《Mercenaries of Mayhem》


 Chapter - 1 Goblin killing commission

    Border Town was a place of endless noise, wheeling and dealing, and the occasional bar fight that no one really remembered starting. Positioned right at the edge of the kingdom of Utopia, it was a melting pot of merchants, mercenaries, and enough questionable life choices to fill a history book. The streets smelled of grilled meat, unwashed adventurers, and broken dreams, but it was home¡ªat least for the Mercenaries of Mayhem, the most competent group of warriors money could (regrettably) hire.


    Which is why, naturally, they were the last ones called for the job of dealing with some goblins.


    "Easy money," Bob, the group''s fearless (and slightly brainless) leader, declared as they stomped toward the forest just outside of town. His massive hammer rested on his shoulder, and his even more massive shield clanked against his back. "We go in, bash some goblin heads, take the reward, and feast on the town''s best ale."


    "First of all, that''s not how you feast," Derek, the ever-serious swordsman, muttered. "Second, goblins are fast. This won''t be¡ª"


    "Blah blah blah," Jim, the perpetually drunk martial artist, interrupted. "Less talking, more smashing." He cracked his knuckles, his iron gauntlets glinting in the sun.


    Marcus, the genius craftsman, adjusted his custom-made crossbow. "Technically, if we just burn down their camp, we don''t have to fight at all," he suggested.


    "I like the way you think," Bam, the fire mage, chimed in.


    "No. No burning," Derek snapped. "That''s unnecessary."


    Bam sighed. "There are always exceptions."


    As they reached the clearing, the goblins were exactly where the merchants claimed¡ªloitering near the road, stealing whatever wasn''t nailed down (and sometimes what was).


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    "There they are," Bob whispered. "Let''s be sneaky."


    The entire group took a moment to process this.


    Then Jim yelled, "CHAAAAARGE!" and sprinted forward.


    "Gods damn it, Jim," Derek muttered before following.


    Bob barreled into the fray like a wrecking ball, his hammer sending goblins flying. Derek slashed through the air with practiced precision, cutting down any goblin that got too close. Jim, half-drunk and grinning, dodged arrows with the grace of someone who absolutely should have been hit by now.


    Then there was Bam.


    Who, as a responsible magic user, aimed carefully, chanted his spell, and¡ª


    Threw a fireball directly into the nearest tree.


    The tree exploded into flames.


    Then another tree.


    And another.


    "Uh¡­ oops?" Bam muttered.


    Bob, in the middle of crushing a goblin''s club with his bare hands, turned just in time to see half the forest catch fire.


    Jim paused mid-punch, watching the flames spread.


    Derek''s sword hovered above a cowering goblin as he sighed in exhausted disappointment.


    The goblins, upon realizing that fighting was no longer the issue, screamed and scattered in all directions. Some ran into the burning trees, some fled toward the river, and some just kept screaming because that seemed like the thing to do.


    The mercenaries stood in silence, watching the inferno they had absolutely not been hired to create.


    "Well," Bob finally said, dusting off his hands. "I''d say job well done."


    Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. "How exactly is this ''job well done''?"


    "Think about it," Marcus said. "Goblins live in the forest, yeah?"


    "¡­Yeah?"


    "The forest is now on fire."


    "¡­Yeah."


    "No forest, no goblins."


    The group stared at the roaring flames.


    "¡­That checks out," Bob concluded.


    "Agreed," Jim said, cracking open his emergency flask.


    Bam shrugged. "There are always exceptions."


    Derek exhaled slowly, as though his soul was leaving his body. "We are so getting banned from this town."


    With the job "complete," the group casually strolled back to Border Town, leaving the fire¡ªand the presumably doomed goblins¡ªbehind.


    The guild official barely looked up as they reported back. "Did you kill the goblins?"


    "They''re not gonna be a problem anymore," Bob assured him.


    "Good enough. Here''s your pay."


    Coins exchanged hands. The group left.


    Somewhere in the distance, the forest continued to burn.


    And thus, another successful mission was in the books.

 Chapter - 2 Free real estate

    At the very edge of Border Town, where the roads turned to dirt and the smell of civilization faded into the musk of questionable life choices, stood a ruined house. Technically, it was a house¡ªfour walls, a roof (most of it intact), and a door (if you counted the wooden plank leaning where a door should be). It had once been a respectable home, but years of abandonment had transformed it into something between a storage shed and a crime scene.


    For the Mercenaries of Mayhem, however, it was home.


    Inside, each of them had carved out their own space.


    Bob had claimed the largest section, setting up a pile of stolen¡ªliberated¡ªpillows and blankets in the corner. His massive shield leaned against the wall, doubling as a makeshift table for counting coins.


    Derek, ever the responsible one, had taken over the cleanest corner, where he maintained his sword and stared into the distance as if questioning his life choices.


    Marcus had filled his area with half-finished crossbow designs, metal scraps, and a collection of "brilliant" inventions that had a 50/50 chance of either working or exploding.


    Jim''s space was little more than a pile of empty flasks and a hammock he had insisted was comfortable, despite falling out of it at least once a night.


    Bam, unsurprisingly, had a section charred black from various fireball-related incidents.


    They had lived here for months now, but the story of how they acquired the house was a legend in itself.


    It had all started in the town square, where a merchant with the suspiciously smooth voice of a professional scam artist was advertising "a once-in-a-lifetime real estate opportunity."


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    "This house," the merchant had declared, gesturing grandly at a faded sketch, "is the finest property in all of Border Town! Spacious, sturdy, full of character!"


    "How much?" Bob had asked immediately, because in his mind, owning property equaled power.


    The merchant''s eyes had practically turned into gold coins. "A mere 200 gold pieces!"


    "We don''t have 200 gold," Derek had pointed out.


    "Then we negotiate!" Bob had said confidently, before turning back to the merchant. "We''ll give you¡­ 50 gold!"


    The merchant had laughed.


    Bob had laughed back, assuming they were now friends.


    Jim had stepped in, wiping ale from his mouth. "We''ll also throw in a rare item!"


    The merchant had raised an eyebrow. "What item?"


    Jim had turned to Marcus. "Hey, give him that thing you made last night."


    Marcus, who had barely been paying attention, had handed over a mechanical contraption with a spring. "It''s a self-reloading spoon launcher."


    The merchant had blinked. "¡­Why?"


    "Because sometimes you''re too lazy to lift the spoon," Marcus had replied proudly.


    It made sense...somehow.


    The merchant had stared at the device for a long moment. Then he had looked at Bob, who was still grinning like an idiot. Then Jim, who was already taking another swig from his flask. Then Bam, who had accidentally set fire to a flyer.


    The merchant had sighed. "Fine. 50 gold, the spoon launcher, and you take care of all legal ownership fees."


    Bob had immediately shaken his hand. "Deal!"


    It wasn''t until later, after the contract was signed and the merchant had mysteriously vanished, that they actually saw the house.


    The roof had holes. The windows were shattered. A family of raccoons had claimed the kitchen.


    Jim had stared at it, unimpressed. "I feel like we got scammed."


    "Nonsense!" Bob had declared. "It just needs a little fixing up!"


    That had been six months ago. Nothing had been fixed.


    Now, as they lounged in their barely-standing home after another "successful" job, Bob counted coins, Jim nursed a fresh drink, and Marcus sketched a new ridiculous invention.


    Derek, polishing his sword, muttered, "I still can''t believe we paid for this dump."


    Bam, casually setting fire to an old newspaper, shrugged. "There are always exceptions."


    And thus, another peaceful¡ªchaotic¡ªevening at their humble headquarters continued.

 Chapter - 3 You, me and the goat?

    The morning sun cast long shadows over the open patch of land behind the ruined house. This was the official training ground of the Mercenaries of Mayhem¡ªwhich mostly meant it was the only space not covered in broken furniture, empty flasks, or scorch marks.


    Derek stood with his massive sword resting on his shoulder, his calm, focused eyes locked on Jim, who bounced on the balls of his feet, shaking out his arms. His iron gauntlets gleamed in the sunlight, the thick metal fitted perfectly to his knuckles.


    Bob, Marcus, and Bam sat on a pile of old crates, watching with the kind of anticipation normally reserved for bar fights or bad decisions.


    "This is gonna be good," Marcus muttered, tightening the strap on his crossbow, as if somehow expecting to need it.


    Bam nodded. "Two warriors, clashing in the pursuit of excellence." He threw a fireball into the air dramatically, only for it to fizzle out and land as a puff of smoke. No one commented.


    Bob crossed his arms, eyes gleaming. "Alright, boys! FIGHT!"


    Jim dashed forward first, fast¡ªtoo fast. His drunken, swaying movements were unpredictable, his iron-clad fists shooting out in sharp, precise jabs aimed at Derek''s midsection.


    Derek reacted instantly. He swung his massive sword in a controlled arc, forcing Jim to weave and duck. Each dodge was razor-thin, Jim slipping through the air like a man who had spent his entire life narrowly avoiding consequences.


    "Not bad," Jim smirked, twisting his body to deliver a spinning backfist.


    Derek barely raised his sword in time, the gauntlet slamming against the flat of the blade. The impact boomed, sending a shockwave through the ground.


    Jim didn''t stop. He twisted his hips, launching a brutal knee strike toward Derek''s ribs.


    Clang!


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    Derek shifted his stance, blocking the attack with the hilt of his sword before stepping back. His expression was as unreadable as ever.


    "Your strikes are precise," he admitted. "But let''s see how you handle this."


    With a swift step forward, Derek swung. His greatsword carved through the air in a horizontal sweep that could have taken down a tree.


    Jim dropped instantly, falling into a controlled roll. As the blade whistled just inches over his head, he came up with a punch aimed directly at Derek''s jaw.


    Derek tilted his head, just enough for the fist to graze past his ear.


    Jim grinned. "Damn, you really don''t blink, huh?"


    Derek didn''t answer. Instead, he shifted his grip and thrust his sword straight at Jim''s chest.


    Jim barely had time to cross his gauntlets in defense before¡ª


    BOOM!


    The sheer force sent Jim skidding backward, feet digging trenches into the dirt. He finally came to a stop, shaking out his arms with a wince.


    "Alright, I felt that one," he admitted, rolling his shoulders. "Guess I should take this seriously."


    Derek adjusted his stance, lowering his blade. "You weren''t already?"


    Jim just grinned. "Nah, I was about thirty percent. Let''s crank it up to fifty."


    Without warning, he lunged again, faster than before. His gauntlets blurred as he unleashed a flurry of rapid punches, each one a precise strike aimed at vital points¡ªjaw, ribs, solar plexus.


    Derek matched him.


    Each punch met the flat of his sword, sparks flying with every impact. He stepped back fluidly, controlling the distance, letting Jim''s momentum work against him.


    Then, in one sharp motion, Derek turned his blade and slammed the pommel straight into Jim''s stomach.


    Jim let out a strangled oof as he stumbled back, hands on his knees.


    Bob, still watching from the sidelines, leaned forward. "Is Jim gonna puke?"


    Marcus squinted. "If he does, let''s bet on how far it goes."


    "Three feet," Bam guessed.


    Jim, hearing none of this, straightened up with a grin. "Alright. That was good." He cracked his neck. "But let''s see if you can handle¡ª"


    Before Jim could finish, something came soaring through the air.


    A goat.


    It crashed into Jim''s face with an undignified thud, knocking him flat on his back.


    Silence.


    Everyone turned to see where the goat had come from.


    Bob, Marcus, and Bam slowly turned their heads.


    On the rooftop of their ruined house stood a very smug-looking second goat.


    Marcus blinked. "Did that goat just¡ª"


    Bam nodded. "It weaponized its friend."


    Jim groaned, pushing the unconscious goat off him. "I hate this fking place."


    Derek, lowering his sword, sighed. "That''s enough training for today."


    And with that, the sparring session ended¡ªnot with a final blow, but with the first recorded case of tactical goat warfare.

 Chapter - 4 How did cleaning turn into a boss fight? (1)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem stood inside the mercenary guild, waiting for their next job assignment. Across the counter, the guild official¡ªa tired-looking woman who had clearly seen some things¡ªrubbed her temples.


    "This is very simple," she said, sliding the job request toward them. "The town outskirts are infested with rats because of the growing trash piles. Your task is to clean up the garbage and get rid of the rats without causing unnecessary destruction."


    She gave Bam a particularly sharp look.


    Bam blinked. "Why are you looking at me?"


    "Because every time you''re involved, something catches on fire," she said flatly. "The entire forest burned down last time."


    Bob chuckled. "Oh yeah, that was a classic!"


    Derek, ever the responsible one, sighed. "We''ll handle it."


    The official wasn''t convinced. "Just¡­ no explosions, no fireballs, no ''creative solutions'' that somehow involve setting things ablaze."


    Bam raised a hand. "What if¡ª"


    "No exceptions."


    Bam folded his arms and pouted.


    The guild official exhaled. "The mayor personally asked me to remind you: If anything catches fire this time, you will be fined."


    Bob gave a thumbs-up. "Got it. No fire."


    And with that, the team set off on their noble quest to take out the trash.


    The outskirts of Border Town were disgusting.


    Piles of rotting food, shattered barrels, and suspiciously gooey substances littered the area. The smell alone was bad enough to make even Jim wrinkle his nose¡ªand Jim had willingly eaten food he found on the floor before.


    Bob cracked his knuckles. "Alright, let''s do this."


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    Derek took a disciplined approach, carefully collecting trash and tying it into neat sacks.


    Bob, less elegant, used his massive shield to shove entire piles of junk into a corner.


    Jim¡ªbecause he refused to use tools¡ªpunched trash into smaller, more manageable pieces.


    Marcus, being the genius of the group, had designed a "Trash Retrieval System" using a rope, a pulley, and a crossbow. It immediately malfunctioned and yeeted a fish head straight into Bam''s face.


    Bam wiped fish guts off his robe and muttered, "I could burn this whole pile away in seconds, you know."


    Derek shot him a look. "No fire."


    Bam sighed dramatically.


    Just as things were going somewhat smoothly, they heard a noise.


    A low, eerie rustling came from the largest trash pile.


    Then the pile shuddered.


    Then it erupted.


    From the depths of the garbage rose a massive creature¡ªa tangled, writhing mass of rats, all knotted together by their filthy, matted tails. A Rat King.


    It squeaked in unholy fury, its dozens of glowing eyes locking onto the mercenaries.


    Jim recoiled. "OH, HELL NO."


    Derek gritted his teeth. "A rat king. This isn''t good."


    Bob blinked. "I thought Rat Kings were just a myth."


    Marcus tilted his head. "Nope. It''s a real thing. Usually happens when¡ª"


    "I DON''T NEED THE SCIENCE!" Jim shouted as the rat king charged.


    Derek reacted first, swinging his massive sword at the beast. The blade slashed through the writhing mass, but the rat king rolled like a cursed ball of fur, dodging the strike.


    Jim lunged in, fists flying. His iron gauntlets crunched into one of the rats, but that only angered the creature. It leaped at him, wrapping dozens of tiny claws and teeth around his arm.


    Jim flailed. "GODS, IT''S ON ME! GET IT OFF!"


    Bob, thinking quickly, swung his hammer¡ªdirectly at Jim.


    "WAIT¡ª"


    BOOM!


    Jim was sent flying into a nearby trash heap. The rat king, barely fazed, turned toward Bob.


    Marcus, ever the inventor, raised his crossbow. "Hold still! I''ll shoot it!"


    Bob immediately moved.


    The bolt missed and ricocheted¡ª


    ¡ªstraight into Bam''s robe.


    Bam looked down at the embedded arrow, then at Marcus.


    Marcus gulped. "Uh¡ª"


    Bam reflexively cast Fireball.


    The flaming spell hit the rat king¡ªwhich should have been a good thing.


    Except the rat king was standing on top of a massive pile of grease-covered trash.


    The garbage pile exploded into flames.


    In mere seconds, the entire dump site turned into a raging inferno of burning garbage and screaming rats.


    The rat king, now on fire, shrieked and took off sprinting¡ªdirectly toward Border Town.


    The mercenaries watched in stunned silence.


    "¡­Should we stop it?" Bob asked.


    Jim, still brushing rats off himself, groaned. "You stop it."


    Marcus shrugged. "Technically, if the rats leave the dump, we completed the job."


    Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. "We are so getting fined for this."


    Bam, watching the fire spread, simply nodded. "There are always exceptions."


    Then Bob clapped his hands. "Alright, team! Let''s go chase that flaming rat abomination before it sets the town on fire!"


    And with that, they took off running after the rampaging inferno of chaos they had absolutely created.

 Chapter - 5 How did cleaning turn into a boss fight? (2)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem sprinted down the road, hot on the trail of the Flaming Rat King, which was currently rampaging straight toward Border Town. The monstrous ball of burning rodents let out an unholy screech, setting fire to everything in its path¡ªwooden fences, market stalls, and the occasional unlucky laundry line.


    Bob ran at full speed, hammer in hand. "We need to stop it before it burns the town down!"


    Jim, still shaking off smaller rats from his gauntlets, wheezed. "We need to stop it?! You guys set it on fire!"


    Bam shrugged while jogging. "In my defense, fire was going to happen eventually."


    Derek, keeping pace, glared. "No, it really wasn''t."


    Marcus, who had somehow managed to strap his crossbow to his back mid-run, pointed ahead. "Less talking! It''s about to hit the market square!"


    They collectively turned the corner¡ª


    ¡ªjust in time to see the Flaming Rat King launch itself directly into a merchant''s cart filled with fireworks.


    There was a brief pause.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A colorful explosion erupted, launching flaming rats into the air like a twisted holiday celebration.


    The market square, which had previously been filled with peaceful townsfolk buying produce, immediately dissolved into chaos.


    "THE RATS ARE FALLING FROM THE SKY!" someone screamed.


    "IT''S A PLAGUE OF FIRE!"


    "MY CABBAGES!!"


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    The mercenaries barely had time to react before flaming rats began raining down like some divine punishment.


    One hit Jim''s shoulder. "GAAAHHH!" He flailed, trying to shake it off.


    Another landed on Marcus''s crossbow, promptly gnawing at the trigger.


    Bob swatted away a flaming rat with his shield like he was playing some horrific version of tennis.


    Bam just casually dodged each one, hands behind his back, like he had trained for this moment.


    Meanwhile, the Rat King, now even more on fire, was bouncing wildly through market stalls, knocking over barrels and sending townspeople running.


    Derek gritted his teeth. "Enough! We end this now!"


    Bob raised his hammer. "Alright! Marcus, shoot it!"


