《Riftside [LitRPG Fantasy Adventure]》


 Riftside is coming to RR!

    Riftside is coming to Royal Road!


    We¡¯re thrilled to announce that Riftside, a co-written LitRPG adventure by Henrik Saetre and Cassius Lange, will begin its journey here on Monday, February 17th, 2025!


    We''ll kick things off with 8 chapters on launch day, followed by 2 chapters a day, 7 days a week, until March 3rd. After that, we¡¯ll shift to 1 chapter per day until March 14th, and from then on, you can expect 1 chapter every Monday to Friday.


    Riftside: Book One is already complete, and we have a solid plan for Book Two, so you can expect a consistent, exciting ride.


    So, what is Riftside?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Dive into a brutal yet uplifting progression fantasy where survival is never guaranteed, but hard work, grit, and loyalty forge legends.


    Follow Ash Aldrich, a blacksmith and scavenger working to become a classed adventurer as he bonds to a sentient soul weapon with an insatiable thirst for blood and pie, teams up with loyal friends to battle monsters, and crafts powerful gear from their carcasses.


    Set in the monster-filled frontier of Noros, Riftside is about combat, deep character progression, and the satisfaction of seeing an underdog rise through sheer determination.


    Expect to see Ash earn his victories, build unbreakable friendships, and proving that kindness and strength are not mutually exclusive. If you love LitRPGs packed with monster hunting, found family, and relentless growth, Riftside is for you.


    Join us on this wild ride¡ªwe¡¯re working hard to make Riftside the best damn LitRPG series we possibly can, and we can''t wait to share it with you.


    Follow the story, share your thoughts, and let¡¯s dive into the chaos of the rifts together!


    See you Riftside!

 Chapter 1

    ¡°Today we are fielding three adventuring parties and three scavenger groups,¡± a commanding voice said, speaking over the hushed whispers. It belonged to a man who had dedicated all of his life to adventuring and keeping people safe: Commander Edwin Rothers. ¡°This afternoon, I expect to see the same number return home from the dungeon. Remember, this run isn''t about glory or loot.¡±


    It kind of is, though. Loot, that is. At least for me.


    I shifted on my feet, excited to go out on my first dungeon run.


    ¡°The Twisted Titan''s spawn rates are threatening to overwhelm the rift staging base. Our mission is simple: cull the numbers to reduce the pressure on our walls, and return home alive and well. And no, don''t even try going after any variants. I''m looking at you, Richard. You and your group especially.¡±


    The group chuckled, and so did the rest of those present. It was important to stress the danger but also keep the mood light whenever possible. The commander¡¯s voice carried across Sentinel Station''s gathering yard, his words as crisp as the morning air. He was a broad-shouldered man wearing stone-grey plate armor that encased his whole body. The man stood ramrod straight atop a steelhusk tree stump, both hands leaning on his massive tower shield. His tone was as grave as the heavy scarring running down the left side of his face.


    A larger than life warrior.


    I''d love to get a closer look at the riveting on his chest plate. If Pa could make that in the forge, we''d make a fortune. Wonder what monster material it''s made out of¡­


    His sharp gaze swept over us¡ªthirty faces in total, fifteen adventurers and fifteen scavengers. One day I''d be among the adventurers, not relegated to scavenging duties, but that day was still a ways out.


    My gaze drifted past him to the massive shape dominating the horizon as he continued. The Twisted Titan was truly massive and spawned more monsters than any other dungeon within the rift. It was a colossal steelhusk tree that stretched up into the clouds, its bulk somehow both magnificent and wrong at the same time. The right side looked dead, massive sheets of bark peeling away like rust on plate mail while the left writhed with life and purpose. Purple-black veins of corruption ran across both sides.


    ¡°We''ll move in formation: the three adventurer groups take point, creating a forward triangle. Scavenger teams will maintain a minimum fifty-yard distance behind us and focus on their designated groups. Your job is resource gathering and trash mob cleanup only. Do not¡ªI repeat¡ªdo not engage primary targets or attempt to assist in main combat scenarios. Greed and glory are your two worst enemies out here, not the monsters. Got it?¡±


    My heart hammered against my ribs in excitement, and I nodded with a smile.


    Ten good carcasses is all I''m asking for. Just enough to fill my spatial storage and get out alive.


    I scratched the magical tattoo on my left wrist as Edwin droned on about positioning and allocation. Maybe it was just my imagination, but an empty storage always felt off when I was riftside, and now, more so than ever.


    Only dungeon runs I''d been to were those already cleared and mapped-out. It was as exciting and profitable as forging horseshoes, but this? This was the real deal.


    Ma thought I was crazy, but I knew Pa understood. He got the same way if too much time passed without him hammering metal, and since we were just starting out in a new place, we needed all the work we could get.


    I looked back at the Branchway rift, set in the center of the base camp. Six months ago it had appeared, and all kinds of monsters poured into our world. After the adventuring guild and the royal army dealt with the initial surge, the king had sent out a call for pioneers to settle, defend, and explore the new rift. Couldn''t have been better timed for us after what happened with the old forge.


    But now we were here and ready to start a new life.


    A barely touched rift, unexplored and waiting to be looted. I frowned at the forty-foot-wide circle standing straight. More perfectly round than anything forged. And damn, the thing was so thin from the side it could cut like nothing''s business.


    If only they''d let me use it to trim steel, we could quadruple production. But they wouldn''t let anyone mess with the rift. The liquid-like green surface was off-limits for anything but passing through.


    I took a deep breath of the riftside forest air. The steelhusk trees made it taste differently. Metallic and sharp, a bit like the forge. It was an acquired taste, one that I¡¯d learned to enjoy.


    ¡°If there are no more questions, we leave by the west gate in five minutes. Gear up.¡±


    Edwin''s words snapped me back to attention as the various groups dissolved to make final preparations before we headed out.


    I wandered towards one of Sentinel Station''s two heavy gates, set in the palisade anchored between massive steelhusks. Every day monsters attacked the camp''s defenses, seeking to enter our world, but so far they never managed to get through but for the initial surge. There were never many of them, but day in day out the numbers steadily grew.


    Next to the gate stood the Soul Tablet, and I joined the line of scavengers slowly passing it by taking the chance to glance at their statistics before heading out. Some hid it from view, keeping their details a secret, while some bragged.


    When it was my turn, I touched my palm to the black surface, and my information appeared on the tablet.


    NAME: Ash Aldrich


    LEVEL: 3 (1/4)


    STRENGTH: 14


    AGILITY: 11


    VITALITY: 12


    MIND: 11


    TOTAL STATS: 48


    The work in the smithy had paid of, and with eight points above the average guy my age, I had nothing to be ashamed of.


    Not caring if the next in line saw, I passed through the gate and stared across the killing field, the others milling around me. Two hundred yards of cleared ground dotted with steelhusk stumps, followed by the beautiful and thick forest. One that was hiding untold riches. The metallic ring of steelhusk breakers sounded from the two logging teams working under heavy guard to expand the wide open space, and to bring the valuable material back through the rift to Dawnwatch.


    ¡°Stand firm until we''re back, baby,¡± Garrett said and demonstrably kissed the scarred palisade, drawing laughs from both Finn and Nina. I shook my head at the leader of our scavenger group but couldn''t quite hide a grin.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Silly bastard.


    ¡°Don''t you judge me,¡± he said, hefting his shield and spear. ¡°Twenty years as a city guard and nine times out of ten it got me safely home to my wife, every time.¡±


    ¡°And the other?¡± Finn asked, tapping his brass knuckles on his short sword.


    ¡°Only right for a man to visit a tavern now and then, ain''t it?¡±


    Eryn, our fifth member, rolled her eyes at me as Finn laughed.


    ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡± Nina''s comment was interrupted by the clang of a bell and everyone stopped.


    Once.


    My stomach tensed and I reached across my shoulder, grabbing the haft of my two-handed axe. Then the bell rang again.


    Twice.


    We waited for a long moment, but the third clang never came.


    ¡°That''s for us! Head out!¡± Edwin called out, and I relaxed.


    The scouts that had gone to the Twisted Titan had returned, giving our group the all clear that we could head out.


    ¡°You all ready for today?¡± Garrett said, growing serious as we left the camp''s safety behind.


    ¡°Ready and eager,¡± I said. ¡°We''ll finally get a chance at proper loot.¡±


    ¡°You heard the commander,¡± Nina chided. ¡°Don''t take any¡ª¡±


    ¡°I know, I know. Our goal is to reduce the attacks on the camp and risk of them breaking through to the village. But be honest, Nina. Aren''t you a little excited for some proper loot?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but it won''t do us no good if we die,¡± she replied and nudged me with her shoulder.


    ¡°Don''t talk like that,¡± Eryn said, tapping Nina''s back with her composite shortbow. ¡°Nobody dies on my watch, alright? I¡¯ll wrap you all up in bandage and make mummies out of you.¡±


    ¡°No offense, but until you get a healing class all I see is an archer, and not a good one at that,¡± Nina laughed.


    ¡°Hey, hey!¡± Garrett said. ¡°Ladies. Teammates.¡± He interlaced his fingers. ¡°Strong together, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Garrett,¡± the two said in unison, and I swear they both rolled their eyes even though I couldn¡¯t see their faces.


    ¡°Now, when we get back, fight all you like. But out here?¡±


    ¡°We all pull in the same direction,¡± Nina said, exasperated, tapping her spear.


    It was an old repurposed lance that had seen better days, but it was good enough to ram through most enemies.


    ¡°That''s right,¡± Garrett said and smiled at our ''healer''.


    ¡°So,¡± Eryn said, falling into step beside me, adjusting her blonde ponytail. ¡°What''s the blacksmith''s apprentice looking for today?¡±


    ¡°Materials. Always materials,¡± I replied and smiled up at the distant dungeon barely visible through the foliage. ¡°This is my chance to get something good. Something to get our head above the water on the payments for the smithy. Maybe even a mind gem for myself.¡±


    ¡°Just one?¡±


    ¡°I''m one away from level four now.¡±


    ¡°Ahh, I see.¡± A knowing smile tugged at her lips. ¡°You are such a rifthead.¡±


    Despite how comfortable I felt around Eryn, heat still crept up my neck and I chuckled. We hadn¡¯t pushed it further than going out for a drink a few times, but there was definitely something. I may be young, but I wasn¡¯t blind.


    ¡°Aren''t we all in a way?¡±


    ¡°True.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡±


    Eryn sighed, gazing in among the thick trees flanking the path.


    ¡°Don''t tell Nina, but she''s not wrong.¡±


    ¡°Bet that hurts.¡±


    ¡°You have no idea.¡± Eryn bounced me with her elbow, grumbling as all she did was send herself stumbling. ¡°Damn you and your muscles,¡± she grumbled.


    ¡°Don''t damn the thing potentially standing between you and a bunch of ravaging monsters. Especially when it''s this amazing,¡± I said and grinned at her.


    She huffed, but I knew it was good-natured.


    ¡°So, how many do you need?¡± I asked, relaxed, knowing the adventurers were spread out in a wide V formation out front.


    ¡°Too many. Three more to level five, and then, you know, another forty until I get to level ten.¡±


    ¡°Not to mention the class gem,¡± Finn said, falling back to join us. ¡°We talking gems, right?¡±


    I nodded.


    He held up two fingers.


    ¡°Then I''ll hit level six. What about you guys? Garrett? Nina?¡±


    ¡°Only one little sweet gem away from nine!¡± Garrett said proudly.


    ¡°Oh! I hadn''t heard,¡± Nina said. ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    Garrett held up his hand.


    ¡°No. Don''t jinx me. Nothing''s done until it''s done. And as Finn said, I''ll still need the class gem.¡±


    ¡°Better than me at least,¡± Nina said. ¡°I just hit level five.¡±


    ¡°Then you''re only three gems ahead,¡± Eryn said. ¡°I''ll be a proper healer before you, just wait and see.¡±


    ¡°Difference is I can fight, now. I don''t need to wait for my class to be useful,¡± Nina muttered as she glared at Eryn.


    ¡°You''re such a bitch,¡± Eryn said, and they both broke into laughter.


    I shared a glance with Finn and just shrugged.


    ¡°So, what''ll you do when you get your class?¡± he asked me.


    ¡°I''m going all the way up to sixty,¡± I said without a hint of hesitation.


    And I''m going to get there before any of you even get to thirty. Just watch me.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Eryn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Didn''t know you were that ambitious.¡±


    Finn chuckled.


    ¡°What are you, some secret noble? No way some blacksmith can afford enough mind gems to hit sixty. Let alone all the class gems for the breakthroughs.¡±


    I just smiled at him. It didn''t matter what people thought. I would get there through sheer will and tenacity. Unless a giant monster stepped on me or something, but I pushed that thought away as I didn''t want to jinx myself.


    ¡°What else? Might as well get yourself a soulforged weapon, set up a new guild, and carve out a rift for yourself!¡±


    Nina laughed at how ridiculous her words sounded, but it didn''t matter.


    They didn''t know Ma had bought a tenth mind gem yesterday, from Victor, the alchemist. Nor how I had used it to upgrade my spatial storage. I''d be higher level than Finn if I''d used the gems for level ups instead. But now? With twice the storage capacity I would hopefully blaze ahead.


