ã€ŠStray Beast Master [GAMELIT ADVENTURE]ã€‹


 One - An Apple A Day

    ¡°Mind your step, boys and girls. Get bit by a [Vorpal Gopher] before you start and you won¡¯t make a copper.¡± The orchard master¡¯s voice rang out as the sun rose and the heavy steel doors of the Rolling Fortress swung open. Made to protect the classless from normal monsters during the night, it was only the last layer of defense.

    Kaden Birch stepped out, awed by the Adventurers on either side. A [Ranger], dressed in a cloak that constantly shifted to match the trees behind her, with a [Fire-Hawk] perched on her shoulder, a [Warrior], his sword still bloody and his leather armor torn. The [Mage] was neither man nor woman, but a floating form of otherworldly mana who radiated dread as Kaden stuck close to the doors of the Fortress.

    He¡¯d heard the Adventurers fighting last night, keeping the orphans safe for this dawn venture. Early enough that the Vorpal Gophers would still be drowsy, not late enough for more deadly wildlife to come foraging, like a [Bearzerker].

    Across the orchard, the first rays of sun light up [Glass Apples,] the fruit which could house more powerful potions. But the best apples would be those that still held last night¡¯s moonlight, a soft glow visible if one looked just right.

    Kaden picked up an apple-pack, a pouch padded with magic that would keep them from getting crushed, and took a deep breath of cold morning air. At seventeen, this would be the last year the Saint¡¯s Hall allowed him to take such easy work. After today, it would be the mines and their monsters, or working commerce caravans through Fangwood until he could afford to buy an apprenticeship.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± his room-sister, Trella asked. ¡°You¡¯ll be careful? Don¡¯t go too far from the wagon?¡±

    He nodded. It was safer that way. But safety wouldn¡¯t earn him coppers or the chance to buy a [Skill]. ¡°If anything goes wrong, hide in the fortress.¡±

    The way Trella tapped on his hand reminded Kaden of his mother, a [Rogue] who had been capable of communicating silently. Kaden barely remembered the patterns she tapped out.

    The orchard master blew on a low horn. ¡°All clear, move out and good harvesting to you. Remember, if you see anything¡ª¡±

    ¡°Run. Scream. Keep Running,¡± the orphans chanted back as one.

    They started moving out, some of them, fanning out under the trees, and there, the first shout of luck that said someone had already found a ripe glass apple. The ones who remained with Kaden had either decided not to risk it, or, like him, wanted to gamble on a hint.

    The boy ahead of Kaden drew a copper coin from his pocket and tossed it to the warrior. ¡°Where was the brightest glow?¡±

    The brightest glow would be where the best apples were.

    Kaden listened, wishing he¡¯d learned [Whispers of the Forest] from his father, a [Ranger]. Whatever the warrior said was either too soft for normal ears, or the warrior used a Skill to keep it quiet.

    Kaden¡¯s hands strayed to his pocket, and the whittling knife there, the leaf token he¡¯d carved the way his father taught. He fished it out edged closer and closer the the Ranger, offering it. It was never good to presume with Adventurers.

    She drew back her hood, her mouth pressed in a thin line like a dagger¡¯s edge, and accepted the carving. Then the lightest tap on his mind shocked Kaden.

    Virgil and Trema¡¯s boy, right?

    He nodded, not capable of answering this way.

    She leaned over, acting as though she whispered, though her words didn¡¯t come from lips. You want to know where to hunt? Anywhere but here. We found a dead [Bearzerker] this morning, torn up as something else¡¯s snack. Don¡¯t know why they send the unclassed out here. You watch, there¡¯ll be six dead before ninth bell, and if they don¡¯t call an evacuation, I¡¯ll give you a point of [Advanced Tracking.]

    The warning stuck a knife of fear in Kaden¡¯s gut. Adventurers earned almost every point of skill with sweat and blood. There were academies, of course, where people with money learned from those who had mastered skills. Master enough skills, and the [System] recognized the effort with a [Class].

    Most of the orphans here weren¡¯t friends. There was no such thing as friendship in Saint¡¯s Hall. The strong took from the weak, the teachers not only allowed it, but commended it.

    But six dead?

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kaden said.

    He wouldn¡¯t go far. But he couldn¡¯t afford to skip the chance. Two apples would secure him food for the month. Three might be enough to bribe a retired [Ranger] to share a skill point. [Eagle Eyes,] [Sting of the Scorpion], [Wolf¡¯s Determination], any of those would be enough to let him make a living while he mastered more skills.

    But for now, he kept his Apple-Pack close, the Fortress in sight, and moved out, listening for the gnawing of vorpal gophers¡ªand worse.

    ***

    Three hours since sunrise, three hours to go, and a single apple in his pack, Kaden swung by the Fortress for a [Preserved Biscuit]. Over a hundred years ago, a mighty siege had driven cooks to invent and create thousands of them. Flavorless, tasteless, both dry and mushy at the same time, the pucks could be dipped in water, kicked through a fire, swallowed down then puked up and they¡¯d still be the same.

    Rumor had it the Saint¡¯s Hall bought every last biscuit when the siege ended. That they fed the orphans biscuits was not rumor, but fact.

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    Trella held up three fingers hopefully as she handed him a biscuit.

    Kaden shook his head and held up two, afraid to tell her the truth. He¡¯d make it true before noon and the retreat horn. And this time, he set off deeper into the orchard, though he felt the eyes of the Ranger upon him as he left the camp behind.

    Trees with smashed or fallen apples wouldn¡¯t hold ripe fruit, and Kaden didn¡¯t stand a chance in a fight against any orphan with a Skill. He needed an area of the orchard where he was alone. Further and further, he crept, until the cries of the others fell behind him. Until the sounds of the [Dagger-Hornets] hunting among the trees drowned out the shouts of triumph.

    Listen to the woods. They¡¯ll tell you what to watch for, if you¡¯ll listen, his Father said in memory. [Whispers of the Forest] would have let him do it, but no matter how Kaden listened, he didn¡¯t hear the forest voice.

    No.

    He felt the slightest tremor. The tree he crouched beneath shook slightly, and the apples in it tinkled as they swayed. Kaden held his breath until his chest burned, but the dagger-wasps resumed their hunt. He didn¡¯t fear them, even though the wasps were each as long as his hand. The nests would be marked with flashing red warning crystals, and here in the orchard, there was always prey, the maggots who fed on apples.

    A few dozen trees over, something caught Kaden¡¯s eye. He crept as quietly as he could to the ancient apple tree. The bark was gnarled and rotten, the branches mostly broken. This year, the [Gardeners] would rip it out and plant a new one.

    But there, on a single healthy branch near the top, a Glass Apple hung, shining with golden light, not silver. A [Sun Apple], the legendary healing fruit. A thousand Glass Apples wouldn¡¯t be worth a single [Sun Apple], filled with light mana.

    The shout of triumph died in Kaden¡¯s lips as the ground shook once more.

    He was too close to run. Too perfect a chance.

    We must all find a place in the [System], his father had said. No place is without risk.

    Like, both parents dying in the depths of a dungeon.

    Like, living on the streets when Winter¡¯s icy grip closed in.

    Kaden began to climb, finding empty knot holes and testing each branch before putting his weight on it. Soon, he sat atop the rotten apple tree. With shaking fingers, he plucked the sun apple and tucked it away.

    A hawk¡¯s cry drew his attention. There, high above the orchard, the Ranger¡¯s hawk came soaring back. With every breath, she screamed out her cry, and it woke something deep in his chest.

    *Danger*, it said.

    Kaden swung his apple-catcher back into place¡ªand froze. The ground under his apple tree bubbled and hissed. A vorpal gopher. The creature erupted through the soil, electricity arcing off its teeth and claws.

    It hissed, a long strangled cry, and scrabbled at the apple tree.

    Run? Scream? Keep running? All of those applied if Kaden wasn¡¯t up an apple tree.

    The creature began to claw into the trunk, tearing loose rotten wood.

    Vorpal Gophers fed on Dagger-wasps who landed on the ground to check fallen apples for maggots. They struck from below ground, phasing through the soil to grab wasps. But they¡¯d take any meat. Including Kaden.

    The tree began to shake and lean, and Kaden scrambled to one side to counterbalance it.

    The ground under the tree once more began to boil. Dozens of vorpal gophers exploded up. But these weren¡¯t focused on Kaden, they swarmed away, dispersing through the trees, heading toward camp.

    Trella! Kaden had to warn her. He swung down, getting ready to drop, when the Hawk¡¯s scream directly over made him freeze.

    *Hide*, it seemed to cry.

    He clung to the tree, holding his breath. And the ground shook. Not once. Not twice, but in a steady beat like a heart.

    Three long blasts blew on a horn, followed by two. Emergency Evacuation, it said.

    ¡°Help!¡± Someone screamed from across the orchard, just a few hundred yards away.

    Kaden knew the voice. It was Brom, a boy a year younger than him, but with two skills already, and one short of his [Thief] class. The Gods only knew how many times Brom had used [Unseen Blow] to land a sucker punch on Kaden when meals were distributed.

    But the terror in his voice left Kaden breathless.

    A dozen trees away, someone sprinted through the trees. Brom threw his Apple-Pack over his shoulder, and as it hit the ground, a grey form burst up, throwing dirt, boulders and trees.

    Brom sailed up in the air¡ªand down into the cavernous maw of a gray centipede. Its fore-jaws were like two set of shovels which forced the soil away, and hind jaws like ring upon ring of jagged teeth circled.

    Kaden looked away until the screaming stopped, which took far too long.

    *[Corpse-Tunneler]* the eagle cried again, diving at the beast and striking at what could possibly be eyes. Spines shot out of the corpse-tunneler¡¯s skin, and the eagle spun to narrowly avoid them.

    Kaden almost didn¡¯t notice as the apple tree beneath him gave up and splintered, crashing to the ground. He leaped off as it hit the ground and sprinted away, grabbing branches and using them to leap further. If the beast sensed tremors, every step without them would help.

    Behind him, an apple tree snapped and branches rained down as the Corpse Tunneler devoured an entire apple tree.

    *Here*, the Ranger called, a moment of movement making her stand out. *Get to the Rolling Fortress.*

    The giant steel box, with its iron chains and wheels for the draft horses to pull, had one door already shut. Trema sprinted for the open door¡ªthen stuttered. She disappeared, and reappeared inside the box.

    [Shadow Walk!] Kaden knew the rogue skill well. But without it, he could only curse as the priests from Saint¡¯s Hall pulled the other door shut, locking him out.

    The [Warrior] stood by the sealed doors. His leather armor was still torn, but the tears leaked blood, as though he were already cut. ¡°If you wanted a front row seat, you should have said so. Up you go, lad.¡± The warrior grabbed Kaden by the front of his tunic and threw him through the air.

    Kaden landed on the Fortress roof, hitting his head so hard the world spun.

    Below him, voices cried out in fear inside the box. Around him, the adventurers shouted franticly, calling the names of their skills for the [System Bonus] it provided.

    As he struggled to make the world make sense, the mage let loose a cry of agony and sorrow.

    Something fluttered to the roof of the strong box, landing right beside Kaden.

    The Fire-Hawk.

    A gray spine stuck out of its back, and the golden feathers of its breast slowly turned red.

    Kaden cradled it close, unsure if he should pull it out or leave it. The warrior was shouting now, calling out battle orders. But Kaden was listening to the hawk.

    *Please*.

    The hawk¡¯s eye focused on him.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± Kaden said.

    In the depths of the Hawk¡¯s eye, an image formed. The Sun Apple.

    *Please.*

    The Sun Apple wasn¡¯t just money. It was safety for Kaden. Opportunity. But as he looked at the hawk, each breath coming slower than the last, Kaden knew what he had to do. He opened the keeper and drew out the apple, holding it to the hawk¡¯s beak. Did hawks eat apples?

    The hawk¡¯s beak pierced the skin of the apple, and golden light poured out, snapping the spine in half and pushing it out of the hawk¡¯s chest.

    It rose, hopping onto both feet, and spread its wings wide as it bowed, then it flew down to land on the shoulder of the Ranger. The Rolling Fortress shook and rattled as the enchantments on it came to life, dragging it away from the orchards.

    ¡°This orchard is closed,¡± The [Ranger] shouted. Her voice quavered. ¡°No more harvests this year.¡±

    There was no sign of the [Mage], but laying on the ground was the severed head of the [Corpse-Tunner]. And beside it, the destroyed body of the [Warrior].

    Kaden clutched his apple-keeper close. No more harvests. Not enough apples. It was a long roll back to the city, and every moment he spent wondering how to survive.

 One - Pack Light [Start of Volume 2]

    Kaden Birch couldn¡¯t be happier to be heading into danger. Once a classless orphan in the Saint¡¯s Hall, he and his Room-Sister Trella had dreamed of simple things. Obtaining a Class in the System. Being warm. Having food.

    Beside him, a small grey dog ran, with thin, long legs, floppy ears and curly fur that dripped with rain. Vip, the [Lighting Chevalier] had been his first Beast.

    With a stutter and a trail of darkness, a shape appeared twenty feet forward. [Shadow Step], used by Trella, a [Shadow Blade]. Once, Kaden had thought he might be a [Rogue] but the System had other plans.

    *Beautiful Fast!* Vip sent using [Beast Speech].

    Kaden didn¡¯t disagree. Since obtaining the Beast Master class, he understood so much more nuance. Like for instance, how ¡®Fast¡¯ meant so many different things to Vip. It was ¡®good¡¯ and ¡®lively¡¯ and ¡®powerful¡¯ and¡­well, not ¡®Beautiful.¡¯ Vip wasn¡¯t wrong, though.

    ¡°Where is your mind?¡± Trella whispered¡ªfrom right beside him.

    He didn¡¯t startle. Much. ¡°Why are you wasting mana on skills like [Shadow Walk]? And are you trying to give me a heart attack?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not trying, it comes easily. And for a skill like [Shadow Walk], it¡¯s not a waste. I use it on every cooldown, and my mana skills I use as it regenerates. Any cycle where I¡¯m not regenerating mana is a wasted cycle,¡± Trella said, putting an arm around him.

    Vip leapt up¡ªand through the shadowy figure Kaden had thought was Trella. Then turned around, spotted her and came sprinting back to leap up so Trella could catch her. *Love!* Vip crackled with electricity as part of her [Lightning Cavalier] class, but if it bothered Trella, she didn¡¯t show it.

    Trella caught Vip, set her down and let the dog race back to the other two members of the party. Sara Scylla, Party Leader and [Summoner], walked alongside their healer, an unpleasant woman named Evelyn Black.

    ¡°I think our healer is always in this foul mood,¡± Trella said. ¡°She¡¯s for sure a noble¡¯s daughter, and you could reach level two on Minor Mend by kicking a Priest down the stairs and healing him.¡±

    ¡°Everyone starts somewhere. I ran around barely sensing emotions with [Beast Empathy] forever.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t comment on the noble part.

    Evelyn might prove to be a decent healer, if not a pleasant person.

    ¡°You looking forward to destroying some [Vorpal Gophers]?¡± Trella asked. Well, it might have been Trella. It could also have been her Deception, a shadowy afterimage that remained behind when she used [Shadow Walk.]

    ¡°Mr. Treadle says they¡¯ll all be asleep. The Dagger Wasp hives are dead, so there¡¯s nothing for the gophers to eat.¡± This time would be different. There would be no [Corpse Tunneler] and if there were [Vorpal Gophers], Vip would quickly teach them who the predator was.

    White snow covered the landscape in a thin layer, but the road that lead to the Royal Orchard carried an enchantment that left it visible, all the way to the gates of the orchard.

    ¡°Hold up,¡± Sara called. Her Horrors reached out to snag Kaden by the shoulder. Each was a green pseudopod the color of a fresh pea. Diamond shaped scales covered them, and the pseudopods had no spine or bones, swelling or shriveling in undulating waves. But neither used their most fearsome skill.

    ¡°This is our first Party mission, and all we have to do to get our first star is not die and report back to the Guild. But it¡¯s also a chance to practice now what we¡¯ll do for real.¡± Sara glanced to Evelyn. ¡°She¡¯s in back, we protect the Healer at all costs. Kaden, you¡¯re our fake [Shield]. I¡¯ll be the bruiser with my Horrors. Unless whatever it is is small, recall Vip.¡±

    Kaden gave her a nod. He¡¯d heard over and over how, as a permanent summons, Vip wouldn¡¯t be gone if she were killed, but the dog trusted him, and he wasn¡¯t about to use her as bait. He checked his notices.

    Your group has grown by [3]. Leader of the Pack is more efficient. Bonus: 2%.

    ¡°Titles are working,¡± he said. ¡°Wounds will heal sooner, apparently.¡±

    ¡°And what¡¯s my role?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°Scout, stay clear of the battle. You¡¯re several levels ahead of all of us, and way ahead on skills. So, when we enter the orchard, you do a scout run, we follow your lead.¡± Sara¡¯s tone didn¡¯t allow any disagreement.

    Trella¡¯s quick taps on his hand said otherwise. I¡¯m a Shadow Blade. I¡¯m made to battle.

    You¡¯re fierce, for sure. He tapped back. The memories grew clearer the longer he used that method of talking. It wasn¡¯t a Skill recognized by the System, but one he¡¯d learned from his mom.

    Trella tucked away her unruly brown hair and wrapped her cloak tighter. Then she was gone, only a shadowy remnant who studied Kaden, looking up and down before fading away.

    The winter wind whistled through apple trees, though no leaves rustled.

    Beside Kaden, Sara watched, almost whispering. ¡°Be careful. Be quick. It¡¯s just a scouting run.¡±

    ¡°Varun will protect us,¡± Evelyn said. ¡°And even if she doesn¡¯t, her healing power will flow.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t certain who she was convincing.

    Then Vip¡¯s ears flattened back and she let out a low growl. *Bads* *Fear*.

    He echoed her feelings to the others¡ªthen reached out with [Beast Empathy]. Before he received his Beast Master class, Beast Empathy had functioned to tell him what beasts he could see felt. Now, he recognized it as a short range detection tool. *Hungry*

    And with the feeling came a burst as [Beast Knowledge] kicked. Kaden shouted, ¡°Get out of there! There¡¯s an [Ice Wolf] stalking you!¡±

    Trella stuttered into existence fifty yards away, a black dagger in her hand. A blur of white leaped at her, but she sidestepped, swiping at it.

    Bright swirls of red hit the ground as the Ice Wolf snarled in pain and stumbled. But from all around the orchard, patches of snow began to move. Kaden remembered too late Professor Treadle¡¯s warnings. That Ice Wolves were solitary in the summer.

    And in winter, they banded together in packs.

    [Ice Wolf]

    Level: 14

    HP: 160

    Mana: 20

    Skills: Frost Armor, Frost Bite

    These creatures are not true wolves, though they are Beasts animated by the Ice Mana concentrated by storms on the mountains. They move as one, attacking at the direction of their Alpha.

    ¡°Pack attacks,¡± Kaden called out. ¡°And one of them will be an Alpha.¡±

    Sara whistled, long and hard, and waved to Trella¡ªwho [Shadow Stepped] again, stumbling into Kaden.

    ¡°Mana cost for doing that before the cooldown is terrible,¡± Trella said. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fun. I¡¯m regenerating at an increased rate.¡±

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    Between Kaden¡¯s Guardian of Life title and Sara¡¯s Herald of Life, regenerating mana wouldn¡¯t be the problem, but as the pack turned and bounded toward them, Kaden summoned a mana-dart. The azure orb of energy coalesced on his palm, and he smashed it on Trella¡¯s back.

    Then unslung his war hammer. At a thought, the needful cloak became stiff and heavy, the perfect armor for taking a bite, and it turned white and mottled black. ¡°Vip!¡± he recalled his Lightning Cavalier, ignoring her disappointment. The size of the fight in his dog did not match up to this fight. ¡°Some other fight,¡± he said. ¡°Step right up, bad dogs. Who wants a hammer to the skull?¡±

    The answer? All of them.

    The Ice Wolves didn¡¯t line up and attack one or two at a time. The pack came down like a waterfall. Kaden relied on [Fortress of Stone] for protection. His Rock Gobbler was native to deserts, and while he could survive in the cold, the poor thing would be miserable, sluggish¡ªand Kaden couldn¡¯t borrow skills that way. Instead he held the Rock Gobbler in his Soul-space and focused on the first wolf, bringing down the war hammer.

    [Brutal Blows] has inflicted a crippling injury.

    Your skill with [Brutal Blows] has increased.

    The lead wolf hit the ground and thrashed, its hind legs not functioning, but two more followed, one from each side, and another leaping straight at Kaden¡¯s throat. Time to take the offensive. He knocked one aside with the hammer, let another latch on to his left arm, and head butted the next wolf to leap.

    Beside him, Sara¡¯s Horrors revealed their true nature, as the ends unsealed to reveal gaping maws with four-lipped jaws and a rasping tongue covered in hooks. They split up, tearing into the wolf Kaden knocked aside and the one he head butted.

    The one on his arm ground his teeth, thrashing, but [Fortress of Stone] dulled damage, pain, everything. Including the pain from a wolf that had snuck in and bitten him on the thigh. Wolves were big dogs, and big dogs deserved big pets with war hammers, so he petted the wolf on the head repeatedly until its skull caved in, then turned his attention¡ªto the dead wolf dropping off his arm.

    Trella withdrew her dagger, and as she did, the black cloaking it retracted. A shadow covered her sword. She smiled at him, wiping blood from her mouth, then her eyes went wide. ¡°Shit!¡±

    She disappeared, and a pair of wolves leaped through the shadowy figure that remained behind. It didn¡¯t block them, but did impede their movement, so one fell on top of the other, and Kaden wasted no time, delivering a hammer to the back of the top one, a kick that didn¡¯t really damage as much as disorient the bottom, and again to the bottom.

    Your HP is low. You require healing. (22/118)

    Oh, all the red on the ground must have been his blood. ¡°I need a healer!¡±

    ¡°Kind of busy!¡± Evelyn called back.

    Blood gushed from a wound on Sarah¡¯s Neck, while her Horrors tore a wolf to pieces.

    ¡°Fall back into the trees,¡± Sara called weakly. ¡°Use them for cover so the pack can¡¯t swarm us.¡±

    Kaden was already moving. He hadn¡¯t killed the bottom wolf, but the top was walking on three legs, and not chasing.

    *Disgust* The feeling came with an appraisal, but Kaden couldn¡¯t say if it was for the party who bled all over the snow or the wolves who lay crippled everywhere. ¡°The Alpha is still out there. Eyes open.¡± Kaden drew a healing salve from his inventory and squeezed it¡­everywhere. Salves were slower than potions or Mana based healing, but Evelyn seemed to be overwhelmed by Sara¡¯s injuries.

    Injuries he¡¯d worry about when there weren¡¯t half a pack of wolves still threatening. Kaden drew a Cleanse Status salve out and tossed it toward Sara. ¡°You probably have Bleed stacked, and it¡¯s outpacing the healing.¡±

    ¡°I count five,¡± Trella said, her voice a whisper. ¡°And I think the Alpha is to our left, near the edge of the orchard¡±

    The other five wolves took turns probing forward, then darting back. That was fine with Kaden, it gave the salve time to work, restoring HP with every breath. He summoned a mana dart and handed it to Trella, and another. ¡°How much mana do you need to do the Deception skill?¡±

    ¡°I was fine the first time. The second time cost most of my mana. Let¡¯s just say until the cooldown hits it¡¯s out of the question. But I do have another option. Be ready to attack.¡± Trella focused for a moment¡ªand her shadow rose up off the ground, striding forward.

    This time, the wolves ignored it¡ªuntil it swung a shadowy blade, slicing the nearest¡¯s nose.

    The cut wolf snarled and dashed forward.

    Straight into a hammer blow.

    You have stunned an opponent.

    [Brutal Blows] has inflicted a minor crippling wound.

    But Trella didn¡¯t follow up, instead flinging a dagger at another wolf that had tried to flank them. It yelped and leaped back. ¡°That¡¯s poisoned, but it¡¯s going to need time.¡±

    ¡°Time¡¯s run out. For them.¡± Sara had recovered, and stood with a pair of short swords in her hand, and the Horrors at ready.

    ¡°Alpha was to your left, I can¡¯t tell now,¡± Trella said, accepting another [Mana-Dart] from Kaden.

    Kaden took a risk, sensing with Beast Empathy. Nothing. So he switched to [Beast Speech]. ¡°You don¡¯t have to die here. Take your wolves and go. Stay and fight and we¡¯ll kill them all.¡±

    Evelyn huffed. ¡°Seriously, is something wrong with him? He talks¡ª¡±

    A mass of white fur with blazing red eyes snarled, and leaped from an apple tree, right at Kaden.

    [Ice Wolf Alpha]

    This ice wolf has seen seasons come and go, and drank deep of the mana that storms provide. Age has brought intelligence and pride. This one is enraged that you dared try and order it. There will be an end, for it will not suffer you to live.

    HP: 300/300

    Mana: 150

    Skills: Frost Armor, Frost Breath, Frozen Bite

    Kaden blocked with his war hammer and twisted to roll to the side so he wouldn¡¯t throw the Alpha onto Evelyn, then rose and faced off. ¡°I can¡¯t handle the small ones and the big one at the same time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got the small ones,¡± Sara and Trella spoke at the same time.

    The Ice Wolf Alpha snarled, and Beast Speech activated. *Spread out. Attack from everywhere.*

    If Sara and Trella needed that translated, something was wrong. But as he took another burning breath, warm energy flowed into him in a small burst. Five HP. And another five, a few seconds later. And again. Evelyn stood behind him, repeating [Minor Mend].

    Wolves were smart, according to Professor Treadle. They often avoided battles they couldn¡¯t win, and Kaden¡¯s goal was to make this unwinnable. He didn¡¯t wait, charging for the Alpha, which stood still, surprised, for a brief moment, then lunged backwards.

    With no better options, Kaden summoned Rocky.

    The Rock Gobbler dropped into the snow, letting loose a squeal that could be loosely translated as Being-a-desert-creature-dropped-unasked-into-a-battle-in-an-area-made-of-ice-and-snow-but-being-too-stubborn-to-admit-hating-it.¡¯ Beast Empathy was doing the best it could, but that was the gist.

    It took one look at the Alpha and turned sideways, ready with a [Landslide Smash] of its tail. Kaden moved to the left, around Rocky, war hammer at the ready.

    ¡°Two down!¡± Sara called. ¡°Three wounded, just delay it.¡±

    Kaden would never be clear on whether the Alpha understood her speech, saw its pack fall, or simply couldn¡¯t hold back its lust for blood, but it came at him like a force of nature. Kaden dodged behind Rocky, who took a blast from [Frost Breath] to the face and answered with a deep, earth shaking grunt.

    But the Rock Gobbler moved visibly slower as it turned, and again the Alpha hit it with [Frost Breath]. Rocky was durable, but ice was a weakness. Kaden had no choice, he recalled Rocky, wincing as the last of a [Frost Breath] blast hit him. The Alpha bounded toward Kaden, its mouth glowing as Ice Mana collected¡ªand Kaden flipped the hammer over, ramming the handle down its throat.

    Ice formed and swept up the handle, burning his hands, while its claws raked gashes in his [Needful Cloak].

    ¡°Keep it restrained,¡± Sara called. ¡°Evelyn, move in and hit it.¡±

    From one side, Sara stepped in, slashing at the Alpha¡¯s paws until pain made it stop its attack.

    From the other, Evelyn swung a wooden club hitting the alpha over and over. ¡°I got a [Blunt Weapons] skill!¡± she shouted, then swung again and again.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough for her to get experience,¡± Sara said.

    And with that, Trella thrust her daggers forward, cutting the Alpha¡¯s throat.

    It fell back, eyes vacant.

    Kaden sat down in the freezing snow, his hands stiff, his body aching.

    ¡°No loot?¡± Evelyn asked. ¡°Bosses always have loot.¡± With every moment, she pumped minor mend into one of them.

    And somewhere, Kaden felt Sara¡¯s Herald of Life sending surges of energy out. Guardian of Life didn¡¯t seem to have any effect that he could tell. Wounds heal faster didn¡¯t specify how much faster, or what counted as wounds.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Sara asked, nodding to the corpse. ¡°You know how to process that? I don¡¯t, but you did more Pest Patrol.¡±

    He knew how to do better. He dragged the Alpha into Inventory, even though it made his Inventory space ache. ¡°Let¡¯s finish the mission and deal with the Alpha later.¡±

    Trella and Evelyn stared, their eyes wide, but Evelyn spoke first. ¡°You put a dead beast into your Inventory?¡±

    ¡°Tell her about the Dungeon Loot,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I wish I could show it to you.¡±

    ¡°Veto. That should have killed you. I still don¡¯t get why it didn¡¯t.¡± Sara said.

    Trella put a gentle hand on his shoulder, turning him around. ¡°Story time can wait until we¡¯re back at the Guild, because we¡¯re not getting into the tunnel. That¡¯s what I was going to tell you before the wolves attacked. I found the tunnel. There¡¯s a Dungeon Door on it. There¡¯s a green crystal in the center, three circles filled in with silver on the arch.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a rank three dungeon.¡± Sara went to each of the wolves. ¡°This one¡¯s still alive. Evelyn, come hit it.¡± Dead wolves she stuck in Inventory, live ones they made dead. Then she turned to the Party. ¡°As much as I¡¯d love to claim a Dungeon run, we¡¯re only scouting. We¡¯ll head back to the Guild, report, and get our first stars.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Trella said. But as they fell into a line, heading back, she grasped Kaden¡¯s arms and pushed something into his hand.

    Found this by the Dungeon door. And there¡¯s so many tracks in the mud under the snow., she tapped out on his hand.

    Kaden¡¯s stomach turned.

    The simple iron square, with the slash through the middle, bore rust and what he hoped was dirt. The chain that it had hung by was worn and broken. But Kaden had worn one once, as had every orphan taken into the Saint¡¯s Hall.

    The priests had disappeared, and all the young orphans with them.

    Now Kaden knew where they¡¯d gone. Taking children into a Dungeon? That wasn¡¯t just murder, it was a slaughter. He picked up his pace.

 One - Almost Average [Begin Volume 3]

    Spring neared, and the steady melt of snow had turned the twilight brush of Fangwood into an icy, muddy mess. Kaden Birch hung from a tree trunk, watching and waiting. His arms burned, but he held on despite the wet wood and the weight.

    *Are you sure they¡¯ll take this path?* The message came in tapped out code on his hand from Trella, who perched in the fork of a branch higher up.

    He gave a quick nod.

    Fangwood was part of his Holding, and as such, he knew the paths that crisscrossed it, and these trails were home to monsters he hadn¡¯t fought. A clicking, clattering sound carried through the forest.

    From further down the trail, a pair of chitinous creatures emerged. They walked upright like men but had six legs, two for walking, two for holding a sword and shield, and two to drag their prey with. They¡¯d killed a unicorn, and good riddance, and pulled it down the trail, heading deeper into the wood.

    [Formicidian]

    Ants are some of the most tireless of workers, the fiercest of fighters, and the most patient of enemies. They come in colonies, and to wander into the nest is to discover just how every path becomes a trap and every branch leads closer to your doom. These are not Beasts. Your skills reveal nothing about them.

    HP: 300/300

    Mana: 10/10

    Skills: Edged Weapons, Shieldwork

    Talents:Acid Touch

    As they crossed under the tree, Kaden struck.

    He summoned a Beast, a glistening red hydra, Trinity, the TriTerror. She stepped out onto the trail ahead of the Formies, as Kaden called them, and from her left, serpentine head, called out a challenge.

    The Formies dropped their stolen unicorn and drew another shield and sword each from their Inventory, and advanced on Trinity.

    Kaden dropped off the tree, summoning his War Hammer, Remembrance of Battle, and aimed for a shield arm. Shield leg? Shield appendage. The Axe head of Remembrance sliced through the top arm and chipped the chitin armor on the second Formie. Now, the two pivoted to face him. Which was perfect, because with Kaden and Trinity bearing the attention,

    Backstab! Trella appeared behind one, driving both of her black daggers into its thorax. Before it could turn, she¡¯d disappeared, leaving a shadowy shape, her Dark Deception, in her place.

    But her Deception was more than an illusion. It drew a shadowy dagger of its own and hacked at the nearest formie, slicing an antenna from one¡¯s head before disappearing under their blows.

    A beam of white light lanced out of the darkness between trees, hitting the other Formie, and it stumbled forward.

    ¡°Move in!¡± Sara Scylla shouted. ¡°We¡¯re here if you need backup.¡±

    Eve Black, the party healer emerged from the woods, holding her Lash-Tail whip, which could saw flesh from the living, and began striking the formies.

    Beside her, Sara stood. Her Summoning, a Cosmic Horror, produced its snake green pseudopods from her back, but she stayed just out of range.

    ¡°All right. No more trickery,¡± Trella said. As a [Shadow Blade], she preferred stealth, but for now, it was time to be direct. But as she stepped in to strike, the Formie swung back with its sword.

    Kaden scooped up the rusted metal shield the Formie carried and put his arm through it. Remembrance could block, but the less damage he did, the better. Instead, he stepped toward the Formie, shield raised.

    The sword strike on the shield dented the edge, but kept the attention. And it hurt. The shield had no padding, and the leather straps were thick and awkward. But Sara¡¯s title, Herald of Life, would slowly heal.

    For now, he shouted another challenged and kept the pressure on the Formies.

    One Formie staggered forward, its sword strike missing, as daggers blossomed in its arm joints. When it fell, Kaden stepped over the corpse, turning his attention to the other, while Trella kneeled atop the fallen one to finish it.

    ¡°Keep hitting it,¡± Sara called to Eve. ¡°Kaden, be ready in case it turns on her.¡±

    Eve lashed out with her whip, wrapping it around the Formie¡¯s neck, then yanked it back so the whip uncoiled, tearing chunks from the Formie.

    It didn¡¯t so much turn as give in to the force of the whip, but its sword swung out and struck Eve, sinking deep into her shoulder.

    Kaden charged forward, bashing the Formie with his shield and tackled it to the ground. ¡°All yours,¡± he said sitting atop the creature¡¯s abdomen. It hammered his shield over and over, putting gashes in the thin metal and chipping the edges.

    You have learned a new skill: Shieldwork.

    [Shieldwork]

    There¡¯s a certain magic in putting something between you and the enemy, in letting it take the blows rather than you. You have learned that letting an inanimate object be battered and bashed is better than taking damage and healing it back. At higher levels, a shield can be a weapon, too.

    Kaden had once dreamed of taking a [Shield] class, but the System had other plans, and he wouldn¡¯t trade [Beast Master] for anything.

    Eve stood a few feet away, using [Moon Strike] over and over, until at last the Formie froze up, each of its legs curling inward. ¡°Yes!¡± she shouted. ¡°Level! I¡¯m finally fifteen! And a skill! And a Talent!¡±

    Kaden looked back to Trella, who gave him the most wonderful smile. ¡°Fifteen. It only took me, what, four months? And I¡¯m still not caught up.¡±

    Sara and Kaden had both foregone experience to make sure Eve and Trella got the bulk of it, but even so, Kaden was now level 16.

    He pulled up his status while Eve healed her wounds.

    [Kaden Birch]

    Class: Beast Master

    Level: 16

    HP: (185/185)

    Mana: (72/72)

    Skills: Identify (5), Traps (3), Blunt Weapons (5), Edged Weapons(4), Resist Cold (2), Resist Fire (2), Resist Stun (4), Resist Poison (6), War Hammer (5), Mana Dart (9), Mana Spike (3) Crippling Strikes (4), Brutal Blows (8), Resist Status Effects (1), Field Harvest (2), Wood Carving (5), Shieldword (1)

    Hidden Skills: Beast-Empathy (Legendary, 6). Beast-Speech (Legendary, 4) Beast-Heart (Legendary, 3), Beast Knowledge (Epic, 2)

    Talents: Hard to Kill.

    Quests: None.

    Titles: Leader of the Pack, Master of the House, Guardian of Life

    Inventory Slots: 22

    Not bad. Months of Mana Dart had raised his mana high enough that he had soul space for all three of his beasts, and soon he would be able to take Mana Well, and provide his party with all the mana they could use.

    ¡°Field Harvest them?¡± Sara asked.

    He rushed to do so¡ªbut they didn¡¯t give anything. The unicorn gave him a unicorn horn and hide, and he dumped the Formie¡¯s terrible weapons into his Inventory.

    Trinity had taken to feasting on the corpses, and he stopped to scratch her short, stocky torso. ¡°You did great there. Eve leveled, Trella leveled. I promise, first wolf that attacks now is all yours.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    His TriTerror, too, had gained two levels, though no new skills or talents. Beasts did not normally level, gain skills or classes, but Kaden¡¯s [Beast Master] class enabled their growth. And he secretly suspected it affected Trella¡¯s Deception and Sara¡¯s Cosmic Horror.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. I need to make attribute point decisions,¡± Trella said, as she led the way out of Fangwood. Twenty steps from the edge, Fangwood¡¯s perpetual twilight lifted, and later afternoon spring sun shone down on the party.

    At the farm house, saws and hammers rang out.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t had the gold to pay the [Builder] Willis to fix everything. A thin layer of [Decay] sat over the farm, lessened by the Builder¡¯s work and a gift from James Dervish, the Saint of Summoning.

    Mr. Willis was happy to take payment as Kaden had it, because repairs to a place as neglected as Kaden¡¯s Hold didn¡¯t come fast. He waved from the roof, where fresh shingles stood out as crisp white wood in a sea of gray and brown. ¡°Got a moment?¡±

    While the others went to discuss points and talents, Kaden headed toward the ladder, where he climbed onto the roof. ¡°How¡¯s the construction going?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to discuss. The main house is done. It shouldn¡¯t have been. There were fifty points of decay on this building, that¡¯s why I said fifty gold. If I thought it was thirty seven, I would have said thirty seven and charged thirty seven. I don¡¯t cheat my customers.¡± A Builder¡¯s work wasn¡¯t just the hammers or saws, it was the application of [Builder¡¯s Blessing] which reversed the effects of Decay.

    Kaden climbed to the small bell tower on top of the building and drew out the [Icon of the Builder]. ¡°This was a present I was given. It¡¯s probably the cause of the difference.¡±

    The Icon of the Builder had the power to reverse decay, though it would take so long, Kaden hadn¡¯t hesitated to pay Mr. Willis.

    Mr. Willis whistled. ¡°You¡­you don¡¯t know what that¡¯s worth. You could have paid me to fix everything with just that, and I¡¯d still owe you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not mine. It¡¯s a loan, and when the Farmhouse is done, I¡¯ll give it back.¡±

    ¡°Then you better give it back. We have a bunch of rails to fix, but the Decay on the house is gone. And I put the door in the basement you asked for,¡± Mr. Willis said.

    You have fulfilled your promise to Builder Holden Willis to use him for repairs on your farmhouse. You are no longer bound by this agreement.

    Kaden surveyed the other outbuildings. Four guest towers stood at the edges of the farm, each two story round building. A blacksmith¡¯s forge sat to the left of the FarPortal pavilion, and a workshop to the right where once, crafters had worked leather and carpenters wood, and a storage chamber whose preservation charm still worked, where a year¡¯s worth of food would never spoil. ¡°What do you think I should fix next? You and I made a deal and you thought you¡¯d get fifty gold. I¡¯m willing to agree to use you for the next building.¡±

    Mr. Willis wasn¡¯t a large man, but he had a smile that would fit a man twice his size. ¡°If you¡¯re open to the idea, I have an apprentice who¡¯s just about ready to set out on his own. Why don¡¯t you talk it over with your wife?¡±

    ¡°Trella¡¯s not my wife,¡± he said. It wasn¡¯t painful, it was true. She was more.

    ¡°I thought the snake girl¡¯s name was Sara,¡± he said. ¡°Talk it over with her while we work, but I want you to use my Apprentice. He¡¯s the one fitting your rails, name¡¯s Lark.¡±

    Kaden agreed and slid down the ladder to go find Sara.

    What he found was a celebration, as the three sat, sharing a bottle of wine. Sara poured him a glass. ¡°We¡¯re all level fifteen or better now, and the range is close enough that it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Eve sat with Vip in her lap, but she raised her glass. ¡°Level fifteen. I can¡¯t say I thought I¡¯d see it. But you and Sara gave up so much experience¡ª¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always more experience if you live to see another day,¡± Kaden said.

    Sara¡¯s saying, and she beamed with pleasure.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get a choice in my talent. Again. But want to see my new skill? It¡¯s a resurrection.¡± Eve shared her status.

    [Life Exchange]

    Death is not the end. At least, death isn¡¯t the end for certain. Life and death are a delicate balance, but you understand how to make a trade, one life for another. Sacrifice a life to return it. Larger creatures will result in the recipient having more health, but with a higher rate of failure. At high levels, you can use some of your life to make the exchange.

    [Unshakeable]

    Your mental focus is so high that your actions may not be disrupted by status effects. Cast spells, kill enemies, cook dinner, you will not waver in your attention.

    That was a fairly standard resurrection. Kaden still woke with nightmares of the rat that had been shoved into his mouth for his last resurrection. At least now, the level penalty couldn¡¯t drop them below fifteen.

    ¡°Trella?¡± Kaden looked to her. ¡°Any new skills?¡±

    Since Trella had received skills she shouldn¡¯t have gotten until level twenty five, no one expected a skill, but there was always hope.

    ¡°A talent. A talent I didn¡¯t get to choose,¡± Trella said.

    [Limber]

    You find it easier to twist and turn, to avoid and bend as needed to preserve life and limb. Grappling attacks against you fail unless the attacker has counter-skills.

    Sara seemed quite happy. ¡°That¡¯s perfect for you. Higher level mobs usually have a counter for [Backstab] but this will ensure you get away. I¡¯m sorry you didn¡¯t get to choose. Unlike you.¡± She turned on Kaden. ¡°Make a choice. Right now.¡±

    He¡¯d gotten a new talent option at fifteen, but the System was cruel. In addition to the previous ones, it has added two new ones to the possible choices. And he wanted both so badly it hurt.

    [Brass Knuckles]

    Your fists take no damage from unarmed combat, and count as blunt weapons for the purpose of causing damage and injuries.

    [Last Man Standing]

    While other members of your group survive, you take less damage. The lower your health goes, the greater your resistance to damage. This talent offers no benefits if you are alone.

    Brass Knuckles would work with his [Brutal Blows] skills to make it so that even if he didn¡¯t have room to swing Remembrance, Kaden could still dish out damage. And it felt right for his build, giving him flexibility in how and where he attacked. When he took a class on unarmed fighting at the Guild, it would synergies with that, too.

    Last Man Standing, on the other hand, fit his role in the party. They didn¡¯t have a [Shield], and Sara was adamant that expanding the party before twenty five was a terrible decision. It would make him even better at defending the others.

    Initially, Sara said ¡®Take your time.¡¯ No matter how many times he read the descriptions, she agreed that those were fine options, ones that would make him an asset. Then she started asking if he¡¯d come to a conclusion.

    Then, for a month straight, asked at breakfast what he picked.

    With every battle, he hoped for a secret ¡°additional talent¡± perk and every night concluded it wasn¡¯t coming. The Guild trainers had been willing to speak by bird, and no surprise the [Shield] master insisted Last Man Standing was the only way he¡¯d make it to twenty five, while the [Man At Arms] plied him with stories of how fast he¡¯d level when all his enemies were dead.

    He made the choice. Hoped it was the right one. ¡°Done. Last Man Standing.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°I wanted to tell you to pick that one, but you were so in love with that stupid brass knuckles talent, I thought you¡¯d never listen. You have a Party. You have a role in it. And it¡¯s not like you won¡¯t get to splatter more skulls with Remembrance if you¡¯re not on the floor.¡±

    Trella shrugged. ¡°Twenty will come.¡±

    Eve was whispering to Vip. Then she looked up ¡°What were we talking about? I need a rat. I need one alive. And I need a favor from one of you.¡±

    ¡°Not happening,¡± Kaden said. He had a scar from the last favor, where Sara got [Archery] by shooting at him. Level sixteen wasn¡¯t far above fifteen, but it was a level, and he meant to keep it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to town, dump ingredients on the crafters, and see if we can get a Rank 4 Dungeon run. Level twenty would be ideal. Kaden could probably handle twenties by himself, but he won¡¯t have to.¡± Sara spoke with sheer pride, and she wasn¡¯t wrong. They¡¯d taken down nineteens long before. An even rank dungeon wouldn¡¯t provide a challenge, proper loot, or experience.

    ¡°Guess who can power a FarPortal without exhausting her mana?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden didn¡¯t need to ask, but he had business. ¡°The Farmhouse is repaired. If I were going to pay Builder Willis to keep working, what would we want next? What makes the most sense?¡±

    Sara had at least five plans for this and shifted constantly. Kaden could see it any of a dozen ways. Trella refused to involve herself, and Eve simply said ¡®fix it all.¡¯

    ¡°We¡¯ve never needed more than the farmhouse,¡± Sara said. ¡°We all fit comfortably there. Though I¡¯d love to buy some bedroom furniture, if that¡¯s ok.¡±

    They shared Kaden¡¯s old bedroom, but the nursery that had been meant for his baby sister still stood empty. ¡°Of course.¡±

    Sara exchanged a glance with Eve, probably planning two sets of furniture. ¡°So the guest towers aren¡¯t a priority. The crafting workshop isn¡¯t useful without general crafters. If we seriously need provisions, something is terribly wrong. Fields don¡¯t [Decay], in fact, [Decay] revives barren fields, turning them into [Fallow Fields], and I had three [Farmers] who were going to see about sharing this spring.¡±

    That told him what she thought should be next. ¡°The smithy.¡±

    ¡°Blacksmiths are always in demand and in need of a place to work, and with a Charm of Veela on the building, they¡¯d be safe,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°The charms. I need to take them down and take them back to be recharged.¡± Kaden went to climb up and take them down, as the silver charm holders were the biggest part of the cost. Mr. Willis was standing out front, working on the railing with a thin black man with bushy hair and a wide nose.

    ¡°Kaden, this is my son and soon-to-be-ex-apprentice, Lark Willis.¡±

    Lark offered Kaden his hand. ¡°I remember you. I lived at the Saint¡¯s Hall when I was six, until Mom and Dad took me in.¡±

    Kaden did not remember Lark, but he wasn¡¯t going to say so. ¡°I need a Builder. We¡¯re going to repair the smithy and use it to raise funds for the rest of the repairs.¡±

    ¡°I knew it!¡± Lark said. ¡°I have a plan drawn up. Actually, I drew up plans for all of the buildings. I¡¯m not as fast at removing [Decay], but I can do it. Including materials, how does thirty gold sound?¡±

    The shock was not what Kaden expected. Thirty gold was over half of what it had cost to repair the entire farmhouse, and he¡¯d learned the hard way that kindness was often mistaken for weakness. ¡°How many points of Decay?¡±

    ¡°Twenty, but I¡¯m not as efficient as Dad at removing it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll pay twenty gold, but I can only pay in increments. You don¡¯t have to come and stay and work, you can do it when I have enough for a section. Deal?¡±

    Lark thought about it, then shook his hand. ¡°Deal. You¡¯ll need fifteen gold for the rotten beam repairs, everything else is piecemeal.¡±

    You have entered an agreement with Lark Willis to repair your smithy. You may still employ other [Builders] but it will not alter the parameters of your deal.

    Kaden needed to go hit the crafters, trading for coins and equipment. But he wasn¡¯t worried. The farmhouse was repaired, and the rest would come in time. Even now, he could imagine the fields rich and green, crafters working out back while smoke drifted up from the Smithy. One day.

    ¡°Gotta run, I¡¯ll send a bird when I have the gold,¡± Kaden said.

    Lark went back to work on the rail. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡±

    Kaden ran into the house, down to the basement to grab a burlap bag. The Party was waiting when he reached the Far Portal, but as he approached a flock of messenger birds descended, landing on each member¡¯s hand. ¡°All Adventurers report to the Guild for Monster Surge assignments.¡±

 One - Answering Calls [Start of Volume Four]

    Kaden Birch found few things more satisfying than the solid crunch of a monster spine under his war hammer. The monster in question, a centipede the length of a man, did not find it satisfying, but the good news wass, a moment later, that no longer concerned it.

    He looked back to his [Shield], Wren, a young woman with short blonde hair, and eyes he¡¯d best call haunted. She adjusted her brown scorpion carapace armor and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    Sara Scylla, Part Leader and summoner of exactly one kind of beast, stood behind Wren. One of the two scaly pseudopods that attached to her Horror gave Wren a pat on the back. The Cosmic Horror was part pet, part end of the universe, and occasionally encouraging. ¡°We¡¯re right here, but you need the XP. Eve will heal, Trella will¡­¡±

    ¡°Shout encouraging things,¡± The [Shadow Blade] woman answered, disappearing into their darkness to pop up in the trees above them. ¡°You totally got this. Kaden was killing these wolves at the same level. This exact wolf. Who probably remembers how he did it. In fact, she¡¯s probably been thinking about how to get¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Eve Black shouted, her voice echoing through the woods. The [Transfusionist] was part healer, part damage and all business in her white wolf pelt robes. ¡°Is Vip ready?¡±

    Vip, his [Lightning Chevalier] was a small dog with curly silver fur. She sat by his side, and looked up. *Yes*.

    ¡°Not *Fast*?¡± Kaden asked.

    *Fast*. Vip replied.

    ¡°She¡¯s ready. Moon Shadow is on the circuit around Fangwood. If she has company, we¡¯ll handle them. You stick to the plan. Call for help if you need it.¡± Kaden looked to Vip. ¡°Fetch.¡±

    Vip tore off though the underbrush, ignoring the trails that FangWood attempted to force adventurers onto. A moment later, a brisk howl rang out through the forest.

    The trees began to shake, and a brisk wind threw leaves everywhere.

    ¡°Not Normal,¡± Sara called, unsheathing her swords. ¡°Plan B it is.¡±

    A wolf, white on top and black on her belly, bounded through the forest, crashed off of a tree, and landed in front of the Party with a snarl. This was [Moon Shadow], the gloom wolf champion.

    But her ears were flat back and her tail tucked as she crouched¡ªand Wren hit her with a [Shield Charge]. Moon Shadow was seven levels higher, but the [Shield Bash] that followed left her momentarily stunned.

    Long enough for trees to crash aside, and a vast brown shape to slap Moon Shadow straight into a boulder, where she collapsed.

    ¡°[Bearzerker]! Kill it now or we won¡¯t be able to!¡± Sara shouted.

    [Bearzerker]

    Part Grizzly Bear, part Beast, this bear begins battle weak, but the longer it fights, the stronger it becomes. There is no upper limit on its strength. Choose your battle wisely. *Beast Knowledge: The Bearzerker has high mana for a creature with no obvious spells.

    Level: 15

    HP: 900

    Mana: 50

    Skills: Battle Rage, Armored Hide

    Talents: Battle Born

    The goal had been to get Wren to level sixteen. Now the goal was survival.

    ¡°Do! Not! Hold! Back!¡± Eve¡¯s command came clearly and Kaden understood. The only way to deal with a Bearzerker was all out.

    Wren charged, Kaden stuttered his step to let her arrive first, and timed the blow. The thin woman shouldn¡¯t have been able to knock a creature four times her size aside, but her talent, [Immovable] gave her the advantage.

    Working on a hunch from [Beast Knowledge], Kaden slammed a [Mana Dart] with enough mana to drain the bear twice into its side. The Bearzerker shuddered¡ªthen slapped, catching Kaden in the side.

    A quarter of his health disappeared in a single blow, and another few points as he hit a tree and fell, but Wren was there, blocking with her Terrapin shell shield to buy him time, and Eve blinked and became three of herself, spread around the [Bearzerker] to increase her [Moon Strike]¡¯s chances of blinding.

    The moment he got back to his feet, Kaden switched to pure offense as Sara did the same. Only a fool charged Bearzerker, but only a bigger fool gave one time to build their fury. Forced to choose, the Bearzerker turned on Sara. Kaden swung for the knees, aiming for a crippling blow.

    Bone crunched, but the Bearzerker didn¡¯t go down, and now it turned on him, swiping with both paws. But not getting faster. Not getting stronger. Kaden hit it with [Mana Dart] just to keep it down, then leaped aside as Sara unleashed her only spell, Lightning Bolt.

    It might as well have been called [Feather Tickle].

    ¡°Blinded!¡± Eve called as [Moon Strike] blasted out.

    Kaden went from defense to offense, swinging sideways. Remembrance cut deep into the Bear¡¯s mouth, chipping the bear¡¯s teeth and earning him another swipe that broke rips and sent him rolling.

    ¡°Switching to burn mode!¡± Eve called as she began channeling [Life Transfusion], which devoured her mana for equivalent damage.

    The [Bearzerker] knew it was being hurt, but ¡®inside¡¯ didn¡¯t register as a location, which bought Kaden just enough time to dump the rest of his Mana to Eve via [Mana Well]. She¡¯d make it count, and her truly frightening mana reserves would cost a third of the bear¡¯s HP in a single gush, while restoring his health.

    The bear stood, raised its mouth to Roar¡ªand the Beasts joined the battle. From the right, Trinity, the three headed ruby hydra came sprinting, sinking all three of her heads onto a single hind leg. From the left, Trella¡¯s [Shadow Cat] Eclipse leaped onto the Bear¡¯s back. Eclipse was deadly but not against long fur creatures with built-in armor.

    A shadow blossomed into existence behind the [Bearzerker] as Trella [Shadow Stepped] out of Stealth and used [Backstab] for a deep, piercing blow, and when it spun to face the shadowy after image she left behind, Kaden pulled out his own attack. ¡°Backslash!¡±

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a permanent injury.

    Your skill with Crippling Strikes has increased.

    Without a Dark Deception of his own, Kaden could only raise Remembrance to block the paw swipe¡ªand Wren knocked him to the side, blocking the blow, then using [Shield Bash] to stun. ¡°Kill it. Kill it now.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s blind middle head, with dragon-like jaws crunched bone, then severed the limb, but a back-handed swiped from the [Bearzerker] left her serpentine head limp and lifeless as Kaden pulled her back into his soul.

    ¡°Let it bleed. My blades were poisoned,¡± Trella called. She¡¯d been experimenting with Mulick venom, an alchemical reagent that could be used to inflict [Bleed].

    But the [Bearzerker] began to glow red. The two drops of mana he¡¯d regained shut down the fury, but the buff would stay. ¡°Arrows. Use Arrows.¡±

    A second later, two arrows whistled through the air to sink deep in the Bearzerker¡¯s chest. Kaden pressed the attack, letting Wren block swipes and cutting at the other leg with Remembrance¡¯s axe head.

    Two more arrows.

    One more mana dart.

    The [Bearzerker] collapsed, dead.

    Kaden stuffed the corpse into Inventory for harvesting later, not in the middle of the forest, while Sara searched the underbrush. ¡°Found it. Moon Shadow dropped her loot. Another [Moon Strike].¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here and heal,¡± Kaden said.

    Wren gave them the most joyous smile he¡¯d seen on her in weeks. ¡°Did I mention I leveled?¡±

    As the party trekked out of FangWood, a miniature sparkling dragon landed on Kaden¡¯s arm, dropped a scroll, and, after giving him a disapproving look, sailed away.

    Kaden unrolled the scroll, then threw it in the brush.

    ###

    The Bearzerker corpse was massive, and it smelled, and it was so full of potential Kaden could bear-ly stand it. Grinding his [Reap Materials] skill with literally thousands of [Mulick Spines] had given him several level increases, and now, when he examined a corpse, he received a list of various components and hints about their use. For the [Bearzerker], the options were:

    1x. Bearzerker Hide (Armor Crafting Material)

    16x Bearzerker Claw (Dagger Crafting Material)

    32x Bearzerker Steak (Cooking Crafting Material)

    No one in their right mind would eat the steak besides Trinity, but Kaden had learned the hard way that attempting to get all of the materials would result in losing quality or quantity. He chose to go for the hide and four claws as he drew his simple, non-combat knife.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Harvesting acted to guide his hands, making steady cuts and highlighting exactly where the knife should go. The meat, because he¡¯d chose to avoid it, was little more than garbage, but the knife traced the surface of the hide easily. Mana began to drain from his reserves, almost always a good sign, and Kaden cut with care, until at last the notification came:

    You have received: 1x Bearzerker Hide (preserved, high quality)

    You have received: 3x Bearzerker Claw

    He¡¯d lost one during the harvesting. But the hide¡­the hide was the prize.

    ¡°You going to use that garbage?¡± Sara pointed to the pile of meat scraps. ¡°I finally have [Gardening] high enough to grow carnivorous plants. I could use it.¡±

    ¡°All yours.¡± Kaden let her shovel it and cycled [Mana Darts] while he waited for his mana to rise. Any moment now, he¡¯d reach level ten and be able to take the next spell, [Mana Drain], which would work from a distance. Mages swore the mana tree of spells was useless because it dead ended at [Mana Drain] and [Mana Well] but the utility was everything Kaden wanted.

    Weeks had passed since Kaden and his party faced a Tyrantor.

    Tonight was the first night they¡¯d agreed it was time to try and hunt at night.

    An explosion shook the farmhouse, followed by a shout of triumph. Trella was mixing potions again. But this time the shouting didn¡¯t turn into screaming, or any of the normal things. She came bursting out of the Farmhouse, holding a potion aloft. ¡°Level three in Alchemy!¡±

    Kaden ran to celebrate. Alchemy leveled slower than any skill he¡¯d ever seen, besides his own [Beast Master] skills. Trella had spent the weeks mastering the [Bleed] potion, and Kaden kept several applications in his Inventory. A single potion could treat Remembrance¡¯s edge, but it did require planning.

    ¡°Who¡¯s the best Alchemist on this Holding?¡± Kaden asked as he lifted her up and swung her around.

    ¡°I am not a dog, but the answer is me. Speaking of which, your dog hasn¡¯t left Eve¡¯s feet ever since she started cooking.¡±

    That proved Vip was smart, not that she was a traitor. ¡°Looking forward to hunting tonight?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Also yes. And yes.¡± She put her arms around him as he set her down. ¡°Thank you. For supporting this. I can finally make poor quality Healing potions. Soon we won¡¯t need to buy them.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t why I supported you.¡± He drank in the scents he associated with her, of warmth and lavender and burning hair.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell Sara, but I processed the last of the Salvea leaves I owe her. The moment she knows she¡¯ll want to make a contract for more. I have a quest to successfully brew ten different types of formula.¡± Trella pushed away and ran around the side of the house.

    Presumably to tell Sara.

    On the front steps of the farmhouse, Trinity lay, sunning herself. All three heads were stretched out in different directions,, and she drooled acidic spit that sizzled in the dirt. All in all, a beautiful day.

    ¡°Cancel the night hunt!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°Cancel it. We got a dungeon run, a good one. The perfect one!¡±

    That brought Eve running. She¡¯d hated the idea of hunting at night and lobbied for dungeon missions. ¡°What is it? What level?¡±

    ¡°Foulwater Swamp. Level twenty two monsters, bayou themed, great armor loot. Two parties before us wiped Night Hunting and we have this afternoon to depart. It¡¯s a long, long run, I already sent a message to Wren and ordered provisions at the Guild.¡± Sara was never afraid to let her excitement show. She already received enough stares and fear for housing a Cosmic Horror.

    ¡°Sounds right for our Party,¡± Trella said. ¡°It won¡¯t just be you and Kaden getting kills.¡±

    ¡°Vip won¡¯t be able to come.¡± Kaden could imagine the small dog barely able to keep her head above water. ¡°And I¡¯ll run to Verdant Vineyard today and sweep it for Vipers to uphold our contract.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to run. Master Gruden had a FarPortal connected!¡± Sara said.

    That would make life much, much easier.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you, but you¡¯re responsible for getting back.¡± Eve headed to the portal. She was the only one with enough mana and experience operating it. Everyone else paid a portal mage via messenger bird.

    But as Kaden approached the portal, it flared, and out stepped someone he knew quite well. Yuni Rahm, youngest daughter of the Rahm Dynasty, and a [PolyMage]. She wore light tan fabric wrapped tightly around her, with mana beads sewn on in a seemingly random pattern. ¡°You. Where is [Shadow Blade]? We must speak.¡±

    Trella [Shadow Stepped] into existence at Kaden¡¯s side. ¡°What do you want? If the Sisters have a mission, it won¡¯t come from you.¡±

    ¡°I talk. You listen.¡±

    Trella shrugged. ¡°That I can do. I usually charge for it, but what the hell, why not?¡±

    Kaden left her to handle it and headed to Verdant Vineyards with Vip at his side. Eve managed to keep him right side up and facing almost the same direction, which was an improvement, but she still sent him flying into the dirt.

    Verdant Vineyards had been transformed.

    In the late fall it was a devastated wreck of torn vines and broken windows. Now, it was covered in green, even the fields that had the worst of it. Kaden knelt by Vip. ¡°Leave two in every row, ok?¡±

    *So very fast.* Vip replied.

    [Beast Speech] saw that as ¡°Sure thing, boss. Why don¡¯t you give me something difficult instead?¡±

    Running was happiness to Vip, the faster, the further, the better. Taller dogs would move faster, but Vip¡¯s solution was to push herself harder. Her [Lightning Aura] began to crackle and zap, striking vipers as she passed. On the second run, she would use [Triple Nip] to kill a few.

    While Vip enjoyed her fun, Kaden stopped by the Winery. ¡°We¡¯re leaving two per row to keep the crop safe,¡± Kaden said to the owner¡¯s wife.

    ¡°You see the construction?¡± she asked. ¡°They were working for five days straight.¡±

    Kaden left to go check. The Verdant Viper nest was his by contract now, and Kaden¡ªwell, Sara¡ªhad a plan to sell them for Adventurers seeking [Resist Poison], as the bite was guaranteed to inflict agony but not necessarily death.

    Sara had arranged a small house for the couple who would operate the nest. Nothing fancy, but it matched the style of the other buildings, and with the FarPortal, the traffic would be good for the vineyard.

    Vip¡¯s furious barking brought him running. *Bad Bad*.

    Nestled in the top of a row was a large, shimmering green [Verdant Viper].

    A young [Vibrant Empress], and it was far too early in the season for them to be spawning. Perhaps the surge was affecting regular Beasts as well. Once, this would have been a frightening foe. Now, Kaden reached straight for it, letting it latch on. He ripped it from the vines and carried it down to the farmhouse, where he paid their Portal Mage in training and left the vineyards behind.

    He found the others gathered in the farmhouse kitchen. Wren was there, not wearing her scorpion armor, and he held up the Vibrant Empress. ¡°This will hurt, but it won¡¯t kill you. And you¡¯ll eventually get [Resist Poison.] Afterwards, the Mana Core is mine.¡±

    Wren grabbed the empress and winced as it bit her. Then applied it again and again.

    In the silence, Kaden grew uncomfortable.

    Every gaze was turned his way. ¡°What did I miss?¡±

    Yuni stood and bowed slightly to him. ¡°You were summoned. You. Did. Not. Go.¡±

    She pointed to another rainbow scroll. One that had been opened. One that had obviously been read by everyone.

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a scroll.¡±

    Sara held up one. Trella, three more. Eve dumped a pot out. ¡°You said the Cleaning Box wasn¡¯t working. You didn¡¯t say it was because you stuffed it full of these. And Vip¡¯s been burying them in the field, hasn¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°I tried burning them. They don¡¯t burn.¡± If Vip had buried them, Kaden would call her the best dog ever, because she was.

    ¡°When were you going to tell me?¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Or me?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°I was fine not knowing,¡± Eve added.

    Kaden held up both hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you because I¡¯m not leaving. I have a life here and no intention of abandoning it. I don¡¯t have to go anywhere, so I won¡¯t.¡±

    Yuni answered before anyone else could. ¡°It is not ask, it is duty. You go. You go now. I make you.¡±

    This tone was familiar. Kaden pulled Trinity and Rocky into his soul and made sure Vip was safe by Eve. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to do this. I told Mr. Dervish I¡¯d allow you at the Holding as a favor, but that favor ends the moment you threaten me. Leave, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡±

    Sara tensed.

    Wren stepped forward, in between then.

    Trella spoke. ¡°I think you should make the trip. I¡¯d go, too, if I could, but none of us are welcome there. Plus, if we kill her, it just makes more trouble.¡±

    ¡°You? Kill me?¡± Yuni asked, her voice filled with scorn.

    ¡°Faster than you¡¯d ever see coming,¡± Sara said. ¡°You¡¯re some specialization of [Mage]. [Anthem of the End] prevents spell casting, and I will feed your corpse to Trinity myself. Trust me, if we decide to kill you, you¡¯d better have a retreat spell.¡±

    ¡°Threat means nothing.¡± Yuni spoke without fear. ¡°The King of Vichor does not permit failure.¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°All of you, step away. Kaden, let¡¯s talk.¡± The code [Rogues] learned to speak silently wasn¡¯t quite as expressive as normal speech, but with time and knowing someone, it grew. *There¡¯s more out there than you¡¯ve ever seen. I traveled for weeks with the Sisters. I listened to Yuni. You have the chance to become a Dungeon Master. It¡¯s important.*

    *I have a life here. I don¡¯t even know what a Dungeon Master does.*

    *You have a home here. You¡¯re living your life. You did the right thing for me. You encouraged me to train with the Sisters. This is the right thing. I know you. You love caring for your Beasts. I think you¡¯ll love caring for a Dungeon Core. That¡¯s what a Dungeon Master does.*

    That truly did sound like something he¡¯d enjoy. ¡°Caring for a dungeon. Living in darkness. Surrounded by monsters?¡±

    ¡°If that is your desire,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Or a haven for beasts. A place Adventurers would encounter the most powerful. Live in darkness, or search the world for new ones. I cannot say which you would choose.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t like this. At all. His stomach turned in flips. But hadn¡¯t they talked about escaping the city? Traveling the world? *Come with me. We¡¯ll do it together.*

    *Can¡¯t. She told me and her body launguage says she believes it. Imagine being able to grow a Dungeon! All you have to do is learn how, then you come back and establish your dungeon. You were never the one who was afraid. Don¡¯t be afraid of a little adventure. It might be fun.*

    Caring for a Dungeon Core. Growing a Dungeon. Both sounded so fantastic they couldn¡¯t be real. Except, something deep inside said it was real. If the Dungeon could be whatever he wished, why not have a deep jungle where Trinity could truly hunt, or a desolate wasteland for Rocky to endure? Why not Queen BrownBeak¡¯s tree for the griffin when it hatched? ¡°Do you have Beasts there?¡±

    ¡°Only those long gone,¡± Yuni said. ¡°Only the most rare and powerful.¡±

    *I think I want to do it,* he sent.

    *You should. Go. I¡¯m telling you to go.* Trella knew how he felt.

    *Just don¡¯t tell me to have ¡®fun¡¯ with Yuni.* He looked over to the princess, who stood, hands on her hips.

    Trella¡¯s snort masked the way her eyes glistened. *If she¡¯s willing and you can stand her, have all the fun you want. But come back to me.*

    *Always.* He looked to Yuni. ¡°I¡¯ll visit and decide how long I¡¯ll stay.¡±

    ¡°All you need will be provided. Very little survives the passage. Take nothing you care for. We go now.¡± Yuni opened the door to the farmhouse.

    Kaden didn¡¯t move. He unsnapped his [Needful Cloak] and removed his Bone Waller shield, which still groaned for [Wraith Bones], which he added to the pile. ¡°If it¡¯s hungry, feed it one of these.¡± Almost everything from Inventory short of Remembrance, he left at the table. ¡°Better?¡±

    ¡°You need nothing,¡± Yuni said. ¡°But you must go now. You have disrespected the line of Rahm with your actions.¡±

    That put a halt to his plans. ¡°¡®The Line of Rahm¡¯ means nothing to me. I¡¯ll figure out how to do Dungeon Mastering on my own.¡±

    Yuni swore.

    At least, that¡¯s what he thought it was. When she spoke it was less insistent. ¡°Your core was wounded, was it not? Where we are going, the mana is so dense it cannot help but heal.¡±

    Another judgement call he¡¯d make. Kaden stopped to hug Sara. ¡°You keep our business going. Get that ship in the water. Make Mr. Dervish pay, or Neganta¡¯s Larder is ours.¡±

    He gave Eve a firm handshake. ¡°Vip stays with me.¡±

    ¡°Please? She¡¯s the brightest spot in my day.¡± Eve picked her up and hugged Vip close.

    The lightning chevalier was his constant companion. Trinity was more deadly, but Vip was so innocent and loving. Vip lay her head down on Eve¡¯s shoulder, completely at peace.

    ¡°Look out for her,¡± Kaden said, using [Beast Speech].

    ¡°I will.¡± Eve held her closely.

    *Love* said Vip, who understood what he really meant.

    Wren sat on the couch, shaking. ¡°I got [Resist Poison].¡±

    With one hand, Kaden killed the Vibrant Empress, then gutted her with a knife. The green core in her gut, he snapped into the socket on Remembrance. The whole weapon glowed green for a moment, then faded. ¡°Now I¡¯m ready.¡±

    They followed him to the FarPortal, where Yuni cast the scroll in. And the portal changed. It became an upside down waterfall of rainbow light that threatened to overflow the meager roof covering the FarPortal. ¡°I have opened the way.¡±

    Kaden stepped in.

    And was gone.

 One - Pollen Nation [Start of Volume Five]

    The brilliant sun shone down on Kaden as he snuck through a forest with Vip at his side. The vines moved like living creatures, and Kaden was sure they could attack, though these wouldn¡¯t if they were smart. ¡°There.¡± He spotted the Dungeon Door in the distance, built into the wall of a cliff.

    Was the Dungeon erratic?

    Was the party incompetent?

    Kaden didn¡¯t know yet. He¡¯d picked up the FarPortal coordinates from Sara after she listened to the updates from other Party Leaders. A party of level twenty five adventurers had entered the dungeon two weeks earlier. For a dungeon known to take two days, it was a bad sign.

    The door had a single crystal in the center, lit red, with the five silver circles around the edge. Even rank, should have been a snap. He put his hand on the door and his Dungeon Master profession provided the prompt.

    Enter as Combatant? [Y/N].

    Kaden chose no. He wouldn¡¯t be able to attack or pick up loot, but the Dungeon would remain neutral, and he¡¯d see the constructs that made it. Kaden slipped inside, and immediately recognized the abandoned cathedral motif. Perhaps undead, perhaps zombified, the mobs in a cathedral could vary from spiders to clowns.

    He hated the clowns.

    The entrance was well built, the kind of opening that made Kaden think the Dungeon was healthy. It was a small cloister room with a door that opened to the cathedral¡¯s main hall. In the hall, the signs of a battle lay everywhere, broken pews and smashed chandeliers.

    When Kaden looked at the chandeliers, his Dungeon Master Profession highlighted them. Traps.

    Traps that wouldn¡¯t trigger as long as he obeyed the rules.

    Before he moved on, Kaden studied the battle area, looking for dead mobs. Cultists! The brown robes, arcane tatooos, and wicked sacrificial knives gave it away. Now he could move more quickly, scouring the first floor and moving up the stairs.

    On the second floor he found the first body, a woman who¡¯d been stabbed to death. Too many puncture wounds to know if it was by cultists or her own party, but he was betting cultists. Level Twenty Five Adventurers tended to be more organized in how they murdered each other.

    Time to test a theory and take a risk.

    Kaden pulled her corpse into a Corpse Inventory, a special Inventory with enchantments to reverse decay. His theory was that if she had loot, taking her body was not actively looting the dungeon. A quick trip back to the ground floor, and he edged under the chandelier, then stepped. Then stood. They didn¡¯t fall, meaning he hadn¡¯t violated the edges of the rules.

    That was a relief.

    The priest¡¯s quarters were the site of a major battle and two more bodies, but these gave Kaden pause. Both had died to arrows, clean kill shots reenforced with Mana based on the puncture wonds. [Rangers] had a skill, and so did Assassins, called [Kill Shot]. It could inflict a [Mortal Injury] if properly empowered. The party had both an Assassin and a [Ranger.]

    Kaden stored both and once again tested to ensure he hadn¡¯t broken the ¡®no looting¡¯ clause. The front of the dungeon opened to a garden labyrinth that wouldn¡¯t affect Kaden in the least, but ten steps in, he knew they¡¯d never come this way. Live cultist mobs meandered back and forth in the main opening.

    Which mean the Party was still in the Cathedral.

    He went back and studied the main floor, then moved up to the second level.

    For a wild dungeon, it was beautiful, and the moment he recognized the puzzle, Kaden was actually delighted. The main floor of the dungeon formed a pattern only visible from the second. And Kaden understood.

    He sprinted downstairs, excited, and began stepping on the arcane symbols that had been obscured by the wreckage of battle. Each lit up until he stepped on the last. The stairs leading up to the choir dropped down, forming an inverted staircase. Kaden headed down into the darkness.

    Demons were a real possibility, a classic combination of cultists. Cannibals were less likely but also possible. Priests? Possible. Here, on the lower level, came the first sound, a low voice speaking in a looping litany. The basement level was mostly open but dotted with dozens of support columns that would be perfect for cultists to leap out.

    Then he reached the motivation chambers.

    Most people called them prison cells, but most people hadn¡¯t been guests of the Sisters of Shadows.

    Corpses lined the cells, but most of them were decorative. Except the last two. Those contained an Assassin with an arrow still stuck through his heart and a Ranger, also with an arrow through his heart.

    Kaden opened the cells by commanding the dungeon to unlock them and picked up the corpses, too. Time to see why the Dungeon door hadn¡¯t unlocked. The litany grew louder as Kaden approached.

    You have entered the range of [Penance Chant]. You are not affected.

    [Penance Chant]

    Afflict the target with stacks of [Penance] which lower stats for each instance of interparty conflict.

    The boss was a [Priest] in unholy garb, with golden chains, a smoking censer, and a staff which radiated an aura. In the last cell lay a gaunt [Healer]. The man¡¯s skin was sallow and his eyes sunken.

    [Terrance Vorn - Healer]

    Class Assassin/Healer

    Level: 25/15

    HP: 21/700

    Mana: 1/500

    Kaden ignored the priest and knelt by the cage. ¡°Can you hear me?¡±

    Terrance¡¯s head shifted to look at him. ¡°Dead?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. What happened? If you tell me, I¡¯ll release you.¡± Kaden sat down on the stone, keeping distance between him and the Assassin.

    ¡°Wanted the [Infernal Pearl.] Perfect for my class.¡±

    Disgust filled Kaden from head to toe. It wasn¡¯t a new story, but it was the first time he¡¯d seen this version. ¡°All right, then.¡±

    He drew Remembrance of Battle, his War Hammer, and brought it down, crushing the man¡¯s skull.

    You have slain Terrance Vorn.

    You have gained XP.

    Kaden took the corpse and watched as mobs respawned all around him. ¡°There, you can draw in mana again. I¡¯ll just see myself out. Could you lower the staircase I used to get down here?¡±

    The boss hadn¡¯t moved the whole time he spoke, but when Kaden stopped, returned to its idle pattern, shambling in circles. Then a section of the wall dropped down, revealing an alcove. There, the Dungeon Core floated, a brilliant amethyst gem.

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    Kaden approached and studied it. It was larger and far more brilliant than his own Dungeon¡¯s Core. ¡°You can re-open now. I¡¯ll be leaving. Can you give me a portal so I don¡¯t accidentally disturb anything?¡±

    A blue portal opened before the core. An exit.

    And beside it, a loot sphere shone.

    ¡°Sorry, no desire to get trapped and die. Your boss is one hell of a status dealer, and I just bet you have a brawler to back him up.¡± Kaden backed away.

    ¡°No. T-ra-p.¡± The Priest spoke, though it was less speech and more like sounds imitating the words. ¡°Gi-ffft.¡±

    Kaden reached out to touch the portal.

    Leave Dungeon? [Y/N]

    With the other hand, he took the loot container. And activated the portal.

    A moment later he was standing outside.

    Sweating.

    ¡°Trinity.¡± He summoned his TriTerror and let her crash into the brush. She couldn¡¯t be trusted to not attack mobs, but how could he deny her a jungle? Gleaming parrots the size of bald eagles burst from the trees as Trinity sought a battle. Each trailed a mixture of solar and life mana in a green and yellow swirl.

    Yellow like Trella¡¯s Mana had been.

    Would be.

    The first month after her death, he¡¯d gone down to check the enchantments daily. Then Eve had explained just how creepy it looked to have a man watching his dead lover¡¯s corpse not rot. Instead he¡¯d bought an alarm spell and had it linked to him.

    Much less creepy, according to both Sara and Eve. The following months featured fewer basement visits.

    Trinity emerged from the underbrush dragging an iguana that rotated between fire and ice, and gave a trill.

    [Bi-guana]

    The bi-guana is not to be mistaken with its cousin, the big-auna. Formed from overly friendly mana dependent versions of the iguana, instead of dying in a spectacular explosion when their egg formed, the bi-guana was born, alternating between fire and ice mana in a cycle that leaves Adventurers wishing they¡¯d picked an easier target.

    HP: 100

    Mana: 25

    Skills: Ice Aura, Flame Aura, Bite

    It was an excellent low threat monster to add to his Dungeon, which was only rank two. Maybe he¡¯d have them guard a treasure chest. Or a tree covered in them, with a chest in the center? So many choices. ¡°Good girl, we¡¯ll add her to the Dungeon when we get back. And I have a surprise for you.¡±

    He was dripping as he reached the overgrown FarPortal ring, nestled into some ruins. The giant spiders he¡¯d smashed on arrival were tucked away in Inventory for harvesting. Their hair formed a crafting component for snare spells, and Kaden could always use practice.

    [Reap Materials] had gone up a level, and after a thousand uses, so had [Field Harvest]. The only effect he¡¯d seen from either was a greater number of preserved hides. Level twenty four was not nearly so far off as he¡¯d imagined. Daily runs of Adventurers in his dungeon kept a steady stream of minor XP coming in.

    Ashi would be proud.

    Ashi wasn¡¯t there.

    Kaden watched as the FarPortal blossomed open and he stepped through to his home Guild. Technically, he should have gone to the capital, where the adventurers were registered. Practically, they were all dead.

    Kaden headed up the stairs, past the quarters, to the top floor, with Trinity behind him. ¡°Tell him I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°The Guildmaster¡¯s involved in something,¡± his assistant said, giving a smile that showed a second ring of razor sharp teeth behind her first.¡±

    Kaden waited patiently. Not that patiently. Not patient at all. He paced back and forth until the screams of ¡°I said I didn¡¯t take it¡± cut off with a wet explosion.

    A moment later, the assistant waved. ¡°He¡¯ll see you now.¡±

    The Guildmaster¡¯s office was the scene of a crime. Someone had splashed blood on a beautiful strawberry cake, ruining it, and splattered flesh across the leather upholstery and left what were either very long toes or very short fingers burning in the lamps on the walls. The Guildmaster, a thin black man with a bald head and gray beard sat at his desk, doing paperwork. ¡°Kaden. Monster.¡±

    Trinity ignored him and kept her hold on the [Bi-guana].

    Kaden gave him a nod. ¡°The healer dual classed as an assassin. Killed off his party when he thought the dungeon was over, got rolled by the secondary boss and locked in a cell. Would have eventually starved to death in a week or two.¡±

    ¡°Same story as always. Any corpses?¡±

    Kaden dropped one Corpse Inventory on the desk. ¡°Not saying they¡¯re innocent, but they were definitely victims. You want the Healer?¡±

    The Guildmaster gave a short shake. ¡°Assassins can be the best Adventurer class, but the draw of quick levels by killing is powerful. I think we¡¯ve seen what he¡¯ll do. You want to use the incinerator?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡± He stood, and then had the good sense to ask. ¡°Infernal Pearl. That a common treasure?¡±

    ¡°An Infernal Pearl? That mulick-brain killed his party over an [Infernal Pearl]? That I believe. Rare isn¡¯t the right term. If you took it from his corpse, I¡¯m going to have to demand you hand it over. I¡¯ll pay.¡± The Guildmaster waited expectantly.

    ¡°I did not take one from his corpse, I swear by the System.¡±

    The System has acknowledged and verified your oath.

    ¡°Interesting. Not ¡®you don¡¯t have one.¡¯ But who am I to question such an honest oath? Be careful. It¡¯s in essence an artifical monster core. Use them and you won¡¯t want to use anything else because you advance so quickly. Then eventually you won¡¯t be able to use anything else.¡± The Guildmaster went back to his paperwork.

    Kaden recognized a dismissal. ¡°Say someone had an [Infernal Pearl] and no interest in addiction, where do I go to trade or sell one?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically, the Kingdom Army recruiting center is where smart Adventurers go, but even better than that is to go to Egalion. It¡¯s a small kingdom, barely larger than the city, but their lack of dungeons means their army is heavily dependent on cores. Now, leave.¡±

    ¡°Yes sir.¡± Kaden was happy to leave. He¡¯d been putting off a coming quest, hoping Mr. Dervish would have good news. Hoping Ashi would return. Now, there was no time. He took the FarPortal back to his holding, welcoming the embrace of Dominion that lay over the Holding. Meant to keep the monsters in FangWood¡¯s dungeon complex at bay, it also served to make him mostly secure.

    It also told him where the others were.

    Vip had sprinted into the far field, chasing a re-animated mana rat skeleton, possibly her favorite pastime. Sara worked her plants in the greenhouse. Eve was¡­in one of the servant¡¯s quarters that had built for the Monster Surge. He sent Trinity to kill the [Bi-guana] in his dungeon and dumped Rocky out of his soul as well. The Rock Gobbler hated cold and damp and summer wouldn¡¯t last forever.

    ¡°Hey.¡± He called out so he didn¡¯t startle her as she tended rows of plants with her [Gardening] skill. ¡°That one¡¯s different. What are you growing?¡±

    ¡°Gardening reached level ten. I¡¯m growing a trio of trumpets. Speed, healing, and one that will be dependent on what we fertilize it with.¡± Sara cleaned her hands and left the garden. ¡°Did you find the party?¡±

    ¡°Same story as always. Healer dual classed as an Assassin and killed the party for an Infernal Pearl. Which I have.¡±

    ¡°Nasty treasure, never worth it,¡± Sara said. Her green pseudopods snaked out to examine Kaden up close. The tips unzipped to reveal four-way jaws filled with teeth, and one picked a leaf from his hair. ¡°You are going to sell it, right?¡±

    ¡°In Egalion. No idea where it is, but they offer the most.¡±

    Sara looked away, her mouth drawn tight. ¡°It¡¯s where James Dervish took you to be resurrected after you were killed at the gate. The main temple of Varun is there. Queen¡ª¡±

    ¡°Bruna Barrister.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten. ¡°We¡¯ll avoid her. Is it safe for Eve to come? She¡¯s a Priestess of Varun¡¯s dark half. I¡¯d halfway expect them to burn her.¡±

    ¡°Nurav is a necessary and equal partner. Eve will be pitied, and probably unwelcome in the temple, but allowed. She¡¯s been searching for Metami, going through what was left to try and understand where she might have gone. Oh, and Munoz is almost done with [Storm Condor] feathers. She¡¯s been bringing them one at a time.¡±

    The Shield Saint had sought anonymity. Kaden didn¡¯t blame her.The Crafter sought trust, which he¡¯d give as she earned it and not a moment sooner.

    A moment later, he felt the Dungeon shift. Trinity had delivered a new [Entity Seed], allowing his dungeon to spawn them.

    Having the dungeon at rank one had deepened the bond enough that he could see the status without being inside it.

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x10,000 (acquired)

    100x Adventurer Party (acquired)

    25x [Entity Seeds] (acquired)

    1x MiniBoss Seed (acquired)

    Optional, Required for next Rank: 1x [Lieutenant Seed]

    Banked for next rank: 13x [Entity Seeds], 2,344 Directed Mana

    It was ready to grow.Ready for Rank Two, and level fifteen monsters, and more rooms¡ªand a miniboss! The thought made Kaden happy. The rank up bonus, too, would be welcome. ¡°I might make level twenty five when the dungeon ranks up. I gained two levels last time.¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. You were close to leveling already, and the road to twenty five is so long. Twenty five is the next level floor. The next tier. You¡¯ll have to work for it. That said, I expect you¡¯ll reach it long before any of the rest of us.¡± Sara waved as Eve emerged from one of the servant¡¯s quarters. ¡°Are you up for a trip?¡±

    Eve had Portal Mage training of a sort. ¡°Where are we gong?¡±

    ¡°Egalion, to sell an [Infernal Pearl] and then WhisperWood to sell enchanted pollen.¡±

    Eve halted. ¡°I¡¯m not going to Egalion. You can, but I won¡¯t. Do you have any idea how they¡¯ll react to me? Let me tell you, it won¡¯t be good. So, Whisperwood, certainly. Egalion, you go yourself.¡±

    ¡°We can do that. Kaden¡¯s ready to rank up The Zoo as well.¡± With the surge ended, Sara had no qualms about a stronger dungeon. ¡°Will you have side effects?

    ¡°Probably. I won¡¯t raise the rank until we¡¯re back. It won¡¯t hurt anything, and I don¡¯t want to rush.¡± Kaden whistled for Vip and waited until she came sprinting from the fields to leap into his arm¡ªthen pulled Rocky into his soul. ¡°You¡¯re coming with me. Just in case.¡±

    *Love!* Vip said. And felt. Her life was simple, her needs easy. A warm bed, a bowl of food and some attention were worth more than all the gold coins in the world.

    Kaden pulled her into his soul. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with. I¡¯ll negotiate for the pollen, you two can explore the Grove.¡±

    ¡°Druuuuiids,¡± Sara said, giving him a smile. ¡°I could sing it with you.¡±

    ¡°You sing. I have other things to do.¡± Singing was off the table. That was exactly why he was going to handle negotiations.

 Two - Get Your Grove On

    Eve¡¯s Portal Mage skills were so much better now that she¡¯d taken actual training instead of teaching herself. She activated it with ease, and Kaden arrived upright, facing the right direction, and with Sara four feet in the air above him rather than on top of him. Her pseudopods whipped out to grasp the earth and then lowered her to standing as Eve stepped through. ¡°Sorry, the energy got away from me.¡±

    The Grove was not the city¡¯s name, but it was what mattered to Kaden.

    And he liked it here.

    As far as he could see, tall trees grew, their branches touching easily fifty feet above. The Druids themselves lived in nature, growing shelters of blade grass much like Kaden used in his Dungeon, and removing them each dawn. The late afternoon sun filtered through the magic that protected the forest beneath from rain and snow. Low fires blazed in the distance, and groups of druids practiced combat, sparring with their Beasts against each other.

    Kaden brought out Trinity. ¡°Be nice. They like beasts here, but if you start killing everything, that could change.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s deep rumble was translated by [Beast Speech] as close to *I¡¯m here to kick ass and eat wolves, and I¡¯m all out of wolves.*

    A group of druids stood in a circle around a heat stone, cooking meat, and one of them approached, a short man with a thick black beard and long, wild hair that cascaded over his brown robes. ¡°Welcome to the Grove. If you come in peace, you will find us friendly. How may I be of service?¡±

    [Identify] activated, giving him a name.

    [Olidar Kemel - Druid Master]

    And nothing more. A Centurion, almost certainly. Kaden looked to Sara and Eve. ¡°Go on, explore.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± Sara said, watching him closely. ¡°You have never volunteered to run negotiations. You hate negotation! It¡¯s worth the bad deals to me just to see you try. Don¡¯t keep him waiting, he could kill you with his pinky.¡±

    That got a laugh from Olidar. ¡°My pinky¡¯s a little sore from all the killing. I¡¯m trying to give it a rest. My pointer finger, on the other hand, is perfectly healthy, so be polite.¡±

    ¡°During the surge we were fortunate enough to get attacked by a [Moon Moth]. Our crafter retrieved several types of specialized pollen from the corpse, and I¡¯m told mana endowed pollen is a weapon resource for [Druids].¡± Kaden met the man¡¯s gaze. Centurions were powerful, but he¡¯d come peacefully.

    ¡°Beast Master? Haven¡¯t met one of those before. We get a lot of [Tamers]. What¡¯s the Class do?¡±

    ¡°I gain abilities from Beasts I bond with. When I reach twenty five, [Beast Soul] should let me gain abilities from anything I tame.¡± That last bit had come to him as innate knowledge when Ashi¡¯s mother traded him knowledge of the skill.

    ¡°Interesting. Your name is registered with FangWood. You¡¯re related to Virgil Birch? Haven¡¯t seen him in fifty years.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t heard his father¡¯s name in a long time. ¡°His son. He died a decade ago.¡±

    ¡°How did you not wind up here? Your father may have chosen [Ranger] but he could have been a [Druid] like his mother.¡±

    ¡°I had a [Destiny.] Trust me, your instructor did what she could. About the pollen¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough about the pollen! We¡¯ll get it evaluated, we¡¯ll give you a decent offer. Come on, this is a good day. You might not be one of us, but we get along well with [Rangers] and [Tamers] and probably [Beast Masters]. Hard to be sure, there¡¯s always some people who are dicks.¡± Olidar waved for Kaden¡ªand Sara¡ªand Eve to follow. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve got people to meet. That¡¯s a fine beast you got. Feels like a Ruby Hydra, looks like something out of a nightmare.¡±

    Kaden was always proud of Trinity. ¡°The serpentine head poisons and has acidic drool, the armored bone head bashes and bites limbs off, the center one just rips and tears. Then there¡¯s the spear tail. And the claws. And she [Cooks].¡±

    He brought out Vip as well and Rocky. Druids liked Beasts. Rocky didn¡¯t appreciate needing to move, but plodded along grudgingly.

    ¡°You got a zoo,¡± Olidar said.

    ¡°Yes, but it was housing refugees. We¡¯ll start fixing it up soon,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Oh, you mean a bunch of beasts? Yes. Vip was my first.¡±

    At her name, Vip came leaping, licking, and generally loving, then wiggled her way down and took off through the Grove.

    Olidar veered right¡ªand disappeared as he stepped between trees.

    ¡°That didn¡¯t look normal.¡± Kaden glanced to Sara, who shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen stranger.¡± Eve seemed unconcerned.

    When Kaden took two steps forward, everything shifted. He stood in an underground cavern. Vast roots stretched overhead, forming the roof, and swarms of fireflies overhead reminded him of the tadpoles in his [Prismatic Frog Colony].

    Except these wouldn¡¯t devour any flesh they could get to.

    Druid Crafters worked at wide tables everywhere. Some used flame spells to cure hides while others harvested crafting materials from corpses, and others imbued staffs with runes and mana.

    Eve gawked at the crafter skinning a bear. ¡°I thought [Druids] worshipped bears. Or nature. Or something. What happened to living in harmony with nature?¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Sometimes Nature doesn¡¯t live in harmony with us,¡± Olidar said. ¡°When that happens, we do as Nature does. We recover and rebuild and restore. You shoot a deer, you eat it. A Bearzerker eats you. It¡¯s the circle of Adventuring. Deylin, Vurus! Enchanted pollen!¡±

    The call sent two men running, leaving behind their workbenches. ¡°Let¡¯s see. Did you run the [Flower Forest] dungeon?¡±

    ¡°[Moon Moth] boss got attacked by [Dagger Dream], we sort of picked on both,¡± Kaden said, producing all the varieties of pollen Munoz had harvested. Kaden¡¯s [Reap Materials] skill would never compete with someone who did it for a living, though he still enjoyed it.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I call luck. Oh, we won¡¯t be dissolving these for staffs. These, we want to grow.¡± The two Crafters exchanged a discussion back and forth. ¡°It will take few days to make sure it¡¯s fertile. Next time, bring it immediately. If it is, I¡¯m not sure we have anything you need.¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°She¡¯s our Party Leader and knows about our quests. Weapons we¡¯re good on. Spells, Sara¡¯s got Storm Mana, Eve is Moon Mana, I¡¯m Chrono. Gold is always welcome.¡±

    ¡°Chrono.¡± Olidar spoke it like a curse. ¡°Good luck getting spells for that. Moon aligned spells, that we could help with. If we¡¯re dealing fairly, you won¡¯t like what we offer and we won¡¯t like what you ask, but that¡¯s how it goes.¡±

    Crafter Deylin has asked permission to sample each [Pollen] type. [Y/N]

    Kaden repeated the prompt out loud. ¡°What am I allowing?¡±

    Deylin spoke up. ¡°The pollen could be drained to provide charges for staffs, or it could be used to grow trees with the auras associated. Sampling will drain a charge but let us be sure it¡¯s fertile.¡±

    Now, like always, he missed Trella¡¯s ability to talk in code, silent taps that let him converse. ¡°All right. Go ahead. It¡¯s worth the risk if it¡¯s still fertile.¡±

    ¡°Thought you didn¡¯t want to stay,¡± Sara whispered.

    A short shake of the head was his answer. ¡°We can discuss it later. Somewhere private.¡±

    Eve paused. ¡°Druids? Druiiids? Am I doing it right?¡±

    Kaden debated just how much strangling would constitute Strangling with a capital S. ¡°Not right now. Or no Vip for a month.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t!¡±

    He would. Kaden looked to Olidar. ¡°These two are looking to tour the Grove. I¡¯d like to relax with my Beasts. Where¡¯s the nearest Inn?¡±

    ¡°We have TreeSpaces. I wouldn¡¯t dream of having Birch¡¯s boy stay some place else. Your grandmother, if she was still alive, would love to see this day.¡± Olidar whistled. A dragonfly the size of a man swooped down to listen¡ªand dodged the [FalCrow] as it soared by.

    The [FalCrow] refused to stay in Kaden¡¯s soul, but it would obey him, the only good effect from the disaster Professor Treadle had created with his malfunctioning Binding. Once a week, Kaden went to Beast Control to have his soul checked. The spidery web of red remained clamped down on him, because Trella wasn¡¯t gone forever.

    Yet.

    Every day felt like forever.

    ¡°Vespa will see you to your TreeSpaces. We were already planning a feast, but I¡¯ll say it¡¯s in your honor. Everyone loves a good honor feast. If you want, we can start negotiating payment tomorrow. There¡¯s a minimum you¡¯d get even if we just drain if for staff magic.¡± Olidar pointed.

    Kaden¡¯s heart just about dropped.

    Hovering before them, on blurry wings, was a [Dagger Dream] no larger than Kaden.

    [Vespa - Bound Dagger Dream]

    The lowly dagger wasps may only dream of one day reaching this level of power, and it is fortunate for the rest of Nature that few do. This one is bonded to the [Druid] Olidar and in return, will one day own a nest deep in the mountains where few humans will go, and even fewer will return. It serves with pleasure, knowing a true feast will one day come.

    Level: 11

    HP: 1,000

    Mana: 74

    Skills: Paralyzing Sting, Harmonic Hum

    *Hungry*

    ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of Vespa, are you?¡± Olidar asked, reaching out his hand to caress the wasp queen¡¯s leg. ¡°Not much of a Beast Master if you are.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hungry, and the last one of those I saw was the size of a wagon.¡± Kaden¡¯s [Resist Poison] skill was powerful, but probably not up to the challenge.

    Olidar whispered to the wasp. ¡°Well, I¡¯d say she¡¯s not hungry but she says she is. Any chance you could teach [Beast Empathy] to one of our Centurions?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°My beast skills don¡¯t level the way normal ones do. They only grow as I establish relationships with people. All sorts of relationships.¡±

    ¡°[Runemaster] was the same way. That was an old class. You know, we have [Tamers] here who could probably teach you a trick or two. You have taming abilities, and those are very likely to be the same. It¡¯s considered extremely rude to [Tame] someone¡¯s Beast without permission, but I¡¯m sure we can arrange some new experiences.¡±

    Now that was something worth trading for. ¡°I¡¯d love to spend some time with them.¡±

    Olidar pointed out the grass underneath them. ¡°It¡¯s one of our only contributions to greater [Druid] magic - the grass is a wayfinder species that will never, ever lead you into danger. Try it, I¡¯ve had rooms assigned for you.¡±

    Kaden focused on the idea of a room. His room.

    The grass underneath bloomed greener in a wave that gently moved forward, even as other waves passed his for Eve and Sara. Kaden followed it past a group of initiates practicing their skills, around a wide campfire where people sat joking and roasting meat.

    Trinity peeled off from the group to gaze at the fire.

    Or the meat.

    The grass led him to a hollow tree trunk, the sort of place he¡¯d heard in Tavern Tales would lead to Druid treasure. Instead it led to a modest room, round, with a balcony that grew out of a tree trunk. No doors needed, and if he jumped, he would wake up in a resurrection room¡ªor not at all¡ªjudging from how far up he was.

    The simple bed and blankets would be plenty since Trinity and Vip would be sleeping beside him. That, perhaps, was one of the loneliest parts of missing Trella. He hadn¡¯t been this alone since she went to train with the Sisters.

    But this is how she¡¯d felt when he was away in Vichor for months that turned out to be years. His room portal flared, and Trinity stumbled through, whipping her heads around to reorient herself and then looking over the balcony edge before backing away to trumpet in fear.

    ¡°Yeah, I wouldn¡¯t jump. But the tree¡¯s not going to fall down.¡± Kaden triggered the heat stone and realized there was no separate bath, which put a dent in his ideas. He¡¯d been driving himself further and harder and it didn¡¯t make the anger at Professor Treadle go away. It didn¡¯t make the worry go away.

    His Dungeon was running well, almost too well after a party wipe. His duties as an Eradictor of erratic dungeons would never end. For now, Kaden would try resting. Quiet. Peace. Druid Groves were known for those qualities, and the ability to be quiet was a core requirement.

    One could not hear the Forest or Nature herself if one was constantly screaming.

    Which someone was.

    Kaden was on his feet in an instant and sprinted for the portal with Trinity at his side. He burst out into the common path to find the grove overrun with men. Men with goat legs and goat heads and black webbing between their arms that formed useless wings to go with the stubby rat tails that whipped back and forth.

    [Graht - Minor Demon]

    These aren¡¯t even the shock troopers of the nine hells, these are the pests demon lords drive out, but their wounds are poison, their breath a constant miasma, and what they lack in charisma, strength, skills or talents, they make up for in sheer numbers.

    Level: 20

    HP: 800

    Mana: 400

    Skills: Bahamut Bray, Blunt Weapons

    Talents: None

    Demons, in the Grove. Relaxation could wait, and while he¡¯d wanted a bath, now it would have to be in the blood of his enemies.

 Three - Demon Dinner

    The Demons would flock to Eve because of her [Hated by Demons] title. He summoned the [FalCrow] and sent it to Eve with a warning, then drew Remembrance of Battle and followed Trinity.

    Trinity was intelligent. With three brains, her IQ usually exceeded most Adventurers. What she was not was restrained, and given the chance to mangle enemies, she¡¯d thrown herself into the fray, so Kaden joined her. Remembrance of Battle would grow sharper with every blow, so to start he used [Stealth] and [Backslash] to kill a Graht, then leaped through the battle around Trinity, dispensing blows to every one of the demons he could reach.

    Trinity was taking them on three at a time, tearing and poisoning and bashing, her [Multitasker] talent letting her target different enemies without a penalty. In seconds the Grahts realized that the individual Druids were in no way as dangerous as the mutant Hydra. Or the [Beast Master] fighting alongside her.

    [Split Second] activated, draining mana, as a spear whistled by Kaden¡¯s nose. He spun to face a new, armed phalanx of Grahts with spears and shields. ¡°Trinity, you take the unarmed ones.¡±

    Trinity didn¡¯t speak so much as deny his command with a wave of fury. There were enemies. There was death.

    Kaden pulled her into his soul and activated his Eldritch Shield, pointed toward the Grahts. The bone monster thrummed with power as its minor fear aura swept out. Spears gave the Grahts an advantage, so Kaden closed the distant, dodging one spear with [Moment of Speed] and ignoring the other that stabbed into his thigh with [Fortress of Stone].

    And now he was among them, activating [Mana Drain] not for the mana but because of the agony it caused. If a graht dropped a spear, he snatched it with Inventory. And the grahts began to shriek and flee..toward him? Remembrance¡¯s axe edge met one and the hammer head another but¡ªah.

    Shadows blossomed between the trees as an unholy portal opened up and a creature twelve feet tall stepped through. It was man-like, on two legs, but covered in smooth gray scales that didn¡¯t overlap but meshed like a puzzle. Rows of bumps ran up the spine, over the back of its bald head and ended on the forehead in a short horn. The nose was flat and flared to the sides, the jaws jutted forward, but the worst was the eyes, the pupils were filled with an inky blackness that radiated hatred.

    The green grass beneath its feet withered and turned black.

    [Demon Daddy Darmando]

    Darmando has existed in the third hell for longer than mankind has known how to pick up sticks. His hunger for power has driven him to seek the food of this world, and the strength to descend to a greater hell. Darmando is immune to status effects and control. His focus is on food.

    You are food.

    Level: 53

    HP: 10,000

    Mana: 1000

    Skills: Summon Daughter, Minion Surge, Rally of Hell, Fear Aura, Miasma, Corruption Strike, Eye of Asmodeous, Resist Fear, Resist Pain, Resist Paralysis, Resist Poison, Thundering Chain Strike

    *This is not a beast. Your skills reveal nothing. You should probably be running already.

    Kaden ran. Closer.

    Darmando looked at him and looked away, searching for bigger threats, ignoring the Adventurer who dared charge him.

    [Moment of Speed] let Kaden dive under a kick and deliver a hundred point [Mana Spike] to Darmando thigh. All those skills wouldn¡¯t matter if¡ªHe never saw the claw swipe coming.

    [Resilient Constitution] has blocked 4,832 points of damage.

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden hit a Graht, hit a tree, killing the graht, tangled in the branches a hundred yards from Darmando, who was now singularly focused on him. With one hand, he summoned a health potion from Inventory and sipped it. Resilient Constitution would keep him from dying if he had more than one point of health, and that would be the game.

    There were Centurions in the Grove. There were higher level Adventurers. That they weren¡¯t here said there were worse things loose. Kaden¡¯s health ticked higher in a familiar way. That was Sara¡¯s title, Herald of Life, but he didn¡¯t see her.

    What he did see was Darmando beneath him.

    The demon wasn¡¯t built to jump, and it had lodged him in the branches a few feet above its grasp.

    Kaden twisted and pulled himself higher up, then pulsed [Mana Drain] to keep Darmando¡¯s focus on him. This wasn¡¯t a battle he could win in chops. Winning would be surviving. [Multispeak] tried and failed to translate the grumbling, growling speech the Demon uttered, but Kaden was fairly sure he understood the gist. ¡°Hey, stupid! I helped kill one of your daughters. Maybe not one of yours specifically, but a Demon Daughter!¡± He dangled his legs down.

    Trinity gave him several gifts through [Beast Heart] but one of them was nearly always a waste. [Acidic Drool] didn¡¯t have a ton of uses in every day life.

    Spitting in the eye of a demon was just one of those things you couldn¡¯t plan for, but ¡®when life gives you demon eyes, spit acid in them¡¯ was his motto. A motto. Not one he used a lot, but still. Darmando roared in pain and turned, looking from Kaden to the trunk of the tree that Kaden clung to.

    In ten thundering steps, it leaped up to rake claws into the trunk, and began to climb.

    Kaden knew trouble when he saw it, and scrambled along branchest that grew thicker and thicker. A clawed-fist gripped the branch he stood on, and Kaden almost fell, but as the branch rebounded, he used the energy to bring down Remembrance¡¯s axe head on the demon¡¯s claw-knuckle.

    It sank half-way through the finger, when on any lesser monster it would have cut the finger off, but the result was exactly what Kaden wanted, Darmando yanked back its hand and screamed in pain, showing fangs the length of Kaden¡¯s hand as it threw back its head.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    A perfect place for more [Acidic Drool].

    He had no illusions, the monster wouldn¡¯t die by his hand, but what Kaden did have was hope. Hope others would come to help. [Mana Drain] made it howl again, keeping Damando¡¯s fury focused on Kaden.

    But instead of charging, it tore at its own head, pulling out an eye.

    The moment it did, the air in the Grove changed, becoming darker, with colors that made his mind ache, as a presence burst out of the eye.

    Darmando has used [Eye of Asmodeus].

    Asmodeus gazes upon your soul.

    Your soul is found weak and unworthy of Asmodeus¡¯s attention.

    Kaden dismissed the rest of the notifications to leap from the tree, burying Remembrance in the wrist holding Asmodeus¡¯s eye. He didn¡¯t blame Darmando for dropping the eye, and he hoped Darmando didn¡¯t blame Kaden for putting it into Inventory. Kaden landed on his feet and used [Moment of Speed] to charge forward, past Darmando.

    As it spun, a black mist began to seep from it, no doubt an aura effect. Aura damage would kill Kaden before [Resilient Constitution] could help. But as it focused, a hymn that would destroy the world rose up.

    You are affected by [Anthem of the End] (Sara Scylla). Your resistances do not help.

    Kaden¡¯s precariously low health began to fall as the song ramped up. Forget sipping, he swigged the healing potion and pulled another. [Anthem of the End] would scale the longer it went on.

    And Darmando knew where Sara was. She wasn¡¯t hiding. Though blood dripped from her nose, tear ducts, and ears, Sara stood to Kaden¡¯s left, both swords drawn, as her Cosmic Horror¡¯s psuedopods belted out the song that would one day end the universe. Each psuedopod uttered a different part of the song, harmonizing in ways that made Kaden see planets exploding and stars collapsing inward.

    Wham! A minotaur eight feet tall slammed in Damando¡¯s gut, knocking the demon five steps back. Twin Mana arrows slammed into the Demon, and vines errupted from the ground to pin it down. ¡°Come into my grove?¡± Olidar shouted. ¡°You¡¯re not even a Lord of Hell. And you won¡¯t ever be, because you lack patience, Darmando.¡±

    To his side, a [Ranger] with a bow made of vines continued to fire careful shots, aimed just above the navel.

    Darmando twisted, allowing the arrows to spear him. Protecting his core. His eyes locked on Kaden, and he opened his mouth to scream out something. Kaden felt the mana surge. The Demon must have had just enough to use a skill. ¡°He did something, some kind of skill,¡± Kaden shouted. Then he activated [Mana Drain] and kept it drained, funeling the excess to Olidar through [Mana Well].

    ¡°What a kind gift, Demon Daddy Darmando. Your own mana will heal the damage you¡¯ve caused,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Kanli, you want to do the honors?¡±

    The Minotaur approached and drew a short sword from its Inventory. With skill Kaden hadn¡¯t expected from a Beast, it slashed an X in Darmando and reached in with a claw to tear out a Demon Seed.

    The moment it did, Damando¡¯s eyes lost focus.

    This Demon Seed was five times the size of the one Eve ruptured.

    ¡°You can have the seed, but I want another Demon attribute,¡± the Ranger said. ¡°You mind?¡±

    The Minotaur tossed the seed into the air¡ªwhere a swarm of arrows obliterated it. The grove fell quiet as the last few Drahts sprinted away.

    His health had risen to twenty, and Kaden rushed to check Sara. She was no more immune to [Anthem of the End] than he was. ¡°Healing potion?¡±

    ¡°Please.¡± Sara stood. Her eyes were scarlet from blood leaking into them. ¡°[Anthem of the End] barely harmed it.¡±

    ¡°We have healers,¡± Olidar said. ¡°The main incursion was aimed at the nursery, of course. The [Shield Trees] held, and we have many wounded there, but there¡¯ll be time. Congratulations, both of you. Darmando isn¡¯t the most fiery drake in the hatchery, but he had twenty five levels on both of you. Delaying him is a feat in and of itself. You deserve the gains.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t check his system notifications.

    You have helped defeat a Demon.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a level.

    You have attribute ponts to distribute.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°Twenty Four!¡±

    ¡°Same,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯m so close. Level twenty five. A new Summons. Possibilities.¡±

    Kaden studied the results. ¡°Did your numbers go up more? I gained more health from this level than ever before.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re close to the next tier,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Have¡¯t you noticed monsters at twenty five have way more health and mana than you? At the next tier, your gains are deeper. Your skills don¡¯t change but they become more effective. And at level one hundred, the stat bonuses you get on top of the gains will be three times what you¡¯re getting now.¡±

    Kaden missed whatever else he said, because the minotaur had begun to change. Its skin grew lighter, a tan yellow, and it shrank, becoming more rounded. Hair receded on its body and grew longer on its head as breasts grew and curves rounded out. Kanli wasn¡¯t a Beast. Kanli was a [Druid] woman, who drew a robe from Inventory and cinched it.

    ¡°You have [Shapeshift]?¡± Kaden asked with awe in his voice.

    ¡°Tier three skill, level fifty,¡± Kanli answered. ¡°With a class name like [Beast Master], I¡¯d expect one in your future.¡±

    ¡°[Beast Form],¡± Kaden said. ¡°Level twenty five. I could shift to a minotaur. Or a kraken. Or a dragon.¡±

    Kanli¡¯s laughter sank into the grass. ¡°Start with something small, and stick to one shape until you have it down. I have my Class Evolution and I still use [Shapeshift] in battle. [Tree Form] is ridiculously powerful, but few things beat a minotaur.¡±

    ¡°Your Class Evolution is a [Tree Form]?¡± Sara asked. ¡°That¡¯s what you leveled to one hundred for?¡±

    ¡°Trees are ridiculously powerful. Most [Druids] shift to their tree form and never shift back. They have their own skill set, evolutions.¡± Kanli nodded to Olidar. ¡°He says you have pollen. I get my choice, and it¡¯ll give me an aura in less than three decades.¡±

    ¡°Decades?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°You have to spend ten years as a tree?

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking like an Adventurer, not a Centurion,¡± Olidar said. ¡°What¡¯s three decades in a lifespan of a thousand years or more?¡±

    Most Centurions didn¡¯t live that long. Maybe Druids did because they became trees. As they spoke, Kaden¡¯s health ticked upward along with his mana. And he began to worry. ¡°What was the skill Darmando used? I had him locked down but his mana must have regenerated.¡±

    ¡°Damando¡¯s dedicated,¡± Kanli said. ¡°We¡¯ve killed him every three hundred years like clockwork. My guess is that he tried to summon a Demon¡¯s Daughter. Splitting their seed like that doesn¡¯t kill the big ones, it just sends them back.¡±

    That was depressing. ¡°Eve. Tell me she hid.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°The Ranger Centurions kept her in the center of their formation and used her to wipe out Grahts. She¡¯s a hero.¡±

    The Ranger nodded. ¡°I was personally hoping for Hated by Demons. Instead I got another Haunted by Demons.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t stop staring at the Ranger.

    It was like looking at his dad.

    The heavy cloth cloak in mottled grays and greens that shifted with every step, the heavy boots, the bow that dissolved to just a handle, that same piercing gaze. It brought up memories Kaden hadn¡¯t thought of for years. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to learn to use a bow. Or to track. All the things he¡¯d dreamed of when he was a boy.¡°I¡¯m going to check on Eve.¡±

    ¡°Your healer? My owl says she¡¯s leading a sweep through the city. Going to be neck deep in gifts at this rate, and Hrooo says she doesn¡¯t even care. Strange one, that girl.¡± The Ranger spoke gruffly, and was done. His tone didn¡¯t invite comment or question.

    Mara, had a hawk. Kaden didn¡¯t remember his dad having any animal. No, that would have been something that stood out.

    A messenger bird landed on Sara¡¯s arm and spoke for a moment. ¡°You know, I never considered Eve a businesswoman. She¡¯s volunteered to stay and clear the city¡ªif they ensure she gets a constant stream of experience.¡±

    Kaden totally believed it.

    The monetary rewards wouldn¡¯t mean much. He¡¯d essentially guessed she was daughter of a minor noble, raised with wealth, but these days she lived much simpler. The XP, on the other hand, would be harder to come by. ¡°Is this sort of thing common?¡±

    ¡°Demons hate Nature. I¡¯d rather they attack us than the city,¡± Kanli said. ¡°I¡¯m going to go join the sweep. Olidar?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°The boy¡¯s right. There¡¯s a Daughter loose, but you know how it is.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m fairly sure Kaden doesn¡¯t either,¡± Sara said. ¡°We should hunt her down and kill her now. We barely managed it before.¡±

    ¡°If only it were that easy. A newly spawned Demon¡¯s Daughter has a masking aura. You won¡¯t be able to detect her until she decides to reveal herself,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Normally, the first thing a Daughter does is run so she can start preparing again, but something doesn¡¯t feel right. I¡¯m going to ask for more Rangers to guard the borders. It would be just like Darmando to order his only remaining daughter to make a suicide attack.¡±

    Kanli studied the shadows of the trees. ¡°We¡¯ll be ready.¡±

    The look of sheer hatred on the demon¡¯s face wouldn¡¯t be something Kaden forgot. He¡¯d need to be ready, too.

 Four - Deep Wounds

    One thing Kaden deeply appreciated about Druids was that their Centurions had power¡ªand used it. When he explained he¡¯d wait his turn for the healing pool, Olidar had nearly choked. There wasn¡¯t a healing pool. If they needed healing pools, the druids made them, something they said was Nature¡¯s balance for them fighting Demons.

    ¡°You should know,¡± the pool attendant said, ¡°This particular treatment isn¡¯t standard. Most adventurers can¡¯t afford it until level fifty. But you faced a level fifty, so it¡¯s only right.¡±

    Kaden sat in small, steaming pool surrounded by tall bladegrass, something Eve had insisted on, and Kaden didn¡¯t begrudge her privacy as she shared a pool with Sara. ¡°How did the city sweep go?¡±

    ¡°Did you know Vip can swim?¡± Eve asked. ¡°It¡¯s so cute! I just adore watching her. The sweep was easy. I was at the center of five Centurions. The demons came running, I hit them with [Life Transfusion] and one of the others obliterated them.¡±

    Maybe Hated by Demons wasn¡¯t such a bad title.

    Sara had joined Eve in her pool, Kaden knew, but hadn¡¯t spoken.

    The steam made Kaden¡¯s eyes itch, and oily colors played out across the surface of the water as Kaden relaxed. The pond was a natural healing potion, growing his health and mana, and functioned in a way that reminded Kaden of his Guardian of Life title.

    The pool master had explained that old scars, wounds, and ¡®negative energy¡¯ would be drawn out by the additional treatment. Eve asked six times if it was done and six times been told she¡¯d know when it was.

    For now, Kaden stared at the reflection of stars through tree branches.

    ¡°Kaden Birch?¡± A man called from just outside his bladegrass wall. ¡°I¡¯m one of the chief [Tamers]. Olidar said you might want to talk.¡±

    Something landed in the pool, a thin robe that absorbed the water.

    Kaden slipped it on, because anyone who brought a robe cared if he wore one. ¡°Come in.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t want any of that on me. I forgot what it¡¯s like to a have a body so impure.¡± A short pale man stepped in as the blade grass grew out and warped to make a space for him to sit. ¡°Tanny Ren,¡± he said, offering his hand. ¡°Beast Taming, that¡¯s a [Taming] skill all right. How many taming slots do you have?¡±

    ¡°Three.¡±

    ¡°Ouch.¡± Tanny looked away. ¡°That¡¯s level one. Level two only requires taming one beast. Have you never used it?¡±

    Kaden explained about how [Beast Master] skills worked differently. ¡°I really thought¡ªa friend¡ªwould wind up boosting something. She left.¡±

    ¡°Three. Hmmmm.¡± Tanny fell silent. ¡°You can [Tame] and release, right?¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°I tamed a Winged Scorpion. It didn¡¯t end well.¡±

    ¡°Stung you once? Or twice, before you let it go?¡±

    The exact number of stings didn¡¯t matter. ¡°We parted ways. Have I mentioned how delicious scorpion steak is?¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow. When there aren¡¯t Demons assaulting the Grove, come by the coral. We have half a dozen beasts of the sort you should use for training. Even if you can¡¯t increase your skill level, you¡¯ll know how it works. Tamers need to start building their herd!¡±

    With [Beast Soul] coming, Kaden wanted it. Every beast he tamed would be one more which gave him abilities, and from [Beast Knowledge] he gathered that previous Beast Masters would tame ones that gave them abilities needed for a specific battle, then let them go.

    ¡°I want to build a herd. I own a zoo. It had people in it the last time I saw, but that could be fixed.¡±

    Tanny nodded and offered Kaden his hand. ¡°You¡¯re coming to the feast? Olidar says it¡¯s in your honor, but the signs still say ¡®Late Summer Third Week Star Harvest.¡¯¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t. ¡°We¡¯ll see. I would prefer some quiet.¡±

    ¡°How did you not wind up here?¡± Tanny stood and motioned to the Blade Grass, which drew back like a curtain. ¡°I swear, our recruiters are missing the mark. Beast skills, son of a ranger¡ª¡±

    ¡°And a [Shadow Blade]. Dad spent years trying to work with me as a kid. Your recruiter woman spent days, and I¡¯d bet you a gold piece I would have been a [Rogue] if the System hadn¡¯t had other plans.¡± It didn¡¯t hurt to say it anymore.

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask Ravena. She should have gifted you¡ª¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Kaden said. ¡°I have nothing but respect for her. I¡¯m grateful for the gift of time she gave. And that, really, is all.¡±

    Kaden secretly suspected it would have resulted in a burned out skill slot just as all the [Rogue] skills had. And he didn¡¯t think Ravena had forgotten his one¡ªand only¡ªforay into [Song Writing]. That skill was sworn off if not burned out. ¡°Sara? Was there no other Grove?¡±

    ¡°There was, but this one had a Quest out,¡± Sara answered. ¡°Plus I really want to see this Ravena. Given how attached you were¡ªare¡ªto Trella, I have to see this beauty who came between you.¡±

    ¡°She did not come between us.¡± Kaden was done with the bath, and plucked a white flower that grew beside the pool to summon the Bath Master.

    He stomped through the Blade Grass. ¡°Done already? I¡ªyou¡¯re not done. Look at the water!¡±

    Ribbons of black ink leaked up from Kaden¡¯s skin, diffusing out into the pond. ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°I told you. Back. Back in the water, all the way to the chin. You ¡®ll know. We¡¯re gong to make sure you recover.¡± He crossed his arms until Kaden sat back down, then made an ajustment to the enchantment. ¡°You have Mana Dart? Let¡¯s see one.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Kaden drew a dart.

    Since Trella¡¯s death, they were opaque. Kaden focused on clarifying. On stilling his soul. And drew another dart. This was clearer, but nowhere near what he¡¯d reached in Vichor. He focused on solidifying the dart, and produced a pea-sized sphere that shone. ¡°It¡¯s a been a hard few months.¡±

    The Bath Master nodded. ¡°Odd technique for solidifying Mana. That¡¯s a [Mage] skill, not something other classes use. Still, whatever gets it moving. Cycle your Mana and let the pool draw out what it can.¡±

    Kaden began to draw Mana through [Mana Dart]. Then he tried [Mana Spike], pouring mana into the mana spike, then dismissing it. The water went from clear to inky to solid black. The pool struggled, producing clear swirls that were immediately taken over by darkness.

    But as minutes passed, under the criitical eye of the Bath Master, the water slowly changed to violet, then blue, and, over hours, clear. At last, the water receded to nothing. The healing pond flexed upward as grass grew in.

    Kaden stood.

    Lighter. Faster. Sad, but not drowning. He wrapped the wet robe around him, though it didn¡¯t really stretch over his frame anymore. Twenty five attribute points had changed his body from the tall, thin man he¡¯d been. He wasn¡¯t a hulking giant like Mr. Dervish, but he wouldn¡¯t call himself lean.

    Kaden still had his plain tan clothing from ShadowVale, though the vest no longer fit. His white armor was being cleaned of the ichor spilled by Asmodeus¡¯s eye. The notifications had worried him.

    Asmodeus will remember you.

    No idea what it meant for a demon lord to remember him, but Kaden didn¡¯t expect it to be good. ¡°You have shoes?¡±

    ¡°And lose our contact with the earth?¡± The Bath Master shook his head. ¡°Your female friends had no issue adopting our style, even the snake lady.¡±

    ¡°Cosmic Horror, not snakes.¡± Kaden took a deep breath. Took a step, and found each one easier. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who looked a Demon Lord in the eye at twenty three. Even if it was that dumb-ass Darmando. He got killed three hundred years ago by a team of level forty archers. When he shows up in a couple centuries, he¡¯ll be stupid then, too.¡±

    That Kaden believed. He thought of his tree space and the grass surged green under his bare feet. It brushed him, almost pulling him along. But it stopped at split in the path, as though the grass couldn¡¯t decide which way it wanted to go.

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°Girl, any idea which way?¡±

    Trinity sniffed at the fork. All three heads looked right, even though the blind head couldn¡¯t possibly see.

    But when Kaden stepped right, he winced, even through [Fortress of Stone]. Behind him, the grass was soft, but going the ¡®wrong¡¯ direction was like walking through stickers. Kaden didn¡¯t walk through stickers. He strolled, embracing the pain. If Trinity said right, it was right.

    Twenty feet ahead, he recognized the tree space.

    It was definitely a tree space.

    Something tickled deep inside him, a feeling he knew. [Master of the House] was designed for use in his Holding, but a fragment of it went with him everywhere, and even here, in a Grove, far from home, it said something was wrong. Kaden summoned Vip. ¡°Go get help. It¡¯s an emergency.¡±

    *So very fast.*

    While he waited, he drew Rembrance, not taking his eyes off the space ahead. The itch that said something was off only grew deeper as moments passed. Again and again, the need to look away grew, but Kaden was the son of a [Shadow Blade]. The lover of one. He¡¯d been fooled by illusions too many times.

    This one shifted side to side, begging Kaden to focus on one or the other. Instead, he let the his awarenessrelax, open, present. There was no question this was a trap, the question was what? And why?

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Eve called.

    ¡°I was hoping Sara was with you. [Gaze of the Ancients] reveals illusions, right?¡± Kaden focused with every moment. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong here.¡±

    Eve¡¯s quiet gasp accompanied her hand on his shoulder. ¡°Back away. Sara! Tsivi! Olidar¡ª¡±

    [Split Second] activated, drawing more mana than it ever had before, as illusions dropped. On both sides of the path lay dead druid women, their hearts torn out. But what had caused the skill to activate was the [Demon¡¯s Daughter] hurtling toward Eve with outstretched claws.

    Kaden had never used the skill to step into danger, but there wasn¡¯t a chance he was stepping aside. Remembrance would move too slowly, so he banished it. He burned more and more mana to extend the moment by a fraction of a second, to grasp her outstretched claw¡ª

    The moment ended and reality snapped into full speed. The Daughter¡¯s lunge knocked him back straight into Eve, who went flying, while Kaden wound up pinned as she drove that ruinous grasp toward his chest.

    Her claws ripped through Kaden¡¯s skin like butter as he fought her. A purple tint welled out from the claws, and without [Fortress of Stone] he would have blacked out. Chunks of rib bone flew out as the Daughter grasped. ¡°Death for me! Death for you! Death! Death is our Father¡¯s decree!¡±

    She leaned in on Kaden, pressing with both hands as purple mana arced from her finger tipes to infuse the wound, causing the skin to blacken.

    Eve¡¯s whip removed the daughter¡¯s head, but the body continued to work, because the body was just a disguise for the actual demon.

    Kaden summoned the Levicon blade in his free hand, and cut, slashing the exposed navel, then thrust his hand through the gaping wound to tear out the core.

    The Daughter went limp as he threw it off and rose, grasping his chest. In the gaping wound, his heart beat, a hair¡¯s breadth from being lacerated.

    I can make you powerful, the Daughter spoke.

    I can make you rich.

    I can appear as anyone, even this lover you so desparately¡ª

    Kaden slashed the core with the Levicon blade and held it as purple blood oozed away.

    You have helped defeat a Demon Champion: Demon¡¯s Daughter.

    You have helped maintain the integrity of this plane.

    You have received a Mark: Feared By Demons

    You have gained a title: Planes Hunter

    [Planes Hunter]

    You unravelled the trap of one who crosses planes. By doing so, you have turned the tables and become innately aware of your prey. Demons will be marked in your vision.

    ¡°Hold still,¡± Eve said, her normally cold tone artificially cheery. ¡°I¡¯m trying to heal what she did.¡±

    [Life Transfusion] activated. The edges of the wound glowed purple, and it didn¡¯t close. ¡°That¡¯s not good.¡±

    ¡°Mana reinforced wounds,¡± Eve said through gritted teeth. ¡°They were both laying in wait for you. One of them split as soon as you ripped the core from the other.¡±

    Both. Kaden summoned Remembrance as Sara came sprinting down the path.

    ¡°I got help.¡±

    The earth opened up as Olidar formed from actual dirt which took on the color of skin and a moment later, he stood there, cursing. ¡°Gods damnit. Let me see the wound.¡±

    ¡°There was a second one,¡± Eve said. ¡°She didn¡¯t attack. She was waiting to see how her sister fared.¡±

    Olidar looked to the other druids. ¡°Search everywhere. This happened in our grove to our guests on our watch. Don¡¯t let it happen again or you¡¯ll be rejoining nature sooner than you expected.¡±

    Kaden groaned as Eve attempted to force the wound closed. ¡°I don¡¯t think she can hide from me. I got title. Planes Hunter. Demons are marked in my presence. I don¡¯t know it works, I don¡¯t know how well it works.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be staying in your TreeSpace,¡± Sara said. ¡°Eve, I think it¡¯s best if you do, too. Until the second Daughter is dealt with.¡±

    A moment later, a portal opened, and a woman stepped out. A druid with jet black hair tied back tightly, a weasel perched on her shoulder. Her chest was wrapped in mana beads, not in the constellations Vichor favored but in rows without patterns. She looked at the bodies. ¡°More dead? Oh, this is nasty.¡±

    ¡°Ravena, this is our guest¡ª¡±

    Kaden¡¯s heart skipped a beat even as his stomach dropped.

    ¡°Kaden Birch!¡± She shouted. ¡°You finally got a class. We tried gifting you skills, they never took, and now you¡¯re some kind of [Beast Master]? Where¡¯s that mousy Room Sister of yours?¡±

    ¡°Trella¡¯s not¡ªshe got killed. There¡¯s a nasty spell some Centurions are working to unravel before they resurrect her.¡± He tried to smile. And felt so foolish.

    ¡°That¡¯s her?¡± Eve asked. ¡°This is the woman who inspired you to sing? I expected more.¡±

    Ravena looked to Kaden, then back to Eve. ¡°He¡¯s singing again? That¡¯s wonderful. I did so enjoy it.¡±

    At this moment, Kaden deeply considered murdering Eve. Then having her resurrected and murdered again.

 Five - DruiiiIids

    Kaden was living a nightmare from the ninth hell, and it had nothing to do with the demon lord who had attacked the Grove or his Daughter who had nearly torn Kaden¡¯s heart out and everything to do with the women he normally loved but right now wanted to drop off a tall cliff.

    Ravena had set to work on his wounds immediately, applying pure healing magic.

    Then summoned her assistants.

    Then a weird, walking tree that was apparently an evolved [Druid].

    Then a circle of druids who chanted and invoked gods and goddesses.

    The skin slowly changed from blackened to a lifeless gray, and his heart, thankfully, kept beating, but the missing pieces of rib didn¡¯t grow back, though a thin layer of skin formed, so translucent his own heart showed just under it.

    The rib bone ends look charred and black, and generally speaking, bad.

    ¡°It is serious,¡± said a Healer, who apparently had level ten in [State the Obvious]. ¡°It¡¯s meant to ensure the victim doesn¡¯t survive, even if the attacker dies.¡±

    Ravena gestured, and the vines encircling Kaden drew back. ¡°You have an unspent attribute point. In the previous revision of the System, there was an attribute called Constituion. I want you to focus on it. On the idea of being healthier and hardier, and put that point in HP. Some attributes aren¡¯t gone, they¡¯re hidden, but you can influence their effect. It should prevent the wounds from worsening.¡±

    Kaden applied it and waited.

    Dropping a point in strength usually made his body stretch in a way Kaden couldn¡¯t explain, or a complete refill of his health, or a new way of moving when he increased Agility. This was subtle, like his body compacted, growing tougher. The grayish skin at the edges of his wound turned pale white, and veins grew under the skin covering his heart.

    ¡°There¡¯s got to be a skill that can heal this,¡± Eve said. ¡°When I hit twenty five, maybe I¡¯ll get [Flesh Harvest] or [Scar Transfer] or something.¡±

    False hope was something Kaden knew how to recognize. ¡°I can get armor. And I¡¯ll just wear it¡­forever.¡±

    ¡°You and you, come with me,¡± Ravena said to Eve and Sara. ¡°I need help, and I¡¯ll answer a single question each, on any topic you want.¡±

    ¡°Any topic?¡± Sara asked. ¡°I hope you need a lot of help. I have so many questions. Most of them about Kaden¡¯s song writing skills and what on earth inspired him.¡± She followed Ravena toward the Portal.

    ¡°Open your eyes. It¡¯s an easy answer, if you look at her.¡± The Ranger, a man named Viktor had come by. ¡°You. I want to know everything that happend, start to finish. Demons are a constant threat at the Grove.¡±

    Kaden explained, starting with Darmando and ending with his Daughter.

    The Centurion found it hilarious. ¡°You¡¯re worried, because you¡¯re wounded and a level five [ScabRab] could kill you and eat your heart. But whatever else happens, old Darmando won¡¯t be back for centuries. Let me tell you how the Hells work. The seventh hell? The ninth? Those are the Demon Lords you¡¯re thinking about. The first Hell is good hunting if you¡¯re level thirty.¡±

    Kaden nodded, not finding anything funny. Or sensible.

    ¡°First hell¡¯s all goats and bats and your occasional minotaur, the demonic kind, not the Beast kind. Starting around the Third Hell, you got Demon Lords. And they aren¡¯t worth shit. They¡¯re weak bastards like Darmando. Got it?¡± He waited for Kaden to agree.

    ¡°Now, the real Demon Lords, they treat the third hell weaklings as toys. Darmando was given an eye by Asmodeus himself and lost it to a nobody. You think he¡¯s ever going to get another Eye? He¡¯s not. And every Daughter has only one purpose: Open the way for other demons.¡±

    That Kaden saw a problem with. ¡°It said it wanted me dead.¡±

    ¡°Right. Darmando cared more about making sure you were dead than sending his daughters as far away as possible to open the way again. So he¡¯s making his way straight up shit creek with no paddle, and there¡¯s a couple demondiles heading his direction.¡± Viktor made a chopping motion. ¡°Of course, he can¡¯t be killed-killed. But his lieges in the greater hells will make sure he spends centuries regretting today. And you lucky bastard, got Demon Sight. That¡¯s what we call it.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t find much about the situation lucky. ¡°Where¡¯s the local Adventurer¡¯s Guild? I need to turn in the seed.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t turn it in here. Your local Mage¡¯s Tower will want it. It¡¯s only worth a gold piece a month, but gold¡¯s gold. Tomorrow I¡¯m going to find me a demon and bring it in. We¡¯ll find out how that sight of yours works.¡± He gave Kaden a salute. ¡°What do we do when Demons invade? We send them back in pieces.¡±

    The portal activated as Ravena returned with her arms full of green leaves that looked like they grew in the tropics. Sara carried a metal box with both hands and her pseudopods struggling to keep her upright. She set it down and rubbed her arms. ¡°Viktor, go on, get out of here and get ready for the feast,¡± Ravena said. She looked to Sara. ¡°Are you ready to do your part as Party Leader?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Then get out and take your blood healer with you. That¡¯s the best thing you can do.¡± Ravena waited until they were alone. ¡°You¡¯ve grown.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help blushing. ¡°I¡ª¡±

    She shook her head, and turned her attention on the box Sara had carried. Roots burst up from the soil to tear into it, and chunk by chunk, revealed a silver inner sphere that looked like liquid¡ªuntil Ravena touched it.

    The liquid drained into her fingertips, and the remains of a skeleton lay meshed with something metal, which Ravena picked up, picking out fragments of bone until the metal shone.

    It looked like a pair of metal wings, maybe twenty inches across, where each wing was rows of silver feathers that jutted out from a center spine. ¡°A few centuries ago, I had to kill a necromancer who was grafting cursed prosthetics onto [Druids] as a form of revenge. Not all of them were necessarily evil, though all of them come at a cost.. Your Blood Healer will never cure these wounds. I¡¯m a Centurion and I¡¯m not sure I could.¡±

    Kaden watched as the wings flexed under her grasp. ¡°It¡¯s a chest plate.¡±

    ¡°It is. Most prosthetics of this type are agonizing to fit. This was designed to entrap its victims. Installing it will be easy. Removing it might be impossible.¡± She offered it to him. ¡°There¡¯s a catch.¡±

    There was always a catch. ¡°Tell me.¡±

    Ravena gestured to¡­everything. ¡°Druids¡ªparticularly young ones¡ªtake a dim view on magical prosthetics. To cut out part of yourself and attach something like this is to never find your place with Nature. Never attain a tree form. You won¡¯t find many friends at the Grove. Older Druids lived to be older by understanding there are times when hard rules don¡¯t apply.¡±

    Once, the Grove had been the subject of his dreams.

    Now Kaden had bigger dreams than undressing a druid. Bryce, the Man at Arms who had taught Kaden at Beast Control, taught him an important concept. Make the decisions that matched how he wanted to live, unless the he was going to die. Then, make the one that let him live. Kaden might get lucky one battle. He might get lucky the second. Sooner or later, luck would fail. ¡°How do I attach it?¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Let me.¡± Ravena reached it out toward him. The feathers breathed in as though they were alive, and the tips curled inward, forming wickedly sharp hooks. ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯ll never be able to dual class as a [Druid].¡±

    ¡°Certain.¡± Kaden waited as cold metal brushed his skin. Metal ground on bone, and lightning struck his spine, not so much pain as a shock. His sides felt wet, and the smell of copper filled the air, then the grinding and scraping ceased.

    Kaden took a deep breath.

    Placed a sticky red hand on the metal.

    It wasn¡¯t cold, only slightly cooler than his own skin.

    It wasn¡¯t even hard. The metal flexed under his pressure, almost spongy.

    Each feather formed an interlocking segment where a rib was. Just under his arms the silver plunged into the skin which was red and swollen with blood dripping. Down the center of his sternum, the wings had formed a diamond shaped depression. ¡°Is that a Mana Core socket?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Ravena said. ¡°I¡¯ve used this on three commoners through the years and never seen it do that.Let me heal the incisions, we¡¯ll clean you up, and head to the feast.¡±

    [Druid] healing magic came in the form of leaves she placed over each segment. The leaves glowed green, then turned brown and shriveled, leaving the skin underneath crusty with dried blood, but a healthy pink.

    ¡°Now? A water sprite to clean.¡± Ravena snapped her fingers. ¡°[Sprite Servant] is generally speaking looked down on by fools.¡±

    A blue firefly formed and danced back and forth before Ravena¡ªthen blasted toward Kaden, striking him with a blast of warm water that chipped of the flecks of blood.

    ¡°You should change.¡±

    Kaden looked in the mirror. The Daughter¡¯s claws had gouged rents in the fabric of his vest where silver showed through. ¡°No. I want this repaired, but leave it. My scars are trophies of what I¡¯ve survived. If your [Druids] don¡¯t like that, I¡¯ll find a way to sleep at night.¡±

    Ravena passed her fingers over the edges of the tears, and a black vine grew through, sealing them. ¡°Where did he go? The shy young man I taught? You look like him. You wear his skin and you carry his name, but you¡¯re not him.¡±

    ¡°I like to think the best parts are still inside me. Trella would say that. She will say that, when I tell her. And I want to say I¡¯m sorry. For¡ª¡±

    Ravena¡¯s laughter cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m seven centuries older than you. You¡¯re not the first teen boy I¡¯ve taught and you won¡¯t be the last. I¡¯m not ready to set my roots and grow my limbs. But I¡¯m glad you were so impressed by my ¡®beauty.¡¯ Really, you should sing more. You have a lovely voice.¡±

    She opened the portal to the TreeSpace. ¡°The feast is waiting.¡±

    ¡°For me?¡±

    ¡°Waiting is more of a euphemism. We¡¯re [Druids]. When Nature offers you a celebration, you celebrate. There will be days to mourn as well.¡± Ravena looked to the portal. ¡°Well?¡±

    Kaden stepped through into the most somber celebration he¡¯d ever seen. Druids sat in silence around short ringed tables, looking down at their food, while dim light shone down from single pixes.

    In the distance, he spotted Eve and Sara, and made his way toward them.

    Halfway there, the world errupted into shouts.

    Cheers.

