is still sunlit. Weird phenomenon that didn¡¯t exist pre-Eldenhaven, but guess we gotta work with what we have. Flowers blooming, birds chirping, leaves rustling- and there are our adventurers! Cenvin is poking his head into a mysterious purple portal, which is his pocket dimension thingy. Durand is busy turning a pebble into air, good for him too! Brett is watching closely with the wonder of a child.

    ¡°Haha! This is great! I can put anything inside!¡± Cenvin yells to nobody in particular.

    ¡°Yes, yes, but you can¡¯t turn-¡±

    ¡°Is it possible to put a person inside?¡±

    Durand stops and looks at him wearily.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to test that out right now.¡±

    Cenvin shrugs his shoulders, picks up his backpack, and heaves it onto his shoulders with a grunt.

    ¡°Fair. Let¡¯s get to Silvergate then. I can see its gate right over the trees.¡±

    Decades ago, Silvergate was the center of a major colonization attempt by Italica. The royalty endeavored to settle the mysterious forests of the West Coast. They poured streams of gold and silver into the cause but due to various reasons such as poor planning, stupid officials, and minor interference from a certain all-powerful being, things eventually didn¡¯t work out.

    An arching gate made of pure silver was established at Silvergate to mark its significance. Now, it stands lonely and depressed, as a symbol of the past authorities¡¯ failures and dullness. If it was not for the town¡¯s name, one could not even tell that the muddied and mossy gate is silver.

    Pessimistic description aside, our adventurers are standing directly in front of it. Cenvin draws his knife and slices some vines dropping from the arch. He examines the shining metal underneath.

    ¡°Silver?¡± he asks to no one in particular suspiciously. Durand rolls his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just stay here and make a little nice camp,¡± Brett says timidly, staring into the town behind the gate nervously. Cenvin begins chipping away at the gate with his knife and gathering the silver flakes. Durand helped Brett gather their packs as he labored. At last, Durand pulls Cenvin away from the gate and into the town, despite his complaints.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be that desperate for money.¡±

    ¡°Money is money!¡±

    They both pause at the sight of the wrecked, burning Silvergate. Houses are toppled, shrines are demolished, and everything is on fire with a layer of blood covering everything. Durand walks into a clearing that seems to use to be the town square.

    ¡°Tutorial boss fight?¡±

    Meanwhile, Cenvin, who was absentmindedly looking around, points towards a building that hasn¡¯t been destroyed yet. It is covered with blood, yes, but the structure seems to hold.

    ¡°Let¡¯s check that out. Maybe there are survivors.¡±

    ¡°Survivors that you can loot?¡± Durand side-eyes Cenvin. He shakes his head hastily.

    ¡°Well, what I am looking for is monsters that we can fight,¡± Durand comments. ¡°We need to get powerful to fight this Otherworld thing.

    They enter the door standing ajar. The house looks as if a massacre has happened. Rotting intestines line the floor and pieces of bone and stains of blood paint the walls. A staircase leads down to a small basement, too dark to see anything inside. A massive grotesque blob of human parts similar to the one back at Eldenhaven lays dormant. Durand lets out a chuckle and nods to Cenvin.

    ¡°What did I say? Experience, here we come!¡±

    He draws his longsword and slashes the amalgamation with quick attacks. Cenvin pounces onto it and stabs it with his shortsword while screaming at the top of his lungs. The amalgamation took the hits like a lifeless rock without reactions, movement, or sound.

    Then, at lightning speed, the amalgamation moves at a velocity that does not correspond with its size. In the blink of an eye, Cenvin is flung through the walls and into another building, while Durand is knocked onto the floor, a rib cracked and the air slammed out of his body. He gasps and stands up to face a still amalgamation. Dormant as a corpse. He looks to see Cenvin embedded into a wall and in a coma. He sighs.

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    Looking at the basement entrance, he realizes the amalgamation is just above it. He concentrates his mind to focus on his ability and the floor. He evaporates the ground beneath the amalgamation, sending it crashing down into the basement. Solidifying the ground, he then turns the air in the entrance solid, effectively sealing the amalgamation inside for a short while with an invisible barrier.

    Stumbling out of the house and catching his breath, Durand notices a hunched old man holding a notebook. He could not make out the old man¡¯s face through the dust and smoke.

    He ran towards the figure, ¡°Who are you? What¡¯s your name? What are you doing in such a dangerous place?¡±

    He paused as the old man raised his face. An inhuman, alien one. Durand gasped as the creature resembling an old man pointed towards its mouth and shook its head. It stretches out its bony arms, holding a notebook and a quill.

    ¡°You¡¯re mute and deaf? I guess you want me to communicate through this notebook then,¡± Durand says. ¡°Of course.¡±

    He takes the notebook, but before he can write anything a deathly shrill of a dying man pierced the air. Cenvin, rising from some rubble, mouthed to Durand; Brett.

    They dash to the gate, and where Brett and their stuff is stands a few malnourished and tired villagers, holding large leather sacks of what appears to be their belongings. They fall to their knees as soon as they see Durand and Cenvin.

    ¡°Sirs! Please help us!¡± The leader croaks. ¡°We are villagers from Eldenhaven, which has been attacked by unholy things invisible to the eye! We escaped with our lives, but we didn¡¯t dare go into the forest and we ran out of rations!¡±

    ¡°Well, right where you are was also where our stuff was, so unless anyone came before you you should know what happened to our belongings,¡± Cenvin says. The leader shakes his head.

    Durand charges and grabs the leader by the collar, roaring furiously, ¡°WHERE IS BRETT? GINGER-HAIRED TEENAGER? WHERE IS HE?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re just refugees, stop!¡± Cenvin attempts to pull Durand back but stops.

    The moment Durand dashed, the refugees behind the leader had transformed into something skeletal yet menacing. The tall, thin, and pale creatures brandish spikes that protrude out of their arms, ready to attack. Durand groans and steps back, clutching a wound in his abdomen where the leader had stabbed him. Quickly pulling himself together, Cenvin draws his crossbow. Durand straightens and draws his longsword.

    A twink of string and a creature falls over, a crossbow bolt in its head. Weaving into the fray, Durand takes on four at once, defending himself from the barrage of attacks the creatures are hailing. Cenvin reloads his crossbow as fast as he could.

    ¡°Ah! Too slow!¡±

    He drops his crossbow and goes in to relieve Durand of the pressure with a pair of shortswords. The blades clink against the bony spikes. Despite the numbers advantage, the creatures seem to be wary of Durand and Cenvin¡¯s attacks, focusing more on defending rather than attacking. Then, a spark hit Cenvin¡¯s mind.

    Open up a portal on the ground, Cenvin throws one of the creatures into his pocket dimension, effectively putting it out of the battle. Inside, the creature seems to be frozen in time, unmoving and dead.

    ¡°Keep doing that! That¡¯s overpowered!¡± Durand yells as he kicks one of the creatures to the floor and decapitates it. The battle is now a four-on-two.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Cenvin yells back. He proceeds to throw two more into the pocket dimension, and they kill off the remaining two creatures easily. Cenvin and Durand fall in exhaustion before Durand jumps back up.

    ¡°We have to find Brett!¡±

    One of the leather bags left by the creatures begins to wiggle. Durand and Cenvin quickly tear a hole in it with a dagger and Brett falls out. They didn¡¯t see anything bad at first, but as they turned him over they noticed a large stab wound in his back.

    ¡°He¡¯s lost blood, that wound¡¯s too big to patch up quickly,¡± Durand mutters. He desperately scrambles in his pockets for anything that can help him. Grief-stricken, he lies beside Brett, who is unconscious and barely breathing.

    ¡°I¡¯ll freeze him with my ability,¡± Cenvin offers. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be able to bleed out in there.¡±

    Durand looks at him and looks at Brett.

    ¡°Hurry!¡±

    Cenvin opens a portal beneath Brett, letting him fall into the pocket dimension.

    ¡°The moment he comes out, he¡¯ll be in critical condition,¡± Cenvin says. ¡°But he¡¯s safe for now.¡±

    Durand nods grimly and turns towards the gate, where the deformed old man stands. It is holding the notebook. It points toward the corpses of the creatures and letters fly out from the notebook like butterflies, and eventually, they form a coherent word in midair.

    S H A P E R S

    ¡°Shapers? These things?¡±

    Then pointing to himself, the old man blows a few more letters into the air. They flap chaotically but they eventually settle in the air.

    W A N D E R I N G

    ¡°Wandering? You¡¯re from the Otherworld?¡±

    The Wandering nods. It then points towards Cenvin and the flying letters yell at each other, trying to follow a telepathic instruction to form another formation. They squeeze and squirm, changing into different letters while a few more letters join them.

    I T A L I C A C I T Y

    ¡°Oh! You want us to go there! Why?¡± Cenvin pipes up.

    ¡°Is there someone there who can help us heal Brett?¡± Durand asks. The Wandering nods in affirmation. Then, it conjures a glowing white mist out of its hand. The mist seems to have a mind of its own, and it comes together to form a milky and pearly cat, shedding pure snowy light all around its body. Cenvin and Durand look at the radiant creature, jaws dropped in awe.

    The cat looks disdainfully at the Wandering, and the back half of its slim body evaporates into little glowing particles, brightly contrasted with the burning backdrop of Silvergate. The particles flick the wobbling letters away and it arranges to form a sentence.

    MY NAME IS NYRI.

    The particles quickly swap positions to form a new message.

    I WILL BE YOUR GUIDE.

    Nyri¡¯s face, which has remained solid, purrs gently and seemingly smiles at Durand. The particles fly back together to form a solid body like completing a jigsaw. It gracefully treads towards the adventurers, and Durand picks it up. Cenvin watches it with caution and keeps a distance away.

    Nyri¡¯s tail shifts into an arrow, pointing southwest at a road leading away from Silvergate.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, then,¡± Durand says. Cenvin¡¯s nostrils constrict from the smell of barbecue.

    ¡°I agree. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    As they begin marching, Cenvin looks back at the silver gate. The Wandering is gone.

    How many people died in this chapter? Hm, say Silvergate has about 312 residents and then the six shapers, it means 318 deaths, which adds to the death total of¡­ 447 deaths! Not too shabby! Wait, do we count Otherworld creatures?

 One Shot: Therapy Amongst Friends

    Lumbering through the trees, the large shape of the monster circles around Durand and Cenvin. Nyri, who is clinging on Durand¡¯s shoulders, doesn¡¯t seem remotely fazed. The adventurers can just barely make out the monster¡¯s silhouette under the moonlit sky and the density of the trees. Durand is crossing his fingers, silently whispering, plot armor plot armor plot armor plot armor plot armor plot armor plot armor¡­

    ¡°ENOUGH!¡±

    Cenvin loads his crossbow and shoots it at the monster. The bolt flies true and finds its mark. Cenvin cheers as the shape dissipates into a harmless mist like a mirage. Trodding ahead of him, Durand and Nyri curiously investigate the creature¡¯s remains, a fistful of solid mist. It feels like water but yet solid, despite that it isn¡¯t cold like ice. Gathering the mist into a small pouch, Durand sits down on a boulder with a sigh. He waves the pouch casually at Cenvin.

    ¡°Free money. We¡¯ll sell it at the next town we see, or in Italica City.¡±

    ¡°Mhm,¡± Cenvin replies as he gathers some sticks in the dirt and creates a small campfire. Soon, fire erupts from the bunch, its introverted cackling magnified ten times by the quiet forest.

    ¡°You know, now that we have the time to talk about it for once,¡± Durand prompts, ¡°I just want to clarify it. It was wholly my fault for Brett. I shouldn¡¯t have let him stay outside.¡±

    ¡°Told ya,¡± Cenvin replies, ¡°but you know?¡± He places his hand on Durand¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There was nothing you could''ve done about it. We were fighting freaky-ass amalgamations, getting into stuff we probably shouldn¡¯t have gotten into, but who cares? We gon¡¯ go to Italica City, heal Brett, everything¡¯s gonna be rosy. ¡®K?¡±

    Nyri places her glowing paw on Durand''s leg and purrs gently. Suddenly, her ears pike up. She dissolves into a veil of luminescent mist and charges into the deep forest. Durand and Cenvin look at her subsiding trail, and Durand pulls out a whetstone and his dagger. Cenvin watches as he works on his knife tirelessly.

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    ¡°Surely you have a knife that isn¡¯t dull enough for you to have to whet, this early into the campaign?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, this isn¡¯t a weapon of mine. It¡¯s a trinket, a part of my backstory,¡± Durand replies. ¡°Canonically, Durand-¡±

    ¡°Yeah yeah, we don¡¯t need to hear your backstory again.¡±

    Aw, but I was genuinely kind of invested!

    ¡°Diem, no one asked you to chip in.¡±

    Out of boredom, Cenvin draws a portal and looks into his pocket dimension, searching for Brett, frozen in time, his ginger hair more fiery-red than ever. Cenvin furrows his eyebrows in thought. In the distant woods, beams of light occasionally shoot up into the sky as if a light show is taking place. Eventually, it stops and re-appears at another wildly different location,  repeating the same performance.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to be real with you and Diem,¡± Cenvin pipes up, erasing the portal. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can make it to Italica City.¡±

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    Why is that?

    ¡°Almost every session, I¡¯ve gotten into a coma once. I swear it¡¯s getting worse. If I wasn¡¯t in a coma back at Silvergate, maybe I could have gotten to Brett in time and saved him. Damn! It¡¯s my fault!¡±

    ¡°Well, you can¡¯t control when you fall into a coma, can you? Blame destiny. Blame the higher power.¡±

    Hey!

    ¡°Damn!¡± Cenvin repeats.

    ¡°But anyways, Brett¡¯s your responsibility right now,¡± Durand shrugs. He blinks right in front of Cenvin, holding his special dagger to his throat.

    ¡°And you better be goddamn responsible for your responsibility.¡±

    Nyri peeks out from behind a bush, flashes red to the murderous smell in the air, and flies into the forest.

    Durand lets go of the terrified Cenvin and begins spreading his blanket. Cenvin mechanically copies him, nerves still shocked.

    A breeze carries a glimmering haze back to the makeshift camp. They form together into Nyri, who buries an inflated corpse of a newly killed bunny. She cautiously steals a peek at the adventurers, fast asleep. Amongst the forest, more freshly hunted corpses lay dormant, never able to move again. Some of them are amalgamations, wraiths, and spectrals. All moving life within a one-mile radius of the adventurers is wiped out.

    Nyri purrs contently and settles in for a beauty nap.

 Chapter 5: I Trained a Magical Liquid Cat

    The last chapter was a bit serious and tragic, so I want to change that in this one! Hopefully, Nyri will bring some poops and giggles to counter the stagnant, depressing mood our adventurers are currently in! Speaking of which, where is she?

    ¡°Shh!¡± Durand whispers to his water flask. The flask trembles in his hand.

    Trodding ahead on the dirt road is Cenvin. The sun is blocked by the eternally dark sky(although it still lights up the land) like a blanket made out of the death of space itself. A glimmering white light shoots out of Durand¡¯s flask into the air, creating a stark contrast with the inky backdrop. It splits into countless glowing orbs and those particles soar in circles around each other as if it¡¯s a planet system, with each particle drawing each other in with its gravity. They melt together to form a glowing white object in the shape of an intercontinental missile, shooting directly toward Cenvin at Mach speed.

    Before he can react, the missile is already up his nose. At the very last possible moment before impact, the missile turns into liquid, slamming Cenvin to the ground like a strong jet of water.

    Glittering and levitating, the liquids form together into the solid shape of Nyri, who gracefully steps onto the ground. Durand is bent over with laughter. Cenvin, completely dry, looks as if he just had a brush with death. Quickly, humiliation turns into anger.

    ¡°Stupid cat!¡± Cenvin yells.

    Pushing aside a still chuckling Durand, he draws his dagger and throws it at Nyri. She turns into her liquid form and the dagger goes through her like chopping water. She solidifies herself and shakes her head, as if disappointed at Cenvin. He gets pissed even more. He draws his shortswords and dashes for a series of quick attacks.

    ¡°Dumb,¡±

    Nyri dodges.

    ¡°Idiotic,¡±

    A shortsword misses its mark and embeds itself into the dirt. Cenvin screams in infuriating.

    ¡°ABSOLUTELY UNBALANCED,¡±

    His attack goes through Nyri, who had once again turned into liquid-

    ¡°DOGS ARE SO MUCH BETTER-¡±

    Nyri sniffs. She dodges Cenvin¡¯s next attack and evaporates. He looks around in confusion.

    ¡°She left! Gone!¡± Durand yells. ¡°Now where¡¯s our guide? How are we going to Italica City to save Brett?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t need her!¡± attests Cenvin.

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    A luminescent cloud begins forming around Cenvin¡¯s head. He begins yelling curses. Durand watches as the cloud turns translucent to near-solid, and then it hits him.

    ¡°Don¡¯t choke him!¡± he hurries to detach Nyri from Cenvins head. Cenvin gradually becomes silent and drops to his knees. Nyri reluctantly returns to her cat form under the pressure of Durand¡¯s chiding.

    Durand and Cenvin lay on the dirt, breathing heavily. Nyri looks at them both unimpressed. She meows and begins walking along the road.

    ¡°Wait, wait for us!¡± Durand catches his breath and stands up. Cenvin stares at the black veil overlaying the sky for a bit. Eventually, Durand hurries back to find he has entered yet another coma.

    At Nighttime, Nyri purrs and wakes up from her secluded bed of grass, a good distance from the still-sleeping Cenvin and Durand. She raises her tail and quietly steps into the nearby field of tall grass. Wading through the leaves and branches, silent as a¡­ cat.

    She halts. Concentrating, a small particle detaches from her tail, floating into the air, shedding light among the tall grass like a spotlight. It slowly dissipates into much smaller steamlike particles. These minuscule molecules fly north, fireflies dancing across the dark heavens. A few miles later, these particles stop on top of a hill and begin forming distinct shapes to the silhouette of an old man.

    Nyri, now somewhat noticeably smaller, stealthily skates back to her sleeping spot.

    ¡°I swear she¡¯s smaller!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s normal as always, friend. Good old Nyri.¡±

    ¡°Who knows what a magic sentient glowing cat that can vaporize herself can do?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to trust her? She¡¯s our guide. She can save Brett. Forgot?¡±

    ¡°What I mean is,¡± Cenvin breathes in and out, ¡°She isn¡¯t a stupid animal. She has intelligence. She can think for herself. She doesn¡¯t answer to us, she answers to that ugly old man, a Wandering, as it called itself.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s our supernatural help. It¡¯s an essential part of the hero¡¯s journey.¡±

    ¡°¡®Supernatural help¡¯ this, ¡®supernatural help¡¯ that, first you say it for Thalia, and now you repeat yourself for an Otherworld creature. Have you not seen what these things are capable of?¡±

    ¡°But-¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡±

    Cenvin and Durand stare each other down, teeth gritted, ready to battle. Nyri turns onto her back and purrs pitifully like a kitten, her clawless paw patting her smooth stomach. Durand steps back.

    ¡°Whether you want her out of the party or not, surely you still have the kindness to feed a living thing,¡± he says. ¡°As a ranger, it¡¯s my duty.¡±

    Cenvin groans.

    ¡°Fine. What does she eat anyway?¡± he looks curiously at the shriveling Nyri.

    Durand kneels and presents a handful of berries.

    ¡°Poor thing probably shrunk due to lack of nourishment. You eat these delicious berries, right?¡± Nyri shakes her head. Durand turns and searches in his backpack to extract a handful of dried fish. She looks away in disgust. Cenvin throws her a piece of chicken. She lets it land in the dirt. Instantly, the chicken gets pulled under the dirt by something, to Cenvin¡¯s horror.

    ¡°My chicken¡­¡± he mourns. ¡°Thanks a lot, cat.¡± he spits on the ground and goes away to look in his backpack.

    Nyri lets out a series of giggles(as close as possible to a human giggle) and jumps onto her feet. She strides triumphantly around Durand¡¯s scraps of food and kicks them into a patch of dirt, where something(a creature probably) drags them under. Cenvin watches, and then it clicks.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to friggin¡¯ eat!¡±

    Durand silently accepts the joke with a grin. Cenvin sits down on a comfy-looking patch of grass but then immediately leaps up as if burned, clutching his ripped pants and frantically looking for something to block his bottom with.

    Nyri meows apologetically and flies onto Durand¡¯s shoulder. She points her tail at a hidden trail away from the road concealed by massive shrubs.

    ¡°Shortcut?¡± Durand asks her. She affirms. ¡°Shortcut. Here we go!¡±

    The party then proceeds to get ambushed by a thousand massive tendrils sprouting from the ground and they all die a terrible death. Just kidding. That is what would have happened if Nyri hadn¡¯t purposefully avoided the trap set on the road ahead by going into a hidden path.

 Chapter 6: Capital City of Italica

    Our adventurers stumble away from the narrow path on the hillside, covered in thorns and blood. Cenvin mutters a tirade of curses, most directed at Nyri.

    ¡°Why are you being mad at her? She got us here in record time,¡± Durand interrupts his quiet cursing. He points to the valley below. ¡°Look.¡±

    A colossal celestial-like presence is nestled comfortably in a vast expanse of grassy green fields. Italica City looms overwhelmingly. To the East, the direction the party came from, is the dense forest. In the north is an extensive lake, known for its magical properties that dye the water a muddy brown, Lake Rust. In the east is a stretching river flowing from Lake Rust into the ocean, dubbed by the cityfolk as Cityside Delta. The primary farmlands are laid around the waters, drawing magical energy from the river to supplement the crops. In the south, the sparkling waters of the Verridor Sea dance entrancingly with mystic unknown creatures among them.