    Wonder who will notice my new eye sigil first.


    Soon I''d leave the scavengers and join those up ahead.


    The adventurers.


    I looked at them, the ones who would slay the monsters, and thought of the looks they got. How people treated them. And the gear they wore. Brilliant. I wanted that, too. Yearned for it. Then I could truly help my family. Change their lives forever, and nobody would force us out again.


    As Garrett launched into another of his tales, something about a drunk noble and a chicken, Eryn bumped me again.


    ¡°Are you scared?¡± she whispered with a wink.


    ¡°Not really.¡± I shook my head, lying. ¡°This close to a rift, the dungeon should be well within the level requirements for the adventurers. I think today is going to be one of the best and most profitable days of our lives.¡±


    Any new monster we managed to bring back home would pay multiples. Not all types of monsters made a run on the rifts, and any new discoveries were highly valuable.


    The Twisted Titan loomed closer with every step, and somewhere in its depths, gold in the shape of monsters waited.


    A while later, we stood at the base of the Twisted Titan. My head was tilted back until my neck hurt.


    There at its feet, the sheer wrongness of it hit harder than from the distance. All thirty of us gathered in loose clusters, our boots crunching on the dead-looking soil, mist curling around our feet.


    Of course it smells of mold and death. Why wouldn''t it? Eww.


    Nothing grew within fifty yards of the trunk as if the tree itself was sapping all life away. If one of its gigantic branches broke off, it''d probably squash us all.


    Gods. Wouldn''t that be a way to go out, huh? Killed by a tree.


    ¡°Tall son of a bitch, ain''t it?¡± Garrett said.


    ¡°About the size of my¡ª¡± Finn started.


    ¡°Shortsword?¡± Nina finished for him, and Eryn chuckled as she checked her bow''s string for the umpteenth time.


    I spit into the palms of my gloves and ran them along the haft of my axe, preparing for whatever was to come. We''d only encountered several small groups of monsters on our way to the dungeon, and they¡¯d been easily taken care of and looted by the adventurers. Two of the monsters managed to get through, but none had gone for our party. That only left more room in our storage for any new type of monster.


    Garrett shifted beside me, his speartip tracking up along the tree.


    ¡°Quiet morning.¡±


    ¡°Seems the scouts spoke true,¡± Eryn said. ¡°As long as we head back before a new wave can form, then we¡¯re¡ª¡±


    ¡°Gather,¡± Commander Edwin''s voice resounded. ¡°Form up by the portal.¡±


    The gateway looked tiny against the Titan''s base, but it still had to be at least the size of the Branchway. Though this was a swirling darkness shot through with purple lightning, there was no green in sight. The corruption veins in the bark all seemed to flow toward it, like rivers of poison feeding a blackened sea.


    I suppressed a shiver, but a bit of fear was always good. Made us think twice before we did anything stupid.


    The Commander raised his tower shield.


    ¡°Adventurers, triangle formation. Since this is our first time in this dungeon, we stick to the basics. Watch your backs, call your targets, maintain sight lines. Now, let''s show them what the people of Noros do to monsters!¡±


    With a cheer, the fifteen adventurers stepped forward, spreading into their three groups of five. Heavy infantry in front, ranged support behind, the practiced formations of people who knew their business. Their gear was solid¡ªa few pieces forged by Pa''s hands, and some even aided by my own. A sense of pride washed over me, and I smiled inwardly.


    ¡°Scavengers,¡± Edwin continued, ¡°Minimum safe distance. Portal defence and looting are your priorities. If anything above a trash mob makes it past us, do not throw your lives away. Are we clear?¡±


    ¡°Clear,¡± Garrett answered for our group. The other scavenger team-leaders replied as well.


    Edwin nodded and stepped through the portal, the darkness swallowing him soundlessly.


    One by one, the adventurers followed. My heart hammered in my chest as our turn came. Finn went first, then Nina, Garrett, and Eryn.


    I stepped into blackness last and my world twisted.

 Chapter 2

    I stumbled out into a hollow cavern of a room and immediately cleared my throat at the stench. For a moment I imagined myself standing in a rotting corpse, but it wasn¡¯t that of a monster, but a great tree. The hair on my arms stood on end as if the place was charged with electricity.


    The Titan''s heartwood was missing, leaving a central shaft that vanished up into darkness like an oversized castle tower. The chamber stretched maybe a hundred yards across, with a spiral path winding up the walls to an entrance in the ceiling far above. Bioluminescent fungi clung to the walls, casting everything in pale blue light. Ancient tree rings glowed faintly, marking time in centuries. Sap oozed down the walls and pooled on the floor.


    A screech of chitin on wood yanked my attention back to where we were and I steeled myself. With a twitch of my eye, I activated my sigil and a gentle green glow appeared around a monster. They were Ring Beetles¡ªknee-high insects with armored shells and massive mandibles. A few had come out to battle the adventurers, scuttling across the wood like living drills, their legs ending in hooked claws that let them climb in all directions.


    Edwin''s orders echoed around the room, and the insects charged him, his taunt driving them mad. They shrieked in unison and then attacked.


    With the creatures scratching at the commander''s armor and his tower shield, one of the other adventurers, a man with a conical hat, breathed out a cone of cold, slowing all their movement and attacking speed. The other adventurers waded in, ending the monsters in seconds.


    Beetle bodies hit the ground after being slashed, smashed, or blown into pieces, with green ichor spraying everywhere.


    ¡°Clear!¡± Edwin said and sheathed his sword as a golden light surrounded him, healing what little damage he''d taken. ¡°The first group is dead. Scavengers, grab the corpses. Adventurers, save your storages. We''re going up to the next level.¡±


    One of the other scavenger groups hurried forward¡ªI recognized their leader, Marcus, a scarred man who''d lost an eye to a dusk attack last month. His team descended on the beetle corpses, and they vanished in seconds.


    ¡°These claws, they''ll be worth a fortune!¡± one said.


    ¡°I''m selling mine to the alchemists,¡± another added. ¡°Green gooey ichor? It has to be useful for potions.¡±


    My fingers itched to join them, but Garrett held us back.


    ¡°Plenty more where those came from,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Let them have this batch.¡±


    He wasn''t wrong. The further up we¡¯d go, the more valuable the carcasses should be. As long as the adventurers kept pushing and didn''t turn back before we got our fill. Considering the whole purpose of this expedition, I didn''t doubt we''d be here for a few hours at least.


    Nina leaned on her spear and smiled.


    ¡°Who thought I''d ever fight in a goddamn tree? What I wouldn''t give to find beautiful roiling grasslands Riftside, and then a horse who wouldn''t go mad while passing through the portal.¡±


    ¡°Why''d you come here then?¡± I asked. ¡°If you like grassland, why not head to the Humming Void rift? We used to live there. Flat as an anvil''s face.¡±


    ¡°You don''t get it. No point being in the grassland without proper cavalry.¡± She sighed. ¡°I just miss horses, is all. Damn portal corruption. Did I tell you about the noble bastard who bought my best gelding and brought it through as a test? As if the hundreds of tests before hadn''t been enough. Once I get my class, if I see him again¡ª¡±


    I tuned them out, watching the ringed walls. Marcus'' group had stored the beetles and were preparing to move on. The third team, led by a giant grumpy guy named Rasek who I''d never seen smile once, kept watch with us.


    Steel rang on wood above, followed by inhuman screeches. We all tensed, weapons rising. The whomp of an explosive spell echoed down the spiral path, mixing with shouts and the wet sounds of violence.


    ¡°Form up!¡± Garrett snapped. ¡°Only attack trash mobs if they come through!¡±


    I stepped back and raised my axe. One of the main reasons why adventurers brought us was to guard the path out. Nobody wanted to get cut off and be trapped in a dungeon, though in all honesty, there wasn¡¯t much we could do but kill the weakest of monsters. Sometimes that was enough. Just making sure they didn¡¯t all gather in a single spot and flanked the adventurers.


    ¡°Who died and made you captain?¡± Marcus shot back, his remaining eye narrowing.


    Rasek stepped forward, his scar-covered arms crossed.


    ¡°We take orders from Commander Edwin, not some ex-guard.¡±


    ¡°The portal needs to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Don''t tell me what and¡ª¡± Markus continued to argue, cutting him off.


    ¡°Both of you, shut it!¡± Nina hissed. ¡°Listen!¡±


    The fighting above had stopped. My heart was beating fast as I strained to hear what was going on up there.


    ¡°Scavengers!¡± Edwin''s voice boomed down. ¡°First platform. Move!¡±


    We scrambled up the spiral path, boots slipping on sap-slick wood. The path wound up and up until my legs burned, but I kept on running. If anyone lagged behind, they¡¯d either be left by themselves or pull the entire party back.


    I really should jog more. Make sure I can keep up.


    After a minute, we reached a broad platform carved into the living wood. It was so straight and round that it looked as if someone had carved it all out by hand. Two massive branches split off there, each one as wide as a city street. Both tunnels vanished into darkness.


    Corpses lay strewn against the walls of the platform, burned. I counted six carcasses, my new sigil naming them as Branch Walkers. Their impossibly long limbs were twisted in death, and joints bent backward, bodies folded in ways that made my stomach turn. Beside them lay seven Sap Seekers, their crystalline eyes dark and lifeless. Blue blood was mixed with golden sap on the platform''s floor.


    My sigil provided the names, but once dead, the monsters had no glow to indicate their power relative to my own. The chance of them being anything but green or yellowish was very small, which meant that even we could fight them.


    Edwin stood at the center, his shield bearing new scrapes.


    ¡°Easy enough fight, but we''ve got a tactical situation. We can''t leave these branches unchecked. Too much risk of being flanked. However, the resistance has been minimal so far.¡± He planted his shield on the ground and leaned against it. ¡°New plan. My team continues up to scout the next platform. Teams two and three take a branch each, followed by one scavenger group. Garrett, your group stays here, gather the carcasses, and then move up to the next floor when we''re done. Questions?¡±


    None came as there wasn''t much to say. We were to follow orders and gather as many carcasses as we could, and that was an order I intended to follow to the letter.


    As they headed out, Garrett stepped into the middle of the floor and caught our attention.


    ¡°No greed now, yeah? Equal division until we each got our five, then we get the chance to swap out corpses for new ones, starting with the highest level.¡±


    ¡°So once we are all full, you''ll take the best corpse?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes, because I am the highest level.¡±


    ¡°And I''m the lowest,¡± I said with a flat stare.


    ¡°Yes. But, we follow standard looting rules. Once I accept a new corpse, I''m at the bottom of the list until you all accept a new one.¡±


    ¡°Fine. But that''s only once everyone''s storage is full, right?¡± I asked again, wanting to make sure everyone heard it.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°So if you all have filled your storage and something awesome drops¡ª¡±


    ¡°Why would the adventurers leave something awesome? It''ll be all trash mobs for us,¡± Nina said, sounding a bit annoyed by my questioning.


    ¡°Just agreeing on the rules,¡± I said, raising my hands as the adventurers ascended toward the next floor. ¡°As I was saying, if something awesome drops, anyone with a free slot gets first dibs.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°Sure,¡± Garrett said. ¡°But you don''t get to leave carcasses behind just to keep a slot free.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    We split the monsters, each getting a Branch Walker and a Sap Seeker, with Garrett taking the additional Branch Walker, while Nina and Finn took an extra Sap Seeker.


    ¡°Wonder what they''ll be used for,¡± Eryn said as she stored a Branch Walker, her spatial storage tattoo glowing faintly on her left wrist with each transfer. ¡°With the way their limbs work, maybe the bowyers will want their tendons?¡±


    ¡°I bet the alchemists will want the Sap Seekers'' eyes,¡± Finn said. ¡°Notice how they look like crystals?¡±


    ¡°Or maybe the enchanters.¡± Nina shrugged. ¡°Could make for pretty jewelry. Nobles like pretty.¡±


    ¡°I don''t care either way,¡± I said. ¡°I''m bringing one of each to my Pa to butcher up and see what they can be used for.¡±


    ¡°Pretty exciting, isn''t it?¡± Eryn asked. ¡°Getting to see new monsters before anyone else.¡±


    ¡°Why did they wait so long to go for this dungeon?¡± Nina asked. ¡°So far this is all bottom-tier monsters? I''ve seen the adventurers struggle worse with stuff in the killing field.¡±


    Pa had been wondering the same. It didn''t make sense for the guild to let the portal be attacked again and again when they could at least attempt to clear the dungeon and slow the monster waves. Would give the village much-needed breathing space. Not that I was complaining about them waiting until today. My upgraded inventory had been my ticket to joining, the commander knowing full well the more resources we brought back, the stronger we''d all grow, despite him harping on about not focusing on loot.


    ¡°Could be they were farming the monsters and letting people grind levels out quicker?¡± I said with a shrug. ¡°Easy loot when they have to just step out of the walls and gather the carcasses instead of going out and hunting monsters.¡±


    ¡°It''s slowing the town''s development, and¡ª¡± Garrett trailed off as an explosion sounded from the left branch. Before we could react, roars and sounds of combat echoed down from the right, almost as if both sides had been attacked simultaneously.


    I held my breath, listening to steel meeting chitin and steel-like bark armor, to screams both human and otherwise, to the creaking of the living wood around us.