    Marcus, frantically reloading, took aim¡ªjust as the flaming rat on his crossbow bit down and accidentally fired the bolt too early.


    The shot went wide, hitting a nearby shop sign, which snapped off¡ª


    ¡ªfalling directly onto Jim.


    Jim collapsed under the wooden sign, muffled curses coming from beneath it.


    Derek sighed. "Fine. I''ll do it." He sprinted forward, sword raised, ready to deliver the final blow¡ª


    ¡ªonly for the Rat King to suddenly bounce off a cart and ricochet straight at him.


    Bob, thinking fast (for once), tackled Derek out of the way¡ªsending both of them crashing into a fruit stand.


    Jim, still under the sign, groaned. "I hate this team."


    The Rat King, still aflame, skittered onto the roof of a house, setting the thatched roof on fire.


    Bam nodded approvingly. "Majestic."


    Derek, peeling a banana off his face, growled, "Bam! Do something useful!"


    Bam considered for a moment. "Okay."


    He pointed both hands at the flaming creature.


    "¡­Wait," Derek said, suddenly realizing what was happening.


    BOOM!


    A massive fireball engulfed the Rat King¡ªblowing it and the entire house into pieces.


    The force of the explosion sent everyone flying backward, crashing into stalls, barrels, and, in Jim''s case, a particularly angry goose.


    When the dust settled, all that remained of the Rat King was a charred crater where a house had once stood.


    Silence fell over the market.


    Bob sat up first, brushing off debris. "Well. That worked."


    Derek lay on his back, staring at the sky, questioning every choice in his life.


    Marcus groaned from under a pile of broken wood. "Technically, we did kill it."


    Jim, still wrestling the angry goose, grumbled, "At what cost?"


    Bam nodded, completely unfazed by the destruction. "There are always exceptions."


    Then, from somewhere in the distance¡ª


    "YOU IDIOTS!!!"


    The guild official stormed into the market square, eyes burning with rage. Behind her, a crowd of furious merchants, guards, and homeowners who had just lost their houses followed.


    Bob coughed. "So¡­ do we still get paid?"


    The answer, judging by the way the mob started chasing them, was no.

 Chapter - 6 Melody of fists

    After the Great Flaming Rat King Incident¡ªas the townspeople had started calling it¡ªBorder Town was in an uproar. Merchants were furious, homeowners were homeless, and the guild official had banned them from taking any new jobs for the foreseeable future.


    Which meant the Mercenaries of Mayhem had only one choice:


    Hide.


    Back at their ruined house on the outskirts of town, the group had gone full hermit mode.


    Bob had barricaded the door with his shield.


    Derek had taken up residence in the darkest corner, contemplating his life decisions.


    Marcus was tinkering with a new invention that would probably explode.


    Bam was casually setting tiny fires, because even in hiding, he had priorities.


    No one had dared to leave for days.


    No one, except¡ª


    Outside, in front of the house, Jim sat next to a roaring fire, casually roasting an entire goat on a spit. A large jug of ale rested beside him, and he turned the meat slowly, humming to himself.


    From inside the house, Bob peeked through a broken window. "Jim. What the hell are you doing?"


    Jim took a swig of ale. "Eating."


    Derek, rubbing his temples, sighed. "We''re hiding, Jim. You know, lying low?"


    Jim waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, the people won''t come all the way out here."


    Bob narrowed his eyes. "Where''d you get that goat?"


    Jim hesitated. "That''s not important."


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    Marcus leaned out the window, staring at the roasting animal. "Wait¡­ isn''t that the rooftop goat that threw another goat at you?"


    Jim looked at the goat. Then at the house. Then at the goat again.


    "¡­Revenge is a dish best served with ale," he said, taking another sip.


    The mercenaries slowly shuffled outside, the smell of roasting meat proving too powerful to resist.


    As they sat around the fire, chewing on goat legs, Jim stretched, looking nostalgic.


    "You know," he said between bites, "this wasn''t my first career choice."


    Bob raised an eyebrow. "You wanted to roast goats professionally?"


    Jim scowled. "No, idiot. I wanted to be a singer."


    Silence.


    Then Marcus choked on his food. "You?"


    Jim nodded solemnly. "Yep. My dream was to be the greatest bard in the land."


    Derek squinted. "You can sing?"


    Jim grinned. "Oh yeah. My family''s martial art? It''s traditionally combined with singing."


    Marcus wiped his face. "Wait, wait, so you''re telling me your ancestors punched people while singing?"


    Jim took another drink. "Damn right. It was called The Melody of Fists."


    Bob stared. "That''s the stupidest thing I''ve ever heard."


    Jim scoffed. "Oh, like your family did something cool?"


    Bob crossed his arms. "My family was a long line of respectable tax collectors."


    Silence again.


    Then Marcus burst out laughing. "You?! A tax collector''s son? That explains so much!"


    Jim grinned. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Anyway, my singing career didn''t work out."


    Derek, who had been sipping his water, muttered, "I wonder why."


    Jim ignored him. "It wasn''t because I was bad! It was because the world wasn''t ready for my sound."


    Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Define ''not ready''."


    Jim sighed, poking at the fire. "There was¡­ an incident."


    Bob leaned in. "Go on."


    Jim rubbed his neck. "So, there was this bard competition in another town. I entered. Got on stage. Started singing and demonstrating my martial arts. People were stunned. I thought, ''Damn, they''re really into this!''"


    He took another bite of goat.


    "¡­Then I realized they weren''t stunned. They were injured. Turns out, mid-performance, I accidentally kicked three people, punched a noble''s son, and drop-kicked the judge''s lute into the river."


    Derek closed his eyes. "Of course you did."


    Jim groaned. "They banned me from ever performing there again. Said my ''music'' was a crime against sound and basic human safety."


    Bob wiped a tear from his eye. "I have never been prouder of you."


    Jim sighed dramatically, raising his mug. "Some dreams just aren''t meant to be."


    Bam, chewing on his food, nodded. "There are always exceptions."


    Bob grinned, lifting his own mug. "To Jim''s failed singing career!"


    Marcus smirked. "And to us never letting him try again."


    Derek just muttered, "Thank the gods."


    And with that, they clinked their mugs together, eating in peace¡ªat least until the town came looking for them again.

 Chapter - 7 The art of hunting

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem were still lying low, avoiding town after their incident with the Flaming Rat King. Supplies were running low, but none of them dared to show their faces in Border Town¡ªnot unless they wanted an angry mob chasing them with pitchforks.


    Which is how Bob, their fearless (and somewhat thoughtless) leader, came up with a brilliant idea.


    "We can''t go to town, right?" Bob said, pacing in front of the group. "So, we need another way to get food."


    Jim, leaning back on a crate, took a sip of ale. "Uh-huh."


    Bob grinned. "Which is why I''m going hunting!"


    Silence.


    Derek sighed. "Bob. No."


    Bob flexed. "Bob. Yes."


    Marcus muttered, "Oh gods."


    Bam nodded. "This will end in disaster."


    Bob grabbed his hammer and shield. "I''ll be back with a feast!"


    And with that, he stomped off into the wild.


    Derek, watching him leave, groaned. "I know things are going to escalate." He grabbed his sword and followed.


    Marcus watched them go and sighed. "Derek was supposed to stop Bob. But knowing Bob¡­"


    Jim nodded. "This is just gonna make things worse."


    They weren''t wrong.


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    Bob marched through the fields, eyes scanning for worthy prey. Rabbits? Too small. Birds? Too fast. Then, in the distance, he spotted them.


    A herd of massive, muscular bulls grazing peacefully.


    Bob grinned. "Perfect."


    Derek, catching up, saw Bob raising his hammer and immediately panicked. "Bob, no!"


    Bob, yes.


    With all the grace of a man who made decisions before thinking, Bob charged at the biggest bull he could find and swung his hammer.


    The bull barely flinched.


    Then it slowly turned to face Bob.


    Then the entire herd turned.


    A deep, rumbling growl spread through the air.


    Derek''s eyes widened. "Bob. What have you done?"


    Bob slowly lowered his hammer. "¡­Hunting?"


    The lead bull snorted.


    The herd charged.


    Bob blinked. "Oh."


    Derek grabbed his collar. "RUN."


    And just like that, the two of them sprinted back toward the house, a raging stampede of bulls thundering behind them.


    Jim was still lounging. Marcus was sketching a new probably unsafe invention. Bam was, as usual, playing with fire.


    Then they heard it.


    The deep, thunderous rumble of hooves.


    Marcus looked up. "Huh?"


    Then Bob and Derek came sprinting over the hill, terror in their eyes.


    Behind them, a rampaging herd of bulls barreled forward like an unstoppable force of nature.


    Jim dropped his drink. "What the hell did you two do?!"


    Bob wheezed, "Hunting went wrong!"


    Derek yelled, "WHY DID YOU THINK ATTACKING A BULL WAS A GOOD IDEA?!"


    Marcus groaned. "Derek, you were supposed to stop Bob."


    Derek, running for his life, shouted back, "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I MADE IT BETTER?!"


    Bam simply nodded, watching the chaos unfold. "Majestic."


    Jim grabbed his flask. "We''re so fucking dead."


    The mercenaries scattered just in time as the entire herd of bulls stampeded straight through their ruined house.


    CRASH.


    BOOM.


    WOOD. EVERYWHERE.


    By the time the bulls had passed, all that remained was a pile of rubble, dust, and regret.


    The mercenaries sat in the dirt, staring at what used to be their already ruined home¡ªnow officially a disaster zone.


    Bob wiped some dust off his shoulder. "So¡­ no feast?"


    Derek stared at him. "Bob. Shut up."


    Marcus took a deep breath. "Well. At least we still have¡ª"


    CRACK.


    The final standing wall of the house wobbled¡ªthen collapsed completely.


    Marcus sighed. "Never mind."


    Jim took a deep swig of ale. "You know, I was starting to get too comfortable here anyway."


    Bam, watching the last bits of dust settle, nodded. "There are always exceptions."


    And with that, they sat in the wreckage of their once-home, contemplating their terrible life choices.

 Chapter - 8 Elixir of youth (1)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem stood in the wreckage of what used to be their home, which had somehow gone from ruined house to pile of unrecognizable debris thanks to Bob''s hunting adventure.


    Bob clapped his hands together. "Alright, boys. Time to fix the house."


    Jim, still drinking from his flask, stared at him. "With what materials?"


    Bob pointed at the wreckage. "We''ll reuse what''s left."


    Marcus kicked a broken piece of wood. "What''s left is firewood."


    Derek sighed and picked up a few boards. "Look, unless you want to sleep outside forever, we need to rebuild something."


    Bam, lazily drawing fire symbols in the dirt, shrugged. "Or, and hear me out¡­ we leave it as a symbolic monument to our failures."


    Jim raised his drink. "I like this idea."


    But before they could argue further, footsteps echoed from the nearby road.


    The group immediately tensed.


    Bob whispered, "Town guards?"


    Derek''s eyes narrowed. "We did destroy half the market square last time."


    Jim chugged the rest of his ale. "Welp. Time to go into hiding."


    Without another word, they all dove behind the debris, poking their heads out like a bunch of raccoons.


    A group of people approached¡ªseveral armed guards and, at the center, a young noblewoman.


    She was dressed in elegant travel clothes, her deep red cloak embroidered with gold trim. Her confident stride suggested she was very used to people doing what she wanted.


    Bob squinted. "Huh. Don''t think we pissed off a noble recently."


    Derek shot him a look. "That you remember."


    Marcus whispered, "Maybe she''s here to hire us?"


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    Jim snorted. "Yeah, because hiring the town''s most wanted mercenaries is a great idea."


    The noblewoman stopped a few feet from the rubble, looking around. She sighed. "Is this really where they live¡­?"


    Bob, still crouched behind a barrel, whispered loudly, "She''s looking for us."


    The group exchanged glances. Then, reluctantly, they all stood up.


    Bob, always one to make a good first impression, stepped forward. "Uh¡­ hi?"


    The noblewoman turned to face them, her expression unreadable.


    She studied them for a moment before speaking. "You are the Mercenaries of Mayhem, correct?"


    Derek crossed his arms. "Who''s asking?"


    She tilted her head slightly. "Lady Evelyn of House Riverland."


    Jim blinked. "Fancy."


    Evelyn continued, "I came because I require experienced mercenaries like you, and no one else will accept my request."


    Bob grinned. "Smart choice! We never turn down a job!"


    Derek elbowed him. "Yes, we do!"


    Evelyn smirked. "I heard about you from the town."


    Bob''s chest puffed up. "Ah, yes, our reputation precedes us."


    Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Yes. Apparently, you burned down a forest, set a rat king on fire."


    The group collectively looked away.


    Bam nodded. "All true."


    Evelyn sighed but continued, "Still, despite all that, I know you try your best to fulfil the job."


    That sentence hit weirdly hard.


    The mercenaries blinked.


    Marcus rubbed his chest. "Why does that feel¡­ kinda sentimental?"


    Jim wiped an imaginary tear. "She sees us."


    Bob sniffled. "I do try my best."


    Derek facepalmed. "Gods, she''s pitying us."


    Evelyn ignored them. "So, will you take my request?"


    Bob grinned. "Depends! What''s the job?"


    Evelyn''s eyes gleamed. "I need you to retrieve a legendary elixir of youth."


    Bob nodded. "Sounds easy enough."


    Evelyn smiled. "From a dragon''s nest."


    Silence.


    The mercenaries just stared at her.


    Jim broke the silence. "I knew there was a catch."


    Marcus ran a hand down his face. "Of course it''s in a dragon''s nest."


    Bam just nodded. "Majestic."


    Bob blinked. "So¡­ just to clarify¡­ you want us¡ªthe guys who accidentally burned down half a town¡ªto steal from a fire-breathing apex predator?"


    Evelyn clasped her hands together sweetly. "Yes."


    The group collectively sighed.


    Bob groaned. "Why does this always happen to us?"


    Jim patted his shoulder. "Some people are just blessed with bad luck."


    Bam, completely unbothered, just muttered, "There are always exceptions."


    Evelyn, still smiling, added, "If you succeed, I will grant you a new location and house¡ªa proper base, free from the¡­ problems you''ve caused in town."


    That got their attention.


    Bob''s eyes lit up. "A real house?!"


    Jim scratched his chin. "An actual roof?"


    Marcus grinned. "No more sleeping under a collapsed wall?"


    Derek, despite himself, considered it. "¡­And a place where no one will chase us with pitchforks?"


    Evelyn nodded. "Exactly."


    The group exchanged glances.


    Bam casually flipped a burning twig in his fingers. "We don''t even know if the elixir is real."


    Jim shrugged. "We do know a dragon is definitely real."


    Bob, looking thoughtful, finally clapped his hands. "Alright, team! We have a mission!"


    Derek sighed. "This is a terrible idea."


    Evelyn simply smiled as if she had already won.


    And just like that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem found themselves preparing for the most dangerous job yet.

 Chapter - 9 Elixir of youth (2)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem had faced many challenges before¡ªburning forests, angry mobs, flaming rat kings¡ªbut this was their biggest (and dumbest) job yet.


    Stealing a possibly fake elixir from a definitely real dragon.


    Evelyn, being an intelligent person, was not coming with them.


    "Wait, you''re not coming?" Bob asked as they prepared to ascend the mountain.


    Evelyn chuckled, standing beside her guards. "Oh, no. I have no intention of being roasted alive."


    Jim gestured to the team. "But we do?"


    Evelyn gave them a pleasant smile.


    Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. "I hate how casual she is."


    Evelyn nodded. "Good luck! Try not to die."


    And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving them to their terrible fate.


    Climbing the mountain was not smooth.


    Bob, ever the optimist, tried to take the lead but fell into a pit trap within five minutes.


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    Jim kept drinking while climbing, somehow getting better at it.


    Marcus, weighed down by his gear, got stuck between two rocks.


    Bam nearly fell twice, but both times a conveniently placed gust of wind saved him.


    Derek, the only competent one, somehow kept them all from dying.


    Eventually, they reached what had to be the dragon''s cave¡ªa massive, dark entrance carved into the mountainside.


    Bob grinned. "Alright! We made it!"


    Jim wiped sweat off his forehead. "Huh. No dragon. That''s¡­ concerningly lucky."


    Marcus squinted. "So, we just¡­ walk in?"


    Derek frowned. "No. This is too easy."


    Bob, already stepping inside, waved a hand. "Relax! What''s the worst that could¡ª"


    SNAP!


    Bob immediately fell into another pit trap.


    The group peered over the edge.


    Bob groaned from the bottom. "Okay. That was unexpected."


    Jim wheezed with laughter. "Oh my gods. We didn''t even get past the entrance, and we''re already setting off traps!"


    Derek sighed. "Why are these traps here from the start?"


    Bam just watched in amusement. "Majestic."


    After pulling Bob out (again), they finally entered the dragon''s lair.


    The lair was not what they expected.


    There were no piles of bones.


    No scattered gold or treasure.


    No ominous growling or glowing red eyes.


    Instead¡­


    There were shelves.


    Filled with books.


    And sitting in the middle of the cavern, on a massive, cushioned stone, was a huge, red-scaled dragon¡­ wearing tiny reading glasses, holding a book in its claws.


    The dragon slowly looked up from the pages, adjusting its spectacles.


    It blinked.


    They blinked.


    The dragon sighed, closed its book, and rubbed its temples like a stressed-out librarian.


    "Oh, great," it muttered in a deep, rumbling voice. "More idiots."


    Silence.


    Then Jim pointed at the dragon.


    "¡­Why do you have glasses?"


    The dragon stared at him, completely unamused.


    Derek exhaled. "Oh gods, we''re all going to die."

 Chapter - 10 Elixir of youth (3)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem stood frozen at the entrance of the cavern, staring at the massive, red-scaled dragon who was¡ªagainst all expectations¡ªwearing tiny reading glasses and holding a book like an elderly scholar.


    The dragon stared back.


    Nobody moved.


    Bob, gripping his hammer, very slowly leaned toward Derek and whispered, "So¡­ do we, uh¡­ panic? Or fight?"


    Derek, gripping his sword, whispered back, "I don''t know."


    Jim, who had already reached for his flask, muttered, "What''s the rule on drinking before fighting dragons?"


    Bam, arms crossed, simply nodded. "Majestic."


    Marcus was the first to break the silence. He pointed at the dragon. "¡­So, uh. Do we just pretend this isn''t weird?"


    The dragon sighed heavily, setting its book down with obvious frustration. "For the love of the gods¡­ why are you here?"


    More silence.


    Then Bob, the bravest (and dumbest) of the group, cleared his throat. "Uh¡­ we are here to, um¡­ acquire¡­ a legendary elixir of youth?"