    Fountains of light as every single dim pixie became a spotlight. And the Beasts! They had hidden everywhere. A [Bearzerker] taller than Kaden came lumbering by, and Kaden summoned Trinity and Vip.

    Vip loved a party, because Vip loved people, and she¡¯d never met a person she wasn¡¯t convinced loved her.

    Trinity had never met a piece of meat she didn¡¯t love. Some meat was charred and tasty and some was warm and bloody and some meat wasn¡¯t aware it was on the menu yet. She loved them all the same.

    Kaden had very little experience with celebrations. He quickly threaded through the crowd to where Sara sat with a plate of food in front of her and a Druidess on each side sharing her wine. Eve welcomed Vip with a genuine smile, and sipped a goblet of wine. ¡°Sit. Have some food. It¡¯s not like wine will slow the¡ªwhat is that on your chest?¡±

    ¡°Plate?¡± Kaden asked one of the servers. And was handed a heaping plate filled with meat and grapes and fruid that had literally grown on the plate. He dug in, while tossing bites to Trinity¡ªwho dragged hers to the nearest fire and tossed pieces in for a good char.

    Wine. Trella had said he was a terrible drinker.

    He didn¡¯t actually remember drinking. ¡°Water?¡±

    A Druid man wearing a golden robe touched his goblet. ¡°Spoilsport.¡±

    Music swelled from everywhere, as different Centurions gave speeches. The general theme was how Demons sucked, Druids were great, wine was even better and everyone should get full, drunk, and laid in that order.

    Kaden was working on full, avoiding getting drunk and had zero plans for company. The looks the women gave him as they spotted the silver embedded in his chest would poison a graht at twenty paces.

    If Trella were here, he never would have been ambushed. There wasn¡¯t a logical reason to think that, but Kaden believed it anyway. She would have insisted they run from Darmando. She would have spotted the Demon¡¯s Daughter at fifty feet. And Trella would have already sent four different Druids his way. She would have critiqued them and made suggestions and kidded him mercilessly.

    The best time to leave a party was¡ªKaden didn¡¯t actually know, but he thought perhaps it was now. As Druid couples left for privater areas, Trinity had discovered the joys of unattended plates, and now was using her [Multitasker] to add a piece to the fire with one head, flip it with another, and swallow with the last.

    Kaden looked to the grass and asked for the route to his treespace.

    This time, it led him to a tree near the class gathering spaces, and when he stepped through, it was to a bedroom with a wide balcony that overlooked the party below. From here, Kaden enjoyed it. From here he could watch as Eve played with Vip, throwing bites of food.

    Vip could have gotten them herself, but she adored the attention.

    Trinity had now taken over a bonfire and was quite possibly making soup.

    Sara¡ªher seat was empty, her paramours gone.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Sara¡¯s call startled him. She joined him on the balcony. ¡°I expected you to be downstairs. Druuuuiiiids. Remember?¡±

    ¡°Turns out Druids aren¡¯t fans of using metal to protect your heart. Also turns out, I don¡¯t really fantasize about [Druids] anymore. Where¡ªdid you bring your friends here?¡± He¡¯d give her the room if so. And the space.

    ¡°My ¡®friends¡¯ went off with each other when they discovered my Horror wasn¡¯t some kind of snake I could dismiss. Druids and entities meant to destroy the universe don¡¯t get along.¡± Sara¡¯s annoyance rose with each word. ¡°I stole the entire bottle of wine. I¡¯ll celebrate alone.¡±

    One of her pseudopods poured a mug Kaden was fairly sure was a graht skull, and Sara took a sip. ¡°Delicious.¡±

    Another pseudopod brought the mug to Kaden.

    He took a small sip, and it was absolutely delicious. He glanced over to Sara and raised a cup. ¡°Not alone.¡±

    ###

    Kaden wanted more than anything to find the graht pounding a war drum on his skull. He¡¯d get up and kill it, but Sara slept next to him, her brown hair trailing down his chest. Her horror never truly slept, and he¡¯d woken to find it probing the edges of the silver ribs, inspecting them.

    Vip leaped onto the bed and began to lick Kaden, then turned in circles to settle down next to him.

    Sara roused.

    Her eyes fluttered and then opened wider. She sat up, then clutched the sheet to cover her chest.

    ¡°Oh, I think we¡¯re way past that point,¡± Eve said. She lounged on a chair near the window. ¡°How long has this been going on?¡±

    ¡°It was just some pleasure last night, not a torrid love affair. In case you didn¡¯t notice, Kaden and I did¡¯t have druids lining up to keep us company.¡± Sara rose and headed to the spring, which sprayed her with water.

    ¡°They weren¡¯t lining up for me, either, but I somehow managed to say out of bed with Kaden. Also, if I ever wake up in bed with him, I¡¯m going to the Temple of Mortis and have myself final-murdered. Weren¡¯t you dating that [Shield]?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°You know damn well how that ended.¡± The tone in Sara¡¯s voice said it wasn¡¯t a topic she wanted to talk about.

    Kaden didn¡¯t care. She¡¯d said it was a fling, and that was as much as he was looking for. ¡°They¡¯re bringing a demon in for me to test my sight today. Eve, I think you have classes tonight for some kind of Lunar spells. Sara, sorry, you¡¯re stuck waiting with nothing¡ª¡±

    ¡°Archery. I¡¯m learning actual archery from actual [Rangers].¡± She cut off the spring and let Kaden take her place, primly wrapping a towel around herself. ¡°We learned [Archery] in the worst possible way, but like most [Sword] skills, it can be raised with proper instruction.¡±

    ¡°When will we know about the pollen?¡± Kaden was ready to move on as soon as Eve¡¯s classes were done. His Quest to return the Necromancer¡¯s inheritance wouldn¡¯t solve itself.

    ¡°Two more days. Then we¡¯ll hit the Blight,¡± Sara said as she dressed.

    Kaden found his armor in the cleaning box. The white leather with Vichorean constellations had become surprisingly comfortable. It stretched over the metal embedded in his chest easily. Kaden studied the indention. It was definitely a mana core socket.

    ¡°Vip?¡± Kaden called to Vip and let her sniff the metal. Vip was a dog. Vip was a Beast. And Kaden didn¡¯t know anyone whose gut opinion he trusted more. She hadn¡¯t reacted badly to it before.

    A more thorough sniffing ensued as Kaden waited.

    *Love?* In this case, [Beast Speech] translated it as ¡®Smells funny, seems ok.¡¯

    ¡°Vip? Treat?¡± Eve called.

    Vip stayed where she was, laying her head over as Kaden pushed *Love* with [Beast Empathy].Kaden didn¡¯t bother hiding the smug grin. But what he felt from Eve was sad. Almost lost. Kaden put her down and sent her to Eve. ¡°I don¡¯t want Vip near demons. Would you mind keeping her?¡±

    Kaden could keep her perfectly well in his soul, but sometimes, he felt like Vip was Eve¡¯s only emotional connection. ¡°I¡¯m heading to get some food. Anyone want to come with me?¡±

    ¡°I ate literally all night. Speaking of which, did you know Trinity was boiling food in a helmet filled with graht blood?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°She¡¯s trying to raise her cooking skill,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Actually, she already did, for making Graht Blood Soup.¡±

    He headed toward the portal, then stopped to let Sara go first. It was time to face demons. And this time, it would be him leaving the scars.

 Six - The Tame Thing

    Kaden would have changes made to his armor, he decided, as he walked through the Druid Grove. He didn¡¯t like the way they looked at him differently if they couldn¡¯t see his ribs. He¡¯d been injured by a Demon¡¯s Daugher in their grove, as their guest, and they didn¡¯t like how he chose to survive?

    He¡¯d make the changes as soon as he was done.

    Viktor waited near the druid teaching circle. The Ranger had changed his cloak for one that was vibrant green. ¡°Your [Transfusionist] went out with me last night to help catch a few Grahts. I used the tracking forest to set up a test. How would you like to get some revenge?¡±

    ¡°A lot. How many is a few Grahts?¡±

    Viktor activated a portal. ¡°A few. You won¡¯t see me, I want to see how your sight works. Grahts are stupid, but I¡¯ve set up a few nasty surprises. Do well enough, I¡¯ll show you something better.¡±

    ¡°Get Eve and Sara.¡±

    ¡°You want to take a woman with Hated By Demons into a forest I¡¯ve seeded with demons? What did you get for killing the Daughter?¡±

    ¡°Feared by Demons,¡± Kaden said.

    [Feared By Demons]

    Lesser demons will flee in your presence, while greater ones will be aware you are present.

    ¡°Terrible, just terrible,¡± Viktor said. ¡°Now you¡¯ll have to hunt them down. That Mark will make them aware you¡¯re present even in [Stealth]. Even worse, it¡¯ll cancel some of your [Transfusionist]¡¯s Hated by Demons.¡±

    The poor ranger seemed more upset than Kaden, and Kaden was the one with a metal plate drilled into his ribs. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it.¡±

    Kaden stepped through the portal.

    First off, he would be discussing¡ªand clarifying¡ªthe term ¡®a few.¡¯ The forest was infested with Grahts. And [Planes Hunter] made them glow in soft colors Kaden was sure would tell him different things about the demons in time. Most were a light yellow but here and there, oranges and even a red in the distance. Trees didn¡¯t obscure the glow, though the gentle rise and fall of earth did.

    He set to hunting, all in all a pathetic effort with little XP to show. Level twenty grahts didn¡¯t give much XP at all, but every attack had to be made from [Stealth] or they scattered like roaches, leaving Kaden to hunt them down again.

    Stone would absolutely hide the demon¡¯s presence, as Kaden found out when he passed a cave and got swarmed. Red was more dangerous than orange, which was more dangerous than yellow. A few of the grahts were green, blue, and gray.

    He accidentally killed a group of grays chasing a yellow and almost didn¡¯t realize it.

    Yes, they were technically attacking him.

    [Identify] labeled them as level five, a deadly threat to commoners.

    Absolutely laughable to Kaden.

    With focus¡ªand effort, Kaden figured out how to turn off the sight, then how to use it again. Like working a different muscle, the effort made his brain ache. The last, red entity was a [Graht Shaman] who actually made Kaden bleed before Kaden split him down the middle.

    His progress toward level twenty five was non-existent.

    Rather than wait, Kaden focused on the feel of the druid teaching ring. Mana Loop and Remote Mana Loop happened without thought, as did tearing the gaping holes in reality he needed, and slowly he wove the edges together to form a mostly stable portal. It drifted slightly to the side, but other than that, Kaden felt proud about using it to return.

    He used [Stealth] to avoid waking Eve where she slept in the Tree Space and set out to find Sara, following the grass wave through different meadows.

    ¡°Kaden! Kaden Birch!¡± Tanny Ren, the [Tamer] Druid called to him. ¡°Where have you been? I had a taming class earlier and wanted you to learn. Come on, no time like the present.¡±

    ¡°Exactly what I was thinking.¡± Kaden summoned the [FalCrow], the worst Messenger Bird on earth. ¡°Let¡¯s start with this thing. It¡¯s a Beast that was forcibly crossed by a [Mage] who ascended. I¡¯m told it¡¯s barely physical and almost a minor deity, and while I [Tamed] it and have an Obedience binding on it, I can barely get it to do anything.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill them all!¡± The [FalCrow] said in Kaden¡¯s voice. ¡°Splatter their brains.¡±

    Tanny¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Send it away. We start with rabbits. What in the nine hells did you tame first?¡±

    ¡°A Lost Beast that had been imprisoned by an order of Assassins. But I didn¡¯t let it go until we were both trapped in a pocket dimension with skeletons spawning constantly to try and kill us. The circumstances worked in my favor.¡±

    Tanny Ren had a vein on his neck that stood out when the man was agitated.

    At this moment, Kaden could have taken shelter behind that vein. ¡°It never really liked me, but it did help me escape and kill a Greater Abyssenian. It liked Trella.¡±

    It took several moments for Tanny to speak. ¡°You know, at the Grove, we often say it¡¯s good to take time. Get in the right space to do learning. I¡¯m going to take a few moments to meditate. Drink some nectar and dew. You¡­stay here and don¡¯t summon that thing again.¡±

    When Tanny returned, his vein was no longer standing out. Based on his breath, Kaden believed the nectar had probably been mixed with dew and fermented for weeks in a jug. It had gotten him in the right space.

    He began to teach, starting with the lessons Kaden never had. How to tame a beast and release it, tame it again, release it again. How the process changed with each beast, and what worked with one wouldn¡¯t work with another.

    Rabbits could be tamed as soon as they were calm.

    Deer could be tamed just by feeding them and applying the skill.

    Foxes wouldn¡¯t tame for food but if he could get one to play, they wouldn¡¯t leave even after Kaden released them. Wolves.

    Tanny called one, and it came loping toward him like a giant dog. Kaden could only be grateful Trinity was sleeping off her celebration meal, because Tanny would have one less wolf in about thirty seconds.

    ¡°Calm yourself,¡± Tanny said. ¡°Use your empathy skill. It might say [Beast] but I¡¯d bet it works on animals. Can¡¯t you tell how happy he is?¡±

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°I live next to FangWood. His coat reminds me of [Moon Shadow], the champion.¡± Kaden looked away. ¡°Can we skip wolves?¡±

    Tanzy¡¯s reaction said almost everything. ¡°You could tame the wolves in FangWood rather than killing them.¡±

    ¡°Could I tame [Moon Shadow]?¡± Kaden asked, suddenly interested.

    ¡°You can try. Make sure you have a [Healer] close by. I¡¯m at a loss for what to do with you. Most of the time we work toward taming your first Beast. You already have three.¡± Tanzy waved to the wolf, and it ran into the woods. ¡°Here¡¯s what I can tell you that will help. Tame everything. Even if you can¡¯t raise the skill because your class¡¯s obsession with bonds is stupid, you can learn. Slots don¡¯t discriminate. Tame an ant¡ªtry it¡ªor tame a Dragon¡ªdon¡¯t try it¡ªit¡¯s still just one slot.¡±

    That was helpful. ¡°What about Enlightened Beasts like the [FalCrow]?¡±

    ¡°You have to figure out what they want. That dog of yours is close to Enlightened. What does she want?¡±

    Kaden knew this. ¡°She wants to be loved.¡±

    ¡°Figure it out. Summon it without wanting anything. Talk to it constantly. Ask it to do things you think it would want to do. With an enlightened Beast, you don¡¯t have the same instincts to use.¡± Tanny looked back as an owl landed on him. ¡°Did you somehow escape a demon training course? The Council [Ranger] is looking everywhere for you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a firm maybe,¡± Kaden said. ¡°It¡¯s certainly possible, but I wouldn¡¯t use the term ¡®escape¡¯ as much as ¡®got bored and left.¡¯¡±

    ¡°What do you know? I have a class I have to prepare for. And you have¡­him.¡± Tanny pointed across the grove, as a Portal opened and Viktor leaped through, followed by Trinity.

    ¡°You left. I didn¡¯t know you could Portal, I was looking in the third hell for you. Where did you learn to portal like that? It didn¡¯t leave tracks.¡± Viktor didn¡¯t loom over Kaden, but the Centurion had a presence that was hard to ignore. ¡°For future reference, it¡¯s rude to leave like that.¡±

    ¡°Sorry? You didn¡¯t tell me to wait. I killed all the Grahts and got bored.¡± It was probably best that he not mention already being bored. Again. Instead, he explained how it functioned, the cave limitations, the difficulty in turning it off.

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Learn to see both at the same time, but don¡¯t disable it. And try to be smart. Say you¡¯re in a city. Say you¡¯re watching a speech, and the Mayor has a bright purple Halo. Get a [Ranger] or a [Druid] and explain, because most Demons aim for influence and power. You got none.¡± Viktor clapped him on the back. ¡°Tonight, while the [Druids] work moon magic, I¡¯m going to show you what a [Ranger] does. Druids work with Nature. They heal and protect. Rangers strike back. You¡¯re almost high enough to hunt in Hell. At least, the first Hell.¡±

    ¡°Not without Sara.¡± Even Kaden understood this time Eve¡¯s presence would be a beacon. ¡°How do we get to Hell? And more importantly, how do I get back when¡ªI mean if¡ªsomething goes wrong?¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s the right question. The answer is, you don¡¯t do anything. For Adventurers heading to Hell the first time, we cast a recall spell that when it expires is going to pull you back. If all it brings back is your bones, it¡¯s still bringing back your bones.¡±

    The grahts hadn¡¯t moved him toward twenty five at all. Demons were good XP, and Kaden had always hunted higher level monsters. But while his gut said Viktor meant well, his sense of dread had welled to levels so high it was a flood. Chills ran down his spine and he couldn¡¯t help imagining a Demon Lord ambushing the group in vivid, vicious detail, a loop that got stronger with every passing moment until he could hear the demon speaking, feel manacles clamping on his wrist. ¡°Are you going to be angry when I say no? I like a challenge. I¡¯m not afraid to face champions and bosses and demons, but Trella used to¡ªsays, ¡®trust your gut.¡¯ Maybe my gut is a coward, but it says no.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the answer Viktor expected. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the Hunting Party. You have every right to be afraid of a place called Hell, but advancement comes best when you push the limits. Let me know if you change your mind.¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t. The reverse-memory in his mind wouldn¡¯t let him.

    He sought out Sara, and found her near an archery range, being shouted out by a pair of [Rangers], brother and sisters from the looks. They shared dark green eyes and deep tan skin and curly black hair, and [Identify] named them as [Rangers], Isobelle and Tristan Koldar.

    And apparently the other thing they shared was a hatred for [Mana Quiver].

    ¡°Do not reach for that quiver,¡± Isobelle shouted as Sara lifted the bow. ¡°[Mana Quivers] are a crutch and I won¡¯t hesitate to break that crutch if you reach. [Mana Quiver] unlocks the skill. You didn¡¯t need the actual quiver afterwards and you shouldn¡¯t have been using it.¡±

    Tristan spoke more gently. ¡°Focus on the string, the skill, and feel the arrow as you draw. There¡¯s a gap where you push Mana, and that¡¯ll form the arrow. Forcing the mana to form physical arrows is a skill you¡¯ll use every so often against certain enemies, but usually wastes time.¡±

    Sara drew back¡ªnothing.And started again. And again. ¡°It¡¯s not easy. The skill is easier to use from¡ª¡±

    Isobele ripped the quiver from Sara¡¯s side and crushed it. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, you¡¯ve got what counts. No crutches. No choices. Use the skill to draw the arrow.¡±

    ¡°Pretend you¡¯re shooting me for that first point of Archery again,¡± Kaden called.

    Sara scowled. Her pseudopods grasped the ground to brace her as she drew back the bow string. A misshapen line of lightning formed as she did, with a tangled ball of sparks for the head. When Sara let go it went sailing off to the right and exploded in sparks at a tree.

    ¡°Gods.¡± Sara dropped to one knee, heaving. ¡°That took almost all my mana.¡±

    Tristan hauled her up. ¡°First draw is always like that. As soon as you can, do it again.¡±

    ¡°Is that all you want?¡± Sara shook her head.

    Kaden opened [Mana Well] and pushed mana into her until it overflowed.

    She stood and drew more carefully.

    On the fifth, time, a modest line of pure lightning formed. This landed in the grass short of the target, but Sara had already drawn again, and struck the target, and once more. This arrow was more the idea of an arrow, with sparks for feathers and jangling triangles.

    It hit the target and exploded, off center but still more dangerous.

    ¡°A third of my mana for one arrow. The Quiver could draw them for a point each. Is it always this expensive?¡±

    ¡°You just managed to use it. Mana Quiver will rise again, now, and when it hits ten, you¡¯ll be able to produce different types of arrows for less and less mana. That¡¯s enough for today.¡± Isobele glanced to Kaden. ¡°Your hammer-man is here. There¡¯s no need to have a hammer if the enemies don¡¯t survive to reach melee range.¡±

    Sara probably understood the value of ranged attacks more than anyone. She put away her bow and joined him. ¡°I should have done this sooner. Some skills you grow just by using. Many¡ªa great many¡ªrequire training from higher level users to unlock advancement. Now, [Archery] and [Mana Quiver] will advance.¡±

    Kaden had taken battle hammer and axe classes and only really learned from Mr. Dervish, who seemed to treat mastering weapons as a hobby. He explained about Viktor¡¯s offer. About the serious XP boost and the recall options.

    And his worry. ¡°I don¡¯t have a reason. I¡¯ve never shown [Prophecy] before, but I can¡¯t shake the feeling that this is a worse idea than facing off against Darmando. I can smell the demons when I think about it. I¡¯d rather you and I go hunting tonight while Eve works on Lunar magic.¡±

    ¡°A hunch is good enough for me,¡± Sara said. ¡°There¡¯s always more XP if you live to see another day.¡±

    The relief that rushed through him was hard to quantify. They spent the evening with Kaden exercising [Tame] on everything possible, while avoiding as many [Druids] as possible. Word had gotten around.

    Trinity enjoyed staring at [Druids], and with three times the normal number of eyes, she always won staredowns. At the evening meal, Eve joined them with Vip at her side. ¡°I¡¯m nervous. [Moon Strike] was a way for me to gain status effects. What if I¡¯m not compatible with other Lunar skills? And is this really the best use of the pollen?¡±

    ¡°Put it this way,¡± Sara said. ¡°If cost weren¡¯t an issue, would you want to learn more skills like [Moon Strike?]¡±

    ¡°Absolutely.¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s a perfect use,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Learn the skills. Use the skills. I¡¯m looking forward to you learning more abilities like [Moon Shimmer]. Sara and I are going night hunting just outside the Grove.¡±

    ¡°I expected you were going on that expedition to Hell. Be careful, both of you.¡± Eve stood and dusted herself off. ¡°Vip, watch out for them. Kaden, be smart. Sara, be careful. And for the love of all the gods, lock the portal if you¡­whatever.¡±

    That made Kaden laugh. There would be no ¡®whatever.¡¯ But there would be monsters and XP. ¡°You have any preference for where we head?¡±

    ¡°I had been thinking of night hunting before you brought it up. Night spawns hold some of the best crafting, alchemical, and spell ingredients.¡± Sara checked both of her swords. ¡°It turns out, Mr. Dervish put out a quest. There are Kalaraks spawning south of here. They¡¯re Beasts who are nearly impossible to bind. Near impossible to catch. I think he¡¯s gathering ingredients to break that binding.¡±

    ¡°What level?¡±

    ¡°Twenty eight. Our chances of killing them are low, but if even one essence makes the difference? I¡¯ll stay up all night.¡±

    This was why Kaden never doubted his friendship with Sara. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡±

    Low chances? Better than no chance.

 Seven - Night Moves

    Once, Kaden had huddled in a rolling fortress as darkness fell, knowing that the city walls¡ªor adventurers who guarded the fortress¡ªwere his only hope of survival. Now he welcomed the howls and growls that rose as the sun slipped below the horizon and the Time of Monsters began.

    Sara had a map to where the Kalaraks had been spotted, and all they could do was hope. The map led to a low valley centered around a wide pond that reflected the stars above. Kaden used [Stealth] to creep over the valley ridge and down into the clearing.

    Wolves? Yes, they ran in the distance, chased by lizard men.

    Above him, dark shapes wheeled through the sky, visible only by the way they eclipsed the stars. The edge of a silver moon rose in the distance, just barely visible in the pond¡¯s light. Kaden crept back to where Sara waited. ¡°Nothing yet. Should we chase down the lizards?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°It was close to dawn when they were spotted. Most night spawns will respawn. We wait.¡±

    Within hours of nightfall, the wars betweeen spawns settled into a vicious sort of peace, disturbed only by wandering boss monsters and the rare Champion, lit by columns of light. Kaden chose to leave them, and when one wandering Gauntling came too close, they retreated, hiding in the long grass until it passed.

    The moon had nearly set when a glimmer of light near the pond drew Kaden¡¯s attention.

    Kalaraks were humanoid, except they had four sets of legs. Their skin was golden like the first rays of sunlight, and their bodies were covered in long fur that rippled opposite the direction of the wind. Six eyes covered their heads, looking in every direction, and the herd itself emitted a vaporous golden mist that worked as an early warning system. At least sixty surrounded the pond, most of them standing ankle deep as they basked in the last rays of the moonlight.

    Sara mimed drawing a bow.

    Kaden held up a hand. Pointed to her here, and him across the valley. The herd would scatter when they were first alarmed. With Trinity and Vip, he could drive the herd toward Sara.Every step he took, [Stealth] was his guide. He ignored the gradual lightning of the sky that said dawn was coming. Slow was steady and steady was stealthy.

    When he reached the other side, he summoned Trinity and Vip. Trinity alone could collapse the herd. For Vip he conveyed the thought of barking, of dashing back and forth, not charging into the pack. Trinity would take the west edge, Vip the east. Kaden would drive them into Sara¡¯s arrow-fire.

    Nerves made his hands slick, but Kaden would not fail.

    He tossed a [Mana Dart] high into the sky.

    The signal.

    Trinity let loose a trill, a groan, and a roar as she rose from the grass to sprint forward. Vip howled in response and dashed in circles, building up speed until she threw small lighting bolts. True to Kaden¡¯s intent, she didn¡¯t rush in but made an arc of danger.

    Kaden stalked forward, not committing to either direction as he headed straight to the center of the shallow pool. The Kalarak herd drifted back, not fleeing yet, but compressing tigher and tighter.

    ¡°Now!¡± Kaden screamed, hefting Remembrance.

    Why was Sara not shooting? She¡¯d lost her Mana Quiver¡¯s physical form, but he¡¯d seen her use it. He mentally signaled Trinity to hold off just at the edge of the herd¡¯s vapor, and had Vip close in as well.

    The sky had grown lighter.

    At any moment the first rays of dawn would shine down and the Kalaraks would evaporate for the night. From across the valley, Sara emerged, swords drawn, pseudopods out as she approached.

    ¡°Shoot!¡± Kaden shouted as the Kalaraks began to nervously dash from side to side. And when they moved, they didn¡¯t run as much as blip from one spot to another. Even with [Moment of Speed], Kaden wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up.

    And Sara wasn¡¯t shooting. She moved closer and closer, until the herd became packed.

    Sunlight kissed the edge of the valley.

    A wolf howled, long and high¡ªand Sara let loose a burst of lightning, not at the Kalaraks, but straight at the pool.

    Kaden attacked in that moment, urging Trinity and Vip forward. [Moment of Speed] and the sheer need to kill them all gave Kaden adrenaline to swing Remembrance¡¯s axe head, which sank into a Kalarak and stuck.

    Level twenty eight, impossibly fast and built like tanks. Forget the herd, Kaden focused on one, and directed Trinity to do the same. Vip would be moral support.

    Kaden¡¯s skin crawled as Sara¡¯s horror let loose with [Anthem of the End] and she struck another. The Kalaraks darted anywhere, everywhere, desperate to escape, and Kaden struk his with [Mana Spike] then tossed one at Sara¡¯s. Every blow was meant to cripple, every attack aimed at the legs until his fell, and Kaden buried Remembrance in its spine.

    You have slain a Kalarak.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden stuffed it into Inventory and turned on Sara¡¯s, which lay in the water, convulsing as it bled gold into the water. Three solid strikes from Remembrance killed it, too, and then Trinity¡¯s scream of triumph told him she¡¯d killed one.

    The rest of the herd was gone.

    Vip whined in frustration, too small to bring down one of the beasts.

    Kaden dripped blood from his eyes, his nose, his ears. His health had dropped to half from [Anthem of the End], and Sara looked worse. But they¡¯d killed three of them. ¡°Essences. Their loot is essences, but I¡¯m not going to harvest them. We¡¯ll drop the entire carcasse off for Mr. Dervish.¡±

    Sara¡¯s lip trembled and her voice cracked as she spoke. ¡°I tried. The plan was to shoot them, but I couldn¡¯t make [Mana Quiver] work. Lightning arrows would have slaughtered them. All I had to do¡ª¡±

    Kaden caught her and pulled her close, not for a kiss, but a hug. ¡°You did great. We got three. Three¡¯s better than none. Three will be enough.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    It would have to be.

    ¡°Is it wrong to say I miss Trella?¡± Sara asked. ¡°I hate being the most clever one around. Eve is far more intelligent, but she doesn¡¯t laugh. She doesn¡¯t joke or see the joy in the small things, like, having my Horror devour a hornet¡¯s nest just because it tickles.¡±

    ¡°It would be wrong not to. You¡¯re Party Leader. You¡¯re legally obligated to miss people. You probably even miss Wren.¡±

    ¡°Wren is happier without us. It¡¯s odd that her tower still shows as inhabited, but maybe she wasn¡¯t ready to leave, even if she wasn¡¯t ready to stay. Let¡¯s go fulfill that Quest.¡± Sara led the way back to the grove.

    At dawn the Grove bustled with activity, druids rushing everywhere as they headed out to care for the forest, rescue monsters trapped by people, and, Kaden guessed, plant trees or something.

    They headed for the FarPortal, and were standing in line when a trio of eagles swooped down. The birds exploded into a cloud of feathers that then suctioned inward, forming a ball of orange light that took the shape of a man. Olidar.

    ¡°Kaden, thank the gods. We thought you were going out on last night¡¯s hunting party to the first level of Hell.¡±

    ¡°There was a Quest Sara and I decided to fulfill. We¡¯re headed to drop of the materials now.¡± Kaden stopped, watching and listening. Everything in the grove was ready to snap at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°After Viktor told me you had an omen¡ª¡±

    ¡°Bad feeling,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Omen.¡± Olidar stated it as fact. ¡°I forbid any Druids going out. The local Guild sent a hunting party of babies¡ªsorry, level thirty adventurers¡ªout for their first run into Hell. Nothing serious, just the first plane. Except they were ambushed.¡± Olidar looked further into the grove. ¡°Please, if you don¡¯t mind, we¡¯re planning now.¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara. If level thirties were ¡®babies¡¯ he wasn¡¯t sure what value he and Sara could provide. ¡°I can listen. I can¡¯t promise anything else.¡±

    Olidar rushed through the Grove, dodging tree after tree and then plunging into a treespace. Before Kaden could reach it, an electric shock shot up his spine. He stumbled, and would have fallen if Sara hadn¡¯t caught him with both arms and both pseudopods.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it the wound on your chest?¡± Sara asked.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°My Dungeon was ready to rank up and I put it off. Ashi said it would be fine. That was a full party wipe, level tens. It¡¯s not fine. When we go back, I¡¯m going to have to raise it.¡±

    With her help he limped through the Tree Space, and emerged at nighttime in a grove of willows, each of which bent toward the center. Five Centurions stood before a map that scrolled constantly, showing different dots.

    ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Thank the gods they went out night hunting.¡±

    To Olidar¡¯s left stood Viktor, the Ranger, and a younger Ranger man at level thirty. To his right waited Ravena, a level twenty nine Druid man¡ªand Eve. Her skin had a faint luminous silver tone to it, and when she saw them, she genuinely smiled in a way she usually reserved for Vip.

    Sara ran to her, feeling of her forehead and her cheeks. ¡°Are you all right? What happened? You were supposed to be learning Lunar spells.¡±

    ¡°I changed my Mana orientation with Lunar Condensate from another [Moon Moth].¡± Eve couldn¡¯t stop smiling.

    Kaden had thought she wasn¡¯t capable of it. Like, happiness was poison. Watching her smile was like watching a Bearzerker cuddle a puppy instead of eating it. ¡°How are you not sick? I was sick. Sara was sick.¡±

    ¡°Druids are smart. Condensate modifies the nature of your mana. The key to not being sick is to not have any mana at the point where you take it. Was it bad? Yes. Was it worth it? Completely.¡± Eve raised a hand and formed an orb of pure mana. It didn¡¯t just look like the moon, it was absolutely the image of the Moon. ¡°I¡¯ve only got three Lunar spells now. [Moon Strike] will evolve soon. It will probably give me [Moon Fall], but possibly [Moon Shower]. One is a heavy blow, the other hits multiple targets.¡±

    Olidar looked to Sara. ¡°Worth the trade?¡±

    ¡°That remains to be seen, but it¡¯s promising. I think we have a deal,¡± Sara said. She looked back to Kaden. ¡°Only two of the pollen types are fertile, a healing variant and a rage variant. But Eve will be able to come back to learn as her skills level.¡±

    Kaden had hoped for more, but having allies in a Grove was worthwhile. ¡°And the other two types?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll make you a better offer when we¡¯re sure,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Now, if your intelligence stat is higher than your height, you¡¯re wondering what we need from you.¡±

    ¡°That was my concern,¡± Sara said, looking to each of the Centurions. ¡°What could we accomplish you can¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Kaden was certain of that, but he kept quiet, only whispering the word. He summoned Vip and didn¡¯t even need to tell her to go to Eve.

    The Centurions stepped aside, and a spirit rose slowly from the ground. It wasn¡¯t a woman, it wasn¡¯t a tree, it felt like the King of Vichor in terms of power.

    *Hello*. The word hit his brain like a hurricane. A spring scented, fresh and green hurricane that left him battered and refreshed and confused.

    ¡°Hi.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t come up with more, and judging from how Sara responded, she wasn¡¯t doing much better. Her psuedopods lay limp, trailing on the ground, not dead, but innactive.

    *I am she who is. She who will be, spirit of the Grove, great grandaughter of Nature herself. You ask and I answer, and the answer is never ¡®nothing.¡¯*

    The rebuke wasn¡¯t harsh but it was absolute.

    ¡°You have Centurions,¡± Sara said.

    *There is a balance, a balance tilted in our favor by the Demon¡¯s actions. What began with Darmando¡¯s misstep has been compounded. He had no right to be here, nor to summon two daughters without sacrifice. Now his Master dares ascend to the first level of Hell.*

    Kaden digested what she¡¯d said. ¡°Nine levels of hell but only one world for us. They get to show up in ours but our Centurions don¡¯t do the same? Doesn¡¯t seem fair or balanced.¡±

    *The alignment of Hell is more fair. Their lords may not visit rage on the least demons, even if they regard them as nothing.* With it came a memory. A memory born from Kaden himself, of Robert Aurora, dressed in gold. *And now the balance is upset because Asmodeus dared set foot in the first hell.*

    ¡°Here¡¯s the point where you explain what you want from me or Kaden or Eve,¡± Sara said. ¡°You may remember Darmando being vastly beyond our ability to handle. Level fifty? Asmodeous, as in ¡®Eye of Asmodeus¡¯ isn¡¯t likely to be level twenty five.¡±

    Eve straightened up, holding Vip like a shield against her chest. ¡°And I have Hated by Demons. If I set foot in any Hell, we¡¯ll be swarmed.¡±

    *Not so. The Demon Daughter Lisari¡¯s death granted the [Beast Master] Feared by Demons. In his presence you are masked. But our ask is simple and in line with your abilities. It is not just Asmodeus¡¯s presence that has upset the scales, but the length of time.*

    Olidar cleared his throat. ¡°Honored Daughter, I will speak for you, if you will focus your aura to keep the Grove safe. We can go into the first Hell, but every second we¡¯re there swings the pendulum back toward the demon¡¯s favor. You¡¯re first tier. You¡¯re baiscally invisible when it comes to the balance. We want you to find them.¡±

    ¡°Something you should be well suited to,¡± Ravena said. ¡°Druids have been, are, and will ever be locked in our struggle to protect. We will act in force when we know where to act. We hold an advantage¡ªone bought with your blood, but if we have to spend hours scouring Hell to find them, it¡¯s lost.¡±

    ¡°You have got to be joking," Eve said. ¡°You have Druids who are level thirty. Put your own people on the line. Kaden will say yes because he¡¯s never seen a bonfire he didn¡¯t want to dance in. Sara can be bought. I¡¯m grateful for what I learned last night but I¡¯m not so grateful going to Hell where everything has a six level advantage makes sense.¡±

    ¡°I agree. You need to explain why it is your recall spell hasn¡¯t rescued the Adventurers. Didn¡¯t you say ¡®if all it brings back is your bones¡¯ and that sort of thing?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Asmodeus.¡± Viktor said it like an answer. ¡°Those recall spells work fine, except that a Demon Lord¡ªa real demon lord, not someone useless like Darmando¡ªcan block recall in their immediate area. We know he¡¯s still in the first Hell because the recalls haven¡¯t activated. We know the Adventurers haven¡¯t moved to deeper planes of Hell, because moving them would also trigger it during transition. What we don¡¯t know is why an entity as smart as Asmodeus would willingly break the balance like this.¡±

    Kaden had a sinking feeling he knew. He drew Asmodeus¡¯s eye from Inventory. Without an eyelid, it couldn¡¯t blink, but the status messages said he¡¯d guessed correctly.

    Asmodeus gazes upon your soul.

    Your soul is found aggravating and worthy of being squashed like a bug.

    He held it up for all to see, then flicked it with a finger and put it back in Inventory. ¡°What do you know about making deals with Demon Lords?¡±

 Eight - Deal Me In

    Viktor reacted to Asmodeus¡¯s Eye first. ¡°I knew there was a reason Darmando was focused on a nobody. You didn¡¯t ruin the eye. That would have let it regrow. You took it. How are you not dying?¡±

    ¡°He does things like that,¡± Sara said with a tone that said there would be a discussion later.

    Olidar wasn¡¯t even remotely disturbed. ¡°Bring the eye out. It¡¯s an eye of Asmodeus. If we want to bargain, it¡¯s easy. He can¡¯t help but see. Also, I¡¯m changing my assessment. The second Demon¡¯s Daughter will be close. Very close, probably buried in the flesh of some victim, keeping herself completely masked. But if you have the eye, she¡¯s not going to give up and she¡¯s not going to run away because Darmando can¡¯t afford to let her.¡±

    The Druid to his left raised her hand and whispered as a set of sparrows landed on it, then flew out in a circle. ¡°We¡¯re making adjustments. Viktor, you¡¯ve hunted Asmodeus before. What does he want?¡±

    ¡°His eye back.¡± Viktor said. ¡°Sometimes I really worry about you Druids. Darmando was a distraction. Should have been attacking the classrooms. Receiving the eye gave him power, a favor to Darmando for losing that form in return for luring Centurions away from the real incursion.¡±

    ¡°That didn¡¯t work out as planned.¡± Ravena glanced to Kaden and Sara. ¡°Fate put a stumbling stone in their path. Are we thinking this is an even trade? His eye for the Adventures?¡±

    Olidar shook his head. ¡°As Viktor would put it, ¡®let¡¯s not be stupid.¡¯ Asmodeus has set foot on the first plane of hell and he knew what that would cost. And he¡¯s stayed. He¡¯s not doing that for nothing. Could there be a Relic of Hell we don¡¯t know about?¡±

    ¡°If we knew about a Relic of Hell, it wouldn¡¯t be there,¡± Viktor answered. As the Centurions began to argue, Kaden, Eve, and Sara had their own council.

    Sara started. ¡°Do you understand that I want to keep you alive? Taking the eye¡ª¡±

    ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Eve finished. She imitated Ashi¡¯s voice. ¡°Kaden Birch, what have you done? We¡¯re not even at twenty five. Provoking a Greater Demon Lord by stealing his eye is¡­I keep thinking I won¡¯t see anything worse. And I keep being wrong.¡±

    ¡°Get used to it,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden was lost in thought. There was something here, something obvious that stood out. Darmando had come on orders. He¡¯d sacrificed one Daughter to revenge, but the other was out there. Now Asmodeus had ascended to the first plane of hell. He spoke loudly. Clearly. ¡°Hey. Who¡¯s above Asmodeus? Who would have the power or authority to make him ascend? And what would they gain?¡±

    ¡°Abyss Lords. They literally can¡¯t enter the first three planes of hell,¡± Ravena said. ¡°Their names alone do a thousand points of damage, so you¡¯ll understand why I don¡¯t speak them around you.¡±

    ¡°Appreciated.¡± Eve swallowed. ¡°Now, if you¡¯d kindly figure out what an Abyss Lord wants and how you are going to deal with it, we¡¯ll be waiting in our TreeSpace.¡±

    ¡°Who gets the eye?¡± Kaden didn¡¯t pull it from Inventory.

    ¡°No!¡± The Druid to Olidar¡¯s side shouted. ¡°You do not spread its influence. You are already cut off from Nature. You have already sacrificed your future. You have nothing to lose. We¡­are grateful for your sacrifice, but you should not ask us to stain ourselves with it.¡±

    ¡°Young druids are the worst,¡± Viktor said. ¡°You need to get drunk or laid, Osavo. I¡¯ll take it if you want. Not like I¡¯ll ever be a Tree. Or I¡¯d ever want to be a Tree.¡±

    Kaden ignored the glares Osavo gave him. ¡°Same.¡±

    But before he could leave, Olidar spoke. ¡°Forgive my youngest daughter. She is devoted to Nature and while she understands the precepts, she lacks the wisdom. She won¡¯t speak again in your presence. And I am grateful we have allies who are willing to fight alongside us. Gratitude that will be more than words.¡±

    The moment Kaden had removed the eye in his Inventory, he felt the weight of the Demon Lord¡¯s presence and notifications spewed.

    Demon Lord Asmodeus has sacrificed _NAN_ Entity Power to Invoke Protocol.

    Initiating Protocol (¡®Haunted by Demons¡¯) ¡­.

    Target Analysis underway.

    Selecting attack method

    Attack method overriden by directive. Using: Infernal Substitution.

    Analysis indicates likelyhood of long term success: 22%

    Threshold triggers reselection.

    Reselection is denied by override.

    Your curse will begin shortly, your patience is appreciated!

    Curse operator currently unavailable, please stand by.

    If you would like to retain your position in line and receive a curse when a spectral invader is available, select Y. To remain waiting for the next available spectral invader, select N. You are 9,789,213<sup>th</sup> in line.

    Kaden selected Y so the prompt would go away. Viktor had said another Haunted by Demons. ¡°Viktor, what exactly is a Infernal Substitution? Apparently I¡¯m being haunted by demons, and I didn¡¯t even get Haunted by Demons.¡± Kaden offered to share the logs.

    This time, the Ranger didn¡¯t laugh, he just nodded. ¡°Most common way of attacking, and the one I prefer. Way, way better than Infernal Displacement, though that one¡¯s survivable, too. Haunted by Demons means they¡¯ll speak to you. One of them. Doing that has permanently weakened Asmodeus.¡±

    If one kept him up all night, Kaden would wind up grumpy. ¡°I can¡¯t believe a demon lord was so dumb he¡¯d sacrifice power just to haunt me.¡±

    ¡°I can believe it,¡± Eve said.

    That got a chuckle from Viktor. ¡°Override means he burned extra energy to do it this way, even though it shouldn¡¯t work as well. 22% is pitiful. Substitution is simple - you¡¯ll hear them as someone you love.¡±

    ¡°Trella,¡± Sara said. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely who I would be.¡±

    ¡°One of his parents? No, Trella.¡± Eve agreed. ¡°It¡¯s not very subtle.¡±

    Kaden smiled. ¡°Any chance I¡¯ll be able to see it? See, I know it¡¯s not Trella. I put her in the preservation chamber myself. And I have some things I want to say to Demons. If you can¡¯t hear them, I may sound a little crazy.¡±

    ¡°You already talk to Trinity like she¡¯s a person. You know a Beast doesn¡¯t understand seasoning, right? She eats wolves while they¡¯re still alive. You trying to coach her on salt and pepper and oregano¡­¡± Eve sighed and shook her head. ¡°It won¡¯t be any worse.¡±

    Ravena broke away from the Centurions and approached carefull, spoke quietly. ¡°First, let me repeat Olidar¡¯s apology. Young Druids are so concentrated on their ¡®purity¡¯ it makes them intolerable¡ªI was like her, not six centuries ago. Second, you will not be involved with the Abyss Lord. His presence alone would kill you. You have our gratitude, but when you leave, you¡¯ll have something else. Something I insisted on and Olidar agreed to. Something that will make what your party has gone through worthwhile.¡± Her gaze had dropped to Kaden¡¯s chest. ¡°Get some rest. If Asmodeus meant to kill the Hunting Party, they¡¯d already be dead. If he meant to drag them deeper, it would have happened instantly. That means making the right move is more important than making the fast one.¡±

    Kaden was exhausted, but he wasn¡¯t ready for sleep. ¡°Sara, Eve, you can sleep. I¡¯ve got somewhere to be.¡±

    ¡°Going to see Mr. Dervish? You¡¯ll need me to complete the quest,¡± Sara said. ¡°Sleep can wait.¡±

    Eve¡¯s happy smile faded to something more fitting her face. ¡°I¡¯m near dead on my feet, but no way am I letting you two out of my sight again.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m paying for a portal because you need to rest,¡± Sara said.

    Also, Kaden suspected, because Sara didn¡¯t like waiting for bruises to heal.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    They took a Far Portal home. Kaden intended to go straight to Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services, but an Administrator ambushed him coming down the stairs, shouting, ¡°What do we do when Demons raise their ugly heads?¡±

    All four bars on the bottom floor roared back an answer, ¡°We send them home in pieces!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got business¡ª¡±

    Sara pushed him after the administrator and handed Kaden a Corpse Inventory. ¡°Store them here, I¡¯ll do the drop off. This will affect the party if you don¡¯t.¡±

    Kaden reluctantly handed over the monster corpses. He trusted Sara, it was just that he wanted to see for himself. Instead, he followed the Administrator further in to a room where a short, wide woman waited with a scale and gloves that gave off a black aura. Beside her sat a trio of mages. ¡°Seed, please.¡±

    Kaden pulled it from Inventory. Bits of demonic purple still drooled from the edges as he put it on the scale.

    ¡°Solid class Two, almost a three. And it looks like you¡¯ll be Haunted by Demons, at least until they get bored of it or you hunt them down. Could be days, years, or when you die.¡± She looked to the Mages. ¡°Who¡¯s bidding?¡±

    ¡°Class two, pass,¡± said the first.

    The other two conferred privately. ¡°Joint offer, eighteen gold.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to get better than that.¡± She handed over the empty Seed and watched them leave. And then began the part of the instruction Eve had never mentioned. Explaining exactly what Haunted by Demons meant. What he should do if the Demon began to make sense. Who he could talk to if he was feeling like, say, summoning a demon. Offering his soul to a demon. Taking a trip to Hell to meet a demon. ¡°No matter what it offers, there¡¯s always someone looking for a strapping young man who won¡¯t tear your soul out and devour it. That¡¯s all I have to say on the matter.¡±

    She recorded his title and ability. [Feared by Demons] wasn¡¯t unheard of, but it was uncommon enough that it would be sought after, for a fee. ¡°Remember that what you do depends on your attribute. If you¡¯re Hated, you stand near others so they can kill the demons. Hounded? Move to a Mage¡¯s tower and they¡¯ll pay you for the constant spawn of demons. Feared, never let someone claim you must kill the demon. You find it, afterwards, it¡¯s up to them.¡±

    It didn¡¯t come with a monthly stipend, but she assured him he¡¯d make more than twelve gold as a locator. Gold was gold. Kaden sat with Vip in his lap and listened to all the ways he¡¯d die if he gave in to demons.

    When at last Kaden escaped the Guild, he headed straight for Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services¡ªuntil Sara¡¯s parrot landed on him. ¡°We need you at the summoning circle in Beast Control.¡±

    He sprinted through the streets and hurdled the customer service counter, ignoring the young man who protested as he burst through the doors and down hallways. [Split Second] let him react as Mistress Scylla reached to halt his charge, and [Moment of Speed] let him dive over the other tentacle she whipped around.

    He slammed into a jackaroo, knocking it flat, and leaving him seeing stars.

    ¡°Careful, young man.¡± Mistress Scylla spoke gently. ¡°I thought we were under attack. Sara sent you a message?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡± Sara¡¯s voice came from within the summoning room.

    Kaden stepped through, deeply aware of how Mistress Scylla stood close, her octopi tentacles ready.

    Mr. Dervish stood, his head bowed so he didn¡¯t hit the hanging lights. And behind him, the wizend form of Professor Treadle. Treadle hadn¡¯t aged well. His normally sunken skin now looked skeletal, and he flinched as Kaden looked his way.

    ¡°One [Kalarak] would have been enough, but more¡¯s better for experiments.¡± Mr. Dervish said, holding up a pair of glistening crystals that glowed with the same yellow. ¡°Keep your temper, take your place. We¡¯re going to pump you full of refined Kalarak essence. Damn Beasts are almost impossible to bind. Once that¡¯s done, I¡¯ll try and loosen the binding. If it works, one of Jackie¡¯s ¡®roos will take your place¡ªand the binding.¡±

    ¡°Ready,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°They¡¯ll be gentle. Mostly. I doubt this will hurt long if it does, and if it does, and it does last, there¡¯s always wine later.¡±

    Kaden commanded Vip to go to Eve, then, with a thought, shrank his [Needful Cloak] to only a collar. He stepped into the circle, ready. So very ready. ¡°Do it.¡±

    ¡°This smells and tastes like Quillophant piss. Drink it all.¡± Mr. Dervish handed him an alchemical flask of the same golden color the herd¡¯s vapor had been. ¡°Also, it might make you a little scattered. That¡¯s normal.¡±

    Kaden forced it down in a single gulp. It put the vile in vial, like a stadium full of [Quillophants] had pissed in the tube and then condensed it, and the taste was worse, the aftertaste even worse.

    Mistress Scylla flinched, and a jackaroo leaped onto her back to cover her nose, while Sara wretched in the corner.

    Eve¡¯s nose was buried in Vip¡¯s fur, which, to be fair, is where she would have had it anyway.

    ¡°When am I supposed to feel¡ª¡±

    Kaden¡¯s hands began to tremble and shake. His ankle jittered.

    ¡°Activate the circle,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    Runes blazed with light, and Kaden couldn¡¯t help the feeling that rose up inside him. The intense need to break free. He began to sweat and shake. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Mr. Dervish watched closely. ¡°Something¡¯s right. Jacky, get the lights, illuminate that binding please.¡±

    ¡°A pleasure.¡± She turned off the overhead lights and adjusted the runes.

    The red mesh that lay over Kaden¡¯s soul was frayed, small red fibers drifting out as his soul shimmered and vibrated. And Kaden couldn¡¯t resist anymore. He threw himself at the barrier, knowing it wouldn¡¯t let him pass but unable to contain the intense need to be free.

    ¡°Get ready!¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Ain¡¯t going to lie, if this part don¡¯t knock you down, you¡¯re a tougher man than I figure. Jackie, I¡¯ll say when. Kaden, hold on.¡±

    He drew a token from his pocket, a green summoning token, but instead of throwing it on the floor, cupped it and blew into his hands. The soul binding fibers flared out and evaporated, leaving him clutching a cluster of red threads.

    They whipped out, assaulting the mesh that covered Kaden¡¯s soul.

    Agony had only five letters.

    A billion too short for the pain that hit Kaden.

    [Fortress of Stone] was made for enduring pain, but this didn¡¯t come through his nerves, it started inside him as the mesh dug deeper into him, fighting to hold on. The swarm of red enveloped him, and it turned out, Kaden was not tougher than Mr. Dervish thought. His vision turned gray and if he fell, he didn¡¯t know.

    Something struck him, and Kaden went flying limp through the air.

    The dark.

    The quiet.

    The absence of agony was like cold water.

    Your skill with Resist Suffocation has increased.

    That was it. Kaden took a deep breath. His mouth tasted of copper and his face was wet, perhaps with tears. ¡°Did it work?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Mr. Dervish spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s a good start. We need to adapt the runes so the binding can¡¯t pass. I was able to pull it loose, but when the jackaroo hit you, the binding just trailed along by a few threads and re-attached. Going to take time to remake that. Then we need to figure out what will re-enforce the summoning barrier.¡±

    ¡°Next time, we¡¯ll use Euphorium on Kaden,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°I have a supplier. It will be permitted.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a reason Beasts don¡¯t go ripping the bindings off. Most don¡¯t know how. Those that do know better. Go on, Treadle. Get back to work.¡± Mr. Dervish picked Profressor Treadle up andhauled him out, while Kaden fought to sit up.

    His actual health was still well above a quarter. The kalarak essence, however, made sitting still, thinking, everything hard. And if he¡¯d had hopes, they lay crushed.

    *Love.* Vip said, as she forced herself into his lap.

    Love fixed everything for her.

    Mistress Scylla waited at the doorway. ¡°I see Kaden has a demon title now. They¡¯re impossible to avoid, if you live any amount of time, but I wish it had been longer. What was it?¡±

    ¡°One of Darmando¡¯s daughters. The other one is still loose, and probably still angry with me. Oh, and I pissed off someone called Asmodeus by stealing his eye. I need sleep. Not sure how Sara is still standing.¡± Kaden forced himself to rise, summoning Trinity to hang on to.

    ¡°The Horror doesn¡¯t sleep and can¡¯t grow tired. That translates to me ever so slightly,¡± Sara said. ¡°We¡¯ll head to the Holding.¡±

    ¡°Would you mind company?¡± Mistress Scylla asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t been out of the city in days. I¡¯d love to show you the progress we¡¯re making at the zoo, but I agree, it¡¯s best to sleep at home.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t tell how long he slept.

    He woke with two of Trinity¡¯s heads laid across his body and the blind head staring down an inch above his face as Sara shook him. ¡°I would let you sleep but it¡¯s urgent. Olidar sent an owl¡ªhis actual owl¡ªwith a message. They know all of Asmodeus¡¯s demands now.¡±

    ¡°Let me guess, he wants his eye?¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡± Eve stood at the door of the bedroom, but acted like it might kill her if she stepped inside. ¡°He wants to fight Viktor in one on one combat. He wants his eye back. And he wants you to bring it.¡±

    ¡°What level is Asmodeus?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°At least seventy five,¡± Sara said. ¡°Don¡¯t agree to do this. I see a thousand ways this goes wrong and only one that goes right, and that way depends on a demon¡¯s honor.¡±

    ¡°I really don¡¯t feel comfortable coming into someone else¡¯s bedroom. Especially not yours, Kaden. But I have experience with Demon Lords that may be relevant.¡± Eve nodded to the table. ¡°Do you mind continuing this conversation in the kitchen?¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t know what he found more shocking. That Eve had experience with Demon Lords or that she thought his bedroom was some kind of trap, but he joined her at the table. ¡°First off¡ª¡±

    ¡°How do you have experience with Demons, let alone Demon Lords?¡± Sara asked. She didn¡¯t mask the disbelief in her voice.

    ¡°My family¡­you have some idea of what they are. And trust me, they¡¯ve never been shy about making demands of the Demon Lords. After all, the Lords are always making offers.¡± Eve said it simply. Like it was expected or normal. ¡°From the time I was fifteen, I was in charge of relaying the messages from Astronocius to my mother. I spoke with sub-lords weekly. I personally negotiated his right to destroy an island. I once sent fifteen knights to their death through a grammar mistake.¡±

    Eve waited for questions.

    Kaden had them, but couldn¡¯t tell which was most important. Why would a kingdom willingly allow a Demon rampage? Why would a king and queen expect their daughter to negotiate with a demon? And who the hell was Evelyn Black?But he asked the important thing. ¡°What should I expect?¡±

    ¡°Lesser demons, anything below a Daughter, know neither honor nor logic,¡± Eve said. ¡°The Daughter we had living with us could be¡­almost human. Civil. Funny. Cold. Sensual. It was the purpose of having her there, after all. To learn from us.¡± Eve gave a short laugh as Kaden¡¯s jaw dropped open. ¡°Oh, yes. Most Demon¡¯s Daughters are fostered, raised, loved, taught by human families who believe that love conquers all. That the baby they raise won¡¯t kill every last one of them on her thirteenth birthday for a lack of devotion.¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°Did you know any of this?¡±

    ¡°Demons die. That¡¯s all Mom ever said.¡± Sara looked back to Eve. ¡°Asmodeus. Will he honor an agreement?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the hard part. He¡¯s just high enough that the Absyss Lords would take notice. And he¡¯s just low enough that he can still ascend to the first hell. Regardless, I think Kaden was right. He¡¯s doing this for an Abyss Lord.¡± Eve dipped her head to Kaden. ¡°That was very intelligent. I¡¯m complimenting you. Do you understand the implications?¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t.

    ¡°I think I do.¡± Sara¡¯s psuedopods rubbed at her chin as she thought. ¡°The only thing Darmando had to offer Asmodeus was his willingness to die as a distraction. The only thing Asmodeus could offer an Abyss Lord is something the Abyss Lord can¡¯t do. Go to the first level of Hell.¡±

    ¡°Or break a deal,¡± Kaden said. ¡°They think he¡¯s searching for some kind of relic. I¡¯d bet he isn¡¯t. We have to get back to the grove and warn them. Now.¡±

 Nine - Double Dealings with Demons

    Kaden arrived at the Grove with Vip, Rocky and Trinity in his soul, a full set of potions in his inventory and belt, and ready to go to war. Olidar wasn¡¯t waiting at the FarPortal, but a young Druid led them through the Grove to a TreeSpace Viktor and four more Rangers waited.

    ¡°Virgil Birch¡¯s boy?¡± The woman on the right asked. Level eighty nine, she had dark purple hair and wore a cloak that was sand brown. ¡°We¡¯re cousins on your father¡¯s side.¡±

    [Belia Vadron], according to [Identify]. He shook her hand. ¡°I wondered about family, but Mom never mentioned brothers or sisters. Dad said he was an only child.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t call your mother what she was out of respect for you, yet it¡¯s good to see something of him still lives.¡± Belia gave him a slap on the back. ¡°Your dad would choke to see you fighting with a hammer, but Viktor says you¡¯re vicious.¡±

    Kaden quickly explained their take on Asmodeus. Their fear.

    Viktor listened the whole time, noddding. ¡°So, here¡¯s what you need to know. I¡¯ve personally hunted Asmodeus three times and two of those ended with me putting an arrow through his Seed. The moment he said he wanted to fight me, we started thinking doublecross.¡±

    Olidar grumbled. ¡°You have to think like a demon. To do that, we found ourselves a demon. Demons aren¡¯t loyal to other demons. It was easy to track down one of the Daughters we let go and ¡®convince¡¯ her to talk.¡±

    Sara and Eve both gasped. ¡°You know where Demons are and you don¡¯t remove them?¡±

    ¡°Knowing where they are and what they¡¯re up to is better than them running wild in the world untracked. We destroy wild cults and control the growth of those we know about. There¡¯s a certain amount of cult that¡¯s allowed,¡± Olidar said. ¡°This one came up with a proposal I think matches Asmodeus¡¯s plan and your suggestions. Asmodeus can¡¯t possibly take Viktor in a fight. He¡¯s never done it before, if he were stronger, he would be forced to descend. He aims to pull Viktor to a deeper plane of Hell, one where an Abyss Lord is waiting.¡±

    ¡°Which is why I¡¯m going.¡± Viktor flashed a wide grin at them all. ¡°Abyss Lords almost never show their face. Every last one has unique powers. This is an opportunity I¡¯ve been waiting for. And when that son of a bitch drags me through, he discoveres it¡¯s twelve on one.¡±

    Kaden waited for explanations.

    ¡°How?¡± Sara asked.

    Viktor took out a clear glass cube. A Corpse Inventory. ¡°Eleven Centurion Rangers, dead and waiting for the spell I bought. Actually, I have four, and a few potions, and a Healer who volunteered just in case. He didn¡¯t so much volunteer as try to rob me, which counts, right?¡±

    Kaden had often done things that left others gaping but this was his turn. Centurions willingly dying so they could be resurrected on an deep plane of Hell to fight an Abyss Lordwith unknown powers.

    ¡°That¡¯s the response I was hoping for,¡± Viktor said. ¡°Worst case, we fight our way out of seven levels of hell on our own. Or die, everyone dies eventually, not everyone gets a shot at an Abyss Lord.¡±

    Sara wordlessly handed Kaden back the Corpse Inventory he¡¯d loaned her.

    ¡°Your dad was a Ranger, right?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I think I understand where your you-ness comes from. He¡¯s a thousand times more Kaden than you¡¯ll ever be.¡±

    Kaden cleared his throat. ¡°Say we waltz into Hell. We meet this Asmodeus and I tell him I know he¡¯s got an eye on me¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do not say that,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°I ask if we see eye to eye¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that either,¡± Sara added.

    ¡°I hand him back his eye¡ª¡±

    Eve cut in. ¡°Technically, you¡¯ll hand it to an underling. Touching Asmodeus could cause you to catch fire and burn to ashes.¡±

    ¡°I hand someone back his eye.¡± Kaden waited. ¡°Do we think he just lets us collect the Adventurers, dance our way out of hell, and then he attempts to get you?¡±

    Viktor shrugged. ¡°It could play out like that. Alternately, the moment he has his claws on the eye, he heads for me and leaves some level fifty weakling to squish you. Which is where your party comes in. See, I don¡¯t think Asmodeus lets anyone go, no, he heads straight to a deeper level of Hell, taking me with him, and his riff raff kill the adventurers and you. Unless.¡±

    This had to be the best Unless ever. Ever. Kaden waited.

    ¡°Unless?¡± Eve prompted.

    ¡°Lunar Mana. Moon Strike, Moon Shimmer, lemme guess, [Moon Glow?]¡± Viktor asked as if [Identify] wasn¡¯t a thing.

    Only now did Kaden think to look at Eve¡¯s [Identify].

    [Moon Glow]

    The softest light of the moon can blur and confuse, hiding the truth in plain sight. Use continual mana to maintain an illusion that you and those around you are not present. At higher levels, the mana cost will drop and the quality of the illusion increase.

    Wow. A constant, area of effect stealth.

    ¡°You are so low level you won¡¯t even register to the demons with Kaden¡¯s title to cancel Hated by Demons. Asmodeus is going to be focused¡ªand not with a lot of depth perception¡ªon Kaden. While he¡¯s focused on us, you¡¯re going to sneak over, free the Adventurers, and then with their help, get out. You can¡¯t help me versus Asmodeus, but you can help them.¡± Viktor crossed his arms. ¡°There¡¯s a healthy quest in it for all of you. What do you say? Come on, snake girl. I know you want it. I want to hear you say it.¡±

    ¡°Go to Hell,¡± Sara said. ¡°But take us with you.¡±

    ###

    The Grove¡¯s FarPortal had been mistuned. Terribly mistuned so it didn¡¯t go anywhere normal and yet Kaden sensed it did go somewhere. Viktor had exchanged pleasantries with his [Ranger] friends and then left them to wait with Kaden. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask the most basic part. Why am I not bringing half a dozen friends with a pulse?¡±

    That Kaden knew. He hated it, but he knew. ¡°Asmodeus tilted the balance. You don¡¯t want to bring them in because you want to keep that advantage.¡±

    ¡°Next time you level, no need to drop that point in Intelligence,¡± Viktor said. ¡°And the truth is, Olidar¡¯s rescue charge won¡¯t end well. There¡¯s so many types of demons that breath fire, if you don¡¯t know anything else about one you¡¯re facing, assume it breathes fire. If he comes flying in with five Centurions¡­¡±

    Kaden mimiced a small explosion, like Trella was trying a new formula. He wanted to be looking for ingredients. Even if it meant letting those red threads slice his soul again. ¡°Can you kill Asmodeus? Or the Abyss Lord?¡±

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Yes and maybe.¡± Viktor drew a sign in the air, which turned into a rune¡ªand then a clock. ¡°Ok. Your party members both have [Recall] cast on them. If we put it on you, Demon Lords will know we¡¯re planning something instead of just suspecting it. Oh, and one more thing. You¡¯re going to find him intimidating.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°You will. It¡¯s not about who you are, it¡¯s about the level difference. If you can speak at all, it gets easier to keep speaking. Say whatever you can just to get talking. I saw a [Healer] once, she sang a verse from ¡®The Old Farmer Loved His Sheep Extra Hard¡¯ every time she started speaking. He¡¯ll expect you to stick to traditions and patterns and be polite. Don¡¯t be polite. He hasn¡¯t earned it, and wouldn¡¯t spare you even if you were. Drag it out, give your friends a chance to rescue those adventurers.¡±

    Kaden entered the portal to Hell.

    Hell wasn¡¯t fire and it wasn¡¯t ice, at least, not this level. Hell smelled like burning gnome wagons and roasting flesh, and clouds of smoke drifted everywhere. Demon Sight showed the clear bright red forms of several demons, some kind of minotaur based on the outline. They stood in a row, with battle axes raised to form a tunnel.

    [Minotaur]

    The elder brothers of Goatmen are stronger, faster, and bear the rage of their ancestors, rage they channel in battle. Every swing, every blow makes them stronger and faster, to better serve their masters below. This is not a beast.

    Level:30

    HP: 2,100

    Mana; 500

    Skills: Rage of the Ancients, Axe-Cleave

    Talents: Hunter¡¯s Scent

    There was that level twenty five scale again, making every one of them 6 times as strong as Kaden. If he¡¯d ranked up the dungeon and had time to wait, maybe he¡¯d hit level twenty five. If not, the changing bond would leave him more vulnerable.

    ¡°Out of the way!¡± Viktor shouted as he walked toward the line of Minotaurs.

    They drew back their axes to let him pass, and Kaden followed close behind. Every step sent up puffs of powdery gray dust, and the air was so dry it hurt to breathe. He called for the [FalCrow] and it sailed overhead, then faded away.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t blame it.

    But he did have an idea. Eve and Sara would be coming through after them, with Eve using [Moon Glow]. Kaden turned and looked at the Minotaurs. ¡°Are you coming or not? You want to look bad in front of Ass-modeus, your funeral. Besides, I¡¯m going to kill every last one of you, and I don¡¯t want to have to chase you down.

    The minotaurs fell into step behind him, grunting in demon-speak as they chuckled to themselves. [Multispeak], thankfully, did not translate.

    The ground rose, and the wisps of burning fog gave way so Kaden could appreciate Hell.

    It was ugly. Gray rocks grew into cactus like outcroppings that stabbed at the sky, a sky with a gash across it that pulsed red like a bleeding wound and washed red light down on the plane. No wonder people had said Hell was aflame. Everywhere, demons lurked under rocks or climbed to the tops of the the outcroppings to hiss and howl. There was no order among them, they fought and killed. A flying demon the size of a [Storm Condor] perched atop a minotaur, eating it. It raised all five heads to look as Viktor and Kaden strolled past, and went back to eating.

    ¡°Ass-modeus, I like it. I¡¯m going to use it.¡± Viktor seemed awfully cheery for a man heading to face an Abyss Lord. ¡°I was going to call him Assy but we¡¯ll play it by ear.¡±

    Bright flares of fire shone in the sky far ahead, and as Kaden approached, someone had stacked stone to form a crude temple, or a ring of pillars.

    ¡°See those?¡± Viktor leaned over to point. ¡°There¡¯ll be a portal rune on every one, or I¡¯m not a [Ranger]. Whole place is a portal to whatever layer of Hell Assy¡¯s boss lives on. Don¡¯t take them out before they trigger the trap.¡±

    At the entrance to the ¡®temple¡¯, a row of Adventurers hung, chained to the rocks with glowing sigils over them.

    ¡°Where did they get chains?¡± Kaden asked. As he passed, the closest one was dead. Kaden stuffed him into Corpse Inventory, leaving the chains jangling.

    ¡°Look at that. Suppression runes so [Recall] wouldn¡¯t work. Asmodius is smarter than we gave him credit for.¡± Viktor sprinted toward the throne, leaped into a rolling dive and came up with a flourish ¡°Look who it is!¡±

    In the center of the temple, on a throne made of demon skulls, perched a Demon Lord. Like Darmando, Asmodeus¡¯s skin was gray and scaled with smooth interlocking scales, but the row of bumps were actual spiked plates on Asmodeus, and Asmodeus had several sets of eyes. Many were missing, the sockets weeping ichor.

    The closer Kaden came, the greater the weight that pressed on his skin, like Dominion, only worse. [Identify] had tried and failed miserably, but this was Asmodeus¡¯s sheer presence. He rose as Viktor approached, raising a spear fifteen feet long¡ªthen Kaden took out the eye.

    The pressure on Kaden intensified to the point where his knees ached. Presence could have physical weight and this did.

    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Viktor said. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the great demon lord¡ª¡±

    ¡°I am Kaden Birch!¡± he shouted, holding up the eye. ¡°I¡¯ve come to make¡ª¡±

    Viktor pulled him back. ¡°Forgive my overeager disciple, Ass-modeus, as I was saying¡ª¡±

    ¡°I am Kaden Birch!¡± he shouted again. ¡°Sorry, were you supposed to talk first or was I? Is that a Centurion thing or a demon thing? Does the ugliest being talk first? If so, that¡¯s either you or Assy. I think it¡¯s him, but he could make a good argument it¡¯s you.¡±

    Asmodeus, Slayer of Stars, roared out a word.

    Mana crackled and sizzled like burning fat.

    A portal slit open, giving birth to a woman, a naked woman covered in blood.

    [Demon¡¯s Daughter Naski]

    The Demon Lord Darmando was gifted two daughters from a single night of pleasure, and this is the one who remains. She serves her father¡¯s Master, and has returned to Hell at his bidding for a chance to gain favor.

    Naski bowed before Viktor. ¡°I come to speak on behalf of the Great Asmodeus¡ª¡±

    ¡°I am Kaden Birch!¡± He shouted. ¡°And is it really Asmodeus? I thought it was pronounced Ass-modeus, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°I come, ¡° said Naski, ¡°to speak for the great Asmodeus. You know his demands.¡±

    ¡°I am Kaden Birch! Does he demand fried chicken? Because if he does, I totally understand.¡± Asmodeus¡¯s presence lay like a thousand ton weight on Kaden, but he knew his name, and speaking anything lifted the weight just enough so he could keep speaking.

    Naski paced over, growing flowing robes from strands of blood that dripped from her, to glare at Kaden. Her eyes glowed with red Demon Fire and her teeth were pointed. ¡°His eye. The eye you hold. He demands it.¡±

    Kaden could barely speak but barely was enough. ¡°What do I get in return? You know, I know what I want. I want you. You and me. I want to get naked right here and now, and then I¡¯m going to ¡ª¡±

    ¡°His Eye!¡± Naski screamed.

    Viktor shook silently as he laughed.

    With every word, resisting the presence grew easier. ¡°Look, I have low standards. Normally I¡¯d say no to you. It¡¯s not every demon who gets a piece of this. And you get a demon Eye in return. You want to see it again?¡±

    Kaden had heard it said that in the language of hell there was a term for every kind of pain and torment imaginable. Looking at the gaping face of Naski, it was clear that had been a lie. Her lips shredded over razor teeth as they drew back, and she spoke in a gutteral language that made wisps of smoke rise up.

    ¡°Hey, Assy!¡± Kaden looked up at the demon, daring stare it in the face. Those eyes would feature in his nightmares, maybe forever. ¡°I stated my trade. Your Daughter, Nasty, and I, we¡­¡± he made a rude gesture repeatedly. Then slower. Then upside down for emphasis. ¡°And I give her this disgusting eye ball I took from Damn-was-he-stupid. Deal?¡±

    ¡°Naski!¡± she shouted. ¡°Nas-ki!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have the kind of lisp where you pronounce Ks as Ts. Ast anyone I tnow.¡±So close. Kaden began to pace back and forth in front of Asmodeus. ¡°Why does he want this eye? He¡¯s got plenty of them. You know what I don¡¯t see? Chicken sandwiches. Has he ever had a chicken sandwich? Because if he did, he¡¯d be asking for that instead.¡± Minotaurs ringed the temple. There was no question what would happen next, but Kaden had hope, because at the entrance, the slightest hint of motion said Eve and Sara had reached the Adventurers. His delay had worked.

    Asmodeus spoke.

    What had been pressure became a demon lord standing on his shoulders. His health dropped fifty points in the first second¡ªthen twenty.

    ¡°Great Assmodius¡ªAsmodius says your time for nattering is at an end. Give me the eye. I will give it to him,¡± Naski said, her voice sweet.

    ¡°So you agree to his deal?¡± Viktor said. ¡°Great! You two, just go over there. You, Minotaurs. Turn around, they need some privacy. A man can¡¯t just give a Demon Daughter the best sex of her life without alone time. And you and I, Assy, we should fight. What do you say we shake on it?¡±

    The grumbling of the earth was Asmodius¡¯s voice.

    ¡°No!¡± Naski shouted¡ªthen winced and looked away. ¡°As you command. The eye will be mine. Come, Kaden Birch. But know and understand, this flesh is formed by my will, in the way I will. I can have many mouths. All of them with teeth.¡±

    She grinned for emphasis as her not-clothes dripped off into the dirt, but followed as Kaden circled Asmodeus¡¯s throne. ¡°Now, let us give you what you desire most. Did you not know how this would end? Or was this a ploy to buy a more merciful death?¡±

    ¡°Ploy.¡± Kaden said. ¡°I changed my mind, I have the most wonderful woman at home, and I prefer sex with her. But she¡¯s a corpse.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Naski asked.

    ¡°At the moment! Not all the time,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯m saving myself for her. Or anyone but you. As a matter of fact, I took an oath of no demon sex and forgot about it until just now¡ª¡±

    Asmodeus¡¯s roar accompanied the battle cry of a dozen Minotaurs. A gaping, yawning portal to a place of living darkness had blasted open, and Asmodeus wielded a spear twice as long as Kaden was tall, stabbing at Victor.

    Negotiations were over.

 Ten - Run For Cover

    Asmodeus declared an end to discussion with the pointed end of his spear. The [Ranger] was never where the spear ended, and he fired over and over¡ªkilling the minotaurs. Arrows curved and ricoched, split into ten and back into one.

    With a shriek of rage, Naski leaped at Kaden, who used [Split Second] to twist away and then [Moment of Speed] to end up behind her. As she spun, he slammed Remembrance down.

    A runaway wagon impacted his chest.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t breathe, as Naski¡¯s eyes gleamed with triumph.

    He looked down. Her claws were so sharp they didn¡¯t even hurt.

    Also, they¡¯d broken on the silver ribs that covered his chest.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to think it¡¯s not going to work out between us.¡± Kaden kicked her and then, with [Moment of Speed], slammed Remembrance into her chin, sending the Daughter sailing.

    Asmodeus¡¯s shout of triumph drew Kaden¡¯s attention. The Demon Lord had wounded Viktor, and the Ranger was now purely defensive, dodging strikes as Asmodius¡¯s spear extended to impossible lengths, covering the temple without Asmodeus even leaving his throne where he stood.

    Kaden had the most glorious, terrible idea of his life.

    He sprinted for the throne, climbing up to leap and brought down Remembrance¡¯s axe head on the top of Asmodius¡¯s skull. The hammer screamed with power, resonating in the mana beads that covered Kaden.

    Asmodius reached up and felt of the back of his head, looking at a drop of incandescent purple blood on his palm, and roared.

    Kaden dropped to the ground and used [Moment of Speed] to burst between the Demon Lord¡¯s feet as Asmodius spun to slam his spear down through the throne.

    Viktor fired a [Mana Arrow] the width of Kaden¡¯s arm.

    Many colleges of magic had debated Demon anatomy. They did not eat. Their sexual organs could be positioned almost anywhere. They did not excrete, and yet, Kaden formed a hypothesis that the area where their anus would have been was in fact sensitive.

    He formed this based on the scream of agony that Ass-modius let out, but he was already sprinting for his life, straight toward the Demon King. Mana Loop, Remote Mana Loop, Sharpen, Weave¡ª[Split Second] as the spear came crashing down an inch from Kaden¡¯s nose.

    Asmodius was done playing, he raised the spear again, again Victor fired through the portal that would have taken Kaden behind the Demon Lord. That spot was, in fact, a weak point, as this time the arrow burst through Asmodius¡¯s stomach, revealing a Demon Seed as big as Kaden was tall.

    With a pained cry, Asmodius dropped his spear, and Kaden lunged forward, taking it into Inventory.Sometimes, Inspiration shared a bed with Madness. ¡°It worked just like you said it would, Naski! He dropped it, I took it, and now, Viktor¡¯s going to kill him. You are a genius.¡±

    For the slightest moment, the Demon Daughter¡¯s face remained blank.

    Comprehension dawned as Asmodius screamed to the heavens.

    Directive Acknowledged. The Entity [NASKY] has been severed from association with [ASMODIUS 1.7334x221].

    Asmodius lunged forward, not at Kaden, but at Viktor, who had put his bow away. ¡°Oh, no. A trap. I did not see this coming. Help, help.¡±

    The Demon Lord barrled straight into him, knocking half a dozen more Minotaurs through the Portal, which slurped closed.

    Three Minotaurs remained, all level thirty. And the Demon¡¯s Daughter, who sat on her knees, wailing to the sky. She gripped her chest as though wracked with agony. Normally, Kaden would have struck quickly, aiming to kill at least one of the minotaurs. Right now, all he could do was run, fast as he could, straight for the exit. ¡°We have to leave now!¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t remove the chains on these six,¡± Eve said. ¡°The Horror can¡¯t even digest them¡±

    ¡°Put their corpses in Inventory, it¡¯ll pull them out of the chains.¡± Kaden tossed the Corpse Inventory to Eve.

    ¡°They¡¯re not dead!¡± Eve shouted. ¡°Oh. Give me a moment.¡±

    Kaden had his own problem. The three remaining Minotaurs, in the absence of their demon lord continued to look from where the portal had stood to the empty throne.

    Naski had no such issues. And [Identify] had changed.

    [Disowned Daughter Naski - Vengeful Demon]

    This Demon, through your machinations, has been disowned by its master and cast out of the hierarchy of Hell. No longer safe in its home dimension, it will never rest until it kills you and everyone you love. There is no escaping its vengeance, there is only delaying the inevitable.

    Level: 27

    HP: 1800/2000

    Mana: 300/300

    Skills: Daughter¡¯s Lullaby, Weeping Wounds, Infernal Fire, Hatred Mark

    Talents: Fleshless, Undying, Determined, Survivor

    She had a three level advantage and also a real grudge against Kaden on account of the whole killing her sister, getting her Daddy killed and also maybe ruining her relationship with every Demon in Hell. Some beings took offense at any little thing.

    Kaden met her attack with his own, short jabs that reset the range and pace to take away her momentum. ¡°Kill faster! I mean, rescue faster!¡±

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    Men being rescued didn¡¯t usually scream for someone to ¡®please don¡¯t do this¡¯ but there were bad choices and worse choices.

    ¡°I leveled again!¡± Eve said. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry. I do understand why Assassins level so quickly. I¡¯m going to hit twenty five at this rate¡ªI mean, I regret this, sir. If I had any other choice¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do it!¡± Kaden shouted as he blocked Naski. She was operating on pure rage, if she settled down and used skill, they¡¯d all be in trouble.

    ¡°Done!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°Gods, that is a lot of XP.¡±

    ¡°Activate your [Recall],¡± Kaden said as Naski scored his cheek with her claws.

    The Demon¡¯s Daughter looked down, focused, and her claws glowed with purple, as the glow of fire in her eyes dimmed.

    In the split second she wasn¡¯t looking, Sara and Eve faded away.

    Kaden leaped over one of the boulders¡ªand into [Stealth]. Naski was a bright orange glow in his Demon Sight. She didn¡¯t sprint blindly, but held still, sniffing the air, and began to slowly stalk forward, hands spread in front of her as though she could feel Kaden¡¯s trail.

    Maybe she could.

    With every step she took, Kaden took one as well.

    Your skill with Stealth has increased.

    Stealth had reached level five, meaning the core of his competency was complete. From here, it would increase in effect, and in environments it worked in. The skill was now comfortable, like a fitted glove. Maybe a fitted shoe, one for sprinting, since that¡¯s what Kaden was going.

    Naski now wore a wicked grin that showed all her teeth. ¡°Oh, where have you gone, Kaden Birch? Why run? I¡¯ll give you what you asked for now. Oh, yes I will. You will beg to give me the eye. You will pray for me to kill you. You will¡ª¡±

    Kaden took a risk. He swung Remembrance, striking the hammer head on a boulder so the head swam and rippled. Naski¡¯s howl of joy gave him adrenaline to run and swing, run and swing.

    He wound up for a swing¡ªand she leaped onto the rock he hid on. No time to stop, he followed through, slamming into the boulder, and releasing all the built up blows. The boulder exploded, cracking down the top, but Naski landed on the rubble like a butterfly landing on a flower.

    She was prepared for that.

    When he took half the boulder into Inventory, that she wasn¡¯t prepared for. She fell, landing on her back.

    Kaden had already turned and sprinted for the gate, skipping the path, dodging through the rock formations. There, the FarPortal he¡¯d arrived through still flickered. Olidar had said he could pass through but Demons couldn¡¯t.

    Something felt wrong.

    The only sound was the goat men running away. Kaden leaped and scrambled, climbing an outcropping higher and higher. Beneath him, Naski leaped out to attack nothing. Kaden was already above her, jumping from outcropping to outcropping , even when he sent a terrified demon bird flapping.

    ¡°Never escape! Death is your decree!¡± Naski shouted.

    ¡°Daddy disowned you. Actually, Daddy is too stupid to disown you, but Grand Daddy definitely disowned you.¡± Kaden caught his breath and gauged his next jump. No directly led straight toward the portal.

    A crack echoed through the landscape of hell, sending goatmen bleating in terror. Another crack. And the growth of rock he perched on wavered, trembled. Kaden leaped for the next one and missed, falling, flailing to catch himself eight feet off the ground.

    [Split Second] saved his life as Kaden dropped and rolled. His belly burned and gushed red as Nashi nibbled thin strips of skin from her claws and painted her cheeks with his blood. Two could play that game. He swung at her, then redirected to land a blow at the base of a growth.

    ¡°Missed,¡± Naski said, drawing the sss into a hiss.

    Kaden leaped backwards with [Moment of Speed] as the monument collapsed, and sprinted for the edge of the forest. Ten steps from the FarPortal, Kaden spun and drew the Levicon Blade. Though it was only a couple inches long, the blade would always cut. He met a swipe from her and sheared a finger off, then another, and another.

    Battles had momentum.

    It hadn¡¯t shifted, but it stalled. Kaden no longer considered Naski unkillable. ¡°I¡¯m going to cut out your core just like I did your sister. I¡¯m going to bleed it just like I did hers. And you know what you¡¯ll be? A pile of gold. A treat for the Mages.¡±

    ¡°I. Will. Kill. You.¡±

    He nodded. ¡°If you can, do it. Otherwise, I¡¯m going to put away my knife, walk through that portal, and leave you here. That portal won¡¯t work for you. You¡¯re not a human. You¡¯re not part of the Demon Hierarchy.¡± Kaden glanced east to west. ¡°This place is nice. Enjoy it.¡±

    ¡°[Hatred Mark]¡± Naski said.

    You have been marked by Naski, the Disowned Daughter. She will be able to track you anywhere.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the problem with that, Nasty. Track me everywhere. Track me anywhere. Follow me to the ends of the earth, and here¡¯s the problem. You still wind up with me. Goodbye.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t turn around.

    Viktor would have totally turned around. Viktor would¡ª

    You have helped defeat a Demon Lord.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a title.

    [Planes Breaker]

    You were not afraid to cross the planes of existence and strike down one of power. By doing so, you have earned a bonus. Damage against entities from other planes is greatly boosted.

    Warning - Structural Entity has been slain. Preparing for Restructure. Stand by while minor disputes are settled for announcement of new rulers.

    The announcement meant Viktor had succeeded in his quest to kill the Abyss Lord. But Viktor had also said the names alone would do a thousand points of damage. He sprinted for the FarPortal.

    Naski was right behind him. He could hear her. Even more, he could feel her through the Hatred Mark. He triggered [Moment of Speed] and poured every point of mana he had into it.

    Claws ripped at his back as the light enveloped him¡ªand he blasted out the other side, rolling through the long grass.

    ¡°Eve! Healing!¡± Sara shouted.

    [Life Transfusion] from Eve was a full burn of Mana. His health didn¡¯t rocket, though it did rise slightly. It dipped down as Eve applied [Life Burn] over and over. ¡°You¡¯ve got some sort of status. Hatred Mark?¡±

    Kaden sat up and reviewed his logs. ¡°The real problem is [Weeping Wounds]. It¡¯s a tier two status effect.¡±

    ¡°Thank the All-Root!¡± Olidar shouted as he came running. ¡°Ravena, he¡¯s got a nasty Status. Can you purge it?¡±

    ¡°Weeping Wounds will expire on its own at dawn,¡± Ravena said. ¡°For now, we just keep him topped up. Please, I don¡¯t want to sound callous. Do you have the other Adventurer?¡±

    ¡°Oops. I meant to stick him in Corpse Inventory, but I didn¡¯t have a ton of time. Turns out, you can pull corpses straight out of manacles with [Inventory].¡±He dropped the man on the grass.

    Roots grew up from the ground, meshing over the man and dragging him deeper and deeper into the earth. Mana surged upward, filling the man, who arched his back and screamed.

    ¡°You are safe,¡± Ravena said. She called and a pair of Druids came running. ¡°Put him some place quiet. Stay with him. If you must, use [Sleep Whisper] on him.¡±

    Then she pivoted and looked to Kaden. ¡°Do you know? Were the [Rangers] successful?¡±

    ¡°They killed Asmodeus, I got XP for that. But something else happened.¡± He shared the system logs. ¡°Did none of the twelve make it back?¡±

    Ravena looked away. ¡°They¡¯re seven levels deep in Hell. If there are survivors, it will take time for them to fight their way out. Could be minutes, could be months.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t want to ask more, but Sara came to stand beside him. ¡°Ask Kaden. We had no choice but to kill the adventureres who were alive and take them into Corpse Inventory.¡±

    Another Druid spoke. ¡°Because of magic manacles that no one has ever seen that couldn¡¯t be cut or opened or anything. And the XP gain you got was really just a side effect of your heroic actions. Oh, I heard your lies. You house an entity that would destroy this world. He¡ªlook at what he did to his chest, and the Blood Healer profited most.¡±

    Kaden reached into Inventory and pulled out a mound of stone. And the manacles attached to it. ¡°Give me your hand. I want to demonstrate something.¡±

    The Druid stepped back. ¡°You see how it looks. You understand¡ª¡±

    ¡°Go. I¡¯ll report to the Circle myself,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Come with me, you three. Ravena, you¡¯re welcome, or you can tend your patients. I want to know what happened. I want to know everything. An Abyss Lord was slain. A group of hostages was rescued. Asmodius is dead¡ª¡±

    ¡°And Weaponless.¡± Kaden pulled out the spear¡ªwhich had shifted, becoming his size, not more than four feet long. ¡°And Asmodius disowned the Daughter he brought to kill us.¡±

    Olidar held up a hand. ¡°Stop. Just stop. You need food. You need water. And you need to start from the beginning. All of you. Everything.¡±

    It was going to be a long night.

 Eleven - Shield Tree

    By morning, Kaden had told¡ªand retold¡ªthe story half a dozen times to an evergrowing list of Centurions. Rangers came from everywhere. They hadn¡¯t declared Viktor and his team dead, and wouldn¡¯t for months, unless someone survived, in which case everyone else would be declared dead. Druids, Rangers, a Councilman from Kaden¡¯s city of Verona, the Guildmaster, even a [King] from a Kingdom far south.

    A Centurion [Man At Arms] put Asmodius¡¯s spear through its paces, testing how long it would exend. The answer was disappointing for Kaden, as he didn¡¯t have the Soul stat to use effectively. The manacles resisted everyone, even the master [Thief], which didn¡¯t upset them. If anything, it made them happier.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t ready to sell anything, but the other problem was that keeping artifacts¡ªones people knew about¡ªwould lure people to the Holding. After hours of debate, he called Sara. ¡°Can you make a deal for the manacles and the spear? I¡¯m keeping the eye of Asmodius. It¡¯s not a gift or treasure, it¡¯s a burden.¡±

    ¡°What should I aim for?¡±

    ¡°How long has it been since you upgraded your weapons? See what you need. See what Eve needs. Actually, there is one thing Druids could help with.¡± He sought out Tanny and waited until the man was alone. ¡°You¡¯re going to get a weird request. I¡¯ll understand if you want to say no. I¡­need animals and Beasts. All different kinds. I need them alive. And I¡¯d rather not talk about what happens to them.¡±

    Explaining that he used them as [Entity Seeds] would be awkward.

    ¡°You¡¯re not the first class that uses [Sacrifice]. Most [Shamans] do, too, and they don¡¯t talk about it either. We can set up deliveries. It¡¯s not cheap, but it¡¯s possible.¡±

    Kaden nodded and shook his hand. ¡°When my [Beast Taming] levels up, I¡¯ll be back to learn.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know when that would be.

    Eve had gone back to thank the instructors and set a plan for continuing her learning, Sara was arguing viciously, and Kaden sat in the sun, throwing a mana rat skeleton for Vip while Trinity basked beside him. She¡¯d rolled over, exposing a cream colored belly to the sun.

    ¡°Am I interrupting?¡± Ravena had snuck up on him.

    Maybe sneak was the wrong word, since she had a procession of druids behind her. She¡¯d ignored-up on him. ¡°You came here to trade with us. You were injured in our grove. Under the watch of our spirits. I can¡¯t undo the Demon attack, or remove the damage to your chest. But I can do this.¡±

    Kaden stood as she opened a carved wooden box. Nestled inside was a seed the size of his fist, which glowed softly in waves, like it was taking a deep breath. ¡°What is it? Sara¡¯s got [Gardening].¡±

    ¡°Even Tree Forms are not forever. When a Centurion Druid is ready, they return to Nature. Their Tree Form flowers one final time and produces this. It¡¯s a [Shield Tree]. Demons suffer constant damage for being near a [Shield Tree]. It will be small, but it will grow. Plant it near your home.¡±

    Kaden took it from her and stored it with care. ¡°I¡¯ll protect it.¡±

    Oh, that smile as she laughed. ¡°You don¡¯t protect it, it¡¯s a [Shield Tree.] Demons will hate it. If they cut it down to the ground, it will grow back. If they burn it, it will heal and grow stronger. Every bit of damage it does to one of them strengthens it. It¡¯s not just a tree. It¡¯s an anchor of this plane. Every Grove has a ring of them at the heart.¡±

    Kaden was hesitant to give her a hug. Fifteen year-old him had so many different ideas, none of them respectful. ¡°Thank you. For trying to help me when I didn¡¯t even have a class. I probably would have loved life here as a [Druid.] And for tolerating my¡­interest.¡±

    ¡°Oh, still so sweet. Will you sing¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden had limits. ¡°I don¡¯t do that anymore. Some mistakes you only make once. Or twice. I might have serenaded Trella when I was drunk.¡±

    Ravena reached out to brush his cheek. ¡°I heard what happened. Such a frightened little girl, now a [Shadow Blade]. These years¡ªthese early years¡ªevery day seems like an eternity. Hold on. Have faith. Keep growing. That¡¯s all you can do.¡±

    A flight of owls came swooping in to the TreeSpace where Sara negotiated, and one landed on Ravena. She listened, then looked up with a smile, even as tears began to roll. ¡°There were survivors from Viktor¡¯s Party. Five of them made it out with the corpses of the others. We think they can be resurrected. Most of them.¡±

    Her tone told Kaden what he needed to know. ¡°Viktor?¡±

    ¡°An Abyss Lord¡¯s very presence would kill you right now. This one was a rot, a living corruption, and not even a Centurion can survive that. But he was level one hundred and twenty eight. Multiclassed so many times it was a running joke. And he¡¯ll be remembered as the man who shook the foundations of Hell.¡± Raven spoke the last as a pronouncement. ¡°His corpse cannot be buried, it contains the rot, but we will burn it here in the grove. It¡¯s the last thing we can do for an ally. Come, they¡¯re bringing it now.¡±

    Kaden went with her.

    He hadn¡¯t known Viktor well.

    At all.

    But there was a certain kinship that came from standing before a Demon Lord and mocking him. From walking into Hell, straight into a trap and smiling all the way. And Kaden couldn¡¯t help wondering if the way he¡¯d been able to speak in the presence of Asmodeus had been his own will, or Viktor lending him strength.

    At the far edge of the grove, one meadow held no green, no grass. Sharp rocks jutted up, shards of obsidian around a funeral pyre. A portal opened, and through it came a group of Rangers, all of them Centurions.

    All of them wounded.

    All of them bloody.

    They carried a bound body wrapped in green Mana.

    Within it, black tar sloshed back and forth, a living vessel of corruption.

    Ravena went to meet them, and spoke quiet words as they set the blob down on the funeral pyre, then hurried out of reach.

    ¡°Be at rest, friend.¡± Ravena triggered a skill, and for a moment, the sunlight above morphed. Moonlight shone down from a night sky above them, and through the darkness came flares of light. Shooting stars, which struck the pyre, enveloping it in white flames that consumed the corruption.

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    The fire blazed hotter and hotter.

    Sweat rolled off Kaden¡¯s face, and his skin tingled as the fire burned.

    Then the air popped.

    The fire went out.

    And the Rangers visibly relaxed. Some wept. Some laughed. One approached Ravena and Kaden. ¡°He didn¡¯t die straight away, it took weeks. Said he wanted you to know he was at peace with it. That it was a good trade, the seventh Abyss Lord for a single [Ranger].¡±

    Ravena bowed her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a good trade right now. Perhaps, in the centuries to come, it will.¡±

    ¡°Hey. [Beast Master.]¡± The Ranger woman turned to him, and tossed him something. An Inventory package. ¡°For later.¡±

    Kaden gave her a nod, curious what it would contain.

    ¡°Virgil Birch¡¯s boy should know how to use a bow. You¡¯re no [Ranger] but your dad? I saw him put an arrow through a King¡¯s eye from a mile away once. Shot through a forest, through a window, put the arrow through the King¡¯s skull. It might have come out the other side, I don¡¯t know, we weren¡¯t checking.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t picture his Dad that way. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Same as always. Royal curse, mad king, you know how it goes. The Royal family panicked. Queen took her kids, made a run for it straight into that [Shadow Blade] wife of his. Snick-snick-snick, whole family dead in seconds. Woman gave me the creeps. You¡¯d be looking at her in one place and another at the same time. Not her shadow¡ªor if it was, I sure couldn¡¯t tell.¡±

    ¡°You knew them?¡±

    She shrugged. ¡°Much as anyone did. Son of a bitch had a bow made for killing royalty, and let me tell you, there were a few decades when every time it rained, the Royals began to sweat. That was assuming his wife didn¡¯t find you. She had dead eyes, you know? Like she looked through you.¡± She smiled as though it was a compliment.

    And left.

    Kaden put the package away, shaken. Viktor had known what was coming. He¡¯d said it was entirely possible he wouldn¡¯t come back. But hearing people talk about his parents, people who knew them, left him with questions he¡¯d never have answers to.

    Or answers he didn¡¯t want.

    Ravena respected his silence as they headed back to find Sara shaking hands with a group of Rangers and Druids. Eve stood there, holding Vip, who definitely did not want to be held, based on how she wiggled.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure,¡± Sara said. ¡°Not all of it. Not the part where we were attacked by demons, or Kaden was mortally wounded, or stalked by a Demon¡¯s Daughter, or our trip to Hell. All that was terrifying, but the other parts were wonderful. You throw an excellent feast.¡±

    Kaden shook Olidar¡¯s hand. ¡°We¡¯ll be back. Next time I get some weird plant pollen thing, I know where to take it.¡±

    ¡°The healing pollen¡¯s fertile. Ravena will start using it this year. In a decade, her healing will be even more powerful,¡± Olidar said. ¡°And we have uses for that Rage pollen. If you¡¯ve ever seen a Bearserker, imagine one three times the size and ten times as angry.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t want to imagine that.

    He wanted to be home.

    ¡°Until next time.¡± Together, they went to the FarPortal, and Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul. The trip back was no rougher than any other time, and Kaden knew to roll as he landed, then used [Moment of Speed] to leap back to catch Sara as she fell upside down out of the FarPortal.

    ¡°Careful,¡± he said as he set her upright.

    ¡°Someone needs more PortalMage lessons,¡± Sara said to Eve. ¡°Many more lessons. So many.¡±

    If it bothered Eve, she didn¡¯t show it.

    Kaden waved to the others. ¡°Ravena gave us a gift. A way of saying ¡®I¡¯m sorry a Demon¡¯s Daughter tried to tear your heart out and now you have some metal bonded permanently to your body.¡±

    He headed to the far side of the Farmhouse, between the Crafting Workshop and the Guest Tower which was still technically Wren¡¯s. The [Shield Tree] seed felt warm in his hands, and even now, he felt [Guardian of Life]¡¯s effect on it. ¡°This is an anti-demon tree. Groves use them at the heart to protect children.¡±

    Sara drew her enchanted trowel from Inventory and joined him. ¡°My [Gardening] skill is going crazy. I can¡¯t even read the status on that, but I can tell you this - you could plant it right against the house and it would grow through and around the house. It might even take over part of it.¡±

    That sounded like a plan. Kaden let Sara dig , then gently put the seed into the ground and patted the earth down on it while Trinity watched intently with all three heads.

    Vip peed on the spot, which Kaden chose to interpret as helping.

    ¡°Is it going to errupt?¡± Eve asked. ¡°Are we talking magic bean stalks? Because those are terrible. Almost impossible to cut down.¡±

    They waited.

    And waited.

    ¡°It¡¯s growing. I can tell you that, but maybe [Shield Trees] grow slowly?¡± Sara stood and dusted herself off. ¡°I have so many things to do. My gardens are overrun.¡±

    ¡°I need to check on my dungeon¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, you do.¡± Yuni¡ªAshi. Her name was Ashi. Her voice came from above him. She hovered there, arms crossed, a perpetual look of mild displeasure on her face as she looked at him. She¡¯d changed the wraps that kept her from absorbing too much Mana, and now they were light tan, almost white. The different mana beads sewn into them flashed in different colors as she settled down lightly. ¡°I come back to see how you are, and you are nowhere. You are all nowhere, except for Trella. She is where I expect.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a couple months. We had stuff to do, and we¡¯re going to have more. Munoz is almost done processing the [Storm Condor] feathers from Jagi¡¯s bird. How is he?¡±

    Ashi pulled back her hair, which was shiny black and tied it so it didn¡¯t hang over her shoulders. ¡°He is not in Vichor, but you know this. The City is quiet. Many wait to see if my brother will return. It was only a few days. Time for Mother to instruct me.¡±

    Ashi looked to each of them. ¡°Lunar Mana? Was it not unpleasant, Evelyn?¡±

    ¡°Druids know tricks Vichoreans don¡¯t.¡± Eve replied. If Kaden had called her ¡®Evelyn¡¯ it would not have ended well. ¡°Perhaps we could make a deal to extend Vichor¡¯s knowledge of magic. And if it was unpleasant, I¡¯d do it all over again.¡±

    ¡°You have grown stronger,¡± she said to Sara. ¡°This is good and right. It will be a pleasure to fight by your side as we destroy erratic dungeons.¡±

    ¡°You had be at ¡®destroy.¡¯ And ¡®erratic.¡¯ And ¡®dungeons,¡± Sara said, offering a hug.

    Ashi did not accept.

    ¡°What is this?¡± Ashi approached Kaden, slipping her hand under his top to run her fingers along the metal. ¡°What disaster required such an act? I must know.¡±

    ¡°This is awkward and I¡¯m hungry. That¡¯s twice the number of reasons I needed to leave,¡± Eve said. ¡°Good luck figuring out how to explain this, Kaden.¡±

    ¡°Come, we must tend your Dungeon. It was ready to Rank up days ago. Why did you not do so?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°Because every time I rank up, I have this time period where I can¡¯t tell what¡¯s me and what¡¯s the dungeon, and it¡¯s a good thing I waited, because the Demon¡¯s Daughter¡ª¡± Kaden stopped as Ashi turned on him, her look horrified. ¡°Those are demon wounds?¡±

    ¡°Sara?¡± He asked. ¡°You want to explain or you want me to?¡±

    ¡°Are your story telling skills like your singing and song writing ones? Perhaps I should,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°You have never written a song for me. Or sung for me.¡± Ashi¡¯s tone held menace.

    ¡°You and I were trying to escape your psychopathic brother. It wasn¡¯t exactly a ¡®singing and songwriting¡¯ time in my life.¡± Kaden began to suspect he¡¯d never hear the end of this.

    ¡°Also, he wasn¡¯t fifteen, you aren¡¯t a curvy Druid teaching him hands-on,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Who was this [Druid]? What was she teaching? Where were these hands?¡± Ashi asked.

    This whole discussion was going entirely the wrong way, so Kaden lead in with his version of the story. One which downplayed the danger, emphasized the loot and completely ignored Naski¡¯s oath of revenge.

    ¡°I am not familiar with ¡®Hatred Mark.¡¯¡± Ashi said. ¡°Show me the logs, perhaps it can be dispelled. I would not hesitate to ask this of Mother.¡±

    ¡°It means she can track me.¡± Kaden was in absolutely no rush to meet Ashi¡¯s mother again. She was so close to ascension even perceiving her was near impossible. ¡°If she tracks me down, I will kill her. Maybe I should have done it then.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Sara¡¯s declaration was absolute. ¡°She¡¯s thrown out of Hell, didn¡¯t deliver Asmodeus¡¯s eye, and claiming she¡¯ll hunt you down is at best a claim. If you stayed and fought, I would never bet against you, but a level thirty Demon¡¯s Daughter would be¡­difficult.¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t spoken. She looked from Kaden to Sara. ¡°We have business to take care of. It is time for Kaden to raise the Dungeon¡¯s rank again. And then I want to hear from the beginning. Leave nothing out. Tell me of this threat to a Dungeon Master of Vichor. I will not show mercy.¡±

    Raising the rank was natural and exciting, and the consequences, always terrifying. But it was time.

 Twelve - Pulling Rank

    It was a short walk from the Farmhouse to Echo Lake, but not short enough that Sara hadn¡¯t brought up so many things. Ass-modius. Stealing the Demon Lord¡¯s spear. Suggesting he¡¯d have sex with Naski. Setting up Naski as the betrayer. Not mentioning he didn¡¯t have [Recall]. It was going to be a long day.

    At the dungeon, Kaden was shocked to find no teams lined up. ¡°There¡¯s usually a queue. There¡¯s a camp ground on the other side of Echo Lake.¡±

    ¡°I sent them home. Also, I locked the Dungeon Door. Mother has granted me this permission, yes, I can make changes. You are a young Dungeon Master, in need of guidance.¡± Ashi froze the lake without even looking at it. Her tone would have done it if her mana hadn¡¯t. ¡°We will speak, you and I, about how best to defend you from these enemies. But for now, we must do this.¡±

    The Dungeon felt¡­packed. Stretched. ¡°You said anything not used would be banked for the next level.¡±

    ¡°And it is, but these early ranks are easy. It should grow quickly and we will help you through the process.¡±

    In the antechamber, colors were too bright, the cries of Thorn Monkeys too loud.

    Kaden pulled up the Core Status and selected Rank Increase.

    The effect was immediate, and Sara stepped behind him as the ground shook and rippled in waves.

    Dungeon Rank increased.

    New level cap: 15

    Bond Level: 2

    New capabilites: Core Speech, Enchant Loot

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x100,000

    1000x Adventurer Party

    100x [Entity Seeds] (27x aquired)

    1x Lieutenant Seed

    10x Loot Seed (7x acquired)

    Optional, Required for next Rank: 1x [Secondary Boss]

    The mana requirements were insane. A thousand parties? Seventy three more entity seeds? But even more than that, he felt the choices, the options that opened up. Choices he would guide the Core in, if it wanted, or make for it, if he had to.

    ¡°Now is the time for changing,¡± Ashi said. ¡°A young dungeon has no story. It is a collection of dangers, a smear of loot. A grand dungeon of the hundredth rank tells a story from start to finish. Today we begin telling your story. What is this place? What did you tell River Sprague? Is it merely a journey through the plains to be attacked? Or is there more?¡±

    Kaden had come up with a dozen ideas. A hundred themes. ¡°My monsters aren¡¯t coherent. I have a TriTerror who¡¯s amazing but belongs in a jungle. A wolf who belongs in the woods. Trap Snakes, Verdant Vipers, Winged Scorpions, Monkeys. There¡¯s no common element.¡±

    ¡°We begin as we must,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Your limits are your imagination. What will it be?¡±

    Kaden was already making changes. Within limits, space didn¡¯t cost him much. ¡°This is going to be strange. Sara, stay close.¡±

    She slipped her arms around him from behind. The ground beneath Kaden¡¯s feet turned to stone as grass withered away and the sun shifted positions in the sky. Water gushed up, lapping and rippling as it grew deeper and darker, and a wooden rowboat emerged from the mud to lay at the edge of the island. Behind them, a ring of stone grew upward with the Dungeon Door locked in place. ¡°Close your eyes.¡±

    He willed them forward, across the water, to a muddy bank sprouting grass, and a forest that creaked and moaned as it sprouted, growing treees and brush. ¡°First, they have to fight their way through the woods, where a Boss monster holds the key to moving forward.¡±

    Paths opened up in the woods, and black wolves spawned on them as Kaden walked by. The Directed Mana was here to use, so he¡¯d use it. [Star Shadow] would have her own clearing at the center of the woods, and on one side, the woods opened up to a vineyard. Not Verdant Vineyards but the vines certainly gave the feeling, and the Verdant Vipers here were right at home.

    ¡°Is the winery a treasure room or a trap?¡±

    ¡®Both. The winery itself is trapped, the upstairs bedroom has Thorn Monkeys guarding a specialized loot chest.¡± As he spoke, it became so, though getting the details right took long minutes that became hours. ¡°The basement leads to a mini dungeon with a [Vibrant Empress]. The loot will be equipment.¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t spoken, but she gave a nod of approval. ¡°Why did you not finish the wall?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the other path. You can fight your way through the Viper¡¯s Nest to wind up here.¡± Each viper had to be weak, very weak in order to avoid hitting limits, but the switch back rooms and narrow corridors, with hundreds of holes meant this path would require resistance, healing, and patience.

    ¡°They don¡¯t have to come here, but if they do, equipment loot. I¡¯ll expand the mini dungeon as I have the Mana, the same with the forest.¡± To the west of the forest, Kaden opened the plains, putting regular scorpions at the transition point and a winged scorpion alone on a branching pathway. Monkeys and Trap Snakes could now inhabit the same rooms, and Kaden grew stubby trees for the Thorn Monkeys, along with a thorn thicket that was beyond the wall. More decoration, but the right atmosphere.

    The TriTerror remained almost unchanged, except both of her heads had their abilities restored, poison and bash. At level fifteen, she was impressive as a boss, and Kaden took pains to make sure there was a safe staging place.

    ¡°I have an idea,¡± he said. ¡°Can I set a few monkeys to spawn, fight the TriTerror, die, and respawn?¡±

    ¡°I believe it possible. You wish to show the Adventurers her skills? I approve. This gives them a chance to observe. To plan. Or charge in and die.¡± Ashi raised her hand and made a series of motions.

    It felt¡­odd. Like someone was moving his arm for him, or writing with his hand. A trio of level five Thorn Monkeys spawned, then screamed and charged at the TriTerror, which killed one with each head, then flipped the corpses and began to feed.

    ¡°Do you see?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°There is a secret. Do not let them attack and tell me of my brilliance.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Kaden was waiting as the trio spawned in the tall grass. ¡°Stop.¡±

    His will halted them.

    ¡°Can I?¡± Sara asked. She approached with care. ¡°Are they going to attack?¡±

    ¡°Not unless Kaden tells them to. That would be unwise.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°They¡¯re not going to attack.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re holding silver coins!¡± Sara said. ¡°Each of them has two silver. So if the adventures want to try they can earn more loot. What happens if the TriTerror kills them?¡±

    ¡°It is recovered to the Dungeon. Now, we must speak of your loot. You have received Enchant Loot, yes?¡± Ashi wasn¡¯t really asking. ¡°You have many, many weapons granted by Adventurers, but these are not fit gear for a level fifteen dungeon. If you enable Enchant Loot, there is a chance it will grant attributes.¡±

    ¡°That sounds fantastic. What¡¯s the catch?¡±

    ¡°Specialized Loot is a cheap skill. Enchant Loot is expensive. You will lose half the Directed Mana from a run where it triggers.¡± Ashi spoke in Vichorean. ¡°At Rank Five you will be able to read descriptions, but know now you can choose how often it functions.¡±

    ¡°Be stingy. One out of four. One out of five. Not more than that, maybe less,¡± Sara said. ¡°The Mad Vivomancer¡¯s Keep drops enchanted ten percent of the time and people still pay to change slots. If you start dropping high rates and go down, people will complain. You can always go up.¡±

    ¡°Wisdom. Listen to her. Ten percent is generous.¡±

    Kaden was. ¡°Could I set conditions? Like, if half the party dies, they at least get bonus lot?¡±

    Sara spun to face him. ¡°That is the most ridiculous¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stupid,¡± Ashi offered,

    ¡°Bone-headed, disastrous idea,¡± Sara said as she stalked toward him, pseudopods flared. ¡°Think about what you¡¯re teaching parties. Kill half your members, get good drops. They don¡¯t need incentives to turn on eac other.¡±

    Like the party with the [Infernal Pearl.] He drew it from Inventory. ¡°I got this from a dungeon as a gift for opening it up again. Is that common?¡±

    Ashi shuddered. ¡°Terrible, terrible loot. Do not feed it to your Dungeon or you, too, will spawn it. Even Wild Cores have some level of intelligence. I have seen anger and fear. Gratitude is not impossible.¡±

    Kaden put away the Pearl. ¡°Ok. We¡¯ve got the basics down. Now, I need to redo everything. My forest is just the same tree repeating. My winery¡¯s vines look fake, even though I grew them from real vines. Oh, I should have grapes on them.¡±

    ¡°Can you give the grapes a minor healing effect?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Like a mini recovery room?¡±

    ¡°It will be done,¡± Ashi said. ¡°The cost is not worth counting, the value is high. And I think you should have snakes on the roof. Ones to drop and bite. There should be variety. Use everything.¡±

    Kaden was fiddling with the lake, adding fish he¡¯d caught, and frogs. ¡°I want status effects. Sara, can you grow me one of everything? I want to add a garden to the winery with real seeds. If they¡¯re low on tools or weapons, a party could face the vipers for some help.¡±

    ¡°Of course! This is surreal. Dungeons have always been places of terror. Battle. Seeing you create one is humbling.¡±

    Ashi spoke softly to Sara, a conversation Kaden didn¡¯t need to be part of, and Sara hurried off, almost running toward the winery. ¡°I have granted her rights to make small changes, but you will need to confirm them. In Vichor this would never be accepted. A Dungeon Master must be the source of all, the architect of all. This is a better way.¡±

    Alone, he felt comfortable. ¡°Ashi. I like it. It fits you.¡±

    ¡°Mother said she had no daughter Yuni, but she did have a daughter, and only I knew her name.¡± As she spoke, Ashi shaped brush and adjusted the position of wolves, while Kaden worked to make the shadows just right. ¡°Why did you challenge a demon without me?¡±

    ¡°I never planned to challenge one. And Darmando, we were always delaying, not fighting. His Daughter was going to kill Eve. I couldn¡¯t let that happen. Now, Ass-modius, yeah. That one¡¯s on me. And Nasty.¡± He chose to call her that.

    ¡°Yes, Nasty.¡± Ashi spoke it as a pronunciation. ¡°The one you said you would give the eye, in exchange for¡ª¡±

    ¡°It bought Eve and Sara time. I was never going to give her the eye. Also never going to let her near me. She did not have permission.¡±

    ¡°Such restraint, I approve.¡± Ashi worked with him as hours passed.

    Finally, Sara returned, covered in dirt and sweat. She¡¯d made an entire field where once there had been grapes. ¡°Now, here¡¯s the question: If you make these actual plants, they can be harvested for seeds, but they¡¯ll grow on a natural cycle. If I grow them to a stage and you make them part of the dungeon they¡¯ll never grow seeds, but be available for every party.¡±

    ¡°Grow them. If Adventurers want these plants, they can head to the Guild and buy seeds from the [Gardeners] there.¡± Kaden waited until she ripened every last one, then accepted the changes.

    The plants were now locked as part of the dungeon. Kaden still had Directed Mana to spend, what he lacked was the ability to focus.

    ¡°Rest now,¡± Ashi said. ¡°This is a fine start on the third rank. We will watch and adapt. You must now focus on getting [Entity Seeds]. I know of your delivery, but you must focus on ones that match your theme.¡±

    Right. While his deal with the Druids would provide plenty, Kaden would need to be more careful and ensure he gathered appropriate Entity Seeds. ¡°Where do I get a lieutenant?¡±

    ¡°You must first find a monster compatible with your boss.¡± Ashi cast a spell, a gush of fresh air that lifted her hair from her shoulders and dried the sweat, then repeated it for Sara. ¡°Will you warn your mother the Dungeon changes?¡±

    ¡°Gladly.¡± Sara exited the dungeon, then dispatched her parrot. ¡°You should leave the door open and toss some food in the antechamber. You might catch birds or foxes.¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t want to create monster versions of birds or foxes, but wildlife living in the dungeon were welcome. ¡°What happens now?¡±

    ¡°Rest. Tomorrow will be difficult,¡± Ashi said. ¡°With every rank, your bond grows deeper, your abilities as a Dungeon Master, more powerful. So, too, do the side effects.¡±

    When Kaden opened the door, the sky was dark, and the sounds of Night Spawns echoed. ¡°You two go on up to the house. I¡¯ll be there eventually.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Sara¡¯s tone said he¡¯d made a mistake. ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡±

    He summoned Trinity. ¡°You¡¯re free to hunt, girl. Make smart decisions, run away and live to fight.¡±

    Kaden scratched under her jaw and she rumbled with pleasure as she headed, not to FangWood, but out into the darkness.

    ¡°Such loving care is the halmark of a kind man. Now you will be going home, yes?¡± Ashi waited for him.

    ¡°She might need help.¡±

    Sara stepped up beside him. ¡°Trinity is fine. Trinity will be fine. If she isn¡¯t, she¡¯ll learn a valuable lesson and that, too, will be fine. As your Party Leader, I¡¯m ordering you to go have dinner with us. As your friend, I¡¯m asking.¡±

    Kaden went.

    The house smelled of chocolate, and Eve worked at the table, icing a cake. ¡°Guess who finally got [Baking]? I debated so long! I wanted [Baker], I wanted to take the [Grill Master] specialty because Vip just adores grilled treats.¡±

    At her name, Vip raised her head from the couch and laid back down.

    ¡°There was hot soup, but it¡¯s cold.¡± Eve glanced to the stove. ¡°What were you doing?¡±

    ¡°Working on Kaden¡¯s Dungeon,¡± Sara said. ¡°You want to help out?¡±

    Eve went back to frosting. ¡°I admit the wonder is something, but I still find the whole process unnerving. Dungeons are not pets. They¡¯re wild creatures hell bent on murdering adventurers. You might think you¡¯ve tamed it but I think it will turn on you.¡±

    Ashi suppressed a huff and sat beside Eve, while Kaden took the seat across from her, with Sara beside her. ¡°Tell me of the months I have missed. How is your [Shield] friend, Sara?¡±

    Eve snorted. ¡°Yes, tell her¡ª¡±

    ¡°Over. He wanted to join the Party,¡± Sara said, her voice laced with more venom than all the Verdant Vipers in the vineyeard. ¡°That I would have put to a vote. He wanted to ease some of the administrative duty, and that I would have gladly allowed. Then he suggested that a [Shield] would be naturally better as [Party Leader], and we should put that to a vote.¡±

    ¡°Piscu balat,¡± Ashi said.

    [Multispeak] didn¡¯t translate it but Kaden was fairly sure he undertood. ¡°Already got a Party Leader,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I see the advantage in a [Shield] and...¡± He swallowed. Told himself it wasn¡¯t a betrayal. ¡°We need a scout. I could ask the Sisters for a [Shadow Blade].¡±

    ¡°They already offered,¡± Sara said. ¡°I sent her away. I won¡¯t insult you with what they suggested but Trella is a friend. We can¡¯t just swap her with a new [Shadow Blade]. Mr. Dervish said if he knew what he needed, he¡¯d already have a quest.¡±

    Kaden explained about the attempts to undo the binding. ¡°Whatever I need to hunt, I¡¯m going to hunt.¡±

    ¡°I swear this, I will help you. She is your love, how could I not?¡± asked Ashi.

    ¡°I take back some of the things I said about you,¡± Sara said. ¡°We should stick close to home until we¡¯re sure Kaden¡¯s not going to be affected by the Rank Up. Hunt at night. We need XP, and we need to talk loot. We have some hard decisions coming up.¡¯

    That didn¡¯t bother Kaden. ¡°We make hard decisions all the time.¡±

    ¡°You,¡± Sara said. ¡°I mean you have hard decisions to make.¡±

 Thirteen - Tiering Up

    Sara¡¯s explanation made Kaden want to pull his hair out. They were near level twenty five, which would be the second tier of skills and abilities. And it would require second tier weapons, armor. The Gear Grind was back.

    Except that in Kaden¡¯s opinion, it wasn¡¯t. ¡°What did we get for the spear, manacles, pollen, all that?¡±

    ¡°Some was a trade. Eve gets continual training in Lunar spells, you can train with Rangers or Tamers, I¡¯ll continue to take archery. It¡¯s good business even if it¡¯s not coins,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Relationships. If you reach level 100, relationships are currency when you live hundreds of years.¡± Eve mused as she cut into the cake and handed everyone but Ashi a slice. ¡°Sorry, Kaden said you don¡¯t each chocolate in Vichor.¡±

    ¡°We do not have chocolate. I eat it. I will eat mine. I will eat yours. I will eat Kaden¡¯s.¡± Ashi helped herself to a piece. ¡°I do not have this ¡®grind.¡¯ I am a Poly Mage, I am my equipment. Kaden, too, is better armed than a Centurion.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Sara spoke it plainly. ¡°As Party Leader, I have a responsibility to support you, not drag you down¡ª¡±

    ¡°Would you please cut that shit out?¡± Eve said, then covered her mouth. ¡°Apologies. What I mean is that your expectation of ¡®Party Leader¡¯ knows everything about unknown mobs before they¡¯re even identified or ¡®Party Leader sees every ambush before it happens.¡± Eve waved her hands. ¡°It¡¯s frustrating. I miss a pull and bring half a dozen monsters down on the group, you say it¡¯s ok. Trellla chooses to hunt a Demon even when I¡¯m [Demon Chow], that¡¯s fine. Kaden exists and you get along with it. All of this is fine, but you have to be perfect?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Sara said. ¡°Melee equipment is very expensive. We could have fixed the Holding fifty times over for what proper swords and armor for the second tier will cost.¡±

    ¡°What did we get gold-wise?¡± Kaden asked, noting the question hadn¡¯t been answered.

    ¡°Five thousand gold for Asmodius¡¯s spear. A thousand for the manacles. You¡¯re not listening,¡± Sara said, trying to get his attention. ¡°At some point you¡¯ll replace Remembrance.¡±

    ¡°Not likely. It was a [Legendary] weapon, and I have a [Mythic] weapon, the Levicon Blade. And the bow and quiver Viktor gave me. I¡¯m set. Eve?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t wear armor, but I can use wands and crystals. They¡¯re expensive. Probably more expensive that Sara¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°How much?¡± Kaden looked to Sara and Eve.

    ¡°Three thousand gold. We can buy the armor piecemeal, that¡¯s what most Adventurers do¡ª¡± Sara cut off as Kaden put his arm around her.

    ¡°You know, I really think for a super smart person, you¡¯re acting dumb. There¡¯s always more XP If you live another day. There¡¯s always more gold, if you live another day.¡±

    ¡°Mine are two thousand,¡± Eve said. ¡°Two years ago you couldn¡¯t afford fifty gold to fix this house. You really think it¡¯s being dumb to conserve coins now?¡±

    Ashi answered before he could. ¡°Yes. It is ¡®dumb¡¯ to value gold over life, gold over experience. All of this is as you said, ¡®dumb.¡¯ Your Tier Two equipment will go with you for years if not decades. Sometimes centuries.¡±

    ¡°Buy it. You said the decision was mine. I decided. Done.¡±

    Sara sat there, blank faced. ¡°Why do you do things like this?¡±

    ¡°Eventually you¡¯ll stop asking that,¡± Eve said. ¡°I know I got a lot happier when I ditched that question. I¡¯ll take it. I¡¯ve got some gold but I¡¯m buying a [Blood Moon Staff]. It¡¯ll make [Moon Strike] that much more powerful and work with my heals. We¡¯ll all be that much more deadly if I can keep your insides inside.¡±

    The purchase could be arranged by Messenger Bird, though pickup would be in person. ¡°Get it done. Sara, you too. Tonight we rest. Tomorrow, we hunt.¡±

    He looked down to find Ashi had stolen his cake.

    ###

    Trinity came back at dawn, missing her tail and the serpentine head. The armored head dragged on the ground, not moving, and gashes covered her from head to toe. And with her, she brought an unconscious [Bearzerker] which she dragged through the front door and into the living room.

    On the positive side, the day could not get worse, and after an hour of struggle, his dungeon digested the [Bearzerker]. It counted as a normal [Entity Seed], which Kaden, Sara, and Ashi agreed was simply wrong. There were loopholes in the System that should not be exploited.

    ¡°If you gave in to desire, how many could you spawn?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°Fifteen,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Plus four if I cancel the TriTerror. Even four would wipe every team out there. If I hid it until after the door locked¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do. Not.¡± Ashi put a hand on each side of his face and pulled it down to look at her. ¡°Even if it is legal, it is not right. I will tell Mother immediately. She is closer to Ascension. She will petition ADMINISTRATORS.¡±

    It was such a cool glitch. What he wouldn¡¯t give to see a team of six adventurers step inside and¡­He wasn¡¯t sure where the feeling came from, the sheer glee at the thought of unleashing an army of [Bearzerkers.] ¡°I think I need to eat. I feel like I¡¯m going to kill someone if I don¡¯t.¡±

    Ashi muttered in Vichorean.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what¡¯s wrong. Ask Sara.¡± Kaden left the Dungeon and pulled Trinity into his Soul. How the hell had the TriTerror outlasted a beast with no upper bounds? Or had she moved in after a battle? Regardless, she was brilliant.

    Eve wasn¡¯t up, and Kaden set to cooking.

    ¡°Mom says the first team will start momentarily. Level fifteen only today, we don¡¯t want a total wipe on the first run.¡± Sara waited at the door.

    The back door opened and Ashi stepped through. ¡°Listen to me. The first run will be hard. There is it and there is you. You are the Dungeon Master, it is only a Core. No matter what you feel¡ª¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t know what else she said, as lightning shot down his spine and pure unadulterated rage took over. [Moment of Speed] triggered without him even thinking, and [Split Second] followed as Sara lunged for him.

    Hurting Sara or Ashi would be like cutting his own hand off, but the desire to reach the Dungeon, to clear it out, to destroy¡ªHe formed a portal without thinking. No more one spell at a time, and he knew the island in Echo lake like he knew his own body.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°No!¡± Ashi shouted. His portal ripped apart as she formed one over it. ¡°You will not let it take control. Sara!¡±

    He activated [Moment of Speed].

    Never before had Kaden dodged lightning.

    He didn¡¯t today, either.

    It struck him from behind, throwing him across the kitchen and down the stairs into the basement. Eclipse yowled in terror as he crashed to the ground. Flashes of light hit him as Adventurers used spells and skills. And his monsters¡ªthe Dungeon¡¯s monsters began to die, falling to the onslaught.

    Every cut.

    Every blow.

    Every burn might as well have been his own skin.

    A thousand pounds sat on his back, or maybe one of the scorpions had been [Shield Bashed].

    ¡°Breathe,¡± Sara whispered. ¡°Just breathe.¡±

    The minutes crawled by, then ran backwards, each longer and longer than the one before. Every death took longer. And the TriTerror attacked! She caught an unlucky [Thief] who was in Stealth when the monkey spawn stumbled into him.

    He was dead before his party could even attack, and the son of a bitch deserved it. They all deserved it. Was the TriTerror screaming, or was it him? [Moment of Speed], [Split Second] didn¡¯t help. They activated and left him still in the dark, still immobile. Ashi spoke, or maybe he imagined they did. Maybe her mother did, words that echoed in his soul.

    You have received a rank-up bonus.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a level.

    SECOND TIER MODIFICATIONS COMMENCING¡­

    Analysis of choices yields conclusions. Class Strategy - MELEE.

    HP MULTIPLIER SELECTED: 4x

    MANA MULITPLIER DEFAULTED: 2x

    CONSTITUTION STAT IS NOT DEFAULT - 4x MULTIPLIER

    LUCK STAT IS NOT DEFAULT - 2x MULTIPLIER

    Tier Two Skill Selection Commencing.

    Valid Paths ([Beast Soul],[Beast Form])

    Unavailable Paths: ([Beast Leader])

    You have gained a skill.

    [Beast Empathy], [Beast Speech], [Beast Heart] have combined to form [Beast Soul]

    [Beast Soul]

    Your soul resonates with that of Beasts. Their feelings and thoughts are yours, as are their skills and talents. You may choose which skills and talents you acquire. The number of skills and talents will increase as your skill level does.

    SKILL UPGRADE TO TIER TWO IN PROGRESS¡­

    SKILLS ARE NOW TIER 2.

    TALENTS ARE UNAFFECTED

    You have completed a hidden quest: (Sole Survivor).

    You have recieved a [Boon]

    Soul Survivor - Make it to level twenty five as the only one of your class and somehow acquire a tier two skill. Reward: Epic Title

    [Sole Survivor]

    You¡¯re the only one of your kind, and it just got a lot harder to make your class extinct. When you are alone, your damage resistances increase.

    BOON REPLACES TALENT. YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A TALENT.

    FOLLOW YOUR DESTINY.

    Kaden gasped for air. His ears were filled with a high pitched whine, and a soft purple glow lit the darkness. Ashi felt of his cheeks. ¡°Get off him. It is done. It will not be so bad next time.¡±

    The change was overwhelming.

    And every skill had reset to level one of the second tier. Instinctively, he realized that even level one of a second tier was more powerful than level ten of the same tier one skill. Any new skills would be more powerful too. And his health had expanded so far he couldn¡¯t help laughing.

    [Kaden Birch]

    Class: Beast Master

    Profession: Dungeon Master

    Level: 25

    HP: (1600/1600)

    Mana: (300/300)

    Skills: BackSlash (2:1), BackSmash (2:1), Blunt Weapons (2:1), Brutal Blows (2:1), Building (2:1), Cooking (2:1), Crippling Strikes (2:1), Edged Weapons(2:1), Field Harvest (2:1), Identify (2:1), Lumberjack (2:1), Mana Dart (2:1), Mana Drain (2:1), Mana Spike (2:1), Mana Well (2:1), Multispeak (*), Reap Materials (2:1), Resist Amnesia (2:1), Resist Blindness (2:1), Resist Cold (2:1), Resist Fear (2:1), Resist Fire (2:1), Resist Hallucination (2:1), Resist Mental Attacks (2:1), Resist Status Effects (2:1), Resist Stun (2:1), Resist Paralytics (2:1), Resist Poison (2:1), Resist Suffocation (2:1), Shieldwork (2:1), Shield Smash (2:1), Split Second (2:1), Stealth (2:1), Thrown Weapons(2:1), Traps (2:1), War Hammer (2:1), Wood Carving (2:1)

    Hidden Skills: Beast-Soul (Legendary, 1), Beast Knowledge (Epic, 4), Beast Taming (Epic, 1)

    Talents: Hard to Kill, Last Man Standing, Vigorous

    Quests: The Weight of Memories.

    Titles: Leader of the Pack, Master of the House, Guardian of Life, Planes Wielder, Planes Guardian, Haunted by Demons, Planes Hunter, Planes Breaker, Sole Survivor

    Inventory Slots: 60

    Taming Slots: [0/3]

    As he rose, he felt taller. Heavier. The point of Constitution he¡¯d put in had been multiplied by four, and now if he were cut, it wouldn¡¯t cut as deep. Sara had always been shorter than him by a few inches. Now her forhead touched his chin. His custom armor had adapted to fit as well.

    Kaden felt the bond to Trinity and instinctively swapped [Acidic Drool] for [MultiTasker]. Rocky had several abilities but without a bone tail or multiple stomachs he couldn¡¯t select them. And Vip¡¯s skills were almost useless because Kaden wasn¡¯t a dog, but he accepted [Acrobatic]. When he drew [Remembrance of Battle], it felt heavier in his hands.

    Not like he¡¯d grown weaker, but more like the hammer was free to unleash more of itself. And his first thought was so pleasing. ¡°If she does track me down, Naski is in so much trouble.¡±

    ¡°Let us see the wound,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°Is he dead?¡± Eve called from upstairs. ¡°If so, I call the master bedroom. Vip and I need space.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t leave.

    The preservation chamber was right there. Trella wasn¡¯t. This was only her body, without her soul inhabiting it.¡°We¡¯ll get you here, I promise,¡± Kaden said. Then he headed up the stairs. ¡°Not dead, the bedroom is still mine, and I finally understand why Dad¡¯s bed was so large.¡±

    Eve stared. ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t explain. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m more of what I was.¡± When Sara and Ashi joined him, he shared the system logs. ¡°All my skills are now second tier, level one, except my Beast ones. And I can choose what skills I get from tamed or bonded creatures. Which reminds me.¡±

    He activated the [FalCrow] as a Messenger Bird, and focused on it. Most of its skills weren¡¯t available, but [Mana Channel] was, so Kaden selected it.

    [Mana Channel]

    Act as a conduit for spell casting. Any spells cast by the Mage will be centered on your location.

    Kaden looked to Ashi and shared the log. ¡°Does this mean what I think it means?¡±

    ¡°We will test. But yes, it does. The [FalCrow] was meant to be a weapon for Jagi. Now it is our weapon, and tonight, we will use it. Now, show me the Demon Wound.¡± Ashi helped him remove his armor.

    The metal ribs, which had been clamped on top of his skin, were now buried in it half an inch of scar tissue. The wound edges had turned a pale, scarred white, and the skin was leathery. Ashi ran her fingers along the edges. ¡°Can you feel this?¡±

    ¡°I can feel when you touch it. That tickles.¡± He couldn¡¯t help wriggling.

    Ashi poked with a fingernail. ¡°What of the mana socket?¡±

    ¡°No idea.¡±

    Eve crossed her arms, studying Kaden. ¡°You have me looking forward to twenty five. Except I sincerely hope I don¡¯t gain a hundred pounds and grow four inches.¡±

    ¡°Same.¡± Sara¡¯s Horror extended a pseudopod, which gently nipped at his arm. The gouges barely bled, his health only dropped by a hundred, and almost immediately began to tick upward. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡±

    So much made sense now. ¡°Remember when Mara¡¯s party said they¡¯d take us out and drag in some Night Spawns? How it felt impossible? I get it now. I could go hunting by myself if I was careful. Which of you is closest to twenty five?¡±

    Eve raised her hand. ¡°Killing those adventurers was a powerful boost. Why all Assassins aren¡¯t Centurions is beyond me.¡±

    ¡°I understand it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Early gains are probably very quick. But eventually you get here. Or fifty. Or seventy five. And the only valid prey is other people like me. I¡¯m not a [Shield] and I¡¯m more durable. Eventually, even the best get unlucky.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised any make it to Centurion if they don¡¯t have a Party,¡± Sara said.

    Ashi¡¯s grin was contagious. ¡°You were told, no? That second tier was no accomplishment for any Dungeon Master? Now you will be able to handle Erratic Dungeons we could not have before.¡±

    Jagi hadn¡¯t been that much stronger, but Ashi had warned him Jagi didn¡¯t have levels, more abilities that scaled. Now there was no question, it would be a difficult fight but one he could win.

    And he knew what his next goal would be. ¡°Tonight, I want to go back to the Grove. I want to go back to Hell. I want to find Naski and end her. She¡¯s only two levels higher now.¡±

    Once it was near unthinkable. Now he regarded her as good hunting. Soon, good riddance.

 [Dungeoneer Interlude Three]

    Anika Kabat had never meant to become a Party Leader. It was probably why the other members of their party had voted for her. She found the position came with more worry and more work and the tiny amount of XP she gained as the party leveled probably didn¡¯t balance the amount of hair she¡¯d pulled out.

    Mission reports. Mission assessments. Mission bids, when more than one party wanted to take the same one. But whether the mission was rat-men (or women), giant slugs which turned out to be larger than average slugs, or a basement filled with rats which turned out to be¡­rats, the Party got it done.

    Mostly. They¡¯d struggled to keep damage dealers, a [Ranger] who stayed three weeks and left in the night, a [Beserker] who almost created a full party wipe, and now she¡¯d settled into accepting that the [SpinningBlade] fighter was probably looking for a party that made more money.

    So when the Messenger bird landed on her arm saying there was a level fifteen dungeon, Anika did what she did best. She talked it over. ¡°I don¡¯t like this dungeon. I¡¯ve run it several times and there¡¯s something off about it.¡±

    Benson, the [Mage], spoke before any of the rest. ¡°I¡¯ve been through it six times. The TriTerror¡¯s dangerous if you don¡¯t focus her down. We all know about the Winged Scorpions.¡±

    ¡°Davin?¡± Anika looked to their [Shield]. Above all, she trusted his judgement.

    ¡°I¡¯ve handled the TriTerror twice. It¡¯s not easy but it can be done. It can¡¯t be done alone. We¡¯ll need illusions. We¡¯ll need damage above all. Focus down the snake head or it¡¯ll poison.¡± Davin summoned his shield, a leathery brown shell crafted from a scorpion with teeth embedded in the edges. ¡°This will block the bashes, but know this - if that middle head gets you, it¡¯s over.¡±

    Jotor, the [Rogue] raised his hand. The man simply refused to assert himself until Anika nodded to him. ¡°There¡¯s word the dungeon ranked up. [Rogues] have a quest to map dungeons. I¡¯d really like that Quest.¡±

    ¡°Chen?¡± Anika was used to the [Huntress] being invisible. It wasn¡¯t a Skill anymore, it was her native state.

    ¡°Poison the boss. Shoot it from so far away it has to charge,¡± Chen whispered, which was extremely creepy.

    Anika tolerated the Huntress because she only occasionally stole loot and because Ben would be depressed if they kicked his lover out. ¡°We need more damage. I¡¯ve put out a Guild Notice. There¡¯s a [Necromancer] with a Death mana aura and a [Flail Master].¡±

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Flail. Anything but a Necro.¡± Ben spoke decisively. ¡°Had a necro in my induction class. We knew before he did. All black. Ash under the eyes. Shaved his head when he didn¡¯t even need to.¡±

    Anika sent a bird. ¡°He¡¯ll meet us at the Dungeon.¡±

    ###

    ¡°Something is wrong,¡± Jotor said, thirty seconds after stepping through the Dungeon Door. ¡°The layout doesn¡¯t match what other [Rogues] have found. There¡¯s entire sections no one has notes on. The monsters are five levels higher, at least one has a name.¡±

    Annika had chosen to stay right where they were for a reason. The door hadn¡¯t locked. ¡°Can you complete the Quest without engaging? We can back out and give someone else the run.¡±

    Jotor thought a moment. ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ll move fast.¡±

    Long minutes passed.

    As Party Leader, Annika had a general status for her members. Jotor¡¯s revealed little while he was in stealth, but she winced as his health cratered. Probably a trap he hadn¡¯t seen.

    ¡°Run!¡± his scream came. ¡°Go east, keep going. Get to the farm house.¡±

    Jotor burst out of stealth coming from the west. Anika knew better than to ignore his panic and already the adventureres sprinted. Far behind, a rumbling mass of brown fur roared.

    ¡°[Bearserker],¡± Jotor said through gasps. ¡°The skulls should have been a giveaway. If we barricade ourselves in the farmhouse, I think we can wait until aggro drops.¡±

    Now, Anika saw the farmhouse. Quaint. Rustic. Luring.

    ¡°Dangerous,¡± Davin shouted. ¡°There¡¯s poisonous snakes everywhere. Don¡¯t stop. The snakes won¡¯t kill you, that bear will.¡±

    ¡°[Ice Blast]¡± Ben screamed from inside the farmhouse. ¡°More snakes.¡±

    Like a whisper of leaves, Chen sprinted past Anika into the farmhouse. Her crossbow twanged over and over. ¡°Don¡¯t come in.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t stay out!¡± Davin said, shoving Anika through the door. He flipped the table and barred the front door, then ran to wedge chairs under the back.

    ¡°Snakes up here. So many snakes,¡± Jotor said, backing down the stairs.