    Italica City itself is a city of towers; most parts of the city are comprised of skyscrapers that pierce the black sky itself. Due to this, they are known as Skytowers. The sunshine glints off the carefully painted roofs of those towers, joining the radiant lights from the four main streets that run through the city. Circular walls provide the city with impenetrable defense. The four massive streets run through the city in a straight line, forming a cross; at the center intersection stands the tallest Skytower: the Citadel. Headquarters of the Skywatch, the city guards, and the primary governing body of the Kingdom of Italica. Corruption is as exotic as an ¡°average day.¡± In Italica City, every hour will see new caravans trading goods and countryside peasants seeking new opportunities.

    The North sector houses the upper class and the Royalty. Exquisite parties are often hosted, but despite commoners being allowed to freely access the sector they are locked out from any businesses and services. This generation of the Royalty sees Queen Bethaza, a popular and worthy Royal, focusing on more public services than military might. A wise decision in a time of peace. She commissioned wizards to develop Hyperslates - a floating disc that serves as a modern-day elevator to transport citizens easily up and down Skytowers.

    The East sector is the prime mercantile utopia. Large-scale trade is the proud signature of the sector. Almost every good known to the world is exchanged here. However, dark-haired children are famously banned here, due to a traditional belief held by merchants across Italica that black-headed youths are the most immature, and thus the most prone to criminal activities such as thieving.

    Cenvin nervously pulls up his hood.

    The West and South sectors are comprised of more residential areas than the other two. This is where the bulk of the population lives and thrives. They are the closest sectors to the farmlands outside the city and also the coast, where the Verridor Sea provides a surplus of various sea life that are known for their taste.

    Durand breathes, ¡°The tutorial is over.¡±

    Forgetting his antagonized attitude, Cenvin sits down and bathes in the magnificence of the city. Nyri, tired and fulfilled, makes herself comfortable in Cenvin¡¯s lap. He jolts with surprise and instinct to kick her, but he smiles and cradles her slowly. Her smooth, glowing form feels solid yet liquid.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem that bad all of a sudden,¡± he comments. Then, he quickly adjusts himself. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re not the best feline I¡¯ve seen(last campaign¡¯s Lumi is far superior), but as a companion NPC, you do your job. Also, you¡¯re definitely shrunk from the last chapter. There¡¯s no shot I¡¯m hallucinating this.¡±

    Nyri gently purrs.

    ¡°Just admit you like her now,¡± Durand says, still taking in Italica City¡¯s grandiose.

    Nyri lets out a soft purr and glances up seductively. Cenvin immediately stands and sends her shrieking off the hill. Evaporating into orbs and then reforming herself beside Durand, she hisses and lowers her head, shaking as if laughing. Cenvin draws his two shortswords. Durand peels his eyes off Italica City and looks at Cenvin¡¯s blades with a spark of thought. Cenvin turns.

    ¡°Diem! Roll Initiatives! I¡¯m going to throw this kitty off a cliff!¡±

    You¡¯ll get pummeled and I don¡¯t feel like fighting after introducing you guys to this beautiful city of mine, so how about I do both of us a favor and just skip to you guys entering the city gate?

    ¡°Sure,¡± Durand quickly interrupts Cenvin.

    The adventurers arrive at the Eastern gate. Caravans and merchants idly enter and exit. A small holdup at the gates causes a line of wagons carrying trade goods to stack up. Durand and Cenvin enter the line. Nearby, two traders shout at each other, faces red. Nyri slips and weaves through the jungle of wheels and feet, occasionally giving way to a stomp by splashing into liquid. Stolen story; please report.

    Cenvin notices and asks, ¡°Hey Nyri, how come no one¡¯s freaking out about you?¡±

    Nyri gives him a stare, as if saying, dumbass.

    ¡°Oh,¡± he says in realization.

    Eventually, the adventurers walk to the front of the line, where guards briefly check everyone¡¯s luggage. One of those guards makes eye contact with Durand and breaks away from his work to meet him. They embrace like close friends. Cenvin is on the side, face covered by his hood.

    ¡°Sam! Good to see you again!¡± Durand shakes his hand with a broad smile.

    ¡°Sir, it¡¯s a pleasure!¡± Sam chuckles. ¡°Where have you been? Miss Redna missed those game you often bought back from the forest.¡± Durand jolts with this dose of canonical backstory. ¡°You¡¯ve bought a friend, too! Please, go ahead through the gate. Speaking of your friend, though¡­¡±

    Cenvin flinches. Sam steps back.

    ¡°Eh, don¡¯t worry about it. He just seemed to resemble someone we were searching for. Cenvin the Dishonest. He¡¯s a wanted criminal around these parts. Please go to the Citadel if you have information on him.¡±

    ¡°Yep! This is my friend, Jonathan! He¡¯s a bit queer sometimes, so please, forgive him. We will be on our way now,¡± Durand hastily adds. Sam bows and walks to greet a merchant trying to sneak through the gates.

    Durand drags Cenvin quickly through the gates into the city. Nyri casually follows.

    ¡°Cenvin the Dishonest? What the hell did you do here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a rogue, what did you expect my backstory to be?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never told me you¡¯re a regular around these parts, too! Just back at the hill were you groveling at the sight of Italica City!¡±

    ¡°So were you! Did you not feel the deep emotions that you feel when you finally see the sight of your long-lost home? We should focus on finding whoever the Wandering wants us to find to heal Brett, okay?¡±

    ¡°This place is huge! How are we going to find anyone?¡±

    ¡°Nyri probably knows!¡±

    Nyri raises her two paws like a shrug.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. Let¡¯s look around. I say we look for a smithy.¡±

    ¡°Why always a smithy?¡±

    ¡°Why not? We can get weapons at a smithy, is that a good enough reason?¡±

    ¡°Speaking of weapons-¡±

    Cenvin babbles on, ¡°Armor! Equipment! All at a smithy! A smithy is the greatest possible store to exist! Surely you see the importance of them?¡±

    ¡°Fine, let¡¯s find a smithy,¡± Durand rolls his eyes.

    Nyri perks up and yelps joyfully. Cenvin looks at her with thought.

    ¡°You know where to find a smithy?¡± Nyri nods. ¡°Hell, let¡¯s go then!¡±

    ¡°Sorry, we got no magic items, or whatever you¡¯re looking fora¡¯,¡± the blacksmith says.

    He turns around to go into the forge. A massive flame leaps from a young apprentice¡¯s furnace and he hurries over, accidentally leaving the door ajar. Upon seeing it, a defeated Cenvin goes 180 and a villainous spark glows in his eyes. Durand pulls him back before he can get to the door.

    ¡°Remember why you¡¯re a wanted criminal?¡± He whispers urgently. Cenvin shakes him off.

    ¡°Just a little snatch here and there. Nothing major, I promise,¡± he sneaks into the forge. Durand and Nyri patiently wait outside.

    ¡°He is so going to get into trouble, might as well prepare,¡± Durand mutters. With an incantation and a flick of mistletoe, ten small plump berries materialize in his hand. Nyri sniffs her nose and looks at Durand adorably, begging for a taste.

    Durand shakes his head, ¡°No. These are for healing Cenvin.¡±

    Nyri bows down her head, depressed. Her tail loses a bit of its glow and droops. Little tears form in her eyes and falls to the ground. Durand tries to ignore her.

    A clash and a clang, Cenvin stumbles out of the forge, covered in stab marks and slash wounds, and falls to the ground. Durand throws him the

    Goodberries, which he hungrily devours.

    ¡°There was a Gifted guy,¡± Cenvin rasps. ¡°He was molding weapons out of blocks of silver. I asked for one. He denied. I killed him.¡±

    Durand rolls his eyes, ¡°¡®Nothing major,¡¯¡± he quotes. ¡°My ass. Anyway, let¡¯s get out of here. Maybe find a tavern for sustenance and rest.¡±

    As they make their retreat the blacksmith rushes out, yelling for the Skywatch.

    ¡°Guards, murder! Murder in daylight!¡±

    Cenvin smiles jeeringly.

    1st tavern, they were kicked out after Cenvin tried to pickpocket one of the patrons.

    2nd tavern, they were thrown out after Cenvin attempted to stab the bartender.

    3rd tavern, they were evicted after Cenvin was caught using his ability to steal wine.

    At the fourth tavern, Durand and Cenvin walk in. The air is chilly. Night has fallen and many men are drinking their day¡¯s fatigues away. Cenvin tries to say something, but one look from both Durand and Nyri stops him. As Durand prepares to speak to the barkeeper about a room, Cenvin trips and messes up a group of tough-looking men¡¯s card games. They stand up, enraged. Cenvin, not sorry and brandishing his weapons, begins yelling curses and fighting words. Durand tackles him to the ground and they escape the bar, which has plunged into a full-on brawl behind them.

    In the middle of East Street under the night sky, Durand lets out a shrilling scream that echoes through the air, making it even chillier.

    ¡°WHYYYYYYYYYY?¡±

 Chapter 7: Night in the Capital City of Italica

    Night has devoured the city. The streets are wiped clean of civilians and merchants. The Skytowers are locked and heavily guarded by the Skywatch, per the nightly curfew ordered by the Royalty. Two adventurers and a glowing cat walk alongside the Citadel, a magnificent monolith stretching into the boundless sky. Occasionally, they would get stopped by the Skywatch who advised them to stay inside. On other occasions, armored knights would hurry by, paying no notice to them.

    ¡°Is that a musket rifle? A freaking gun?¡± Cenvin whispers to Durand in awe.

    Temporarily forgetting his anger, Durand turns his head back to see.

    ¡°That¡¯s definitely a musket,¡± he whispers back.

    Nyri¡¯s entire body flashes red, dyeing her luminescence crimson for a split second.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Cenvin whispers. Durand looks at her, alarmed and worried. Nyri points her tail toward a distant silhouette gliding down the streets.

    ¡°Wraith,¡± Durand quietly says. He rushes to the side of the street and pulls Cenvin into a nearby open room at the base of a Skytower. ¡°We gotta hide.¡±

    ¡°What is this place?¡±

    The room is pitch black. Cenvin feels around, his hands scraping something metal. He gropes for it and turns it. The sound of flowing water erupts into the room.

    ¡°Turn that off!¡±

    ¡°I am!¡±

    The sound echoed through the confined space.

    ¡°I think this is a restroom. A public one.¡±

    ¡°So this was what the Royalty was spending on? Public restrooms? Seems awfully ahead of her time, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the most urgent question right now, ¡®k? Did the wraith hear us?¡±

    ¡°It probably did. How about we run?¡±

    ¡°No. We should hide. If it comes in here we can probably ambush it. Where¡¯s Nyri? She¡¯s not in here.¡±

    A glowing orb sprouts from a faucet. It breaks into tiny pieces and forms a word in the air.

    S C O U T

    ¡°Well, that explains one question, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Cenvin says. The dim light cast by the pieces light up a portion of the adventurers¡¯ faces. Their face separate entities in a void. Nothing else in the quiet space. Just their terrified face and the voices stitched to it. Then another object enters the glow. A dead husk of a human face. Half-decomposed, half translucent. Cenvin yelps and Durand falls over.

    ¡°Fu-¡±

    ¡°The hell-¡±

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Recovering relatively quickly, Cenvin throws his two shortswords at the wraith. The blades embed themselves in the wraith¡¯s form, and Durand quickly stands up and slashes the wraith into a misty cloud, which soon dissipates into the floor. Cenvin leans and picks up his shortswords.

    Durand begins, ¡°About those shortswords, I¡¯ve been wanting to ask-¡±

    ¡°God! Another one!¡±

    The adventurers dismantle the wraith easily, but instead of puffing into mist it simply vanishes. Another one. The same thing happens. The glowing pieces have folded themselves into a tiny face resembling Nyri¡¯s. She watches with interest.

    ¡°These feel like illusions.¡±

    ¡°Same. I¡¯m not getting any satisfaction nor experience from them.¡±

    Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯ve disabled the XP system and simply handed you level-ups when I want to?

    ¡°It just doesn¡¯t feel the same, okay?¡±

    Yeah, you¡¯re right. They are illusions. You should just let the next wraith linger. Maybe they just really need to go and have no intention of harming.

    ¡°We¡¯ll pass.¡±

    Another dark form enters the restroom. Different from the normal wraiths, who always attack psychologically, this form is more solid and larger. Two giant claws disproportional to its size slowly scrape the floor as it floats closer. The sound is genuinely very offputting.

    Cenvin charges headfirst, wielding his shortswords and stabbing frantically. The creature grabs him and slams him against the wall, the impact taking the air out of him. Durand strikes precisely with his longsword, aiming for its relatively thin arms, but the creature parries it with its claws last second, sending Durand back. His back cracks against the faucet, breaking the wooden pipe, and grunts in pain.

    From the gaping hole slowly squeezes out a pure white slime, shedding a rainbow of lights in the restroom. The slime plops onto the ground and wriggles into Nyri¡¯s feline form. She looks at Cenvin, then Durand, back to Cenvin, and meows teasingly. The spectral leans in to gut the comatose Cenvin, but a jet of luminescent liquid pushes it away. The spectral shrivels upon contact with the glimmering water and fades away.

    The liquid flies back into Nyri¡¯s tail.

    ¡°Nyri!¡± Durand rasps. He struggles to stand up. ¡°Good!¡±

    Nyri purrs proudly and her tail extends across the room to slap Cenvin. He wakens with a jolt.

    ¡°The hell? Shoot. My back feels broken.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fine. Stop whining. It¡¯s me who should be complaining, don¡¯t you think? We could be drinking beer at a bar right now, but you had to

    satisfy your kleptomania.¡±

    ¡°Shut up¡­¡±

    Nyri flashes red once more. She seems to be eager to do that. Durand and Cenvin shoot their gaze at her, injuries forgotten.

    I L L U S I O N

    ¡°That thing? Damn good illusion then,¡± Durand smiles, obviously not believing. Standing behind him is a creature that is a wraith, but more hideous and unnerving.

    ¡°The hell-¡±

    ¡°Wraith!¡±

    Hmm. I like that name. I think I¡¯ll call it a hellwraith then. Sounds pretty good. Anyways, you guys need me to roll combat initiatives, right? Oh.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that.¡±

    Pieces of the hellwraith puffs into mist. Cenvin and Durand¡¯s hands are dark with the wraith¡¯s intestines. Face red, Durand huffs in frustration and sits himself on the ground. He shifts his legs to make himself comfortable.

    ¡°I swear if there¡¯s one more thing that comes through¡­¡±

    As Durand mutters to himself voices come from the outside.

    ¡°The Skywatch! We¡¯re saved!¡± Cenvin says excitedly. Durand hushes him.

    ¡°Idiot. Cenvin the Dishonest, more like the Witless.¡± Cenvin sits down in understanding.

    The voices stop. Flickers of torchlights peer into the restroom and along them, wavering shadows. Before the strangers can walk in, Cenvin is already on top of them, trying to stab them with his shortswords. He stabs one in the abdomen but the other one throws him off. They raise their torches.

    They are the heavily armored knights the adventurers had seen patrolling the streets before. They are covered head-to-toe in plate armor, a shiny emblem depicting a fallen meteor on their breastplates, and wielding unusually shining longswords. One of them knocks out Cenvin with one tap of his longsword hilt. The other one struggles with Durand, who is expertly defending himself, but the other knight joins in and they put down Durand. Nyri hisses and converts into her liquid form.

    ¡°By the name of Orions, stop, Creature!¡± One of the Orions order. Nyri ignores them and slithers through the cracks in the floor out into the streets, dissolving into the dirt and gone.

    The Orions carry the unconscious adventurers and walk out.

    ¡°Mission fulfilled,¡± one of them remarks happily.

    It¡¯s been a couple of chapters since the last death counter, and counting all the Otherworld creatures and normal animals that have died we are at¡­ 491 deaths! Three digits so far, but I can assure you in a few more chapters this death toll will go four figures! Thank you for reading, more content to come!

 Chapter 8: The Organization of Shadows Edge

    Bright sunlight shines through the wide windows. It made its way from the dark skies through the countless Skytowers to this room, also part of a Skytower. Glass decorations around the open room refract it into a dazzling rainbow glimmer. Sitting comfortably on a rocking chair is a thin man, half his body in shadows, the other half dyed in all colors of the rainbow. Facing him are our adventurers. Cenvin pushes open his eyelids with difficulty.

    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± He asks angrily, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Alongside him, Durand also wakes up. He struggles to stand, but he realizes both are tied to their chairs with rope. He gives the man a death glare and attempts to break the rope. He fails. Calmly looking around, he notices their gear piled in a corner.

    ¡°Let us-¡±

    ¡°Aurelius,¡± the man cuts him off. His voice is silky, but the adventurers sense the undertone of a fox. Still, they can¡¯t help but calm down at the sound of his buttery words. ¡°The man at a smithy who was brutally murdered by some puny thief. Shame on him.¡±

    Cenvin turns white.

    ¡°I am his brother. Lucius.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re going to avenge him?¡± Durand yells. He vaporizes his constraints and stands. ¡°Well, you¡¯re going to have to do that with a battle!¡±

    ¡°Sit,¡± Lucius waves lazily. ¡°Or float in the air. That would be preferable, on second thought.¡±

    Trapped in an invisible box, Durand floats into the air. He bangs against the clear walls and yells, to no avail. He looks at Cenvin¡¯s restraints and they fall, freeing Cenvin.

    Cenvin charges for a tackle, but he smashes his head against a transparent wall and stumbles back, head buzzing.

    Lucius speaks to Durand casually.

    ¡°I heard you can solidify anything. I imagine that includes air?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±

    Lucius raises his head in a pleasant chuckle.

    ¡°I specialize in solidifying air. I can even control it. I suppose, after all, a jack of all trades can¡¯t beat an expert in their field.¡±

    Durand bangs against his invisible prison furiously.

    ¡°You can¡¯t beat me. At least not here. How about you two accept it, sit down, and hear what I say civilizedly?

    Cenvin quickly returns to his chair.

    ¡°Nyri¡­¡± he mutters under his breath. ¡°She can save us.¡±

    Lucius, who has not heard him, lets Durand down gently. They both return to their respective seats. Lucius takes a breath and drinks a green liquid from a nearby cup.

    ¡°Excellent tea. Brewed from spectralroots. Heavily recommended for enhancing your ability, but that¡¯s simply a myth,¡± he remarks. ¡°Now. Let me explain some questions you surely have in your mind.¡±

    Durand and Cenvin lean back to prepare for a lore drop.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°Thalia Bright and Sinner the Wandering. They have led you here to see me. I¡¯m the man who can save that friend of yours. They have intended for you two to be recruited into my organization which specializes in dealing with the Otherworld. You see, we are at war. This is a one-sided battle. The Otherworld monsters feed off the people to survive. They have matched our human population, and only a minuscule amount of us are Gifted and able to fight back.

    ¡°There are currently two major human factions in the war effort. Us, Shadow¡¯s Edge. We train Mercs who regularly go and perform missions for us to aid the war effort. The other is Starmetal Valley. They are a city district in the middle of the Italica peninsula. The entire city is Gifted and they primarily research technology and the Gifts. Their soldiers are primarily called Orions. Ours are Mercs.

    ¡°What¡¯s good for us is that the Kingdom of Italica is on our side. Their lands occupy the entire peninsula, giving them a wide coastline. This allows for swift communication across the Kingdom. The Royalty is also Gifted. She supports us and Starmetal with the kingdom¡¯s resources.

    ¡°With those valuable resources, Starmetal had figured out the patterns behind large-scale Otherworld attacks, called hunts. I believe you¡¯ve witnessed one of them in Eldenhaven and Silvergate. Whenever a person becomes Gifted, it triggers a signal only detectable by Otherworld creatures and they all flock to the Gifted¡¯s location to get rid of any future opposition. We have been suppressing any hunts near Italica City with metal machines fueled by abilities. It intercepts and contains the signals inside of it.

    ¡°We have many Gifteds in service. Many are healers.¡±

    ¡°Then you can heal Brett?¡± Cenvin interrupts.

    Lucius chuckles again and throws both of them a smooth, round stone. Durand¡¯s stone has a triangular shape etched into the round surface. Cenvin¡¯s a cross.

    ¡°Sending stones. If you want us to heal your friend, you will prove your loyalty to our cause. It is a noble one. You will be great assets in our cause of saving the world.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Durand says. ¡°Anything for Brett.¡±

    Cenvin rolls his eyes. ¡°Guess I¡¯m in too, then.¡±

    ¡°Excellent! Then I will introduce you to a new member of the team. Meet Lenny the Honey Badger.¡±

    ¡°Why is he a honey badger?¡±

    ¡°My friends, it is but a magical experiment gone wrong,¡± a high-pitched voice squeaks. A honey badger walks on two feet into the room. It slams the door behind it shut. A flash of annoyance blinks on Lucius¡¯s face. Lenny stands tall and judges the adventurers.

    ¡°Not a ragtag group of people, I¡¯ll admit. You two better not get in my way.¡±

    Cenvin turns red, but Durand raises an arm to hold them back. Lenny, who did not notice, superciliously walks to their side. Lucius beholds the adventurers before him like a sommelier and his wine.