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    The dragon blinked. Then it laughed¡ªa deep, rumbly chuckle that shook the cavern.


    "Oh, you mean the completely fake elixir?" it asked, amusement clear in its tone.


    The group exchanged glances.


    Jim groaned. "Oh, come on!"


    Derek''s eye twitched. "You''re saying it''s not real?"


    The dragon rolled its eyes. "Of course it''s not real. What kind of idiot believes in an ''elixir of youth''?"


    Bob raised a hand. "In my defense, the noble lady hiring us sounded really confident."


    Marcus rubbed his face. "We almost died climbing this mountain for nothing?"


    The dragon adjusted its glasses, looking at them like a teacher dealing with a classroom of particularly dumb students. "You chose to come here. I tried to make it very clear that a fearsome, dangerous dragon lives in this cave."


    Derek raised an eyebrow. "By¡­ reading books?"


    The dragon snorted. "No, obviously not. I''ve done plenty to scare people away!"


    It began ticking off on its claws:


    "I roar menacingly once a month."


    "I set fire to random trees¡ªstrategically, of course."


    "I spread rumors about eating whole villages¡ªwhich I haven''t, by the way."


    "And I specifically placed pit traps to catch fools before they got inside!  From the start, noone sane enough would come just by hearing those feats of mine."


    The group turned to Bob.


    Bob rubbed the back of his head. "Uh. Yeah. That almost worked."


    Jim, shaking his head, sat on a nearby rock. "So let me get this straight¡­ you''re saying you don''t hoard treasure, don''t actually eat people, and you just want to be left alone?"


    The dragon groaned, rubbing its face. "I just want to read in peace."


    The mercenaries looked at each other.


    Then back at the dragon.


    Then back at each other.


    Bob finally broke the silence. "Okay, but, uh¡­ do you have treasure?"


    The dragon glared.


    Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. "Bob, read the room."

 Chapter - 11 Elixir of youth (4)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem stood awkwardly in the dragon''s cavern, still processing the fact that the supposedly fearsome beast was more interested in reading books than roasting adventurers.


    The dragon sighed, stretching its massive wings before folding them neatly. "Alright. Let''s be practical. You came here for an elixir, and I don''t feel like incinerating you for interrupting my reading. So, let''s make a deal."


    Bob perked up. "Oh! We love deals!"


    Derek muttered, "That is objectively false."


    Ignoring them, the dragon turned and rummaged through a pile of perfectly organized glass bottles on a stone shelf. After a moment, it picked up a small vial filled with a softly glowing blue liquid and held it up.


    "This," the dragon said dramatically, "is a potion I accidentally brewed a while ago."


    Marcus squinted. "Wait, accidentally?"


    The dragon waved a claw dismissively. "I was experimenting with alchemy, and it turns out I''m very good at it. This one wasn''t what I intended, but it does have interesting effects."


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    Bob leaned in, fascinated. "Ooooh. What happens if you drink it?"


    The dragon shrugged. "Nothing serious. It boosts healing, increases stamina for a while, and makes wounds close faster. It''s basically a very strong recovery potion."


    Jim rubbed his chin. "So¡­ no youth magic?"


    The dragon snorted. "No. That''s a myth. But to mortals, anything that glows and has magical properties looks rare and valuable."


    Bob''s eyes widened. "Ohhhh. So, if we bring this back, that noble lady will totally believe it''s the elixir she wanted!"


    Marcus frowned. "I feel like that''s a very dangerous assumption."


    Jim took a swig of ale. "Hey, lying isn''t illegal¡ªjust morally flexible."


    Derek crossed his arms. "And if she finds out?"


    "..."


    The dragon chuckled. "You humans are absurd. But fine. Take this and tell no one about me."


    Bam, who had been oddly silent, finally nodded. "Agreed. Secrets are sacred."


    Jim squinted at him. "Did you just say that because it sounded dramatic?"


    Bam simply smiled. "There are always exceptions."


    The dragon rolled its eyes. "Alright. Deal''s made. Now get out so I can finish my book."


    Bob took the potion very carefully. "Pleasure doing business with you, Your Dragonly Majesty."


    The dragon gave him a long, tired look.


    Derek grabbed Bob''s collar. "We''re leaving before you ruin this."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem successfully¡ªagainst all odds¡ªwalked away from a dragon''s lair with treasure and all their limbs intact.

 Chapter - 12 Elixir of youth (5)

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem had somehow returned from the dragon''s lair alive, in one piece, and not on fire¡ªwhich was a personal record.


    Back in Border Town, they stood before Lady Evelyn, who looked genuinely surprised to see them.


    "You''re¡­ alive?" Evelyn raised an elegant eyebrow.


    Jim, looking offended, took a swig from his flask. "Wow. No faith in us at all?"


    Evelyn crossed her arms. "I only hired you because no competent mercenary would take the job. The dragon''s reputation is¡­" She paused. "Lethal."


    Bob puffed up his chest. "Well, turns out, we''re very resourceful."


    Derek muttered, "That is not the word I would use."


    Evelyn''s eyes flicked to the small, glowing blue potion in Bob''s hands. "And you actually found the elixir?"


    Bob grinned and held it up dramatically. "Behold! The Elixir of Youth!"


    Evelyn''s eyes narrowed. "That looks¡­ suspiciously real."


    Marcus coughed. "That''s because it is! Totally. Absolutely. Definitely the elixir."


    Jim nodded. "Yup. Not at all a random potion we got from an alchemy-experimenting dragon."


    Everyone stared at him.


    Jim took another drink. "What?"


    Evelyn sighed, looking at the potion with mild suspicion. "And you''re sure this is the real thing?"


    Bob nodded aggressively. "Absolutely! But, you know¡­ if you want to test it first¡ª"


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    Evelyn turned to one of her oldest, most weathered guards. The man was easily in his sixties, with a face that had seen too much and eyes that screamed, I have seen enough bullshit.


    Evelyn smiled sweetly. "Sir Rowan."


    The guard sighed. "I knew this was coming."


    She handed him the potion. "A sip, if you would."


    Rowan took the potion, stared at it, then at the mercenaries. "If this kills me, I''m haunting all of you."


    Jim saluted him. "Respect."


    The old guard took a small sip¡­ and everyone held their breath.


    Silence.


    Rowan blinked. Then¡­ he stood up straighter.


    The bags under his eyes lessened. The scar on his cheek faded. He cracked his neck, and his joints didn''t make a sound for the first time in twenty years.


    The room stared.


    Rowan flexed his fingers. "¡­Huh."


    Jim leaned in. "How do you feel, old man?"


    Rowan rolled his shoulders. "Like I just got a damn good night''s sleep."


    Evelyn''s eyes lit up. "It works?"


    Bob, shocked that this was actually going well, quickly nodded. "Yup! See? Totally real!"


    Marcus muttered under his breath, "Oh gods, we actually pulled this off."


    Jim grinned, patting Bob''s back. "We''re either geniuses or the luckiest idiots alive."


    Bam nodded. "There are always exceptions."


    Evelyn, clearly pleased, set the potion down. "Interesting¡­ This potion is remarkably powerful."


    Bob nodded quickly. "Oh yeah, super powerful. Magic-y. Youth-y."


    Evelyn glanced at them. "You know, my sources say that dragons have incredibly high resistance to potions. Even strong magic barely affects them."


    The group stiffened.


    Evelyn tapped the glass vial. "Which means that for a human, a potion that barely affects a dragon could feel¡­ well, miraculous."


    Derek coughed. "Ahem!"


    Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Tell me¡­ what happened at the dragon''s lair?"


    The mercenaries exchanged glances.


    Bob cleared his throat. "Well, uh, we fought very, very hard."


    Jim nodded. "Yeah, super intense battle. Brutal, really."


    Marcus added, "Couldn''t quite kill it, though."


    Bam nodded sagely. "But we injured it."


    Derek sighed, rubbing his face. "Very¡­ badly. Yes. Definitely a lot of injuries."


    Evelyn studied them, unimpressed. "You fought a notoriously deadly dragon and lived?"


    Bob gave an exaggerated nod. "Absolutely!"


    Jim crossed his arms. "Honestly, it should be dead, but, uh¡­ dragons are stubborn."


    Marcus threw in, "Really slippery too."


    Bam just smiled. "Majestic."


    Evelyn narrowed her eyes for a long, suspicious moment.


    Then she shrugged. "Well. I suppose it doesn''t matter. You got the elixir, after all."


    Evelyn smirked. "Well then¡­ a deal is a deal."


    And just like that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem had officially won themselves a new home.

 Chapter - 13 Home sweet home

    For the first time in their questionable careers, the Mercenaries of Mayhem had something nice.


    Evelyn, true to her word, had delivered on the reward: a mansion¡ªwell, an old one, but still a mansion¡ªlocated on the other outskirts of Border Town.


    And it was theirs.


    The group stood in front of the large, slightly worn-down estate, taking in their new home.


    It wasn''t luxurious, but it was solid¡ªstone foundation, wooden beams, actual doors and windows, and most importantly¡­ a roof that wasn''t caving in.


    Bob whistled. "Damn. This is way better than I expected."


    Jim crossed his arms, nodding approvingly. "Not a single goat in sight. I already love it."


    Derek inspected the structure. "The walls are still standing. That''s¡­ an improvement."


    Marcus tapped one of the support beams. "Could use some fixing, but overall, not bad."


    Bam simply stood in the middle of the yard and took a deep breath. "¡­I shall set fire to nothing."


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    The group stared at him.


    "¡­For now," he added.


    Jim sighed. "That''s the best we''re gonna get."


    Once they officially moved in, everyone customized their space.


    Bob claimed the biggest room (naturally), filling it with a giant bed and stacks of coins he would definitely misplace later.


    Derek took a quiet, modest room with a single bookshelf, already preparing for inevitable disasters.


    Marcus turned his entire section of the mansion into a workshop of questionable safety, complete with traps, half-built weapons, and a crossbow turret pointed at the front door (for "security reasons").


    Jim set up a personal bar in his room, completely ignoring the rest of the mansion''s well-maintained dining hall.


    Bam took the old library, claiming the massive fireplace as his own, muttering something about "proper ambiance for fire magic."


    Within days, the once dignified estate had been completely transformed into a chaotic mercenary hideout.


    Weapons everywhere.


    Furniture constantly being moved (or broken).


    Suspicious scorch marks in multiple places.


    Jim declared the courtyard an official "drinking & fighting arena."


    Marcus rigged the back door with a "self-locking mechanism" that locked everyone out permanently.


    Bob set up a giant table for "serious discussions" (mostly meal planning).


    And despite the absolute chaos¡­


    It was home.


    Jim raised a mug at the dinner table that night. "To not being homeless!"


    Bob grinned. "To actual walls!"


    Marcus nodded. "To a workshop that hopefully won''t explode!"


    Derek sighed, but lifted his drink. "To temporary stability."


    Bam smiled. "To exceptions."


    And for the first time in a long while, they had a place to call their own.

 Chapter - 14 An invitation to the mayors mansion

    Things were going well for the Mercenaries of Mayhem.


    They had a real home, no one was actively trying to kill them, and they had successfully tricked a noble into believing they retrieved the Elixir of Youth from a dragon''s nest¡ªall without actually dying.


    Which was why it was so concerning when a messenger arrived at their new mansion only a day later.


    The young man bowed politely. "I bring a formal invitation from Mayor Joff of Border Town."


    Bob took the letter and squinted at the fancy handwriting. "Huh. What does he want?"


    The messenger grinned. "To celebrate your legendary achievement, of course!"


    Jim, mid-drink, paused. "¡­What legendary achievement?"


    The messenger beamed. "Why, slaying the fearsome dragon and retrieving the Elixir of Youth!"


    The group froze.


    Derek, rubbing his temples, muttered, "Oh. Gods."


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    The messenger continued, completely unaware of the panic in the room. "Mayor Joff has officially forgiven all past charges against you and wishes to honor you with a grand banquet at his mansion!"


    Marcus whispered to Bam, "He said ''forgiven all past charges''¡ªwe had charges?"


    Bam nodded. "Many."


    Bob, suddenly grinning, turned to the group. "Alright, team. We''re going to a party!"


    Derek groaned. "Bob. We should be correcting him, not accepting a banquet based on a lie!"


    Jim shrugged. "Look, for once, people like us. Do we really want to ruin that?"


    Bob clapped Derek on the back. "See? Jim gets it! Time to enjoy our moment of glory!"


    Derek muttered, "This is going to end terribly."


    Bam smiled. "There are always exceptions."


    Despite being absolute disasters, the mercenaries had standards¡ªso they tried to look presentable for the banquet.


    Bob polished his massive hammer and shield, declaring, "This is formal attire for warriors."


    Derek reluctantly put on a clean tunic and cloak.


    Marcus attempted to wear something respectable, but accidentally rigged his vest with an exploding button.


    Jim just brought extra booze.


    Bam showed up in his usual robes, except now they were slightly less burned.


    They stood outside the mayor''s mansion, staring at the massive building.


    Jim adjusted his collar. "Alright, so we just¡­ smile, nod, and take credit?"


    Bob nodded. "Exactly. We play the role of humble heroes."


    Derek sighed.


    Bob grinned. "Of course! Now, let''s go eat free food."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem stepped inside to face their greatest challenge yet:


    A fancy party full of important people who believed they had killed a dragon.

 Chapter - 15 The banquet of lies

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem entered Mayor Joff''s mansion, immediately realizing one thing:


    This was way fancier than anything they had ever been invited to before.


    The banquet hall was packed with nobles, merchants, and traders, all dressed in their finest silks and jewels. Chandeliers glowed brightly, servants carried platters of expensive food, and an entire roast boar sat at the center of a massive table.


    Bob''s eyes sparkled.


    Jim muttered, "I''ve never stolen food from a place this fancy before."


    Derek elbowed him. "We''re guests. Try to act normal."


    Jim nodded, taking a swig from his flask. "This is normal."


    Marcus, scanning the room, leaned in. "Uh¡­ guys? That knight over there¡­ I think we have a problem."


    The group turned.


    Across the banquet hall stood a towering man in full plate armor¡ªhis crimson cloak embroidered with golden dragons, his greatsword strapped to his back.


    Karoth the Dragonslayer.


    He was one of the most famous knights in the kingdom, a warrior feared and respected for his deeds. He had recently gained fame for killing a dragon himself¡ªor so the rumors said.


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    And now, he was staring directly at them.


    Bob whispered, "Oh, crap."


    Jim took another drink. "Well. We had a good run."


    Before they could escape, Karoth approached them, his heavy boots echoing in the hall.


    His gaze was intense, but his expression was¡­ surprisingly respectful.


    "So," Karoth rumbled, his voice deep. "You''re the ones who slew the Mountain Dragon."


    The group froze.


    Derek, forcing himself to stay calm, nodded. "Yes. That''s¡­ us."


    Karoth crossed his arms. "I came to this town to slay that beast myself. But when I arrived, I was told it was already dead."


    Bob laughed nervously. "Oh, uh¡­ yep. We, uh, got to it first!"


    Karoth nodded approvingly. "Then you know how truly difficult it is to slay a dragon."


    The group glanced at each other.


    Jim, not missing a beat, sighed dramatically. "Oh, so difficult."


    Marcus nodded. "Truly¡­ a nightmare of a battle."


    Bob placed a hand over his heart. "It took everything we had."


    Bam smiled serenely. "Majestic."


    Karoth leaned in. "I know that struggle. The way a dragon''s scales deflect ordinary blades, the sheer strength of its wings, the burning intensity of its breath."


    Bob nodded quickly. "Oh yeah, tons of fire. So much fire."


    Jim grinned. "I still have nightmares about it."


    Derek, internally: I actually do, but for completely different reasons.


    Karoth studied them, then placed a massive gauntleted hand on Bob''s shoulder.


    "You have my respect," he said. "Few men live to tell the tale of facing a dragon and surviving."


    The group held back nervous laughter.


    Karoth raised a goblet. "To fellow dragon slayers."


    The room erupted in cheers.


    Bob grinned. "Well, we sure can''t correct him now."


    Jim raised his drink. "To us."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem drank to their completely fabricated legend, hoping desperately that no one would ever find out the truth.

 Chapter - 16 Suffering from success

    Life had changed for the Mercenaries of Mayhem.


    Thanks to their accidental dragon-slaying fame, they were now Border Town''s most celebrated warriors. Merchants waved at them, innkeepers offered them free drinks, and random peasants whispered about their legendary battle against the Mountain Dragon (which had, in reality, involved zero actual fighting).


    Unfortunately, with fame came expectations.


    And that''s where the problem started.


    The group strolled into the Adventurer''s Guild, feeling confident.


    Jim stretched. "Alright, boys! Let''s pick a nice, easy job today."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, something simple. Maybe some bandits or a missing cat."


    Derek scanned the job board, grabbing a request. "Here''s one."


    Job Request: Eliminate the Demon King''s Third General, Garmon the Eternal.


    Jim slowly lowered his flask. "¡­What."


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    Marcus grabbed another paper. "How about this?"


    Job Request: Lift the eternal curse on the village of Widows, which has been haunted for 200 years.


    Bob blinked. "Uh¡­ next?"


    Bam picked one at random. "This one seems promising."


    Job Request: Negotiate peace between the warring kingdoms of Veldoria and Thalmar, who have hated each other for centuries.


    Silence.


    Then Jim snatched the entire stack of job requests and threw them over his shoulder. "Okay, new rule: If the job requires world-saving or my immediate death, we don''t accept it."


    Bob sighed. "Man, I miss when we were too incompetent for serious jobs."


    Derek crossed his arms. "We still are. The problem is that no one realizes it yet."


    Marcus groaned. "We need something manageable. Something at our level."


    At that moment, the guild official, a tired-looking woman who had clearly seen too much, cleared her throat. "There is one job available."


    The group immediately turned toward her.


    Bob grinned. "Is it doable?"


    She hesitated. "¡­It''s less insane than the other jobs."


    Jim raised an eyebrow. "Define ''less insane.''"


    The guild official handed them a job request.


    Job Request: Retrieve the artifact "The Arcane Eye," created by the legendary mage Humbleball the Arcane, which is now in the hands of a powerful orc warband.


    Derek exhaled. "¡­Okay. That does sound more reasonable."


    Jim nodded. "No demon kings. No century-old curses."


    Marcus tapped his chin. "And it''s just orcs. We''ve fought orcs before."


    Bob smirked. "Alright, team! Time to steal a legendary artifact from a bunch of angry, battle-hardened, bloodthirsty orcs!"