    I stepped closer to Eryn, axe firmly in hand, and glanced upwards.


    Suddenly, Edwin''s voice rang out as he taunted, but it was followed by a curse.


    ¡°Incoming! They''re in the wood!¡±


    Movement flickered along the wall. Four bulbs, like peas in a pod, moving inside the wall.


    ¡°Loose!¡± I said, and Eryn sent an arrow straight at the closest, thudding into the wood. Green goo ran down the haft to drip from the fletching, but whatever was inside the wall kept moving.


    ¡°Form up!¡± Garrett''s voice cracked like a whip, and we took our spots around Eryn, with Garrett at the front with his shield at the ready.


    The bulbs reached our level, and four Ring Beetles blasted from the wall, surrounded by white liquid, their shells gleaming wet. Their clawed limbs scored the wood as they scuttled toward us.


    I activated my sigil again, just to make sure. They were surrounded by a light green glow that meant we should be able to take them.


    Garrett stabbed at the first, piercing straight through its face. I went left, axe swinging in an overhead chop at a bug attempting to flank him, catching it just behind the head. The blade bit deep, nearly killing it, but got stuck in the armored shell. To my right, Nina let out a battlecry of her own as I yanked on my weapon, but the bug stubbornly stayed attached.


    Come on!


    I turned to see Nina falling to the ground, scooting backward, her lance held horizontally in front of her and a beetle''s mandibles clicking against it.


    Eryn drew and loosed another arrow, but it ricocheted off the creature¡¯s carapace.


    Garrett and Finn were busy with the fourth, and unable to help.


    Muscles fighting to free my weapon, I heaved on the axe, lifting the entire bug into the air, legs feebly moving.


    One step.


    Two steps.


    My arms and back burned with every move. With a roar, I brought the axe-bug combo down like a sledgehammer on the bug attacking Nina. The axe crunched through, coming loose as it killed one, and stunned the other. Nina scrambled back and stood as I raised my axe and cleft the bug''s face like a log.


    My heart thundered in my throat as if I''d relocated Pa''s anvil after that stunt. I quickly turned to see Finn''s short sword cut across the final monster''s eyes, blinding it before Garrett''s spear found the softer underbelly. His stats were more than a match for the trash mob.


    For a moment, silence fell, and then I cheered. Finn joined me, then the others.


    Suddenly, Edwin came jogging down the ramp but slowed upon seeing us.


    ¡°You alright? Sounded like you were getting slaughtered down there!¡±


    Garrett waved a hand at him.


    ¡°All good, commander! Just four beetles and the exhilaration of combat.¡±


    I grinned up at the adventurer, my axe dripping with goo.


    He shook his head but a grin was plastered across his face.


    ¡°Good to hear, but get your asses up here. We''ve got a problem.¡±


    We stored the corpses, everyone getting their third, with Garrett and Nina getting their fourth, and then headed up.


    I took a deep breath and smiled at Eryn, who smiled back.


    This is what I wanted. This is what it would feel like all the way up to level sixty, so I took it all in, burning muscles, monster blood and all.


    I gagged almost as we stepped onto the next platform at the stench coming from the monsters.


    ¡°Take them, quick,¡± Edwin said, standing in the opening of a branch, nodding at the five monster corpses. Blightpedes, as my sigil told me, were strewn across the platform. Nine feet long, rotting centipedes, like black husks with no legs, only a wide opening in front filled with an uncomfortable amount of teeth. Brown liquid oozed from their wounds as if someone had taken a wet crap in a bag and poked it full of holes.


    The adventurers held their noses, standing just inside another two branches, as far from the bodies as possible.


    ¡°Hurry, damn it!¡± the wizard said, waving his staff at us. ¡°If this stink sets in my good robe, I might never get it out!¡±


    ¡°One each,¡± Garrett said and moved to store his.


    I rushed over to the largest one and swiftly touched and swiped it into my inventory. It really did feel like a crap-filled bag and I hated it.


    ¡°Eryn!¡± Garrett said when she prodded hers with a toe but made no move to grab it.


    ¡°It''s icky!¡±


    ¡°God damn it,¡± Finn said, and stalked over, grabbing hers as well. ¡°And I''m keeping it. Something this stinky has to be valuable.¡±


    ¡°You are more than welcome to it,¡± Eryn said, gagging as Nina laughed at her.


    ¡°Problem solved, commander,¡± Garrett said and touched a hand to his helmet.


    Edwin barked out a laugh.


    ¡°That was just courtesy, Garrett. You''ll smell worse as an adventurer, but Benedict is a bit particular about his clothing, aren''t you?¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± the wizard said. ¡°The ladies like sharply dressed men. Right? Besides, I¡¯ve got an image to uphold.¡±


    He looked at Eryn and smiled, angling his coned hat.


    ¡°Sure. But I prefer them to be younger than my father.¡±


    ¡°Bah!¡± He waved a hand. ¡°Underneath this beard, my face is like a¡ª¡±


    ¡°Enough,¡± Edwin said, and everyone quieted. ¡°As I said, the smell wasn''t the problem. That is.¡±


    He pointed upwards, and we all looked up.


    ¡°Monster muck,¡± Finn said.


    Far above was another flat roof made all out of wood, with tiny glowing mushrooms dotting it. What it lacked was any kind of opening. And that''s when I realized that the platform even lacked a proper walkway.


    ¡°It''s a labyrinth,¡± I said, looking around at the three branches.


    The commander nodded, and his scarred face pulled tight as he pursed his lips. ¡°We''re at a breakpoint. We either need to pause here and wait for the other groups to catch up, or go back down and help them clear their branches.¡±


    ¡°Why? The combat is nothing,¡± Benedict said. ¡°Just trash mobs. Might as well be killing flies. I bet there''s something amazing up there on the higher floors. Something that¡ª¡±


    ¡°No glory chasing,¡± Edwin said, eyeing the three branches, fingers tapping a rhythm on his shield. The man had it all: levels, gear, and skill, but the rumour said it hadn¡¯t come cheap. They said he''d lost a lot of friends ever since he started adventuring. And every time he lost someone, the resolve to be a better Commander only grew.


    ¡°Can we afford to wait?¡± the warrior in Edwin''s group said. ¡°You said it yourself. We need to be efficient. If we take too long¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then we might get caught in a monster wave. Today¡¯s wave never came,¡± their healer said. He was an old man with a long silver beard, yet moved like someone in their prime. ¡°Sentinel Station will have to weather it without us, and we''ll get the joy of finding out if the monsters first hunt before charging mindlessly at the rift.¡±


    I glanced at the right branch. It was like a polished wooden floor. One streaked with black rot. I studied it for a long moment and then shook my head. The tree was a mystery all in itself, and no matter how much I¡¯d love to explore every branch, it wasn''t meant to be.


    I glanced at the two leading left once I pushed the thought away. Which one was supposed to lead up?


    Nina began speaking, but Garrett silenced her with a look.


    Benedict threw his arms up.


    ¡°What the hell are we waiting for? Come on, let''s do something! Anything!¡±


    ¡°The right decision,¡± Edwin said, lifting his shield with a sigh, ¡°Would be to return to the previous intersection¡ª¡±


    ¡°And let Shay find the good stuff?¡± Benedict huffed at where the dead centipedes had been. ¡°Edwin! We could two-man these trash mobs easily! You and me! Hell! The scavenger team has kicked their ass!¡±


    ¡°A poor argument for diving ahead,¡± Edwin said. ¡°You got a point, but the situation remains. We can''t leave our flank open. The scavenger party would be overrun. Not just that, but I''m a bit disappointed, Benedict. Greed doesn''t suit you.¡±


    My spatial storage was barely half full. If Edwin decided to wait until the others re-joined, what loot would I miss out on? Maybe we''d even end up calling it a day before I¡¯d get to fill up.


    I traded a glance with Garrett and nodded. We could do this. I didn¡¯t want to go home with an empty storage. None of us did.


    ¡°Commander,¡± Garrett said, raising a hand. ¡°We can definitely hold this platform unless a monster variant shows up.¡±


    ¡°Totally, Commander,¡± I chimed in. ¡°We''ll do right by everyone.¡±


    ¡°And since there are three branches here, you can clear one out before the others arrive. If they catch up, we''ll send them down the other tunnels.


    ¡°Too risky,¡± the commander replied. His jaw tightened. ¡°No offense, but¡ª¡±


    ¡°We easily killed four,¡± I said, hefting my axe. ¡°They went down like rotted wood. Trust me, we¡¯ll have your backs or we die trying.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but only because they were trash mobs,¡± Edwin said calmly but firmly. Still, he stared out into the branch ahead of us. ¡°Who knows what else lurks in there.¡±


    ¡°Then you won''t go far,¡± Garrett said. ¡°And we''ll be fine holding this place. So far the monsters haven''t been charging up or down the branches on their own, right?¡±


    Eryn fidgeted with her bow beside me.


    ¡°Just one branch,¡± Benedict said, sighing theatrically. ¡°We can handle it. They can handle it. You''ve seen how easy it is. Just think about what we might find!¡±


    ¡°And that, my good man, is exactly what I''m worried about,¡± Edwin said, raising his voice. He stood there for a short moment, obviously lost in thought, but then straightened. ¡°Very well. Adventurers, on me. Garrett, watch our backs but don''t be afraid to retreat if things get hairy. We''ll fight our way back if we must.¡±


    ¡°Yes, commander,¡± Garrett said, straightening to attention.


    It was probably a habit from his guard days.


    I smiled, my hand tightening around the axe''s shaft. Once they cleared out a few monsters, they''d have to call us in to store the carcasses.


    Perfect!


    ¡°We move slow,¡± Edwin said, turning to his team. Then his eyes settled on Benedict. ¡°If anything feels wrong, sounds wrong, or looks wrong, we''re falling back. Is that understood?¡±


    Benedict grinned as he held up his staff. I swear I saw ice crystals forming in his beard.


    ¡°They won''t know what froze them.¡±


    ¡°Okay then.¡± Edwin turned from his team and pointed at the right passage. ¡°Let''s go up this¡ª¡±


    ¡°Left is best!¡± Benedict said.


    Edwin took a slow breath. ¡°Fine. Left it is. Keep your shields up and your eyes open. No glory hunting.¡±

 Chapter 3

    The branch walker''s shriek cut off as my axe sank deep into the bark-like skin at its neck, nearly cleaving head from body. Its claws ceased scrabbling at Garrett''s shield, and the legs spasmed as it collapsed. Goo splattered onto the ground as I hopped back, wrestling my axe out.


    ¡°Good work,¡± Garrett said as he straightened.


    Nina lowered her spear, the point dark with monster sap, and Finn wiped his short sword clean with a rag.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Eryn pumped her fist, an arrow still nocked but not drawn.


    Garrett shrugged the corpse off his shield and gave his spear a flourish.


    ¡°Five down and how many more to go?¡±


    He held up his hand for a high five.


    I slapped his palm, grinning.


    ¡°Doesn''t matter. We''ll handle them.¡±


    ¡°Scavengers!¡± Edwin''s voice echoed from far down the left branch. ¡°Status?¡±


    ¡°All clear!¡± Garrett called back. ¡°Just a couple of wooden dudes and three crystal-eyed mini monsters from the right branch. Nothing we couldn''t handle!¡±


    ¡°Branch Walkers,¡± I said, wiping ichor from my axe, unable to resist. The adventurers would know the monsters¡¯ names, having upgraded their spatial storage. ¡°And Sap Seekers.¡±


    ¡°You sure?¡± Garrett asked, and I nodded. ¡°Branch Walkers and Sap Seekers,¡± Garrett shouted. ¡°All dead!¡±


    ¡°Good work!¡± Edwin''s voice faded. ¡°Hold your position!¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Eryn said, stepping closer, a funny look on her face. ¡°How''d you know what they''re called?¡±


    Here it comes.


    It was all I could do to keep the smile from my face.


    ¡°Just, you know...¡± I tried to look anywhere but at her intense green eyes. ¡°Overheard the adventurers?¡±


    ¡°What were those stinky worm things called then?¡± she asked, crossing her arms. ¡°The ones from earlier?¡±


    ¡°Blightpedes,¡± I said, unable to hold back a small smile.


    Her eyes went wide.


    ¡°I know the adventurers didn''t tell us that. We were all there together when¡ª¡± She grabbed my shoulders and yanked me close. Her touch made my heart skip as the scent of leather and herbs filled my nose. ¡°Show me! Activate it!¡±


    How can she smell this good during a dungeon run? No, don''t even go there. There will be enough time once you''re both home safe and well.


    ¡°I don''t know what you''re talking¡ª¡±


    ¡°The eye sigil! Show me!¡± She shook me slightly, her face inches from mine. ¡°Now!¡±


    Unable to hide my grin any longer, I activated the mark and the tattoo lit up.


    Eryn shrieked and jumped back, clapping her hands excitedly. Not many scavengers invested in their spatial storages, but it doubled the odds.