    Chen shut and leaned against a cellar door. ¡°Then you really don¡¯t want to know what¡¯s down there.¡±

    The farmhouse shuddered, and a Bearserker roared as it tried to decide if the wooden building had offended it or not. The default was always yes, but even a rage-maddened bear had limits.

    Annika held a finger to her mouth. She didn¡¯t even breathe as the monster circled the farmhouse, snuffling, pushing against the back door. And at last, it lumbered away.

    ¡°I have good news and bad news,¡± Jotor said. ¡°The good news is, it has left and we do not need to go into its cave. The bad news is that I am very poisoned.¡±

    He held up an arm, where a green viper wriggled.

    And then passed out.

    Annika sighed as she triggered [Purify]. ¡°I really hate this dungeon. We could have been killing rats. Or even a rat man¡ª¡±

    ¡°Or woman,¡± Davin added. ¡°What¡¯s the call, Party Leader?¡±

    ¡°I need somewhere safe to [Purify] us. Then, we clear the farmhouse. If Jotor¡ªor anyone else¡ªgoes near that [Bearserker], I¡¯ll kick you from the party the moment we leave the dungeon, but we stay together. There¡¯s always more XP if you run away.¡± She [Mended] Jotor so the rogue opened his eyes and sat up.

    ¡°I had the most terrible dream,¡± the rogue said.

    A distant roar echoed through the dungeon, and even the hiss of verdant vipers ceased until it fell silent.

    Jotor coughed and looked around nervously. ¡°Correction. I am having the most terrible dream.¡±

 Fourteen - Home Again

    Afternoon found Kaden at the Guild in Verona, waiting for Sara and Eve to pick up their gear. He couldn¡¯t help feeling different as he stood among the Adventurers. Still nothing compared to a level fifty, seventy five, or Centurion, but the tier shift came with a difference in the way he felt.

    And he¡¯d finally found the weapons smith who¡¯d made him a hand-to-hand weapon from a Wraith¡¯s scythe and picked it up. Honestly, it felt weak in his hands. Like, he could get the job done but never excel with it.

    A waste of gold.

    A misstep when he wasn¡¯t sure of his path.

    Maybe not as bad as Sara¡¯s attempts, as bringing up her grappling hook or bashing bells was a great way to put her in a sulk. Turns out, the Horror liked the taste of grappling hooks and bashing bells. She could have saved herself time by feeding it silver directly.

    When they were back at the Holding, he would activate his Assistant. Since it was a Vichorean artifact, having Ashi present was a must. From across the Guild, he spotted a massive [Shield] and began to make his way thorugh the crowd. ¡°Ban! How¡¯s it going?¡±

    Ban pivoted on a dime and lumbered his way, still a foot taller than Kaden. ¡°Look who it is. Lemme find Mara, she¡¯s going to want to see it. She hit twenty nine yesterday and her Tier two bow is finally ready.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s your healer?¡± Kaden asked. Davos hadn¡¯t been alive last time he saw the man. ¡°And Zeek?¡±

    ¡°Davos and Zeek went to a new party for a better cut of loot. Mara and I are reforming. Word of warning, she let Roon back in. He¡¯s a wonder if he¡¯s not stealing from you.¡± Ban looked him up and down. ¡°Twenty five that fast doesn¡¯t come easy, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Mara shouted as she headed their way. ¡°Twenty five? I¡¯d say impossible but I see witjh my eyes. Gyre, say hello.¡±

    The Hawk on her shoulder was larger now, and its feathers more gold, but Kaden remembered him. ¡°Hello.¡±

    *Friend*. Gyre could say more and simply didn¡¯t need to.

    ¡°We¡¯re not staying here, I got my new bow, we¡¯re going to check it out.¡± Mara nodded. ¡°Come along, I haven¡¯t seen you since the Surge.¡±

    ¡°Ashi!¡± He waved for her. ¡°Ashi¡¯s our [Mage],¡± he said as she joined him. ¡°Mara¡¯s a friend, I¡¯m going to check out her new Tier bow. You want to come, wait for Sara and Eve, or you have shopping to do?¡±

    ¡°I go with you,¡± Ashi said. ¡°It is good to meet friends, always. This is the [Ranger] of whom you spoke? And her [Shield]?¡±

    ¡°He better have said good things.¡± Mara headed to the training portals, and activated one. ¡°Rangers can always use this archery range. Is it true, you met Viktor? The ¡®Dancing Arrow?¡¯ I heard stories about him. He had mana arrows that could split or join or curve. And he¡¯s dead.¡±

    ¡°We know this. Kaden was present,¡± Ashi said as she followed them.

    The portal led to the Guild¡¯s training range for [Archery], where a [Ranger] oversaw lines of would-be adventurers training with short wooden bows.

    ¡°Mara. Friends?¡± He nodded to the rest.

    ¡°Got my Tier Two bow,¡± She said, holding it up. The bow was silvery metal with black lines through it. ¡°It cycles through Lunar and Solar arrow types without using [Mana Quiver.]¡±

    Mara took a spot and loosed arrow after arrow. The first would blaze with silver light, the second burn with golden light. ¡°I can¡¯t skip one type yet but I will be able to eventually.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s fingers began to glow orange on one hand and darken on the other as she siphoned mana in despite her wraps. She shifted nervously and stood behind him. ¡°We should go. There is too much mana here.¡±

    ¡°Use one of the targets. They won¡¯t mind.¡± Kaden stepped aside.

    The targets were stump creatures so [Archery] would count it.

    Ashi carefully let loose a [Moon Strike] style bolt of Lunar Mana, then a swarm of [Moon Strikes], followed by [Eclipse Bolt]. She shrank away from the way Mara and Ban stared at her.

    To break it, he took out the package the Rangers had given him and activated the Inventory extraction. A Mana Quiver, and a bow made of yellow bone, without a string. When he touched the quiver, a notification popped up.

    Bind Mana Quiver? [Y/N]

    Why not? He selected yes, and welcomed the new skill.

    [Mana Quiver]

    You¡¯re never out of arrows if you¡¯ve got Mana. Inject Mana to pull out arrows. At higher levels, the arrows will retain attributes of your mana.

    ¡°Neat.¡± And the bow, as he gripped it, drained mana and flexed as a string of pure energy formed.

    Mara looked like she was ready to shout. ¡°Finally trying a real weapon? Where did you get that bow?¡±

    ¡°Viktor said I should learn how to use one.¡± He read the bow¡¯s description and couldn¡¯t help smiling.

    [Thorn Caster - Epic Bow]

    Crafted from the horns of an extinct [Quillophant] species, this bow retains the piercing and poisoning skills that made the Beast such a terror. Arrows loosed from it will always do a point of damage and inflict poison.

    ¡°What did you do to earn that?¡± Mara asked.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t expected such a generous gift. ¡°All I did was walk into Hell and challenge a bunch of minotaurs. And insult a Demon Lord. And betray his Daughter.¡±

    ¡°Beautiful and deadly, as it should be.¡± Ashi put her hand on the bow and plucked the string of mana so it hummed. ¡°Show me.¡±

    The only problem?

    Kaden didn¡¯t have [Archery.] He¡¯d never been one to let a lack of ability or talent stop him, so he held the bow firmly, reached for the quiver. It was like pulling a thorn from his side, one that took mana instead of health, but the result was a dull brown wooden arrow with a head that glistened like black quartz.

    He nocked the arrow and awkwardly drew it back, imitating the way Mara held her bow.

    It did not hit the target.

    It did not hit the grass.

    The arrow sailed over the target and whistled into the hillside.

    ¡°Oh, this hurts,¡± Mara said. ¡°Arm up, turn your lead shoulder first, draw back to match your chin, and look at the space between your arrow tip and the target. See where it¡¯s at? Remember that, because when you miss, you can adjust using that.¡±

    Kaden loosed the arrow and smiled as it actually struck the bottom of the target. He drew another and aimed upward. And another, and another, until the arrows reliably thunked into the target.

    Your skill with Mana Quiver has increased.

    No Archery skill now, but every arrow only cost a few points. Instead of wooden shafts, they felt like metal, and the tips were solid black stone instead of glittering.

    ¡°Move slightly right and adjust,¡± Mara said.

    He did, and two shots later repeated.

    ¡°Back.¡±

    Again, and left, and right. On a hunch, he aimed not at the closest target but at the one furthest away. Focused on drawing the arrow. On loosing it in a single smooth movement. It was an absolutely beautiful miss.

    So were the next five, but the sixth slammed home.

    You have learned a new skill.

    [Archery]

    Pull the string and let it fling, shooting stuff that can¡¯t hit back is fun, and if you shoot it enough, it never will hit back. You know how to hold bow and arrow. You shoot good. Good shoot. Shoot more to shoot gooder.

    Like with [Stealth], the skill came as understanding of the gap, the slightest knowledge of how to hold the bow better, an understanding of the relationship between distance and the arc of the arrow. ¡°No wonder Sara and Trella like this.¡±

    Liked.

    She liked it.

    ¡°The bow will do for a while but sooner or later you¡¯re going to need something better. Mine will be solid at least to seventy five,¡± Mara said. ¡°Five thousand gold, but worth every coin.¡±

    Ban laughed, a deep throated guffaw. ¡°This is why I chose skills that grant elemental equipment. My gear is cheap. It gets ruined. I make more.¡±

    ¡°[Shields] and [Mages] are different, I guess. You want to have something to eat? My treat?¡± Kaden led the way to the third bar and ordered there on Eve¡¯s tab, since she had a standing deal, part of what her family arranged. Kaden had eaten preserved biscuits, and the food at the guild was delicious as far as he was concerned.

    He sat at a table with Ashi, while Mara sat across and Ban, the poor man had his own. Monster sized [Shields] were a problem the Guild dealth with by having special tables for them.

    She explained how most party leaders took a larger cut of the gold and loot, and given that she had no unique ties to Davos or Zeek, she¡¯d been happy to let them go. ¡°Zeek was good, but his brother was coming up as a [Shield] and his cousins are [Swordsmen]. Davos needs to work the temple. He¡¯s not cut out for getting trapped in a Dungeon for days.¡±

    ¡°Sara¡¯s looking for a new [Rogue] for us, until Trella¡¯s back.¡± He spoke it with force. It would be true. ¡°Any suggestions?¡±

    ¡°Talk to James Dervish. He¡¯s connected with everyone. If you were a few levels higher, I¡¯d offer you a spot. Kinda think you¡¯d say no, though. You still in love with the Party Leader of yours?¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Never was, though I¡¯d step in front of a blade for any of them.¡±

    ¡°Tell me more,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Not you, Kaden. You.¡±

    ¡°You heard him. Nothing to tell.¡± As a fellow survivor of the Saint¡¯s Hall, Mara knew how it was. Though she hadn¡¯t had someone she could trust, or love.

    A messenger bird landed on Mara and she listened to it. ¡°Interesting. Ban, remember the [Beserker] from Karhat? He¡¯s looking for a Party and has a [Paladin] friend. Not sure I can put up with the holier-than-thou stuff but he might do.¡±

    Ban pounded his fist on the table. ¡°Love [Beserkers]. Paladins can lick demon butt, far as I¡¯m concerned. Can we convince him to join and convince the Paladin we¡¯re cultists or something?¡±

    ¡°We can try.¡± Mara reached over to take Kaden¡¯s hand. ¡°Take it easy. Tempering isn¡¯t overnight, no matter what the System prompts say. You¡¯ll be stronger and faster tomorrow than you are today, and even better every day after for a week.¡±

    When she stood, Kaden did too. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Sara and Eve.¡±

    ¡°Will you reconsider? Her words sound like wise counsel.¡± Ashi¡¯s tone said there was a good answer and a bad one. ¡°I¡¯ll talk with Sara and Eve. Maybe we go hunting like normal, just Night Spawns.¡±

    When had Night Spawns become something he looked forward too?

    Together they went to the seamstress working on Sara¡¯s new Armor and sheaths, which would match her new swords.

    Eve should have been back already. She¡¯d taken Vip, and Kaden sensed Vip was calm and happy, so it wasn¡¯t danger keeping her away. ¡°If Eve isn¡¯t back in an hour, I¡¯m hunting her down.¡±

    ¡°No one would take her. If they did, they would bring her back. Perhaps even pay us to allow her return,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°Vip loves Eve.¡±

    Ashi didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°We all have faults, even your dog. I love that this city has Beasts. In Vichor only the royal family posesses them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be posessing more soon. [Beast Soul] lets me choose what skills and talents I get. I want a library of skills. I want to test if I have to be near them to swap or if I can do it from a distance. I want to learn everything.¡± And when he received them from Druids, every last one would be tested before it became an [Entity Seed].

    ¡°Ah, and you did not notice, did you?¡± Ashi¡¯s smug tone said she was right. Again. ¡°Three more parties have run your Dungeon. You do not feel rage. You do not feel pain. You are growing. If the bond deepens and the Dungeon Master does not grow strong, it is the core who controls.¡±

    The Seamstress emerged from her workshop. ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t hide forever.¡±

    Sara.

    Her old armor was gone, her old swords gone. Her new armor was the green of copper left out in the weather for years, with a scale pattern that matched the pseudopods, and deep brown leather underneath. Her sheaths matched the green patina and scale pattern, but her swords were slightly longer and wider now, with mana beads embedded in the hilt cap and pomel, and streaks of dark gray that ran through the blade. ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°Beautiful! Magnificent! Worthy of a true warrior!¡± Ashi proclaimed.

    Kaden still hadn¡¯t spoken. He remembered Sara as this skinny young woman with plain steel swords and flimsy leather armor, facing a Verdant Empress.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± She asked. ¡°I know, it was expensive¡ª¡±

    ¡°I love it. You are incredible. You are beautiful. You are magnificent. Not the armor. You. It¡¯s just the perfect complement for the woman wearing it, and worth every coin.¡± It was what he thought. How he felt. ¡°We met Mara. She says I¡¯ll be in better shape tomorrow. Maybe tonight we just hunt near the Holding?¡±

    He took the way she nodded as confirmation, but she didn¡¯t speak for a while. ¡°I want to go show Mom. Also, Mom really wants to show you what she¡¯s been doing since she quit Beast Control.¡±

    ¡°Where is Eve?¡± It didn¡¯t feel right without her. Or Vip.

    Mostly Vip.

    Also Eve.

    Sara shiften uncomfortably. ¡°She bought a Blood Moon staff for the synergy with her mana and abilities. She didn¡¯t ask what was required to bind one to her. The rituals are¡­messy. When she shows up, don¡¯t ask unless she volunteers information.¡±

    Sara thanked her Seamstress and headed out of the Guild with the Party in tow. They made their way through the merchant district, past the Nobles. And Kaden knew where they were headed long before he reached the gates of the old zoo, which had housed refugees.

    BirchHaven, the stone gates read.

    Fine Lodging For Beasts and Their People.

    ¡°You want to see this?¡± Sara asked.

    He truly did.

 Fifteen - Haven

    Kaden walked through the ten foot tall gates to what had been the entrance to the zoo. And gasped. Builders worked everywhere, not the harsh, fast pace that had led the effort to adapt the zoo for refugees. They moved at a careful pace, polishing wood and carving stone.

    And the buildings¡­

    The stacks of minescule apartments that had housed the hundreds of refugees had been reworked, in some cases rebuilt. What remained was elegant. The wide paths of the zoo would let Trinity pass other beasts without even crowding. Every exhibit was now a complete multi-level abode next to a holding¡­pen? That wasn¡¯t the right word. Habitat? Area? Each was a contained area where the Beast could relax.

    It was so much nicer than Beast Control.

    Where the Magma Tortoises had been, now a gentle pond rippled with fresh water that flowed through the different habitats.

    ¡°This is just the start. We can¡¯t afford to fix everything right now, but there will be six suites with handlers and tenders to care for Beasts, a cooking staff to prepare meals for guests. And you haven¡¯t seen the grand suite.¡± Sara led them deeper into the zoo, closer to the wall.

    Now Kaden recognized that many buildings were dark. Clean, and carved and decorated, but not prepared for living. And a gradual worry began to build. The observatory had been rebuilt¡ªat least the dome shape, and it was one building where builders worked.

    ¡°Underground housing,¡± Sara said. ¡°It leads to a tasteful cave complex for light sensitive beasts, and some more¡­harsh housing for Beasts who won¡¯t get along. It requires a staff of thirty, but the same staff will operate at full capacity.¡±

    She stopped. Looked back to the Griffin¡¯s tree where Queen Brownbeak had lived. A giant tree that would have been at home in the Grove, it towered over the zoo, and was visibile from outside Verona¡¯s walls.

    Druid magic had hollowed it out while keeping the tree strong and living, and when last Kaden had been here, a giant nest of bones and broken tree trunks had housed a single cracked egg. The tree was well over a hundred feet across and rose hundreds of feet into the air.

    ¡°How many rooms does one person need?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°The bottom floor is all administration. Housekeeping is its own building, there are basement apartments for all staff. Second floor is for the Zoo Keeper. We don¡¯t have a plan for the six intervening ones. For now, they¡¯re cleaned and empty. The top three floors you have to see.¡± Sara led them into a sweeping ground floor with glass tile on the floor and cherry desks everywhere, with wide, soft chairs and rugs forming paths.

    ¡°This is temporary,¡± Sara said, pointing to a Portal arch. ¡°The enchanted lift doesn¡¯t work, it¡¯s been driving our workers crazy. The Mage Tower has been out every day for a week to look at it.¡±

    The Portal activated.

    Sara motioned, and Kaden went through, with Ashi close behind.

    He almost couldn¡¯t breathe. Living wood floors with pixie lights hidden so they cast deep shadows Eclipse would love and Trella would use as shortcuts. An intricate Heatstone in the center of the room rippled through patterns. Verona¡¯s winters could be bitter, and windows ringed the entire floor. A spiral staircase circled the HeatStone to rise up, and Kaden climbed to find himself on a level with six smaller apartment, each with beds and baths and balconies formed of tree limbs that let him look out over Verona.

    The top level was an exercise in excess Branches rose up to form the posters of a bed larger than any of Trella¡¯s adventures could use. The floor was open, completely open, and a weather enchantment kept it clear. But the sky above was open, and with a thought, the summer breeze hit Kaden.

    ¡°Don¡¯t walk near the edges, the mana barriers aren¡¯t completely functional. It won¡¯t kill a centurion. It might kill anyone else.¡± Sara stepped up beside him. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s overwhelming. Who the hell needs this much space?¡±

    Sara put her hand on his shoulder. ¡°This is your place.¡±

    ¡°I like it.¡± Ashi rose up to hover higher and higher. ¡°I approve. I will sleep here.¡±

    ¡°This is Kaden¡¯s floor,¡± Sara said. ¡°You and I can choose rooms from below. They¡¯re larger than the guest towers at the Holding.¡±

    Ashi didn¡¯t answer.

    More than anything, he wanted to share it with Trella. They had shared impossible dreams about eating twice a day, or getting classes, or even having six coppers for winter coats. Now, the City lay beneath him on one side, the wilds beyond on the other. She would love it.

    ¡°I need a moment alone.¡±

    ¡°Alone is not good. No one ever drowned in sorrow while they swam with friends.¡± Ashi looked to Sara. ¡°You have known him longer. Alone?¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t answer Ashi. Instead, she reached up, put her arms around him, and hugged him. ¡°One day. One day not even that long away.¡±

    It was easy for Sara to say.

    She hadn¡¯t been the one to activate the linked spell that killed Trella.

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    But was it really what Trella would want? Kaden knew better. Trella would have forced him to sing for Ravena. Trella would have organized an orgy. Trella would have lived. And she would again.

    Right now, he was going to do it for her. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here tonight, but not alone. This is too nice to keep to myself. I¡¯ll cook dinner here for all of you. There¡¯s plenty of beds below. I already have a home, this should be the place Centurions tell each other about.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that because of the money?¡± Sara asked. ¡°You¡¯re worried about our investors and how to pay them back? Or what happens if the business falters and you¡¯re suddenly responsible for the livelyhood of dozens of commoners? Or are you afraid you¡¯ll be disgraced and unable to show your face in Verona?¡±

    ¡°I am now.¡± Kaden said. ¡°Who¡¯s paying for all this? You know I¡¯m not. I was happy, even honored to invest in you. You¡¯re going to make Centurion. A few thousand gold right now? Nothing over the course of centuries. But this?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I was going to make it a petting zoo.¡±

    ¡°That idea was terrible,¡± Ashi said to Sara. ¡°This is luxury worthy of the librarians of Vichor.¡±

    Sometimes, he delighted in frustrating Sara. Trella would definitely approve. ¡°I want a petting zoo. I¡¯m going to tell the Builders to stop working on the caves and build me a petting zoo. The caves can wait.¡±

    ¡°If I pushed him off the edge, no one would know,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ll say ¡®What? Kaden is missing? Last I saw him, he was looking for a Builder to discuss petting zoos. I hope he comes back.¡¯ I¡¯ll inherit the Holding. And BirchHome. And there will not be a petting zoo.¡±

    Ashi flashed with bright blue mana.

    Kaden¡¯s feet floated up as he hovered. And drifted. And began to lazily spin until he was upside down. ¡°Very funny, let me down.¡±

    ¡°You disrespect the effort. It is beneath you.¡± Ashi wasn¡¯t even exerting herself.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Kaden tried not to laugh. ¡°You win. Just a hotel.¡±

    ¡°You have got to teach me that spell.¡± Sara grabbed Kaden¡¯s hands and twisted him upright. ¡°It¡¯s so useful. And why don¡¯t you do that to monsters?¡±

    Ashi drifted slowly down, her skin returning to tan as she used mana. ¡°It is not for combat. The System denies such uses, but it does let me expend mana when I have too much. You have little talent for magic, perhaps even less than Kaden, but I say I will try.¡±

    A crystalline messenger bird skimmed through the mana barrier to alight on Sara, and she smiled. ¡°Eve is done. She just got out of the execution chamber.¡±

    ¡°Tell her to go to the side entrance to Beast Control,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I know it well enough.¡±

    When the Dungeon had flooded him with feelings, he hadn¡¯t needed to think of the individual components of the Portal spell. No, Mana Loop, Remote Mana Loop, and Sharpen had come as one, with only the weaving needing attention.

    Kaden could easily have opened a portal to Beast Control¡¯s back bay or the customer disservice entrance, but those wouldn¡¯t do. He focused and willed it into being. A slightly out of round portal snapped into existence revealing the alleyway. ¡°Getting better at it.¡±

    ¡°Indeed.¡± Ashi didn¡¯t hide the pride in her voice.

    Eve came stumbling down the alley, propping herself up with a silver staff topped with a clear gemstone. Her normally white robes were streaked with blood and clots and chunks of flesh, and she clutched Vip to her chest like Vip was holding her up.

    She eyed the portal with distrust, until Sara stepped in front of it. ¡°It¡¯s possibly safe.¡±

    When Eve stepped through, it drained fifty points of mana in one go, like a fist to the gut.

    Kaden let the portal close, and no longer felt like there was a dagger in his side. ¡°See? Perfectly safe.¡±

    ¡°You made that?¡± Eve asked. Then softened her expression. ¡°Well done. I had no idea you were capable. Your portals have always been less functional and more decoration.¡±

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Kaden tried not to stare. ¡°There¡¯s probably baths in the level below. I mean, there¡¯s one over there, but you¡¯d probably want more privacy. Sara, can anyone in the city look in?¡±

    ¡°Of course not! I mean, not after Mom had that addressed. There¡¯s a nice young member of the Storm Mages who will get to earn six levels back and knows better than to peep on her now. Why don¡¯t we order dinner, let Eve clean up, and deal with some business?¡±Sara hadn¡¯t taken her eyes off the way Eve dripped. ¡°And of course, we can get things tidied up.¡±

    Eve looked herself up and down like she hadn¡¯t taken it all in. ¡°The Blood Moon is always thirsty. Always.¡± She banished the staff to Inventory and gently set Vip down.

    *Sick* Vip¡¯s assessment of Eve probably wasn¡¯t wrong.

    ¡°The Blood Mages of Vichor have told me stories,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Come, we will make sure you are clean. The memories will never wash away, but you will not need to wear the stains forever.¡±

    Eve had never been one to be rattled. One of her talents, [Unshakeable] allowed her to maintain focus in almost all situations. Kaden looked to Sara and nodded. He¡¯d be fine here. He summoned Trinity so the TriTerror could amble about, sniffing, peering, and generally investigating.

    Kaden¡¯s will, that Trinity not destroy anything, would be enough.

    He added a desire to not have her fall off.

    And a desire for her not to go rampaging through the grounds.

    And pulled her back into his soul.

    Where were his Beasts supposed to stay?

    Two bells had run before Sara returned. She¡¯d changed into more comfortable clothing, and Eve wore tan pants and a shirt that hung off of her, barely fitting. ¡°Where did you get¡ª¡±

    Sara and Ashi sent him a glare that was practically a shared [Skill], but it was Sara who spoke. ¡°Kaden, why don¡¯t you let Ashi and Eve enjoy a quiet meal here? There are people who would like to meet you, downstairs. I¡¯ll be down for the meal.¡±

    Kaden took the portal to the ground floor.

    He wasn¡¯t suprised at all to see Mistress Scylla sitting at one of the desks. He¡¯d gathered from Sara¡¯s comments she was involved. How, exactly, he wasn¡¯t clear. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Kaden. We¡¯ve been quite busy since the Surge ended. Has Sara given you the tour?¡±

    ¡°Some.¡± He¡¯d always been honest with Mistress Scylla, and believed she¡¯d be honest. ¡°I agreed to let Sara run the renovation. Did your daughter hire you? Who is paying for this? How much does it cost? Where did you get the workers? When does it open? How can we possibly keep this going?¡±

    ¡°Would you like a seat?¡± Mistress Scylla waved with a tentacle, and an attendant rushed over to bring a chair. ¡°Kaden, I¡¯d like you to meet Daveed Kela, he¡¯s a [Hotel Manager] with three decades of experience and, thanks to the surge, no hotel.¡±

    Kaden shook the man¡¯s hand. ¡°I imagined something smaller. With fewer problems.¡±

    ¡°This? This is not large. You¡¯ll never have more than ninety six guests, twenty five beasts, and fifty staff on hand. At least, not to start. We project a maximum of a hundred staff, and that would be for full Centurion parties, where every third guest desires a personal attendant.¡± Mr. Kela began to lecture, almost rant about the intricacies of balancing guests, budgets, menus, staffing, handlers for beasts.

    After a good thirty minutes, Mistress Scylla interrupted. ¡°Daveed, I¡¯m sorry, but Kaden and I must be at the dinner.¡±

    ¡°I could use some dinner,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just your dinner.¡± Mistress Scylla stood. ¡°We¡¯ve been using them as proving tests for the first guests. This is your opportunity to meet your other investors. And it¡¯s more. You¡¯re level twenty five. Second tier. Up until now there¡¯s been little direction to your life. Grow stronger has been your only purpose.¡±

    Kaden had thought this. Wren had said it in so many words. ¡°And now?

    ¡°Now, that changes. But how it changes is for you to decide.¡±

 Sixteen - Uncomfortable Truths

    Kaden waited with Mistress Scylla for Sara to emerge from the room portal. Sara had changed, wearing a magnificent green dress with a pattern that matched the scales on her Horror¡¯s pseudopods. The back of the dress rose between her shoulders and around her neck, and the front rose up to meet them, leaving her shoulders bare.

    ¡°You look fantastic. Like a city Councilwoman. I look like I¡¯m about to bash a mana rat.¡± Kade offered her a hand.

    Sara¡¯s pale cheeks turned red as she accepted it and they followed Mistress Scylla out of the grand tree and across to a building which had once been an aquarium. Now, some tanks held fish that would feed aquatic beasts, and a central pool large enough to house a [Kraken]. And near the pool, a round wooden table waited with plates.

    And people. Two men and a woman waited. [Identity] activated and malfunctioned immediately, meaning they were the same level at least as Mistress Scylla. Centurions or well past.

    Sara¡¯s gate hitched, and she halted. ¡°What is he doing here?¡±

    She would need to help Kaden understand which ¡°Him¡± since Kaden¡¯s [Identify] seemed eternally broken.

    Mistress Scylla smoothly covered for the pause. ¡°Sara Scylla, Kaden Birch, I¡¯d like to introduce you to the other three investors in BirchHaven. Melanie Kovor, Senior Alchemist.¡± The woman stood. Her gray hair was missing large patches, and one eye didn¡¯t focus¡ªit moved off on its own, the pupil widening and shrinking. She offered Kaden a firm handshake, and a bow to Sara. ¡°I¡¯ve done my research. Your common-law wife is an Alchemist by profession. Miss Scylla has a reputation among Centurions as a shrewd negotiator. And you, a [Beast Master?] Such an ancient, archaic class. And yet, it¡¯s serving you well.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡± Kaden imitated her bow¡ªand realized from the slight smile he¡¯d gotten something wrong. ¡°Did I not bow deep enough?¡±

    ¡°Madam Kovor is from the Embrian Alcove. Men are greeted with a handshake, women bow to each other,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°The diamond point lapel is a solid indicator, though never perfect.¡±

    ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± Madam Kovor said. ¡°Now, Mal¡ª

    ¡°Ignus Malachor,¡± The Mage said. ¡°I won¡¯t lie, you have an uncanny habit of coming up with the damndest loot. That unfortunate incident with the [Storm Condor] feathers. Then we begin looking at who¡¯s fulfulling quests. And the rumors in the [Crafting] Commune is that someone has a second set. Investing in this venture is a way of developing relationships. The business plan is solid, and of course management is impecable.¡±

    Which only left the remaining man, short and thin with fingers that were just a hair too long, and a shiny bald spot with bushy black hair and eyes that reminded Kaden far too much of the [FalCrow]. Given how Sara was practically ready to combust, this was the ¡®he¡¯ in question. ¡°[Flavius Marcus], head of the [Thieve¡¯s Guild].¡±

    Now Kaden understood Sara¡¯s reaction. ¡°I may need a moment to confer with my business partner. Sara?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know. Mom said she¡¯d arranged all three with Council Approval¡ª¡±

    ¡°What does the council¡¯s approval matter for our business venture?¡± Kaden growled.

    Flavius¡ªif he was bothered at all¡ªdidn¡¯t show it. ¡°Why indeed? Money. Thieves are more honest bankers, and there¡¯s going to be a great deal of money involved in this plan of yours. I¡¯m guessing having Verona leave the modifications intact was Jackie¡¯s idea.¡±

    ¡°Sara, actually.¡± Mistress Scylla tipped her head to her daughter. ¡°In fact, most of this was her idea. There was actually talk of a petting zoo.¡±

    Kaden grasped that he stood to make a great deal of money. What he didn¡¯t grasp was why these three were involved at all. ¡°I authorized Sara to run the remodel and resulting business. Which still doesn¡¯t explain why we needed to scale up instead of starting small.¡±

    ¡°When up is only a matter of gold, and solves a key problem you¡¯re not considering, up makes sense.¡± Mistress Scylla spoke carefully. ¡°You¡¯ve never had to contemplate this problem, but now we should discuss this. There¡¯s very little question your plan will succeed. You control access to FangWood. You own BirchHaven. Centurions will¡ªand are¡ªlining up to book even though we¡¯re not open.¡±

    ¡°All of that sounds great.¡± Kaden looked to Sara, who had far more patience and experience negotiating issues like this.

    Sara¡¯s expression said she anticipated this. ¡°It¡¯s about power. Or money, which can buy power. It¡¯s easy to see BirchHaven becoming a core part of Verona¡¯s economy. Having Centurions¡ªeven visiting ones¡ªpresent makes the city safer. And such a venture wouldn¡¯t happen without a Centurion in charge normally.¡±

    But Verona had desperately needed barracks for City Knights, giving him the old zoo, and the old zoo to house refugees, funding much of the renovation. FangWood¡ªthat was his parent¡¯s gift to him, his inheritance. ¡°So getting investment partners is as much about putting someone they trust in charge as money?¡±

    Falvius¡¯s laugher echoed out. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s plenty of gold flowing, too, but yes. The City Council would normally have offered you a minor council spot¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯ll sooner diddle a Demon¡¯s Daughter than take a council spot. Unless Sara wants it. Or Eve. Actually, Eve would probably love it.¡±

    ¡°How close is this ¡®Eve¡¯ to second tier?¡± Ignus asked. ¡°Second tier, I could tell you all the advantages in having a minor council member in your party. We should start the work to arrange that now.¡±

    ¡°Eve is closer than I am,¡± Sara scoffed. ¡°You have to understand, putting Eve in a position of power anywhere will result in Eve taking over. You think I¡¯m a vicious negotiator? You haven¡¯t seen vicious. I negotiate. She dictates terms.¡±

    Conversation died as the food arrived. Kaden generally thought they ate well.

    He no longer thought that.

    This was a feast. ¡°What is that meat?¡± he asked, only realizing afterwards it was through a mouth full.

    ¡°Bastion Iguana,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°It¡¯s terribly gamey, disgusting in normal cases, and what most term ¡®foul.¡¯ But prepared by a chef who specializes in game meats, it is a delicacy. Evelyn¡¯s Scorpion with Garlic and Mustard is a featured dish on a menu that will rotate monthly.¡±

    Ignus cleared his throat. ¡°I want you to know, I first heard your names from my grandson. He¡¯s a Earth Mage you hired to make some repairs to a nest of poisonous snakes. Then from my other grandson. He received a poisonous snake in his bath and was so happy to gain a resistance.¡±

    Kaden dipped his head to Sara. ¡°That was her work. She handled the setup, the negotiations. I had a combination of dumb luck and a crazy idea at the right moment.¡±

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    He didn¡¯t miss Madam Kovor¡¯s humph of disdain. ¡°Look at the records¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve read the transcripts. It was you who wanted the nest. I¡¯d say it¡¯s a waste of time but the statistics say otherwise.¡± She spoke clearly, concisely, as though reading the results of a formula. ¡°And here we have this venture, on a much larger scale, with people who have a lot more money. Failures are common when experimenting. But success is worth the risk.¡±

    ¡°To risk, and reward.¡± Flavius raised a glass of wine.

    Kaden stuck to his water, but toasted.

    ¡°Now,¡± The Thief Master said, ¡°I know Jackie¡¯s too proper to do otherwise, and I know Ignus won¡¯t act until every single moment is right. Sara¡¯s not tier two. So what? She will be, and I say¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°He¡¯s barely level twenty five¡ª¡±

    ¡°And therefore fair game. Oh, did you expect me to wait around until the Summoning Saint came calling? Listen up, both of you. Up until twenty-five, no one cares what an Adventurer does. With a few exceptions. Sometimes, you have a Summoner with a mythic summons. Or a man with a class that hasn¡¯t been seen for a Century, or a ¡®healer¡¯ who bleeds people to heal, or a [Shadow Blade] who¡¯s reported to be the Senior Sister¡¯s pet project.¡±

    ¡°Those gather attention,¡± Madame Kovor said. ¡°So at second tier, the different [Factions] come calling. Some call nicely. Some call with a show of force. I prefer dinner. There¡¯s many, many theories as to how this world should run.¡±

    ¡°The strong rule the weak,¡± Ignus said. ¡°Those with the most power have the most authority.¡±

    ¡°Or those with the most knowledge¡ª¡±

    ¡°Or gold. Don¡¯t forget gold,¡± Favius added. ¡°Every [Faction] has there own view and there are more of them than you could meet in a week. But don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re mostly in agreement about what we want from you.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t choose,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°From twenty five to fifty, you can pick up faction Quests. Only a fool chooses a Faction at level twenty five, and that is my advice and our request.¡±

    Flavius coughed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be adverse to you choosing Mercari, but even I know that if you don¡¯t get to know your friends and enemies, you won¡¯t be able to to tell the difference. You can expect them to come quickly. Mercari.¡±

    ¡°Iluminati,¡± Madam Kovor added. ¡°Knowledge is the true wealth, by which even gold is acquired.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t welcome to join my faction,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°Nor will I discuss it with you. James is high in the Stateri. They believe in balance. The Justari will make contact, but unless your sense of right and wrong is both unshakeable and matches theirs, I doubt they¡¯d accept you.¡±

    ¡°The Sisters are a faction of their own,¡± Ignus added. ¡°I am but a lower level member of the Poteri, but power is the true power. If I were to advise you, it would be to avoid Theosians unless you have a god or goddess who is favored.¡±

    ¡°There are others I will discuss privately.¡± Mistress Scylla raised a hand. ¡°I swear before the System I will not seek to influnce them to choose a specific [Faction].¡±

    Jacqueline Scylla has sworn an oath of non-influence as to what [Faction] you choose.

    Kaden didn¡¯t like any of the options, or, more specifically, he didn¡¯t feel like he knew enough yet. ¡°Can I change factions?¡±

    ¡°Every five levels,¡± Flavius said. ¡°But better than joining and changing is running Faction Quests until you¡¯re certain who you want¡ªand don¡¯t want¡ªto work with. In fact, the System will offer you specific quests to work for different factions.¡±

    Madam Kovor looked to the others. ¡°National Factions are wildly profitable and incredibly limiting. You have the ability to move across the world at your desire. Don¡¯t give up that freedom.¡±

    Sara hadn¡¯t spoken, just drinking it in. ¡°What happens at level fifty? Or seventy five? Or a hundred?¡±

    ¡°Fifty, you should choose a Faction,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°By then you¡¯ll have connections with many, alliances with a few, enemies in several. You¡¯ll know what you¡¯re gaining and trading. At fifty, the System spawns a [Nemesis] meant to keep you from reaching one hundred.¡±

    ¡°By Seventy Five, either you¡¯re dead or your Nemesis is.You can leave it until later but it will reach the same tiers you do.¡± Ignus spoke as though he¡¯d seen it. ¡°Better if you face it at seventy four.¡±

    ¡°One Hundred. There will be time for you to understand the consequences when you reach it. If you reach it,¡± Madam Kovor said. ¡°At that point, you are battling the next Cataclysm. The way each class does that is different.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help thinking about Metami. How she¡¯d faced so many cataclysms. How her iteration of the System wasn¡¯t even compatible anymore. Her abilities still worked, but she could barely interface.

    ¡°Now that unpleasantry is handled, we relax. We celebrate that soon BirchHaven will welcome its first guests.¡± Mistress Scylla clapped, and had dessert brought.

    ¡°How much gold has this cost?¡± Kaden had been wondering. And fearing the answer.

    ¡°Two hundred, thirty one thousand, four hundred and eighteen so far,¡± Flavius said. ¡°All of mine legally earned, I¡¯ll point out. Unlike someone here.¡±

    ¡°My gold is legally earned,¡± Mistress Scylla answered. ¡°Mostly. If I deal in Mana Dust, it is only to maintain my less reputable connections.¡±

    Sara spat out her wine, then choked until her pseudopods began to change to different shades of green and Kaden held her upside down until she stopped choking.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± He lifted her a bit higher.

    ¡°Other than my dress being around my head, fine. Mostly. How in the third Hell did you get [Resist Suffocation?]¡± Sara clung to him as he set her upright. Then she focused on her mother. ¡°Mana Dust? You deal mana dust? Is that why you warned Kaden that Aurora might have some? Because you sold it to him?¡±

    ¡°Dinner and a show!¡± Flavius toasted Ignus, while Madame Kovor excused herself politely. ¡°Someone has to. Might as well be someone trustworthy.¡±

    Kaden had seen that look on more than one occasion.

    Sara was hundreds of years younger than her mother.

    At least a hundred levels lower.

    Betting against Sara was always a bad idea. ¡°Sara¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Her right pseudopod whipped around, then gently nudged his hand away. ¡°No, I want answers. How could you even think about doing something like that?¡±

    Mistress Scylla kept quiet. ¡°You¡¯re surprised. You¡¯re upset. Now is not the time for such a difficult discussion. Someone has to lure the addicts in. Someone has to be ready to kill them if they get out of control. I¡¯ve been addicted to Mana Dust and broken the addiction. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Sara stood. ¡°I¡¯m leaving and by leaving, I mean I¡¯m going back to the Holding. Kaden, you should stay. Enjoy what she created.Right now, I¡¯m sick at my stomach and I need space. Even from you.¡±

    Kaden stood and gave her a hug. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go alone.¡±

    ¡°I think I do.¡±

    He turned and bowed to his guests. His investors. ¡°I appreciate the conversation and the information, but Sara isn¡¯t feeling well. I¡¯ll see her home.¡±

    Ignus looked like he had heartburn. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more. While the others are present, I¡¯ll say this; start building contacts now. When you hit fifty you¡¯ll need them worse than you could possibly imagine. Close friends. Enemies you fear. And take Faction Quests from everyone if only to prove you never want to work with them again.¡±

    Sara stalked her way out, and Mistress Scylla followed Kaden. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you understand, yet. I will tell you there is absolutely good reason. Sara will come around. It might take a few decades, but she will.¡±

    Decades. Kaden wasn¡¯t used to thinking in timescales like that. Trella had been gone a few months and it felt like eternity. He could hear her now, poking fun at Madam Kovor. Probably saying it out loud. See her [Shadow Step]ing away to follow Sara. ¡°I¡¯ll be back to see how we¡¯re making progress. Thank you for the lovely dinner. And the advice.¡±

    Kaden turned and ran, because Sara was halfway through the old zoo, passing where the magma tortoises had once roamed. He walked with her in silence as she made her way through the streets of Verona.

    ¡°Does she think I¡¯m a child?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Does she think I couldn¡¯t handle the truth? She always lectured me. Treated me like I¡¯m thirteen. Told me all about how evil it was like I hadn¡¯t seen addicts¡ªand now I know why we saw them.¡±

    They reached the Guild and Sara headed straight for the second floor and the FarPortal.

    Then stopped. ¡°You have luxury waiting. Go back, spend the night there. I¡¯ll be in a better mood tomorrow.¡±

    Luxury. Luxury was having friends he could trust. Party members he would bet his life on. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep better in my own bed. Plus, I want to check on my Dungeon.¡±

    ¡°That sounds a great deal like an excuse for you to come with me.¡± Sara wiped tears from her eyes. ¡°Come with me?¡±

    It had never been a question. He dispatched the [FalCrow] to Ashi so she wouldn¡¯t be wondering and followed Sara through the FarPortal. With anyone but Eve acting as their portal mage, it was smooth and easy.

    Kaden summoned Trinity and left Vip with Eve. ¡°Sara. You know what would help you feel better?¡±

    ¡°Not thinking. Not constantly asking myself why I didn¡¯t know. Wine. Sex. Sleep.¡±

    ¡°Or.¡± He waited for Sara to look his way. ¡°It¡¯s night. There¡¯s monsters. You¡¯re close to tier two. You know what would really make you feel better?¡±

    That, the fierce look of determination, matched the Sara he knew. Her hands balled into fists. ¡°Give me a few minutes to change. It¡¯s like the old days. You. Me. A night full of monsters. That part¡¯s different, but you and me. We¡¯re going hunting.¡±

 Seventeen - Hide and Seek

    Sara emerged dressed and determined and carrying a belt full of potions. She looked to Kaden and back down. ¡°It¡¯s not Trella¡¯s. I bought one on her advice. While you were in Vichor, we had a standard routine. She¡¯d load us up on potions and we could use Eve¡¯s Life Transfusion offensively.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s own belt had hooks for the flasks. ¡°Any thoughts on what we should look for?¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t come close to obliterating the Kalarak herd. I have something I want to try. How strong is your [Stealth]?¡± Sara set off into the night with Trinity and Kaden at her side.

    ¡°Not that great. I¡¯m not a [Rogue] or something derived from it, but I can get close to most monsters.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Sara said, practically purring with delight. ¡°We kill what gets in our way, if we can handle it. But we¡¯re heading for the Kalaraks.¡±

    The next few hours were a slow, meandering hunt as Kaden took his old role of [Not-Quite-Shield], drawing monsters to attack and ambushing them with Trinity and Sara.

    ¡°I¡¯m barely gaining,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Barely is still gaining.¡± Kaden held them back. In the distance, the outline of a [Flexivor] had caught his attention. With three of them and four legs, it wasn¡¯t the kind of battle he wanted, even if the monster was a simple night spawn.

    Without doubt the most shocking moment was leaping into a pack of Gloom Wolves¡ªand having them scatter, running from his attack even though Kaden was only matching their level. There was a ranking among predators after all.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Sara called. ¡°The Kalaraks aren¡¯t at the pond.¡±

    He sprinted for her, willing Trinity to stay close and not ambush. A wide and shallow stream meandered between the hills, fed by the storms that passed over daily. And among them, golden lights meandered. ¡°How do you want to kill them?¡±

    ¡°Watch. The Herd is moving slowly toward the pond, down stream. If we get there first, and you use [Stealth] we can set an ambush.¡± Sara looked west toward the pond. ¡°Can we beat them there? Will your [Stealth] hold up?¡±

    ¡°Yes and maybe.¡± Kaden took off at a run, sprinting parallel through the darkness, focusing on [Stealth] as he made his way. Twin beams of red light shot skyward to the west, wandering bosses, but since the Surge wave wasn¡¯t here, they¡¯d be lower level and far less common.

    Kaden made it to the shallow pool and ambushed a [Frost Spider] with [BackSlash], taking off two legs before it could even respond, then dragged it up the hill for Sara to damage. Second tier made these monsters easy prey. ¡°I¡¯m going to set up. What¡¯s the plan?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know it will work. But you are going to use [Stealth] and I am going to use [Lightning Bolt]. On you.¡±

    Mana Channel. It was worth a shot. ¡°Sounds good. Don¡¯t rush, pick your time. I¡¯ll be patient.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t need [Stealth] as he headed to the pond. The Kalarak herd was still a few hundred yards away, trusting their perimeter aura to warn them.

    But as his feet sank a foot into the shallow pond, he began to focus. [Stealth] activated, and his breathing slowed. His heartbeat slowed. His skill wouldn¡¯t make him invisible, just unimportant. Easily overlooked.

    Sara crouched, then crawled through the tall grass, stopping a good fifteen yards from the pond edge. She wouldn¡¯t be near the herd¡¯s aura, but could likely hit him with lightning bolt. The way Kaden understood it, the spell would arc to him and then out.

    Every moment, every heartbeat, he channeled his focus on [Stealth] until a calm settled over him. The Kalaraks splashed closer, and their golden aura drifted out onto the water. It brushed his leg.

    The herd stopped, every head pointing his way.

    For thirty seconds, the herd waited¡ªthen the aura passed by, enveloping him as the Kalaraks moved closer and closer, so close Kaden could touch one if he wanted. If he were foolish.

    Sara Scylla requests permission to use [Mana Conduit]. Allow? [Y/N]

    Kaden chose yes, still terrified that even thinking might alert the herd.

    The smell of ozone drifted on the wind, and the herd raised their heads and began making clicking noises like they were chomping their teeth.

    The hair on Kaden¡¯s arms rose and his hair began to stand up off his head.

    Every Kalarak¡¯s attention lay on the bank where Sara hid.

    Lightning didn¡¯t arc out from Sara. It exploded from Kaden, blazing out from his chest, his fingers. And his skin began to crack and burn.

    You have channeled [Lightning Bolt].

    Chance Procedure Activiates! [Lightning Bolt] strikes as [Chain Lightning].

    Environmental modifiers provide damage bonus!

    [MultiTasker] provides targeting bonus!

    You have suffered 300 points Shock Damage.

    You have suffered 300 points Shock Damage.

    You have suffered 300 points Shock Damage.

    You have suffered 300 points Shock Damage.

    All around Kaden, the Kalaraks bucked as a storm blazed through the herd. Kaden¡¯s health had plumeted to less than two hundred, but now was the time to strike. Trinity charged in, while Kaden attacked with Remembrance, aiming for legs.

    Aiming for [Crippling Strikes] and [Brutal Blows] so the Beasts couldn¡¯t escape. With every notification, he moved faster and faster. All his skills had reset to second tier, level one, but he wasn¡¯t gaining levels like he had at tier one. ¡°No more lightning,¡± Kaden shouted through cracked, bloody lips.

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Sara charged in, joining the madness as they worked their way through.

    Trinity¡¯s desire was always to fight to the death of her enemy, but she allowed his directive, and moved on with stabs for hearts, bitting at knees with her bone head, or crushing spines.

    ¡°Those two are getting away,¡± Sara said, as two Kalaraks with broken legs scrambled up the hill.

    In a flash, Kaden had Thorn Caster drawn, and [Mana Arrow] activated. He loosed the shot, grateful that their direction gave him a larger target.

    Thorn Caster has inflicted 1x Poison.

    The Kalarak he¡¯d struck stumbled, and Kaden followed up with another arrow¡ªand another¡ªthen returned to his bloody work. Trinity¡¯s worry hit him, and he sent her after the wounded Kalarak which had made it over the hill. She was clear to kill it as dead as she wanted.

    The poisoned one wasn¡¯t dead but lay in the grass, bleeding.

    Sara began to slay, focusing her attacks on one at a time, while Kaden circled, keeping them contained. As Sara killed, he pulled them into Inventory. Last time, they¡¯d killed three. This time, seventeen, with two missing and presumed mangled by Trinity.

    Kaden had given up on his system notifications. The XP was pitiful. He¡¯d need to find level twenty seven, twenty eight, maybe thirty monsters to make meaningful gains. Or Demon Lords. Demon Lords were excellent XP, if he had a Centurion around to actually kill them.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t they just die?¡± Sara said as she stabbed over and over, while her horrors each mangledseparate Kalaraks. Her swords had the advantage of being faster, being both defensive and offensive, more targeted, but for sheer damage, Remembrance was the clear winner.

    ¡°You¡¯re level twenty four. You do less damage, they have more health.¡±

    Each of her strikes increased in force, in sheer rage.

    Sara stepped back as one died, her focus gone. ¡°I just gained a skill. [Crippling Strikes.]¡±

    ¡°Good. Aim for vulnerable areas.¡± Kaden tackled a Kalarak trying to escape, careful not to kill it. Beast by beast, she ended them. Her title slowly increased his health, healing the blisters and blackened skin, and Kaden held off on the health potion.

    When the last Kalarak lay dead, Kaden collected it and led Sara up the hill. ¡°I think that one died of poison, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to stab it anyway.¡±

    Sara cut the head off. ¡°It wasn¡¯t dead. That¡¯s fixed.¡±

    Just over the hilltop, Trinity looked up with three times the amount of guilt as she feasted on a Kalarak.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok. You got it. Given how many you wounded for us, that one¡¯s yours.¡± Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°No level. Killing those last two Adventureres, I swear, I thought I¡¯d reach twenty five. This was good hunting and yet it didn¡¯t do the trick. And your skin! I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t think it would arc back to you.¡±

    Kaden took out a health potion and drank deeply. ¡°Skin grows back. You know what¡ª¡±

    Trinity¡¯s heads whipped up, one after the other, and she let out a low rumble. *Fear*

    ¡°Where are the wandering bosses?¡± Kaden asked. One column of red shone in the distance.

    Sara tracked the horizon. ¡°One may have been killed.¡±

    Trinity screamed.

    Not in rage, but in agony.

    A swarm of beetles, each as large as Rocky, covered Trinity, chomping, chewing. Kaden wanted to pull her into his soul, but the grass everywhere around them moved. They couldn¡¯t see the Boss¡¯s warning column because they¡¯d been surrounded by it. Kaden grabbed Sara and flung her over his shoulder, then sprinted back toward the pond. As he ran, he pulled a gravely wounded Trinity into his soul.

    The grass rippled in a wave as Kaden splashed into the water.

    [Identify] activated.

    [ScaraStorm - Boss Monster]

    The ScaraStorm moves across the sands, devouring all in its path. For those caught, there is no return, there is only death. The swarm can reduce its count to increase HP for individual members, or increase count at a significant penalty to HP.

    Skills: Swarm Tactics, Numbing Bite, Destroying Jaws

    Talents: MultiTasker

    Level: 25

    HP: 4,000

    Mana: 40

    A swarm boss. He set Sara down in the water as the boss surrounted them, dividing into beetles the size of Vip, probably forty of them. ¡°We¡¯re in trouble.¡±

    ¡°Understatement of the year. I love being swept off my feet as much as the next woman, but that was distinctly unpleasant, though not unappreciated.¡±

    Kaden had no question if the beetles could swim. ¡°They¡¯re going to need to close in, and when they do, we need to punch through and get out, then run and keep running.¡±

    ¡°That is making two critical assumptions. First, they aren¡¯t faster on foot. Second, they don¡¯t fly. How¡¯s your health?¡±

    ¡°Eight hundred and rising.¡± More potion wouldn¡¯t change the rate. ¡°What is it waiting for?¡±

    The swarm could have charged in already, but as Kaden watched, beetles merged, reducing their count but increasing in size.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s calculating the fewest number it can overwhelm us with. That gives it the greatest amount of HP. Remember Swarma? The individual vipers were laughably easy to deal with.¡±

    ¡°Poison will make larger beetles a disadvantage, but the moment I shoot, it¡¯ll attack.¡± Kaden summoned Thorn Caster and drew back.

    ¡°The moment they hit the water, I¡¯m going to use [Lightning Bolt]. It¡¯s our best hope.¡± Sara drew her bow as well, targeting a beetle near her. Her arrows crackled with lightning.

    Kaden let loose.

    Thorn Caster has inflicted 1x poison

    He drew again in the moment of shock the Boss showed, hitting another. The beetles divided twice and plunged forward. And Kaden¡¯s world descended into agony as Sara struck him with [Lightning Bolt]. It arced outward, chaining to a dozen beetles¡ªand again¡ªand again.

    Kaden swung Remembrance¡¯s hammer head, smashing one beetle, then groaned even through [Fortress of Stone] as two more latched on, driving their jaws into his arms. He summoned Trinity, though her blood swirled into the pool.

    To one side, Sara¡¯s horror gagged and forced itself to swallow a beetle whole, and another, while she stabbed and sliced.

    Kaden tore the beetles off his arms and threw them back, then pulled one off Sara¡¯s back with only a small clump of her hair. ¡°Which way do we run?¡±

    ¡°One more lightning, then east. My Mana¡¯s dropping, I won¡¯t be able to strike at full force.¡± Sara leaped onto his back and screamed out ¡°[Lightning Bolt]!¡±

    You have channeled [Lightning Bolt].

    Chance Procedure Activiates! [Lightning Bolt] strikes as [Chain Lightning].

    Environmental modifiers provide damage bonus!

    [MultiTasker] provides targeting bonus!

    You have suffered 50 points Shock Damage.

    You have suffered 50 points Shock Damage.

    You have suffered 50 points Shock Damage.

    ¡­.

    The notifications rolled on as his health collapsed to sixty two.

    Trinity was dead, her heads gnawed off long before lightning struck. Dead beetles floated all around them, and [ScaraStorm] struggled to recall the remaining live ones, even as Kaden siphoned up dead ones. He didn¡¯t know if ScaraStorm could heal from the dead ones but he wouldn¡¯t take a chance.

    As a larger one collected, Kaden summoned Thorn Caster from Inventory and met it with a poison arrow¡ªand then one on the other. Kaden¡¯s voice came out cracked and broken. ¡°Six hundred HP for both, both poisoned.¡±

    He pulled Trinity¡¯s corpse into his soul and held Remembrance in a guard position. Every second worked in their favor, since poison drained a percentage of health, and Herald of Life would heal. Of course, if they combined into a single beetle, the result would be death for everyone.

    ¡°Can you kill both of them?¡± Sara asked. ¡°One bite from the big ones and I¡¯ll be dead.¡±

    There were good plans. There were terrible plans.

    There were ones like Kaden¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m going to hit them both. Hit them hard. They¡¯re going to split up.¡± He released [Mana Well], flooding Sara with mana. ¡°When they do, you fry them, or we both die.¡±

    Kaden triggered [Moment of Speed] and struck with Remembrance¡¯s hammer head. The first beetle¡¯s chitin cracked, and Remembrance sang out. In the heartbeat that followed, he pivoted, bringing the axe head down on the other beetle and unleashing Remembrance to drive the axe deep into the beetle¡¯s carapace, splitting its thorax.

    The moment he pulled Remembrance into Inventory, it dissolved into a dozen smaller ones. ¡°Now! Now!¡±

    Sara¡¯s Horror scooped two up, crunching and choking. She struck at two more, and another two¡ªthen pivoted, terror in her eyes. ¡°[Lighting Bolt!]¡±

    The world became pain. The world became agony.

    [Resilient Constitution] would keep him alive as long as he still had one HP. And that was the moment he realized his miscalculation. Trinity was dead. Resilient Consitution wasn¡¯t available. And the world went black.

 Eighteen - Consequential

    GENESIS STATE DETECTED.

    ERROR_ENTITY_NOT_IN_NODE.

    No Resolution Available¡­

    GENESIS HALTED.

    You have died.

    You have been resurrected.

    You have suffered a level penalty.

    Level penalty capped at level floor (25).

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden opened his eyes and spat out the dead rat. He opened one eye. The other eye wouldn¡¯t open, and his skin cracked as he tried to speak.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say a word.¡± Yep, that was Eve.

    The other sounds were too muffled to make out, but there was definitely an argument going on. An ugly one. A terrible one. His HP began to rise, both from Eve¡¯s healing and Sara¡¯s title. Yeah, she was nearby.

    And apparently, given that half the ranting was in Vichorean, so was Ashi. His health remained pegged at twenty three, ticking up and then back down, and his mouth still tasted of ashes, probably because his tongue felt blackened and cracked.

    ¡°Those are mana reinforced wounds,¡± Eve said. ¡°It¡¯s costing me twenty points of mana just to raise your health one point. Healing potions won¡¯t touch it, and you look like a piece of meat Trinity cooked. Ashi, he can hear now.¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch.¡± She spoke his name like a weapon.

    ¡°Ashi.¡± Her tone was far too sweet. It didn¡¯t mesh with what he¡¯d heard before. ¡°It¡¯s good to hear you. I can¡¯t really see yet. Where are we?¡±

    ¡°It is good to hear me? You are the most frustrating man to ever live! Do you have any idea how I felt when I received Sara¡¯s message? When you said you were going, I thought, good. He will tie her to the bed. He will make her scream with pleasure. Instead it is a different kind of screaming. Not the good kind!¡±

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± Eve said. ¡°If you¡¯re going to yell at him, would you mind doing it in a language I understand? I can¡¯t join in if I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying.¡±

    Kaden used [Mana Well] to dump mana into Eve, and in return, his health ticked upward another fourteen points. His tongue shed a layer of ash that he choked on and spat out. ¡°First off, I don¡¯t tie people to the bed unless they ask, which she didn¡¯t. Secondly, we were just doing a little night hunting and got ambushed.¡±

    ¡°Distracted.¡± Sara spoke clearly. ¡°We were distracted because Kaden was helping me kill a Kalarak herd for XP. The boss snuck up on us, but the fault is mine.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m at my level floor. There¡¯s literally no harm in taking risks to help you all reach twenty five, too.¡±

    ¡°No harm?¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°Do you care nothing for your party? Does it not matter to you? If you do not fear me, then perhaps you will enjoy explaining to Mother. She says you agreed to be useful, and yet, you may die without doing so. There is no harm, so let us go and speak with her.¡±

    Now that was something that gave Kaden pause. ¡°If there has to be a report, you handle that.¡±

    ¡°You think I did not already?¡± Ashi leaned in close so her breath tickled his ear. ¡°You have a duty. Sometimes fate will be against you, and you cannot help how death finds you. For the sake of your Core, make better decisions.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping for something much more entertaining,¡± Eve said. ¡°Was it really worth it? Sara would have reached twenty five not long after I did.¡±

    That made Kaden happen. ¡°Twenty Five?¡±

    ¡°Out! Out! Out!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°Not you, Evelyn. I have come to appreciate your company. You conduct yourself with care and dignity. Please stay and continue the healing.¡±

    A chair nearby creaked.

    Kaden consulted Dominion. They were in the farmhouse, probably in his bedrom. ¡°You want Sara here. Her title¡ª¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t do a thing until the Mana Reinforcement is healed. I give you credit for trying,¡± Eve said. ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re covered in burned skin, Vip might get sick if she lickes it and I won¡¯t tolerate that. So close that mouth and heal.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [FalCrow].

    ¡°I love the smell of burning meat,¡± It said in Sara¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Shoo! Shoo!¡± Ashi said. Flames whooshed and the world grew brighter, then dimmer. ¡°Whatever you have to say, I will send a mana dragon.¡±

    That gave him an idea. ¡°I was going to ask Sara for a favor. My Inventory is full of Kalaraks and dead beetles. I was thinking, she could take Neganta¡¯s Larder, go to the Guild with Eve and buy some mana potions to help Eve regenerate.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a suprisingly good idea coming from you,¡± Eve said. ¡°I need mana anyway, health regen isn¡¯t going to help Kaden, and Sara and I need to talk.¡±

    ¡°Go,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I will stay and make sure no one attempts to crawl off and go hunting with one eye and burned fingers. In case he tries.¡±

    The bedroom door opened and Sara came in. ¡°I¡¯ve got the Larder. Start emptying Kalaraks.¡±

    One by one, he handed them over. ¡°Take them to Dervish?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Sara waited, then collected all the pieces of the [ScaraStorm]. ¡°Do you have anything else you want me to sell?¡±

    Sara Scylla is attempting to share information with you. Accept? [Y/N]

    [Sara Scylla, Summoner]

    Level: 25

    HP: (1550/1550)

    Mana: (400/400)

    Skills: Summon Beast (2:1), Scheduling (2:1), Accounting (2:1), Lyre (2:-1), Negotiation (2:1), Hoe Strike (2:1), Blunt Weapons (2:1), Edged Weapons (2:1), Ranged Weapons (2:1), Siege Machinery (2:1), Resist Poison (2:1), Trap Sense (2:1), Resist Fire (2:1), Resist Crushing (2:1), Resist Acid (2:1). Contract Management (2:1), Party Tactics (2:1), Archery (2:1), Gardening (2:1), Private Conversation (2:1), Mana Quiver (2:1), Chain Lightning (2:1) Crippling Strikes (2:1)

    Talents: Charming, Vicious Senses, Fast Summons

    Profession: Business Manager

    Titles: Herald of Life, Party Leader

    [Fast Summons]

    Your summons will regenerate at a rate twice as fast as normal, and any mana cost for summoning will be halved.

    [Lightning Bolt]

    Send a blast of lightning at a foe with a small chance of arcing to a second target. This will affect conductive targets or those with Water Mana more effectively. Interaction with Fire Mana may be explosive.

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    [Gardening]

    It¡¯s not just a matter of putting seeds in soil. You have an innate sense of what plants need, and the ability to use your mana to infuse plants. This ability will grow as the skill levels. At higher levels, growing plants faster, restoring plants, or guiding specific effects is possible.

    [Charming]

    There¡¯s a certain something about you that others find irresistible. Your attempts to convince, bargain, negotiate, or seduce will succeed much more often.

    Permanent Summons:

    Crawling Horror, Cosmic Horror Spawn

    Rarity: Mythic

    Level: 1

    HP: Not Applicable

    Mana: Not Compatible

    Skills: Carrion Crawl, Dissolving Maw, Blasphemous Flesh

    ERR_ENTITY_NOT_NAMED, Cosmic Horror

    Rarity: Mythic

    Level: 11

    HP: Not Applicable

    Mana: Not Compatible

    Skills: Devouring Maw - Whatever goes in is exposed to the eternal hunger of that which cannot be named. Keep your fingers and toes outside the maw at all times, folks and no matter how tempting it might be, don¡¯t even thing about [CENSOR ENGAGED.] At higher levels, the nature of what can be devoured will expand. (8), Anthem of the End (6), Nether Vomit (3)

    Talents: Blasphemous Flesh - The flesh which forms a Horror is not of this reality and is resistant to all but the most powerful attacks. Creatures who consume Blasphemous Flesh are afflicted with 9,999,999,999 [LETHAL] damage.

    [Anthem of the End]

    Consume Mana to sing the end of everything. This song is not of this world, and damages all who hear it. Spellcasting is not possible while Anthem of the End is active. The damage scales the longer the song continues. It will kill enemies, allies, and the host equally.

    [Nether Vomit]

    Consume both matter and mana to vomit out the hunger which resides within. This counts as a contact attack and may only be dispelled through application of mana. Consuming more matter will cancel the current application of Nether vomit.

    ¡°You got another summons!¡± Kaden shouted, though his skin cracked and his lips bled. ¡°Ranged? Mobile? Mythic? Another Mythic?¡±

    ¡°I was certain you weren¡¯t sorting Inventory,¡± Eve said. ¡°A second Mythic summons seems deeply unlikely. And it already has levels. And skills?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s health ticked up again and this time, he could see, as a crust broke free from one eye and his joints loosened. ¡°That helped.¡±

    Sara stood near him, and now he understood how different the second tier looked. She wasn¡¯t much taller, but she was slightly wider and thicker, her muscles more prominent. She¡¯d never been svelte but now she was formidable.

    ¡°You look amazing.¡±

    Her smile hadn¡¯t changed at all. ¡°Well, I have to keep up with you. I¡¯ll send Eve back with the potions. Mr. Dervish is going to want to talk and see and...probably Mom would want to know.¡±

    ¡°See you soon.¡± Kaden struggled to sit up, then slid his feet off as Sara and Eve left. His skin was charred from chain lightning. The loose clothing over him kept him ¡®modest¡¯ in front of people he didn¡¯t really care about modesty with.

    Ashi looked at the burn tracks on his body. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t be wearing anything heavy. How many lightning bolts did Sara hit you with?¡±

    ¡°It was the chain lightning. It multiplies across targets, and honestly, that boss was going to kill and eat us both. The mistake wasn¡¯t going out hunting. It was getting so involved in killing the herd that a wandering boss snuck up on us.¡± Each word made his jaws ache.

    Ashi left and returned holding the [Assistant] ¡°Activate this with me here. If it should be malfunctioning, I will handle it. You have given it more than enough mana.¡±

    Kaden could power it easily now in just a few days. He grasped the [Attendant].

    Activate [Attendant]?

    No clue about what it would do. He selected yes, and tensed as the crystal began to glow like a miniature dungeon core in his deep aqua. Then it rose up and flickered through different illusions. A gnome, which was just terrifying. A ghost, not too terrifying. A small ape with golden fur. Then it shifted, becoming a translucent women with minature wings and the crystal visible through her skin. Two feet tall, she shifted over and over, becoming more and less detailed, until her hair had actual definition and her body was more like a sweeping dress covered it.

    *Attendant is initializing.*

    *Analyzing [FangWood Dungeon Complex]. Requires: 7,13 more [Attendants.]*

    *Reducing Scope*

    With the thought came a much smaller outline - the area surrounded by split rail.

    *Requires: 2 more [Attendants].*

    Again, the outline shrank to only the farmhouse, and without another word, the [Attendent] spun and drifted to a window, spraying it with raw mana, and then following up to clean.

    Ashi, rarely impressed, watched it work and then approached to press a finger on the freshly cleaned window.

    The attended buzzed, a sound like an angry [Dagger Wasp], but it zipped back to touch up the print. And Kaden was certain it kept its eyes on Ashi as it drifted up to burn away cobwebs with a puff of flame.

    ¡°I did not expect this. In Vichor it would be a mighty guardian, but the mana is so thin here, perhaps this is all?¡± Ashi stared as it worked its way through the eves, then cleaned the corners.

    Kaden called to Vip, who whined and barked as the [Attendant] floated past¡ªthen drifted through the wall like it wasn¡¯t even present. ¡°Is that normal?¡±

    ¡°It will take time to know the needs. It is nice, to have something of home present. Can you make it tend my tower?¡±

    Kaden thought about it, and the [Attendent] broadcast acceptance as a feeling. ¡°It¡¯ll be there soon. Can you help me outside? I want to move. I want to go do something.¡±

    ¡°It was not a joke, that you would need to explain yourself to Mother. There are few Dungeon Masters who reside outside of Vichor. They may come and tend their dungeons via arch, but live here?¡± Ashi shook her head. ¡°And though she will never say so, you pleased Mother. She will not take lightly to you throwing your life away.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s she going to do? Make the ScaraStorm spit me out, resurrect me, and wag a finger I can¡¯t see at me?¡± Kaden hoped for an smile.

    He got a scowl.

    ¡°I will not touch you because I do not believe there is a place unwounded. But when you are healed? We will discuss this further.¡± Ashi cast her [Hover] on him, and gently moved him out into the living room, then to the porch, where he could sit and watch the [Farmer] working crops.

    As time passed, the quiet calmed him. This death hadn¡¯t shaken him the way others did. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to scare you and Eve. I didn¡¯t mean to die. I was thinking we¡¯d level Sara to twenty five and with two of us, we¡¯d be twice as effective helping you and Eve.¡±

    ¡°And never did you ask ¡®Could I call Ashi? Would she not help me?¡¯¡±

    ¡°I said I was sorry.¡±

    Minutes passed, and the FarPortal flared as Eve returned. ¡°How did I know he wouldn¡¯t be in bed? And you, you¡¯re supposed to be the PolyMage, ¡®Daugher-Of-The-Line-Of-Not-Really-Being-All-That-Fierce-Or-He¡¯d-Still-Be-In-Bed.¡¯¡±

    Eve focused on him, activating [Life Transfusion].

    Kaden¡¯s skin began to itch wildly as his health rose. The black paths on his skin flaked and cracked as skin turned red underneath.

    ¡°I¡¯m running on empty,¡± Eve said. ¡°Seven hundred and forty mana fixed thirty seven points of damage. And you¡¯re going to be scarred. Forever.¡±

    ¡°Trella likes scars.¡± He never minded the ones she got from Alchemy.

    Eve pulled another potion out and drank half of it in one go before passing it to him. ¡°Give me an hour. Combined with [Mana Well] I should be able to repair the worst damage. You smell like cooked meat, and as soon as I¡¯m done, bathe.¡±

    Three hours and four potions later, Eve called a halt. ¡°We can¡¯t push it any further tonight. You look mostly clear. There¡¯s a few parts of you I¡¯ve seen way too much of, so you check them out and let me know how it¡¯s going.¡±

    Kaden still felt stiff, but when he walked, pieces of skin sluffed off revealing healed skin underneath. His health had risen to three hundred, and ticked slowly upward on its own. [Guardian of Life] would help the damage heal.

    He sprayed water into the bath and sprayed himself over and over until tender skin remained. His armor had healed from ambient mana, but putting it on would provoke Ashi and Eve. In a show of contrition, he dressed in the simple tan clothing the Sisters had gifted him during his prison-cell-based training.

    Sara¡¯s green parrot landed on his bed as he tied the front together. ¡°Kaden, I¡¯m on my way back, and I need help. Dominion kind of help. If anyone follows me through the FarPortal, hit them hard and don¡¯t stop.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t run, but he did limp out, gripping Remembrance as he passed through the living room. ¡°Sara¡¯s coming and there¡¯s trouble.¡±

    Without a word, Ashi sprinted to join him. ¡°I will deal with any threat.¡±

    The FarPortal surged upward and Sara stepped through, dressed in her green leathers. Her Horror¡¯s pseudopods flared and showing teeth. In in one hand, she clutched a basket. A basket that wriggled. A basket with teeth. It was like someone had snipped off one of the Horror¡¯s pseudopods, leaving a wriggling nub.

    She tossed it behind her on the portal as it flared again.

    Two women stepped through.

    Kaden didn¡¯t wait for Identify, he dropped Dominion on them like a hammer. ¡°I am the owner of this Holding. Activate the portal and leave. Attack me and die.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re recruits trying to prove their worth. They were going to kill me if I didn¡¯t agree to join the Cosmi [Faction],¡± Sara said, as her crawler began to chew on one of the bleeding women¡¯s foot.

    The FarPortal pavilion exploded into a ball of flame that grew hotter and hotter. The crystal turned white with heat, and the still the fire grew brighter.

    You have helped slay the [Alchemist] Haram Kingsly.

    You have helped slay the [Tamer] Sensendi Pavi.

    You have gained experience.

    The air popped, and Ashi sagged to one knee as she struggled for breath. ¡°To attack you was to worsen Dominion. To stay was to burn. I am pleased they chose the flame.¡±

    The FarPortal Pavillion was no more, but the crystal base that formed the actua FarPortal now glowed orange instead of white. And on them hovered two glowing squares. Loot packages. Kaden waved to them. ¡°Whoever wants the loot, get it.¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s your kind of thing,¡± Eve said. ¡°Your Whatever-She-Is just used Dominion and the kind of fire that makes me have nightmares to torch women she never met. And you¡¯re worried about dividing loot? Don¡¯t you have regrets?¡±

    Ashi laughed as she retrieved the packages. ¡°They threatened Sara. Regrets are like Initiates. They burn away easily.¡±

    Sara was shaking. ¡°There will be more. I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯ll be more and they¡¯re not going to stop coming. My summons are Cosmic Horrors. The Centurions are patient. The Initiates are not. In their view, I¡¯m housing a god. If I won¡¯t join their [Faction] they¡¯re better off killing me in hopes someone else will summon it.¡±

    Kaden knew his answer. ¡°Let them come. we¡¯ll kill them all.¡±

 Nineteen - Sprout It Out

    Kaden spent the afternoon recovering, something that normally happened quickly, but was now maddeningly slow. He spent time following the [Assistant] from room to room trying to determine how it decided on priorities.

    There was no order.

    It would clean a window and then move to cleaning dust from Builder Willis¡¯s work, then exterminated a wasp nest, then moved to zapping spots on the kitchen table. It steadfastly avoided Sara¡¯s greenhouse attached to the side wall of the farmhouse, and made trips to Ashi¡¯s tower and back.

    Sara joined Kaden in the kitchen where he was charring meat as a way of honoring Trinity. ¡°Do you want to know what we got from the ScaraStorm?¡±

    ¡°A lot of dead beetles.¡±Kaden had thought about harvesting materials from them but a boss was simply too valuable to subject to his abilities. ¡°Something better?¡±

    ¡°Better. The moment crafters applied their skill, the beetles broke down into hundreds of tiny ones, and every shell is a link in scale mail armor, or rather, it will be. Two hundred gold from a single boss.¡± Sara¡¯s tone said she knew more. ¡°Mr. Dervish couldn¡¯t use all the Kalaraks. He kept ten but we sold the others to [Alchemists] as a reagent for a suite of potions. Some help resist status affects, another is a medium grade speed boost.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the real advantage. Level twenty five. There¡¯s two of us now, meaning that we¡¯re twice as deadly.¡±

    ¡°Eve will be next. We should return to FangWood¡¯s open air dungeon.¡± Sara¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to get us into that disaster.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t do it. I wanted to take you out hunting. And what¡¯s a few scars? You¡¯ve seen my chest. I¡¯m not winning any contests. And I don¡¯t care.¡± It was true. Adventurers were cut differently than commoners. He didn¡¯t care about the looks at all. Trella wouldn¡¯t care.

    Sara put her hand on his and squeezed. ¡°So. Fell Woodsman. Push the patrols, by which I mean we should destroy them, making sure Eve and Ashi get hits on all of them. I can¡¯t say what we do next, there should be many puzzle, ambush, or battle rooms.¡±

    ¡°We need a rogue.¡±

    ¡°I know. I reached out to Flavius. We¡¯re in this run for XP, not loot, so we can measure the [Thief] he¡¯s sending and see how he does. If he betrays us, can you kill him with Dominion before he exits FangWood?¡±

    Sara had never spoken so bluntly, but Kaden didn¡¯t mind. ¡°I will try. If he¡¯s leaving, Dominion will mostly let him go. It¡¯s meant to be used against monsters and protect us. I dropped it on the Temple servants who abandoned Eve and as soon as they were fleeing, it didn¡¯t hurt them as badly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to go tell the others. Let¡¯s plan on tomorrow. It¡¯ll give Eve time to keep healing you. Herald of Life isn¡¯t as critical with our HP this high.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t wrong, but in a group, with it applying across everyone, it would still be powerful and give them an edge. ¡°Every point counts. Tomorrow. Tell them tomorrow.¡±

    Ashi dashed from behind the farmhouse, her exposed skin glistening with sweat as she slid to a stop. ¡°Come. See what you have done. Even I am impressed.¡±

    Even though his muscles still hitched at add points, Kaden followed Ashi around to the north side, where Kaden had planted the [Shield Tree]. A sappling poked from the earth, with silver bark and leaves like a maple, with a thin crown of branches. It stood just taller than Kaden, and so thin he could grip its trunk with one hand. But the tree exuded an aura that was almost visible, like an afterimage, one that promised it would be peaceful here.

    Your holding has acquired 1x Shield Tree.

    [Shield Tree]

    These behemoths of the forest begin life small but they won¡¯t stay that way. A Shield Tree acts as a natural repellent for monster spawns. Demons approaching within fifty feet take continuous damage. Striking the tree will cause 9999x [True Damage] for any demon. Lesser Demons will be afflicted with Fear. Demonic Auras will not function in range of [Shield Tree]. This range will grow as the tree does.

    Ashi barely touched it, as though she thought it couldn¡¯t be real. ¡°This is a gift worth the price. What do you care that people see the work of a monster when they look at you? Should this demon Naski show her face, it will not be here.¡±

    Naski. Kaden still had scores to settle with her. And an idea came to him, one Sara might hate. He sent the [FalCrow] to fetch her and waited. Sara came with Eve and Vip, and stopped short when she saw the [Shield Tree]. ¡°This is my new favorite thing at the Holding.¡±

    Kaden tried to pick up Vip, but she was too busy circling the [Shield Tree] and squatting to water it. ¡°Who owns the summoning circle at Beast Control? It showed us the different bonds. Hatred Mark is a kind of bond, right? Can it show us that? Can we use the Hatred Mark to track Naski?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never¡ªI can¡¯t¡ªI don¡¯t know.¡± Sara summoned a Crawling Horror and held it closer to the [Shield Tree]. It didn¡¯t respond at all, proving her horror wasn¡¯t a demon of any kind. ¡°I can ask. My distaste with Mom won¡¯t stop me helping you.¡±

    Eve¡­looked happy.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t sure what was wrong to cause that. ¡°You ok, Eve?¡±

    She didn¡¯t answer, just walking closer and closer, until she sat down in the dirt, almost kneeling at the tree. ¡°It feels good. Ever since I got Hated by Demons, it¡¯s like I can feel them hunting for me. I¡¯m constantly worried and waiting and on edge. When you got Feared by Demons, it was like they couldn¡¯t see me, but I could still feel them. Here? It¡¯s like they don¡¯t exist.¡±

    That told Kaden what his next project was. It wouldn¡¯t be pretty but it would be functional. He set off to the edge of FangWood, and felled a tree with Remembrance. If monsters wanted to challenge him, it was their mistake.

    With careful attention, he split the trunk into planks, then smoothed the planks until they no longer sported spliters. [Woodcarving] wasn¡¯t a combat skill but it contributed with [Building] to guide his hands as he smoothed edges and trimmed the lengths.

    What came next stretched the edges of his [Building] skills, but he settled on cutting wide sections of wood and carving supports to produce two stubby pillars to hold a back support. Strength made it easy to carry both planks over one shoulder and the base in the other, all the way back to the [Shield]Tree.

    One slab became a seat, the other a back resting on the stubby pillars.

    You have crafted 1x Crude Bench.

    Your skill with [Building] has increased.

    His first tier two increase. Was it so quick because it had been low before? Regardless, the skill showed him how to shave grooves in each piece so they sat better, so they were more sturdy.

    You have improved Crude Bench to Poor Bench.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. ¡°You can sit here and relax. It¡¯ll have shade in the summer. And I¡¯m fairly sure I can build better. Or buy better. It¡¯ll be nice to have a place to relax here.¡±

    Eve took a seat beside him and patted for Vip to join her, under a sappling barely taller than Kaden was. Then sighed and relaxed as though she wasn¡¯t sitting on a freshly carved bench.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kaden retreated. It was almost private. Far too personal. At the edge of the Farmhouse, he looked back to find Sara and Ashi had joined him. ¡°Is she going to be ok?¡±

    ¡°Time.¡± Ashi held none of her normal disdain. ¡°Give to her time. All else, will come. I approve of this plan to run the FangWood dungeon. I cannot fall so far behind, or I will not be worthy to assist against erratic dungeons.¡±

    ¡°Your approval was definitely what my decision hinged on,¡± Sara said with annoyance. ¡°You won¡¯t fall that far behind. And when Trella is back, we¡¯ll forcibly drag her to twenty five as well.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s own resolve echoed Sara¡¯s statement. They absolutely would. ¡°Hey, while I¡¯ve got both of you here, I¡¯d like to propose an idea. I call it ¡®Operation Trella.¡¯¡±

    ¡°It sounds like a terrible idea, and I doubt Trella would approve of her name being used with it,¡± Sara said. ¡°But do go on.¡±

    Trella would completely approve. ¡°You both deserve somoneone in love with you. Someone who cherishes and challenges you. I¡¯ve got that. You don¡¯t. So I was thinking, Eve and I could interview potential dates at the Guild¡ª¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°You think I do not brush off suitors every hour in the city?¡±

    ¡°I think most suitors your level and age are rightly terrified of your power,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I think I would be doing a service to the people of Verona and to the Daughter Ashi if I brushed off the worst creeps for you.¡±

    ¡°They are right to fear me,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Where will you find such people?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°There¡¯s a wall at the guild where you can pin your contact information¡ª¡±

    ¡°You have got to be kidding me,¡± Sara said. ¡°The Desperation Wall is the worst place I can think of. I appreciate you thinking of me. I appreciate you wanting me to be as happy. I will final-death myself before I pin my name to the Desperation Wall.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with the people on the wall,¡± Kaden said.

    He thought maybe Sara was about to explode. ¡°Forget the men, have you looked at the women there? Carefully? Have you asked yourself what they have in common? Circe Karn, also known as ¡®Cutter¡¯ is there.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Kaden said. ¡°You could call me ¡®Smasher,¡¯ and that wouldn¡¯t make me a bad person.¡±

    ¡°Send a bird. Have some dinner with her. Then we¡¯ll see if your opinion changes.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I will.¡±

    Sara crossed her arms. ¡°Now. I¡¯ll give you her Messenger Bird information. If you¡¯re so certain, you won¡¯t mind vetting her for me. I don¡¯t really enjoy dating women, but this would be a good practice run.¡±

    Sara Scylla is offering to share contact information: Circe ¡®Cutter¡¯ Karn. Accept? [Y/N]

    This didn¡¯t seem like a good idea, but Kaden wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d know a good idea if it bit him. He had a decent idea. Summoned the [FalCrow]. ¡°Hi. A friend of mine sent me your contact information, said we might get along. Falcrow, you¡¯d damn well better not try and eat her eyes.¡±

    The FalCrow wouldn¡¯t try to eat her eyes, but hopefully it would repeat that. With a sigh, he dispatched the FalCrow. ¡°Ashi? If she turns out to be dangerous, you¡¯d protect me, right?¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t said a word. ¡°Of course, Dungeon Master.¡±

    A brown Mana Bird landed on Kaden¡¯s arm, and a woman¡¯s voice barked out. ¡°Get your party. We¡¯re hunting [Torrods] in the delta. If you can¡¯t kill your share, I sure as hell wouldn¡¯t want to waste time on a meal.¡±

    With the message came a set of coordinates for a FarPortal.

    And a system notification.

    Faction Quest Available: Defend the Village (Justari) - Kill ten [Torrods] and collect the bounty.

    You have received a new Quest: Humble Beginnings - Complete at least one faction quest.

    ¡°I just got a faction quest. I would take it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Except my health is really low.¡±

    ¡°Half health sounds like a lot. Eve! You want to help embarrass Kaden?¡± Sara shouted.

    Eve came running. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure his health goes up even if his dignity goes down. What exactly happened?¡±

    ¡°Kaden volunteered to find me a Trella. On the Desperation Wall, so we¡¯re having him vet Cutter Karn.¡± Sara kept her tone innocent. ¡°She wants us to join a Hunting Party in the delta, but his health is so low, I¡¯d feel awful if we let him go out alone. After all, it¡¯s my fault he¡¯s weak.¡±

    Ashi smiled as she looked at Kaden. ¡°It would only be right to help him regain some of the experience he sacrificed. I, too, will go to protect him.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind.

    This was no miscalculation, or if it was, it was a minor mistake. He¡¯d never considered someone with the courage to say they were looking for a relationship less desireable, there was probably no harm in meeting this ¡®Cutter.¡¯

    Then Sara would see. Ashi would see. ¡°Let¡¯s go hunting!¡±

    The trip through the FarPortal only hurt mildly¡ªhaving four more points in Constitution meant it was just that much harder to hurt Kaden. He emerged in a sweltering heat with humidity so thick a fish would be able to swim in the air. A low rolling delta stretched out before him, waves breaking gently over muddy sandbars while the sun sank lower on the horizon.

    Near the FarPortal sat a deeply out of place desk, dark polished cherry wood, and an umbrella arch that provided shade to the old man sleeping at the desk, his head down. A brass bell hung from the top of the umbrella arch, rocking gently in the sea breeze.

    Sara took the lead, approaching and rapping on the desk. ¡°We¡¯re here to hunt [Torrods.] Where do we find the other parties?¡±

    He looked at her with bleary eyes¡ªthen back to the delta. ¡°How about anywhere down there? Bounties can only be cashed in at the end of a tidal cycle. We¡¯re winding down from one now. Surge Wave is still sixteen hours off, so no worries there. Not that we get much here. Now, if you don¡¯t mind, the bell rings at Tides, and when they change, you¡¯ll get your chance.¡±

    Kaden looked down the beach. He hadn¡¯t realized how far off the actual water was. The rolling bars and water were deceptive. Moving in the distance were groups, of people. Hunting Parties.

    They set out toward the water, but half way there, Sara called for a halt. ¡°You weren¡¯t with us the last time we went hunting. And you and I trusted each other from the start. You can¡¯t trust anyone here. I don¡¯t know if Torrods drop decent loot but if they do, you collect it immediately. If you can touch it, it¡¯s your loot.¡±

    ¡°What do we need to turn in for the bounty?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°Good question,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ll show you closer to the water.¡±

    In all of Professor Treadle¡¯s lectures, Kaden didn¡¯t recall [Torrods], but [Beast Knowledge] kicked in.

    [Torrod]

    We met them down near the mouth of the river, and lost our [Shield] to one¡¯s lurking attack. Still, the lurking attack was better than when they swarmed ashore, heading up toward the fishing village. A single Torrod is dangerous, but fifty of them overran us. We could only watch as they leveled the village and dragged their food screaming back into the water.

    Kaden shuddered. ¡°What are these things and how do we deal with them?¡±

    ¡°They come in a number of shapes, depending on what the larva devour,¡± Sara said. ¡°Most will look like octopi, or crabs, or water creatures, but they adapt for movement in any terrain. I¡¯ve heard of them flying as well as swimming, and they¡¯ll be water mana aligned.¡±

    Ashi whispered something to Sara, who responded by unleashing a lightning bolt at her. Ashi didn¡¯t dodge, accepting the blow. When she opened her eyes, the pupils held sparks. ¡°Excellent. Let us grow in power and wealth by slaughtering these [Torrods].¡±

    ¡°Your hair is smoking.¡± Eve triggered [Life Transfusion].

    Behind them, the brass bell rang, and groups of Adventurers began to make their way up to the desk. Most of them carried small, shiny blue jaws that looked like shark¡¯s jaws.

    Sara pointed. ¡°See that? People tear the jaws out of the corpse and toss the corpse back in the water. The jaws are what you turn in for the bounty.¡±

    Kaden focused on the drifting shapes in the water. ¡°Do they offer anything else, material-wise?¡±

    ¡°Not that I know of.¡± Sara pivoted and whistled. ¡°Cutter!¡±

    One of the groups stopped their advance up toward the bell and instead started toward Kaden.

    [¡®Cutter¡¯ Karn - Ritualist]

    Circe Karn might as well not have a first or last name, she answers to ¡®Cutter,¡¯ a name she earned. The Ritualist draws power from wounding her enemies. She grows more powerful with each ritual wound and you would do well to make sure she is an ally, not an enemy.

    Class: Ritualist

    Level: 27

    HP: 950

    Mana: 2000

    Skills: Ritual Sacrifice (2:6), Blood Ritual (2:3), Soul Ritual (2:7), Strength Ritual (2:5), Speed Ritual (2:7), Agility Ritual (2:6), Song Writing(2:1), Singing(2:1), Resist Acid (8), Spell Singer (2:4), Edged Weapons (2:1), Daggers (2:1) Thrown Weapons (2:2), Acrobatics (2:4)

    Talents: Prepared, Last Man Standing, Single Minded, Fast Caster, Dual Caster

    Cutter stood a good inch taller than Kaden, wider than Kaden, and she wore smooth chain link armor where every link was a slightly different color. At her side, she wore short daggers, daggers that would make Trella¡¯s look like long swords. One curved sharply in a way that reminded Kaden of his Levicon Blade. Her boots came up to the middle of her thighs, and each was tipped with a similar short blade. She adjusted the tie holding up her silver-white hair and fixed a blue eyed-gaze on Kaden. ¡°You didn¡¯t send a bird. You sent a gods-damned monster. I approve.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] and let it perch on his shoulder, silently comanding it not to comment on Cutter¡¯s bust or her dancing ability. ¡°This is my messenger bird. And if you could meet Trinity, my TriTerror, you¡¯d love her.¡±

    Cutter looked him up and down. ¡°Why did you message me?¡±

    The accurate answer would be that Sara had said Cutter was an example of the type of person who would go looking for releationships. The most accurate answer would probably lead to bloodshed. ¡°Sara said we¡¯d probably get along.¡±

    Cutter looked to Sara. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. I¡¯ve never seen you. I¡¯ve never heard of you. I have a way of teaching people I don¡¯t know not to talk about me. My favorite is ripping their tongue out and then tying it around their neck. After all, tongues can grow back. On the other hand, I respect how you¡¯re attached to something that will one day destroy everything. Tough call.¡±

    She glanced back to Kaden. ¡°[Torrods] aren¡¯t worth dragging back to crafters. But they need to die and we all need XP and the Guild pays bounties. Get to killing. Impress me, we¡¯ll talk.¡±

    After she¡¯d rejoined her party, Kaden swallowed nervously. ¡°See? She¡¯s gruff but probably kind underneath that.¡±

    He hoped.

    Sara didn¡¯t hide her hysterical laughter. ¡°I¡¯m so looking forward to this.¡±

 Twenty - Hack and Slash

    When the other groups began to filter back down, Sara chose a spot on a sand bar that was closer to the shore. Other parties stationed further out for more kills, but Sara¡¯s view was that they hadn¡¯t fought a [Torrod] and would need flexibility. They could always move out if everything went well.

    Kaden summoned Vip and let her dance at the edge of the water, splashing and biting at the waves. ¡°Circe could be very nice. You don¡¯t know her.¡±

    ¡°Cutter literally threated to take my tongue out. Admit you were wrong. Take the loss, we can leave. There are a dozen other faction quests we can take.¡± Sara crossed her arms.

    ¡°You leave,¡± Eve said. ¡°I want to make level twenty five and if these are steady XP, I¡¯ll stay around. No one is threatening my tongue. Ashi?¡±

    ¡°I stay.¡±

    Other hunting parties took places as the bell rang again. Almost everyone here was level twenty five, but no one over twenty seven, which told him the Torrods would probably be twenty seven as well. Some classes struggled against even level mobs.

    ¡°Keep your babies in back,¡± A [Shield] called from the next sandbar. ¡°Some torrods have powerful drag attacks. First tier¡¯s first to die.¡±

    Ashi and Eve were already standing between Kaden and Sara.

    ¡°Eve, Ashi, the goal is to get solid hits. Ash, [Mana Conduit] is always an option, if you can keep from frying me.¡±

    ¡°I can. I have many choices from the College of Storms, thanks to Sara.¡± Ashi stepped closer, keeping Eve behind her. ¡°I will not hesitate to act.¡±

    The waters ahead of them began to bubble and swirl and the parties furthest out began to call out to each other.

    ¡°If there are many, focus on one,¡± Sara said. ¡°I think¡ª¡±

    Something leaped from the water in front of them. Hearing that Torrods took their shape from creatures they ate and seeing a manta ray leap from the air in front of them were two differnent things. The creature¡¯s skin was a cool metallic blue, and where a ray¡¯s mouth would be, a set of sharp, toothy jaws waited. Long, spindly legs unfolded to keep it above the water as it rushed Sara.

    Spindly legs were Kaden¡¯s favorite kind, because with a swing of Remembrance, he crumpled one¡ªonly to have the leg lengthen, and the [Torrod] rise up.

    [Torrod]

    The devourers of the deep begin life small, but they don¡¯t stay that way. Early in a Torrod¡¯s life, it chooses a victim, takes that form, and then uses it to prey on others. When it is time to breed, they will rise from the depths and drag prey back to use as food for the next generation.

    Level: 27

    HP: 4,000

    Mana:450/500

    Skills: Form-Shift, Regeneration,Hungering Grasp,Glide, Power Bite, Ravenous Digestion

    Most of these Kaden could guess. Ravenous Digestion mean that whatever it swallowed would be unrecoverable. But the mana plus regeneration gave him a clue. ¡°Let me drain it.¡±

    He struck it with a forty five point mana spike. ¡°No more regeneration!¡±

    [Moon Strike] struck it, while Sara hacked at another thin leg. Her Horror grasp at the edges, tearing, while Lightning blasted from Ashi to sizzle down the Torrod¡¯s belly.

    It instantly turned on her.

    Kaden summoned his Eldritch Shield and charged, using his momentum to crumple a leg. As it fell, it twisted to bite at Kaden, taking a chunk from his side¡ªand four hundred health. Blood spurted out, even as Eve activated [Life Transfusion] and afflicted it with plague.

    ¡°That hurts!¡± Kaden shouted as lightning arced through his body where Ashi struck.

    ¡°It¡¯s not regenerating!¡± Sara¡¯s glee was clear as she leaped on top of it, stabbing downward over and over until the beast went limp.

    You have helped kill a Torrod.

    You have gained experience.

    The gain was low. And yet, that one had hardly been a real threat. With some planning and actually sticking to the plan, it was easy, cheap XP. Kaden flung it over and waited as Sara carved the jaws out, then tossed them to him.

    You have recieved 1x Torrod Jaws (Tool Crafting Material).

    It was time to see what [Reap Materials] offered.

    Nothing.

    ¡°There¡¯s literally nothing besides the jaws,¡± Kaden said, flinging the corpse to the side. He didn¡¯t want it in the water.

    ¡°That form wasn¡¯t good for my attacks, and I think we tackled it wrong anyway,¡± Sara said. ¡°Kaden offers killing blows, I target limbs and vulnerable points, Ashi cooks them, Eve keeps us alive.¡±

    ¡°Kaden should be far forward,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I can control if my [Lightning Bolt] chains, and keep it from striking him, then fall back.¡±

    ¡°I can plague it from here,¡± Eve said. ¡°In fact, I should be plagueing anything I can see. Other parties can still get the bounty, I¡¯ll siphon XP.¡±

    ¡°Get ready. Something¡¯s moving through the water,¡± Sara called.

    Instead of a monster, the water errupted as a line of creatures the size of a man¡¯s head burst out to glide, each sporting a smaller mouth.

    ¡°[Sharmlings]!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°Lieutenant class [Torrod]. It won¡¯t engage directly, and don¡¯t let the little ones bite. They feed the main body.¡±

    Kaden blocked with the [Eldritch Shield], but before he could bring Remembrance around, the small creature had already retreated.

    Ashi¡¯s lightning hit over and over, frying individuals, but they simply kept coming. A swarm of shark shaped Torrod spewed from a mother creature who remained just far enough out to prevent Kaden lunging. Eve could apply [Plague] but it didn¡¯t have time to affect creatures whose primary purpose was to wear down adventurers.

    Kaden bashed another [Sharmling] and swore. ¡°We¡¯re better at bosses. That thing doesn¡¯t play by the rules.¡±

    A scream of pure rage was his only warning, as Cutter leaped onto their sandbar and went to work. She met the oncoming swarm of flying fish with both blades drawn, and cut¡ªbarely nicking them.

    But with every slice, she moved faster. An inhuman red glow gathered around her, and the previously tall woman exuded a pressure like he¡¯d experienced with the Demon Lord Asmodeus.

    ¡°More!¡± Cutter shouted. ¡°I need more. Every wound I inflict grants a bonus to something. And once they¡¯ve got a status effect, I gain even more.¡± Without warning, she dove into the water, swimming out to the [Sharmling] mother. The water turned redder and redder.

    You have helped defeat a [Torrod].

    You have gained experience.

    A moment later, Cutter emerged from the water, her wounds healing, her knifes dripping blood. ¡°Which one of you is the status dealer?¡±

    Eve raised her hand. ¡°Most of my powers inflict status effects.¡±

    Cutter began to grin. ¡°You¡¯re close to twenty five. Really close. You just became my best friend.¡±

    ¡°Eve stays with us,¡± Sara said.

    For a moment, Kaden thought Cutter might challenge that. Then she shrugged. Looked over to the closest team. ¡°Move. Go someplace else. Anywhere else. Go gently and I wont¡¯ make you go. Boys, form up on us. We¡¯re going to kill the whole swarm.¡±

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    Her party approached, and to a man, from the [Healer] to the [Shield], they were men, mostly large men, men who had put a lot of points into strength and health.

    ¡°This is my crew.¡± Cutter didn¡¯t really speak to anyone but Eve. ¡°Your job is simply. See a Torrod, [Plague] a Torrod. The rest of you, I don¡¯t care about. Maybe kill something. Thing about Torrods is that they come by the hundreds, and for the crawl¡ªthat¡¯s any level above twenty five, steady XP is the key.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s demeanor shifted.

    She didn¡¯t like anyone else dismissing her, but this was exactly what the party needed. Steady gains without immense risk.

    ¡°Kaden, has [Mana Well] for when I¡¯m out of mana. Sara¡¯s title will cause us to regen life and mana faster. Ashi¡¯s part of our party.¡± Eve fell in behind Cutter, who moved further out.

    ¡°Keep the babies out of my way,¡± Cutter said. ¡°I need [Torrods] pulled.¡±

    Kaden had an idea. ¡°Sara, Ashi? What if I swim out into the water, and you hit me with [Lightning]? There must be hundreds out there.¡±

    ¡°Until one of them drags you under,¡± Sara said. ¡°How high is your [Resist Suffocation]?¡±

    ¡°High enough that I cleared an underwater dungeon without a breathing spell,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Rope.¡± Cutter spoke it as a command. ¡°Levi here is our carrier. He¡¯s got fifty inventory slots and if I¡¯ve ever needed it, he has two.¡±

    Levi was the thin man wearing heavy leather armor, who produced a coil of thick rope. ¡°How you want to be tied up?¡±

    ¡°Around the waist.¡± Kaden raised his arms and let her tie. ¡°I¡¯m going to wade out. If they mob me, you hit me hard with [Chain Lightning] and pull back. If they don¡¯t, regular lightning, and let me float, I¡¯ll pull more.¡±

    Eve put her hand over her face. ¡°Must you always find a way to outdo yourself?¡±

    He took that as a sign of love. ¡°If anything sucks me under, assume it¡¯s a mob. These things are crawling along the floor, not swimming, even if they have swimming forms. Makes me think they won¡¯t notice someone on the surface.¡±

    With that, he began to wade. ¡°There¡¯s one right¡ª¡±

    [Lightning Bolt] burst from his chest, striking the one in the water. It surged forward, heading straight for Ashi. As it broke the surface of the water it shifted, becoming a Bull with a shark¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Cutter shouted as Sara stepped in front of Ashi and unleashed a Mana Arrow. ¡°Get more! So many more!¡±

    Kaden continued to swim, where he could no longer touch the bottom. Beneath him, three amorphous blobs crawled by lashing tentacles forward and dragging themselves. ¡°Three more!¡±

    [Chain Lightning] from Sara exploded, arcing from one to the other, to the other¡ªand back to Kaden for a hundred points of damage. One became a shark that swam forward to leap from the water, another became an octopus, and the last assumed a man¡¯s shape, stumbling forward.

    The moment they hit the shore, Eve applied [Plague]. Cutter was a blur, a whirlwind of blades dancing among the Torrods. Her team worked around her, tearing jaws from the dead and throwing away the corpses to give her room to move.

    ¡°Hold on!¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°There¡¯s something out there.¡±

    He swam and swam, crossing a shelf where the ocean floor dropped away. Deep in the depths below him, a swarm of lights danced. A cluster of [Torrods]. A cloud. Kaden turned and swam back. ¡°I¡¯ve got a better idea. Much, much better. These things drag prey back to the nest, don¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°If we let them live. And only the haulers.¡± Cutter wiped blood from her face. ¡°We don¡¯t let them live.¡±

    ¡°I want a hauler. I want it alive. In return, I give you all the [Torrods].¡±

    Cutter paced back and forth, swearing under her breath. ¡°What the hell kind of plan is this?¡±

    ¡°I have a taming skill. I¡¯m going to tame a hauler and have it pull me back to the nest swimming on the surface of the water. I¡¯ll tell you before we go down. And then Ashi will use [Chain Lightning] to damage the whole pack. You pull me back, we kill them all.¡± Kaden made it sound simple.

    Cutter began to laugh. Sometimes, when people laughed, Kaden couldn¡¯t help joining in. This was not that sort of laugh. This was the kind of laugh that made Kaden nervous, and more than anything, had him rethinking the whole ¡®Desperation Wall¡¯ idea.

    ¡°Stay.¡± She looked to the others. ¡°Spread out, spread the word. We need a Hauler alive, and then it¡¯s going to take all of us, if it works. If it doesn¡¯t, we¡¯ve got a few healers, and honestly, it looks like you¡¯ve bounced off the level floor recently.¡±

    An hour later, a runner came sprinting. ¡°We got a hauler. Came with six normals, but our [Shield] is pinning it down.¡±

    Kaden followed him, running as fast as he could down a mile of beach. There were so many more parties than he¡¯d expected. Then again, this was a Faction Quest. Maybe this was expected.

    On the shore, a [Shield] woman twice Kaden¡¯s width wrestled with a Hauler [Torrod]. It looked like an octopus with feet¡ªand barbs on the tentacles. There was no question how it would spear Commoners and drag them back.

    Kaden focused on [Beast Taming] and stretched out his hand, pressing it to rubbery flesh. It resisted, but Kaden focused on [Beast Soul]. ¡°You want to get food for the others, right? I¡¯ve got food. I am food. You could bring me back.¡±

    You have tamed a beast (Torrod).

    Available Taming Slots: 1/3.

    It ceased struggling, and he selected [Water Breath] as the skill it would lend him. ¡°Let it go.¡±

    Under his direction, the hauler scuttled toward the water, but as they reached it, he gave it a new order, to swim sideways, letting him hold on to a spear instead of being impaled by it.

    A few minutes later, he reached his Party.

    The Hauler really didn¡¯t want to go back on land. It had food. It had to bring it back, but Kaden¡¯s gentle insistence had it milling at the water as the crew tied the ropes back around him. ¡°When I¡¯m in the right place, I¡¯ll have it take me down. Give me thirty seconds, then unleash everything. If I pull on the rope, there¡¯s more. If I don¡¯t¡­you should probably reel me in. I just got [Water Breath], and if worst comes to worst, I have [Resist Suffocation].¡±

    Ashi didn¡¯t seem concerned. ¡°You are cunning, and I will be with you.¡± She began to hover, floating gently out a few feet above the water. ¡°If you have need of me, I will know.¡±

    Right, their mana connection.

    Sara, on the other hand, checked the knots on the rope again. ¡°I probably won¡¯t be able to reach you for [Chain Lightning] until you¡¯re closer. Don¡¯t die. You already pulled that stunt once, it¡¯s getting old.¡±

    ¡°No plans for it.¡± Kaden turned and headed to the Hauler, which trembled with happiness as the thought of bringing its newfound friend deep into the nest, where thousands of junvenile torrods could share in the joy of tearing Kaden¡¯s flesh off.

    He gave it a request, an idea. To swim on the surface as far as it could, and only then go down. With startling speed, it jetted through the water, dragging rope¡ªand Kaden¡ªand wondering if perhaps it should spear him just in case he couldn¡¯t hold on.

    Who wouldn¡¯t want to swim down to the thousand jaws?

    Beneath him, the swarm glowed like a tree with leaves that lit up.

    And then the water slipped over his head.

    Water Breath was like someone had put a wet rag over his mouth and nose. Kaden struggled to pull in air, but stilled the panic that would leave him in fear, counting second. Ten seconds, and the swarm was no closer. Twenty, and it was still too far away. He imagined it swimming as fast as it could, dragging him along.

    The Hauler answered with sheer pleasure and the image of his skeleton begin crunched into bits by thousands of new friends¡ªand if he thought it swam fast before, Kaden had only imagined it. He clung to the Hauler with all the strength he used on Remembrance, and even so, the water threatened to pull him loose.

    No longer was the water dark.

    No, hundreds of Torrods in their native ball form swam in a circle around a coral tree that grew up from the ocean floor Every branch ended in hundreds of specks of light, and as the Hauler moved closer, those lights had mouths as well, each no bigger than Kaden¡¯s thumb, but with teeth that jutted outward for scooping flesh.

    The tree began to swirl as the Hauler approached.

    They were coming to meet it.

    How many seconds left?

    He¡¯d lost count.

    Could be zero, could be ten. The Torrod juveniles burst toward him. Their jaws clicked even underwater as they hungrily practiced for their first bite.

    The sea boiled around him as a thousand bolts of lightning exploded out, arcing through the juvenile cloud. Hundreds of adults swish-turned to jet upward as Kaden again exploded as the heart of a lightning storm. This arced in achain outward¡ªthen a single lightning bolt burst from him to strike the tree.

    The sea went dark without adults or juveniles. Kaden held on. Ashi¡¯s spell had fried his [Hauler], so now it was holding his breath and [Resist Suffocation]. But something caught his eye.

    He swam deeper and deeper.

    The Torrods had been feeding for centuries, and they cared nothing for Loot.

    The base of the tree was covered in weapons and armor.

    Kaden fought the rope, then sliced it with the [Levicon Blade], slipping free to swim down and scoop¡­everything¡­into Inventory. His lungs ached, and soon his health would start dropping, but Kaden held on, taking more and more. Bones, weapons, shields, armor, if it glittered or glowed or just didn¡¯t fight, he took it.

    His inventory ached from overlode as Kaden reached for a staff embedded in the coral of the tree. It wouldn¡¯t go into Inventory. Kaden put both hands on it, and the staff glowed. It exploded with orange solar mana, blasting the coral tree to shards that rained down into the mud. Now the staff felt heavy. Like a presence. And it glowed the same aqua of Kaden¡¯s mana.

    No, maybe a deeper, darker blue that cast shadows.

    Actually, he realized the shadows came from behind him.

    Kaden kicked in a circle to see a glowing orb half as tall as he was. An orb with a pupil, one focusing on him.

    You have acquired persistent Aggro. You will be pursued.

    Your skill with [Resist Suffocation] has increased.

    Kaden braced the staff against the floor bottom and pushed as he leaped, sending himself upward. The glowing eye shrank away as he rose higher and higher.

    His lungs ached and Kaden couldn¡¯t help looking downward. The dot was still visible but possibly smaller¡ªthere!

    Kaden broke the water¡¯s surface and gasped for air. [Torrods] swarmed the beach, outnumbering Adventurers three to one, and Ashi was nowhere to be found. He spotted her behind a wall of adventurers, and began to swim toward shore.

    Cutter Karn glowed with red energy as she worked her way along the line, injuring every [Torrod] and turning into even greater buffs for herself. Then without warning, she put away her daggers and drew a jagged sword from Inventory.

    Every third blow killed a Torrod.

    A wave caught Kaden, propelling him toward shore, and crashing over the Adventurers, washing them back toward the beach. Kaden rose and ran, stumbling from the water as he sprinted toward the beach. ¡°Run! Run! It¡¯s coming!¡±

    Sara heard his voice and looked out to sea.

    The parties began to flee, as a shape rose up.

    [Gigantorrod - World Boss]

    The oldest of the Torrods need no longer feed. Its hunger has been sated by the flesh of nations, and now it slumbers, content to let its offspring grow. Perhaps one day they will challenge it. Perhaps one day they will kill it. Except this one doesn¡¯t have any offspring, because the Nest Tree is destroyed. The young destroyed. Its attendants, slaughtered.

    Now it seeks to remove the threat.

    In case it isn¡¯t clear, you are the threat.

    Level: ???

    HP:???

    Mana:???

 Twenty One - Run Away

    One thing Kaden found curious was that the [Torrods] were equally terrified of their World Boss. They had been locked in a battle to kill Ashi, but the coming of Gigantorrod made everyone flee.

    Kaden was most definitely a member of Everyone. He¡¯d encountered Levicon, seen Oceanus from a distance, and come all too close to Gigantorrod with no desire to get closer. Adventurers were cut from different cloth, but they were all from a similar weave, one that said facing a world boss at the second tier wasn¡¯t bravery but suicide.

    One of Cutter¡¯s crew was using [Leaping] to carry Eve up the hill toward the FarPortal. Kaden took one look at it and knew there were too many people trying to use it and it wasn¡¯t far enough away. He stopped on the sand banks, breathing in. Remembering every moment. The smell. The sand, the breeze. The world boss towering as it rose higher and higher.

    ¡°Why are you not running?¡± Ashi¡¯s shout came from ahead, breaking Kaden from his revery.

    He ran to join her. ¡°Where is Sara?¡±

    ¡°At the hill with Eve.¡± Ashi stopped as the shadow of the World Boss cut off the setting sun. Gigantorrod had take the shape of some kind of stork-like bird, which gave it a vast neck that it used to reach down and peck an Adventurer, swallowing it whole. ¡°I have drawn persistent aggro.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the FalCrow. ¡°Get through the portal, Ashi and I won¡¯t make it there in time.¡±

    She looked to him as it took another giant step. ¡°Do we die fighting? Or shall we remember these moments differently in the next life?¡±

    ¡°Neither, but we have to make it up to there.¡± Kadne pointed to the bluff where the FarPortal was.

    Together, they climbed, as Gigantorrod let loose a scream that shook the ground and flapped wings that sent hurricane force winds in their direction.

    ¡°Do the float thing!¡± Kaden shouted.

    Ashi drifted a few inches up, and Kaden tentatively tried to drag her down. He might as well have been pulling on Gigantorrod. Ashi didn¡¯t move down, but Kaden lifted himself up, using the staff as a pole to push them drifting out away from the shore.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ashi asked, as Gigantorrod¡¯s head swiveled down to look at them with one eye, and then the other.

    ¡°When I tell you to, stop hovering.¡± Kaden focused. The World Boss needed to take one more step.

    It moved with deceptive grace, snaking forward. The beak opened and a black maw yawned within.

    ¡°Now.¡± Kaden said as he demanded a Portal into existence beneath them.

    Ashi dropped her hover¡ªand they fell through the Portal to land on the sand bar behind the world boss.

    ¡°Quickly.¡± He pulled at her as they splashed into the water, then dropped as soon as it grew knee deep. His theory was simple. A World Boss was so large, it simply couldn¡¯t be aware of everything around it. Mr. Dervish had said they weren¡¯t aware of anything smaller than groups of twenty five. The muddy water would break line of sight, which would allow someone else¡ªanyone else to obtain aggro.

    Kaden blew out his air and sank down, holding Ashi close, even though she struggled.

    Glowing orbs swung over the water where they had dove¡ªthen pivoted away. The earth shook , sending tremors throough the waves as Gigantorrod moved further ashore.

    With coughing splutters, Kaden and Ashi surfaced¡ªthen forced themselves to be silent. The World Boss stood atop the ruined FarPortal, screaming a challenge to everyone and everything. The world went silent as it ceased movement, and only the wind and waves echoed across the land.

    Ashi barely breathed.

    Aggro has been re-established. Break line of sight or use Stealth class skills.

    That was fine for Kaden but it wouldn¡¯t help Ashi. He focused on [Stealth] as the World Boss spun its head around to look in every direction. Then took a step closer to the beach. With every moment, he forced his focus on [Stealth]. Pain grew like a spike in his head as Kaden held Ashi closer. He could hide her. He knew it. The ground shook underneath him. The pain rose with every moment, but Kaden held on and focused, every heartbeat, every breath. Gigantorrod screamed as it swung its head across the beach, searching. [Fortress of Stone] did nothing for the sheer agony as Kaden continued his relentless use. [Stealth]. [Stealth]. [Steal¡ª

    Your focus has permanently modified a skill. [Stealth] becomes [Stealth Aura]. Your skill starts naturally higher.

    [Stealth Aura]

    Project a short range aura that masks yourself and those around you. This number of people covered by this aura is equal to your skill level.

    The world smelled of copper, and his lips were slick and sticky as Kaden clutched Ashi to him, their heads barely above the water. It might have been ten minutes or ten hours before the World Boss finally moved inland, one thundering step after another.

    Kaden had never thought of night, and the Time of Monsters as peaceful, but he¡¯d risk anything over Gigantorrod. He slowly released Ashi. ¡°Are you injured?¡±

    ¡°Ribs broken,¡± Ashi said through gasps. ¡°Why did it not see us?¡±

    The System logs held her answer, so Kaden shared it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about the ribs.¡± He drew a healing potion from Inventory and offered her a sip, then another.

    ¡°We are alone,¡± Ashi whispered. ¡°I have [Mana Sense], and there are no others nearby. I do not know if all escaped.¡±

    Kaden held a finger to her lips, and picked up Ashi, wrapping them both in [Stealth Aura] as he emerged from the water. There was no telling if the World Boss would return, and he meant to find a place to hide. He handed Ashi the staff he¡¯d broken from the coral. ¡°If anything attacks, we kill it.¡±

    ¡°Look!¡± Ashi pointed.

    A Messenger Bird came flitting through the air, Eve¡¯s peacock landed on Kaden¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯re safe, though I have no idea where we are. Any portal was better than staying. Send me a bird. Sara got hurt by a [Shield] who crushed her trying to get through the Portal. Cutter killed him in front of her.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [FalCrow] and sent it to Eve. ¡°We used Stealth to avoid the WorldBoss, but I think we¡¯re alone.¡±

    ¡°We should check the FarPortal,¡± Ashi said.

    Together they climbed the bluff back up to where the FarPortal once was. Fragments of crystal marked where the slab had been. When the FalCrow returned, he sent it with an update, then looked to Ashi. ¡°There¡¯s a town near here, that¡¯s why the Guild finances these missions. It may be gone or it may be fine, but no matter what, that¡¯s where we need to head.¡±

    ¡°Others may be there as well. We will go.¡± Ashi led the way through the darkness. Once they reached the top of the bluff, a wide pararie stood, dotted with night spawns. A single column of red light marked a wandering boss.

    Kaden had made it twenty steps before a vein of ice crawled down his spine.

    Hatred Mark is active. Your location is now known to the entity [Disowned Daughter Naski].

    ¡°Naski is alive. She just activated [Hatred Mark].¡± Kaden would normally welcome it. Let Naski come, he¡¯d kill her and earn another demon mark. In the aftermath of the World Boss, in the dark, without Sara and Eve?

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    He could only hope it would take her time.

    ¡°Whether she comes or not, we do not change our course.¡± Ashi reached for his hand. ¡°Use your [Stealth Aura.] Now is not the time to worry about levels or experience.¡±

    Together, they picked their path through the night, waiting until the wandering boss passed to cross a river beside a crushed bridge. Now, they stuck to the road.

    Flames burning in the night told Kaden where the town was, and he broke into a run. The town gate lay in rubble. So many different buildings burned Kaden couldn¡¯t count them all. ¡°Can you put out the fires with water mana?¡±

    ¡°Better to control it with fire mana,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There are monsters in the town. We should not go apart.¡±

    Fires would destroy but monsters would hunt. ¡°We clear the town.¡±

    ¡°Get down!¡± someone shouted.

    [Split Second] activated as Kaden leaped to the side, pushing Ashi. A glowing moth the size of a man swooped down over him, and Kaden braced for its attack. But it didn¡¯t hurt. No, as the glow spread out to stretch over Kaden, the fear, the worry slowly drained away. His mana was dropping, as well, but Kaden didn¡¯t mind.

    It would be fine.

    The constant weight of chasing demons or being hunted by centurions or lost in another dimension or any of the normal events in his life faded too. The peace that remained was warm and bright¡ª

    A fireball engulfed the moth.

    [Young Moon Moth]

    These spawn of the night come to devour dreams¡ªand those who have them. Feeding on the Soul of those they ensnare, they leave an empty husk of a body still breathing, and return to their land with the nectar of souls.

    Level: 29

    HP: 1000

    Mana: 9000

    Skills: Ensnaring Dream, Soul Drain, Illusion Aura

    Talents: Wind-Born, Subcorpreal

    What an amazing creature. What a beautiful monster. What¡ªKaden arched his back and screamed as the moth died and the bliss that had wrapped him like a quilt dissapated. His soul ached, raw and burned¡ªand he¡¯d lost two points from his Soul Attribute.

    His mana had dropped over a hundred points permanently from a single monster, and worse yet was the way the world seemed dry and desolate. A flaming arrow speared another moth as it descended, and Ashi stepped over him. ¡°Do not move. I will deal with these parasites.¡±

    ¡°I set the fires.¡± A [Ranger] man called. ¡°[Moon Moths] hate the light. The buildings can be rebuilt.¡±

    ¡°I need not set fires. Can you see them?¡± Ashi asked.

    Kaden worked on rolling over. On standing. His mana¡ªhis mana was down to a single point, just enough to keep him awake. He pulled a potion from Inventory and sipped. And waited. Still one point of Mana. ¡°I¡¯m not regenerating.¡±

    ¡°Side effect of their attack. Our [Healer] is locked at one, too,¡± The Ranger said. ¡°Our [Bezerker] challenged the World Boss. Our [Shield]¡¯s dead, trying to stop him, the [Mage] knew how to Portal us here, but the moths went for him first, just like they did her. He¡¯s dead, [Rogue]¡­you know how they are. Trouble hits and they¡¯re gone.¡±

    Ashi looked to Kaden. ¡°How many attribute points do you hold in reserve? Do not say none, I know you.¡±

    ¡°One.¡± He dreaded her advice. Mana could be grown from [Mana Dart].

    Ashi nodded as she ushered him toward a shop that wasn¡¯t burning. ¡°Get under cover. As growing your Constitution helped with demon wounds, so this will.¡±

    He reluctantly spent the point. His mana ticked up fifty points. Color returned to the world, the gasping, hard-to-breathe feeling receeded. ¡°I hate fast, small monsters. Give me a boss any day.¡±

    Out in the street, the [Ranger] worked to draw moth¡¯s attention. ¡°Miss Mage, you mind helping? I¡¯m not quite the buffet you are. Not enough Mana.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s skin turned redder as she siphoned in Fire mana. ¡°Stay.¡±

    Not hardly. Kaden drew Thorn Caster and summoned a Mana Arrow, using the quiver to draw an arrow. The moths moved above them, floating lazily through the night, lit by cinders and flamelight.

    He drew¡ªand missed.

    Damnit.

    The potion was working, increasing his regen rate, but his mana stayed at fifty. He drew again, this time waiting for one to swoop down. The arrow he loosed shot through the wings of one, causing it to hitch to the side, hitting a burning building. Flames shot up the wings¡ªthen lightning struck it as Ashi unleashed a spell.

    You have helped defeat a Moon Moth.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden sprinted toward the burning corpse, stretching out his hand. [Field Harvest] activated.

    You have received 1x: Minor Lunar Pollen.

    He drew Thorn Caster again. ¡°Ashi, stay between me and the [Ranger]¡±

    ¡°Ellis,¡± he called out. ¡°Ellis Van. [Justari Ranger].¡±

    [Ellis Van]

    Class: Ranger

    Faction: Justari

    Level: 39

    HP: 6,000

    Mana: 2,000

    Skills:???

    Talents:???

    Kaden had never seen [Identify] list a faction. ¡°How do we help?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re doing it. And don¡¯t try cross shots, line up for the body, move when they swoop. Between these buildings, they¡¯ve got no choice but to come down in a nice line. Miss Mage, how about some magic to lure them in?¡± Ellis turned to look one way down a street.

    Kaden took the other, looking for the hints of movement.

    ¡°Prepare.¡± Ashi began to crackle with lightning, then sent a branching bolt upward.

    A dozen moths stood out in perfect relief¡ªand four turned on the breeze and dropped.

    The Mana Arrow Kaden loosed struck one straight through the thorax, bursting out the other side, but the [Moon Moth] didn¡¯t die, instead it folded wings and dropped, straight at Ashi.

    With only a thought Kaden stashed Thorn Caster and met the moth with Remembrance¡¯s axe head.

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a Mortal Injury.

    You have slain a [Moon Moth]

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden didn¡¯t even let the corpse touch the ground, [Field Harvest]ing 1x Hope Pollen. ¡°One down.¡±

    ¡°Two here,¡± Ellis called.

    Lightning arced out from Ashi, leaping from one [Moon Moth] to another and another, and one plummeted into a burning building. ¡°That one is dead,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Now we will see how many remain.¡±

    She sent a fireball upward, where it exploded harmlessly. Only three remained.

    ¡°There were twelve,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Where are the others?¡±

    Ellis sprinted to a house, climbing higher and higher. ¡°Running. Once you kill over half a spawn, the others flip a coin. Fight or flee, and most of them chose flee. I need one of those fireballs.¡±

    Ashi obliged¡ªand Kaden saw the arrows Ellis fired split into three, spearing three different [Moon Moths]. Each began a fluttering descent, clearly wounded.

    ¡°Hunt them down, don¡¯t let them loose in the town,¡± Ellis called.

    Kaden was already running, already searching.

    One he found clinging to the edge of a building, and smashed it off with Remembrance before using the axe head to kill it. No more [Mana Arrows], he used [Field Harvest] for 1x Minor Rage Pollen.

    The second had landed on top of a shop, and Kaden used [Mana Drain] before attacking it.

    ¡°Here!¡± Ashi called. ¡°You dare feed on the weak?¡±

    An explosion of light from two streets over brought Kaden running.

    Ashi used beams of pure mana, no longer bothering to use a College, and blasted scales from a feeble, flopping [Moon Moth] whose legs and antenna twitched feebly. ¡°Kill it, and take from it what you will. It dared feed on a commoner rather than an equal.¡±

    He used [Mana Drain] and [Mana Well] to grant Ashi greater power, then finished the job with an axe blow to the head.

    You have slain a [Moon Moth].

    You have gained experience.

    ¡°Ellis? Any more we need to worry about? Or harvest?¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t shy about poaching corpses.

    The ranger leaped from one roof top to another. ¡°I¡¯ll help you hunt the bodies later, right now, we need to stop the fire.¡±

    ¡°As it must be, so it will.¡± Ashi began to rise, and her skin turned blue. She¡¯d told Kaden she kept internal reserves of different kinds of mana, and now she¡¯d switched Water Mana. He¡¯d seen her throw blasts of lightning, fireballs, icecicles. This was a wave of water that burst out from Ashi and gushed down one roof.

    She rotated slowly in the air, repeating it, then again.

    ¡°Mana Potion.¡± Kaden tossed it through the air. ¡°How the hell are you doing this?¡±

    Ashi didn¡¯t answer, instead guzzling the potion and drifting from building to building, calling out as she found dead Moon Moths for Kaden to harvest. At last, she sank down to the street. ¡°I must rest. I have gained a level, and power, but even I have limits.¡±

    ¡°You gained a level?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Congratulations.¡±

    From one end of the town, Ellis whistled, long and sharp. ¡°Dawn¡¯s too far off to leave the gate unguarded, but you two should be able to handle anything that spawns. The World Boss is going to drain most of the energy. The [Moon Moths] came from further inland. I have a [Recall] point I can use. You¡¯re twenty five, she¡¯s close. How close?¡±

    ¡°I damaged almost all the [Torrods],¡± Ashi answered. ¡°The road to twenty five was supposed to be long, but I fear our short-cut has cost many lives.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t predict when a World Boss will arrive or what will wake it. I¡¯m offering you a Faction Quest. Guard the gates until sunrise. It¡¯s the right thing to do, and you should never pass up a chance to do the right thing.¡±

    Ellis Van has issued you an optional Faction Quest: Guard the Gates until Sunrise.

    ¡°I won¡¯t leave until dawn. But at dawn, I¡¯m going looking for a FarPortal.¡± Kaden accepted the Quest.

    ¡°We¡¯ll send someone to repair the gate and the northeast wall. Miss Mage, you should sit up on top of the temple spire, just in case some low level spawn tries to get in that way.¡± Ellis didn¡¯t wait for them to acknowledge his suggestion.

    Ellis Van has used [Recall].

    He faded away to nothing.

    The night was unnaturally quiet. It wasn¡¯t right, that nothing was fighting or dying or challenging. Ashi began to drift higher using her hover until she set foot on the temple roof. Kaden couldn¡¯t hover but he did know how to climb and jump, and joined her a few minutes later. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to wake a World Boss.¡±

    ¡°What was meant doesn¡¯t matter. It is awake. It is moving. I do not offer you blame because I do not know how I would have done different. These people did not deserve its wrath. But what we deserve is rarely what we get.¡± Ashi pointed in the distance, where a column of red light burst into existence.

    They¡¯d need to keep an eye on it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll watch the ruined gates.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help feeling guilty. Or like he was going to vomit from everything stuffed in Inventory, but guilt didn¡¯t fix things. Guarding did.

    ¡°Movement!¡± Ashi called. ¡°We have monsters.¡±

    He drew Remembrance and dashed for the broken section of the wall, desperate for battle. Desperate for an enemy he could face, one he could fight. Monsters roared in the darkness, and Kaden began to hunt.

 Twenty Two - Wants and Needs

    By dawn, he was weary and hungry, having killed only a handful of Minotaurs, the Beast kind, who never saw his [BackSlash] coming, and were even less prepared for Ashi to use [Choking Mist] to fill their lungs with water. Kaden spent the hours inbetween chatting with a silent [FalCrow] and attempting to tame a drowning minotaur.

    Both had a similar level of success, where similar was ¡®none.¡¯

    The sun¡¯s light revealed the trail of destruction left by the World Boss. The truth was that it coming in the dark had saved most of the town. Kaden harvested four more [Moon Moth] corpses, receiving a handful of scales and minor pollen, then leaped down to the ground, and caught Ashi as she jumped to him.

    ¡°Sleep,¡± She said. ¡°Travel can wait. Your mana is still limited by the [Moon Moth] attack. We are both weary, and this place, this people will welcome coins.¡±

    You have completed a Faction Quest (Guard the Gates).

    Rewards: XP, Faction Favor (10 points), Faction Token (x1).

    You have completed a Quest: (A Wider World - 1) - Complete a Faction Quest.

    Rewards: XP.

    You have received a new Quest: (A Wider World - 2) - Complete Five Faction Quests (1/5 complete). Only new Factions will count toward this.

    You have recieved a new Quest: Getting to Know You - Obtain Faction Favor of at least 100 with any one Faction.

    Kaden checked his experience. He¡¯d been granted XP for all the [Torrods] Ashi struck with lightning, putting him well over a third of the way to twenty six. As the townspeople began to emerge and take stock, Kaden found the inn and roused the inkeeper, dropping a gold piece on the counter. ¡°A room. A meal.¡±

    ¡°How many months are you staying?¡± the inkeeper asked.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°A day. My friend and I need sleep and we need quiet.¡±

    The inkeeper handed him a key. ¡°Third room, second floor, it¡¯s the corner room. Best thing I have. Meals are¡ªwhenever you want to eat.¡±

    ¡°I will eat now,¡± Ashi said, ¡°if it is not too much trouble, bring the food to my room?¡± She added a gold coin as well.

    Lodging was probably ten silver.

    Ashi was right, they¡¯d need money. Kaden took her up to the third floor and unlocked the door. ¡°I have to go back to the beach. There may be Adventurers there that can be resurrected. Are you going to be ok here?¡±

    ¡°I will go.¡± Ashi¡¯s voice was slurred with weariness.

    ¡°I need someone to guard a heap of treasure. Can you do that?¡±

    ¡°Treasure.¡± Ashi said it like the word was poison. ¡°What treasure was worth your life?¡±

    Kaden began to drop items from Inventory. Then stack them, adding all the weapons, armor, all the bits he¡¯d taken from beneath the [Torrod] Coral. And they kept coming, swords encrusted with coral, a dead fish he tossed out the window, a handful more staffs he¡¯d thought were tridents. ¡°There. That¡¯s everything I could take from beneath the Torrod Brood Tree.¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t spoken. She stared. ¡°As Evelyn would say, ¡®this is a most Kaden thing to do.¡¯ But you must be wise. You are the Adventurer, they are the townsfolk. Offer silver to anyone who brings back a corpse. Tell them to take it to the temple. Pay the priests ahead of time.¡±

    It was frankly a better idea than him running around and doing it.

    ¡°Give that to me,¡± Ashi said, suddenly opening her eyes. The scepter that had blown up the coral tree had caught her attention. Uncontrolled explosions were exactly her style, so Kaden handed it over, then answered the knock at the door and gave Ashi her meal, which she ignored, picking through the loot.

    Kaden left her there and headed to the town square, looking for the magistrate, a young woman who surveyed the damage with a group of [Builders.] He waited his turn, then dug the spare silver from Inventory, six or seven hundred. ¡°If there are corpses on the beach, there¡¯s a hundred silver for every one brought in. Tell your Temple Priest I¡¯ll pay a bonus for every resurrection they can pull off.¡±

    She didn¡¯t look at him with gratitude.

    No, that was Fear. Then again, he was twenty five levels higher than anyone in the town. Kaden knew what it felt like to tread carefully around the more powerful. ¡°If you run out of money, I¡¯m good for it. Kaden Birch, the Guild will back up my debts. If you try and rip me off by killing commoners and then resurrecting them, I¡¯m going to come back in a very bad mood.¡±

    He left her there and headed back to the inn. Ashi sat silent on the bed, eyes closed, the scepter grasp tightly. She¡¯d arranged the loot into a pile of everything she didn¡¯t care about and a bronze partial set of armor that was missing at least half the pieces¡ªor most decorative.

    She snored softly as Kaden locked the door and carried the bed¡ªand Ashi¡ªacross the room to barricade the entrance. He shoveled everything back into Inventory, then summoned Rocky from deep in his soul.

    The Rock Gobbler hated leaving a perfect world for anything less hot, or dry, or filled with rusted metal and hard rocks, but one thing Rocky could absolutely do was watch the window. The only thing remaining to do was dispatch the FalCrow to Eve.

    Eve hadn¡¯t sent any more messages.

    As he slid into bed, Ashi startled awake. The Scepter glowed with brilliant orange light¡ªthen dimmed as she recognized him. ¡°There is no need to hunt for a FarPortal. Tomorrow, we must go to Vichor, you and I.¡±

    Even a short trip would be days or weeks, and Kaden had seen enough of Vichor for a lifetime. ¡°You can go, I have to care for my dungeon. We¡¯ll see you when you get back.¡±

    Ashi shook her head. ¡°Look at the engravings on this scepter. Do you not recognize them? It is Vichorean. It belonged to my older brother, Uri. When you touched it, it yielded to you, and you must yield it to Mother.¡±

    ¡°I yield it to you. I¡¯m not going back to Vichor.¡± Kaden said it, and even then, he felt something shift. But not away, as if it were leaning closer.

    ¡°If your words made it so, there would be a choice. I do not have authority to take this. I know of your fear. But this is a royal artifact. With it, my brother may be made King. Jagi will never take the throne. Never threaten you. Or me.¡±

    Kaden knew his answer. ¡°We leave tonight.¡±

    ###

    Hours later, Kaden woke as a green parrot zipped through the window, and spoke in Sara¡¯s voice. ¡°Gigantorrod has sticky aggro, and Eve was tagged along with Cutter. We¡¯re taking refuge in Foul Water Swamp to wait it out. We have rations, Even can cook, and we don¡¯t need to run the dungeon, just hide in it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m making a side-trip to Vichor. I¡¯ll make it as short as I can. I may not have control of that, but if it¡¯s longer than a day, I¡¯ll stage a break out.¡± Kaden dispatched the FalCrow and woke Ashi. ¡°We should go. Will the token still work?¡±

    ¡°It is Mother¡¯s will.¡± Ashi asked, gripping the scepter closer. ¡°Give it to me, and I will ease our travel.¡±

    Kaden still had the odd coin too large for his hand. He didn¡¯t regret handing it over. ¡°I never want that again.¡±

    ¡°Is it so terrible, to have the favor of my mother? To be an envoy of her will? To right wrongs and place a man of peace in power?¡± Ashi waited.

    ¡°Your mother is frightening. I can¡¯t even look at her without her using some illusion. You¡¯re her daughter. I¡¯m¡ª¡± Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll surrender the scepter. But you keep the token.¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°This I can do.¡± Ashi grasp it to her, and unlike the last time, when he¡¯d blacked out and woken in the in-between, a portal opened to a place Kaden knew. The Royal Gardens of Vichor. Lush Green plants walked on root-legs, moving into different formations.

    Kaden stepped through.

    Mana poured into him, flooding over the [Moon Moth]¡¯s damage. Vichor was quiet, but then again, it was always quiet. If they had a war, it would be impossible to hear one street over.

    The Royal Pavillion stood ahead, and seated in the shade waited a figure who made reality shiver in her presence. Ashi¡¯s mother was so close to ascending Kaden couldn¡¯t look directly at her.

    Ashi¡¯s wrap transformed into gossamer strands of pure mana that gleamed in every color of the rainbow. Unlike the flat tan he knew, these were clothes that matched her power and ability. She gripped his hand and pulled him along as she kneeled down, pressing her head to the ground, and produced the scepter from Inventory. ¡°I bring terrible news. Uri died in the outside world, Mother. Kaden found his armor and the nishu scepter near the feeding ground of a World Boss, [Gigantorrod]. At great risk, he retrieved it. Now we come to return it so that another may take it up.¡±

    Someone spoke.

    The world shattered.

    Ashi¡¯s hand on his arm grew hot and she pulled him closer. It might have been midnight, or dawn, or perhaps the world was ending as the ground about him caught fire. Kaden instinctively activated [Stealth Aura]. ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Ashi whispered. ¡°Her rage will pass. Rage is a fire, but sorrow is rain.¡±

    When the ground grew still, Kaden opened his eyes to find the garden dead. Every time he tried to look up, his head began to ache even through [Fortress of Stone].

    *Give it back to me, my beloved one. Let Najur show all of Vichor Fate favors him.* The grass, the wind, the sky spoke.

    Ashi leaned closer. ¡°His armor. Give it to Mother as well.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t about to risk keeping a piece of Uri¡¯s armor, so he dumped everything out of Inventory that even looked like armor. Metal boiled, burned, caught fire, twisting like tinder. But some pieces survived the fire, taking on a golden sheen like the Solar Mana Ashi sometimes used, rising to join together in something that could only be called armor the way Sara¡¯s underclothes could. Maybe Vichoreans had enchantments that made the armor attract blows. Otherwise, he understood what had killed Uri¡ªsomething with a point. Or blades. Or teeth. Or maybe a particularly sharp fern, that armor simply wasn¡¯t going to stop anything.

    *And you, Dungeon Master. Do you desire power? It is power. Strength, it will make you unparalleled. No binding could hold you. Will you still surrender it?*

    Anger flared deep in Kaden. ¡°How dare you dangle something like that in front of me? Something¡¯s rotten here. What are the odds I¡¯d just happen on the special stick Ashi¡¯s brother needs? Not high.¡±

    Ashi gasped.

    Kaden slowly raised his gaze, ignoring the pain. He would not turn away.

    *This was not chance. Fate works so, to weave together a tapestry of lives against the Cataclysm.*

    He wasn¡¯t buying it. ¡°I was only on that beach because of a bet with Sara. My pride not letting me back down. She could have thrown out a dozen other names. How would you have gotten your sceptre back?¡±

    *You are still key to Fate¡¯s design, and so you cannot see it. I will not argue the patterns of heaven with the blind. Answer my question, Kaden Birch.*

    He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want your sceptre. I don¡¯t want anything except this binding removed so I can resurrect Trella. I asked once before. I¡¯m offering now. You can have the sceptre, remove the binding.¡±

    The feeling, like the sceptre had grasped his hand, wrenched away.

    The world sighed.

    The wind wiped the hair aside from his forehead.