    Jim sighed. "Why did you phrase it like that?"


    Bam, smiling, muttered, "Majestic."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem set off on another disaster waiting to happen.

 Chapter - 17 A mysterious stranger

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem were on the road again, heading toward the orc warband''s camp to retrieve the Arcane Eye, an artifact created by the ancient legendary mage Humbleball the Arcane.


    Bob marched confidently at the front. "Alright, boys, this is just a simple heist."


    Jim, walking beside him, snorted. "Bob. No heist we''ve ever done has been simple."


    Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "Technically, most of our ''heists'' have ended in fire, property damage, or extreme confusion."


    Bam nodded.


    Derek sighed, gripping his sword. "Let''s try not to cause a war this time."


    They continued through the forest, closing in on orc territory, when suddenly¡ª


    WHAM.


    Something large and green crashed through the bushes, swinging a massive axe.


    It was an orc scout, covered in scars, roaring as he charged straight at them.


    Bob, thinking fast (which was rare), raised his shield just in time to block the attack. The impact sent him skidding backward, but he held firm.


    Derek lunged forward, slashing at the orc''s side, forcing it to retreat a few steps.


    Jim cracked his knuckles. "Alright, ugly. Let''s dance."


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    The orc snarled and prepared to attack again¡ª


    Then suddenly¡ª


    A blast of ice-blue energy shot through the air, hitting the orc''s leg.


    The orc froze mid-charge, encased in solid ice, his face still locked in a look of fury.


    The group blinked, then turned toward the source of the spell.


    A cloaked figure stood just beyond the treeline, lowering his gloved hand, which still crackled with frost magic.


    The figure pulled down his hood, revealing sharp, silver-blue eyes and messy black hair streaked with white. His cloak was worn, his boots covered in dust, and he carried a staff carved with glowing runes.


    "¡­You guys were taking too long," he said flatly.


    Bob, still holding his shield up, grinned. "Hey, we had it under control!"


    Jim kicked the completely frozen orc. "¡­Uh-huh. Sure."


    The stranger crossed his arms. "If you say so."


    Marcus, fascinated, stepped forward. "That was ice magic, right?"


    The mage nodded. "Yeah. Name''s Kain. I specialize in ice magic."


    Bam''s eyes lit up. "You wield the power of frost."


    Kain raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"


    Bam grinned. "I wield the power of fire."


    The two stared at each other for a long, tense moment.


    Then Kain shrugged. "Cool."


    Bam nodded. "Hot."


    Bob clapped his hands together. "Alright! So, Kain, what brings you to orc-infested lands?"


    Kain leaned on his staff. "I''m after the Arcane Eye."


    The group blinked.


    Derek sighed. "Of course you are."


    Marcus rubbed his temples. "Great. Another competitor."


    Kain smirked. "Well, since I just saved your butts, how about we work together?"


    Jim raised an eyebrow. "And split the reward?"


    Kain chuckled. "Depends. Are you doing this for money, or because someone hired you?"


    Bob scratched his head. "Uh. Both?"


    Kain shrugged. "Then we''ll figure it out later."


    Derek, narrowing his eyes, studied the ice mage. "And how do we know we can trust you?"


    Kain smirked, adjusting his cloak. "You don''t."


    Jim grinned. "I like this guy."


    Bob threw an arm around Kain''s shoulder. "Welcome to the team! Temporarily."


    Kain sighed. "Fantastic."


    And just like that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem had a new, equally reckless ally.

 Chapter - 18 I thought you guys are professionals

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem and their new ice mage companion, Kain, had finally reached the orc warband''s camp, hidden deep in the mountains.


    Their plan was simple:


    1. Sneak in.


    2. Beat up some orcs.


    3. Grab the Arcane Eye and leave.


    Unfortunately, step one had been completely ignored because Bob tripped over a rock and alerted every single orc in the camp.


    And now, they were fighting for their lives.


    Bob swung his massive hammer, knocking back two orcs¡ªonly for a third to punch him so hard he went flying into a tent.


    Jim dodged a swinging axe, tried to counter with a punch, and realized mid-strike that orcs were much harder than drunk tavern goons.


    Derek clashed swords with an orc warrior nearly twice his size and gritted his teeth. "Okay, ow. This is not going well."


    Marcus fired a crossbow bolt, which hit an orc directly in the chest¡­ and the orc just looked at it, then ripped it out like it was an inconvenience.


    Kain, flinging ice spells, turned to the others. "Are you guys even trying?!"


    Bob, currently being thrown across the battlefield, shouted, "YES, BUT THEY WON''T GO DOWN!"


    Jim, getting punched in the stomach, wheezed. "They''re built like walking fortresses!"


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    Derek barely blocked a massive greataxe, his feet digging into the ground. "We need a new plan. Now."


    Bob nodded. "Agreed! Strategic retreat!"


    Jim coughed. "So we''re running?"


    Bob corrected, "No, no, strategically withdrawing."


    Marcus, reloading frantically, yelled, "SAME THING!"


    Bam, standing calmly in the middle of the chaos, nodded. "Majestic."


    And with that, the team turned and ran.


    After barely escaping with their lives, the group regrouped in a cave nearby.


    Everyone was battered and bruised.


    Bob rubbed his sore arm. "Welp. That could''ve gone better."


    Jim groaned. "I think my ribs are somewhere they shouldn''t be."


    Marcus checked his crossbow. "I wasted so many bolts."


    Derek sighed, leaning against the wall. "We were not prepared for this."


    Kain, arms crossed, stared at them in absolute disbelief. "That was¡­ the worst display of combat I have ever seen."


    Bob waved a hand. "Oh, come on! It wasn''t that bad."


    Kain pointed. "Bob, you tripped into the battle."


    Bob frowned. "Look, that rock came outta nowhere¡ª"


    Kain turned to Jim. "You punched an orc in the face and looked surprised when it didn''t work."


    Jim shrugged. "It usually works!"


    Kain turned to Marcus. "Your crossbow barely did anything."


    Marcus groaned. "Yeah, I noticed."


    Kain then turned to Bam, who was sitting peacefully near the fire.


    "¡­And you," Kain said, narrowing his eyes. "You did nothing."


    The group paused.


    Bob blinked. "Oh yeah¡­ Bam didn''t do anything in that fight."


    Jim rubbed his chin. "That''s weird. Bam loves explosions."


    Bam smiled calmly. "I saw no need to intervene."


    Kain stared at him. "A proper mage is equal to an army."


    Bam nodded. "Yes. A proper mage."


    Kain took a deep breath. "I hate that I have to say this, but¡­ if we actually want to beat those orcs, I need to teach you how to be an actual mage."


    Derek sighed. "Honestly? That''s probably our fastest way to improve."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, ''cause, uh¡­ the rest of us are kinda hitting our limits."


    Jim patted his sore ribs. "Yeah. This body is not made for getting crushed by orcs."


    Marcus adjusted his broken crossbow. "And, uh¡­ I''m running out of new ways to not kill things."


    Kain sighed deeply. "Fine. If I have to train Bam, I will."


    Bam smiled. "I accept this."


    Kain groaned. "You better."


    And thus, their new plan began:


    Make Bam Actually Useful.

 Chapter - 19 Understanding vs Exceptions

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem had barely survived their encounter with the orc warband. The next step?


    Make Bam actually useful.


    Kain, their new temporary companion, had reluctantly agreed to train Bam in the proper ways of magic.


    Unfortunately, this was already proving to be a mistake.


    In the clearing outside their cave hideout, Kain stood with his arms crossed, staring at Bam, who was sitting on a rock, looking as relaxed as ever.


    "Alright," Kain said, pacing. "First, let''s evaluate what you actually know about magic."


    Bam nodded. "I can cast fireball."


    Kain sighed. "Obviously."


    Bob, watching from the sidelines, whispered to Jim, "This might actually work."


    Jim shook his head. "No chance."


    Kain rubbed his temples. "Fine. How did you learn magic?"


    Bam smiled. "Oh, I found a grimoire and figured it out myself."


    Silence.


    Kain blinked. "¡­You self-learned magic from an ancient, possibly cursed book?"


    Bam nodded. "Yes."


    Kain exhaled sharply. "Okay. That''s¡­ actually impressive."


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    Bob grinned. "See? He''s got talent!"


    Kain pointed at Bob. "That doesn''t change the fact that he''s completely useless right now."


    Bam raised a hand. "I would like to disagree, but I have no evidence to support my claim."


    Jim snorted. "At least he''s honest."


    Kain took a deep breath. "Alright. We''ll start with the fundamentals. Magic is all about understanding the mechanics behind each spell. Once you know the why, you can control the how."


    Bam nodded. "Makes sense."


    Kain nodded back. "Good. Now, fire magic is fueled by¡ª"


    Bam raised a hand. "¡ªBut there are always exceptions."


    Kain froze.


    "¡­What?"


    Bam shrugged. "Not everything follows rules. Exceptions exist."


    Kain''s eye twitched. "No. Magic follows rules. If you understand them, you can¡ª"


    "¡ªBut some fire burns hotter than others."


    "That''s because of¡ª"


    "And sometimes fire flickers, and sometimes it rages."


    "That''s a matter of¡ª"


    "And why does one fire spell create an explosion while another just fizzles out?"


    "Because of the¡ª"


    "There are always exceptions."


    Kain''s hands curled into fists.


    Bob leaned over to Marcus. "How long do you think before Kain explodes?"


    Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "Three minutes."


    Jim grinned. "I give him two."


    Kain took a long breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Bam, listen. Magic is about understanding the mechanisms behind a spell. Once you understand why something happens, you can¡ª"


    Bam tilted his head. "But if I understand everything, wouldn''t I know the exceptions too?"


    Kain gritted his teeth. "No! That''s not how it works!"


    Bam shrugged. "Then explain why it doesn''t work that way."


    Kain pointed a shaking finger at him. "I¡ª YOU¡ª IT¡ª+-¡Á¡Â#$*" He stopped, inhaled sharply, then turned away, muttering very aggressive curses under his breath.


    Derek, sitting nearby, smirked. "Wow. Bam might actually break him."


    Jim raised his drink. "I really like this guy."


    Kain spun back around, taking another deep breath. "Alright. New strategy. I''m just going to teach you through force."


    Bam nodded. "That seems reasonable."


    Kain pointed to a nearby rock. "Set that rock on fire. Properly."


    Bam raised a hand, chanted something vaguely ominous, and immediately set a tree on fire instead.


    Kain closed his eyes and whispered, "Why am I doing this to myself?"


    Bob patted his back. "Hey, you signed up for this."


    Jim nodded.


    Bam, staring at the burning tree, shrugged. "There are always exceptions."


    Kain screamed into his hands.


    And thus, training continued.

 Chapter - 20 Round two with the orcs

    After days of training (or what technically counted as training), Kain finally stepped back, arms crossed, staring at Bam.


    "¡­I don''t believe this," Kain muttered.


    Bam flexed his fingers, watching small flames dance on his palm¡ªcontrolled, precise, and not immediately setting random objects on fire.


    Bob clapped his hands. "See? We fixed him!"


    Derek rubbed his temples. "I wouldn''t call it fixed¡­ but at least he won''t accidentally incinerate us anymore."


    Jim grinned. "So he''s finally a proper mage?"


    Kain sighed. "He''s¡­ better."


    Bam nodded, staring at the fire in his palm. "I miss the chaos."


    Kain groaned. "I don''t."


    Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "Alright, now that Bam won''t destroy our side, let''s go round two with the orcs."


    Bob cracked his knuckles. "And this time, we win!"


    Jim took a sip of ale. "Or we die trying."


    Bam smiled. "There are always exceptions."


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    And with that, they charged back toward the orc warband.


    The orcs, unsurprisingly, were not happy to see them again.


    The moment the mercenaries entered the camp, battle erupted.


    Bob bashed through the first wave of orcs with his shield, knocking several warriors aside like bowling pins.


    Derek parried a greataxe, then countered with a precise strike, forcing his opponent back.


    Jim dodged an incoming club and delivered a devastating punch to an orc''s gut¡ªonly for the orc to shrug it off and try to bodyslam him.


    Marcus fired a bolt, this time aiming for weak spots(of course, it was the head), actually taking down a few enemies.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive pillar of fire erupted in the middle of the battlefield.


    Everyone¡ªincluding the orcs¡ªturned to look at Bam, who stood with his hands raised, fire swirling perfectly controlled around his fingers.


    "Arise," Bam shouted.


    Kain, casting an ice spell nearby, almost dropped his staff.


    Bob cheered. "IT''S WORKING! HE''S NOT COMPLETELY USELESS!"


    Jim whistled. "Look at him! He''s actually doing mage things!"


    Bam smirked, flinging a precise fireball that exploded exactly where he wanted¡ªsetting only the orcs'' supply cart on fire instead of everything else around it.


    The orcs stared in horror.


    One of them muttered, "¡­That''s worse than last time."


    The orc shaman, an elderly orc covered in ritual markings and robes, suddenly raised both hands.


    "STOP!" he bellowed.


    The battlefield froze.


    Even the mercenaries paused mid-fight, looking around in confusion.


    The shaman exhaled deeply, rubbing his forehead. "If this continues, this will only lead to more chaos and destruction."


    Bob blinked. "Uh¡­ yeah? That was kinda the plan."


    The shaman glared. "What do you want?"


    Derek dusted himself off. "We''re here for the Arcane Eye."


    The orcs exchanged glances.


    The shaman muttered, "Of course you are."


    Jim crossed his arms. "So, do we keep fighting, or are you gonna hand it over?"


    The shaman sighed.


    And thus, negotiations began.

 Chapter - 21 The artifact Arcane Eye

    The battlefield was silent.


    The Mercenaries of Mayhem stood, bruised but victorious, while the orc warband, still scorched and battered, waited as their elderly shaman leader sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day.


    The shaman studied them for a long moment before speaking.


    "You seek the Arcane Eye, yes?"


    Bob grinned. "Yep! That''s the one!"


    Jim tilted his head. "Sooo¡­ what is it, exactly? Magic rock? Fancy scroll? Legendary talking sword?"


    The shaman scoffed. "Fools. The Arcane Eye is not some mere trinket."


    Slowly, he raised his hand to his face¡ªand to the mercenaries'' horror, he pressed his fingers into his own eye socket.


    Bob recoiled. "Oh gods, what are you doing?"


    With a wet squelch, the shaman removed his own left eye¡ªrevealing a glowing, green, pulsating orb in its place.


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    The group stared in disgust.


    Jim gagged. "Why did you do that in front of us?"


    Marcus winced. "You could have just described it."


    Derek, looking deeply disturbed, muttered, "I''m never eating eggs again."


    The shaman ignored their reactions, holding up the Arcane Eye. The green glow intensified, swirling with arcane energy.


    "This is the true Arcane Eye," he said. "A relic of the legendary mage Humbleball. It does not grant raw power¡ªbut sight beyond the physical world."


    Bam tilted his head. "You mean like seeing through walls?"


    The shaman nodded. "Through walls. Through illusions. Through secrets hidden from mortal eyes."


    Jim whistled. "That actually sounds useful."


    Bob scratched his chin. "So, if I had that¡­ I could see where people hide their gold?"


    Derek sighed. "That''s not the point."


    The shaman continued. "The Eye fuses with its wielder."


    Marcus narrowed his eyes. "So, you''ve been using it this whole time?"


    The shaman nodded. "Yes. And while it may have other functions, I know only what I have discovered. It is a gift¡ªand a curse."


    Jim raised a hand. "Quick question: Does it hurt?"


    The shaman stared at him, unamused. "What do you think?"


    Jim nodded. "Fair."


    Bob grinned. "Alright! Hand it over, and we''ll be out of your hair¡ªer, uh, tusks."


    But the shaman shook his head.


    "I cannot give it to you," he said. "Not in our current situation."


    The group paused.


    Bob blinked. "What situation?"


    The shaman let out a long sigh.


    Jim groaned. "Oh, great. Here comes the part where we have to do a favor."


    Derek crossed his arms. "Because of course nothing is ever simple."


    Bam just smiled. "Majestic."


    And thus, their next problem began.

 Chapter - 22 The cursed orcs

    The orc shaman sat down on a nearby stone, clearly exhausted, still holding the glowing green Arcane Eye in his palm.


    Bob, eyes locked on the artifact, grinned. "So, great! We know where it is, now you just gotta¡ª"


    The shaman raised a hand, cutting him off. "I cannot give you the Eye. Not yet."


    Jim sighed. "There it is."


    Derek crossed his arms. "What''s the catch?"


    The shaman exhaled slowly. "We are cursed."


    The group blinked.


    Bob tilted his head. "Like¡­ bad luck?"


    The shaman shook his head. "No. A real curse. Some of my warriors do not even realize they are afflicted, but I can see it with the Arcane Eye. Their strength is being sapped, their instincts dulled. If not for this, your group would have stood no chance against us."


    Silence.


    Jim blinked. "...Wait. We only won because your guys were nerfed? Are you saying you guys are that strong even under a curse?"


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    The shaman nodded.


    Bob frowned. "That''s rude."


    Derek sighed. "No, Bob. That''s concerning for us."


    Kain, arms crossed, frowned. "Curse magic is rare. It takes skill to hide a spell so well that even the victims don''t realize they''re affected."


    Marcus nodded. "Which means whoever''s behind it is dangerous."


    The shaman continued, "If I give up the Arcane Eye now, we will be completely blind to the curse''s effects. Without it, I cannot protect my people."


    Bob scratched his chin. "So, let me get this straight¡ªyou want us to track down and stop the curse user?"


    The shaman nodded. "If you eliminate the source of this curse, I will consider giving you the Arcane Eye."


    Jim raised an eyebrow. "Consider?"


    The shaman smirked. "I said consider."


    Bob sighed. "I hate that word."


    Bam, watching the glowing eye, finally spoke. "Have you noticed any patterns in when the curse strikes?"


    The shaman nodded. "It happens randomly¡­ but ever since rumors spread about the Arcane Eye, more humans have been showing up. Travelers. Mercenaries. Thieves." He paused, then narrowed his gaze at them. "Like you."


    Bob raised his hands. "Hey, hey, we''re different."


    Derek muttered, "Not by much."


    Kain sighed. "So this could mean one of these outsiders is responsible."


    The shaman nodded. "Possibly. But I cannot leave my people unprotected to investigate. If you wish to claim the Eye, prove your worth¡ªfind the curse user, and stop them."


    Jim took a deep breath. "Alright. Time to go curse hunting."


    Bob clapped his hands. "Great! We''ll just track down a mysterious, unknown enemy using curse magic that we barely understand."