    ¡°I believe you can be called a party now,¡± he observes. ¡°Not the best I¡¯ve seen, but you reach the minimum. Every party needs a home base. I have prepared a penthouse for you at a nearby Skytower. For reference, we are currently in the West district. I hope it will be to your liking.¡±

    He bows and orders a servant to show them out. Before they leave, Lucius adds.

    ¡°I know I have talked about Starmetal Valley in a good light. Please don¡¯t be deceived. They are evil men who will stop at nothing to achieve their goal of decimating the Otherworld.¡±

    ¡°This place is alright, I suppose,¡± Cenvin shrugs his shoulders in an attempt to hide his awe.

    The penthouse is on top of a Skytower that overlooks the Western street. It doesn¡¯t reach the clouds, but nevertheless, it looms over most other Skytowers. In the lengthy trip on the Hyperslate up the building, Cenvin had argued with Lenny on their different views on blue cheese. Durand declared that Lenny won the debate. For the next ten minutes, Cenvin sulked as they climbed higher and higher until the pedestrians below were mere fleas.

    Cenvin shudders.

    ¡°Diem, don¡¯t use that word.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re afraid of fleas?¡± Lenny teases. ¡°You¡¯re not a joke, you¡¯re a whole comedy routine.¡±

    The interior of the penthouse is spartan yet clean. Every basic need can be met here while providing spaces to move around freely. Durand draws back the window curtains. Sunlight spills into the room, lighting it into a relaxing atmosphere. The warm colors permeate everywhere throughout the penthouse. Added to the black sky and the walking honey badger, the place felt dreamlike¡ªlike a figment of one¡¯s imagination.

    Woah woah hold on, that¡¯s hitting a bit too close to the truth. Narrator-module is acting out over here. Jonathan! Fix this! Um¡­ Dear readers, we will end this chapter earlier to fix this¡­ technical issue. Thank you!

 Chapter 9: The Partys First Mission

    Lenny the honey badger scrapes his claws against each other, generating an unpleasant noise. Durand, not to be put down easily, grinds his knife against his whetstone. Cenvin sits on the side, wearing snowy glowing earmuffs on his head. A small tail wiggles from its top. He sighs and walks out of the penthouse for an escape from the ear-raping noise.

    ¡°In a party with two Sisyphuses,¡± Cenvin complains. Nyri gently jumps into her feline form onto the floor, landing gracefully like a feather. She slightly nods her head in ample understanding. ¡°We¡¯ve been sitting here for three unbelievably boring days. Diem tried to make it fun by giving us stupid fetch quests, but who likes fetch quests? They¡¯re repetitive and boring.¡±

    That¡¯s the point! It¡¯s used as a filler as my team tries to figure out the next scenario that your party will be undertaking. It¡¯s your first mission as a complete team, so, you know, it needs to be memorable!

    ¡°Why are you revealing this? Sounds like you¡¯ve finished preparing,¡± Cenvin asks suspiciously, his emotionless eyes staring at the ceiling like an idiot. ¡°Ok, I thought you were at the ceiling. Where should I look when talking to you?¡±

    I¡¯m omnipresent!

    Cenvin shrugs as he calls a Hyperslate to his floor. Unexpectedly, his sending stone given by Lucius begins vibrating violently in his pocket. He quickly pulls it out and with a curious Nyri jumping on his shoulder, reads the message inside his head.

    ¡°Assassinate¡­Kwirley, She. A¡­fighter? Has S.E.(some kind of disease)? Join, Currently¡­ upper main. What is this?¡±

    Durand bursts out of the penthouse with Lenny close behind, both finally eager for action. Durand waves his triangle-carved sending stone.

    ¡°Target! Tuiaton is trained and betrayed to S.V. In South Street. Did you get the same thing?¡±

    Cenvin shakes his head and repeats his message to Durand. Lenny piques up.

    ¡°Perhaps you combine the two messages?

    Durand snaps his fingers in enlightenment.

    ¡°Assassinate target: Kwirley Tuiaton. She is a trained fighter and has betrayed S.E. to join S.V.. Currently in upper South Main Street.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go already then!¡±

    Cenvin pulls out his two shortswords. Durand¡¯s gaze briefly lingers on it before rushing onto the Hyperslate that just came up, carrying a human street performer. His hands are stuck mid-yawn, and he stares at Nyri and then Lenny. Durand hurries into the Hyperslate with the rest of the party close behind. Cenvin clicks his teeth and the human steps onto the edge of the Hyperslate, confused and petrified.

    At the bottom floor, Cenvin came out first with his hands being covered in ketchup. He wipes some of the red ketchup off his shortswords. Durand rolls his eyes. Lenny is shuddering with ecstasy and Nyri has turned into pure, glowing crimson.

    ¡°Add that to the kill count, Diem!¡± Cenvin proclaims loudly.

    492 deaths so far into the campaign.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way we get a happy ending. We¡¯re the villains here,¡± Durand mutters in a crazed fervor. ¡°Then who¡¯s the protagonist? Who gets plot armor?¡±

    A nearby brick falling from the ceiling above narrowly misses Lenny, who does not notice.

    Pushing through the pedestrians at the upper portion of South Street, Lenny reports a brief description of Kwirley has been transmitted to him via his sending stone.

    ¡°Out of the way!¡± Cenvin says as he irritably shoves another average-looking citizen away. ¡°Where is she?¡¯

    ¡°There!¡±

    Durand points at a nervous-looking figure. She looks like a wreck. Cenvin and Lenny charge towards her, easily drawing her notice. She yelps and dashes into an alleyway, behind her the party is in hot pursuit. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°We just want to talk!¡± Durand shouts behind her. She doesn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°We don¡¯t like Shadow¡¯s Edge anyway, can we defect with you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! The pay is nonexistent!¡±

    She gives no notice and begins climbing up a concealed ladder, which will lead her to an entrance to a Skytower, where there will probably be the Skywatch waiting.

    Nyri floats to the top ahead of her and attempts to knock her down by landing on her face, but Kwirley dodges it and throws a glass bottle at Nyri. It breaks on top of her and she flashes red once again, reeling from the mysterious liquid contained inside. Durand catches Nyri before she hits the bottom.

    Using his claws, Lenny climbs up the wall. He grunts as he makes one last hurdle, but he is too late. Kwirley had run into the Skytower.

    ¡°Follow!¡± Cenvin yells furiously. Durand, however, seems a bit more hesitant.

    ¡°Stop! We don¡¯t want any trouble with the Skywatch!¡±

    Lenny halts and looks at the quarreling duo, ¡°We¡¯re going to lose her!¡±

    Cenvin shoves Durand aside and dashes into the Skytower. Lenny follows. Durand runs around the spire instead, hoping to catch Kwirley exiting the building. Cenvin peers from a window and finds Durand.

    ¡°It¡¯s no use! This Skytower¡¯s connected to other towers via bridges. Come up! We sure need an extra hand, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Durand nods. Solidifying air and using it as steps, he runs up to Cenvin¡¯s level.

    ¡°She went up a Hyperslate, but it had a lot of people on it, so it¡¯s rising slowly. We might be able to catch up if we use the stairs. Lenny had already started climbing,¡± Cenvin debriefs.

    ¡°That might work. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re going. I can just teleport,¡± Cenvin chuckles, then vanishes into a purple portal he opened up at his feet.

    Huffing and groaning, Durand makes his way up the stairs as fast as possible. After a couple of minutes, he sees Lenny on top of him, waving to him.

    ¡°Brody! Cenvin caught him!¡±

    ¡°Name¡¯s Durand,¡± Durand huffs. ¡°And the target is a ¡®her¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Whatever, Come on!¡±

    Cenvin has Kwirley on the floor. He had apparently knocked her to the ground with his shortsword hilt. They are on a bridge interconnecting two Skytowers, towering over the streets below. Cenvin leans against the short handrail and studies the walking people below.

    ¡°I think we should throw her off,¡± Lenny suggests. Durand stares at him in disbelief. ¡°This is an assassination mission, after all. I believe this is the quickest and the most painless death. This is a mercy.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡­¡± Durand looks at the terrified Kwirley. She shakes her head as if to beg for him to let her go. She shrieks as Cenvin plunges a shortsword into her leg.

    ¡°Does the manner in which we complete the mission matter to you, Durand, my friend?¡± Lenny states. ¡°But taking someone¡¯s life in a painful process has a certain charm to it. It fills me with dopamine.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more,¡± Cenvin also says.

    ¡°Really, Durand? Feeling bad for an NPC?¡± Cenvin continues as Durand stands still at the head of the bridge. The wind blows their cloaks to their sides like waving flags. Durand looks at his longsword uncertainly and moves his eyes back to the now wheezing Kwirley.

    ¡°Just end her suffering, I guess,¡± Durand turns his back to them and mutters.

    With Lenny¡¯s help, Cenvin pushes Kwirley over the edge. She screams as she falls, finally cutting off abruptly after a few seconds. Durand is already walking down the staircase. Cenvin and Lenny follow, their hands now crimson with blood. Nyri, who had been observing quietly, shrinks again as she sends another small orb from her body out into the distance, flying towards that old man who¡¯s been just out of sight. She then jumps off the bridge and floats down like a breeze. Below her, people form a circle around the smashed body of Kwirley. Her death is eventually concluded as a suicide. One of the Orions looks up.

    Cenvin opens the door to their penthouse and goes to the washroom to clean his hands. Lenny, who has licked the blood off his claws, grabs Nyri¡¯s cushion and takes a nap. Nyri, who is quite unimpressed, hops onto the couch with Durand.

    Coming back, Cenvin is in a very bad mood.

    ¡°Remember how I said the pay is nonexistent? I¡¯m not kidding. We should have negotiated a salary with Lucius. To be honest, we get paid nowhere enough for these kinds of quests.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, what are you going to do?¡± Durand mutters as he leans his head back and closes his eyes. ¡°Right now, we take a short rest, get some stamina back, get food. We still have our starting money, and we can rely on that for now. We will talk to Lucius later.¡±

    A single knock rings on the door. Durand opens his eyes.

    ¡°God, what now?¡±

    Happy cliffhanger! This was where the real-life Dungeons and Dragons session ended, so I thought I might honor that. Forgive me! Haha! 493 deaths!

 Chapter 10: The Organization of Starmetal Valley

    A knock at the door.

    ¡°Did you order pasta or whatever they¡¯ve got in Italica?¡± Cenvin looks at Durand and Lenny curiously. They fervently shake their heads.

    Cenvin opens the door. A knight covered head to toe in azure plate armor walks through the door. Not a single inch of his skin shows. He wears a hexagonal prism-shaped helmet that completely hides his face. His stance tells the tale of a battle-hardened soldier who has seen every peril this Earth has to offer. Two shortswords, sheathed, on his belt. These shortswords seem to be reversed, the thin edge at the hilt and the wide edge at the end. The sheath is spartan in decorations; only a narrow painted golden stripe runs across its length. A small golden cloak is draped over his shoulders, creating a stark contrast with his dark azure armor and giving him the resemblance of wings at rest. The party watches in awe as this amazingly azure and golden champion calmly walks into the penthouse. He finds Durand, standing rock still, and extends his hand. Durand slowly shakes it. Cenvin rolls his eyes at him.

    ¡°Kores. I am a Stellar of Starmetal Valley. We serve directly under our leader, the Star. I am here as a representative of my organization, who would like to establish a partnership with your party. We will agree to most demands.¡±

    Lenny locks his eyes on Kores with passionate hatred.

    ¡°Will you heal Brett?¡± Durand asks.

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Are we getting paid?¡± Cenvin pipes up.

    ¡°As much as you wish.¡±

    ¡°I say we agree,¡± Cenvin says excitedly. Durand forces him aside.

    ¡°Do you have no loyalty? Tsk. Stellar, I suggest we sit down and negotiate.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Kores allows himself to be led to the couch by Durand. Cenvin sits on a nearby sofa and quashes a huff. Lenny gently sits down next to him. Nyri has evaporated into the air, rendering herself practically invisible.

    Durand shuts his eyes and considers Kores¡¯s offer.

    ¡°We have been told we are not to associate with your organization.¡±

    A faint hint of surprise flickers in Kores¡¯s otherwise calm and steady voice.

    ¡°Hmm. Did he provide you with his reasoning?¡±

    ¡°You will stop at nothing to achieve your goals.¡±

    Kores shows no physical reaction to his words. What¡¯s under his hexagon helmet is impossible to guess.

    ¡°Is that a deterrent?¡±

    ¡°Frankly, no,¡± Durand admits, ¡°this party likes free rein.¡±

    ¡°Hear, hear!¡± Cenvin cheers.

    Lenny¡¯s ear raises. He looks around in alarm.

    A bang comes from the door. A voice rings through into the ears of the people inside.

    ¡°Shadow¡¯s Edge! Open the door, rookies!¡±

    ¡°Mercs,¡± Kores calmly says. ¡°I will be taking my leave, then. We will continue this negotiation another time. Arrivederci!¡±

    Lenny growls, training his thin eyes on the door. He jumps down the sofa and charges to open it. A pack of Mercs comes flooding in, but their group disperses as Lenny leaps into the fray, clawing left and right and occasionally spraying poison with his cantrips, catching the Mercs off-guard. He swipes side-to-side, occasionally gutting those who fell. Kores watches in fascination as Lenny¡¯s furry body becomes soaked in blood. The intestines and the bodies of the Mercs splat about all around him.

    ¡°Stellar, get out before I kill you,¡± Lenny mutters daggers.

    ¡°One more thing,¡± Kores replies.

    Meanwhile, Durand leaped from the window into the air. Using his ability, he solidifies the air under him and slowly makes his way down to the surface, constantly turning a block of air under him solid to stop his fall. After a while, he touches down.

    Cenvin teleports to the floor below. He feels lightheaded and hears another group of Mercs rushing to the penthouse. After they¡¯re gone, Cenvin slowly makes his way up too.

    After the last batch of Mercs were brutally massacred by Lenny and Durand has made his way back up the Skytower, Kores steps gingerly over the blood and guts of the bodies strewn across the floor. He politely bows to Lenny before stepping into the hallway and addressing the party.

    ¡°The honey badger has made me certain that at least one member of this party is competent. Remember this codeword: Sephyr. It will come in use in the future. Think of it as a gift from Starmetal Valley.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    He turns, his wings flicking lightly, and leaves swiftly before Durand or Cenvin can question him further.

    ¡°We don¡¯t need your idiotic ramblings of your damned organization!¡± Lenny yells after him.

    ¡°Sephyr? That sounds quite familiar. I can¡¯t place where,¡± Cenvin wonders, which is an anomalous thing considering Cenvin¡¯s intelligence. I didn¡¯t even know he would be capable of ¡°wondering.¡±

    ¡°Hey! What did I do this time- oh.¡± Cenvin pauses.

    ¡°I am going to go take a bath,¡± Lenny remarks. He wraps a towel around himself and waddles to the washroom. He leaves behind a trail of blood.

    Durand looks at the carnage and groans.

    ¡°Well, guess we have to clean this mess up, Cenvin,¡± he says. ¡°Cenvin?¡±

    Cenvin had fallen into a coma.

    As Durand tirelessly works to clean up the mess, Lenny, coming out of the washroom clean and refreshed, sniffs his nose at the door. Nyri, who is helping Durand with draining the blood by mixing it with her particles, also raises her tail. She evaporates right before another knock comes.

    ¡°What now!?¡± Durand groans as he picks up a piece of human lung in disgust. ¡°Lenny, open that door.¡±

    ¡°Yessir!¡±

    Lenny, unable to reach the door handle at all, leaps and pulls it down with his weight. Lucius strolls in, unperturbed by the gruesome remains strewn across the floor.

    ¡°Good day, my friends,¡± Lucius comments. ¡°God, what happened to my Mercs?¡±

    ¡°We had an unfortunate disagreement, Lucius, so if you know what¡¯s good for you, you should leave now,¡± Lenny says.

    Lucius raises his eyebrows in genuine surprise.

    ¡°My, that¡¯s not like you, my friend. Why are you covering for the people you swore to hurt?¡±

    ¡°You vowed to kill us?¡± Durand turns to Lenny in alarm, hands still stained with blood.

    ¡°It is not you, fool. Lucius here meant Starmetal Valley. Lucius. Your Mercs were storming my household. How do you think I will react?¡±

    ¡°I know a certain figure has visited you. Would you do me a favor and tell me what did he say?¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Durand says. ¡°We weren¡¯t going to hide it from you anyway. Kores of Starmetal Valley had come to visit our abode. Before he could say anything substantial other than introducing himself, we were interrupted by Mercs and he fled.¡±

    Lucius¡¯s eyes seem to bore into Durand¡¯s soul, scraping the walls for any hint of a lie. Durand maintains his perfect composure. At last, Lucius breaks his gaze over to Cenvin.

    ¡°Ah. Cenvin. Is he in a coma?¡±

    ¡°Actually, yes. We don¡¯t understand how it triggers.¡±

    ¡°I believe we at Shadow¡¯s Edge has a theory to how it works. We will reveal further information to you after we gain some more progress in our research.¡±

    Durand bows politely.

    ¡°Thank you, then.¡±

    A small black tail slides into view behind the door. The glowing orbs in the air flash red and fly to form Nyri. She hisses at Lucius and then the tail.

    ¡°Cute little cat, would you like to explain why is she glowing and just appeared out of nowhere?¡± Lucius observes curiously.

    ¡°That is none of your business,¡± Durand says defensively. ¡°Nyri. What¡¯s up?¡±

    Nyri slowly steps towards the door. The tail flicks and its owner walks through. It¡¯s a black glowing cat, similar to Nyri, but almost twice as big. It exchanges hostile glances with her.

    ¡°This is a wondrous creature of the Otherworld. Intelligent than most, flexible than silk. We had given him the name of Hadke. We originally thought he was the first of his kind, but apparently¡­¡±

    He gestures towards Nyri.

    ¡°You somehow came across one. Judging from these two¡¯s interactions so far with each other, I think we can conclude that they are not friendly towards others of their kind.¡±

    Nyri morphs into a spear, soaring towards Hadke¡¯s neck. He dodges it by a whisker and dissolves into a black mist, then flying out of the window. Nyri also evaporates into a million grains and out of the window, but Hadke¡¯s black form seems to blend in with the inky sky. Nyri pauses uncertainly, then dashes away with the fervor of a lion to its prey.

    ¡°Theory confirmed.¡±

    Durand and Lenny rush to the window, but they have lost sight of the two cats. Lucius nonchalantly walks behind them, kicking a torn-out heart away. It spurts one last drop of blood before finally freezing.

    ¡°They will be alright. They are near-immortal. Trust me, we¡¯ve tried. Perhaps Starmetal Valley fared better. But anyway.¡±

    He pulls out a slip of paper from a concealed pocket.

    ¡°Originally, I was going to transmit this by sending stone, but since I am personally here I will hand it to you. Your next mission. It could help you keep your mind off your little pet.¡±

    Durand takes the slip and reads it.

    ¡°You want us to kill an official of the Skywatch?¡±

    ¡°He isn¡¯t listening to our bribes and the Royal Seal, so, you know, he¡¯s gotta go. Take a break after this one, will you? Your friend can¡¯t use his ability frequently.¡±

    Durand nods and Lucius shows himself out. Behind him, an invisible dustpan speedily scrapes up the carnage and pours it all into another transparent container. The container subsequently floats out of the window and vanishes, dropping the gore into the city below, leaving the penthouse as clean as it was before.

    ¡°Look at that, he did the cleaning for us,¡± Durand says. He walks to Cenvin, still slumped over on the sofa, unconscious. He whacks him with a solid punch.

    ¡°Hey, wake up. We have another mission. You get to kill more people.¡±

    Cenvin instantly rejuvenates and leaps up excitedly.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time! Time to get XP!¡±

    I DISABLED THE XP SYSTEM HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE T-

    Dear readers, I am pleased to announce that we have officially crossed over the 500-death mark! Yay!

    *CONFETTI*

    We are at 524 deaths! I would like to thank my friends, my family, my teacher¡­ wait I don¡¯t have any¡­ uh, I would like to thank god for this blessing¡­ wait I am god¡­ haha, finally, I would like to thank the readers for reading these silly chapters that I put out!

 Chapter 11: An Urchins Dream Comes True

    ¡°HELP ME!¡±

    Screams Sir Rasdy Tofem, the Commander-in-chief of the North District 18th Regiment Skywatch. The eyes of the guards and other officials alike turn towards the fat gentlemen crashing into the lobby of the Citadel. Behind him, close in pursuit, are the party of adventurers. Durand, wraithlike, glides towards the portly target effortlessly. Cenvin, dumbass-like, waddles behind as he yawns from sleep deprivation. Lenny, feral in his concentration on Rasdy, climbs along the wall, leaping decisively for an attack. He slashes the man¡¯s back, drawing blood. He licks the red off his claws and with a newfound annoyance, he resumes his pursuit.

    The guards attempt to stop the intruders, but their higher-ranking bureaucrats, most of them paid out by Shadow¡¯s Edge or deceived, raise their arms to stop the spears. Seeing the lack of support from his peers, Rasdy screams in dread and scrambles into a Hyperslate packed with people. Durand tries to rush in, but as he makes room for himself Cenvin and Lenny also catch up and try to squeeze in. In the ensuing chaos, Durand backs away.

    ¡°Where is he?¡±

    He demands. He turns to the staircase to see a plump man rushing up.