    *It is not your Destiny alone at stake. I will not do so. Ask for what I can give without harm.*

    Kaden could barely see, but he willed himself to match Ashi. To stare an ascendant in the face and tell her what he truly thought. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything else, but I do want to leave now. I brought you your scepter. I gave you anything even remotely armor-like. Every minute that passes is a minute I¡¯m not searching for something that breaks this binding. I will do what you won¡¯t¡ªor can¡¯t.¡±

    *As it must be. You give up power, I grant you power. You bring me gifts, and so I give to you. You ask to break a binding, I grant you another. You will understand in time. Rage as you will, for my daughter¡¯s sake I will not grant what you ask.*

    Ashi spoke, her voice a song like the gentlest breeze.

    *You have grown stronger, Beloved One. You know my command and what must be done. Time is patient, and I, too, will be.*

    ¡°Yes, Mother.¡± Ashi¡¯s voice was distant, too far distant

    Kaden couldn¡¯t see her. Or maybe, more likely, he couldn¡¯t see at all. He¡¯d stared into the sun and gone blind.

    *The Demon¡¯s Daughter holds the key, and I have given you what you need, if not what you desire. You will find her in your past. Keep my daughter safe. She will awaken in the second tier, and with it understand what she does not yet. I can not spare her this pain.*

    The second tier had been a change for him. A deepening of who he was. Ashi would face the same. ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡±

    *Then I am content with her path.*

    Your skill with [Beast Soul] has increased (ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_ENTITY).

    [Hatred Mark] has been damaged. (_ERROR_INFORMATION_UNAVAILABLE_).

    The world grew blinding white.

    The garden grass ran like rainwater, forming stone under his feet¡ªthen green grass again. The song of birds. The screams of battle. Kaden blinked, and he realized a few things. First, he cradled Ashi in his arms. Her wraps were once more the same dull tan, though the mana beads in them gleamed with brilliant light. He stood in tall green blade grass.

    And in front of him, a battle had ceased.

    A baffled TriTerror paused in mid chomp, a [Shield]¡¯s body in its jaw. A pair of [Thorn Monkeys] still clung to the back of a [Rogue] while another had both fists entangled in the hair of an unfortunate [Mage] woman. Kaden couldn¡¯t guess what the other three bodies were, one carried a bow, the other a spear, and the last was lacking limbs.

    And the dungeon was silent. ¡°Don¡¯t stop on my account,¡± Kaden said.

    The [TriTerror] dropped her corpse and pivoted to face him, as [Thorn Monkeys] leaped to the ground and approached.

    The [Mage] and [Rogue] ran, leaving their party members behind. Maybe they thought he was an optional boss, some kind of mega boss. Level twenty five, to fifteens, it was probably the right move. ¡°Toss the corpses into the antechamber,¡± Kaden said as the Dungeon door closed. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten stronger. How many parties did you have?¡±

    Wait. He could check.

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x100,000 (23,000 acquired)

    1000x Adventurer Party (378 acquired)

    100x [Entity Seeds] (33 aquired)

    1x Lieutenant Seed

    10x Loot Seed (10 acquired)

    Optional, Required for next Rank: 1x [Secondary Boss]

    The directed Mana was very, very high¡ªuntil he did the math. In fact, it meant that parties had spent less than sixty mana a run. Something was broken.

    Kaden willed the Core to spawn softer grass, and a tree to shade Ashi. She stirred as he set her down, but settled back into a sleep.

    The Core had perfect memory, and as Kaden watched past runs, he realized that the Adventurers had mapped his mobs. Found a perfect route. Almost a cheat, sending an [Archer] and [Rogue] to deal with Star Shadow, a [Shield] to farm loot from the vipers, attacking only one set of [Thorn Monkeys] and then rushing the TriTerror.

    Part of him couldn¡¯t help admiring their ingenuity.

    The other part saw this offense as personal. They¡¯d broken the contract. Now, he¡¯d make them pay. All that Directed Mana just cried out for Kaden to change the Dungeon.

    Kaden began by adjusting the layout of the forest section, adding an outer route that crossed with the boss room. And four patrol sets of wolves. The treasure room he¡¯d left in the forest grew heavy rocks and the mouth of a cave, then bones¡ªthe dungeon had so many bones to choose from, left by previous parties. And down in the cave? A single [Bearzerker] hiding a suit of armor. It took six tries, but he figured out how to lock the level at ten, meaning the adventurers would have a chance. A choice.

    The skulls told the story here, anyone who challenged it knew what they were getting into.

    The plains gained a waterfall that led to caves. Caves with scorpions, who truly didn¡¯t actually like caves, but they were scorpions, and even more so, dungeon spawns meant to play a part.

    One of the Adventurers must have been a summoner, because now he had small mobile spike-balls called [Splintrax]. They seemed like the kind of Beast that would be guarding a treasure tree, and even better, he could spawn a dozen, and a single [Thorn Monkey].

    Now, the section of vines nearest the farmhouse were withered, and the berries carried a moderate poison. Obstacles required making their way through the entire gauntlet of Verdant Vipers to reach the winery, and now a second [Vibrant Empress] stood atop a dead adventurer just inside the house.

    As he paced the dungeon, he kept coming back to the [Bearzerker]. It would be wrong to set it as the boss, but he¡¯d search for forest monsters. It might have been hours before Kaden completed his masterpiece¡ªa winged scorpion that only spawned on a timer in the center monkey room.

    The TriTerror wouldn¡¯t gain abilities until he ranked up, but a Ruby Hydra would make a great minion for her. As he tinkered with the arrangement, Ashi stirred. Her eyes shot open and she leaped up, a look of sheer horror. ¡°No!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Ashi just kept shaking her head. ¡°Look at me. I have always been different, this I knew. My father was not of the same System. But Mother always said I would grow to match them. Look.¡±

    Ashi had gained level. Entered the second tier. This should have been fantastic. Her HP had quadrupled, her mana¡­Ashi would be deadly. If this was any indication of what she¡¯d be like as a Centurion, there wouldn¡¯t be an equal. ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Mother¡¯s gift. She is not bound to the System as you are¡ªas¡­I am. All of my family can ascend, given time and dedication. My path will not be theirs.¡±

    Instead of speaking, Kaden just waited with her. Just listened to her. And when there was nothing left to say, he sat with her, until she stood. ¡°We should go.¡±

    At the entrance to the Dungeon, Ashi opened the door and Kaden tossed corpses out, then wrapped them both in [Stealth Aura] and stepped out. A level twenty Thief lounged at a desk where Mistress Scylla had once stood.

    He looked at the corpses and shrugged. ¡°Dungeon¡¯s open, keep it fast, make your run sharp, anything more than half an hour and you get bumped to the back of the list.¡±

    No one so much as looked Kaden¡¯s way as he stepped to the side with Ashi held close. He waited as the next group of six stepped up, reciting their assignments. Watched the door close behind them. Felt it lock.

    It was the little things in life that made being a Dungeon Master worth it. The cool sun on his face, the fall breeze. The screams deep in his dungeon as they learned that plans could and did change.

    It was a kindness, really, that he told the dungeon to unlock.

    A mercy that the [Archer] stumbled out.

    Good adventurers adapted.

    Good dungeons also adapted.

    In the commotion, Ashi flash-froze the lake. It was time to go home, and let everyone adapt.

 Twenty Three - Something Borrowed

    Kaden made it halfway to the Farmhouse before the door burst open and a gray blur jetted out, crackling with lightning. He kneeled down and caught Vip as she leaped. The minor shocks from her [Lightning Aura] hurt but were worth holding her. ¡°Girl, I¡¯ve missed you.¡±

    *Love*, Vip repeated over and over. When she stopped whining, she started groaning, and when she stopped groaning, she flopped, laying limp in his arms.

    ¡°Vip?¡± Eve stepped out of the farmhouse, dressed in dark red armor. ¡°Are the wolves¡ªSara! It¡¯s them! Petri! Kaden and Ashi are alive!¡±

    The back door of the farmhouse burst open and Sara came stumbling out in a night gown, then ran for them, giving Kaden and Ashi hugs. ¡°We were so afraid. We came out of Foul Water Swamp with the aggro broken but no clue where you would be. I knew time moved differently in Vichor, but we didn¡¯t know if it would be weeks or years.¡±

    ¡°Mother did not keep us,¡± Ashi said. ¡°How long has it been for you?¡±

    ¡°Eleven days since we got out of the swamp, three weeks since Gigantorrod awakened. Mr. Dervish wanted to know the moment you showed up.¡± She dispatched her parrot. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been up all night. We¡¯ve been running Charm missions for the [Dei].¡±

    As they walked back to the farmhouse, Sara explained. The Charms of Veela that kept monsters at bay weren¡¯t charged by the priests and priestesses. No, they were charged by having adventurers carry them into the field and fight. It was their courage that formed the power to keep monsters at bay.

    Kaden didn¡¯t want to join the Dei, but he¡¯d take the quest. ¡°Did Eve level?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡± Eve blushed. ¡°Mostly due to your incredible idea. We had damage on a hundred and sixteen [Torrods] when [Gigantorrod] slaughtered them. And I got massive XP when a group ambushed Circe, blaming her.¡±

    The farmhouse¡­looked different. The roof shingles held a green patina. The wood was white. ¡°What happened here?¡±

    ¡°Your [Assistant]. It literally never stops working. A week ago, it started spending hours injecting mana into a single shingle, or a board,¡± Eve said.

    Kaden carried Vip into the bedroom, ready to change¡ªand stopped.

    The bed was discheveled.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Sara said. ¡°There¡¯s a [Raid Boss] attacking the city, and it damaged the tower Petri and Wren were using. She took my room, I moved down here.¡±

    A Raid Boss? Not nearly the threat of a World Boss, but powerful enough that Dominion would need time to injure it. ¡°Is the tower fixable?¡±

    ¡°Eventually. We lost a field, a bunch of fence, and the servant¡¯s quarters. It really didn¡¯t like Dominion.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in one of the towers,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Dominion acts to protect me, it¡¯ll hit the [Raid Boss] harder. You two share this bed.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Ashi said it softly. ¡°I will sleep downstairs. This is your room. Trella was a friend, I do not mind keeping watch. Perhaps I will tell her all of the ¡®Kaden¡¯ things you have done.¡±

    Sara practically vibrated with joy. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll be the one sleeping alone. I¡¯ve been having a great time with Cutter¡¯s [Healer], Rey. He¡¯s sweet. He¡¯s low pressure, it¡¯s probably not going to last, but while it does? I¡¯m so happy. I hate feeling this happy, it¡¯s just going to catch fire and burn. But I love it, too.¡±

    ¡°I will meet him. He must be found worthy,¡± Ashi said, the threat not veiled. ¡°And should something need to burn? Call and I will answer.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°He doesn¡¯t mind the Horror? And it doesn¡¯t mind him?¡±

    Sara gave a so-so wave of her hand.

    That truly did make him grin. ¡°So, Operation Trella was fifty percent successful. Ashi, you¡¯re up next.¡±

    While Sara groaned and turned away, what Kaden thought would be a playful, fun moment hit Ashi. She looked lost. Almost staggered. ¡°I am not ready to speak of this. Please.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He retreated to the living room¡ªand grinned as he recognized a familiar face. ¡°Wren! You look happy! All it took was unleashing a World Boss!¡±

    Wren wore no armor. She carried no shield, her tunic was covered in pockets, but what hit Kaden was what she truly didn¡¯t carry¡ªthe weight that had laid over her. ¡°I¡¯m here to study that wonder of yours. That Assistant is literally transmuting the materials. It¡¯s taking forever to do it, but I want to build something similar.¡±

    And beside her on the couch sat a reed thin, short woman with curly red hair and glasses. Her dark gray, close-fitting clothing looked familiar. Not like Ashi¡¯s wrap, or the Vichorean clothing he¡¯d worn at first. ¡°You¡¯re Petri.¡±

    She answered in flawless Vichorean. ¡°I am Petrichor Jan, [Researcher]. The Messenger Dragons have spoke of you and Asha Vanter Opton Rahm.¡±

    That was uncommon. Kaden had heard Ashi¡¯s full title exactly twice, once from Metami, as Yuna Vanter Apton Rahm. ¡°Ashi! There¡¯s a friend here!¡±

    ¡°Asha. Vanter. Apton Rahm.¡± Petri spoke it again, slowly, as though she thought he couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Show respect for the line.¡±

    Kaden pointed to the master bedroom. ¡°Whatever you want to call her, she¡¯s in there. Be gentle, she¡¯s had a rough day. She just discovered she won¡¯t be able to ascend like her family.¡±

    Petri¡¯s look of complete horror matched how Ashi had reacted. Petri rushed to comfort Ashi.

    Something glinted above, and the [Assistant] drifted through the wall, then descended, spiralling.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    *[Primary Bootstrap Completed]*

    *[Integrity Maintenance Ongoing]*

    *[Requesting Reconnection to Supply Chain][Y/N]*

    Your [Assistant] requires permission to access FarPortal networks. Grant permission and set a budget for supply maintenance.

    Permission was easy, he selected the ¡®Yes¡¯ option.

    Budget? How could he set a budget if he didn¡¯t know what it wanted to buy. The monthly stipend from the Guild seemed reasonable as a test. ¡°One Gold.¡±

    *[Accepted.]*

    The Assistant drifted across the Farmhouse and into the kitchen, where it scanned the enchanted cold-box and the meal storage. Eve stopped what she was doing and spun to look at it. ¡°Kaden, is this thing supposed to be talking to me?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. It wants permisssion to resupply. Try telling it what you¡¯d want it to get.¡±

    Eve grew more animated, opening the cold-box and excitedly pointing and talking¡ªactually talking¡ªto the [Assistant].

    Kaden was fairly sure it was a machine. ¡°Think you can replicate that?¡±

    ¡°No. But I¡¯m going to enjoy failing,¡± Wren said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get [MultiSpeak] but the [Polygot] skill I bought translates most of what Petri says. What¡¯s ¡®Apton¡¯?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not Vichorean, it¡¯s the language the Royal family spoke before they founded Vichor. Asha is her actual name. Vanter Opton means ¡®with the power of.¡¯ Jagi was ¡®Vanter Dura,¡¯ ¡®the fury of.¡¯¡± And now, seeing how comfrotable Petri had been next to Wren, Kaden had a clue why Jagi had never been able to impress her. Kaden left Wren on the couch and headed down to the basement.

    He¡¯d never been one afraid of the dark, and not afraid of bodies, and definitely not afraid of Trella. She looked asleep. It made no sense, to speak to a corpse. The soul wasn¡¯t there. It wasn¡¯t Kaden¡¯s right to say what the Party would do on arrival, but he knew his answer.

    The Hatred Mark was quiet. Nasty wasn¡¯t on this plane.

    He was going demon hunting.

    ###

    For three nights, he let Ashi mourn. For three nights, he collected a spent charm of Veela and carried it out into the darkness, slaughtering the night spawns¡ªat least the weaker ones. But as Veltron¡¯s day of Rest approached, Kaden sought out Sara. He found her in the city, in the market place, watching a [Fire Mage] perform with a bulky [Healer] man at her side.

    Cutter Karn sat off to one side with a [Swordsman] rubbing her shoulders. She caught Kaden¡¯s gaze and nodded for him to approach. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the man who woke the World Boss. Sara says you¡¯re heading to Hell. Going Demon Hunting?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a score to settle with one of the Daughters.¡± More than that, he had mission. The Demon¡¯s Daughter held the key. He didn¡¯t know what key, but one way to deal with a Hatred Mark was to end the Demon holding it.

    ¡°You should be slowing your approach. You don¡¯t have another level floor until fifty. It¡¯ll seem like you¡¯re growing slower, but when you don¡¯t have to gain level thirty four six times, it¡¯s faster.¡± Cutter looked across to Sara. ¡°Look to join Hunting groups rather than strike out on your own. Run Faction Quests. Be smart.¡±

    ¡°Says the woman who was shrieking like a demon as she attacked a hundred [Torrods]?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have an upper limit on buffs. I¡¯m a one woman Raid Party. Add someone like Eve to debuff and even I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m capable of. Your Party Leader likes Rey a lot.¡±

    Cutter seemed to be edging toward something. And Kaden had enough enemies. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve given her a standing Hunting Party invitation. We¡¯re going to move down to the Buried City soon. It¡¯s the gnomish infestation source and a treasure trove. Minimum level is thirty. Unless you¡¯re in a Hunting Party.¡±

    There had to be a catch here. ¡°What do you get out of this?¡±

    ¡°Eve¡¯s debuffs. Let¡¯s not pretend, she doubles my power. Sara could probably kill that Raid Boss harrassing Verona on her own if she¡¯d fight smart. You and the [PolyMage], I don¡¯t know about. Total question marks, but I¡¯d risk it for Eve anyway. And, it keeps Rey from moping.¡±Cutter paused. ¡°You¡¯re the problem. If you say no, they¡¯ll follow you.¡±

    Hunting Parties. He¡¯d need to talk it over with the others, privately.

    And Mr. Dervish, and Bryce.

    ¡°I¡¯m open to the idea. When do you start?¡±

    Cutter¡¯s laugh wasn¡¯t cruel. ¡°It¡¯s Faction Crusade. The Potari have been trying to beat back the gnomes for ages. Go to the Mage¡¯s tower, pick up the quest¡ªall of you should do that.¡±

    Gnomes. ¡°You know about Eve¡¯s title, right? Queen of Entropy? Hostile spell casters suffer catastrophic failures. She once caused a few of their battle wagons to explode without even being involved.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯ll keep the little bastards off us,¡± Cutter said.

    Kaden had different ideas. ¡°This buried city. Is it like, an actual city?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Buildings. Houses. Markets. All of them infested with gnomes, gnomes who will kill you.¡±

    His idea grew just a bit. ¡°So. Let¡¯s say someone¡ªme¡ªhad a [Stealth Aura]. And let¡¯s say I hid Eve. Could we wander into the city and let their machinery go amok? Or move through it, and sabotage their defenses?¡±

    ¡°You need to go to the Mage¡¯s tower. You need to all go. And when you do, ask about Strike Quests. After this performance.¡±

    Kaden had other places to be. He headed to Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services, no longer feeling out of place in the crowd of Adventurers, even though many were fifty levels higher. The Second Tier had changed his understanding. He waved for the nearest attendant. ¡°I need to talk to the big man, and he wants to talk to me.¡±

    While he waited, Kaden approached the nearby display and reached out with [Taming] at the [Drake] contained within.

    You have tamed a Beast. Due to past history, your connection with this Beast is stronger.

    Past history. ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re the Drake. The one that helped us at the city gate.¡± When he¡¯d first died.

    *No. Help. Obey.*

    ¡°You helped. You couldn¡¯t disobey the binding.¡± Kaden checked the Drake¡¯s Status.

    [Drake]

    The majestic drake is feared by Beast and Adventurer alike. While their breath weapons are not like that of dragons, being able to incinerate their prey even once a day is once a day they won¡¯t be challenged. This one is no longer content to live in the confines of men.

    Skills: Wrath of the Furnace, Flight, Claw Strike, Rending Bite

    Talents: Gripping, Fire Within, Eternal Flame

    Curiously, [Flight] was unavailable. Kaden couldn¡¯t help selecting [Wrath of the Furnace]. If he could pick skills from any creature he tamed, Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services would be his private shopping expedition for skills.

    ¡°See my problem?¡± Mr. Dervish¡¯s deep voice came soft and quiet. ¡°Can¡¯t bind him. Won¡¯t stay tamed. You know which one that Drake that is, right?¡±

    ¡°I encouraged it to disobey the binding it was under. How much is it?¡±

    ¡°Fifty thousand gold. I drop the price every time it escapes¡ªand it will escape, unless I apply a new obedience binding every time it¡¯s fed. I could make you a deal.¡±

    That made Kaden laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll make myself a better deal and wait until it escapes.¡± He sent a thought, a feeling to the drake, of the Holding. Of FangWood.

    ¡°That won¡¯t make you legally its owner, and sooner or later someone¡¯s going to kill it,¡± Mr. Dervish answered.

    ¡°I¡¯m going hunting in Hell soon. You¡¯ve¡­met¡­Ashi¡¯s mother? She says the key to breaking the binding on me lies with a Demon¡¯s Daughter. I mean to go find her.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t need to, after today. Today we fix what Treadle broke. We have it ready.¡± Mr. Dervish spoke with confidence. ¡°I gave him over to the Sisters to motivate, and damned if that didn¡¯t get it done. We made some changes to the circle to keep that binding contained once I rip it loose.¡± The Centurion gave a sigh. ¡°It ain¡¯t going to be fun, and Jackie ain¡¯t back to ease the pain.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help hoping. ¡°Why can the Drake break bindings so easily and we can¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Two reasons. People are meant to join together. Meant to be stronger and better and happier when we¡¯re part of a group. Beasts¡ªespecially ones like that¡ªain¡¯t. Second reason, is that what snared you was meant for a Goddess. Meet me down at Beast Control. I¡¯ll be glad to fix what I helped break.¡± Mr. Dervish headed out.

    Kaden spent the next couple minutes obtaining [Painless] from a undead alligator, and [Fire-Born] from a juvenile [VolKraken] in case [Wrath of the Furnace] caught him. This time, there would be no stopping him. No holding back.

    It was time to destroy the Binding, then bring Trella back.

 Twenty Four - Its Only Blood

    On the way to Beast Control, Kaden sent the FalCrow to Ignus Malachor, asking about the Buried City, Faction Quests, and Strike Quests in particular. He couldn¡¯t help the lightness in his step. Part of him recognized the wisdom in Mr. Dervish¡¯s words.

    The other part knew that hope was the key.

    As Kaden strolled through the open bays of Beast Control, a few workers looked up, but the truth was, no one in their right mind would stop a level twenty five Adventurer. It wasn¡¯t like they had treasures, only Beasts, and while Adventurers would complain, it was almost always easier to pay a fine than to take a beast and risk the City¡¯s wrath.

    ¡°Bryce!¡± Kaden shouted as the [Man at Arms] emerged from the a side hall. ¡°How¡¯s Pest Patrol?¡±

    ¡°Six of mine got the [Soldier] class and enlisted, a bunch of rookies with zero skills. It¡¯s clubs and traps.¡± Bryce looked him up and down. ¡°Looking strong. I saw the criminals they tested the binding release on. You¡¯re lower level, but way tougher.¡±

    Kaden was not worried. ¡°It won¡¯t matter. I picked up a talent from a Beast at Dervish¡¯s. No sense of pain.¡±

    Bryce had no words, staring at him open mouthed.

    ¡°See you around. Gotta get a binding burst.¡± Kaden headed for the summoning room.

    Mr. Dervish stood, having attached the hanging lights to the ceiling so he didn¡¯t bump them, and a medium sized [Milk Spider] had made a web on one side. ¡°Jackie ain¡¯t here, so Milly there will stand in. Same deal as before, we¡¯re going to lock down the circle, tear loose the binding.¡±

    A portal tore open beside Mr. Dervish, and Professor Treadle stepped through. At least, his remains did. He looked haunted, his skin waxy yellow, his eyes sunken. Kaden would have fed him to Trinity in a heart beat if it would undo the binding. He didn¡¯t look to Kaden. ¡°Remember, wait until it¡¯s completely engaged. It only takes a single fiber to re-establish the binding.¡±

    ¡°Got it. Switch the runes.¡±

    Kaden gasped as the runes reoriented to show the bindings.

    The awful red still meshed across his soul. But a deep indigo one remained. The [Hatred Mark]. The silver tribulation bond that lashed him to Ashi had grown stronger, the friendship bond with Sara as well. The bond to Trella remained under the red binding.

    ¡°Demon mark?¡± Mr. Dervish asked. ¡°Odd. It should point to you from the Demon. That one seems broken.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s mother. She¡¯d undone the Hatred Mark or modified it. ¡°How can I use it to track the demon?¡±

    ¡°No idea. No idea who you¡¯d ask. Never seen a demon mark behave like that. I paid to have the potion taste better this time. I think.¡± Mr. Dervish offered Kaden another dose of Kalarak Essence.

    It tasted and smelled like cherry flavored urine, but Kaden choked it down. ¡°Do it.¡±

    ¡°Milly, be ready,¡± Mr. Dervish said, drawing a Legendary binding from Inventory. He drew it out into the cloud of fibers and lashed at the mesh.

    Kaden didn¡¯t blink.

    ¡°That doing anything?¡± Mr. Dervish asked.

    ¡°I have no sense of pain,¡± Kaden said, sharing his system logs. ¡°Now, get rid of it.¡±

    He¡¯d never seen a man move that fast. The white threads of Mr. Dervish¡¯s binding whipped outward like billowing waves, each breaking some of the mesh.

    A splatter of crimpson whipped through the air.

    Without pain, Kaden could only marvel as drops of blood welled up out of his skin.

    ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Hold on! We¡¯re gonna need a healer.¡±

    One last strike¡ªand Kaden gasped as something struck him from behind. He sailed through the air, landing with a wet splat on the stone of the floor of the Summoning Room. Behind him, the barrier arced and flashed, glowing brighter.

    The binding was no longer blood red. It had faded to a dark indigo, and the mass of threads had wound itself into a snake-like creature that whipped through the air, striking the barrier and then rebounding.

    ¡°Why ain¡¯t it dissapating?¡± Mr. Dervish roared. ¡°Alive, that¡¯s what that is. And the barrier ain¡¯t going to hold it forever. When it gets out, what¡¯s it going to look for?¡±

    ¡°The closest food sources,¡± Professor Treadle said. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you. The core was a Legendary Binding, but a goddess would resist. A goddess would fight. I needed something intelligent to act as the targeting control.¡±

    The barrier began to crackle and ripple, and the runes flashed.

    ¡°Get out of here. We¡¯ll seal it up,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    But Kaden was lost in a thought. ¡°Where does the other end go? If it¡¯s not attached to me, is it still attached to Trella¡¯s soul?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and we¡¯ll tear it off there, too,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    Kaden stepped through the barrier. Kept his eyes closed until he sensed it was done. ¡°You said it would find the nearest food source. I wouldn¡¯t want that to be anyone else. And I know what you used as the basis of your binding, because I already have another one.¡±

    ¡°Only a touch of Demon Essence!¡± Professor Treadle said. ¡°I harvested it from a Demon¡¯s Daughter myself. Just enough to control the rest of the binding!¡±

    Milly the spider leaped on him, tackling the Professor.

    Kaden walked out.

    He kept walking, no longer interested in anything Dervish or Treadle had to say. He kept walking when the first woman he passed dropped the lead of the moss-covered elephant she led and began screaming.

    Like she¡¯d never seen a little blood. His health was down to three hundred. His mana, too, had been drained by the attemped, but Kaden headed to the Mage¡¯s Tower. There, he picked up a scroll left by Ignus.

    You have received a Faction Quest: Help Take Back the Buried City - Gnomes did not build this place of treasure and wonders, but they infest it now. Help beat back the gnomes and claim treasures for the Poteri - Reward: XP, Treasure.

    You have received a Faction Quest: Blazea Trail - Gnomes have towers to guard the Buried City. Destroy a tower so your fellow Adventurers can push deeper. Reward - XP, Spell Scroll.

    That was more like it. Kaden left the desk clerk trembling and dispatched the [FalCrow] to find where Sara and the others were.

    They¡¯d formed up at a private FarPortal in the merchant district, and Kaden headed that way. He passed BirchHaven and wondered, were there visitors there? Maybe, lights blazed high in the grand tree.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    The private FarPortal was in the back yard of a merchant¡¯s villa, and the guard there took one look at Kaden and decided they weren¡¯t interested in asking questions or taking risks.

    Sara had change into her armor, Ashi wore normal wraps, and Eve had donned her sparkling white Alpha Robes. Kaden pulled Vip into his soul as he approached. Cutter and her Party stood to the side, waiting impatiently.

    ¡°About time you¡­¡± Cutter glared at him. ¡°Did you crawl down a sandworm¡¯s throat and then punch your way back up? Eve, you want to stuff some of this blood back into him?¡±

    Eve stared.

    Sara stared.

    Ashi cursed. ¡°Who did this to you, Kaden Birch?¡±

    At least it wasn¡¯t ¡®What did you do?¡¯ Kaden had grown to think that phrase was pure reflex. If Ashi were unconscious, those would be the words her mouth still uttered. ¡°Mr. Dervish tried to break the binding. I borrowed a talent from a beast that doesn¡¯t let me feel pain.¡±

    Cutter slipped a small knife from her Inventory and slowly stabbed him in the chest. The blade snapped off on the metal and fell to the ground. ¡°The good news is, if a gnome hits you, you¡¯re dead whether you¡¯re full health or not. So no need to wait and heal.¡±

    ¡°That is not good news,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell them my plan?¡± Kaden grinned, hoping his teeth weren¡¯t stained with blood. ¡°Eve¡¯s going to love my plan. The gnomes are going to hate my plan. Unless you¡¯re on Team Gnome, it¡¯s an amazing plan.¡±

    ¡°Is he always like this?¡± Cutter asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Sara.

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Ashi.

    ¡°He¡¯s usually worse,¡± Eve said.

    And Kaden began to explain.

    ###

    The Buried City stretched in eternal night for as far as Kaden could see. Pillars of pure rock rose from the top of certain buildings, arching up in the darkness, and according to Cutter, people with climbing abilities had climbed for weeks without reaching a ceiling

    The FarPortal dispatched them in what Kaden hoped was a safe area, low stone buildings with fallen in ceilings and broken walls and doors. The Poteri were no slouches, a Healer¡¯s encampment nearby offered services in exchange for gnome corpses (or coins) and almost every gnomish treasure could be exchanged at the base camp.

    ¡°Cutter Karn,¡± she introduced herself. ¡°And my Hunting Party.¡±

    The mage reclining in a hammock nodded, and a pen wrote by itself, inscribing their names. ¡°The front line is six blocks west. If you¡¯ve got a Strike Quest, they¡¯ll light up like wandering bosses. We do have a resurrection specialist but it¡¯s been eleven days since someone was resurrected and that guy fell off a third story trying to level some [Wall Crawl] skill, no gnomes involved. Pick up a corpse inventory, a party tracker, and happy hunting.¡± He closed his eyes and pulled his pointy wizard hat down over his face.

    Cutter led them out of camp a few blocks. ¡°Ever hunted gnomes?¡±

    Sara and Kaden raised their hands.

    ¡°Keep under cover or keep moving. If you have to hold still, at least dump any good loot out before you do, because there won¡¯t be enough corpse to loot. We¡¯re going to get set up close and test Bloody Boy¡¯s theory.¡± Cutter waved for her to follow, pointing to a box of simple iron rings.

    Kaden slipped one on, and a small counter joined his notifications.

    Zero gnomes killed. Zero contribution to kills.

    ¡°There¡¯s really no need,¡± Kaden said, as Eve tried to heal him again.

    ¡°I want to. My skills evolved at tier two. I don¡¯t need rats to resurrect anymore, though they make it easier.¡± Eve prompted him.

    [Evelyn (Eve) Black - Priestess of Nurav]

    Class: Transfusionist

    Profession: Priestess of Nurav

    Level: 25

    HP: 300

    Mana:3000

    Skills: Life Endowment (2:1), Life Explosion (2:1), Cooking (2:1), Baking (2:1), Moon Fall (2:1), Life Exchange (2:1), Foraging (2:1), Moon Glow (2:1), Moon Multiplier (7)

    Talents: Moment of Perception, Unshakeable, Deathless

    Titles: Herald of Entropy

    Slotted Recipes: Biscuits and Gravy, Scorpion Steak, Instant Eggs and Bacon, [Mana Salad]

    [Life Endowment]

    Draw on the power of freshly spilled blood to heal your wounds, or the wounds of others. The life transferred may exceed your own or your target¡¯s maximum, but such excess will bleed away. Higher levels will slow the loss of excess health.

    [Life Explosion]

    Enemies explode in a rain of blood which causes [Bleed]. Allies will lose status effects and gain minor protection against additional status effects. The damage from this skill will scale with level.

    [Moonlight Multiplier]

    Moonlight can be deceptive. Once a day, split your consciousness into many forms, all of which retain your abilities and talents. The level of this skill determines how long you can remain splintered. At Higher levels, reduce cooldown, split into more forms for shorter time periods, or fewer to increase the time.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t taken time to study her tier two skills, and regretted it. The explosion¡­could be scary, her heal would stack extra health, and Moonlight Multipler¡ªthat one made him stop. ¡°You get this, right? All your copies have Queen of Entropy. We don¡¯t know the exact failure rate, but let¡¯s say it¡¯s only ten percent. Five copies? Fifty percent chance of failure for as long as you hold them.¡±

    Eve thought for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s more like twenty percent. Since their machinery is always running, it¡¯s near certain.¡±

    ¡°These will be tier two gnomes with better equipment. First tier gnomes blow up twenty percent of the time on their own,¡± Cutter said.

    Kaden checked his notifications.

    Your group has grown by [9]. Leader of the Pack is more efficient. Bonus: 1.4%

    It would help. ¡°You want me to stealth out and check out the gnomes?¡±

    ¡°We have an actual [Thief] for that.¡± Cutter waved to the tall black man at the end. ¡°Stay safe, get us the goods. And by goods, I mean information. There¡¯ll be plenty of gnomes for everyone.¡±

    He ducked around a corner¡ªand never emerged, having engaged some kind of [Stealth].

    Sara called the party over. ¡°We¡¯re low level for these mobs. They¡¯re thirties. Do what Cutter says, when she says it. When it comes time, we¡¯re mostly ranged.¡±

    ¡°How is Cutter getting close enough to engage?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°The first stage is clearing a path to a building. Afterwards, there¡¯s work for all of us.¡± Sara drew her bow from Inventory. ¡°You and Ashi hang back, keep your eyes open. Don¡¯t let us get swarmed.¡±

    The Buried City had wide cobblestone streets with deep gutters and drains to remove water. The houses were two, three, or more stories with opening in the center to let sun shine down.

    Cutter waited nervously for ten minutes, but relaxed as her [Thief] materialized. A few moments later, she called them over. ¡°The Poteri Conflict Map is accurate, next two streets are clear, the one after that has gnomes in some buildings, everything after that is gnome land. We¡¯re going to take a building on the contested street. Eve is with us, you three, pick the highest house and snipe.¡±

    After she organized her party, Cutter followed the [Thief], leading them toward a building in the middle of the contested zone.

    ¡°We¡¯re being tested. She doesn¡¯t trust us.¡± Sara pointed to a three story house at an intersection. ¡°There¡¯s four parties on that street and one doing sabotage down this way. We can see the building Cutter¡¯s clearing¡ªthe tall one there.¡±

    ¡°That is a temple,¡± Ashi said. If waiting bothered her, she didn¡¯t show it.

    Kaden used [Stealth Aura] to make sure the house was clear, then joined Ashi and Sara on the top floor. As he waited, Kaden realized the Buried City wasn¡¯t quiet. Gears rattled and squealed, boilers whistled, the smell of burning oil and smoke hung thick everywhere.

    And the gnomes weren¡¯t quiet.

    Their inhuman gibbereing carried, coming from everywhere. It made Kaden nervous, and kept him watching the supposedly clear side streets. Only when he saw Adventurers moving through streets, setting up for battle, did Kaden feel free to pay attention to the temple.

    It did look like a temple, four stories, each smaller than the one before, with sloping stone roofs.

    ¡°There! Second floor,¡± Ashi said, pointing out her window.

    Kaden risked a glance and that was definitely [Moon Strike] lancing out across the wide building.

    ¡°Gnomes, coming from the east.¡± Sara spoke softly, clearly.

    They were moving in a group of ten, spilling out of a house to the east, where an Adventurer Party had engaged.

    Ashi glowed bright red, so bright it hurt Kaden¡¯s eyes, and the cobblestone beneath the gnomes turned orange and sizzled. The gnomes on the outside of the group escaped fine, those at the center couldn¡¯t move fast enough, and caught fire.

    If they hadn¡¯t wielded wands powerful enough to disintegrate Kaden, he would have laughed. As it was, Kaden ducked back into the shadows and ran to a side window. ¡°They know it came from here, stay back from the windows.¡±

    Half the gnomes headed straight for Kaden¡ªonly to find themselves under fire from the party who¡¯d chased them out to begin with. Kaden risked a shot with Thorn Caster, spearing a [gnome].

    The poison notification made him smile, even as the gnome ran screaming. Its four friends drew wands in unison. Kaden leaped away from the window as fireballs exploded outside and inside. He might be fireproof, but gnomes could¡ªand did¡ªswitch elements constantly.

    A lightning arrow struck a gnome from behind, sending it stumbling out into the street, where a bolt of darkness blew a hole in its chest.

    You have helped kill a gnome.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden¡¯s kill counter ticked upward by one.

    ¡°Kaden. Sara. Mana is shifting. I do not know the reason, I know only that it is. These [Gnomes] have very little mana.¡±

    Sara watched the streets. ¡°It¡¯s either a gnomish war machine¡ª¡±

    ¡°Or a lot of gnomes.¡± Kaden said. ¡°It¡¯s the gnomes. I see them coming down the street.¡±

    Ashi whistled, low and sharp. ¡°Not so. I hear the rattle of machinery. I smell their [Mage Fire].¡±

    Sara swore, and dispatched her parrot. ¡°It¡¯s both. A counter-attack.¡±

    Kaden liked his odds of keeping himself safe in this simple stone house. But Eve, and Cutter, and her party? They were in trouble.

 Twenty Five - Gnome Mans Land

    The chittering and squeaking of gnomes grew louder and louder as they flooded the streets. It was like the city had come to life, all of it two feet high and hell bent on destruction. Kaden didn¡¯t see the gnomish war machines but he didn¡¯t doubt they were coming. ¡°What do we do?¡±

    ¡°I already warned Cutter. Then I warned Eve separately.¡±

    Ashi risked a glance out. ¡°Chain Lightning will not be effective, they are too low to the ground.¡±

    As Kaden watched the gnome armies swarm forward, he became more and more confused. ¡°Why stop? There¡¯s a thousand of them. Why not surge into our street?¡±

    ¡°These are true gnomes, not like the monsters we encountered. They can¡¯t survive on enemy territory. They grow stronger on home territory and are average on disputed territory, and take constant damage on enemy territory.¡± Sara paused as a trio of Messenger Birds landed. ¡°All right, the Guild is responding. The gnomes must clear the block or they can¡¯t claim it. We hold this position until level thirties arrive.¡±

    Kaden studied the masses. ¡°Or.¡±

    ¡°I do not like it when he says that.¡± Ashi put her hands on her hips. ¡°What is this ¡®Or¡¯?¡±

    With a pull, Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°Resilient Constitution lets me survive any attack. If I¡¯m in a block, is it disputed?¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re there long enough.¡±

    A peek out the window told Kaden what he needed to know. ¡°I¡¯ll use [Stealth Aura] and sneak all the way to the Strike Quest building. It¡¯s on the opposite corner, eight blocks that way.¡± The beam of red light was his clue. ¡°If I were a gnome army and suddenly my fortress went disputed, I¡¯d give up the front line and make sure to take it back.¡±

    ¡°You will not be able to take Sara with you. [Identify] says your [Stealth Aura] can cover only two. Perhaps she can coordinate?¡± Ashi spoke it as a pronouncement.

    ¡°Actually¡ª¡± Kaden swallowed. It wasn¡¯t like any of this was ideal. ¡°I need Sara with me. She holds the third best trump card in this situation. Eve¡¯s [Queen of Entropy] is number one, but, [Anthem of the End] is a close third.¡±

    ¡°It is not casting Gnomes do, any more than opening a door is casting,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°And her [Herald of Life] title. One percent a minute, it can and does make me deadly with [Resilient Constitution] from Trinity.¡± Kaden cradled her blind head, then pulled the TriTerror into his soul. ¡°We¡¯re not going to hold the gnomish fortification. We¡¯re going to dispute it until every gnome in the area decides it¡¯s time to take it back. The moment that happens, we [Stealth Aura] our way out.¡±

    ¡°It is a surprisingly reasonable plan. Did Sara come up with it?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°I was just as suprised by the ¡®or¡¯ as you were. But I like the plan. It¡¯s similar to what has worked in the past. The key will be running at the right time. If we leave too soon, the gnomes will turn around and come back.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I do not like it, but I understand.¡± Ashi wouldn¡¯t look at him. ¡°Go quickly, I will send birds when they react. If they do not react, I will also say so. How do you plan to cross into their territory?¡±

    That was a problem. [Stealth Aura] wasn¡¯t like [Shadow Step], which let Trella move between spots if there were shadows. ¡°I¡¯m going to take the long way around.¡±

    Kaden quickly ran to the stairs. Whoever built the Buried city liked their staircases narrow and steep, and it was safer to jump to the ground floor than risk falling. Whoever built it was also really, really into carved stone, or maybe all the wood had rotted away through the ages. ¡°Ready?¡±

    Sara nodded, then startled as Kaden picked her up and activated [Stealth Aura] and slipped out of the front of the house. The front of the house¡ªlike all of them¡ªopened straight onto the street, no curbs for pedestrians, which probably meant few wagons.

    Kaden¡¯s focus was on [Stealth Aura] and listening to everything it told him. The core of the skill was still [Stealth] and it relied on him being reasonably stealthy. Which was a real problem when he reached the intersection. Gnomes flooded the road, dividing and encircling all the buildings, and they fired unending streams of fire and lightning at the next street.

    But as Kaden slowed, he sensed a pattern. The Gnomes mainly fired in response, and the Adventurers had an intense allergy to being blown to smithereens. He waited as a hail of arrows flew from upper story windows, and began to sprint as fireballs returned. With a stutter-step to avoid a late chunk of ice that materialized in front of him, Kaden leaped to the narrow space beween two houses and moved even faster, clutching Sara to his chest.

    Movement up ahead came too late to stop, and Kaden had no choice. He vaulted off a low window and leaped upward, sailing over a stream of gnomes that boiled forward and began to form a ladder, spilling into the houses on either side.

    The street behind was enemy territory, and while dozens of gnomes waddled too and fro, wands drawn, it was clear to Kaden these weren¡¯t an attack force. No, they were backup, just like Ashi and Sara and Kaden had been.

    Kaden headed straight into the closest house, hoping its layout was the same and a long kitchen lined the back, with burnt out heat stone and stone shelves which had probably had enchantments.

    And froze.

    A single gnome lay sleeping in the kitchen, a pile of wands surrounding it like fire crackers. Above him, the squeaks and chitters of gnomes said the second floor held more.

    Sara tapped Kaden¡¯s chest for him to let her down, but the moment he stopped [Stealth Aura], he wouldn¡¯t be able to re-establish it if there was anyone watching.

    Sara stood stock still as her pseudod stretched down¡ªand clamped over the gnome¡¯s entire face and head.

    Kaden struck as well, not with Remembrance, but with Inventory, seizing every wand in a sweep before tiny fists could grasp them. Every muffled scream, every wet rip and tear, even the Horror¡¯s gurgles as it slurped gnome blood sounded like explosions. The gnome went limp, and the Horror choked it down.

    Sara turned and put her arms around Kaden, lifting her legs so he could re-establish [Stealth Aura], then slip out through the empty frame where a door would have been. He studied the piller of red light that marked the Strike Quest, and began to navigate.

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    Now a handful of gnomes gathered in circles, or tested their wands on houses. An explosion in the distance sent a wave of cheers through gnomes everywhere, and told Kaden exactly where they were.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Kaden whispered. The homes here had narrow stone walls dividing them, and he used them to quickly navigate between houses¡ªand stopped one street over.What had been a pilllar of light, a column like what followed Wandering Bosses was now a square. One thing that stood out was that almost none of the houses had actual damage. Temples, markets, what Kaden thought was a library, all of them nothing but stone.

    Stone that not even gnome wands damaged.

    This was obviously gnomish construction, an eight story tower of made of metal beams and riveted metal, it covered a building as large as the Temple Eve and Cutter¡¯s Party had taken. The building itself steamed and shook and rattled as though it was constantly in danger of exploding.

    Which it probably was.

    And gnomes patrolled everywhere, wands drawn, suspicious eyes looking about. The outside of the building was a maze of stairs and railings, walkways with lookout points, all of them sized for gnomes.

    Gnomish engineering was at best ramshackle, but Kaden hadn¡¯t imagined a tower that covered the entire space.

    ¡°How close do we have to be, and how long?¡± he whispered to Sara.

    ¡°No idea on how long, but definitely in the territory,¡± She answered.

    That gave him only one real option. He ran down a side street, then up into a nearby house. ¡°Get on my back.¡±

    ¡°Only because you asked nicely,¡± Sara said. She climbed on, wrapping her arms around Kaden¡¯s neck, and clinging to him.

    He twisted out the window and climbed onto the room as a series of vast explosions rose like distant thunder. No time to wait, he balanced on the ridgerow and waited until the nearest gnomes turned to move to the next section of the tower¡ªand sprinted forward, leaping.

    Kaden sailed through the air and just missed the railing.

    He plummeted¡ªand the Horror¡¯s pseudopods latched onto the metal, gnawing. Kaden slammed into the wall with a metalic thud that set off a frenzy of whistles and clangs inside. The whole building shook.

    Breathing was impossible with Sara strangling him and her legs crushing him as she clung, but he reached up and grasped a rail and pulled, forcing himself to climb. [Stealth], he thought. Smooth, silent.

    The skill clicked into effect as gnomes peeked around the corner, but a ringing bell and clatter of machinery from inside distracted them for the briefest moment¡ªand Kaden climbed, using the railing until at last he perched atop the gnomish building. A wide chimney belched oily smoke and cinders, but Kaden had to jump to grasp the top level, and gnomes were unlikely to be able to reach.

    ¡°There.¡± He patted Sara to let go. ¡°You saved us on that jump.¡±

    ¡°I just got a notification. This area will be contested in four minutes and fifty seconds. You take one corner, I¡¯ll watch from the other.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [FalCrow] and begged it to keep watch¡ªand be silent. With [Stealth Aura] engaged, he leaned over to look down. The patrols had resumed their careful pace, ringing the gnomish tower.

    From across the tower he watched Sara¡¯s parrot sail away, most likely telling Ashi.

    Waiting was worse than fighting. Every second was months long, and Kaden had lived in his own personal Vichor for five years before Sara held up a hand and began a countdown. He dashed over to cover her with [Stealth Aura].

    This territory is now contested.

    The longer this territory is contested, the longer it will take to re-establish control.

    All Constructs will take continuous damage.

    Enemies must be eliminated to establish full control.

    A timer began to tick upward. The reaction from the gnomes was instantaneous. Shouts and squeals and long sentences accompanied the ringing and creaking of metal as guards rushed through their routes.

    Even more worrying, the building itself began to groan and tremble.

    With every passing second, the voices below grew louder, the arguments angrier, the rattling even worse.

    A glittering mana-dragon materialized to land on Kaden, and Ashi spoke. ¡°Eve must reconsider now, what is the most Kaden thing you have done. They come. The Guild decides now, take territory or attack the tower.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Sara spoke softly. ¡°Look.¡±

    The streets below thronged with gnomes. Hundreds of gnomes. Maybe a thousand, and gnomish war-wagons, and a vast construct that reminded Kade of the Rolling Fortress the Saint¡¯s Hall had used to protect commoners.

    The tower shook and pitched to one side, dropping three feet.

    His Agility let Kaden land on his feet and even catch Sara.

    [Stealth Aura] did its best to quiet how he landed, but the constant Gnome-Speek fell silent as it echoed. One corner of the tower now dipped a good ten feet lower than the other three, the metal crumpled inward. Railings and stairs had wrenched off and now jutted into the air.

    ¡°Listen,¡± Sara whispered.

    The sound of small hands climbing.

    Kaden held her close and projected [Stealth Aura].

    A pair of gnomes shimmied out along a broken railing, then swung and jumped to land on the roof, wands out. They turned slowly, scanning¡ªand shouted a non-word before leaning over to shout down again.

    Then one ran to the smokestack and leaned over, looking down.

    Did the smoke harm it? Not that he could tell. On the other hand, when the second gnome pushed the first into the smokestack, that apprently hurt based on the screaming. The stack belched oily smoke and the murder-gnome laughed to itself.

    Sara pulled at Kaden.

    He could oblige, lifting her up and using [Stealth Aura] to creep up. He held up a hand and drew Remembrance. [BackSlash!] Remembrance struck right at the base of the gnome¡¯s neck as the Horror attacked from the other side.

    The gnome was stunned for just a moment, and only managed a short squeak before the Horror¡¯s rasping tongue thrust down its throat in the most horriffic kiss ever. Kaden tore a wand from the gnome¡¯s grasp as it pulled it from Inventory, then collected everything as it frantically tried to save itself¡ªand went limp.

    Sara couldn¡¯t help smiling as the Horror swallowed the gnome like a python. The counter continued its inexorable climb, but now Kaden had much bigger problems. The gnomish tower rattled and groaned and twisted, like it was pulling in on itself. The smokestack only belched brief intervals.

    Railings crashed to the ground, falling off the building.

    ¡°We need a way off here,¡± Kaden said.

    A peacock landed on Sara¡¯s arm and Eve¡¯s voice shouted. ¡°We¡¯re coming! It¡¯s a full scale assault. Get off the tower, it¡¯s about to get swarmed.¡±

    Kaden looked out at the streets below. Gnomes covered every square foot, wands drawn. Many stood atop their war wagons. At the other end, a phalanx of [Shields] approached, blocking every fireball, shattering ice, and behind them came more mages.

    ¡°Tell me you have a plan. Lie if you have to,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°I do. It¡¯s not a lie, but I have one more thing I want to do before we let the calvary handle it. Climb on, hold on, don¡¯t let go.¡± Kaden studied the area below and made his decision. He leaned out over the edge.

    Activated [Wrath of the Furnace]

    His mana immediately hit zero, and Kaden almost collapsed.

    You have mana shock!

    You must wait for Mana to regen.

    But the other reason he almost collapsed was the wave of molten, pure fire that spewed from his mouth in a fountain that stretched forty feet. It hit the gnomes below, causing chaos. Flaming Gnomes ran everywhere, while some tried to use ice wands to extinguish the destruction.

    Kaden stood and ran for the corner of the tower as it piched and began to lean further and further toward the street. He leaped off it, drawing Remembrance to murder a gnome sitting atop one of their wagons.

    You have suffered 400 points falling damage!

    He¡¯d suffer a lot more if he stuck around. The last time he¡¯d been attacked by gnomes, the [Mages] at the tower had marveled at the construction of their war wagons. There wasn¡¯t a control for speed up¡ªonly one for slow down, a round circle that could be carefully tuned, or¡ªit tore off in Kaden¡¯s hand.

    The war wagon shot forward.

    Sara had both swords drawn, each pseudopod devouring a different gnome, and he barely snagged her belt to keep her aboard as the wagon rocketed down the road. ¡°Stealing a war wagon was your plan? And what the hell was that volcano skill? You should do that to all of them.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a once-a-day thing!¡± Kaden said. His mana ticked up to one.

    ¡°The tower¡¯s falling!¡± Sara shouted.

    That was great, but Kaden was fighting to steer the war-wagon. He swung it hard right and began racing at an angle through the city. ¡°We have to figure out how to stop.¡±

    ¡°Go! Go! Do not stop!¡± Sara shouted.

    A ball of flame exploded on the wagon¡¯s front right wheel.

    The chase was on.

 Twenty Six - Run, Hide, FIght

    Kaden¡¯s first rule of being chased by gnomes was ¡¯Never be chased by gnomes.¡¯ He¡¯d already broken that rule, so the second rule, ¡®never destroy your only way of stopping¡¯ was just a wrong move at the wrong time. The third rule, ¡®Never stop while being chased by gnomes¡¯ was what he was currently working on keeping unbroken. The problem was that the longer the chase went on, the more gnome warwagons chased.

    He¡¯d quickly mastered the timing of throwing the wheel sharply to turn, and ¡®two wrongs don¡¯t make a right, but three lefts do,¡¯ as well, and now his strategy was simple: ABT. Always. Be. Turning. If he kept a straight line, it let gomes shoot.

    They weren¡¯t good shots with their wands. They were even worse standing atop rattling war-wagons, but they only needed to be lucky once, and there were a lot of gnomes and only a few less lot of war wagons.

    ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ve got an idea. Go straight for just a bit.¡± Sara summoned one of her crawling horrors.

    Kaden risked a glance back as she hurled the bitey grub at the closest war-wagon.

    At its wheels.

    To say the spawn of an elder god exploded would be like saying Terror Bird eggs made good omlets. But the front wheel of the war-wagon kicked up, and it veered sideways, crashing into another¡ªand another.

    ¡°Where are they all coming from?¡± Kaden shouted as he veered sideways, then cut through a marketplace.

    Sara didn¡¯t answer. As fast as she hurled one grub, she summoned another.

    You have been issued a new Faction Quest: Definitely not a Trap - Lead the gnomes to their final destination. Reward - FILL THIS IN LATER, KILL GNOMES NOW.

    ¡°I got a quest!¡± Kaden shouted as a distant tower of golden light shot into the sky.

    ¡°Me too, move, move move.¡± Sara drew her bow from Inventory and forced a sparkling [Mana Arrow] into existence. She didn¡¯t aim for the gnomes, she aimed for the boiler on the war-wagon, a target thirty times larger than a gnome.

    The boiler exploded as lightning melted valves and controls, which left only half a dozen war wagons, and only three could fit abreast in the streets. Kaden made another turn¡ªand oversteered, then corrected, dodging an iceberg that ground chunks of stone from the city as it slid past.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let that hit us!¡±

    Sara was usually the queen of strategy, pointing out things he¡¯d never thought of. Dodging the literal wall of ice was not a strategy he needed help with. ¡°I¡¯m trying! Can¡¯t you use one of those wands to return fire?¡±

    In answer, Sara took four from her inventory, handing one to each Horror, which gripped them by tooth, and one in each hand. The wind whipped her hair forward as she perched atop the boiler beside Kaden. ¡°On the next turn.¡±

    He wrapped his right arm around her and yanked the controlls left, using sheer strength to keep Sara from flying out. She fired ahead of the gnomes, at the corner. A series of explosions sent metal raining down.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Sara said. ¡°That¡¯s all of them. We got¡ª¡±

    Stone exploded in the street ahead of Kaden as the gnomish rolling fortress crushed a house. Kaden didn¡¯t have time to stop, didn¡¯t have time to think. He swung the wheel sharply left, as a fireball struck ahead of him.

    The war-wagon tipped onto two wheels.

    He lashed out, reaching for Sara.

    And missed.

    Her pseudopod struck, latching onto his arm, digging flesh out in raking strips as it slid downward. Only his talent let Kaden keep holding on, to swing her closer and back onto the front of the war wagon.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to!¡±

    ¡°Get in, I need you to steer.¡± Kaden¡¯s right arm was a shredded mess of bone and muscle, and it didn¡¯t move the way he needed it to, but the rolling fortress was too large to chase¡­

    As another building exploded, Kaden really wished he hadn¡¯t mocked Fate. ¡°Steer us toward the Quest Destination.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m working on it. It¡¯s harder than you made it look.¡±

    Kaden swigged a health potion and stashed the vial. Other Adventurers would toss spent vials, but his history made them too valuable. The muscles on his arm began to stretch and grow, which itched, but he couldn¡¯t scratch since there wasn¡¯t skin. To his right, a volcano of fire errupted, melting an entire house. To his left, a meteor the size of a mountain impacted, destroying the street.

    Damage to Territory invokes penalty.

    Damaged Territory is 3x easier to hold.

    Damaged Teritory is 3x harder to capture.

    Don¡¯t Damage Territory!

    Well, that explained why gnomes were usually so careful. Sara cut right and then across, lining up for a straight run toward the Quest Target.

    Kaden squinted as gnomes streamed down the sides of their rolling fortress, clogging the masive elemental wands it used to demolish¡­everything. ¡°They¡¯re shooting gnomes at us!¡±

    Sara whipped around a corner as an explosion demolished the front left wheel. The War Wagon now dipped down, throwing sparks each time, and tearing metal loose. ¡°Get to the opposite corner! We need to balance that.¡±

    Metal fragments had buried themselves in Sara¡¯s face, but she didn¡¯t lose focus, making the final turn. All that remained was stoping the wagon and not dying in the process or turning into a missle that killed all the friendly troops.

    ¡°At the last street, cut right and let it throw us.¡± Houses whizzed by as the gnomish fortress began to rattle closer and closer. [Identify] kicked in, and Kaden nearly gasped. There were level fifty gnomes on board, wearing metal armor that appeared to be bolted through the skin, maybe straight to their bones.

    A tier difference was all the difference in the world.

    Ahead of them shone a blinding column of white light, the Quest Target. The Gnome Fortress rattled and belched, and fiery orange missiles impacted the street ahead¡ªthen one of them stood.

    A level fifty gnome. He drew back his fist for a punch, one that would obliterate the War-Wagon¡ªand probably Kaden.

    Timing was everything.

    The timing to stand and grab Sara.

    The timing to leap upward as the gnome¡¯s fist blurred forward.

    He sailed over the gnome as the war wagon exploded behind him and hit the ground running, sprinting.

    Adventureres swarmed outward, leaping from roof-tops onto the rolling fortress. A level forty swordsman dodged Kaden, heading to engage the gnome. ¡°Keep moving! Don¡¯t stop until you reach staging!¡±

    Everywhere, gnomes rained down, having launched themselves like living missiles. Sara¡¯s horror caught one by the arms, swallowing both wands before it could fire, and Sara hacked it to death with sloppy slashes.

    Kaden¡¯s muscles had grown back enough to let him grip Remembrance.

    ¡°Here!¡± Cutter shouted. ¡°Inside!¡±

    Her voice came from a house two down, and together they ran. Just through the front door, Cutter waited with Eve, Ashi, and four of Cutter¡¯s Party. Her Healer took one look at Kaden¡¯s arm and began to pump health in, growing skin with every cast.

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    ¡°You.¡± Cutter said, risking a glance. ¡°I like you. Stay here with us, let them try and attack. Evelyn¡¯s title is basically gnomish death.¡±

    Now that Kaden was here, Leader of the Pack would make her even more dangerous. ¡°Where did all the Adventureres come from?¡±

    ¡°The moment it was clear their Tower was in trouble, the Poteri sent out prime quests. Most of them aren¡¯t even here, we¡¯re pushing the front line and taking that area.¡± Cutter leaped forward as a gnome barreled through the doorway. With three separate attacks she glowed red, blue, then orange. The orange made her move faster.

    The gnome blasted straight at her¡ªonly to find Cutter had dove left and nicked it again. Now it moved slower, and Eve¡¯s [Plague] hit along with [Moon Strike].

    Sara¡¯s Horror spat void globs at the gnome, eating holes in the stone, but before Kaden could attack, the gnome¡¯s wand malfunctioned. It fired, backwards, exploding the little bastard.

    Cutter¡¯s [Thief] materialized on the opposite side of the doorway. ¡°Don¡¯t go out, there¡¯s 50s hunting. Pretty sure they¡¯re hunting him.¡±

    ¡°It is most certain.¡± Ashi spoke from the floor above. ¡°And why did I not know of this fire breathing? How long have you been able to incinerate your enemies? How often can you do so?¡±

    ¡°Not long, right before I went to Beast Control, once a day, and no one knew because I wasn¡¯t sure it would work. Also, Mana Shock didn¡¯t knock me out this time.¡±

    ¡°Tier two, it takes more to put you down,¡± Cutter said. ¡°How many of them did you burn?¡±

    Kaden checked notifications. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this counter. No way were there seven hundred gnomes in that patch.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m showing credit for six hundred and seventy four.¡± Sara closed her eyes. ¡°The large leap coincides with the tower collapse, so I¡¯d guess we gained credit for every gnome injured who subsequently died.¡±

    Cutter pointed to Kaden. ¡°You, [Stealth]. A level fifty isn¡¯t impossible if I get enough buffs, but I¡¯m not there yet.¡±

    Kaden ran up the stairs and engaged [Stealth Aura] around him and Ashi. His arm was growing new skin, tiny patches of tan slowly appearing over the raw meat. ¡°How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°It is not difficult to ¡®snipe¡¯ these enemies. They know no strategy, they plan nothing. But the elders we must be careful of.¡± Ashi motioned to a window. ¡°They do not fly, they do not climb. Nor do they show any regard for danger.¡±

    ¡°Pull us some, [Mage] girl!¡± Cutter¡¯s shout echoed up.

    Ashi responded with [Chain Lightning] into a group of gnomes who screamed in rage and sprinted for the house.

    Kaden prepared to leap down, but before he could, Ashi shook her head. ¡°Shoot more. Bring more. The woman is a demon, they come to their deaths.¡±

    Using the [Mana Quiver] was not a choice - he didn¡¯t have enough mana (or skill) to even think about drawing directly. Kaden picked a cluster of gnomes laying down repeated ice sheets to protect themselves and fired into the crowd.

    And was pleasantly surprised by the trio of poison notifications. He must have shot through a set of gnomes. And they weren¡¯t shooting¡ª[Split Second] let him dive backwards as a pillar of ice blasted through the window and impacted the ceiling, sending chunks downward. ¡°More coming!¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Cutter shouted back. ¡°Sara, kill the ones with wounds, I need fresh victims. Omar, Ved, Ting, protect Eve. Word is there¡¯s a [Gnome Elder] coming.¡±

    ¡°Shit!¡± One of the [Shields] shouted. ¡°You¡¯re not buffed for that yet.¡±

    Kaden grabbed Ashi¡¯s hand. ¡°You can use me as a [Mana Conduit], right? What¡¯s the widest area of effect spell you have?¡±

    ¡°Water College, [Ice Storm]. It is a minor status effect, slowing the enemy. The range is a hundred yards.¡± Ashi squinted. ¡°What is it this time? I sense an ¡®or.¡¯¡±

    Kaden shouted downward. ¡°I¡¯m going to [Stealth Aura] out into the battle. Ashi¡¯s going to use [Ice Storm] while I run for my life back here. Be ready to heal when I get here.¡±

    ¡°Hold on, coordinating,¡± Sara said. ¡°Please give me a moment.¡±

    A swarm of Messenger Birds errupted from the front of the house as another explosion whumped out.

    ¡°Plan b!¡± Sara called back. ¡°There¡¯s three [Gnome Elders] already present. We have fifties inbound to deal with them, but I think Eve¡¯s the best choice and chance.¡±

    Kaden leaped downward, careful to stay back from the open doorway. ¡°[Stealth Aura] and Eve¡¯s [Queen of Entropy]?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep them busy and firing,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Polly, If you want to do the [Ice Storm] thing I¡¯d love the aggro it builds.¡±

    ¡°Polly?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Oh. Ashi, that¡¯s you. [Polymage].¡±

    What Ashi said in Vichorean would get them all a slit throat, so Kaden didn¡¯t offer to translate. Instead, he dealt with Eve. ¡°Sorry, but you¡¯re going to have to be close. [Stealth Aura] barely works as is.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not allergic to contact, I just don¡¯t desire it.¡± Eve reached up to put an arm over Kaden¡¯s shoulder.

    He scooped her up. The Cosmic Horror had real weight he¡¯d never noticed before. Sara took effort, Eve he could have lifted above his head with one hand. ¡°All right. Here we go.¡±

    Stepping out of the stone house and into the maelstrom, he quickly plotted a path into the sea of gnomes running everywhere. The safest place was deep into the battle. Kaden began to weave his way forward, mindful of the fact that Adventurers wouldn¡¯t know he was there either.

    The air above blossomed with clouds, and a thick sleet began to fall all around him. Kaden¡¯s feet weren¡¯t affected, but gnomes slipped and fell, while others moved with slightly less mania. They waved their wands back and forth¡ªthen pointed as a group toward the house Kaden had left behind, and began to converge.

    ¡°You should be moving,¡± Eve whispered. ¡°Getting us away from them.¡±

    But Kaden¡¯s experience hunting the [Kalaraks] had taught him that as long as he remained wrapped in [Stealth Aura] the gnomes would move around him, unaware of the effect. He held his breath and stood perfectly still as gnomes swarmed past.

    As they reached the doorway, Cutter dashed out, nearly a blur.

    Wands belched and smoked and fired¡ªand split. A Gome disappeared under a boulder the size of a war wagon. Another fried a dozen of its friends with a malformed [Chain Lightning] that came far too close.

    Kaden moved back, faster and faster as he reached a clear area. ¡°We need to get you next to their fortress. That¡¯s where the elders will be.¡±

    ¡°No. Stay here, make sure Circe isn¡¯t swarmed. When she moves to attack the elders, we move, too.¡± Eve paused a moment. ¡°Please.¡±

    He could wait. ¡°How close do we need to be?¡±

    ¡°If I can see them, they¡¯re affected for the most part.¡± Eve flinched as a chain reaction killed branches of gnomes.

    Except one. This gnome wasn¡¯t taller. It wasn¡¯t thicker, it was simply more dense, and layer upon layer of rivets tied metal armor to it.

    [Elder Gnome]

    Those who survive the youth of gnome-hood are a hardier sort, less likely to explode, and given to testing their creations before using them in battle. They constantly improve their own bodies with all kinds of magical prosthetics, and in battle know strategies beyond scream and shoot.

    Level: 50

    HP: 14,000

    Mana: 5,000

    Skills: Wand Creation, Wand Work, Wand Modification, Eldritch Invention, Scavenging, Field Construction, Field Repair, Luck,Helping Hand, Craftsman¡¯s Touch, Body Modification, Advanced Body Modification, Body Engineering, Material Enchantment, Resist Fire, Resist Pain, Resist Cold, Resist Boredom, Resist Mental Attack

    Talents: Thick-Skinned, Grounded, Fire-Proof, Determined, Single-Minded, Weighty

    Oh, that was trouble. The Elder studied the fallen gnomes around it and drew something from Inventory, waving it in the air as it grumbled in a high pitched voice.

    Kaden¡¯s stomach churned as the gnome turned¡ªthen turned back, looking in his general direction.

    ¡°Lookout!¡± Eve shouted as he set her down and prepared for what was either going to be a glorious final death or a hideously painful healing process.

    The Elder already pointed a wand at Kaden, but as the tip glowed brillaint white, the wand kicked back and fizzled.

    It shrieked in rage and hurled the wand at Kaden, who snatched it out of the air and pointed it back. Shook it. Shouted words that sounded like something Ashi would say.

    The Elder Gnome¡¯s pittering laughter accompanied it drawing another wand, this one with a bright orange tip.

    ¡°It must be triggered,¡± a minature dragon shouted in Ashi¡¯s voice as it landed on him.

    Kaden didn¡¯t have a ton of mana, but he did have enough to force into the wand¡ªand the good sense to aim it at the ground in front of the elder.

    You have learned a new skill: Wand Work.

    [Wand Work]

    The usage of magic wands is not simply pointing them in the right direction, but learning to coax the magic out without damaging the wand. You have not learned coaxing or how to avoid damaging, but it still counts. Higher levels won¡¯t have a chance of exploding and taking your hand off. Also, the number of charges per wand will go up.

    What materialized in front of Kaden was a shimmering asteroid that looked like the full moon itself. It plowed into the street, struck the Elder and kept going, collecting gnomes.

    Kaden Birch wasn¡¯t a proud man, he seized Eve and ran, afraid to fire the wand again, afraid to obliterate Adventurers or houses, but as he ran in, Cutter finally ran out.

    She moved so fast it was like an after image, and as she ghosted through the crowd of gnomes, they cried out, each nicked and tainted with her Ritualist power. But Kaden had no question where Cutter was headed.

    The Elder had risen and destroyed the Moon boulder with a single punch. No longer did he joke or smile, not even his evil gnome smile. In both hands he held wands and fired anywhere Adventurers dared show their faces, even though his waves of magma and rolling blizzards killed as many gnomes as Kaden had.

    Kaden took one look at the devastation and headed upstairs, where he set down Eve and let Ashi look him over. ¡°That did not go well.¡±

    ¡°You had your good plan for the day, you¡¯re out of good plans,¡± Sara said.

    Your Faction has gained Territory x278.

    The Lines have been redrawn.

    This territory has been declared secure.

    Kaden looked out the window as the screaming of gnomes accompanied a full retreat. The Rolling Fortress was rolling¡ªaway¡ªat top speed.

    Cutter remained locked in her battle with the Elder Gnome, but now the first level fifty Adventurers arrived, a [Mage] who immeidately began absorbing spells. A [Shield] who let Cutter dance behind him to recover. A [Healer] who dressed wounds. A [Swordsman] who waited, a grim smile on her face as she kept her hand on her sheath.

    No matter if Cutter won or not, the Elder was going home in pieces¡ªif at all.

    And Eve, pressed up behind the [Shield], biding her time.

    The failure was inevitable.

    And catastrophic. The Elder¡¯s wand failed him, and he shook it. The explosion took off his legs and sent Cutter sailing through the air to collide with a stone house.

    You have helped defeat an Elder Gnome

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden kneeled down, gasping for breath, and let the shakiness pass as adrenaline drained from him. It was over. They¡¯d won.

 Twenty Seven - Demoni

    A mage¡¯s voice boomed out over the Buried City, ¡°Base Camp is moving forward ten blocks. Level fifties may access new Strike Quests. Level Thirties, please clear the area to avoid being accidentally killed.¡±

    Clearing the area sounded like a great idea. Cutter, her party members, and Sara¡¯s party lined up with the rest of the ¡®babies¡¯ to gather their rewards. Kaden reviewed his stats.

    You have completed 3x Faction Quests.

    You have gained 1x Faction Token (Poteri)

    You have gained standing with a faction (Poteri).

    And he listened as Sara spoke quietly. ¡°Cutter and her party were going to share kills with us. Now you and I have more kills than all of them combined. I¡¯m not suggesting we give them the griphon¡¯s share, but we wouldn¡¯t even be here without them.¡±

    ¡°Fifteen kills was the minimum, right?¡±

    ¡°Twelve, but doing the math, fifteen for everyone doesn¡¯t even change our reward class. I¡¯ll show you when we get up there.¡± Sara stayed by his side while Kaden waited. And as the lowest level people in the Buried City, he had to wait a really long time. ¡°Where is Eve?¡±

    ¡°She cut a deal with a Hunting Party of fifties. The idea is to use her Title to damage sets of towers. There¡¯s no desire to push further with the harvest reset at midnight.¡± Sara saw the blank look on his face. ¡°This place is caught in some sort of time loop. At midnight once a week, it resets, and neither side can cross into the other¡¯s territory. The Poteri will loot it all, take the best, sell the rest to us.¡±

    Now it made sense - the battle over territory would control who got the best loot.

    The exchange was performed in a house near the base camp, and while Kaden waited, he talked it over. ¡°What are they going to have to sell, how long do we have to decide, how do we decide if there¡¯s nothing we need, and do kills carry over?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it,¡± Cutter said. ¡°We¡¯re going in with a shit-ton of kills. Sara told me, we all get baseline, and I obliterated gnomes. They¡¯ll have some of everything. I¡¯m pretty sure they buy from Crafters to make sure it¡¯s more than just mages. If you can¡¯t decide, pick the most expensive thing. You can always sell it somewhere else.¡±

    That seemed reasonable. Cutter and her party went first, and not an hour later, Sara¡¯s name was called.

    It was a treasure trove the likes of which Kaden had never imagined. Swords. Armor, whips and morning stars, wands, daggers, cloaks.

    ¡°Before we begin,¡± said the young man working at the desk, ¡°As I¡¯ve said before, anything you find can be exchanged.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t ready to make exchanges. He showed the Elder Gnome¡¯s wand to Ashi. ¡°Can you use this to siphon mana?¡±

    Ashi¡¯s wide grin told him the answer. ¡°I do not need [Wand Work] to use this. But I assure you, the Moon will answer. I do not care for the lesser wands, my mana stones hold more.¡±

    Everything else, he dumped in the trade portal, and watched it get converted to kills. What bothered him was that Ashi had been relegated to a support role.

    Sara looked less and less interested by the moment, though she searched with care, and finally selected an amulet. Eve found a dozen things and spent forever weighing the value of one versus another, and finally bought a silver bracelet. Ashi accepted Kaden insisting that she at least consider shopping.

    And of course, she pretended it had been the idea all along when she found a matching set of mana stones in a dozen flavors. Everything else, she left to Kaden.

    Kaden looked to the attendent. ¡°How long do I have?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t leave for three days.¡± He sat back down and began to read a scroll.

    Every box, he opened. Every bag, peered inside. Every sword picked up, even though he just didn¡¯t like swords. There was nothing here for a [Beast Master], and [Mana Arrow] would provide better arrows than most of the quivers. But one wooden box made Kaden stop.

    The carving was familiar, [Ranger] gear denoted by the leaf. He opened the box and found a simple scroll, unlike the normal scrolls, it was written on silver.

    [Thought Speech]

    Speak mind to mind, if you have something worth saying. This skill will allow you to speak directly to another being if they are willing. At higher levels you can hear their responses. Range will grow with level.

    Kaden had zero doubts, and handed it over. ¡°This.¡±

    ¡°And? You completed a Strike Quest. That¡¯s¡­a skill scroll. A reusable scroll, but still, one of the most basic¡­oh, chrono-mana.¡± He shook his head like it was impossible to explain.

    Kaden scannned through the items he¡¯d already looked at. And added a pair of ruby earrings, dots barely visible, and twin swords with a scale pattern on them. And a whip because he had two gnome kills left.

    ¡°A pleasure doing business,¡± the mage said. ¡°Freak.¡±

    Kaden found the others downstairs, and was ready to take the [FarPortal] home. Tonight, he¡¯d grieve the failure to release Trella. And tomorrow, he¡¯d set out to do something about it.

    ¡°What did you all buy?¡± Eve asked. ¡°This bracelet is a form of Kaden¡¯s [Resilient Constitution]. My HP quadrupled at twenty five, but I¡¯m still incredibly fragile against anything my level. It will only function once a day, which made it cheap.¡±

    Kaden unleashed Trinity. ¡°That Talent actually belongs to Trinity, I get it from her.¡±

    Sara pulled out a stone. ¡°It¡¯s a Necromantic artifact, a [Soul Siphon]. I have no intention of using it and every intention of selling it. Please don¡¯t consider this a predictor of my future class options.¡±

    Ashi fiddled with her wrap, inserting new mana stones. ¡°These give me more options. I do not like being limited to the ambient types of mana.¡±

    Kaden showed the scroll first. ¡°There have been so many cases where I wanted to talk but didn¡¯t want to risk being heard. It¡¯s reusable with some kind of recharge timer.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°It¡¯s a training scroll. Probably an artifact from a [Ranger] Encampment,¡± Sara said. ¡°I can see the use, I want first dibs on it after you. It¡¯s not charged right now. How long does it take to recharge?¡±

    ¡°No idea.¡± Kaden took out the swords. ¡°Poison Fang swords. We can sell them, Sara can use them, I had extra kills.¡± The earings came last. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll look good on me?¡±

    Ashi laughed. ¡°It is a joke. I saw those, and thought Eve would most certainly buy them. They are Suffering Crystals. They do not grant status effects, only extend them upon your enemies.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t buy them because they were seven hundred gnome kills,¡± Eve said.

    The first time Kaden had ever seen a look he¡¯d call lust on Eve¡¯s face, and it wasn¡¯t for a man. Or a woman. It was for the ability to make others suffer longer. Kaden gently handed them over, because the longer his enemies suffered from Eve¡¯s debuffs, the greater the chance he could behead¡ªor crush them.

    Trinity didn¡¯t really fit in the farmhouse but that never stopped her from trying. She squeezed through the front door and headed into Kaden¡¯s bedroom to lay on the bed. Vip tore up and down the stairs and then out into the fields, and then back, running in circles.

    In the bedroom, Kaden shoved his clothes into the cleaning box, and washed away dried patches of blood left over from his ordeal. He¡¯d really hoped this was the time. He¡¯d really been wrong.

    As he bathed, he summoned the [FalCrow] and talked to it.

    Not because he wanted something, just because he could. Vip had very few things to say. Love. Fast. Rocky couldn¡¯t think well enough to speak, and Trinity expressed desires in memories, but not in a way he could laugh with her about.

    ¡°I need you to take a message for me.¡± Kaden phrased it as a request rather than invoking the Obedience bond. ¡°I need to know when Mr. Dervish will be ready to try again.¡±

    After half an hour, a regular Messenger Bird dipped through the eaves entrance and landed. ¡°We don¡¯t got a timeline. If I thought torturing Treadle would help, it would already be done, but I don¡¯t think his work¡¯s getting better. Plan on a month, bet on two, don¡¯t be surprised if it¡¯s three or longer. I¡¯d hoped Jackie would be back by now with help.¡±

    That left only one possibility to run down. The Demon¡¯s Daughter held the key, according to Ashi¡¯s mother. It was time to go demon hunting. The [Hatred Mark], meant to be Naski¡¯s weapon against him, had changed, from what he¡¯d seen in the Summoning Circle. Naski couldn¡¯t track him anymore. That didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t go looking for her. ¡°Trinity, let¡¯s go.¡±

    Sara lay back on the couch, Eve held Vip while she sat in a chair. Kaden headed outside, ignoring the light rain, and knocked on the door to Ashi¡¯s tower.

    ¡°You are permitted,¡± She answered.

    Kaden stepped inside¡ªand couldn¡¯t believe the change. The stacked stone construction had been sealed, the wooden furniture carved, the tower had no roof-top garden, but it would have fit in amid the streets of Vichor. ¡°How did you do this?¡±

    ¡°The [Assistant] does as you expect. Have you not given it direction?¡± Ashi had changed to a loose robe rather than her mana-limiting wraps. ¡°What brings you here and now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to the Druid Grove. I have a bunch of Pollen from those Moon Moths to trade, and I¡¯m going to take some training on how to use [Mana Quiver] better. After that, we¡¯ll see.¡± He didn¡¯t want to lie.

    ¡°You go to hunt this Demon¡¯s Daughter, the one Mother spoke of. Alone.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t meet her gaze. ¡°None of this would have happened if I¡¯d gone to deal with the [FalCrow] by myself. You barely escaped being in the same mess I am. Trella was saddled with a [Slaver] class. If Naski holds the key, I¡¯m going to hunt her down.¡±

    Ashi nodded. ¡°What have you told the others?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I intend to go to Beast Control and snag skills and talents. Something to make me fireproof. Some kind of ice ability should be effective against Demons. Naski isn¡¯t the one hunting anymore. She¡¯s the one being hunted.¡±

    ¡°I will go as well. Together, we will find this Demon¡¯s Daugher.¡±

    That made Kaden¡¯s heart skip a beat. The smart thing to do was to go with everyone. But losing more of his party to Naski or anything else in Hell was a greater fear than death. ¡°I won¡¯t risk anyone else. Whatever happens to me I accept.¡±

    ¡°Then go and hunt her. Your Dungeon is healthy and strong, it must find a balance. Your heart has already decided on this.¡± Ashi put a hand on his chest, making each mana stone resonate in his armor. ¡°If you will not let me help, if I cannot convince you to stay, then return triumphant.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°You are not going demon hunting without help! No! Sara! Eve! Listen to this!¡± She pushed past him and headed to the farm house, where the voices rose louder and louder.

    Trinity lowered her head and groaned, which [Beast Soul] interpreted as *That didn¡¯t go well.*

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to say that twice. Or three times. Or at all.¡± Kaden sat on the wide stone bench Ashi had replaced her table with, and rubbed the scales at the top of Trinity¡¯s blind head. It was calm and quiet in the tower.

    It was neither calm nor quiet in the Farmhouse.

    Couldn¡¯t they at least understand he was trying to protect them? Couldn¡¯t they understand that there were deaths he could accept and some he couldn¡¯t?

    Eventually, the arguing died down. The silence was even more disturbing, as was Ashi¡¯s continued absence. Sara could be a force of nature. Ashi was a force of nature. Eve would probably support him going off alone to hunt in Hell. It was either the most caring thing she could do or the least caring, and with Eve it was always hard to know.

    Faction Quest Available: The Betrayer (Demoni) - The Disowned Daughter Naski has betrayed her oath to Hell and her Lord. The rule of Hell is that anything is permitted, if you are strong enough. Test her strength.

    Kaden had not intended to seek out the Demoni. He hadn¡¯t even known they existed, but could make the connection between the name and the faction quest. People who worshiped demons.

    He emerged from the tower and stopped so quickly Trinity bumped into him. Mr. Dervish leaned against the farmhouse, wearing solid black battle armor that was smattered with fresh gore. ¡°Kaden.¡±

    ¡°Mr. Dervish.¡±

    ¡°Going hunting in Hell?¡±

    Kaden knew what had happened. ¡°Was it Sara who messaged you? Or Ashi?¡±

    ¡°Evelyn. Going alone? Not smart, still your decision. Not getting a quest from the demons to do what you were already going to, that was stupid.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Kaden needed a moment. ¡°Demoni are demons? And they¡¯re issuing Faction Quests against demons. And it¡¯s acceptable to take them?¡±

    ¡°Abyss Lords don¡¯t care who does their dirty work, they care it gets done.¡± Mr. Dervish turned and pointed to the house. ¡°Only want to do this once.¡±

    Inside, Sara, Eve and Ashi waited until Kaden and Mr. Dervish joined them.

    ¡°First off, what makes you think this Demon¡¯s worth hunting?¡± Mr. Dervish asked.

    Kaden explained about his encounter with Ashi¡¯s mother. About how she¡¯d told him the Demon¡¯s Daughter held the key. ¡°I¡¯m tired of dragging people into my problems. I¡¯m ready to fix something instead of breaking them. You can add [Gigantorrod] to the list of ¡®random¡¯ occurences when I¡¯m nearby. But I think I can handle Naski. I¡¯ll bet my life on it, not anyone else¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°That Hatred Mark, you felt it since?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Ashi¡¯s mother damaged it. I don¡¯t know how, I just know she did.¡±

    Mr. Dervish kept quiet, tapping his cane nervously. ¡°Have you tried using it? Like a skill?¡±

    That was ridiculous. The Hatred Mark was something inflicted on him by the demon, something he couldn¡¯t remove, that would¡­the [Hatred Mark] felt different.

    [Hatred Mark] is active.

    Skill Entry Damaged¡­invoking CONSISTENCY_ENFORCER

    Analyzing remaining Components.

    Skill Effects normalized.

    Mana Cost Normalize

    Skill Description Regenerated.

    CONSISTENCY_ENFORCER COMPLETE.

    [Hatred Mark] has become [Binding Mark].

    [Binding Mark]

    You may enforce your will on demonic creatures. Binding higher level creatures will consume more Binding Slots. Higher Levels of this skill will allow binding of more powerful entities. While [Binding Mark] is active, reveal bound target¡¯s location. Higher levels will reduce the mana cost of activating Binding Mark. Commands will enforce your will on bound subjects. Complex commands cost higher mana. Higher levels will reduce the mana cost. Repeatedly commanding the same entity will reduce the cost.

    Kaden closed his eyes, concentrating on the feeling. The disgusting, slimy feeling of the connection Naski had placed between him. And smiled. Kaden accepted the Faction Quest as he thought about the hint. It had been so true.

    You will find her in your past.

    Naski had meant to make him her prey. To let her hunt him across planes and worlds, days and years. It was time to repay the favor. ¡°I know where she is.¡±

 Twenty Eight - Cult of Personality

    Mr. Dervish hadn¡¯t stopped smiling since Kaden shared the system logs. The sheer number of Messenger Birds he¡¯d sent didn¡¯t do anything to assure him, either, but eventually, the giant saw fit to explain. ¡°[Binding Mark]. We know Treadle used demon essence to modified the binding. We can use this to study how it works. How to break it. And there¡¯s folks who would pay to study that skill.¡±

    Sara had fetched map projector and turned the table into a map. ¡°Where, exactly, are you sensing her?¡±

    Kaden knew the location instinctively. ¡°Remember the cultist town? You will find her in your past. She¡¯s there. I don¡¯t know why, but she is. I emptied that place. I looted everything that wasn¡¯t tied down and broke loose a bunch of stuff that was.¡±

    ¡°Ilusions.¡± Eve spoke up. ¡°I didn¡¯t have [Gaze of the Ancients]. I remember I couldn¡¯t see the FarPortal here before you granted me permission, there¡¯s no telling what all you didn¡¯t loot because you didn¡¯t see it. The Demon¡¯s Daughter there had to be summoned somehow. I never saw a summoning circle.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Sara went silent for a moment. ¡°Mom had the Guild mark it for resettlement, but it¡¯s not on the list anymore. That¡¯s odd, because there¡¯s no record of it being recovered. Who knows? Maybe Mom took it off the list so she could produce Mana Dust there.¡±

    Mr. Dervish rumbled like he was going to yell, but when he spoke, it was soft. ¡°First off, you mine mana ore from a vein and dust is a side product. Secondly, I¡¯d rather have the addicts coming to Jackie than getting it from people who will want favors over gold. Last, I¡¯d rather know who¡¯s using and how much and if it was dealt on the street that won¡¯t happen.¡±

    ¡°Easy for you to say,¡± Sara spat. ¡°You didn¡¯t grow up listening to how evil it was. How awful it was. And yet not so evil she couldn¡¯t be bothered to sell it. Not so evil she wouldn¡¯t supply the very people she warned me about. Fine, so it¡¯s not a drug factory. What do you think is happening?¡±

    ¡°Same demons, different day. I think you go running in, you wind up dead. I think your Demon done gathered cultists. She¡¯s disowned, right?¡±

    ¡°Definitely.¡± Kaden wondered if Naski could feel the Binding Mark when it activated. He hoped so.

    ¡°Then I¡¯m damn sure what her plan is. Get some followers. Make a sacrifice. Bring another low level Demon Lord over. That¡¯s a Daughter¡¯s job. Make way for the Daddy.¡± Mr. Dervish turned to Sara. ¡°You want to be a leader, you got to lead. I just offered you a Quest. Read them details.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Sara asked. ¡°I¡¯m barely level twenty five. You can¡¯t possibly expect me to arrange the purge of a cult. Where am I supposed to find two level forty adventurers? What¡¯s my timeframe? How do I make connections? How do I convince people?¡±

    ¡°Work with a broker for the Faction. Get ¡®em to do it. It¡¯s optional. I could shout at the Guild and probably someone else wants the opportunity, if you don¡¯t.¡± He looked over to Kaden. ¡°Your Demon¡¯s trying to please a new Lord of Hell by opening a portal for him. She wants to get her place back. She¡¯ll have gathered cultists, maybe powerful ones. Seems like you can handle this Naski. You¡¯d be in trouble against a [Demonic Mage] or [Demon Summoner].¡±

    Ashi¡¯s scoff drew all their attention. ¡°Any [Mage] who must stoop to Demonic Mana is an insult to the Class. I would welcome the chance to cleanse this stain.¡±

    ¡°Ain¡¯t saying there is one. I¡¯m saying there could be. I got my own problem to deal with here. Someone removed that town from the list. Someone in the Guild. That is my kind of problem.¡± Mr. Dervish stood. ¡°Don¡¯t go rushing. Don¡¯t be stupid. Plan and succeed.¡±

    On the way out, he put a hand on Eve¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Good call. Keep making ¡®em.¡±

    The silence in the Farmhouse was deafening, so quiet Trinity¡¯s low growl could be heard everywhere. Of course she could sense his emotions via [Beast Soul]. He put a hand on her back and willed her to be calm. If anyone was going to be angry, it would be him. ¡°So. You didn¡¯t think I could handle a demon, and you didn¡¯t think you could talk to me. Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Sara faced him. ¡°If you wanted to succeed, you¡¯d want all the help you can get. You¡¯d be sending a bird to Cutter. You¡¯d be visiting the druids, heading to the [Ranger] Encampment. What¡¯s more important to you? Finding the missing piece to breaking that Obedience binding? Or being the hero?¡±

    Anger tangled into a knot in his chest. ¡°You have no right to¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have every right!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°You talk about how much you love Trella, but love would be patient even if it took years. You talk about how you would do anything to get her back, but you won¡¯t do the simplest things to make sure you succeed. If you¡¯re happier without her and don¡¯t have the guts to say so, burn the corpse and move on.¡±

    ¡°Get out!¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°Leave now. I don¡¯t want to talk to you, I don¡¯t even want to see you.¡±

    ¡°You know I¡¯m right.¡± Sara said, heading out the door.

    Kaden looked to Ashi and Eve. ¡°Either of you want to leave, too? Eve?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t, but I don¡¯t want to stay in your company.¡± Eve rose and headed up the stairs.

    Vip stayed behind, and came to sit at his feet. *Stay*

    He hadn¡¯t meant her.

    Ashi wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid. She headed straight for him. ¡°I would not have said it so, but Sara is not wrong. Be angry if you wish. Be furious if you must. Rage will cool, fury passes like the storm. If you need me, you know where I will be.¡±

    When Ashi left, the house was quiet.

    The [Assistant] came floating down to zap a clump of bloody hair that had fallen from Mr. Dervish¡¯s armor, then a blood stain, then a handprint. Kaden focused on it. ¡°Can you fix the stones in the fireplace?¡±

    It moved over immediately and hovered. Every few seconds, mana crackled from it like a lightning bolt. Great, he¡¯d broken it. Broken everything.

    The goal had been simple, hunting down Naski and avoid endangering anyone else. Nothing in the System is without risk. It had been his Dad¡¯s saying. Kaden turned and headed out to the FarPortal, sending the [FalCrow] as he went so the Portal Mage would be ready. He stepped onto the circle, and ashes swirled around him as the FarPortal activated.

    ###

    The Druid Grove was a hotbed of activity, as Beasts lumbered everywhere. The trees towered here, reaching so high only Queen BrownBeak¡¯s tree in BirchHaven would have competed. And under it all, now, Kaden recognized the steady pulse of [ShieldTrees] guarding the heart of the grove.

    Ravena and Olidar were nowhere to be found, but Kaden didn¡¯t need to bother the Centurions with every passing transaction. The Druid¡¯s representative this fine day was a young black man with dark skin and braided hair and a tunic the color of the first spring grass. He approached as Kaden left the FarPortal. ¡°Kaden Birch, you¡¯re on our registry of guests as a friend. Come to stay a while?¡±

    Kaden produced the pollen he and Ashi had harvested. ¡°I got attacked by some Moon Moths, and Olidar said next time, get the pollen there sooner. Nothing fancy.¡±

    ¡°Excellent, I¡¯ll have it evaluated and an offer ready. In the mean time, you are welcome to commune. The Spirit of the Grove welcomes you. It¡¯s fairly unusual for her to notice anyone.¡±

    Kaden recalled the tree woman. ¡°I¡¯m actually looking for the [Ranger] Encampment. I¡¯m planning on eradicating a cult and thought I¡¯d talk it over with them first.¡±

    ¡°Let me summon you a wisp!¡± The young man cupped his hands and focused¡ªand when he opened them, a soft pink globe hovered¡ªthen darted forward and back

    [Wisp]

    These creatures were once Beasts, then Mana Beasts, and now are little more than Mana. They still act as guides for adventurers, light in dark places, and hope for those who hope to be eternally lost in the woods. They love to be praised.

    *This one is feeling glum that it has not received praise, led an adventurer to their doom, or received praise for leading an adventurer to their doom for days.*

    Skills: Unfailing Guide

    Talents: Ethereal

    ¡°I love that,¡± Kaden said, applying [Beast Taming]. It wasn¡¯t even a question, the Wisp simply floated over to him.

    You have tamed a beast.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    The Druid sighed. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do that, these little guys will show you whatever you want if you just say something nice. Take him to the Encampment, Wisp #48,371. Remember, you¡¯re one of a kind, just like every other wisp!¡±

    The pink orb began to bob along, just a few steps ahead of Kaden, and slowly led him through the grove, then past a winding river, and from there into a low series of rocky canyons where the river had cut deep into the stone. Outside the canyons, a city of tents waited, and everywhere, [Rangers] stood talking, eating, and relaxing.

    They took little notice of Kaden.

    48,371 stopped at a junction and bobbed contentedly, its job done. No representatitive made it harder to get anything done. ¡°Take me to whoever¡¯s in charge of visitors,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Also, I like you better than Wisp 48370. That Wisp is just the worst.¡±

    48371 bobbed excitedly as if to say *You can¡¯t imagine how true that is.*

    That wasn¡¯t [Beast Soul] at work, just Kaden¡¯s attempt to assign meaning to the random movements of a mana beast.

    You have made a mortal enemy: Wisp 48370 will see you dead.

    You have received a Quest: Blinded by the Light - Do not let Wisp 48370 lure you to your doom. Reward: A Conspicuous Lack of Doom.

    ¡°How?¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°How the hell could one wisp out of thousands even know I¡¯m talking about it?¡±

    48371 shook back and forth in a way best interpreted as *I thought you knew it was the worst,* then led him away through the Encampment. The further he went toward the edges of the canyons, the more sparse the tents became, the older and grayer the [Rangers]. 48371 stopped at the doorway to a tent, then dipped toward it.

    ¡°Yes, I understand. I can¡¯t exactly knock.¡± Kaden said¡ªonly then noticing the small chime on the door, which he rang.

    ¡°What is it?¡± A man¡¯s deep voice asked.

    Then the tent door lifted up. The man who emerged was a foot taller than Kaden, broader, wearing armor literally woven from thorns. It constantly bloomed and then faded, shedding petals that disolved to Mana.

    [Ahsorn Winlock - Saint of the Forest]

    Everything [Identify] added was garbage, and Kaden realized his mistake. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. I asked 48371 to show me who was in charge of visitors and it led me here. I¡¯ll leave you in peace¡ª¡±

    ¡°Now? After you already broke my six month meditation?¡±

    48371 froze, then circled Kaden to hide behind him from Ranger Winlock¡¯s gaze.

    *Doubt*.

    Kaden laughed. ¡°48371 doesn¡¯t buy the six month meditation thing. But I really am sorry and I really will leave.¡±

    ¡°Birch. The one that walked into Hell with Viktor? Assmodeus? Any of this ring a bell?¡±

    One thing Kaden liked about the [Rangers] was how they were mostly relaxed. ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t go with him to fight the Abyss Lord, I just took some corpses and ran like hell with my Party. I came here because a party mate took Archery and learned to use [Mana Quiver]. I thought you¡¯d have an organization like the Druids.¡±

    ¡°Rangers do what Rangers do. We don¡¯t have a leader, though we usually get along with Druids. They¡¯re the one you want to bug for lessons. Got a bow?¡±

    ¡°Thorn Caster, a gift from Viktor.¡± Kaden produced it. ¡°I won¡¯t lie, I was planning on asking for help from the Encampment, too. I sort of convinced Assmodeus his Daughter betrayed him. He disowned her, now she¡¯s gathering a cult, probably striking a deal with another Lord of Hell.¡±

    ¡°Again?¡± Ranger Windlock asked. ¡°Sorry, not your fault. Probably the sixth Lord of Hell to try and manifest this year alone. Some decades are like centuries, I¡¯m telling you. What do you need?¡±

    ¡°A couple of level forty adventurers just in case she does manage to bring over a demon lord. I wouldn¡¯t say no to a Centurion.¡± If he was going to ask, he was going to ask big.

    ¡°Here¡¯s what you do, Beast Man. Go back to the [Druids]. They love organizing. Put their people in touch with your people so they can talk to our people. But I can¡¯t promise anything if there hasn¡¯t been a manifestation. Seen a demon lord wherever she is?¡± Windlock¡¯s tone implied there was a right answer.

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    He sighed. ¡°Have you seen something that could be mistaken for a Demon Lord? From a distance? At night? While you were drunk? Help me help you.¡±

    Kaden swallowed the bitter taste of lies. ¡°Yes, I entirely saw a Demon Lord.¡±

    The Ranger¡¯s eyes opened wide. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Damnit!¡± Windlock shouted. ¡°At least put some effort into it! Rangers don¡¯t want to go kill some weak cultists. They want to punch the core out of a demon. They want to collect demon titles the way [Druids] collect deer antlers. Go get better at archery, they¡¯ll at least respect that.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [FalCrow] and dispatched it to a friend, one who would know how to convinced [Rangers], and then he let 48371 lead him back to the Grove, where a few silver got him range time, if not an instructor, and sent the [FalCrow] with contact information to Sara. That he couldn¡¯t stand to see her didn¡¯t mean he would ignore her help.

    He hadn¡¯t forgotten how the teachers yelled at Sara. That the [Mana Quiver] was a crutch that unlocked the skill. But Sara had several levels in [Mana Quiver]. Still, at tier two, skills were supposed to be more powerful.

    He produced the [Mana Quiver] from Inventory and drew an arrow from it. The arrow was simple, wood, with a sharp point. Pouring twenty points into the Mana quiver got him an entirely different arrow.

    Steel, smooth, with a glittering black head, it was fletched with white feathers, and when he drew Thorn Caster back, the mana stones stitched into his outfit buzzed slightly, like a dozen dagger wasps had landed on him.

    The arrow flew true and speared the outer ring of the target, exactly as Kaden had intended.

    Close to how Kaden had intended.

    Better than not hitting the target at all.

    This time, he poured a hundred points into the quiver. The arrow didn¡¯t change, the head did, coming out shining onyx. This time, the stones sang as he drew the arrow, which nearly split the first arrow. He was consistent, even if it was consistently wrong.

    Fifty points of mana got exactly the same arrow.

    Kaden focused on the feeling, pulling ten point arrows. It was like Inventory, in a way. And he didn¡¯t need to reach into Inventory, Mr. Dervish had drilled that into him. He should be able to¡ªthere. A solid arrow without reaching for the quiver. He tossed it away, and watched it bounce on the ground and then disintegrate.

    Over and over, he practiced. Then put the Mana Quiver into storage.

    Not thinking about how he didn¡¯t have the quiver, Kaden focused on the memory. On the expectation, on how the arrows felt. There, when his fingers touched the string, he felt the slightest difference. Kaden pushed Mana and pulled the string¡ªand dropped an arrow in the dirt.

    ¡°You are wasting time and producing weaker arrows.¡± The woman spoke.

    Kaden almost dropped his bow. ¡°Mara. Thank you for coming.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let me stop you. [Mana Quiver] is a critical skill. Keep shooting. Oh, and you don¡¯t need to pour mana in. For practice, there¡¯s no difference.¡± Mara pulled back her hood and came to sit on a stump near Kaden. Her reddish brown hair was filthy, her green camoflage cloak torn. ¡°Ban¡¯s at the temple, we had a bad run, he¡¯s spending some time getting right in the head. And then this monster of a Messenger Bird showed up.¡±

    48371 began to circle Mara, then zipped back to Kaden.

    ¡°I need to convince some [Rangers] to help take out a cult. They could have summoned a Demon Lord, we need at least a couple level forty Adventurers. Any advice?¡± As he spoke, he continued to shoot at the target.

    Your skill with Mana Quiver has increased.

    Finally, something to smile about.

    ¡°Look, in case you didn¡¯t already figure it out, Rangers don¡¯t follow leaders, exactly. We do what we agree to do. And the higher level we get, the more we do what we do.¡± Mara shook her head. ¡°Stop thinking about the quiver. I swear I can see you pause to think about it.¡±

    ¡°Ranger Winlock asked me to lie about seeing a Demon Lord.¡±

    Mara¡¯s scoff drew his attention. ¡°Of course you hunted down our Saint and asked him for help. Of course you did. He doesn¡¯t talk to anyone, meditates on the Voice of the Forest for six months at a time. Tell me you didn¡¯t break his meditation.¡±

    Time to practice lying. ¡°Did I mention I saw a Demon Lord?¡±

    ¡°You disturbed the Forest Saint¡¯s meditation!¡± Mara swore under her breath and summoned her hawk, Gyre. She whispered to it, and then sent Gyre off sailing. ¡°I¡¯ve apologized for you. You are going to apologize, too. And why is that [Wisp] still hanging around?¡±

    ¡°I tamed it. Meet 48371. Call him 71 for short. He¡¯s a great wisp, not at all like 48370. 70 is now, apparently, my mortal enemy.¡± Kaden shrugged. ¡°Be careful. 70 might blink threateningly at you.¡±

    Mara was very quiet for far too long. ¡°How did that [Shadow Blade] not murder you in your sleep?¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help flinching. ¡°Sore subject right now. I just had it out with my Party Leader over trying to help Trella. I really can¡¯t take more right now.¡±

    ¡°As a Party Leader myself, I¡¯m tempted to take her side. Explain.¡± Mara raised her arm as Gyre landed on it, and stroked his head. ¡°You want to convince a bunch of rangers, start by convincing me.¡±

    Kaden explained.

    About Naski.

    About the [Hatred Mark] and how it had ¡®malfunctioned¡¯ to let him track her. And how he¡¯d nearly killed Naski when he wasn¡¯t even level twenty five. And then how Sara had acused him of not wanting Trella back. ¡°I was this close to punching her.¡±

    ¡°I have a secret technique to pass on to you,¡± Mara said. ¡°It¡¯s an old [Ranger] skill, one I think your parents would have taught you. Learning it is painful. Using it is worse, but you need to learn it and level it because this may save your life.¡±

    ¡°Pain doesn¡¯t scare me.¡± Kaden was ready.

    ¡°Just hearing the name will give you the skill. It¡¯s called [Get Over It.] Far as I can tell, your Party saved you from a dumb move. I¡¯m three levels higher and I wouldn¡¯t go hunting a [Demon¡¯s Daughter] on my own, not because I couldn¡¯t, but because I know I shouldn¡¯t. Be angry but be angry with yourself, not the people trying to help. Get Over It. Your Party Leader said something awful but she did it for the right reason.¡±

    Kaden stood, completely dumbfounded. ¡°I thought you would understand. Rangers want to kill demons. I want to kill demons.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I understand you¡¯re doing your best to get killed. I¡¯ll get you your [Ranger] when you fix matters with your Party.¡± Mara stood and brushed herself off. ¡°Get Over It. Get it done. Oh, and you¡¯ve been ready to actually use [Mana Arrows] forever. You have to want it.¡±

    Gyre gave a short cry that [Beast Soul] didn¡¯t translate and soared into the sky as Mara left via Portal.

    Kaden put his anger into arrows, pulling Thorn Caster back as far as he could and feeling that moment when the arrow materialized. There was something there. A choice. Something he was letting slip like a bow string off numb fingers.

    Not that Thorn Caster had an actual string, it formed one from pure mana every time Kaden picked it out of Inventory. But the feeling, that slip, that miss was right there. He had to want it? Of course he wanted it. He wanted to put an arrow through Naski.

    He wanted to see fear in her eyes as he hunted her relentlessly. If she ran from him, [Thorn Caster] and if she ran toward him, [Rememrance of Battle]. And even if she did manage to close on him, Trinity would be happy to introduce her to a level of anguish Hell could only aspire to. Kaden ripped back the bow and fired, a bolt of pure black mana that exploded into the target.

    He nearly collapsed. Two hundred points of mana had given him a single arrow, but that arrow had struck the target and flipped it all the way over. Two hundred points would let him shoot exactly one arrow per battle.

    His nerves tingled up and his right arm where he¡¯d drawn the arrow. But it was progress. It was growth. And one¡ªKaden¡¯s attention snapped back as the target flipped over again, throwing splinters¡ªand again.

    Kaden understood the effect, Chrono Mana was known for odd time based effects, and Remembrance of Battle did exactly that. What set the delay? Or how many times it hit? How could he control it?

    Kaden stopped as a glittering Messenger Dragon landed, and Ashi spoke. ¡°Come quickly, there is no time to waste. I need you.¡±

 Twenty Nine - Ant-icipation

    Ashi¡¯s messenger dragon had left Kaden with a set of coordinates for a FarPortal, and Kaden rushed to them. The pollen, the lessons, all of it would have to wait. He paid the drunken looking portal mage and received a ride worse than what Eve managed.

    Fortunately, so many trips with Eve had taught him: Hands in front of face, roll, don¡¯t bounce, and have a healing potion handy. Kaden skided to a stop in the middle of a war zone¡ªor more accurately, the aftermath of a war. This had been a forest, once, the shredded and fallen tree trunks assured him of this. What was more disturbing was the gear that lay scattered everywhere, swords and shields, pieces of armor with bloodstains.

    The [FalCrow] phased into existence above, circling wider and wider.

    ¡°Ashi, what did you get yourself into?¡± Kaden spoke to no one. It was unlikely she would have called for him and then left.

    ¡°Kill everything that moves!¡± The [FalCrow] said in Eve¡¯s voice as it came gliding back to perch.

    ¡°Where are they?¡± Kaden asked.

    In answer, a blip of pink light emerged from his shadow, and began to bob forward.

    ¡°71! I¡¯ll get you back to the forest. Can you take me to Ashi?¡± Kaden asked.

    It sailed forward, then turned, and began to lead him through the destroyed forest. No underbrush, shredded tree trunks, splintered wood everywhere. Kaden sent the [FalCrow] to Ashi, but kept head moving. How 71 actually knew where to go, he wouldn¡¯t guess, but for now Kaden¡¯s plan started and ended at ¡®keep moving.¡¯

    The [Wisp] stopped¡ªthen darted behind Kaden, leading back the other way¡ªthen sideways. It had drunk too much moonlight, or maybe the complients had gone to its core. As it zipped sideways and back and forth, Kaden began walking back the way he¡¯d come, collecting weapons and armor, half a [Mage] staff.

    And in the distance, he heard someone shouting for help. Kaden sprinted through the forest, listening as the cries grew louder. He summoned Trinity so she¡¯d be ready, and the Hydra raced him, seeming to hear better with three sets of ears.

    Now, the splintering of wood accompanied those cries.

    Kaden leaped over a fallen trunk while Trinity flattened to go under¡ªand burst into trouble. A swarm of Formicidians surrounded a tree, chewing on the trunk. High above, a naked man clung to a branch, weakly calling for help.

    Eight of them versus Kaden and Trinity wasn¡¯t a fair fight. And the enemy?

    [Formicidian]

    Ants are some of the most tireless of workers, the fiercest of fighters, and the most patient of enemies. They come in colonies, and to wander into the nest is to discover just how every path becomes a trap and every branch leads closer to your doom. These are not Beasts. Your skills reveal nothing about them.

    Level: 25

    HP: 1400/1400

    Mana: 300/300

    Skills: Edged Weapons, Shieldwork, Acid Sting, Cutting Bite

    Talents:Acid Touch, Hive Mind, Sensory Net, Heat Sense, Chemical Smell, Long-Talk, Nurse Egg, External Digestion.

    Really not fair, but Kaden had been spoiling for a fight. He borrowed [MultiTasker] from Trinity, giving up [Razor Scales] for the ability to attack multiple targets without a penalty.And he activated [Moment of Speed] to land a maiming blow on the closest Formie.

    It responded with blast of pink bile that bubbled and burned, eating at the exposed skin.

    You have been afflicted with [Acidic Burn].

    Your skill with Resist Acid increases.

    Trinity overran the pack, striking one with each head, spearing a fourth, and trampling a fifth, then looked back at him as if to say *One at a time? Please, you¡¯re embarrassing me.*

    ¡°I don¡¯t have three heads!¡± Kaden shouted as he smashed a maimed Formie and dove to avoid three spews of acid. He came up facing one and blocked a spray with his Eldritch Shield, then bashed that Formie and landed another maiming blow.

    [Split Second] drained his already low mana to let him keep his face as the Formies attacked. And they didn¡¯t attack individually, they attacked as a swarm, a group that coordinated their attacks in a way he couldn¡¯t avoid. Some had to be endured.

    These formies didn¡¯t carry swords. Their second tier evolution had sharpened their claws and legs and covered their bodies in hair-like spines that glistened. They didn¡¯t need weapons because they were weapons.

    Kaden muffled a groan of pain as he dodged four attacks and blocked one. The other sliced across his stomach.

    Trinity roared in rageand bit down with her middle head, crunching a Formie¡¯s carapace even as her tail struck a second one. Her serpent head spat acidic drool on a Formie, but since the beasts had [Acidic Touch] it didn¡¯t have the desired effect.

    ¡°Get me a sword¡± The man in the tree shouted.

    Kaden dumped three from Inventory as he rolled away from another strike. With his eldritch shield, he slapped aside three attacks, then dismissed it to go on the offensive. It wasn¡¯t enough to damage, he needed to maim, and aimed for leg joints.

    Every sickening crunch gave him hope, and two Formies gave up attacking Kaden because Trinity had turned her attention on them.

    The naked man in the tree dropped to his feet and took up two swords, charging into the battle. ¡°You keep them distracted, I¡¯ll cut them down.¡±

    Kaden hit them with [Mana Drain] and siphoned one dry¡ªthen another, and another. It didn¡¯t matter that he couldn¡¯t use it all, what mattered was that they couldn¡¯t. Three on five was a different battle entirely, especially when one of the three could take on three opponents at once.

    Kaden switched to more dangerous, ponderous blows, aiming to crush or cut with every one, and when the chance presented itself, [Moment of Speed] let him deliver a smashing blow that broke a Formie¡¯s leg.

    Your skill with [Brutal Blows] has increased.

    Yes, it had. The same way [Cooking] showed him when a dish was done, Kaden had a slightly better grasp of just where to strike. Shield and hammer, hammer and shield, he carved through the last two Formies and crippled the one that hacked at Trinity with both arms even as she crushed it.

    You have killed a Formicidian.

    You have gained experience.

    In the silent forest, he tossed the man a spare set of clothes he¡¯d worn in ShadowVale, then [Field Harvested] the Formies, receiving Formic Acid x1 which was a reagent if ever he saw one. ¡°I¡¯m looking for my party, but my [Wisp] got confused.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re down below, in the colony, then.¡± The man shuddered. ¡°We were supposed to be picking off workers. Standard ant-control mission. There was a [Juvenile Queen] and her escorts returning, and one of the archers took a shot.¡±

    That sounded terrible. ¡°And the ants took offense.¡±

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    ¡°They dug new tunnels. They collapsed old ones, and dragged a bunch of people into the colony. Then that crazy woman showed up and said she was heading in to rescue people.¡±

    Ashi had been able to call for Kaden, which was unlikely if she was being dragged. ¡°Say I want to go down into the colony. Which way do I go?¡±

    ¡°Anywhere,¡± the man said. ¡°Going in alone? You¡¯re as nuts as the other group combined. The snake woman and the priestess and the mage. She said she wanted the deepest entrance because it would take her to the heart of the nest. I said it was probably the one by the lake.¡±

    Kaden left him standing there and sprinted toward the lake with Trinity crashing through the wreckage behind him. The ground dropped sharply as he neared the lakebed, and Kaden leaped off the edge to [Backslash] a single Formie dragging a corpse.

    Trinity¡¯s version of [Backslash] was more ¡°Jump with the weight of a TriTerror and crush with claws and bite with three sets of teeth at once,¡± But Kaden shoveled the corpse into Inventory, harvested the formie and pulled Trinity into his soul.

    [Stealth Aura] wrapped him, and he called out. ¡°Wisp? You¡¯re the prettiest Wisp in existence. Find them for me through this tunnel.¡±

    Its¡¯s confusion had probably been because he was on top of the tunnels.

    A [Wisp] emerged, glowing deep blue. It bobbed back and forth, then led down the tunnel. Kaden wasn¡¯t sure [Stealth] worked against Formies. They had a host of abilities that sounded like they would bypass [Stealth] completely, but it was safer to try it. The tunnels here were smooth dirt packed down, and it dropped downward sharply.

    Kaden summoned a [Mana Dart] and let it rise, glowing brighter and brighter before dropping it. It bounced not twenty feet down, so he leaped and slammed Remembrance into the floor-wall to slow himself, then dropped the last few feet. ¡°Come on. Take me to my party.¡±

    The bright blue orb zipped away, and Kaden followed it. Where were the Formies? The forest outside was shredded, evidence of an overwhelming force. The tunnels were empty. As Kaden passed an alcove, a row of white, glistening ovals stood, and the nearest one cracked. A Formie pushed its way out, skin slick and its shell still soft.

    But it sniffed the air and looked straight at him.

    [Juvenile Formicidian] has used [Chemical Sense].

    Before it could scream, Kaden split it in two with Remembrance, then went down the row killing the pupae. When the entire room lay in ruins, he could take a breath. [Stealth] didn¡¯t work.

    Kaden had the worst idea in existence.

    He picked up a Juvie, still wet and warm, and rubbed it over his body until every inch was covered in slime. For good measure, he picked up another corpse and tossed it over his shoulder.

    Now, to find another Formie and test.

    Fifty feet or a hundred down the tunnel, he found another alcove, this one with small larva the size of Kaden¡¯s chest. And among the eggs, a different kind of [Formicidean] walked.

    [Brood Tender]

    These formicideans lack the terrible weapons of the soldiers and the tenacity of the workers. They exist to feed the young and are specialized to do so.

    The monster was bulbous, with a soft shell that let tufts of hair that looked like the glistening spines of the soldiers stick out, but these tufts secreted drops of clear liquid into a gel, then the [Brood Tender] packed the gel into a cube, which it fed to wrigling larva.

    The [Brood Tender] didn¡¯t so much look at Kaden as it raised its head and waved its antenna¡ªthen went back to work. When he approached, it offered him a cube.

    You have received 1x Formicidean Jelly.

    Kaden shoved it into Inventory and moved on. Killing the Brood Tender would only attract attention. His guide began to dance more urgently, insisting he take a left hand fork past rooms where soldier formies stood motionless, not asleep but unmoving.

    They ignored Kaden, putting off arank chemical reek that [Beast Soul] attempted to translate as *Hatchlings. Can¡¯t live with ¡®em, can¡¯t squish ¡®em.*

    Each of these was taller than Kaden, and he had no question that continuing to use his chemical [Stealth] was the right approach. After sixteen turns and three more tunnels, Kaden knew exactly where he was¡ªcompletely lost¡ªuntil the blue wisp stopped fleeing and instead bobbed slowly, waiting for Kaden to approach.

    He¡¯d reached an underground cavern.

    A really large underground cavern lit with yellow mushrooms. Two lines of Formies moved in and out from opposite sides, surrounding what could only be the [Queen Formicidean]. Sixteen feet long, with wings that glowed a soft yellow, its shell wasn¡¯t hardened or black, but looked like diamond. Every few seconds, it accepted an offering from a worker.

    Bodies.

    Chunks of bodies.

    Occasionally, both lines would pause, and the Queen¡¯s body would heave a white oval out. The entire colony thrummed with mana.

    The wisp began to sail forward, leading Kaden toward the monster. Kaden refused to accept it. Ashi could not have been devoured. He would have known it. Maybe. There was a passing chance he would have known it, not entirely likely.

    It was the kind of lie he liked to tell himself.

    Instead of moving toward the Queen, Kaden headed down the tunnel the workers came from. No doubt they¡¯d stored the dead to feed them to their Queen. If he found Ashi¡¯s body, he could have her resurrected.

    The wisp became more and more frantic, expanding in size, glowing brighter.

    And the Queen stopped, looking his way.

    Wisp 48370 declares its vengeance is at hand!

    He¡¯d been following the wrong wisp. Kaden was certain he was imagining it laughing as he quickly darted down the nearest tunnel, holding on to the Juvi corpse and waving it in the air. The Formies waiting to feed the Queen clung to the ceiling, leaving Kaden free to run as fast as he could. And the colony began to rustle as a new scent rushed down the hallway.

    It wasn¡¯t quite *stop that hatchling* but Kaden didn¡¯t have time to quible over nuance as he ran¡ªthen stopped at a side room entrance. The room housed mushrooms with chunks taken from them, and Kaden ducked in, tossing the dead Juvi at the door, then crouching in the back

    Feet skittered in the dirt and mandibles clicked and clacked as the Formies filled the nest with a smell that was either *bring him to me* or *I like aged cheese*. A monstrous soldier stood over the dead juvenile, tapping it with antenna while emitting scents.

    *This the guy?*

    *Sure smells like the guy*

    *Must be the guy*

    *For the Colony!*

    It snapped the dead Juvi in half and then dragged the halves away to chemical cheers, the equivalent of *Never liked that guy, anyway*.

    Kaden remained hidden, waiting until the scents died down in the colony. The food storage had to be this way, because that¡¯s where ants with bodies emerged.

    Now Kaden was on a timer.

    The Juvi¡¯s scent would only last so long.

    He darted into the hallway and ran, following the line of Formies upward. The tunnel was absolutely rising higher and higher¡ªand the first screams reached his ears. With Remembrance, Kaden climbed up a rise in a tunnel, and into butcher shop. Formicideans worked to dismember living Adventurers.

    There were moments to plan and moments to act, and now was a moment to act. He drew Remembrance, picking a Formie. Before he could attack, the butchery lit up with a silver glow. An asteroid materialized in the air above Kaden and exploded into the tunnel that led out, as arrows rained down.

    There, hovering in the air, a [PolyMage] he knew so well.

    ¡°Ashi!¡± Kaden shouted as he leaped over to [Backslash] a distracted Formie who¡¯d bitten an arm off a man who screamed in agony. ¡°Sorry to do this.¡± He drew the Levicon Blade and cut the man¡¯s throat.

    You have slain the [Bard] Thandon Lars.

    You have gained experience.

    More importantly, Thandon fit into Inventory now, which is where Kaden put as many of the other corpses as he could.

    A Formie rushed toward him and then stopped, antenna waving, and turned.

    [Backslash!] He rewarded its hesitation with a crippling blow¡ªthen flinched as fire rained down on the Formie.

    ¡°Kaden Birch, you were slow,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We could not wait. Rey was taken by these monsters. Sara¡¯s lover must not be a meal for them.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not here!¡± Sara shouted, her voice almost frantic.

    ¡°First we kill these, then I¡¯ll be buffed enough to take on the colony,¡± Cutter called.

    Sara wasn¡¯t paying any attention, her Horror was lashing out at the nearest Formies, and only the intervention of Cutter¡¯s party kept her from being in deep trouble. Eve stood nearby, using [Plague], [Life Explosion] and every other dirty trick she knew to cripple formies. ¡°I can raise him. Unless he¡¯s already been digested.¡±

    ¡°Get those adventurers out!¡± Kaden shouted as he ambushed another Formie which seemed deeply confused about why he wasn¡¯t attacking Ashi. Ashi finished it off with bursts of lightning.

    ¡°Tell me you used [Stealth Aura] and did not emerge from the Nest,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°Kill first, talk later,¡± Kaden said. He used [Moment of Speed] over and over to attack Formies until he reached the pit where they¡¯d stored the still living victims. Kaden dropped a rope down and held it while the first few scrambled up. ¡°You help everyone else out.¡±

    ¡°You.¡± Cutter called as she blurred, heading this way. ¡°You definitely came out of that tunnel right as Polly was collapsing it. I need to keep attacking or my buffs will drain off. What¡¯s down that way?¡±

    ¡°The Queen, if you go far enough,¡± Kaden said. ¡°There were two lines bringing food to her, so there¡¯s a second butchery. If we can get Sara to the Queen, we can kill her.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Sara spoke, her voice like steel. ¡°Tell me and it will be done.¡±

    ¡°Your Crawling Horrors. They have [Blasphemous Flesh]. The queen swallows one, bam, dead.¡± Kaden looked to the tunnel. The orb of moon rock had shifted, and sank. ¡°We¡¯re about to have company.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Cutter screamed. ¡°Bring them on! Bring them now!¡±

    Kaden ran, sprinting toward the tunnel, and brought Remembrance down in a high arc to smash the moon-rock blocking the tunnel, just as the formicideans broke through. The first to poke their head through received the smash of a lifetime.

    Scents flooded out of the newly opened tunnel, and [Beast Soul] did its best to interpret.

    *Hey, we found them, up here*

    *Get them!*

    *You know, I think Tony is dead and his body is blocking the tunnel. It¡¯s inconvenient. Should we pull his body off or wait?*

    *I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s not polite to pull someone¡¯s body off their head without asking if they¡¯re dead. Did you ask?*

    *Yes, but he¡¯s not answering. This is so much pressure! If you¡¯re not dead, twitch your legs!*

    *Screw it, I¡¯m pulling his body off. Wait, his leg just twitched. Tony, one twitch for yes, I¡¯m dead, or two twitches for¡ª*

    An explosion of fire turned the top formicidians into ash.

    The Formicidians swarmed onward.

 Thirty - Queen Me

    Kaden had only a moment to verify the shapes emerging were Formies, and then Cutter went sailing into the tunnel with her party right behind her¡ªand Eve, who kept using [Plague] and [Moon Strike]. Ashi circled the butchery, incinerating wounded Formies.

    Sara was barely functioning. Her gaze was distant, her focus nonexistent. ¡°How did you get here?¡±

    ¡°I came from that way,¡± he said, pointing to the tunnel, then smashing a twitching Formie. ¡°Come on, we¡¯re going to need you.¡±

    ¡°No. How did you know to come?¡±

    He waited for her to join him and headed down the tunnel. ¡°Ashi sent a message. We can do the whole hug and learn thing later. Right now, what counts is getting to the other nursery.¡±

    Anger still boiled inside him every time he looked at Sara, but it would wait until after Rey¡ªor his corpse¡ªwas located. The path outward was covered in wounded Formies. Cutter¡¯s blades started out weak, but the more she invoked her rituals the more damage she did, and now simple slices made mortal wounds.

    But out in the nursery, a war raged on three fronts.

    Cutter had taken on the core of the soldiers, meeting them right where they swarmed out of the entrance. ¡°Level!¡± Her shout of triumph echoed, and Kaden briefly felt bad. For the Formies.

    Her party had drawn flaming weapons from Inventory and encroached on the Queen, taking care not to close on her.

    ¡°Eve!¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the other butchery. Every second counts.¡±

    ¡°I. Can¡¯t. Leave.¡± Eve drew her Blood Moon staff.

    Eve Black has activated Blood Moon.

    The staff blasted out red light that caused every Formie it touched to ooze ichor from the joints. The Blood Moon light reflected off its first victims to strike others, and those, too, oozed. Since Cutter¡¯s buffs scaled when she hit enemies with a debuf, and the woman was a literally blur as she attacked the affected Formies.

    Sara summoned a crawling horror, the fat head-sized maggot squirming in her hands, and approached the [Formicidean Queen]. It spread mandibles and sqealed at her in a way that [Beast Soul] translated as *You come into my home, on the day of my daughters¡¯s wedding flight and threaten me?*

    ¡°You want to eat? Let me offer you food.¡± One of Sara¡¯s pseudopods took the [Crawling Horror] and thrust it forward.

    The Queen lunged forward, her jaws snapping shut.

    Sara screamed in agony.

    The Queen shivered, her legs splaying out as they jangled, then went limp.

    [Formicidean Queen] used [Strength of Generations].

    It began to glow under the skin, even as its skin changed color, becoming pale.

    ¡°What¡¯s it doing? [Identify] isn¡¯t showing skills,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°According to my notifications, it¡¯s regenerating. It will be invulnerable for ten minutes, then emerge in a battle mode.¡± Sara¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°I doubt I can kill it like that again and we do not want to be here when it wakes up.¡±

    ¡°We are close to being overrun as it is,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Go. Find him.¡±

    ¡°Come on, we have to get to the other butchery.¡± Kaden left Cutter and her party to hold the wave and rushed toward the now empty tunnel that had held a feeding line. The workers weren¡¯t like soldiers, it made sense for them to run.

    Very likely, the nurseries were packed with workers ready to fight to the death. Kaden drew a [Mana Dart] and raised it to provide light in the dark nest. Then he took a risk. ¡°71, I want to find Rey.¡±

    A pink wisp emerged and bobbed down the tunnel. That was definitely 71.

    If Sara had an opinion, she kept it to herself as they took turn after turn.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Kaden caught Sara as the tunnel simply dropped away. He spotted 71 down near the bottom, and picked her up. ¡°Down we go.¡±

    Kaden leaped off, and let Remembrance¡¯s axe head dig into the wall as he fell, and skidded to a halt. Up ahead, mushrooms lit the paths, and a few Formies carried chunks of flesh.

    ¡°That¡¯s him!¡± Sara shouted¡ªand she was off sprinting after a Formie carrying a corpse.

    It saw her coming and dropped the corpse, then turned on Sara.

    It never saw Trinity, as Kaden unleashed her from behind it. Sara¡¯s pseudopods ripped at limbs until they came loose, while Trinity applied all three heads to the hapless formie.

    There simply wasn¡¯t room for Kaden to attack. Instead, he stuffed the corpse into Inventory and pulled at Sara. ¡°That one¡¯s dead, help me rescue others.¡±

    She reluctantly entered the butchery, where three Formies worked dutifully on a mound of dead Adventurers. In this one, they stuffed whole bodies into cavities in the wall.

    ¡°How many adventurerers were there?¡±

    ¡°Six full parties that I know of, maybe another six in the rescue group.¡± Sara used her bow to unleash lightning on a Formie from across the room. When it sprinted toward Sara, Kaden intercepted it with a spinning axe blow that cut deep into the shell.

    ¡°Leave Trinity with me and get the bodies.¡± Sara said.

    Trinity imediately charged the Formie furthest from Sara, while Kaden worked his way through the alcoves, collecting corpses. So many of these didn¡¯t have heads, but soon the grizzly deed was done. ¡°I¡¯ve got them all. 71, what¡¯s the shortest path out of here?¡±

    The Wisp floated to the other end of the butchery, then into the wall.

    ¡°We can¡¯t do that! We¡¯re solid!¡± Sara shouted. Then she stopped and ran to the wall. ¡°There¡¯s a tunnel here. An old tunnel. Help me dig it out.¡±

    Together they pulled at rocks, and as they worked, Kaden caught a breath of fresh air. ¡°Definitely this way. We need Ashi. She can blast it open. How do we convince Cutter to end the battle and retreat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Keep digging.¡± Sara turned and ran back toward the Queen¡¯s chamber.

    Kaden focused on one rock at a time, widening the opening, then removing stone after stone so he could crawl through.

    ¡°Move!¡± Ashi shouted as she ran in. ¡°No fire! Wind!¡±

    A tornado formed in the middle of the room, and the base twisted to siphon dirt from the mound, pulling loose rocks, until it dissapated.

    Now Kaden could pull even more out, making a true opening. ¡°There¡¯s fresh air this way. Has to be an exit. I¡¯m going back for Sara.¡±

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°Ashi, can you seal this?¡±

    ¡°No. I am out of mana,¡± she said.

    Kaden activated [Mana Well] and poured all his mana into her. ¡°Now?¡±

    ¡°Now. Move!¡± Ashi shouted.

    One by one, the members of Cutter¡¯s Party emerged from the tunnel, then finally Eve, and at last Cutter emerged. She dripped with Ichor and literally glowed in pulsing waves of red, gold and green. ¡°Queen won¡¯t be able to follow us,¡± Cutter said.

    ¡°No one is following out!¡± Ashi shouted. She drew a wand. The Elder Gnome¡¯s wand, and pressed it to her palm. ¡°[Moon Fall]!¡±

    The same asteroid exploded into the tunnel.

    They ran.

    The closed up tunnel led to mildly flooded chambers where the lake had seeped in, and from there, out into a swamp where the river backed up. With 71 leading the way, Kaden began leading them back through the forest toward the Far Portal. In the distance, the trees shook, and the earth trembled. A swarm of flying ants errupted from the ground, sailing over the forest, then turned north.¡±

    ¡°Holy shit, there¡¯s threejuvenile queens. Everyone take a shot,¡± Cutter said, drawing a bow from Inventory. ¡°Buffs are fading, I can¡¯t be sure it¡¯ll die.¡±

    Sara and half the others drew bows as the Formicidean swarm came closer.

    ¡°Now!¡± Cutter fired, and half her party did too, targeting the lead ant, which dipped and dodged.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t drawn Thorn Caster yet. He was waiting. Watching. The key was not thinking. He drew back, not focusing on the arrow, which sizzled and vibrated, sending blurs through the air.

    ¡°Kaden, you must shoot,¡± Ashi said.

    He let out a breath and loosed the arrow with a generous lead on the one that trailed.

    You have inflicted a status effect (Poisoned).

    The Juvenile Queen lurched sideways in the air, as shouts of triumph rose up. Then silence and muttered curses, as she lurched again, plummeting, and again.

    You have inflicted a status effect (Poisoned x2).

    You have inflicted a status effect (Poisoned x3).

    ¡°Three stacks of poison,¡± Kaden said. ¡°What¡¯s it going to do to something that big?¡±

    Cutter had changed course, heading toward where the juvenile went down. ¡°Poison costs a percentage of health. Three stacks is more damage than you¡¯d do in your best hit, every second.¡±

    Sara wasn¡¯t watching. She spoke quietly with Eve, who nodded. ¡°Kaden, I need the body.¡±

    He gently let go of Rey, setting the man down on the forst floor even as Cutter tromped away. ¡°I can get Eve to hunt down a rat.¡±

    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Eve activated [Life Exchange]. Blood burst from Rey¡¯s mouth and nose, and his muscles spasmed, as Eve followed up with [Life Endowment], raising his health. ¡°Careful, be careful. Just rest.¡±

    Cutter was still moving, and Kaden chased her down. ¡°Your man is down. I¡¯ll help you hunt down the juvenile, but we should wait for him.¡±

    ¡°You need to re-think how you run your party. You are the damage dealer. Thatmakes you the leader. Rey¡¯s a decent healer but he¡¯s not how we get XP. They¡¯ll catch up. You helped me, I¡¯m in for killing your cult, but I will go get that juvenile Queen. Chances like this don¡¯t happen every day.¡± She turned and kept moving.

    Kaden went back.

    Rey was on his feet, though he still looked lost. Sara cradled him close, her pseudopods showing teeth every time someone came near. ¡°Go on ahead. We¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯ll keep moving in that direction once he¡¯s had some time to rest.¡±

    Kaden summoned Vip.

    Vip had a way of getting through to hurting people.

    *Love*, he thought at Vip.

    *Love*, the dog agreed. She went to stand by Rey, wagging her tail and begging to be held until at last he picked her up.

    ¡°You up for hunting down that Juvenile Queen?¡± Kaden asked Eve.

    Eve began to move ahead. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t leave Sara and Rey alone. Cutter isn¡¯t cruel, but she expects everyone to pull their weight. I¡¯ll go with her, if you stay and keep them safe. The original Formicidean colony underlies all of this.¡±

    Cutter and her crew had taken to running, and now the forest stretched away between them. ¡°Do you want Trinity?¡±

    With a slow appraisal, she reached out to pat the TriTerror. ¡°That would make me feel safer. Once I catch up with Circe, she¡¯ll protect me.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s armored head swung around to look at Eve with one side and then the other, and groaned, but she began to push her way through the downed trees, following in Cutter¡¯s trail. Kaden kept his distance, letting Sara talk with Rey.

    He¡¯d been there.

    It was well after dark, and the Time Of Monsters had begun, when the notifications rolled in.

    You have helped defeat a [Juvenile Formicidian Queen]

    You have gained experience.

    He really had. Levels took such a long time now, but Kaden could see reaching twenty six. It would probably be a let down compared to twenty five. A howl rose up from the woods, and Kaden set off to hunt the wolves before they could hunt him.

    ###

    Dawn brought Eve, Ashi, Cutter, and her party coming through the morning mists that turned the forest into a ghost¡¯s domain. Ashi moved like she was near dead, and when Kaden approached, she looked at him blankly. ¡°One day, I will not need the help of others to deal with such a threat. For now, I am glad they were there.¡±

    Eve looked exhausted, and she used her staff as a walking stick, while Trinity supported her on the other side. Trinity¡¯s serpentine head hung limp, dead, and her blind head sagged downard, the jaw broken to the side.

    Kaden looked at her.

    She¡¯d leveled.

    Twice.

    Trinity (TriTerror)

    Level: 7

    HP: 550/550

    Mana: 120/120

    Skills: Acidic Drool (9), Razor Scales (10), Spear Tail (9), Bone Breaker (8), Cooking (3)

    Talents: MultiTasker, Resilient Constitution

    Razor Scales was ready to specialize, and Kaden wasn¡¯t sure how to make that happen. Spear Tail was close, Acidic Drool, too. He¡¯d work with her, figure out what she needed. ¡°Thank you for taking care of her.¡±

    Eve looked up at him, haunted. ¡°Circe insisted. It wasn¡¯t my idea.¡±

    ¡°Insisted on what?¡± Kaden looked back into the forest.

    Her crew carried a juvenile queen¡¯s corpse

    Cutter strolled over. ¡°You brought it down. I¡¯ve never seen ants fight so hard, took us five hours to kill the swarm and then the juvenile, but she was half health when we got there. Eve said you got a thing for harvesting them.¡±

    It would be tough.

    Kaden held his breath and siphoned the corpse intoInventory. His chest felt compressed, like he¡¯d eaten six winter feasts. ¡°Thanks. Let¡¯s get out of here. 71 will lead us to the FarPortal.¡±

    The wisp materialized, waiting expectantly.

    ¡°You have the nicest glow, 71.¡±

    It swiveled and led them away.

    A few hours later, they stepped through the FarPortal and into the Guild. Kaden headed to the temple to dump corpses, then to the Crafting Floor at the Guild to find Munoz. She had lived at the Holding during the surge, and he trusted her. She worked a piece of leather, sealing pores. ¡°Kaden Birch. What did you drag in this time?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to need room,¡± he said. ¡°A lot of room.¡±

    With coordination, the Crafters cleared the aisle so Kaden could drop the Juvenile Queen¡¯s corpse. Not even ten feet long, with a carapace that only glistened in places, it truly was less impressive than the full grown mother.

    Munoz squealed in delight. ¡°The Eyes. The acid¡¯s worthless, it¡¯s a juvenile. No mana core, the wings are literally disposable. Ignore everything but the eyes, they¡¯re used to create refractories for [Fortune Tellers]. And I think there will be three [Diamond Carapace] segments, no matter how I process it. The segments are armor, no surprise.¡±

    [Fortune Tellers] were closely related to [Prophets], but Kaden had no idea which was the specialization. ¡°How much will this cost me?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I want the segments. And I want to choose what crafter gets to work on the refractories. Favors make the Crafter world go round.¡±

    ¡°When you¡¯re done harvesting them, you pick the person and deliver them. I¡¯ll pay the crafter and sell the finished product.¡± Kaden had the only armor he wanted. ¡°I have a ton of acid from Formies, and some jelly.¡±

    ¡°Alchemists. They¡¯re a bunch of dicks,¡± Munoz said.

    He knew his way, and chose the Alchemist who had sold Trella her first full sized kit. ¡°Acid from Formicideans. And Jelly from a Brood Tender.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The Alchemist leaned over and examined it. ¡°I don¡¯t think we have a record of this. At all. Ever.¡± Soon there wasn¡¯t just one alchemist, there was a crowd of them shouting and arguing over what tests, precisely, should be performed.

    Kaden had taken to watching from a distance, wishing Trella could see it. When he looked up, the Market Master stood at his side. The stern faced woman nodded. ¡°They¡¯ll be there all night. Maybe two nights. At some point I¡¯ll be forced to have them move this discussion to the Alchemist¡¯s Hall so my market can function.¡±

    ¡°How do I get paid? Because I¡¯m not keeping it.¡±

    ¡°I wish everyone was this easy to deal with.¡± She offered him a slip.

    You have received 1x Bid Marker (Brood Tender Jelly).

    Kaden stored it away. ¡°Do I need to check with the guild?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll notify you. It¡¯s highly likely the Alchemist¡¯s Hall will buy it, but it¡¯s always possible some Centurion is hell bent on owning the only sample. Have a good day, Mr. Birch.¡± With that, she set on her way.

    Kaden summoned the FalCrow, letting it frighten everyone as it came to roost. ¡°Tell Mara I did my part. I want [Rangers] to help kill my cult. The [Druids] have Sara¡¯s contact information.¡±

    ¡°Right you are!¡± The Falcrow answered in the voice of a City Counsel member.

    That was progress, it was talking in a way that didn¡¯t involve imitating someone having sex or making rude comments. It was time to go home.

    Kaden waited in line for the FarPortal, and relaxed as he arrived back at the Holding. Adventurers kept the worst schedules. Night was great hunting, and monsters didn¡¯t operate on human needs.

    But he didn¡¯t head to the Farmhouse.

    Instead, he knocked on the door of Ashi¡¯s tower, then opened it. ¡°You here?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Her voice came from upstairs. Ashi lay curled up under a heavy blanket, her wraps in a pile, and streaks of Formie ichor trailed around the room. ¡°I have no energy for celebration right now, but you are welcome here.¡±

    Kaden slipped into bed and put his arms around her. ¡°Not asking for that. I just don¡¯t want to be alone.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s affirmative was muffled as she pulled the blanket tighter around both of them.

    For once, he surrendered to sleep with grace.