    ¡°You upgraded your spatial storage! You sneaky bastard!¡± She slapped my shoulder hard enough it had to sting her palm. ¡°When? How? Why didn''t you tell us?¡±


    ¡°We did it last night,¡± I said, taking her stinging hand and gently rubbing it. ¡°And I wanted to see how long it would take for someone to notice.¡±


    ¡°Or you wanted to make sure the loot rules were stacked in your favor first,¡± Garrett said, laughing. ¡°Well played, mate! And don''t worry, a deal''s a deal. You fill your slots before we start trading up.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡± I touched the corner of my eye. ¡°What''s it look like? I haven''t had a chance to see it properly.¡±


    Eryn leaned in close again, studying the mark.


    ¡°It''s pretty cool. Like a triangle pointing downward with a short line crossing through the middle. I''d never notice it from afar unless you activate it.¡± She traced the air near my face. ¡°Makes you even more handsome, actually.¡±


    She thinks I''m handsome? Well, yeah, of course she does. Just look at my... muscles from all the smithing and swinging an axe around.


    ¡°More handsome because he''s about to get rich!¡± Nina said, and Finn joined her in laughing. ¡°Seriously though, smart move.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, guys,¡± I said, smiling. ¡°It''ll all be good for Dawnwatch.¡± Then I rubbed my hands together. ¡°So, about this loot.¡±


    Garrett laughed.


    ¡°Eryn, you and Ash take one branch walker and one sap seeker each, with the last sap seeker going to him. Then all have five each, except¡­¡± He pointed a finger at me. ¡°You with seven, you cheeky bastard, you!¡±


    I clapped Eryn on the back and went to swipe the carcasses into my storage, noting how she had no trouble storing these less stinky monsters.


    ¡°Can''t believe we''ve all, well, not Ash, but the rest of us, have a full inventory with unknown monsters,¡± Finn said, smiling. ¡°What do you think they''ll be worth? If anything? You never know with these things.¡±


    ¡°A lot,¡± Garrett said, peering into the right tunnel. ¡°These five will get me the mind gem I need for level nine, easily. Even if none of them yields one directly.¡±


    ¡°What class are you going for once you get the gem?¡± Nina asked.


    I eyed him too for a moment, genuinely curious what he was going for.


    Garrett raised his eyebrows and shook his spear and shield.


    ¡°Hello? What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Fine. What about you, Finn?¡±


    ¡°Any I can get my hands on.¡±


    ¡°Why? You on the run and need the class pardon or something?¡± I bumped him with my shoulder, chuckling.


    The smile dropped from Finn''s face. His shoulders tensed, and something cold flickered in his eyes.


    ¡°Watch your mouth, apprentice.¡±


    The tone of his voice made my stomach drop.


    Shit. He is on the run, isn''t he?


    ¡°Back off, Finn.¡± I kept my voice steady, though my pulse quickened. ¡°I didn''t know, and I don¡¯t care.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Well, maybe I don''t like people making assumptions about me.¡± He jabbed a finger into my chest. ¡°You think you know me? Think you''re better than me because your daddy gave you a fancy tattoo?¡±


    ¡°He''s not my¡ª¡± I caught myself, took a breath, and squared my shoulders. ¡°Look. How could I know? We''re on the frontier here. A pioneer''s past is just that, past. It stays behind once they come out here. Now, I''ve got no problems with you, Finn, as long as you''ve got no problems with me. We''re all just trying to get by, right?¡±


    Finn''s jaw worked as he studied my face. The tension hung thick in the air, and Nina and Eryn shifted uncomfortably. Garrett''s hand stayed steady on his spear, but he didn''t move to intervene, and there was no way I was about to back down.


    After what felt like forever, Finn''s shoulders relaxed slightly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Yeah, you''re right. I''m sorry for snapping. Ain''t nothing bad. I just got caught by surprise is all.¡± He gave a weak smile. ¡°Guess I''m still getting used to that whole ''fresh start'' thing.¡±


    ¡°We all are,¡± I said, offering my hand.


    He removed the brass knuckle before clasping it firmly and nodding at me.


    ¡°Speaking of fresh starts,¡± Garrett said, clearly eager to move past the tension. ¡°What class are you aiming for, Nina? We all know Eryn is going to be a healer.¡±


    Nina''s eyes lit up.


    ¡°Sorcerer. Or warlock. Any caster, really. I prefer to blow the bugs up from afar.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Eryn lowered her bow. ¡°I thought you''d go for something more... stabby.¡±


    ¡°Nah.¡± Nina twirled her spear. ¡°I''m going to be a mounted mage.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡± I started.


    ¡°I know they can''t survive the corruption,¡± she said and shrugged. ¡°But there''s got to be something riftside I can ride.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    I caught Garrett''s eye and waggled my eyebrows.


    ¡°Something to ride, eh?¡±


    ¡°Oh, grow up!¡± Nina swatted at me with her spear shaft.


    ¡°Never!¡± I ducked, laughing, and was glad to see Finn crack a smile.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Finn asked, the earlier edge gone from his voice. ¡°What''s the great blacksmith''s apprentice planning?¡±


    I straightened and lifted my axe, giving it a flourish.


    ¡°Warrior.¡±


    ¡°Tank or damage?¡± Eryn tilted her head.


    I paused.


    ¡°Honestly, I haven''t decided, but I like to kill things so probably damage dealer? I also like the idea of protecting the group, but a level sixty damage dealer¡ª¡± I whistled. ¡°I saw one once.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Nina said.


    ¡°Yes way.¡± I paced around the room, glancing from one branch to the next, listening to the distant sounds of fighting from Edwin''s group. Below us, all was still quiet.


    ¡°When I was fourteen, Madrigal Ironweave saved our street during a surge. Full plate armour, black with gold trim, and an axe blazing like lightning. And confidence to match. When he struck, monsters twice his size just... came apart around his axe. Even the ground cracked when he activated his skills, killing them by the dozens.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Eryn asked, poking me with a finger in my shoulder. ¡°You never said anything about that.¡±


    I caught myself, gesturing with my axe and lowered it.


    ¡°Why would I? It''s not like we share everything, right? And yes, that''s the level sixty warrior I''m aiming for. That kind of presence.¡±


    That kind of power.


    ¡°Heh, interesting. Have you ever seen him again?¡± Eryn asked, ignoring my closeness comment.


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Nope. I try to follow news about him, though there isn''t much known about the guy. You know how it is with the higher levels. Most of them don''t like to be in the spotlight.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they¡ª¡±


    A scream echoed out from the tunnel Edwin and the others had entered. For a moment, we all froze before I made for the opening. The scream echoed again, a monsterly wail piercing like a red-hot blade plunged into quenching oil. My knuckles were white on my axe shaft as more shouts followed, backed by the sounds of combat¡ªthe clank of steel, crackle of ice spells, and Edwin''s voice rising above it all.


    ¡°Heal me!¡±


    Finn lurched forward, but Garrett''s hand snapped out, catching his shoulder.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Finn tried to wrench free. ¡°They need help!¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡± Garrett''s grip tightened on the man. ¡°But rushing in blind won''t help anyone. If they''re in trouble, they''ll fall back. We stay put.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°But nothing.¡± Garrett''s voice hardened. ¡°They''re either strong enough to win or smart enough to retreat. Either way, we will only be in the way.¡±


    ¡°We''re of no help in such an enclosed space,¡± I said, not liking our words, but they were the truth.


    More ice crashed, the sound of Benedict''s magic thundering through the wooden tunnel. I winced at each impact, remembering the casual way he''d frozen those monsters earlier. If someone so powerful was struggling, then what could we even do?


    ¡°I could support with my bow,¡± Eryn said, already nocking an arrow. ¡°Maybe from the back¡ª¡±


    Nina shook her head.


    ¡°And what if you hit one of them instead? Or worse, distract them at the wrong moment?¡± She planted her spear. ¡°Besides, what happens if something comes up behind us while we''re all down inside the tunnel?¡±


    Before anyone could answer, shouts erupted from below. Steel rang, mixed with screams.


    ¡°Falling back!¡± Marcus''s voice echoed. ¡°Kill the trash mobs!¡±


    ¡°Three bells!¡± Garrett cursed as he ran over to the entrance down and bellowed. ¡°What''s the situation?¡±


    No answer came. Just more sounds of fighting, growing fainter as Marcus''s group retreated.


    ¡°What do you see?¡±


    Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I looked between the three tunnels, making sure we weren''t caught by surprise.


    ¡°Seven, no, wait, eight monsters chasing Marcus and his group back down to the first floor,¡± Garret said.


    This couldn''t be random. The timing was too perfect and the attack too coordinated.


    The dungeon is testing us. Something is definitely wrong and shit is about to hit the fan.


    ¡°Any sign of their adventurers?¡± Nina asked.


    Garrett shook his head, and I shushed her.


    ¡°Quiet. Don''t attract the monsters up.¡± I pointed into the tunnel. ¡°We need to find out what happened to Edwin first. Then we can attack the monsters from behind.¡±


    The screams grew louder from Edwin''s tunnel and were accompanied by the wet sound of tearing flesh and splintering wood. My heart hammered as I walked closer, trying to pinpoint exactly what was happening. Benedict''s ice magic crackled again, and a roar erupted from within the tunnel.


    Light flashed, throwing shadows around the bend, followed by Edwin''s cries of pain.


    ¡°Help him!¡±


    That was the voice of the silver-bearded healer.


    ¡°I can''t!¡± Benedict''s voice cracked. ¡°The corruption is¡ª¡±


    Something heavy slammed into wood, and a man screamed.


    ¡°Eyes up!¡± Garrett snapped. ¡°Movement!¡±


    Three Ring Beetles scuttled from the second left tunnel, followed by a rambling Branch Walker, its eyes glowing. At the same moment, the stench of rot hit me as three Blightpedes undulated from the right passage, their black bodies glistening.


    Are they trying to box us in? Trash? What the hell is going on?


    ¡°Garrett! Nina! Left tunnel!¡± I shouted. ¡°Finn, with me on the right! Eryn, support where you can!¡±


    Garrett slammed his shield down on the first Ring Beetle, not even protesting my snappy order. Nina''s spear darted in from the side, stabbing at the monster''s eyes. Behind them, the Branch Walker clicked against the wood.


    An arrow whizzed past my shoulder, thudding into the tooth-filled maw of the lead Blightpede. The creature ate it up like a snack, its segmented body rippling as it pressed forward.


    ¡°Come on then!¡± Finn yelled beside me, raising his short sword with one hand and the brass knuckles on his other.


    I hefted my axe and we met the monsters. The first Blightpede snapped for my leg. I sidestepped and brought my axe down, the blade biting deep into its side. It felt like chopping a bag of wet rice. The creature¡¯s attack missed, giving us an opening. Finn darted in, sword stabbing at its head while I wrestled my weapon free.


    Behind us, Garrett grunted as he and Nina fought to keep the monsters inside the tunnel. Nobody needed it pointed out that if the monsters got past us and onto the platform, we''d be surrounded and die a most horrible death.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Eryn''s arrow took a Blightpede in the mouth as it lunged for my arm. I pulled away and spun, axe cleaving downward, but the blade glanced off its slick hide.


    I activated my sigil just as Finn screamed for me, and I saw a light yellow aura covering the monsters.


    Rusted ruin!


    ¡°These are stronger!¡±


    There was nothing I could do as the third Blightpede''s teeth clamped onto Finn''s sword arm. Blood sprayed across his chest and Finn screamed.


    I danced around, hacking at the monster, all the while dodging the others. Finally, my axe found purchase behind its head, and it flopped once and lay limp, seemingly deflating.


    A crash resounded from behind ¨C Garrett was losing his footing. Finn roared and mounted the second Blightpede, brass knuckles slapping against its head again and again, blood pouring from his right wrist where the hand was gone.


    Before I could engage the last Blightpede, Garrett''s shout drew my attention.


    ¡°Incoming!¡±


    I cut down on pure instinct, slicing into the monster and turned.


    My throat closed up as a true monster lurched from Edwin''s tunnel. Eight legs, four ending in ragged stumps, supported a massive body of rotting wood and writhing fungus. Ice covered the parts where it was wounded, but then the face came into view. Human-like features were twisted in a perpetual scream, half-alive, half-decayed, like the corruption itself had torn it apart and stitched it back but everything was wrong.


    My eye sigil activated, and I cursed under my breath. A deep crimson aura surrounded the creature.


    A variant monster called the Woodweaver.


    ¡°Someone cover that tunnel!¡± Garrett cried and stumbled as a Ring Beetle battered his leg and the Branch Walker''s claws raked his shoulder, tearing through his leather armour. Nina jumped around, stabbing down at a Beetle, doing her best to stay away from its mandibles.


    I glanced at Eryn. Fear had drained the color from her face as she drew another arrow but couldn¡¯t release it. Brown crap splashed around Finn as he hammered the Blightpede. There was still one left, and the Woodweaver was coming.


    The image of Madrigal Ironweave facing down a horde of monsters flashed through my mind. He¡¯d been just like us when he started out, a scavenger having risen through the ranks.


    A calm settled over me, one that I had never felt in such a situation.


    ¡°Finn! Hold for your life! I¡¯m sorry!¡± I gripped my axe tight. ¡°Just hold! Eryn, kill that portal-pissed Blightpede or he¡¯s dead!¡±


    The spider-thing screamed as I charged at it. I was committed and had to either attack or be killed. Before it could strike, I swung hard at the nearest limb, but my axe bounced off with a crack that jarred my bones. Pain flared up my arms and I cried out in surprise. It was like hitting a steelhusk tree.