    ¡°Ok¡­ didn¡¯t know how he snuck out, but he¡¯s fat. That means he¡¯s slow. C¡¯mon!¡±

    Upon Durand¡¯s summoning, Cenvin and Lenny both dash towards the stairs. Cenvin gets there first, coming face-to-face with a pair of guards who had heard the commotion. Shouting, they stab their spears at Cenvin, who dodges both. Lenny coming up behind, he mimics a throwing motion and tosses out a faceful of poisonous mist. The guards choke and using this opportunity, Cenvin lashes out with his dual shortswords, one stab each to finish them off. Durand claps his hands.

    ¡°We¡¯re losing him! Go!¡±

    Lenny rapidly leaps up several steps at once, to see Rasdy¡¯s packed frame pushing through the exit on the second floor.

    ¡°Second floor! If we can trap him, he will be a dead man!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re in the headquarters of Italica¡¯s primary armed forces! We don¡¯t have time, just kill him!¡±

    Durand shouts from below. Lenny nods and draws his beloved scimitar, Rikki Tikki Tavi, named after a good friend. He leaps into the second floor, where a maze of hallways branches into rooms of various importance. He searches the hallways as fast as he can, peeking inside each room every time he sees one. Behind him, Durand and Cenvin are also frantically searching. A Hyperslate appears, carrying a group of the Skywatch to subdue the party. Durand notices and snatches the pair of shortswords from Cenvin¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Hey! That¡¯s my weapon, what are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always meant to ask to use these, you never gave me a chance. Just search! I¡¯ll hold them off,¡± Durand¡¯s lips raise into a confident smile. Before dashing to battle the guards head-on, he summons a hail of thorns to deal AOE damage to the guards. Bearing the pain, the lead two guards jab their spears at Durand, one of which embedded itself in his chest. Grunting from the pain, Durand slashes at them with his shortswords. Using a Ranger feature known as horde breaker, he transforms his attacks into a whirlwind of blades, tearing through the weakened guards. Some fall, but others, bloodied and determined, raise their spears for another attack. Three jabs Durand in the back and two at the front. Durand kneels, but he pops a mouthful of Goodberry and stands, pulling out the spearheads to the guards¡¯ astonishment. They go for another round of attacks, but nothing hits except for one small graze on the shoulder. A rain of attacks by Durand wipes the rest of them out.

    Cenvin and Lenny drag Rasdy into view, who¡¯s blubbering and pleading for his life.

    ¡°Most excellent Mercs! I promise, I¡¯ll keep a blind eye to your machinations from now on, please, my good sirs, spare me, I¡¯ll do anything! Anything and everything! Just please let me go-¡±

    Rasdy¡¯s head drops limp as Durand slices his throat open.

    ¡°Thought you didn¡¯t like killing important targets?¡± Cenvin playfully teases.

    ¡°Not the occasion for that,¡± Durand mutters back. His eyes trained on another Hyperslate¡¯s worth of guards rushing towards them.

    ¡°Yikes. You got a lot of bruises on you. Give my shortswords back. I¡¯ll hold them off while you guys find a way to escape,¡± Cenvin states, despite Durand¡¯s objection. He grabs the shortswords and charges into the fray, instantly vanishing amongst the uniformed and orderly guards. Blood begins to flick onto the walls and the ceiling. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Durand watches for a mesmerizing moment, then he comes back to reality.

    ¡°Window! We¡¯re on the second floor, we can probably tank the fall damage!¡±

    ¡°I know the perfect window,¡± Lenny suddenly yells. ¡°Follow!¡±

    Durand follows Lenny while looking back nervously at Cenvin¡¯s bloody battle. They arrive at Lenny¡¯s spot and a glowing white orb crashes in before anything else.

    ¡°Nyri!¡± Durand yells in happiness.

    The orb does not pause. It rushes to the guards, procedurally wrapping around their necks and snapping them. In under five seconds, nearly all of the fighters are dead. Cenvin is on his knees, visibly injured and and bruised. Nyri forms a blanket and wraps Cenvin up, transporting him outside and safely onto the ground. She subsequently helps Durand and Lenny down. She then chases a black spirit into the jungle of the Skytowers.

    The party brushes aside confused pedestrians and stumbles into a dark alleyway. They turn blindly with no destination in mind with the fear of the universe. The rays radiating from the veiled sun thread through the Skytowers above to reach a small square, spreading a layer of snow onto a small urchin. The little girl sits with her head in her lap, covering herself, and protecting her face from the otherworldly public. Upon hearing the ragged heavy steps of the party she raises her naturally clean face, an uncanny contrast with her dirtied body and tattered clothes. She adjusts a small viridescent scarf on her neck and stands up to greet the adventurers. Her freckled face is innocent in its awe at these grown, bleeding adults who pay no heed to her little frame.

    ¡°So you guys do bleed!¡± She yells as the party dashes past.

    Durand stops and holds his hand, silently ordering Cenvin and Lenny to follow suit. They crumple on the ground. Huffing through their painfully dry throats, Durand takes out his flask and drinks a large gulp of water. He passes it to Lenny and Cenvin, who each ravenously drink the elixir. Retrieving his flask from a reluctant Cenvin, he turns to the urchin.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    The urchin limps toward a long stick. Her left leg is visibly skinnier than normal, both in terms of skin and bones.

    ¡°Now we know that the big grownups can be beaten, we will figure out their weakness!¡±

    She yells triumphantly. Cenvin and Durand exchange glances in confusion. Lenny speaks up.

    ¡°Little girl, us adults, unlike you little midgets, have no constant weakness. One man¡¯s fear is the source of courage for another man. Now, tell us who you are and what are you doing here?¡±

    He looks around the square. It¡¯s a mundane spot, perfectly average. There¡¯s a little closed-down antique store on one side, a door to the other, but nothing more. The square lacks sunlight in most spots, except for the center. There, the urchin limps back and forth on her stick, humming like a performer under the spotlight(she¡¯s out of tune).

    <i>What I am doing here is my own problem</i>

    <i>	</i><i>Your business here is bankrupt, so go away</i>

    <i>	</i><i>I was relaxing in my den</i>

    <i>	</i><i>Then you knuckleheads come crashing in</i>

    <i>	</i><i>And begins spouting nonsense</i>

    <i>	</i><i>What pathetic roleplay are you guys attempting to do, are you dense?</i>

    She stops as a grizzled old man enters the square and unveils the small antique shop. The urchin smiles sheepishly at the party and goes to help.

    ¡°Heya Nota Nyfun!¡±

    The old man looks down cheerfully at the girl. His neutral expression melts into a gentle smile.

    ¡°Ah, hearken here, Shyn, me old friend!¡±

    The party watches silently as the two unload the goods from a box and carefully set them on a moldy shelf. Shyn leans down to grab her stick and points at the party.

    ¡°Customers!¡±

    The old man turns as if he has just noticed them.

    ¡°Ah, well met, good sirs! Be it me wares ye seek this day? And by the saints, thy beastie is a right charming creature, he is!¡± he ruffles Lenny¡¯s fur pleasantly. Lenny rapidly steps back and bares his teeth.  ¡°Pray, cast thine eyes upon the treasures I¡¯ve laid out for thee!¡±

    ¡°God, finally Diem inserts an NPC who actually speaks medieval,¡± Cenvin steps forward to observe the wares, his injuries temporarily forgotten.

    The old man¡¯s little stand, truth be told, barely qualifies as a shop. The few trinkets laid out are dusty and pitiful so no logical customer would ever buy these for gold.

    After carefully blowing the dust off a silver ring encrusted with a cheap-looking gem, Durand carefully slides it on his pinky, and it matches perfectly. He lets out a breath in satisfaction.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take this¡­?¡±

    ¡°I be Foas, keeper o'' this fine shop.¡±

    ¡°Right. Well, Foas, how much for this wonderful ring?¡±

    He tilts his head and Shyn, standing on a stool, whispers into his ear. He nods and announces his price in a show-and-tell fashion.

    ¡°That''ll be two silver, if it please thee, good sir! A fair bargain, I reckon!¡±

    Durand searches in his pouch and produces a single gold coin apologetically.

    ¡°I hope you offer change?¡±

    ¡°Ah, pardon, but I¡¯ve no small coin to spare for change, good sir. Mayhap thou hast the exact sum?

    Durand paces awkwardly while Cenvin draws back, shaking his head disappointed at the lack of merchandise. Shyn quietly consults with Foas. He offers the party an offer.

    ¡°Ah, thou look''st worse for wear, good sir! How to say ye I make amends for lackin'' change by offerin'' thee a bit o'' me humble hospitality?¡±

    ¡°Okay, now I see why Diem doesn¡¯t put these characters in the campaign. They¡¯re not easy to understand.¡±

    Durand bows.

    ¡°We will be incredibly grateful for that.¡±

    Foas opens the other door in the square.

    ¡°Ah, come then, follow me to where I dwell. I''ll see ye right, I shall!¡±

    The party scrambles to follow Foas¡¯s inconsistent pace, occasionally tripping and occasionally running, based on what Foas feels like doing. Shyn, who falls behind quickly because of her leg, yells and whoops happily as she rides on Lenny¡¯s back as he runs quadrupedally. Cenvin pretends not to notice, while Durand plays with her as she hangs on to Lenny¡¯s thick fur.

    Finally, Foas announces that they¡¯ve arrived at his abode.

 Chapter 12: An Old Mans Fantasy Crumbles

    Foas¡¯s household is squalid but homely. Going through the door, the air feels as old as its elderly inhabitant. A roughly wooden table covered by a ripped cotton blanket sits along the wall. Foas draws the curtains on the dying sunlight, peering through the only window. Cenvin yawns and stretches his arms in the middle of the space. He eyes a corner, where a fuzzy black mold has propagated to. Foas seems to pay no notice. He takes his eyes off and turns to the door. Shyn, riding on Lenny, rides through.

    ¡°I see you don¡¯t have a lot of furniture,¡± Cenvin observes, ¡°No restrooms, no kitchen. You call this a home, old man?¡±

    Durand shoots him a disapproving glance but Foas chuckles warmly.

    ¡°Ah, young one, fret not! The Royalty hath seen to all¡ªpublic privies set at every turn, and victuals for nigh on no coin at all. As for me, I oft take me rest upon the table, though I¡¯d not mind yieldin¡¯ it to thy fine beast. A soft spot, that table, and a kindness well-earned!¡±

    Lenny shrugs.

    ¡°First of all, o¡¯ kind elder, I am not a beast, but a worthy druid whose wild shape hath gone wrong, thus trapping my body in this form-¡±

    ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t try to imitate him. One person speaking in period-accurate slang is already overwhelming.¡±

    ¡°I will gladly give Shyn the spot, as she is a weak child.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret, Foas. We all have our gear and sleeping bags with us,¡± Durand assures. ¡°You have already done us a great favor by providing us with hospitality.¡±

    The party begins unraveling their packs as Shyn hops happily on the table.

    ¡°Oldie! Except for the funny-talking furry, I don¡¯t like any of these guys! Why are they here? I hate them!¡±

    ¡°Why do you just don¡¯t like grown-ups in general? Back at the square you were talking about how we could bleed to death or somethin¡¯, like, what¡¯s your problem, baby? You know you¡¯re also about to become a grownup in a few years, right?¡±

    Cenvin leans against the wall, arms crossed. Shyn does a final hop and sits on the table, legs dangling nonchalantly.

    ¡°Well, creepy guy, by the time I become a grownup the bad grownups will be all dead!¡±

    ¡°Why would they be dead?¡±

    ¡°Because I would have killed them all by then!¡±

    Foas interrupts.

    ¡°Ah, a heavy tale that, my young friend. The lass was but a babe when them scoundrels, the Orions, laid their wicked hands upon her¡ªexperimentin'', were they? Saints preserve us! Yet she found her strength and fled their clutches. ''Tis no wonder she guards her heart so fiercely. Pray, pardon her ways; cruel hands have shaped her past, and trust comes not easy when life''s been so unkind.¡±

    ¡°Damn!¡± Cenvin kicks a hole through the wall furiously. Lenny quickly casts Mending on it. ¡°These Starmetal goons again!¡±

    ¡°You know these guys? Can you help me kill them?¡± Shyn asks eagerly. Her eyes light up in maddening passion.

    Once again, Foas interjects.

    ¡°Aye, let us take our rest. The night beckons, and wearied souls need their peace. Sleep well, young ones.¡±

    Shortly after the rest had fallen asleep, Durand opened his sealed eyes in the middle of the night. His pupils seem to glint in the dark, matching Foas¡¯s restless gaze. They walk out of the house together and enter a narrow street, nearby shops closed and no moving things in sight.

    ¡°You know, only night feels normal now, there¡¯s no sunlight,¡± Durand peers into the eternally black sky. Foas, despite not being gifted, agrees.

    ¡°Ah, a night owl, art thou? I oft burn the midnight oil meself, tinkerin¡¯ or tendin¡¯ to the wares,¡± he glances back in the direction of his little stand, ¡°The quiet hours have a charm, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t agree more. The party should operate at night, not the day, where everything feels uncanny and unnatural. Tomorrow, I will tell the party my idea, and¡­ does Shyn like the dark?¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see thou art curious about little Shyn, and rightly so¡ªshe¡¯s a bright spark, she is. But I must beseech thee, good sir, do not drag her into whatever shenanigans thou hast with them Orions. ''Tis my fondest fancy to be a steadfast guardian to her, to raise her into a fine woman, untouched by such troubles, and let her life unfold in peace.¡±Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°I will honor your decision, sir,¡± Durand nods grimly.

    Noticing a wraith gliding around the distant turn, Durand hurries Foas back to the house.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Shyn?¡±

    Fresh and rested, Cenvin says. Lenny raises his sleepy eyes and looks left and right at the room. Durand is deeply asleep, but Foas is sitting upright.

    ¡°What?¡±

    A hint of fear is in Foas¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Ah, now see what¡¯s come of it! She ne¡¯er steps out like this¡ªne¡¯er! And now she¡¯s gone, all on account o¡¯ thee! What hast thou done, lads?¡±

    Teary beads form in his eyes.

    ¡°Ne¡¯er!¡±

    ¡°Calm down, old man, didn¡¯t you say all the restrooms are public? Maybe she needed to go?¡± Cenvin suggests.

    Lenny lowers his nose and sniffs aggressively.

    ¡°Follow,¡± he growls.

    The party leaves a weeping Foas and follows an urgently sniffing Lenny. He expertly hunts down the invisible scent, and they eventually run to a shallow alleyway, where the noises of the main streets can be heard. A few meters below them is a clearing where a group of large kids, edging towards teenage years, kicking a small form on the floor. Some of them aim for her neck, but it hasn¡¯t been broken yet thanks to her viridescent scarf, now stained brown. Cenvin turns incredibly purple and yells at the bullies.

    ¡°You little bastards! I¡¯ll make sure you feel-¡±

    He slumps, comatose.

    Durand sighs and jumps down to break up the kids, but he pauses when a spectacular red heart comes flying out from one of the kids, whose torso is exploding into crimson confetti.

    ¡°Sicks!¡± Shyn slowly stands up in wonder, examining the gore on her hands. The kids around her fall to the floor, paralyzed with pure shock. She picks a piece of liver out of her bone and points her hand at another kid. His head instantly evaporates, leaving a fountain of blood from his splurting neck. Durand narrows his eyes.

    ¡°Is that my ability? But¡­ I can¡¯t use it on organics, how is she doing that? How is she¡­ copying my ability in the first place??¡±

    Lenny also leaps down. Durand quickly grabs him and whispers.

    ¡°What¡¯s your ability? Oh yeah, speaking of which you never use it, but she might be able! What is it?¡±

    Lenny slowly spits out one word:

    ¡°G¡­l¡­o¡­w.¡±

    The yellow light of a fireball emanates behind Durand. He turns to see another kid¡¯s body seared by a golden floating orb, not quite fireball-like, resembling more closely to a small sun. He writhes in pain as the smell of charred flesh floats into the air. Shyn pushes the orb into the kid¡¯s body, snuffing out his screams. She breathes deeply and sits down amongst the carnage, marveling at her work with the eagerness of a young child. Her scarf is more crimson than brown. Durand touches her shoulder and she turns around.

    ¡°Hai big guy! I got magic powers, did you see?¡±

    Durand blankly takes in the slaughter around them. He nods. She waves her hands excitedly. He hurries back against the wall.

    ¡°I can melt stuff, make fireballs, ooh, even telekinesis!¡± She telepathically crushes a corpse¡¯s skull. Its shards stab into Lenny¡¯s fur and he begins briskly trying to get them out.

    ¡°But who has telekinesis?¡± Durand wonders. Shyn looks at him.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Realization dawns on Lenny first.

    ¡°Run.¡±

    Shyn screams as she is snatched by an invisible claw and raises her into the air. Durand leaps and slaps Cenvin¡¯s face, jolting him awake, as a group of Orions bearing the Starmetal emblem and a slender woman, clad in pink-painted chain mail, come charging into the clearing. ¡°Wake up, damn it! They¡¯re taking Shyn!¡±

    Cenvin leaps up.

    ¡°GODDAMN STARMETAL!¡±

    An Orion directs Shyn¡¯s invisible restraints to move her away from the party. The rest make a formation against the adventurers.

    Cenvin tries to create a portal under the pink Orion, but he freezes mid-ability. The Orions charge and Durand is overpowered and pinned against the wall. Lenny snarls and leaps, but a blade catches him and he slams into the ground, breathless. An iron boot pins him against the floor.

    ¡°I should be introducing myself,¡± says the seeming leader, the pink woman. ¡°You may call me Clyde. Stellar of Starmetal Valley. I believe you¡¯ve met my comrade Kores already, hm?¡±

    Her faceless voice has the sweetness of youth combined with the pride of royalty.

    She circles Cenvin, now completely neutral. Durand angrily struggles against the Orions piled against him as he watches a sobbing Shyn float away. Clyde pushes Cenvin and he falls to the floor without resistance.

    ¡°Your friend¡¯s mind is quite weak. So easy to control,¡± she walks to Durand.

    She raises her arm and Durand feels a slam upon his mind. Bang after brutal crush, attack after relentless attack. He closes his eyes and focuses entirely on defending his soul. Seeing the lessened resistance, some Orions restraining him let go and go to help hold down a shrieking Lenny.

    ¡°Strong, impressive.¡±

    Durand¡¯s walls begin to crack.

    ¡°But you can¡¯t defend a siege forever.¡±

    He gives in.

    By the time his puppeteer lets go, the Orions are already gone. Durand pounds the wall furiously while Cenvin sits in utter confusion, staring at the gore of Shyn¡¯s work. Lenny is deathly silent.

    A mad Shyn-like glint radiates from Durand¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Foas didn¡¯t want Shyn to be dragged into this. It¡¯s our fault she was captured.¡±

    ¡°Lucius said we should go on break. Let¡¯s just go to our penthouse and rest,¡± Cenvin lazily suggests. Durand looks his disheartened friend in the eyes. He draws his longsword and lightly slices his arm, drawing blood. He rubs his cut against the length of his sword, staining it red.

    ¡°I swear by my blood, that I will ensure Shyn is safe. We will save her.¡±

    ¡°I can follow their scent.¡±

    ¡°Fine. I can deal damage.¡±

    Determined once more, the hunters begin the hunt.

    Counting the deaths of the last chapter added with this one¡¯s slaughtered children, we now have reached a death count of 571! Can we give it up to our adventurers for causing so much bloodshed? And hey, if you don¡¯t like the violence, it''s not my problem. Graphic warnings, it¡¯s on the page. But if you like reading about NPCs getting beat up, I think you¡¯ll enjoy the next chapter!

 Chapter 13: Shyns Shynanigans

    The party follows the scent to the base of a Skytower, one of the drabbiest and shortest in the West district. A worn-down brick tile bounces on protruding ledges cartoonishly breaks next to Cenvin¡¯s foot.

    Lenny declares, ¡°This is the place, my friends.¡±

    Drawing his shortswords and snarling, Cenvin rushes headfirst into the building, Durand closely behind, his longsword dripping drops of fresh blood. In the lobby, two armored figures stand calmly with the confidence of a soldier. Kores and Clyde.

    ¡°What do you want with her!?¡± Durand shouts, pointing his longsword directly at Kores. He slowly turns, hands raised.

    ¡°She is a property of Starmetal Valley. We raised her.¡± Kores replies.

    ¡°You were treating her like an experiment! You bastards better let her go, or else we will storm this damned tower and liquidate every single member of Starmetal Valley!¡± Cenvin threatens. Being closer to Clyde, he makes a violent motion with his shortswords. Clyde steps to cast her ability, but Kores interrupts her.

    ¡°Do not. Orders.¡±

    He steps forward, arms still raised in peace.

    ¡°My friends, you certainly do not understand the story of the girl¡¯s importance and our machinations to fight the Otherworld. Please, I assure you that Shyn is safe. In due time, we will allow you to meet her again. Is that a sufficient bargain?¡±

    Clyde scoffs at Kores¡¯s show of weakness and begins climbing the stairs. Before she goes out of sight, she leaves one last word.

    ¡°We created her.¡±

    She leaves. Face scarlet, Durand explodes furiously with the shrill of Death.

    ¡°Two damn chapters, no interaction with the Otherworld, all this character-building, just for you to take her? What an ending!¡± He flicks his longsword at Kores, some droplets flying off and staining his pristine azure armor purple. ¡°I¡¯m here to ensure this isn¡¯t a waste of time. Who¡¯s with me?¡±

    Lenny cheers.

    Cenvin roars.

    Kores sighs.