 Thirty One - Host-ages

    Kaden rose in time for a good dinner. Ashi and Eve joined him at the table, though Eve had very little to say, and spent most of the meal feeding Vip and Trinity. Sara was nowhere to be found, but if Kaden were to guess, he¡¯d say the Guild with Noro. And that he approved. After dinner, he loaded the dishes back into the cleaning kit after applying his dishwasher.

    Which is to say, he let Vip lick the plates clean.

    ¡°I was certain you would answer,¡± Ashi said in the quiet.

    ¡°You were right. You could have talked to me about my plan to go hunting in Hell. You could have convinced me. You didn¡¯t have to run get Sara and Eve and Mr. Dervish like I¡¯m a child.¡±

    ¡°The kinds of monsters we hunt do not know mercy or take pity. I would rather endure your anger than remember that once there was a Dungeon Master named Kaden Birch.¡± Ashi reached up to make him look at her. ¡°There will be times we can only risk everything to survive. This was not. I will happily risk my life at your side.¡±

    ¡°Sara¡ª¡±

    ¡°Was cruel, yes.¡± Ashi said. ¡°It was wrong to say, yes.¡±

    Ashi left him alone in the kitchen.

    In the quiet, Kaden went to work. Tended his prismatic frog colony and plucked a mature Death Frog, and a Fire Frog which would apparently explode on contact, roasting anything nearby. The final frog was a warm green frog called a Life Frog, whose purpose was to heal the colony if a predator damaged it.

    He needed Zanar Fly Larva to advance the colony, and a hibernation cycle, which would come with winter. Growth seemed so slow. Most of his skills were still second tier level one, and level twenty six felt far off even if he knew the truth was different.

    Instead of the empty master bedroom at the farmhouse, Kaden headed to his dungeon, and though it was locked, set himself to non-combatant and slipped in, wrapped in [Stealth Aura].

    The dungeon felt different, better.

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x100,000 (36,000 acquired)

    1000x Adventurer Party (407 acquired)

    100x [Entity Seeds] (37 aquired)

    1x Lieutenant Seed (1 acquired)

    10x Loot Seed (10 acquired)

    Optional, Required for next Rank: 1x [Secondary Boss]

    The number of parties since had gone down, but the amount of directed mana they¡¯d used had gone vastly up. A few more summoners had lost new beasts in his dungeon, and now that he was home, he could call for deliveries from the Druids.

    He stealthed through the Dungeon, noting which mobs were left alone and which the Party had engaged. And enjoyed creeping up on the party as they planned their assault on the TriTerror.

    Half the party was upset they weren¡¯t going to challenge the [Bearzerker]. The other half had threatened to kill anyone who disturbed it. Maybe he needed to lower its level. Then again, Ashi¡¯s advice had been solid, to give the dungeon time and not make constant changes.

    Her other advice was probably solid as well.

    As the party rushed the TriTerror, Kaden left them to it. The dungeon was challenging adventurers. Hurting them. Rewarding them for the danger, and that, for now, was enough. Already he imagined a new layer of tunnels. A labyrinth. That would be for later.

    For now, the only change was increasing the loot the [Bearzerker] guarded. A suit of armor, a sword, a bow, that was truly a warrior¡¯s loot. The Adventurers would never know he¡¯d modified things, and judging from how loud the screaming was as Kaden left, there probably wouldn¡¯t be witnesses anyway.

    He escaped the dungeon and stole the boat to row back.

    Interesting, there was no longer an attendant at the dungeon, or a line. Maybe that meant he¡¯d fallen in popularity, but it didn¡¯t matter. What did matter was building the best Dungeon possible. A place Adventurers would look forward to and dread at the same time.

    It turned out that [Taming] a fish was possible, and also a great way to get dinner. It also turned out that taming a mosquito was a great way to get bit several times. Leeches could be tamed, random birds couldn¡¯t¡ªor he just couldn¡¯t get close enough.

    Kaden had begun to understand why Centurions focused on key skills and hid ones they didn¡¯t want to focus on. There weren¡¯t enough hours in the day to practice everything he wanted to. But he did know a way he could learn. He headed to the FarPortal and straight to the guild for a consultation. The silver coins it cost were a great investment, and soon enough, he sat down with a Guild Trainer.

    And discovered he wasn¡¯t the first Adventurer to hit the second tier and feel lost. The [Arcanist] across from him explained carefully how spells like [Split Second] and [Moment of Speed] had to be used in combat, and how second tier skills generally required learning from better users, stretching the skill, using it against stronger opponents. There would be no more easy levels, even though the skills were more powerful to start than their tier one equivalents. Skills like [Stealth Aura], [Backsmash] and [Backslash], as the highest ranked user, he would need to advance them by using them in new and different ways, or against more powerful opponents.

    Kaden booked a session with an instructor for [WarHammer] and spent the next six hours being yelled at by a woman half his size with seven times his skill while Vip chewed on a bone the length of Kaden¡¯s arm. According to the instructor, Kaden wasn¡¯t holding Remembrance right, he wasn¡¯t swinging right, he wasn¡¯t following through, he wasn¡¯t holding back. But when he finally got the notification, it was worth it.

    His grip on Remembrance felt better. The way he shifted from one strike to the next, as well. And he would have paid again, but Kaden learned a new lesson: battle skills had to be hardened in battle before they could be advanced again.

    Then again, he had twenty five levels to fifty, and a great many battles to harden them in. While Kaden practiced to understand the difference (and his instructor fauned over Vip), he dispatched the [FalCrow] to the Druid¡¯s Tamer guide. There were supposed to be beasts being delivered, and every last one would be an Entity Seed for his dungeon.

    A few minutes later, a messenger bird returned, speaking in the [Tamer¡¯s] high pitched voice. ¡°I was waiting on you. If you¡¯re going to be there, I¡±ll send a shipment. You sure you have room for this many Beasts? I mean, lots of shamans sacrifice animals for power, but they have to stay somewhere while you sacrifice them.¡±

    Kaden had all the room in the world.

    Every last one of those beasts would both die immediately and live forever, absorbed by the Dungeon. With a few hours to spare before even the fastest delivery could arrive, Kaden set out to check on Birch Haven.

    And was completely surprised to find guards at the gates, guards who demanded to see his reservation¡ªuntil they checked [Identify]. Inside, the once-zoo bustled with activity as a low level [Air Mage] swept the streets with gusts of wind, and a [Builder] crew worked in what had been a [Vitreol] exhibit, but judging from the polished hardwoods and crystal windows, it didn¡¯t contain small poisonous lizards anymore.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    It was good to wander the streets and remember what had been on top of what was.

    ¡°Mr. Birch! Is there something I can do for you?¡± Mr. Kela, the [Manager] came running. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, our first guests check in at any moment. Did I misunderstand about the top floor being available?¡± The concern in his voice made it clear this would be a panic.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s the best place in Verona. The view Centurions will talk about. I¡¯ll need names in order to adjust Dominion so they can get to the FangWood Dungeon complex.¡±

    ¡°Ah, Mistress Scylla took the liberty of writing up guide scrolls for each of the dungeons. Many Centurions will pay and escort favored parties to a particular dungeon. Today we have the Royal Family from Chemaniz. When I was advised you were present, I thought it would be to greet them.¡±

    ¡°One family?¡± Kaden raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°They booked Birch Haven. All of it. They want complete privacy, and given that they¡¯re paying for rooms we haven¡¯t completed, I welcome them. A party of twelve with sixteen attendants is an excellent start.¡± Mr. Kela began to walk. ¡°Our FarPortal was connected this morning, we¡¯ve just made a few trips to ensure the patterns are functional.¡±

    Kaden followed him all the way through Birch Have to the Grand Tree. Sure enough, [Crystal Shapers] had installed the patterns needed and empowered a new FarPortal. Hotel attendants waited nervously with [Storm Apes] to carry luggage.

    So many workers at every desk. Kaden looked around. ¡°Is Mistress Scylla here?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s been away, but in constant communication. Masters Malachor and Kovor have served as consultation, but in truth, I know everything that need be done. Will your business partner attend?¡±

    Kaden noted the FarPortal coordinate marker and dispatched the FalCrow with a string of messages. ¡°It¡¯s up to them. Is there an actual protocol?¡±

    ¡°Be polite. They are guests here and due respect, but we have strict rules about treatment of employees or other guests.¡± Mr. Kela tensed as the FarPortal activated.

    Eve stumbled through, and Kaden caught her hand set her upright. Vip sprinted in a circle until she picked Vip up and squeezed the small dog. ¡°Congratulations, Kaden. I don¡¯t need to repeat what I said when I found out you¡¯d bargained for the zoo, do I?¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± Kaden wouldn¡¯t ask her to admit she was wrong. She was wrong whether she admitted it or not. ¡°I still think a petting zoo would have been good.¡±

    Again the Portal flaired, and this time, Ashi stepped through, using [Hover] to keep her balance. She wore all her wraps, and Mana Stones covered her body as she stepped to his side. ¡°It is a moment to be proud of. A work to be proud of.¡± The last, she directed to Mr. Kela.

    The door to the tree opened, and Sara walked in. When she looked to Kaden, she looked away, keeping her gaze on the floor for a moment.

    Kaden approached her. Angry. Hurt. And yet, Ashi¡¯s reasoning made sense. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was trying to protect everyone I care about. That includes you.¡±

    ¡°We all want Trella back. At least, I do.¡± Sara lifted her gaze to meet his. ¡°But losing you won¡¯t bring her back. I reached out to Mom. I asked her why this is so important, and what else she had kept from me¡ª¡±

    Before Sara could explain, the portal mage on duty stood at attention.

    Kaden had seen people come through FarPortals. He¡¯d never witnessed this, though. The FarPortal became a fountain of light that grew stronger and stronger, until it was a complete rainbow column.

    A man and woman stepped through first, followed by a dragon. An actual dragon, eight feet of coiled lizard with rainbow scales and crystaline wings and a long tail with a heart-shaped point at the end, and a head that matched Trinity¡¯s blind head. Behind the dragon came two young men, both younger than Kaden, a set of triplets with identical long black hair and [Alchemist]¡¯s robes, and then [Shield] after [Shield], four [Healers] including a Priestess of Varun, and two of the cleanest, most honest looking [Thieves] he¡¯d ever seen.

    A servant to the right of Mr. Kela stepped forward to speak.

    [Multispeak] translated for Kaden.

    ¡°Welcome to Birch Haven, King and Queen. We welcome you and hope you find our hospitality worthwhile. Let us handle unpacking your Inventory cubes while you enjoy a meal.¡± The servant bowed at the end.

    As did everyone else.

    Kaden did not bow, this was his place.

    Eve didn¡¯t bow, and the look on her face was pure terror.

    Ashi didn¡¯t bow, which didn¡¯t surprise Kaden in the least.

    Sara started to bow but stopped because none of the other Party members did.

    The King studied Kaden, and Kaden returned the favor.

    [King Chemaniz - Herald of Arcana]

    The King of Chemaniz is known for the royal vaults, and his collection of magical artifacts that cannot be matched. In battle he was never fastest, never strongest, and always victorious, as his intrinsic link to the royal vault left him always better equipped. Cross him at your peril. Steal from him and it will only be once.

    Level: 113

    HP:???

    Mana:???

    ¡°Welcome to Birch Haven. I am Kaden Birch, Dungeon Keeper and caretaker of the Fangwood Dungeon Complex.¡± Kaden now dipped his head just slightly. ¡°This Asha Vanter Opton Rahm, Sara Scylla, and Eve Black. I love your dragon.¡±

    The last bit just slipped out.

    The dragon defied his attempts at [Identify], always becoming slightly fuzzy.

    The King started to speak. The Queen started to speak.

    One of the triplets shouted, ¡°Evelyn! What happened to you?¡±

    The rest was chaos. Eve took three steps forward and dispapeared into the FarPortal. The dragon began chewing on the corner of a desk, and everyone spoke louder and louder, until Kaden took out Remembrance and smashed it on the ground so the head screamed, the ringing louder and louder.

    ¡°Eve is a member of my party, and making her way on her own, independent of her family,¡± Sara said. ¡°I ask that you respect that.¡±

    Blank looks from everyone told Kaden exactly what was wrong, but Ashi translated with [Multispeak] before Kaden could, except it was no longer a request, but a command and condition.

    ¡°Of course,¡± The Queen said, looking to her daughters. ¡°It would be rude otherwise. Children must be allowed to suffer and fail so they can appreciate their parent¡¯s guidance.¡±

    [Queen Chemaniz - FateWeaver Initiate]

    The Queen of Chemaniz is not famous like her husband, but this is by her design. As mistress of the Tempus Dragon, she has learned that true power comes when it cannot be resisted, or when those she manipulates never know it happens.

    Level: 99

    HP:???

    Mana:???

    Kaden looked to Ashi. Her sister was a FateWeaver, and he was curious if there was any sign of recognition, but Ashi kept her face a perfect presentation of calm. ¡°Then it is a pleasure to have you here. Fangwood is ready for you.¡±

    His presence here was supposed to be a formality, but an actual dragon? It was more than he could resist. The dragon certainly could resist, and it did, shifting out of focus every time he tried to [Identify].

    ¡°Beast Master? How odd. Tempus does not wish to be subjected to your skills.¡± The Queen said it with expectation. ¡°If you had ever met a dragon, you would understand.¡±

    ¡°Oceanus didn¡¯t seem to mind,¡± Kaden said. ¡°When you arrive to run FangWood, I¡¯ll show you the entrance of the Dungeon Complex. From there, it¡¯s up to you. The bottom dungeon is erratic, do not enter it or I won¡¯t be able to have you back for another visit.¡±

    The King exchanged a glance with his wife. ¡°Your concern is noted. You are dismissed.¡±

    Just for that? He¡¯d¡ª

    ¡°We have a Demon Cult to erradicate, after all,¡± Sara said. ¡°That has to be our focus.¡±

    Fair enough. Kaden choked down the retort he¡¯d been working on. Without doubt he¡¯d think of a better one in the middle of the night. ¡°Mr. Kela, I leave them in your capable hands.¡±

    Ashi pressured him to leave by the front door, which took him all the way out of the zoo and into Verona¡¯s streets where a steady rain had begun to beat down. His Needful Cloak became slick and waterproof and heavy enough to block the wind.

    ¡°It¡¯s working!¡± Sara said. ¡°Did you see the guest log? Birch Haven is booked¡ªfully booked¡ªby one family for the next four days. Four days of just them.¡±

    Ashi spoke softly. ¡°Do you know where Eve has gone?¡±

    Dominion gave Kaden the answer. ¡°She¡¯s in her room at the Holding. Either of you know the triplets?¡±

    Sara shook her head.

    Ashi shrugged. ¡°We who are truly royal do not associate with those who deign themselves so. When their line has existed for thousands of years, when they have mapped the heavens and challenged the System itself, I will respect them. Until then, I give more weight to your words than theirs.¡±

    Sara picked up her pace. ¡°When we get there, let me talk to Eve. I know her. I know¡­some of what she¡¯s worried about. I don¡¯t want to know more, if it¡¯s important to her that we don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I will go instead. Her petty fears are known to me.¡± Ashi took the lead as they entered the guild and stepped through the FarPortal.

    Ashi bypassed the stairs, hovering straight up to the rooftop entrance that let them snipe monsters, and using it as an entrance.

    Kaden had never been nervous around Sara. She¡¯d always been welcoming and kind, and in turn he never feared her Cosmic Horror. But now, he wasn¡¯t sure what to say. ¡°I spoke to the [Rangers]. Asked them to help with your quest.¡±

    ¡°I got their message. A [Stateri] Quest Broker put out Faction Quests for level forties to back us up. I¡¯ve negotiated with a [Mage], but honestly, it feels wrong giving orders to someone fifteen levels higher.¡±

    ¡°Rangers don¡¯t have leaders. We have Cutter. We have your Mage. If we can get a few of them, we head in get it done. This¡­¡± Kaden sighed. He knew it. He¡¯d checked with the Guild and confirmed it. ¡°Everyone there has to die.¡±

    Sara took his hand. ¡°They want to give our world to Demons. I won¡¯t let that happen. If I have to kill them permanently, so be it. Trella would help us. She will help us, eventually.¡±

    ¡°Sara.¡± Ashi called from an upper window. ¡°Come. Only you.¡±

    Fine. It wasn¡¯t like he really wanted to connect with Eve. She had the same warmth and charm the Prismatic Frog Colony did, without the benefit of giving him explosive, poisonous frogs.

    Instead, Kaden headed to Echo Lake, willed the Dungeon Door to lock once the party dragged their healer¡¯s corpse out, and waited.

    After nearly two hours, he saw the first wagon.

    It was time to grow his Dungeon.

 Thirty Two - Sacrifices

    The wagon train from the [Druid] Grove carried dozens of Beasts, perhaps hundreds, and Kaden quickly set to work, felling trees with Remembrance and splitting them to form a crude bridge that crossed the lake.

    The lead wagoneer wasn¡¯t a [Druid] at all, but a commoner. He checked Kaden over and stated the obvious. ¡°Delivery from the Grove. Some kind of¡­sacrifice?¡± The word dripped with fear.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t blame him. The man had no class, no level, and Kaden could probably fracture his skull with a backhand. Combine that with delivering hordes of Beasts? Fear was reasonable. ¡°How many men in your train?¡±

    ¡°Five,¡± he answered nervously. ¡°Head Druid Olidar knows we were coming here.¡±

    Coins would solve everything. ¡°Here¡¯s fifty silver. You pull a wagon up, I unload it, you bring the next one.¡±

    Coins really did solve this. One by one, Kaden dragged cages up and through the Dungeon Door, unleashing all manner of Beasts. Tandy had prioritized the number of species over size. Dozens of birds. So many types of snake. Cattle, he¡¯d never even thought of a cow or bull. Goats, ducks, two more deer.

    For hours, Kaden shuttled beasts in. And near evening, when he unloaded the last, Kaden offered them a handshake, then watched the wagons roll away. Deep in the dungeon, one [Bearzerker] became four. Three [Flying Scorpions] spawned.

    The Entity Seed count shot upward.

    100x [Entity Seeds] (92 aquired)

    It was well worth the sacrifice. Every creature that died there could be respawned immediatley, though Kaden wouldn¡¯t. Not yet. He unleashed Trinity, and then, with the newly available Directed Mana, Kaden began to build a maze around the scorpion lair in the cave. Every maze branch spiraled out to a treasure room, or a new monster.

    And as he worked, Kaden had a new idea.

    He forced a room into existence and then used the basis of a trap to trigger a door if a pannel in the design was pressed. A hidden room. A treasure room, with a sword. Another with a bow. Another with fine leather boots. The last contained dozens of tiny scorpions, because every dungeon should contain at least one room designed to punish over-eager adventurers.

    Eventually, Kaden would divide it in two, and have one punishment room and one treasure room based on where they pressed. As he worked, he spoke to the core, asking if it liked a particular adjustment or if a different monster would be better. Trinity offered more opinions, sending the distinct feeling that what she really wanted was another TriTerror. Kaden spawned three more and sent her off to play. Or murder, which for Trinity was a lot like playing.

    As his dungeon grew, every successive room took more Directed Mana, but also allowed it to absorb more ambient Mana, which would make the area safer and Surges weaker.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get you a proper lieutenant,¡± Kaden said.

    He knew the right one. So many things Kaden needed to do. Travel to the blight to return the necromancer¡¯s inheritance. Find more entity seeds. Figure out what kind of bond would raise his taming skills.

    Nothing took precedence over Naski. The Demon¡¯s daughter was priority one, and right after her was also Naski, Naski,and Naski. At last, the finishing touches were done, and Kaden called Trinity back. She emerged with one TriTerror at her side and the head of another hanging from her mouth, so she¡¯d made friends and had them for dinner, all in all, a success. ¡°It¡¯s time to go.¡±

    Darkness and the time of monsters hung over the land as Kaden emerged from his dungeon, this time, leaving the door unlocked. One of Ashi¡¯s Messenger Dragons swooped in to settle on his shoulder, whispering in her voice. ¡°Your patience is appreciated. The crisis is past.¡±

    When he reached the Farmhouse, Sara sat at the table, a wide scroll map spread on the table. Plans for the village. These plans included buildings ringed in orange dots. ¡°What are these?¡±

    ¡°I have limited ability to ask for Quests from the Brokers for Stateri. The first was of course for level forty Adventurers. The second was for a [Scout] to stealth in and map the town. The orange structures are ones with tier one illusions, more than enough for any commoner to ignore them.¡± Sara tapped one in particular. ¡°This is the summoning circle where the Demon¡¯s Daughter we faced was brought over. It¡¯s underground.¡±

    Kaden looked over the plans again. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of buildings to hide. What do they need with all of those that the houses wouldn¡¯t provide?¡±

    ¡°Training halls. Lairs for lesser demons under the cult¡¯s control. We were very fortunate something worse than the Daughter didn¡¯t arrive. Or perhaps she had sacrificed the lesser demons to prepare the way, and we arrived at exactly the wrong time.¡± Sara pointed to one side. ¡°I want to hit from here. I want to prevent the Cultists getting access to these lairs. Whatever is inside we can deal with after they¡¯re dead.¡±

    ¡°Where will Naski be?¡±

    ¡°That will be your task to determine. I¡¯ve been quite clear with our current volunteers, any Demon¡¯s Daughter, Naski or not, is to be left to you.¡±

    That gave Kaden hope. ¡°How many volunteers do we have?¡±

    ¡°That depends. The Poteri have [Mage] mercenaries we can rent for Faction tokens. Cutter and her party will join us. Your friend Mara, Ban, a [Berserker] and some [Thief] are also coming. I have a level forty mage from the Quests. I¡¯m hoping for another [Ranger]. We have melee covered with you, I, and Cutter.¡±

    Kaden thought about it. ¡°I have three Faction tokens from our gnome massacre. Can we trade with other factions to get [Shields]?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s brilliant and obvious, and I¡¯m ashamed I didn¡¯t think. [Factions] don¡¯t often offer advice on dealing with other Factions. Can you transfer me the tokens?¡±

    How? Oh, yes, he¡¯d done it with Trade Tokens during the surge. The key was simply informing the System.

    You have transfered three Poteri Faction Tokens to Sara Scylla.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make it happen. Eve and Ashi should help with tokens as well. There¡¯s more to these kinds of quests than I ever imagined. Negotiations for payment. Arranging backup if we fail. Having a plan for a secondary team to recover our corpses. Food. Transportation, rewards. At least the Stateri are funding this.¡± Sara sounded more delighted than upset. ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯m going in person to the Grove to talk to [Rangers].¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go. I dropped off some pollen with them for evaluation, they should have an offer ready. Plus, Mara promised to help convince a level 40 [Ranger].¡± It was time for her to make good on that promise.

    Sara considered something for a moment. ¡°There¡¯s a wrinkle you probably aren¡¯t aware of. The 40s will only engage if there¡¯s a Demon Lord. Ignus sent me an entire scroll on it, but let me save you the trouble. It¡¯s bad form to deny someone the opportunity to grow.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about the opportunity¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sooner or later we¡¯ll run into adventurers struggling to reach fifteen. The temptation to drag them out at night and power level them is high, but that will only endanger them long term.¡± Sara put away the map so she could face him. ¡°It¡¯s not about the Exchange Principle. It¡¯s that rushing an Adventurer to Twenty Five means they enter a wider world without a solid foundation.¡±

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Kaden kept quiet, thinking about the consequences. ¡°And these 40s will want to give us opportunities? Or they just won¡¯t engage unless the threat is high enough level?¡±

    ¡°Both. Unless we¡¯re ten levels under, don¡¯t expect them to swoop in. And Naski may have leveled, I don¡¯t know Demonic Progression scales.¡±

    Kaden would deal with that. He¡¯d nearly killed her before he was level twenty five. If she went to thirty one, the difference wouldn¡¯t be nearly the seismic shift he¡¯d experienced. And that was before factoring in [Binding Mark]. ¡°When does this all go down?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll go to the Grove tomorrow, spend a day staging, and hit them day after tomorrow if all goes well. It will go well. It has to.¡± Sara¡¯s confidence bled away the longer she spoke.

    As Kaden tried to think of something to say, a Messenger Bird dipped through the roof and into the room to land next to Kaden. He listened to it. ¡°That was Mr. Veela. It appears our Royal Guests want to meet with me tomorrow. He didn¡¯t say ¡®if I¡¯m available.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°Yes. I want to go with you. I need to prioritize what will help get Trella back. My best hope lies in Naski, and that means crushing her Cult.¡±

    ¡°I will handle the Rangers. Ask Ashi to stay with you. She¡¯s got the right attitude. Eve will go with me. I promise, I¡¯ll make them help.¡±

    Kaden mentally informed the System, giving Sara rights to negotiate on his behalf. ¡°Get whatever makes sense for the pollen. I¡¯d say I don¡¯t care, but I do. If I can sell it, if I can trade it, I don¡¯t care what we get as long as it helps.¡±

    Sara seemed lost for a moment before she spoke again. ¡°If the King or Queen ask for something out of line, kick them out. Birch Haven had a waiting list. Mr. Vela will hate it but you should have a reputation for punishing misbehavior.¡±

    ¡°I can do that.¡± Kaden wanted to leave.

    Instead he pulled Sara into a hug. Words weren¡¯t needed. The only thing that would make the moment better was having a demon¡¯s oozing core sitting on the table. Or having Trella there to stab it.

    Ok, there were a few things that would make it better.

    Eventually, Kaden let her go, and headed to his bedroom. ¡°Trinity, move. You¡¯re not allowed on the bed.¡±

    The TriTerror was already longer than the bed. She already weighed more than Kaden. He could practically ride her if she kept growing. Trinity rolled off the bed and onto the floor, then laid one head down so her serpent tongue could flick out and touch him.

    While he lay there, he summoned the [FalCrow] and explained about Birch Haven. About the Druids. About the Cult. ¡°What do you think we should do?¡±

    ¡°Kill them all,¡± it answered in Eve¡¯s voice.

    Kaden nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. You¡¯re welcome to help. You don¡¯t have to stay here anymore. If you have someone to terrorize, as long as it isn¡¯t at Birch Haven, have at it.¡±

    He triggered the fairy lamps to cut off and rolled over.

    The [FalCrow] continued to watch from the foot of the bed, whispering, ¡°Kill them all. Kill them all. Kill them all.¡±

    It was the perfect lullaby to send him to sleep.

    ###

    Sara and Eve left before dawn. Kaden had cooked breakfast for everyone. Eve hadn¡¯t spoken to Kaden except to thank him for the food and he didn¡¯t push the matter. His focus was on understanding what, exactly, the King and Queen¡¯s requests would be.

    Ashi rose a few hours later and grumbled her way through leftovers, but afterwards, she summoned the [Assistant] and set it to work cleaning the kitchen. ¡°We must agree on what will not happen.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going into a dungeon with them. I¡¯m not selling the Holding, or Birch Haven. I¡¯m not interested in working for them.¡± Kaden stopped. ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°His daughters are two years younger. Are you interested in marrying one of them?¡± Ashi waited for his answer.

    ¡°No! Marriage is for people in their hundred and thirties. You really think they¡¯d¡ª¡± He shook his head. ¡°Fine, add it to the list. Seriously, is that a thing?¡±

    ¡°The choice is yours. I suggest you also resolve you will not give to him any treasures, allow him passage to the heart of the Dungeon. As the Dungeon Master the choice is yours, but tradition sas the only thing you grant him is the chance to bleed.¡±

    This was what Kaden loved about her. ¡°Couldn¡¯t have said it better myself.¡±

    Trinity left the farmhouse, headed for FangWood to hunt, while Vip lounged in the morning sun, paws up in the air. Kaden dragged her animated [Mana Rat] skeleton out and tossed it in the dirt for Vip to chase.

    The air was already turning cooler, the days shorter.

    Ashi headed down toward Echo Lake, and he sensed when she opened the Dungeon Door to check on his changes. For now, he focused on making new split railings. The destroyed tower and crushed quarters, he knew what to do, sending the [FalCrow] off to Lark Willis. If possible, he wanted Lark to work on everything. The bird usually couldn¡¯t wait to be free, but this time he had to actually tell it to go.

    While he relaxed by butchering trees and arranging their corpses to mark his domain, a Messenger Bird arrived with the guest details. Kaden made adjustments to Dominion¡ªthen changed his efforts, instead building a crude fence that led from the Far Portal circle to the edge of the Holding. The section of fence there he removed. Now there would be no question how guests were to enter or leave.

    Was it possible to make a one-way FarPortal?

    Was it possible to make a cage that could withstand Centurions?

    Was it possible to set it up so that if someone came uninvited, they would be trapped until Dominion destroyed them?

    All worth checking, and a certain Mage at the portal was eager for [Storm Condor] feathers Kaden really did want to sell. A little information could ensure who wound up with the resulting equipment, for the right price, and of course, he wanted Munoz to negotiate what crafter got the [Set Bonus] from producing the set.

    There simply weren¡¯t enough hours in the day to deal with everything and still enjoy life, so some business had to suffer. Trella would feel different. And even now, Kaden was certain success drew closer.

    Without warning, Dominion flared near the front gate. Someone had taken the long road to the Holding, which usually meant traveling tradesmen or caravans. Kaden headed around the front of the farmhouse¡ªand stopped.

    Six wagons sat out front, each covered by a floating cloud that provided protection from the sun. Sitting atop the front two were the King and Queen. The King¡¯s armor was literally made of snakes, living snakes that had sunk their fangs either into his flesh or some layer of leather. Given that the King was a Centurion, Kaden wouldn¡¯t make bets.

    They hung like fringe from his arms as he rose from his throne in the wagon. ¡°Why are my servants not allowed? Do we not pay enough? Is our presence not enough?¡±

    ¡°Your servants weren¡¯t on the list,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Line up, I need names. You are clear to go around the farmhouse and to the Far Portal. The wagons will have to stay, there¡¯s not room for them, and even less room when you get to FangWood, and that¡¯s before the Dungeons. Servants, we have empty quarters on the far end I¡¯ll show you to. There are kitchens as well, but you¡¯ll be better served by using the FarPortal to Birch Haven.¡±

    One by one, he admitted them and showed them the non-crushed quarters that had been used by the Portal Herald¡¯s servants. Then he approached the King and Queen. ¡°If you¡¯ll follow me? You¡¯ve read Mistress Scylla¡¯s briefing?¡±

    ¡°We have.¡± The Queen wasn¡¯t haughty, simply acknowledging. ¡°Our daughters will go with us. My youngest son isn¡¯t ready for a level twenty five dungeon, but we are adept at protecting him.¡±

    Kaden hesistated.

    These weren¡¯t low level adventurers who could be threatened into behaving, and he didn¡¯t know or trust these people with a dungeon they could easily overpower. ¡°Well, if you need to leave him with the servants, that¡¯s something I¡¯ll allow.¡±

    The King spoke softly to his daughters, and they fell into formation behind the Queen, while the youngest son, who Kaden had taken for a servant, stayed right behind his father. The King approached Kaden, who wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid of his reptile armor. ¡°Do you not know respect? You have not been alive a century. I have seen five.¡±

    ¡°Respect is earned. This way, your highness.¡± Kaden put away Remembrance and summoned Trinity to his side. ¡°Where¡¯d the dragon go? It¡¯s not on the Holding and it¡¯s not in FangWood, I know that much.¡±

    ¡°Tempus goes where and when Tempus desires. The Time Dragon is not bound as we are.¡±

    Kaden smiled as Trinity emerged from the woods near Echo Lake at his mental call. It was safer with her beside him. ¡°Trinity, here, girl. Trinity hunts the outerwoods of FangWood. Don¡¯t harm her, she¡¯s not interested in you. If you go straight through FangWood, you¡¯ll emerge at a mini boss, the Fell Woodsman, level twenty five.¡±

    The King thought for a moment. ¡°A worthy challenge for my daughters. We will let them clear this FangWood, then proceed deeper into the complex.¡±

    Kaden gave a short bow. ¡°Then it¡¯s a pleasure having you. The Dungeons may be overloaded with monsters and loot, they haven¡¯t been properly run in over a decade, except to check to see if they¡¯re erratic.¡±

    ¡°That is exactly what I¡¯m hoping. My wife hopes for monsters. I hope for treasure. We both hope our daughters will grow stronger and learn from watching a true battle.¡± He spoke softly to the boy. ¡°My son will be a great [Mage] one day. Today he cannot participate, but he can learn by watching.¡±

    ¡°A great [Mage]?¡± Ashi surprised Kaden, hovering down slowly from over the farmhouse, then lightly dropping to her feet. ¡°You are today the same kind of [Mage] you will be then. Your knowledge may grow. Your mana may grow, but the heart remains unchanged. Show me.¡±

    The young man shook his head. ¡°My ice will freeze you solid. I can¡¯t risk it.¡±

    ¡°How about you use a small spell first? That way Ashi will be impressed and reconsider.¡± Kaden could only hope she¡¯d catch on. ¡°Ashi is a powerful [PolyMage] and a great judge of talent.¡±

    The boy didn¡¯t hesistate. ¡°[Ice Blast]!¡±

    A sliver of ice the length of one of Trinity¡¯s claws appeared at the end of his hand, sailing toward Ashi.

    She didn¡¯t move as much as absorb it, drinking in the mana that made up the spell. Her fingertips turned blue, and then the palm of her hand. She caught Kaden¡¯s eye, an eyebrow raised.

    He gave her the signal. Whatever the boy did, Kaden was ready.

    ¡°Wonderful. Magnificent,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Now, show me true power!¡±

    The air temperature dropped fifty degrees.

    A blizzard of white death exploded out straight at Kaden.

 Thirty Three - Favors

    As [Blizzard] burst forth from the young mage, Kaden had only an instant to activate his Eldritch Shield and step in front of Ashi. The Bone Beast exploded out, drinking in the spell. It absorbed the mana, funneling it into Kaden, who knew better than to use [Mana Well] to feed Ashi.

    [Fortress of Stone] let him ignore ice freezing over his skin. Trinity roared in pain, and Kaden hauled her into his soul before she could be hurt more¡ªor kill the prince. After long moments, the bitter cold faded, and the ice began to melt. Kaden couldn¡¯t help clapping.

    Ashi¡¯s joyful laughter said she hadn¡¯t been harmed, but then again, he suspected she would cheer a burning building. ¡°Do not listen when others say what you will be. See what you are now!¡±

    Kaden drank a healing potion with numb fingers before putting away the Eldritch Shield. ¡°Consider me impressed.¡±

    The King marveled at his shield. ¡°Where did you get that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alive. A Bone Waller I fed [Wraith Bones] from a Dungeon Champion, which caused it to mutate. Now I don¡¯t have to feed it bones to repair damage, and it has a minor fear effect, but the thing that saved me was that it absorbs spells.¡± Kaden activated it so the King could look it over. ¡°It can be broken, but I¡¯m not sure it can be killed.¡±

    ¡°Wraith Bones,¡± The King said to himself. ¡°I will get one of these [Bone Wallers.] I will find and squash a Wraith for its bones. Come, Etrimalu, we still can witness your sister¡¯s triumph. Tell me something, Kaden Birch, would you be available to have dinner? If not tonight, then tomorrow. I would like to get to know my host better. My eldest will handle formal relations between us. Perhaps there could be more than just business.¡±

    Two things Kaden hated about this statement collided. First was that the King treated his daughters as tools. The second was that Ashi had been right. ¡°I would, but, I have to¡­something.¡±

    ¡°We must slaughter Cultists,¡± Ashi answered. ¡°It is a sadness that it will consume our time, but Kaden¡¯s lover is waiting to be resurrected, and the demons hold the key.¡±

    The King glanced to Ashi. And gave her a nod. ¡°We will leave our contact information. Should the lowest dungeon be unlocked, I would kill for the chance to see what lies within.¡±

    Kaden actually meant to find out what lay within it as well. ¡°I¡¯d welcome that, and you¡¯ll be notified. Remember, when you come back stay within the outlined path. [Dominion] won¡¯t kill you immediately, but I don¡¯t want any of you hurt.¡±

    He waited until the King and his son had set off into FangWood to relax. ¡°Thank you. He really was going to make one of his daughters ¡®negotiate.¡¯ I don¡¯t even know them.¡±

    ¡°And you will not, as this dinner will never be. Unless you were to change your heart,¡± Ashi said with more than a little worry. ¡°Never trust your heart to someone who wants what you possess. Only those who want you.¡±

    That was advice he could live by. Soon. ¡°I have an idea. You might not like it, because you were affected most. The General was a guest here during the Surge. I was thinking of calling him for a favor. He consumes monster cores to advance, so I was thinking the Infernal Pearl might be a good trade.¡±

    Ashi looked away, but not before Kaden spotted the pain on her face. ¡°Do as you think wise. I was a fool to listen to him, a fool to believe his claims of safety. He could have saved me, and Recinia as well, but he chose his own men.¡±

    ¡°You never told me what happened.¡± Kaden reached out to put his arms around her in a hug.

    ¡°Nor will I today.¡± Ashi shook harder with every passing moment. ¡°Call him if you must, but do not give him your trust.¡±

    Kaden knew better. ¡°Last resort, I promise.¡±

    After several hours, he grew impatient and sent the FalCrow to Sara. And after several more hours, he gave up and headed to the FarPortal. But as he was waiting for it to activate, dominion flared over and over, a repeated testing.

    Kaden sprinted toward the far end of the Holding, closer to Echo Lake¡ªand stopped. A wounded, dying [graht] continued to flail against the edges of Dominion¡ªthen shy away.

    As he approached, it fell to its knees, and a leech head burst from its mouth in place of a tongue. When the shark-toothed mouth spoke, it was Naski¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Kaden Birch. Hiding under a [Shield Tree] will not prevent me killing you. I do not know how you blocked my [Hatred Mark] but if you have the courage, if you have the strength, face me alone. The heart of this demon will let us speak. Use it to open a portal to me.¡±

    Before the Graht could move, Kaden leaped over the fence to hack the head off with Remembrance.

    You have helped kill a Graht.

    You have gained experience.

    He stuffed the whole Graht into Inventory and sent the [FalCrow] to Ashi. Then Kaden ran to the basement to ransack Trella¡¯s lab, and headed for the FarPortal, calling Trinity and Vip as he went. Ashi came sprinting for him, her arm wraps still flailing behind her. ¡°It is good you sent for me.¡±

    ¡°You ready?¡±

    She wound her arms all the way to her wrists. ¡°I am.¡±

    The FarPortal activated, and Kaden stepped through.

    Into the Druid Grove.

    Sara and Eve waited there, with a level forty two [Geomancer], Mara, Ban, the Huntress he¡¯d met in the Guild, and dozens of others.

    ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t fall for her trap,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t care what a Demon thinks about me, I care about wiping her cult off the map. And honestly, does anyone think she¡¯s not going to have an army of cultists, lesser Demons, and the gods only know what else waiting?¡±

    From behind the others came two more [Rangers], one Kaden recognized from the Grove before, the other a tall, almost stretched man. ¡°The only thing that matters is that the demons die. Snake Woman was saying only your party get to kill the Demon¡¯s Daughter. I¡¯ll allow that, but we have to follow the rules of responsibility.¡±

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    Kaden looked to Ashi, then to Eve and Sara. Sara spoke up. ¡°Our backup can¡¯t even step in unless there¡¯s a Demon Lord. The Cultists are our problem, and Naski is yours and yours alone.¡±

    It didn¡¯t explain why Royalty had no issues helping their family level, but it did match up to so much he¡¯d seen. ¡°Naski belongs to me. She¡¯s the key to some research to save someone. Any cultist who gets in my way, I¡¯ll deal with. If there¡¯s a Demon Lord, it¡¯s all yours. Are level forties really going to be ok versus a fifty?¡±

    The Geomancer began to laugh. ¡°We¡¯ll have it outnumbered. It¡¯ll be a tier past us, but the differences won¡¯t be as vast as you versus a twenty four.¡±

    Eve cleared her throat. ¡°As much as I love the commonality of purpose, I have a different question we need to answer. What does Naski get out of this? Why send Kaden a portal, knowing he could ask a favor from Mr. Dervish and have Centurions drag her out?¡±

    The crowd grew quiet, and not even the [Rangers] had ideas.

    ¡°She wants the Eye of Asmodius,¡± a young [Druid] said. ¡°Demons often miscalculate what humans will do because they can¡¯t imagine anyone acting differently. She¡¯s counting on your pride. She may even have offered sacrifices to Asmodius to regain his favor¡ªor find out how she could.¡±

    Asmodius was obviously aware Kaden had the eye. Like the eye of the Rat God, Kaden had them both stored away and was imagining a staring contest between two gods, neither capable of blinking because they didn¡¯t have eyelids. It was probably very awkward. ¡°So. This demon core portal coordinate. Is a one-time use thing? Or could we let me go through first. Let Naski spring whatever trap she has planned. And then hit them with a trap of our own?¡±

    ¡°Never alone,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°You go, we¡¯re going too,¡± Sara answered.

    ¡°Someone has to look after Vip,¡± Eve added.

    But that gave Kaden pause. ¡°How long will it take everyone to stage for the attack? The FarPortal¡¯s down. I saw it deactivate myself¡±

    ¡°Nearest town is ten miles away,¡± the Geomancer answered. ¡°Assuming someone has [Mana Well] and can pay for a potion, I can Portal groups in hops. Sara, it¡¯s your operation. You make the call.¡±

    Sara laid it out again for everyone. Cultists would scatter if it became a losing battle, and the goal was not to let them escape, so there would be adventurers on every side. From the moment the operation started, it would be complete chaos, but thought networks would let Sara stay in touch.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mention how similar they looked to the ones from Dervish Summoning Services. How identical they looked. Everyone got a button, and after Kaden fixed his to his Needful Cloak, he waited.

    *Excellent.* Sara waved to everyone. *I¡¯ll repeat one last time. No survivors. No resurrections. Any children are to be tested¡ªthey could be Demon¡¯s Daughters in disguise. If you can¡¯t handle this, I won¡¯t hold it against you. Back out now, not when we¡¯re comitted.*

    Kaden couldn¡¯t admit that his stomach churned at the thought of killing people. Even cultists. But then again, he¡¯d met Darmando, and Asmodius and their Daughters. There was nothing he wouldn¡¯t do to stop them.

    ¡°When you¡¯re ready, set the trap,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden removed the [graht] and ripped it open, pulling a still-beating orb from its center. ¡°Naski. I¡¯m coming for you. In a few hours, when my [Holy Hammer] is done and blessed, I¡¯m coming. You won¡¯t run from me, will you?¡±

    For long minutes, no one said anything¡ªthe the heart pulsed. ¡°You only delay your death. Your weapon does not matter, choose whatever you want to be holding when you die. It was you who ran last time. You did not have the courage to face me then. I doubt you have it now.¡±

    ¡°You are dead!¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°You¡¯re dead and you just don¡¯t know it. When I catch up with you, whatever Asmodius will do would be kind by comparison. Count the seconds. Count the minutes. You don¡¯t have hours.¡±

    He squeezed the heart until it exploded, leaving a nugget of silver ore that felt like FarPortal coordinates. The grove had fallen silent, and Kaden couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that every gaze lay on him. ¡°What are you all looking at? Get to your staging points. When we¡¯re ready, I¡¯m heading straight for her. The real question is whether or not there¡¯ll be any demons left for you.¡±

    *Does everyone have the Demoni Quest? If not see a Quest Broker. We may as well get paid.* Sara kept track of every detail.

    In the aftermath of Sara¡¯s comment, Adventurers began to move, some heading to the FarPortal, others seeking out Quest Brokers. Eve and Sara and Ashi stayed close. Ashi reached out to brush his arm, one eyebrow raised.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really angry.¡±

    ¡°You do a wonderful impression,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°I know. But I need her to believe that¡¯s my goal.¡±

    Eve kept quiet. ¡°I don¡¯t usually care enough about people to pay attention to how they speak. But I believed you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill her. I¡¯m going to use [Binding Mark]. And then I¡¯ll use her to figure out how to break the tie to Trella. How long until we can do this?¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help pacing through the Grove, all the way to the [Ranger] Encampment.

    Ashi said nothing. She hovered up slightly and held on to his hand, so he dragged her along after him. ¡°What if I can¡¯t win against Naski? What if she has abilities we didn¡¯t see?¡±

    ¡°You will not be alone. It is not what you can do, or what I can do, or what Sara can do or Trinity. This is the power Demons never know, of strength united by purpose, not fear.¡±

    ¡°You forgot someone. Someone important. Someone we love even if we don¡¯t admit it. Eve¡ª¡±

    ¡°It is true, Vip counts,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We can win against Naski. Her Cult will receive no mercy. You have rarely seen my true power, but they will experience it. Even against Jagi, my fear held me back. I will not hold back.¡±

    As the minutes ticked away, Kaden finally found a way to calm. Though he wasn¡¯t a [Mage], the methods they used to purify mana were still useful.

    *We¡¯re almost ready. Our scouts say something is happening. A ritual of some sort. We can¡¯t afford to let them complete it. All teams to final positions.* Sara¡¯s voice had Kaden on his feet. Ashi was already up and heading for the FarPortal, where Eve and Sara were waiting with a pair of [Druids] and [Rangers.]

    Kaden handed Eve the silver rock that triggered the portal. ¡°Send me through. Naski¡¯s not subtle, she won¡¯t wait to attack, so that means you don¡¯t have to either.¡±

    One of the [Druids] grabbed the stone. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the portal since we need you in tip-top shape. If there¡¯s anyone else with the demon¡¯s daughter, kill them first. You know exactly what the demon¡¯s daughter can do. Everyone else is an unknown.¡±

    Sara put a hand on his arm. ¡°Do what you do best. Wreck her and anything that gets in the way.¡±

    ¡°Be careful. Please.¡± Eve¡¯s request came with a highly unusual amount of caring. ¡°Vip would be sad if you die. Also, I¡¯d lose her forever.¡±

    That was a consideration Kaden rarely made. But something he could handle. Kaden summoned Vip and commanded her to lay down in the grove. ¡°You can¡¯t come, love. I¡¯d tell you to go with Eve if I don¡¯t come back, but I will come back.¡±

    The FarPortal blazed into existence, and then the Druid made an adjustment using the metal stone. ¡°I¡¯ve got the FarPortal address. The rock doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡±

    One last thing. He pulled vials from Inventory. ¡°These are the last of Trella¡¯s Bleed potions. I¡¯ve already dosed Remembrance and the Levicon Blade. You should do the same for your swords. These are tier two, you¡¯ve got an hour at most.¡±

    Sara accepted the half-full vials. ¡°I collected Death Frogs as well. No holding back.¡±

    Kaden was ready. He drew Remembrance and stepped through. The FarPortal tore at him, buffeting him back and forth, but Kaden had survived Eve¡¯s Portal Piloting. He landed on his feet, with Naski a few feet in front of him. She glowed a deep red in his demon sight.

    ¡°You came. I doubted you.¡± She drew a long sword that dripped purple ooze, then, with a whoose, lit up with a black flame.

    Kaden stalked toward her. No others surrounding him, they were underground, perhaps a basement he hadn¡¯t found. The floor was lined with solid black crystals that formed runes. ¡°Where¡¯s the audience?¡±

    ¡°We are alone for now. This is for an audience of one,¡± Naski said.

    Kaden attempted to activate [Binding Mark.]

    Subject cannot be bound. Increase your will or reduce target health for greater chance of success.

    So much for the easy way. He didn¡¯t know how to increase his will, but he did know how to decrease her health. ¡°I knew you cared about me, Nasty. Setting up this private session. You and I alone. No minotaurs watching. No stupid Demon Daddy, or even dumber Demon Grand-Daddy to make it awkward. Just you and me.¡±

    Naski shook her head, and snapped her fingers. The ground shook, and rocks tumbled from the ceiling.

    Kaden risked a glance behind him at the stubby growth of black crystals that had split the FarPortal slab, and at that moment he realized just how badly it could go.

    *Attack! Go! Go! Go!* Sara screamed over the thought link.

    Then a thousand pound weight landed on him, a sheer pressure that pushed Kaden to his knees.

    Naski spoke sweetly. ¡°This performance is not for you. It is for Asmodius.¡±

 Thirty Four - Dances With Demons

    Asmodeus wasn¡¯t here, mostly because Kaden could touch the ceiling and Asmodeus had towered over everything, but his presence was, and it threatened to leave Kaden helpless. A dark and grumbling voice like the earth itself spoke, and the presence grew lighter, but the situation grew worse. So much worse.

    A form solidified behind Naski, so tall it had to dip its head. ¡°It hurts.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, Father.¡± Naski said, stepping further back so the still-forming demon stood between them. ¡°He has your eye.¡±

    ¡°It hurts. It hurts that I am reduced to this. For you.¡± The face took shape. The same proud nose, but the skull had only three eye sockets, and all but one were empty. ¡°Give me the eye. I will give you a merciful death.¡±

    [Demon Incarnation Asmodeus (Minotaur Shell)]

    Asmodeus is not permitted in this world, but when a lesser demon surrenders their existence, he may possess their form for a brief time. While limited, it is still strong enough to destroy the source of its aggravation and reclaim its power.

    Level: 30

    HP: 10,000

    Mana: 6,000

    Skills: Demon¡¯s Destruction, Gaze of Asmodeus, Infernal Whirlwind, Demon Storm, Summon Lesser Demon, Empower Daughter, Sacrificial Blaze.

    Talents: Otherworldly, Unceasing Evil

    Status Effects: Planal Pendulum (negative)

    [Planal Pendulum]

    By crossing the planes when your kind is at a disadvantage, suffer continual, ongoing damage. Only leaving the plane will end this damage. Defy the balance at your own risk.

    First off, the good news: This incarnation of Asmodeus was subject to constant damage. The bad news, on the other hand, was everything else. Naski was a level higher. If a group of forties had beens sure they could handle a level fifty Demon Lord, a thirty plus Nasky versus Kaden was in no way a fair fight.

    The strategy here would be to stall.

    No, the first thing to do was harm. Kaden activated [Mana Drain]. Asmodeus didn¡¯t just give up his mana, it was a literal battle, but the moment he pulled the first drop, the Demon Incarnation screamed and gave up more¡ªand more, and¡ª

    [Split Second] gave Kaden his only warning, and he bent backwards to dodge Naski¡¯s black blade, which burned off a lock of Kaden¡¯s hair. Of course she wouldn¡¯t give him the chance for a fair fight.

    *North side, we have [Demon Mages], be careful,* Sara¡¯s broadcast came.

    Kaden had problems on every side. The constant use of [Split Second] was the only thing keeping him alive, and any moment, Asmodius would recover.

    ¡°Now you die,¡± Asmodius spoke, shaking the ground with his voice.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t had this minute as the minute he would die, but that was probably how it went. He had only one trump card to play, and no doubt of how it would go. Kade activated [Moment of Speed], pouring Mana into it so he could sidestep Naski¡¯s slash and charge Asmodeus. At the last moment, he activated the [Eldritch Shield], swinging it in the same motion he¡¯d seen Wren use.

    It slammed into the minotaur.

    You have gained a new skill: [Shield Bash].

    [Shield Bash]

    Use your shield as a weapon to knock enemies aside. This attack can apply a [Stun] status effect. Take no damage from impact while using [Shield Bash].

    Asmodeus stagged back momentarily, then lifted his head and roared with laughter. And agony, as Trinity speared him and attacked with all three heads at once.

    Kaden hated pitting her against the incarnation. Knew she was overmatched, but this was life and death, and Trinity was always a fan of the death part of life and death. [Mana Drain] siphoned a hundred points of mana from Asmodius, and Kaden poured it into [Moment of Speed], starting an attack a heartbeat before Naski¡¯s sword stabbed the space he had been a moment before.

    Kaden was diving forward¡ªthrough a portal, one that let him land an axe-blow in the Daughter¡¯s back. She stumbled forward, and spun, meaning to cut his head off.

    [Split Second] let him step closer and headbutt Naski¡ªthen drive Remembrance up in a short jab that caught her under the chin that sent her flying.

    Trinity gave a short scream, and a sickening tearing demanded Kaden look. Her Snake head wasmissing the lower jaw, but Asmodius was covered in bites, each of which would inflict poison.

    Kaden banished Remembrance and drew Thorn Caster, pouring fifty points into a Mana Arrow that refused to take shape, shifting, changing and shimmering. The bowstring sang as he loosed the arrow, striking Asmodius in the back just above the base of his spine.

    You have inflicted the status effect [Poison] on Demon Incarnation (Asmodeus).

    The roar of pain made Kaden smile. Face him and Trinity would tear him to pieces. Face Trinity and risk a lucky shot with Thorn Caster. Now¡ª

    [Split Second] activated.

    A split second too late.

    A black, flaming blade burst from Kaden¡¯s side, and it took all his energy to throw himself forward. If not for [Fortress of Stone] he would have blacked out. In fact, the strike probably would have activated [Resilient Constitution]. Except that Kaden was no longer a tier one Adventurer.

    [Sole Survivor] made him more resistant to all kinds of damage when he was alone, but the bleeding kept coming. Naski, too, leaked blood from the wound on her shoulder, but Kaden understood basic math. Even with Trinity in the battle, the demons held an advantage.

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    ¡°I will cut out your tongue. Nothing awaits but agony, and the end.¡± With every word, Naski attacked, heedless of her own status.

    Of course.

    If she succeeded, Asmodeus could grant her return. Hell, even if Kaden smashed her Demon Core, she might return. What Kaden needed would cost him. It might damn well kill him, but this was the only way he¡¯d survive.

    He banished Remembrance and dodged a blow from Naski¡¯s sword. In the moment before she brought it back, he drew Thorn Caster and fired a basic mana arrow at point blank range¡ªand another¡ªand a last one before he threw himself to the side.

    The sword burned another two hundred health off as it bounced down his leg, splitting muscles.

    Three stacks of poison for two hundred health. The problem was, if Asmodius killed him, he¡¯d never be able to help Trella. He activated [Binding Mark] with a prayer to Veela.

    [Binding Mark] has failed. Increase your will or reduce target health for greater chance of success.

    It was progress. Previously, Binding Mark had failed to activate entirely. Now it activated but didn¡¯t succeed.

    And Naski was no longer pushing her attack on him. She stood frozen, her eyes wide. Kaden didn¡¯t mind. Every moment drained her health.

    ¡°Come forth!¡± Asmodius shouted.

    All around Kaden the black crystals lit up, and a pair of [Goatmen] materialized, bleating out battle cries.

    [Binding Mark] grasped one immediately, and Kaden nearly fell over.

    You have bound a demon.

    Binding slots: [1/1]

    It was like steering someone else¡¯s body while looking in a mirror, upside down, but Kaden willed a command. The Graht steered itself in front of its companion as the goat man attempted to stab Trinity, whose bone head was crushed on one side, but still fighting.

    The spear graht kept looking down at its hands and back to the other graht as though it couldn¡¯t figure out what had just happened.

    Kaden released the wounded one and bound the other. This time, the dizziness passed in an instant. He ordered it to tear out the spear and stab Asmodeus¡¯s incarnation, which it did without hesitation.

    It turned out, a bound demon¡¯s death ended the binding. Particularly when their neck was snapped by a [Demon Lord Incarnation].

    Kaden turned his attention to Naski, who backed away. ¡°Who¡¯s hunting who?¡±

    [Binding Mark] has activated. Binding process is underway. To reduce binding time, increase your will or reduce target health.

    Naski almost screamed, but Kaden willed her to be silent, and it came out only a strangled whimper. Already he felt the bond dropping as she fought it, tearing at his skill. Kaden couldn¡¯t stop her from breaking free, but he could give her nowhere to run. ¡°It worked perfectly again, Naski. The Pendulum drains his health. The [Poison] drains his health. And soon I will be known as the man who killed Asmodius. And you will be known as the daughter who orchestrated two demon lord betrayals.¡±

    Naski¡¯s will surged with her anger, and Kaden seized her, spinning her around to kiss her. Demon lips and demon ass probably tasted the same, but he held it as Asmodius screamed to the heavens his rage. The air crackled as the demon lord spoke.

    Target: Naski has broken your binding. Continue the binding ritual to complete.

    Kaden stifled a cry of pain as Naski bit a chunk out of his lip and shoved him away, screaming in rage.

    ¡°Do not fall for his tricks!¡± Naski said. She didn¡¯t conceal the fear in her voice. ¡°I brought him here so you could retrieve your eye. It was my manipulation that made it possible. Reclaim it and see if I spoke the truth.¡±

    Asmodius exploded with sheer power. ¡°[Demon Storm]¡±

    A cloud of claws and fangs surrounded him, tearing at Trinity even as she sank her blind head¡¯s teeth deep into the skin of his skull. The Incarnation¡¯s body was still that of a minotar, and as Trinity tore the flesh off, vestigial horns still showed in the bone.

    Kaden felt every bite the Demon Storm inflicted, but he also felt Trinity¡¯s determination. Her jaws closed tighter and tighter. Bone cracked as she pulled upward.

    Without warning, Trinity collaspsed, losing chunks of flesh to the swirling jaws and claws. Kaden didn¡¯t waste her sacrifice, blasting a [Mana Arrow] through Asmodius before triggering [Binding Mark] on Naski.

    Naski had fled, and in doing so revealed an illusion. A narrow stair-case led upward from the summoning portal where she¡¯d brought him. Kaden would find her. Right now, he understood the greater threat. *Sara. Naski is running. Don¡¯t let her get away. We have big problems down here.*

    *Ashi is on it. We¡¯re vastly outnumbered, out leveled, three of our Parties ran away, and all of these cultists are level thirties. Also, I didn¡¯t mean that to broadcast that to anyone but Kaden. The battle¡¯s going well, carry on, kill them all.*

    Sara¡¯s panicked addition was less than convincing. Kaden needed to deal with Asmodeus. Even if that meant making a deal with Asmodeus. ¡°You want your eye?¡±

    The Demon Lord Incarnation hadn¡¯t moved since the Graht stabbed him. Instead, it studied Kaden, one misshapen hand on a chin that hung loose, since Trinity had come within seconds of tearing the skull apart. ¡°Give it to me. I will depart.¡±

    Kaden activated [Binding Mark]

    [Binding Mark] has activated. Binding process is underway. To reduce binding time, increase your will or reduce target health.

    Before Kaden could speak a second notice came in.

    Target: Incarnation of Asmodius has broken your binding. Continue the binding ritual to complete.

    Now he had the Incarnation¡¯s attention. And a momentary chance to change everything. ¡°I lied earlier. Naski wasn¡¯t helping me as much as I was helping her get revenge on you. I don¡¯t want to be the man who killed a Demon Lord. I will be the man who controls one.¡±

    Asmodius didn¡¯t rage.

    He didn¡¯t even shout.

    Directive Acknowledged. Class: Demonic Servant has been revoked from Entity [Nasky] (Source: [ASMODIUS 1.7334x221]).

    Asmodius charged.

    [Split Second] plus a hundred points of Mana let Kaden dodge¡ªbarely, and activate [Mana Drain] to siphon fifty points back, fifty points he poured into a mana arrow that blasted through Asmodeus¡¯s incarnation just above the navel.

    Victor had made it look so easy.

    Your skill with Archery has increased.

    Your skill with Mana Quiver has increased.

    Good to know, a fight to the death against a demon lord would raise tier two skills. For the first time in this fight, Kaden wasn¡¯t afraid. He wasn¡¯t outnumbered, even if he was outleveled. Even before he had a class, Kaden had faced higher level opponents.

    The pendulum of balance swung against Asmodius.

    Stacks of poison, too, hurt.

    But Kaden stored Remembrance and drew the [Levicon Blade] as he approached. The Demon Lord shivered, and smoke engulfed him, but as it drifted away, the minotaur wore black leather armor, and carried a flaming whip.

    Asmodius lashed out with the whip, and Kaden caught it, letting it wrap around his arm. The Levicon Blade was short, less than three inches, and shaped oddly, because it was formed from an octopus hook, but it had a quality Kaden loved.

    It could not fail to cut.

    It sliced through the magic that enchanted the whip, turning it to ashes.

    Asmodius tossed it away and drew a short sword without so much as blinking. True, he only had one eye but the one eye didn¡¯t blink. He charged at Kaden, moving impossibly fast. The short-sword stabbed forward, striking Kaden in the chest. Sparks flew from the metal ribs, and Kaden flew across the room, glancing off a stone wall that was unfortunately not a pile of pillows with an illusion cast on it.

    You have taken 490 points of damage.

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden drew a healing potion from Inventory and swigged it. ¡°If I gave you an eye, you¡¯d leave?¡±

    ¡°Give it to me.¡± The Demon Lord approached slowly. ¡°I will go.¡±

    Sure he would, the same way he kept his deal with Viktor. Kaden knew better. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. You can have your eye.¡±

    He circled, backing away toward the staircase Naski had used. Also letting his health tick upward so [Resilient Constitution] would work. ¡°You have to let me go.¡±

    Asmodius roared and charged as Kaden spun, throwing. ¡°Take it, just let me go!¡±

    The Demon Lord¡¯s incarnation was impossibly fast, snatching the eye from the air and shoving it into an open socket.

    Time stopped.

    Not really, but it felt that way while Kaden held his breath.

    Asmodius¡¯s incarnation, too, stood frozen. Then it screamed in agony, and both hands clawed desperately, trying to remove the eye it had shoved into the socket. Because Kaden had thrown the [Eye of the Rat God] he¡¯d never been able to trade.

    Rat fur grew on the demon lord, and burned off, replaced by scales, then grew again, and a rat tail burst from its hind quarters before falling off and growing again. The Demon Lord writhed, clawing its own face over and over, and in that moment, Kaden had an idea that even he knew was wonderfully terrible.

    He kneeled over the fallen Incarnation and ripped both eyes from the skull.

    You have obtained 1x Eye of Asmodius.

    You have obtained 1x Eye of the Rat God.

    It took four chops of Remembrance to remove the Demon¡¯s head. Five blows to split the corpse open so he could remove a misshapen, blackened demon core, which he placed in Inventory. No notification. No warning he¡¯d killed a demon, so Asmodius wasn¡¯t dead, but Kaden had different plans.

    Right now, they involved killing a cult and capturing a Demon¡¯s Daughter.

    Maybe not in that order, but there would be killing and there would be Naski.

 Thirty Five - What Once Was

    The stairway lead to a hidden entrance in a building Kaden was certain he had, in fact, ransacked. The X carved in the door with Remembrance marked it as empty, which meant he¡¯d missed the stairway due to the illusion

    It was no longer empty. Four [Cultist] mages stood at the windows, casting spells out at anything that came near.

    Kaden sank into [Stealth], slinking up on the Mages. Trinity was dead, so [MultiTasker] wouldn¡¯t help. No, this would all be about timing. [BackSlash] took the head off the first one, and [Moment of Speed] let Kaden bury Remembrance in the second¡¯s back right between the shoulderblades.

    Crippling Strikes has delivered a Mortal Blow.

    The other two Cultists had exactly a heartbeat to realized something was wrong, then one was missing the hand that she used to hold a wand, and the other slumped over as Remembrance caved in his skull.

    These were level thirty cultists, and Kaden was carving through them like they weren¡¯t even present. The handless woman screamed out a spell¡ªinto the Elderitch Shield, which absorbed it, redoubling its fear effect.

    Carving a Cultist in two was disturbingly easy.

    They had a five level advantage, Kaden should have been struggling to kill them. That would be something to discuss with Sara later. Maybe worshiping demons made them fragile, or, more likely, subject to [Planes Cutter].

    For now, he used [Stealth Aura] to sneak out of the building and deliver a [BackSlash] to the side of a [Beserker] with Demon Runes carved all over his skin. Remembrance almost cut the man in half.

    Everywhere, Cultists engaged in war. There must have been hundreds, but with every moment, there were fewer. Kaden hit a series of [Mages] with [Mana Drain], but before he could reach them, Cutter Karn leaped in to slice throats. ¡°About time you got here. Polly and the Demon¡¯s Daughter were fighting in the tavern.¡±

    Kaden pivoted to bring Remembrance down on the skull of a [Swordsman] with a black flame blade. The skull exploded.

    ¡°Holy shit.¡± Cutter stared. ¡°Did you mean to do that? They have mages holed up in the town hall. That would be handy.¡±

    ¡°You heard Sara. We kill them all.¡± Kaden activated the [Eldritch Shield] and stalked toward the Hall, letting it drink in spell after spell. Ten feet away, Mana began to overflow, and Kaden was forced to funnel some to Cutter.

    Six feet away, the shield began to strain and groan.

    Two feet from the door, cracks grew along the outside of the shield. At any moment, it would surrender.

    A mage leaned out¡ªand Kaden locked him with [Mana Drain], then yanked the man out the door and to the side, where he screamed three times before going completely silent. ¡°Who wants to be next?¡±

    ¡°None of them want it. All of them will be.¡± Sara shouted as she leaped from the roof to land. Without warning, she unleashed [Anthem of the End].

    Kaden¡¯s health dropped.

    Cutter¡¯s health dropped.

    Sara, too, bled from eyes and ears and nose, but she charged through the door. The screaming inside slowly died off before Sara¡¯s pseudopods pushed the door open and she emerged. Her green armor was drenched in blood, with chunks of of flesh covering it. ¡°We have Nasky. Eve is the one who needs our help.¡±

    Kaden sprinted with Sara across the town. Outside what had once been a temple, a throng of demons fought and scratched and clawed to get through the stone doors. In the window where a Priest would once have stood, now a High Priestess of Nurav held court. ¡°Yes! Come and get me! I bathe in your hate. I drink it to grow stronger. And now, I choose something else to bathe in.¡±

    Eve held aloft her staff, the Bloood Moon staff, and from it a ray burst out that she swept over the throng. It caused random status effects by the dozen. Plague, Stun, Sleep, and more. Kaden didn¡¯t wait.

    He waded into the carnage, slashing. And damned if the Demons weren¡¯t harder to kill than the cultists. It took four [Backslashes] to kill. Half a dozen blows to chop off heads, and that was with Sara and Cutter joining in.

    Mostly Cutter, who was truly terrifying against this many opponents.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Mara?¡± Kaden shouted.

    Sara speared a pair of goatmen and drove them backwards toward Cutter. ¡°Several of the cultists took off on demonic mounts. She¡¯s chasing them down and killing every last one. Our forties are engaged with the Demon Lord they summoned.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡±

    Sara actually stopped her slaughter. ¡°What do you mean, he¡¯s dead? He ran north, straight through our line of Adventurers. Killed three healers, two [Shields] and a [Ranger]. We have to purge the cult or they¡¯ll go underground for decades¡±

    Kaden wanted Naski.

    He wanted to chase her down, but trust was something Sara had earned. If she said Ashi had the Demon¡¯s Daughter, they did. ¡°Who do you want me to kill?¡±

    ¡°How many times do I have to say it? Everyone.¡± Sara pointed to all the buildings. ¡°I have rangers guarding the town gates, but what remains is brutal, close up work.¡±

    ¡°My kind of work,¡± Cutter said. ¡°Pick a building, Hammer Man.¡±

    Kaden assessed where they were. ¡°There. That corner. Then we work our way north. How will we know if there are illusions?¡±

    ¡°Eve. Gaze of the Ancients.¡± Sara called up. ¡°Eve, it¡¯s clear-ish for you.¡±

    A moment later, the stone temple doors swung open and Eve stepped out. ¡°As long as I stay near Kaden, I¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t wait, leaping in through an open window. ¡°Archers!¡±

    ¡°Not without me!¡± Cutter yelled, following. ¡°You do not kill all the easy ones. Oh, hell, we¡¯ve got children, three of them.¡±

    ¡°No glow, not demons.¡± Kaden shouted.

    Sara quickly sent birds and arranged an evacuation Portal.

    As Kaden broke a man¡¯s sword and split his skull, a Portal opened. Ashi stepped through. ¡°It is good to see you, Kaden Birch. Where are the innocents?¡±

    ¡°Downstairs. There¡¯s a decent chance I killed their parents in front of them.¡± Kaden felt terrible about that part. Less terrible because the woman had stabbed him three times with a poisoned dagger that Kaden now had in Inventory. Less terrible because the blackened skin on his hand had come from a fireball the archer launched after Kaden split his bow in two.

    Ashi paused and handed him something from Inventory. A black oval with veins of silver light through it.

    [Disowned Daughter Naski].

    ¡°You killed her?¡±

    ¡°I do not show mercy to those who threaten Dungeon Masters. She will reform. This is the Demon, not the flesh she wrapped herself in.¡± Ashi headed downstairs, while Kaden activated [Binding Mark].

    [Binding Mark] has activated. Binding process is underway. To reduce binding time, increase your will or reduce target health.

    He delicately placed it into Inventory. And set to killing a cult. ¡°Eve, house is clear, check for illusions?¡±

    ¡°Including the basement?¡± Eve asked.

    The next question would have been ¡®What Basement?¡¯ Eve wouldn¡¯t have asked. ¡°I can¡¯t see a door.¡±

    Eve poked her head in. ¡°I can¡¯t either, but there¡¯s an illusion to the right of the cooking station.¡±

    Kaden made sure there was a pile of wood splinters next to the cooking station. ¡°Oh, shit. Some kind of feeding station. It¡¯s full of bodies.¡±

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    ¡°Leave it for a cleanup Party,¡± Sara said as her Horror tripped a Graht that came charging for Eve and began to methodically tear it apart. ¡°I want to contribute, but every time I turn around there¡¯s an emergency.¡±

    *All archers report status on the hour. At the conclusion of this message, take a mana potion.*

    Kaden looked to Cutter. ¡°We¡¯re never going to get them cleared out at this rate, and when night comes, there¡¯s almost no chance one won¡¯t escape.¡±

    ¡°Truth. My Party¡¯s holding the breached gate. I could probably pull two of them and sweep with you.¡± Cutter wiped her knives and jumped out the window. ¡°Where are the others? Your forties I get it. The [Ranger], I get. You had twenty five others on roll.¡±

    Sara took out her frustration on the dead Graht, chopping it into chunks for the Horror. ¡°The moment a Demon Lord showed up, I lost contact with half of them. And then I mistakenly broadcast the truth about the situation.¡±

    Cutter swore under her breath. ¡°Then get contact. Leading isn¡¯t just about asking. Leading is about telling. Do it. Do it right now. It doesn¡¯t matter what people think of you. Do you want to be popular, or do you want to know the cult is dead?¡± Cutter waited, tapping her foot.

    Kaden knew what it was to be on the receiving end of a smackdown. ¡°You took this on, it¡¯s yours to see it through. This is a business. Run it. Those adventurers accepted a contract. Enforce it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never had a problem being impolite before,¡± Eve added.

    *All Adventurers who do not report to staging postions for final assault will be penalized on return and assigned to run Jungle Hell for the next two years. Acknowledge receipt of my message and state your arrival time within two minutes.*

    Sara grimaced.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do that to start with?¡± Cutter asked.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t actually have authority. I can only hope no one checks.¡± Sara pointed to another building. ¡°Eve, you¡¯re with me until we¡¯re sure there are no more demons loose.¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡± Eve activated [Life Endowment]. Kaden¡¯s health shot upward, pausing only a moment at 1600/1600, and then climbed further, stopping at just over 2100. Then ticked down a point. And another. ¡°Go!¡± Eve shouted.

    Kaden kicked in the door to a house and activated [Moment of Speed] to dive under a swarm of daggers that sailed through the door. Inside a pair of [Knife Throwers] lurked, with a [Mage] backing them up.

    The Mage whispered, and [Chilling Blast] errupted in the room, slowing Kaden. The air had turned to honey, and even with [Moment of Speed], the [Knife Throwers] had just enough time to realize they¡¯d missed.

    Over and over, Kaden poured Mana into [Moment of Speed] but the [Mage] understood his life was on the line.

    A silver blade appeared in one cultists¡¯ hand, and like magic, sailed unaffected through the air to tear into Kaden¡¯s arm. The second bounced off of his metallic chest.

    Kaden¡¯s mana burned toward zero just to keep [Moment of Speed] active.

    Across from him, the [Mage]¡¯s eyes had burst and blood gushed from the sockets, but he continued to shriek out incantations. Every use of [Chilling Blast] cost more and more mana.

    Both knives this time threw sparks and sliced through his armor as Kaden pushed relentlessly forward. If he was alone, [Sole Survivor] kicked in. In a group, [Last Man Standing] gave him the power to keep going.

    Remembrance begged to be unleashed. To slice and cut, but now, their only prayer was to keep [Chilling Blast] active.

    Hard to Kill has given you a new resistance: Resist Slow.

    Your skill with Resist Slow has Increased.

    Like forcing his way through sludge, Kaden began to move, ignoring the flashing warnings that his health was critically low.

    The [Mage] dropped dead without warning, his corpse slumping forward. [Chilling Blast] ended. Kaden struck, meaning to bury Remembrance in the [Knife Thrower¡¯s] chest. Instead, it split the man wide open from crotch to chin.

    You have slain a Cultist.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a level.

    You have attribute points to distribute.

    Health gushed into Kaden as the level up healed him. He didn¡¯t want to assign the attribute point, not without knowing what would affect [Binding Mark] best. This close, Kaden couldn¡¯t use Remembrance for a full swing, so he stored it and drew the Levicon Blade in a single motion.

    ¡°[Infernal Sacrifice]!¡± The Knife thrower shouted¡ªstabbing himself in the heart.

    Cultist Ian Johanson has used Infernal Sacrifice. Entity [Asmodius] cannot receive power at this time.

    Kaden shoveled all the corpses into Inventory, looting them as he went, dashed upstairs and back down. ¡°Need an illusion check.¡±

    ¡°Patience, please, there were three hidden rooms in Cutter¡¯s.¡± Eve came running. ¡°Nothing. Nothing. Oh, level twenty six?¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°What next?¡±

    ¡°Next, we get our questors to do their gods-damned jobs like I should have at first. That¡¯s on me, I won¡¯t lose control again.¡± Sara stepped aside as portal after portal opened. ¡°Mara killed the last flier, she might not make it back in time. The [Drake] she¡¯s riding is hard to control since we got it on loan from Beast Control.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. Chasing down the runners and preventing the Cult from spreading like a disease was the key. All around him, Rangers and Swordsmen, Shields, Healers, even a [Spearman] and a pair of [Electrocutionist], which was obviously a specialization of the [Mage] class.

    *All of you form up and start clearing buildings. Healers stay in the streets, Rangers take to the roofs and provide cover. Border Parties hold your position, call out any runners. We have a [Huntress] and a [Stalker] should any attempt stealth.* Sara¡¯s commands were clear, clean, and unquestionable.

    ¡°Kaden, Eve, stay close. Cutter does as she wants, but I need to be able to direct you if we hit hard resistance, and of course, [Mages] will be mine.¡±

    The next three hours were bloody and hot and disgustingly hard work, as the Adventurers steadily cleared the town. And all along, Ashi portaled in to grab the few children hidden behind Illusions. Always young girls. Eve resurrected a few corpses from the feeding pits, and found to her horror, they were willing food.

    Kaden found the [Eldritch Shield] was a near perfect way to motivate them for questioning, and over the hours, he learned exactly how Demon Cults operated. It began with an Adventurer hungry for power.

    It progressed with offering a young girl as a sacrifice to become a Demon¡¯s Daughter. Next, the Cultists proved their commitment by hosting a newly-birthed Demon¡¯s Daughter, who would judge their worthiness.

    And when the Daughter was grown, it would either vouch for the faithfulness of its hosts or kill them, before returning to one of the Hells for training. Only after training were they unleashed to guide a Cult in the appropriate sacrifices that would unleash a Demon Lord.

    Darkness neared when the message finally came.

    You have purged a Cult: (Cult of the Dark Moon #2,947, Northern Continent, Western Half, Bead Wearers, Blue Pendant Wearers with Red Dots, not Green Dots).

    You have completed a Quest: No Surrender, No Retreat - Purge the Demon Cult.

    You have failed a Quest: Punish the Wayward Daughter - Destroy Naski¡¯s Core.

    You have gained: 3x Faction Tokens (Stateri).

    You have gained Faction Favor (Stateri).

    Kaden was exhausted. Still burned from a [Fire Mage] who had surprised Sara before she could unleash [Anthem of the End], and the wounds, being mana reinforced, resisted Eve¡¯s attempts at healing.

    As Adventurers left by Portal, Ashi drank a Mana Potion. She hadn¡¯t spoken to Kaden since handing over the Demon Core, but her wraps hung in tatters, and her hair was burned off on one side, while barbed spines stuck out in clusters on her other arm.

    ¡°What happens now?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of night spawns, but we should leave.¡±

    That stuck in Kaden¡¯s gut like a silver knife blade.

    ¡°Now we burn the corpses and I wait for sign off,¡± Sara said. ¡°And Kaden, if you don¡¯t mind looting. If you run into spell books, scrolls, artifacts, anything, assume it¡¯s Demon-Tainted. The Mage Tower will handle them.¡±

    ¡°You said no loot,¡± Eve said before Ashi joined in.

    ¡°I trust you three. You know the danger. You won¡¯t steal it and try to sell it on the black market.¡± Sara paced nervously. ¡°Ashi, we need to burn the corpses. Would you mind helping?¡±

    ¡°It will be done.¡±

    In the middle of the town square, every cultist corpse lay stacked neatly. Kaden had added his own kills to the pile, and now he set about clearing the town again, this time with Eve at his side.

    He expected mounds of demonic equipment, but a trio of spell books, five wands, six swords and a slab of rock Kaden ripped from the ground, using Remembrance as a lever were the only real reminder. He threw them in a pile. ¡°I guarantee you people stole from the cultists they killed.¡±

    Sara nodded as the stench of burning corpses grew thicker and thicker. ¡°My Quest doesn¡¯t cover that. The FarPortal will reactivate temporarily for signoff and evacuation.¡±

    A few minutes later, It lit up in a sequence of colors, every rune coming one after the other¡ªthen blazed into existence as Centurions stepped out, ten of them.

    At the head came Captain Blanco, which surprised Kaden.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a Justari representative?¡± Kaden asked. Sara¡¯s disapproving look didn¡¯t stop him. ¡°I swear I thought this was a Stateri Quest.¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Blanco turned to the others and gave them orders. ¡°Some factions get along really well. The Stateri lack the conviction to do true good, but that doesn¡¯t make them enemies and most of the time we count them as allies. Hell, the Mercari can be helpful. Not in this case, but they often are, because business is business. Yvet, pulverize the bones. Ursus, what do you want to do with the loot?¡±

    Ursus was a woman with dark brown skin and short curly black hair in Mage¡¯s robes. ¡°That¡¯s all of it? Barely worth¡ªwhere did you get the rock?¡±

    Kaden pointed. ¡°Basement. I can show you the building.¡±

    ¡°Not demonic loot at all. It¡¯s an early version of a FarPortal. Like, thousands of years ago.¡± She didn¡¯t touch any of the rest as she sucked it into Inventory.

    Kaden did the same with the rock. ¡°Cults really like this place, and there¡¯s a giant circle in a hidden basement with black rocks all around it. That¡¯s where the Incarnation of Asmodius was.¡±

    Kaden never got a chance to explain, the number of people shouting at him rose steadily until Captain Blank threw back his head and used [Thundering Shout]. ¡°Enough!¡±

    You have acquired a status condition: Deaf.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Deafness.

    It took Eve several minutes and [Mana Well] to restore everyone¡¯s hearing. Ashi took first turn. ¡°It is not in your nature to run. Next time, I expect you to call for help.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t expected her to back him up. ¡°They broke the FarPortal the moment I came through. There were illusions hiding the only exit, and it wasn¡¯t full-on Demon Lord Asmodeus. He took over a Minotaur¡¯s body and demanded his eye. By the way, I have two of them now. The one I took from Darmando and the one I ripped from Asmodius¡¯s ugly skull myself.¡±

    ¡°Hold on.¡± The Mage Centurion spoke out of turn, but Blanco didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°First, those ¡®black rocks¡¯ are demon summoning stones. No wonder a Cult got reestablished here this quickly. Second, show me the summoning circle. I want to know what level of Hell it goes to. Third, how the hell did you survive a Demon¡¯s Daughter and an Incarnation?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a gods-damned cockroach, that¡¯s how. Surviving is what he does and he¡¯ll only get better at it.¡± Mr. Dervish stepped through a portal. ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late, you ain¡¯t the only ones with a Quest. Thanks for filling in, Dom.¡±

    ¡°Bodies are burned,¡± Ursus said. ¡°Haven¡¯t met a [PolyMage] but that was some quality immolation. Loot¡¯s rounded up, town¡¯s empty.¡±

    ¡°Perfect. Now burn this place to the ground,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden¡¯s voice drew all the attention. ¡°That is not what we¡¯re going to do at all.¡±

 Thirty Six - Make A Stand [End of Volume Five]

    Kaden wasn¡¯t the unclassed man he¡¯d been when he first met Mr. Dervish. Twenty five attribute points had made him taller, broader, thicker, stronger, and while the Summoning Saint still stood a head taller, it was no longer like looking up at a giant. And the frustration with demons and their constant attacks had reached a boiling point where Kaden no longer cared about what was practical or what was logical.

    There came a point at which refusing to let them destroy yet another haven for commoners was an act of will. ¡°I¡¯ve almost died here twice. Cults were drawn here. Monsters were drawn here. The best way to keep monsters and cults out isn¡¯t to destroy it. It¡¯s to repopulate it. Bring in people who live here. Guards to guard the gates. What did they make or sell or whatever?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a mine just north of here that mines Mana Ore,¡± Sara said. ¡°Or it did. The mine¡¯s production was falling off, but given today¡¯s Mana Ore prices, it would still be valuable.¡±

    Mr. Dervish stood silent, glaring at Kaden. ¡°It ain¡¯t that easy. This place isn¡¯t a Town anymore. If it weren¡¯t for us sitting here, you¡¯d be swimming in Night Spawns.¡±

    Kaden already had the answer. ¡°Sitting in the basement at my Holding, I have a Beacon of Veela. You told me it would be the basis for retaking a town. I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s this town.¡±

    ¡°Where do you plan to get the gold for that?¡± Ursus asked. ¡°I love the spirit but it¡¯s going to take careful planning, directed effort, so much organization. I¡¯ve got ten gold coins that says your most complex plan is ¡®Hit with hammer.¡¯ It¡¯s a good plan for monsters. Not for building a town.¡±

    Kaden turned to look her in the eye. ¡°You want to know how I survived a Demon¡¯s Daughter and Asmodeus? I convinced him the Daughter betrayed him. He revoked her class, which meant I only had to deal with Asmodeus. And he was only level thirty.¡±

    ¡°Only.¡± Ursus laughed. Her laughter was light and broke the heavy atmosphere. ¡°Show me these ¡®black rocks.¡¯ I¡¯ve got [Revelations] as a spell. I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re lying. I¡¯m saying it¡¯s easy to exaggerate.¡±

    Kaden led her to the building and the hidden stair, and walked her through the battle, even as she invoked [Revelations] over and over to produce ghostly afterimages of Asmodeus taking over the Minotaur¡¯s body. Of Naski fleeing in terror. And Kaden ripping the eye from Asmodius before gutting him. ¡°Look at the core. It¡¯s weird. I didn¡¯t get a notification, so Asmodius¡¯s incarnation is still around. He might pop out of Inventory intact.¡±

    Ursus began to laugh.

    This time it wasn¡¯t light or cheery, and in fact, it made Kaden want to be anywhere but there. ¡°Show me.¡±

    Kaden did his best to drop the core far away.

    But it hadn¡¯t regenerated. In fact, the blackened husk barely resembled a Demon Core at all. Ursus picked it up, smelling it, then touching it with her tongue. ¡°Classic Incarnation. Shoving an Incarnation into a lesser Demon burns out the core. Bleed, Poison, the Pendulum of Balance, you didn¡¯t as much kill Asmodeus as force him to leave. The Core couldn¡¯t contain him anymore. I absolutely love it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. What matters is that he¡¯s not here. After all, he never expected me to give him the Eye of the Rat God.¡±

    ¡°Damn!¡± Ursus said. ¡°That¡­ok. Never let it be said that Ursus Chutna doesn¡¯t keep her word.¡±

    She handed him a bag of gold. ¡°I trust this will cover the Core and my bet?¡±

    ¡°All yours.¡±

    ¡°Get a hundred thousand more and you can finance this place. The stones are parts of old demon souls. That¡¯s what draws them here. You want them, or can I have them?¡±

    Kaden only wanted one demon soul, and he had it. ¡°All yours.

    She began to rip stones from the circle. Kaden wisely retreated to the square.

    Where Ashi argued violently. ¡°The burden of power is to make others better.¡±

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    ¡°And better would be not having to pay to purge this town again,¡± one of the other Centurions said. ¡°It¡¯s got nothing to attract anyone. The mine will fix things for a bit, the farming is decent, the hops will take years to get established but in the mean time, what brings anyone here?¡±

    ¡°A Dungeon.¡± Kaden said it and meant it. ¡°There was talk of a Dungeon in this very town, underground. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s here. If there were a dungeon, a rank three dungeon? The Guild would at least have a building.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called a Hall,¡± Eve offered. ¡°Even if it¡¯s a one room cabin where the Guildmaster for a town lives, it¡¯s a Hall.¡±

    *Kaden, this is a lot to take on.* Sara spoke over the thought net. *I could organize it. I could even form a council, but this place is going to be years of work. The planning for planning will take months. And money we don¡¯t have.*

    Sara was being sensible. And logical. And probably reasonable.

    But having lost so much, it felt like one more step, one more surrender in a line of constant losses. ¡°I understand,¡± he said aloud. ¡°I¡¯ll personally handle scrubbing the town if you leave the FarPortal connected. I¡¯ve got two Eyes of Asmodius I¡¯ll offer. What Kingdom owns this place?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s technically a FreeHold,¡± Sara said. ¡°If it were a town instead of a collection of structures. Three centuries ago it was part of the Gorman Principality. Eight hundred years ago¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Mr. Dervish shook his head. ¡°This is ten kinds of bad idea. The Stateri won¡¯t be getting involved. We¡¯re here to preserve the balance, and what you¡¯re doing is pushing. It seems right to you, but pushing always brings pushing back.¡±

    ¡°Ok.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t done. ¡°The FarPortal stays connected. One Eye, and my word I cleanse this place monthly.¡±

    ¡°It was two eyes a moment ago,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    ¡°You should have taken the deal when I offered it.¡± Kaden produced both eyes. ¡°Look at me! I¡¯m a Demon Lord! I can have a staring contest with myself!¡±

    Asmodius gazes upon your soul with hatred.

    Mr. Dervish took one eye, and tossed it to Ursus. ¡°We¡¯re even. Sara, you done your part. The Quest is fulfilled. You should think twice about this next one. Kaden, I expect to see you to continue our research.¡±

    ¡°You will.¡± Kaden watched him leave. ¡°So. Now we go home?¡±

    Captain Blanco slapped Kaden on the back. ¡°Now, you come back to Verona and have dinner. Now I get to explain to you why you really do fit in with the Justari. Have you met the head of the Thieve¡¯s Guild? Man¡¯s got a lot of money, as you¡¯d expect the Mercari to. ¡°

    Kaden looked to the others. ¡°I think I¡¯d like to reschedule. I have some critical party business to tend to.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t take no forever. But no for now is fine. Go through the Portal. I give you my word we won¡¯t do any damage. That¡¯s not who I am.¡± Captain Blanco followed the Party back, and Eve re-established the FarPortal so Kaden could go home.

    ###

    At the kitchen table, Kaden sat, studying the odd Demon Core with silver veins. [Binding Mark] continued to assert that the process was active. Professor Treadle¡¯s binding had taken an instant.

    Eve had cooked dinner and then joined Ashi and Sara at the table, waiting for the Demon Core to speak. Or grow Flesh. Or something. While he waited, Kaden took out the [Thought Speech] scroll and activated it. Unlike a regular scroll, it didn¡¯t crumble, though it lost the shine.

    You have learned a new skill: Thought Speech.

    Kaden looked to Ashi. *Hello*.

    She winced and recoiled. ¡°Why are you shouting? Why are you not using your mouth to shout?¡±

    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m trying to get the hang of [Thought Speech].¡± This time, he focused on her, but imagined a whisper. *What happened with Naski?*

    Ashi shook her head. *Know that I keep my word to you. The Demon¡¯s Daughter had no Class, and did not respect [Mages]. Her attitude will be different.*

    It was weird. Her words felt and almost smelled like Ashi, like he was standing right behind her when he spoke. He¡¯d need to bathe more often, intentionally, and not in Demon Blood.

    Binding Mark is complete.

    You have bound a Demon: [Disowned Daughter Naski].

    Binding slots: [1/1]

    Your skill with Binding Mark has increased.

    Binding slots: [1/2].

    Kaden waited. Nothing happened. ¡°I bound the core. Binding Mark says it¡¯s done, but nothing is happening. Is the Shield Tree too close? I already adjusted Dominion.¡±

    ¡°I have no idea, but I know who will. We¡¯ll go into the City tomorrow and show it to Mr. Dervish. We have it. We have the key.¡± Sara reached across the table to squeeze Kaden¡¯s hand. ¡°Soon. Now, I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯m going to take a bath and go to sleep.¡±

    ¡°And I as well. Vip?¡± Eve looked to the dog, who pranced up the stairs. Traitor.

    Kaden waited for Ashi to speak. And when it was clear she wouldn¡¯t, he did. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°It is what I promised. What will you do, if this does not work?¡±

    Kaden had asked himself the same question. ¡°Find something else to try. Sara was right. I have to be patient, and I will be, no matter what it takes. I have a necromancer¡¯s inheritance to return. I have a town to clear. I want to pay Builder Willis to repair the gates. I want to practice binding Demons until I can use them as weapons. I want to go find a [Ruby Hydra] to make a proper lieutenant and grow my Dungeon. I will be a great Dungeon Master.¡±

    ¡°Already this is so,¡± Ashi said. ¡°What has changed, that you would know patience?¡±

    The answer was a fear Kaden hated admitting to. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be alone.¡±

    ¡°And now?¡±

    Kaden shrugged and took her hand. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±

    For now, it would be enough.

 One - Quest-ions [Start of Volume Six]

    Kaden Birch was never one to say no to [Taming] a Beast or [Binding] a Demon, and as the sun rose over the Western Waste, he was hard at work on doing both. Technically, he was hard at work doing one so he could then do the other, and even more technically, he was fulfilling a Quest in order to get something he could trade for another Quest. Life had been easier before level twenty five.

    The Mercari Faction, who believed that those with money should have the power, were becoming mildly annoyed at the number of caravans that had gone missing on the edge of the desert. Also, people had died, but mostly it was the cargo which drew their attention.

    He stood at the edge of a canyon. The caravan route wound along the river down below, safe from the dust storms that swept in off the Waste, and let them water their mules as the caravans made it down river to the port city of Abali.

    *What¡¯s the odds something in the river evolved to attack on land?* The message came from Sara Scylla, Party Leader, close friend, and host to a Cosmic Horror that would one day end the universe. She¡¯d used the [Thought Speech] training scroll Kaden bought by massacring gnomes and found herself far more skilled due to years of practice. Everyone else was practicing.

    *It¡¯s what I¡¯d bet on,* Kaden said

    *The river is strictly off limits. The Merchant¡¯s Guild was very clear, going near the river is choosing to die.* That was Evelyn Black, [Transfusionist] and healer for the Party. She had the same level of empathy as the cactus dotting the waste. Kaden wasn¡¯t sure who had the better bedside manner.

    ¡°It does not matter what is said.¡± Ashi Rahm, [PolyMage], stood just beside Kaden. As a PolyMage, she could use any form of Mana instead of needing to stick to a single college of spells. Ashi adjusted the woven wraps that kept her from absorbing too much Mana. Without the Dungeon Core embedded in her abdomen, she would become overloaded and lose control. She¡¯d grown her dark brown hair past her shoulder blades, and given up the head wrap that she usually wore. ¡°It takes only one mistake. One Mule grabbed by a [River Serpentor], and the entire group dragged under.¡±

    ¡°One mistake would doom one caravan. There¡¯s been seven lost. Not every one, but every third.¡± Kaden moved ahead, making sure to keep the caravan in sight.

    *Should we have been with the caravan?* Sara asked.

    Kaden didn¡¯t have a reason he could explain, but from the very start, he¡¯d gotten nearly ill at the thought of joining the caravan. One thing he¡¯d learned from the [Rangers] was to trust his instincts. *We¡¯re not joining the caravan. Please. We can see from here just fine.*

    *If even Kaden Birch thinks it¡¯s a bad idea, I say we wait,* Eve sent.

    Kaden checked on the beasts safely stored in his soul.Vip. Cheerful, fast, the small silver grey dog was great for improving mood but not necessarily who you¡¯d want against a mutated river beast. Trinity, the three-headed mutant hydra, he was keeping in reserve because once he unleashed her into a battle, calling her back would be near impossible. Rocky, the Rock gobbler, actually loved the desert. He¡¯d never seen the war beast so delighted to sleep in an actual desert under an actual burning sun while actual sand scoured his hide.

    On top of that, Kaden had borrowed skills from several [Beasts] by taming them. It wouldn¡¯t last, but for now he had [Glide], [Eagle Eyes], and his favorite, [Wrath of the Furnace] from a [Drake] that had broken its obedience binding but was willing to be [Tamed] repeatedly. ¡°You see that?¡±

    Something had happened with the caravan, but Kaden couldn¡¯t say what. ¡°Something changed.¡±

    *[Gaze of the Ancients] is telling me there¡¯s some kind of illusion.* Eve sent.

    Kaden didn¡¯t wait, leaping off the cliff as he activated [Glide]. It held him aloft as he drifted lower and lower, but seventy feet up, he turned toward a wall and caught the face of the rock. *Don¡¯t come. Something¡¯s happening.*

    Beneath him, the river rippled, the waters rose, and a fog enveloped the lead horses of the caravan. Screams and shouts rose up, but Kaden refused to jump in without knowing what he was up against. Seven caravans, no survivors meant he needed to be smart.

    The fog swept back. The caravan was gone.

    Kaden used [Glide] to plummet downward and land on the river trail. The wall of spikey crystals that separated the trail from the river lay broken in four places, and among the torn up earth, distinctive clawed prints stood out.

    ¡°Gods damn it all!¡± Sara shouted as she emerged from a Portal with Ashi beside her. ¡°Also, not all of us can steal skills from [Beasts]. Next time, some help getting down would be appreciated.¡±

    Eve followed Ashi, looking side to side. ¡°No illusion anymore.¡±

    ¡°What kind of Beast?¡± Sara asked, staying back from the edge. ¡°I¡¯ll notify the Guild.¡±

    Kaden looked at the tracks, lost in thought. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    Without thinking, he opened a short-range Portal back to the cliff. It only really worked when he just did it. Then he leaped off again, gliding slowly down as though he had fourteen foot wings, like the [Dawn Shrike] he¡¯d borrowed the skill from.

    From this high up, without the panic, Kaden studied the scene, circling over and over until he finally turned it off and dropped the last fifty feet to the ground. He spoke loudly. ¡°Nothing here. Must have be an evolved [Serpentor]. Look at the crystal wall. It broke through there and dragged the mules into the water, taking the caravan with it.¡±

    As if summoned, a trio of [River Serpentors] raised their heads from the water. Each looked like a dragon with liquid skin. Even wth their heads out of the water, water continued to course over their head and cascade down their back.

    These three declined to cross the bank, gouge their sensitive bellies on the crystals and not get even a single mule.

    *Why are you shouting?* Sara asked.

    *We need to get out of here, now.* Kaden sent to them all as he opened another portal. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the guild. I don¡¯t think we can do anything about these damned Serpentors.¡±

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    Ashi opened a Portal to the cliffs. A much better, more stable version of his. ¡°Let us leave. It is a long walk back.¡±

    Kaden waited until the others stepped through, then followed. *If that didn¡¯t work, we¡¯re in trouble.*

    *Why*? Eve sent back. There was no doubt in her voice, only calm curiosity.

    Only when he¡¯d put several miles between them and the point of the ambush did Kaden speak. ¡°The tracks don¡¯t lead back. And the caravan mules are lashed in a train, but there are two breaks in the wall. If a [River Serpentor] grabbed the lead mule, it would have crushed the wall all the way back.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Another illusion?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re tier two. If there¡¯s a level fifty illusionist, who knows if Eve¡¯s skill would identify them? The illusion was meant to look like a [River Serpentor] attack, but those three weren¡¯t wounded and they were starving. They would have fought over the mules. And the merchants.¡± Kaden kept looking behind them. ¡°I think it¡¯s meant to look like an attack, but in reality, send a level seventy fiveparty here and they¡¯ll find some other illusion. Maybe a cavern, maybe a whole damned city.¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t answer, but the green pseudopods that emerged from her shoulder blades began to whip around¡ªthen went still without warning. ¡°I think it¡¯s unlikely and I¡¯m not risking my reputation as a Party Leader on an unfounded report.¡±

    *Ashi, can you reach the FarPortal slab?* Sara didn¡¯t try to hide her concern.

    *No. When I can, I will.* Ashi began to jog in the general direction of the FarPortal, in the dense greenery that covered this side of the divide.

    Kaden kept Eve and Sara in front of him, Eve because she would die in a blitz attack and Sara because if she was in front of him, all he had to worry about was behind.

    And he was worried. [Master of The House] was meant to keep Kaden safe in his Holding, but it was always working at some level, in this case, overtime. His breath turned cold as Kaden made another attempt. *We¡¯ve definitely got someone following us. Stealth Aura can¡¯t activate.*

    *Eve, stay close. Watch for Ashi¡¯s portal.* Sara drew a pop-waddler plant from Inventory and dropped it. Her [Gardening] was high enough now that the creatures would sit patiently until triggered.

    Kaden repeated her action with a [Death Frog] as he passed through heavy brush. The inanimate creature would wait for a victim and explode in a cloud of death mana.

    *POP*

    [Stealth Aura] activated, wrapping Kaden in [Stealth] as their pursuer¡¯s attention dropped, but damnit, Eve was a step too far ahead.

    ¡°That¡¯s far enough.¡± A man¡¯s voice carried through the jungle. ¡°Good game, you almost convinced me, but I¡¯m not going to risk the Guild sending someone else.¡±

    Kaden kept himself wrapped in [Stealth Aura] and held still.

    It was a [Rogue], a tall, strong man who could have looked Kaden in the eye.

    [Erris Karn - Rogue]

    Erris Karn considers himself above all a business man. His business might be stealing from your business, but it¡¯s just business. Sometimes, business gets cutthroat, and when that happens, he¡¯s the one to cut throats. Probably your throats. Don¡¯t take it personally, it¡¯s just business.

    Level: 51

    HP:???

    Mana:???

    That was less than ideal. Even worse, Sara and Eve had actually stopped, despite the fact that if someone said ¡°Stop!¡± it was generally not a good idea.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make you a deal,¡± Erris said. ¡°You make this easy. I¡¯ll shovel you in a Corpse Inventory. In a few centuries, I¡¯ll probably drop it at a temple. Probably. You make it hard, I¡¯ll still kill you and then throw your corpse to a [Serpentor.]¡±

    Sara took two more steps.

    ¡°Where¡¯s your other one? Bird Man?¡± Erris looked around. ¡°Oh, fiddlesticks and fudge droppings. He had some kind of [Stealth]. Did he run off?¡±

    ¡°Kaden wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± Eve said. ¡°I would. It would only be sensible, to run and keep running. Regardless of what you had planned, you can bet James Dervish is going to drop on this place the moment he knows. And Sara¡¯s mother is a Centurion as well.¡±

    Erris held completely quiet. ¡°I¡¯ve put a lot of work into this. I¡¯m not going to have it ruined just because someone took their Quest a bit too seriously. You two, line up for a corpse cube. You¡¯re some kind of noble, you¡¯re the daughter of a Centurion, I can ransom your corpses in a century and life goes on. For you.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t going to let that happen. He held perfectly still as Erris whistled his way forward, taking out a twisted dagger. *You two should be running.*

    *Can¡¯t. He¡¯s got some kind of charm,* Sara sent back. *It¡¯s called [Honeyed Words], and it¡¯s not strong but I can¡¯t quite break it. It¡¯s focus based.*

    There were bad ideas, worse ideas, and Kaden¡¯s ideas, but he wasn¡¯t about to let Sara and Eve get corpsed. *Get Ready*

    Kaden re-thought everything. [Backslash] versus a fifty one would barely harm him, but there was another option. He waited until Erris was three steps past. And activated [Mana Drain]. Experience from draining a Demon Lord told Kaden it wouldn¡¯t be a simply siphon, but he focused on the feeling and pulled. It was like pulling a man¡¯s intestine out through a gash. Getting that first bit was all battle but once it started it was hard to stop.

    Even better? [Mana Drain] was excruciating.

    Erris swung his dagger overhand in a blind attack on an enemy that had to be right behind him. Except that Kaden wasn¡¯t.

    The moment Erris stumbled, Sara and Eve took off running, sprinting through the jungle in the direction Ashi had gone. And there was one way to make sure they weren¡¯t caught. ¡°Hi. My name¡¯s Kaden Birch. That was me draining your mana.¡±

    In retrospect, Kaden should have been further away.

    Then again, he¡¯d never seen just how fast a [Rogue] could move. One moment, Erris was fifteen feet away. The next, he was slamming his dagger into Kaden¡¯s chest.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 2,184 points of damage from [Mortal Strike].

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t in any position to fight back, as the impact had sent him flying through the brush. He pulled a Healing potion from Inventory and drank it down, then activated [Stealth Aura.]

    ¡°Where are you, you rascal?¡± Erris called as he stalked through the jungle.

    Kaden knew better than to answer. His skin itched and he couldn¡¯t help the desire to answer, but thanks to the Sisters of Shadow attempting to manipulate him, Kaden had fairly decent [Resist Mental Attacks]. The problem was, he didn¡¯t want Erris to go looking for Sara and Eve, and he didn¡¯t want Erris to find him.

    As Kaden¡¯s health ticked slowly up, he formulated a plan.

    Unfortunately, a plan that wasn¡¯t really any better.

    Ashi had taught him a spell. A non-combat spell that didnt do any damage. What it did was cause an illusion of a frog. Maybe other creatures, too, but the only one Kaden could consistently produce was a frog.

    He triggered the spell, and it formed a flashing red frog in the branches right above him, and then hopped through the jungle toward the spot where he¡¯d last seen Erris. Then slowly hopped back towards Kaden, turning to look back.

    ¡°Ah. A lure.¡± Erris¡¯s voice came from a few feet away. ¡°You want me to go that way, little flashing frog who couldn¡¯t possibly be a distraction? What do you think, I¡¯m level five?¡±

    But he didn¡¯t move away, and Kaden¡¯s mana was steadily dropping from [Stealth Aura]. Sooner or later, the aura would drop. His range with [Mind Speech] was abysmal, but Sara, through her years of practice working events for James Dervish, could pick up almost all of them. *I¡¯m out of mana. I¡¯ll be near where the caravan disappeared.*

    He opened a Portal and leaped through, snapping it shut just as brush crackled and Erris came rocketing through the jungle. From the cliff where he emerged, Kaden immediately leaped off, triggering glide, lower and lower down into the canyon. But unlike what everyone would expect, Kaden aimed for the farwall, the sheer rock.

    Beneath him, the surface boiled as the river rushed.

    But it wasn¡¯t just water, or rocks.

    As Kaden clung to the wall, a Beast head emerged from the water, rising higher and higher. A Serpentor wasn¡¯t just a creature of water, without it, they began to die immediately. That said, the magic gush of water that began at their nose and swept back over the body kept this one perfectly healthy as it turned one eye and then the other to look at him.

    And then it struck.

 Two - Convince Me

    The moment the [Serpentor] struck, Kaden leaped, not away, but toward it. His hand struck the Beast¡¯s tongue as the jaws clamped down.

    You have tamed a Beast [3/3].

    The [Serpentor] began to thrash back and forth. Normally it didn¡¯t spit prey out. The Serpentor¡¯s only solution to any problem was to swallow and if swallowing didn¡¯t work, swallow harder. Even now, [Beast Soul] warned Kaden it was contemplating if swallowing was an act of friendship or not.

    Kaden grabbed the front fangs and pulled himself out, at the same time giving it the idea that swallowing was not something anyone should do. Tamed beasts or lover, the polite thing to do would be to spit. At the same time, he borrowed [Water Born] so he wouldn¡¯t die when it submerged below the river surface, which it took forever to do. As it sank down, Erris landed on the river bank and spotted him.

    ¡°Help! Help! It¡¯s got me! It¡¯s dragging me under!¡± Kaden shouted.

    He didn¡¯t mean to invoke [Beast Speech.] Maybe Serpentors were smarter than anyone cared. It was entirely possible that had one of the mules struck up a polite conversation instead of braying in terror as it was dragged under, Kaden would have known it understood.

    Instead, it helpfully popped back up above the water, dragging Kaden by a heel.

    Some men had suspicions when Fate turned their way and Luck handed them a target. Erris did not appear to be such a man. He drew an overly complicated wand from Inventory, aimed at Kaden, and began to shoot misiles of sharpened stone. ¡°Stop wiggling!¡±

    Kaden was less wiggling and more trying to separate himself from a [Serpentor] trying to help.

    It let out a wild squeal that [Beast Soul] struggled to interpret.

    Serpentors were usually known for moves like ¡®drag to the bottom of the river,¡¯ and this one had been practicing dragging prey for decades. Generally speaking, it was fairly proud of its dragging, and its drowning wasn¡¯t half bad, either. It had never needed to rescue someone, and now the someone it was dearly trying to learn to rescue was attempting to fall back into the river.

    Another growl and groan Kaden understood as *See a mule, drag a mule, drown a mule, eat a mule. Mules are so much easier to deal with.*

    [Split Second] activated, but Kaden¡¯s options for dodging while hanging from a [Serpentor] mouth were so few he had no choice but to yank his legs up. This time, he was careful to not use [Beast Soul]. ¡°Would you just let me drown?¡±

    ¡°This is so much more fun!¡± Erris said, shooting again and again. He kept getting closer, every shot better. The amount of Mana he had to be expending was ridiculous.

    Kaden finally pulled his arms loose and leaped to the Serpenter¡¯s neck, hiding behind the beast. Let Erris pick a fight with a level seventy five Beast.

    Erris was picking a fight with a level seventy five Beast, continuing to shoot at Kaden and hitting the [Serpentor], which had moved further across the channel to hide lower in the water. ¡°Stop that! Come back over where I can shoot you!

    [Honeyed Words] or not, Kaden had [Resist Suicide], which meant that wasn¡¯t happening. ¡°You are a terrible shot. Did you never train with that?¡±

    ¡°Never needed it. You¡¯re not drownining very much,¡± Erris shouted.

    ¡°Turns out, I¡¯m really bad at drowning, but ok at [Taming]!¡±

    A trio of shots just barely missed Kaden as Erris darted to the side. ¡°So, you plan on killing me with your tamed [Serpentor?] Why haven¡¯t you done it?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t command them. This one won¡¯t eat me, but that¡¯s about the extent of what I can make it do.¡± Kaden sank deep into the water, letting the [Water Born] handle his need for breathe. He wouldn¡¯t risk the [Serpentor] getting hurt just to possibly kill Erris. All he had to do was swim down-river to the port, find the Guild hall, and¡ª

    The entire river froze, two inches thick.

    Kaden¡¯s head bumped ice, and his [Serpentor] roared in pain as Erris strolled across the frozen river, blasting the beast, which screamed every time. Kaden let go, letting the river sweep him away. Straight into a Portal that flung him out into mid air, but Kaden had no intention of using [Glide]. He plunged downward, drawing Remembrance as he fell.

    Below him, the dot that was Erris and the waving form of the Ice-trapped Serpentor grew closer and closer. At the last moment, Kaden unleashed [Moment of Speed]. Downward.

    Perhaps Erris had [Sixth Sense], but while he twisted, Remembrance¡¯s hammer head impacted his shoulder, crunching bones.

    Brutal Blows has inflicted a crippling injury.

    More imprtantly, the blow sent Erris straight through the ice¡ªand Kaden followed, using Remembrance¡¯s Axe head to haul himself upward. Twenty feet away, the ice exploded, and Erris flew upward to land. ¡°No corpse cube for you. I¡¯ll pack up the business and move, of course, but you¡ª¡±

    He pitched sideways as a Serpentor burst through the ice behind him.

    And another.

    And another.

    For the first time, the [Rogue] showed fear, but with Kaden¡¯s attention locked on him, [Stealth] couldn¡¯t activate, something Erris realized just a moment too late, as one mouth and then another, and another whipped down.

    The first, Erris stabbed deep in the eye.

    The second got a stone wand blast through the neck.

    The third caught Erris¡¯s maimed arm, and the fourth his knees.

    They pulled, working against each other until the one and then the other ripped limbs loose.

    Kaden crawled toward the shore, not even trying to escape, just trying to reach shore. His [Serpentor] followed, nudging him to make sure Kaden reached solid ground. This time, Kaden meant to use [Beast Soul]. ¡°I can heal your friends.¡±

    He drew a Healing Frogun from Inventory. The translucent green frog-shaped growth didn¡¯t move while Kaden held it, and Kaden held on to it until four more [Serpentors] loomed over him. They weren¡¯t tame, but they were intelligent. ¡°Get close, it will heal some of what he did.¡±

    He crunched the frogun, letting a wave of healing rush out that sealed the weeping wound in one¡¯s neck, but didn¡¯t repair the eye of the other. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t fix everything. On the plus side, with Erris dead, there will be more caravans with mules. Some of them are bound to be stupid.¡±

    Time to take a chance. Kaden freed the one he¡¯d tamed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you were hurt.¡±

    The serpentor gagged and spat something out on the bank.

    The silver wand.

    Kaden took it and limped back to the crystal wall. Only after he¡¯d crossed it did he truly feel safe from the Serpentors, which were, after all, wild. But intelligent. Perhaps they could be bought with offerings, and cattle had to be cheaper than an entire caravan.

    With care, he activate [Stealth Aura], making sure it took, and then made his way back to the original ambush site. With care, he searched the rocks, and found one place where half his brain said he was touching rock and the other half said it was open.

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    Kaden closed his eyes and stepped forward.

    Into the darkness of a cave.

    A very large cave, where dozens of men worked hard unloading the wagons. No doubt they¡¯d drive the mules off into the river, which was why the [Serpentors] gathered here. Even in good health, Kaden would have hesitated to attack. Many of these men had Classes, most were level twenty or higher, and Kaden was at a quarter health and steadily dropping mana.

    Two things Kaden was certain of: any man who considered himself a ¡°businessman¡± didn¡¯t live in a cave, they lived in luxury. The second thing was that Erris wouldn¡¯t be needing any of his luxuries anymore. Kaden summoned the FalCrow and dispatched it to Sara with a description of where he was and what he¡¯d seen. The monstrous bird wasn¡¯t exactly a messenger bird but messages were one of its abilities.

    A flash of mana at the back of the cave caught Kaden¡¯s attention. They had a FarPortal. With thousands of them in the System, it was impossible to know where every one of them went, and some well paying thief had bought one to make thieving easier.

    If Kaden got close enough, he could obtain the location of the portal. Which gave him an entirely different idea. These were working men, whose pay depended on hard labor. There was a better form of [Stealth].

    His Needful Cloak became heavy and brown and stained like the men who worked here in the chill of the cave, and he tromped straight toward the group of men heaving crates in a line, picking up one. The effort here was to pretend it was heavy, but Kaden joined a line hauling crates to the side of the Far Portal, where they stacked on a sliding rail. He couldn¡¯t help being impressed at how easy it would be to move cargo this way.

    And there, the tingle that said the System had granted him coordinates. It was easy enough to pretend to relieve himself in the shadows, and send the [FalCrow] to Sara, who would know what to do.

    [Stealth Aura] let him slink further and further back into the cave, not wandering, but searching. Somewhere, there would be a place fit for Erris. Storerooms, sleeping bunks where a handful of men slept¡ªthere.

    The magic lock on the door gave it away. Kaden knew this kind, it would shock anyone who touched it. It was less prevention and more deterrent, and given that Erris had twenty levels on all of these men, more than enough.

    Kaden checked on Rocky, safely asleep in his soul, and grabbed the handle, letting [Fortress of Stone] and [Sole Survivor] mitigate the damage. His hair smoked, his nerves jangled, but the spell only had so much mana stored up, and Kaden took it all. Then ripped the door out of the wall and put it into Inventory. The space inside screamed ¡®Man running a business in the desert who missed the city.¡¯

    Posh bed, fairy lights, stone floors, so many trinkets.

    Kaden took them all.

    Then stopped.

    On one endtable sat a grey tube of paste. Mana Dust, produced from ore, condensed and liquified. He stored it gingerly in Inventory, careful not to get a speck on him. What did the sword on the wall do? The same thing the lamp did. Take up a slot in Inventory. By the time Kaden was done, the cave was filled with shouts and screams of terror.

    Which meant his message had been received.

    Kaden strolled out, willing his cloak to match the off white of his armor, and called to the first Centurion he saw. ¡°Took you long enough.¡±

    The Centurion was an [Axeman], carrying short hand hatchets on his thighs, and he looked Kaden up and down. ¡°Your Quest was to find out what was happening to the Caravan. Pepper, he¡¯s safe after all.¡±

    Pepper was a woman Centurion, a [Merchant] wearing the dark gray robes of the Merchant¡¯s council, and Kaden gave her a short bow. ¡°Erris Karn was taking some caravans, using an illusion to make it look like a [Serpentor] was attacking them. Not that they won¡¯t attack, just that they didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°And where is Erris Karn?¡± Pepper asked.

    Kaden pointed out to the river. ¡°There¡¯s five or six [Serpentors] out there, and he¡¯s in all of them. Also, they¡¯ve been trained to hang out here and get fed mules. I figure that after he was done taking cargo, he¡¯d actually run the caravans off into the river.¡±

    Time for the final piece of the puzzle, the only loot he¡¯d paid attention to. ¡°Fifteen Corpse Inventories. No telling who all he has in here.¡±

    ¡°Kill everything?¡± the Axeman asked.

    The Mercari woman gave him a warm grin. ¡°That¡¯s what I love about you. Young man, are you in the mood for some XP?¡±

    ¡°Not much of a ¡®Mercari¡¯ move, if you ask me,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°Seriously, kill them? Hire them. These are men who know how to work in the desert. Erris built a shipping station. Why send your cargo by ship when you can offload some of it straight to where it¡¯s going?¡±

    He didn¡¯t owe these men anything, but if someone fifty levels higher said work, you worked. Well, that¡¯s how it was supposed to go. ¡°Let me bring my Business partner in to explain how it will work.¡±

    The Mercari woman began to laugh. ¡°I had heard stories about you from Flavius. He says you¡¯re a lost cause. Gold doesn¡¯t mean enough to you, but we can still profit by association. But by all means. Bring in this partner of yours. She¡¯s still worth talking to.¡±

    Kaden sent an annoyed [FalCrow] on its last mission of the day and waited, while the axeman lined up all of Erris¡¯s fellow thieves. When the [FarPortal] at last blossomed and Sara stepped through, he let her hug him for a moment. *She¡¯s going to kill all the men who worked for Erris.*

    *Kill them? Why not hire them?* Sara sent back.

    And with that she stalked off to deal with it.

    Ashi stood, hands on her hips, studying him. ¡°You were supposed to run.¡±

    ¡°I did run. And I got to [Tame] a new beast. I¡¯m seven short.¡± Kaden checked his logs. Mr. Dervish¡¯s suggestion had been to pursue it like a Quest. For normal taming skills, the System granted Quests to tame different creatures. At a hundred and a thousand, normal [Tamers] would gain additional slots.

    The theory was that the underlying skill was the same, and it was worth a chance.

    Eve, for once, wasn¡¯t critical of him. ¡°Thank you for letting us escape. His [Honeyed Words] skill is like [Authority]. I will be learning a Resistance for it.¡±

    Further away, Sara was no longer speaking, she was shouting. ¡°And if you had the brains of a [Quillophant] you¡¯d be paying an [Inquisitor] to know where this Portal last went. There¡¯s another half, maybe more, of Erris¡¯s network. Opportunity doesn¡¯t knock, it beckons. If you won¡¯t do it, I will.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say no. I said convince me. You¡¯re not convincing yet.¡± The Merchant woman sat on a wagon and folded her arms. ¡°If you want to convince me, don¡¯t talk about what¡¯s right, explain the advantages. Tell me how I¡¯d profit. Start again.¡±

    Kaden Summoned Vip, who stretched and yawned and rolled on her back, wriggling before leaping up into Eve¡¯s arms to lick her. *Love?*

    [Beast Soul] translated that as ¡®What can I do for you, Eve?¡¯

    Kaden cleared his throat. ¡°I need a small, fast, smart dog who can search and make sure we didn¡¯t miss anyone in this cave. But this dog needs to be smart enough to avoid traps, and if there is anyone, just tell me. Slow dogs who attack people should just stay here.¡±

    *Fast!* Vip leaped down out of Eve¡¯s arms and dashed away.

    ¡°You had to do that, didn¡¯t you?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°She¡¯s not like Rocky. If I never took Rocky out of my soul, he¡¯d be happy. He might be happier. Vip likes to do things. The other day she begged to go into the city just because there¡¯s more rats there.¡±

    Vip¡¯s excited barking revealed¡­a stack of boxes.

    ¡°You, come out,¡± Eve commanded so loudly it echoed. ¡°Come out or I¡¯ll have the axe brute pull you out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a brute,¡± the [Axeman] said as he shouldered past Eve. ¡°But I¡¯ll second what the [Transfusionist] said. Except about the pulling. I¡¯ll cut pieces off and toss them into the line with the others.¡±

    ¡°I was talking about Kaden.¡± Eve pointed to the center. ¡°The crate in the center is an illusion, and [Plague] registers it as a valid target. Therefore, we have someone hiding.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m coming out.¡± A level fifteen [Rogue] emerged as the illusion dissolved. As he joined the other prisoners, he pleaded. ¡°I need my hands. I really need them.¡±

    ¡°Ashi, can you light this place up?¡± Kaden asked.

    Ashi wasn¡¯t paying attention. She was listening to a Messenger Dragon which perched on her wrist.

    Kaden¡¯s heart sank. Any time the Kingdom of Vichor reached out, it meant trouble.

    ¡°I must go. Mother summons me. If I am not back by the first snow, send a Dragon,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Do not go taking stupid chances. Ask yourself, ¡®Would Ashi slap me for this?¡¯ and if the answer is yes, do not do so.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ask myself. I promise.¡± Kaden accompanied her to the FarPortal. ¡°What should I tell your date?¡± Kaden had been working on finding Ashi a long term relationship.

    ¡°Tell him something kind, like ¡®I did not want to go to dinner with him because he is weak and knows no magic I do not.¡¯¡± Ashi activated the FarPortal with the Messenger Dragon, which tuned the portal so she could enter Vichor and stepped through.

    Sara argued forever before she returned to Kaden and Eve. ¡°You two shouldn¡¯t wait for me. I¡¯m going to do a presentation to the Mercari over dinner. Is there loot? If so, sell it, trade it. I trust you.¡±

    Kaden produced a whole set of Corpse Inventories. ¡°Could be caravan people. Could be thieves who upset Erris. Could be ransom targets. What do I do, dump them at the temple?¡±

    Pepper¡¯s scoff could be heard from a dozen feet away. ¡°Talk to Flavius. He¡¯s having dinner at BirchHome. He¡¯s always having dinner at BirchHome. I swear he invested in it just so he could go eat a different meal every night.¡±

    Kaden avoided Birchhome, despite it having his name, because he didn¡¯t like the attention. But diner would be nice. ¡°Eve, you¡¯re welcome to join me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check the guest list. I don¡¯t associate with royalty, but otherwise, I would be happy to.¡± Eve powered up the FarPortal. ¡°Ready when you are.¡±

    Kaden stepped through into BirchHome¡¯s greating area.

    Mr Kella, the BirchHome manager, wasn¡¯t present, but Kaden wasn¡¯t going to make a pest of himself. ¡°Kaden Birch here to see Flavius Marcus. If Mistress Scylla is present, I¡¯d like to talk to her later.¡±

    The reception woman looked him up and down like he was some kind of mythical [Beast]. ¡°Mr. Marcus is dining in the caverns tonight. Will you be having the BloodWorm special?¡±

    Kaden waited for Eve, who looked over the registry and shook her head. She wouldn¡¯t be staying. ¡°I¡¯ll be having scorpion steak. Eve, see you at the Holding?¡±

    ¡°May I?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden summoned Vip and let her go with Eve, then strolled across the way to the dome building that housed the cave system¡¯s entrance. Where stairs once rose up, now they descended down to a lower level, where tables stood among floating pixie lights, and Centurions dined.

    ¡°Kaden Birch!¡± Falvius called. The Master [Thief] didn¡¯t dress the part, wearing a black silk suit and tie. ¡°I was expecting you. Sit down, we need to talk.¡±

 Three - Dinner and a Show

    Waiters rushed to pull out an additional chair and Kaden sat, conspicuously aware of how he was the only one in armor, the only one still wet from a river, the only one who¡¯d been doing actual adventuring.

    ¡°Cornelius, ensure our Privacy,¡± Flavius said.

    ¡°Of course.¡± The waiter bowed and brought back an artifact he set in the middle of the table. ¡°And for the sir, Scorpion Steak? Bella mentioned you said so at the desk.¡±

    Kaden nodded and waited until he left. ¡°I have these Corpse Inventories¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡± Flavius held up a hand. ¡°Young man, do you know what I¡¯ve learned over the centuries? Meals first. Pleasure first. Business last. Now, I don¡¯t have a date but I do have a dinner, and we¡¯ll get to whatever scheme you¡¯ve cooked up this time.¡±

    ¡°You said we needed to talk.¡±

    ¡°I lied.¡± Flavius gave him a smile. ¡°Always gets people. ¡®I knew you¡¯d be here. I know what you want to talk about.¡¯ Even if I don¡¯t, I like the reaction.¡±

    Kaden waited impatiently. At least, until his dinner arrived, and then he dove into it with gusto. What had begun as a meal of desperation was now one of preference. The tangy bite of scorpion meat paired with garlic and mustard and a sweet honey glaze. He¡¯d have to get the [Recipe] for the glaze. Eve would love it.

    And once every last bite was done, Flavius wiped his mouth with a napkin. ¡°Did you come for a business checkup? Or because you need something stolen?¡±

    Kaden dropped the corpse inventories on the table and recounted the Quest, Erris¡¯s poor decision making, and Sara¡¯s gambit. ¡°These. We should resurrect victims, kill the criminals, and how do we know who he was planning to ransom?¡±

    ¡°First, we do this.¡± Flavius dispatched a Messenger Bird that evaporated instead of flying away. ¡°I want in on the shipping outpost. Pepper¡¯s not questioning if it¡¯s a decent idea, she¡¯s using it to introduce Sara to the Mercari proper.¡±

    ¡°Can I interest you in helping resettle a Town?¡± Kaden asked.

    Flavius picked up a Corpse Inventory. ¡°No.¡±

    He began to dump bodies. ¡°Merchant. Merchant. Merchant. Employee, oh, that one¡¯s interesting.¡±

    The young man¡¯s body flopped on the floor, still leaking blood from the dagger-stab to his heart. ¡°Those hands? Never lifted a crate. Clothing is much too nice. Cornelius, can we get a resurrection here?¡±

    The waiter hurried over, frowning as the pile of bodies in the middle of his fine dining grew. ¡°If sir would like a cart to transport these to the temple?¡±

    ¡°Sir would. That pile goes to the temple, all merchants. That pile goes to the [Thieve¡¯s Guild], these four stay here.¡± Flavius stood up and shouted. ¡°Anyone got a rez skill? I¡¯ve got five gold each for a quick rez.¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± Cornelius said, almost choking. ¡°A Temple Healer is on the way. If Sir would be so kind?¡±

    ¡°Eh, I can wait.¡± Flavius sat back down. ¡°Get anything good from Erris?¡±

    Kaden began to dump stuff from Inventory. ¡°Check out the door! It has a magic lock on it that electrocutes.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t bypass the lock. You at least tried to bypass the lock, right?¡± Flavius asked.

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    Now was a perfectly good time to sort through the spoils of war. ¡°See this wand? He almost killed me with this wand.¡±

    Flavius held out a hand. ¡°Wand of Elements, am I right? Always a favorite and the man kept it well charged. Not life changing but decent loot.¡±

    A set of silver pendants Kaden dropped and Flavius¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Put them back in Inventory. Now. Now.¡±

    Kaden stored them away. ¡°They were hanging from the wall in Erris¡¯s sleeping quarters.¡±

    ¡°Where they were warded. Ever met the Portal Herald? Those are hers. I¡¯d heard rumors that she took a lover, and that he took treasures, but yeah, that¡¯s your death, not mine.¡± Falvius waved. ¡°More?¡±

    Soon Kaden had a mound of items.

    And a very angry head waiter, one who kept coughing until Kaden looked up. ¡°I have a [Transfusionist] who can help with that cough.¡±

    ¡°Would sir mind not storing sir¡¯s¡­door¡­in the dining room floor?¡±

    Kaden shoveled it all back into Inventory.

    ¡°Look who it is! A healer!¡± Flavius waved to the white-robed priest of Varun. ¡°We¡¯ve got corpses, you¡¯ve got skills, what a fortunate night for everyone! Ladies and Gentlemen, we have for your dining pleasure, four random corpses from the inventory of a prolific thief who didn¡¯t pay his Guild Dues. Always pay your dues, folks.¡±

    The dining room had fallen silent.

    Kaden pulled a gold coin from Inventory and offered it to the Priest.

    ¡°What was that for?¡± Flavius asked.

    ¡°So you don¡¯t claim you paid for the resurrection and get to ransom them.¡± Kaden dipped his head. ¡°You¡¯re head of [Thieves]. I have to take precautions.¡±

    ¡°Your Party Leader put you up to this, didn¡¯t she?¡± Flavius asked. ¡°I knew I should have prepaid. It¡¯s a good investment! I¡¯ve got a gold piece that says not one of these mulick-turds is going to be grateful you saved them.¡±

    Kaden dropped a gold piece on the table. ¡°One out of four? I like my odds.¡±

    ¡°Start with him!¡± Flavius said.

    There were no rats.

    There was no squeaking, screaming of tiny death and gasp of agony. The young man simply sat up as the wound in his chest healed, and smiled. This was not a smile of kindness. ¡°Father will see you dead! Mother will see your family burned to ashes! Cousin Ed will made dodunk in the ashes, as he always does! Sister¡­who are you?¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch.¡± He offered the man a hand. ¡°You were killed by a thief. I fed him to some [Serpentors], recovered your cube, and had you resurrected.¡±

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°I demand you let me go!¡± the man shouted. ¡°I am a scion of the Galt Empire! You will suffer for not treating me with the respect I deserve! I will take a FarPortal home and return with my army to raze this city to the ground!¡±

    Flavius leaned over and whispered to the man, who proudly marched up the stairs and out. ¡°One down. I can feel that gold piece just crawling my way.¡±

    ¡°Should I go get him? Should I apologize?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Also, where is the Galt Empire?¡±

    Flavius shrugged. ¡°You know that desert waste you were at? Go about a hundred miles in. That¡¯s where the capital was before the largest Mana Bomb in history turned it into a desert. If he finds an army there, he¡¯s more resilient than he looks.¡±

    ¡°You told him that?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not. I told him where the FarPortal was and that I¡¯d paid the fee. I hope he brings a water bottle, it¡¯s a really long walk in every direction.¡± Flavius pointed to another man. ¡°Him! Do him!¡±

    The Priest resurrected the second man, who took a deep breath.

    And let it out as a scream, something he repeated over and over, his eyes wide with terror. After several minutes, it became clear to Kaden there wasn¡¯t going to be anything but screaming.

    If Cornelius coughed any louder, he was going to lose a lung. ¡°Would sir mind removing the screaming guest? Perhaps to the City Asylum for treatment?¡±

    ¡°No worries!¡± Flavius cut the man¡¯s throat. ¡°There, there. Can¡¯t have dinner disrupted by screaming. Take him to the Asylum, resurrect him. Two down, Hammer Man.¡±

    Cornelius wiped bloodspray from his forehead and turned away.

    Of the two remaining victims, the older lady had died with a look of peace on her face, her hands clasped together, her lips in a smile that matched the gash across her throat. ¡°Her,¡± Kaden said.

    The priest muttered something about insanity, and then activated his [Skill].

    The older woman breathed in deeply and then let it out in a contented sigh, which was a thousand times better than a scream She opened her eyes and sat up. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s been a few years. Where am I?¡±

    ¡°Verona.¡± Kaden repeated his recap of rescue, recovery and resurrection.

    She stood and dusted herself off. ¡°Very well, I trust the Order of the Hearth is still in charge of Civil Matters?¡±

    ¡°Take the loss,¡± Falvius whispered under his breath. Then louder. ¡°Of course, the city hall is past the noble section and to the right. How do you feel about this young man going to all the effort to save you?¡±

    Kaden put his head down on the table.

    ¡°Of course he did! It¡¯s only right! What do you want from me, boy? A cookie? I don¡¯t have one. A copper? None, and if I had one, I¡¯d buy a cookie. For myself.¡± She looked to the head waiter. ¡°My apologies for returning to life during your dinner, sir.¡±

    ¡°Madam is most gracious,¡± he said. ¡°May I have someone show you to the city hall?¡±

    When Kaden looked up, the master thief watched him with a smile. ¡°You know you can¡¯t help hoping. One more, let¡¯s see!¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°You heard the man. Raise her.¡±

    The last woman had hair that was dyed blue at the ends and platinum blond at the roots and the moment the resurrection took her, she sat up cursing. Sputtering. Confused.

    [Okit Von Czerk] Identify added. A commoner.

    Flavius spoke before Kaden could, pointing at him. ¡°Kaden Birch. He fed the thief to some serpentors, took your corpse cube, bought your resurrection. Feeling anything like gratitude, or should I just take that gold coin he put on the table?¡±

    Okit¡¯s gaze locked onto the coin. ¡°Do I get to keep the coin if I¡¯m grateful?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Kaden and Flavius said at the same time.

    ¡°I am very grateful if I get the coin. I¡¯ll need it to catch a caravan to Den Tolten.¡± Okit stood up and reached for the coin.

    But Flavius didn¡¯t try to stop her. ¡°You¡¯re going to need a lot more than a gold coin. Den Tolten? As in Rhinehelm?¡±

    Okit nodded. ¡°Are we far? Do I need a portal mage?¡±

    ¡°Distance? Half the globe. Portal mages, we¡¯ve got. You need a chrono mage, because Den Tolten hasn¡¯t existed for centuries. You¡¯re a Cataclysm behind. Rhinehelm was destroyed three, maybe four thousand years ago.¡± Flavius offered her the gold piece. ¡°There¡¯s a really nice ruin where it used to be. Lots of trolls. The neighborhood has gone downhill but the architecture is stunning. The place has got good bones, you know?¡±

    ¡°Bones.¡± The woman repeated it as though stunned.

    ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why the Necromancers love to go there. Great bones. Not feeling as much gratitude, are we?¡± Flavius took the coin she hadn¡¯t accepted and put it away. ¡°Better luck next time.¡±

    Kaden knew the look. Had seen it on a dozen orphan¡¯s faces. And knew what to do. He dispatched the [FalCrow] with a message and then focused on Okit. ¡°One of these kind men is going to show you to the front desk, where they¡¯ll put you in a room for the night. Tomorrow, you¡¯re going to go to Devish¡¯s Summoning Services. Ask to see James Dervish. Tell him you need a job and I sent you.¡± Kaden waved for a waiter and repeated his orders. He would have bet at least one would be grateful. He¡¯d bet it again.

    ¡°Oh, to be young and stupid. You still planning to try and resettle that town?¡± Flavius asked.

    ¡°I am. Tomorrow I¡¯m going to go hunting to make sure it¡¯s cleared. And I¡¯m taking faction Quests to build up¡ªhey. Faction Quests. Should I make a list? We found what happened to your caravans, found the source of the problem, fed the source to some Serpentors, recovered a bunch of cargo, some merchants, some thieves¡ª¡±

    Flavius cut him off with a glare. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask for a Quest for the other stuff. But I¡¯ll grant you the problem one. Everything else you did for favor. Four faction tokens and that¡¯s it.¡±

    ¡°And.¡± Kaden said it as a demand. ¡°I want to practice binding your [Mapping Demon].¡±

    It had been the only reason Kaden accepted the Quest. The Mercari had a [Mapping Demon] who could show them the routes. Kaden had used his [Binding Mark] skill on every normal kind of Demon to grow it and only gained a single level.

    ¡°You can¡¯t keep it. But yes, come to the Merchant¡¯s Guild tomorrow. We¡¯ll give you as much time as you need.¡± Flavius waved as if it were already done. ¡°You wanted to know how we¡¯re doing at BirchHaven?¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°We¡¯re making money, right?¡±

    ¡°So much gold. Of course, it cost another two hundred thousand to open up that next set of suites¡ªhey, don¡¯t look like that. Focus on the long term!¡± Flavius snapped his fingers. ¡°Long term. Years. Decades. Centuries. This is nothing.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯d be interested in financing a Town¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Flavius ordered desert from a menu. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you convinced the Stateri to back off on the plan to burn it down. Actually, take that back. Ignus is right, you have a way of winding up in the middle of disasters.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of long term investments¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. Towns are a lot of work. You need to learn this lesson, so I¡¯m letting you. What¡¯s so special about this town? Is it the body count? You looking to make a love nest? There are cheaper ways to do that. Or is it about the power? Power is always fun, can¡¯t blame you there.¡± Flavius waited.

    The answer was complex. ¡°It wasn¡¯t about the buildings. It was about always losing. About demons taking and taking and taking more. Corrupting townspeople Stealing lives. Destroying a place where commoners felt safe.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re safe here in Verona,¡± Flavius said. ¡°As long as they stay out of the way and watch their mouth and keep their heads down, perfectly safe. Honestly, growing up in fear is good for them.¡±

    That was exactly why such places mattered. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rule it. I want it to be a place where people can live without worrying about offending some Adventurer who¡¯s going to kick down their house.¡±

    To his surprise, Flavius nodded. ¡°Huh. I really thought it was about the power. I¡¯ve been there. Once founded a hidden city in a cave network as the ¡®home of the thieves.¡¯ Had to burn it to the ground a century later because the ungrateful bastards kept stealing from me, the city, everyone. Best of luck, and remember, matches are cheap and so are [Fire Mages]. No more business, desert.¡± The Centurion¡¯s pronouncement was final.

    Kaden sent the FalCrow to let Eve know he wouldn¡¯t be home tonight, and booked a room at BirchHome. A simple side room with no view and little decoration, it was a servant¡¯s quarters. The room atop the Gryphon¡¯s tree was best used for those who would pay gold by the bucket. Some of that bucket would filter down to Kaden, and one day, more of that bucket. So much more.

    In the quiet, Kaden summoned Trinity, even though the TriTerror didn¡¯t really fit. She layed her armored head down on one side of the bed and rested the serpentine head across her back. ¡°Sorry, we can¡¯t cook tonight.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s rumble wasn¡¯t something [Beast Soul] could translate but the feeling was of missing a pot full of blood and a blazing fire and some chunks of a previously living creature.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to the Emerald Isles and getting a [Ruby Hydra.] The perfect lieutenant for a TriTerror.¡±

    Trinity didn¡¯t answer but Kaden¡¯s mind was made up. And he¡¯d almost fallen asleep when the notification came in.

    Your Business S&K Holdings has expanded to: Shipping Station Operation.

    He couldn¡¯t help smiling. It really had never been fair to the Mercari Centurions, leaving them to Sara¡¯s mercies. Trella would have laughed so hard. And she would. Tomorrow was the next step.

    Or, the fears he wouldn¡¯t speak answered, the last.

 Four - Tiny Demons

    Kaden checked out without fuss. After all, at some level these were his employees, in an indirect manner. S&K Holdings employed Mistress Scylla, who had hired Mr. Vela, who had hired everyone else. With Trinity at his side, he strolled through the streets of the City.

    ¡°Stop, [Thief!]¡± someone shouted up ahead.

    A man bolted through the streets, dodging carts.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help sighing. ¡°Trinity¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, keep out of my training exercise.¡± A man-mountain in gold armor stood behind Kaden. Captain Blanco, head of Verona¡¯s City Knights.