    The monster lunged, that horrific face snapping at me with teeth more fitting a gargoyle than a living being. I dove and rolled, coming up beneath its body. My axe found the joint of a back leg, but it barely scratched the surface.


    Behind me, Nina screamed.


    The spider''s head bent down, doubling over and snapping at me. I poked its face with my axe, as much on instinct as plan, and it gurgled in rage and scrambled to get away from me. Despite it being inferior to the weapons our adventurer parties had used, the axe was extremely sharp and it still drew blood.


    A leg caught me in the ribs, hitting harder than the time I''d lost grip on the mayor''s horse mid-shoeing. My back cracked against the wall, pain exploding through me and for a moment, I though that was it.


    Get up, get up, get up! Get up or they''re all dead! Eryn, too!


    I blinked my eyes clear just in time and scrambled aside as another leg stabbed down where I''d been a second ago. I rolled with the dodge and came up behind it. As the monster turned, I saw one of the remaining legs limping.


    That one''s already cracked! Get it! Go!


    I feinted left and the monster turned its body to intercept, but then I struck out right, putting everything into a single blow at the damaged leg. The axe bit deep and something broke. The spider staggered on its three legs, shrieking. The sound drove ice picks into my skull, but I couldn''t stop. Not when our lives were on the line.


    ¡°Die!¡± Garrett''s voice went high as he cried in rage and pain. ¡°Fucking die already!¡±


    I pressed in again, ducking under the monster''s attempt to bite. Another leg came for me, but I could see its weak spot. With all my strength, muscles built in long hours of hammering in the forge, I struck, and my axe found the joint.


    Black blood splashed as the limb fell right off.


    The creature screamed again. So did Nina, calling for her mother.


    I didn''t care. I couldn''t. I had only one job to do, and that was making sure that this spider monster didn''t get the others. If I ran, they¡¯d be dead anyway. If I managed to hold it back long enough, the others might still live¡­


    Chop, chop, chop.


    Like felling a tree, I swung my axe hard and fast, aiming at the exposed joints. The monster tried to get me with one of its remaining legs, but it couldn''t hold itself up and fight at the same time. Another swing, and another leg cracked. The spider collapsed with a loud hiss. It still had its mouth, but I darted around and stayed away from its face.


    I wanted to look around the room and see how everyone else was doing, but I couldn''t. Even a single misstep could end me. I climbed up the hind part of its body and stepped on top of its back. It was large, with a torso body, but because of all the legs and jagged edges, I barely managed to keep myself from falling.


    The monster twisted its head around, but it couldn''t quite see me. With a wicked grin, I got to work on its neck. Each blow was harder than the last. My arms burned. Sweat and blood stung my eyes, but I didn''t stop.


    Again.


    And again.


    And again.


    I could feel my ears ringing and arms burning. My right wrist hurt so bad that for a moment I thought it had broken. Then, my voice caught up and I found myself screaming endlessly. My voice was raw, and dark blood covered my hands, arms, and the axe.


    Wood splintered, corruption spurted, and then the head came free.


    I gasped for air. Even my lungs burned. The platform swam before my eyes, and I had a hard time staying on my feet. There was blood everywhere. I blinked it away and searched for the others, praying to anyone willing to listen that they were alive.


    Finn sat propped against the wall by the right tunnel, cradling his severed hand in his lap. Three dead Blightpedes lay around him, of which two had multiple arrow shafts sticking from their faces.


    Eryn stood in the middle of the room, her left hand grasping the air above her empty quiver, again and again, eyes wide open and letting out a silent scream. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and pooling at her chin.


    Garrett knelt by the second left passage, bleeding from his shoulder. His shield lay dented and torn beside him.


    And Nina... she lay on her belly in a pool of red, a Ring Beetle''s mandibles buried in her back, looking at me. She blinked her eyes twice and tried to roll, but she winced and stayed put.


    Then all the sound came back at once, and I could hear myself breathing amidst the distant echo of battle coming from far inside Edwin''s tunnel.

 Chapter 4

    ¡°Everyone alive?¡± Garrett asked, forcing the words out. ¡°Talk to me.¡±


    Nina groaned in reply, while Finn¡¯s breathing came ragged and through wheezes. Thick beads of sweat had formed on his face, and they were trickling down to pool at his neck.


    I nodded, though I knew he couldn''t see me. I was staring at the monster I''d slain, or rather, the creature I finished off, and remembered that dark red aura. My weapon had barely scratched it. If it hadn''t been already gravely wounded by Edwin''s party, things would have gone very differently and all five of us would be dead.


    ¡°We nearly died,¡± Eryn said, voice shaking. ¡°But...we didn''t.¡±


    Something in her voice called to me, and I straightened.


    ¡°No, we didn''t. We are all alive, and if we are going to stay that way, we need to get out of this place.¡±


    I turned my back on the carcass and hurried over to Eryn, grabbing her by the shoulder and giving her a mild shake.


    ¡°Eryn? Hey, you good? Are you with me?¡±


    She gasped and blinked twice as if coming to, then nodded hurriedly.


    ¡°Yes, I''m sorry. I¡ªuhh, I''m good.¡±


    ¡°Great. Now talk to me. I know how to hit things, but you are our medic. What do we do now? We got wounded. Talk to us.¡±


    ¡°Triage,¡± she said, control returning to her green eyes as she pushed past me, rushing over to Nina and dropped to her knees. ¡°Can you move your arms and legs?¡±


    ¡°Portal pissed bug''s stuck in my back!¡± Nina yelled but she didn¡¯t try to get up.


    ¡°Arms. Legs. Can you move them?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Now get the fucking bug out of me!¡±


    ¡°In a second,¡± Eryn said and stood, rushing over to Finn next and pulling bandages from one of her pouches. ¡°You''ll be fine! I need to stop Finn''s bleeding first.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sure! Let me bleed out here, will you? Just because I shot your boyfriend a wink!¡±


    As Eryn worked on Finn''s arm, I helped a wincing Garrett get to his feet and pretended I didn¡¯t hear what Nina had just said. It wasn¡¯t the time or place.


    He tried to reach for his dropped shield, but grimaced in pain and pulled his arm back.


    ¡°God damn it, my shoulder''s busted.¡±


    ¡°Don''t worry,¡± I said, grabbing his shield. ¡°We''re safe for now.¡±


    As long as no more monsters come up through the tunnels, that is.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    I put the battered shield around his neck and pulled his hand through the hoop. It wouldn''t do much in a fair fight with... anything, but it might buy him a second or two.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± He hoisted his spear as I knelt by Nina. ¡°We''d be dead if not for you. The way you attacked that spider. In all my years as a guard and as a scavenger, I''ve never seen anyone fight that idiotically.¡±


    ¡°Hah, yeah, tell me about it,¡± I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood even just a little bit. ¡°We all fought and won. Together.¡± I touched the mandibles sticking from Nina''s back. ¡°Eryn, should I pull them out?¡±


    ¡°Wait for me. I''m nearly done here. Don''t do anything yet, or you might hurt her more than she already is.¡±


    I patted Nina on the head.


    ¡°You heard the lady, Nina. You''ll be fine. Just hold on a little bit longer.¡±


    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± she hissed and spat a wad of blood. ¡°If I live, I''m going to ride someone. So very hard. Just to make it clear and all.¡±


    I couldn''t help but chuckle, and she did so, too. I stood and walked over to stare down at the monster I''d killed. Named Woodweaver. A variant type of monster. One I¡¯d never even heard about before.


    That was too fucking close to my liking,  and God is it ugly.


    ¡°What do we do about your ugly ass,¡± I muttered.


    Suddenly, the sounds of fighting from down in the tunnels died down. My heart thumped in my throat, and I had a hard time breathing. What about the Woodweaver once the others joined up with us? Would they just take it?


    ¡°Think they won, or¡ª¡± Garrett asked.


    ¡°Where''d that damn spider go? Find it for rift''s sake!¡± Edwin''s voice echoed from down the tunnel.


    ¡°I think that''s your answer,¡± I said, staring at the spider.


    I licked my lips and turned to meet Garrett''s gaze, but never even needed to ask the question as he nodded.


    ¡°We''d be dead without you, Ash. Spoil''s all yours. No one will tell a soul. Isn''t that right?¡± he added, raising his voice.


    No one said anything.


    I quickly met the others'' gazes. Finn gave a curt nod. Eryn ripped a monster part out of Nina''s back and tossed it to the ground, but did meet my eyes for the briefest of moments. She didn¡¯t mind either from what I could see.


    ¡°We''re full and you''re not,¡± she said, taking out a green paste and packing it into Nina¡¯s wound. ¡°Go for it. Better one of our own gets it.¡±


    ¡°They will definitely take it if I don''t right now,¡± I said, listening to the approaching footfalls.


    We''d agreed on the scavenging rules, but one superseded it. Adventurers looted first. Always. But the others didn''t know it was a variant.


    I saw Nina exchanging a glance with Finn.


    ¡°Claim what?¡± she said, forcing the words out and winking at me. ¡°I didn''t see shit.¡±


    A big grin split my face and I knelt, swiping it into my spatial storage.


    It didn''t fit.


    The footsteps were even closer now and I could make out that some of them were jogging.


    ¡°Garrett!¡± Edwin''s voice was just around the corner. ¡°Are you guys alive?¡±


    I desperately dragged out every monster from my spatial inventory, the seven carcasses piling up around me in a massacred heap.


    ¡°We''re alive,¡± Garrett yelled. ¡°But monsters are attacking below!¡±


    Once more I grabbed the spider.


    Please, please, please! Fit in there, you big bastard!


    This time it swiped straight into my storage, filling eight out of the ten slots.


    Edwin appeared just around the corner, his tower shield held firmly in his hand, and fire blazing along the blade of his sword. He stopped at the entrance to the tunnel and looked around. Once he saw us all moving, he wiggled his sword. The fire went out and he sheathed his weapon. Blood ran down his right greaves, and his chest plate would need some serious hammering, yet he moved as if everything was just fine.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°What the hell happened here?¡±


    ¡°We did what we were supposed to,¡± I said, swiping in a Blightpede and a Branch Walker, for good measure. No way was I leaving anything behind. ¡°Like we said we would.¡±


    ¡°But,¡± he said and slowed, eyes taking in the twelve dead monsters spread around the platform. ¡°How?¡±


    I shrugged and shouldered my axe.


    ¡°Was pretty easy, Commander.¡±


    The silver-haired healer rushed past Edwin, almost knocking him over.


    ¡°Easy, huh? Seems you got more guts and strength than brains if you think this is what easy really looks like.¡±


    The healer knelt by Finn and ripped the bandage off.


    ¡°Here. Hold your hand like¡ªno, not like that. Align the bone. A little bit more to the¡ªyeah. There. Now hold it.¡±


    Benedict came limping out of the tunnel as the healer took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, tapping his staff against the ground and waving his hand across Finn''s.


    ¡°What''s the situation?¡± Edwin asked Garrett as a golden glow appeared and Finn grunted, jaw clamped shut.


    ¡°Marcus'' group retreated from their branch and towards the entrance. Unknown number or makeup of monsters followed after them.¡±


    ¡°Three bells!¡± Edwin slammed his shield on the wooden floor. ¡°Benedict,¡± Edwin said, turning to glare at the wizard.


    ¡°Where''s the spider?¡± the wizard asked, ignoring the commander. ¡°I swear we nearly had it. Also, why are you not dead?¡±


    I cleared my throat, but before I could say anything, Garrett spoke up.


    ¡°Damn thing sprinted straight through. Knocked me out of the way and ran up this tunnel. It was limping, I think. Maybe that''s why it didn''t kill us?¡± He pointed his spear into the second left tunnel and made a jabbing motion.


    ¡°Frigid frostbite!¡± Benedict hissed and limped up to the opening and stared inside. ¡°Edwin, it might be inval¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not a chance. I''ve had enough of your ideas for one day. No, scratch that. Forever.¡± Edwin helped Nina on her side. ¡°We''re going to have a serious chat about your role in my party when we get back.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    Edwin held up his hand and just stared at the wizard.


    ¡°No buts. This was my fault and I take responsibility. But we''re class blessed lucky that everyone¡¯s still alive. And I¡¯m going to make sure that it stays that way. I''m not even sure I should have people on my team who keep testing me like you do, driving me to make the wrong decisions just for glory or chance at greatness.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Benedict turned away from the commander. He started stroking his beard and stared off into the tunnel, mumbling to himself.


    ¡°Keep your hand still for a week at least,¡± the healer said to Finn, and then hurried over to check Nina''s back. ¡°The magic needs time to settle and regrow it. Strain it too soon and you''ll never regain full use.¡±


    ¡°Yes, healer. Thank you,¡± Finn said.


    Edwin walked to the floor''s stairs. Benedict, their archer, and their melee fighter, a lanky man in leather armor and hood who had yet to say a word, gathered around him.


    ¡°She good to go?¡±


    ¡°Yes, commander. She''ll be fine,¡± Alex said, as he gently turned Nina.