    Marcus sighed. "This is going to be a nightmare, isn''t it?"

 Chapter - 23 Another successful mission?

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem had no idea how to investigate a curse, but that had never stopped them from pretending to be competent before.


    Bob clapped his hands. "Alright, team! We need to find out who''s cursing the orcs. Ideas?"


    Jim raised a hand. "Drink until the answer comes to us."


    Derek sighed. "Absolutely not."


    Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "Interrogate the orcs, see if anyone remembers anything weird before they got cursed."


    Bam nodded. "Or just set random things on fire until the curse reveals itself."


    Kain, arms crossed, exhaled very slowly. "I hate that I''m stuck with you people."


    After several hours of investigating (which was mostly Bob asking dumb questions and Jim getting distracted by food), Marcus finally found something unusual¡ªa small, blackened stone, tucked near the edge of the forest.


    The moment Kain laid eyes on it, his brows furrowed. "That''s a curse catalyst."


    Bob poked it. "So, what, like a magic landmine?"


    Kain groaned. "No. A curse anchor. It spreads dark magic over time to anyone nearby."


    Jim whistled. "Huh. So it''s a cheating device."


    Derek frowned. "Which means whoever placed it is still around¡­ watching."


    Bob grinned. "Well, I have an idea."


    The group decided to set a trap.


    They placed the curse stone back in its hiding spot.


    They pretended to leave camp.


    They hid behind some very badly placed bushes.


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    Kain pinched the bridge of his nose. "This plan is so stupid."


    Jim shrugged. "Yeah, but if you were a sneaky curse user, would you expect idiots like us to pull this off?"


    Kain considered. "¡­Fair point."


    After an hour of waiting, a hooded man finally approached the curse stone. He knelt down, muttering an incantation.


    Bob leaped out immediately. "GOTCHA!"


    Jim tackled the man before he could react, pinning him down. "We''re getting good at this!"


    The hooded figure struggled, growling, "Who the hell¡ª?!"


    Derek pressed his sword to the man''s throat. "We''re the idiots who just caught you."


    The man froze.


    Bam, arms crossed, nodded.


    The shaman, now very irritated, stood before the bound and gagged curse user, who was glaring at the mercenaries.


    Kain knelt beside him, studying his tattered cloak and weapon belt. "You''re not a mage," he muttered. "You''re a bounty hunter."


    The man scowled. "So what?"


    Bob crossed his arms. "Sooo¡­ why curse a bunch of orcs?"


    The bounty hunter sneered. "I came for the Arcane Eye, just like you. But I couldn''t take on an entire orc warband alone. So, I used curse magic to weaken them over time."


    Jim blinked. "Wow. That''s so much lazier than what we did."


    Marcus raised an eyebrow. "It actually kinda makes sense."


    Derek nodded. "Yeah, but he got caught, and we didn''t. That''s the difference."


    Bam simply nodded.


    The shaman let out the deepest sigh yet. "I suppose this means the curse is broken."


    Kain gave him a pointed look. "Which means you don''t need the Arcane Eye anymore."


    The shaman glared at him. "I still don''t want to give it to you."


    Bob grasped the hammer. "Yeah, but you said you would."


    The shaman muttered something in Orcish that was probably an insult, then tossed the Arcane Eye at Bob.


    Bob caught it and held it up, grinning. "Mission complete!"


    Jim pumped a fist. "We actually pulled it off."


    Marcus sighed. "That shouldn''t have worked, but here we are."


    Bam smiled. "There are always exceptions."


    As they traveled back to town, Bob kept tossing the glowing artifact in the air like a ball.


    Kain eyed him. "You do realize that thing is an powerful artifact, right?"


    Bob shrugged. "Yep. But we gotta turn it in to the Guild."


    Kain frowned. "...Or, you could give it to me."


    Derek raised an eyebrow. "And why would we do that?"


    Kain crossed his arms. "Because I actually understand how it works and I need it. If you give it to the Guild, they''ll probably lock it away in some vault."


    Bob scratched his chin. "Hmm. Yeah, but see¡­ we have a problem."


    Jim smirked. "The Guild kinda expects us to bring it back."


    Marcus nodded. "And if we don''t, they''ll assume we stole it."


    Kain thought for a moment. Then sighed. "...Fine. I''ll explain it to the Guild myself."


    Bob grinned. "Good man."


    Jim clapped him on the back.


    Kain groaned. "I hate this."


    Bam nodded. "Majestic."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem returned to town, somehow victorious, ready to bullshit their way through another Guild report.

 Chapter - 24 Kains betrayal

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem were riding high on their success, marching back to town with the Arcane Eye in their possession.


    They decided to set camp near a forest when the sun was low.


    Jim stretched. "Again, we pulled off another job without anything going horribly wrong."


    Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "I mean, unless someone betrays us on the way."


    Derek sighed. "Don''t say that. You''ll jinx¡ª"


    Bob clapped his hands together. "Alright, boys! Time to celebrate with a big meal!"


    Kain, stirring a pot of stew, smirked. "Good idea. You''ve earned it."


    Jim, taking a sniff, whistled. "Damn, that actually smells amazing. You can also cook?"


    Kain laughed. "Of course, let me cook."


    Then...


    They ate. They drank. They immediately fell unconscious.


    Bob snapped awake hours later, his head pounding. "Ugh¡­ what happened?"


    Jim groaned, rolling over. "I had a weird dream that Kain drugged us and¡ª"


    Marcus, sitting up, pointed at the empty bag that previously held the Arcane Eye.


    Silence.


    Derek, rubbing his temple, muttered, "Oh. Son of a¡ª"


    Bob growled, kicking over a pot. "KAIN BETRAYED US!"


    Jim sat up, looking deeply offended. "I actually liked that guy!"


    Marcus sighed. "Why did you let him cook? We should''ve seen this coming."


    Derek crossed his arms. "And now we have to go back to town and explain why we don''t have the artifact."


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    Jim groaned. "Oh gods. We''re gonna get yelled at again."


    The Mercenaries of Mayhem entered the mercenary guild, already preparing for the worst.


    Unfortunately, they were not prepared enough.


    Because standing right there, in the middle of the guild hall, was their noble client¡ªa tall, elegant man in expensive clothes, arms crossed, looking at them with an expression that could only be described as "I expected garbage, but this is somehow worse."


    Bob immediately stiffened. "Uh-oh."


    Jim winced. "I hate that look."


    The noble sighed heavily after seeing them. "So. You failed."


    Bob forced a grin. "I wouldn''t say failed¡­ more like¡­ unexpectedly delayed."


    Marcus nodded. "Yes. The mission is still¡­ in progress."


    The noble rubbed his forehead. "Do you have the Arcane Eye?"


    Derek muttered, "No¡­"


    The noble exhaled sharply. "You were personally recommended to me by Lady Evelyn. I expected competence."


    Jim snorted. "Then you expected wrong."


    The noble ignored him. "I trusted you. I even defended you when my peers questioned your ability."


    Bob scratched his head. "Well, uh¡­ technically, we did get the artifact! Briefly!"


    The noble''s eye twitched. "And then?"


    Silence.


    Jim sighed. "And then we got drugged, and it was stolen."


    The noble looked deeply unimpressed.


    Derek crossed his arms. "It was by Kain. Our so-called ally."


    Marcus nodded. "So if anything, it''s his fault."


    The noble gave them the longest, most judging stare yet.


    Bob, sweating, tried to change the subject. "...Hey, uh. Why did you want the Arcane Eye anyway?"


    The noble hesitated. "That is none of your concern."


    Jim narrowed his eyes. "Ohhh, suspicious."


    Marcus smirked. "Yeah, yeah, what''s the real reason? It lets you see invisible things, right?"


    Bob grinned. "You''re not gonna use it for perverted reasons, are you?"


    The entire guild went silent, paying attention to them.


    The noble''s entire face darkened. "WHAT?"


    Jim nodded, rubbing his chin. "Yeah, yeah. Imagine, you''re in a fancy mansion, right? Servants everywhere¡ªBUT YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING."


    Bob wiggled his eyebrows. "Peepin'' into the royal baths, huh?"


    Marcus gasped dramatically. "A noble of such high standing resorting to such lowly tactics?"


    Derek buried his face in his hands. "Why are we like this?"


    The noble looked absolutely furious. "You¡ªyou absolute idiots!"


    Jim shrugged. "Hey, I''m just saying. A guy with too much money wants an artifact that lets him see invisible things? Highly suspicious."


    The noble slammed his hand on the counter. "I WANTED IT FOR HISTORICAL RESEARCH, YOU IMBECILES!"


    Bob, grinning, leaned on the counter. "Suuuure you did."


    The noble looked like he was about to explode.


    By this point, the entire guild hall was watching the argument.


    Derek sighed. "We should probably go before this gets worse."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, before they make us pay for something again."


    Jim raised his flask. "Retreat?"


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem walked out of the guild, leaving behind a furious noble, a confused crowd, and their reputation once again in question.

 Chapter - 25 Everything has exceptions

    For the first time in weeks, the Mercenaries of Mayhem weren''t on a job.


    They were simply chilling in their home, enjoying the rare luxury of not being hunted, yelled at, or beaten senseless.


    Bob lounged on the couch, flipping through a very outdated adventurer''s guidebook.


    Derek sharpened his sword, trying to ignore the chaos around him.


    Marcus tinkered with a half-finished crossbow modification.


    Jim sat by the fireplace, sipping ale.


    Then, out of nowhere, he turned to Bam.


    "Hey, Bam."


    Bam, sitting on the floor, glanced up. "Hm?"


    Jim leaned forward. "Why do you always say that thing about exceptions?"


    The room went quiet.


    Bob looked up. "Oh yeah, you do say that a lot."


    Marcus nodded. "I always figured it was just one of your weird mage things."


    Derek muttered, "I assumed it was an excuse for why you keep setting things on fire."


    Bam smiled slightly. "No. It is truth."


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    Jim raised an eyebrow. "Alright, explain it then."


    Bam stretched out his hands. "Everything in this world follows patterns, right?"


    Jim nodded. "Yeah, that''s how stuff works."


    Bam continued, "But patterns are not absolute. They are just what happens most of the time. There are always exceptions."


    Bob scratched his head. "Like what?"


    Bam gestured lazily. "Take water, for example. It always flows from higher ground to lower ground, right?"


    Jim nodded. "Obviously."


    Bam smirked. "But in some places, if you use magic, the flow reverses. Water will rise from the lower ground to the higher ground."


    Bob blinked. "Wait. What?"


    Derek frowned. "That''s just because magic is affecting the flow."


    Bam nodded. "Exactly. Meaning the rule is not absolute."


    Marcus, now interested, leaned in. "Got any other examples?"


    Bam tapped his chin. "Take fire. Normally, fire needs fuel to burn."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah?"


    Bam smirked. "But in places with high mana concentration, fire can burn with no fuel at all."


    Jim''s eyes narrowed. "So, what you''re saying is¡­ rules exist, but there''s always something that breaks them."


    Bam smiled. "Exactly."


    Derek muttered, "That''s actually kind of unsettling."


    Jim took a sip of ale. "So that''s why you always say it."


    Bam nodded. "Because it is true."


    Bob, thinking hard, finally said, "Okay, but, uh¡­ what about things like gravity? That''s universal, right?"


    Bam shook his head. "Not in certain dungeons. Some places have floating islands where gravity is reversed."


    Jim whistled. "Damn. Now I don''t know what to believe anymore."


    Bob groaned, rubbing his head. "This is too much thinking for a day off."


    Marcus chuckled. "Bam, you should teach philosophy."


    Bam shrugged. "There are always exceptions."


    Jim pointed at him. "See?! You just did it again!"


    And just like that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem spent their day off discussing whether reality itself had any actual rules¡ªwhich, considering their past experiences, was a valid question.

 Chapter - 26 The dumbest genius

    It was another lazy day at the Mercenaries of Mayhem''s new home.


    They had no jobs, no debts (for now), and, most importantly, no one was actively trying to kill them.


    Jim was drinking.


    Marcus was tinkering.


    Derek was reading.


    Bob was lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling.


    Then, out of nowhere, Jim suddenly chuckled to himself.


    "You know," he said, "Bob is the last guy I''d expect to have a family."


    Marcus smirked. "Yeah, I always just assumed he was some natural disaster that appeared one day."


    Derek, not looking up from his book, added, "More like something the gods threw at the world as a joke."


    Bob sat up, frowning. "Wait. You guys know about my family, right?"


    Jim blinked. "WHAT?!"


    Marcus put down his tools. "Since when?"


    Bob shrugged. "I thought I told you."


    Jim leaned forward. "Bob. We have known you for years. You have never, not once, mentioned about your family except the fact that they are tax collectors."


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    Bob tilted his head. "Huh. Weird. I could''ve sworn I did."


    Marcus sighed. "Alright, spill it."


    Bob stretched. "I come from a long, proud line of tax collectors."


    Silence.


    Jim choked on his drink.


    Bob nodded. "Tax collectors. My family has been collecting taxes for generations."


    Jim looked like he was about to pass out from laughing. "This shit always kills me. His entire bloodline is just a bunch of guys who go around taking people''s money legally."


    Bob grinned. "Yep!"


    Marcus leaned back.


    Derek sighed. "No wonder you''re obsessed with gold. It''s in your blood."


    Jim wiped a tear from his eye. "I can''t believe it. Bob was born to be an accountant, and instead, he''s¡­ this."


    Bob huffed. "Well, yeah, but I wasn''t exactly good at it."


    Marcus raised an eyebrow. "So, what happened?"


    Bob stretched his arms. "Well, my family kept saying I was, you know¡­ kinda dumb."


    Jim burst into laughter again.


    Derek sighed. "I mean¡­ they weren''t completely wrong."


    Bob ignored them. "Anyway, they wanted me to be a proper tax collector, but I wasn''t interested. I wanted to do something different."


    Jim grinned. "And by ''different,'' you mean hitting people with a hammer?"


    Bob shrugged. "Hey, it pays better than taxes sometimes."


    Marcus nodded.


    Jim, still laughing, shook his head. "I just can''t picture it. Bob, sitting behind a desk, doing math."


    Derek smirked. "Or knocking on doors, politely asking people for their payments."


    Bob grumbled. "It was awful. Everyone kept calling me stupid, saying I should just follow what they wanted."


    For a moment, Bob''s usual grin faded. He looked at them, his voice quieter than usual.


    "Ignore those who misdirect you. Focus on what you want. If you let yourself be swayed by others, it won''t be long before life wears you down."


    The room went silent.


    Jim blinked. "¡­Did Bob just say something wise?"


    Marcus frowned. "That was¡­ actually deep."


    Derek exhaled. "And now I have to live with the fact that Bob just said something smarter than me."


    Bob smirked. "See? I have layers."


    Jim chuckled, raising his mug. "To Bob. The dumbest genius we know."


    The others clinked drinks, laughing.


    Because no matter what else happened in their ridiculous lives, at least none of them were tax collectors.

 Chapter - 27 A training section with Derek

    It was another peaceful day at the Mercenaries of Mayhem''s mansion, which meant it was time for someone to get punched.


    Out in the courtyard, Jim and Derek were sparring while the others watched.


    Bob leaned against a rock. "Alright, place your bets! I got one gold on Derek winning in under a minute."


    Marcus smirked. "Too generous. Thirty seconds."


    Bam shrugged. "Fifteen."


    Jim, stretching his arms, scoffed. "Wow. No faith in me at all?"


    Derek rolled his shoulders, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. "You''ve never won."


    Jim cracked his knuckles, adjusting the iron gauntlets on his hands. "Today could be the day."


    Derek sighed. "It won''t be."


    And then it began.


    Jim rushed forward, throwing a powerful right hook¡ª


    Derek stepped back, avoiding it effortlessly.


    Jim followed with a quick jab aimed at Derek''s chest¡ª


    Derek sidestepped and flicked Jim''s forehead.


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    Jim stumbled, rubbing his head. "Are you serious?!"


    Derek shrugged. "You leave too many openings."


    Jim gritted his teeth and lunged again, this time throwing a fake-out punch before spinning into a backhanded strike.


    Derek ducked, tapped Jim''s wrist just right, and sent him crashing onto his back.


    Jim lay there, staring at the sky. "...That was embarrassing."


    Bob sighed. "Wow. Twelve seconds."


    Marcus tossed Bam a gold coin. "You win."


    Jim groaned, still on the ground. "Derek, I hate you."


    Derek held out a hand. "You always lose because you don''t train properly."


    Jim grabbed his hand and pulled himself up. "It''s not just that! You''re just too good."


    Derek raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"


    Jim dusted himself off. "I mean, look at you. You never lose. Your swordsmanship is insane! Are you, like, from a noble knight bloodline or something?"


    Derek went completely silent.


    Jim, still rubbing his sore ribs, chuckled. "Or maybe you''re just a natural-born genius."


    Derek turned away. "No."


    Jim blinked. "Huh?"


    Derek crossed his arms. "You lost because you fight drunk and never train seriously."


    Jim scoffed. "Oh, so now we''re changing the subject?"


    Derek picked up a practice sword and gestured at Jim''s gauntlets. "We''re training now."


    Jim sighed dramatically. "Ugh, fine."


    Jim, still sore, raised his fists. "So, what, we just spar again?"


    Derek nodded. "Yes. But this time, you''ll actually learn."


    Jim smirked. "You sound like some wise old mentor."


    Derek sighed. "I''m thirty two."


    Jim grinned. "And yet, you fight like you were born with a sword in your hand."


    Derek shook his head. "No. I fight like someone who had to fail over and over until he finally got it right."


    Jim raised an eyebrow. "...That''s kinda deep."


    Derek got into stance. "Failure is the start of success. The sooner you learn that, the better you''ll get."


    Jim, despite himself, smiled. "Alright. One more round."


    Derek smirked. "Let''s see if you last longer than twelve seconds this time."


    Jim rolled his shoulders. "I make no promises."


    And with that, training continued¡ªwith Jim getting beaten repeatedly, but this time, maybe learning something.

 Chapter - 28 The dragon is back?

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem were enjoying yet another rare peaceful day at their mansion.


    Bob was stacking gold coins into a pyramid.


    Jim was soaking in a barrel of water, calling it a bath despite the fact that it was definitely not clean.


    Marcus was modifying his crossbow, probably making it more dangerous.


    Derek was meditating, trying to ignore everyone.


    Bam was¡ªactually, no one really knew what Bam was doing.


    Then¡ªa loud knock on the door.


    Bob groaned. "Ugh. That''s never a good sign."


    Jim muttered, "Maybe if we ignore it, they''ll go away."