    Kaden willed Trinity to stand down and shuffle to the side, then leaned on Remembrance as the [Thief] sprinted past with five [Guards] in pursuit. ¡°You going to help them?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not.¡± The [LanceMaster] waited until the last [Guard] stumbled past. ¡°The best training for catching a [Thief] is trying to catch a thief, so I hired one. You finally going to take me up on a meal?¡±

    Kaden waved to the market. ¡°I could have eaten at BirchHaven but I love market breakfast. Come on, let¡¯s grab food there. What exactly makes you think I¡¯d ever fit in with the Justari?¡±

    ¡°What makes you think you don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Sometimes what¡¯s right doesn¡¯t match what people expect.¡± Kaden bought sausage and omlets and biscuits beside the man who ate four times as much, and they sat at an open table while the crowds milled about them.

    ¡°You¡¯re young. The longer you¡¯re alive the easier it is to understand what¡¯s right. It¡¯s easier to commit to doing what¡¯s right.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of conviction.¡±

    ¡°Yet. I watched you look James Dervish in the eye and say ¡®No.¡¯ That¡¯s the beginnings of conviction. Or insanity, sometimes it¡¯s hard to tell at first. But I¡¯m betting conviction.¡±

    Which meant it was worth a shot. ¡°Are the Justari interested in partnering with me to resettle the town?¡±

    Captain Blanco gave him a grin. ¡°I knew you¡¯d ask, but doing what¡¯s right is what you do. For now, that Town is just a stack of buildings. There¡¯s no right or wrong. But once there¡¯s people there, we¡¯ll help protect them.¡±

    ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t want to offend you by not accepting an offer to join.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not offending me. I don¡¯t think you should join the Stateri, though James Dervish will eventually ask. You have a long, long time until you have to decide, so don¡¯t decide. Not even if you want to join us. The right thing to do is almost always wait, and Justice is patient.¡±

    ¡°Sir! We caught him just outside the city gates!¡± A [Guard] rushed toward them. ¡°He ran out of stamina and stopped running.¡±

    The look of exasperation on Captain Blanco¡¯s face said a more likely scenario was that the [Thief] had been told to stop at the gates. ¡°Put him in my office gently. I¡¯m coming now. Kaden, see you around.¡±

    Kaden surrendered his table so others could eat and walked toward Beast Control.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Sara called from down the street. ¡°I have absolutely wonderful news. Would you like to know our latest venture?¡±

    Sharing the System Logs would be rude. ¡°You don¡¯t really mean you managed to convince those Mercari, did you?¡±

    ¡°I did! The power of recognizing opportunities! And we don¡¯t need nearly the manpower Erris did. Guards? Absolutely. Loaders? Of course. But Erris had to work in fear of the Mercari, while we offer needed services. With a schedule of caravans, we can staff as appropriate, provide feed for caravans, shortcut shipping for critical supplies. The options are endless.¡± Few things brought Sara joy like negotiating contracts or organizing businesses.

    Few things brought Kaden joy like letting her handle all the fiddly bits. ¡°You are brilliant.¡±

    ¡°I leveled Contract Negotiation and my business manager profession. It¡¯s so much easier now. It¡¯s like my Planning skill lays out options better. I can understand who I¡¯d need to partner with to reestablish Birchville.¡±

    ¡°Not Birchville,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Eville, after Eve. She saw through the illusions to help me clear it.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s going to object to having a town named Evil,¡± Sara said. ¡°Ashiton? As in we have a shit ton of problems?¡±

    ¡°Town,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯m going there after Mr. Dervish is done to sweep it. As long as we don¡¯t let it go, nothing major will move in.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Sara spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought I¡¯d do you a favor. I issued a Quest through the Guild for some level fifteens to scout. They killed a Rat Man and an injured Graht and the Quest Report made it sound epic.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s high pitched whistle said it was not epic. Nothing that didn¡¯t involve hordes of monsters fleeing in terror as Trinity destroyed them was epic. Certainly not a single injured Graht or Rat Man (or Woman).

    ¡°Thank you. That means I¡¯m free to go find a Ruby Hydra.¡± Kaden put an arm around Sara, Sara put a psuedopod around him and Trinity, and together they headed to Beast Control. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you¡¯re issuing Quests.¡±

    ¡°The Party Leader is a Healer named Anika. So sweet, and thoughtful. Her application had all the reasons why her party would be a good fit for the Quest.¡± Sara stopped as they entered Beast Control.

    The sheer din of beasts made it near impossible to speak, until Kaden realized that couldn¡¯t stop him. *Nasky¡¯s core isn¡¯t regenerating. I¡¯ve been very careful about removing it from Inventory. It¡¯s still bound, but I would have expected her to recover.*

    *Let¡¯s ask the experts.* Sara stopped as a [Giant Crab] came barreling down the hallway, leashes trailing behind it.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Kaden shouted, focusing on [Beast Soul].

    It did not stop.

    It did not even consider stopping.

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and leaped to grab a leg and land atop the [Giant Crab].

    You have tamed a beast.

    Now it stopped. Now it turned and slowly walked back down the hallway, with Kaden keeping his head low to miss the lights. ¡°Where do you want it?¡±

    *Keep going, right at next turn, all the way to the holding pen,* Sara sent.

    A few moments later Kaden dropped to the stone floor and rolled clear, releasing the [Giant Crab] once the doors closed. And then took the opportunity to tame five more Beasts from the aquatic section.

    You have completed a Quest: Gotta Tame Some More - Tame 100 Beasts. Reward: Taming Slot.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Yes! Kaden whooped with glee. That meant the thousand Beast Quest was probably also available. And he could borrow another skill.

    Sara led the way to the Summoning Room, where Mr. Dervish waited. Beside him stood a ghost of a man. Professor Treadle looked nearly dead, his hair wild, his skin pale and eyes sunken. He looked away as Kaden entered.

    ¡°Kaden. Sara.¡± Mr. Dervish produced a table from Inventory. ¡°Already got the runes set right, let¡¯s see that Demon Core.¡±

    When Kaden set it on the table, the first thing that struck him were how similar the two bindings were. While the red one on his soul was bound to Trella, a cold blue one snaked out to the core.

    Mr. Dervish began to experiment, trading soft whispers with Professor Treadle as they worked to remove the binding on the Demon Core. By noon, Kaden had grown tired of hearing what they couldn¡¯t believe, or excited cries of discovery. By late afternoon, he¡¯d just plain grown tired, and still the Centurions poked and prodded, removing fibers of the binding and testing how they moved, how they re-attached.

    ¡°One last test,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°We need to know if you¡¯re somehow directing it without knowing. This one¡¯s going to hurt.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t care. ¡°Do it. You can¡¯t kill me in one hit.¡±

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 5,341 points of damage.

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    The next thing he knew, he was looking up as Sara poured a Healing Potion into his lips. ¡°What was that.¡±

    ¡°He punched you in the face,¡± Sara said. ¡°You¡¯ve been unconscious for nearly an hour.¡±

    That explained the lumpy, broken feeling in his jaws. And the lack of teeth, which were currently growing back in. ¡°Did it work?¡±

    ¡°The binding itself is doing it,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°You were out cold and it was still re-binding. That eliminates easier ways. But the best part is that the bindings are subject to [Mana Drain]. I hired a [Mage Executioner] to hit you with it while you were out, and every point drained slowed it down.¡±

    ¡°Can you remove it from Trella?¡± Kaden asked, spitting out shards of broken teeth.

    ¡°Close. I think if I dose both of you with Kalarak essence, then hit you with [Mana Drain] until you¡¯ve got nothing left for it to feed, I can pull it lose from both ends. Damn thing¡¯s a leech. We¡¯ll need to do a few more test runs, but this is it.¡± Mr. Dervish pulled Kaden to his feet. ¡°The girl you sent our way, I put her to work at the big house. She ain¡¯t got a Class but she knows how to take care of people. You can¡¯t teach that.¡±

    ¡°Give her a chance, that¡¯s all I¡¯m asking. Also, we had the Town cleared.¡±

    ¡°What town?¡± Mr. Dervish asked.

    ¡°Eve-il,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We¡¯re still working on a name. And a plan. And I¡¯m going to make it work. You still keep in touch with Lady Mirage?¡± The Portal Herald had left on good terms and he wanted to keep it that way.

    ¡°I do.¡±

    Kaden handed him the pendants. ¡°Got these from someone who won¡¯t be needing them anymore and Flavius said they were hers.¡±

    Mr. Dervish roared with laughter and slapped Kaden on the back.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 217 points of damage.

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden swigged another potion. ¡°I really don¡¯t want the Portal Herald looking to kill me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the truth. I¡¯ll pass them on and tell her you got ¡®em back.¡± Mr. Dervish was careful to avoid touching him while Kaden¡¯s health ticked back up. ¡°Erris Karn? That¡¯s the man she was looking to kill. If the Portal Herald can¡¯t find you, you¡¯re hiding good. She¡¯s going to want to talk to him herself.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll have to take it up with the River Serpentors,¡± Kaden said. ¡°You should see what all I got from him.¡±

    ¡°That I should. Just in case.¡± Mr. Dervish opened a portal and ushered Professor Treadle through it. ¡°Show me.¡±

    Darkness had fallen by the time Kaden left. He kept the Wand of Elements, gave the [Binding Knife] to Sara for her to give to Cutter, and sold the door¡ªand lock¡ªplus most of the trinkets to Mr. Dervish for a few hundred gold. Gold Kaden would use to pay for the gates of the town to be rebuilt.

    The Stateri would be helping, if only indirectly.

    Sara headed to the Guild to find Cutter Karn, while Kaden headed back to the Holding. And the moment he arrived, something felt off. ¡°Eve?¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Eve¡¯s voice came from the other side of the farmhouse.

    Kaden sprinted around to find Eve huddled under the [Shield Tree]. Dominion wasn¡¯t active, but Eve¡¯s terrified look said there was good reason. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Look.¡± Eve pointed out at the fenceline where Dominion ended.

    Dozens of minor demons stood, focused on Eve.

    ¡°They can¡¯t survive Dominion,¡± Kaden said, drawing Thorn Caster. He began to methodically poison demons. ¡°Have any of them survived Dominion?¡±

    ¡°No, but Hated by Demons makes me feel what they feel. I can sense their hunger. Their rage. Their desire to reach me.¡± Eve stood, staying close behind Kaden as he moved closer, burning mana to shoot every single one of them.

    And Eve¡¯s aura began to damage them.

    Kaden had better ideas. He bound a [Goatman] and turned it on its neighbor, then a Graht against another Graht, winged bat-thing to attack the first Graht. [Binding Mark] worked easier with every binding.

    Your skill with Binding Mark increases.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Now Kaden bound a Minotar and set to work slaughtering the lesser demons until it fell. ¡°Hit them with everything.¡±

    Including Trinity, who materialized in the grass and roared with delight as she sprinted toward the line of demons. She plowed through the fence, striking three different demons and spearing a fourth.

    It was less battle and more masscre. The more demons died, the braver Eve became, until there weren¡¯t any left. Kaden went demon to demon using [Reap Materials]. He understand now why Centurions begged for Eve to accompany them. ¡°How long have you been there?¡±

    ¡°The last couple hours. They kept massing at the fence line. A few died to Dominion, but most gathered. I don¡¯t know if they were after me or if they hate that tree.¡± Eve followed Kaden inside.

    ¡°You want me to make you some food?¡±

    ¡°No thank you. I¡¯m hungry for something nice.¡± Eve began cooking her own dinner, while Vip sat patiently at her feet.

    Trinity squeezed through the front door and then lumbered over to the fireplace, bent over, and coughed. A moment later, smoke curled up, and flames began to crackle in the fireplace.

    ¡°You taught Trinity to use matches?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden studied her status. ¡°[Acidic Drool] must have reached level ten, and now she has [Flaming Drool.¡±

    [Flaming Drool]

    This creature¡¯s spit will catch fire and burn, which is perfect unless you¡¯re what it¡¯s spitting on. While not exactly flame breath, it is a great way to punish its enemies.

    Trinity¡¯s status reflected constant, steady growth as well.

    Trinity (TriTerror)

    Level: 9

    HP: 750/750

    Mana: 200/200

    Skills: Flaming Drool (1), Acidic Drool (5), Razor Scales (10), Spear Tail (9), Bone Breaker (8), Cooking (3)

    Talents: MultiTasker, Resilient Constitution

    Razor Scales was at level ten and probably ready to specialize as well, but Kaden didn¡¯t know how to help Trinity. He focused on her with [Beast Soul] ¡°What do you want to do with that skill?¡±

    Trinity¡¯s bone armored head rose to look at him and gave a deep groan, which [Beast Soul] translated as ¡®kill everything and then kill it all again.¡¯ Kaden couldn¡¯t see what options were available, and since she was one of a kind, [Beast Knowledge] didn¡¯t have anything to offer. ¡°You have to make a choice. Work it out among yourselves. Whatever you choose, we¡¯ll work with.¡±

    Trinity laid down next to the slowly growing fire and closed all her eyes, while Kaden ran his hand over her back. Small bumps trailed down the back of every head, joining together at the spin and running down to where they lengthened to the stabbing tip for her tail.

    Her breath came faster and faster, and her blind head opened its eyes to roar. Something was changing, but Kaden didn¡¯t know what. Razor scales usually rose up from Trinity¡¯s skin so the edges stuck out, but now the scales were alternating raising and lowering, and her normally gleaming scales now glistened at the edges.

    Her tail lashed, and Trinity thrashed, breaking one of the couch legs as her body went stiff, and every head groaned or rumbled or shrieked in agony. And then she relaxed, breathing slower.

    Kaden brushed the edge of Trinity¡¯s scales. A tiny drop of red liquid came away. Not blood. It burned his fingertips.

    [Venom Scales]

    The edges of this beast¡¯s scales are poisonous. This poison slows the target and reduces health and mana regen. The poison can stack five times. This poison cannot be washed away.

    Trinity had chosen to become poisonous. This wasn¡¯t likely to be a useful skill for Kaden, but if it made her happy and more effective, this was good. [Spear Tail] would be ready to evolve soon, and [Bone Breaker] wasn¡¯t far off.

    None of Vip¡¯s skills were near evolving, and that was fine. Vip wasn¡¯t a battle beast, more of a companion, and she had the skills she needed most for that, the ability to cuddle, warm fur, a constant patience and a [Love] that was at least level ten and seemed to specialize into more [Love] every time she met a new person.

    Vip sensed him thinking of her through their Soul Bond and came over to nose him, then Trinity. *Slow.*

    ¡°She was evolving one of her skills, don¡¯t be rude,¡± Kaden said. Tomorrow he¡¯d take a Far Portal to the Emerald Isle and find a lieutenant for his Dungeon. It was time. Maybe past time.

    Kaden left Trinity sleeping at the fire and headed to bed. Adventurers didnt¡¯ keep normal hours. They stayed up all night, napped during the day, and eventually came to accept that the best time to sleep was when they were exhausted.

    After dumping all his loot in the basement, Kaden crawled into bed. He¡¯d only been sleeping a few hours when the bedroom door opened. A flash of light from the passing [Assistant] revealed a woman in the doorway.

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Ashi spoke softly as she approached.

    ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡±

    She sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°I need your help.¡±

 Five - Stealing Home

    Kaden sat up, not covering the metal ribs embedded in his chest, and triggered the fairy lamp by the bedside. ¡°Right-now help, later help, or some-time-before-I-die help?¡±

    ¡°Sleep is not forbidden, but this must be our purpose.¡± Ashi sat on the bed. ¡°My brother traded a spellbook to one of your ¡®Guild¡¯ people to find out what Dungeon Sara was in. Thiswas wrong in so many way. A royal treasure. A pride of the libraries. Spells that should not be in other hands, traded like minotaur horns.¡±

    Kaden could barely keep his eyes open. ¡°Give me a few more hours. Do we know where the book is?¡±

    ¡°We do not yet, but we will find it. Money is no object, the riches of Vichor are mine to use. A hundred thousand gold would be a bargain.¡±

    Kaden was no longer sleepy. ¡°Let¡¯s say I wanted to finance resettling a town¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. You have decided it will be so, and you must make it so.¡±

    He laid back down. ¡°After breakfast, we¡¯ll hit up the Guild and start tracking them down.¡±

    Ashi lay over. ¡°I came back as soon as I could. There are few who choose to be in this world, few I can trust. The book was discovered missing just after the new year. Many question if this is a sign that Najur was not favored.¡±

    ¡°Only a sign Jagi was nuts,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Such a disgrace can never be public. We will find this book. We will return it in secret. It will never have been missing.¡± The worry in Ashi¡¯s voice was contagious, but she couldn¡¯t help yawning as Trinity raised her serpent head and gave a squeal of *Oh, her, again. I was really hoping for a wolf.*

    It felt like Kaden blinked, and the sun was rising, the time of monsters was ending, and Trinity was heading out to shit in Sara¡¯s garden, something Sara approved of. Speaking of Sara, Dominion said she wasn¡¯t at the farmhouse.

    Maybe she¡¯d found company at the Guild, he sure hoped so. Sara deserved to be happy.

    Ashi stirred as he rose and showered, then headed to the kitchen, where Vip was chewing on what looked a lot like an entire breakfast sausage. ¡°What are you eating?¡±

    *Love*, Vip replied. [Beast Soul] didn¡¯t need to translate it. Love and sausage were essentially the same word.

    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t feed Vip an entire sausage,¡± Kaden said as Eve worked.

    ¡°And you shouldn¡¯t allow strange women in your bedroom. There, we¡¯ve exchanged unwanted advice and are now equal. Eggs?¡± Eve asked.

    Ashi¡¯s quiet laughter made him smile. ¡°Am I so strange to you, Evelyn?¡±

    ¡°Compared to Kaden you¡¯re downright normal. But where I¡¯m from, a man marries a woman. A woman stays with her man. You show your love by your commitment to each other.¡± Eve slung a fried egg like a weapon, landing it on Kaden¡¯s plate from across the room, and another. ¡°You do you, but it doesn¡¯t look or feel right.¡±

    Kaden actually understood Eve¡¯s confusion. Of all her odd stances, it was one that made the most sense. And it was the last thing he¡¯d waste time on. ¡°Ashi has a Quest to find a spellbook. I¡¯m going to help her. I sent a bird to Sara asking the same question. You want to come along or you want to hunt with Cutter Karn?¡±

    Karn. They might be related. Then again, Kaden probably wasn¡¯t related to every ¡®Birch¡¯ in the world.

    ¡°It depends on where you are going.¡±

    ¡°The Guild,¡± Ashi said, accepting a plate from Eve. ¡°I will find the Quest Broker and murder him after I force him to reveal the location.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t sure when murder became the plan, but he did have a better one. ¡°Or.¡±

    ¡°Or?¡± Ashi asked.

    Eve looked away. ¡°Oh, not. Here we go.¡±

    ¡°Or, I send a message to the Guild Administrator. He owes me. How many parties have I pulled out of dungeons? How many dungeons have I re-opened for him? All we want to know is what Quest Broker knew where Sara¡¯s party was.¡± Kaden waited patiently.

    ¡°I owe you an apology. I¡¯m sorry I thought this idea would be as bad as almost every other one you¡¯ve come up with.¡± Eve dipped her head in contrition.

    ¡°Accepted.¡± Kaden looked to Ashi. ¡°We¡¯ll try my way.¡±

    ¡°Murder is always an option,¡± she answered.

    ###

    The Guild bustled this morning because a dungeon break had level seventy adventurers massing to clear it. Kaden and Ashi threaded their way toward the top floor, while Eve went to meet Sara at a downstairs bar.

    The Guild Administrator waved Kaden into his office. ¡°I¡¯m really busy this morning, but make sure the Vichoreans know I¡¯m eager to help. Your Party¡¯s Broker was Alain Wentworth, but he¡¯s not here, and hasn¡¯t been for months. He accepted a transfer to the Southern Continent and left for Omnor not long afer.¡±

    Ashi swore. ¡°We will track him there.¡±

    The Guild Administrator shook his head. ¡°Now, I have to be careful about accusing people. But let¡¯s say he did accept a stollen spellbook, and let¡¯s say he did run. The man was a Crafter by class and a Broker by profession. He can¡¯t use the spellbook. He headed straight to the Underground Market to sell it.¡±

    Kaden looked to Ashi, who showed no recognition. ¡°The Underground Market is?¡±

    ¡°Omnor is in the blight. It¡¯s an underground city, a cavern surrounding an underground volcano. The Plutarchy there maintains the largest blackmarket in existence. We have Quest Brokers, they have Item Brokers who collect and arrange access to everything.¡± The Guild Admin brought up a map. ¡°You can¡¯t even get into the market without something to trade, something worth trading.¡±

    ¡°Wand of Seasons?¡± Kaden asked, taking it from Inventory.

    ¡°Got three, I use them to prop windows open,¡± The Guild Administrator replied.

    Kaden carefully took out the tube of Mana Dust. ¡°How about this?¡±

    The sharp whistle of breath from both of them said more than words.

    ¡°Where do you get that?¡± Both demanded at once.

    Priorities were always set right. Kaden answered Ashi. ¡°Erris Karn had it. You know my rule for loot. If it¡¯s not tied down, I take it. I tried to talk to Mistress Scylla.¡±

    ¡°That would get you in. Jackie¡¯s busy working on getting help for your lover, but I¡¯ll send her a message. Given that Allan is a Crafter, he didn¡¯t spend time in the Market if he didn¡¯t have to, and he probably was looking for somewhere to hide for a few years. You might catch him in Omnor proper.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Ashi placed her hands together. ¡°I will mention you by name when I recount those who helped undo this wrong. I will specifically ask Mother not to speak to you.¡±

    The Guild Administrator was a black man, and he didn¡¯t really turn pale, but the way his eyes went wide, Kaden felt bad for him. He looked down at a scroll, and read a bit further. ¡°I had your party scheduled to clear an erratic dungeon but it can wait.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Give me the coordinates. I will personally deal with it when I get back,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯m curious, what Faction are you a member of?¡±

    ¡°Assassins are our own,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re happy to let everyone else think they run the world, and as long as they don¡¯t break everything? We don¡¯t have a reason to act. But when we act, there are consequences.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say it doesn¡¯t hurt to ask, but¡­¡± Kaden never knew quite where he stood with the head of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.

    ¡°No Faction Quest for you! Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I have to meet with the [Alchemist] Hall.¡±

    Kaden left as soon as possible because meetings with the Guild Administrator often required a mop and bucket to clean up after. ¡°Where is Sara?¡±

    ¡°Downstairs in the Crafter¡¯s Commune. May I have the wand?¡±

    He gave it to Ashi without question. ¡°I thought you only liked exotic mana types.¡±

    She shook it, checking each setting, and handed it back. ¡°Worthless. I have deep stores of these types. Gnomes make good wands. Powerful wands. We should hunt Gnomes soon.¡±

    There was never enough time in the day to hunt everything Kaden wanted to, but this Quest would allow him to fulfill another he¡¯d been waiting for. ¡°There¡¯s Eve and Sara.¡±

    Sara saw them and waved. ¡°I hear we¡¯re going to Omnor. I won¡¯t lie, I feel better about it with us in the second tier.¡±

    Eve accepted a pacakge from a crafter and joined them. ¡°People die a great deal in Omnor. You¡¯ll need someone who can resurrect Kaden, so I¡¯ll join you.¡±

    A Messenger Bird landed lightly on Kaden¡¯s arm, and he listened for a moment. ¡°Sara, I need you for a moment. Ashi, Eve, stock up. I don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll find in Omnor.¡±

    ¡°What we need, I will buy,¡± Ashi said.

    Kaden quickly left the Crafter¡¯s level, heading to the top floor of the Guild, then down a side hall, with Sara close behind him. When he opened the door, the meeting room windows were open wide and crisp wind blew in.

    Mistress Scylla sat at the end of the table, her orange octopi tentacles arranging furniture nearby. ¡°Kaden. Sara.¡±

    ¡°Mom.¡± Sara¡¯s voice contained all the disappointment she still held. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Kaden asked to speak to me. I¡¯d like to speak to you. You¡¯re going to Omnor? And the Underground Market?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Kaden took a seat across from her, while Sara stood to his right, arms crossed. ¡°I have a tube of Mana Dust. I¡¯ll say I¡¯m there to sell it.¡±

    Mistress Scylla extended one tentacle. ¡°Show me. I need to know who you got it from and where you got it from them.¡±

    Kaden carefully handed it over., then explained about Erris Karn, the Serpentors, his looting of the outpost.

    ¡°Not one of mine. If he only had a single tube, he was either a very light user or he had a guaranteed supply. Did he show excessive skill use?¡± Mistress Scylla sealed the tube and handed it back.

    ¡°He mainly used a [Wand of Seasons],¡± Kaden said. ¡°But he did freeze an entire river with it.¡±

    The room became very quiet. ¡°I would ask if you took the wand, but you are you. Did you sell it already?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I was going to give it to Ashi, but it¡¯s just standard Mana types.¡±

    ¡°Carefully¡ªcarefully¡ªhand it over.¡± This time, she extended four tentacles, wrapping them tightly around the wand as Kaden handed it over. ¡°Yes, I thought so. See the thumb grip?¡±

    Metal cracked, and Mistress Scylla tossed a piece of the wand back down the table. The grip where one put their thumb to activate the wand housed a blade the size of a fingernail. More cracking, and when Mistress Scylla turned, she held the body of the wand, which she shook.

    A second gray tube of paste fell out, oozing slightly into Mistress Scylla¡¯s hand. ¡°The wand continued to dose him so he could use it. I know the mark on this one. I¡¯ve been hunting this dealer for a century.¡±

    ¡°The Mercari are searching for FarPortals connected to Erris¡¯s shipping station. They¡¯ll have the history of locations.¡±

    ¡°Using a weapon like this, he would go every day. If I find where he was buying, I will find his dealer and then, deal with him.¡± Mistress Scylla with drew a third tube from Inventory, sealed with a mana barrier on one end and a second Wand of Seasons. ¡°The Underground Market will require each of you to have an item to trade. Go in pairs only, anything larger will draw attention. At one time, I ordered supplies from there.¡±

    ¡°Drugs,¡± Sara said. ¡°You ordered Mana Dust. Not Jackaroo coverings. That¡¯s why your shipments were stolen.¡±

    Mistress Scylla kept quiet for long minutes. ¡°I ordered Euphorium. Addicts will find a way. Having a trusted source who knows when someone is breaking their addiction and when they are sinking further is essential. I control what they receive. I dillute to wean addicts off. I ¡®run out¡¯ when someone is increasing use.¡±

    ¡°That makes it right?¡± Sara asked bitterly.

    ¡°It makes it necesary. The Justari know who must not be allowed to hold power. The city guard know who to keep an eye on. In larger cities, there is no control. There is no order or knowledge.¡± Mistress Scylla shook her head. ¡°My place in the chain allows me to help rather than harm.¡±

    Kaden put away the tubes of Mana Dust and the wand. ¡°When I get into the market, how would I find the spell book? Or who it was sold to next?¡±

    ¡°Go see Digus Bicus. He¡¯s a ¡®Treasure Broker¡¯ who prides himself on magical tomes. Even more, he¡¯s almost entirely rational, something I can¡¯t say for the other brokers. Do you have a pretense?¡±

    A lie. A lie for why he¡¯d want the book. ¡°My pretense is that the owner wants it back desperately and sent me to get it.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°You need something better. For some thieves, knowing it won¡¯t go back to the owner is as much a payoff as the gold. Say it has a spell that can break a binding. Tell them there¡¯s a binding on Trella and the book is rumored to have a spell to break it.¡±

    ¡°That is a common enough scenario. Also, please understand that Omnor doesn¡¯t operate by peaceful rules. When you¡¯re accosted on arrival¡ªand you will be¡ªmake an example. A gory example. Do it quickly and you won¡¯t be attacked twice.¡± The whole time Mistress Scylla spoke, she focused on Kaden. ¡°This will not be a time for mercy and the power of friendship. Show weakness and you will be worn down until even the strong fall.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be prepared.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t sure he would be.

    ¡°How goes Treadle¡¯s research?¡±

    Kaden drew Nasky¡¯s Demon Core from Inventory. ¡°We¡¯ve been using this and [Binding Mark]. Mr. Dervish is certain he can not only break the binding, but keep it off Trell and I long enough to kill it. He¡¯s gathering materials to try, now.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s ten times faster than I expected. Of course, having a bound demon to experiment on is a first. Does it regenerate?¡± Mistress Scyall reached for the core.

    Kaden put it away. ¡°No. Naski had her class revoked by Asmodeus for betraying him a second time. Cut off from Demon power and without any sacrifices, she can¡¯t regrow. That¡¯s the Professor¡¯s theory.¡±

    ¡°And this bond. How similar is it to the [Slaver] class?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°We don¡¯t know. If I find a [Slaver] I¡¯ll bring him in and we¡¯ll see. I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯d recognize one, but if I do, then I¡¯ll make an example.¡±

    ¡°He or she will be a Centurion. They gain XP so quickly it¡¯s almost assured. The class is hidden, but given your history I¡¯m not going to risk it. Should you find one, purchase a secure bird and send it to me. I know people who can deal with them.¡± Mistress Scylla looked to Sara. ¡°I¡¯d like to speak to Sara alone.¡±

    Kaden left them there, nervous and eager to get going. But while he waited, a Dragon landed on his arm. Kaden shuddered as it leaned in to speak. ¡°Meet us in my Guild Quarters,¡± it said in Eve¡¯s voice. ¡°Plans are changing with the situation.¡±

    After thirty minutes, Sara emerged, her face red and angry.

    Kaden explained and they hurried to the fourth floor, where Eve met them at the door to open it and then turned on Ashi. ¡°Have you ever brokered discussions between nobles? I don¡¯t care if they¡¯re Vichorean or Pandorean or Delorean, nobles are nobles. Delay them.¡±

    ¡°They demand an audience with Mother!¡± Ashi said. ¡°This is their right, by birth.¡±

    Eve didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°Is it their right? Is it really? How do you know it¡¯s their right by birth?¡±

    Ashi began to crackle with electricity, which she did every time she was angry. ¡°It is not the same as here. Their lineage is recorded for every family, the mother, and who she chose to father the child. And I cannot demand this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I was delaying and wearing down nobles when I was nine. I want to see their records. Their entire records, and I¡¯ll personally verify every single one. Then, when the entire noble party is vetted, I¡¯ll record their questions. Individually.¡± Eve wasn¡¯t malicious as she spoke, simply cold and calm. ¡°Time passes slower in Vichor. It should buy Kaden and you a chance to get the book.¡±

    Ashi opened her mouth to speak¡ªand stopped. ¡°It is a good plan. But I must go with you, or you will not be allowed. Kaden is of Vichor, as are all Dungeon Masters. You must receive permission from Mother.¡±

    Kaden had gathered enough of the situation. ¡°I could go back. You and Sara and Eve go to Omnor. The three of you would be unstoppable.¡±

    ¡°Tell me the difference between Lineage by Atrribution and Lineage by Secondary Attrribution,¡± Eve said. ¡°It¡¯s the details that matter. It¡¯s the details that delay. Secondary attribution is when a father claims he¡¯s the father. It¡¯s about as valuable as if the maid says he¡¯s the father. Less valuable, because I¡¯d trust a maid, while a man would lie for his pride.¡±

    Ashi turned and reached for Kaden, taking both hands.

    You have received: 1x Authority of Vichor. You may take on debts for the benefit of the kingdom, but know that your choices are watched. Do you really need to be told it¡¯s a bad idea to steal from someone who can alter the System?

    Kaden pulled her close for a hug. ¡°Is there anything you need?¡±

    ¡°You to hurry,¡± Ashi said. ¡°It is not too late to undo the harm. It is not your duty as a DungeonMaster. It is my request of you as a friend. Mother does not ask this of you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be less receptive if it came from her.¡± Kaden made mental adjustments to Dominion to protect the house. ¡°Eve, do you need Vip?¡±

    ¡°Would she be safe?¡± Eve asked. ¡°You told Kaden very little would survive the trip.¡±

    ¡°I told Kaden many lies, once, out of desperation. I will not let her be harmed.¡±

    Kaden summoned Vip and let her leap into his arms, squeezing the dog tightly until she squirmed. ¡°You take good care of Eve.¡±

    *Love.* Vip said it, she meant it.

    Kaden handed her to Ashi.

    Vip immediately stopped wriggling, snuggling down with a sigh.

    The four made their way through the Guild and downstairs to the FarPortal. Kaden let Eve and Ashi go first, watching as the FarPortal turned rainbow colors and engulfed them, then looked to Sara. ¡°You ready?¡±

    ¡°Close enough,¡± She said. ¡°You have the inheritance package from Dervish?¡±

    Kaden had checked twice. ¡°Got it. The Market is the priority.¡±

    And they stepped through.

 Six - For Example

    The transition from the warmth and light of the Guild to the cold, dry, dark of a FarPortal pavillion deep underground hit Kaden and had him stumbling. The air here wasn¡¯t just dry, it leeched the moisture from his tongue and lips.

    ¡°Clear the pavillion for the next party,¡± The Portal Mage said in a bored, sleepy tone. ¡°Welcome to Omnor, may the gods have mercy on you. Next!¡±

    Beside him, Sara stumbled, and one of her horror¡¯s pseudopods caught her before she could fall. Its bite took a chunk out of the stone support, so they moved on quickly, down cascading steps and into a sea of people moving through a city in perpetual night. Everywhere, mushrooms grew from stone, covering the walkways and squishing underfoot.

    ¡°Careful,¡± Sara said. ¡°The entrance to Omnor proper is up ahead, but Mom said there would be thieves outside and in.¡±

    [Split Second] let Kaden catch a teen boy reaching into Kaden¡¯s pocket. He backhanded him, taking care not to break the boy¡¯s jaw. ¡°Hands off. I break bones. She tears limbs.¡±

    Sara¡¯s Horror opened its four-way jaws and whipped around to gurgle.

    When the boy screamed and jerked away, Kaden let him, with a half-hearted non-effort to grab in his general direction. In this case, an escape was exactly what Kaden wanted. Dead thieves didn¡¯t warn other thieves.

    Kaden and Sara stood back to back in the line to meet the Omnor guards, though Sara now earned a healthy wide-space from the others. The gates to Omnor weren¡¯t actually made to close, they were made to restrict traffic. The line dropped to single file and then turned sharply right, left, and back.

    It reminded Kaden of his killing maze on the ship, and probably served a similar goal.

    ¡°Name and purpose?¡± The guard barked at Sara.

    ¡°Sara Scylla. I¡¯m here on a Quest to return a Necromancer¡¯s inheritance.¡±

    The guard coughed. ¡°What a load of bull shit that was. Why are you really here?¡±

    Kaden jumped in. ¡°She¡¯s with me, sir. I¡¯m searching for the lost city of Duradain. It¡¯s supposed to be at the bottom of the nameless pit, at the center of the forest of lost souls. I¡¯m not supposed to mention this to anyone, but I¡¯ve been sent on an epic quest by the gods themselves!¡±

    The Guard looked like he was going to vomit. ¡°Not from around here, are you?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°No, but I shouldn¡¯t talk about my biggest secret. I have a Destiny! Do you want to see my weapon? These belts are hard to work with, but let me whip it out and ¡ª¡±

    ¡°Second lifers.¡±  The Guard muttered under his breath. ¡°I hear there¡¯s a nameless pit on the Northern Continent. Hey, Bifa, wasn¡¯t the lost city of Duradain on the Northern Continent? And that Nameless Pit?¡±

    ¡°Right you are!¡± The other guard said. ¡°Way up north, you¡¯ll find whatever you¡¯re looking for. Beast Master, that¡¯s a¡­class. What does it do?¡±

    ¡°It lets me tame mice and rodents, among other things!¡± Kaden said. ¡°If you¡¯ve got one, I¡¯ll show you. I¡¯m hoping to get a talking wart at level fifty.¡±

    ¡°Go on, get out of here.¡± The guard waved them through. ¡°Stupid second lifer. Err¡ªI mean, thank you for your Quest and sacrifice, great hero of the gods. Idiot.¡±

    Kaden gave the Guard his largest shit-eating smile. ¡°Thank you, brave guard. I go to find my Destiny!¡±

    Thirty feet past the gate, Sara began laughing. ¡°Oh, great hero! The Nameless Pit! A Destiny! You!¡±

    Kaden bowed. Just inside the gate they¡¯d entered a combination market and crafting commune. ¡°Does the Guild have an outpost here?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°Too much authority for the city to tolerate. Mom gave me a safe place for lodging and instructions for the market.¡±

    ¡°Are you and her¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Sara studied a street marker laced with runes and put a hand on it. It glowed in three sets and an arrow lit up pointing toward a right turn.

    At every intersection, she checked the signs, and each time, followed the arrow.

    *Heads up, we have four following us. Twenty threes,* Kaden sent.

    Sara didn¡¯t look back. *I¡¯m ready. We¡¯re close to the Lodging House, but if there¡¯s going to be trouble, I¡¯d rather it was now.*

    Kaden let her take a slight lead and meandered left so a row of multistory shops lay on one side. Three of the gang following them split off, while a man continued to track Sara, moving closer now.

    ¡°There.¡± Sara called out loudly. ¡°That¡¯s where we¡¯re staying.¡±

    She spun on her heel and stalked toward the man, drawing twin swords as she did. ¡°I was told to make an example. I think you¡¯ll do nicely.¡±

    The man split into three, each wielding glowing red daggers, and all three struck. Only one screamed as a Horror¡¯s pseudod clamped down on his face.

    Kaden stood, Remembrance in hand, facing the three men who had followed him. ¡°Your friend there isn¡¯t doing well. Hear that? That sounds like someone feeding the hunger of a [Cosmic Horror.] I don¡¯t have one of those.¡±

    The one closest drew a wand and pointed it at Kaden. ¡°You don¡¯t have Purchase Rights to walk these streets.¡±

    ¡°True. But I do have a TriTerror.¡± Kaden triggered his Elderitch Shield. ¡°You want to meet her?¡±

    ¡°Get him!¡± one of the three shouted.

    And all three screamed, because Kaden had summoned Trinity right behind them. One had a serpent head driving venomous fangs into his chest, another¡¯s body convulsed as the blind head crunched. The last was the one doing the most screaming, because Trinity¡¯s armored beak had nipped off his leg at the knee.

    As the serpent head let go, Kaden poured a hundred points of mana into [Moment of Speed] and unleashed a spinning attack at the man¡¯s skull with Remembrance¡¯s hammer.

    The memory would haunt Kaden for the rest of his days, as the man¡¯s head caved in.

    Brutal Blows has inflicted a permanently crippling injury.

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    You have defeated the PadFoot Robert Ryan.

    You have gained XP.

    Kaden would have helped with the other two, but Trinity threw one body into the street and then put a claw down on the other¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Stop right there!¡± A man shouted. ¡°In the name of Salish Sales Emporium, why do you commit violence here?¡±

    ¡°They attacked us.¡± Sara didn¡¯t look up. She continued to hack chunks from her attacker and feed them to the Horror.

    ¡°Three on one,¡± Kaden added, looting corpses.

    The Emporium Guard looked left and right. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s how it was. Don¡¯t go starting trouble. This block is the exclusive Sales Domain of Salish Sales Emporium. We¡¯ll be expecting a purchase to pay for the blood.¡±

    Crowds had gathered, but they didn¡¯t gather too close, as Trinity continued her feast.

    ¡°Does that thing have to eat him?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s hungry.¡±

    ¡°Does she have to do it while he¡¯s alive?¡± The Guard had started to sweat.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have to, no.¡± Kaden strolled to Trinity and wipped blood from her blind head¡¯s jaws. ¡°Good girl.¡±

    The armored head took another bite and then spat flaming drool on the stump before moving to nibble a hand off.

    The man¡¯s clothing caught fire as the drool burned.

    ¡°I know you want to ask,¡± Kaden said, loud enough for the crowd to hear. ¡°Trinity burned the stump so he won¡¯t bleed to death while she¡¯s eating the rest of him. Girl, stop playing with your food.¡±

    Trinity stabbed the mage with her tail over and over, taking no particular effort to kill, but eventually she ran out of safe places, and rammed the spear-tail through his heart. Then groaned in disappointment.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, girl.¡± Sara came over to loot the corpse. ¡°Someone else will attack us tomorrow. You can play with them.¡±

    The crowd had fallen silent.

    *Leave that one to be resurrected?* Kaden asked Sara.

    She gave a nod. *I want someone to tell the story. Mine won¡¯t be. Those two won¡¯t.*

    Kaden waved to the guard. ¡°That one can still be resurrected. Is there a temple? And someone willing to drag his corpse there?¡±

    ¡°Stack them to the side, there¡¯s a corpse-wagon that circulates through Omnor.¡± The guard was looking the kind of green that wasn¡¯t good. He wouldn¡¯t meet any of Trinity¡¯s gazes, and given that she had a minimum of two eyes on every head, that took effort.

    Kaden recalled Trinity in mid-bite and then picked up one corpse with each hand, tossing them to the side. ¡°We¡¯ll stop by the Emporium for some necessities, right, Sara?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Shall we?¡±

    He offered her his arm and slung Remembrance over his shoulder with the other. And together they headed down the block. In the middle of the block, a four story red pagoda stood with green tile roof and red brick walls. Sara headed straight up the front and knocked on the door.

    A thin, tall woman with dark black skin and a bald head answered the door.

    [Amy Anderson - Hotelier]

    It take a special kind of woman to serve hospitality in the city where might makes right. Mrs. Anderson no longer goes out on adventures, but that doesn¡¯t maker her days boring. Her thirst for blood can still be satisfied when guests don¡¯t abide by her rules.

    ¡°Sara Scylla! Your Mother sent a bird saying you were coming. Now, before you set foot inside, I have my own set of laws. No stealing, murdering, attacking, or any of that inside my walls. If you¡¯re covered in blood¡ªand you are¡ªyou shower in the side yard and come in through the back. If you¡¯re drunk you can sleep it off. If you¡¯re high I will kick you out.¡±

    ¡°Reasonable,¡± Sara said. ¡°I accept.¡±

    ¡°Me too. Are Beasts welcome? I have a TriTerror.¡± Kaden waited.

    Ms. Anderson put her hands on her hips. ¡°Absolutely not. It¡¯s a small house with small rooms and narrow halls. You¡¯ve got the second floor. The third floor is haunted, don¡¯t go up there. I live in the basement, breakfast is here on the ground floor.¡±

    She stepped aside, and Kaden followed Sara in.

    You have come under Authority (Amy Anderson). Your skills are restricted here. Combat will induce severe penalties.

    She hadn¡¯t been kidding. The entry room was smaller than Sara¡¯s bedroom upstairs. The kitchen, a sitting room, and a dining room made up the rest of the ground floor, and an anorexic staircase at the back led to the second floor.

    Sara headed straight there, while Kaden turned sideways and edged his way to the second floor.The room smelled of old paper and candlewax, and a single window looked out over the streets, which thronged with people.

    The room wasn¡¯t as cramped as Kaden feared. His room at the Saint¡¯s Hall had been smaller, though Kaden himself had been thinner and shorter. The single bed didn¡¯t bother him either, and if Sara cared, she didn¡¯t show it. ¡°Let¡¯s get our pass to the Market now. We will need to be patient after we reach out to Digus. Mom said if we show too much interest, it sets off warning bells.¡±

    If Kaden had worn bulky armor with paldrons, he wouldn¡¯t have fit down the stairs. As it was, he squeezed down them, following Sara into the common room, where Mrs. Anderston was frying meat.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got business to conduct in the Underground Market. Mom said the pass points change regularly.¡±

    ¡°They do, but I make it my business to know¡ª¡±

    The ground shook, and screams rose like a wave from the city. Through the front window, chunks of rock landed in the street and cries for help grew clouder.

    Mrs. Anderson pointed at the door¡ªit glazed over with rock as the ground shook harder and harder.

    Then the swelling, shaking earthquake gradually subsided. The chimny exploded with ashes and a messenger bat flopped out to land on Mrs. Anderson. She listened for a bit and then shook it off. ¡°Shoo, shoo. Another accident in the market. Unleashed another Great Old One. I¡¯m sorry, dear, you won¡¯t be going to the Market this week. It¡¯ll be sealed until the Mages can banish whatever Elder God is currently wreaking havoc. The FarPortal is overloaded with people trying to escape. If you want, we¡¯ll schedule a trip and you can come back next week.¡±

    A single glance to Sara told Kaden what he needed to know. ¡°We¡¯re staying. I actually have business in Omnor outside the market.¡±

    ¡°With?¡± Mrs. Anderson asked. ¡°There¡¯s not much legitimate business here. Everything outside the market exists to serve everything inside the market.¡±

    ¡°I have something to return to a Necromancer. Their parents were running a Dungeon with mine when everyone died.¡± Kaden brought out the training wand. ¡°This belonged to one of them.¡±

    Ms. Anderson looked it over. ¡°Go to the Necrosium. It¡¯s where every Necromancer trains. I should warn you, it¡¯s very dark. And dank. And filled with dead things that are remarkably mobile.¡±

    ¡°Not a problem.¡± Kaden unfolded his Eldritch Shield. ¡°I have an icebreaker for talking with Necromancers. They love this thing. I fed it wraith bones.¡±

    Based on the way she looked at Kaden, there were things she approved of and those she didn¡¯t and the eldritch shield was on the not list. Kaden was dangerously close. He put it away. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Manners. I¡¯ll get you a skill book,¡± Ms. Anderson said. ¡°Give the city time to settle. Go shop at the Emporium, they¡¯re serious about sales. A good sale wipes away almost any murder.¡±

    Kaden considered the skill Ashi had transferred him. Would a sale that bought them peace be extravagant? Acceptable? Reasonable? Ashi wasn¡¯t present to explain, and that was assuming she even knew. There was one way to find out. ¡°Where¡¯s the emporium?¡±

    ¡°Ask any guard, they¡¯ll escort you. They get a bonus. Sara, your mother said this was your first time in Omnor. Was that stunt you pulled outside on her advice?¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°She said ¡®make an example.¡¯¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s making an example, and there¡¯s inciting terror in a city block and challenging the Block Manager¡¯s authority. There¡¯s a fine line between the two. Don¡¯t go making more examples and you should be fine.¡± Ms. Anderson pointed to the wall where an ornate timepiece lit up runes in a waterfall pattern. ¡°Ashfall starts at seventeenth bell. If you haven¡¯t been exposed to [Ash] it¡¯s going to burn you steadily. If you have, it still burns.¡±

    ¡°Ashfall?¡± Sara asked. ¡°There¡¯s no volcano.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing but volcano. That¡¯s what keeps this place warm during the day and burns off the Blight when it creeps in from above. Geomancers stage nightly erruptions.¡± Ms. Anderson paused, her gaze distant. ¡°Well, that¡¯s sorted. The Emporium Manager is sending someone to pick you up. Play nice, buy something expensive, you won¡¯t have a problem.¡±

    ¡°How can you possibly know that? Is it like Dominion?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°I can see them out the window,¡± Ms. Anderson answered. ¡°Do they not have windows up where you¡¯re from? I like mine.¡±

    The front door rattled as someone kicked it. ¡°Open in the name of the Emporium, or we¡¯re going to have a buy-none-get-all-free deal on spells.¡±

    Kaden was already at the door, letting them kick once, twice¡ªthen yanking it open so the Emporium guard lost his balance and stumbled into Kaden, whose grip on the door let him do a passable imitation of a brick wall. ¡°Hi. You might be looking for me. It¡¯s your lucky day because I was looking for you. You are going to take me to the Emporium, you¡¯re going to to do it now, and you¡¯re going to do it quietly and without fuss. Are we clear?¡±

    Sara¡¯s exasperated sigh warmed his heart. ¡°There are three of them.¡±

    ¡°Trinity has three heads. That¡¯s my TriTerror. Would any of you three like to meet her?¡± Kaden waited patiently for the three to shake their heads. ¡°It¡¯s a pity. I stopped her from eating earlier and she¡¯s still a little hungry. If you change your mind, let me know. Now, let¡¯s go shopping!¡±

 Seven - Everythings for Sale

    With his guide-guard close beside him, Kaden and Sara made good time through Omnor. Kaden chatted the whole time, stopping them to ask about random houses, architecture, offered to have a sparring match with the guard, offered to let Trinity have a sparring match.

    Sara walked quietly with her guard.

    Kaden was definitely having more fun. ¡°Let¡¯s say tomorrow I want to go out and see the town. How do I ask for you three again? I feel like we have a relationship now. I don¡¯t want a random guard threatening me, I want the threat to come from the heart. Or to the heart. You want to try and stab me in the heart? I¡¯ll give you one free stab. Every stab after that, I get to stab back. Anyone?¡±

    No one wanted to take him up on it.

    The Emporium was the largest business at the core of a four block ring. It rose at least seven stories into the black sky, with with fairy lights circling the building on wafts of wind that changed the smell from rotting leaves to angry skunk.

    The stone was glistening white with sparkles, and illusions formed constantly before the broad double doors with rows of guards. Guards who looked a lot less intimidated than the two Kaden had his arms around. ¡°Are these your work buddies? Introduce me! I knew a lot of people at Beast Control. Great place to work, if you don¡¯t mind beasts.¡±

    ¡°Now hear this!¡± A wider, stronger, taller guard said.

    He looked more like a captain kind. Or the kind who might one day be captain. The kind who would probably want to be called Captain.

    ¡°Captain? I¡¯m Kaden Birch.¡± Kaden offered a hand. ¡°Your guards did a great job. Brought me right here with almost no problems.¡±

    [Emir Cook - Head of Security]

    Emir Cook is not known to have a sense of humor, unless it is in picking punishments for those who try to steal from the Emporium. He delights in authority. The kind of authority you¡¯re mocking.

    Level: 35

    Class: Imperator

    HP: 4,000

    Mana: ???

    Kaden waited, hand extended. ¡°I was looking to buy something here. A few street thugs ambushed us earlier, but no harm done.¡±

    A bead of sweat formed on Cook¡¯s forehead. ¡°Those were undercover asset protection officers. You entered Emporium territory without purchase rights, they were assessing the threat. My men.¡±

    Kaden let the threat hang in the air. He¡¯d stood face to face with the Senior Sister, a Centurion who had seen ages come and go. ¡°What did they find? Because you¡¯ve got ten levels on me. I can¡¯t be that much of a threat. Your men had me outnumbered three to one.¡±

    Another bead of sweat formed on Emir¡¯s forhead, perhaps having a heated conversation with the first one. Another joined it, probably with a different opinion. That bead of sweat called for immediate backup, but the first had run away leaving a trail down his face. If the others moved quickly, they might catch it before it¡ªno, the sweat leaped to its doom off of Emir¡¯s chin. ¡°Know this. I deal with the threats directly. Personally. And if I have to deal with you, it will be permanently.¡±

    ¡°Understood,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden took a Wand of Elements out. ¡°Is there a good place I could sell this? I took it off the corpse of the last level fifty one I killed.¡±

    ¡°Gelvin¡¯s Armory.¡± Emir spoke at a near whisper.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Kaden took Sara¡¯s hand and began to peruse the Emporium. Every floor held different delights. Armor. Spellbooks. Condensate in four different elemental flavors. Wands¡ªso many wands, most of which looked gnomish.

    ¡°Why were you aggravating them?¡± Sara asked.

    If anyone would understand, if anyone could understand, it was Trella, who had survived so much alongside Kaden. ¡°I¡¯ve never been here, but I know this place. This is the Saint¡¯s Hall, in the shape of a city. Ms. Anderson was wrong. Your mom was wrong. You don¡¯t make an example. You make every example. The moment we show weakness, it¡¯s over.¡±

    ¡°Or you bring a level fifty down on us.¡±

    ¡°That will happen no matter what, but this way? They¡¯ll be more respectful. We¡¯ll have a chance to talk.¡± Kaden stopped, looking at swords. ¡°We have to buy something. The question is, what? I don¡¯t need swords. I don¡¯t need armor, and Remembrance¡ªthe more I use it, the stronger it gets. I wasn¡¯t swinging that hard at the first guy.¡±

    Sara had recently upgraded all her weapons for second tier quality ones, and her armor. But she approached the inner portal. ¡°Level four. The only things I want will be on level four.¡±

    They took the interior Portal to the fourth floor. Spells. Walls of spells in every college and magnitude. A mage in dark green approached. ¡°How may we enlighten you? Our Skill Scrolls are guaranteed. We have all Colleges and a library of utility spells.¡±

    ¡°I have Chrono Mana.¡± Kaden said. ¡°Sara has Storm Mana.¡±

    The Mage¡¯s placid expression grew more strained. ¡°Our selection is limited, but we likely have something for you. Have a seat? For the Madam, we have all known College spells.¡±

    Narrow tables lined rows of scroll racks, and customers with other mages examined scrolls with only a glass barrier that would prevent the scroll activating. Kaden selected one and scooted over to let Sara sit next to him.

    One thing he loved about Omnor, they didn¡¯t regard Sara¡¯s Horror as that far out of the normal. In fact, they treated Trinity as more dangerous, which proved they simply didn¡¯t understand how dangerous the Horror could be.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    The Mage returned with two trays of scrolls. ¡°Chrono Mana is unusual. Uncommon, and honestly not that effective. However, for the sir:¡±

    Three scrolls, all dark brown and blackend like they¡¯d been burned.

    [Moment of Eternity]

    Tier Four Spell. You do not meet the requirements for this spell.

    Burn Mana to stop time. The cost is dependent on the area affected. The longer time is stopped, the greater the cost.

    [Untaken Path]

    Tier Three Spell. You do not meet the requirements for this spell.

    Pay an enormous mana cost to reverse a single action. You may not re-choose, only inflict the alternate path. The cost is dependent on the severity of the fork.

    [Relive the Moment]

    Active/Passive Spell

    Passive: You may examine the river of time you have passed through from the same persepctive.

    Active: Begin mana burn from the moment of activation. At cancellation of active, you may examine your path through time from different angles.

    Kaden didn¡¯t even qualify for the best spells, though he intensely believed he would reach level seventy five. The ability to stop time would be a game changer. If it were like [Moment of Speed], it would start out weak, but in time, make him a force of nature. [Untaken Path] could be the secret weapon that let him make it to seventy five. Undoing a critical mistake? Priceless, even if he couldn¡¯t use it.

    Relive the Moment felt like a utility spell, not a key battle ability. ¡°How much for [Moment of Eternity] and [Untaken Path]?¡±

    ¡°A hundred thousand gold and fifty thousand gold.¡±

    Kaden kept himself from choking. And reminded himself that fifty gold to repair the farmhouse had been unthinkable. That twelve gold for Trella¡¯s beakers had been a scrape. And now, fifty thousand was a huge sum.

    Not unimaginable. ¡°I¡¯m looking to make a purchase to say ¡®I¡¯m sorry I had my mutant beast eat one of your security guards alive,¡¯ but I don¡¯t have the gold for that.¡±

    Sara had already decided. ¡°That one. Shocking Grasp. How much?¡±

    ¡°Three thousand gold. Madam is a summoner. Is a melee spell best suited?¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help laughing. ¡°You¡¯re talking to the world¡¯s only melee summoner.¡±

    *I can¡¯t afford that.* Sara¡¯s mind-message was filled with defeat.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take it.¡± Kaden directed his thought to the [Authority of Vichor]. This purchase was critical to buying their way into the city, which would get them to the market. Fifty thousand gold? A hundred? Out of the question.

    You have assigned a debt.

    Your purchase is under review.

    Vichor has accepted this debt.

    Spend wisely.

    Kaden didn¡¯t recall being nervous, but now he was. Food was absolutely a debt he¡¯d assign. Lodging, too. Everything else would be a matter of conscience. It wasn¡¯t like Kaden was poor. Just that he had specific goals for his gold.

    The Mage handed Sara the scroll. ¡°You¡¯ll need to use that here for me to honor the guarantee.¡±

    Sara unrolled the scroll, reading it. Then reading it again and again. A moment later, the scroll flaked and crumbled to dust. ¡°Excellent. I now have Shocking Grasp.¡±

    [Shocking Grasp]

    Mana becomes lightning that courses through your fingers, or other conductive objects. This spell inflicts minor damage but will [Paralyze] the target. The length of paralysis will depend on the level of this skill.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. The more dangerous Sara was, the safer they all were. Her swords would conduct [Shocking Grasp] and even a split second of paralysis could be enough to turn the tide of a battle. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve made a purchase, could you explain how this city works? Is it all based on businesses?¡±

    The Mage was all smiles now. ¡°Omnor has no council, it has no city guard, it has no noble ruling class. The city is divided into two hundred and fifty six sectors based around individuals who enforce order.¡±

    ¡°Like Captain Cook?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Mr. Cook is head of security,¡± the Mage said. ¡°Now, if you are in good standing with one, you¡¯ve made decisions about where you can¡¯t go. If you¡¯re a friend of the Emporium, you have to understand that Jacob¡¯s Magical Market isn¡¯t going to welcome you.¡±

    Sara thought for a moment. ¡°Do you by any chance sell maps that will tell where one is welcome?¡±

    ¡°We do not. But other, lesser stores, say, immediately southeast might.¡± He looked to Kaden. ¡°I should tell you ¡®hurry, these might not be here tomorrow¡¯ but they probably will. My grandfather worked here and I recall him telling me there were four scrolls in the Chrono section. I note you didn¡¯t ask about [Relive the Moment].¡±

    ¡°Would you?¡±

    ¡°I would have chosen something better than Chrono. Which I did. I¡¯m a second tier Magmologist. It¡¯s two thousand gold.¡± He spoke it like a secret that would entice Kaden to buy.

    It wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Is Gelvin¡¯s Armory a ¡®friend¡¯ of the Emporium?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Four blocks west, just beyond the safe zone of the Emporium. It was truly a pleasure doing business. Should you change your mind, we¡¯ll keep these safe.¡±

    Sara and Kaden portaled back to the ground floor, where the security guards gave Kaden a wide berth as they left.

    ¡°I¡¯m shocked you didn¡¯t try to buy that tier three scroll.¡±

    Kaden shook his head and shared the logs from his purchase. ¡°It¡¯s weird. Like, I know what would be an abuse. Or I get a strong feeling about what would be. Buying the most expensive spell would definitely be. Buying [Shocking Grasp] was acceptable.¡±

    ¡°Prophets say the Blight¡¯s about to surge. Ash Storm passing through in forty minutes!¡± A Guard¡¯s call sent a shudder through the crowd.

    ¡°I want that map,¡± Sara said.

    She quickly headed west three blocks, to a line where the city streets changed from black coblestone to rough cut red brick. The guards here were no longer mages, but dead serious swordsmen who stood every fifteen paces. Each was only level twenty, but [Identify] said they had [Mortal Strike]¡ªand nothing else. The message was clear. There wouldn¡¯t be an attempt to impress, only a direct action.

    Kaden liked it so much more than the games the Emporium played.

    Sara spoke quietly to one of the guards and then steered them to Joshara¡¯s Everything Tent, which was neither a tent, nor did it contain everything.

    Kaden was tempted to ask to speak to Joshara, but there really was a fine line between standing up for one¡¯s self and deliberately provoking. Instead he put his ego in Inventory and listened as Sara bartered for a color coded projection scroll that would tell her where her Party held Favor and where it was not allowed. The scroll brought up a detailed map of Omnor. The center of the map held the volcano¡ªand the Market, and was currently dark gray as in ¡®no access.¡¯ The rest of the map was lit in cool blue (¡®uknnown and accepted but not welcomed¡¯) to light yellow (¡®unknown and not welcomed¡¯) and one square that was hatched red, for the Emporium, where they were known, generally unwelcome, but allowed by purchase rights.

    Sara scrolled the map to highlight one square in the far edge of the city that was brilliant purple and pulsed. ¡°We¡¯re declared enemies, and we¡¯ve never set foot in the city before. Maybe this is where those security guards lived.¡±

    Kaden motioned with his hand to draw it closer. ¡°Xik¡¯limee¡¯deus¡¯s Domain. It¡¯s a Demon Lord. He has three blocks of his own.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s the Necrosium.¡± Sara pointed to a large oval like a cyst that grew off the market. ¡°It¡¯s close to Xik-lim¡ªXiklee¡ª¡±

    ¡°Limey,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We stay away from Limey. We go just close enough to return the Inheritance, everything else, we handle from this side of Omnor, including entering the Market.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a reasonable plan. There¡¯s the temple. If we need healing, without Eve, that¡¯s the best choice. There is an Alchemist Enclave under the Mad Alchemist Shivanu. Of course, there¡¯s a bigger problem.¡± Sara tapped the projection.

    There was always bigger problem. Always. ¡°What¡¯s the bigger problem?¡±

    ¡°Your Necromancer is on the other side of the city. Safe passage is best obtained by purchasing rights. We can¡¯t possibly afford to purchase rights through all of these.¡±

    Kaden looked at the names and the numbers. ¡°There¡¯s always plan b. If you can¡¯t make allies? Make enemies.¡±

 Eight - Balancing Act

    Sara stared at Kaden as though he¡¯d grown another third eye. As though she¡¯d need to call Eve to have it healed after it was torn out. As though she¡¯d have to explain that gaining additional eyes was not something normal and that if he found a random eyeball on the street, touching it to his head was a bad idea.

    That had not happened recently, but that was how Sara stared, so Kaden offered just a tad more explanation. ¡°If you¡¯re on the enemy list for a group of allied businesses, you¡¯re automatically a ¡®friend.¡¯ The enemy of my enemy is¡­¡±

    ¡°A weakened target who should be taken out for XP while they¡¯re still weak,¡± Sara answered. ¡°But there is merit in the idea. If I approach this as a negotiation rather than a tourist route?¡± She began to plot.

    Outside, lightning struck and clouds of black ash blasted through the streets. The citizens of Omnor not only didn¡¯t seem to mind, they were amused, standing by the doors and pointing, laughing as a street vending cart and the vendor who owned it blasted past.

    ¡°Someone¡¯s going to help them, right?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°You want to go out in that?¡± A man near the door pointed as the ash winds began to remove the man¡¯s skin. ¡°No one goes out or the Ash gets in. No one.¡±

    Sara¡¯s hand on Kaden¡¯s shoulder pulled him away. ¡°We don¡¯t have Eve and we have a specific mission. You might survive, but we¡¯d be days behind when there isn¡¯t time.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t like it. He stood at another window, watching lightning arc between swirls of ash. Then someting white and bulbous landed in the street, and another, and another. They thumped against the walls and flopped into the streets, moving feebly.

    [Blightling]

    Blightlings are mobile, sentient portions of the Blight. They arent¡¯ so much armored as amorphous. There¡¯s no such thing as a critical hit on one because there¡¯s nothing critical. Smash their head, they ooze a new one. Where is their brain? Your guess is as good as any other. Intensely vulnerable to fire, these Blightlings picked a bad day to try and wipe out all other forms of life.

    Level: 27

    HP: 9,000

    Mana: 0

    Skills: Blight Touch

    Talents: Amorphous, Dense

    ¡°Blightlings,¡± Sara said. ¡°The ash clouds near the roof have damaged them, now the winds finish the job.¡±

    Kaden found it fascinating. The Blightlings didn¡¯t bleed as the ash-winds stripped them, they dwindled to spindly skeletal shapes that then melted away.

    After another thirty minutes, trumpets shook the city, and guards unlocked the doors everywhere.

    ¡°If you¡¯re ok with taking a minor risk, I think we should go here.¡± Sara pointed to a shop four streets over, every street a separate zone. ¡°None of these are strong enough to directly threaten us. If we keep moving and stick to the crowds they¡¯ll probably let us pass. And this place. Dekut recommended it.¡±

    Kaden looked closer. ¡°Trade-Right?¡±

    ¡°It sells cast off items. Loot from cursed individuals. Spellbooks with unreliable spells. Weapons that don¡¯t work quite right. But the owners deal in trades. How much loot do you have?¡±

    Kaden believed in coming prepared. Prepared to take other people¡¯s loot, usually. ¡°Wand of seasons. A couple of swords, some charms I got from the men who attacked us. You?¡±

    ¡°A Noctomancy spell book and the world¡¯s worst dagger.¡± Sara showed him.

    The difference, of course, between mages and everyone else was their ability to use any spell in their spellbook, where Kaden could only learn spell skills he met the requirements for. In theory a level one mage could use a Centurion class spell, though in reality they wouldn¡¯t have the mana or the durability to survive casting.

    ¡°Can we make it there before Ashfall?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not try. I¡¯ve been around you long enough to know that whatever I plan, there will be a disaster. Let¡¯s get dinner, shop at businesses allied with the Emporium, and show how we¡¯re really not worth paying attention to.¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call a plan.¡± He let Sara choose the dinner, let her lead the way through a parade of stores and marts and bazaars, and focused instead on being aware of the crowd. On who was watching them, if anyone, and who he¡¯d seen more than once. What could or could not be coincidence.

    As they sat eating stir-fried mushroom steaks the size of a dinner plate with crisp beetles sprinkled over the top, Kaden switched to mind speech. *The woman on the right has been following us for an hour.*

    *I saw her ten minutes ago. Is she a Demon?*

    Kaden¡¯s Demon Sight didn¡¯t show any kind of glow. *Not a demon. I¡¯d bet on Emporium Security. Should I ask?*

    Sara gave a quick shake of her head. *There¡¯s at least one [Stealthed] person as well. The Horror keeps looking back to my left, and there¡¯s no one visible. Its hunger is not easily fooled.*

    That made a ton of sense. Given how badly the direct approach had gone Kaden fully expected a change of tactics. And if all the Emporium wanted to do was protect its area, he could accept that.

    After their meal, Sara chose a new tactic. She returned to the Emporium, and took them to the fifth floor, which was covered with magical cloaks, pants, leather armor, boots, gloves, and even beast-headed hoods, which Kaden loved but Sara detested.

    *What are we doing here?*

    Sara ignored his question as she moved through section after section, trying on outfits and never buying. *This area has one entrance and one exit. Our stealthed friend can¡¯t teleport and they joined us a few minutes ago. Go right when I go left.*

    Sara handed back the outfit, asking the Crafter for a set of fabrics that were both light and heavy, would support her bust without choking her to death, would keep her warm and yet breath, and most importantly, the pants had to come with pockets.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Deep pockets.

    With every condition the Crafter grew more interested. ¡°Check our water wear. It¡¯s much of what you ask.¡±

    Sara turned right to head around the floor.

    Kaden turned left and began to mirror Sara¡¯s movements.

    *Stay right there. They¡¯re in the corner.* Sara came his way, while Kaden made himself difficult to squeeze past, and focused on all the little things that would harm [Stealth]. The slightest sway of a clothing rack. A smell that was damp leather in a section of dyed cloth.

    ¡°Find anything?¡± He asked as Sara came from the far side and stepped into the corner section.

    ¡°I think I did.¡± Sara said, speakling loudly. ¡°But I¡¯m worried. We were being followed earlier and I don¡¯t know where they went. If we¡¯re attacked again, we have to be ready. How fast could Trinity murder someone if it turns out it¡¯s not just Emporium security?¡±

    ¡°Three heads. One target. And her blind head isn¡¯t fooled by stealth. Let me put it this way. What happened earlier was gentle and slow compared to what she¡¯s capable of. Should I summon her?¡±

    Sara glanced around, obviously looking anywhere but the corner. ¡°Not yet. We don¡¯t know that they¡¯re hostile. But if they are? Make sure every death is a final one.¡±

    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have it any other way.¡± Kaden smiled as a set of leather armor swayed slightly near the corner. *Say when. I¡¯ll go left, you go right.*

    *I want a very specific message sent and received. If they were going to attack, it would have happened a moment ago.* Sara nodded toward the portal.

    Together they headed that way, but as Sara stepped through, she dropped one of her crawling Horrors, a grub-like creature that didn¡¯t crawl much. Or fast. The best way to get a crawling horror anywhere was to carry it there, or maybe kick it.

    Kadens stepped over and out onto the ground floor. Emir Cook sat in a chair that overlooked the ground floor. Kaden waved frantically until the man grimiced. ¡°That¡¯s Emir Cook,¡± he said quietly to one of the guards. ¡°He¡¯s my friend. He said if I had a problem, he¡¯d deal with it directly, and immediately.¡±

    ¡°I said if you were a problem,¡± he shouted from across the room.

    ¡°See? I knew he liked me!¡± Kaden spoke to Sara, but loudly enough that everyone, everywhere heard.

    Once they hit the street, Sara elbowed him. ¡°Will you stop antagonizing him? What was the point?¡±

    ¡°He was listening. From across the room, in a busy business, he knew what I said. He¡¯s either got a hearing skill, or some kind of¡ª¡±

    ¡°Bug.¡± Sara said it definitively. ¡°There¡¯s a type of beetle. You put one from the swarm in your ear. Anything the other beetles hear, you will, too. The whole Emporium is probably beetled for surveilance.¡±

    Professor Treadle had never mentioned any such creature. Kaden had to know. He spun on his heel, stalking back into the emporium. ¡°I¡¯m looking for sweet snacks. Or salty snacks. Or maybe some sweet and some salty. You know how it is? You eat something salty¡ª¡±

    ¡°There.¡± The Guard pointed.

    Kaden walked slowly, talking to himself. ¡°Look at me, I¡¯m Emir Cook. He¡¯s a bastard. He¡¯s a complete dick. He¡¯s a mulick-brain.¡±

    ¡°You!¡± Emir shouted. ¡°Call me a dick, will you?¡±

    Feigning surprise and fear was easy. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡±

    Cook¡¯s glare said he didn¡¯t buy it. And that he was enjoying the feeling of power.

    Kaden was enjoying the power of knowledge. He¡¯d been right beside a display rack filled with different knives. ¡°Can I get someone to help here?¡±

    After a few moments, an employee joined him, and Kaden pointed to an ornate blade covered in gems and runework. ¡°Is it forward balanced or side balanced?¡±

    The employee squatted to look, and Kaden joined him, not caring in the slightest about a terrible knife that probably had never gutted a demon. But the view, that he cared about. Under the midle rack, a glistening green beetle the size of Kaden¡¯s thumb sat. Kaden casually brushed it.

    You have tamed a Beast (Echo Beetle).

    Kaden stood and waited until the employee pulled the knife out and tested it. Forward, backward, he couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°Feels heavy to the right, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It does!¡± The employee wasn¡¯t about to disagree. In matters of bad weapons choices, the customer was always right.

    ¡°Kaden, we already shopped here. We already made a purchase. I specifically said not to aggravate Emir Cook.¡± Sara didn¡¯t sound like she was playing along. Or like she was acting for Emir, who was watching the argument with interest.

    After two more passes¡ªand three beetles¡ªKaden was done. He bought a tin of candy and a small child¡¯s kazoo, which buzzed when someone hummed in it. ¡°I was looking for another knife.¡±

    The moment he left, Kaden began to smile. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get back to our room.¡± *Don¡¯t say a thing.*

    He didn¡¯t speak until he sat on the edge of the bed on the second story and dumped the candy into Inventory. With nothing but a command, he willed the three beetles he¡¯d tamed to fly into the tin, where he clamped it shut. ¡°There. That¡¯ll muffle anything we say. These will be handy if we need to listen in.¡±

    Sara muttered something under her breath that was possibly ¡®Kaden Birch is a genius and I love everything he does.¡¯ The possibility was very small but it was still there.¡°How do you plan to convince the dangerous man you stole them from to release those three?¡±

    Kaden took out the kazoo and began to hum, directing the sound at the metal tin.

    Warning: You do not possess any form of musical talent.

    That was precisely what Kaden was hoping for as he composed what he would argue was the Greatest Tune Ever Hummed to Three Green Beetles Held Captive in a Candy Tin. There wasn¡¯t a great deal of competition in the category and that gave Kaden confidence in his assessment.

    After only seven minutes and four stunning fingernail-scraping solos, Kaden was hit by a series of notifications.

    Beetle #4443821 has been evicted from the Swarm.

    Beetle #4490172 has been evicted from the Swarm.

    Beetle #4553699 has been evicted from the Swarm.

    Form new Swarm? [Y/N]

    Kaden selected yes, and put a beetle in his ear. It wiggled and positioned itself and generally made him want to fidget like a beetle was stuck in his ear. ¡°Ok, say something and see if I can hear it.¡±

    ¡°Eve is right.¡± Sara stood up. ¡°Of course you can hear it, you¡¯re in the same room. What exactly was that?¡±

    ¡°I swear before the system, that was the Greatest Tune Ever Hummed to Three Green Beetles Held Captive in a Candy Tin.¡± Kaden gave a small bow.

    Your oath has been heard and evaluated.

    Your current ranking in category ¡®Greatest Tune Ever Hummed to Three Green Beetles Held Captive in a Candy Tin¡¯ is [3] out of [3] such performances.

    Sara took the tin and walked downstairs. ¡°Ms. Anderson, what would you say if someone¡ªsomeone named Kaden Birch¡ªprovoked the head of security at the Emporium, tamed three security beetles and generally speaking made a nuisance of himself?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d say he¡¯s looking to die,¡± she answered, clear as day.

    ¡°No deaths allowed. If he¡¯s dead when Trella is resurrected, she¡¯ll slap him so hard his chrono mana will resonate six years from now. Thank you.¡±

    ¡°Ashfall starts soon. If you¡¯ve never seen it, I¡¯m told it¡¯s beautiful. The eruption is different every night, and so are the burning [Blightlings]. Your window should give a good view, dear. Also, the Blight sucks up energy, including heat. It¡¯s going to get very cold after the erruption.¡±

    A moment later, Sara thudded up the stairs, holding a tin. ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°Trella loves all my ideas,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And she won¡¯t slap me. She¡¯ll kiss me.¡±

    ¡°Please, tomorrow, behave. I actually understand this city. It¡¯s like a thousand business relationships and thousands of contracts, all reliant on each other. I could live here. I could carve out an empire here.¡± Sara¡¯s voice took on a wistful tone.

    ¡°No sky. Ash storms. Constantly needing to maintain your power. Would you really?¡±

    ¡°I could.¡± Sara looked back at him. ¡°I could. I don¡¯t know that I want to, but I could.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t imagine it. ¡°I need the sun. I need the wind.¡±

    ¡°I need that and more. I want¡­¡± Sara¡¯s voice trailed off bright orange light burst through the window.

    Kaden tossed the beetle in the tin with its friends and joined her. The sky was lit with veins of orange as molten rock pumped up from a central mountain like blood through veins. At intervals, gouts of flame began bursting from the veins, making the sky bright like noon day sun. Blightlings burst into flame, falling like meteors, flaming, moving rain that lit the entire city.

    It wasn¡¯t blue sky or wind, but it was magnificent. Over and over, the sky arced orange. Then specks of black began to fall like snow, thicker and thicker, blocking out the glow. It hissed as it struck the window and glowed orange before fading like embers.

    ¡°Beautiful.¡± Sara said with awestruck wonder.

    Her Horror¡¯s pseudods whipped back and forth, drinking in the wonder and dreaming, probably, of devouring everything. The orange glow, the falling ash, the houses, stone, and earth. It was all beautifully delicious.

    Kaden was not dreaming of devouring everything. He was thinking of a single person. ¡°I¡¯ll be back later. I¡¯m going to go pick up a resistance or two. See you soon!¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t.¡± Sara said. ¡°That was a memory I¡¯ll keep with me all my life. I¡¯d rather not pair it with you stumbling in, your skin charred, bragging about how you got two levels in [Resist Ash]. Stay?¡±

    He took her hand. ¡°Stay.¡±

 Nine - Dead Is the New Live

    Morning light from outside highlighted veins of frost on the window in green and blue as an Ash Storm cleared the blanket of black on Omnor. The cup of water beside the bed had a thin layer of ice as well, but Kaden¡¯s Constitution hadn¡¯t been default at the point where he hit Tier Two, plus [Resist Cold]. Plus, Sara lay up against his back, her arm wrapped around him.

    Bitter cold had that effect on people. The double-thick Quilt atop the bed kept them warm. Verona knew this kind of cold and worse during the depths of winter, but Kaden hadn¡¯t expected it here. Then again, volcanic ash storms underground hadn¡¯t been on his expected list either.

    Kaden slipped out of bed and tucked Sara back under, letting one of her pseudopods pin down the quilt to keep her warm. The Clean Box had done a decent job on his clothing and armor, and he put Sara¡¯s back through for another cycle since she was still asleep.

    [Stealth Aura] let him sneak down the stairs to the kitchen, where he turned off stealth and intentionally stomped on the stairs a few times before stepping out. ¡°Morning.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re up early. Very early, very cold. The morning Ash Storm will make it warm again. Are you hungry? Look at you. Probably eat a [Bastion Iguana] every morning for breakfast.¡± She handed him a bowl of lumpy biscuits and gravy.

    Kaden took a bite. Forced himself to chew and swallow. ¡°Your biscuits have such texture!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re [Preserved Biscuits!] When we first fled the [Blight], Omnor was gived millions of them by our sister city, Verona. It¡¯s practically your duty to eat a few,¡± she said.

    A few. He¡¯d eaten them every day for nearly ten years, and had a pesonal Quest to never eat another [Preserved Biscuit] again. ¡°Thank you for breakfast, but Sara and I were hoping to use a meal to make more allies in Omnor.¡±

    ¡°Get used to having your hopes dashed. No meal vendor has enough clout to offer purchase rights. Good news, though. Rumor is the Elder God in the market has gotten bored and may leave soon.¡± Ms. Anderson leaned over the counter and focused on him. ¡°I would tell you there¡¯s nothing but trouble in the market. That¡¯s a lie. There¡¯s everything you could possibly imagine. I¡¯ve lived here all my life and only seen an eighth of the sellers. Only met three of four Brokers. Find what you¡¯re looking for.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± Kaden wouldn¡¯t risk going out without Sara, but now was as good a time as any to do some tests. He opened the tin and studied a beetle until [Identify] finally activated.

    [Echo Beetle]

    Bred from beetles that use sound as a hunting method, the echo beetle is prized as an early warning system.

    * Beast Knowledge - With absolutely no combat capabilities, the beetles are dependent on Adventurers to feed them the rotting meat they need to survive and breed. I once found a colony living in a man¡¯s leg, eating the gangrenous flesh as it rotted.

    Kaden offered the beetles a bit of [Preserved Biscuit], but since they were mindless beasts who thrived on rotting meat, they had standards and wouldn¡¯t eat it. ¡°Do you have any rotten meat? Or old meat? Or meat that will eventually rot?¡±

    Ms. Anderson dug around in her scrap jar and fished out four hunks of meat that had turned slightly green. ¡°Is the biscuit that bad?¡±

    Kaden put three scraps of meat in Inventory, and fed the beetles the remaining one, which they surrounded, munching with blunt mandibles.

    An hour later, Sara stumbled down the stairs, her hair a mess, her armor half laced. ¡°Did I miss breakfast?¡±

    Kaden shook his head¡ªa moment too late. ¡°I was just telling Ms. Anderson how we love breakfast in the market in Verona.¡±

    ¡°These are delicious!¡± Sara said, stuffing a biscuit down the Cosmic Horror¡¯s maw.

    He¡¯d never seen it choke on anything, and yet the pseudopod closed carefully, gingerly over the lump of what was technically bread.

    The moment Ms. Anderson turned to the skillet, Sara repeated with the other pseudopod. ¡°Thank you so much. That was very filling.¡±

    She flashed a smug grin at Kaden¡¯s shocked face and headed to the front door. ¡°I really don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to eat anything else until dinner. Thank you, Ms. Anderson!¡±

    *Cheater!* Kaden sent by mind speech. *You should be ashamed.*

    Two steps outside the house and one of Sara¡¯s pseudopods convulsed. Something went flying and hit a guard on the head. It sounded suspiciously like a half-digested biscuit, but Kaden sensed this would be the wrong time to ask.

    Only after they¡¯d reached the main intersection did Sara speak. ¡°There have to be advantages to having a Cosmic Horror. And that was one of them Let¡¯s find some actual breakfast, preferrably at a vendor on the way.¡±

    Today Kayden didn¡¯t sense anyone following them, which probably meant they had gotten a better [Rogue]. But the positive thing was that Sara¡¯s route took them directly into territory opposed to the Emporium, the group of merchants called BuyAll Consortium.

    *You sure about this?* Kaden asked as Sara headed straight for the guards.

    ¡°Good morning!¡± Sara said cheerily. ¡°This is my first time in Omnor, and I have to ask, how do all these businesses work? We chose our lodging at random and now I¡¯m wondering if I would have been better off with the Consortium or the Emporium. So many -iums, it¡¯s just confusing!¡±

    The nearest guard looked her up and down, and Kaden couldn¡¯t help noticing that at that very moment, the Horror wasn¡¯t actively menacing everything.

    ¡°Well, actually, they don¡¯t all end in -ium,¡± the Guard said. ¡°That¡¯s a common mistake, as is picking some place too close to the FarPortal. Why don¡¯t you and your husband¡ª¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not my husband,¡± Sara said, putting a hand on his arm. ¡°This is all so new and frightening.¡±

    ¡°Your boyfriend¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have one of those. Yet. How do you face the threat of those ashstorms every day? You must be very brave. Is it safe for me to be here, on Consortium thingy?¡±

    Kaden wanted to vomit. The word ¡®thingy¡¯ had never left Sara¡¯s mouth, except one time when they stumbled into an immature dagger wasp nest, and Kaden was still fairly sure the word had been ¡°stinging¡± through thwollen lipth.

    But it worked like [Magic] as the guard carefully led her through the streets, warning her about different businesses.

    ¡°There you go,¡± the guard said, stopping them in front of a building that wasn¡¯t nearly as nice as the Emporium. ¡°Got to get back to my station.¡±

    Sara stopped him. ¡°If I wanted to reach you again, are you somewhere?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you contact information,¡± he said.

    Sara was already heading across the street, down the block, over to the next Business set. She didn¡¯t even look at Kaden. ¡°Good morning! This is my first time in Omnor! This is all so confusing!¡±

    ###

    ¡®Thingy thingy, thingy thingy. So confusing,¡¯ Kaden mouthed as he trailed along behind Sara. ¡®Are you around? Are you alive? Did my Cosmic Horror accidentally eat your friend?¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯m too confused for contact information.¡± Sara waved to Kaden as they crossed another block, leaving more guards behind. ¡°There. Trade-Rite Salvage!¡±

    They¡¯d left the Emporium behind, that was for sure, covering long blocks of half a dozen different groups, and here, the streets were solid black lava rock, the sidewalks not even separate. Street Vendors outnumbered actual buildings and so many of the buildings were houses stacked on each other where dozens of families might live. The Trade-Rite Salvage shop would fit in perfectly at home, if one ignored the well of molten lava on one side and the odd meteorological devices on top of the three stories. Or the broken crystal at the front and long lines of single file customers waiting their turn.

    ¡°This place has some of everything. And more importantly, they¡¯re part of the wider mercantile alliance that covers the end where the Necrosium is. Less authority but with purchase rights here, we can move freely through this quarter of the city, with a few exceptions.

    Like the Demon Lord¡¯s place.

    Kaden waited as the lines snaked forward. ¡°Any idea what we should be shopping for? What¡¯s the cheapest purchase that gets us freedom to move.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Fifty gold, if my calculations are correct. It¡¯s a matter of the number of entries in the organization, their combined area of control, the value of adjacent properties, and so on.¡± Sara stopped. ¡°What? Just because I¡¯ll pretend to be stupid to waltz my way through Omnor doesn¡¯t mean I am stupid.¡±

    ¡°Thingy,¡± Kaden said. Then laughed. ¡°There was absolutely no way that should have worked.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re jealous you can¡¯t pull it off. Don¡¯t worry, surely somewhere out there is a hungry woman you can flex for. Right now, appreciate that we got here with no bloodshed and even better, no gold spent.¡± Sara took his hand as the line moved again and they approached the entrance. ¡°Keep together, I have no idea what this is like inside.¡±

    Once again, they shuffled.

    The world changed.

    The inside of Trade-Rite Salvage was like standing in Verona¡¯s Market at noon while the crowds chanted and yelled and murdered each other. The noise was a physical force that pushed down on Kaden.

    But he and Sara had both worked at Beast Control, and adapting was just remembering. The inside looked like the world¡¯s largest circus tent. Not that Kaden had been inside, but he had seen a circus from a distance, and imagined what it looked like inside.

    There were far fewer clowns here.

    Trade-Rite was divided into sections, one for those bringing in and one for those taking out, and a quick read of the trade rules posted on a stall left Kaden feeling more comfortable. ¡°It¡¯s like trade tokens except with coins mixed in.¡±

    Kaden dumped a smattering of loot out on the table and Sara added hers. The young woman on the other side had to be a year younger than Sara at least, but she ran through using [Identify] on everything.

    ¡°These charms. Where did you get them?¡±

    ¡°I took them off a corpse my TriTerror was eating after some men attacked me. What do they do?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re attribute boosters. Very expensive. Agility, Intelligence, and three Strength.¡± The woman separated them out.

    *Keep?* Kaden asked.

    *Don¡¯t. Attribute boosts are incredible except that you can lose them. You get used to being stronger and faster and then, without it? Dead.* Sara¡¯s grip on Kaden¡¯s arm would have stopped a [Quillophant.]

    Kaden took the intelligence one and slipped it around his neck. Intelligence was always an odd stat to boost. The questions and connections were easier to make. ¡°I want an offer on those three.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. And Miss? Just the spell book and the ¡®weapon¡¯?¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°Sadly, yes.¡±

    ¡°Great. Then get to shopping. Your offers will be tagged. The bad news is that single point boosts don¡¯t auction well, but the good news is that they¡¯re always in demand.¡± She motioned for them to move and for the next customer.

    Kaden could have gotten lost. Where the Emporium had organization, Trade-Rite was pure chaos. ¡°Do they deal in Beasts here? Or magic spells?¡±

    ¡°Beasts, no. Spells, absolutely, though most people will be here for weapons and armor.¡± Sara pointed to the far side. ¡°Those are definitely spell books.¡±

    They were, though a single stall of scrolls which lined the walls, bound in crystal mesh which kept people from using them. The old man running the stall was patient, answering so many questions, which slowed down the people waiting. Sara browsed surrounding aisles and came back empty handed. *We¡¯ve got better weapons than they¡¯re selling. Better Armor. I¡¯m starting to ask if we¡¯d be better off keeping the attribute boost charms.*

    Kaden shook his head. *Free passage through most of Omnor. Totally worth it.*

    Not all of Omnor, but the part Kaden needed to reach. A few minutes later, it was his turn.

    ¡°Storm, and¡­Chrono?¡± The man looked from Sara to Kaden. ¡°Storm, I¡¯ve got [HailStorm] and [Speeding Wind]. Hailstorm is a debuff, speeding wind is a buff. Chrono, sorry¡ªwait. This just came in. I mean, moments ago.¡±

    He opened a chest and took out bundle after bundle.

    Then a crystal box the size of Kaden¡¯s palm.

    The scroll inside wasn¡¯t just singed, it was charred.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know where it came from, but I have a solid guess. Not even a century ago, there was a Dungeon team that came up with a whole set of these. Their [Fire Mage] turned on the party and took all the loot. This is a scroll. The magic¡¯s still present, the skill point is there. But we can¡¯t tell what it is.¡± He set the box down gently so Kaden could study it.

    Sara didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°How much for Speeding Wind?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s a fine support skill,¡± the man answered.

    Babu Desun has begun Negotiations.

    And the man either knew Sara had the same skill or he was about to be surprised, as she launched into counter offers. The line behind them grew impatient, with people using curses of encouragement to make a damned decision and move on.

    Kaden turned to stare them down. He wasn¡¯t the largest man in Trade-Rite, nor the most menacing (which would without doubt be the erie short woman surrounded by a halo of pure white light). He was simply the one in their way.

    *We¡¯ve got a deal, if you¡¯re willing. [Speeding Wind] and that scroll. I really wanted both Speeding Wind and Hailstorm but that¡¯s not going to happen. He¡¯s hell-bent on getting rid of that scroll and making a good deal for taking both.*

    ¡°Sounds like we¡¯ve got a deal!¡± Kaden said loudly, while daring anyone to pressure Sara.

    A moment later, Kaden was sitting at a rough-sawn table inside the Trade-Rite, watching Sara absorb [Speeding Wind].

    [Speeding Wind]

    Summon a brief gust of wind that will increase your agility and speed for the next few moments. Mana cost increases with repeated use. To reduce this cost raise your skill level or wait longer.

    ¡°Hailstorm would have helped Eve. Hailstorm would have raised our damage. I don¡¯t know if my [Negotiations] skill wasn¡¯t high enough or we really didn¡¯t have enough to trade, but spells change there every day.¡± Sara triggered [Speeding Wind].

    The feeling was perfect. It was [Moment of Speed] in an area of effect, and nowhere near as strong. But [Moment of Speed] had made him more deadly. ¡°Combine that with your sword strikes and you won¡¯t regret it.¡±

    He¡¯d been putting off using the charred scroll. It might well contain [Moment of Speed] or [Split Second], and that would be a waste, since some scrolls didn¡¯t raise levels. At last, he broke the seal and focused on the scroll.

    The System honored the intent of the scroll and drained the point into him.

    You have learned a new skill. [Twist of Fate]

    [Twist of Fate]

    You can see the designs of Fate. You may deny Fate¡¯s design at your own risk. You may not choose when to trigger [Twist of Fate]. Repeatedly denying Fate will result in severe Karmic Penalties. This skill does not have levels.

    Kaden shared the log with Sara. ¡°I have no idea what kind of spell that is. It operates like [Split Second] in that I don¡¯t control it. One of the BirchHome guests had a daughter who was training to be a [FateWeaver]. I wonder if I could ask her?¡±

    ¡°You should. One of the greatest advantages of BirchHome isn¡¯t even one we can take advantage of yet,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s that we¡¯ll have connections to hundreds of Centurions. All that information available for a favor you need them to do anyway.¡±

    Put that way, it sounded fantastic. ¡°I¡¯m ready to go find that Necromancer. You?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a route that will get us to the Necrosium. I¡¯ve got two new skills. I couldn¡¯t get more ready.¡± Sara headed out of the Trade-Rite even as a ripple of awe flowed through the crowd. A young man held aloft a shining sword that glowed with golden light, sending a beacon skyward. ¡°I want to trade this.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s it do?¡± Someone shouted.

    ¡°If you hold it up to your eyes, you can see long distances. See? I can spot that young woman across the room. Also, it glows like a torch. I don¡¯t know, I traded it in the market for some magic beans.¡± The man slapped it down. ¡°They just evacuated our group and I want whatever I can get for it.¡±

    Kaden smiled. The market would open soon. He didn¡¯t know how to find the spellbook, but he was confident in the power of magic and gold.

    The Necrosium was only eight blocks away, and most of those blocks were residences. The market itself lay inside the mountain, but the Necrosium was literally made of bones, a wall of woven white that jutted out.

    Windows formed eye sockets, and a nose, and a giant mouth.

    ¡°You know what I like about Necromancers? They decorate the way they want to,¡± Sara said. ¡°Is this supposed to be frightening? They¡¯re Mages. A specialization of Mages. A disgusting, disliked, feared and hated specialization of mages.¡±

    ¡°I got this.¡± Kaden led the way through the cavernous mouth and to an animated skeleton that stood watch near the door. ¡°Are you decoration or intelligent?¡±

    ¡°State your business, mortal, or fear the end of all. Death comes for you with sharp pointy teeth!¡± The skeleton didn¡¯t so much speak as project.

    Kaden took out the wand. ¡°This belonged to a Necromancer who died running a dungeon with my parents. I¡¯m here to find him and return it.¡±

    ¡°State your business, mortal, or fear¡ªfear-fe-fe-fe-fear fear fear fear thawglmmmmm.¡± The skeleton slumped over and caught fire, slapping the counter. ¡°Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer¡­.¡±

    The fire burned something important at that point, because the skeleton stopped speaking and continued burning.

    ¡°Oh, shit!¡± A young man in a black robe dashed out of a back room. ¡°It happened again! And we have guests! I mean, who dares intrude on this hallowed hall of death? Whooo?¡± His voice cracked at the top of what was otherwise going to be a completely non-threatening question.

    Another Necromancer dashed out, her face half pale with a smear of black under her eye and half tan. She hid the tan under a hood. ¡°State your business in the hallowed halls of¡­oh, gods, that stinks. Get it out of here. Get it out of here now.¡±

    Kaden activated his Eldritch Shield and began feeding burned bones to it. ¡°There we go. All taken care of. Also, no need for the tomb and gloom. I got my Bonewaller from the Necromancers in Verona. Great folks. They re-animated a Tyrantor during the surge, and it barely smashed any of the city.¡±

    ¡°Thank the gods.¡± The woman pulled back her hood. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re light staffed. An Elder God broke loose in the market, most of us are on cleanup. What do you need?¡±

    ¡°Whose wand is this? I know they¡¯re dead, I want to return it and a few personal items to their family.¡± Kaden offered it again.

    ¡°No wonder the Skelly burned. As for who to return it to?¡± She studied it closer and closer. ¡°Oh. Oh. Who are you? Birch¡­as in Trema Birch? Butcher Birch? I didn¡¯t know her, but where I studied, her work was celebrated as just plain exquisite. No Corpse inventories for her, no she¡¯d show up and dump fifteen bodies in the fountain and give them umbrellas so the sun didn¡¯t spoil them.¡±

    The necromancer smiled. ¡°Those were the days. Of course she¡¯s dead, if you¡¯re here. Death comes for us all, eventually, but I want you to know, when she came into Mortis¡¯s Court for final judgement, I bet there was an audience of hundreds. Maybe a thousand!¡±

    Kaden recoiled.

    He understood that as Centurions, his parents had lived long, long lives, but no matter what stories he heard, there was always a way to justify it. This, he couldn¡¯t justify. ¡°Please tell me where to meet the person who owns this.¡±

    Sara¡¯s hand on his side felt like steel. *We¡¯ll talk later.*

    *Nothing to talk about.* He waited for the Necromancer to make a decsion.

    ¡°This way,¡± she said, waving for him to follow. ¡°You¡¯re going to love the twins. They¡¯re prodigies, probably going to make level fifty in less than fifty years.¡±

    Kaden followed her through the door with Sara at his side. But he¡¯d made it four feet when a high pitched shriek began to scream out from skulls above the door.

    You have been hit with [Degrading Screech].

    Your Mana Regen will be stunted for (2) minutes.

    The Necromancer spun and pointed a wand at him ¡°[Unseen Threat]!¡±

    Kaden¡¯s chest began to smoke and burn. His armor was magically enchanted, and resisting utter destruction. But beneath it, the metal rips that protected the gaping wound in Kaden¡¯s chest glowed and twisted, writhing.

    ¡°No!¡± The Necromancer shouted. ¡°I knew he¡¯d come back. I knew that [Druid] lied. I take no joy in this, but may Mortis have mercy on your soul.¡±

 Ten - Like Mother, Like Son

    Many times, Kaden wasn¡¯t sure about people¡¯s intentions. This, on the other hand, sounded a great deal like a threat. ¡°I¡¯m not here to harm¡ª¡±

    The crackling sounds from the walls were Kaden¡¯s only warning, as the walls of the Necrosium bend and twisted, birthing a pair of Tomb Champions. ¡°I¡¯ve got these, watch¡ª¡±

    *Help* Sara¡¯s mind speech broke off as a forest of arms dragged her down into the floor.

    ¡°Let her go!¡± Kaden shouted.

    The Necromancer was gone too, just an ever increasing army of the dead. Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, summoning Trinity. But rather than head down the heavily guarded hallway, he gave a command to Trinity. He¡¯d seen her tunnel through sheer rock, though it damaged her claws. This was condensed bone.

    Trinity didn¡¯t hesitate, tearing with her front claws like the retriever from hell, and if the alarms screamed before, now a thousand voices shouted ¡°Attack! Attack! Attack!¡±

    The [Tomb Champions] rushed Kaden raising clubs.

    He was not a underleveled Adventurer any longer, he was an even match versus a pair of Champions. Not a fair fight, but his kind of fight.

    [Moment of Speed] let him close on the first Tomb Champion, delivering a smashing blow to its ankle, and [Split Second] drained mana as he blocked another blow with the [Eldritch Shield]. The Tomb Champion roared, and the Eldritch Shield crunched, devouring bones straight from the monster.

    Back and forth he danced, building up power in Remembrance. Biding his time while Trinity tore apart the floor. Her roar of triumph told him it was time. Kaden blocked a blow from one Tomb Champion and dodged another to unleash an upward swing that shattered the Champion¡¯s jaw¡ªand its skull as he unleashed Remembrance¡¯s built up power.

    With every twist and leap, he rammed bones into the Eldritch Shield, until a lucky shot caught him across the back. Kaden went flying into the wall and rolled away as the Tomb Champion smashed its club down.

    Unlike the ones in the dungeon, this kicked, costing Kaden another two hundred health and cracking a bone in his leg. [Fortress of Stone] let him ignore the pain and [Sole Survivor] gave him confidence to sip a Healing Potion and re-engage.

    A sharp crack drew his attention, as Trinity used her armored head to shatter the downed Tomb Champion¡¯s arms, then worked her way down the spine.

    You have helped defeat a [Tomb Champion].

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden was paying less attention to the System warnings and more to the timing of the remaining Champion¡¯s attacks. He rushed toward it, using the [Eldritch Sheild] to block a blow, and then [Shield Bashed] it so it crunched and chewed, separating the Champion¡¯s rips.

    [Moment of Speed] put him behind it, and a thundering strike by Remembrance shattered one ankle. Trinity¡¯s smashing blows crushed the ribs with startling ease, and a moment later the skeleton ceased moving.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, dropping through the hole Trinity had made and into a lower level of the Necrosium. *Sara, where are you?*

    No answer, but the level he¡¯d landed in was living quarters.

    ¡°We are under attack. We are under attack. We are under attack.¡± A man¡¯s voice calmly echoed through the tunnels.

    Kaden looked left and right and followed the gouge marks in the stone which looked a lot like someone with a Cosmic Horror in their body had been dragged against their will, cursing and threatening to kill them all as soon as she got free.

    He knew Sara fairly well.

    A glowing red barrier blocked the far end of the hallway, and a portal of sheer night formed. Through it stepped a Necromancer in black robes. ¡°Kneel before the High Priest of Mortis!¡±

    Kaden slammed into him and rammed the man back into the red barrier, which sizzled and crackled¡ªthen shattered as Kaden rammed him into it over and over.

    You have learned a new skill: Battering Ram

    [Battering Ram]

    Use a Battering Ram to knock down doors. To best use this skill, fashion a ram using [Building] and [Woodcarving]. You do extra damage to structures when using rams.

    Kaden found himself in some sort of classroom. At least that¡¯s what he figured based on the screaming students scrambling in every direction. He focused on the teacher. ¡°Did they drag a friend of mine through here? Short brown hair, snakes on her back, cursing you and your offspring?¡±

    The man shook off [Fear] to stammer out ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Right, then, go on about your business. Sorry about the mess. And that guy. Who wants his corpse?¡±

    No one volunteered, so Kaden put the body at a desk and propped his head up behind a book. Then filled in a few of the answers right because it wasn¡¯t fair that this guy was dead and everyone else wasn¡¯t.

    If she hadn¡¯t gone right, Sara had to be the other direction, and this time, Kaden would show no mercy. He hadn¡¯t actually shown a lot of mercy before, but now, he¡¯d show less, somehow. Ghosts came brusting from the other end of the tunnel, and Kaden heard the distinct sound of someone being eaten by a Cosmic Horror. He charged that way, not even pausing as a pair of Necromancers ambushed him with silver blades.

    Your skill with [Battering Ram] increases!

    You have specialized [Battering Ram] for Flesh Rams!

    [Battering Ram]

    Use your victims to break down doors, inflicting increased damage to whatever you use. You had 10,000 other options and this is the one you chose, because of course you did. You inflict more damage with Rams and to Rams. Why do you keep doing things like this?

    Using two necromancers together worked even more effectively than one, so maybe everything was better with a friend. Kaden kept ahold of them in case anyone started casting spells. But the chamber beyond¡ªclearly an alchemist¡¯s workshop¡ªwas empty. Not exactly empty. A cloud of darkness rose from the floor, becoming a towering [Wraith].

    Depart this domain while thy flesh still hangs from thy bones.

    ¡°No, Thee!¡± Kaden said. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to do this. Where is Sara? Give her back while thou bones still hang like bones from¡­whatever holds thy together.¡±

    Thee. The nominative case is ¡®thee¡¯ when¡ª

    Kaden attacked. If he had to break every bone in this place, they¡¯d learn the error of their ways. He hadn¡¯t put down the two ambushers, and their knives were currently driven through his arms, so he began pummeling the [Wraith] with the corpses, until their bodies slipped off. With every blow, he spoke. ¡°Let. Sara. Go. I. Will. Leave.¡±

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    The Wraith dissolved into smoke¡ªand reformed across the room, holding a book.

    Kaden drew Rembrance and opened his [Eldritch Shield.] ¡°You want to know how I got this shield? Wraith bones. Now I¡¯m going to find out what happens when I feed it another Wraith.¡±

    A swarm of black bees burst from the Wraith and dissolved into his shield.

    Black shards of obsidian glanced off the floor to tear into Kaden¡¯s legs. *Sara. Answer if you can hear me.*

    If she was dead, he was going to take a level from every necromancer in the place. ¡°All you have to do is let her go.¡±

    *Cease thy attack, servent of Mordecai the Black. Thy end will be swift and merciful.*

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Who the hell is Mordecai the Black? Some kind of necromancer, right? ¡®The Black¡¯ sort of gives it away.¡±

    *Thy master.* The Wraith raised his hands and black skeletons rose from the ground with glowing red eyes.

    ¡°Your master?¡±

    *Yours*

    ¡°Pretty sure you just said he was yours.¡±

    *THY master. The Posesssive form* The Wraith practically screamed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this. Trinity, eat the small guys while I kill the big guy.¡± Kaden advanced on the Wraith, using [Moment of Speed] to [Shield Bash] the small black skeletons. ¡°Say hi to Mordecai when you meet him in Hell. If by some chance, he¡¯s not in Hell, I¡¯ll catch up with him eventually.¡±

    Trinity screamed as she attacked one of the skeletons.

    The Wraith wasn¡¯t attacking. *Thou does not know Mordecai, maker of thy chest-plate? The one who directs thine every move?*

    ¡°I got this chest plate from [Druids] after a demon tore my ribs apart, but it¡¯s ok, she¡¯s dead, I got a demon title and now I have her sister under a [Binding]. If Mordecai made it, I¡¯m told he¡¯s been dead for centuries.¡± Kaden held back.

    Trinity did not hold back, pulverizing the black skeletons.

    *How unfortunate. He murdered me in a ritual most foul, giving me the hatred needed to survive death and return as a spirit of vengeance and housekeeping.* The Wraith dismissed his spellbook.

    Kaden tentatively did the same with Remembrance.

    Trinity dismissed the skeleton she was crushing, by smashing it into tiny fragments with her armored head. Then she raised all three heads to look at the [Wraith].

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden pulled her into his soul, because Trinity wasn¡¯t the type to disengage. ¡°Where is Sara?¡±

    *I do not know. The maiden who entered our domain?*

    ¡°Brown hair. Green armor. Cosmic Horrow coming out of her back. Tendency to devour everything in her way. She¡¯s not answering by [Thought Speech]. If she¡¯s dead, you¡¯re going to find out how much like my mother I am.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t shake the terrible feeling.

    *Probably though art like thine mother, though I know her not. Most are. Some are like the one they call father. Some are like the man who recharged the fairy lights, who lingered with thy mother.* The Wraith spun and drifted toward a stone wall¡ªwhich morphed into a door.

    The screaming skulls slowly ceased their screaming, except for one, which continued to hoarsely scream alone.

    *Follow. Stay thy hand.* The door retracted into the ceiling instead of pivoting on the hinge, and the door swelled so the wraith wouldn¡¯t have to bend. Kaden walked along behind it as they passed room after room whose doors remained sealed.

    When the next one opened, The Wraith didn¡¯t move forward. *Danae, cease thy violence*

    ¡°Cease? She¡¯s part of the ambush. She ate Wish and Pearson. Or that snake did. And killed the [Silencers] who came to protect the students. They can¡¯t cast spells but she can¡¯t get out.¡±

    *Cease.* The Wraith glided forward. *Mordecai does not stalk these halls, nor his servant.*

    Danae was the Necromancer who met him at the door. And when she saw him, the blood drained from her face. ¡°What have you done, Ymersist?¡±

    *Death comes for us all, but not today. When did Mordecai¡¯s servants ever think or speak? When did they ever do aught but kill?* Ymersist looked back at Kaden.

    ¡°We were helping the woman. Look at the corpses.¡±

    Kaden kept his mouth shut. *Sara.*

    *Kaden?* Her confusion came back. *I¡¯m trapped in some kind of office. Two of them ambushed me, then six more attacked. I¡¯m waiting for my health to regenerate and then I¡¯m going to use [Anthem of the End].*

    *Stop, this is a huge misunderstanding.* Kaden passed Ymersist, entering the room she guarded. ¡°Sara?¡±

    One pseudopod and then another popped up from behind a desk, and then Sara peeked out. ¡°Kaden! They almost got me!¡±

    Kaden stayed in the door. ¡°I really don¡¯t want a repeat. Can Sara and I just stay here? I have things to return to your ¡®twins¡¯ and then I¡¯ll get out of your life. Or death. I¡¯ll get out.¡±

    A skeleton limped toward the doorway on shattered femurs. As it fingers brushed the doorway the bones merged and stretched until it formed a barrier with the skull still staring inward.

    Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This thing on my chest set off their alarm. They assumed I was one of ¡®Mordecai the Black¡¯¡ª¡±

    ¡°That was not his name. Was it?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Seriously, ¡®the Black?¡¯¡±

    ¡°Mordy was apparently a really bad man. Even for a necromancer. He¡¯s not welcome here anymore, and neither are his puppets. Which is what they thought I was.¡± Kaden turned a chair over and sat down beside Sara. ¡°This one wasn¡¯t my fault. On the plus side, I got a skill.¡±

    ¡°Flesh Ram? Ewww. Also, that¡¯s terribly specific. What, exactly did you do to get the System to award that?¡± Sara crossed her arms.

    ¡°I broke down a barrier with a Priest of Mortis.¡±

    ¡°To get at a priest of Mortis. Who was behind a barrier.¡±

    Kaden waited until she looked away. ¡°Then a couple of Necromancers with knifes tried to ambush me and I broke another door with the pair. Then I used them to beat on the Wraith, who is actually calm and collected. I¡¯ve sort of give up on collecting his bones.¡±

    *Thy speech can be heard*, the Wraith projected.

    ¡°So, I wound up putting the [Battering] in [Battering Ram].¡±

    Sara looked like she was about to say something, and she kept swallowing it like a [Preserved Biscuit] that just didn¡¯t want to go down. ¡°Sometimes, I understand where Eve is coming from. How long will this take?¡±

    *Thy will not tarry long. A Priest of Mortis will raise the dead and verify thy story.*

    ¡°Tell me you¡¯ve got more than one of them,¡± Kaden called out.

    *Thou may be tarrying longer.*

    In fact, it was almost two hours before someone knocked on the skeleton¡¯s spine and a voice boomed out. ¡°You stand before Duggarn GraveBreaker. Fight and die. Speak and you may live.¡±

    ¡°The second one, the one where we live,¡± Sara said. ¡°Speaking sounds good. Speaking is what we were doing. In fact, it was your people who launched the attack on us.¡±

    ¡°What she said!¡± Kaden added.

    ¡°They¡¯re definitely not Mordecai¡¯s. The woman sounds like a Business Manager with some kind of [Negotiation] skills. Let them out,¡± said the man.

    The door bones drew back. Duggarn GraveBreaker was a Centurion Necromancer who had a completely irrational love of the color blue. Blue pants. Blue shirt. Different color blue tie. Blue shaded belt, deep blue boots, and pink gloves on his belt.

    No, the gloves were also blue.

    He stood at the front of a line of skeletons with swords, shields, and armor, and streams of mana covered their bones, forming tendons and muscles. ¡°Gods damn it, a pair of twenty sixes? My Necrosium was turned upside down by you? No offense.¡±

    ¡°My TriTerror helped, but the real hero here is your Wraith, Ymersist. I like him so much better than the Wraith that killed me.¡± Kaden said.

    *Thou wast slain by a Wraith? Pray tell!*

    ¡°Dungeon break, the champion was a [Wraith], I was only level eighteen, he was twenty five. I got a cool scythe blade out of it, and the bones I fed my [Bone Waller] to mutate it into the [Elderitch Shield].¡± Kaden looked around and didn¡¯t see the Wraith.

    *Scythe? Xeris. Twas Xeris, was it not? Xeris. Truly a genius at failure.*

    ¡°You knew him?¡±

    *I knew the one from which the boss was formed.*

    Duggarn cleared his throat. ¡°You¡¯re here to see the twins?¡±

    ¡°I need to meet with them privately. I have something to return that belongs to their family.¡± Kaden explained about his parents. About the safe contents and the package. ¡°The contents are for them to see and them only.¡±

    ¡°I know what they are. That is, I know what they should be,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°Danae, go get them. The Twins were helping evacuate the Market. You¡¯ll understand, I¡¯m sure, how you wont¡¯ be left alone? Sevin¡¯s got a level on you and Serta¡¯s got two, but¡­I think it¡¯s best I stick around.¡±

    A few moments later, a pair of Necromancers shuffled in.

    The man was tall and thin. Not quite Kaden¡¯s height, but the same lean build he once had. His head was shaved bald and swirling gray mana stones had been embedded in his skull, linked with black ink. His robes were shredded and smoking, and a nearly destroyed skeleton crawled along in his wake.

    [Sevin Sten]

    The oldest of Merkel Sten¡¯s children, Sevin has a talent for reanimation that leaves him the match of almost any summoner, and supplements it with Death Magic that leaves his enemies with an impossible choice: Face the man or his monsters. Now he is wondering what kind of monster you are.

    The woman, on the other hand, was stocky and barely taller than Sara. And surrounded by black spirits who trailed behind her like a dress. When she stood still, they circled here, brushing dust from her robe or pushing the skeleton away when it got too close.

    [Serta Sten]

    The younger of Merkel Sten¡¯s children, Serta has eschewed the traditional zombies and skeletons, producing instead spirits of wrath as deadly as any physical manifestation. Her ability to empower a spirit can leave enemies overwhelmed as simple vengeful spirits wreak havoc. It is unlikely you are a match for her.

    Kaden dipped his head to them. ¡°Kaden Birch. I¡¯ll make this quick and easy. Your father was killed in a dungeon with my parents and left behind some critical parts of his tools. I¡¯m here to return them.

    What¡¯s Right is not Always What¡¯s Easy, subquest - Decide. Only one can receive the Inheritance. Decide who receives it.

    ¡°Why?¡± Kaden accidentally spoke outloud. And then decided he was done playing Quest games. ¡°Only one of you gets what your father left. According to the System, the choice is mine. I¡¯ve already made it.¡± He pulled out the spell book and skull.

    The world stopped.

 Eleven - The Best Bad Decisions

    ERROR_QUEST_BRANCH_UNKNOWN.

    RELATIONSHIP_LEVEL: 0

    ANGST_LEVEL: 0

    DEBILITATING_DELIBERATIONS:0

    RESOLVING¡­

    RESOLUTION REACHED.

    The world snapped back into focus, and Kaden shifted to juggle items. Now he held two skulls and two books.

    ¡°Imposter!¡± shouted one skull.

    ¡°Heretic!¡± shouted the second skull.

    Kaden handed one to each of them. ¡°I gather from the system prompts I was supposed to spend days here listening to your sad stories and how one of you wronged the other and only you can make things right or take revenge or one day destroy the world. Look, life is rough. Both of you get a skull and both of you get whatever this book is. There¡¯s no need to plot about how to regain the other half of whatever because you both have it.¡±

    Quest Completed: What¡¯s Right isn¡¯t always Easy, Part 1.

    Quest Completed: What¡¯s Right isn¡¯t always Easy, sub quest.

    DESCENDANTS DEAD OR NON-EXISTANT, AUTO-COMPLETING QUEST.

    Quest Completed: What¡¯s Right isn¡¯t always Easy, Part 2.

    That was unexpected. One of the four either never had children or they¡¯d already died, meaning as far as the System was concerned, that part, too, was over. He¡¯d need to check with Mr. Dervish about the last two packages. ¡°Anyway, you two have a great life. Or death. Whatever Necromancers have. Ymersist, you¡¯re awesome. Keep being awesome.¡±

    *What just happened?* Sara asked.

    Duggarn repeated the question, but Kaden was done. ¡°Apparently I skipped a branch of the Quest. Now they both have Inheritances.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve spent years preparing for the day when I was forced to murder my sister!¡± Sevin said in a whisper. ¡°All the terrible monsters I¡¯ve embedded in the walls of her sleeping chambers, wasted.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve spent years slowly poisoning my brother for the day when he tried to murder me,¡± she answered. ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to poison him slowly anymore. What is my purpose if I¡¯m not poisoning the people I love?¡±

    Duggarn cleared his throat. ¡°Ymersist, Dannae, stay here. You two, with me.¡± His lead-most skeleton pointed with a sword toward the door. ¡°They heard me. You don¡¯t have to repeat everything I say.¡±

    The skeleton dropped its sword and began to move its fingers in complex patterns.

    ¡°Yes, I said you¡¯re my mouthpiece. When I¡¯m not here. I¡¯m here, my mouth is enough,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°No, I¡¯m not looking to replace you.¡±

    The skeleton made another set of signs. And hugged Duggarn, barely fitting its arms around him. ¡°There, there. First few centuries of undeath are the hardest. Soon, you won¡¯t even remember life, or the warm sun on your skin, or what it¡¯s like to be happy.¡±

    That seemed to cheer all the skeletons up.

    ¡°If you would be so kind?¡± Duggarn asked.

    Sara led the way down the hall, stopping when she reached one section. ¡°I fell from here. This is a safety violation. If there were any kind of regulations in Omnor, I¡¯d report it.¡±

    ¡°Emergency rescue hatches. Half the time people show up here, they¡¯re being pursued. Standard practice is to put them underground where binding spells are muffled.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Kaden stopped. The Intelligence charm he was wearing had just made a connection. ¡°This place is made of bone. Is blocking the binding because of the bone? Or a spell on the bone?¡±

    ¡°Bone. Any bone muffles spells. That [Eldritch Shield] of yours eats spells because it¡¯s mostly [Wraith] wrapped around a basis of bone. How¡¯d you keep the [Bone Waller] from dying of poison?¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind sharing that. ¡°I have a Guardian title that heals wounds over time.¡±

    ¡°Battle titles are better.¡± He strode toward a wall, and another door ruptured, leading to a side room with more comfortable chairs. A pair of glowing red skeletons huddled in what looked like a fireplace, occasionally bursting into flames to keep the room cozy. ¡°First, accept my sincere appologies for the attacking. And the murder attempts. And the kidnapping. Spend a thousand years dealing with the attacks of a mad Necromancer and it would make you, too, paranoid.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re sorry for the deaths,¡± Sara said. ¡°Very sorry, Kaden. Also sorry for using your [Necromancers] to break down your doors. If you don¡¯t mind, we¡¯d love to go anywhere but here. We have business in the Market.¡±

    ¡°The Market opens tomorrow. A team of Centurion parties taught an Great Old One she was not so great, just old. You, I recognize. Jackie Scylla¡¯s daughter. You. Butcher Birch had a son, which implies she stayed with the [Ranger] instead of killing him. Wonder never cease.¡± Duggarn shook his head. ¡°Did your mother ever tell you about the Seige of N¡¯Quin? How she snuck into the castle, seduced the Mad King, had him sign over his kingdom and committed to a Sanitorium?¡±

    Kaden and Sara exchanged confused glances, but it was he who spoke. ¡°My Mom did what?¡±

    ¡°Hers. Yours had a simpler solution for every problem. Mad King? Kill him. Tyrant trying to conquer the continent? Death. Waiter got her order wrong? You guessed it.¡±

    ¡°I suppose Mistress Scylla left that part out of the stories. Trema Birch probably fed you from a skull-cup and let you cut your teeth on one of her daggers.¡± Duggarn swore. ¡°Daggers! She came to the Market looking for a [Darkling,] hell bent on taking its fangs. Be right back.¡±

    He shuffled off down a shadowy hall.

    ¡°My mother the murderer,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Oh, trust me, ¡®Seductress¡¯ isn¡¯t making me feel better.¡± Sara shook her head. ¡°Did you know any of this?¡±

    ¡°Mom and Dad were normal. Boring. Mom taught me to fish. Dad tried to teach me to track. I didn¡¯t learn daggers. I didn¡¯t learn swords. I didn¡¯t learn anything before they died, not even [Identify].¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t hide the bitterness. ¡°¡®Butcher.¡¯¡±

    Duggarn softly cleared his throat. ¡°Apologies. The Skellies there informed me of your conversation. I always assumed her child would take back after her. Certainly after your rampage, I saw similiarities. She left these here after her deal with the Darkling.¡±

    He set down a set of scabbards.

    Foot-long daggers, longer than Trella¡¯s, with black blades and glistening gems in the pommel.

    [Inkblades]

    The Inkblades are inextricably linked to each other. If one is lost, it will return to its twin. Damage from an Inkblade leaves [Huntress¡¯s Mark] on the target and inflicts [Shadow Ink]. Shadow Ink slows mana regen, using it instead to grow [Shadow Ink]. Shadow Ink inflicts continuous damage. Do not cut yourself with the [Inkblades]. They are not loyal. Your blood as as good as any other.

    Kaden stored them in Inventory. ¡°Was she always so¡­brutal?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get a nickname like ¡®Butcher¡¯ by handing out flowers. But she was less brutal and more driven. Once she decided on a course of action, it might as well be history you were talking about. But she loved to dance and sing, and if she ever slept in an empty bed, I didn¡¯t know about it.¡± Duggarn paused for a moment. ¡°I had a boy a few centuries ago. We don¡¯t talk much anymore, but I understand why your parents hid themselves away.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you knew her as Trema Birch?¡± Sara asked. ¡°After she married Kaden¡¯s father?¡±

    Duggarn nodded. ¡°That was three hundred years ago. They went their separate ways as often as they were together. Sort of to be expected, a [Ranger] and a [Shadow Blade]. You¡¯ll understand if you ever make Centurion. No matter how much you love someone, five hundred years is a long time to spend together.¡±

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°It¡¯s a lot to learn.¡±

    ¡°The part about how she slept with everyone? Or the part about how she murdered people?¡± Duggarn asked.

    ¡°The murders!¡± Kaden tried not to shout¡ªthen caught himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m with Sara. I really want to leave.¡±

    Duggarn nodded. ¡°I understand. But before you do, I have an offer for you. For you both. We worship Mortis, god of death. It has its downsides. The obsession with black. The constant fear we¡¯re going to murder people for corpses, when there are perfectly good corpses abandoned every day. But it has one key advantage. You want to talk with him?¡±

    Sara¡¯s sharp intake said she was surprised. ¡°You can do that? Our Necromancers said they couldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°We have the High Priest of Mortis here. Unless your Dad¡¯s been re-incarnated already, you can absolutely talk. But here¡¯s the rules: Only one at a time. And you can¡¯t share what the dead tell you. The System itself won¡¯t let you.¡±

    Sara stood. ¡°I accept. Kaden, stay here. Don¡¯t kill anyone. Don¡¯t steal or break anything. Please don¡¯t blow anything up, or accidentally summon a god, or¡ªjust take a nap, ok?¡±

    ¡°I only did that once. But I can wait.¡±

    Duggarn pointed to a shadowy door that sprung up like a portal. ¡°This way. It¡¯s the least we can do.¡±

    It must have been an hour before Sara returned. Her eyes were red, her cheeks streaked with tears, but the smile on her face was real. *You should talk to them.*

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Dwelling on the dead¡ª¡±

    Sara¡¯s hand on his arm stopped him. ¡°Trust me?¡±

    He went with Duggarn, stepping through the smoky portal.

    The temple of Mortis was filled with living plants, green vines that trailed from the ceiling, birds that flitted back and forth, singing. A literal river swirled around the wide circle of rock, magically impelled to continue its path. The High Priest of Mortis, Kaden unfortunately recognized. ¡°Sorry about bashing down a door with you. On the up side, I specialized my [Battering Ram] skill for flesh rams.¡±

    ¡°You¡­enjoyed that?¡± The [Priest] asked. ¡°Specialization happens when you find your perfect match. You enjoy breaking things with people so much the System recognized it.¡±

    The man looked like he might say something else, but Duggarn cleared his throat. ¡°Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes deadly mistakes. Thanik? Let him talk.¡±

    The Priests¡¯s gaze shifted, becoming something inhuman. Unworldly. And when he spoke, it was with a voice like dust. ¡°Your lover has not come into Mortis¡¯s Court yet. She resides between Life and Death. Your Father fights in eternity, waging war on the Others to atone for his actions. But I will grant you an audience with my blessed servant. Yes, this and more she has earned.¡±

    Kaden almost jumped out of his skin as a skeleton nearby began to rustle and rattle. Mana blasted from runes surrounding it, and the bones clicked together, as shadows settled like cloth over it.

    It sat up. ¡°You¡¯re as good as dead when I¡­¡±

    Kaden knew what it was to have a dagger thrust through his heart. Literally. Now he knew it again, because the voice was hers. ¡°Mom.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Kaden.¡± The skeleton rattled, rising with shadows like a gown, and others like falling black hair. Hair he¡¯d forgotten, and eyes of darkness that still knew him. ¡°How long has it been?¡±

    ¡°Twelve years.¡± His voice broke. There was no need to ask if it was truly her spirit. ¡°I missed you.¡±

    ¡°A [Beast Master], like I foresaw. Good, good. You¡¯ll need that power. You¡¯ll need more. And a Dungeon Master? Something¡¯s changed.¡± The skeleton walked closer, its bones grinding with every step, but now Kaden saw her. Her spirit, drapped over it like the shadows.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a crazy few years.¡±He couldn¡¯t help reaching out to touch her shoulder. Or recoiling at the feel of crumbling bone.

    She looked past him. ¡°Leave us, GraveBreaker. My words are not for your ears.¡±

    ¡°Butcher, I want to say¡ª¡± The Centurion stopped as his mom hit him with a gaze. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll be waiting. Your son is welcome here.¡±

    Only when he left did her spirit look back to him. ¡°You know what I was, now. Remember who I was along with it. I don¡¯t regret my choices, but I regret not being there to explain to you. To raise you.¡±

    ¡°What happened in that Dungeon?¡± Kaden asked.

    The spirit stopped, as though listening to a far off voice. ¡°There are a thousand things I want to tell you, but I can¡¯t. I won¡¯t risk your Destiny on my desires. Are you happy?¡±

    ¡°I will be. You know how it goes. Demons. Bindings. The [Slaver] Class. My lover is spending time dead until we can break it.¡±

    ¡°Some time dead is good for the soul. Your father will be proud.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t doubt it. ¡°Tell him I walked into Hell with a Ranger and stole an eye from Demon Lord Ass-modius. And killed one of his daughters and captured another. I finally learned to use a bow. And [Stealth!} I made a new kind of [Stealth], [Stealth Aura], when I woke a Worldboss.¡±

    Spirits didn¡¯t need to blink, and essentially were always staring, and yet he got the distinct feeling that if she¡¯d survived this would have earned him a lecture. ¡°You have an entire life ahead of you. You don¡¯t have to live it all at once. Find friends. Keep them close. There¡¯s no loot worth betrayal.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got Sara, we worked at Beast Control together. She¡¯s Party Leader. And Ashi. She was a princess but got disowned after her psychopath brother tried to kill us both with a [Storm Condor.] And Eve. She¡¯s Eve, and that¡¯s probably the kindest thing I can say about her. And Trella will live again.¡±

    ¡°Your lover?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°My room-sister from the Saint¡¯s Hall. Now she¡¯s a [Shadow Blade]. I went to ShadowVale. The Sisters have [Shadow Cats] again, and I got to sample all the food in Senior Sister¡¯s buffet table and got [Resist Suffocation].¡±

    ¡°I see your Father when I look at you, but I hear myself.¡± She smiled. ¡°Do you have the Darkling¡¯s Fangs?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t use them.¡±

    ¡°Destroy them. Sell them. Trade them to the Sisters. Don¡¯t let anyone you care about use them. Your Father¡¯s bow, too. You¡¯ll never dual-class as a [Shadow Blade] or [Ranger.] Your path is different. Don¡¯t be afraid to walk it. And FangWood¡ªit was a quiet place to raise you, all it took was killing a nuisance who thought he was dangerous. Keep it. Abandon it. Whatever you decide is right.¡± She reached out to touch him, brushing the metal. ¡°When I was young, my very first talent was [Prophecy]. I hid it so others wouldn¡¯t know and judge me for it. It kills me that I can¡¯t tell you what¡¯s coming when I can finally put it all together.¡±

    For the first time in his life, Kaden understood certain moments. ¡°There¡¯s been a couple times, I couldn¡¯t explain why, I just knew I shouldn¡¯t do something. Hunting a Tyrantor. Going to Hell that first time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in your blood. You don¡¯t have to pick the [Talent] to get flashes, but the talent makes it more reliable. What I can tell you is this. You¡¯re rushing towards a moment where you have to decide, a decision you don¡¯t want to make. For a man of so few words, your father could negotiate with anyone. He could reach a deal with anyone, convince anyone. You have that gift, too. But when the time comes? Remember in that moment, you are my son.¡±

    Something about the way she spoke made Kaden focus. ¡°I¡¯ll be back. I have the FarPortal. We can talk every week.¡±

    ¡°I would never do that to you. We can¡¯t live your life, and too many forget about the now to remember then. Once a year, I¡¯ll answer, if the gods permit. Now, allow me to give you advice for the first time in your adult life: There are two kinds of people - those who don¡¯t look good in a Beast Head hood, and those who don¡¯t look good and know it. Second, try not to aggravate the women in your life. It¡¯s not a [Prophecy], just a hunch that you need to work on it. For me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try. I have so many questions.¡±

    Her spirit began to thin, the bones showing through more and more. ¡°There is only one question a child needs their parent to answer when they are young, and only one question they need the answer to as an adult. You know the questions. Never doubt the answer to both is ¡®yes.¡¯¡±

    The skeleton shuffled back to the pad it rose from and laid back down, and with a sigh, the spell ended. Kaden came out of the room tired, not from his battles but from the warring emotions. He met Sara there, and had no words.

    But he knew what he had to say to Duggarn. ¡°Thank you. I¡­¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t help noticing you were on the Saint¡¯s Hall registry in Verona. Have you found the Priests?¡± The Centurion¡¯s question implied there was more.

    ¡°Not yet. They used a Corpse Tunneler¡¯s tunnel to escape, but a Dungeon spawned there and ruined our chance of tracking them.¡±

    ¡°Corpse tunnelers are tracked very closely. Verona. The one killed near there had struck in Sheviton not five days earlier. Did you check there? Hard to believe no one from Verona thought to look where the tunnels came out. Easier to believe they didn¡¯t look hard enough.¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll look. I¡¯ll look harder than anyone else. I will find them. And when I do?¡± He couldn¡¯t help thinking of his mother¡¯s warning. ¡°I¡¯ll find them. The head priest is a Centurion. The triad below him are fifties. I¡¯ll need to get stronger before I send them all straight to Hell. Sorry, Mortis¡¯s domain.¡±

    ¡°Court. Mortis holds court, but his judgement is his own. Do not look to the gods for justice. If I may ask, what brings you to the Market? Word is you obliterated a Emporium Asset Protection detail.¡±

    Kaden considered what all to say. ¡°My lover and I have a cursed [Binding] on us. I heard through¡­someone¡­there¡¯s a Vichorean SpellBook. They say spells in it can raise the dead. Kill worldbosses, and break every binding.¡±

    The Necromancer¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Raising the dead is easy, though it depends on what condition you want them in. Skellies are easy. If you want flesh on them, the task is more difficult. If you want the flesh to not be rotting, it¡¯s even more difficult.¡±

    ¡°A spell to break the binding. I¡¯m not trying to be mysterious, but I believe the person who told me. I totally believe them, and if there¡¯s a chance? I¡¯m going to get that book.¡± Kaden danced around the edges of a lie.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need an introduction to a Broker, and something to trade at the Market.¡±

    ¡°Diggus Bikus is the Broker we¡¯re told can help. And I have something. I¡¯m not happy about it, but I have it.¡± He felt terrible about using Mana Dust for anything, knowing it would be sold to an addict.

    ¡°The market will re-open tomorrow to general admittance. I can¡¯t offer you help getting in, but I do know two of the Brokers. Diggus¡¯s best quality would be sanity. He¡¯s possessed of greed and sanity in equal measure, a rare combination.¡± Dugarran paused. ¡°The far more powerful option is Oberix. She was a core of the market before Omnor existed. She was ancient when I was a young necromancer and has an unholy ability to get what you need before you know you need it. I could introduce you.¡±

    Kaden thought it over. ¡°Sara? Is there any advantage to meeting with Oberix?¡±

    ¡°If she truly does have some ability to know what we¡¯re after, I don¡¯t want a powerful broker to be aware of that and get it before we can. We¡¯ll try Diggus first, though I am grateful for the offer.¡± Sara dipped her head, though one of the pseudopods shook sideways in an emphatic ¡®no.¡¯

    ¡°As a Centurion, I rarely have to consider such situations. However, in this case, I think it¡¯s quite reasonable. I do want to warn you of something. This is absolutely not a threat, do you understand? The Emporium is the safest place you could possibly choose to stay on a first trip.¡± Duggarn paused.

    ¡°I sense a ¡®but¡¯,¡± Sara said. ¡°My mother recommended our lodging.¡±

    ¡°Your mother hasn¡¯t been here in a decade. The moment you made a deal with Trade-Rite¡ªyes, I know about it¡ªyou lost any favor you had with the Emporium. In fact, unless I miss my mark, they¡¯ll be looking to settle a score.¡±

    Kaden exchanged a glance with Sara. There was no going back to Ms. Andersons. Then he thought of the second, greater problem. ¡°How do we get home?¡±

 Twelve - Dead Quiet

    ¡°There are less legal¡ªand more dangerous¡ªways out of Omnor,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°First, let¡¯s see if I¡¯m right. Do you have an Alliance Map?¡±

    Sara opened hers¡ªand cursed. ¡°Hostile? How can they be hostile? All we did was¡­you know, I think I understand it. They weren¡¯t marked as opposed this morning.¡±

    ¡°They probably weren¡¯t, this morning. Trade-Rite got some Sword of Omens the Emporium had a buyer lined up for. So before you head back, better order something and pay up front.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°We already paid for purchase rights. A lot of money, for the right to stay. I¡¯m not even certain I could buy another scroll if I wanted to.¡±

    ¡°Stay here. If alliances shift again, you might be perfectly safe by noon. If they don¡¯t, you can meet your Broker. We¡¯re not overrun and very few people want the Necromancers as enemies.¡± Duggarn clapped his hands, and a miniscule skeleton spawned, complete with sword and shield. ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re fierce. Go tell Corsyn we have two guests. Have a student spawn a set of rooms for them, and get a skeleton key for them.¡±

    The miniscule skeleton drew its sword and charged down the hall, shrieking like a [Banshee].

    ¡°I do so enjoy finding jobs for the small ones. I have a question, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± The Centurion Necromancer paused, searching for the right words. ¡°Why on earth did you give the twins those relics? I¡¯ll bet every tibula in my collection you don¡¯t have anything as valuable.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t keen on revealing the quest. ¡°It was the right thing to do.¡±

    ¡°Damned Justari got to you already? Sounds like one of them.¡±

    ¡°We haven¡¯t decided on a faction,¡± Sara said. ¡°Is there someone who could explain more about the nature of these alliances? I thought I had a good grasp on the situation. I don¡¯t like surprises in my plans.¡±

    ¡°In the words of the great Necromancer Philospher, Xatera the Black, ¡®Get over it,¡¯¡± Duggarn said.

    Kaden wanted to point out that was a [Ranger] skill, but he was genuinely making an effort to not aggravate Sara. For now.

    ¡°I need to care for some business,¡± Duggarn said, ¡°I¡¯ll assign someone to care for your needs. Anything you need, ask. I do have a request. Our researchers would love to spend some time with your [Eldritch Shield]. It¡¯s a mutation we simply haven¡¯t seen before.¡±

    ¡°I have a request. I was completely unprepared for your ¡®rescue¡¯ that dragged me down. Would it be possible to set that up so I can practice?¡± Sara spoke with a surprising lack of confidence.

    ¡°It shall be done,¡± Duggarn answered, summoning another skeleton. ¡°I¡¯ll have the twins help, it¡¯s the least they can do. For now, follow this one. Hey, little guy. Don¡¯t tell the other skeletons, but you¡¯re my favorite.¡±

    ###

    Kaden was near death, and he¡¯d never been so happy about it. He sat cross-legged on a bed of glowing black stones which constantly bled health, a healing potion in each hand. Across from him stood Serta, the poisonous twin. ¡°Drink, drink you idiot.¡±

    He sipped.

    You have sustained 1x Necrotic damage.

    The notification scrolled by constantly, along with system warnings about his health, as he took another sip.

    ¡°Is he always like this?¡± Serta asked.

    Sara was ten feet away, trying¡ªand failing¡ªto deal with the forest of arms that had dragged her under. This set would only lower her a few feet down and then let go. ¡°Always. Can we reset?¡±

    Sevin nodded to the forest, and they straightened up and sank into the stone, ready to go. ¡°My experience with non-Blightlings is limited, but it appears your class levels by failing to escape, and his by taking damage and drinking potions.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve reached level twenty seven by killing Blightlings?¡± Kaden asked as he choked on Healing Potion.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Necrotic

    Your skill with Resist Necrotic has increased.

    ¡°I¡¯ve reached twenty seven by soloing hordes of Blightlings. My army of skeletons and I can handle anything, anywhere, any time.¡± Sevin summoned a skeleton.

    Kaden grinned as Resist Necrotic leveled over and over. ¡°Can you turn this up? Or maybe expose me to some new kind of damage? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible for me to reach immunity but this is good enough. I¡¯d probably be able to survive long enough to reach whoever was using it.¡±

    ¡°You want more.¡± Serta tsked.

    The glowing rocks began to gleam, forming a network.

    You have suffered 25 points Lethal Damage.

    ¡°Perfect.¡± Kaden lay back. ¡°What exactly do you do here in Omnor? Make deals with companies? Purchase scrolls?¡±

    Serta gasped. ¡°You jest. We are the tip of the spear and the last line of defense. Without us, the Blight would spread! Without us, the world would be overrun. We do not relax. We do not ¡®play.¡¯ We make no deals. This is our life.¡±

    ¡°What she said,¡± Sevin added. ¡°The Blight is life out of control. It grows monsters, but Necromancy is the cure, the counter balance. Our skeletons cannot be taken by the Blight, but they can cut it down.¡±

    ¡°Skeletons.¡± Serta gave a huff. ¡°As if anything great was ever accomplished with a skeleton.¡±

    ¡°What was that skull¡ªI mean, the skulls¡ªI gave you?¡± Kaden refused to regret it.

    ¡°A library of attrocities. The key to horrors the world has not seen for a decade,¡± Serta said.

    ¡°Also a cookbook!¡± Sevin added.

    Of course it would be a cookbook. Kaden expected it.

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new Resistance: Resist Lethal.

    That was enough for now. He stood up and stretched. ¡°This was very helpful. Between this, [Last Man Standing] and [Sole Survivor], I feel prepared for most things. Can you show me how you animate skeletons? I have a mana-rat skeleton for my dog to play with, and it¡¯s fascinating. What makes the skeleton stay together? What separates a [Bone Behemonth] and a [Tomb Champion?] Where do you even get bones that large?¡±

    ¡°Now my brother will never shut up,¡± Serta said under her breath.

    Sevin had broken into an excited grin. ¡°Come! Talking about it is not enough. If you truly want to understand, we must do.¡±

    ###

    ¡°Sara!¡± Kaden called from down the hallway. ¡°I have something to show you. Something wonderful. Something magical.¡± Bones clacked together, grinding and crunching as he knocked on her door. ¡°You know you want to see it.¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. I doubt that very much.¡± Sara opened her door.

    The room the Necromancers had offered them was small and at the moment, a map of Omnor lay projected across it, shifting in real time. Sara had inked a chart of predictions. Make that several charts, most of them marked through and re-written. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°It turns out, Necromancers go through a lot of bones, melding them to make Bone Behemoths, and then Tomb Champions. There¡¯s so many spare parts. Sevin helped me build Skully. He¡¯s not a Beast, but he¡¯s pretty cool. And he¡¯s almost indestructable, as long as part of him survives.¡± Kaden stepped back to reveal his creation.