    ¡°I''m nearly exhausted, so I can¡¯t really heal you for now. Your wounds may be painful, but they are not life-threatening, alright? I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t bleed out and we can go.¡±


    Nina''s eyes were tight with pain, but she nodded.


    ¡°I''ll buy you a beer later to make up for it. If you''ll let me.¡±


    Looks like she already found someone to mount.


    ¡°Make it three,¡± Nina said, and the healer replied with a smile.


    He chuckled and made his way over to his party, nodding at Edwin.


    ¡°Alright ladies and gents, form up. Step one, we clear our way to the portal, then we''ll find the other parties. Garrett, follow close this time. And Rowan¡ª¡± He looked at the melee fighter. ¡°Anything comes from behind, you step in and take care of it. Take Isaac if need be.¡±


    The leather-clad fighter nodded and patted their archer on his broad back.


    ¡°Let''s get the hell out of here.¡±


    A while later,I pushed Garrett along and he stumbled into the portal, blood dripping from his shield arm. His spear waved madly, nearly taking Finn''s eye out as I threw him out of the dungeon.


    Finn clutched his bandaged hand to his chest, face pale and drawn. The silver-haired healer had done what he could. Healing magic was powerful, but it wasn''t something that could make damage just go away with the wave of a hand. It could help close wounds, stop bleeding, mend broken bone and even reattach limbs, but the fatigue and pain remained along with the trauma.


    Next, Nina limped past, supported by Eryn who threw me a worried glance.


    Behind me, an adventurer screamed in pain, and I turned, axe ready.


    As soon as we had started our retreat, monsters had rushed from all three tunnels, and Edwin had been fighting to hold them back ever since. If we had been further up, we''d all be dead. That was a fact. Fortunately, we made it down to the second level and the two other adventuring parties returned, monsters pressing them from all sides. Together with the third scavenging group, we''d retreated down to the portal, where Marcus'' group had fled, leaving three ring beetles to stand in our way.


    My axe had claimed one and Rasek''s scavenger group took care of the two others.


    As Rasek and his men filed out, the adventurers retreated down and formed up in a line around the portal, the healers and mages first, with their ranged adventurers next, and finally the melees.


    Only one man remained on the ramp.


    ¡°Edwin!¡± Benedict shouted at the commander who was still fighting his way down, his tower shield holding the monsters at bay while his flame-wreathed sword cut them down. ¡°You can''t hold them on your own! Get back already!¡±


    The wizard raised his hands and cast a spell, sending an icy wind blasting across the monster-filled wall. Dozens of Ring beetles started to freeze, their wings unable to let them fly back up, their claws slipping from the frozen wood, and they tumbled to the next level. Adventurers rushed in, slaying them with such precision that I didn''t even care I wasn''t getting any more loot. I just looked on in appreciation of their ability to kill and narrowed my eyes. That¡¯s exactly who I wanted to become.


    One day.


    ¡°Keep going!¡± Edwin yelled, stepping onto the floor, tower shield still braced. ¡°I''ll hold them and we can regroup outside!¡±


    ¡°Like hell you will!¡± Benedict leaned past the line of melee fighters, frost crackling around his staff and blasted an ice bolt through a Branch Walker. ¡°Save the heroics for someone who''ll believe them.¡±


    I was the last scavenger inside, and stood staring up the tree. The walls were crawling with monsters. More than I''d ever seen in one place. It was as if we''d stepped on an ant hive, except the sound of claws scraping against wood was overwhelming.


    Just what the hell had happened for all of them to get so riled up? Was it the Woodweaver¡¯s death? Surely not.


    ¡°Fire walling!¡± another mage said, and a five-foot tall wall of flames burst upwards from the floor, not two feet in front of the commander who cursed and jerked backwards.


    Alex, the healer, grabbed me by the front of my leather armour.


    ¡°Out. Now.¡± I nodded and stepped backwards until darkness closed around me, the view searing itself into my memory as the world twisted, stretched, and then snapped back into place.


    The portal spat me out into the late afternoon sunlight, the morning mist long gone. Fourteen scavengers stood clustered together, a few steps away from the tree.


    ¡°Marcus, you''re a portal-pissing coward!¡± Garrett shouted, straining against Rasek''s grip on his good arm, holding him back from the one-eyed scavenger. ¡°We could have all died in there because of your gutless retreat!¡±


    ¡°It was just a couple of ring beetles!¡± Marcus shouted back, chin up and hand resting on his sword''s pommel. Blood matted his tunic from cuts on his neck, already scabbing over. His team huddled up behind him ¡ª all four sporting fresh wounds. ¡°It''s not like anyone died, right?¡±


    ¡°Because we killed them first,¡± Rasek spat. His iron-studded staff was planted into the dirt, a fresh dent near its crown end. ¡°When we needed our portal clear, where were you? Running! Running like frightened children!¡±


    ¡°You didn''t see our branch!¡± one of Marcus'' people shouted, but another pulled them back, muttering something about how they should keep quiet.


    ¡°You think we had it better?¡± Nina hissed and struggled forward, held up by Eryn, face white with pain. ¡°Look at us! We nearly died on the third level, and then we had to fight our way out.¡±


    ¡°Nobody asked you to fight!¡± Marcus stepped forward, jabbing a finger at Garrett. ¡°You could have run past them, too! There was space! Leave them for the adventurers to deal with.¡±


    My anger crashed over me like forge-quenched steel.


    I pushed between them and grabbed Marcus by his tunic, lifting him off his feet. He might have been taller, but I''d spent years hammering metal and the strength in my arms was second to none among the non-classed.


    ¡°Put me¡ª¡±


    His words cut off as I shook him and the clearing went dead quiet.


    ¡°Listen carefully, Marcus,¡± I said, my voice low and steady despite the excitement and fear from earlier still washing through me. It was the kind of voice Pa used when I''d really messed up. ¡°Your cowardice almost got my friends killed today. If that ever happens again¡­¡± I let the words hang.


    ¡°We couldn''t¡ª¡±


    I shook him again.


    ¡°Pioneer justice is swift, Marcus. And we all know what happens to those who get others killed by cowardice! We are family and take care of one another! We don''t run! We live and die together!¡±


    Murmurs of assent rippled through Rasek''s group despite our earlier disagreement.


    Garrett spat on the ground.


    Marcus'' good eye darted between everyone¡¯s faces, but he didn¡¯t find any sympathy.


    ¡°We would have died,¡± he said, his voice smaller now. ¡°There were so many--¡±


    ¡°Then you die protecting those people standing behind you.¡± I pulled him closer. ¡°Because that''s what we do. That''s how we survive out here. Together. I don''t even want to go home without my friends, Marcus. Think about that for a second.¡±


    Someone cleared their throat behind me.


    ¡°What exactly is going on here?¡±


    I turned my head to see Alex, the silver-bearded healer stomping towards us. The other adventurers spilled out of the portal behind him in a steady stream.


    ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± Eryn said, stepping in front of him. ¡°Just scavenger business.¡±


    Alex''s eyes narrowed, but before he could speak, I set Marcus down, made a show of brushing dust from his chest, and then smoothed his tunic.


    ¡°No harm done.¡± I patted his shoulder. ¡°This time. But remember what I said. We¡¯re all family, and family takes care of one another, right?¡±


    Marcus opened his mouth, but Edwin''s voice cut through the clearing.


    ¡°Pick up the pace, people!¡± He emerged last from the portal, shield scored with new marks. ¡°We''re heading back double time. Help those who can''t run by themselves. Now move!¡±


    I met Marcus'' eye one last time, then turned to help Nina. We had a long walk ahead of us.


    And a rare variant spider carcass as loot.

 Chapter 5

    Sentinel Station¡¯s bells rang as we ran across the killing field, the ground thundering behind us.


    ¡°Monster wave!¡± a guard shouted from the walls. ¡°Everyone inside!¡±


    I took more of Nina''s weight as we moved as fast as we could considering our sad state. The stumps of felled steelhusk trees dotted the open ground between us and safety. Arrows whistled overhead, striking monsters charging from the forest edge.


    ¡°Move, move, move!¡± Edwin called.


    The camp¡¯s scouts had found us as we closed on the camp, moving past us to check the forest for monsters. They''d returned shortly after, screaming for us to get back to base but were still providing some help despite not being combat-oriented classes.


    We sprinted for the walls. Well, we tried to sprint. After all the fighting and hours of walking, most of us could barely manage a stumbling jog. Arrows and spells flashed past ¨C ice, fire, lightning. The station''s defenders did their best to cover our retreat and cull whatever numbers they could before the creatures reached the base.


    Great fucking timing.


    A Branch Walker leaped over a stump, claws extended. An arrow took it through the eye before it could reach us.


    ¡°Almost there!¡± Eryn shouted.


    With a boom, the gates closed behind the logging teams. With monsters this close, they couldn''t risk leaving them open for us. Instead, the defenders lowered the wooden elevators for the wounded, and rope ladders for the rest of us.


    We reached the walls just as the first wave of monsters burst from the treeline. I put Nina onto the wooden plank and made sure she was secure.


    ¡°Hold on!¡±


    On the other side, two guards jumped off the wall, and she soared up to the battlement where others caught her.


    Thunder cracked as a lighting spell zapped from overhead and streaked into the monsters.


    Garrett stepped onto another platform and I grabbed a rope ladder, holding it out to Eryn.


    ¡°Get up. I don''t want to have to scrape you off the wall.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she said, voice shaky. A grin spread across her face as she rushed up, her blonde hair waving.


    With Finn having found another elevator, my team was up, and I started up the ladder behind Eryn.


    I looked behind me.


    Rusted ruin.


    It was one thing looking down from above the walls onto the horde, and another one entirely to see the monster wave coming right at you. It was safe to say that I almost¡­ did something very unbecoming.


    Monsters were flowing from the forest, and not only the normal ones. There were Sap Seekers, Ring Beetles, and Branch Walkers by the dozens. Even larger creatures the sigil didn''t recognize yet. How come they¡¯d followed us out all the way? Twisted Titan monsters barely ever came out to attack the base¡­


    What''s happening? Did we somehow piss off the dungeon?


    I reached the top and rolled onto the walkway next to Eryn, my chest heaving. Her hand found mine and we both squeezed for comfort.


    ¡°I''m scared,¡± she said, her voice low.


    I squeezed even harder, just to make sure she knew I was there. Not just me, but everyone else, too.


    ¡°Yeah, this was definitely something else. I never want to be outside during a wave again.¡±


    It was frightening, though part of me was excited. This whole adventure was the exact thing I needed. I''d gone to a dungeon, chopped a variant in the face, and got out with a storage full of loot. What wasn''t there to love?


    Other than almost getting eaten¡­


    All along this side of the wall, the guards ran the elevators, bringing the wounded up to the battlements and safety. Simultaneously, more defenders were rushing out from the Branchway, some still fastening the straps on their armour.


    ¡°Get the wounded through the rift!¡± Edwin''s voice carried over the chaos as he hopped over the wall next to Eryn and me. ¡°Everyone else, to your positions! We''ve got monsters to kill!¡±


    I pushed myself back up against the wooden wall. My limbs felt like lead, but I had a smile on my face. I¡¯d fight hard, if not for myself, for Eryn and the others.


    Below, claws scratched against steelhusk-reinforced walls as monsters hurled themselves at the gates and walls. Then they started climbing.


    ¡°Here they come!¡± a guard shouted and more picked up the warning.


    A Branch Walker''s head appeared over the edge. Despite the tiredness dragging on me, I swung hard. The blade bit deep into the rotting wood of its neck. The monster''s eyes went wide as I wrenched the weapon free, and it fell, taking three more creatures with it.


    A Ring Beetle scuttled over the wall. My axe crashed down, splitting its shell. The creature''s innards splattered across the wall. I was tired, so damned tired, but I wouldn''t falter. Not now.


    ¡°Like hammering iron!¡±


    From up top, the monsters were somewhat easy prey. The defensive positions were perfect - elevated platforms provided clear shots for archers, while the wall''s width let warriors like me swing freely. The steelhusk trees anchoring the walls created natural strongpoints, their metallic bark seemingly immune to the monsters'' claws. It did allow them to climb, but not all kinds of monsters could pull their weight up.


    ¡°Don''t get cocky, kid,¡± Edwin said.


    He''d placed his shield by the wall and wielded his flaming sword in a hand-and-a-half grip, butchering the monsters as they came.


    ¡°Got it, Commander!¡±


    Between two monsters, he looked over at me and shrugged.


    ¡°But, you''re not wrong.¡±


    Something gnawed at me, though. The thrill of the dungeon still pumped through my veins - the raw, primal challenge of facing monsters head-on, where every move could mean life or death. Up on the wall felt... safe. It was almost boring.


    I shook my head, brow furrowing.


    What''s wrong with me? Safe is good. Safe means everyone gets to live.


    The memory of Nina''s wounds and Finn''s severed hand flashed through my mind. That''s what happened when we had to go out there.


    I got the loot, and we got out alive. Survival tops everything.


    Another Branch Walker appeared, and I introduced it to my axe.


    * * *


    My arms and back burned as I cleaved through what felt like the hundredth monster. They''d been relentless, wave after wave focusing on our section of the wall. It was strange - almost as if they were targeting us specifically. I''d be flattered if I wasn''t so tired, or had my spatial storage filled before the fight even started.