    Moving at lightning speed, Kores draws his reversed shortswords and feigns an attack towards Cenvin, who blocks. Instead, Kores kicks Durand, and the sheer force behind the kick sends Durand flying into the brick wall, creating a massive dent. Lenny slides in and tries to claw at Kores, but his heavy armor protects him from Lenny¡¯s weak moves. Struggling to stand, Durand raises his arms and thorns appear beneath Kores. He grunts momentarily, then immediately hops out of the radius of Durand¡¯s spell. With his shortsword, Cenvin attacks with precise stabs, but Kores kicks Lenny upwards into Cenvin¡¯s attack. Lenny scrapes across the floor, a fresh bleeding cut in his thick hide. Durand tries to imitate what Shyn has done with his ability, attempting to melt Kores¡¯s body. He fails automatically. Taking advantage of the prone Lenny, Kores slashes at the rasping honey badger. Thankfully, Cenvin summons a portal in front of Kores, tricking his arm into going inside the pocket dimension. Kores draws back his attack rapidly right before Cenvin closes the portal. Steadying his pulsating heart, Lenny sends a glowing orb at Kores, but he dodges and the orb burns a hole through the solid brick wall.

    ¡°Your party is very underdeveloped-¡± Kores is interrupted by a longsword to his chest. It finds a crack in his plate armor and briefly finds flesh. Durand follows up with another slash, sending Kores reeling back.

    Cenvin knocks Kores onto the ground with two quick attacks. Turning, he rushes up the stairs.

    ¡°C¡¯mon!¡±

    ¡°Wait-¡±

    ¡°We ain¡¯t got no time!¡±

    ¡°God, fine!¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Lenny?¡±

    ¡°Lenny!¡±

    ¡°Lenny!¡±

    ¡°He disappeared!¡±

    ¡°Whatever. We need to go now!¡±

    Behind them, Kores calmly raises himself with no more intention of shedding blood. He watches pensively as the adventurers rush up the staircase. Behind him, a shadow of a furry animal looms closer.

    The adventurers climb the spiraling steps with the haste of light. Durand arrives at the 2nd floor first, behind him Cenvin bumps into him.

    ¡°Hey, what gives-¡±

    He stops.

    Shyn, free either by her own accord or the Orions¡¯, is now drawing strokes of bloodshed with the brush of the Orions¡¯ body. Clyde is nowhere to be found. An Orion attempts to cut through Shyn¡¯s thin body, but moving with immense concentration she crushes the Orion into the wall with a transparent air hammer. Some corpses on the ground are mangled and twisted into inhuman shapes; possibly the work of telekinesis. The others are mutilated in various ways based on their ability.

    Taking Shyn by the arm, Durand begins dragging her to the stairs, despite her constant protest.

    ¡°Whyyyyyyyyy?¡± She groans. ¡°You¡¯re like a parent I never had. And that¡¯s a darn insult, you mute idiot! Let! Me! Go!!¡±

    Durand sighs as he carries the struggling Shyn down the stairs. Cenvin closely follows.

    ¡°Today you¡¯ve killed so many people. How are you not affected by that? Jesus, Durand just drop her, she can kill Starmetal for us.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a freaking ten-year-old!¡± Durand restates. Cenvin shrugs his shoulders.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see how that matters.¡±

    Back at the lobby, the adventurers are shocked to find Lenny, bloodied and rasping, on the floor. Cenvin hurries to pick him up, nauseated by the little fleas hiding amongst Lenny¡¯s fur.

    ¡°Hygiene,¡± he whispers to himself.

    ¡°Did you try to fight Kores by yourself?¡± Durand asks. Lenny slightly nods his head in embarrassment.¡±Look, man, I know you got a grudge and everything, but if you want to take down Starmetal Valley you should stick with us, right?¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    ¡°Right,¡± Lenny silently says to himself. Durand manages to subdue Shyn by brute force, holding her so tightly that she can¡¯t do anything, such as using her abilities. He begins scolding Shyn.

    ¡°I¡­can¡¯t¡­breathe¡­¡± Shyn whispers.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t gonna kill you,¡± Durand continues.

    Back at the penthouse, Shyn plops onto the couch, perfectly at home. During the way here she had agreed(reluctantly) to negotiate peacefully.

    ¡°I have the power to destroy the bad guys, why won¡¯t you let me use it?¡± Shyn complains. Durand rubs his temples in frustration.

    ¡°She¡¯s not wrong, you know? Plot of every story with an op lead?¡± Cenvin joins in.

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    Lenny looks around for Nyri. Her usual cushion in the corner is dauntingly empty.

    ¡°-Now that this turns Meta you disagree?¡±

    ¡°No, what I¡¯m saying is-¡±

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    A new sensation has taken Cenvin on. This is one chance to eliminate Starmetal and gain Lucius¡¯s favor, but Durand is a major obstacle.

    ¡°Think of Brett!¡±

    Durand looks wearily at Cenvin.

    ¡°Listen, we don¡¯t get Starmetal, Brett is not healed. Did you forget about him in pursuit of little Shyn, your new sidekick, huh?¡±

    ¡°Kill!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s not right! Look at her! She¡¯s addicted to gore! She isn¡¯t normal!¡±

    Exasperated, Durand throws his hands on the table and turns his back to Cenvin. Their thoughts an ocean of infuriating debate apart. Shyn tilts her head and stares unblinkingly at Durand.

    ¡°I¡¯m not normal?¡±

    In her outstretched hand, Durand sees his demise.

    ¡°I am very normal.¡±

    She smiles awkwardly at a loss for words and not knowing what else to say. The penthouse is silent. Finally, Cenvin breaks the suffocating hush.

    ¡°Durand.¡±

    Keeping eye contact with Shyn, Durand slowly sits down in shameful defeat.

    ¡°Fine. Today Starmetal will have some new job openings.¡±

    ¡°Attack Starmetal¡¯s headquarters?¡± Lucius repeats. His face is an emotionless mask. His voice, smooth as always, trembles a slight decibel.

    ¡°Yes, and we have a plan,¡± Cenvin confidently says, taking the lead. Durand leans against the Hyperslate''s handrails, darkly watching the conversation unfold.

    They had asked to meet Lucius outside Shadow¡¯s Edge¡¯s base of operations, another Skytower similar to Starmetal¡¯s. The doorman refused to let them in, but fortunately, Lucius happened to come up the Hyperslate behind them.

    ¡°With the girl, the one my Mercs had informed me about?¡±

    Cenvin takes an alarming step back in surprise.

    ¡°Wha¡­How did you know?¡±

    Lucius falsely rolls his eyes. He pretends to laugh.

    ¡°That little girl used to attack grownups on sight. She got a bit famous with the Skywatch, but we stepped in and calmed her down. She has an ability?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she can-¡±

    Durand steps in.

    ¡°We just need some Mercs for backup.¡±

    ¡°Well, that will make Shadow¡¯s Edge openly declare war against Starmetal. In case your party doesn¡¯t know, Starmetal Valley isn¡¯t based in Italica City, no. Their primary fortress is not here.¡±

    ¡°Then where?¡± Cenvin asks.

    ¡°You buffoon. Starmetal Valley, of course!¡±

    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s an actual place?¡±

    Lucius turns around, face concealed from the party, and contemplates.

    ¡°How about I send some Mercs, and if you fail and get captured, you either end it yourself or deny Shadow¡¯s Edge¡¯s official involvement in your operation? I do hear Starmetal employs some¡­ questionable torture methods.¡±

    ¡°Eh, can¡¯t be worse than normal medieval torture,¡± Cenvin shrugs.

    As the party turns to leave, Lucius mentions one more thing.

    ¡°The Otherworld is becoming considerably harder to suppress. If you plan to eradicate Starmetal Valley from its presence in this city, you better do it nice and clean. We can only win when we are united.¡±

    Durand finally speaks.

    ¡°Sounds like your goal is to rule the city. Aren¡¯t you already there?¡±

    Lucius bats his eyelids and his lips curve into a smile assuringly.

    ¡°My dear Durand, I am not the Premier of Shadow¡¯s Edge. I have no idea what you¡¯re trying to say.¡±

    The Mercs had launched their attack. Surrounding Starmetal¡¯s Skytower, they begin closing in from every entrance. The defenders, it seems, have abandoned the first floor.

    Cenvin looks up at the moonlit Skytower. Durand had suggested they attack at night. Lenny, using his enhanced senses as a honey badger to keep watch, throws an arrow to Cenvin¡¯s feet.

    ¡°Someone coming,¡± Cenvin says.

    Durand pauses, then continues, ¡°No. Listen to me, knucklehead, Lucius is a traitor to Shadow¡¯s Edge.¡±

    Cenvin twirls his shortsword urgently, looking for the incoming stranger. He replies absentmindedly.

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°When we saved Shyn, I swear I saw the use of Lucius¡¯s ability to defeat one of the Orions! Lucius was also so reluctant to grant us support-¡±

    ¡°He did give us some men at the end, didn¡¯t he? Also, you are just against this, okay? I don¡¯t care about your opinion, I¡¯m saving Brett by letting Shyn have her way!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t weaponize him!¡±

    ¡°Yeah? Watch¡¯u you gonna do? I got him in my pocket, don¡¯t I?¡±

    Durand steps up to his face. They glare at each other, ready to pounce. Lenny and Nyri exchange glances of silent laughter.

    ¡°What happened to the black one, Hadke?¡±

    Nyri scowls. Lenny, knowing what¡¯s good for him, lets the topic go. In the distance, a Merc yells, ¡°CHARGE!¡±

    Cenvin and Durand break up and head into the Skytower with the rest of the Mercs. Lenny shrugs and follows suit. Nyri evaporates and blends her whiteness with a nearby lamp.

    Leading the charge, the party pushes through the endless defenses of Orions. Durand, taking Cenvin¡¯s shortswords, dissolves into a hurricane, sweeping through the ranks of the knights. Cenvin, now using Durand¡¯s longsword, slows down to finish off the ones Durand leaves behind. Shyn, her green scarf once again brown with slaughter, nonchalantly evaporates any Orion she sees, usually in particularly painful parts of their body. The Mercs behind them act as the length of the spear, ensuring they won¡¯t get surrounded as they continue to go up, floor after floor. Finally, hundreds of feet above the ground, the party, along with Shyn, faces off against Clyde and Kores on the third-to-tallest story.

    ¡°Starmetal out of talents?¡± Teases Cenvin.

    ¡°No, my friends. The other Stellars are better suited for research back at Starmetal Valley.¡±

    ¡°But we are enough, punks. You won¡¯t beat us. Go back if you wish to leave unharmed!¡±

    ¡°Our swords rated E for everyone, so why don¡¯t you just move aside obediently and let us kill the Star? We''ll give them a little promotion... to Supernova?¡± Cenvin mocks.

    ¡°Enough talk!¡±

    Leaping from behind the team, Lenny makes the first move by slashing Clyde with his scimitar. She sidesteps, then retaliates with a whip created from scales of unknown material. It briefly flicks him, but enough to create a bleeding wound.

    ¡°Try this!¡±

    Trapping Kores¡¯s legs in a small portal, Cenvin rushes and stabs him squarely in the chest. Trapping the tip in his armor, Kores turns rapidly, forcing Cenvin to let go of the weapon. Drawing his reversed shortswords, Kores multi-attacks Cenvin, landing a critical and Cenvin collapses on the floor, screaming and covering his blood-soaked face. Yelling furiously, Durand swipes his shortswords at the Stellars, his relatively weak attacks parried expertly. Shyn smashes Kores against the wall with another air hammer, then tries to vaporize Clyde¡¯s right arm. Unfortunately, Clyde manages to break into Shyn¡¯s mind first. Instantly, the party is crushed against the floor by pounds of invisible weight.

    ¡°Not a bad show,¡± she breathes. Cracking her whip, she lashes out against Durand, creating a hashtag of bloody marks against his back. He screams in pain. Kores stops her from continuing.

    ¡°The party can go. We cannot override orders.¡±

    Clyde¡¯s domination shrivels up and she steps back. Shyn, still controlled, hovers the incapacitated party out of the Skytower. The Mercs had either been subdued or killed. Clyde¡¯s grasp on Shyn is only relinquished once they return to the penthouse.

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    Cenvin kicks the table in frustration and swears in pain. He kicks it again, howling again.

    ¡°DAMN!¡±

    Durand sits impassively on the sofa, watching Cenvin hurt himself.

    ¡°Just because you can¡¯t afford healers to fix that scar of yours doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s the end of the world, ¡®k?¡±

    Cenvin pauses and finesses his scar across his cheek.

    ¡°Damn it!¡±

    Turning, he collapses on the couch. Walking to his limp body, Lenny feels his pulse.

    ¡°Coma again.¡±

    Durand nods, a thousand words he wanted to say to Cenvin. Shortly after they returned to the penthouse, the Orions attacked and dragged Shyn away. Nyri agreed to try to save her, but Cenvin, who was away visiting a healer under Shadow¡¯s Edge to remove his scar, blamed himself for not stopping the Orions.

    Durand closes his eyes.

    ¡°Diem, can you say a joke? You haven¡¯t been interfering with us in a while.¡±

    At the start, I actively interacted with you guys because you weren¡¯t immersed in the world and the story yet. Now, why would I distract you with more of my silly jokes when you are so invested in the plot?

    Kill count: 642. :)

 Chapter 14: Consequences of Shyns Shenanigans

    Cenvin wakes up in the pitch-black void.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    He asks the void. Durand¡¯s voice rings back.

    ¡°Quiet. Lenny is sleeping.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Is Nyri also here? Speaking of which, does she still glow when she sleeps?¡±

    ¡°All the big questions in life.¡±

    ¡°I digress. There¡¯s no light.¡±

    ¡°Curtains, Otherworld, and Darkness spell.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a ranger. You can¡¯t cast Darkness.¡±

    ¡°Spell scroll.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°Why did you use a spell scroll for this?¡±

    ¡°So I can stop myself from beating you up on sight.¡±

    ¡°You probably can¡¯t win.¡±

    ¡°I can.¡±

    ¡°You need my two shortswords.¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s for crowd control.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡±

    Beginning to enjoy the tranquility of the dead silence, Cenvin lies on the sofa. The void surrounds him, leaving only his and Durand¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Don¡¯t this remind you of that one time?¡±

    ¡°Chapter 3?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a chapter 3?¡±

    ¡°When we walked into the woods and got attacked by shadow bunnies? How do you not remember the chapters? The different sessions?¡±

    He¡¯s too far gone and immersed completely in this world.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that voice talking?¡±

    Never mind, Cenvin you¡¯re not fooling anyone, your acting is garbage.

    ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°How about let¡¯s talk something plot-relevant, Shyn-¡±

    ¡°No. We don¡¯t talk about her-¡±

    ¡°-is completely our responsibility! Foas gave us that one job, and we screwed it up!¡±

    ¡°You had to say it. Now, let¡¯s debate on-¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to debate!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say to keep it down?¡±

    ¡°I was trolling. It¡¯s the afternoon, bud. You¡¯ve been in a coma for nearly a day.¡±

    ¡°Damn.¡±

    ¡°You changed the topic. The thing is, Shyn is probably in danger-¡±

    ¡°Who cares!¡±

    ¡°I do! What¡¯s the point of us playing Dungeons and Dragons if nothing matters-¡±

    ¡°You accusing me of being a nihilist?

    ¡°You¡¯re sounding pretty damn like one right now.¡±

    ¡°Them¡¯s fighting words, Durand!¡±

    ¡°Bring it, c¡¯mon! Chicken?¡±

    ¡°Lift the Darkness!¡±

    ¡°You asked for it!¡±

    Well, um, actually, he didn¡¯t ask- MY EYES!

    Glaring sunlight shines from the heavenly void. Eyes adjusting to the new light, the two stumble up the stairs to a small clearing with a filled bookshelf, a squawking tea table, and a wooden chair. Sitting there is Lenny, holding a small atlas on potion-making history in his paw. He gives the rivals no more than a second glance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mess my shelf up,¡± he returns his focus to his atlas. He gently flips a page, carefully not to rip it with his claw.

    Durand draws his longsword and strikes a battle stance. He silently puts his other hand behind him and extracts something from a small pouch. Cenvin unsheathes his shortswords and also guards. He scoffs upon seeing Durand¡¯s concealed hand.

    ¡°Gonna fight with one arm behind your back?¡±

    Durand shakes his hair out of his eye and winks calmly. Cenvin gives a villainous chuckle and attacks, scoring a stab directly on Durand¡¯s shoulder. The ranger steps back rapidly while Cenvin gets ensnared by seemingly sentient vines. He struggles as the vine grips his shoulders.

    ¡°Damn sneak attack!¡±

    ¡°Damn entanglement!¡±

    Cenvin desperately tries to force his way out to no avail. Durand charges, expertly slashing his longsword at Cenvin. Seeing that the attack is about to land, Durand charges it with intense heat. Cenvin yells in pain as the blade sears his flesh, dealing more damage on top of the cut itself. Fire begins to propagate from the wound and onto Cenvin¡¯s clothes. He yells in pain as the blaze slowly drains his health pool, unable to move or struggle. The flames flicker out, leaving him with several visibly noticeable burns, on top of his healing scar.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    With a concluding throw, Durand steps back to watch the fun. Cenvin began to struggle and writhe on the ground, trying to bat off the fleas Durand had thrown. A series of quivering rings through his body and he crawls to Lenny, begging for help.

    ¡°Please¡­¡±

    Lenny looks at him disinterestedly. Finally, he creates a cube of water above Cenvin and soaks him. Cenvin sighs in relief as he watches the flailing fleas get washed away. He stops when he feels the longsword¡¯s tip at his neck.

    ¡°Surrender?¡±

    ¡°Never!¡±

    ¡°You should, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s joking.¡±

    A voice rings from the door. Shyn walks in. Nyri sits on her shoulder, adjusting her viridescent scarf. She gives a disdainful meow at the quarreling adventurers. Hopping through a purple portal, Shyn appears next to Durand.

    ¡°Heya, Overproa Tactive!¡±

    Durand pauses, then sheathes his longsword. Cenvin hurriedly scrambles away.

    ¡°How did Nyri save you?¡± He queries.

    Shyn begins enthusiastically describing how Nyri flew in, BAM, and then a CRACK, one Orion down, and then she did a cool WHACK and knocked out another one, then she morphed into a sword and SLASH SLASH downing yet another, then they fought back but Nyri dodged it all, and it was just HACK HACK HACK HACK HACK HACK

    ¡°Very descriptive,¡± Cenvin says.

    Nyri finds herself lifted into a cuddle.

    ¡°Thank you, Nyri,¡± Durand whispers. Lenny tosses Nyri some catnip, which orbs from her body catch in midair and absorbs.

    ¡°-Anyway, then Kores showed up and it was all over.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Nyri squeals as Durand suddenly drops her. Transforming and landing on the floor as a slinky, she bounces to her cushion for a well-deserved rest.

    ¡°What happens next?¡±

    Cenvin sits on the floor, completely invested in Shyn¡¯s tall tale. Lenny and Durand are also dropping onto the floor, focusing their attention upon hearing Kores¡¯s name. Shyn grins, twists her scarf, and begins her performance like a traveling storyteller.

    ¡°So Kores came along, right? Nyri didn¡¯t notice, she was still HACK HACK HACK HACK¡­ and Kores had this bottle, and he splashed it on Nyri- she¡¯s fine now, don¡¯t worry- and Nyri couldn¡¯t dodge it, because it was liquid, you know? I mean, she could have, maybe dissolved into tiny orbs to dodge all the molecules¡­ I don¡¯t know. Anyway, so Kores captured me again, right? Nyri was helpless because she was sedated by the liquid,  so Kores took me to their stupid Skytower, the broken down one, and-¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just use his ability against him?¡± Cenvin chimes.

    Shyn turns pale and rubs her temples.

    ¡°I-¡±

    She pauses, her pale hue sliding into red.

    ¡°His ability was already optimized to the max by himself. I couldn¡¯t beat him. He was the best he could be.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s his ability again?¡±

    ¡°He hits harder. Crazy damage.¡±

    ¡°No wonder we got beat up by him before. Continue.¡±

    ¡°So, yeah, we were captured and Kores was talking with me, he was really friendly. He told me a lot, that I am Gifted, therefore I have an ability, and he told me that my ability was Ability Duplication, I can harness other Gifteds¡¯ abilities and empower them for my use.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ strong.¡±

    ¡°Strong is an understatement, Durand.¡±

    ¡°So Starmetal isn¡¯t that bad then?¡±

    Durand asks Shyn.

    ¡°No, they¡¯re still evil.¡±

    ¡°Hear! Hear!¡± Lenny adds.

    ¡°Then Nyri returned, and she struck Kores before he could get another anti-Nyri bottle again.¡±

    Shyn finally sits down. She twirls her scarf around her fingers anxiously.

    ¡°I wanted to go back to Foas. He¡¯s disappeared. There was some kind of black mold spread across his entire room. So, I¡¯ve got nothing to lose now.¡±

    She stands up with regained hatred that would make the devil proud. She extends her hand symbolically to the party.

    ¡°I am going to Starmetal Valley to kill every living thing there. Revenge. Blood. Death.¡±

    The party watches in frozen horror as she continues.

    ¡°They will pay. Pay with their lives. They don¡¯t deserve to live.¡±

    Shyn¡¯s familiar madness glares ever brighter than before in her eyes like a pair of priceless pearls.