    Skully was a lot like a spider, if a spider had no abdomen or head, just a skull, and from under it came half a dozen arms, some of which ended in claws, but most of them ended in hands with curved claws. The head-skull was two feet high, and the eyes blazed with a purple fire.

    [Skully - Persistent Reanimation]

    This thing ought to be in a dungeon. As a matter of fact, it will be in a dungeon the moment you fall asleep. Sure, you can claim you created it from scratch, but who are people going to believe? The [Beast Master] they¡¯ve never met or their own [Identify], which will tell them the story of a mad necromancer with a fear of spiders and a loathing for salesmen? ¡°Skrider¡± sounds nice. Yes, Skriders. Which are legally distinct from Skully. What a stupid name. Next you¡¯ll be naming a zombie ¡®Moulder¡¯ and getting yourself in trouble with an [Attorney].

    Level: 0

    HP: 400

    Mana: 15

    Skills: Bite, Wall-Crawl

    Sara looked it over. ¡°You can¡¯t bind it to your soul and it¡¯s not a Beast you can [Tame], or a Demon you can [Bind]. How are you handling it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the easy part. Necromancers have been making pet skeletons for thousands of years, usually as warriors or servants or self-watering plant pots. Watch this!¡± Kaden sent the mental signal he¡¯d practiced with Sevin.

    Skully rolled over and tucked away all but four of its legs, and Kaden slung it over his shoulder. ¡°I attached an Inventory to Skully. He can store up to six items!¡±

    ¡°You made a bone backpack,¡± Sara said. ¡°Except a real backpack can store more than six items.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t dissuaded. ¡°He¡¯s nearly indestructable, and if a piece of him survives, he can take over other bones to repair himself.¡±

    Sara said something Kaden didn¡¯t quite catch, about sleep and murder. It was ok, Skully would watch over them both in case of that. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°I think I expected worse. While you were playing in your build-a-bone workshop, I was busy learning more about how Omnor works.¡± Sara stepped aside.

    As Kaden entered, a woman began to shriek.

    Not a woman.

    A ghostly spirit, which hovered over Sara¡¯s bed.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Sara commanded. ¡°Friend. Kaden. And pet.¡±

    The spirit faded into nothing, while Kaden did his best to fix Sara with a stare. ¡°Build-A-Bone workshop? And you and the Queen of the Dead did what?¡±

    ¡°We had a wonderful meal, took a stroll along the river of the dead in the temple of Mortis. Came to an understanding that while I was flattered, I just¡­no.¡±Sara shook her head. ¡°I sent Wren a bird. If things don¡¯t work out with Petri, or if she¡¯s just looking for variety?¡±

    ¡°Did you get a pet ghost before or after your date?¡±

    ¡°After,¡± Sara said with a glare. ¡°Serta is a nice woman. I also gave her Eve¡¯s contact. Serta needs friends.¡±

    Eve was cold and emotionless, much like most of the dead. ¡°Well, good for you. It¡¯s very impressive. Screams quite well.¡±

    ¡°[Spectral Watcher] is a perfectly valuable skill!¡± Sara said. ¡°When a Necromancer harvests a [Lost Soul], there¡¯s always a chance it will become incredibly powerful and have vast abilities. And unfortunately, there¡¯s always a few like Rysa.¡±

    ¡°Rysa. That¡¯s¡­a name.¡±

    ¡°My best friend growing up. Turns out, she was dating the same man as me, behind my back. She was also a screamer.¡± Sara turned back to the wall. ¡°I¡¯m getting a feel for how the city shifts. Omnor has too many resources to simply write off and say ¡®I¡¯m never coming back.¡¯¡±

    The chart surged, and colors switched, especially along the borders. Kaden traced the changes. ¡°That¡¯s the Emporium. Here we are, over here. That¡¯s Trade-Rite. What¡¯s driving the others?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. And that is thrilling!¡±

    Sara¡¯s idea of thrilling and Kaden¡¯s idea were different, but he¡¯d let that go. ¡°How was talking to your dad?¡±

    Sara never spoke of her father. Ever. ¡°Good. I don¡¯t have many memories of him. He was killed in an accident at the Mage¡¯s Tower when I was young. You have more memories of your parents, I¡¯d bet, than I do him.¡±

    Kaden nodded. He wanted to tell Sara, but every time he opened his mouth, he couldn¡¯t speak, like the System blocked it. ¡°I spoke to my Mom. My Dad wasn¡¯t answering, and Trella isn¡¯t in Mortis¡¯s court.¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°Were the Necromancers lying about your mother?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± The subject hurt more now, now that he couldn¡¯t deny it. ¡°They weren¡¯t lying. I have some tasks to take care of when I get home. I¡¯m not a great negotiator, but I know someone who is. Say I wanted to sell some Centurion class weapons. Would you be willing to help me get the best deal I can?¡±

    ¡°I could be persuaded.¡± She smiled as she said it. ¡°I do love a chance to raise my [Negotiation] skills.¡± She made a few adjustments to her predictions on the wall. ¡°I know you can¡¯t speak about what your Mom said, any more than I can what I learned. I¡¯ve talked to Dad twice before. Every time, it re-opens wounds I didn¡¯t know I had. Every time, I think I come away a little wiser. Was it worth it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Sara tapped a heatstone in the floor, and it surged with warmth. ¡°No need to fear frostbite tonight. Warm beds. We¡¯re seven levels down in the Necrosium. Mom told me once that every night I slept in a different bed, it would get easier.¡±

    ¡°Then, I hope it¡¯s easier. Sevin said the Market opens to unvetted just after the morning Ash Storm.¡± Kaden produced his Skeleton Key¡ªa finger bone. ¡°See you in the morning. Come on, Skully.¡±

    In his room, Kaden contemplated the Broker meeting. He would be polite. He would be as honest as possible. He would be focused above all. No smart remarks. No unnecessary bloodshed. Skully climbed the wall and hung from the ceiling, keeping watch while Kaden placed his armor into the cleaning box and stacked his boots.

    Kaden had grown up in bitter cold and stifling hot. He turned off the heatstone and tucked himself in. In the dark, his memories took over, retracing every word and every moment. A voice from memories almost lost.

    His mom had said there were only two questions he needed the answer to, and as he lay there waiting for sleep, Kaden knew them.

    Do you love me?

    Do I make you proud?

    Kaden drifted off to sleep¡ªand woke as his door opened.

    ¡°Mom was wrong. It¡¯s not easier to fall asleep each time.¡± Sara said, her blanket wrapped around her. She lay down beside him and settled in, falling asleep within minutes. And not long after, Kaden, too, found himself drowing in dreams. Dreams where he sat at the farmhouse table, talking with his Dad, while Trella sharpened daggers at his side, as he explained his plans for a petting zoo filled with undead spiders.

    Trella sat up, stabbing both daggers into the table. ¡°Listen to me. That¡¯s a stupid idea and you shouldn¡¯t do it. Sara will tell you it¡¯s stupid, Eve will watch just because it might be entertaining, Ashi will say ¡®I do not think this is wise¡¯ which is Ashi-speak for ¡®it¡¯s stupid.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Dad?¡± Kaden looked to him. His hair was graying and thin, and his face shifted to the one Kaden remembered and how he imagined.

    ¡°There was a very simple rule that made my life easier. I called it ¡®Listen to the [Shadow Blade.]¡¯ It¡¯s a stupid idea. You need to give up and wake up, because we¡¯re under attack.¡± His dad said it calmly.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re under attack,¡± his dad said. ¡°We¡¯re under¡ª¡±

    Kaden jerked awake as Skully gave off a rattling buzz that was its warning signal. Red lights flashed everywhere as a voice spoke in the darkness, Dugarn¡¯s voice, repeating the same phrase. ¡°We¡¯re under attack. We¡¯re under attack. We¡¯re under attack.¡±

 Thirteen - Wake Up Call

    ¡°Same as usual?¡± Sara asked as red lights flashed and warning voices blared.

    ¡°Same.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t mind. The sheer number of times he¡¯d woken to a disaster, or stepped out of a portal into a disaster, or returned to consciouness hanging by his heels in an ice cave while a monster beast roared at him, well, Kaden had gotten used to it. ¡°You know what the [Falcrow] always says: Kill them all.¡±

    Sara triggered the door and stepped out facing one direction, while Kaden took the other. Necromancers ran everywhere in no order that Kaden could tell. He summoned the [FalCrow]¡ªand immediately sent it swooping at a soldier in glimmering green armor. ¡°Found the bad guys. They¡¯re in green.¡±

    ¡°You mean red robes,¡± Sara said. ¡°Like the [Fire Mage] coming our way.¡±

    ¡°Anthem?¡±

    ¡°Save it. Swap.¡± Sara stepped sideways, facing the green swordsman, while Kaden triggered his Elderitch Shieldand charged, letting it take a fireball straight on. The shield absorbed much of the fireball, barely charring his legs thanks to [Resist Fire] and [Last Man Standing].

    ¡°[Blast Wave]!¡± The [Fire Mage] shouted.

    Kaden had been charging forward. The blast of fire that hit him threw Kaden straight back. He slammed into Sara, who was locked in a battle of strength with the [Swordsman], a battle she was winning, since two blades and two psuedopods left the Swordsman in trouble.

    All three of them tumbled into a heap as the [Fire Mage] strode forward, singing softly to himself. Level thirty? Well, shit. Kaden struggled to stand up and winced as a blade stabbed him in the back. Even with [Fortress of Stone] it hurt.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to regret that,¡± Sara said.

    If Kaden ever wrote a guide of things young Adventurers should know, it was that there was a worse place for a cosmic horror to begin devouring than your face. The [Swordsman] probably would agree, except he was busy screaming, and then, he wasn¡¯t even doing that.¡±

    Kaden resummoned the [Eldritch Shield] and sprinted at the mage. This time, he kept the shield angled up.

    ¡°[Big Boom]!¡± The Mage said, almost laughing.

    The Elderitch Shield shattered as a blast of flame struck it. The [Bone Waller] collasped, folding around his arm as its flesh sizzled.

    But this time, Kaden had braced for the impact, and though the bones in his forearm cracked, he wasn¡¯t thrown back.

    A last chance fireball set Kaden¡¯s hair on fire and left him blind in one eye, but now, he was on top of the mage, lifting him off his feet and driving the man backwards into the wall.

    You have inflicted 200 points of ramming damage on the wall.

    You have broken your battering ram.

    Kaden slit the mage¡¯s throat with the Levicon Blade and stuffed his corpse into Inventory, then ran back to Sara, who dripped blood from slashes all the way down her arms. She drew a potion from Inventory and drank half, offering the rest to Kaden. ¡°Any id on the Swordsman?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°They¡¯re a distraction, meant to inflict casualties and divert. I think we should hunt the distractions. We may not be able to handle the main attack force.¡±

    Kaden looked right. ¡°That¡¯s classrooms. Your way is residences.¡±

    ¡°Residences.¡± Together they sprinted down the hall. With every moment, Kaden¡¯s health rose. And this time, he¡¯d be ready. ¡°You want mages or melee?¡±

    ¡°Both.¡± Sara leaped out into the central hub of the Necromancer¡¯s residentials and unleashed [Anthem of the End].

    Even expecting it, Anthem of the End felt like death. To the trio of mages killing students, it was even worse, and Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] to bring Remembrance down on one¡¯s neck.

    Again, to slam the hammer head into another Mage¡¯s gut, and again, draining half his mana to close on the last mage before he could even drop the student he was choking with a giant fist of stone.

    Remembrance slammed into sheer granite as the last [Mage] raised a stone shield, a shield that shattered, causing Remembrance to scream.

    [Split Second] let Kaden dodge a flying fist the size of a man, one that materialized from nowhere. How the hell was the Mage casting with [Anthem of the End] active? A mystery for a time when his enemies were crushed, literally.

    You have helped slay the [Geomancer Avis Lerned].

    You have gained experience.

    You have helped slay the [Geomancer Katherine Kennedy].

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden was low on mana and desperately dodging, searching for an opening in the unceasing attacks to change the battle. The last Geomancer was level thirty five, and it showed. Even with the constant damage from Anthem of the End, he wasn¡¯t concerned.

    Sara¡¯s swords whistled through the air, barely missing the Geomancer as she joined with him. It bought Kaden just enough time for [Mana Drain]. Every drop was a battle, but the moment Kaden won the first drop, like a wound in the man¡¯s soul, mana gushed out. Mana he poured into Sara with [Mana Well], and used to power [Moment of Speed].

    The tide of battle shifted in a heartbeat.

    The Geomancer looked back¡ªand sprinted.

    Straight into Trinity, who bashed with her bone head, sending him sprawling, then leaped (as much as a beast her size and weight could leap) onto the man¡¯s back. He coated himself in granite¡ªgranite Trinity broke, over and over, while Kaden ripped mana like soul-entrails until nothing more came.

    Trinity¡¯s claws ripped and tore, and her tail stabbed over and over, chipping what little stone remained until it could stab deep into the Geomancer¡¯s chest. Blood spurted from the wound in time with a slowing heartbeat.

    ¡°Good girl.¡± Kaden thanked her for leaving enough of the corpse, which he stuffed into Inventory.

    Sara checked each of the rooms. ¡°Four dead, eleven survivors, none of them older than fifteen.¡±

    ¡°Hunt or Guard?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Guard. That was a thirty-five. I¡¯m uniquely suited to killing mages and we struggled.¡±

    *My end may come, but I welcome the second death!* That was the Wraith.

    ¡°Leave me with Trinity. One exit, one entrance, we¡¯ll guard it.¡± Sara stepped to one side of the door and Trinity took the other.

    Kaden took off running. He slammed into a [Fire Mage] from behind and used the man to bash through a doorway into a classroom. A destroyed classroom. Four [Beserkers] with warhammers circled Ymersist, who looked more like a collection of bone fragments than an actual skeleton.

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    In hindsight, a clever quip, or moment of comaraderie would have been perfect. Maybe a higher level hero would have done it. Kaden led with [Mana Drain] and the [Fire Mage]. The [Berserker] Kaden slammed into never saw it coming. [Moment of Speed] plus the Levicon Blade ensured he never did, and the sheer shock on the other¡¯s face as Kaden stored the man¡¯s body gave him a moment to select a new target for [Mana Drain], mana he offered to Ymersist, who drank it in like air.

    His bones began to reform, while Kaden finished draining the second Berserker.

    What followed was madness.

    The two undrained Beserkers attacked Kaden as a team, while the other focused on killing Ymersist, whose spells didn¡¯t seem to effect them at all. [Split Second] activated over and over. With a four level advantage, they were faster than him and stronger than him. ¡°Why are you not killing them?¡±

    *Mine enemy is warded against Necromantic spells. Their weapons are an anathema to my kind.*

    And of course, the longer berserkers fought, the greater their stats grew, though only [Bearserkers] were unlimited.

    Time to change the battle. Kaden used [Moment of Speed] to flee¡ªthen spun, drawing Thorn Caster from Inventory and drawing an arrow from [Mana Quiver]. At point blank range the resulting arrow ripped right through one [Beserker] and into another.

    You have inflicted the status effect: Poisoned.

    Filled with battle-rage, the warrior charged on, ignoring the bleeding hole in his gut. But Kaden had never meant to switch back to Remembrance. He lunged forward before the man could swing his hammer down and cut with the Levicon Blade, shearing the head off the man¡¯s hammer. Snatching it into Inventory, and diving away from a smashing blow from the second Beserker.

    It took a quarter of Kaden¡¯s health. There was a reason Kaden loved Remembrance. It did wicked amounts of damage. He twisted to grab the warhammer and sliced off the handle and three of the Berserker¡¯s fingers with the Levicon Blade. Two of them disarmed, and their shouts of warning brought the third running.

    Kaden met his overhead swing with Remembrance, which screamed as it drank in the blow. Over and over, the Beserker attacked, and every time, Kaden returned with his own swing, while Ymersist attacked the remaining Beserkers barehanded.

    The air began to shimmer.

    The mana beads embedded in Kaden¡¯s armor drank in the power, and Kaden felt a shift deep inside him. Only [Moment of Speed] let him keep up now as the Beserker built fury. Even blocking cost him health from the sheer impact.

    Dust floated upward through the air, and Remembrance wasn¡¯t just vibrating, it hummed. He met an overhead swing with one of his own, matching hammerhead to hammerhead.

    The world rang out a thunderclap. The air crackled and color drained from everything, but it didn¡¯t blur like when the System halted. The mana stones that formed constellations on his armor had spread out to cover him, and he wore solid black armor. Remembrance was no longer a battered remnant. The axe-head was razor sharp, the hammer head was fitted with short spikes.

    You have learned a new skill: [Moment of Eternity]

    Time stopped, but Kaden didn¡¯t. His mana drained like blood gushing from a slit throat¡ªa coincidence, as Kaden slit the frozen beserker¡¯s throat. 200 mana. He lunged to slice the other one. 50 mana. He¡¯d never reach the other one in time, but spun, hurling Remembrance.

    His mana hit zero.

    Time resumed as Remembrance buried its axe head in the last Beserker. Who didn¡¯t die. He reeled back, screaming in pain, then righted himself, charging forward.

    You have acquired the status effect: Mana Shock.

    Kaden was deeply ill. He could barely stand, let alone fight.

    Ymersist lashed out, grabbing Remembrance¡¯s handle, then swinging the warhammer¡ªand the beserker over his head to slam into the floor. With every swing, the axe sank deeper, until the final swing split the man¡¯s skull in two.

    You have helped slay the Beserker Utri Darg.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden stumbled over to grasp Remembrance, reeling from the effects of what he¡¯d just undergone. [Moment of Eternity] was a tier four skill. Even if he learned it from a scroll, it should have been impossible to use.

    He startled as the dead man¡¯s body began to rise, sloughing off flesh. The split in the skull remained, but the skeleton shook off the last of its flesh.

    ¡°Want more?¡± Kaden plucked the Corpse Inventories from each body and tossed them on the floor. ¡°I was saving them for you to resurrect and question.¡±

    *A new purpose they must have.*

    Kaden produced the broken hammer heads. ¡°Can they use these?¡±

    One by one, the still wet skeletons shuffled over. Their hand bones merged togeter, forming a haft for the hammer heads.

    *I go to war, young one. Stay and guard, if thou art willing.* Ymersist led his quartet of skeletons away, while Kaden limped back to Sara and Trinity, using Remebrance to keep upright.

    In her presence, Herald of Life began to raise his health and mana. Kaden explained what had happened, leaving nothing out, then shared his logs and status. ¡°How? That¡¯s a tier four skill.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°I have no idea. We had only one visitor, a wounded [Swordsman] looking for a safe place to drink a healing potion. She didn¡¯t find it.¡±

    Kaden looked at the mangled, hacked, speared corpse before shoveling it into Inventory. ¡°Good. How are they getting in?¡±

    ¡°There are doors here we can¡¯t see. I imagine the enemy has a map or a wayfinder.¡± Sara stopped as someone approached.

    It was just a skeleton, battered and broken. It checked in each of the residences, and then dragged itself out. Not long after, a voice spoke, Danae¡¯s. ¡°All attackers accounted for. Send corpses to the central necrosium for questioning.¡±

    Kaden and Sara followed the skeletons dragging corpses, while Trinity followed along behind. The central Necrosium was an arched chamber with dozens of stone tables, most of them filled.

    The [Priest] of Mortis stood in the center, next to a set of mutilated corpses. He invoked a spell, and dozens of corpses rotted in seconds, leaving only bones¡ªand the corpse to his side sat up. Duggarn, his eyes missing, his mouth spurting blood.

    The Centurion thrust himself up off the slab, already healing. ¡°How many dead?¡±

    ¡°Seven have gone before us to his court,¡± The [Priest] answered. ¡°Three students, four guards. Five enemies escaped. And they have the twins.¡±

    Duggarn swore as he fumbled about. ¡°I need eyes.¡±

    The priest ripped one from his own skull and handed it over without pause. ¡°Our god sanctions any punishment we deem fit, but he does not know who our enemy is.¡±

    Kaden threw the [Swordswoman] from Inventory. ¡°Ask her. Resurrect her and ask.¡±

    The laughter that errupted from the Centurion Necromancer was not comforting. ¡°I¡¯ll ask. But I won¡¯t be resurrecting her to do it.¡±

    Kaden took a stone table and began unpacking corpse inventories. The equipment was solid, exactly what he¡¯d expect a thirty to pack. ¡°Sara.¡±

    She joined him as he arranged weapons again. Spellbooks again. ¡°I see it.¡±

    All the equipment had two things in common. They were brand new. They were bought at the Emporium.

    One by one, the others joined them, and some swore, while others began to cry, or mutter.

    ¡°I see,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°Equipment is supposed to be sacrificed to Mortis. Their bones, their bodies, their souls are ours, and equipment goes to him. But I don¡¯t hold this against you. You¡¯re not even Necromancers, and you fought them beside us. Take it all.¡±

    Kaden packed it away again. ¡°What are you going to do?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, yet,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°The Emporium went to great lengths to retrieve the Twins alive. As soon as they realize their mistake, they¡¯ll want to bargain.¡±

    ¡°What could possibly be worth this?¡± Sara asked.

    Duggarn drew something from Inventory. A pair of skulls and a pair of books. ¡°These are Centurion gear. I was holding them until the Twins are rank four, because the temptation to try and use it before would be too high. I have sworn an oath to return them before the System and Mortis.¡±

    Oath acknowledged and upheld: Do not harm the Sevin or Serta by accident or design, and return their father¡¯s tools at level seventy five.

    ¡°Why would the Emporium take them?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°You have the skulls. All they have are ghosts and skeletons.¡±

    *No one would believe they willingly surrendered the skulls. That kind of power is held on to,* Sara said with mind speak.

    ¡°Our reputation with others is stained. They imagine us brutes who delight in death and deal it at every opportunity.¡± Duggarn shrugged. ¡°Death is everywhere. Death is constant. Death neither needs nor desires our aid, but Life¡ªlike the Blight¡ªmust be held in check.¡±

    The Priest of Mortis put a hand on the dead swordswoman¡¯s calf. ¡°Rise by my command. The gates of eternity are shut for you. The wastelands of the beyond offer no shelter. Return to your body.¡±

    She convulsed¡ªand instinctively drew a Healing Potion from Inventory, sputtering blood as it ran down ruined lips. ¡°Ransom.¡±

    The word stood alone until her lungs healed further. ¡°Contact the Emporium for ransom.¡±

    Duggarn shoved Kaden aside with gentle, irresistable force. ¡°Your employer broke into our home. Send four [Assassins] after me and a team of Beserkers to break Ymersist. Killed students and guards. Kidnapped my godchildren. I want no ransom. Nor will I send you on to Mortis¡¯s Court.¡±

    The stone slab she lay on lit up with black runes, and vines of solid black Death Mana crept up to cover the woman¡¯s body. Vines that looked a lot like the demon binding. A lot like the soul bindings on Trinity.

    She screamed once. Only once, as the vines ripped at her flesh.

    What remained was ruin¡ªand the slightest glow.

    A glow which darted upright, taking the shape of a shadowy woman with glowing red eyes. Her eyes locked on Duggarn and she screamed.

    You have been affected by [Skill Shriek]. Your Skills will not work for (30) seconds.

    The spirit dove at Duggarn.

    He caught her in one hand, holding her at bay with sheer will. ¡°Good, good. You¡¯re so much stronger than I expected. You will serve us seven hundred years, a century for every life taken.¡±

    Then the Centurion looked to Sara and Kaden. ¡°I have business in the Market, too, now. Shall we?¡±

 Fourteen - Reading Tea Leaves

    Kaden and Sara left by Portal with a Centurion at their side, and emerged in Omnor near a narrow tunnel that led deep into the volcano. Anyone new had to be vetted before entering the Underground Market, to prove they actually had something of value to sell to Brokers. All in all, a good way to ensure the rarest items made their way to the Market.

    Duggarn pointed them toward the entrance. ¡°I¡¯ll go in on my own. I¡¯m about to start a Trade War with the third largest company in Omnor and I don¡¯t want it coming down on you. Don¡¯t expect the Brokers to be able to fix everything overnight. Most of the time you explain what you¡¯re after and they get it for you over the course of a few days or weeks. Pay a guide, it¡¯s a damned necessity for your level.¡±

    Kaden shook his hand and swung Skully over his shoulder. Trinity remained deep in his soul, and Sara had comanded her pet ghost to retreat into a ring. Kaden had left all the weapons back in the Necroisium, because they were far too legal and normal for The Underground Market, but he¡¯d head back Trade-Rite Salvage later.

    The tunnel stretched downward as people shuffled forward, until it was Kaden and Sara¡¯s turn. The tunnels ended in a solid black portal with two level ninety guards and a bored looking woman in black robes. ¡°State-cher-business.¡±

    Kaden pulled the tube of Mana Dust, and Sara did the same. ¡°Looking for a buyer for this. More importantly, I¡¯m searching for an extremely rare spellbook. Probably the only one of its kind in existence. It holds the¡ª¡±

    ¡°Save it for the brokers, buddy.¡± She waved them through. ¡°I hate everyone and everything right now. Why can¡¯t we have another elder god breakout?¡±

    Kaden took Sara¡¯s hand and stepped through the portal¡ªinto a bazaar so crowded the only way to move forward was to wait for the person in front of him to move. If he hadn¡¯t had [Mind Speech] there wouldn¡¯t have been a way to speak.

    And then there was the ceiling. The Underground Market was built in the heart of a volcano. The ceiling, hundreds of feet up, was molten lava. The floor was solid black stone that thrummed under Kaden¡¯s feet like the heartbeat of a slumbering god. Every twenty feet stood a tent or a shack, or a ramshackle set of crates with a cloth banner over the middle. And that was the first floor of the market. At intervals, platforms of stone soared through the air to bring travellers to floating platforms that housed grandiose structures that would mock anything in Omnor as petty. Towers upon towers, and above them, shapes that Kaden couldn¡¯t make out against the glow of the magma. It almost looked like islands in the glowing red sky.

    *Look sharp, pickpocket* Sara sent.

    Kaden kept everything in Inventory, except for a handful of coppers specifically for pickpockets. But he wasn¡¯t prepared for the pickpocket to be a Beast. A small Monkey who glowed with white light.

    This beast cannot be tamed. Reason: Soul-Bound.

    [Lunar Monkey]

    Lunar monkeys have been empowered with Lunar mana, meaning that the troop as a whole can project illusions. These illusions were meant to protect the troop, but now they serve to disguise¡ª

    Kaden dismissed the [Identify], activating [Moment of Speed] as he slapped his hand down on his other thigh. And came up gripping another [Lunar Monkey]. It bit down on his thumb until Kaden shoved the thumb deeper, using [Fortress of Stone] to ignore the pain. ¡°What do we have here?¡±

    The monkey dissapated into light as Kaden spoke.

    ¡°Gotcha!¡± Sara lunged, pinning down a young man. ¡°I¡¯m not one to break bones, not without a warning. But this is your only warning.¡±

    But instead of being frightened, the man¡¯s face transformed with delight. ¡°Welcome to the Underground Market, Sara Scylla. My uncle sent me to find someone with perception in need of a guide. You have come to buy and sell, no?¡±

    He had a skill that projected his voice in the din of the market.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Sara looked to Kaden.

    He trusted her judgement.

    ¡°Tell me why I¡¯d need a guide.¡± Sara crossed her arms and her Horror immitated the gesture behind her back.

    ¡°Because you do not even know that blocking the entrance is a crime against the market, and there is only one punishment. You will not like it! Come!¡± He gestured for Sara to follow, and Kaden took her hand.

    The young man dragged them through the crowd, using something that looked suspiciously like [Shield Bash] to move people out of the way. They tracked through rows and rows of shops, until suddenly the man turned sideways and pulled Sara after him into a tent.

    If the market was like being crushed, the sudden lack of people made Kaden feel vulnerable. The inside was not a tent, but a fine business with inlaid wooden floors and hammered copper ceilings.

    An older man sat cross-legged at a low table in the center, with women and men surrounding him. Dozens of messenger birds hopped around him.

    ¡°Veny, you bring a customer!¡± He called out, and clapped once. ¡°Scylla, a name I haven¡¯t heard for a decade. Birch. Lots of Birches in the world. What brings you to the Underground Market? Not what lie you told the screeners. I am Vanya Udon. We Udons are the best Guides in the Market. My sons and daughters know every buyer and update twice a day.¡±

    Kaden took out his tube of Mana Dust. ¡°This was to get us in. I¡¯ll sell it, but what I¡¯m really looking for is a spellbook. A unique spellbook, one of a kind. There are no other copies, and I know it was brought here to sell. If it¡¯s been sold, I¡¯m buying information on who bought it. We have an introduction to Digus Bikus.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here to feed anyone who gets in our way to a Cosmic Horror.¡± Sara produced her own tube of Mana Dust.

    ¡°Oh, my.¡± The old man leaped up and came to take the tube. ¡°What he¡¯s got is street trash. This¡­not to make it hard sell on my services, but you¡¯ll be dead the moment it¡¯s known what you had. You could dilute this a dozen times and it would be more powerful than what he¡¯s got.¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t comment on the drugs. ¡°What¡¯s it going to cost?¡±

    ¡°One gold for one day, or five gold for the duration of your stay, no matter how long.¡± Vanya Udon seemed awfully confident it was a good deal.

    *Can you negotiate lower?* Kaden asked.

    *Unlikely. Odds are we only need his services two days. But if something goes wrong and it takes longer?*

    Kaden debated. There was no guideline. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you one gold for today and make the call on the other four gold before I leave the market. Deal?¡±

    ¡°A negotiator! You pay two gold today and make the call on the other three before you leave. If you only need my services two day, lucky you. If you realized you made a terrible mistake not trusting Uncle Vanya, you pay before you leave.¡±

    ¡°Done.¡± Kaden actiavated the [Authority of Vichor] to assign the debt.

    This minor debt does not need to be reviewed.

    Spend wisely.

    ¡°You will wait. You will have tea, while we find out who will suffer the trash mana dust, and who will be rewarded with the most pure samples in a decade. I will send a messenger to Diggus¡¯s island to let him know you are here for an audience.¡± Vanya spoke to the young man who brought them in. ¡°Veny, you have done well. Go back to the entrance and work until lunch. Karthik, Pua, Chan, run the streets and make sure we know who is buying. Varda?¡±

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    ¡°Mana Dust.¡± The woman said. ¡°Six major dealers, Karthik will handle them. Two minor dealers, Pua can¡¯t show his face there for a month, Chan will handle them. Let Pua check the stalls.¡±

    Vanya turned back on them. ¡°Did you not hear? Tea! It has been decided by the Master, he will have tea with you.¡±

    ¡°Sara loves tea.¡± He knew it because she¡¯d drank it again even after she knew what tea tasted like. ¡°She can have mine, too.¡±

    The old man gaped. ¡°It was not an ask. And what do you have to do? You are excited. You are at the market! But your task is to wait. Any fool can find a corner stall to trade with. The wise woman knows the right buyer gives the best price. So the Master says, and so you will.¡±

    *Please don¡¯t make a scene,* Sara sent.

    Kaden followed a pair of young boys in gold robes to a side room, where a pile of pillows surrounded an actual fire-pit. No arrangement resulted in a comfortable place to sit, until he followed Sara¡¯s example and sat on the floor, leaning back on the pillows.

    The same boys brought in a gold frame with glass globes in different levels, and then a teen girl come in to light incense sticks in the corners. After a moment, she returned wearing a heavy leather shoulder pauldron that extended to her fist. And clutching her arm was a miniature golden drake. It leaped from the girl to sit before the highest globe, and exhaled on the sphere. The water began to boil¡ªand mana gushed out to change what had been an odd stack of glass and metal into a machine stamped in the image of a dragon. A dragon whose breath steamed, and the steam dripped down into a metal cage filled with tea leaves.

    The resulting liquid glowed golden as it drained down along the image of outstretched wings, and then through one sphere after another, at last following the curve of a spine, where it dripped into a teapot.

    Kaden kept trying to use [Identify]. And then it hit him. This wasn¡¯t a drake. This was a [Dragon], which like Tempus, refused to allow him to [Identify] it. ¡°Where did you get an actual [Dragon]?¡±

    ¡°Lord Suridev owns this house. We work for him, serving for his honor,¡± the teen replied. ¡°It is his decision to have tea with some guests. It is good luck to have the favor of a dragon. It is dangerous to anger one. Enjoy your tea.¡±

    She poured it into wide, deep cups¡ªcups that should not have been full with the limited amount of tea, and a small one on the perch of the golden dragon.

    Kaden sat transfixed, completely frozen by the presence of the [Dragon]. [Beast Soul] resonated with the extreme power the beast gave off. Sea Dragon Oceanus was huge. This Beast was no larger than the [FalCrow] but exuded an aura of power like a solar storm. Normally, Kaden felt like [Beast Soul] gave him a window into beasts. This time, he couldn¡¯t help it working the other way, as the [Dragon] stared straight into his Soul.

    Kaden didn¡¯t move.

    Didn¡¯t breathe.

    Until the dragon looked down, staring at Kaden¡¯s cup of tea.

    He sipped it, letting it burn his tongue. It tasted like liquid rest. Like sleeping in the shade on a summer day. Like the memory of warmth on a cold winter¡¯s night. It made the cold of the dragon¡¯s mind not burn as it looked them over.

    Sara sat, crying into her cup of tea, slow drips that were no doubt dilluting the tea.

    The dragon, too, noticed, and with a shimmer of golden mana, the tear drops changed, becoming swirls of cream that moved, forming shapes that changed.

    With every sip Kaden took, the tea changed. He never liked tea, and he had a passing relationship with the coffee the [Priests] at the Saint¡¯s Hall had given orphans to let them work harder. This was like drinking liquid sunlight.

    The Dragon¡¯s presence relaxed, like it had measured them, and was now content.

    ¡°Oceanus is the sea dragon. Tempus is the time dragon. You¡¯re the sun dragon. Is there a dragon for every mana type?¡± Kaden hadn¡¯t meant to speak, but the tea made him so relaxed the questions just flowed.

    Suridev leaped from his perch, landing lightly on the tile. His claws clicked as he approached. The slightest nod, the twitch of his tail, and [Beast Soul] interpreted as *Of course there are dragons for every type. There are also dragons who are not the embodiment of mana, though personally I don¡¯t think those are really dragons, just large lizards. The word dragon, it has to mean something, you know? You can¡¯t just apply it to any reptile with magic.*

    Tail speech was very efficient.

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t dream of touching the Sun Dragon. Well, he might dream of it, but he wouldn¡¯t do it. If [Identify] was offensive, [Taming] would get him killed and touching him might cost a finger. Then again, fingers would grow back. Any man could brag about having ten fingers, but not every man could say they touched a [Dragon].

    Suridev let out a low growl as though it had anticipated Kaden¡¯s thoughts.

    ¡°Trinity would love to meet you. Or she might try and kill you,¡± Kaden said. ¡°She¡¯s a TriTerror, so she¡¯s long on bravery and short on common sense.¡±

    The small trill from Suridev accompanied a ripple of golden mana that was in essence, *TriTerror? Stop making up Beasts to try and impress me. You¡¯re not getting a scale that way.*

    Kaden summoned her from his soul.

    And his jaw dropped as the TriTerror bowed, looking away with the two mobile heads, and lowering its blind one to touch the floor.

    The small chirp Suridev gave out wasn¡¯t speech, it was pure delight! The Sun Dragon spread its wings and reared up to look Trinity over, then circled her, sniffing the claws and the tail, and checking over each of her heads.

    Suridev looked at Trinity¡¯s blind head over and over lifting her gums to show the dagger teeth and then showing off his own, then rapped on the armored head, trying to scratch it with claws, then dismissed the serpentine head with a scoff.

    Without Kaden prompting, Trinity¡¯s [Poisonous Razor Scales] activated, eliciting another growl that was *Not bad for a new kid. Not bad. You¡¯re not a dragon, but not bad at all.*

    Without warning, Trinity scrambled up and dashed out of the room, raising shouts of alarm. Kaden tried to leap up¡ªand found himself pinned to the floor by a single foot of a dragon a fourth of his size. Suridev glanced downward and whistled. *Lie down before you hurt yourself. Or I hurt you. Someone could get hurt, probably not gonna be me or Trinity.*

    A moment later, Trinity returned, dragging a shield. And a slab of meat she tossed into the fire on top of the shield. For the next couple minutes, she nosed the horde with her serpent head and turned it with the bone head.

    At last, Trinity flipped it out onto the floor, one side charred and black, the other bubbling juices. She nosed it toward Suridev. Then turned away.

    The sun dragon turned its head side to side to look at the offering, then, in a show of ferocity, horked it down, shaking its dragon head side to side as it swallowed the slab of meat in a single go.

    A slab of meat larger than the dragon, which definitely looked bloated and sleepy. It stumbled over and drank from Sara¡¯s tea cup with a forked tongue, then burped. [Beast Soul] struggled to interpret it, but eventually came up with *That hit the spot. A little powdered rainbow on that would really kick it up a notch. I want the [Recipe] for that.*

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Her cooking skill isn¡¯t high enough for [Recipes] yet. Also that¡¯s not really a [Recipe], it has to¡ª¡±

    He stopped as the [Dragon] starred at him with a weight of authority that said if a creature of pure mana said it was a recipe, it damn well was.

    Trinity has gained a new [Recipe] (Charred Meat).

    Trinity has shared a [Recipe].

    His TriTerror glowed for just a moment, an odd mix of solar orange and her natural red. Then she yawned and curled up as though it was a completely natural thing to do.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Sara asked softly. ¡°What¡ªwhat did I miss? Did you see visions in your tea, too?¡±

    ¡°Trinity made a meal for a friend.¡± Kaden said.

    Sara took a sip of her tea. And another, then drained the entire cup, licking the rim. ¡°What did you do to this? It¡¯s delicious.¡±

    Fast as lightning, Suridev spun, whipping the mug out of Sara¡¯s hand with its tail. The mug shattered on the floor, but the Dragon bounded to Sara, rearing up to sniff at her and look into each eye, and sniffing over her. Then let out a chirp. *Probably nothing to worry about. Nothing to see here. Forget it ever happened. No, really. Forget*

    A wave of power washed over Kaden, who shook his head. It felt like the motivation chamber in ShadowVale, when the Sisters tried to drug him. ¡°What happened to Sara?¡±

    *Forget*.The dragon growled.

    ¡°What just happened?¡± Kaden demanded.

    *FORGET.* This time, the air rippled.

    Your skill with Resist Amnesia has increased.

    Your skill with Resist Amnesia has increased.

    Your skill with Resist Amnesia has increased.

    Kaden crossed his arms and tried to glare at a creature fifty times as powerful as him. ¡°That¡¯s not going to work.¡± He¡¯d never known Dragons could sulk, but it did.

    ¡°What¡¯s not going to work?¡± Sara asked, putting a hand on his arm.

    *FORGET*.The dragon growled.

    Your skill with Resist Amnesia has increased.

    You are now immune to: Amnesia.

    The long groan that escaped Suridev took forever to translate. *She drank after me. Technically I drank after her but she drank after me after her. Looks fine to me. Forget it ever happened?*

    Kaden used [Identify] on Sara, who couldn¡¯t help giggling.

    ¡°Stop that! It always tingles. At least learn to control where it tingles.¡± She focused on Kaden. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t be rude to our host. He could charbroil us.¡±

    *What she said. Are you listening to the female? You should listen.* Suridev added with a hiss.

    Kaden was about to argue, when a bell rang. Vanya Udo stood in the doorway, and bowed. ¡°Lord Suridev, honored guests. I have the results you asked for. Broker Diggus Bikus will meet with you tomorrow. Your mana dust, on the other hand, represents a problem.¡±

    ¡°No one wants to buy it,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s gods-damned poison.¡±

    Vanya shook his head. ¡°Not the trash tube. The pure one; we have four brokers looking to acquire it. And while you might think to favor Diggus, if he does not have what you seek or cannot get it, you¡¯ll be forced to deal with one of the other three.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t need Sara to draw a chart. Chance could conspire against him to land the item¡ªor information¡ªin the hands of an enemy. An enemy they chose.

 Fifteen - Going for Broker

    After checking Sara half a dozen times, Kaden woke Trinity, then pulled her into his soul. Vanya was engaged in an intense listening discussion with the [Dragon] who apparently owned the guide service. How the dragon was communicating without growls or hisses or grumbles, but the moment Vanya stood up, a teen approached with a leather arm guard. Suridev leaped to her shoulder and settled down, closing his eyes. Small wisps of solar mana emanated from his nostrils.

    Kaden quietly explained what had happened to Sara. ¡°Do you feel anything?¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t remember anything from the moment I drank the first sip until you asked what happened. It was more what I felt. It reminded me of warm summers, playing in the fields outside Verona with Mr. Dervish watching me. Of slaughtering my first feral wolf. Of the night my mom set fire to an assassin trapped in our Beast Control apartment. Like every happy memory distilled into liquid.¡± Sara smiled at him.

    The tea had given him a happy memory. An actual dragon. His skin still tingled where the dragon¡¯s claws had pressed. So much mana condensed into a Beast, even the [FalCrow] didn¡¯t have that kind of power.

    For now, he¡¯d have to trust Sara¡¯s self-assessment. ¡°I don¡¯t know enough about the Brokers to know who we should go with, but I do know we need to deal with another. I don¡¯t like risking everything on Diggus¡ªeven if he¡¯s the sanest.¡±

    ¡°Guests!¡± Vanya said, approaching. ¡°The Master has considered your position. Diggus, you already have an introduction to. Oberix is the best option, but he feels it would be like sending bloody meat to a [Bearserker]. He suggests you choose either Bluderyn The Red and his Tapestry of Murder or Syntera Fleshseeker and her Symphony of Pleasure. Both are dangerous in different ways.¡±

    ¡°Fleshseeker,¡± Sara and Kaden said together. Then looked at each other.

    ¡°Bluderyn? The Red? You just know he gets off on violence,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Fleshseeker. Pffft. ¡®Oh, I¡¯m so sexy. Oh, I have delights you can¡¯t imagine. Look at my naked women. So delightful.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Or men,¡± Sara said. ¡°Statistically, I like the range of demands someone who calls themself ¡®Syntera¡¯ might come up with. We¡¯re there to make a deal and get the spellbook or information on who bought it. There are safer places for what Syntera offers.¡±

    ¡°Like, a bearzerker den,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Or a verdant viper nest. A Torrod breeding corral. A Formicidean Butchery.¡±

    ¡°Exactly.¡± Sara looked to Vanya. ¡°We¡¯ll sell the Mana Dust to Syntera.¡±

    Vanya bowed low. ¡°Excellent. First, the goods. You¡¯ll need to place your goods in the Exchange Box. Then you will be credited. You board a sky-skiff to the Broker¡¯s island and deliver it, and receive your money. At the same time, you can ask the Broker about your spell book. It never hurts to have more powerful people looking.¡±

    Kaden had an absolutely amazing idea. ¡°Can I have a moment with Sara, alone?¡±

    ¡°Of course. But Suridev will observe. It won¡¯t do to have you sully his reputation.¡±Vanya backed out, and a moment later, the Solar Dragon pranced into the room, clicking his claws.

    ¡°Do you have paper and ink?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°What kind of Party Leader would I be if I didn¡¯t?¡± Sara produced them from inventory. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking, you write what we¡¯re looking for on the paper. We wrap it around the mana dust and put it in the box. You and I go back to the Necrosium and teach them to play checkers.¡± Kaden looked to Suridev. ¡°Your honor is completely intact so long as we keep our end of the bargain. And we will.¡±

    The dragon seemed to be choking, though if it was rage or laughter, Kaden couldn¡¯t tell.

    Sara spent several minutes writing in her flowing cursive, then wrapped the paper around the tube and put it in the box. ¡°There we go, a clear description plus our contact information. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    Suridev began to convulse, clawing the wood floor, then righted itself¡ªand roared. The roar shook the floor, rattled the tent, and make Kaden¡¯s skin burn with Solar Mana

    Beast Soul translated it as *Oh, you two. You two, I just¡­*

    Suridev coughed, setting the floor ablaze. Then shook himself from tail-tip to nose, and let out a short bark that brought Vanya running.

    The old man stared into the Dragon¡¯s eyes. ¡°But they¡¯ll miss out on the feast of pleasures! And there¡¯s always a twist! A backstabbing! A secret deal they don¡¯t want to make but must! A thousand years of tradition demand¡ª¡± Vanya stopped, backing away. ¡°Of course, my lord.¡±

    Suridev slithered between Vanya¡¯s feet to approach Sara, then, tapped on the ground. Kaden didn¡¯t even need [Beast Soul] to tell him to kneel down, but he did need it to transfer the clicks and rumbles.

    *This is some quality entertainment. I¡¯d love for you to stick around and see the chaos. No one chooses not to meet with a Broker. I mean, you could, but no one does.*

    Kaden relayed to Sara.

    ¡°First, I need assurances,¡± Sara said. ¡°Is this some clever ploy to get us to sell you our souls?¡±

    ¡°Or will you secretly turn out to be an old man in a dragon suit?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°What? It could happen. I bet it¡¯s happened a lot.¡±

    ¡°Or a smoking hot prince with abdominal muscles Trinity could cook steak on who can¡¯t possibly love a human but can¡¯t resist the way she smiles?¡± Sara didn¡¯t sound as upset about that one as Kaden would have expected.

    Suridev¡¯s long, rattling growl ended their questions. *Seriously? A dragon suit? But I do have excellent belly muscles. Yes, I do. Keep your souls. Have you seen what he stores in Inventory?*

    Vanya rushed to translate. ¡°The Lord would have no interest in your souls. He simply wishes you to stay and observe evening festivities. By wishes, I mean you will.¡± Vanya bowed again, and backed out of the room.

    The Dragon barked three time, *Humans. You spend the first three years teaching them not to shit on the floor and the next three hundred not to shit on the business. He tries. Stay. I¡¯ll make it worth your while.*

    ¡°I actually understood that. Why would Vanya hit on the business?¡± Sara asked, looking at Kaden. ¡°He¡¯ll make me snort your smile.¡±

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    ¡°Worth our while. No soul stealing, not a hot dragon prince¡ªthough he truly is magnificent¡ªWe were coming back tomorrow to meet with Diggus, this just makes it easier. I¡¯ll stay.¡± Kaden nodded.

    ¡°And I as well, your scaliness. But we don¡¯t want to be any trouble. If there¡¯s someplace less vital to the business, Kaden and I¡­¡± Sara trailed off as Suridev began to glow brighter. A portal formed next to him, and the Dragon whipped through, then turned look back to make sure they were coming.

    He emerged on a cloud. Or what might have been a cloud. The ground beneath him was covered in shifting white mist, mist that boiled and poured over the edge of forever. Above him pulsed brilliant orange lava, and below¡ªfar, far below¡ªlay the patterns of the Market. From here, the shadowy shapes he¡¯d seen were in fact ships.

    Ashi would be amazed. These were six times the size of Kaden¡¯s ship and clearly never made for water. Wide sails spread out like oars from the sides, and kites sailed the sky ahead of them, pulling them in a gentle circle miles wide above.

    As Kaden watched, a man leaped from the deck of one ship, plumeting through the air until he passed the island where Kaden stood.

    Kaden leaned close to the edge and watched as a bubble of bright blue mana formed, slowing his descent into the Market.

    ¡°Get back from the edge!¡± Sara pulled at him until Kaden retreated up the edge and more to the center. Suridev had a literal jungle. Thick trees surrounded a shallow pond with white sand and fish that swam through the water.

    *Hungy?* Suridev sent.

    The word felt weird, like it had given [Beast Soul] the slip and worked itse way into his brain, and what he was hearing was intention rather than translation. The dragon pointed with its tail to the pond.

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°Don¡¯t fall off the edge.¡±

    Rarely did he feel like the mutant hydra liked anyone better than Kaden, probably because Trinity didn¡¯t really like anyone. But now, he watched her follow the dragon around like a puppy.

    To be fair, Kaden would have followed Suridev around as well. As a [Beast Master], it was his duty to experience great beasts. To learn as much as he could about them. To admire their majesty and maybe try to [Tame] them. Maybe not tame them, but think a lot about taming them.

    Sara stood on the edge of the lake and activated [Shocking Grasp], then waded out to seize a pair of stunned fish.

    *Clever. I approve,* Suridev said.

    As much as Kaden loved the time with the Dragon, not everything made sense. ¡°What do you get out of this? You don¡¯t need the gold. You have magic. You could probably be a Broker if you wanted.¡±

    *Entertainment.* Suridev sent it with a thousand images of him as a golden lizard the length of a man¡¯s hand, crawling along walls between tents and listening. As an almost legless lizard swimming through rivers to follow explorers. As a giant golden dragon that could challenge Oceanus and probably only barely lose.

    ¡°We¡¯re like¡­pets.¡± Sara said.

    *Everything has a place in the system. My place is to be magnificent and powerful. Your place is to admire me. Worship me. Desire everything that I am and understand you can never reach it.*

    Suridev didn¡¯t say it in a cruel manner. The feelings he sent reminded Kaden of how he felt about Vip. Except that Vip was so much more than a pet. ¡°Why did you say ¡®you¡¯re not getting a scale?¡¯ Why would I want a dragon scale? Is that a normal thing to ask? I¡¯ve never asked the Tempus dragon or Oceanus for a scale.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s low growl [Beast Speech] translated as *You miss all the kill-shots you never take.*

    *Later.* Suridev climberd to the top of a palm and lay itself out, basking in the red light that made it deep orange. *Rest.*

    One thing about being an Adventurer, when the opportunity for sleep came, Kaden took it. When the need to stay up presented itself, that, too, Kade just did. The increased constitution made him resilient to the lack of sleep, but not immune to it.

    Sara lit an actual fire while Kaden gutted fish, and then they sat beside the water watching the sky skiffs soar upward and then dive downward like falcons. Kaden couldn¡¯t help feeling like he was getting closer.

    As Kaden lay back, a Portal opened. ¡°Sir!¡± One of Vanya¡¯s children called. ¡°We have a emergency request from the Caldonians.¡±

    *I¡¯m entertaining. You don¡¯t abandon guests.*, Suridev responded.

    ¡°It¡¯s the Emperor himself.¡±

    Suridev hesitated a moment before he glided from the treetop down to meet the boy and tromped through the portal. A few moments later, a team of servants emerged. ¡°Lord Suridev appologizes for his absence. Do you need anything? This is the Underground Market. If you¡¯ve ever dreamed of an treatment legal or otherwise, it¡¯s probably available. It would be my pleasure to arrange this.¡±

    ¡°What would you recommend?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°And why would a treatment be illegal?¡±

    The servant fell quiet. ¡°There are many options that will make you more powerful. Stronger. Faster. More mana. All of them have to be repeated yearly, ensuring a constant stream of business. You know of hidden stats?¡±

    At this, Sara perked up. ¡°Constitution.¡±

    ¡°Willpower, as well, and Stamina. All proven to exist, but not directly accessible. Unless you have an individual from an older revision of the System to help. Constitution contributes to the likelyhood of resisting something. Stamina makes you regenerate faster and increases health and mana. Willpower is thought to be something between Intelligence and Soul.¡± He fidgeted.

    ¡°What would affect a [Binding] skill?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°I have a spare attribute point from my last level.¡±

    Sara, too, was now invested. ¡°Even a minor Stamnia increase might help me keep up with Kaden. I wasn¡¯t offered the same talents as him.¡±

    Now the servant truly seemed happy. ¡°Lord Suridev will be so pleased. I¡¯ll make arrangements.¡±

    Kaden had time. ¡°We¡¯ll be here.¡±

    Not three hours later, Kaden lay on a flat leather table while a truly ancient woman prodded his chest. He¡¯d seen old people. The Mage Master in Vichor no longer registered a presence with the current System. This woman did, and she was deeply frustrated by the metal embedded in Kaden¡¯s chest.

    ¡°[Mechanid] Class enhancements, what a waste,¡± she said, ¡°And [Beast Master] as well. I thought they were going to get rid of that Class. Roll over. The WillPower pressure points can still be reached.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Kaden said. ¡°What¡¯s your class?¡±

    ¡°[Extremist Mutator],¡± she answered. ¡°Not many of those around anymore. All right, you have your spare point. In a moment, you¡¯re going to get a prompt. It¡¯s vital you choose yes. It¡¯s going to be hard to remember, but do so.¡±

    ¡°Yes. Got it.¡± Kaden said. ¡°Why is it hard to remember?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯ll be screaming.¡± Something stabbed him in the back. Deep in the back, tearing, ripping deeper and deeper.

    [Fortress of Stone] made it manageable but still painful, and Kaiden waited.

    Apply Attribute point to Q@#$$__________//?[Y/N]

    Kaden selected yes.

    If Constitution had changed the density of his flesh, WillPower did the same for Kaden¡¯s mind. His decisions felt more concrete, more absolute. ¡°Very nice.¡±

    ¡°You did it?¡± she asked. ¡°Ah, so you did. And your Constitution isn¡¯t default. The bleeding will stop, the damage to your lungs will fade. And you didn¡¯t scream at all. Impressive!¡±

    Sara seemed less ready. ¡°You had your fist rammed through his rib cage.¡±

    ¡°WillPower is supposed to be accessed from the front but those metal ribs make it impossible. Stamina is right¡­.here.¡± She tapped a point right beneath Sara¡¯s belly button.

    ¡°It worked!¡± Sara said. ¡°How on earth did you do that?¡±

    ¡°My Class had to build armies of mindless drones to do my bidding. Consider us an early Summoner. Oh, don¡¯t look like that. Once you take the points out of intelligence, you have plenty to make them big and strong. And they don¡¯t even know they¡¯re being turned into mindless drones!¡± She patted each of them on the shoulder. ¡°Save those points. Come back and see me! Your version of the System is so broken it¡¯s for babies, but I¡¯ll make you strong. Very strong.¡±

    Kaden waited for her to leave, then sat there, trying to adjust. Everything felt different. ¡°Can you feel it?¡±

    ¡°No, and it worries me. Could you tell a different when you chose [Vigorous]?¡±

    ¡°Not until I was in a battle.¡± Kaden stretched. ¡°Hey, something¡¯s going on with the skiffs. There¡¯s a bunch of them rising right now.

    ¡°Look at the emblem on the sails! That¡¯s a golden dragon. That¡¯s ours,¡± Sara said, pointing to one that was rising close to the Island.

    That¡¯s when Kaden recognized the difference. The other skiffs were full of people. People who couldn¡¯t wait to meet a broker and hopefully get the chance to buy their treasure. ¡°Wave to Vanya. I¡¯m guessing he got stuck making our delivery.¡±

    Sara did.

    From fifty feet below, the old man spotted them and waved vigorously.

    And everything froze.

    Heavy block text printed.

    PATTERN OF FATE DETECTED. BOARD/BYPASS SKY SKIFF [BYPASS]

    Kaden read it over. This was [Twist of Fate]¡¯s work, and instinctively he grasped that the fated path¡ªthe normal path¡ªhad him staying on the island and watching. Momentary glimpses of vision showed Vanya being gutted by a brute and tossed off the side.

    The world resumed.

    Kaden yanked Trinity into his soul, ran and leaped off side of the island, falling away.

 Sixteen - Sky High

    Kaden leaped off the the edge of Suridev¡¯s flying Island and crashed to the deck of the sky-skiff and rolled to his feet as Vanya flinched. ¡°Sir! Lord Suridev has ordered me to handle this for you.¡±

    ¡°Something¡¯s going wrong,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Is there a hold?¡±

    ¡°Not truly.¡± Vanya opened a hatch on the deck, showing a cramped area.

    ¡°Get down there, keep my [Mana Dust] tube safe.¡± Kaden waited for Vanya to close the hatch and tried to activate [Stealth Aura]. No dice, meaning they were already being watched.

    [Split Second] activated. Kaden spun, looking for the attack.

    It wasn¡¯t an attack so much as another skiff.

    Kaden slammed Remembrance down, sinking it into the deck as the skiff rammed it sideways. That was Vanya screaming below the deck as wood shattered and the boat shifted sideways in the air before the enchantments slowed it.

    A trio of men in blood red armor leaped onto the deck, looking toward Kaden in confusion. ¡°This skiff¡ªand everything on it¡ªis now property of Bluderyn The Red. That includes you. Sorry, mate. You¡¯re not on the cargo list, which makes you a witness. You know what they say about witnesses.¡±

    Their armor lit up in gold each time Kaden used [Identify], but he got a glimpse of the level on one. Thirty Five, way too high for Kaden to take on. No, this would take different tactics. He knocked on the deck. ¡°Come out, and bring it with you.¡±

    Vanya emerged with the cargo box. Blood ran down the side of his head as he stood, unsteadily. ¡°Know that you¡¯ll incur the wrath of Lord Suridev the Golden.¡±

    ¡°Nothing we haven¡¯t done before. Hand it over,¡± one of them said.

    Kaden drew a tube from Inventory. ¡°Looking for this? Or you want the decoy in the box?¡±

    Their hungry gazes locked on the tube.

    ¡°Hand it over. We¡¯ll throw you off the skiff. The lizard can resurrect what¡¯s left.¡± The closest man edged closer and closer to Kaden.

    Kaden shook his head.¡°Three thirty fives picking on me. I¡¯d be suicidal to fight with you.¡±

    ¡°Thirty fives?¡± one of the men chuckled. ¡°I wish¡ªI mean, yes. Do as we say.¡±

    Kaden focused on Vanya. *IS THERE ONE OF THOSE ESCAPE MANA PODS>*

    He wasn¡¯t skilled enough to hear someone¡¯s thoughts if they didn¡¯t have the Mind Speech as well, but the old man¡¯s trembling concealed a quick nod, and though he clutched the box tighter, one finger extended.

    So there was one.

    Kaden put an arm around Vanya. ¡°If you have to jump to your death, you want the front or the back?¡±

    ¡°The back,¡± Vanya said.

    Kaden nodded. ¡°Get to it. Keep your arms and legs close and try to land butt first so there¡¯s enough to resurrect. My friends and I will negotiate for who gets the tube.¡±

    ¡°No negotiation!¡± the true thirty-five said. ¡°And no jumping. For it to count as a murder, I need to push you. Bluderyn¡¯s strict about that.¡±

    ¡°Not going to¡ª¡± Kaden never got to finish.

    The Sky-Pirate to his right lunged at Kaden, who had zero good choices, so he chose a bad one, using [Split Second] to pull the man toward him, then [Moment of Speed] to push him overboard.

    The second man¡¯s armor had grown nothing but spines, and he charged at Kaden, who [Shield Bashed] the man to the side. That was his favorite part about [Shield Bash]. Unless the target had a talent like [Immovable] it would always knock them aside. Against higher level opponents, not dangerous¡ªunless one was on a sky-skiff. Unless the edge were perilously close.

    [Shield Bash]! He repeated the sideways motion, and the man fell backwards, grasping the edge of the skiff with a single hand. Remembrance could take care of the hand¡ªand the man¡ªbut [Split Second] gave Kaden the slightest warning.

    He couldn¡¯t avoid the other man¡¯s slice completely, but by leaping up onto the rail, the sword only dug a deep gash on his thigh. It wasn¡¯t so much intention but a happy little accident that he perched on top of the hanging man¡¯s fingers. Or that when he spun, it ripped the skin off fingers.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The Sky-Skiff was never meant for this kind of abuse, and pitched hard to the side with Kaden¡¯s weight. It still climbed higher and higher, but slowly, with the enemy skiff embedded in its side.

    ¡°You¡¯re a dead man.¡± Kaden¡¯s only remaining enemy was the level thirty five, and he seemed to understand the ambush wasn¡¯t going the way it was planned. ¡°Hand over the mana dust. Kneel. I¡¯ll cut off your head, but that¡¯s all I¡¯ll do.¡±

    Kaden rocked on his heels, grinding the man¡¯s fingers. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of talk for a someone who¡¯s alone. It¡¯s two on one.¡±

    ¡°You and the old man. I¡¯ll take my chances¡± He drew a single sword, the blade covered in hooks.

    ¡°Vanya?¡± Kaden looked back to find the old man digging in a storage bin. ¡°He¡¯s not in this battle. Neither is your buddy.¡± Bones crunched as Kaden shifted his weight. Any moment now, the man would commit to battle, and Kaden would unleash Trinity.

    ¡°[Thorn Cage]¡± The man uttered, pointing his blade at Kaden.

    Before Kaden could move, a bolt of scarlet energy arced to him. His Eldritch Shield drank some of it, but a crimson arc struck his hand¡ªand left an imprint. It grew upward, and with every moment, something stabbed deep into Kaden¡¯s hands. Into his arm.

    Not just pain, but as he moved, the invisbile thorns slowed his hands, brushed against bones.

    ¡°Give up. The longer it¡¯s active, the more damage it does.¡±

    The crimson weave had reached his upper arm. Kaden swigged a health potion and tested something, forcing his arm to bend. A ripple of cracking noises followed as pinpoint wounds burst on the other side of his arm. But he could move.

    ¡°Get out,¡± He said to Vanya.

    The old man clutched the emergency bubble in one hand, and the delivery box to his chest. ¡°It¡¯s a long, long way down¡ª¡±

    Kaden threw him off the skiff.

    You have damaged Fate¡¯s Design.

    You have incurred a Karmic Penalty.

    That was a problem for later. He charged one step forward¡ªthen spun and brought down the edge of the [Eldritch Shield] on the hanging man¡¯s fingers. It sheered them off, and he screamed as he fell, making a duet with Vanya which would have been quite entertaining if not for the agony.

    One of the plumeting pair had an emergency bubble. The other would need a few dozen skill points in [Bounce], which probably wasn¡¯t a skill.

    Kaden almost fell as the crimson weave of [Thorn Cage] crossed his chest, but [Fortress of Stone] and [Sole Survivor] made it possible to face his enemy. For now. Kaden coughed out blood as the Thorn Cage reached his lungs.

    ¡°How the hell are you still standing?¡± The man asked, the first note of doubt in his voice.

    Kaden advanced on him, keeping the Eldritch Shield out, but before he could [Shield Bash], the man leaped, using Kaden¡¯s own shield to land on the other side and slashed Kaden¡¯s leg before he could turn. ¡°[Acrobatics.] Handy.¡±

    Kaden activated [Mana Drain], this time ready for the fight to drain someone higher level, and at the same time poured all his mana into [Moment of Speed], using the Levicon Blade to carve a gash up the man¡¯s arm.

    But he didn¡¯t drop his sword, even though his eyes bulged with agony as Kaden continued to tear out mana. ¡°[Thorn Cage] is a summons,¡± he said with pride. ¡°Won¡¯t stop unless I tell it to.¡±

    Kaden had a clever comeback planned but blood made him choke as the [Thorn Cage] spread, encompassing his chest. [Mana Drain] halted, since the man was out of mana. And he knew what to do. This was a losing battle against an enemy he could hurt but probably not kill. He backed away, forcing legs to move as invisible thorns pierced his hips. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you.¡±

    ¡°Not likely. Not before [Thorn Cage] renders you ruined.¡± The man summoned his own shield and hunkerd down behind it.

    Kaden hopped from the damaged sky skiff onto the one that had rammed it and pushed with all his might, breaking it free. Then waved as the Bluderyn skiff, now free of its wounded prey, rocketed upward.

    Before he could turn, the Bluderyn ship crunched.

    ¡°This ship and everything on it belong to Syntera¡ªwait. Who are you? Where are the others? Where¡¯s the mana dust?¡± The woman in black leather straps and not much else looked around confused¡ªthen fell to the ground as crossbow bolts errupted from her chest, her stomach, her legs. All the places armor really ought to cover.

    [Thorn Cage] had reached Kaden¡¯s eyes, leaving his sight tinged red and blurry, but he knew now what he should have done immediately. He turned and jumped for the edge of the ship.

    Karmic Penaty applied.

    His foot hit the edge of the ship, and Kaden wheeled, trying to spin his weight.

    Something clamped down on his hand.

    ¡°Going somewhere?¡± The voice was an androgynous, dry tone without emotion. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be on this ship. She¡¯s not supposed to be here. And yet, you are here, early for our meeting. With [Mana Dust] in your Inventory, Kaden Birch. Hand it over.¡±

    He drew it from Inventory. Would have laughed, but the thorns driven through his jaws made it harder.

    ¡°This is garbage. Where¡¯s the good one?¡±

    Kaden tried to point down. ¡°Gone.¡±

    ¡°This ship¡ªand everyone on it¡ªare prisoners of me. Oberix. You could have avoided all of this if you¡¯d just chosen me in the first place. Oh, that¡¯s interesting. [Twist of Fate]. Let¡¯s just keep it twisting, shall we?¡±

    The [Thorn Cage] had completed its piercing, enveloping. But the thing about it was, it couldn¡¯t get worse. And Kaden had been aware when Mr. Dervish attempted to flay a binding from his soul. He pushed himself to move even as thorns broke and tore. Muscles could heal. ¡°Leaving.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what ¡®prisoner¡¯ means. Take him. Throw her off.¡± The shadowy figure moved away.

    There were few moments where Kaden saw opportunity. This was one. As hands grasped him to raise Kaden to his feet, he activated [Moment of Speed] and threw himself straight forward.

    Something like a tree trunk hit him in the shoulder, and Kaden powered forward, heedless of the needles driven through his flesh. Though the world was blurry, this time he found the edge of the ship and leaped. [Resilient Constitution] would keep him alive.

    Kaden sailed free, unafraid of the drop that was coming.

    Karmic Penalty applied.

    Karmic Penalty is reset.

    He crashed into someone, then rolled across a wooden floor.

    ¡°I suppose, if you¡¯re that eager, you can go on my barge,¡± Oberix said. ¡°Someone get him cleaned up. He¡¯s bleeding on my deck. Karmic Penalty, darling. Don¡¯t challenge Fate. The old man was to be disembowled by Bloody¡¯s thugs. Who were to be poisoned by Syntera¡¯s bitches. Who would be¡ªoh, you get it. We¡¯ll talk later. Such delicious desires.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t even fight as people bound his arms and dragged him away.

 Seventeen - Broken

    Kaden dozed to escape the pain, but couldn¡¯t help jerking awake. The world was golden, and warm, and Kaden was certain that whatever else had happened he¡¯d never be cold again. Also, he no longer felt like he¡¯d been stabbed everywhere, which was definitely a positive.

    ¡°Good, you¡¯re awake.¡± That was Sara¡¯s voice. ¡°Your eyes should be healed enough to see.¡±

    Kaden opened them, and found himself bathed in warm yellow light that didn¡¯t remove the memories of pain but did leave them distant. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re ¡®guests¡¯ of Broker Oberix. Technically you¡¯re her guest, I¡¯m a companion to Lord Suridev. Have you ever seen an angry dragon?¡± Sara asked. ¡°It¡¯s not pretty.¡±

    ¡°Vanya?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Alive. He landed in an encampment of merchant traders who declared him a hostage for eleven minutes. Then miraculously changed their minds when a literal [Dragon] showed up looking for him. Vanya is brilliant. ¡®These fine men were helping me¡¯ will give him their loyalty for life.¡± Sara touched his lips with something cold. ¡°Just a sip more.¡±

    It burned on his tongue and made Kaden sit up, as dozens of glass spines pushed out of his body, clinking as they landed on the wooden floor. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°Oberix¡¯s Sky Vault. I rode a dragon to get here. I never dreamed I¡¯d ride a dragon.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help being jealous. ¡°How was it?¡±

    ¡°Uncomfortable. [Dragons] do not wear saddles, and there are spines in places I do not enjoy spines. Lord Suridev is discussing the situation with Oberix now. By discussing, I hope he means ¡®eating¡¯.¡±

    Kaden explained about the [Twist of Fate] prompt. How he¡¯d known something was wrong. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to ignore the prompt, but that Karmic Penalty really messed with me.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t say be more careful. But you¡¯ll need to consider the consequences. [Thorn Cage] is quite possibly the ugliest summons I¡¯ve ever seen, and it¡¯s illegal in any civilized place.¡± Sara picked up one of the thorns. ¡°There were dozens of these in you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recommend it.¡± He stood up and brushed himself off, collecting all the glass spines. ¡°What does Oberix want?¡±

    *Hey, kids.* Lord Suridev¡¯s mental presence wasn¡¯t quite words, but it wasn¡¯t dragon growls either. *You¡¯re coming to meet Oberix. I know, you were hoping I¡¯d bite their head off, or their arm off, or something off. I have to get along with these people, if I bite heads off, it¡¯s harder to do business afterwards.*

    Kaden stored his disappointment for later and relayed to Sara. Trinity was always happy to bite things. She could handle any biting off that needed to be done. He stood in something that was less prison cell and more storage room, though the door didn¡¯t open when Kaden tried it.

    A few moments later, the door opened and a man in a cold blue smock with geometric designs on it stepped in. ¡°Oberix deigns to see you now. Consider yourself blessed that they choose to spend time on your request. Oberix knows all. Oberix sees all. Oberix has all, or can get all.¡±

    That was patently untrue, but Kaden would wait to bring it up with Oberix themself. He followed the worker out into a hallway, then up several stairs and out onto the deck of a magnificent sailing ship easily three times the width of Kaden¡¯s ship. Several masts jutted up at the front and back, but in the center, a pavillion stood that stretched from one side to the next.

    In the shade of the pavillion, a golden dragon lounged, now the length of a sky-skiff, with his wings folded. Workers tended to the dragon, polishing scales and buffing claws. As Sara and Kaden approached, the dragon rolled to its feet and reached out to them.

    With the shift in size, the dragon¡¯s head was now wider than Kaden¡¯s chest. Its eyes faced forward the way Trinity¡¯s blind head did, gleaming with solar mana.

    Kaden bowed before it, as did Sara. ¡°Suridev.¡±

    *Giving the middle claw to Fate? I knew I liked you. I like your TriTerror better, but it¡¯s not your fault you don¡¯t have three heads, razor scales and a spear tail. You can still meet with Diggus, but you¡¯d be wise not to offend Oberix. They¡¯re the better Broker.*

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it. But I can live with it,¡± Sara said. ¡°What if they decide to screw us over and go after the spellbook themself?¡±

    *That wouldn¡¯t give Oberix what she desires. Speaking of desires...* The dragon shrank, becoming the size of a monitor lizard, and its wings became stumpy folds along its back. *Stick out your your hand.*

    Kaden reached out, scratching the dragon¡¯s chin.

    He couldn¡¯t help smiling as his fingers ran over the scaly surface. It was a beast unlike the Falcrow. A true beast containing an immense amount of mana. Enlighted. Powerful.

    *That wasn¡¯t what I meant. But, whatever.* Suridev reared back, then slammed his claw down, puncturing a hole in the back of Kaden¡¯s hand.

    He would have screamed, but before he could, his hand began to burn, and Kaden could only groan.

    You have received: 1x Dragon Scale (Solar)

    New Quest! Gotta Catch ¡®Em@#$%%ERROR_QUEST_NAME_ILLEGAL

    Issuing New Name

    New Quest: Must Obtain Many (Part 1)! - Obtain three Dragon Scales (1/3) Reward: Beast Form Slot.

    Kaden gasped. ¡°[Beast Form]? This can unlock [Beast Form?¡± He hadn¡¯t so much chosen [Beast Soul] as had it chosen for him during his tier up. He could be a [Minotaur]. ¡°Hell, I could be a [Dragon].¡±

    *In about a thousand levels, maybe. Aim low for your first form. You could be a lizard, anything with scales is better than anything without. That¡¯s for saving Vanya. Three hundred years of toilet training I would have had to re-do.*

    Kaden was ready to deal with Oberix. Ready to explain about the Vichorean spellbook.

    Oberix was a¡­person. Their form was largely shapeless, though shorter than Kaden and thinner. Their skin was a light grayish white the color of Mr. Dervish¡¯s scars, their hair slightly lavender, and they wore a split gown that left Kaden struggling to figure out if it was a woman with a very slight bust or a man with larger than normal one.

    [Broker Oberix - Fate Changer]

    The Broker known as Oberix delights in the desires of their clients, perhaps too much. They give as asked, but never enough and never all that¡¯s needed, because that would deprive them of a game. To stand in their presence is to risk receiving all you have ever wanted.

    Level:???

    HP:???

    Mana:???

    ¡°Fate Changer?¡± Kaden asked as he approached.

    ¡°I adjust Fates to match people¡¯s desires. I break and bend them.¡± This was that voice from the boat. ¡°And I normally see the future quite clearly, which is why I was always going to wind up with your wonderful offering.¡± Oberix laughed to themself. ¡°Why did you fear me? Who was whispering truths about me? I can¡¯t have that.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Sara took this one. ¡°It¡¯s said you know what we¡¯re after. What we¡¯re truly after, not what we claimed. The wise course of action was to deal with Diggus, the broker we already had an introduction to.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s sane,¡± Kaden added.

    ¡°He¡¯s boring,¡± Oberix answered. ¡°And Syntera? Selling that magnificent Mana Dust to her for a seat at her Feast of Pleasure¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not interested.¡± Kaden and Sara said together. ¡°But if she can get me that Vichorean Spellbook, I¡¯ll party with her all night every night for a week. That¡¯s what I want.¡±

    For a moment, silence reigned. ¡°Your first lie to me. How odd. And the daughter of Mistress Scylla. We have been great allies, great enemies, and now, there is only business between her and I. Your desires...how sad. How pathetic.¡±

    Sara tensed, her hands curling into fists. ¡°What I want now, what I want tomorrow, or ten years from now, are my concern, not yours.¡±

    Oberix turned back to Kaden. ¡°You say ¡®spellbook,¡¯ but I forsee you buying this.¡±

    A servant approached and kneeled with a bronze platter. On it sat a crystal globe filled with the power of a dying star. It shimmered with violet entergy.

    [Fate Breaker]

    The Fate Breaker can unmake any binding, even those keeping someone alive. Created to free the first god, it has passed through many hands, taking the form most appropriate for the wielder. You may only use Fate Breaker once.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help staring. Forget Mr. Dervish¡¯s theory and Treadle¡¯s research, this was real and it was here and it was an inch away.

    ¡°Pick it up! We can¡¯t see what form it takes without you at least holding it.¡± Oberix crossed their arms.

    Kaden reached toward the sphere of energy-and closed his hands on a knife he hadn¡¯t held for a decade. The carved antler handle and dull steel blade had belonged to his father. But that was just the image. Deep inside, he felt the power waiting to be used. If he could see the binding, he could obliterate it. ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°A trade. That War hammer of yours.¡± Oberix tipped their head.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, drawing the axe from Inventory. ¡°You¡¯ve got¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sorry, changed my mind,¡± Oberix said. ¡°But gods, if you could smell the desire coming off you, you¡¯d understand why I couldn¡¯t resist. Besides, you know that hammer has chosen you. A tier two baby with a tier four skill? So naughty.¡±

    The crushed feeling was so close to bursting into rage. Kaden¡¯s hands shook as he dropped the knife on the platter.

    Sara put a hand on him. ¡°We have a tube of Mana Dust to sell. You know of the quality. Separately, we need a Broker to locate a Vichorean spell book that was sold in the market. If you don¡¯t have it, we want to know who it was sold to and where we can find them.¡±

    ¡°Funny, how you say the word ¡®want.¡¯ I¡¯m offering what¡¯s desired. Two different things. Or not, in your case, right? You do so want to be desired. Or is it even sadder, and you simply desire to be wanted?¡±

    The Dragon beside them growled long and low. *Enough games. Either you can do it or you can¡¯t, and my money¡¯s on can¡¯t.*

    ¡°Time. I need time. I had what he truly wants. I don¡¯t have the book but I can get you information on it. Are you willing to pay? Are you able to pay? A rare spellbook won¡¯t come cheap. Even information won¡¯t be ¡®cheap.¡¯¡± This was focused on Kaden.

    And inside him [Authority of Vichor] gave weight to his answer. ¡°Of course. A reasonable price will not be a problem.¡±

    ¡°Never speak of ¡®reason¡¯ in my presences. Reason is no match for desire,¡± Oberix said. ¡°You will be very entertaining to me.¡±

    Only one problem. ¡°We still have a meeting with Diggus.¡±

    Oberix flashed an unsettling smile. ¡°I will act as a broker if¡ªand only if¡ªyou also ask this of Diggus. I never miss a chance to show the entire market which of us is better.¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara, who nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll accept that.¡±

    *You got the best broker in the Market looking for your spellbook. Take the win and take the exit,* Suridev sent.

    ¡°Oh, does our little Dragon desire his pets alive?¡± Oberix called. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of hurting them. They¡¯ll do that all on their own!¡±

    Kaden had been heading for the door. And now he couldn¡¯t. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer me. You didn¡¯t answer my question. How much for the [Fate Breaker]?¡±

    ¡°Indeed I didn¡¯t.¡± Oberix thought for a moment. ¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly name a price so quickly. Not for such a rare treasure. Oh, I have an idea. Why don¡¯t you take it with you? We can make a [Contract] that it belongs to me until you buy it. But it will guarantee no one else buys it first.¡±

    Sara almost shouted. ¡°I¡¯d bet you already know exactly, to the coin. You ¡®desire¡¯ control. Your entertainment is watching people agonize over what you offer.¡±

    ¡°It is.¡± Oberix picked up the blade. ¡°You know you want to. I will swear before the System, I won¡¯t sell it to anyone else. But you must swear before the System, you cannot use it before you buy it.¡±

    Kaden weight his choices. Mr. Dervish was working on a way to break the Binding. But this was a way now. A guaranteed way. ¡°If I change my mind?¡±

    ¡°You return it to me. Our deal ends.¡±

    He took the blade. ¡°I swear before the System I will not use it without purchasing it.¡±

    You have sworn an oath: You will not use the [Fate Breaker] without purchasing it from Oberix.

    ¡°And I swear I will not sell it to anyone else,¡± Oberix said. ¡°We will meet again and again.¡±

    Kaden was ready to leave. Ready to be anywhere but here. ¡°How much do we get for¡ª¡±

    Suridev bumped him. *Don¡¯t be rude. Vanya would have handled this, but now you¡¯ll get paid when Oberix sends an envoy to collect it. It¡¯s more gold than you¡¯ve ever had.*

    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your envoy. But what¡¯s to stop you from jacking up the price for the Fate Breaker by however much we get for the Mana Dust?¡± Kaden regretted asking.

    ¡°Absolutely nothing. Just kidding, oh, I love the way you look just now!¡±

    Kaden turned and headed toward the blazing gold portal that opened up a few yards away. It opened to Suridev¡¯s business, and he strode through, waiting only for Sara. The dragon did not come.

    ¡°I know. Bad decision,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°What are you talking about? There¡¯s zero risk. I was trying to signal you to take the offer. You have it, no one else has it, and no one will until you return it.¡± Sara patted him on the back, then wiped her hand. ¡°We both need to bathe and clean our clothes. I don¡¯t understand how you continued fighting with [Thorn Cage].¡±

    Suridev¡¯s business bustled as Adventurers poured through the door, accompanied by different guides, but Vanya stepped through the entrance and headed straight for them. ¡°Quickly, follow me.¡± He pulled aside a tapestry to reveal a stairway downward into glowing orange stone. ¡°First, the Lord has told me how you interceded against Fate. You have my gratitude, for what it is worth. Second, you offended Bluderyn and Syntera in one go. It would be better for you to wait in Omnor tonight. I¡¯ll send for you when Diggus is ready.¡±

    ¡°Where is this going?¡± Sara hesitated as the stone began to glow more brightly.

    ¡°Lord Suridev has his own ways in and out of the market.¡± Vanya stepped past them and touched stone that should have set his skin on fire.

    Instead, magma rolled back, revealing a portal.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡± Kaden jumped through the portal. The world twisted sideways as it re-oriented, but [Split Second] gave him a moment to find his bearing and land on his feet¡ªthen catch Sara as her Horror did its best to balance.

    They¡¯d emerged in an alley in Omnor, where a merchant stacked crates larger than he was. He didn¡¯t even flinch or look up at Kaden or Sara, so it must not have been that odd.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Kaden asked. Better to stay hidden until he understood if they¡¯d arrived in the shadow of the Emporium. ¡°Tell me that¡¯s not the Emporium.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Sara¡¯s tone said it was trouble. ¡°For a Dragon, I¡¯m sure this isn¡¯t a problem. For you it¡¯s a problem. We¡¯re in Xik¡¯limee¡¯deus¡¯s Domain.¡±

    The one section of Omnor where Kaden was a declared enemy.

    Kaden peeked out of the alley. His Demon Sight showed that all the guards were lesser demons. For that matter, the look of the Adventurers shopping in this area made Kaden think he didn¡¯t want their attention any more than the demons.

    He studied the alley. ¡°I have an idea. We can hide under one of those crates. When no one¡¯s looking, we¡¯ll move. As long as we¡¯re careful, we should be able to move from alley to alley.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have [Stealth Aura?]¡± Sara asked. ¡°Hiding under boxes to avoid guards would never work. Someone would see the box moving and come to investigate.¡±

    Kaden still liked his crate idea, but he activated [Stealth Aura]. The skill settled over them, and he guided Sara out of the alley. *Long way around or quick run to the border?*

    *Long way. The streets are crowded. So many people wanting to shop in the presence of a Demon Lord.* Sara¡¯s thought carried the disgust.

    Moving through crowds in [Stealth Aura] was an exercise in patience and prediction, watching crowds and guessing who was going where. Kaden let Sara choose the path if she saw an opening, and they worked their way diagnoally and into another alley, then up onto the rooftop.

    A gasp of delight or fear ran through the crowd, and the [Grahts] guarding at street corners brayed out. Multispeak and [Beast Soul] did nothing to translate their speech, but Sara pointed. *It¡¯s Xik. Xlick. Limey himself*

    If Kaden had never seen another Demon Lord he would have been perfectly happy. The Demon Lord towered over the low stone shops, and his gray skin glistened as he moved. The spikes on his head and spine weren¡¯t as pronounced as Asmodeus¡¯s, but they weren¡¯t the bumps that had covered Demon Daddy Darmando, either.

    And to make things worse, two [Demon¡¯s Daughters] flanked him, each dressed in flat black chain-mail which seemed to drink in light and armed with spears.

    ¡°Welcome, Welcome, Welcome.¡± Limey¡¯s voice boomed out, and Kaden heard it both in demon speak and translated. ¡°If you come with ill intentions, you are welcome. If you come with only gold, you are welcome. My daughters will attend your needs, and all that the Hells can offer, I can obtain on your behalf.¡±

    Crowds surged into the stone building Limey had emerged from.

    And Kaden began to shudder.

    *What¡¯s wrong?* Sara asked.

    What was wrong was the notice.

    PATTERN OF FATE DETECTED. AVOID/ENCOUNTER DEMON LORD [ENCOUNTER]

    Kaden shared the logs with Sara.

    *Karmic Penalties are nothing to laugh at. If you repeat, it¡¯ll be more severe this time. Remember my failed Busineses?* Sara asked.

    That Karmic Penalty had killed innocent bystanders. Kaden tried to apply a simple question. ¡®What would Centurion Ranger Viktor do?¡¯ but the problem was Kaden wasn¡¯t a Centurion, wasn¡¯t a Ranger and didn¡¯t have a plan for how to escape. Kaden deactivated Stealth Aura. ¡°Hey. Limey. You. Over here. I want to talk.¡±

    The Demon Lord blinked slowly, focusing on Kaden. And began to lumber toward him.

 Eighteen - Just Evil

    The Demon Lord was so tall that even with Kaden standing on a roof, Kaden had to look up to meet the gaze. Which Kaden did. Like with Asmodeus, Limey carried a presence that was sheer pressure, making it hard to speak. Except, the attribute boost to Willpower contributed here. ¡°We accidentally found ourselves in your business territory. You could try to kill us, but that would disrupt business. I¡¯m happy to leave. I¡¯m even happy to let your [Grahts] chase me out. I just don¡¯t want more trouble.¡±

    ¡°You. Corrupted Asmodeus¡¯s adopted daughter so she betrayed him.¡± If it bothered Limey that Kaden could speak, it didn¡¯t show.

    Beside him, Sara wasn¡¯t crying, but obviously struggling against the presence.

    ¡°I swear before the System that was a lie.¡± Kaden held up his hand. ¡°I swear I did not actually corrupt Nasky, I convinced Asmodeus she had. Twice. Once he disowned her as a daughter, once he stripped her Class.¡±

    Your oath is heard and verified: Did not successfully seduce a Demon¡¯s Daughter to betray her Father.

    Limey¡¯s eyes widenend, and he grinned, showing rows upon rows of needle-like teeth. ¡°How magnificient. How delightful. And what of the Wayward Daughter?¡±

    Kaden drew Nasky¡¯s core from Inventory. ¡°I [Bound] her with [Binding Mark]. But she hasn¡¯t reformed because I¡¯m reluctant to make the whole ¡®living sacrifice¡¯ thing.¡±

    This time, the Demon Lord threw back his head and roared with laughter. ¡°You ask I let you leave. I demand you let me reform her. It is not enough to see her slumber under another¡¯s control. I want to gaze upon her despair.¡±

    This worried Kaden. Nasky had been safe to handle because she lacked the power to form a body. He¡¯d be forced to rely on the Binding¡ªor to gut her. But guttting one Demon¡¯s Daughter beat fighting his way through dozens of Grahts, even assuming Limey didn¡¯t join in. ¡°You can reform her. But she stays [Bound] to obey me.¡±

    You have granded Demon Lord Xik¡¯limee¡¯deus (¡®Limey¡¯) permission to empower [Disowned Demon¡¯s Daughter Nasky].

    Kaden set down the core and backed away.

    Limey held out a clawed hand over it, and energy began to flow. Not Mana. This wasn¡¯t mana the way darkness wasn¡¯t light. It seeped down into the white cracks in the Core, which bubbled and oozed clear goo. The goo expanded, growing thicker, and within it, bones took shape and muscles knit themselve from end to end, growing thicker.

    Pale pink skin grew over the body, stretching from toe to heel, then up the legs and over the torso, then swelling to form curves. The head was the last to receive skin, and hair, long silver hair that errupted from the scalp.

    Nasky gasped in a breath and sat upright, opening purple eyes that blazed with hatred. ¡°If it takes me eternity, I will kill the [PolyMage]. If¡ªwhere am I?¡±

    Then she looked to Limey, and spoke in demon speak, kneeling before him.

    ¡°No.¡± Limey said, crossing his arms. ¡°You are a broken tool, unfit to serve me. So serve him.¡±

    Nasky looked back at Kaden.

    He¡¯d secretly hoped that deep down, the Demon¡¯s Daughter was a victim. That they could eventually trust each other. Perhaps even be friends, before he freed her to seek a life of righting all the wrongs she¡¯d commited in the service of her demon masters.

    The rage on her face obliterated that fantasy. ¡°You.¡±

    Kaden activated the [Binding Mark] skill.

    She kneeled before him, even as she fought with every inch of her will to attack him. To slice and rip and tear.

    But the increase in WillPower had made Kaden that much stronger. Her will was nothing. ¡°You made me your prey. I made you my pet. When Trella is resurrected? I¡¯ll let her kill you for the Demon Title. Until then, you do as I say.¡± Kaden smiled.

    Limey¡¯s grin could have swallowed a cow whole. ¡°You won¡¯t get a Demon Title from her. Which one do you want? Feared by Demons is almost unheard of. You want Hated by Demons, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°What I really want is to leave. This is your domain. I have no desire to challenge you yet. One day, when I¡¯m level fifty? Maybe.¡± Kaden dragged Naski into Inventory.

    ¡°One day? I¡¯d squash you like a bug. And what reason do we have to fight? I bind Daughters and force them to obey. You, too, do so. I rule through fear. I can see the shadow of Destiny on you already. Go, [Beast Master]. You¡¯ll wreak more havoc than I ever could. I¡¯m just evil.¡± The Demon Lord smiled as he turned and lumbered toward a [Cultist] on his knees.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Sara, you ok to move?¡±

    ¡°How did you ever face that in Hell?¡±

    He picked her up and leaped off the second story, landing lightly, and began to run, faster and faster until he passed a line of Grahts. They were back in Trade-Rite¡¯s alliance. ¡°I had help. I¡¯m convinced Viktor was shielding me from Asmodius, I could barely speak without saying my name. Everything started with ¡®I am Kaden Birch!¡¯¡±

    Sara settled back onto her feet. ¡°Funny how you left that part out. I can understand why. I think I could get used to it. I think next time, I won¡¯t be silent in the face of a Demon Lord.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m more aiming at not being a next time,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°We should tear Nasky¡¯s core out of that body. She¡¯ll be less of a threat with no arms, legs, or anything.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help agreeing. ¡°The increase in WillPower makes her controllable but it¡¯s the smart thing to do. We should hole up at the Necrosium and deal with her there.¡±

    Sara moved easier with every step, muttering under her breath about ¡®next time.¡¯ The Necrosium bulged out, still bone white, but surrounded by dozens of undead. Tomb Champions, Bone Behemoths, even the lowly skeletons stood guard.

    Kaden pulled Skully from Inventory and dropped him to follow. The undead moved aside to let them pass through the mouth-door of the Necrosium. Just inside, a pair of level fifty Necromancers stood with black spirits hovering behind them. ¡°State your business¡ªoh, it¡¯s you. Go on, Duggarn is still in the Market, but he left orders that you were welcome.¡±

    Inside, the Necrosium hummed like a hive filled with life. Death, but also life, and death. Ghastly spirits blasted through halls, and every twenty steps a set of angry people in black or very dark shades of gray stomped by.

    ¡°Ymersist!¡± Kaden shouted as the Litch swooped past. ¡°This place is full!¡±

    *Verily. The crimes against us must be answered for. Didst thou find what thou sought?*

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    The Wraith towered above Kaden, but he wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°Not sure yet. We met a dragon, twisted fate, wound up with Broker Oberix and had to leave the Market because someone named Bluderyn is upset, I have no idea why.¡±

    ¡°Kaden perma-killed two of his henchmen.¡± Sara caught his confusion. ¡°The one you threw off landed head first in a [Witch¡¯s] cauldron. The one you cut fingers off of was alive when he landed, but somehow got fed to a Pit-Beast.¡±

    ¡°Somehow.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help wondering if the somehow was spelled ¡¯s-a-r-a.¡¯

    Ymercist¡¯s skull wasn¡¯t great at showing expressions, so Kaden couldn¡¯t be sure if the Litch was staring in anger or just dumbfounded. *Where is thy beast?*

    ¡°Trinity is in my soul. You have someone you need eaten?¡± Kaden summoned her letting the TriTerror stride from the shadows to meet him. ¡°Good girl. I owe you so much raw meat.¡±

    *Take care. Many here suffered from the attack which took the twins. They may attack first, even though thou art allies.* Ymercist reached out with a skeletal hand to rap on Trinity¡¯s armored head. *What a wonderful use of bone.*

    Trinity¡¯s hiss was *Of course it is. I¡¯m awesome in every way.*

    ¡°We¡¯ll be careful.¡± He kept Trinity behind them as they found their way to the guest quarters, and let Sara bathe and clean first, while he played a game, tossing his animated skull-spider to Trinity, and letting her toss him back. ¡°Every time I think I can¡¯t get prouder of you, you prove me wrong. You¡¯re the best mutant hydra in existence.¡±

    Trinity accidentally bit down too hard, breaking one of Skully¡¯s legs. She set it down and stomped over to bump him in the chest with her blind head.

    Kaden understood, and scrached her chin and her scales and the thorny ridges at the back of her head until she couldn¡¯t help scratching and tearing gouges in the floor of the Necrosium. ¡°I promise, I¡¯m bringing back a [Ruby Hydra] for the dungeon. One of them has to die in the Dungeon for a lieutenant pattern, but I¡¯ll try to get a second one for you to play with.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s serpent head hissed and rattled, which [Beast Soul] interpreted as ¡®Ruby Hydras don¡¯t really get along with each other. At all. Ever. You sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡¯

    He wasn¡¯t. ¡°Who would you want as a lieutenant if you were a Dungeon Boss?¡±

    The TriTerror didn¡¯t answer, instead laying out long-ways on the floor and wrapping her tail around her to tap it on the floor, lost in thought. Then her blind head whipped up and looked in his direction.

    Trinity could, but didn¡¯t often, communicate differently. By memory. The memory that hit Kaden was of Trinity as a young Ruby Hydra, doing all the playful things young hydras did. Hiding in bushes. Stalking birds. Ambushing messengers who strayed from the path in the jungle.

    But what Kaden noticed was this. She wasn¡¯t alone. Emerald and Indigo Hydras hunted alongside her. ¡°You want other hydras. Emerald ones regrow heads, right? Indigo are status dealers. We could do that.¡±

    He could see it already. Twin lieutenants to challenge parties, and the grand battle with the TriTerror. Maybe it was possible to split loot into sections? So if parties faced both lieutenants, then the boss, they¡¯d get better treasure.

    Yes, definitely something to follow up on.

    While he waited for his turn, Kaden summoned the Falcrow and explained his plan. The Druid Tamer had claimed the key was just communicating with the Beast until it chose to speak back.

    It almost never spoke in its own words, choosing phrases others had uttered, but it listened, broadcasting *curiosity* the whole time.

    ¡°What do you actually want?¡± Kaden asked, as he sat on Trinity. If the TriTerror noticed his weight, she didn¡¯t show it, instead slumbering with her heads twisted together. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stay with me. I only wanted that obedience binding because I didn¡¯t want you saying ¡®Nice Rack¡¯ to every woman we passed.¡±

    It twisted its head, and when it spoke, it was in Oberix¡¯s androgynous voice. ¡°You simply desire to be wanted.¡±

    ¡°It would be a lot easier to want you around if you weren¡¯t constantly provoking everyone. Did I ever tell you thank you for helping distract Jagi?¡±

    ¡°This I know, Kaden Birch,¡± it said in Ashi¡¯s voice.

    ¡°What do you do all day? When you¡¯re not watching me, commenting on Sara¡¯s figure, or provoking?¡± This was the closest he¡¯d ever come to an actual conversation.

    It didn¡¯t answer, and instead flapped its wings, fading into nothing. So much for a breakthrough.

    ¡°Your turn.¡± Sara had put her armor through the cleaning box.

    While Kaden let scalding water run over him, he studied the place on his palm where Suridev had burned him. The resulting teardrop mark did look like a scale, a golden one. And Kaden could sense something more just below the surface. He knew where to find the Tempus Dragon, and where to find Oceanus. What he lacked was a plan to keep from getting roasted, smashed, or devoured.

    Kaden summoned the Falcrow. ¡°Mind taking a message for me?¡±

    He sent it to King Chemaniz. ¡°You said you¡¯d like to get to know me better. I¡¯ve recently gained a skill that affectes [Fate], and your wife is a [FateWeaver]. I¡¯d be interested in knowing her take on this¡ªand on talking to Tempus, the Dragon.¡±

    Trinity had been right - you missed all the kill shots you didn¡¯t take.

    Long after the water ran clean, Kaden stood, just emptying his mind. Without something pressing to hold his attention, every moment brought memories of [Thorn Cage] tearing into him. He¡¯d found three more thorns trapped in his armor, and his body was spotted with tiny white scars.

    Once he¡¯d looked at the scars that covered Mr. Dervish and wondered how he got them. Now, he wondered the man¡¯s skin wasn¡¯t all white. Sara was eating dinner and working in a notebook with a slew of messenger birds when he emerged. ¡°Trouble?¡±

    ¡°The Mercari want assurances we¡¯ll be ready to support their caravans. I hired one of Mr. Dervish¡¯s servants to manage the shipping station. While I can be available for major decisions, there¡¯s not enough time for me to be everywhere.¡±

    Kaden understood. Once he¡¯d dreamed of renting poisonous snakes to Adventurers for a few silvers each. ¡°Good. I checked with the Guild. Remember the Juvenile Formicidean Queen? The Craters finished with it a few weeks ago, one of the eyes sold. I banked the money.¡±

    ¡°Town?¡±

    ¡°Eville,¡± he said.

    ¡°We¡¯re not naming it that.¡± Sara put away one notebook and brought out another, a heavier, thicker one bound in leather. ¡°Come. Look.¡±

    Her left pseudopod opened it and leafed through the pages, then tapped. So many names, so many details, so many quests.

    ¡°This is my estimate of the work to prepare for resettling a town. It¡¯s not the work that comes after, it¡¯s simply what we¡¯ll have to do to be ready. I¡¯m not even certain this is all of it.¡± Sara passed the book to him. ¡°Why does this abandoned town matter more than any other?¡±

    Kaden had asked himself that many nights. ¡°Before the cult. Before the first cult, there were people who lived in that town. People who were happy. People who had normal lives and normal dreams. You¡¯ve seen the streets of Verona. There are still refugees there. I feel like the demons took something from us when they took over that town. A piece of the world where regular people could live without worrying about Centurions looking their way or Worldboss monsters attacking. And I decided I wasn¡¯t going to let that happen.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t just settle a town with random refugees,¡± Sara said. ¡°I have three chapters worth of charters we¡¯d need to fill. You had Builder Willis repair the gates and buildings. My cleanup team reported on it.¡±

    ¡°Your cleanup team. The team you issued a quest to?¡± Kaden asked. She was awfully posessive.

    ¡°They did good work once, I was happy to arrange repeated sweeps. It¡¯s far cheaper to pay them to do it every few days than to pay more experienced Adventurers to clean it once a month.¡± Sara flipped to the back. ¡°See? I have a [Miner] coming out to analyze the mine. We¡¯ll need to be present to let him work, and actually clearing the mine will be a different matter entirely.More on scale with destroying the Cult.¡±

    While they ate dinner, Sara went over the entire scope, spending nearly an hour on the intricacies of having two grocers, what it would cost to establish a Temple of Varun with healing Priests and Priestesses. And a problem Kaden hadn¡¯t considered.

    ¡°Who¡¯s going to be mayor?¡±

    ¡°Not me. Eve?¡± Kaden asked.

    Sara shook her head. ¡°Mayor is a profession that really only works if you take the Class as well, but now that you¡¯ve agreed you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯m free to find one. Many people are happy being a small-town mayor. You might like it.¡±

    Kaden looked down at himself. Over to Trinity¡¯s slumbering form. ¡°I think it¡¯s too late for me. When I walk through the city streets and I see an commoner, I smile. I see them as being like me. They don¡¯t smile. They move out of the way, quickly. I sometimes want to explain how I¡¯m just like them. But I¡¯m not.¡±

    ¡°Welcome to the club. From the moment I summoned the Horror, ¡®just¡¯ being anything was out of the question. Adventurers have more¡­adventure.¡± Sara sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much him, but she excused herself, and this time, she stayed in her own room.

    Kaden spent the evening studying the [Fate Breaker]. He could draw the knife, even cut cloth with it, but none of those things were truly using it. The feeling of the System watching hung over him as he tested the agreement.

    It was late at night, in fact, closer to dawn when Kaden dumped Naski out of Inventory and ordered her to dress. ¡°You can¡¯t go out like that.¡±

    ¡°You are a dead man. I will find a way to break this [Binding Mark] the way you did [Hatred Mark].¡± Her threats were hollow.

    ¡°Come.¡± He took her out in the Necrosium. ¡°Pick up Skully. Carry him for me.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t necessary to use words, but there had to be a point to having a Demon servant. It was time to test the limits.

 Nineteen - Carrion, Wayward Son

    Kaden started by pulling up Nasky¡¯s status.

    [Disowned Daughter Naski - Vengeful Demon]

    This Demon, through your machinations, has been disowned by its master and cast out of the hierarchy of Hell. No longer safe in its home dimension, it will never rest until it kills you and everyone you love. There is no escaping its vengeance, there is only delaying the inevitable. You¡¯re doing a fairly good job of delaying. We may have to adjust the meaning of ¡®inevitable.¡¯

    Level: 27

    HP: 1800/2000

    Mana: 300/300

    Skills:

    Talents: Fleshless, Undying, Determined, Survivor

    So Nasky had lost all her skills when Asmodius stripped her class. Fleshless - that was her ability to change her shape. Her body was an extension of her will. His will overrode hers while [Binding Mark] remained in effect. With a glance, he forced her to shift to a man. An ugly man. An ugly man with women¡¯s features, who slowly bled back to Nasky.Undying was her ability to reform if her shell wasn¡¯t broken. Determined and Survivor were odd talents. They made her ignore status affects and reduced the damage she took the lower her health, much like Last Man Standing and Sole Survivor.

    ¡°Can demons learn skills?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°You don¡¯t need to breathe. You could be very handy to me in some circumstances.¡±

    Naski brimmed with rage as he had her follow. Once they left the Necrosium, he began to experiment, commanding her to move further and further away. No doubt, Naski could have made things simpler, but she didn¡¯t want to, so he was forced to will every motion.

    Range was effectively unlimited.

    Next, he stuck a Echo Beetle on her neck. ¡°You don¡¯t actually have eyes. So we¡¯re going to replace one with something I can see through, and then I¡¯ll put you to real work.¡±

    [Disowned Daughter Naski] contests your binding.

    Chance of breaking free: 0.03%

    The Contest of Will has ended.

    Naski remains bound.

    Kaden reconsidered. If doing this could give Naski opportunity to break free, he wouldn¡¯t. Yet. He dragged her back into Inventory and returned to the Necrosium¡ªonly to find the remnants of a battle. Well, really, a slaughter.

    Broken skeletons dragged the bodies of mangled warriors back into the Necrosium in a train of death. Bringing up the train were four [Tomb Champions] of a type Kaden had never seen. Their bones were laced with a purple vine that acted as sinnew, and wrapped around their fingers, giving glistening purple thorns. Worst of all, in their skulls nested a Beast Kaden had never seen, crows with actual teeth and wings that gleamed like the feathers were edged.

    [Carrion Crow]

    These battlefield beasts are there to clean up the dead, and if there are not enough dead, they will make them. Opportunists, they are always keen to harrass targets of opportunity, knowing that if their hosts kill, the Carrion Crow will feed.

    Skills: Razor Beak, Razor Wing, Disorienting Caw

    Talents: None

    Kaden wanted one. Two. Kaden wanted a nest. He followed the train into the Necrosium and immediately flagged down the first Necromancer he could find. ¡°Where did you get [Carrion Crows]? I want some.¡±

    ¡°Dannae deals with the dead-adjacent. Follow the [Walking Graveyard] to her workshop.¡±

    Kaden practically sprinted to catch up as they bent further and further down, at last, crawling through the doorway.

    ¡°Heads on the feeding racks, vines in the trough, bones on slabs,¡± Dannae shouted as the monsters stood. And they obeyed, tearing their own heads off to put them in rows. The vines slithered like snakes to coil up trellises, while the headless bodies followed paths laid out with marker stones to crawl onto slabs.

    Dannae had met him that first day.

    Also tried to kill him, but what was attempted murder between allies?

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Sara called from behind him. ¡°I woke and you weren¡¯t in your room. I should have known you¡¯d be down here. Which part is a Beast?¡±

    Kaden pointed to the [Carrion Crows]. ¡°Where do you get them? How do you breed them? Can I buy a pair? How long do they take to reach an effective population? What happens if the parents die and there are eggs in the nest?¡±

    The Necromancer laughed and trotted to one of the skulls and spun it, adjusting a pair ofmetal latches that allowed the back half of the skull to swing open, revealing a nest of sticks. But in the nest, instead of eggs, glowing spheres of mana rested.

    ¡°You¡¯re familiar with mana birds?¡±

    ¡°And [Prismatic Frogs]. The skull is a colony?¡±

    Dannae drew a dagger from inventory and sliced sticks out of the nest. ¡°The nest is the creature which infects bones. The [Carrion Crows] spawn to feed it. And we propagate by cutting¡ªand feeding.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    Kaden produced Skully. ¡°I want to start a colony of my own. How small can a colony be? How do I know when to propagate? How often should I feed them?¡±

    The sticks oozed dark red sap, and as Dannae collected snippings from each of the skulls, they shifted, attaching to one another. She installed it through Skully¡¯s eye socket. ¡°You¡¯ll want to make a hatch back there so you can trim. When they start to bleed from the eyes, you must trim. You¡¯ll see veins like myceleum, those are essential to reforming the nest in the event of something catastrophic.¡±

    Kaden drank it all in, listening raptly. [Taming] a [Carrion crow] was easy, and he released it when Dannae pulled a lever. A corpse fell from the ceiling¡ªone of the warriors who¡¯d been dragged in.

    With expert slices, Danae removed muscle from the thighs and fed it in strips through Skully¡¯s eye sockets.

    ¡°I can¡¯t look.¡± Sara turned away as Skully shook and rattled.

    A soft red glow began to shine from Skully, and when Kaden peeked in, three glowing mana orbs nestled next to each other. ¡°How long until they hatch?¡±

    ¡°Hours. The first feeding for any new nest is a frenzy, you¡¯ll want to leave your pet with us until afterwards. The newly hatched [Carrion Crows] will only care about one thing. They¡¯ll just as happily eat you or any bystanders.¡± Dannae picked up Skully and set him in an empty rack, then hung strips of flesh all around him.

    ¡°Kaden? We have a problem.¡± Sara¡¯s tone had fallen to dead serious. *The Necromancers have started a war with the Emporium. They just struck the Emporium. There¡¯s no question there will be a return strike soon.*

    *Going back to Ms. Anderson¡¯s is out of the question if we¡¯re in bad with the Emporium. Selling their weapons to the Emporium might get us back in their graces. But I don¡¯t want to.* He¡¯d never been one to side with the more powerful. Plus, he genuinely liked Duggarn, the Twins weren¡¯t awful, and at least Dannae had given him a new kind of Beast.

    Sara opened her scroll, projecting as colors shifted. ¡°Dannae. I ask as a guest. Would you recommend I stay at the Necrosium?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not.¡± The question seemed to relieve the Necromancer, who approached them both. ¡°There are always small wars. Always disputes. After all, every last one of these businesses is tied to a Broker in the Underground Market, and the brokers fight as much as they get along. This feels different.¡±

    Different was one way of putting it. ¡°Let¡¯s say we provoked a Broker, made a deal with another one, and have a meeting with a third tomorrow. We¡¯re on the Emporium¡¯s shit list because of¡ªlots of reasons. We get along better with the Trade-Rite, but I¡¯m guessing you do, too.¡±

    ¡°Duggarn will have a better feel for this. He met with Diggus Bikus yesterday. You should ask him. Officially, I told you the Necrosium is your friend and a safe place. Unofficially, our war will spill your blood.¡± Dannae nodded to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him you want to meet and what you asked.¡±

    Kaden left Skully there in her care, mentally passing the binding to Dannae. ¡°It was easier when our biggest enemies were verdant vipers.¡±

    ¡°It was.¡± Sara headed out of the Necrosium, threading past the re-animated skeleton of a [Giant Boa] with three separate riders. ¡°I want to head to Trade-Rite and dump everything we have. Gold is the goal. The map can¡¯t keep up with all the shifting points, so our best bet is to stay mobile. The moment we have information on the spellbook, we leave.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t argue with that. ¡°You¡¯re the better negotiator, but I¡¯ll be with you. I always aim to learn.¡±

    The Trade-Rite wasn¡¯t open yet, and Kaden sat in the small bazaar surrounding it, eating breakfast while Sara sipped her tea, which she kept sampling despite making faces that told him it tasted like tea. Kaden shared the system logs for the Dragon Scale quest. ¡°I don¡¯t get many quests these days.¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Quests from the System are designed to lead unclassed people to their Class and help them develop. You are, for the most part, your own Quest Giver now. I¡¯ve got half a dozen Quests for being Party Leader or Business Manager, and delegating clean up of Ashitton is helping me progress in Business Manager.¡±

    ¡°I have an idea I want to practice when we have time. Your ranged summons is terrible.¡± Kaden regarded her Crawling Horrors as pratically immobile. ¡°I want to train the Falcrow to drop them on enemies. Eventually, I want to train Skully to carry them. Maybe get little hands on his head to hold them.¡±

    ¡°Thats¡­surprisingly good, coming from you.¡± Sara dumped the tea out. ¡°I can¡¯t drink this. I want it, but it tastes like tea. If I add enough cream or sugar, maybe.¡±

    He explained about his experiments with Naski. About the chance¡ªnon zero¡ªof her breaking free. ¡°I want to use Naski as a weapon but not until I can be certain she¡¯s controlled.¡±

    ¡°And if you can¡¯t purchase [Fate Breaker]¡ª¡± Sara stopped herself as Kaden looked her way. ¡°What I mean is she¡¯s essential to Professor Treadle¡¯s research. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°You can say it. I know damn well Oberix is going to want something ridiculous. I know it probably isn¡¯t a price I¡¯m willing to pay. I can¡¯t help wanting to buy it.¡±

    Trade-Rite workers blew trumpets at the tent doors to signal the start of the day, so Kaden and Sara took a spot in line. When they finally took their turn, Sara ran negotiations at first, while Kaden looked at a fine collection of bows that produced flaming arrows, or ice arrows, or invisible arrows, which had to be handy for those times when you wanted to shoot at someone and not know if you actually hit them.

    ¡°Here.¡± Sara handed him a gray paper booklet.

    A skill book.

    Kaden flipped it open and absorbed it. ¡°Negotiation!¡±

    [Negotiation]

    Just because someone says what they want doesn¡¯t mean they get it. You¡¯ve learned the very beginings of making a true deal. Advantages will be more obvious to you when [Negotiating].

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you how badly I¡¯ve needed this,¡± he said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me. Trust me, I know.¡± Sara took another book¡ªa real book¡ªout of Inventory. ¡°Negotiation, like Alchemy, is a skill where increasing your understanding will lead to skill level increases. Study it.¡±

    He accepted with gratittude. ¡°There¡¯s chapters on how to be comfortable demanding more. Also one on the best bad deal. An appendix of System consequences for abusing power! Wait, those are barely consequences. Why do I need to talk about my parents?¡±

    Sara looked at the book. ¡°That¡¯s specific to Omnor. It¡¯s common to begin negotiations by naming your lineage. I¡¯ve seen stranger, and if it gives you an advantage, take it.¡±

    She projected her map of Omnor. ¡°Suffice it to say we won¡¯t be going back to the Emporium. Selling Emporium equipment from Emporium employees to a declared enemy business isn¡¯t something they forgive without a few thousand gold exchanging hands.¡±

    Kaden took his can of beetles out. The swarm was up to eleven now, and several white pupa rattled in the tin. ¡°It¡¯s ok, I wasn¡¯t planning on shopping there again. We do need to leave at some point, which will be a problem, but other than that, fine.¡±

    While Sara made notes about the changes in Omnor¡¯s agreements, Kaden couldn¡¯t help the feeling [Master of the House] presented. Something was off. Trinity was skilled at finding stalkers, but unleashing her in the middle of a market was asking for bloodshed. *Someone¡¯s watching us.* Kaden sent the thought to Sara, even as he tried to activate [Stealth Aura].

    The skill remained inactive.

    Rogues could and did disappear in plain sight all the time. The requirement was that someone not be specifically focusing onyou.

    Sara didn¡¯t look around, but her pseudopods did slowly rotate. And then she turned, stalking across the market to corner an older man in guady pink shirt and pants. ¡°Can I help you?¡±

    ¡°Me? No. My boss believe you can help them. I¡¯m here with an offer of employment. The Broker Oberix wants something. And they think you can get it.¡±

 Twenty - Come Again?

    Kaden was itching to use his new [Negotiation] skill, and this was as good a chance as any. ¡°Oberix is working for me, finding a spell book. On the side, I¡¯m considering buying an artifact from them. And now you¡¯re saying Oberix wants me to take a side job. Is this even legal?¡±

    ¡°Each of those is completely separate,¡± the man said. ¡°Brokers have dozens of clients at a time. They buy as often as they can, but at times, individuals make unreasonable decisions. They refuse reasonable offers. Brokers then are forced to use other methods. Oberix is nearly certain you want this job. It was forseen, you accepting.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s Negotiation skill immediately discarded the last bit, calling it out as irrelevant. ¡°Tell me what the job is, then we¡¯ll discuss taking it.¡±

    ¡°In a more private situation.¡± He waved for them to follow, and soon found a tent where coins exchange hands, and Kaden and Sara could sit alone.

    ¡°First, assurances you will not speak of Oberix¡¯s goals. Agreed?¡±

    Broker Oberix¡¯s goals must not be exposed to those who would work against them. You may not reveal details of this job until it is complete. Accept? [Y/N]

    Kaden accepted.

    ¡°You are probably familiar with the Salish Sales Emporium. You¡¯ve spilled their blood, bought trinkets, shoplifted a child¡¯s musical toy¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden said. ¡°I bought that fairly, and a tin of candy.¡±

    ¡°And yet the Emporium is certain you stole from them. They¡¯re just not sure what. Regardless, Brokers are exchange points. Their value lies in knowledge and access. We have a client who needs to purchase two very rare spells. Oberix¡ªand their employees¡ªcannot approach the Emporium. However, since you recently viewed both scrolls, you buying them wouldn¡¯t raise any alarms.¡± He said it like it was so simple.

    ¡°What would we get paid, assuming we decided to help by purchasing these items?¡± Sara¡¯s tone held all the suspicion either of them needed.

    ¡°Gold. A ten percent fee. These chrono-scrolls were a hundred and fifty thousand gold. The client cannot in any way be associated with this purchase. Oberix would face armed hostility. The client faces death.¡± His pause was probably meant to let Kaden sympathize.

    ¡°You¡¯re about thirty minutes too late,¡± Sara said. ¡°We just sold all the weapons we got from the Emporium employees we murdered. We¡¯re now absolutely banned from the Emporium.¡±

    ¡°Are you? I don¡¯t see that.¡± The man yawned. ¡°When did you last check your map?¡±

    Sara activated the scroll. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. I just looked at this. I just looked. Why are we neutral with the Emporium?¡±

    The man stood and dusted himself off. ¡°I¡¯m sure I have no idea. So, are you willing to do it? Buy two chrono magic scrolls on behalf of Oberix and deliver the scrolls to them?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Sara spoke absolutely. ¡°This is too convenient. I have no desire to upset Oberix, but everything about this feels off. There¡¯s danger here you¡¯re not telling us about. There¡¯s no reward without risk. What¡¯s the risk you had no intention of mentioning?¡±

    ¡°The Salish Emporium has commited a grave crime against the Necromancers. No one is paying us to care why the Emporium doesn¡¯t simply return what they took and sue for peace. It¡¯s believed that there¡¯s a pending strike that will utterly destroy the Emporium.¡±

    Fifteen thousand gold. He didn¡¯t expect ¡®favor¡¯ from Oberix, this was a business transaction. ¡°How do we pay, if we agree?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re familiar with assuming debts. I¡¯m assured you hold another [Authority.] If you agree to buy the scrolls, it will work. I have to warn you. Try and buy anything else and you¡¯ll regret it.¡± The man held out his hand.

    Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°You don¡¯t have to come, but I¡¯m willing to try. Except I have more conditions. All we¡¯re agreeing to do is try to buy the scrolls. If we can¡¯t, I don¡¯t expect to get paid. If the Emporium isn¡¯t open, or is on fire, or filled with skeletons, no gold for us, no scrolls for you.¡±

    Your skill with Negotiation has increased!

    That made Kaden really pleased, and the way Sara smiled said he¡¯d done decently, if not as well as she would.

    ¡°Done. You should know, you¡¯re only one of five Oberix approached. Only the one who succeeds gets paid.¡± The man shook Kaden¡¯s hand.

    You have recived provisional authority: [PURCHASE_ONLY_CHRONO_SCROLLS].

    He looked to Sara. ¡°We need to move. We need to run.¡±

    ¡°Toward the Necrosium,¡± she corrected. ¡°They¡¯re allies¡ªas close as anyone can come to allies here. If we don¡¯t get paid, we don¡¯t get paid, but if they know we¡¯ll be there, perhaps they¡¯ll give us time.¡±

    It made sense. Way more sense. He headed to the Necrosium. ¡°All the skeletons are still here. That¡¯s a good sign.¡±

    Sara led through, searching for Duggarn, Ymersist, or any of the senior necromancers. Only Dannae remained, working in her lab, reassembling [Walking Graveyards]. She looked up. ¡°Oh, you just missed first feeding. You¡¯ve only got three [Carrion Crows] but there¡¯s already a new set of eggs maturing. The first set is weaker because they¡¯re generated so quickly.¡±

    Kaden peeked into Skully¡ªand jerked back as a pair of razor-sharp beaks emerged from the heads. He focused on [Beast Soul]. ¡°I¡¯m not an enemy. Stick with me, and you¡¯ll get fed. Fed well.¡±

    Skully wasn¡¯t a Beast and would fit in Inventory. The [Carrion Crows] were more like Mana Birds. The nests on the other hand were skirting the edge of rules. If something lived in something that went in Inventory, did that automatically imply he could fit any Beast in his soul via Skully?

    He pushed Skully into Inventory and breathed out a sigh.

    Meanwhile, Sara explained about Oberix¡¯s offer of a job, one that would involve purchasing from the Emporium. That got Dannae¡¯s interest, and not twenty minutes later, Kaden stood in a room surrounded by Centurion Necromancers, explaining over and over how his job was to buy scrolls, not burn it down.

    Or maybe both.

    The longer he listened, the happier Duggarn got. ¡°It sounds like you will be shopping. But how would you like to make the deal sweeter?¡±

    ¡°Always,¡± said Sara.

    Duggarn produced a literal chest of gold.

    Kaden had always heard the term ¡°chest of gold¡± and thought of small boxes. Or maybe boot holders. This box was so large Kaden wasn¡¯t sure he could carry it. Gold coins spilled from the top, clinking as they fell to the floor.

    ¡°We want to punish the Emporium in a way they¡¯ll never forget. In a way that makes them crawl to us. To do that, we need to hit them where it hurts,¡± Duggarn said.

    ¡°Inventory,¡± Sara answered.

    ¡°I want to take their storehouse. Empty it. Leave them with nothing.¡± The senior Necromancer didn¡¯t exude clouds of darkness, but his tone said the man was deathly serious. ¡°To do that, I need them to open the way. Do your business. Buy whatever it is. Then you look them in the eye and tell them you want to buy a Tier-Up scroll.¡±

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    ¡°Those don¡¯t¡­¡± Sara trailed off, staring. ¡°You really have scrolls of experience worth an entire tier? Which tier? Seventy five to a hundred is a thousand times more XP than one to twenty five.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± He pushed the chest forward. ¡°Something like that won¡¯t be on the shelves. Something like that won¡¯t be in stock holding. They¡¯ll call the head of security. He¡¯s a righteous prick named Emir Cook. He¡¯ll open the Secure Portal to their treasure vault.¡±

    ¡°How will you get in?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll bust in through the front,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°Timing will be tricky.¡±

    Kaden saw so many ways it could go wrong. And one way it might go right. ¡°You ever hear how a [Ranger] named Viktor took down the seventh Abyss Lord?¡±

    ###

    Even knowing his standing with the Emporium was neutral, Kaden couldn¡¯t help being nervous. He¡¯d checked Trinity over twice, let her char meat, explained the plan, and stored her in his soul. Duggarn¡¯s chest of gold made every step heavy, as did the sixteen Inventory cubes he carried, [Resurrection] potions, a silver ring with [Resurrection] as a spell and a last-ditch skill-scroll which would probably kill Kaden if he used it on a Centurion. No, the plan would be to resurrect one of the healers whose corpses he carried.

    Necromancers believed in being prepared.

    Duggarn had personally killed each of the Necromancers using a skill called [Mortis¡¯s Grip]. It made Kaden reconsider ever making an enemy of a Necromancer. There wasn¡¯t a resist. There wasn¡¯t a light or fireworks or anything. The victims simply slumped over. Dead.

    It would be to conspicuous if they went straight to the Emporium, so Sara charted a careful route that involved small purchases from various vendors and even paying [Bribes] to guards. But soon, Kaden saw the multistoried stone of the Emporium, and down the street, Ms. Anderson¡¯s red pagoda. *Ready?*

    *I¡¯ll handle negotiations. I¡¯ve got level seven,* Sara said. *Remember, if there¡¯s any sign something is wrong?*

    *We unleash the dead,* Kaden said. It wasn¡¯t as good as the plan to get into the Emporium¡¯s treasures, but it also was the safest thing for Kaden and Sara. The door way was lined with guards. Level fifty guards. Level seventy-five guards. No doubt there were Centurions nearby. The doors themselves didn¡¯t open automatically.

    Two guards pulled them back, and in the doorway stood Emir Cook.

    He crossed his arms and stared at them as though he could sense the cubes in Kaden¡¯s Inventory.

    Kaden didn¡¯t breathe.

    ¡°You took your sweet time. Fourth floor.¡± Emir stepped aside and then clamped a hand down on Kaden. ¡°What did you take, last time you were here?¡±

    ¡°I paid for the kazoo and the candy. If you think I stole, you must be losing your skills.¡± Kaden hoped his heart wasn¡¯t beating as loudly as it felt. ¡°And obviously, I had no qualms about¡­you know.¡±

    Kaden still wasn¡¯t sure what Oberix had arranged to allow him in. But as he passed through the doors, a wrenching feeling hit him. A gasping grasp like the claw of Mortis itself rested on his stomach. He couldn¡¯t help blinking as flashes of images hit. Swarms of guards. An agony like the Thornling. Emir Cook laughing. *We need to leave.*

    Sara slipped her hand around him. *What are you sensing?*

    *I don¡¯t know. But it¡¯s bad.* Prophecy was immensely unreliable, but Kaden had always believed these feelings. *We buy, we unleash. I think I can portal us out, I know the entrance to the Necrosium.*

    Sara¡¯s nod was nearly imperceptible.

    The portal to the fourth floor was guarded by two more level fifties, and when Kaden emerged on the white stone floor of the spell floor, the walls were shockingly bare. Only a handful of scrolls of every type sat in the thousands of slots on the walls.

    Nervous mages stood near empty cases, but the one who had met Kaden before waved. At the small table he sat with a tray. In it sat a single scroll. ¡°I was pleased to hear you had bought this! Chrono Skills are so rare. Truly for the discerning magic user.¡±

    In that instant, Kaden understood exactly what Oberix had done to reset his status with the Emporium. They¡¯d bought [Relive the Moment].

    Kaden reached for the scroll. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking, when will I see Chrono spells again? I have money. But I might not have opportunity. I should buy the other two as well. When I finally reach the right level, I¡¯ll already have them.¡±

    ¡°Excellent decision. First, we deal with this one.¡± The [Mage] pushed Kaden the spell.

    He wasn¡¯t keen on [Relive the Moment], but refusing would mean failing on every level. He took the scroll and absorbed it. Who knew there was such a thing as a bad spell?

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy the other two, as well,¡± Kaden said.

    The Mage stood and left them there, taking a azure portal off the floor. After several moments, he returned with a scroll tray. Kayden recognize the two singed scrolls. ¡°I accept the debt.¡± Mentally, he forced it toward the [Authority] Oberix had granted him.

    It activated, linking to the scrolls momentarily.

    This purchase is approved.

    Oberix is very pleased.

    They look forward to seeing you again.

    ¡°Now, these are higher tier. You can acquire the skill but you won¡¯t be able to use it until you meet the requirements,¡± the mage said.

    Kaden picked up one¡ªthen set it down. Then picked up the other. ¡°Which should I do first?¡±

    The mage looked exasperated. ¡°Either. It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±

    Before the man could speak, Kaden stored them away. ¡°There we go. Excellent. I¡¯ll use them when I¡¯m at the right level. Good things come to those who wait.¡±

    ¡°But the warranty!¡± The Mage¡¯s shout brought all the wrong kind of attention. ¡°You don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    ¡°We release you from your warranty concerns,¡± Sara said. ¡°Besides, I think we should make the real purchase. The one we discussed. My father is a King. He won¡¯t approve of me marrying anyone who hasn¡¯t made level fifty.¡±

    King? No, Kaden was fairly sure her father was a [Mage]¡ªoh. ¡°Yes, dear. I¡¯d like to buy a tier up scroll.¡±

    The man¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°We don¡¯t¡ªyou couldn¡¯t possibly afford it.¡±

    Kaden dropped the chest of gold on the floor. ¡°One Tier Up scroll, please. Wait! Hitting 50 together sounds good, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It does,¡± Sara said. It wasn¡¯t an act. ¡°Do you have two?¡±

    Their mage spoke quietly, an intoned spell.

    A moment later, three more level fifty guards arrived, along with a low level mage in white robes¡ªand Emire Cook. He turned and pointed at the portal to the ground floor. It disappeared in a crackle.

    To his credit, Emir didn¡¯t assume anything, instead guiding the white-robed mage over to test Kaden¡¯s gold.

    ¡°It¡¯s real. There¡¯s not even a strength enhancement on the chest. Four hundred thousand gold.¡± The mage backed away as if that much gold might burn him.

    Emir Cook probably smiled less than Eve.

    Kaden had seen Eve smile while casting spells that caused monsters to bleed and die horrible deaths, so it did happen.

    He looked to Kaden and back to the gold. ¡°This kind of purchase requires approval from our owner. You¡¯ll be staying here until it arrives. If it¡¯s not approved, we¡¯ll have a different kind of discussion.¡±

    He drew a silver mirror from Inventory and set it on the table next to the empty scroll case. ¡°Mirror, Mirror, on the desk, connect me to Diggus.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t rhyme,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Why would it rhyme?¡± Emir squinted at her.

    ¡°THE BROKER YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH IS NOT AVAILABLE. TO LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE USE A MESSENGER BIRD. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE REACHED THIS IN ERROR, PLEASE CHECK YOUR PRONUNCIATION OF THE NAME ¡®DIGGUS.¡¯ TO MAKE ANOTHER CALL, END THIS AND USE ANOTHER NAME. TO SPEAK TO AN ADMINISTRATOR, ASCEND AND ENTER THE DIGITS OF PI.¡±

    Emir snatched the mirror back into Inventory.

    *Diggus is the owner of the Emporium.* Sara¡¯s message contained her worry, but it was too late to back out. Plus he¡¯d already decided the Emporium could rot.

    Back and forth, the head of security paced. He tried the mirror three more times. And swore under his breath. ¡°Fine.¡±

    Emir invoked a Skill. Then moved to a new position in the room and invoked it again¡ªand again¡ªand again. The fifth time, a gleaming diamond-bordered Portal opened in the center of the floor.

    *Go?* Kaden sent to Sara.

    But before Emir could step through, he stopped, holding his hand to his ears. ¡°Attack on floor two. And Floor three. And Floor five.¡± He turned to look at Kaden and Sara. And with a glance, the diamond portal winked out of existence. ¡°Five floors. Four attacks. And you here to buy skills you didn¡¯t even use.¡±

    ¡°Kaden did use them. Check his [Status].¡± Sara¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Just how many Tier Four Chrono scrolls do you think there are?¡±

    For a moment, Kaden¡¯s skin tingled as Emir focused on him. And again. And again. The man¡¯s scowl didn¡¯t relax. If he scowled any harder he was going to have to grow additional mouths to convey his displeasure because there was only so much any one set of lips could do. ¡°You, stay here. Everyone else, we have Necromancer Centurions approaching the front doors. Get to staging points.¡±

    One thing for sure, the Emporium trained its employees well. They scattered, leaving Kaden, Sara, and Emir alone. And the moment they left, he turned on them. ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence. You¡¯re here, buying those spells with money I¡¯m certain you didn¡¯t have. You didn¡¯t get that much from any tube of Mana Dust. What was your task?¡±

    ¡°Distraction,¡± Sara answered. ¡°We were already going to buy a tier up scroll. We were offered a thousand gold to buy it at this exact time. I don¡¯t meddle in the affairs of Centurions, but they were probably expecting you on the first floor.¡±

    ¡°[Moon Sparkle].¡± Emir invoked the spell and split into five. ¡°Such a terrible miscalculation they made. I have ten levels in this. I¡¯m everywhere.¡±

    One of him disappeared through portal after portal.

    Kaden reached for the chest of gold¡ªand before he could touch it, Emir stood before him, hand on his. ¡°The gold stays. The necromancers die, and you get your scroll and get out.¡±

    *He has a spell called [Blink],* Sara sent. *It¡¯s a short range teleport. His [Identify] protection is weaker while using [Moon Sparkle].*

    A smile was the best Kaden could force. ¡°Well, scroll time. I want to hit level fifty today.¡±

    Emir reactivated the diamond portal as the building shook and swayed. ¡°Someone¡¯s having a bad day. Hope you got your gold up front, we knew they were coming two days ago. We knew when they were coming two days ago.¡±

    Sara produced a bag of coins. ¡°Always get paid up front. Give us our scroll, let us leave. After all, we¡¯re simply good customers.¡±

    Emire stepped through the Portal.

    In a flash, Sara and Kaden pulled Inventory cubes and poured in potions.

    [Resurrection Potion] is blocked by [Hex Fiend].

    Sara activated her ring. ¡°Artifacts don¡¯t function here either. We¡¯re screwed.¡±

 Twenty One - Best Laid Plans

    Kaden was out of options. If he couldn¡¯t resurrect the necromancers here, he¡¯d be stuck with Emir. Then again, he could probably survive against Emir for a very short time. He pulled Skully from his Inventory. ¡°Oh no! One of the Necromancer¡¯s constructs! It¡¯s attacking us!¡±

    Emire glanced out as Skully dutifly tried to scramble onto Kaden¡¯s back. ¡°Shit!¡±

    In a [Blink] he appeared beside Kaden, tearing off the skull. Before he could turn, a shriek rang out. Sara¡¯s guard soul, hovering a few feet away. ¡°They¡¯re coming through the floor!¡±

    Emir grabbed Kaden and Sara, pulling them through the Portal. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. You can¡¯t portal in or out without a Portal Key. When our defenses are active, you can¡¯t use resurrection artifacts or potions or skills you brought in. You can¡¯t anything. Let me explain something. You two so much as glance wrong? I¡¯ll kill you. Your level floor is twenty five, you¡¯re about to take a tier-up scroll, there¡¯s no harm done.¡±

    Only now did Kaden look. This was truly the vault of treasures. Thousands of scrolls. Mounds of weapons. Stacks of spellbooks. Fairy lights gleamed in the distance showing shadows of even larger piles.

    ¡°If you touch even one thing here, the alarms will go off,¡± Emir said. ¡°This is a [Ring of Mortis]. It doesn¡¯t hurt. It doesn¡¯t wound. It simply kills, and I have seven charges left. If the alarms go off, I¡¯ll kill you, check your Loot Packages, and, should you be somehow innocent¡ªwhich I doubt¡ªfeed you experience scrolls. Stay right there. Browse all you want. Touch, and you¡¯re dead.¡±

    Kaden immediately wandered left, depositing a Necromancer corpse. His ring of resurrection wouldn¡¯t activate, and his backup potions gave the same error. *Still blocked*.

    *Same. I don¡¯t trust Emir. He¡¯s looking for a reason to use that ring. He has the gold. He can keep the scroll.*

    Oh, the scroll. *Is the skill book blocked? He¡¯ll have to unlock the restrictions for me to use the Tier Up scroll.* Kaden summoned the skill book.

    Sara snatched it, reading it. It crumbled to dust. *I have level one [Rise]. If I try and resurrect a centurion, I¡¯m a dead woman. Remember Eve¡¯s Backlash?*

    *Raise the Healer.* Kaden dropped his corpse, hiding it behind a stack of skill books. *I¡¯ll delay Emir and demand to use the scroll in front of him.*

    Sara nodded. *The Horror is resistant to status effects, so backlash will be bad but hopefully not fatal.*

    Kaden left her there, returning to where they¡¯d arrived. ¡°Emir, I want to use the Tier Up scroll before I leave. I¡¯m not going back into a war zone as a twenty-five.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡± Emir [Blinked] into existence, clutching a scroll. ¡°I¡¯m not angry with you. I understand the lure of a thousand gold. And to be honest, without this event, I doubt my benefactor would have approved.¡±

    He held out his hand, clutching a glowing gold scroll. ¡°One Tier Up scroll for you. Just like the one I used a moment ago.¡±

    Kaden tried to hide his horror as he used [Identify]. Emir was now level fifty. ¡°Congratulations?¡±

    He reached for the Tier Up scroll. ¡°I¡¯ll be able to use this?¡±

    ¡°Of course. You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d let you hit fifty and have a ten level advantage on me during the middle of an all-out war, did you?¡± Emir¡¯s smile could have cleaned up the shit-wagon at Beast Control.

    ¡°Can I change my mind?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°You have a five second window. If you don¡¯t buy and use that scroll, I¡¯ll make sure you never do.¡± Emir glanced down. ¡°Four.¡±

    *Now!* Kaden sent to Sara. ¡°Level fifty, here I come.¡±

    Duggarn had never said don¡¯t use the scroll. He activated it. You have blocked all skill use for (60) seconds with [Scroll of Nullification].

    ¡°What?¡± Kaden looked up. And knew the smile was a bad one. ¡°Sara, I think we¡¯ve just been double-crossed.¡±

    ¡°Such a pity,¡± Emir said. ¡°You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I tried to stop the necromancers from killing you and stealing that gold.¡±

    Kaden had zero options.

    He dropped Skully with an order to scatter. Did [Talents] count as skills? Could they be nullified? The [Ring of Mortis] would tell him. If Sara had succeeded in resurrecting the Healer, she probably had terrible backlash, no matter what she claimed.

    He needed time for the Healer to take mana and health potions, resurrect and repeat the process. No retreat. No [Split Second] or [Moment of Speed].

    The Falcrow swooped down on Emir, who [Blinked] away and touched a ring with his right hand. ¡°Why didn¡¯t that kill it? What did you do to my ring?¡±

    Any mistake an enemy made was worth taking advantage of. Kaden lashed out with the Levicon Blade. Without [Moment of Speed] it felt like his limbs were stuck in tar, moving so so slowly. The short, curved tip of the blade caught on the edge of the [Ring of Mortis] and sparked.

    Emire shrieked in pain and stripped off the ring, which glowed and sparked. ¡°You think you¡¯ve been clever.¡± Emir¡¯s voice trembled with rage.

    Kaden had been in this situation before, but Emir didn¡¯t want anything Kaden had and wouldn¡¯t accept the Ghost Seed he carried. But Kaden had also been twelve levels lower at that point. Alone, at that point.

    Something shrieked and swept by Emir¡¯s face, drawing blood¡ªand his attention. A [Carrion Crow]! Another, and another, circling Emir. Kaden didn¡¯t dare use Trinity. He might be forced to fall back on [Resilient Constitution].

    When Emire lashed out with his whip to explode a [Carrion Crow], Kaden took his chance, grasping the whip and slicing it with the [Levicon Blade]. The severed piece he stuffed in Inventory.

    Then cursed as the whip regrew. Emire lunged at Kaden. He had twenty four more attribute points, and it showed in his agility and strength, the way he dodged Kaden¡¯s blows, the way his punches broke bones.

    Blow for blow, Kaden didn¡¯t stand a chance. Instead, he gambled everything, stepping in close and taking a punch straight to the metal plate on his chest.

    Bones broke¡ªEmir¡¯s bones¡ªand Kaden sliced the inside of the wrist, snagging a tendon. Emir screamed¡ªand flames wrapped around him, sizzling Kaden¡¯s skin. Kaden leaped away and pleaded with the [FalCrow].

    ¡°We have a problem!¡± The Falcrow shouted from far above.

    ¡°Deal with it! I¡¯ve got my own¡ªWhere did he go?¡± Emir shouted.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t using [Stealth Aura]. He wasn¡¯t even trying to be stealthy, kicking over a stack of wands to keep Emir headed his direction. Every second mattered. He¡¯d lost count but every second was a tick of health a tick of mana, another Necromancer resurrected.

    Behind him, a flaming figure with a blazing whip stalked.

    If he¡¯d chosen any weapon besides a whip, Kaden would have been cut down, but the whip¡¯s blows took so long to arrive, it gave him just enough time to dodge. Kaden drew Thorn Caster and fired. The shot didn¡¯t hit Emir, but it did make him twist to let the arrow pass. And another. And another.

    It didn¡¯t matter if the arrows hit, it mattered that each took time. Every time he tried to activate a skill, he got a notification.

    (19) seconds remain.

    (15) seconds remain.

    Kaden ran, leaping over a pile of spellbooks which caught fire as Emir¡¯s whip hit them, but slammed into Emir as he [Blinked] in front of Kaden and lashed out with a dagger. It sparked off Kaden¡¯s chest and sliced flesh from the edges.