    ¡°Never seen such an attack before. Nor so concentrated. If I didn''t know better, I''d say they carried a grudge for our visit,¡± Commander Edwin said as he stood beside me, wiping monster gore from his blade. ¡°Impressive work up here, Ash.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± I wiped the sweat and grime from my brow. ¡°Just doing my part.¡±


    ¡°Get some rest. Head through the rift - you''ve more than earned it. I''ll keep a spot open for you next time, too. Got a good head on your shoulders.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I nodded, my body aching. Eryn had gone a while ago, her quiver empty and fingers trembling with exhaustion.


    As I stepped up to the elevator, Edwin called after me.


    ¡°Oh, and once you get your class, if you ever need a constant party, you let me know.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir. I might just take you up on that.¡±


    I descended to the floor of the camp and approached the rift. Despite the exhaustion, my heart soared. The spider carcass in my storage was unlike anything we''d ever looted, and I couldn''t wait to show it to Pa. Between it and the other monster carcasses, we''d have enough materials for the forge to get by for a while.


    The rift''s green surface rippled before me, and I took a deep breath and stepped through. It was time to go home. The familiar tingle faded as I stepped onto solid ground. First came the fresh air and the cacophony of people shouting and working on various things, and only then did I feel the afternoon sun hit my face. I took a step to the side, stretched my arms towards the heavens, and let other people through. Some were exiting, like me, while others made their way Riftside, ferrying various necessities.


    I made it. I actually bloody made it.


    Fifty feet of packed earth spread out before me. Sharpened stakes lay flat around the massive circle where the rift stood, except for four spots, ready to be lifted into place in case of a monster breach. It hadn''t happened since Sentinel Station went up, but our job was to prepare so it would never happen.


    Around the circle, the earth slanted down into trenches, which again were carved into a second perfect circle.


    Workers hefted pickaxes and shovels, working on what would someday become our moat, filled with water to slow any monsters that might come through the rift. For now, though, the trenches were a work in progress, like everything else in Dawnwatch. Their rhythmic strikes and grunts echoed up, mixing with the constant sawing and hammering from the wall beyond.


    First Steel, Dawnwatch''s innermost wall, rose behind the trench, a circular palisade of steelhusk-reinforced wood that followed the moat''s curve. The wall stretched thirty feet high, topped with a wide wooden walkway where guards patrolled. Four bridges spanned the gap between my position and First Steel, each supported by thick wooden stilts driven deep into the earth.


    The eastern and western bridges led to massive gatehouses, their gates raised to allow traffic, while the other two bridges simply ended at the walls. Wooden elevators hung ready above them for emergency evacuations. Just in case it had to be abandoned. Nobody wanted to be left trapped inside the walls with the monsters if they ever made it through.


    I turned and glanced to the northeast, seeing the scaffolding just above First Steel''s battlements. The keep''s skeleton was taking shape, steelhusk lumber forming its bones. It wouldn''t be finished for months, perhaps even a year or more, but I loved looking for progress every time I returned home, and I knew workers would be crawling across it like ants, hammers ringing against nails. Unfortunately, there weren''t that many of us as it wasn''t that big of a rift compared to some out there. The Kingdom couldn''t spare the extra manpower necessary to ease the project.


    I inhaled deeply, letting the tension drain from my muscles. The scent of fresh-cut steelhusk, industry, and humanity filled my lungs. Sawdust tickled my nose, along with smoke from cooking fires and the earthy smell of turned soil from the trenches below.


    Home.


    The pressure that had built since entering the dungeon - the weight of responsibility, the tension of combat, the constant vigilance - it all melted away as if it had never even been there. My shoulders relaxed, and I felt lighter than I had in days. And much more excited to be home.


    ¡°Ash! Good to see you back!¡±


    Walt''s voice boomed from atop First Steel''s eastern section. The captain''s red beard caught the sunlight as he waved down at me, and I couldn''t help but grin. He was an imposing man, and someone I could consider calling a friend.


    ¡°Hey, Walt!¡±


    ¡°How''d it go in there?¡±


    ¡°Everyone lives, and my spatial''s full!¡±


    He barked a deep belly laugh that seemed like it could shake the walls. If anything, the man was a goodhearted soul who made sure to look out for everyone, especially us scavengers.


    ¡°The rift''s blessed you today, lad!¡±


    I chuckled and waved back before heading for the eastern bridge. The sounds of construction rang out all around me, and in all honesty, I could never get enough as it wrapped around me like a warm blanket. After the eerie silence of the dungeon, broken only by monster screams and the clash of weapons, the noise of work was welcome.


    The gatehouse loomed ahead, its raw wooden walls still waiting for steelhusk reinforcement. Through the gate, I could see the processing station ¨C a hundred-foot square ¡°sluice¡± surrounded by high wooden walls. Those walls needed reinforcing too, but it wasn''t a priority. Nothing but the first line of defense was, and rightly so. Stories about rift breaches were the stuff of nightmares that I didn''t even want to think about.


    We''ll get to it. Kingsworth wasn''t built in a day, either.


    Inside the sluice, two tables were set up as usual. A line of people from our expedition waited at each. Nina stood at the first, negotiating the sale of her loot to Harold Markwell from the adventurer''s guild. The old mage''s remaining arm gestured as he spoke, probably trying to negotiate a better deal on the unknown monsters. Eryn waited behind Nina, her honey-blonde hair catching the light. Five more adventurers shuffled in place behind her, and I could see they were eager to get it over with and go home.


    Bet they¡¯ll drop the price with every specimen sold. I''m glad Nina and Eryn are getting theirs in early.


    At the second table, Rasek faced off with Isabel Pine, the bank manager''s elegant figure straight-backed in her chair as they too haggled over the price. Garrett stood second in line, his wounded shoulder bound but his face eager.


    No sign of Finn. Probably already off to see Victor. Not surprised he''s gambling on the monsters having gems over taking the guaranteed payment.


    My friends were safe. Wounded and tired, but very much alive. After everything we''d faced in the dungeon, seeing them here, arguing over prices and counting coins, made my chest tight with happiness.


    ¡°Ash!¡± Harold called out, waving his one arm. ¡°Come show me what you''ve brought back!¡±


    ¡°Let me save you some time,¡± Isabel cut in, her voice carrying across the sluice. ¡°Whatever he''s offering, the bank will beat it.¡±


    I smiled and shook my head.


    ¡°Sorry folks, but this haul''s going straight to Pa!¡±


    Eryn stepped out of line, touching the shoulder of the man behind her.


    ¡°Hold my spot?¡±


    She darted over and threw her arms around me, planting a quick kiss on my cheek that made my skin tingle. There probably wasn''t much to it as she wore her heart on her sleeve, but I liked to think that one day, well, maybe I could offer her something more than scavenging. For now, that was still just a dream.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered. ¡°For saving my life out there.¡±


    ¡°Ah, well,¡± I said, trying to sound casual, but my heart was doing backflips. ¡°What are friends for?¡±


    She smiled and stepped back, and I couldn''t keep the grin off my face as she shot me a wink.


    ¡°Nina''s not the only one looking for a mounting, it seems,¡± Garret said with a grin.


    Eryn stalked over to him and slapped his chest several times, and he cried out in pain. Must have hit his wounded shoulder in the process. Good. He deserved it teasing her in front of everyone.


    ¡°Be careful, she bites!¡± I yelled over my shoulder and hurried for the eastern gate.


    Maybe I wasn''t a proper adventurer yet, but today? Today I felt like a hero.


    I passed through the sluice''s heavy gate and stepped into Dawnwatch proper. The east main road stretched dead ahead through the heart of our growing settlement, like the spokes on a wheel with the rift at the center. On the left side of the road, the Royal Bank''s freshly-painted facade gleamed in a royal deep blue and silver. Above, flapping in the breeze, hung their flag, showing the Tharungian silver castle on a blue field.


    The adventurer''s guild hall stood opposite, painted forest green and red, their flag a red tree of life on a green background. The two buildings faced each other like grumpy old men across a garden wall. While each had the same goal, they approached it with wildly different methods. And that was great if anyone asked me, as monopolies were rarely good for ordinary folk.


    Instead of passing through the gate, I turned right and onto the innermost of the circular roads which ran through Dawnwatch. It would take me to the industrial quarter and our smithy. The familiar scents of coal smoke and heated metal grew stronger with each step, and so did my grin.


    ¡°Ash! Ash!¡±


    Karl''s excited voice rang out as small boots thundered across packed earth. The ten-year-old skidded to a halt in front of me, eyes shining like silver coins.


    ¡°What was it like? Did you fight lots of monsters? Was it scary?¡±


    I looked down upon the boy.


    Was I ever so young and eager to hear stories of my elders?


    Hell, I probably still was.


    And maybe I wasn''t a level sixty warrior who could single-handedly defend a city from a horde, but that wasn''t what Karl needed today anyway. Still, I wanted to make an impression. I was also a hero of sorts, after all. Wasn''t I? I''d stood shoulder to shoulder with the commander and hacked down dozens of monsters on the wall alone.


    I fished a silver coin from my pocket, glanced around conspiratorially, and pressed it into his palm.


    ¡°Silver?¡± he said, his eyes going wide as plates, staring at the gleaming metal. ¡°Thank you!¡±


    ¡°It was amazing, Karl. And dangerous.¡± I crouched before him. ¡°So we''re going to need more parties to tackle it and all the ones to come after. You know what that means, right?¡±


    He nodded hurriedly, still staring at the coin. Likely more than he''d ever had for himself.


    ¡°That''s right. We are going to need more scavengers and adventurers.¡±


    I paused, waiting for him to catch up.


    Slowly, his gaze drifted up from the coin to meet my eyes.


    ¡°Exactly. We need you to work hard and grow stronger so that one day you can join us.¡±


    ¡°You really think I can do it, Ash? Become a scavenger like you? And, and, and, maybe even an adventurer?¡±


    ¡°Course you can.¡± I ruffled his hair. ¡°Just look at me ¨C I started right where you are.¡±


    Karl clutched the silver, bouncing on his toes.


    ¡°Did you get any monsters? Which faction are you selling them to? The Kingdom? The Guild? Or Victor the alchemist?¡±


    ¡°Get your head on straight, Karl, and try again.¡±


    I gave him a frown.


    His face scrunched up as if he was trying to stare through a wall, and then suddenly it brightened.


    ¡°You giving ''em to your Pa?¡±


    ¡°Of course I am,¡± I said, rewarding him with a smile.


    ¡°Did you find any new ones? Can I see? Please?¡±


    I glanced around the street. It was nearly empty.


    Why not give the kid a memory of a lifetime?


    With a grin, I opened my spatial storage and pulled out the Ring Beetle carcass, nearly dumping it on his shoes.


    ¡°Roar!¡± I said and gave it a wiggle with my boot.


    Karl''s scream echoed off the buildings as he bolted down the street, and I quickly stored the monster, chuckling to myself.


    ¡°Ash Aldrich!¡± Martha the seamstress called from her doorway, trying to look stern but failing to hide her smile. ¡°That boy won''t sleep for a week now.¡±


    I shrugged.


    ¡°True enough. But better he''s scared now than gets brave ideas about hunting monsters before he''s ready. A healthy dose of fear might keep him alive long enough to actually become a scavenger.¡±


    She shrugged. I gave her a wink as I hurried past, and joy spread through me as I stepped onto our small plot of land. It wasn''t much, but it was ours.


    The smithy stood right before me, smoke billowing from its two chimneys, and hammering away inside was Pa.

 Chapter 6

    I stepped through the wide workshop doors and onto the packed earthen floor, reveling in the familiar scents of coal, heated metal, and leather. Light seeping in from the skylight caught dust motes dancing in the air. The workshop stood exactly as I''d left it ¨C two anvils out on the floor, barrels full of water nearby, the forge by the back wall towards the garden, away from the rest of the house, work tables set against the right side wall, next to the door inside, and in the far corner stood the experimental forge Pa had built for monster materials crackling away. Every tool hung in its proper place.


    Pride swelled in my chest. We''d built this place together from the ground up, turned it from a patch of dirt given by the king into a proper smithy. Every beam, every brick, every tool rack ¨C they all held memories of shared work and quiet lessons from the last several months.


    Pa stood at the main anvil, his massive frame silhouetted against the flames. His bald head gleamed with sweat as he worked, muscles rippling beneath his soot-stained shirt as he hammered away at a piece for a chest plate. Through the window connecting to the house proper, I spotted Ma singing inside, her short-cropped hair dancing around her as she worked at the stove.


    The rhythmic hammering stopped mid-strike. Pa turned, his face was set in its usual mask of stern lines and pockmarks, though I knew better than to mistake it for displeasure. It was just his way.


    Ma glanced up at the unexpected silence, her eyes finding mine through the window. They went wide and were accompanied by a broad smile.


    ¡°Ash! You¡¯re home.¡±


    She burst through the connecting door and practically flew across the workshop, wrapping me in a fierce embrace that smelled of fresh bread and herbs, underlaid with the ever-present hint of coal smoke that clung to everything in our home. Despite her daily proximity to the forge, she somehow always managed to look and smell clean and had even tried to instill that same skill into Pa, but he kept reasoning with her that he''d have to scrape the skin off his flesh to get the smell out.