    ¡°After all, what¡¯s a little organization gonna do in the scope of the universe?¡±

    She aggressively steps forward, her hands reaching out hopefully for companionship.

    ¡°Help me!¡±

    Durand bites his lip. I must warn you that this will likely be the single most important decision of the campaign. Very important, very consequential. Think wisely. Help Shyn or stay as freelance Mercs.

    Lenny, who had been demure in the conversation, speaks.

    ¡°Well, I personally believe-¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Durand and Lenny look at Cenvin.

    ¡°No,¡± he repeats.

    Shyn turns scarlet and disappears into a portal.

    The party sits in shock from what just happened. Finally, Durand cranks his neck to Cenvin¡¯s face, staring daggers.

    ¡°What. The. Fu-¡±

    Language!

    ¡°Fine. What the hell is wrong with you.¡±

    Cenvin returns the oppression with an emotionless glance. Breathing heavily, the elephantine rage boiling inside him, Durand grabs his longsword and prods Cenvin. He makes no effort to dodge and takes the stab. He groans in pain.

    ¡°Brain overloading? You bovine?¡±

    Durand takes his blade out and stabs again with the coldness of an executioner. He winces and buckles, arms trying to cover his deep wounds. Durand goes for another stab, but Lenny parries him. He shakes his head. Durand sheathes his sword with a huff. Cenvin moans in pain as he tries to bandage his gushing cuts with pieces of his cloak. Lenny casts Cure Wounds and Cenvin¡¯s breathing steadies.

    Lenny turns his head to Durand, another healing spell ready.

    ¡°Are you hurt?¡±

    Durand looks at Cenvin torturously.

    ¡°Emotionally.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    With the struggle of an aged man, Cenvin cranes his head up.

    ¡°Only if I could afford Medicare,¡± he laments, head drooping down again.

    Lenny checks his pulse.

    ¡°Coma.¡±

    Durand rolls his eyes.

    Nyri gracefully blorbs into a squishy slimeball. She wraps Cenvin¡¯s head in all directions, completely drowning him. With an instant crack, and his neck feeling refreshingly painful, Cenvin jolts up. A thousand emotions course through his body and up to his brain. He screams madly and begins tearing the furniture. Durand and Lenny hurry to restrain him. He barks and bites at his party.

    ¡°You wanna know why, huh? Screw Shyn! She is a liability!¡±

    Durand stuffs his hand over Cenvin¡¯s mouth, effectively muffling him out.

    A black form hastily hides from the window as Nyri glances at it. She yowls angrily and flies out in the shape of a fighter jet. The two soar away in the continued chase.

    The next upload will be a one-shot dedicated to Lenny- and after that will be the beginning of the end of the Italica City arc! Nyri has made the death count 646, well done! Chapters will hopefully become progressively longer and better, thanks for reading so far, more to come!

 One Shot: Stoffel the Dwarf

    ¡°We are going to war.¡±

    Pausing his woodcarving, the Elder turned to Alois. He furrowed his eyes which were nearly concealed by his thick pale eyebrows. He stroked his waterfall-like beard thoughtfully and shook his head. He responds to the slender human before him.

    ¡°Who is coming with you?¡±

    ¡°My son.¡±

    His voice quavered with determination upon uttering these two words. Stoffel, the half-dwarf, peered at the Elder behind Alois¡¯s figure. The Elder shook his head.

    ¡°He is a kid. I will not condone him being exposed to bloodshed.¡±

    ¡°It is a civil war, Elder. This will decide Italica¡¯s fate, along with yours and mine.¡±

    ¡°A human conflict. Does the kid wish so?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes¡­ Yes, Elder,¡± his voice grew with determination, echoing his father. The Elder sighed and shook his head in shame.

    ¡°Alois. Don¡¯t ruin him.¡±

    ¡°I will never. I promise you, he will emerge as a man.¡±

    ¡°Or a stout dwarf,¡± The Elder added. ¡° We will see, then. You have my blessing.¡±

    Alois dragged his son into a grateful bow and left the underground garden. The Elder paused, basked in the life-giving sunlight from the heavens, and then returned to his small statue of a honey badger. He shook the sense of foreboding away.

    ¡°Your mother had already gone inside, unfortunately. You have picked quite a terrible time to come,¡± the guard said. He blocked Alois with his battleaxe, preventing him from going into the mysterious tunnels of yore.

    ¡°Please, Jaoeg, just one last word,¡± Alois begged.

    The guard shakes his head. He gives the tearful Alois a little leatherbound journal.

    ¡°She did want you to have this. The arts of Wild Shape. Her family secret.¡±

    Alois looked painfully into the black hole. He handed Stoffel the journal.

    ¡°Keep it safe,¡± he instructed grimly.

    ¡°Pass it along!¡±

    The instructor shrilled at the grimy recruits. Alois carefully searched for his son in the mud. The nearby Captain Jones placed his huge hand on his friend¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Your son is¡­ quite small among his peers, I noticed-¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Alois snapped.

    Jones backed away, arms raised.

    ¡°My dear Captain, I¡¯m simply proposing an alternative to fighting on the front lines. How about your son stay behind as a surgeon? He has quite the fascination for the arts of healing, after all. A pure and honorable art.¡±

    ¡°He will fight among the bravest men on the front lines.¡±

    Jones paused. Alois lighted up when he saw Stoffel''s small but wide figure, his dwarven blood making his physique a significant contrast with the others. Then, his emotion dimmed as quickly as it had risen when he saw Stoffel was one of the slowest. Jones stepped forward with another suggestion.

    ¡°You see, he simply can¡¯t fight a fair battle. How about he trains as a field medic, saving countless lives under the rain of arrows and the walls of blades?¡±

    Alois considered this proposal.

    ¡°Very well. Who will he train under?¡±

    Captain Jones slapped his breastplate confidently. Alois sighed.

    ¡°Very well,¡± he repeated.

    Stoffel was the last recruit to finish the circuit.

    ¡°A druid medic, huh? That¡¯s so cool!¡± Tessa exclaimed.

    Stoffel enthusiastically nodded. He smiled warmly and stood up, his height barely meeting hers.

    ¡°You can count on me, ol¡¯ reliable, to get you patched up!¡±

    The recruits around him cheered. They were in a wagon, traveling to the front lines. A series of battles had begun in Seashine Village. The rebels had a far advantage over the Royalists, and they were being imported into the city to grow the rebels¡¯ strength and completely kick them out. They were promised they would see minimal fighting. The wagon was a coop of excited young soldiers, including Tessa, one of the four girls in the battalion. She was innocent and warm, instantly becoming popular with her fellow recruits.

    ¡°I can already smell the sea air!¡±

    ¡°I heard they will build a city on Seashine after the war!¡±

    ¡°A city? For real?¡±

    ¡°Anyone thinks they can kill three Roys?¡±

    Stoffel¡¯s grin faded away as he was once again pushed back by the boys struggling to get Tessa¡¯s attention. She pushes them and moves next to him.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to see combat early?¡±

    ¡°Yep! They said they can always use more medics and stuff, so-¡±

    ¡°SO COOL!¡± Tessa yelped.

    She squirmed in her seat.

    ¡°Tell us what it¡¯s like, deal?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡±

    Alois trodded to the wagon on his horse. The recruits instantly became silent. He cast his strict gaze over the rookies and continued along. Stoffel swore his eyes lingered on him and Tessa.

    ¡°Hell.¡±

    The young soldier groaned as Stoffel hurried to treat him. He quickly assessed the situation: an arrow to the thigh.

    ¡°Hurts like hell?¡±

    ¡°Everything is hell,¡± the youth whispered. He screamed as Stoffel pulled out the arrow shaft and began bandaging his wounds with cloth. An arrow whizzed by.

    ¡°My bad! The arrowhead is barbed, I will carry you to the surgeon!¡±

    The soldier panted and fell unconscious. Stoffel winced as another soldier beside him exploded from a fireball. The Royalists had just revealed their secret weapon. They brought the Archmages of Royalty. Stoffel picked the soldier up, harnessing his dwarven strength, and hurried past the various barricades and soldiers, to the circle of life in the distance, where a surgeon was working miracles.

    ¡°How did it go!?¡± Tessa and the recruits shouted excitedly as Stoffel came back in the night. He raised his arms for pause.

    ¡°Hell.¡±

    The barracks exploded with curiosity. A plethora of further questions were flung at Stoffel¡¯s tired face, but one eventually prevailed as the most important.

    ¡°What do you mean as hell?¡±

    ¡°Everything was hell,¡± Stoffel echoed emptily. He clamored onto his bunk and fell asleep instantly. The barracks stayed up for hours, discussing Stoffel¡¯s response and the orders for them to go into action tomorrow morning.

    ¡°These are Spectralroots,¡± the surgeon said, holding a flask with a dark liquid.

    Under the orders of his father, Stoffel was to learn alchemy which, combined with his magic and skill, would work wonders on the front lines.

    Stoffel tore his gaze from the wounded weasel outside the tent and turned back to the surgeon, who continued.

    ¡°Known for their necromantic properties. No, don¡¯t give me that look. This is no stereotypical Dark Art. You simply mix these with a handful of herbs such as rosemary, hightails, and lizard leaf, and it will give the power to restore the beating of one¡¯s heart. If done correctly and the ingredients are pure, it will also massively boost one¡¯s arcana proficiencies. Valuable concoctions, Stoffel. Are you listening?¡±

    The surgeon carefully sealed the flask and looked at Stoffel closely. He jumped and turned back. The weasel was dead.

    ¡°Sir¡­ there¡¯s a dead weasel outside,¡± he whispered.

    The surgeon went out and carried it onto the lab table.

    ¡°An arrow¡­ it died slowly and painfully.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Stoffel winced as his memories of battle came flooding back.

    ¡°Feed the potion to its mouth. Make sure to use every last drop.¡±

    Stoffel obeyed. At once, the weasel¡¯s eyes fluttered open, revealing a set of terrified pupils. It frantically tore away. The surgeon and Stoffel watched it melt into the foliage. At last, the surgeon sighed and returned to their lesson.

    ¡°It really is hell.¡±

    Tessa whispered, the wound of a firebolt visibly present on the place on her chest where her heart was. Stoffel clutched her, ignorant of other moaning soldiers lying around him, tears freely flowing from his eyes to Tessa¡¯s increasingly stiff body. He scrambled in his bag for the potions the surgeon had given him. She laughed as her cherished memories with her comrades came flashing across her eyes.

    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Stoffel whispered. ¡°You feel sleepy, right?¡± Tessa shook her head, unwilling to relinquish her ever-so-distant thoughts.

    Stoffel shook the bottle at her.

    ¡°Please! You just have to let go, and everything will be good¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna,¡± Tessa complained, her slideshow finally scrolling to the time in training. Stoffel¡¯s clean, stout face clipped with his present, grime-covered, teary appearance. ¡°I feel surprisingly energetic¡­ that¡¯s good, right, Stoffel? Don¡¯t them doctors always become happy when I say I¡¯m alright?¡±

    ¡°You are not! Please- you need to sleep!¡±

    Tessa smiled as her dying brain pulled up a thought of her parents forcing her to stay in bed.

    ¡°If I had listened, I wouldn¡¯t be here, would I?¡±

    ¡°What are you-¡±

    Stoffel did not know how to respond. Tessa drooped, her eyes finally losing their spark. Stoffel frantically tried to feed her the concoction.

    Please¡­ please- PLEASE!

    ¡°You there! We need a medic over here!¡± A man shouted in the distance. A pang of guilt attacked Stoffel in the heart. He neglected other brave soldiers. His hands shook and the flask trembled, spilling the live-saving potion over Tessa¡¯s peaceful features.

    ¡°Hurry up! What are you doing? Medic! Medic!¡± the man shouted with increasing desperation. Stoffel hesitated and finally paused when Tessa showed no signs of rejuvenation. Tears now a waterfall, he stood up and hurried to treat the alive in need.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk, Captain to healer, superior to subordinate.¡±

    Alois crossed his fingers.

    ¡°Father to son,¡± he added.

    ¡°Been a while,¡± Stoffel said emptily.

    Alois nodded. On his table, a map of Seashine was laid out, piles of figurines and paper laid over it. A little wooden statue of a honey badger was situated in a corner. Alois picked it up and showed it to Stoffel, who studied it emotionlessly.

    ¡°The Elder sent this. Honey badgers have thick skins, enough to protect themselves, and sharp claws, which can be used against their enemies. If you can translate that into an army, then¡­ it will be the ideal fighting force.¡±

    ¡°How is Mother?¡±

    ¡°Anyway, um, I just want to ask you - since you live with the soldiers, not me, - how are the men doing?¡±

    ¡°They are depressed and traumatized.¡±

    ¡°...Understandable.¡±

    ¡°But they wish to keep fighting, sir.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s excellent. Tomorrow we will attempt a final charge. I wanted to just¡­ check on the men, and see how you are doing, you know?¡±

    ¡°Will that be all?¡± Stoffel did not return Alois¡¯s brief empathy.

    ¡°That¡­ will be all.¡±

    Something snapped.

    ¡°Men! Today we will drive the Royalists away! Once, and for all!¡±

    Thousands of soldiers cheered, Stoffel the exception.

    ¡°The gravestones of our fallen peers, the rivers of blood that had been sacrificed, and the spirits of the hundreds of our friends - are they for nothing!¡±

    ¡°No, sir!¡±

    Stoffel¡¯s mind turned to Tessa¡¯s new granite gravestone. He insisted it is granite instead of dull limestone using his privilege of being the Captain¡¯s son, an ability he rarely used. Alois continued.

    ¡°What¡¯s a couple of paper-loving, religion-worshipping, white-bearded old men gonna do? What¡¯s a crushed, haggard army gonna do? The countless hecatombs of war, the great heroics of battle, and the sacred mission every one of us had contributed to, will be remembered forever to be the stuff of legends! Who is with me!¡±

    The riled-up soldiers cheered again.

    ¡°I will lead! Charge!¡±

    ¡°Retreat! Retreat!¡±

    Alois commanded as fireballs exploded across the battlefield. The Royalists had reinforcements, armored knights who seemed to have supernatural powers. Alois¡¯s men were thoroughly disassembled and dissolved in a matter of minutes.

    Stoffel ran frantically, pulling to the end of his strength wounded to safety. Save yourself, what are some more deaths going to do? He shook the terrible thought off. The voice continued, the day is lost. Save yourself for once, will you?

    He ran, leaving a still-breathing soldier in the mud. He raised his hands, then slowly lowered them, accepting his fate. Stoffel bolted, then paused as he saw Alois fighting two knights. A flash shot across the battlefield, and Alois covered his eyes, seemingly blinded. The knights struck him in the leg, sending him kneeling. Stoffel couldn¡¯t watch. He tore his eyes off the proceeding sight and dashed into the wrecked town. He eventually stumbled into a burning tavern. He crawled into the basement for refuge, where a wall lined with barrels of alcohol provided sustenance for him through the next month.

    He eventually traveled away from the ruins as Lenny, an alcoholic, starving, and depressed vagrant. He always had a large flask full of beer with him, the same flask he tried to use to bring back Tessa. He had ditched his old life in the mud after he came across the ruins of the rebels¡¯ camp. He filed through some papers and read that mysterious armored men slaughtered his dwarven relatives. Resolved to discover who these men were, he began a journey north.

    He traveled beyond the Kingdom of Italica into the northern continents, the Realm of Ruin. He was told that mysteries and specters of the deceased dominated these lands by many travelers. He grew a startling fascination with the stars and constellations, something he also does not understand. He would spend many sleepless nights simply communicating with the heavens above.

    At the edge of the Realm of Ruin, he was attacked by a heatwave. Suffering severe whiplash, he gathered many indigents to mix into a concoction that would help him survive the ordeal. He failed, but he did manage to mix the Spectralroot potion he was all too familiar with. Having no use for it, he thought of another way.

    Wild Shape, the secret passed from his mother. He had never attempted it but kept the journal with him all this time. He quickly gazed across the pages and memorized the basics. Drinking the potion, he hoped it would help boost his chances of Wild Shaping.

    But what will he morph into?

    A honey badger. Its thick skins. Its resilience. It was neverending courage that symbolized so many things in his life. Desperately, he transformed.

    A success. He survived the heatwave.

    A failure. He could not return to his form. He had overdone it.

    Traveling back to Seashine, now rebuilt into Seashine City, he began life as a honey badger, scavenging amongst human garbage. His life had hit rock bottom. The skies were permanently dark, something he assumed to be caused by his honey-badger eyes.

    One day, as he was digging in a dirt ditch for a smelly banana, he was interrupted by a small voice.

    ¡°Hullo! Can you understand me?¡±

    Lenny paused. Slowly, he turned around, expecting a human, but facing him was a mongoose, colored peculiarly black-and-white in a pattern. Lenny nodded. The mongoose sighed in relief.

    ¡°Finally! Someone like me!¡±

    He threw himself into an embrace with him. Confused and clueless about how to react, Lenny gently patted him on the back. The mongoose broke away and jumped around excitedly.

    ¡°I¡¯m Rikki Tikki Tavi! A bit foreign,¡± he said sheepishly, ¡°but it was the name I liked. Rolls off quite glamorously.¡±

    ¡°It¡­ does set you apart.¡±

    Lenny spoke with immense effort, having not adjusted to a honey badger¡¯s vocal cords.

    ¡°Say again?¡±

    ¡°It sets you apart.¡±

    ¡°Bingo!¡±

    The mongoose jumped up and down like a slinky. He sped around Lenny and lay on the ground, chest heaving for breath. He poked his head at Lenny.

    ¡°Let¡¯s be friends!¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡±

    Rikki was instantly vocal against Lenny¡¯s alcoholism. Eventually, he managed to convince him to stop drinking. He had a kind human provide food for him every day, and the human was also glad to feed Lenny. Lenny teared up upon tasting real food for the first time in months.

    One day, three armored men came stumbling across Lenny and Rikki¡¯s little hideout. They grabbed Rikki and Lenny slowly woke up as they bickered.

    ¡°Getoff me!¡±

    ¡°This mongoose talks! Can mongooses talk?¡±

    ¡°No! This has to be an Otherworld creature.¡±

    ¡°I said, gets your hands-¡±

    ¡°Then what¡¯s the holdup? Orders, we clean Seashine of the Otherworld. Is it not?¡±

    ¡°Alright then.¡±

    The sharp sound of a blade. Lenny rushed out, screaming at the top of his lungs as he witnessed one human cut open Rikki¡¯s chest, spilling his intestines(also curiously black-and-white) onto the earth. Rikki¡¯s screaming was instantly snuffed.

    At that moment, Lenny¡¯s sense of morality and humanity disappeared. He hurled a hex at one of the knights, binding him with vines, and charged at the other two with a scimitar. A metal boot slammed into his skull, knocking him out.

    ¡°Where am I?¡±

    Lenny asked. He was bound to a chair, tied up by a seemingly invisible rope. He looked around. He was in a room filled with warm lights and rainbow reflections created by the various glass decorations on the walls. A silhouette of a tall, slender man stands up, his back in the sunlight. His voice was comfortably smooth.

    ¡°Italica City.¡±

    ¡°The¡­ capital?¡±

    ¡°That is right, Lenny.¡±

    ¡°Who are you? How did you¡­¡±

    ¡°Know your name, Lenny? An ability called memory link, my friend. I am Lucius, the Captain of Shadow¡¯s Edge, an organization of Gifteds who can wield powerful abilities to fight against the Otherworld.¡±

    ¡°The Otherworld?¡±

    ¡°Right. Your friend the mongoose was an Otherworld creature. You didn¡¯t know? These creatures are sinister, they feed on people to live. You are a Gifted, my friend. That is why you could see him in the first place.¡±

    ¡°He was innocent!¡±

    ¡°Hey, my men didn¡¯t kill your friend. Starmetal Valley did.¡±

    ¡°Starmetal.... Valley?¡±

    ¡°Our rival organization. They don¡¯t have the same morals as us. They killed your father, Alois. They liquidated your dwarven cousins. They killed your friend.¡±

    Lenny¡¯s teeth grinded together in rage. Lucius laughed.

    ¡°Will you join us in our effort to put a stop to their crimes? You will be the one to topple Starmetal Valley, I can see it¡­¡±

    Without thinking twice, Lenny replied, ¡°Yes!¡±

    ¡°Excellent.¡±

    Lucius picked up a scimitar and its sheath. He turned it around in the sunlight, a sharp glint off its blade.

    ¡°Unfortunately, they took your weapon. This blade has never seen blood. Forged by my brother, a master blacksmith, it¡¯s made of Starmetal. The strongest material we know of. Hopefully, this is enough to make up for your loss.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want Starmetal crap.¡±

    ¡°My friend, I am talking about the mineral of meteors. May its name, whatever it will be, always remind you of something¡­ dear.¡±

    Lenny nodded and took the scimitar from Lucius. He examined it closely, noting its subtle cerulean sparkle and the heaviness of the material.

    ¡°Rikki Tikki Tavi,¡± he whispered to the weapon.

    ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°This blade will claim many lives,¡± Lenny announced, sheathing it.

    ¡°Let us meet your soon-to-be party members, then. Shall we get started?¡±

 Chapter 15: The Hunted Hunting for the Hunted Before the Hunt

    Breathing haggardly, Cenvin finally stops struggling against the creepers. Through the combined effort of Durand and Lenny, they trapped Cenvin in a web of vines that restrained his every attempt to break free. Cenvin raises his head to look at his party members.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being a goofy goober. I think I¡¯m just very pissed off at the fact that we¡¯re not getting paid.¡±

    ¡°At least Lucius provided us with this penthouse, and he agreed to help us heal Brett.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know- didn¡¯t you say Lucius was a traitor?¡±

    Cenvin stops, working to find the correct phrase.