    Derek opened the door anyway.


    A town messenger stood there, panting, holding a sealed letter.


    "The mayor demands your presence immediately."


    Jim sighed. "Yup. There it is."


    Bob stretched. "Alright, let''s go see what nonsense this is about."


    The group strolled into the mayor''s office, where Mayor Joff was pacing back and forth, red-faced and fuming.


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    "YOU!" he shouted, pointing at them.


    Jim immediately pointed at Bob. "If it''s about money, he handles that."


    Bob grinned. "I do!"


    The mayor ignored them. "A dragon has been spotted again in the mountains¡ªsetting trees on fire!"


    The group blinked.


    Derek frowned. "And¡­ why is that our problem?"


    The mayor slammed his hands on his desk. "BECAUSE YOU LIED! YOU SAID YOU KILLED IT!"


    Silence.


    Then Bob scratched his head. "Uh¡­ no, we didn''t."


    The mayor glared. "YES, YOU DID!"


    Jim leaned forward. "Nooo, we said we fought it and injured it."


    Marcus nodded. "The killing part? That was your assumption."


    The mayor''s eye twitched.


    Derek sighed. "Look, if you misunderstood, that''s not really our fault."


    The mayor groaned, rubbing his forehead. "The entire town believes you are heroes for slaying a dragon!"


    Jim grinned. "Cool, cool. We are not correcting them."


    The mayor glared. "And now that same dragon is burning the forests again. People are panicking."


    Bob shrugged. "Well, that''s a dragon for you."


    The mayor pointed at them. "You''re going back up that mountain. And this time, you will slay it for real."


    Silence.


    Jim turned to Bob. "Well, buddy, this is your fault."


    Bob sighed. "Yeah, yeah."


    Derek crossed his arms. "So we''re doing this again?"


    The mayor narrowed his eyes. "Yes. And this time, there better not be any misunderstandings."


    Bob stretched his arms. "Alright, team! Dragon slaying mission!"


    Jim groaned. "I swear if this thing is still reading books when we get there, I''m gonna lose my mind."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem once again headed toward the mountain, believing it would be easy job.

 Chapter - 29 Cant you guys leave me alone?

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem climbed the mountain once again, grumbling the entire way.


    Bob wiped sweat off his forehead. "Alright, guys. Same as last time. We go in, we talk, and¡ª"


    SNAP.


    Bob immediately fell into a pit trap.


    Jim sighed. "Again?!"


    Marcus peered over the edge. "Yup. Same pit."


    Bob groaned from the bottom. "I hate this mountain."


    Bam nodded. "A tradition now."


    Derek sighed, helping Bob climb out. "Let''s just get this over with."


    The group finally entered the dragon''s lair¡ªexactly as they had left it. Shelves of books, a neat stack of cushions, and a massive red-scaled dragon sitting in the center, wearing tiny reading glasses.


    The dragon looked up from its book and sighed.


    "Oh, you guys again."


    Jim crossed his arms. "We are not happy to be back either."


    The dragon snapped the book shut and tilted its head. "What do you want now?"


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    Bob cleared his throat. "Sooo, funny thing¡­ turns out the mayor thinks we killed you. And now that you''re burning trees again, people are freaking out."


    Jim smirked. "So! We have two options¡ªeither you stop existing or we all get in trouble."


    The dragon narrowed its eyes. "And what happens if I tell you to leave me alone?"


    Derek crossed his arms. "Then they''ll hire a real dragon slayer."


    The dragon stared at them for a long moment.


    Then sighed deeply. "What a hassle."


    The group nodded in agreement.


    The dragon tapped a claw against its chin. "Your home¡ªit''s on the outskirts of town, correct?"


    Bob blinked. "Uh. Yeah?"


    Marcus squinted. "Why?"


    The dragon smirked. "It sounds like a quiet place."


    Then, before anyone could react, the dragon''s form shimmered with magic¡ªits massive body shrinking, scales vanishing, limbs reshaping¡ªuntil standing before them was¡­


    A young girl.


    With long, flowing red hair, sharp crimson eyes, and a confident smirk.


    She stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Haven''t used a humanoid form in a while. Feels weird."


    Jim stared. "What. The. Hell."


    Marcus pointed. "Did you just polymorph?!"


    The dragon¡ªnow a girl¡ªgrinned. "Yes. Makes things easier."


    Bob scratched his head. "Wait, where''s all your stuff?"


    She waved a hand. "Subspace magic."


    Jim threw his hands up. "Oh, of course. Why not?!"


    Derek rubbed his temples. "Okay. What''s your plan?"


    The dragon-girl smirked.


    "I''m coming to live with you."


    Silence.


    Bob blinked. "What."


    Jim pointed at her. "You''re saying you''re gonna move into our house?"


    She nodded. "Yep. From the start, this is your fault anyway."


    Marcus groaned. "We''re bringing a dragon home."


    Bam, after a long pause, simply said, "There are exceptions."


    Jim threw his hands in the air. "We came here to slay a dragon. Instead, we got a new roommate."


    Bob sighed. "This is gonna be a problem, isn''t it?"


    Derek nodded. "Absolutely."


    And just like that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem accidentally obtained a new member.

 Chapter - 30 A new member

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem marched back into town, ready to bullshit their way through another mayoral report.


    Mayor Joff narrowed his eyes at them the moment they entered his office. "Well?"


    Bob smiled. "Good news! You don''t have to worry about the dragon anymore."


    The mayor squinted. "Oh? You killed it?"


    Derek coughed. "Not¡­ exactly."


    The mayor frowned. "Then how, exactly, is this problem solved?"


    Jim waved a hand. "Doesn''t matter. No more dragon. Problem gone."


    Joff crossed his arms. "I''ll confirm this myself."


    The group immediately panicked.


    Bob, sweating, laughed awkwardly. "Ha! No need for that!"


    Joff frowned. "Why not?"


    Before anyone could think of an excuse¡ª


    The mayor''s eyes landed on the red-haired girl standing behind them.


    "¡­And who is this?" he asked, suspiciously.


    The group froze.


    Bob, thinking fast (which is never good), clapped a hand on Anna''s shoulder. "Ah-ha! This is my sister!"


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    Silence.


    Jim''s eye twitched. "Bob. What."


    Joff raised an eyebrow. "Your sister?"


    Bob nodded aggressively. "Yep! She, uh¡­ came from very far away!"


    Joff narrowed his eyes. "From where?"


    Bob waved a hand. "Oh, you know¡­ the, uh¡­ Northwestern Eastern Southern Highlands of the Grand Lower Upper Region."


    Marcus muttered, "That is not a real place."


    Bob ignored him. "She''s the daughter of my uncle''s son-in-law''s cousin''s brother''s best friend''s nephew''s neighbor!"


    Jim rubbed his temples. "That''s¡­ just nonsense."


    Joff stared at Bob. Then at Anna. Then back at Bob.


    "¡­Fine," the mayor said, clearly done with this nonsense. "If the dragon problem is handled, I don''t care."


    The group exhaled in relief.


    Joff sighed heavily. "Just¡­ get out."


    Bob saluted. "Pleasure doing business with you!"


    And with that, they left before he could ask more questions.


    The moment they stepped inside their mansion, Anna stretched her arms and looked around.


    "Hm," she said. "I expected worse."


    Jim muttered, "Yeah, so did we."


    Anna tossed her bag onto the couch and turned to the group. "Alright, listen up. Since I''m here now, let''s get something straight."


    The group stiffened.


    Anna smirked. "I like quiet."


    Jim snorted. "Yeah, you''re in the wrong house for that."


    Anna ignored him. "I like reading. If you touch my books, I will burn you. I swear."


    Bob gulped. "Noted."


    Anna crossed her arms. "I don''t do chores."


    Marcus blinked. "Wait. We don''t do chores either."


    Everyone slowly looked at the massive pile of unwashed dishes in the kitchen.


    Silence.


    Anna sighed. "This place is a disaster."


    Jim nodded. "Yep. Welcome to the team."


    Anna grinned. "That''s right. I am Anna the Red Dragon. You can call me Anna."


    Bob blinked. "Wait, so your name is Anna?"


    Anna smirked. "Yes."


    Jim muttered, "That''s¡­ shockingly normal."


    Derek sighed. "Alright, whatever. Welcome to the team, Anna."


    The group awkwardly nodded, unsure how to feel about having a literal dragon as a housemate.


    Anna, meanwhile, smirked. "Oh, don''t look so nervous. It''s not like I''m gonna eat you."


    Jim immediately took a step back. "That was too specific."


    Marcus sighed. "We''re doomed."


    Bob clapped his hands. "Well, too late now!"


    And just like that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem officially gained a new (and extremely dangerous) member.

 Chapter - 31 Silent zone

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem had successfully brought a literal dragon into their home.


    And now, they were dealing with the consequences.


    The moment they got back, Anna marched straight to the library without saying a word.


    Bob scratched his head. "Uh¡­ what''s she doing?"


    Jim shrugged. "Claiming territory, I guess."


    Marcus nodded. "Makes sense. She did say she likes quiet."


    Bam peeked inside. "Yep. She''s already unpacking books."


    Indeed, Anna had already lined up stacks of books, adjusting the shelves, and making herself comfortable.


    The group exchanged glances.


    Bob grinned. "Well, I guess we''ll leave her to it."


    And so they didn''t.


    Despite saying they would leave her alone, the group¡­ did not.


    Bob kept stopping by to see if she needed a "reading partner."


    Jim practiced punches outside the library, constantly shaking the walls.


    Marcus tested a new crossbow modification, which exploded near the door.


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    Bam tried to ask her about dragon magic, which led to a long, one-sided conversation.


    And finally, Derek''s training session got so loud that the entire library shook.


    Anna snapped.


    The doors slammed open, and she stormed out, eyes glowing slightly red.


    "Enough!" she roared.


    The group froze.


    Anna crossed her arms, glaring. "I asked for one thing. Silence. But you loud idiots won''t stop disturbing me!"


    Jim scratched his head. "In our defense, we always make noise."


    Anna''s eye twitched. "Then make a rule. I don''t care how¡ªjust keep it quiet near the library."


    Bob nodded quickly. "Yes! Absolutely! New rule! No noise near the library!"


    Jim groaned. "You''re really gonna turn part of the mansion into a silent zone?"


    Bob clapped his hands. "Yep! It''s official! Anyone who makes noise near the library gets punished!"


    Marcus blinked. "Punished how?"


    Bob turned to Anna. "You decide."


    Anna grinned. "Excellent."


    She held up a hand¡ªfire crackled at her fingertips.


    The group immediately agreed to the rule.


    From that day on, the mansion developed a strange balance:


    The Silent Zone (a.k.a. the library and surrounding halls) was completely off-limits for noise.


    Outside the Silent Zone? Absolute chaos, as usual.


    Jim sighed. "It''s weird having part of the house so quiet."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, but I like being alive."


    Marcus shrugged. "At least we won''t get fireballed."


    Bam tilted his head. "For now."


    At first, Anna seemed annoyed by them¡ªshe rolled her eyes at their antics, sighed loudly whenever Jim started a bar fight, and glared at Bob whenever he tried to drag her into a scheme.


    But over time¡­


    She stopped complaining as much.


    Stopped threatening them every five minutes.


    And even¡­


    Started smirking at their ridiculousness.


    Anna had, somehow, gotten used to them.


    Jim stretched. "Well, she hasn''t burned us alive yet, so I guess she''s really one of us now."


    Bob grinned. "Welcome to the team, Anna."


    Anna scoffed, flipping a page in her book. "I''m not part of your nonsense."


    A loud crash echoed from the other side of the mansion.


    Jim sighed. "Sounds like Marcus just broke something again."


    Anna rolled her eyes. "¡­Unbelievable."


    And with that, life continued as chaotically as ever.

 Chapter - 32 Sword graveyard

    It was another normal day at the mansion, meaning Derek was training while everyone else did whatever nonsense they usually did.


    He stood in the courtyard, his greatsword cutting through the air with precise, disciplined movements. His strikes were controlled, his footwork perfect, and the sheer force of his swings sent small gusts of wind across the yard.


    Anna, passing by, stopped at the entrance of the courtyard. She watched him for a moment before smirking.


    "A Sword Graveyard is going to appear soon."


    Derek froze mid-swing. His eyes widened.


    "¡­What?"


    Anna raised an eyebrow. "What? You didn''t know?"


    Derek turned fully to her, gripping his sword tightly. "Are you sure?"


    Anna shrugged. "I don''t make guesses."


    Derek stared, processing this information. "In this era¡­?" he muttered to himself, almost in disbelief.


    Anna, seeing his reaction, looked mildly surprised. "Huh. I thought you''d know."


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    Derek''s grip on his sword tightened. "No one knows when they''ll appear. If what you''re saying is true, this is¡­" He exhaled. "Unbelievable."


    Anna smirked. "Well, not my problem." And with that, she walked off.


    The rest of the group, having overheard part of the conversation, swarmed Derek the moment Anna left.


    Bob crossed his arms. "Alright, explain. What''s a Sword Graveyard?"


    Jim tilted his head. "Yeah, yeah, should we be worried?"


    Marcus nodded. "Or excited?"


    Bam just stared. "Or both?"


    Derek took a deep breath before speaking.


    "There is no exact time for when it appears, but after long periods of time, a portal to another dimension opens at random. This place is called the Sword Graveyard."


    Jim frowned. "Sounds dramatic."


    Derek nodded. "As its name suggests, it''s a graveyard of swords. Thousands¡ªmaybe millions¡ªof swords, from ancient weapons to modern blades, are scattered across a mystical battlefield."


    Bob grinned. "So wait. If you pull a sword, it''s yours?"


    Derek nodded. "If the sword chooses you."


    Bob clapped his hands together. "Alright. New plan. I''m gonna pull as many swords as possible and sell them!"


    Silence.


    Derek sighed. "That''s not how it works."


    Bob waved him off. "Pfft, how hard can it be? Just grab ''em and cash in!"


    Derek crossed his arms. "It''s not about strength. If you force a sword that doesn''t accept you, it could kill you."


    Bob blinked. "...Oh."


    Jim grinned. "Still feeling confident, moneybags?"


    Bob crossed his arms. "I mean¡­ mostly."


    Marcus chuckled. "Good luck with that."


    Bam smirked. "At least we''ll have something fun to watch."


    Derek, still focused, muttered, "If this is really happening¡­ then I can''t miss this."


    Marcus smirked. "So, what kind of sword are you hoping to find?"


    Derek''s expression hardened. "One that truly belongs to me."


    The group nodded, already sensing that this was about to turn into another ridiculous adventure.

 Chapter - 33 The gathering of swordsmans

    It didn''t take long for news to spread¡ªa Sword Graveyard had finally appeared, and it was close to their kingdom.


    The group immediately began preparations.


    Bob stretched. "Alright, time to see what all the hype is about."


    Jim crossed his arms. "I still don''t get why we''re going. We''re not swordsmen."


    Marcus nodded. "Yeah, this is Derek''s thing."


    Bam shrugged. "We came for Derek."


    Derek, finishing his gear check, simply nodded. "I appreciate it."


    Anna, watching them pack, grinned. "Well. You guys have fun."


    Bob blinked. "Wait. You''re not coming?"


    Anna smirked. "Nope. This is the perfect excuse for me to finally get some peace and quiet."


    Jim rolled his eyes. "You really don''t wanna come?"


    Anna scoffed. "Why would I? Standing in a crowd of sweaty swordsmen, watching people struggle to lift rusty weapons? Pass."


    Bob pouted. "But we''ll miss you."


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    Anna grinned. "No, you won''t."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem left for the Sword Graveyard¡ªwithout Anna, but fully expecting chaos.


    When they arrived at the portal''s location, they immediately understood why the world was buzzing about it.


    The Sword Graveyard''s entrance¡ªa swirling blue and silver portal¡ªwas surrounded by a massive gathering of warriors from all over the world.


    Swordsmen of all kinds lined up, staring at the portal with determined eyes.


    Some meditated, preparing their minds before entering.


    Others boasted loudly about what sword they were going to claim.


    There were knights, mercenaries, wandering samurai, and even some royals with elite guards.


    But that wasn''t all.


    The sheer number of people had turned the area into a full-blown marketplace.


    Merchants had set up shops selling supplies, weapons, and enchanted items.


    Food stalls lined the roads, serving travelers from all over.


    Taverns had popped up overnight, filled with warriors drinking and telling stories.


    There were even betting booths where people gambled on who would return with a legendary sword.


    Jim whistled. "Well. This is a lot."


    Bob''s eyes sparkled. "A temporary city, built around a once-in-a-lifetime event¡­" He grinned. "There''s so much money to be made here."


    Marcus nodded. "Yeah. But none of it by you."


    Bob frowned. "You don''t know that."


    Derek, however, was focused entirely on the portal. He adjusted his sword, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.


    Jim patted his back. "Go get your dream sword, buddy."


    Bob grinned. "And bring back two so I can sell one."


    Derek sighed. "Not how it works."


    Without another word, he entered the portal.


    The group watched him vanish inside.


    Jim stretched. "Welp. Now we wait."


    Bob rubbed his hands together. "Or¡­ we explore this place."


    Marcus nodded. "Might as well. There''s plenty to see."


    Bam glanced at the nearest tavern. "Drinking while waiting doesn''t seem bad."


    And just like that, while Derek entered the realm of swords, the Mercenaries of Mayhem decided to stroll the new city.

 Chapter - 34 A blessing or a curse?

    Derek stepped through the swirling portal, feeling a strange weightlessness before landing on solid ground.


    He opened his eyes¡ªand stilled.


    The Sword Graveyard was¡­ otherworldly.


    The sky above was dark but endless, like the inside of a storm cloud, flickering with occasional flashes of silver lightning. The air was thick with energy, crackling around him like invisible threads.


    And then, of course¡ªthe swords.


    Thousands¡ªno, millions¡ªof swords lay scattered across the battlefield-like terrain, their blades sticking out of the ground like forgotten tombstones. Some were rusted, others pristine, but they all shared one thing: an aura of mystery.


    Derek exhaled slowly.


    "This is it."


    Then he heard the grunting.


    Nearby, a group of warriors were trying to pull various swords out of the ground¡ªand failing miserably.


    One guy, muscles bulging, was pulling a longsword with everything he had. "Come on, you stupid thing, I''ll¡ªHRNNNGH¡ªrip you out if I have to!"


    The sword did not move an inch.


    Another swordsman, red-faced and straining, tried to pull a dagger. He gave up after two minutes, collapsing onto his knees. "WHY?!! I train every day!"