    That was probably true.


    ¡°Look at you!¡± She pulled back, hands fluttering over the bloodstains on my armor and the bruises on my face. ¡°What happened? Are you hurt? Did you eat? You look thin ¨C did you need to get treated by healers?¡±


    Some things never changed, and that was good. It was those little details that made me appreciate the time home more than anything else.


    ¡°He''s only been away for half a day, woman. What''s the fuss about? How could he have lost weight?¡±


    Pa set aside his work, dropping the red-hot metal into the quenching barrel with a hiss before hanging up his tools. He watched us, waiting for Ma''s flood of concern to run its course.


    When she finally paused for a breath, Pa put his hand on my shoulder, his dark eyes sweeping over me.


    ¡°Welcome home, son.¡± His deep voice rumbled through the workshop and it made me feel safe. The man had always been a stalwart shield that protected us ever since I could remember. ¡°Good to have you back.¡±


    Then his stern expression cracked, revealing a broad grin that lit up his whole face. He opened his arms wide, and I stepped into his embrace. His strong arms wrapped around me, and suddenly I was eight years old again, safe and protected from all the world''s monsters and politics.


    ¡°I was afraid,¡± he whispered so quietly only I could hear. ¡°So damn afraid when they said a larger wave than usual had attacked the base. But you''re home now.¡±


    I nodded and hugged him back, starting our ritualistic battle of who could squeeze the life out of the other. I had yet to win, and taking into account his considerable strength, it would still take me a while.


    ¡°Did everyone make it?¡± Ma asked as I wheezed, and Pa finally let go of me.


    ¡°Old man. You''ll break my bones one day,¡± I laughed. ¡°But yes, Ma, everyone made it out alive and well.¡± I rubbed the back of my neck. ¡°Though it was close. Nina took a nasty hit, and Finn...¡± I trailed off, remembering the spray of blood and the screams. ¡°They''ll recover in time. The dungeon itself was incredible ¨C like nothing I''d ever seen. The tree is hollow inside, and you can walk up alongside the walls to these platforms, and there are branches stretching out in different directions, filled with monsters, including many we''ve never seen before, and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Come.¡± Ma grabbed my arm, tugging me towards the door leading into our home. ¡°Tell us everything over lunch. I''ve made your favorite.¡±


    ¡°I''ll never say no to that. God knows I could use a bite right about now,¡± and on cue, my stomach rumbled. The three of us started laughing and headed inside.


    The rich, sweet aroma hit me right on the nose as we entered the kitchen. My mouth watered at the sight of the deep red-brown chunks of pork belly in the clay pot, tender meat ready to fall apart at the touch.


    ¡°Ma! Red-cooked pork? But the spices alone¡ª¡± I stared at the feast prepared to be served. ¡°It must have taken you hours!¡±


    She smiled, pulling out three plates.


    ¡°Well? Did you bring back anything good from your scavenging run?¡±


    I nodded, unable to keep the excitement from my voice.


    ¡°Got quite the haul actually. Show you after dinner?¡±


    Pa limped over and brought out rice from the cooker.


    ¡°Spatial storage full then?¡±


    The grin spread across my face before I could stop it. Both of them knew that look ¨C they''d seen it often enough when I was a boy, usually right before I confessed to some mischief.


    Ma''s eyes widened.


    ¡°All the slots? You filled all ten?¡±


    My grin grew even wider, and I nodded.


    Pa slapped the counter, rattling the dishes.


    ¡°And that''s why we''re having red-cooked pork! Finally seeing the payoff from all our hard work, all those investments in gems, training, and equipment.¡± He reached across and gripped my shoulders. ¡°This is just the beginning, son. Just the beginning of our rise.¡±


    ¡°Sure is, Pa. Just watch and see!¡±


    Mouth watering, I grabbed a plate and waited for Ma to serve.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Today went from outstanding to the best day in my life.


    * * *


    ¡°Not another bite,¡± Pa said once we were done, pushing his plate away.


    ¡°What bite?¡± Ma grabbed the plate and held it up to her eye. ¡°Not enough left on here to interest an ant!¡±


    Pa chuckled.


    ¡°That''s what I said, didn¡¯t I?¡± He winked at me as Ma good-naturedly tapped him on the head.


    ¡°Incurable! That''s what you are.¡± She bent down and gave him a kiss. ¡°And brilliant. Now, why don''t you two go out and crack those bodies open? I''ll be right out after cleaning.¡± She shook her head, still unable to come to terms with what I''d told them. ¡°A mutated monster? Never thought I''d see one.¡±


    ¡°You better believe it, Ma. Come on, Pa,¡± I said, getting to my feet, snatching the dishes from Ma, and hurrying over to the stairs and back down to the first floor. ¡°You won''t believe how disgusting these things are.¡±


    After placing the dishes on the bench, I rushed out to the smithy while Pa stomped down the stairs. He was just as excited as me, but still tried to hide it. The man was an angel in a bear''s body, but he still had appearances to keep up, or so he wanted us to believe.


    I pulled the ring beetle out of my spatial storage and set it down carefully on the butchering table along the wall opposite the door into the two-story area. The chitin gleamed dully in the forge light as I reached back to pull out the next monster.


    ¡°Hold on there, son.¡± Pa''s hand landed on my shoulder. ¡°One at a time. We have all the time in the world. Unless you''re supposed to be somewhere with that¡ªwhat was her name again? Erynia?¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°Eryn, Pa, and no.¡±


    ¡°Then you know there¡¯s no hurry. A messy workshop¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªis an accident waiting to happen,¡± we finished together, and I sighed.


    ¡°But aren''t you curious to see them?¡± I clenched my fists with excitement so they shook. ¡°They''re completely new!¡±


    Pa stroked his beard, trying to hide his smile.


    ¡°Course I am, but I''m also a smith.¡± He crossed his arms over his chest. ¡°And what does a smith have besides a strong back and arms to squeeze the life out of a thief?¡±


    I took a slow breath. When he got into this mood, it was best to just humor him. Either that or leave and come back later, and I was in no mood to wait.


    ¡°A smith has the patience of a saint,¡± I muttered.


    His smile broke free.


    ¡°That''s right.¡± Then he pushed me carefully aside. ¡°Now get out of the way so I can see this new monster!¡±


    I chuckled as Pa bent over the ring beetle, his hands moving across its shell and expertly tracing the curve of a massive mandible.


    ¡°The claws are strong enough to push into wood and hold them there even at a vertical angle,¡± I said, pointing at the hooked appendages. ¡°And definitely sharp enough to punch through armor. Garrett field-tested that.¡±


    Pa harrumphed.


    ¡°They''ve got these small wings, but they''re weak. Probably useless, too,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Yeah, Pa. These beetles came in groups of three or more, but never flew. And those mandibles¡ª¡± I shuddered. ¡°Weak around the eyes and the underbelly, but that exoskeleton is tough as nails.¡±


    Pa hummed to himself as he began taking the beetle apart. His butchering tools - specially made for monster processing - clicked against its shell, and I could feel the hairs on my neck stand upright. It was the moment of truth, or rather the part that we enjoyed most.


    ¡°Interesting,¡± he muttered. ¡°Very interesting. The shell could make for excellent armor reinforcement.¡± He lifted one of the claws, testing its edge on his thumbnail. ¡°And these... these would make fantastic arrowheads. Maybe even daggers.¡±


    He inspected one closely, turning it in the light.


    ¡°Not a scratch on it, son. It''s in perfect condition.¡± He grinned. ¡°You know, if we could get enough of these claws and find a way to split them without compromising their strength, what a scale mail we could make from these.¡±


    ¡°Pa!¡± I couldn''t hold back any longer. ¡°Would you please check if it has a gem?¡±


    He smiled knowingly.


    ¡°Alright, alright. Truth be told, I''m dying to know myself.¡±


    Pa''s knife sliced carefully through to the creature''s center. Suddenly, his hands went still.


    ¡°By the smith''s own hammer,¡± he breathed. Then he grinned and plunged his hand in, drawing out something that made my breath catch.


    The mind gem was smooth and oval, like a large pearl. Clear as spring water with blue-white patterns swirling inside. When Pa moved it, the gem caught the light of the flickering flames like morning frost on glass.


    I whooped loud enough to wake the dead.


    ¡°Ma! We got one!¡±


    Ma peeked through the door, and Pa held up the gem. Her face split into a radiant smile.


    ¡°Didn''t I tell you it would be a day to celebrate?¡±


    Pa swept the ring beetle''s remains into his own storage with a satisfied nod.


    ¡°We''ll carve it up properly later.¡± He held out the mind gem to me. ¡°Congratulations on your first dungeon gem, son. One you earned yourself. We''re proud of you, know that.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Pa.¡± I took it carefully, still marveling at its beauty. ¡°Think I''ll hold onto it for a bit. Maybe I''ll take it when I''m tired.¡±


    He nodded approvingly and prodded my arm.


    ¡°Well, let''s see the next one then.¡±


    I pulled out the branch walker from my storage and had it drop on the table. The monsters were way too heavy and large to carry, and luckily, whenever we pulled things from our storages, it allowed us to place them wherever we wanted, but within arm''s reach.


    Pa circled the monster slowly, studying it from all directions.


    ¡°These eyes,¡± he whispered and leaned in close. ¡°They seem to react to light. Wonder what would happen if we carved lenses from them?¡±


    ¡°That''s your father for you,¡± Ma said and patted my shoulder. ¡°Always thinking several steps ahead.¡±


    He began methodically working through the corpse, examining each part with excruciating thoroughness.


    ¡°Pa!¡±


    He chuckled.


    ¡°Took you long enough,¡± he laughed and started cutting into the center and went completely still.


    ¡°Another one?¡± I breathed.


    Pa''s grin was answer enough as he pulled out a second mind gem, identical to the first.


    ¡°Ma!¡± we both shouted.


    She came and kissed me on my cheek, put her arms around me, and squeezed almost as hard as Pa had earlier.


    ¡°Great job, son, but this is¡­almost unheard of. Two gems in a single run?¡±


    Then she held her hand out and raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Here you go, my dear,¡± Pa said, gently placing the gem in her hand. It disappeared somewhere into her apron.


    ¡°Good job you too, honey.¡± She pulled Pa''s face to her and kissed him on the lips.


    ¡°A thousand silvers,¡± I muttered, shaking my head in amazement while Pa ogled Ma as she returned inside. ¡°Right in the center of a monster. Almost makes up for it trying to kill me.¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± Pa said, sweeping the branch walker into his storage and rubbing his hands together. ¡°Alright, son. I''m ready for the big one. Give it to me.¡±


    My heart quickened as I reached into my storage. This was the moment I''d been waiting for. The mix of branchwalker and spider materialized, and Pa recoiled as it all spilled out on the table. The work table groaned under the monster''s weight and for a moment we just stood there, waiting for it to come crashing down. But it didn¡¯t.


    ¡°God above.¡± His face went pale. ¡°You killed this?¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°That''s¡ª¡± He swallowed and turned to squeeze my shoulder. ¡°That''s an amazing job, son. I''m proud of you. This is... massive. The size of a damn horse, it is, no, even bigger. No idea what we can use it for but something outstanding, that''s for sure.¡±


    As he reached for his tools, I grabbed his arm.


    ¡°Pa, please, for the love of the rift - check it for gems first?¡±


    He chuckled.


    ¡°Alright, just this once. Since it''s a variant.¡± The knife glinted as he began to cut. ¡°But keep in mind, the reason we don''t just look in the center is because it blinds too many to the true value of the carcasses. Aggregated across a hundred monsters, there''s usually more value in their materials than the gems, and one shouldn''t be sad when there isn''t one inside.¡± He reached into the center. ¡°We should celebrate the materials and what they can do for the fight against the monsters. Gems are just icing on¡ª¡±


    He trailed off, his whole body going rigid.


    Excitement flushed through me.


    ¡°Another gem?¡±


    Pa''s jaw clenched hard - a look I knew all too well. Something was wrong.


    ¡°What''s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Close the gates.¡± His voice had turned cold and as hard as steel.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Do it. Now!¡±


    I rushed to comply, worry flooding my system as I pulled the heavy wooden doors shut and dropped the bar.


    ¡°Ma!¡± Pa called out. ¡°Close up the shop!¡±


    ¡°But Rowan''s coming by soon for the new shortsword.¡±


    ¡°He''ll have to come back later. Do it, now!¡±


    There was a moment''s hesitation in her voice, but she hurried to comply.


    ¡°Yes, darling.¡±


    Wooden slats echoed as we sealed up the smithy and our home like the steelhusk-reinforced mini fortress it was. Ma and I hurried back to Pa''s side. My heart was beating just as hard as it had been when I first faced off with the monster. Just what the hell had he found in there?


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Watch,¡± he said simply.


    He turned back to the spider and extended the cut. I tried to lean in for a better look, but Ma held me back.


    There was a wet squelch as Pa reached in with both hands this time. When he pulled them out, my legs nearly gave way.


    ¡°Is that¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yes, son. It is.¡±


    ¡°But¡ªhow? What does this mean?¡±


    Pa''s eyes narrowed in the forge light.


    ¡°It means we¡¯re either free of debt, or in a shitstorm of trouble.¡±