    ¡°It¡¯s my kleptomania. I NEED to get gold, and you forbid me to steal and stuff, so, you know, it¡¯s making me demented!¡±

    Durand sighs and unravels the vines. He crashes into the ground.

    ¡°You made Shyn leave and who knows where she is right now, you probably pissed off Lucius for that foiled attack on Starmetal which lost a lot of his men, and Starmetal is probably pissed off too, come to think of it. How are you going to repent?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get us a salary,¡± Cenvin breathes.

    ¡°We don¡¯t care about money as you do.¡±

    ¡°I''ll go by myself then!¡±

    Durand sits on the couch and begins sharpening his knife. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Looking to Lenny for support, Cenvin picks up his shortswords. Lenny shakes his head and joins Durand in cleaning his prized scimitar. Cenvin shakes his head disappointingly and leaves for Shadow¡¯s Edge¡¯s base.

    The grizzled doorman slides open the peephole and narrow his eyes at Cenvin. He takes note of Cenvin¡¯s distraught appearance.

    ¡°Whadda you want now?¡±

    ¡°Let me in to see Lucius.¡±

    ¡°None can do, kid.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on!¡±

    ¡°Kid, you need a passcode, didn¡¯t Lucius tell you one?¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know nothin¡¯ to say then, goodbye-¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    The peephole slides shut.

    ¡°Sephyr!¡±

    Someone said my name? Haha, jk. Despite appearing quite disgruntled to do so, The doorman opens the door.

    ¡°God damn it, the devil must''ve told you,¡± the doorman complains as Cenvin slides in. He makes a face at him, which angers him even more. Cursing, he returns to his chair.

    Cenvin opens the door to see Lucius playing with a toy star. He happily squeezes it, which lets out a piercing noise. A maniacal smile forms around his lips. Upon seeing Cenvin he stows the star away in his cabinet and crosses his fingers and legs, leaning back in classic evil mastermind fashion.

    ¡°Cenvin. Quite¡­ a surprise.¡±

    Cenvin smirks as if he had just gained access to blackmail material.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you liked to play with kid¡¯s toys.¡±

    ¡°Ah, well, it is quite satisfying to hear screams. I like to imagine it¡¯s from an actual human. Don¡¯t you as well?¡±

    ¡°That will be Lenny. I can¡¯t match his war criminal psyche.¡±

    ¡°Anyway, what wind blows you here, my friend? Take a seat.¡±

    Cenvin yields the request and sits on the chair directly in front of Lucius. Cenvin looks around, marveling once again at the mixture of rainbows and sunlight, and redirects to Lucius.

    ¡°I want to get paid.¡±

    ¡°Is this demand echoed by your party?¡±

    ¡°...Yes.¡±

    Lucius narrows his eyes and bores into Cenvin¡¯s. They lock eye contact as Cenvin shields his true thoughts from Lucius¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°Very well. Who am I to object? You execute your orders well, after all. But one small thing,¡± his smooth voice flickers with a hint of emotion.

    ¡°Anything you ask,¡± Cenvin pushes eagerly, ¡°I just want to be paid from now on.¡±

    An invisible hammer slams into Cenvin, knocking the air out of him.

    ¡°Wha-¡±

    A transparent force shoves him into the ceiling with a POOM, and as he falls, two air walls crush him from both sides in a resounding CRACK(that¡¯s gotta be a few broken bones!). He lands on the ground, his body quivering in pain. Lucius stands, casually flourishing a longsword of air.

    ¡°Thank you, my friend, for being the outlet of some long-suppressed stress,¡± he remarks cheerfully. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten the death of my brother, after all, and all the fiasco that comes with you storming one of the most powerful organizations in Italica.¡±

    He stabs the invisible blade into Cenvin¡¯s back, earning a scream.

    ¡°Here¡¯s my proposition. For every successful mission, you earn one silver coin, a bargain. What say you, friend? I can solidify the very air in your lungs. Decide wisely!¡±

    ¡°Yes¡­ yes,¡± Cenvin whispers.

    ¡°Splendid! I wish you a good day, Cenvin. If your party had come, I¡¯d known you were telling the truth. But alas!¡±

    Cenvin scrambles up like a terrified mouse and shuffles away from Lucius¡¯s room, as fast as possible. The doorman nods him goodbye solemnly as if he knows what has taken place behind him.

    ¡°Words can¡¯t describe how much I want to grab Lucius¡¯s stupid noggin and thrust it into barbed wire! Unless Diem lets me swear-¡± he looks hopefully to the sky.Stolen novel; please report.

    No.

    ¡°Damn!¡±

    I¡¯ll allow that.

    ¡°So from what you¡¯ve told me,¡± Durand slowly states, ¡°it seems like you¡¯ve angered yet another significant and powerful person, essentially the mafia¡¯s godfather. Is that right?¡±

    Lenny grabs his scimitar tightly, ready to pounce on Cenvin. Durand waves him back.

    ¡°Cenvin?¡±

    Blood coursing through his veins, Cenvin manages to sit stiffly on the couch. ¡°No more in-fighting, we¡¯re not getting anywhere.¡±

    Lenny sheathes his scimitar in disappointment. Durand shakes his head and also sits.

    ¡°Game plan. Progress the story. What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°Well, it seems that we are just waiting for another message from the sending stones, right?¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s our sending stones?¡±

    Their eyes fall on a small pebble on the table. Cenvin snatches it first before Durand can react. He turns it over to see the symbol.

    ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ black hole?¡±

    Lenny picks it from Cenvin¡¯s hand.

    ¡°¡®Tis mine,¡± he says irritably.

    ¡°Oh. Sorry. Durand, found our sending stones yet?¡±

    ¡°No. When was the last time you saw them?¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t help. Everyone asks that! It¡¯s rhetorical!¡±

    ¡°Well, how about we just look at every inch of this big-ass penthouse then? Would that please you?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, man. Inventory management is a pain and you know that! I mean- you¡¯re a spellcaster, cast Detect Magic or something-¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have it prepared!¡±

    ¡°Jesus, then prepare it!¡±

    ¡°Do you have any idea how Ranger¡¯s spellcasting works?¡±

    ¡°Ok then, Megamind, tell me, how do you prepare spells?¡±

    ¡°Levelling up, dummy.¡±

    You are arguing like a married couple, cut it.

    ¡°WHY DID YOU MISPLACE THE SENDING STONES THEN, DIEM-¡±

    It¡¯s not my fault you guys are blind! Look under you!

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Cenvin hands Durand the triangle-etched sending stone and keeps the cross-shaped one for himself.

    ¡°Uh¡­ yep, this is mine. Triangle, check.¡±

    ¡°Now that whole fiasco is over,¡± Lenny says, ¡°would you care to get back on track? Any new missions?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Durand replies, tracing his finger over the carved triangle of his sending stone.

    ¡°Then we will have to wait.¡±

    Lenny tosses his stone into the air and catches it again. Holding it out in the dying sunlight, he looks into the black hole. A sliver of solace weaves across his mind and he sighs.

    In the dead midnight, vague forms of spectrals can be seen carrying the living into the sky to feed. The streets, devoid of civilians, are spotted with torchlight across the city. These moving spotlights, their owners Orions and Mercs alike, scan neatly amongst the towers and magnificence. Outside the party¡¯s penthouse, a portal opens and Cenvin gingerly leaps out, careful not to alert his slumbering party.

    Finally, when the coast is clear, Cenvin sneaks onto a Hyperslate and goes down the Skytower, returning to Shadow¡¯s Edge. Slinking amongst the shadows, he carefully avoids a group of Orions hurriedly rushing by, walks around an amalgamation feeding on a group of stray cats, melding their crushed parts into its form, and parkours over a group of Mercs in an alleyway, silently staring at their sending stones. One looks up to the veil, attempting to pierce past to see the distant stars. Cenvin pulled himself against the wall just in time. He stealthily treks across the roofs like a ninja with a clear mission.

    Once again using his portals to teleport into the hall outside the entrance, he pauses, listening to the fruity smells of fragrances and the lumbering snores of the doorman. Stepping through the pocket dimension he swiftly infiltrates the complex.

    ¡°Can¡¯t beat you, huh?¡± he flourishes a dagger previously hidden inside his cloak. ¡°Just die, you disrespecting bastard-¡±

    He blends with the wall as a sleepy Merc walks by, yawning as he drags his spear down the hallway. Cenvin falls into his pocket dimension right before the Merc turns to him.

    Popping out into a lightless room, he feels around, hands outstretched, and feels something metal, rumbling, and alive. He silently yelps as he quickly pulls back. Lighting a torch, he waves it around to illuminate the room.

    Machines. Large and small, the still and the moving, the engines and the apparatuses. Cenvin is frozen with wonder but an idea strikes him in seconds. His face contorts into a cruel smirk.

    Carefully placing his torch on the ground and drawing his shortswords, he begins stabbing at the machinery. He jabs his blades into what seems like a power box. The machine it connects to sputters and gasps. He continues by jamming his hilt between a few cogs. The machine jolts, shudders, and finally dies. Turning to another what seems like a tank, he slashes it open, spilling crude oil across the ground. He quickly moves the torch away.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± he whispers to himself.

    Kicking at the puddle, he cuts apart a tangle of rods and wires. The mechanism chokes and electric bolts immediately consume the entire body, frying it and leaving it burned and charred.

    Grabbing a small flask of alcohol he preserved, he splashes it in an oil-free section of the room. He draws a piece of fabric, soaks it with the oil, and rubs it onto the machines. The ones still functional around him seem to beg for mercy and cry in their metallic voices. He looks cooly at the technologies around him, and picks up the torch, putting it close to the bleeding oil. The tank that had leaked the blood had bled out.

    ¡°Electricity, industry, machines. It¡¯s the medieval times, Lucius! What else do you have?¡± he whispers. ¡°I¡¯m genuinely so excited to see what other inventions your organization wields.¡±

    The torch lands into the oil and an ocean of flames is created. It rapidly consumes the weeping machines as Cenvin falls into his portal. He rapidly travels across the complex and out of the Skytower, creating an average of four portals per second, and pushing his ability to the limit. He finally collapses in the middle of a small street, his stamina drained and his muscles cramping with fatigue. He groans and struggles to stand up, his head a bit light.

    ¡°You! Curfew, get inside!¡±

    He turns to see two Orions standing several meters away from him, their swords out and eager to strike.

    ¡°Every civilian- YOU!¡±

    An Orion shouts as he recognizes Cenvin¡¯s face, swinging his sword and striking Cenvin to the ground. The other Orion stands in confusion, but upon close inspection, he also seems to remember his appearance.

    ¡°Cenvin the Dishonest. The punk who attacked Headquarters. Ohoho¡­ how lucky, for me and how unfortunate for you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to avenge my friend!¡±

    Before executing him, the Orions stop as they and Cenvin receive an urgent message on their sending stones. They grab their sending stones and stare at it. A message floats in Cenvin¡¯s head:

    Gather at Citadel; code Force Majeure.

    The Orions steal a final glance at Cenvin, and they rush off to the center of Italica City, leaving Cenvin behind. He lies on the ground, gracefully descending into a soothing coma.

    A spectral descends from the sky, after watching its target lying still for a few minutes. It needs to get it before others can, and now that it is sure the prey is dead it can finally feed. It scrapes up the limp body of what seems to be a dishonest thief(determined through its telltale aura) and flies up. The thief is pure. It is Gifted. It will make a filling meal.

    A glowing missile strikes the spectral squarely in the torso. It drops the prey and flies away, its alarm sounding. That is a Lumi, the apex predator of the Otherworld, the image of death, the unkillable demon, incarnations of Darkness-

    Nyri sighed as she gently carried Cenvin back onto the ground. She strolled around him impatiently. She could simply wake him up, but after sending that one orb to update Sinner she can¡¯t reach the desired size anymore. She had recalled some orbs; just enough to make do, but her size is twice as small as what she was at the start. She sniffs and glares at the skies. Hadke formed an enormous L. Taunting her, probably. She meekly grins at him and he quickly flies away, losing shape in the night sky.

 Chapter 16: The Hunt Begins

    Ok, this is the start of the end¡­ the finale¡­ this is where I had been building up to. All those hints, the subtle foreshadowing, and the minor details¡­ character developments¡­ all for this. Remember the D.I.C.E.:

    DEBONAIR - Gotta be cool! Have to be sick! Have to have the badass party do badass things!

    INTEGRITY - Be honest to the readers. Keep faithful of what happened in the DnD sessions. Do not change any major beats.

    COLORFUL - It¡¯s a comedy! It¡¯s supposed to have casual humor! I only went serious one time in the entire campaign, so, like, keep it calm!

    ENTERTAINING - Keep the reader retention! Attention spans these days are shorter than a minute¡­.

    I think I got it all covered. Now, time to write the chapter and record anything that happens, lemme find my pen and boot up Narrator-module- what do you mean it¡¯s already on? The hell? Uh¡­ OH GOD UM

    Heya, readers! You saw nothing!

    That¡¯s a bit direct, trying again-

    Heya, readers! We are experiencing a bit of tech issue right now-

    No, already used that excuse a few chapters ago.

    Heya, readers! Please avert your eyes-

    That¡¯s god awful¡­ is Eraser-module working? No, it isn¡¯t. The readers saw all of my takes. Great. They will stop reading now. It¡¯s all scuffed. One more thing I can try though! Booting up Royal Road¡¯s editor¡­ what do you mean it''s under maintenance? The f- oh, my backspace is broken. GREAT! AWESOME! JUST IN TIME FOR THE FINALE-

    No, Diem. Calm down. Maybe the reader finds this funny.

    IS THIS FUNNY?

    I don¡¯t like how it¡¯s so direct- oh fine. I give up. How about we just start the chapter, dear reader?

    ¡°Jesus Christ, what the hell is going on?¡±

    Durand whispers as he looks through the window towards the looming Citadel. It has been enveloped by a tornado of dark flying figures, constantly swirling and dancing around the tower. Lenny grumbles unintelligibly and hurries to pick up his scimitar, Rikki Tikki Tavi, which he keeps dearly under his bed. They had been awakened by an urgent alert sent to them via sending stone. Cenvin was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Whatever. It¡¯s probably something Cenvin did,¡± Durand mutters ruefully, ¡°Shame. Was having a damn good dream. What¡¯s Code Force Majeure?¡±

    ¡°I have no guesses of my own, but Force Majeure means an act of God. Perhaps something extraordinary has occurred. Whatever it is, we should see that we follow orders.¡± A glint of psychopathy sparks in Lenny¡¯s eyes as he becomes fully awake. ¡°And it¡¯s nighttime. Orions are out and about.¡±

    He giggles maniacally as he heaves his scimitar onto his furry shoulder. Turning and waiting impatiently for Durand, he scrapes his claws against the doorframe, creating an unpleasant sound. He watches as Durand hurries to gather his and Cenvin¡¯s backpacks. They frown at each other, reading each other¡¯s thoughts after failure to find his cross-etched sending stone.

    ¡°He might not know,¡± Durand breaks the silence.

    ¡°Worry about ourselves,¡± Lenny turns and holds the door open for him. ¡°He is a Rogue. They are excellent runners.¡±

    They go down the relatively peaceful West Main Street directly to the Citadel. It pierces into the dark veils of the sky, strong and unwelcoming. A tornado of what seems to be spectrals has completely covered the Skytower. Crowded around the building are an army of Mercs and a handful of Orions, minuscule compared to their rival counterparts. The two leading men can be easily picked out amongst the crowd; Kores with Clyde at his side, talking and shaking hands with the lone Lucius.

    ¡°I told you,¡± says Durand as they walk down the street towards the congregation. Several heads turn to look at them, some belonging to the faceless Orions. ¡°Lucius is working with Starmetal.¡±

    ¡°You must be right then, but it would probably be in our best interest to learn more information,¡± Lenny replies.

    Durand nods in agreement. ¡°Good point. We don¡¯t know what Lucius wants to do with us yet.¡±

    ¡°My friends!¡± Lucius yells as they come closer, his arms outstretched as if for an embrace with brothers-in-arms.

    Durand ignores Lucius¡¯s attempt at friendliness and shoots directly to the point.

    ¡°Why is Starmetal here?¡±

    Lucius hesitates, but before he can respond Kores interjects.

    ¡°Durand. Lenny,¡± he acknowledges, ¡°Good to see you here. We have a common enemy. As you can see, the Otherworld is making a move. We have managed to use an ancient artifact to bind all the spectrals into this tornado, effectively containing the majority of the Otherworld¡¯s presence. More monsters will move down from the sky unless we destroy the core residing in the Citadel, which serves as a beacon to summon more. We have a few hours before it activates. Will you put aside our differences and help us bring down the hunt at hand?¡±

    He reaches out for a handshake. Durand steps forward and grasps his metal hands firmly. They look at each other in mutual understanding of the situation''s urgency.

    ¡°Where is our favorite retard, Cenvin?¡± Clyde inquires.

    ¡°He was not with us when we were alerted. Tell me more, Kores. Is this a hunt?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. The fusion of a thousand hunts previously suppressed by us. Our machine seems to have been broken when you launched an attack on us. We understand that it was Cenvin who pushed it. We are not emotional. Face reality.¡±

    Suddenly Lucius grabs a pair of Orions out of the crowd with an invisible claw. He sneers as the Orions struggle against their bounds, screaming desperate orders to release them. Lucius¡¯s ghostly grip tightens and drags the duo right before him.

    ¡°Saw you fidgeting quite uncomfortably, my friends. Perhaps you know something of Cenvin¡¯s whereabouts?¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°Stellar, sir! Help us!¡±

    Kores shakes his head. His metallic voice grim with apathy. ¡°Answer him, soldier.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright! A few minutes ago we caught him, severely weakened by something, lying on the streets! We were about to, um, help him but then he fell unconscious and we were summoned here.¡±

    Lucius sets the Orions down and one of them¡¯s legs gives away, instantly collapsing on the ground, drawing a series of muffled peals of laughter from the spectating Orions. The Mercs were dead silent.

    ¡°At least he is still alive!¡± he declares cheerfully. ¡°I see him. He¡¯s flying to us- on a glowing stretcher, no less!¡±

    The thousands of eyes turn to the rumbling sky. Outlined against the black canvas, a glimmering stretcher of snowy white soars towards the mass at breakneck speed. It halts several meters off the earth and turns, dumping the comatose Cenvin onto the ground. The stretcher reforms into Nyri, who purrs in exhaustion. Lenny throws her a piece of hard candy, which she happily absorbs, then wraps herself tightly on the ground and closes her eyes for a nap.

    Durand kicks Cenvin. ¡°Wake up, ya buffoon!¡±

    Cenvin jolts and leaps into the air in alarm. Drawing his pair of shortswords he observes his environment in alarm. Giving up after seeing so many enemies, Mercs and Orions alike, he sheathes his blades in defeat and begins to kneel in surrender. Lucius, who mistakenly assumes Cenvin has come to his senses, helps Cenvin up.

    ¡°Hello, my friend. Let me explain the situation.¡±

    He politely goes through the story again. Cenvin still looks bewildered, but the data and the connections finally click. He turns pale.

    ¡°But¡­ isn¡¯t that in¡­ your base?¡± he points at Lucius, who smiles back questioningly.

    ¡°What are you talking about now? Just¡­ stop being a psychopath and listen to reason, okay?¡± Durand sighs in exasperation. ¡°Absolute madman.¡±

    Kores waves his hand symbolically across the the city.

    ¡°My Orions are currently sweeping the city of Otherworld monsters. They will ensure the safety of the citizens.¡±

    ¡°And my Mercs are all here, ready to storm the Citadel. The Skywatch was unable to help. Most of them were¡­ unfortunately, slaughtered immediately.¡±

    ¡°We are attempting to break through the tornado,¡± Kores finishes.

    Smiling a knowing smile, Durand picks up a piece of stone he had cleanly separated by evaporating its edges. He walks next to the tornado and, by throwing the makeshift board and hopping on it simultaneously, effectively begins surfing the spectrals underneath.

    ¡°Woo! Yeah!¡± He cheers. The army below looks up in wonder.

    He meticulously balances himself on the board as he surfs, drawing his longsword, holding it out, and letting it shred through the spiraling spectrals. Their intestines dissolve into nothingness in midair before they can hit the ground. Durand laughs maniacally as guts and skin splat onto his face and body, quickly melting away as fast as they had come.

    Cenvin is red in the face as he gabbles furiously.

    ¡°How can he do that? It¡¯s against physics! Diem! I would like to report hacks!¡± Protests Cenvin.

    My guy rolled a nat 20 on his acrobatics check. I had to let him do it.

    ¡°We¡¯re about to fight a supermassive hunt, a final boss if you will, and HE¡¯S OVER HERE SURFIN¡¯!¡±

    Sensing the presence of her nemesis, Nyri flashes red and stiffens, her eyes searching the spectral-filled sky. Her radar locks onto the glimmering darkness barely distinguishable from the backdrop. Sensing he has been detected, Hadke flashes white in fury and charges toward the orderly army in the shape of a meteor. Nyri dissolves into a shield and blocks it and they tangle together in a chaotic fight, changing forms every second, as bright as the sun as their glow combines, and they are swept into the spectral tornado.