    A young knight screamed, "I HAVE ROYAL BLOOD!" while pulling at a glowing rapier. Nothing.


    Derek watched, bemused. "It''s like a bunch of kids trying to lift a hammer that''s too heavy."


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    Taking a deep breath, Derek walked forward, passing over countless swords before stopping in front of one that immediately felt right¡ªa massive greatsword, its black blade shimmering faintly under the strange sky.


    He gripped the hilt.


    Pulled.


    ¡­Nothing.


    Derek frowned and tried again.


    Still nothing.


    A warrior passing by snorted. "Hah! Thought it''d be easy?"


    Derek sighed. "Of course not."


    Only a handful of people ever got swords each time the Sword Graveyard appeared. It wasn''t about strength¡ªthe swords simply chose their wielders.


    And so far, none had chosen him.


    Derek moved on, trying another greatsword. Nothing.


    A heavy longsword? Nothing.


    A strange curved blade? Did not budge.


    As he kept searching, his hand trembled slightly.


    This place was a dreamland for swordsmen¡ªbut only for those who were worthy.


    Behind him, another warrior sighed heavily. "Forget it. We''re not chosen."


    Derek gritted his teeth. Not yet, I''m not.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    A flash of red light.


    A warrior, not far from Derek, held up a massive sword wreathed in flames.


    The blade glowed violently, runes across the hilt burning with magical fire.


    Everyone froze.


    A single moment of silence.


    Then¡ª


    "HE GOT ONE!"


    "IT''S A HELLFIRE SWORD!"


    "STEAL IT!!!"


    Instantly, dozens of warriors lunged at him.


    The man who had drawn the sword barely had a moment to react before the first attack came¡ªa rogue lunging with a dagger, aiming for his back.


    He barely dodged, swinging his new blade instinctively¡ªa wave of fire erupted, sending several attackers flying.


    But that only made it worse.


    More warriors charged in.


    "What the hell¡ª?!" the man shouted, trying to defend himself.


    A knight in full armor slashed at him, forcing him back.


    The air was filled with shouts and battle cries, weapons clashing violently.


    Men who had failed to draw swords now turned their jealousy into rage, believing if they couldn''t have a weapon, no one should.


    Some of them didn''t even want the sword¡ªthey just wanted to kill the man who succeeded.


    Blood splattered the ground, bodies falling as warriors cut each other down in a frenzied battle.


    Derek, watching from a distance, sighed deeply.


    "This is a curse disguised as a blessing."


    Everyone here was so obsessed with power that the moment someone actually succeeded, the others turned into rabid animals trying to steal it.


    He clenched his fist.


    He wouldn''t let greed take over him.


    Taking a deep breath, he turned to leave.


    Then¡ª


    He felt something.


    A strange pull, deep within his chest.


    Derek froze.


    Slowly, he turned his head¡ªtoward a sword half-buried in the distance.


    His heart pounded.


    "¡­What is that?"

 Chapter - 35 All for a broken sword

    Outside the Sword Graveyard''s portal, the atmosphere had turned tense.


    Injured warriors staggered out, some covered in burns, others bleeding from deep wounds, and a few dragging unconscious comrades.


    A crowd quickly formed¡ªmerchants, spectators, and fellow warriors, whispering among themselves.


    "What''s going on in there?"


    "Why are so many people coming out half-dead?"


    "Did a monster appear? Is there a test of survival too?"


    The guards stationed near the portal remained completely unfazed.


    One of them, an older man with a bored expression, crossed his arms. "This is normal."


    A younger guard nodded beside him. "We''ve warned them. The Sword Graveyard is dangerous."


    The older guard sighed. "And yet, every time it appears, people rush in, thinking they''ll walk out with a legendary sword."


    Another injured man collapsed just a few feet away from them, groaning.


    The younger guard cleared his throat. "Ahem. As I was saying, we have no responsibility for what happens in there."


    The older guard nodded. "We told them. They signed up for this. Not our fault."


    Meanwhile, the Mercenaries of Mayhem were getting nervous.


    Jim paced back and forth, arms crossed. "Alright, it''s been way too long. I''m going in."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, Derek might be in trouble."


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    Marcus adjusted his crossbow. "I''d rather not wait until someone drags him out."


    Bam simply stated, "We should act."


    But when they stepped forward, the guards blocked them.


    The older guard sighed heavily. "Nope."


    Jim frowned. "What do you mean nope?"


    The younger guard shook his head. "You guys are not swordsman."


    Bob huffed. "That''s a dumb rule."


    The older guard shrugged. "Not our rule. Magic rule."


    Marcus narrowed his eyes. "So what, if we step through, we just get rejected?"


    The younger guard nodded. "Pretty much."


    Jim clenched his fists. "Alright, then let me rephrase¡ªI don''t care. Let me in."


    The older guard snorted. "What are you gonna do? Punch the magic?"


    Bob cracked his knuckles. "We''ve punched weirder things."


    The younger guard leaned forward. "Look, I get that you''re worried, but the portal doesn''t care about your feelings. It only lets swordsmans in."


    Jim crossed his arms. "So, basically, we''re useless out here?"


    The older guard nodded. "Exactly."


    Marcus sighed. "I hate when bureaucracy wins."


    Bob groaned. "Fine. But if Derek dies, I''m blaming you."


    The older guard shrugged.


    Just as the argument was about to escalate¡ª


    The portal shimmered.


    A figure stepped through.


    Derek emerged from the portal, bruised, sweaty, and looking emotionally drained.


    But what caught everyone''s attention wasn''t him¡ª


    It was the sword in his hand.


    Or rather¡­ what was left of it.


    Jim blinked. "Derek¡­ is that¡­ a broken sword?"


    The group stared.


    Derek looked down at the weapon in his hands¡ªa simple, normal-sized sword, but the blade was snapped near the middle, jagged and uneven.


    Bob scratched his head. "Did you¡­ accidentally grab a trash sword?"


    Marcus tilted his head. "Where''s the big, majestic greatsword you wanted?"


    Derek''s eye twitched. "I don''t want to talk about it."


    Jim smirked. "Lemme guess¡ªyou went in hoping for a legendary weapon, and this is what you got?"


    Derek sighed. "..."


    Silence.


    Then Bob burst out laughing.


    "Oh gods, that''s the saddest thing I''ve ever seen."


    Jim grinned. "All that effort¡­ for half a sword."


    Bam nodded. "Poetic."


    Derek, ignoring them, exhaled. "Well¡­ at least I got something."


    Marcus nodded. "That''s¡­ one way to look at it."


    Derek, inspecting the broken blade, muttered, "I guess I''ll just keep this as a memory. An achievement, at least."


    Jim patted his back. "Yeah, buddy. You didn''t fail. You just¡­ got severely disappointed."


    Bob grinned. "Hey, look at the bright side. It''s still better than what we got."


    Marcus raised a hand. "Which is nothing."


    Derek sighed. "That doesn''t help."


    And just like that, Derek returned from the legendary Sword Graveyard¡­ with a broken sword, a bruised ego, and a newfound understanding that fate had a sense of humor.

 Chapter - 36 A weird dream

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem were back home, lounging around their mansion. Derek sat in his usual spot, adjusting the broken sword now strapped to his belt¡ªnot as a weapon, but as a decoration and souvenir.


    Then, Bob burst into the room, grinning.


    "Guys! News just dropped!"


    Jim raised an eyebrow. "What, did someone finally post wanted posters of us?"


    Bob waved his hand. "No, no! The Sword Graveyard portal disappeared!"


    Derek looked up. "Already?"


    Bob nodded. "Yep! And get this¡ªonly five people got a sword."


    Jim blinked. "Wait. Only five?"


    Bob grinned wider, pointing at Derek. "And that includes you!"


    Derek sighed. "You do realize what I got, right?"


    Bob ignored that. "Buddy, you''re part of history now! The swordsmen who obtain weapons from the Sword Graveyard always become legends!"


    Derek crossed his arms. "Yeah, well, not me. No one''s gonna care about a guy who walked out with half a sword."


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    Jim smirked. "Still, only five people? That''s kinda crazy."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, but one of them''s already causing a scene. Some guy got a Hellfire Blade, and apparently, it''s insanely powerful."


    Derek''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Ah. So he survived."


    Marcus looked over. "You know him?"


    Derek sighed. "Not personally. But I saw him in the graveyard. He was the one who actually pulled a sword, and, well¡­ everyone tried to kill him for it."


    Jim whistled. "Well, if he made it out alive, he must be seriously skilled."


    Derek nodded. "Yeah. After all, he got chosen."


    Then, absentmindedly, Derek''s hand brushed against the broken sword at his belt.


    Bob clapped his shoulder. "Hey, don''t sell yourself short, man. Only five people got a sword, and you''re one of them. That''s a big deal!"


    Derek smirked. "Yeah, yeah. I''ll just tell people I chose a broken sword for aesthetic reasons."


    Jim grinned. "That actually sounds believable."


    Derek exhaled. "Honestly, I''m just glad I''m not attracting attention. Noone comes after me because of this."


    Marcus nodded. "Yeah, and fame attracts problems."


    Derek glanced at his sword. "Exactly."


    As the conversation continued, Anna silently observed from across the room.


    Her crimson eyes flickered toward Derek''s broken sword, an odd unsettled feeling creeping over her.


    It was nothing special¡ªjust a shattered blade with no aura, no power, no visible magic.


    And yet¡­ something about it bothered her.


    But she didn''t say anything.


    She didn''t even know why it felt off.


    So she kept quiet.


    That night, Derek slept uneasily.


    A dream took hold.


    He stood in a vast, endless field, swords stuck in the ground like graves. The sky above was golden, a soft glow covering the world.


    And in front of him¡­


    A man stood.


    Tall. Regal.


    A crown rested upon his head.


    His face was calm, smiling, knowing.


    He looked right at Derek.


    As if waiting for him to understand something.


    Derek stared, confused.


    Then¡ª


    He woke up.

 Chapter - 37 Black dragon slaying campaign

    As usual, the mansion was in utter chaos.


    Jim was trying to balance bottles on his head while drinking.


    Bob was counting his coins and recounting them just to be sure.


    Marcus was modifying his crossbow¡ªagain.


    Bam was doing¡­ Bam things.


    And Derek? Derek was trying to ignore them all and thinking about the weird dream he had last night.


    Then¡ª


    RUMBLE.


    The walls shook. The floors trembled.


    Bob froze mid-count. "Uh¡­ earthquake?"


    Jim, still balancing bottles, blinked. "Or maybe you finally angered the gods."


    Bam tilted his head. "Or. Something worse."


    A loud horn blast echoed outside.


    The group rushed to the windows.


    And what they saw shut them up instantly.


    An army.


    Marching toward their mansion was a fully armed battalion, banners waving, weapons gleaming under the sun.


    And at the front¡ª


    A knight in shining armor, standing beside someone they immediately recognized.


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    Karoth.


    The man who was rumored to have slain a dragon.


    And he was heading right for them.


    Bob turned to Jim. "Sooo¡­ should we be worried?"


    Jim gulped. "When an army shows up at your door, it''s safe to assume yes."


    Outside, the group reluctantly stepped forward as the knight commander¡ªa stern-looking man in full plate armor¡ªraised a hand to halt his troops.


    Karoth stepped forward, looking as confident as ever.


    "Ah! Mercenaries of Mayhem!" he greeted with a grin. "Just the ones I wanted to see!"


    Jim muttered, "That''s never a good thing."


    The knight commander spoke up. "We are mobilizing to hunt down a black dragon that has been rampaging through nearby territories. It has burned villages, destroyed farmland, and left nothing but ruin in its wake."


    Derek crossed his arms. "And what does that have to do with us?"


    Karoth clapped a hand on Derek''s shoulder. "Come now! You and I¡ªwe are the same!"


    Bob blinked. "Uh¡­ how?"


    Karoth grinned. "Because we are dragon slayers!"


    The group exchanged glances.


    Jim whispered, "Should we tell him?"


    Bob shook his head. "No¡­ I don''t think we should."


    Marcus nodded.


    As they were talking, Karoth''s gaze finally landed on Anna.


    He froze.


    His confident grin faltered.


    His eyes widened.


    The strong, fearless knight was suddenly¡­ smitten.


    "By the gods¡­" he whispered, staring at her.


    Anna raised an eyebrow. "What?"


    Karoth straightened up, brushing back his hair in a clearly practiced motion.


    "A lady of such¡­ radiance," he said dramatically, "to be standing among these ruffians. Unbelievable."


    Jim coughed to cover a laugh.


    Bob grinned. "Oh no."


    Marcus whispered, "This is getting good."


    Karoth took a step forward, placing a hand over his chest. "My lady, forgive my rudeness, but your beauty rivals even the goddesses of legend."


    Anna stared at him. "Are you flirting with me?"


    Karoth smirked. "I would never be so bold as to assume! And yet, how could a man not be enchanted by your grace?"


    Jim leaned toward Bob. "This is a dragon slayer, right?"


    Bob nodded.


    Derek simply sighed.


    Karoth, meanwhile, turned to glare at the group. "And you! How could you let such a delicate flower be among your rabble? Surely she deserves better company."


    Jim smirked. "Yeah, well, she likes being unbothered."


    Anna, completely unfazed, rolled her eyes. "Are we done here?"


    Karoth looked heartbroken. "Ah, a lady of few words! Mysterious! Enchanting!"


    Bob whispered to Jim. "This is going to be hilarious."


    Jim grinned. "Oh, absolutely."


    And so, while Karoth unknowingly flirted with an actual dragon, the Mercenaries of Mayhem held back their laughter, knowing this was only going to get worse.

 Chapter - 38 The blind spot of a dragon slayer

    Karoth, still starry-eyed over Anna, finally turned back to the group.


    "So! Will you join us in this glorious hunt?"


    Bob immediately shook his head. "Yeah, no. We just got back from the Sword Graveyard."


    Jim stretched. "And we are exhausted."


    Marcus nodded. "We barely survived that mess, and now you want us to go fight a raging black dragon? Hard pass."


    Karoth raised an eyebrow. "Ah, yes, the famed Sword Graveyard. I wanted to go but you know...dragon business. I heard only five warriors managed to claim a sword."


    Bob grinned, slapping Derek on the back. "That''s right! And guess what? Derek''s one of them!"


    Karoth''s eyes widened. "Truly?"


    Derek sighed. "It''s not that¡ª"


    But before he could finish, Karoth''s eyes landed on the sword at Derek''s belt.


    The broken sword.


    Silence.


    Karoth nodded approvingly. "Ah. A warrior of true conviction."


    Derek blinked. "¡­What?"


    Karoth placed a hand over his heart, eyes filled with admiration.


    "You, Sir Derek, are a knight of pure spirit. While others chase vain glory, you chose to wield a broken blade¡ªa symbol that strength is not in the weapon, but in the man who wields it."


    The group stared in disbelief.


    Bob grinned. "Oh, this is amazing."


    Jim had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing.


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    Marcus whispered, "Is¡­ is he serious?"


    Karoth continued, his expression serene. "A warrior who carries a shattered blade walks a path of discipline and honor. He could have chosen other swords. But didn''t. To wield nothing but a fragment of steel, yet still fight with all one''s might¡­ truly inspiring."


    Derek rubbed his temples. "That works too."


    Karoth ignored him. "And so, Sir Derek, I shall take my leave, knowing that warriors such as yourself uphold the virtues of chivalry. Rest well."


    Then, before departing, he turned to Anna, his expression softening.


    "My lady¡­" He pulled out a small scroll. "A poem. For you."


    Anna blinked. "¡­What?"


    Jim muttered, "Does he carry it all the time?"


    Karoth gently placed it in her hands, bowed dramatically, then marched off with his army.


    The moment they were out of sight¡ª


    The group exploded with laughter.


    Jim fell to his knees, wheezing. "Oh gods, I can''t¡ª!"


    Bob wiped away tears. "Derek, you''re a symbol of discipline and honor!"


    Marcus grinned. "A true knight! A man of pure spirit!"


    Derek sighed heavily. "I hate all of you."


    Anna stared at the poem in her hands, before tossing it into the fireplace.


    Jim smirked. "Not even gonna read it?"


    Anna shrugged. "Not my taste."


    Once the laughter finally died down, Jim turned to Anna.


    "Alright, Dragon Lady. You probably know something about this black dragon problem, right?"


    Anna leaned against the table. "Of course."


    Bob crossed his arms. "So? What''s the deal with black dragons?"


    Anna''s expression darkened slightly.


    "Even dragons have their own stories."


    The group listened intently as she continued.


    "Black dragons are usually¡­ outcasts. They are violent, cruel, and unlike most dragons, they do not care for reason or peace."


    Derek frowned. "So¡­ you''re saying we can''t talk to them?"


    Anna shook her head. "There is no use talking to a black dragon. They only destroy."


    Jim exhaled. "Great. A mindless murder machine. That''s exactly what the world needs."


    Bob scratched his head. "So, what, are they born evil?"


    Anna''s crimson eyes flickered. "Not born. But raised. Their kind has been cast out for so long, they only know one thing¡ªdestruction and hatred."


    Marcus nodded slowly. "So¡­ Karoth might actually be onto something."


    Jim groaned. "I hate when Karoth is right."


    Bob sighed. "Well, not our problem."


    Anna watched the flames crackle in the fireplace, her expression unreadable.


    Something about this felt off.


    Something about Derek''s broken sword, about this timing, about everything.


    But she couldn''t place why.


    So for now, she said nothing.


    That night, as Derek slept, the dream came again.


    He was standing in the vast, endless field of swords, the sky glowing a soft golden light.


    And in front of him¡ª


    The crowned man stood once more.


    Smiling.


    Watching him.


    Saying nothing.


    Derek took a step forward.


    The man''s smile widened.


    Then¡ª


    Derek woke up.

 Chapter - 39 Here we go again

    Many days had passed since the whole Karoth simping incident, and the Mercenaries of Mayhem had been doing absolutely nothing.


    Bob was relaxing.


    Jim was drinking.


    Marcus was tinkering.


    Bam was¡­ also doing nothing.


    Derek was training (because he was the only responsible one).


    Meanwhile, Anna spent all her time in the library, reading in peace while ignoring everyone''s existence.


    Then one day¡ª


    Bob checked their money stash and frowned.


    "¡­Uh. Guys."


    Jim, lounging on the couch, raised an eyebrow. "What?"


    Bob turned the empty coin pouch upside down. "We''re broke."


    Silence.


    Marcus blinked. "Huh. That happened fast."


    Jim sighed. "Man, we were living the dream. No work, no stress."


    Derek crossed his arms. "We have been sitting around doing nothing."


    Bob scratched his head. "Guess it''s time to find a job."


    The group went to the mercenary guild, hoping for a decent job¡ª


    Only to be personally summoned by Mayor Joff again.


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    The moment they stepped into his office, the mayor sighed heavily.


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this," Joff muttered, rubbing his temples, "but we need you again."


    Jim smirked. "Let me guess. Black dragon problems?"


    Joff nodded grimly. "Karoth and his army went to slay it. It''s not going well."


    Bob grinned, leaning back. "Ah. So it came back to us in the end."


    Joff narrowed his eyes. "You think this is funny?"


    Bob shrugged. "A little."


    Jim stretched. "So lemme guess¡ªyou want us to go help them?"


    Joff nodded. "We need mercenary reinforcements for the Black Dragon Campaign. Your group has a proven record of handling dragons."


    Marcus muttered, "That is extremely debatable."


    Bam sighed. "Well, money is money."


    Derek nodded. "We''ll prepare."


    Back at the mansion, the group packed their gear, readying themselves for battle.


    Meanwhile, Anna remained in the library, reading as if nothing concerned her.


    Bam, curious, peeked inside. "You''re really not coming?"


    Anna, not looking up from her book, tossed a small vial at him.


    Bam caught it, blinking. "What''s this?"


    Anna yawned. "My rent."


    Bam squinted at the glowing blue liquid. "What is it?"


    Anna smirked. "Mana potion. Accidentally made it."


    Silence.


    Bam stared. "Wait. This is a mana potion?"


    Anna nodded. "It enhances a mage''s power. Should make you less useless."


    Bam examined it carefully. "How¡­ strong is it?"


    Anna shrugged. "Who knows?"


    Bam''s eyes sparkled. "I love it."


    Without hesitation, he downed the entire potion.


    The moment he finished¡ª


    A wave of energy burst around him.


    The air shifted, his presence growing heavier.


    A faint glow surrounded him as raw magic pulsed from his body.


    The group stared.


    Jim blinked. "Uh¡­ Bam?"


    Bam, eyes gleaming with power, took a deep breath. "I feel¡­ incredible."


    Bob pointed. "The air literally changed."


    Marcus adjusted his goggles. "Your mana pressure just skyrocketed."


    Bam stretched his fingers. "So this is what a real mage feels like."


    Bob leaned in. "Wait. If Bam gets a free upgrade¡­ where''s ours?"


    Jim nodded. "Yeah, not fair."


    Marcus smirked. "Got anything for the rest of us?"


    Anna, deadpan, slowly got up¡ª


    And shut the library door in their faces.


    Jim blinked. "Well. That was rude."


    Bob knocked. "Come on! At least a stamina potion!"


    No response.


    Jim groaned. "Man, these days only Bam is getting stronger."


    Bam smirked, holding up his now-empty vial. "There are always exceptions."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem set off for the Black Dragon Campaign¡ªsomewhat prepared, slightly concerned, and already expecting disaster.

 Chapter - 40 Should we join the fray?

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem rode toward the Black Dragon Campaign''s main camp, the air growing heavier with every mile.


    When they arrived, they saw smoke rising in the distance¡ªand the sound of battle.


    The group moved to higher ground, where they could see everything.


    In the valley, Karoth''s army clashed with the Black Dragon.


    The dragon was massive, its jet-black scales gleaming like polished obsidian. Its crimson eyes burned with rage as it lashed out, its tail sweeping through soldiers, sending them flying like ragdolls.


    Karoth, wielding his massive dragon-slaying greatsword, led the charge, moving like a force of nature.


    His blade met the dragon''s claws, sparks flying.


    Arrows and magic attacks bombarded the beast, but its scales deflected most of them.


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    Mercenaries charged, but the dragon''s flames incinerated entire squads.


    Some warriors barely dodged as the dragon''s wings created shockwaves, knocking them down.


    The battlefield was chaotic.


    The dragon was injured¡ªbut not enough.


    Even as Karoth slashed its wing, it roared and retaliated, nearly crushing him beneath its massive claw.


    The other mercenaries who had joined the fight were clearly outmatched.


    The battlefield reeked of blood, smoke, and scorched earth.


    And up on the hill¡ª


    The Mercenaries of Mayhem watched.


    Bob squinted. "Sooo¡­ are we doing this?"


    Jim, arms crossed, exhaled. "I dunno, man. This looks like a lot of effort."


    Marcus, adjusting his goggles, nodded. "Yeah. That thing''s huge."


    Bam tapped his chin. "Objectively speaking¡­ this seems unwise."


    Derek, watching Karoth barely dodge a dragon swipe, sighed. "But we did take the job."


    Bob groaned. "Look, I was hoping the army would, you know¡­ handle it."


    Jim motioned toward the battlefield. "Well, clearly they aren''t."


    Marcus shrugged. "Maybe we should wait and¡ª"


    Just then¡ª


    The dragon unleashed a massive fire breath, melting armor and weapons, forcing Karoth''s army to scatter in panic.


    The group watched in silence.


    Then Bob clapped his hands together.


    "Welp. Guess it''s our turn."


    Jim groaned. "Dammit."


    And with that, the Mercenaries of Mayhem joined the fray.

 Chapter - 41 The group vs Black Dragon

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem charged into battle.


    Karoth, dodging the Black Dragon''s attacks, caught sight of them and grinned.


    "Ha! Reinforcements at last!" he shouted¡ªbefore narrowly avoiding a massive claw swipe.


    He had no time to say more¡ªthe dragon was relentless.


    But now, it had more opponents.


    Bam, still supercharged by Anna''s mysterious mana potion, raised his hands.


    The air around him crackled. His aura blazed, hotter than ever.


    He thrust his palms forward¡ªand a massive firestorm erupted.


    BOOM!


    The explosion rocked the battlefield¡ªforcing the Black Dragon to flinch for the first time.


    The beast snarled, shaking off the flames, its eyes locking onto Bam.


    "Uh-oh," Bam muttered.


    The dragon lunged at him.


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    Bob, seeing Bam in danger, charged in with his massive shield.


    CRASH!


    He blocked the dragon''s swipe¡ªbarely.


    The ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force.


    Bob gritted his teeth. "Hah! That''s all you g¡ª"


    Then the dragon swung its tail.


    Bob went flying.


    He crashed into a boulder, leaving a Bob-shaped dent before slumping to the ground.


    "¡­Ow."


    Jim cracked his knuckles. "Alright, scalebag¡ªlet''s see how you handle these."


    He leapt up and punched the dragon''s leg with his iron gauntlets.


    Nothing happened.


    He blinked.


    The dragon blinked.


    Jim slowly lowered his fist. "¡­Okay. That''s just rude."


    The dragon swatted at him, and Jim barely backflipped away in time.


    Marcus, standing at a safe distance, carefully adjusted his crossbow.


    With a click, he fired¡ª


    THWIP!


    The bolt struck the dragon''s eye.


    The Black Dragon howled in rage, shaking its head violently.


    "Oh ho! Bullseye!" Marcus cheered.


    As the dragon recoiled, Derek seized his chance.


    With a battle cry, he leapt into the air, raising his massive greatsword above his head.


    His muscles tensed.


    This was it.


    He swung with all his might¡ª


    CLANG!


    The sword shattered.


    Derek stared at his now broken blade.


    The dragon stared at him.


    The battlefield fell silent for a second.


    Jim, still dodging the dragon''s tail, glanced over. "Wait. Did your sword just break?"


    Bob, climbing out of the rock he crashed into, squinted. "Uh¡­ that''s not supposed to happen, right?"


    Bam, still glowing from his mana boost, sighed. "Derek, what the hell."


    Marcus adjusted his goggles. "On the bright side, at least it''s only the sword that broke."


    Derek just stood there, gripping the hilt of his now useless weapon, his eye twitching.


    The Black Dragon growled, recovering from the pain in its eye, and turned its attention back to the group.


    And now¡ªDerek was standing right in front of it.


    "¡­Ah," he muttered.


    The dragon''s claw came down.

 Chapter - 42 The awakening

    The Black Dragon''s claw descended toward Derek.


    But at the last moment¡ª


    BAM!


    Jim shoved Derek aside, taking the blow instead.


    The impact sent Jim flying, and he crashed hard onto the ground, coughing up blood.


    "Jim!" Derek rushed to him, panic flashing in his eyes.


    Jim, face twisted in pain, grinned weakly. "Ugh¡­ don''t just stand there, genius. Finish this damn thing already¡­"


    Derek gritted his teeth, then hoisted Jim up onto his back.


    With straining steps, he ran toward safety as Karoth taunted the dragon''s attention.


    The Black Dragon, furious and wounded, went on a rampage.


    Soldiers screamed as they were torn apart, crushed under its massive body or burned by its breath.


    Karoth, trying to rally his troops, leaped at the dragon¡ªonly for its tail to whip around and send him flying.


    He crashed into the dirt, coughing. "Damn it¡­!"


    The battle was turning into a massacre.


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    Derek set Jim down behind some cover, breathing heavily.


    His hands clenched into fists.


    This¡­ was bad.


    The dragon turned back to him¡ªlocking eyes.


    Its enormous body lurched forward, claws poised to end him.


    Derek''s mind screamed for him to move, but his body refused.


    Then¡ª


    He felt it.


    A faint hum.


    A pulse of energy¡ªnot from himself, but from¡­ his broken sword from Sword Graveyard.


    The shattered weapon hanging at his belt suddenly began to shine.


    A deep, resonant hum filled the battlefield.


    Then, with a burst of light and wind, the broken sword vanished¡ª


    ¡ªonly to reappear in Derek''s hands, transformed.


    A colossal greatsword, black as night, with its blade glowing faintly in dark blue aura.


    A sudden shockwave erupted, sending dust and debris flying.


    Everyone on the battlefield froze¡ªwatching in stunned silence.


    Even the Black Dragon hesitated, its reptilian eyes narrowing at the weapon.


    Derek stared at it in disbelief.


    The sword felt¡­ right.


    Like it had always been meant for him.


    He gripped it tightly.


    And moved.


    The dragon, sensing danger, lunged.


    Derek, now faster than ever, charged forward to meet it.


    Both struck at the same time.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion of force shook the battlefield.


    Derek and the dragon were both blasted away¡ªcrashing into the ground with earth-shattering impact.


    A deep gash now marred the dragon''s scales, dark blood dripping onto the dirt.


    It snarled, backing away.


    Derek, body aching, rose to his feet, gripping his new weapon.


    The dragon, realizing its injuries were too severe, spread its wings¡ª


    And took to the sky.


    Derek roared, swinging his sword again, sending a crescent wave of dark blue energy after it.


    The attack clipped the dragon''s wing, making it stagger in the air¡ªbut it still managed to escape.


    As it vanished into the clouds, silence fell over the battlefield.


    Then¡ª


    The soldiers erupted into cheers.


    "WE WON!"


    "THE BLACK DRAGON RETREATS!"


    Derek, still catching his breath, looked down at his sword¡ªfeeling its power pulsating in his hands.


    He had no idea what he had just awakened.

 Chapter - 43 Aftermath of the battle

    Jim''s eyelids fluttered open.


    A white tent ceiling greeted him, the scent of herbs and blood filling the air.


    His body ached like hell.


    "Ugh¡­" He groaned, shifting slightly¡ªonly for a sharp pain to stab through his ribs.


    "Oh, good. You''re alive."


    Jim turned his head, squinting.


    Bob stood beside his bed, casually eating bread.


    "¡­Did you just come here to eat?" Jim grumbled.


    Bob shrugged, taking another bite. "I was hungry."


    "Also," Marcus added from the side, polishing his crossbow, "we were debating whether we should divide your stuff."


    Jim''s eye twitched. "You¡ª"


    "Don''t worry," Bam cut in. "I voted to wait until we confirmed you were actually dead."


    Jim let out a long, suffering sigh. "Wow. Such great friends."


    Bob patted his shoulder¡ªright on his injury.


    Jim yelped.


    "Well," Bob grinned, "at least you''re talking. That means you''ll live."


    Jim glared.


    Outside the medical tent, remnants of battle still remained.


    The land was scorched in places, some areas still smoldering. The army was tending to wounded soldiers, but the atmosphere had shifted.


    They had won.


    The Black Dragon had been forced to retreat.


    And one name was now being whispered across the camp.


    Derek.


    The mercenary swordsman.


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    The man who wielded the mysterious greatsword.


    Derek, the one who had faced the dragon head-on and survived.


    Soldiers stole glances at him, some even bowing slightly when passing.


    It was¡­ honestly uncomfortable for him.


    As the group sat outside the tent, Karoth approached¡ªthis time, alongside a commanding knight.


    Both men stood tall, their armor still dented and scorched from battle.


    Karoth crossed his arms, looking at the group.


    "The Black Dragon has been driven away," the knight commander said. "It likely won''t return for a while."


    "Meaning our mission is done." Karoth nodded. "We''ll be returning to the capital to report our success."


    Then¡ªboth of them bowed deeply.


    "Thank you."


    The group blinked.


    Bob scratched his head. "Uh¡­ yeah. You''re welcome?"


    Karoth then turned to Derek.


    "As I thought." he said firmly. "A sword from Sword Graveyard is not ordinary after all. I hope you wield it with honor."


    Derek didn''t respond. He just looked down at the sword resting beside him.


    Karoth gave him one last nod before turning away.


    And with that, the army marched back toward the capital.


    The group watched them leave.


    Then they turned to Derek.


    Derek sat in silence, the mysterious greatsword resting across his lap.


    It still felt unreal.


    Bob sat down beside him, eyes shining. "Derek, that sword is insane!"


    Marcus leaned in, examining the blade. "Yeah¡­ speaking of which, what exactly is this sword?"


    Bam crossed his arms. "I mean, it''s obviously special. You saw what it did in battle."


    Derek stared at it.


    It was a massive, black greatsword.


    Derek ran his fingers along the dark blade. Unlike a normal sword, it seemed to shimmer faintly, a dark blue aura pulsating along its edges.


    The most unsettling part?


    It was covered in some kind of ancient runes and letters¡ªthe kind no one in the group could recognize.


    When he held it¡­ he could feel something.


    It felt alive.


    "¡­I don''t know," Derek finally admitted. "I don''t know what it is."


    The group blinked.


    Bob frowned. "You pulled it from the Sword Graveyard and you don''t even know what it is?"


    Derek exhaled. "It was just a broken sword."


    Jim scoffed. "Well, it''s definitely not broken anymore."


    Bam tapped his chin. "Maybe it''s cursed?"


    Marcus''s eyes lit up. "Or maybe it''s a legendary weapon!"


    Bob gasped. "Oh! Oh! What if it''s a sword that contains the soul of a fallen hero?!"


    Jim rolled his eyes. "Yeah, or maybe it''s just a sword."


    The group fell into silence, all staring at the mysterious blade.


    Derek tightened his grip on it.


    It had chosen him.


    Why?


    And why did it feel like this was only the beginning?


    He didn''t know.


    But he intended to find out.


    With the mission done, the group prepared to head home.


    Which would have been easy.


    Except¡­


    "I CAN WALK!" Jim roared.


    "Shut up," Bob grunted, adjusting Jim''s position over his shoulder.


    Jim flailed. "PUT ME DOWN, YOU LUG! I''M NOT A SACK OF POTATOES!"


    "You''re injured," Derek said, walking ahead.


    Marcus snickered. "Besides, you''re lighter than I expected, Jim."


    Bob nodded. "Yeah, you barely weigh anything. Maybe you should eat more."


    Jim twitched. "Oh, you wanna talk weight, Bob?! You eat like a COW!"


    "Cows are healthy," Bob said seriously.


    Jim screamed internally.


    And so, with Derek holding a legendary sword (probably), the group laughing, and Jim being forcibly carried, they began their journey back home.

 Chapter - 44 A sword feared by a dragon

    The Mercenaries of Mayhem were finally home.


    Jim was sprawled out in one of the mansion''s many rooms, still recovering from his injuries. He had a bottle of strong liquor beside him, despite everyone telling him he should be drinking water.


    Bob, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear, already counting the money they had earned from the job.


    Meanwhile, Derek had one thing on his mind.


    He needed to show the sword to Anna.


    In the mansion library, Anna sat with her usual stack of books, flipping through a tome while sipping tea.


    Derek entered, holding his new sword in his hand.


    Anna barely glanced up. "Oh, it''s you."


    Derek nodded. "I need you to take a look at this."


    He set the greatsword down on the table in front of her.


    The moment he did¡ªAnna froze.


    Her crimson eyes narrowed, and for the first time since meeting her, Derek saw something in her expression that wasn''t boredom or amusement.


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    It was wariness.


    "¡­What is this?" Anna murmured, staring at the runes.


    "You tell me," Derek said. "This is the broken sword from Sword Graveyard."


    Anna''s normally confident smirk was gone. She reached out, but the moment her fingers hovered near the hilt, she flinched.


    Derek stared.


    Anna¡ªthe Red Dragon¡ªwas hesitant to touch it.


    "Are you sure?" she asked.


    Derek crossed his arms. "It was broken at first. Then, during the battle with the Black Dragon, it¡­ transformed."


    Anna frowned deeper.


    "¡­I don''t know what this is," she admitted. "But I don''t like it."


    Derek blinked. "You? Not knowing something?"


    She glared at him. "Shut up. I read books, not forbidden artifacts."


    She leaned back, eyes still locked on the sword.


    "It''s ancient," she said. "The runes¡­ they don''t match anything I''ve seen before. But something about it is¡­"


    She tapped her fingers on the table.


    "¡­Threatening."


    Derek frowned. "Threatening?"


    Anna nodded. "To me."


    Derek stared at her.


    Anna¡ªa Red Dragon¡ªwas saying she felt threatened by his sword.


    That wasn''t normal.


    But Anna shook her head. "Whatever it is, I can''t help you. Figure it out yourself."


    Derek sighed. "Of course."


    He spent the next few days training.


    At first, he was curious if the sword would glow again. If its strange aura would return.


    But¡ªnothing.


    It swung like a normal greatsword now. No glow, no power, just a well-balanced blade.


    It didn''t make sense.


    He had felt it awaken in battle. It had unleashed something. But now? Silent.


    That night, as Derek slept, he found himself standing in a vast, empty space.


    Unlike before, there was nothing but white mist around him.


    Then¡ªfootsteps.


    A familiar man walked forward.


    He wore a crown. His eyes gleamed with wisdom, and he carried an aura of royalty.


    He smiled.


    "Finally," the man said, his voice calm yet powerful. "You have awakened the sword."


    Derek stared.


    "¡­Who are you?"