    Meanwhile, shaking with excitement, Lenny receives permission from Kores to execute the two Orions, for the sake of ¡°incompetence.¡± The two Orions desperately struggle against their invisible bounds as Lenny draws closer. He stabs his scimitar into one¡¯s chest, drawing a painful shriek. He feels a tingling down his spine and he looks at Kores questioningly.

    ¡°They¡¯re trying to use their abilities,¡± Clyde chimes. ¡°I¡¯ve been subtly making them forget how.¡±

    Lenny can only imagine the silent sadistic laughs under the mask. Good. Congruent minds always lead to greatness.

    He gleefully turns Rikki, draining the screams from the spasming Orion. He pulls out the blade and examines the drops of blood covering the weapon. He smells it, then licks it with feral fervor. The other Orion gasps in fear as his comrade falls to the ground. Upon death, Lucius has released his iron grip. They turn back to Lenny and begin begging for mercy.

    ¡°Please! Sir! Don¡¯t do this to me! I am useful- NOO!¡±

    Lenny marks a wide gash in the Orion¡¯s shoulder. It seems that he is going to take his time for this one. The Orion begins sobbing loudly. Some soldiers in the crowd below turn their heads away in silent sympathy. Kores is unreadable while Lucius is visibly enjoying this little execution. Lenny gradually makes hundreds of small cuts, all aimed at their blood vessels(or where Lenny imagines they will be under the armor), until they finally stop moving, their corpse drained of blood and lifeless. Lenny doubles down in psychopathic laughter, soon joined in by Lucius and even Clyde. Kores is stiff as a rock.

    Also watching the ceremonious execution from the tornado, Cenvin stretches his arms and lunges into the fray of spectrals. He bursts through unharmed and drops a final sentence before he enters the Citadel.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m heading up. Feel free to join, suckers!¡±

    ¡°Wait for me,¡± breaking his board upon landing on the ground, Durand follows. Lucius gives Lenny a gentle nudge.

    ¡°You should follow your party.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Lenny sprints on all four legs into the tornado, his small frame easily fitting through a pair of grasping hands. Inside he sees Cenvin and Durand patiently waiting for him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go kick some final boss ass!¡± Durand declares, overtaken by adrenaline and lust for revenge. His fellow members cheer in unison. They dash into a Hyperslate to go up to the top. Before the Hyperslate takes off, another figure leaps onboard. Without a single quick breath, Kores stands up.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Cenvin demands.

    Kores wave his hand dismissively. ¡°My friends, you cannot undertake this endeavor alone. You will need my assistance.¡±

    ¡°We will need no help of Starmetal!¡± Lenny shouts.

    Kores looks down in controlled contempt, his calmness an island among the three oceans of madness.

    ¡°You have already received many favors from us. The doorcode. Cenvin, would you have gotten access to Shadow¡¯s Edge otherwise? Our machines. Would you like to face a hunt every time someone in Italica City becomes Gifted? My Orions. They are out there, amongst the towers, saving lives from the darkness of the Otherworld. And yet, what good so far has your Mercs done?¡±

    Rays of sunlight repeatedly shine onto the rising Hyperslate. Kores''s armor alternates between angelic glints and glimmers, gloom, and unfriendliness. The party watches him, mesmerized by the constant flickers. They become silent.

    The Hyperslate stops on the floor below the very top. Kores steps out first.

    ¡°My friends, we will have to walk the stairs. The pinnacle of Italica City cannot be simply reached by a Hyperslate, as you can imagine.¡±

    He swiftly moves into a giant office complex of sorts. Everywhere are maps, meeting rooms, and papers. The party follows in Kores¡¯s tread. He navigates through the labyrinth of the place as if he¡¯s done this a thousand times. There are no windows on this floor. Only the dim lights of the lamps and candles flicker ruefully, providing limited sight, just enough to see Kores¡¯s shining armor. Lenny does not bother to shuffle around the messes; he simply shreds through any obstacle with his claws. At last, Kores stops at a hidden door.

    ¡°Whatever waits for us up there, do not take it lightly. This is my warning to you, and come at your own risk,¡± he quietly warns. ¡°Italica City will be freed from the Otherworld if we destroy the core. Remember that.¡±

    He performs a quick ritual and the door slides open menacingly. Durand and Cenvin cough from the clouds of dust billowing from the motion. Uncertainly stepping onto the stairs after Kores, they go up.

 Chapter 17: The Climax

    A dimly lit clearing spanning the entire diameter of the Citadel. Mosaics plastered on the walls depicting the events of a violent civil war. In the center is an enormous amalgamation, composed purely of Otherworldly creatures. Spectrals stretch their arm out hungrily, wraiths howl painfully, and shapers twist into a thousand forms per second, all crushed together in a massive mess like mashed potatoes. The amalgamation rumbles, quavering the ground. A few mosaics shatter into crisp and colorful shards.

    My players, I present to you: THE MEGALMATION.

    The party freezes in fear. Kores shatter them by striding confidently forward and drawing his two reversed shortswords, delivering a swift slash to the head of a wraith poking out from the gruesome mess. The Megalmation trembles and writhes as the wraith is instantly obliterated. Its head is crushed like ceramic. The Megalmation settles down again, dormant, its parts thrashing in agony.

    ¡°Your diet needs improvement!¡± Cenvin yells as he charges with his shortswords. He wildly cut into the Megalmation with a double slash. ¡°You need more iron!¡±

    ¡°Diem, does each monster in it count as a separate enemy?¡± Durand asks.

    Yes, I count the individual health of each Otherworld creature, and calculate the Megalmation¡¯s hp using the total through a complex equation-

    ¡°Very good!¡± he interrupts. ¡°Gimme those! Take mine!¡±

    He snatches Cenvin¡¯s shortswords from his hands.

    Leaping into the Megalmation¡¯s body and the arms of hundreds of hungry spectrals, Durand executes his skill: Horde Breaker. I have adjusted it to be viable by removing the limit¡­ maybe it is overpowered in this case. Anyway, the monsters around him shred into bits and pieces, fading into lifeless dust. Durand leaps out to see that he has drilled a visible hole in the Megalmation¡¯s body. It is still dormant and unresponsive as ever.

    Lenny rushes up and claws a random spectral; he fails to kill it.

    ¡°Keep striking it!¡± Kores yells as he unleashes four more devastating slashes to the Megalmation¡¯s writhing body. ¡°Finish it swiftly, before it can do damage!¡±

    Cenvin throws Durand¡¯s longsword back and catches his shortswords in return. He moves next to Durand, fulfilling his conditions for a sneak attack, and aptly delivers a pair of precise stabs to a Hellwraith. He misses.

    Durand draws a Molotov cocktail he had previously prepared in his downtime. It is out of character to be creating this kind of technology but it is very cool, I¡¯ll allow it. He flings the flaming bottle at the Megalmation, spraying fire over it and creating a wall of flickering flames spanning its entire body. Lenny shrieks furiously and buries Rikki into the disgusting masses. It finally twitches and its struggling components begin hyperventilating to move the monstrosity. The small honey badger scurries off as the rest of the party starts drawing back in cautious alarm.

    ¡°RUN!¡± Cenvin screams instantly.

    As if on cue, all the wraiths begin screaming instantaneously. Their combined mental attack storms through the party¡¯s mental fortresses. They look around, only to see that everyone has become disgusting amalgamations themselves: dark, Otherworldly, and hostile. The amalgamation that took Cenvin¡¯s spot lets out a bloodcurdling moan of horror and pain. It charges at another amalgamation, who responds similarly. They smash together and they reel back in purgatory pain. The other amalgamation prepares to join in the chaos but it is shoved to the side by a blurry blue figure.

    ¡°Get a hold!¡±

    Kores¡¯s iron fist smashes into Durand¡¯s face. He blinks, looks around, and lets out a sigh of shame.

    ¡°Kores, I¡¯m so sorry- watch out!¡±

    The Megalmation, with the speed of a truck disproportional to its size, slams into Kores and tosses him against the mosaics, shattering them along with the wall behind them. The Stellar finds himself lying a quarter out of the Citadel, with a thousand-meter fall below him. The wind and the spectral tornado howl in anticipation. The Megalmation takes a sharp turn and rolls over Cenvin and Lenny¡¯s still-fighting bodies. Audible cracking sounds ring from below the Megalmation. Durand pauses in horror and before he can react, it is already in front of him. He is clawed and scratched severely by the groping spectrals in his body. Kores drags himself away from the edge and limps towards the stairway down. He musters his strength to shout a command.

    ¡°Retreat below!¡±

    The party heeds his summon and follows him haggardly down the steps. Behind them, the Megalmation wheezes a snicker and becomes dormant once again, softly healing its injuries.

    After many spell slots of Goodberry and Cure Wounds and an energizing short rest, the party is again ready to fight. Bones fixed, stamina replete, and morale rising. But they are far from optimal shape to battle head-on. Even Kores, the cold-blooded soldier, is scratched and bruised. The party sits silently, listening to the occasional rumblings above and the whooshing tornado outside. Now and then a spectral¡¯s cry would break the hush. Deciding to not toil any further, Durand stands up with a newly conceived plan.

    ¡°I have finally thought of a way for my ability to be useful in combat,¡± he whispers excitedly. ¡°You see the ceiling? Do you know how the Megalmation is massive? I vaporize a small hole up there and through the hole I can repeatedly stab the thing with my longsword, chipping away its health and eventually killing it. Boom. Boss fight cheesed.¡±

    ¡°It could work,¡± Kores affirms. ¡°Good job. Now put it into action.¡±

    ¡°Alri-¡±

    ¡°We will not take orders from you,¡± Standing up and stepping between Durand and Kores, Cenvin interrupts.

    The Stellar shrugs and sits down.

    Lenny growls and swipes at him menacingly with Rikki. He watches the subtle blue glow of the Starmetal blade.

    ¡°That is a good weapon, my friend.¡±

    He casually reaches and traces his finger over the scimitar. Lenny flinches but he keeps the weapon raised.

    ¡°Pure Starmetal. The density is on point. It must be custom-made for you, just for you, a honey badger. Very interesting.¡±

    Lenny draws back and sheathes Rikki as Durand steps onto a makeshift staircase of boxes and punctures a hole in the ceiling. A withered hand of a spectral immediately pokes through, grabbing at anything it could feel. With a disgusted look on Durand¡¯s face, he thrusts his longsword into the Megalmation above. No audible reaction except for the painful cries of the wailing spectral. He pushes his longsword deeper, extracts it, and then goes in again. Then again, and again, and again, and again under the eyes of the party.

    At last, he stumbles down the stairs, exhausted and furious that his plan probably didn¡¯t even make a dent in the Megalmation¡¯s massive health bar. Cenvin stands up and offers to continue stabbing.

    ¡°No, no. At this rate, the longsword is going to break before we can even get it to phase 2 if there is one¡­¡± Durand waves dismissively and sits down in defeat. A small furry hand is placed on his shoulder and begins patting in hollow sympathy.

    If it can cheer you up, I have planned an elaborate phase 2 for the boss.

    The party falls over in desperation and hopelessness.

    The Citadel trembles. Below them, a thousand windows shatter as endless waves of spectrals break into the Skytower. Some of them find the Hyperslate shafts. As the party rises in alarm the howlings get closer and closer, soon just five floors away¡­

    Cenvin quivers with the Citadel. He feels like he¡¯s back at the little, significant tavern in Eldenhaven¡­ coming face-to-face with that wraith¡­ his fight or flight kicks in.

    He looks around with a crazed fervor, looking for something to help, anything-

    Four floors.

    He runs into Durand and knocks the air out of him. Before he can protest Cenvin shoves his pair of shortswords into his hands. Durand pauses, then throws it back to Cenvin. He can¡¯t hear anything except the grim howls of death, but he can tell Durand is disappointed and rejected.

    Three floors.

    He can hide in his pocket dimension! Yes! He¡¯s not sure if he can stay in there for a prolonged period, and he¡¯s been advised not to use his ability, so¡­

    What then?Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Two floors.

    Kores grabs his shoulders and turns to stare into his eyes. He shakes him violently. Cenvin, terrified, stares back into the emotionless, robotic hexagonal helmet. A string of metallic words ring at him. He fails to understand. The cold-blooded soldier lets him go and turns to stride toward the Hyperslate shafts, two reversed Starmetal shortswords in his hands.

    One floor now.

    Fight or flight. Face it or escape? Either way is certain doom. Damn it, when has life not presented him with danger of any kind? Life is cruel, life is unjust, it¡¯s everyone else¡¯s fault¨C

    ¡°Get a hold!¡±

    Someone is shouting in his face.

    ¡°He¡¯s f***ing stunned!¡±

    Two hands, two claws, dragging him up a series of steps, it hurts-

    ¡°Wake up! Bastard! Comatose dead weight!¡±

    FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

    If I fight, I won¡¯t survive, I can just portal away-

    You have your teammates! You have uncanny dodge!

    It still hurts, I¡¯m scared of permadeath- I¡¯m scared of losing my character, to lose this campaign, to lose this world-

    Think of Brett!

    I don¡¯t care about Brett! He was never my problem! I didn¡¯t ask for it!

    Think of Durand and Lenny!

    They never truly cared about me!

    The DM has your back, you won¡¯t die-

    DIEM WAS NEVER MY FRIEND!

    ¡­

    Ouch, Cenvin.  I¡¯m hurt. I¡¯m your friend.

    ¡°YOU¡¯RE AN ANTAGONIST! YOU WORK AGAINST US!¡±

    If that¡¯s how you think about me then I suppose I¡¯ll just leave¡­

    ¡°What happens if you leave?¡±

    The world keeps turning, I go to another part of the universe and chill, you probably will cease to exist the moment I put my attention elsewhere because imagination can only load so much at once.

    ¡°Imagination? What are you talking about?¡±

    Right. Lore. This is not the time. Maybe in a future one shot. Right now, you need to snap out of that coma of yours and go help your party fight.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna die!¡±

    Then you¡¯re gonna die fighting the Otherworld, hm? You¡¯re special. Gifted. The protagonist.

    ¡°R-really?¡±

    Nah, I¡¯m messing with ya. But I assure you, death is not going to be the end of your time in Italica if you even manage to die. Your party cares about you. They have your back. Unless they suck at their jobs then maybe you¡¯re screwed; but Durand and Lenny are reliable, okay? One¡¯s a mask of perfection and the other one¡¯s a traumatized psychopath, and together with you, the unreliable goober, you make a perfect team of misfits. So, whaddya say, old buddy, ol¡¯ pal? Wake up!

    ¡­

    ¡°Thank god, I thought I had to feed you to the Megalmation as a sacrifice.¡±

    ¡°Get up and fight, weak human being!¡±

    Shaking his head, Cenvin scrambles to his feet to see the Megalmation in front of them. They¡¯re back in the dome. The mosaics are all shattered. A few stray spectrals soar into the arena through the hole Kores had created by being slammed into the wall. Although they don¡¯t seem eager to go near the Megalmation, their howls are now a part of the background noise.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Kores?¡± he asks. Durand answers back.

    ¡°He stayed behind to fend off the spectrals. They¡¯ve broken into the Citadel. It¡¯s up to us to kill this thing now.¡±

    Cenvin nods grimly and draws his shortswords. Behind him, Lenny snarls and flourishes Rikki. Durand pulls out his longbow, which he has never used in the campaign so far, and aims three arrows at the enormous aberration. The wraiths¡¯ empty eyes focus on them, the spectrals reach out towards them, and the Megalmation shakes the floor violently as if in response to their challenge.

    Hadke and Nyri crash through the dome, creating yet another hole, tangled together and fighting like rival thunderstorms. Hadke is overpowering Nyri, his larger size giving him more flexibility in terms of shapeshifting, but Nyri is using every last bit of her cunning to evade his attacks. Durand lowers his longbow. A new spark hits him, he scrambles in his pockets to produce a small flask. Cenvin gasps in recognition.

    ¡°The thing¡­ the thing Kwirley used on Nyri when we were chasing her! Kores used that too! How did you get that?¡±

    ¡°Kores,¡± Durand smiles as he wets his lips and closes an eye to get a good throw on the two fighting Lumis.

    The two cats are distracted by each other, They intertwine and unwind simultaneously, forming a sun of yin-yang and occasionally one flashes white or red. Durand lets go of the flask in a perfectly aimed arc. The world seems to go slo-mo as the Lumis both turn to see the flask soaring directly into their face. Nyri¡¯s expression fearful in remembrance while Hadke¡¯s annoyed as he splits open to let the projectile pass through.

    Crack!

    The Lumis lay on the floor, incapacitated. Cenvin hurries over to pick up Nyri and kicks Hadke into the sky below. His screams immediately muffle as he falls into a blanket of spectrals.

    ¡°Blanket? Wait!¡±

    Cenvin raises his head to see the bright blue sky above. The azure hue is almost unnatural to him after all this time staring at the eternal night sky. He looks down. The Citadel is right above an endless, swirling seamless sea of spectrals.

    ¡°So this is why the sky is always black to us Gifteds. Spectrals. Endless spectrals.¡±

    A wave of dread hurls over Cenvin as he realizes the implications.

    ¡°We can never truly kill them all.¡±

    Before anyone else can react, the Megalmaton slams Cenvin off the edge as well. Durand¡¯s face contorts into shock as he mouths a dreadful ¡°NO!¡±

    Cenvin falls through the sky. His cloak flutters as he plunges through the veil of spectrals, making him the striking resemblance of a dying crow. He breaks the surface of the sea and is out of sight, presumably now falling to the earth, and to his death.

    Durand gasps in shock. Lenny howls in rage and hacks at the nearby Megalmation, who seems to take no notice of the damage. It trembles again, and it speedily rolls to the other side of the dome, boomeranging itself back towards Durand, obviously also aiming to knock him off. Durand turns, face tearful but red with determination to kill, and falls through the hole he evaporates into the floor at the last second before fatal impact.

    The Megalmation soars into the air, unable to stop its momentum, and time seems to pause as the spectrals and the wraiths in its body try to fly for freedom. It hovers for a moment, but unable to support such a large Otherworldly mass, it nosedives straight through the spectral sea, tearing a noticeable hole, and a deafening boom is heard five seconds later.

    Kores rushes up the staircase carrying an unconscious Durand. Lenny hurries to meet him.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Stellar?¡± He demands furiously. ¡°I am certain I killed the boss. But we need to get down just to make sure.¡±

    Kores shakes his head gravely and drops Durand.

    ¡°The Citadel is about to fall. They are destroying too much. I have given my all. Wake Nyri up with this antidote. Jump down with her. Get out of here.¡±

    Without a response and with no care for Kores, Lenny splashes the potion onto Nyri, who immediately understands the situation. Nyri slowly descends the Citadel as a magic carpet with the party on top.

    ¡°Cure¡­wounds.¡±

    Durand opens his eyes and looks around to see the rising clouds, the blue sky, and the sea of spectrals.

    ¡°Did I do it?¡±

    ¡°The boss is dead, my good sir. I heard it fall.¡±

    Durand slams his hand on Nyri, who flashes red.

    ¡°My bad, Nyri. Can you go a bit faster? I need to find Cenvin¡¯s body, or whatever is left.¡±

    She purrs in confidence and speeds down, breaks through the spectrals, and circles around the Citadel¡¯s base, where the army of Mercs remains. The Orions are gone. Upon landing, Durand hurriedly rushes forward to a large circle of healers, but Lucius stops him.

    ¡°The Megalmation has faded away, and the core along with it. You did excellent, my friend. Cenvin has managed to rapidly fall through his portals and land safely on the ground, but the amount of arcana and concentration that took¡­¡± he shakes his head grimly. ¡°He is going to be stuck in a coma for a long time, my friend.¡±

    He leaves Durand, stunned, but nevertheless happy that his pal¡¯s still alive.

    Behind him, Mercs start shouting as the Citadel rumbles uncertainly, and then finally it breaks,  tipping and crashing onto North Street. Only the base remains as a skeleton of the former glory of the Citadel. A dark mist flies from the wreckage and into the forest of Skytowers.

    Above Italica City, the sea of spectrals has begun to fade away, leaving only the clean, sunny sky. Mercs ooh and ahh at the sight, something themselves have never seen before ever since gaining their Gifts.

    Lenny sits down on a small piece of debris alongside Durand, watching Shadow¡¯s Edge preparing to clean up the rubbles.

    ¡°The healers are healing Cenvin as we speak. The coma won¡¯t be as long as Lucius warned you.¡±

    Durand breaks into tears of mixed emotions.

    ¡°Remember¡­ remember how he complained about healers not healing him? He needs to wake up now. We need a celebration. We need the denouement, the falling action. It won¡¯t be the same without him.¡±

    He will wake up, Durand. He¡¯s one of my players. He is not going to die.

    ¡°He better not.¡±

    Since the last death count, many chapters have gone by. In case you¡¯re wondering, dear reader, one shots will not count towards the total death count. Let¡¯s see¡­ counting the total amount of Otherworld creatures dying at the hands of the party and Kores the fact that the spectral sky around Italica City has dissipated, and the Otherworld creatures inside the Megalmation when it died¡­ and the sweeps by Starmetal Valley rooting out all the Otherworld monsters in Italica¡­

    I believe we now have a total death count of 12,429! The majority of which comes from the sky, haha. Did you enjoy the chapter? Then feel free to leave a review or a comment! See you in the next one, and stay conscious!

    Whew, that was tough- the mic¡¯s not off? Are you kidding?