    Your skills are restored.

    Kaden used [Moment of Speed] to dash forward, slicing with the [Levicon Blade], then [Split Second] let him twist out of the way of Emir¡¯s Blink-Slash. ¡°You only had sixty seconds. And you only have twenty-three levels on me.¡±

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°You¡¯re insane. This is mercy.¡± Emir blasted toward him, wrapped in flame.

    And tripped over a skeleton-spider. Before he could stand, a carrion crow landed on his head and ripped out a chunk of hair, flying back toward Skully.

    *Get Ready*. Sara¡¯s thought almost distracted Kaden to the point of taking a flaming blade to the gut.

    The best line would come to him later, when Kaden was sleeping. He¡¯d wake in the middle of the night knowing exactly what amazing response would sound best in stories. At the moment he could only hold on and pray. He drew the kazoo from inventory and hummed a few notes of the Greatest Tune Ever Hummed to Three Green Beetles Held Captive in a Candy Tin. ¡°I stole Echo Beetles and then played kazoo until you released them. Then, I used the beetles to steal the code your employees use to access the vaults. Then I used those codes to empty the scroll vaults. Everything¡¯s already stolen. The vaults are empty. And you helped me do it.¡±

    Emir stopped stock still. ¡°How?¡±

    Kaden shrugged.

    Sometimes, Fate turned against you. Every vast once in a while, [Luck] bounced your way. Emir conjured a portal, a portal that led somewhere different, a crisp, dust-free room of white stone. The air that drifted out smelled of ozone. Inside it, thousands of Spell Scrolls sat.

    Kaden used [Moment of Speed] and hit Emir upside the head with Remembrance before the man could even speak. The blow sent him flying through stacks of equipment, while Kaden leaped through the portal¡ªand then out as it winked out of existence.

    ¡°You¡¯re a dead¡ª¡± Emire screamed as a [Walking Graveyard] landed on him.

    Kaden was never one for joining into pitched battles. He hid.

    *Get clear,* Sara sent.

    Kaden summoned Wisp 71. ¡°You¡¯ve almost never betrayed me. Take me to Sara? Please?¡± Then he took off after the wisp, which led him through the vault to where Sara sat, holding her head in her hands. ¡°Backlash?¡±

    ¡°No wonder this almost killed Eve. We need to get out of here. We could steal, but how many axes, or basic fireball spellbooks can one person use?¡±

    ¡°All of them.¡± Kaden shoveled spell books and robes into his cube, then realized he was going about this wrong. He surveyed the inventory to the sounds of men screaming. ¡°Stay safe.¡±

    All around him stood the least valuable equipment. And a moment later, Kaden found what he needed, as the battle elsewhere exploded. Fire balls rained around Emir, and carrion crows became blazing missiles as they dipped too close. There was no question how the battle would end.

    There was a lot of question how many casualties there would be. Kaden spotted what he was searching for and grabbed them. ¡°Stay here.¡±

    ¡°Not happening.¡± Sara wobbled as she stood up, using the Horror¡¯s pseudopods to steady herself. ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    He formed a portal. ¡°Remember what happened with Eville? How I took everything?¡±

    Sara gasped. ¡°Even you can¡¯t fit all these scrolls in Inventory.¡±

    Kaden handed her a stack of Inventory cubes. ¡°Fill one, stick it in a cube. I haven¡¯t found a limit on how deep you can nest Inventory. And I¡¯ve tried.¡± As he spoke, he shoveled scrolls into an Inventory cube and then tucked it away.

    ¡°You are either a genius or there¡¯s something very wrong in your mind,¡± Sara said. But she began to work, storing entire cases of scrolls at a time.

    Kaden summoned Trinity, putting her near the Portal to watch out, and worked faster. It didn¡¯t matter what a scroll was, all that mattered was that it was taken.

    ¡°Kaden, come look at these.¡± Sara has stopped¡ªand with good reason. The Spell vault air was so dry it made his eye tingle, and most of it was lined with simple scroll stacks, but one corner was lined with dozens of runes across the floor, ceiling and roof. And beyond them sat only three scrolls. Tier Up scrolls. To the right of the three stood a stack of five with sparkling red barriers around each, and a pair of scrolls that floated in orbs of Death Mana.

    There was no question the runes were active, only a question of what they would do. ¡°Don¡¯t risk it. When everything else is gone, we¡¯ll try a last-chance effort.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®when everything else is gone?¡¯ Have you looked?¡± Sara asked.

    Maybe he¡¯d underestimated what all they¡¯d taken. A few scrolls stood alone in various cabinest, but most of the vault was empty.

    Kaden dropped Naski, already enforcing his will. ¡°Go get those scrolls.¡±

    She lunged¡ªand fell over, then, with Kaden directing every movement, crawled across the floor. One clawed hand lashed out to rake the stone, throwing sparks from the runes. Then, with jerky movements, he forced her to take one scroll and toss it across the room.

    And another.

    And the last.

    Then, gritting her teeth until her lips bled, Naski pushed the pedastals with the black and red orbs across the line.

    ¡°Good demon. That¡¯ll do, demon.¡± He stuffed her back in Inventory and collected the entire pedastals.

    The three tier-up scrolls could make him a centurion now.

    ¡°Kaden, we need to leave. Soon.¡± Sara¡¯s nervous call brought him back to reality.¡°There are others in the vault, fighting the Necromancers.¡±

    He activated [Stealth Aura] and wrapped it around both of them, and let his Portal close. Sara was right - the Emporium had brought in more guards, more powerful guards, while the Necromancers worked with what they had¡ªand anyone they killed.

    Skully followed dutifully, eager to help and yet out of his league.

    Kaden kneeled and put all three tier-up scrolls into his Inventory, then picked up Skully and slung him over his back. ¡°I have a plan to get everything out of here. Stack all your inventory cubes in other cubes.¡±

    ¡°Already done.¡± She handed it over.

    He put them into Skully¡¯s Inventory. Only one [Carrion Crow] remained, and the other three eggs weren¡¯t ready to hatch.

    That left Kaden with nothing from the Emporium except the two chrono scrolls he¡¯d purchased. With no way to help, he chose a different tact, climbing high on a pile of spellbooks where he could see the battle. Kaden drew Thorn Caster and picked the nearest battle.

    A little Poison wasn¡¯t much to worry about. Three stacks of poison were different. Kaden almost felt sorry for the Emporium guard beset by ghouls, skeletons, vengeful spirits and someone who kept raining poison arrows down.

    The momentum of battle shifted as guards fell¡ªand rose moments later as skeletons.

    The ground shook as a different kind of portal blasted into existence, not round, but with terrible torn edges that bled white light out. Through it came a set of Necromancer Centurions. Duggarn led them, wearing a [Tomb Champion] like an oversized suit of armor, and he showed absolutely no mercy, starting with the weakest guards.

    Working his way toward Emir.

    ¡°Cease!¡± Duggarn boomed out.

    Even the ten copies of Emir stopped attacking. ¡°Leave the Emporium immediately. Return anything you¡¯ve taken. On my authority, you¡¯ll be granted clemency.¡±

    Duggarn¡¯s cold laughter made Kaden very, very afraid. ¡°Where are the twins?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I wouldn¡¯t tell you if I did. I didn¡¯t personally particpate in kidnapping them for that ridiculous skull¡ª¡± Emir¡¯s voice cut out as he realized his mistake. ¡°We are operating under--this is Broker Diggus Bikus¡¯s business by proxy. Striking us is striking him.Choose carefully what you do next.¡±

    Duggarn kept quiet for a moment. ¡°Choose. That¡¯s what he did. You think we care about gear? You think we care about spell books for [Ice Shard] or [Gust]? We care about our own. Return them to us. We¡¯ll leave.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not my call,¡± Emir said. ¡°But if you want to talk to Diggus himself, I can arrange it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll allow it.¡± Duggarn looked to the others. ¡°Let him call them. One chance to return the twins. One chance to end this.¡±

    Emir took a mirror from his Inventory. ¡°Mirror, Mirror, in my hand, let me call who is known as entity 8675309x10x18.¡±

    The Mirror turned deepest black, and a deep, rich voice boomed out. ¡°Emir, calling so soon? I knew you¡¯d be powerful at fifty. I¡¯m pleased.¡±

    ¡°Not Emir,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°You looked me in the eye and said you didn¡¯t have the twins. Now I¡¯m going to give you one more chance. Give them back, we leave the Emporium.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have them anymore. And I won¡¯t¡ª¡± The conversation cut off as Duggan bent and broke the mirror. ¡°Send it all to Mortis.¡±

    One by one, the Necromancers cast spells that opened yawning chasms that gave off a shrill whine. And their skeletons shoveled stacks of equipment into it.

    Kaden¡¯s health began to drop even this far away from the rifts. He focused on Duggarn, using mind speech. *That¡¯s hurting us.*

    Immediately the portals closed, and the Centurion shouted. ¡°No more, we¡¯ve got friendlies. Come on out.¡±

    Kaden and Sara emerged from [Stealth Aura] and approached Duggarn. ¡°Your gold was here. I swear before the system I don¡¯t have it or know what they did with it.¡±

    Oath heard and acknowledged: Kaden Birch does not have the chest of gold or knowledge thereof.

    ¡°Safe. Not as important as the twins but safe. Did he actually sell you a scroll?¡±

    ¡°He swapped it for a scroll of [Nullify] and said he was going to take the gold and blame it on you,¡± Kaden said.

    Emir¡¯s cold stare hadn¡¯t left Sara or Kaden. ¡°When I¡¯m resurrected¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wrong,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°No resurrection for you.¡±

    ¡°Then when Diggus communes with me, I¡¯ll tell him who¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wrong again.¡± Duggarn glanced to Kaden and Sara. ¡°He won¡¯t be telling any tales. Come here, both of you, cut him up.¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t hesitate, slicing and stabbing with her swords.

    Kaden cut Emir¡¯s throat with the Levicon Blade, then slashed over.

    You have killed an [Imperator] Emire Cook.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained two levels.

    You have attribute points to distribute.

    ¡°Two levels,¡± Sara gasped. ¡°Two.¡±

    Duggarn nodded, grim as could be. ¡°That¡¯s good. Because for both of you, there¡¯s only one way out of this that keeps you safe. I¡¯m so sorry. You weren¡¯t supposed to be here.¡±

    Before Kaden could move, Duggar unleashed a blast of Necro energy at Skully, exploding the skull into a thousand shards. Kaden summoned Remembrance and activated [Moment of Speed]

    [Duggarn Gravebreaker has used Class Evolution Skill Mortis¡¯s Grip]

    Evasion canceled.

    Resistances canceled.

    Counter-attack canceled.

    GENESIS STATE DETECTED.

    ERROR_ENTITY_NOT_IN_NODE.

    No Resolution Available¡­

    GENESIS HALTED.

    You have died.

    You have been resurrected.

    You have suffered a level penalty.

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden gasped and lurched back to life.

    He was in a temple, carved white marble arches soaring overhead, and for once, nothing hurt. Beside him, Sara lay on a table, writhing.

    ¡°Hold on, we¡¯re healing you,¡± The priest said.

    Kaden¡¯s health began to tick upward, though his abdomen ached. ¡°Where am I? What happened?¡±

    ¡°You were caught in a war between what was the Salish Sales Emporium and the Necromancers. Corpse Cart workers found you nailed to the wall on the fourth floor with bone daggers through you and a scroll of [Remove Foul Smell] stuffed in your mouth. It¡¯s normal to feel some disorientation.¡± The Priest helped Kaden sit up.

    Sara couldn¡¯t stop crying, and Kaden rose to hug her. ¡°It¡¯s ok.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not. I remember it. I remember it all.¡± Sara wept as she held onto him. ¡°I was dead, but I kept seeing and hearing everything. I saw them drag our bodies out. I saw them nail us there. Something¡¯s wrong with me.¡±

    Kaden had a hunch he knew why. And that was where he was headed next.

 Twenty Two - Return-al

    The streets of Omnor held less tension now. The temple was in the far northeastern corner of Omnor, but the [Priest] assured them a blessing would grant them permission to travel anywhere for twenty four hours. Kaden headed straight for the Underground Market with Sara beside him.

    This time, the bouncers glanced his way and shrugged letting them pass. ¡°Two Brokers? Twice the trouble.¡±

    With that, Sara and Kaden were passed on. Twelve steps into the Underground Market, Kaden caught sight of a young Udon girl among the swarm of market visitors, and rushed to her. ¡°We¡¯re headed to meet with your boss. Do we need an appointment?¡±

    She immediately latched onto Sara¡¯s hand and led them through the streets of the market to an entirely different building, arched stone with heavy wooden signs advertising a blacksmith, except the forge at the front lay dark and cold. Kaden plunged into the darkness, hell bent on figuring out how to help Sara.

    One step into the abaondoned blacksmith, Kaden shifted locations. Suridev must have installed a Rune Portal, allowing entrance to his true headquarters. Bright lights and glossy wood and stone told Kaden he was back in the Udon complex. Today, the fine inlayed wood floors were splattered with blood, and teenagers worked with mop and bucket to clean up the mess, arguing about whether that was a thumb or a toe in the pile.

    ¡°Radu! I told you no new customers until the hour!¡± Vanya called as he entered the center hall¡ªthen recognized them. ¡°Appologies, for the mess. A guest was less than polite with Lord Suridev. A guest who mis-estimated the power of a Centurion versus the strength of a dragon. His knowledge is corrected. You can¡¯t enter here, by virtue of neutrality, unless you¡¯re willing to let us verify what happened.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, what happened?¡± Kaden asked, trying to restrain himself.

    Vanya dispatched a Messenger Bird. ¡°Word is you were in the Emporium at the exact moment the Necromancers attacked. Everyone is on edge, accusing everyone else of assisting. The Brokers are nearly at war with each other. To keep the Master¡¯s standing, I have called an investigator.¡±

    The center hall had high arched alcoves with sculptures of different dragons slaying heroes with varying degrees of ease, but one alcove lay covered by a heavy woven tapestry of a dragon devouring St. George, the Dragon Feeder. Servants rushed to pull back the tapestry, revealing an empty alcove with a pattern of runes that reminded Kaden of the ancient FarPortal he¡¯d found in the cultist town.

    The runes glowed, forming pillars of light that reached to the top of the alcove, and the center grew brighter and brighter. The portal flashed, and out stepped a thin man in dark purple robes with an ridiculous hat and even uglier spectacles that gleamed like polished [Thousand Year Terrapin] shell.

    [Inquisitor Marx]

    The Inquisitors are masters of revelation, the craft which shows them the facts of what has occured, for as far as they focus, when the materials support. The final answer in most matters, few expect their arrival and even fewer survive it.

    The Inquisitor scanned the room and when his gaze locked on Kaden, his spectacles shifted to crimson and then changed colors, cycling through the colors of the rainbow.

    Inquisitor Marx has used [Revalation of Cintus].

    Your recent history is under review.

    Kaden¡¯s skin burned and he coughed as the mana in his soul resonated, echoing images he couldn¡¯t quite understand, couldn¡¯t prevent or control. His chest ached, and Kaden held his breath as he steadied himself for battle based on what happened next. If the inquisitor said ¡®Attack¡¯ or even ¡®Atta,¡¯ Kaden would in fact attack him, because there would be no question he¡¯d discovered their role in the attack.

    ¡°What a waste of time. I saw their corpses in the Emporium. That one was attacking a Necromancer when he died, for all the good it did, that one never saw it coming but couldn¡¯t even die correctly. I had suspected both being involved but the trail of blood and bones showed they were victims, and their inventories contained nothing from the Emporium. Though that one carries a mana rat skull, so perhaps he had it coming.¡±

    Vanya visibly relaxed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the neutrality agreement insists we call you for every visitor¡ª¡±

    ¡°And well that you did!¡± The Inquisitor boomed out. ¡°And well that you shall. We know the Necromancers had help with their attack. We know they couldn¡¯t possibly have taken all the scrolls. We will find out who.¡± He cocked his head to the side, listening to the air. ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that? There¡¯s a better prospect. Someone who might actually be the culprit. I go, tell your Master he will continue to comply. We may not be able to kill a dragon, but we can make his business very difficult.¡±

    Kaden was going over those final moments in his mind. Duggarn had said something just before he attacked. That this was the only safe way for Sara and Kaden. That he wanted to make sure they got at least a level.

    So they wouldn¡¯t be down a level. Making Kaden and Sara look like collateral damage had caused suspicion to drain away like [serpentor] blood in a river.

    Vanya watched as the Inquisitor departed through his not-quite-farportal. He personally hung the tapestry back, then turned to Sara and Kaden. ¡°My sincere apologies for the inconvenience. Now, how do I help?¡±

    Kaden sidestepped a pile of entrails as a servant shoveled them. ¡°There¡¯s a problem with Sara, something that never happened before. She drank tea after he did, and he said there was very little chance of something bad happening. I think it may have.¡±

    ¡°I want to talk to Suridev,¡± Sara said. ¡°I want to talk alone.¡±

    That was a surprise.

    Vanya gave a short bow. ¡°Please, if you would come this way. Mind your step.¡±

    This time, he led them out of the main hub and down narrow hallways, past meeting tables with silk curtains draped over them, and into areas where Udon family members laughed and ate¡ªand stiffened as Kaden and Sara passed. ¡°You will remain, the lady will come with me,¡± Vanya said, pointing to what was obviously a dining table for two.

    Kaden took a seat at the table and pulled the curtain shut for what little privacy it gave him. Sara was more than capable of taking care of herself, but he couldn¡¯t help worrying for her. And Duggarn, he had words for when they met.

    His stomach still hurt where a white scar showed on his abdomen. His Inventory was intact, all his armor had been left, but the Centurion hadn¡¯t even thought to warn Kaden or Sarah or explain his plan. Killing Emir Cook had given him just enough experience for two levels. Duggarn¡¯s plan to protect Kaden had cost him one.

    The two attribute points remained, waiting for him to distribute them.

    One would be going to Willpower, the other to Intelligence so he wouldn¡¯t be dependent on the booster. With the first change unlocked, he knew how to assign it to the garbage prompt.

    Intelligence didn¡¯t reveal instant solutions for his problems, but Kaden was sure it would help. Willpower he wouldn¡¯t be able to tell until Nasky tried to break free. And she would try. He used the battle against Emir Cook as a test for [Relive the Moment], which worked exactly (and only) as advertised. Every decision, every movement, every injury his to relive and see exactly how it had turned out. As a utility spell, it wasn¡¯t immediately useful, but if it would give him insights into battles, it would make a difference.

    The skill didn¡¯t work on older battles, only moments since he¡¯d gained the spell. He could relive waking up in the temple over and over, and the moment Duggarn used Mortis¡¯s grasp. A class evolution skill so powerful Kaden hadn¡¯t even been given a prompt to resist it.

    It might have been hours before Sara returned to Kaden¡¯s table. ¡°Come, have dinner. We¡¯re going to stay here until our meeting with Diggus.¡±

    ¡°Did Suridev know what happened to you?¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°Dragon esssence is very powerful. When he drank my tea, the slightest fragment of power drained off into it. If I wasn¡¯t already bonded to a cosmic entity, odds are it wouldn¡¯t have done anything. As it is, I¡¯m not quite mortal anymore.¡±

    Mortal was one of those things you either were or weren¡¯t like ¡®on fire¡¯ or ¡®pregnant.¡¯ Kaden waited for her to explain more. ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°Dragons don¡¯t die if you slay their body. They simply return¡ªand usually find whoever slew them and return the favor. I can¡¯t quite return, but I don¡¯t exactly die, either. Suridev assures me it gets easier. There¡¯s more to it, but that¡¯s all I can say.¡± Sara seemed relieved.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Skully, but if even a fragment survived, he¡¯ll be back.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t need to say why he was keen on retrieving the skull.

    ¡°What are you even going to do with those?¡±

    Jumping straight to level fifty had been a thought. ¡°At fifty, the System spawns a [Nemesis]. I don¡¯t know that I¡¯m ready for this. I don¡¯t want to outlevel my party. Using one on Trella would be a waste.¡± Kaden shook his head. ¡°The key was to keep them from having it.¡±

    ¡°If the Emporium is a business aligned with Diggus Bikus, we¡¯ll be meeting with someone we just stole from. And this wasn¡¯t shoplifting a few beetles. Have you considered what to do about that?¡±

    ¡°Oberix said she¡¯d only act as a Broker if we also asked Diggus. And the answer as to what to do is that I plan to trade most of what we got to Oberix for [Fate Breaker].¡± Not the tier up scrolls. Or, maybe, only the Tier Up Scrolls.

    ¡°You¡¯re assuming Oberix negotiates in a rational manner. You¡¯re assuming they want things. You¡¯re working off a flawed assumption that Oberix¡¯s most desired treasure isn¡¯t the joy of manipulation.¡± Sara was definitely better at negotiation if the negotiations were ¡®normal.¡¯

    Kaden had thought Sara meant they would go out for dinner. Instead, she joined him at his private table, Udon servers brought bowls of curry and rice that made Kaden think he was going to develop [Resist Spice], but every single bite was delicious, so good he couldn¡¯t help asking for the [Recipe], which he received almost immediately.

    With Sara¡¯s help, he tested the active version of [Relive the Moment], which required he start using the skill and pay a constant mana cost that grew with time. The difference was reliving one moment alone versus being able to stop and walk around, studying every point of view. The mana cost kept rising, so it wasn¡¯t unlimited, but it was interesting being able to go back for every little detail of sight, sound, or smell from any angle.

    ¡°It¡¯s the perfect spell for a thief,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Or a creep. Creeps would love this.¡±

    Sara¡¯s look of extreme distaste confirmed exactly what Kaden thought. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s not so bad Chrono Mana spells are rare.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯d burn the skill slot but it might be useful.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t. Occular Mages, Biomancers, Padfoots, all of them are every bit as bad, capable of spying on anyone, anywhere.¡±

    Kaden relieved her statement, studying body language. Would [Skills] like lie detection work during [Relive the Moment]? If so, perhaps it was more powerful than he¡¯d thought. Or it could be.

    By late evening, Kaden had gained a point in [Relive the Moment], which only served to lower the mana cost. And he¡¯d rehearsed a thousand different lies for Diggus, but would aim to stick for the simplest answers possible.

    When he followed Vanya to a sky skiff dock, Kaden was surprised to find the golden dragon, no longer than Kaden¡¯s arm, perched on the bow of the sky skiff. There would be fewer ambushes tonight.

    *Kid, I¡¯ll personally see you to Diggus¡¯s Enclave* Suridev sent it as a greeting. *You ready for this? Enjoy the show. It won¡¯t kill you to smile and cheer.*

    Kaden nodded. ¡°I will.¡±

    Moments later, the deckhands cast off, and the skiff began to rise. Instead of rocketing straight up, it followed a slow glide upward, tracing the circumference of the lava dome so close Kaden could have stuck out Remembrance and burned off a hand.

    A young man on the bow called out, ¡°Behold, on your left, Syntera¡¯s Circus of Pleasure. Wait, no, Symphony of Blood? Tempest of¡ªoh no.¡± He looked to the dragon on the bow and covered his mouth. ¡°Forgive me, Lord Suridev. I will throw myself off the bow for dishonoring your business.¡±

    Kaden triggered [Moment of Speed]¡ªand still arrived a heart beat after Suridev, who, despite being two feet long, knocked the man down. *Nobody jumps. If they can¡¯t be bothered to choose unique names, you can¡¯t be bothered to learn ¡®em.*

    ¡°Syntera¡¯s Sticky Sex Spot,¡± Kaden pronounced as they a floating island that looked more like a torture dungeon than a pleasure center. ¡°Every visit comes with a free trip to the temple for [Status] cleansing. That one over there is ¡®Bullied-As-A-Boy Bluderyn¡¯s Ouchy Shack. Bring Your Own Bandages. I never heard what Diggus or Oberix call their domains.¡±

    *The gods are merciful,* Suridev said. *Sit down and enjoy the show.*

    Kaden sat down beside Sara at the front at the skiff as marooon lights lit up the sky ahead of the skiff. Clouds of vapor formed under the skiff and changed colors, reflecting a brilliant dawn, as a flaming meteor formed overhead to cast shadows. Reeds stuck up through the clouds so the sky-skiff floated on a river in the sky, as the sun swung further overhead, and ahead¡ªit was and island. A castle. An ancient temple carved from stone so white the Necrosium bones couldn¡¯t match.

    Trumpets rang out, and drums boomed like thunder, but the meteor sun contined to move until the sky skiff sailed toward a sunset¡ªa sunset that highlighted a man, wreathing him in eclipse-fire.

    No man could be that large.

    No man could stand like that, catching the Meteor sun in his hands¡ªand crushing it like Kaden would crush a terror-bird¡¯s skull. Suridev didn¡¯t need to worry, Kaden was loving every moment. Mana forms of giant cranes formed, and they dove at the man.

    A man who had crushed the sun.

    He fought, tearing them up, forming lightning bolts from their very bodies.

    Then the cranes turned on the Sky Skiff, diving at claws and teet.

    And every one fell dead from a bolt, exploding into petals that showered down on the sky-skiff as it came to rest gently at a dock. Either the island was moving or the man was floating closer, as the imposing figure grew larger and larger.

    Even though he¡¯d murdered the sun with his bare hands, Diggus wore a crown of sunset on thick, curly black hair, and his olive skin was flawless, his nose would have been called beak-like if not attached to someone so regal.

    He could have carried Mr. Dervish with one hand, and Kaden would simply never have a build like that, a chest that could stop a stampeding Quillophant.

    A leather loincloth did a poor job of concealing anything beneath it, and even the drops of sweat seemed to take pre-charted paths that followed bulging veins.

    Swarms of servants in white gowns threw themselves on the ground as the trumpets rang out again, and Kaden couldn¡¯t help joining them in cheering as Diggus bowed and waved to his own employees.

    ¡°Again! Again!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°We¡¯ll take the skiff out again, you do the whole sun crushing thing again! How much does that cost? How many people do you have to employ just to put on that show? Kaden, why are you bowing?¡±

    Why was she not?

    *Kid¡¯s too mortal. Can¡¯t help himself,* Suridev said, slithering down to bump Kaden.

    With one blink of the dragon¡¯s eye, the illusion, the glamor faded. Kaden looked around as the trumpets died off, unsure what had just happened. He stood in the presence of a god. A minor god, perhaps, but a god, and even looking at him made Kaden want to bow again.

    ¡°Get. Up.¡± Sara yanked his arm. ¡°None of that.¡±

    Diggus approached, still so much larger than Kaden, but more like a man than a giant. His crown of sunset was now just a crown of silver. ¡°Kaden Birch. Mistress Scylla¡¯s daughter, Sara. I¡¯ve been waiting to meet you ever since I received her message.¡±

    His voice thrummed in Kaden¡¯s chest, carrying assurances that all was well here. All was safe in the presence of the emperor of the market himself. Kaden tried to kneel and flinched as one of Sara¡¯s pseudopods nipped at his leg. ¡°Sir. It¡¯s such an honor to meet you,¡± he said.

    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to me, to meet every client. Come, let me show you my Villa in the Sky. Sara, your mother spent so many nights here she had her own room.¡± Diggus waved to her to follow him up the stone path.

    She wasn¡¯t moving, talking with Lord Suridev.

    *This is as far as I come. Be smart, be quiet, say little and offer even less,* the dragon said.

    Sara reluctantly turned and joined Kaden. ¡°Stop looking at him like that. I swear, if I could get Suridev to spit in your eye and fix it, I would. He¡¯s not a god. Those weren¡¯t even good illusions.¡±

    Kaden would let her have her opinion. Sara wasn¡¯t required to be right. They strolled through a white stone villa, surrounded by a crowd of servants. ¡°How long have you been here?¡±

    ¡°Five or six cataclysms,¡± Diggus said. ¡°Maybe only four. We don¡¯t get affected much. My second System patch was when we had to have physical cards for every skill. Thankfully that didn¡¯t last long.¡±

    Diggus clapped his hands, and slidng doors shattered from the impact, revealing a dining room. He had them recline at a long, low table while servants brought plates of roast meat and vegetables and cups of wine that Kaden avoided. Getting drunk would deprive him of moments in Diggus¡¯s presence.

    And the Broker seemed to know so much about them both. He applauded Sara summoning a [Crawling Horror], tested feeding one to a rabid wolf, and was delighted when the wolf exploded.

    Sara was not amused.

    Then he turned his attention on Kaden. ¡°[Beast Masters.] You¡¯re the fourth I¡¯ve dealt with in all my years. No [Beast Form], no [Beast Lord] and you don¡¯t even know what your class¡¯s Evolution skill is, do you?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what my tier three or four skills are.¡±

    ¡°[Beast Memory] will work with [Beast Form] to give you access to beasts that are extinct. [Beast Spawn] is the only tier four spell I saw, it let her create beasts from nothing but mana. She said [Beast Modification] let her change her Beast¡¯s skills and attributes.¡± Diggus shook his head. ¡°What was the Centurion evolution? I don¡¯t know. I only saw one Centurion Beast Master, ever.

    This would be a conversation he used [Relive the Moment] on over and over. ¡°Do you know why we¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°The story? Or the reason?¡± Diggus laughed as Sara focused on him. ¡°Oh, I heard the story you told to get in. Searching to break a binding, cursed lovers. You can always find another lover, bindings are almost entirely unbreakable. But this spellbook¡­I know where it is.¡±

    Of course he did. Anyone that magnificent would have it. Anyone¡ª

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Charm

    Your skill with Resist Charm has increased.

    It was like waking up from a dream. The way he laid was uncomfortable. The food bland. The stone was grey, not white, and Diggus, while large, wasn¡¯t god-like.

    *Sara.*

    *Thank the gods, idiot-hour is finally over. Hard to Kill?*

    *Yes.* He mindlessly chewed rubbery chicken and grinned. *Did I say anything that would harm us?*

    Sara shook her head. ¡°Diggus, you said you know where the spellbook is. Can you get it for us?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a harsh question. If you didn¡¯t have a little something extra in your blood, you wouldn¡¯t be asking that way.¡± The Broker tried to focus on Sara. ¡°I could get it. I won¡¯t. And yes, I know Oberix hijacked your little shipment. I don¡¯t often deal in Mana Dust, which is why I got along so well with your mother. That and she¡¯s the only woman to ever make me scream in bed.¡±

    Sara turned slightly green, matching the shade of the Horror¡¯s pseudopods. ¡°We¡¯d also be interested in information on where the book is. Acquiring it is probably within our capabilities.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± This smile was real, and Diggus sat up, downing a whole cup of wine. ¡°This Vichorean Spellbook entered the market and was traded for mere gold. You can imagine it wound up in a Broker¡¯s hands almost immediately.¡±

    ¡°Oberix.¡± Kaden spoke the name like a curse. Oberix even told him they looked for chances to show who was the better broker.

    Diggus shrugged. ¡°Oberix lives off of need. Oberix feeds off desires. But Oberix doesn¡¯t have the Vichorean spellbook. I have it.¡±

 Twenty Three - Simple Enough

    Kaden was completely awake and now viciously focused. ¡°I want the spellbook. I¡¯m willing and capable of buying it.¡±

    Diggus brushed himself off. ¡°Why are you not under my thrall? Oh, [Hard to Kill]. You may as well sit at the adult table, then. See, a treasure like this? I don¡¯t just sell. Not even to the daughter of the best lay I ever had. So I¡¯ve invited the brokers¡ªand their representatives¡ªto explain why I should sell to them. You can make your case, too.¡±

    Sara was practically bristling with rage. ¡°My mother¡ª¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t have a Business Manager profession, and would still recognize this is just good business.¡± Diggus undid his toga, changing it for a robe that didn¡¯t even tie in the back, and proceeded up a set of stairs to a second floor where sky-skiffs were docking without fireworks, meteors or theatrics.

    Kaden knew beautiful. He¡¯d seen Trella, after all.

    Syntera Fleshseeker was stunning, almost as beautiful as Trella. She moved with a grace that made her curves ripple as she flowed down off the Skyskiff. A second mouth opened in the smooth tan expanse of her stomach, and then her breasts grew eyes where there were nipples before they sank back into the chest. She leaned over, her arms thickening as she stood up on leg-arms which flowed into flesh of a new woman, one with pale white skin and glistening blond hair.

    The shifting stopped as she took on new curves and adjusted a dress that formed from the same material. And she glowed, a heavenly white radius that made her almost blinding.

    ¡°You glow,¡± Kaden said as the Broker looked to him and Sara.

    ¡°I have many qualities. But that¡¯s the first time someone¡¯s said that.¡± Her voice was rich and dark and suggested so much. More. He knew this more, he just didn¡¯t know where.

    As recognition clicked in, Kaden almost vomitted. And stepped in front of Sara. ¡°You. You¡¯re a Demon.¡±

    What was white? Probably nothing good for Kaden.

    A hollow formed in Syntera¡¯s stomach, revealing a core that had no cracks. It was solid purple. White was definitely bad for Kaden. Bad for Sara. Bad for everyone.

    ¡°Feared by Demons! Oh, young man. I¡¯m not afraid of you, and you should be a little afraid of me, but not for the reasons you think. She winked one eye and then another, ¡°Demon Lord Asmodeus knows your name. How delightful.¡±

    Kaden dropped Nasky in front of him. ¡°I¡¯m not here to play games. As she found out.¡±

    ¡°Save me!¡± Nasky shouted. ¡°I will serve you for eternities to come!¡±

    Syntera put both hands on Nasky¡¯s face and leaned in to kiss her. ¡°How does it feel to become the prey, little hunter? How does it feel to have your Hatred used against you? Your pain is so pleasurable.¡±

    Kaden held no love for Nasky, but this was cruelty. He yanked her back into Inventory.

    Syntera sat across from Diggus. To her right sat a man who could only be Bluderyn. His body was covered in scars, his clothing was covered in blades, and Kaden was fairly sure a lot of the scars came from his own blades, because moving, even sitting with that many knives couldn¡¯t be safe, let alone comfortable.

    ¡°Hi. Kaden Birch,¡± He said.

    ¡°You killed two of my men,¡± Bluderyn said.

    ¡°I damn near killed your third guy, too. His [Thorn Cage] was just a little too strong for me. But next time will be different.¡±

    Bluderyn appeared mollified. ¡°I can respect that. Killing is the only true power. Permanent Murder is the only true killing.¡±

    To Kaden¡¯s left, Oberix slipped into a seat. Kaden nodded to her. ¡°Broker Oberix.¡±

    ¡°I know where the spellbook is,¡± Oberix said with unadulterated joy. ¡°And I¡¯m working to help you acquire it, just as I promised.¡±

    Diggus cleared his throat. ¡°Enough introductions. You know why you¡¯re here. I¡¯m planning on another grand tournament. That spellbook would make a hell of a reward, unless one of you is willing to make me a better offer.¡±

    Oberix stood and applauded, as did the other Brokers at the table. ¡°We love tournaments. What¡¯s this one called?¡±

    ¡°How is this helping us get the spellbook?¡± Kaden asked her.

    Bluderyn coughed. ¡°There¡¯s so many ways. You could assemble a crack team of thieves to steal the book during the tournament.*

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him,¡± Syntera said. ¡°You¡¯ll be outmatched and outleveled, but if you have the true heart and desire, you could train hard, enter the tournament and win the book yourself.¡±

    Sara stood and focused on Diggus. ¡°Or we could just buy it. Mom told me you were a member of the Mecari, which means you know the best deal is the one that gets you the most gold. You could buy something truly unique. Something that would bring hopeful people worldwide to compete in your tournament.¡±

    ¡°Go on,¡± Diggus said.

    As if Sara needed permission. ¡°How many people know what spells are in a Vichorean spellbook? Plus, it¡¯s not like it was even the best one, it¡¯s one out of thousands from one of their libraries. You need a prize that people who have never heard of the market would come for, not a treatise on [Remove Foul Smell.] You can read Vichorean, right? You did check to make sure it wasn¡¯t [Remove Foul Smell,] right?¡±

    Kaden understood the direction of her argument. ¡°People from all around the world coming to Omnor. Searching for anything that will give them an edge in the competition for an actual prize. Coming to you. All of you. Maybe not you, so much, Diggus, since the Emporium got gutted by the Necromancers. Gold makes the world go around. I could pay. I could do it now.¡±

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Diggus looked unamused. ¡°Then we¡¯ll do it by bid. Each of you, write out what you¡¯re willing to pay. Pass it to me. The highest bid wins.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not fair!¡± Sara said.

    ¡°It¡¯s entirely fair. You want to hear everyone else¡¯s bid so you can win by a single gold?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± she said.

    ¡°Then there¡¯s a new rule. If you don¡¯t beat everyone else by at least twenty thousand gold, you don¡¯t win at all.¡± Diggus seemed quite pleased with this new rule.

    Kaden put a hand on Sara¡¯s shoulder to keep her from making it forty thousand. *It will be ok. Just don¡¯t write until I tell you.*

    He triggered [Relive the Moment¡¯s] Active Mode.

    Mana began to tick downward as the Brokers marked slips of wood, then turned them over and passed them. Oberix scribbled¡ªthen discarded a chip and dashed a better entry on the one they turned in.

    [Relive the Moment] activated in a heartbeat. Syntera was offering fifty thousand. Bluderyn, eighty thousand gold. Oberix hadn¡¯t written a number, she¡¯d written a message. And you thought this skill wasn¡¯t useful.

    Her real offer was ten copper.

    Kaden scribbled a number on his piece and passed it over.

    If Diggus cared who bought the book, it didn¡¯t show. He read the chits, then tossed them into the fire. ¡°Sold to Kaden Birch for a hundred thousand and one gold.¡±

    Kaden mentally assigned the debt to [Authority of Vichor]. For the briefest moment, he felt someone look through his eyes.

    This debt is accepted.

    You have spent wisely.

    [Authority of Vichor] is ended.

    Kade took the book and banished it to Inventory. Then spun and faced Oberix. ¡°You! You promised you¡¯d help. You had to know where that book was.¡±

    ¡°Calm yourself,¡± they answered. ¡°Diggus, may I have a moment?¡±

    ¡°He belongs to you,¡± Diggus said. ¡°I have a grand tournament to plan and promote and the traitor who helped the necromancers to find.¡±

    Kaden went with Oberix back to the Sky Skiff, where he produced the scrolls. ¡°My part of the bargain.¡±

    Oberix nodded. ¡°What do you expect me to do with them?¡±

    ¡°You said¡ª¡±

    ¡°They were for a client? Yes.¡± Oberix tipped their head. ¡°I was hired to help the Necromancers. I told them ¡®I know who can get your men into the Emporium, but the cost will be steep.¡¯ Funny thing, [Prophecy]. It doesn¡¯t always tell me the how. Now, getting them into the warehouse, that I foresaw. But not your little shopping trip.¡±

    ¡°You spent a hundred and fifty thousand gold¡ª¡±

    Oberix waved their hands. ¡°Not my gold. And if you¡¯d looked at something sensible or sane or taken anything other than Chrono-mana, not so expensive.¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Sara said. ¡°We¡¯re done. We fulfilled our bargain with you. We¡¯re done.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden knew this moment was coming. ¡°How much do you want for the [Fate Breaker]?¡±

    Oberix studied him like a starving man studied an oil painting of a ham and cheese sandwich. ¡°You don¡¯t get to use it on your lover. Even if you buy it, you will never use it to break free. But if you hand it back to me, you¡¯ll never buy it. How does that make you feel?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s stomach twisted into knots. He¡¯d made many bad judgements about people, but the calm that possessed Oberix said they were confident in their claims. But if those claims were right, he¡¯d never use it.

    He looked to Sara, who shook her head. *I don¡¯t know what to tell you.*

    ¡°Oh, and one more thing? Your lovely Professor? He doesn¡¯t succeed. His attempts to break the binding never succeed.¡± Oberix held out their hand. ¡°Still want to give it back?¡±

    ¡°What is your game?¡± Kaden asked, nearly shaking with anger. ¡°What do you get out of this? I can¡¯t use it, even if I buy it, but Professor Treadle¡¯s research doesn¡¯t work either? Why offer me something I can¡¯t use?¡±

    Oberix¡¯s face rarely showed emotion. When it did, it was less genuine and more like they were carefully following a script of motions to mimic real feelings. But now, the pleasure was real. ¡°This. I get this. Diggus told you the truth. I feed off of desires and you, little boy, are a steak topped with cake and marinated in ¡®what if?¡¯, with just a dash of bitter reality on top. It¡¯s that fear that really makes the meal whole.¡±

    Kaden handed her the [Fate Breaker].

    It felt like slamming a door on dreams.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Oberix¡¯s confusion was real. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to offer me scrolls. Hundreds of scrolls. Even tier up scrolls. And some weapons from your parents. The bow Syntera had made for your father. Rain of Blood? Bloody Rain?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t have the scrolls. I don¡¯t even know where they are, but my best guess is that they were inside a reanimated skeleton that got shoved into a sacrifical rift to Mortis¡¯s realm. And I¡¯m done. Done with this market. Done with this city.¡± Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±

    Oberix looked like a child whose hands were slapped. ¡°Be that way. But I would use those scrolls. I mean, totally your call, but I¡¯d use them now, if I were you.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°Because in a moment, you¡¯ll be screaming and running and burning and wishing you¡¯d done it already.¡± Oberix shrugged.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, absorbing both. As much as he hated the Broker and their games, Oberix hadn¡¯t lied. ¡°Why would we be running?¡±

    ¡°Because in about eight seconds, Diggus gets a message about the scroll archive at the Emporium. And in about twelve seconds, his [Inquisitor] explains who was in there, and¡ªthat¡¯s the right response! Run!¡± Oberix cheered and waved as Kaden took off with Sara at his side.

    Kaden leaped into the nearest sky skiff and rushed to the back.

    ¡°Do you know how to steer this?¡± Sara shouted as she tried to untie the skiff and began to gnaw at cords.

    ¡°No, and it¡¯s too slow.¡± Kaden tore through the storage compartment. ¡°Hold on to me. Don¡¯t let go.¡±

    ¡°Why would I¡ª¡± Sara grabbed onto Kaden as he picked her up.

    The Villa exploded with brilliant golden light, and the image of a god soared upward, roaring with rage.

    Kaden jumped, doing his best to aim them toward the Emporium so far below. In one hand, he clutched an emergency bubble, in the other, Remembrance.

    *Trigger the bubble!* Sara practically screamed as they fell.

    Not yet. That would leave them floating gently downward. That would give time to respond. Faster and faster he fell, rocketing like a meteor toward earth. The edge of the lava dome neared.

    Kaden used Remembrance to bump the dome so they didn¡¯t hit the side.

    The earth swung close so quickly.

    *Use it! Please* Sara was near frantic. Maybe she had a legitimate fear of falling to her death inside an underground volcano. Kaden triggered the bubble and absorbed four hundred points of damage as it yanked them to a halt. A glance up showed dozens upon dozens of meteors falling toward him. Either guards or weapons, neither good.

    Before the panicked people below could react, he let go, dropping the last thirty feet, then ran for the exit.

    And emerged in Omnor.

    Kaden ran thirty feet, ducked into an alley and wrapped them in [Stealth Aura]. Without waiting, he climbed straight up and began traversing from rooftop to rooftop, always nearer and nearer the Necrosium.

    *Don¡¯t look now, but there¡¯s dozens of Diggus¡¯s men,* Sara sent.

    Of course there were.

    Kaden focused on one move and then the next, rooftop to rooftop, keeping [Stealth Aura] engaged, heading back toward the Emporium. The last time he¡¯d seen Duggarn, the Necromancer killed them both. Eight blocks from the Underground Market entrance, Kaden was finally able to drop them to street level.

    A few minutes later, he knocked on the door of the red pagoda, and Ms. Anderson answered. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you alive. Come in. The emporium is in shambles, but there are still loyalists. And word is, you upset one of the brokers.¡±

    ¡°Try most of them,¡± Sara said. ¡°We need out of Omnor.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°First, I need to return the spellbook. We may not be back for a while, but I¡¯ll pay you to hold our lodging until I tell you we¡¯re leaving.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve been the best guests. The kind who pay and don¡¯t show up.¡± She nodded to the staircase. ¡°Be my guests.¡±

    Kaden headed upstairs and prepared himself. ¡°You¡¯re going with me to Vichor. Time passes differently there, I¡¯m not taking a chance on us being there for months with you trapped there. Ashi¡¯s mother will have to permit you if she wants the book.¡±

    She reached for his hand.

    Kaden triggered the token.

    Entity [Sara Scylla] is not approved for entry.

    Entity [Sara Scylla] will be permanently disconnected.

 Twenty Four - The Easy Lie

    Kaden held on tighter, using Willpower alone. He had every right to return to Vichor, and damnit, it was his expectation that she did, too. The token struggled to transport him and not Sara, and the struggle went on forever. The extra point in willpower made it easier to assert that his expectation was reality. The longer he held on, the strong her became.

    Then the sense of being watched grew so strong he could feel the weight of stares.

    OVERRIDE ENTERED: ENTITY [SARA SCYLLA] ACCEPTED.

    The storm of colors surrounding him faded away.

    Kaden stood in a ruined stone house. The furniture was destroyed, the walls melted. But it was his. Sara looked around. ¡°You said it was nice.¡±

    ¡°This is my house.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that makes sense, then. Where do we take the book?¡± She peeked out into the streets of Vichor.

    Kaden dispatched the Falcrow with a message. ¡°That I don¡¯t know the answer to, but it¡¯s back in Vichor, where it belongs. I haven¡¯t even gotten to see what kind of spells it contains.¡±

    A Cycle of Fate. Fate Weave. Fate Bind. Fate Bend. Fate Twist.

    Kaden knew exactly what kind of spells these were. A portal opened with a whisper, and Ashi stepped through. Her wraps were glowing silk, every mana bead glowed with intense power, but for once, Ashi was happy. ¡°Come with me, Kaden Birch. And do not fear, for Mother is well pleased with you.¡±

    Ashi looked to Sara. ¡°And you, as well, are welcomed. It is not proper that you should be in this house without permission, but come and rest in luxury.¡±

    Kaden took the spellbook and handed it to her. ¡°How do you explain it being gone?¡±

    ¡°That I know. You will see.¡± Ashi opened another portal¡ªso easy in the rich mana of Vichor¡ªand motioned for them. ¡°I will be with you soon. Watch.¡±

    The portal led to a crowd of Vichorean mages, who stood in silence, watching the grand library ahead. Forget temples, Vichoreans worshiped no gods, but they waited for the head librarian to appear.

    The doors on the second level opened, and Najur, Ashi¡¯s less psychopathic brother stepped out. He carried the Vichorean staff in his hand, and wore the armor Kaden had recovered from Gigantorrod¡¯s nest, armor that covered so little it clearly explained why Najur¡¯s brother died.

    Najur looked deeply uncomfortable, but cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his voice carried. ¡°Citizens of Vichor. Honored scholars. Great Librarians and seekers of magic. The missing tome is in its place. Even now, our [Fate Weavers] are studying it. Even now, they work to delay the next Cataclysm. You were worried, that one of our treasures was missing. You were afraid, that this was a sign.¡±

    The murmur in the crowds fell silent.

    ¡°You were right to do so,¡± Najur said. ¡°Even the King must respect the knowledge of Vichor. Even the King must ensure that knowledge is available to all. I swear before the System, I will never try to keep knowledge for myself.¡±

    Oath acknowledge - Najur must share knowledge of spells.

    Slow cheers spread among the crowd, but Najur held up both hands. ¡°My father spoke and his word was reality. Let me be known by what I do not say. If there must be guidance, let it be from the wise. If there must be debate, may it be from many. When I must speak, let it be known as time when Vichor failed. Let us learn from it and do better each time.¡±

    Without waiting for the crowd, he went back into the library.

    A collective sigh ran through the crowd¡ªand cheers, as mages assured each other that they, personally, had never been worried. That they, personally, were confident that everything would be fine. It was everyone else who had worried.

    Sara wondered at everything, staring at the buildings. The mages. The sky. ¡°Do you understand what he said?¡±

    Shit. Kaden recapped. ¡°The book is back, Najur wants to be a quiet king, you can go about your business, move along.¡±

    ¡°Still can¡¯t believe you speak Vichorean. The mana is so thick here, it¡¯s like a blanket. Even I could work spells here.¡± Sara stopped to pick at the cobblestones. ¡°There are mana stones in the street. In the street!¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t surprised. He took her to the street markets. ¡°You don¡¯t pay. You ask, you get it. If something isn¡¯t in the market, I can show you who to ask.¡±

    ¡°Sara!¡± That was Eve.

    A crackle of lightning distracted Kaden as Vip dashed toward him. *Love. Fast! Love!*

    [Beast Soul] translated it for Kaden, but so did the way the small dog wiggled to get closer and lay her head on Kaden¡¯s shoulder, tail still thumping.

    As for Eve? Kaden looked to her¡ªand didn¡¯t understand what he saw. This Eve was smiling and not because someone was hurt. She embraced Sara in a hug, then stepped back and offered Kaden a pat on the back. An awkward pat on the back. ¡°You¡¯re here so quickly! And your levels! What happened? No, wait. If you tell me now, you¡¯ll simply have to repeat it. Let¡¯s go to the North Garden. It¡¯s so beautiful.¡±

    Sara¡¯s suspicious look confirmed what Kaden felt. ¡°You¡¯re looking good, Eve.¡±

    Eve¡¯s normally long blond hair was even longer and braided into a single braid that fell to the small of her back, and she¡¯d traded her alpha wolf robes for rich red Mage¡¯s robes. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stare. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to bite. Or hug. That hasn¡¯t changed. Physical affection is¡­unattractive. But Ashi¡¯s mother was able to give me back a piece of my soul that was lost to my many resurrections.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve actually got a personality?¡± Kaden asked.

    *Slow*, Vip said.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Kaden accepted Vip¡¯s reprimand.

    ¡°There¡¯s the Kaden I know.¡± Eve led them through the city, greeting various mages by name and getting stopped four different times to exchange greetings. ¡°They¡¯re working on replicating my skills with spells!¡±

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The North Garden was where Kaden had gone once to meet Ashi¡¯s mother. He stopped at the gate. ¡°She¡¯s not here, is she?¡±

    ¡°Not right now, but I can¡¯t make promises. And I grasp why you¡¯d dread meeting her. I grew up around entities with unspeakable power,¡± Eve said. ¡°Stay behind me, if something must be said, I¡¯ll handle her to keep you safe.¡±

    The plants in the garden began to re-arrange themselves, uprooting and moving stones to form a straight way through the gardens to the royal pavillion. There, Ashi spoke in hushed terms with King Najur.

    Kaden bowed.

    ¡°None of that,¡± Najur said. ¡°I am king by your hand, it is not disrespect to stand before me. Ashi chose well, when I begged her for help. And this one is a Queen among [Trap Snakes.] Underestimate her at your peril.¡±

    Eve blushed. ¡°I like [Trap Snakes]. They¡¯re so cute with their little nooses! And clever! All I did was verify every individual¡¯s standing to approach the royal family. There¡¯s nothing you have I want, no bribe worth looking aside, no threat I fear. It was a pleasure to help.¡±

    Ashi spoke to the servants, who rushed to arrange couches in the shade of palm trees that leaned to shade the area. ¡°This is Corvanus, Royal Archivist. Sara, I ask that you tell us of all that was done. The Line of Rahm does not forget, and the mistakes of history serve to guide us.¡±

    ¡°I could tell you,¡± Kaden said, as he set down Vip for the first time since arriving. She circled him and lay up against his feet.

    Ashi fixed him with a baleful stare. ¡°How often have you left out dangers you faced? She will not leave them out. Before we begin, do you thirst? Do you hunger? Should we let you bathe?¡±

    ¡°I could actually use a Healer,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I feel like there¡¯s still a bone spear in my gut.¡±

    Ashi swore under her breath. ¡°And you did not ask immediately.¡±

    A few minutes later, Kaden waited as a Healer worked his magic again and again. Then finally stopped. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong here. We¡¯ll need to cut it out.¡±

    Kaden drew the Levicon Blade. ¡°Ready.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do the cutting.¡± The healer invoked one spell after another. ¡°[Blade of Healing] doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    [Fortress of Stone] would handle if it did. Except it didn¡¯t need to. Kaden barely bled at all as the healer sliced into his gut. Something moved inside him, and and a shard of bone slipped out.

    ¡°Skully!¡± Kaden snatched it. The bone was stained red and had curious dark brown veins through it, but he¡¯d recognize that single piece of skull bone anywhere. Also because of the way it responded to the binding Sevin had given Kaden. ¡°I need bones. Chicken bones. Doesn¡¯t matter what. This is Skully. I thought he was destroyed.¡±

    Perhaps the explosion had thrown shrapnel at Kaden.

    No.

    The more Kaden thought about it, the more likely Duggarn had put the shard there so Kaden could smuggle Skully out safely.

    ¡°I¡¯m not done here!¡± The Healer insisted, closing up the incision.

    For some reason, Sara, Ashi and Eve were all squeemish when Kaden offered chicken bones to the fragment of Skully. And in truth, it was sort of disgusting. The moment he touched the fragment to a chicken bone, the bone lost color and stuck on. Veins began to spread up and down the bone, and slowly, the chip got larger while the bone melted away.

    Kaden sent to the market and received a mound of cow bones, which he dumped in a box with Skully. Then he unleashed Trinity to sit beside him and listen, and summoned the Falcrow, with a mental prod that no one¡¯s figure was worth commenting on.

    Sara¡¯s tale took hours. And hours. And hours.

    He swore she¡¯d secretly taken [Relive the Moment].

    Trinity especially enjoyed the parts with Suridev, of course. And the parts with meat and murder. She was an easy to please beast. Vip moved from lap to lap and always came back to Kaden. The Lightning Chevalier¡¯s happiest moments were when others poured affection on her, and Kaden was happy to pour.

    When they were finally done, the scribe excused himself.

    Kaden could finally relax. ¡°I¡¯m ready to go to my Holding. You¡¯re welcome to stay¡ªall of you. I¡¯ll rest better there.¡±

    ¡°My older sister is a [FateWeaver] intiate. She wishes to speak with us,¡± Ashi said. ¡°All of us. This is not a command, nor does she hold power, but it would be a kindness to listen to her.¡±

    What has Ashi¡¯s mother said once? It was an easy thing to say? ¡°I will listen.¡±

    Eve sat next to him. ¡°Don¡¯t believe everything [Prophets] say. Oberix could be telling you the absolute truth and lying to their advantage at the same time. Or Oberix might be imperfect. It¡¯s absolutely possible they believe their prophetic visions and aren¡¯t as good as they claim.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up.¡±

    ¡°I would expect no less,¡± Eve said as Vip crawled into her lap. ¡°My experiences with [Fate] have been unkind and I don¡¯t want you doing the same thing I did. After the Rat God corrupted me, my family consulted with many Fate Weavers. They may even have gone to this Oberix, it¡¯s possible. I was young, but I recall every time their prophecies failed.¡±

    Kaden had to believe in this. ¡°I¡¯ll put my faith in the people I know over any prophecies. I like the new you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s technically the old me. Both are me. I am proper because that¡¯s the proper way to be. I am the daughter of royalty. Whether the first born or the fifty ninth, I am. But I¡¯d like to be more. I love cooking. I love Vip. It feels good to enjoy something. I just need a balance.¡±

    ¡°So, are you ready to date?¡±

    Eve almost choked. ¡°Please, no. Cuddling Vip is as close as I ever want to get to physical affection. I wouldn¡¯t be averse to falling in love, but you can keep your sweaty trists.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind the sweaty trists.

    It was near evening when Ashi¡¯s sister Prateshi arrived. The garden reacted to her, bending and swaying as the plants bowed. Dressed from head to foot in heavy robes that revelead only her eyes, she bowed to Ashi and spoke in whispers, then turned to them. ¡°Good evening, friends. Ashavan speaks highly of you. I come to you not as royalty of Vichor but as a keeper of Fate. You come from the city-in-darkness, Omnor?¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°We did.¡±

    ¡°And I see upon your status, [Twist of Fate]. This is a dark skill. Not evil, but not without consequence. We have woven Fate for thousands of years, and now, this fate is disrupted. There are two Necromancers born for power, fated to become great weapons against the Blight.¡±Pratesh looked to each of them. ¡°We cannot see them in the loom of Fate. They are not dead, or their thread would change and be woven again. Find them. Free them. [Fate] will do the rest.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°And I as well,¡± Ashi added. ¡°Sara and Kaden, you have endured your time in Omnor. I would not ask you to deal with the [Fate Changer] again.¡±

    Home felt like a need. ¡°The Necromancers were at war with Diggus Bikus. His Emporium people took them. If the Necromancers can¡¯t find them, how are we supposed to?¡±

    ¡°I will give to Ashavan a fiber from the Loom of Fate. As twins, their [Fate] was spun from the same thread in the womb. It will find them or anyone associated with them.¡±

    Kaden drew the intelligence booster from Inventory and grasp it, then looked to Sara, wondering if she had the same questions. ¡°Before we do that, we need to make sure this isn¡¯t some long game for Oberix. If she can see into the future, what¡¯s to say helping us wasn¡¯t just to get her hands on this ¡®fiber?¡¯ What could a [Fate Changer] do with that?¡±

    ¡°Oberix was always ten steps ahead, maybe fifty.¡± Sara said. ¡°It would be like her to drive us to this point and this moment to get something else.¡±

    Pratesh grew quiet. ¡°In the hands of a [Fate Changer], the Thread could do immense damage. This particular [Fate Changer] has meddled for eons. With every cataclysm, their Prophecy has grown stronger. It may be more powerful than any weaver¡¯s ability. I will consult with Mother.¡± She opened a portal and stepped through.

    ¡°Anything we do, Oberix may have forseen,¡± Sara said. ¡°But they¡¯re not perfect. They expected Kaden to offer her scrolls and weapons. They foresaw that, and he didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have the scrolls. But the truth is, I almost tried to. It was what I wanted to do. What I told myself I was going to do.¡± The more Kaden thought about it, the less he could explain it. ¡°I just didn¡¯t.¡±

    Then it hit him.

    He activated [Relive the Moment], watching and hearing how Oberix spoke. ¡°Everything changed when they said the Professor would never succeed. Everything up to that, I believed. Something was off about that statement.¡± Kaden checked the box of bones and drew out a skull the size of his fist, with tiny baby-bone-hands. He could only hope¡ªand be delighted. Skully¡¯s Inventory remained attached.

    He took out the first level Inventory Cube, and began to sort them, throwing scrolls out in piles as he searched. ¡°There¡¯s no spell for [Lie Detection.] Thousands of scrolls and not one single [Lie Detection].¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a book, not a scroll,¡± Sara said. ¡°You could buy a skill book. What is [Radioactive Explosion]?¡±

    Ashi batted the scroll from her hand. ¡°Something that should not be taught. This is a most Kaden Birch thing to do.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t done yet. He droppped the pedastals still holding their shielded scrolls and drew the Tier up ones. ¡°Then you should look at these.¡±

 Twenty Five - The Old New Normal

    While Kaden had everyone¡¯s attention, he dragged the Tier Up scrolls from Inventory.

    Eve¡¯s gasp was exactly appropriate. ¡°Any tier?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t tested one yet, but that was what it said.¡± Kaden had handled a ton of dangerous objects and none felt so worrisome. ¡°I could be a Centurion in seconds.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°How would the System even react to that? At fifty, it spawns a [Nemesis]. What happens if you¡¯re already a Centurion?¡±

    Eve turned away. ¡°Do you know how they¡¯re manufactured? Once, there was a skill called [Experience Drain.] It makes what you do with [Mana Drain] kind by comparison.¡±

    The golden hue of the scrolls spoke of power. Of magnificent power, and Kaden wasn¡¯t sure there was such a thing as cheating on the path to power. ¡°Ashi. I want to ask your Mother about these.¡±

    ¡°And if she does not approve?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been pissing off powerful people all day. We¡¯ll add her to the list.¡± He kept his eyes shut as the world shuddered, and magic drained away and then surged.

    Vip began to wag her tail and barked with excitement.

    ¡°Oh, hello.¡± Sara stood up and walked behind him. ¡°You¡¯re Ashi¡¯s mother? You¡¯re what everyone¡¯s so in awe of? Yes, I drank after a dragon. It is. I died and nothing was right. I¡¯m not ¡®eternal¡¯ and I¡¯m not ¡®mortal¡¯ and I don¡¯t know what to make of it yet. Yes, I supposed we will see, in time.¡±

    Kaden winced as the answer came.

    Eve had her eyes closed, her hands gripped close, but she wasn¡¯t afraid.

    ¡°What is your question?¡± The voice was his mothers, even though he knew it wasn¡¯t her.

    Kaden pointed to the scrolls. ¡°We have thousands of scrolls I took from the Emporium. Some of them are probably forbidden, but these three are different. Are they real? What happens if I use these?¡±

    ¡°They are real. You would leave your friends and family behind. Find yourself in a new world you are not prepared for. Face a Nemesis at level one hundred with all of your power, but you would not know how to use your skills. Endure changes in an instant that most weather over centuries.¡± She held out a hand over one, and the light took the form of a old man with a mohawk and empty eye sockets. ¡°It is not forbidden, but you do not need me to tell you it is not wise.¡±

    That much was true. ¡°What about the rest of what we took? Omnor isn¡¯t the sort of place that cares about ¡®right or wrong¡¯¡±

    ¡°Of all you took as the spoils of war, seven are unfit for the world. Their power is not evil, but the destruction they bring could be a cataclysm of its own in the hands of ruthless men. Five are tools of desperation. The time to use them will yet come. Two are a crime against magic itself, a sorrow that they exist.¡± As she spoke, the spells flew, exploding from Inventory cubes and arranging themselves into stacks.

    The shielded scrolls¡¯s shields disintegrated into nothing.

    Vichoreans regularly set themselves on fire, disfigured themselves, exploded entire houses, and more, and didn¡¯t consider magic ¡®evil.¡¯ To hear spells described as a crime was shocking. ¡°The two are yours to do as you see fit. The seven should be preserved. I don¡¯t know what to say about the five.¡±

    The wind blew warm on his face. ¡°One will go with Ashi when she is ready. The others will be preserved for study. The System does not bind me any longer, but I swear by my own power this is true. The two, I have already unmade by your permission. When I ascend, I will take their knowledge with me.¡±

    Kaden stored away the tier-up scrolls. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°When you return to your Dungeon, you will find my gift waiting. And the Demon you carry, what will you do with her?¡±

    He knew the answer. ¡°When we¡¯re done studying the binding, I¡¯ll destroy her. I¡¯ll send her to Mortis¡¯ Court. Naski is evil. She wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill me and delight in doing it. That doesn¡¯t mean I want to torture her.¡±

    The weight on his soul lessened. ¡°This answer is right. If you asked for my counsel, I would tell you not to use ¡®Tier Up¡¯ scrolls. But your choices are yours, and your Destiny will not change. Be at peace with whatever decision you make, Dungeon Master.¡±

    She spoke to Ashi, a long song of music that would paint sunsets and form rivers. And departed. Kaden could breathe again.

    ¡°That was all?¡± Sara asked. ¡°I was expecting more.¡±

    Vip¡¯s growl was, in essence. *I don¡¯t know, she loved me. Then again, everyone loves me.*

    It left Kaden boggled. ¡°What more did you want?¡±

    ¡°More. What did she mean?¡± Sara asked Ashi. ¡°I understood the part about Omnor. And Kaden. What exactly is a ¡®Fate Storm?¡¯¡±

    ¡°We will stay the night here, while my sister and mother work to blind Oberix. When too many changes happen to the weave of fate too quickly, it leaves all blind to the outcome. A few hours in Vichor will be more than enough to overwhile any [Prophecy.]¡± Ashi looked to Kaden. ¡°This is acceptable?¡±

    ¡°I went to restore the twin¡¯s inheritance. The System says it¡¯s done. I don¡¯t feel like it, yet. I¡¯d invite you all to stay in my house, but it¡¯s sort of utterly destroyed.¡± Kaden shrugged.

    ¡°Is it?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°Or has Mother¡¯s will restored it so that you may rest? I will stay here tonight with my family. Najur asks this, and it is what I desire.¡±

    Eve looked to Kaden. ¡°I don¡¯t feel comfortable sharing a bedroom with men, not even Kaden. It¡¯s not done where I was raised. May I continue to use my existing one?¡±

    ¡°Of course. You are not a Dungeon Master. You are not a Mage, but your service is never forgotten,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Let no one say what you should or should not do. If sleeping alone brings comfort, then let there be comfort.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be entirely alone,¡± Eve said.

    Vip ran over and leaped into her lap, curling up with a *love.*

    Kaden could allow that. ¡°Sara, come on. I want to show you the city. Metami¡ª¡± He wished the Shield Saint was here, but hoped she¡¯d found happiness. ¡°Metami showed me the city. They have coffee. And arguments about magic. And libraries, most of the time with all three.¡±

    Together they set out into Vichor, and Kaden showed her where he¡¯d once hidden, fearing for his life. The lake where he¡¯d learned about mana and embarrassed Jagi. The Portal training area.

    Sara found a book of [Lightning Mana] spells and though she wasn¡¯t a [Mage], she sat in the open air and read about the thousands of different combinations of spells. ¡°[Revitalizing Bolt], I want that when I¡¯m high enough level. And [Searing Bolt] to remove status effects! And [Reviving Bolt]! I want all of them!¡±

    ¡°[Recharging Bolt] is better than [Reviving Bolt],¡± a nearby mage offered. ¡°More Mana is always better than more health. More mana solves everything.¡±

    This kicked off a discussion Kaden termed vigorous and most people would have called vicious over the nature of Revitalizing Bolt and whether it was a corruption of [Recharging Bolt] or [Recharging Bolt] was the refinement.

    Kaden left her there and went searching for spellbooks of Chrono Mana. The Librarians got together and dispatched [Assistants] to search¡ªthen to search other libraries. The problem with time magic was that when something went wrong, it often obliterated records of its own existence.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    In the end, he wound up surrounded by [Researchers] working to unravel how, exactly he had received [Moment of Eternity]. Kaden described how in any battle where Remembrance gained enough power, small objects began being affected, moving slightly backwards in time.

    Of course, if Kaden went back in time, he would be losing skills. And moving forward seemed impossible other than the slow movement of the sun. He was certain the war hammer was part of the puzzle, given that it grew sharper during battle. Heavier, too, he¡¯d noticed during the battle with the beserkers.

    The problem was, Remembrance¡¯s abilities were unknown. Kaden had an idea of who could tell him. Senior Sister said the Sisters of Shadow were nearly certain they knew Remembrance¡¯s history.

    The Necromancers, on the other hand, might be able to let him speak to past owners. By the time they were done, it was well after midnight, and Kaden refused half a dozen requests to stay longer.

    Sara joined him on the walk to his house. ¡°These people would never survive in the real world. They¡¯re more interested in determining how to tweak the color of a spell than if it would kill more monsters.¡±

    ¡°Vichor was meant to be a haven for dungeon masters, but it¡¯s become a place for mages as well.¡± He opened the door to his house¡ªand stopped. The burned and blackened stone was gone. What remained married simple farmhouse style with Vichorean¡¯s stacked stone and carved wood. Even more, the carvings in the furniture were beasts. His beasts.

    Well, Vip was never that still, and Trinity was always more menacing, and Rocky looked like he wasn¡¯t sad about being out of Kaden¡¯s soul. The cabinest were carved with wings-spread Falcrow, and the stair banisters were monkeys and wolves carved in red wood. The stairwell was twice as wide as normal, to accomodate Trinity.

    Sara headed up the stairs. ¡°Two bedrooms. And a door that¡¯s large enough for Trinity.¡±

    Kaden could imagine himself spending time here, if Trella was welcome.

    Or Shadowvale, if they¡¯d ease up on the whole drugging-him thing.

    Home wasn¡¯t a place so much as people. Kaden summoned Trinity and let her tromp in and out of the upper floor door. He wasn¡¯t worried about anyone creeping in in the night. Jagi was gone. Anyone who did would discover Trinity was several hundred pounds of deadly with an absolute love for strangers. As in eating them.

    For one, he didn¡¯t have difficulty falling asleep. And he would have stayed asleep if not for someone shaking him. He gradually opened his eyes. ¡°Go away. Ten more hours.¡±

    ¡°Wake up,¡± Sara said. ¡°The [FateWeavers] say Omnor is completely unreadable by [Prophecy]. Ashi has the [Thread of Fate]. It¡¯s time to go find the twins. Also, Eve fixed breakfast.¡±

    The last had him out of bed and downstairs. ¡°You came in my house and didn¡¯t catch fire.¡±

    ¡°Tell a soul and I¡¯ll [Plauge] you,¡± Eve said, handing him a plate. ¡°I have a reputation for being unreasonable and cold, and I won¡¯t have you spoiling it! Not you, love.¡± She slipped Vip a piece of meat.

    Trinity¡¯s snake head reached across the bar and seized a slab of raw meat, then she headed up the stairs and out onto the upstairs patio. While Kaden devoured his breakfast, the smell of burning meat from upstairs said Trinity had figured out how to operate the heatstone on her own.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Ashi?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Spending time with her mother. Such a wonderful person,¡± Sara said.

    Behind Sara¡¯s back, Eve shook her head.

    He¡¯d never agreed with her this much and it still felt wrong. Before he¡¯d finished eating, the [Falcrow] swooped in from the stairs and spoke in Ashi¡¯s voice. ¡°It is time to return. Time to right the patterns of [Fate]. Meet me at the Dungeon Arch.¡±

    The city was still resting, eating leisurely breakfasts and meditating, when the Party set out to the arches. Kaden had pulled Trinity and Vip into his soul for safe keeping.

    Pratesh was waiting with Ashi at the arches of stone that connected to dungeons so dungeon masters could tend them. She clasp each person¡¯s hand. ¡°I thank you, because this is not a request of Royalty. This is not a demand of Vichor, and [Fate] does not recognize debts. The Blight must not be allowed to grow stronger than those who hold it back.¡±

    Ashi spoke in Vichorean. ¡°We are not friends with [Fate.] But we can do this, Sister.¡±

    ¡°[Fate¡¯s] design was that only one should receive an inheritance. That one would be kidnapped and die. The other would be driven to grow stronger.¡± Pratesh didn¡¯t look straight at Kaden but he had a feeling she knew he¡¯d broken the Quest.

    Sara had a better question. ¡°What exactly do we have to do to restore them to a normal fate?¡±

    ¡°Even before the [Fate Storm] they were hidden. This implies that whoever took them feared someone with [Prophecy]. Find them, free them, return them to the Necrosium. If you¡¯re willing to kill one of them, that would help too.¡± Prateshi stepped back. ¡°It would help. It¡¯s not required.¡±

    As far as Kaden was concerned, the [Fate Weavers] could get to work and weave new fates. Like sweaters, sometimes fates got damaged and it was probably just common sense to have a spare [Fate] or [Sweater] on hand.

    ¡°Ashavan will not be fooled. The thread of fate will be drawn to them. One last request. The [Fate Storm] will have entangled many with weak fates. I will not say ¡®spare them all¡¯ but know it was not their choice.¡± Pretash bowed once more and stepped aside.

    ¡°We go.¡± Ashi activated an arch¡ªand Kaden was looking at the inside of Ms. Anderson¡¯s upper room.

    He went through first.

    Cold air hit him like a fist, and through the window, Ashfall lay thick across the city, which meant it was near dawn. Sara stepped through after him, and Kaden headed downstairs. ¡°Ms. Anderson?¡±

    A few moments later, she emerged from a downstair door. ¡°You are alive! The gold kept coming, so as far as I was concerned, it was your room, but after months, I have to say I was wondering.¡±

    ¡°We brought a few friends,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°The third floor is haunted, sorry, but if you¡¯re all comfortable there, I don¡¯t mind. You¡­don¡¯t know. You don¡¯t know about the Great Hunt!¡± Ms. Anderson grew more alert with each moment. ¡°The Four collaborated to bring the greatest event ever to Omnor.¡±

    She shuffled thorugh a stack of scrolls on the bar.

    ¡°Eve, Ashi,¡± Kaden called. ¡°Come down and meet Ms. Anderson.¡±

    She ignored them and tossed a scroll onto the bar. ¡°You couldn¡¯t go outside without encountering one of these. You couldn¡¯t buy breakfast without also receiving one. They won¡¯t burn or break or tear, there¡¯s been several attempts to fashion them into armor.¡±

    The Scroll unrolled on its own, and a man spoke. ¡°New prizes added daily, but only those with the best scores will compete in the Arena Of Blood for the grand prize.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the grand prize?¡± Kaden had a decent idea.

    ¡°A wish.¡± Ms. Anderson said it ¡°It¡¯s said to be impossible, but it¡¯s brought thousands to Omnor. The first few months were nothing but fighting tournaments. The winners of the tournaments received the right to form scavenger teams. Each team is searching for a dragon testicle. Collect all seven and you have the right to a wish.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not doing that,¡± Sara said.

    Eve nodded. ¡°We have a different purpose.¡±

    ¡°What happened with the Necromancers?¡± Kaden agreed with the other two. A scavenger hunt all over Omnor seemed like a good way to get on everyone¡¯s bad side.

    Ms. Anderson looked deeply conflicted. ¡°I¡¯ve lived under the protection of the Emporium for centuries. I have friends who were floor managers there. Word was the owner of the Emporium¡ª¡±

    ¡°Diggus,¡± Sara said. ¡°We know it¡¯s him, no need to protect a secret that¡¯s not a secret.¡±

    ¡°The owner,¡± Ms. Anderson said, not meeting Sara¡¯s gaze. ¡°The owner took a task to locate a Necromantic treasure that was lost. And the good news was, it was already coming to Omnor, to be handed over to a broker.¡±

    That was a huge mistake. ¡°I was never going to hand it over to a broker.¡±

    ¡°On its way to be transferred into the posession of a broker,¡± Ms. Anderson said. ¡°Then, it somehow wound up in the posession of the Necromancers. Normally, it¡¯s easy enough. Kidnap the children, ransom them, children are the best treasure, you know it goes.¡±

    Ashi was about one second from starting a fist-fight, so Kaden intervened. ¡°The twins didn¡¯t have the skull, the necromancers wiped out the Emporium. Sara and I lost a level to that mess.¡±

    ¡°The Necromancers want their members back,¡± Ms. Anderson said. ¡°The Emporium knows that if the twins are dead, there¡¯s absolutely nothing restraining the Necromancers. And they¡¯re not convinced the war will end with their return.¡±

    ¡°We could negotiate,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°That¡¯s not the real reason, is it?¡± Eve asked. ¡°The real issue is that the Broker doesn¡¯t have the skull for their client.¡±

    ¡°That, too,¡± Ms. Anderson said. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try and intercede. Surely fresh eyes might find new ways to peace. Ashfall will end within the hour. Reach out to your contacts, it would be nice to not have this hanging over the city. I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. After she left, he turned to the others. ¡°I don¡¯t want to help broker a peace. I sawy we find the twins, free them, and let the Necromancers decide how much revenge is too much.¡±

    ¡°I would be happy to negotiate,¡± Sara said. ¡°But Eve is correct. The core demand of the Emporium will be that they receive the skull. They¡¯ll understand this is a crime the necromancers will never forgive.¡±

    ¡°I see no reason for mercy.¡± Ashi produced something from Inventory, a golden thread that tapered from her palm. It began to move as though blown in the wind¡ªand then relaxed, no longer pointing in any direction. ¡°There is no precedenct, no instruction, no guide. We may need to be closer for the Thread to find them.¡±

    As soon Ashfall ended, they set out across the city, heading for the Necrosium.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t believe the changes in Omnor. Buildings had been rebuilt to incorporate them into huge coloseums filled with crowds who cheered. Projections of the battles inside hung over the top so that even those outside could watch.

    The Trade-Rite Emporium wasn¡¯t incorporated. In fact, the north-east corner of Omnor was largely unchanged. ¡°Who¡¯s the broker behind Trade-Rite?¡±

    ¡°Oberix,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s odd that Oberix isn¡¯t participating in these games. Syntera is. Bluderyn is. Obviously Diggus is organizing the games.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Eve had stopped. ¡°We¡¯re playing this all wrong. Oberix has years of experience. For all we know, they foresaw the [Fate Storm] or know we¡¯re associated with it. They didn¡¯t participate because they see something the other Brokers don¡¯t. They¡¯re still one step ahead.¡±

    ¡°What more could we do?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°Mother has clouded all ability to forsee now.¡±

    Eve crossed her arms, absolutely certain. ¡°And Oberix didn¡¯t see that coming? The only advantage we have here is him. Kaden has this talent for doing everything the wrong way. The hard way. And I¡¯m certain the only way to truly break free of Oberix¡¯s prophecies is to change everything.¡±

    ¡°You want him to do the things you hate?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°Kaden, be you. You have my blessing.¡±

    Kaden spun and headed for the nearest arena. He had an idea. He had permission. It was time to change the way he was going about it. It was time to change everything. If Oberix could still see the future, they¡¯d be pulling their lavendar hair out.

 Twenty Six - Bend and Break

    Kaden jogged up the stairs into the arena and rapidly took in the battle below. A young man with straw-colored hair and rusted armor fought a [Mage]. At least, he was giving it a good effort. The Mage was level twenty eight, the man was level twenty four and doing well given the difference.

    He blocked the strikes of green lightning the [Mage] blasted. And with each blow, he screamed. ¡°You! You took everything from me.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you have the right person?¡± the Mage answered, using every advantage to blast his foe.

    ¡°You destroyed my village. You killed my parents. And my betrothed. And my goats!¡± The man charged, blocking a spell. His sword drank in mana.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t ring a bell.¡± The Mage stopped. ¡°Wait, are you from the south east plain? A real shithole on the edge of the firelands?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± The young man lunged, drawing blood, then fell back under a withering assault. ¡°I¡¯m from Slevorka! The goat bells! You defiled the cathedral. You broke the Bray of a Thousand Goats!¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± The Mage held up a glowing green hand. ¡°That, I sort of remember. Huge cathedral, covered in onyx demons that breathe fire? I destroyed two villages near there.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± The young man braced himself. ¡°Slevorka. Remember that name.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I really can¡¯t. I destroy a lot of villages, I¡¯m sure yours was in there somewhere. Would it make you feel better if I apologize for killing your brother?¡±

    ¡°Mother!¡± The man screamed.

    The crowd shouted, some staring at the figures in the dirt, some at the projection high above that echoed everything the warriors said and did.

    Kaden leaped over the railing and into the arena. ¡°Hi. I¡¯m Kaden Birch. Got a moment?¡±

    The Mage looked his way. ¡°I¡¯m fairly sure you¡¯re supposed to wait your turn. That¡¯s what puts the ¡®turn¡¯ in tournament. Two on one isn¡¯t fair.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of a [Veageance Quest],¡± the young man said. ¡°Would you mind waiting until after I¡¯ve used my ultimate skill to ask questions?¡±

    ¡°Real quick, I¡¯m looking for two [Necromancers], Sevin and Serta. Twins, dress in black, Sevin¡¯s actually fun and has a bunch of skeletons, Serta¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is just fine,¡± Sara said, joining him. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Kaden, she¡¯s quite pleasant.¡±

    ¡°Oh, great. Three was awkward, four is just unpleasant,¡± the Mage said. ¡°Was this a battle royale and I missed the notice? I thought it was one on one, the brat and me, to the death, for his Goat-ville. Either of you ever hear of Goat-ville?¡±

    ¡°Slevorka!¡± The man screamed in frustration.

    ¡°Never heard of it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not even talking to you two. I¡¯m talking to them.¡± He pointed to the arena full of people. ¡°Any of you seen the Necromancer twins, either of them, send a bird to the Necrosium or me. You have my contact information now.¡±

    Sara took his hand. ¡°And if you¡¯re in need of shipping services or poisonous snakes, look up S&K Holdings! Thanks, now back to the fight. Go on, you and you, kill each other for whatever reason you have.¡±

    ¡°He destroyed my home!¡± the man shouted. ¡°I swear before the system.¡±

    Heard and acknowledged. Gvelly Drick Ein Mont destroyed goat-ville.

    ¡°Slevorka!¡±

    Sara¡¯s demeanor changed. ¡°You. Dick-In-Mouth. Did you destroy goat-ville?¡±

    The Mage gave a huff of exasperation. ¡°Do you have any idea how many small villages I destroy in a year? I can hardly be expected to remember¡ªI don¡¯t like the way you¡¯re looking at me. Tangling with an [Ether Mage] is a surefire way¡ª¡±

    [Anthem of the End] broke out. Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and dodged an arc of green lightning, then slammed Remembrance into the mage¡¯s ankle. Green mana flashed into existence as the mage armored himself.

    Kaden responded with [Mana Spike] then [Mana Drain], tearing mana out of the Mage and giving it to Sara. Blood gushed from Kaden¡¯s mouth as [Anthem of the End] grew stronger with every moment, but Sara¡¯s swords slashed over and over, while Kaden used [Mana Spike] to keep the mage crippled.

    You have slain the [Ether Mage] Gvelly Drick Ein Mont.

    You have gained experience.

    ¡°No!¡± The young man fell to his knees. ¡°I¡¯ve trained for years for this moment. Swore I would see him dead. The things I did to become a [Mage Executioner] have stained my soul. And for nothing.¡±

    Kaden pointed to the dead mage. ¡°He¡¯s dead, that¡¯s all that counts. You going to loot the corpse or not? It¡¯s a perfectly good corpse. Bet he¡¯s got a cool spellbook. You could sell it and with, probably four hundred thousand more spellbooks like it, resettle goat-ville.¡±

    Sara chimed in, ¡°Or you could move to Ashiton. People with stained souls get fifty percent off their settlement fee. I¡¯ll send you information when we form the resettling parties.¡±

    Kaden shoveled the mage¡¯s corpse into Inventory. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll buy you some food, uh¡ªGlen Roberts.¡±

    Glen looked lost. ¡°What am I going to do? I was keeping the memory of Goatville¡ªSlevorka¡ªalive.¡±

    ¡°S&K Holdings has a cargo ship. Have you ever considered becoming a sailor? Or a pirate?¡± Sara asked. ¡°I¡¯ll give you contact information for the ship as well, and send a bird to the [Captain].¡±

    ###

    Three arenas later, Kaden felt like he¡¯d gotten the message out to all of Omnor. Someone had to know where the twins were. Someone had to have seen them. And he was fairly sure no one could have predicted the disruption to the games. ¡°We¡¯ll go back and do it tonight when there¡¯s more attendance.¡±

    ¡°Veto!¡± Sara said. ¡°Evening bouts are level seventy-five to a hundred. All of us together could be slain versus a seventy-five. We were so fortunate the lowest rank battles are this early.¡±

    ¡°Fate smiles on us,¡± Ashi said. ¡°But the Thread did not react.¡±

    They sat in a market outside an arena, positioned so if guards chose to intercede, Sara could give them a thousand reasons¡ªand points of damage¡ªwhy it would be better to leave them be.

    Trumpet rang out everywhere all across the city, and the crowds in the market gasped.

    Ashi was listening. ¡°A new Hunt comes. We should watch and learn of this Great Hunt.¡±

    Everywhere, floating eyes soared through the air searched for the scavengers, and projected their images for bystanders.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°I have a better idea. While the city is busy watching scavengers hunt for Dragon Testicles, we can get to the Necrosium.¡± While he was waiting, he summoned the [Falcrow]. ¡°They¡¯re having a scavenger hunt, and you are the ultimate scavenger. I won¡¯t tell you what to do, but I will say there¡¯s going to be a lot of frustrated, angry people if, say, someone swoops in and takes their shiny prize. Don¡¯t bring it to me. Drop it in a volcano. Stick it straight up someone¡¯s chimney. Whatever causes the most trouble.¡±

    *Eager.*

    The [Falcrow] flapped off, soaring over Omnor in the dark.

    He looked around, and found the others had already headed toward the Necrosium. He ran to catch up, reaching them as they passed Trade-Rite. ¡°Go on, I need to buy something.¡±

    Trade-Rite¡¯s lines were short, and Kaden quickly made his way in, where he traded Dick-in-Mouth¡¯s enchanted robes for two skill scrolls. [Negotiation] said it was a deal that heavily favored Trade-Rite, and that was exactly what Kaden wanted, a fast deal.

    One thing he understood was that the value of any given skill depended on what it oculd do for you. He quickly absorbed [Detect Lies] and [Read Emotions].

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    [Detect Lies]

    You can sense when someone isn¡¯t telling the truth. Higher levels will make this more accurate, and even give you a sense of what is being lied about.

    [Read Emotion]

    Many creatures display emotion for those able to read it. This skill will give you hints of what is truly being felt based on body language.

    Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and left Trade-Rite, running through the streets to catch up with his Party. From down the street he spotted them approaching the Emporium¡ªand the trio of level forty Emporium guards closing in. *Ambush incoming,* He sent to Sara.

    *I know. The Horror is hungry,* Sara sent back.

    Sure it was, but for level forties? Probably not. Kaden sprinted, still wrapped in [Stealth Aura] as he closed on them.

    The Necrosium stood not two blocks away, ringed by dozens of [Tomb Champions] and even a pair of [Walking Graveyards].

    ¡°You! You are to come with me to the Broker Diggus Bikus¡¯s Sky Villa¡ª¡± The lead guard stopped his speech as Kaden slammed into him, lifting the man off his feet and sprinting onward.

    You have obtained a Flesh Ram.

    He sure as hell had, and didn¡¯t stop until he slammed into the Necrosium wall, throwing bone fragments.

    You have inflicted 600 points ramming damage on the wall and your ram.

    The level forty shook off the damage and lunged to his feet, drawing a two-handed sword. ¡°You¡ª¡±

    A [Walking Graveyard] tackled the man, wrapping him in vines, while [Carrion Crows] tore at his face. Kaden was already wrapped in [Stealth Aura] and sprinting back to his party, who were facing off against the remaining forties, who looked quite confused about what had happened to their leader.

    He sprinted past, then slid to a stop and this time, aimed for the [Ranger].

    At the last moment, she sensed something and leaped backwards, but [Moment of Speed] let Kaden adjust, picking her up, bow and all.

    ¡°Look out! He¡¯s got [Battering¡ª¡± Kaden slammed her head into the wall and leaped backwards as skeletons swarmed the [Ranger]. Before he could head back, Sara sprinted past into the Necrosium, followed by Eve, and Ashi. She stopped outside and turned to face the level forty [Mage] who had followed them. ¡°I wish to test myself against him.¡±

    ¡°This is not wise,¡± Kaden said in her same clipped manner. ¡°I would counsel you not to risk yourself.¡±

    Kaden noted the [Mage] had stopped at the edge of the Necrosium¡¯s territory. ¡°Hi. I¡¯m Kaden Birch. I¡¯m looking for the twins the Emporium stole. Do you know where they are?¡±

    ¡°Come with me,¡± the Mage said. ¡°Diggus knows everything. He can find everything.¡±

    ¡°Can he find your corpse?¡± Ashi asked. But she pulled at Kaden¡¯s hand, and together they stepped back further and further into the Necrosium.

    You have helped defeat the [Slash Master] Elvu Rindel.

    You have gained experience.

    You have helped defeat the [Mage] Nor Indel.

    You have gained experience.

    ¡°Sara!¡± A woman called. Dannae. ¡°Where¡¯s the freak of nature? There he is. And are these friends?¡±

    ¡°They are. Ashi and Eve are Party members who¡¯ve come back to help us find the twins.¡± Sara didn¡¯t seem the least bit worried that the last time they were in the presence of necromancers, she¡¯d wound up deadish.

    ¡°Duggarn was sure you¡¯d come straight here when you were resurrected and that you¡¯d be furious and in a mood to fight. He had explit orders to trap you, but not harm you.¡± Dannae looked to Kaden like she wasn¡¯t sure he was less enraged.

    ¡°Not happy about it, but not looking for a fight,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Greetings, Great Necromancer.¡± Ashi bowed. ¡°We are here to restore [Fate]. Your loss has broken the weave of Fate, and we will not stop until your warriors are found.¡±

    Danna smiled in a way that said she didn¡¯t know Ashi. ¡°What can you do that every Centurion in the Necrosium can¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°This.¡± Ashi drew out the [Thread of Fate], now a pink fiber of mana that whipped back and forth like an intestinal worm in search of a good intestine. ¡°It is no longer golden. It reacted when we encountered the Emporium guards. There is no question they had encountered the twins.¡±

    Danna snapped her fingers and a set of skeletons came rushing over. ¡°I want both corpses that were just brought in taken to a laboratory. Come with me. We¡¯ll find out what they knew.¡±

    A few minutes later, Kaden paced back and forth while Dannae worked.

    ¡°Would you please stop?¡± Eve asked. ¡°You¡¯re making me nervous with your nervousness.¡±

    Ashi stepped in front of him. ¡°You do not gain experience by the foot. Rest.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s your Skully?¡± Dannae asked.

    Kaden took the minature sized skull out of his Inventory. ¡°We found the chip in my abdomen, but he didn¡¯t fully regrow.¡±

    Dannae looked at the minature monster and shrugged. ¡°Put him in the bone bucket to feed while we talk it over with these two.¡± She grinned as Kaden dropped the corpse of Dick-In-Mouth on a table. ¡°More is always better. You have things you want to ask him?¡±

    ¡°No. But there¡¯s never a wrong time to grab a corpse, is there? I didn¡¯t actually need a corpse, but you never know when they¡¯re going to come in handy.¡±

    ¡°Always handy! And a [Mage]? We¡¯ll let his soul go on to Mortis, but those mana impregnated bones are perfect.¡± Dannae waved her hand, and vines grew out from the table, stripping flesh from the body.

    Eve turned away and wretched, which caused Ashi to puke as well.

    Sara tapped her foot. ¡°How much longer is this going to take?¡±

    ¡°Patience. Getting rid of the fleshy bits is just step one of making a Tomb Champion. As for these two, spirits aren¡¯t really my area of expertise, but Duggarn will deal with them momentarily.¡± As Danae spoke, the [Mage]¡¯s bones began to creak and crack. ¡°Here we go!¡±

    Bone by bone, she drew spares from the bone barrel and melded them, making the resulting bones thicker and stronger and larger.

    Kaden tossed a growing Skully out. Skully¡¯s skull was misshapen and soft as it worked to absorb bones and grow. ¡°Sorry, little guy, we need these.¡±

    ¡°Do the toes, I¡¯ll handle work on the spine.¡± Dannae said.

    A few minutes later, the door the laboratory swung open and Duggarn GraveBreaker strode in, an army of midget skeletons trailing him. ¡°I have to confess. I expected you back but not like this. Not now, and gods, boy, were you born to be this?¡±

    Kaden worked side by side with Danae as she split, enlarged, and mended vertabrae. ¡°Oh, we killed a [Mage] earlier and you know they have so much mana in their bones.¡±

    ¡°I saw your message. Hell, all of Omnor is now more interested in who the twins are than who won the duel of revenge between the Deadly Pirate Roberts or Dick-In-Mouth.¡± Duggarn shook his head. ¡°Who is it you want questioned?¡±

    Ashi explained about the [Thread of Fate] and how it responded to the guards. ¡°Never doubt this, they have been close to your ¡®twins.¡¯¡±

    Duggarn nodded. ¡°These two are just hired help. This isn¡¯t your fault, until level fifty most struggle to read alignment on [Identify]. While I have no qualms about sending souls to Mortis, I¡¯m not convinced this will yield the answers we need.¡±

    ¡°We have plenty of bones,¡± Dannae said. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps instead of threats, we should ask what reward would entice the answers we want,¡± Eve said. ¡°Level forties. Not high enough to be Faction members, but close enough to fifty they¡¯re probably beginning to worry about their [Nemesis].¡±

    Duggarn opened a spell book he drew from Inventory. ¡°[Ethereal Communication].¡±

    Ghostly after-images popped up from the two corpses.

    ¡°Now, no screaming, or it¡¯s straight to Mortis¡¯s Court with the both of you.¡± Duggarn looked from ghost to ghost. ¡°Which of you saw the twins? The one that helps gets a resurrection. The one that doesn¡¯t gets added to the bone bucket.¡±

    ¡°I saw them in Diggus¡¯s Villa!¡± the right hand ghost screamed. ¡°And I was coming straight to you to tell the truth.¡±

    The other spirit¡¯s jaw fell open. ¡°You were not. You said ¡®At least it¡¯s those two and not me. And then the hammer idiot showed up and Diggus stopped questioning them.¡±

    ¡°Hammer Fool,¡± Ashi said. ¡°He is not dumb, but his decisions mock all reason.¡±

    Kaden swore under his breath. ¡°I was at the Villa. I was on the same island at the same time.¡±

    ¡°You had a Quest of your own,¡± Duggarn said, before turning his attention back to the ghosts. ¡°What was Diggus questioning them about?¡±

    ¡°They both claim to have the artifact he¡¯s after, and both claim to not have it. Diggus thought killing them would motivate truth. Then he thought having them kill each other would do it. They just took turns giving each other anyeurisms.¡± The ghost threw up ethereal hands, which drifted away from its main body.

    Duggarn didn¡¯t seem infuriated as much as pleased. ¡°How long ago was this?¡±

    ¡°A week. He doesn¡¯t dare keep them in one place,¡± left ghost said.

    With a wave, Duggarn forced both back into their corpses. ¡°Dannae, have the skeleton crew drag them to the temple. And stop prepping that corpse. I know you want to show the boy, but only a proper sacrifice is allowed.¡±

    Kaden knew exactly what Duggarn meant. ¡°You want his loot for Mortis? It¡¯s a spellbook of Etheric Aura charms and a scroll called ¡®A hundred and one unique ways to destroy a village.¡¯ What do these guys have against villages?¡±

    ¡°A hundred, two hundred souls, together, might have all the XP of a single level twenty-five. But the low levels won¡¯t fight back,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°So rather than risk a battle against someone who might pose a threat, you master making it look like a demon cult, or a nasty monster spawn.¡±

    ¡°Give me the spellbook,¡± Ashi said. She took it from Kaden and leafed through it. ¡°There is nothing of value.¡±

    Kaden offered her the scroll.

    ¡°I will not soil myself with his foul magic.¡± Ashi nodded to the Necromancer. ¡°I do not worship this ¡®Mortis¡¯ but let him have his sacrifice.¡±

    Duggarn took both and formed a shrill white portal that drained color from the room.

    Kaden¡¯s health began to tick downward just from the presence, until Duggarn tossed both scroll and book through, and closed it.When he turned, he nodded to Dannae. ¡°Make it strong. Make it very strong.¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°Why can¡¯t you make a [Tomb Champion] that oozes acid? Trinity has poisonous razor scales. Why can¡¯t we sharpen the rib bones? Or put metal points on them?¡±

    ¡°Why not [Torrod] jaws?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, a [Tomb Champion] is scary, but one that could take bites out of you? Even worse.¡±

    ¡°Or one that carries [Plague]?¡± Eve asked. ¡°Ooooh! What if they had a nest of [Glass Spiders] in their chest and could throw them?¡±

    Dannna continued her work. ¡°It¡¯s a difficult balance to find. You have to start with strong skeletons just to be able to reach the [Bone Behemoth] stage. Dick here was a [Mage], which means his bones were exposed to mana so dense they¡¯re a different class. But everything we graft on degrades the bones. [Plague] would be very interesting, but the old ways are the old ways for a reason.¡±

    ¡°Duggarn. I need something,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I need your Priest of Mortis¡¯s help. My parents won¡¯t speak to me again for a year, but the System said to seek out previous wielders of my war hammer. Traugma the [Hellscaper], Mascasius, a [Reaper], Gleb a [Terror Gnome], or Malkoriathorax (Dark Lord).¡±

    ¡°Ymersist will arrange it. I want to take another run at Diggus. I want him to look me in the eye and know it¡¯s never going to end until I get the twins back. And he¡¯s never going to get the skulls. It was a gift from Mortis to their father.¡± Duggarn watched as a set of his midget skeletons dragged the Emporium employees out, working as a team. ¡°Bigger isn¡¯t always better.¡±

    ¡°Bigger is always better,¡± Dannae answered. ¡°You. Priestess. Are we going to talk about building a [Plague] monster or are we going to build a [Plague] monster?¡±

    Eve wiped her mouth on her sleeve. ¡°We are most certainly going to build.¡±

    If what made Eve happy was building a monstrosity that would spread [Plague], Kaden could only feel bad for his enemeis. But right now, he had to business to attend to.

 Twenty Seven - Owners Manual

    Kaden went to find Ymersist, and found the Litch sweeping a hallway. ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡±

    *The days pass and the young learn the ways of Death. Come, thou shalt learn the secrets the dead keep.* The Litch glided along through the Necrosium, leading him lower and lower, until they reached the Temple of Mortis.

    The river which ringed it raged, throwing froth up as Kaden crossed the bridge. ¡°Mortis welcomes the faithful,¡± the [Priest] said. ¡°He was pleased with the gift you offered. Do you wish to begin a second class, as one of his followers?¡±

    ¡°Thank you, but no.¡± Kaden explained about the past wielders. ¡°Are any of them still available?¡±

    ¡°One. The Dark Lord Malkoriathorax bides his time, unwilling to be judged by Mortis. I have summoned him from across the river.¡± The Priest looked down across the water, where a cloud of darkness became a towering skeleton in a robe of darkness.

    ¡°Speak truth, who summons me?¡± A voice like leaves in autumn wind spoke.

    ¡°Me!¡± Kaden said, heading down to river¡¯s edge. ¡°You look like Ymersist. How the heck did you ever wield Remembrance?¡±

    Kaden took out the War Hammer. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to seek out previous users of this hammer to learn what it does. I know it builds up power. I know it can unleash stored up blows. Not too long ago, I learned a Tier Four spell while using it.¡±

    ¡°By what name did thou call it?¡± The Dark Lord leaned in.

    ¡°Remembrance of Battle,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Perhaps now. When I slew the armies of the Godorin Empire, it was named ¡®Echo of War. It is a challenge weapon.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t know that at all. ¡°And I know what a challenge weapon is. But just in case I didn¡¯t, what would I know it does?¡±

    ¡°Against the weak, it is only your strength that drives it. Against the strong, it recalls other battles. It draws on the past. It is the same power that brings it back to thy hand. It remembers the time when it was held.¡± The shadow crossed its arms. ¡°Thou did know this, did thou not?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­yes? Help me remember exactly how I bring it back.¡± Kaden had almost never thrown Remembrance, primarily because getting it back would be almost impossible. It was an act of desperation.

    The shadow mimed holding its arm out. ¡°Remember. When it has drunk of battle , remember it within thy hand. If thou cannot handle this, all else will tear you apart. You carry the seeds of ruin and destruction. Do not seek to use what you cannot control.¡±

    ¡°But that¡¯s the fun part!¡± Kaden protested. ¡°I¡¯ll come back and ask again once I get the whole recall thing working. See you soon?¡±

    The wraith began to tremble with frustration and rubbed its skull, leaving marks with its bone fingertips. With a wail of rage, the shadows dissolved.

    ¡°The spirit has departed for the court,¡± the [High Priest] said. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to convince it to accept eternal punishment for two centuries. He chose that rather than converse with you.¡±

    That was hardly Kaden¡¯s problem. Kaden thanked the priest and sought out his party. Eve was still working with Dannae, Ashi and Sara were watching from a distance. ¡°What¡¯s our next move to get the twins back?¡±

    ¡°Move,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We know where they were but not where they are. We must search all of Omnor. If we move quickly, we can locate where they have been.¡±

    Kaden had an idea.

    For once, not a terrible idea. ¡°What if we head to the Underground Market? There are sky-skiffs that could cover the whole city in hours.¡±

    ¡°You have enough gold to buy a skiff?¡± Sara asked.

    Kaden had thought a lot about that. ¡°I never said ¡®buy.¡¯¡±

    ###

    Sara wasn¡¯t certain their right to enter the market remained active, but the bouncers didn¡¯t even talk, just waving them through. They headed straight for the nearest Udon representative, a young woman who immediately bowed and led them into a back alley¡ªand into Suridev¡¯s home.

    Vanya wasn¡¯t expecting them to arrive the way they did, but the old man was surprisingly limber, performing a twisting-bow. ¡°Friends! I truly never expected to see you again. How can we be of service? Your choice of brokers is lower. Bluderyn is aligned with Diggus, Syntera and Oberix are not allies, but neither are they at war.¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s say I didn¡¯t want to speak to a broker. I¡¯m more interested in borrowing a sky-skiff from one.¡±

    ¡°That does sound like you need a broker¡¯s permission.

    Sara shook her head. ¡°We were thinking more of borrowing without permission. Also, is there a way to get a skiff out of the market, back into Omnor?¡±

    Vanya fell silent. ¡°I need to consult. Would you mind waiting?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Sara¡¯s horror looked left and right, each pseudopod pointing a different direction. ¡°Where can we wait?¡±

    Vanya pointed. ¡°This way, please. I don¡¯t know that we can help you. You have Lord Suridev¡¯s favor, but what you propose is¡ª¡±

    ¡°Like helping the Necromancers rob the Emporium?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Like killing the head of security for the Emporium?¡± Sara added.

    ¡°Unusual.¡± Vanya said. He pulled back a curtain on a booth. ¡°We¡¯ll be by with tea. Normal tea.¡±

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Kaden and Sara waited patiently until a young girl wheeled up a cart and drew back their curtain.

    ¡°Honored Guests, do you take tea?¡± She asked, looking nervously to the woman¡ªprobably her mother¡ªoverseeing the ceremony.

    ¡°Does it have dragon spit in it?¡± Sara asked.

    The girl hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±

    ¡°Then I don¡¯t.¡±

    Kaden kicked her under the table. ¡°We would love tea. Those are beautiful cups. Can you explain the ceremony?¡±

    Under his glare, Sara accepted her tea cup, and Kaden said yes to everything. Yes to sugar. Yes to cream. Yes to peppers. Yes to what looked like a cricket. It was more leaf-based soup than drink by the time she was done.

    Kaden took a sip¡ªand choked.

    ¡°He likes it!¡± Sara said. ¡°Oh, I think Kaden is so delighted, he¡¯s going to drink every last drop. Isn¡¯t he?¡±

    It was moments like this that Kaden understood why parties turned on each other. It wasn¡¯t the dungeons. It wasn¡¯t the loot. It was the tea. He drank anyway. And again. And again, chewing.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Tea.

    Now it was easier, and he chugged it back, grinding the bits and swallowing. ¡°Delicious.¡±

    ¡°Oh, look, it¡¯s Lord Suridev!¡± Sara attempted to ram the tea cup into one of her Horror¡¯s maws, maws made to devour this plane of existence and all life within.

    It refused, bracing its teeth against the edge of the cup to prevent it going down.

    *Someone ask for me?* The Dragon¡¯s question saved Sara. Today, Suridev was the size of a Monitor Lizard. He bumped aside the cart, stopping to nose the girl. *Excellent job. We stir the tea bloodwise, not counter-bloodwise. And the tray with tea add-ins is the bottom one, that one there is the stuff we serve [Goblins]. [Goblin] stuff will kill humans. Most humans. Other than that, good job.*

    The girl¡ªand her mother¡ªseemed immensely relieved and retreated as soon as possible.

    *What, you don¡¯t like the tea?* Suridev said.

    ¡°There¡¯s no dragon spit in it.¡± She folded her hands and waited. Then nodded to the cup.

    He did not oblige. *What¡¯s this about stealing a skiff? Weren¡¯t you damned lucky to get out of here last time?*

    Kaden explained about the Necromancers. About Fate. About the twins, and how important it was. ¡°So I was thinking, what if I just steal a skiff, drag it back into Omnor, circle the city and find out where they are?¡±

    ¡°You see what I have to live with?¡± Sara asked.

    Lord Suridev didn¡¯t answer.

    No one¡ªnot even Kaden¡ªinterrupted a Dragon, so they exchanged awkward glances until he finally decided. *You wanted to fly over Omnor, and your first thought was how to steal a boat from one of the most powerful people in the city? Not tame a flying beast and use it?*

    In hindsight this seemed like a much better idea, Kaden had to admit. ¡°Any idea where I can get a flying beast? Or any kind of beast?*

    *There used to be giant bats. Blight ate ¡®em. Drackens, too. Blight ate ¡®em. Winged serpents. Blight..you get the idea.* The Dragon scratched at its back just below a stubby wing.

    Sara took over scratching ¡°So. What would a strong, wise, powerful dragon advise?¡±

    *You trying to butter me up?* Suridev asked, stomping the floor with his hind leg and shattering the stone. *I can¡¯t go to war with the brokers. I can¡¯t help you go to war with them. Syntera¡¯s a match for me and the others are more than just annoyances.*

    ¡°I understand. Your business is based on bringing clients to different brokers. I wouldn¡¯t ask you to damage it.¡± Kaden sat, thinking. ¡°Ashi had a spell, one she used to make our ship fly with balloons. She said it was a gift from her mother.¡±

    *Balloons.* Suridev repeated it to himself. *It¡¯s been a thousand years. It¡¯s been longer, but they¡¯re probably still out there. You know, before the Blight, you monkeys had a different way of traveling around Omnor, little flying boats. North of the city is where most of them were abandoned after the Blightfall. Odds are at least one is still functioning.*

    Kaden liked the sound of this. ¡°Why did they stop using them?¡±

    *Blightlings kept dropping from the ceiling of the cavern and eating the sailors. Might want to watch out for that. Don¡¯t get eaten.* Suridev pronounced it like an ancient precept of dragon wisdom.

    Kaden accepted it. ¡°We¡¯re sorry to keep dropping in. You did your part. We got the spellbook and returned it. Whatever happens next doesn¡¯t involve you.¡±

    Sara kneeled and put her arms around the dragon¡¯s neck. ¡°Thank you. Best of business to you.¡±

    Reptiles, particuarly dragons, did not cry, but he gleamed with pleasure and escorted them out. *If you ever have actual business in the market, I better not hear of you using another guide.*

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± Sara said, as they left. ¡°We should probably set out on foot through Omnor. It would be faster.¡±

    Kaden took a moment to wrap them in [Stealth Aura]. ¡°Dealing with all the politics and purchase rights? No thanks. Besides, we¡¯ve got friends in dead places. We hit this ship graveyard. We find ourselves a flying ship. We staff it with skeletons to deal with the Blight,and we cover the whole city in hours.¡±

    An hour later, Ashi and Eve met them at the north edge of Omnor, just outside Limey¡¯s domain. Outside of the city proper, darkness held sway, and only the occasional burning Blightling served to light up the darkness beyond.

    Ashi and Kaden drew Mana orbs for light.

    Not half a mile from the city, ominious shapes rose in the darkness, thin hulled, long narrow ships. But these ships had runners on the bottom, and their hulls didn¡¯t touch the ground.

    ¡°How, exactly, are we supposed to fly these?¡± Eve asked.

    Ashi grew more excited by the moment. ¡°This, I know. When I was young, for an Exodus celebration, we filled the sky with ships.All the citizens of Vichor aloft among the fireworks. Very few harmed by the explosions.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean you can fly them? Yes or no would be appreciated,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°Yes. Somewhat yes. Probably.¡± Ashi passed ship after ship¡ªthen pointed to one. ¡°That is the one.¡±

    The hull was black and smooth and sleek, but narrow? No. This was a sky-ship that had eaten other sky-ships for breakfast, probably for several days. It had snacked on other sky-ships and against the advice of its doctor, blended them up into sky-ship slurry which it slurped inbetween snacking on hulls.

    Kaden leaped up to haul himself to the deck, then dropped a ladder for Sara and Eve, while Ashi used [Hover] to slowly drop herself on the deck. ¡°We could probably just use a small one.¡±

    ¡°I do not want a small one. Since only I can operate the ship, it is I who decide.¡± Ashi headed toward the back of the ship.

    ¡°Should I even be here?¡± Eve asked. ¡°Who¡¯s going to resurrect you all when this inevitably goes badly?¡±

    Sara had already leaped to the bow of the ship. ¡°Show some faith!¡±

    ¡°Unwarranted,¡± Eve answered. ¡°We can¡¯t¡ª¡±

    The ship lurched as Ash empowered controls. Glowing globes of solar mana errupted above the ship, and it lunged upward, thenslammed back on the ground, and rose again, then spun to the side, knocking over a smaller ship.

    The kind of ship Kaden had thought they¡¯d take. ¡°Ashi¡ª¡±

    ¡°Let me focus!¡± She glowed with solar mana, and the ship rocketed upward, then dropped ten feet.

    Kaden caught Eve as she flew toward the side and set her beside the mast. ¡°If we crash¡ª¡±

    ¡°We are not crashing!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°We fly!¡±

    Sara clung to a line tied to the bow of the ship, bracing herself with both hands and both pseudopods. ¡°Less falling, more flying, please. Suridev wasn¡¯t this unpleasant, and the dragon had a sawblade down his back.¡±

    The ship steadied as Ashi finally put her hands on the controls. ¡°Evelyn. You are needed here. I cannot steer, power, and pay attention to the [Thread of Fate].¡±

    Kaden took her hand and led Eve up the stairs to the console that controlled the ship. ¡°Ashi, Eve doesn¡¯t have experience steering.¡±

    ¡°Away from volcano, away from lava, how hard is it?¡± Ashi put both hands on a globe, and the sky-cutter began drifting forward. ¡°Evelyn. Steer.¡±

    ¡°I could steer,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Show me how to steer. Look at me, I¡¯m a sky-pirate.¡±

    Ashi risked a glance to him. ¡°You have a purpose. There is a reason the city abandoned sky-cutters outside the volcano. Ah, and there it is.¡±

    Kaden looked back to the deck of the ship. White globs of fleshy mass had landed on the deck. Blightlings, drawn by the powerful mana data powered the sky-cutter. One looked upward, left, right¡ªthen locked its sightless gaze on Ashi and attacked.

 Twenty Eight - On Sail

    ¡°Steer us toward the Necrosium!¡± Sara shouted from the front of the sky-cutter. ¡°I sent a message to the Necromancers asking for help. They¡¯ve got weapons to use against the Blight.¡±

    Eve adjusted something, and the sky cutter rolled sideways.

    Kaden¡¯s agility let him grab the railing and stand on it sideways.

    Sara¡¯s horrors had each coiled around a railing, and she slashed at a Blightling until it fell off the side, following the ones that had focused on Ashi over the side. The sky-cutter righted itself and then flipped over the other way.

    ¡°Good job throwing them off!¡± Sara called.

    ¡°Throwing them off? I mean, yes, that¡¯s what I was doing!¡± Eve steered again, this time more gracefully, taking them around the edge of the volcano. ¡°How do I make it go up or down?¡±

    ¡°No up! No down!¡± Ashi said. She hovered an inch off the deck, focusing on the [Thread of Fate]. ¡°Away from volcano. Away from wall. Back and forth, cover the city. When I say stop, stop.¡±

    Kaden saw the next Blightling fall from the darkness far overhead and met it with a swing of Remembrance, flinging it off the sky-cutter and into the city. ¡°Sorry! Look out below!¡±

    ¡°Go up. Go up now!¡± Sara shouted from the bow.

    ¡°No Up! No¡ª¡± Ashi dropped to the deck. The mana globes above the ship flared brilliantly.

    Because dead ahead lay an arena. Above it, mana displays showed a team of gnomes fighting to slay a group of adventurers. The sky-cutter gained height, but not fast enough.

    ¡°Slow down,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We need to go up! We need¡ª¡±

    The Sky-Cutter slammed into the top of the arena, and broke through, sliding down the seats on the other side. The stern of the cutter remained aloft, while the nose dipped farther and father down into the arena.

    ¡°Keep the gnomes off the ship!¡± Eve shouted. ¡°Ashi, get us¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± Ashi shouted back.

    The arena was filled with ruined buildings, and gnomes hunted the adventurers among them. Sara leaped from the tip of the ship to the top of one of the buildings. ¡°Sorry for the interruption, we¡¯ll be out of your hair in just a moment. Just don¡¯t¡ª¡±

    A wand blast blew a chunk out of the the building.

    The Buried City was built better.

    ¡°You did not just shoot at me,¡± Sara said. ¡°You. [Shield.] Did that gnome just shoot its wand at me?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re killing us! All of us, and you¡¯re worried about if they shot at you?¡± the [Shield] shouted back. ¡°Anika, how¡¯s the resurrection going?¡±

    ¡°Benny¡¯s on his feet, Tsaro¡¯s got three of them deluded, haven¡¯t seen Chen but that¡¯s how I like it, means he¡¯s working.¡± The woman called from inside a building.

    The [Shield] cursed. ¡°Join the games, they said. Win prizes, they said. We should have stuck to clearing ruins. Anika told us.¡±

    PATTERN OF FATE DETECTED. RESCUE/IGNORE GNOME VICTIMS [IGNORE]

    *There¡¯s a Pattern of Fate here. We¡¯re not supposed to interfere*, Kaden sent to Sara. *Karmic Penalties.*

    ¡°Anika? Anika Kabat?¡± Sara said. ¡°Oh, hells. I¡¯ve spent too long teaching you to fill out your Quest reports to watch some level fifteen gnomes disintegrate you. Kaden, I¡¯m going in.¡± Sara hopped from roof to the ground and her Horror lashed out, snatching a pair of gnomes from behind a barrel and slamming them against the walls until they dropped their wands. ¡°Catch.¡±

    She tossed them, one after the other, through the door where the [Shield] waited to crush them. ¡°Where are the rest?¡±

    ¡°The rest of what?¡± the [Shield] asked.

    ¡°The gnomes. The others haven¡¯t shot at me yet, but now, I don¡¯t trust them. Now they all have to go. Kaden! Screw Fate. Kill the gnomes!¡±

    It was never polite to intrude on someone else¡¯s gnome killing without an invitation, but now? He let go and fell, using [Shield Smash] to crush the stone below him and eliminate any damage. ¡°How many were there?¡±

    ¡°Too many!¡± [Healer] Woman shouted. Oh, that was Anika.

    Gnomes screamed like a flock of birds as [Anthem of the End] broke out. They skittered out of a nearby house to discover Trinity waiting. Kaden waiting.

    You have incurred a Karmic Penaty. Due to repeated interference, Karmic Penalty has been increased from minor to serious.

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and smashed a pair of gnomes, while Trinity killed three and stabbed one straight through with her tail, then threw it into the crowd, who cheered.

    His TriTerror went wild.

    ¡°You get a gnome, and you get a gnome!¡± Kaden tried using Remembrance as a bat. Several someones in a general area received part of a gnome. ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s a splash zone,¡± Kaden called as Trinity hurled another speared gnome into the upper seats. He pocketed wands from all the dead. ¡°Shake them! Sara, shake them and a wand will pop out.¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t answer him specifically. ¡°That. About. Does. It.¡± With every word a gnome screamed.

    Sara stepped out. ¡°Why are you fighting level fifteen gnomes? Why are you even in this stupid tournament?¡±

    ¡°Fun?¡± The [Shield] said.

    ¡°Glory,¡± a [Mage] added.

    ¡°Gold,¡± Anika whispered. ¡°The recruiter said they were desperate and paying a gold piece each. We didn¡¯t know they¡¯d put us against twenty gnomes with level advantages.¡±

    ¡°[Backstab]!¡± A [Rogue] stabbed Kaden. ¡°You won¡¯t kill my party without killing me first.¡±

    Kaden grabbed him by the throat and lifted, holding him off the ground. ¡°Did he not get the message?¡±

    The [Healer] rushed out. ¡°He¡¯s with us. Chen, they¡¯re not enemies. Tsaro, no [Deluding] them.¡±

    ¡°I tried, it¡¯s not working!¡± an [Illusionist] emerged from the house. ¡°We¡¯re going to die in this damned arena.¡±

    Sara looked them over. ¡°Everyone, on the ship. Suridev has it right, you¡¯re just about to shit on the business.¡±

    ¡°The guards won¡¯t let us leave the arena,¡± Anika said.

    ¡°Ship. On it.¡± Sara pointed. ¡°Kaden, please stop strangling the [Rogue].¡±

    ¡°Because you said please.¡± Kaden let go and pulled the dagger from his side. ¡°You want it back?¡±

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    The [Rogue] looked like he might be ill and scrambled to climb the roof. The bow of the sky-cutter hung just above it, and their [Shield] was throwing them one at a time onto the ship.

    ¡°Halt! You are interfering in a sanctioned game!¡± A level thirty guard shouted from down the street. Granite covered his body as he charged at Kaden.

    ¡°Halt!¡±

    ¡°Halt!¡± the cry came from all around them.

    Sara looked left and right. ¡°We should go. One on one? I like my chances. We¡¯ll be outnumbered.¡±

    Kaden cupped his hands and boosted her upward.

    The Horror latched onto the railing and hauled her aboard, while Kaden scrambled up to the roof. ¡°Ashi!¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± She shouted back. ¡°We are stuck.¡±

    Kaden wedged himself under the edge of the bow and heaved. The sky-cutter shuddered and lifted back an inch¡ªthen three inches. He leaped to grab a rope and hauled himself onboard as the ship rose higher and higher, then pitched back and began to climb.

    A floating eye circled the entire time, showing the sky-cutter and Sara standing at the bow, pointing with one sword upward¡ªand out.

    [Sara Scylla ¡ª Summoner], the mana projection showed above the arena.

    Sara¡¯s pseudopod whipped out to snag one of the eyeballs. ¡°Sorry for the interruption, enjoy your games. Remember S&K Holdings for all your shipping and poisonous snake needs!¡±

    She threw away the eyeball as the Sky-Cutter clipped the top of the arena and dipped down again, sailing toward the white globe of the necrosium. ¡°All of you, stay near the cabin, in case.¡±

    ¡°In case of what?¡± The [Mage], Benson, asked.

    Four [Blightlings] plopped on the deck.

    Two, as Kaden spun in a circle, bashing the two that hadn¡¯t quite formed.

    ¡°The Thread moves!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°Keep going!¡±

    Eve jerked her hand, and the sky-cutter dipped sideways, throwing another [Blightling] off.

    Karmic Penalty applied. [Blightling] has become [Blight King].

    Sara unleashed lightning on the remaining one, and screamed in agony as it gripped her Horror.

    The Horror was not of this universe. Most things that tried to absorb it died quick, explosive deaths. At the Blight King¡¯s touch, the color drained from the pseudopod and it recoiled.

    ¡°Ashi!¡± Sara¡¯s voice held fear for the first time. The colorless patch continued to spread up the pseudopod. ¡°I have to unsummon it before whatever that is reaches me.¡±

    Her other pseudopod blocked a lunge, and now a white patch spread over the other one.

    Kaden sank Remembrance¡¯s axe into the [Blight King]¡¯s back. The blob didn¡¯t so much turn as it focused using a new set of eyes on its back, and stretched out oozing white tendrils. The one that struck his chest sizzled and pulled back, but the other hit his arm where Kaden gripped Remembrance.

    Agony burst as Kaden¡¯s skin turned white. Kaden hurled it over the edge of the ship and fell to his knees, gasping as the pain grew worse. Every few moments, the white patch grew larger.

    You have received a status condition: BlightBurn.

    [BlightBurn]

    You have been afflicted with the blight. Healing will only cause it to spread. Soon the Blight will be afflicted with you.

    With a gasp, Sara unsummoned her Horror. ¡°I can¡¯t resummon for an hour. I¡¯m useless, and if one of those attacks, I¡¯m dead. And that doesn¡¯t look good. Eve, Kaden¡¯s got a status condition.¡±

    The Necrosium loomed up ahead.

    ¡°Slow down!¡± Kaden shouted.

    Too late. The Sky cutter ground into the dome top of the Necrosium and came to a stop. Skeletons swarmed over the sides of the railing, raising daggers and swords.

    ¡°We¡¯re all going to die,¡± Anika said. ¡°I¡¯m the party leader. It¡¯s my fault. It was my job to know we could betrayed and forced to fight a hord of gnomes for the entertainment of a lawless city.¡±

    ¡°See what you did?¡± Kaden shouted at Sara. ¡°Fix her. This sounds suspiciously like you.¡±

    Sara sighed and turned to face the party. ¡°Eventually, yes, you will die. Some of you sooner than others. Today is probably not your day.¡± Sara waved to the skeletons as they dashed back and forth. ¡°Hello, down below, and thank you!¡±

    A ladder of bones curled up over the top, and a moment later, Dannae climbed over the edge, followed by an eight-foot monstrosity with a bone beard made of fingerbones that dangled off its jaw.

    ¡°Duggarn says you may be able to locate the twins. This ship needs a bigger crew.¡± Dannae waved to all the skeletons. ¡°If it¡¯s got flesh on, leave it on. If it¡¯s [Blight], kill it all.¡±

    Dozens of skeletons hissed and ground bones against each other.

    ¡°We really are going to die,¡± the [Mage] said.

    Kaden was going to say ¡®not today¡¯ but he couldn¡¯t help feeling he knew the behemoth. He spoke through gritted teeth. ¡°Skully?¡±

    The Behemoth turned and dipped its head.

    ¡°What did you do to Skully?¡±

    Danna held out a hand, and he lumbered over to pick her up. ¡°There was an accident with the original skull and he volunteered. We had a limited window. He¡¯s still your pet, he¡¯s just bigger. It¡¯s your responsibility to understand how large a pet will get before you adopt them.¡±

    Kaden studied the bone beard and long ¡®hair¡¯ that fell off the back of the skull. ¡°The [Carrion Crows] are still in it?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly. We¡¯re calling Skully a [Plauge Generator]. The nest mutated due to the [Plague] binding Eve helped install. We¡¯ve been triming the nest to populate other skulls, and it only spawns two [Plague Crows], one per eye socket.¡± Dannae waved.

    Skully kneeled down so Kaden could look at the hateful red birds in each eye. He activated [Beast Taming] and connected with the nest. ¡°I love them.¡±

    ¡°Wait and let them prove their worth. We¡¯re not sure they¡¯re as effective. First off, there¡¯s only two. Second, they seem to be more interested in spreading their disease than actually blinding enemies. But you know, happy little accidents happen all the time. How do we find the Twins?¡± Dannae listened as Ashi explained about the thread and the plan to cover Omnor.

    Then pointed to the adventurers they¡¯d rescued. ¡°Unless you¡¯re bringing them along to turn into skeletons, leave them at the Necrosium. Wait¡ªyou got [Blightburn!]¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to remove it,¡± Eve said. ¡°It keeps getting killed and coming back in the same cycle.¡±

    Dannae drew a glistening black dagger. ¡°Blight can¡¯t be healed, it can only be killed with Death Mana. You know, most people run screaming when I draw this thing.¡±

    She sliced at the patch of white that had grown larger and larger, peeling skin¡ªand [Blight] until only bloody flesh remained. ¡°You¡¯ve got to let me know when that happens. There¡¯s a reason Necromancers are required.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I need that mana. I can assist.¡±

    While Ashi begged for mana, Eve healed Kaden¡¯s arm enough that it wasn¡¯t bare muscle, and Sara attempted to deal with her baby Adventurers.

    Anika bowed her head. ¡°We¡¯re grateful for the rescue, but we barely survived our first deathmatch. We¡¯ve taken a vote and want to head back to the Guild and do some boring tasks until level fifteen. The coins will come in time. Gnomes? Blight? Necromancers? There¡¯s no XP worth this.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always more XP if you live. Kaden, give them some loot.¡±

    Kaden took out gnome wands, holding them up for Ashi. ¡°Fire. Ice. Stone. Wind. Solar. Gravity¡ª¡±

    Ashi waved and the wand flew to her hand. ¡°Yes. This one, I keep.¡±

    Kaden shuffled through the other and handed them out like treats for Everdark celebration. ¡°And here¡¯s a dagger I found in my side a few minutes ago. And that¡¯s something¡¯s claw. This is a tongue I ripped off a [Dangler] a few nights ago. Careful, that¡¯s poison. Spell book on Life Magic. I think this sword is cursed. Oh, yeah, it¡¯s cursed good, if you don¡¯t have [Hard to Kill] better not take it. Here!¡± He presented the [Shield] a helmet, a breast-plate and two gauntlets.

    ¡°They¡¯re caved in,¡± the man said.

    ¡°I tell people all the time it¡¯s not worth trying to rob us. Head to the Guild in Verona, look for a man named Thatcher. He¡¯ll pop those dents right out and probably keep the ghost.¡± Kaden kept searching. And dropped the corpse of a [Assassin] on the deck. ¡°I really have no idea where this guy came from.¡±

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Sara said. ¡°You said you got rid of all the assassins at the guild.¡±

    It all came back to Kaden. ¡°This is the guy. Mister ¡®free cursed rings in the market¡¯. The Guildmaster said to drop him in the incinerator, but we had that erratic to deal with.¡±

    ¡°The incinerator,¡± the [Rogue] said quietly. ¡°How do I avoid that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, come, now,¡± Eve said. ¡°Don¡¯t hand out cursed objects and then sell the cure. Don¡¯t poison random wells and then loot the commoners. Don¡¯t put a town to sleep with no way to wake them up just so you can kiss a princess. It¡¯s creepy and you won¡¯t be forgiven. Common sense, really.¡±

    ¡°Do not create a portal from the sewer to the top of the [Mage¡¯s Tower],¡± Ashi added.

    ¡°Don¡¯t dual class as an assassin and slowly murder your party as you get deeper in a dungeon until you¡¯re trapped, the last survivor, starving to death and someone has to smash your skull with a hammer so the dungeon can reopen,¡± Kaden offered. ¡°Too specific?¡±

    ¡°Too specific.¡± Sara said. ¡°Anyway, head back to the Guild. There¡¯ll be a nice fresh Quest waiting to clear Ashitton. We named it after Ashi.¡±

    ¡°What was that name?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°Eville,¡± Kaden corrected. ¡°We named it after Eve.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Eve asked.

    Sara stepped in to avoid a murder. ¡°The name isn¡¯t agreed on. The town I¡¯ve been paying to have you clear. Kill some giant rats. Swing by Verdant Vineyards and get [Resist Poison.]¡± She pointed to the ladder. ¡°Can I offer you all some advice? Don¡¯t enter death matches.¡±

    ¡°If your brother drags you to a different dimension to kill you, flee,¡± Ashi offered.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make a deal with Shadow Blade organizations or get trapped in pocket dimensions, either.¡± Eve looked to Sara. ¡°Too specific?¡±

    ¡°Those are fine.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ambush a Demon Lord, steal his eye, offer to have sex with his daughter and then get marked by Demons.¡± Kaden felt like this was right on the edge. ¡°Also¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough advice.¡± Sara pointed to the ladder. ¡°And don¡¯t judge Necromancers just because they deal with the dead! One might make a great addition to your party!¡±

    Kaden was fairly sure they were eager to slide down the bone ladder, in spite of how it grew hands to help keep them from falling. ¡°They seemed nice, but the karmic penalty was¡ª¡±

    ¡°Totally worth it. Good help is hard to find.¡± Sara looked out over the city. ¡°Let¡¯s go find those twins.¡±

 Twenty Nine - See, Saw

    While Ashi worked the sky-cutter loose from the Necrosium, Kaden confronted Skully. The Bone Behemoth had approached the [Assassin] corpse laying on the deck and studied it, before picking it up and shoving the corpse into its rib cage. The ribs crushed inward, piercing the body, then stretched the limbs longer and longer, until the corpse was held inside.

    ¡°What is it doing?¡± Kaden asked.

    Dannae clapped with joy ¡°I don¡¯t know but it looks horrifying! I can¡¯t wait to see what else your monster does. He¡¯s not quite a tomb champion, but this is just magnificent. This sky-cutter attracts [Blightlings] so we¡¯ll get a chance to find out.¡±

    With a groan, the sky-cutter broke loose and spun gently.

    ¡°I must tend the [Thread],¡± Ashi said. ¡°Evelyn and Sara, steer. Kaden, please do not crash the ship.¡±

    Eve moved a bar on the controls and the sky-cutter began to glide forward. ¡°Sara, you steer, I¡¯ll run the altitute and speed. Let¡¯s practice avoiding arenas.¡±

    Sara steered gradually, so it felt like the sky-cutter barely turned, but gave wide berth to the arenas.

    ¡°Movement!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°They are west!¡±

    As the ship leaned west, she stopped. ¡°Now, north?¡±

    The sky-cutter picked up speed, sailing cleanly between the volcano and an Arena where a swarm of spiders fought a creature that looked like animated rocks.

    ¡°Slow¡ªnow East?¡± Ashi said. ¡°This does not make sense.¡±

    Before she could say anything else, a string of [Blightlings] dropped on the deck.

    Skully charged to grab one and slammed in over and over, smashing it until the [Blightling] dissolved into white ooze. Smaller skeletons swarmed the others, waving swords in the air to cheer Skully as it repeated the attack.

    ¡°More!¡± Dannae shouted. ¡°He needs a club!¡±

    Another [Blightling] and this time, Kaden smashed it with Remembrance, then used [Moment of Speed] to dive away, while Skully used a more direct strategy - stomp toward the [Blightling] and stomp it into white goo.

    ¡°Keep going!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°North.¡±

    Around and around, they sailed, always avoiding the Arenas and the volcano, while Skully became a legend among the smaller skeletons, who quickly learned to surround the Blightlings and trap them for their bigger brother.

    ¡°South again!¡± Ashi¡¯s cry came.

    Eve pounded her fist on the rail. ¡°We¡¯re going in circles.¡±

    ¡°Yes! That is it!¡± Ashi jumped up in the air. ¡°You are most brilliant among women, Evelyn. We are going in circles. Those we seek are moving, too. We will be wise and adjust. When we know where they are, we move.¡±

    Sara began to count. ¡°Every thirty seconds. Every thirty seconds, they shift. Kaden, be ready to hit the ground. If we can isolate where they are in a given place, we can hit a building.¡±

    Eve halted the ship, letting it drift gently. ¡°Pay attention, we¡¯re drawing lines. When it comes back around I want to know if they¡¯re closer to the outside or closer to the volcano. Sara, can you mark it on your scroll?¡±

    ¡°Blightlings! If you¡¯re holding still, you¡¯re easier to attack!¡± Dannae¡¯s cries were reinforced by the growls of a dozen skeletons as dozens of Blightlings dropped on the sky-cutter.

    Ashi Rahm requests permission to use [Mana Conduit]. Allow? [Y/N]

    Kaden accepted the prompt¡ªand sprinted toward the Blightlings. ¡°Ready!¡±

    A wave of black power exploded out from him, damaging Blightlings. It ate holes in them and left them crisp, while Skully had picked up a pair of skeletons and swung them like flails, smashing damaged Blightlings.

    ¡°We need to be moving!¡± Dannae called. ¡°Also, I need that spell. For reasons.¡±

    Kaden checked. He¡¯d lost 800 health to that one blast. ¡°Maybe don¡¯t do that a lot. Two more times, max, or I¡¯m dead.¡±

    ¡°It should not have affected you!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°I am most sorry!¡±

    Sara gave a cry of triumph. ¡°Yes! I know where they are. I know where they were. There!¡±

    She pointed across the way to an Arena. ¡°Under there. I¡¯d certain - the thread points downward, sharply downward. They¡¯re not there right now, but they were twenty seconds ago and will be in ninety more. Someone is moving them so they can¡¯t be tracked.¡±

    Kaden looked to Dannae. ¡°I¡¯m leaving Skully with you. Sara, can you drop me into the Arena? You three, locate the other places. If I can¡¯t get to them in this one, we¡¯ll need to try the others.¡±

    ¡°I know where they are,¡± Sara said. ¡°Remember Erris Karn¡¯s network?¡±

    The railway that went through a portal. ¡°Yes. You think there¡¯s some sort of portal rail setup to transport them around?¡±

    Sara projected her map. ¡°Arena. Arena. Arena, Limey¡¯s domain. Diggus, Syntera, Bluderyn, and a Demon Lord. It¡¯s under these buildings.¡±

    Dannae let Skully run wild for a moment, then dispatched a ghost. ¡°You don¡¯t want to tangle with a demon lord. Level seventy five, he¡¯ll squish you. He¡¯d probably kill me. Hell, Duggarn would have a hard time alone.¡±

    ¡°Then do not go alone,¡± Ashi said. ¡°But consider this: There are four locations. When you hit the first, they will stop the transport. If you do not guess correctly, you will lose your chance.¡±

    Dannae sent another ghost. And another. ¡°Duggarn was in a meeting with three Brokers. All Hell¡¯s broken loose. We¡¯re forming raid teams to hit Limey¡¯s domain. That leaves the three arenas.¡±

    ¡°Eve and I will take the north one,¡± Sara said. ¡°Remember, you don¡¯t need to interfere in the battle above. The businesses built into the arena likely have ways to the underground.¡±

    Kaden looked to Skully. ¡°Go with Sara. Protect her. Ashi and I can both Portal. We¡¯ll use that to get out if needed.¡±

    ¡°And you?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got [Stealth Aura]. I¡¯ll find this portal railway. If the twins are there, I¡¯ll free them, send the [Falcrow] and portal out.¡±

    PATTERN OF FATE DETECTED. AVOID/JOIN NECROMANCER BATTLE [AVOID].

    Kaden cursed under his breath and explained. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense. We¡¯re working to restore Fate. The [FateWeavers] asked us to come. Ashi¡¯s Mother intervened to block [Prophecy], so how are we constantly running the opposite way to Fate¡¯s design?¡±

    ¡°Oberix.¡± Eve spoke the name like a curse. ¡°She calls herself a [Fate Changer.] I¡¯d bet it¡¯s nothing more than a [Fate Weaver] who doesn¡¯t care about the consequences. It¡¯s her design you¡¯re running afoul of.¡±

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Kaden thought back to each of his interactions. ¡°At this point, we¡¯re going to be dealing with major karmic consequences. I think it will only affect me.¡±

    ¡°I doubt it.¡± Sara¡¯s whisper was barely audible over the sound of Skully tearing apart Blightings. ¡°When I chose to rescue Annika¡¯s party, I paid for it. I¡¯d have the Horror right now. I can still summon Crawling Horrors. And butterflies.¡±

    ¡°The smart thing to do is let the Necromancers handled it,¡± Eve said. ¡°The right thing to do is dive in. I don¡¯t know this Diggus, but I don¡¯t like people who believe they can act without consequence, take without fear. I¡¯ll personally endure a little Karma to end that.¡±

    ¡°One alone must not be allowed to control [Fate],¡± Ashi said.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a catastrophic karmic intervention. It killed innocent bystanders. If we¡¯re going to do this, we have to do it my way. With [Resilient Constitution], I can survive most things. And once I¡¯m alone, Sole Survivor will increase my resistances.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d have to hear your way before I can agree.¡± Sara looked so small without the Cosmic Horror¡¯s pseudopods looming over her.

    Kaden launched into his plan. ¡°Karma reacts to actions. If I force you into the battle, that wasn¡¯t your choice. If you act, the penalty lands on you.¡±

    ¡°Stop it.¡± Dannae¡¯s command rose over the growls of Blight-Slaughtering. ¡°You¡¯ve risked so much. Been caught up in a war you had nothing to do with. Leave recovering the Twins to us. You¡¯ve given us knowledge. You¡¯ve already evened the scales.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t one to back away.

    He shared that with Trinity or maybe he got a little bit of it from her. ¡°We can help.¡±

    ¡°Not without incurring a Karmic response. Let it fall on us. Our people. Our battle.¡± Dannae looked south, toward the Necrosium. ¡°We¡¯re not fools, though we¡¯ve been made to dance like one. We¡¯re not weak, though this City does not recognize our strength. That ends here and now.¡±

    Ashi put a hand on the controls for the Sky Cutter. ¡°Where can we take you? Pick an arena.¡±

    ¡°That one.¡± Danae pointed west. ¡°The Walking Graveyards are already on their way. I¡¯ll be there to make them more effective. Sorry, but Skully¡¯s not battle proven. Those [Plague Crows] could be amazing in time, but now isn¡¯t the moment to find out.¡±

    As though he heard his name, Skully threw back his head and rattled, then siezed a pair of smaller skeletons, using them as weapons to smash Blightlings. Blightlings saw the stationary sky-cutter as an ideal target, and Skully saw Blightlings as ideal targets, so it was really a win-win situation.

    This time, Ashi caused the ship to sail upward higher and higher, so the Sky Cutter sailed gracefully over the top of the of the arena instead of crashing through it. ¡°We must abandon ship once the skeletons are gone. Alone, your undead pet is not enough.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Sara scanned the horizon. ¡°Trade-Rite is there. We¡¯ll crash¡ªI mean, land¡ªjust outside it.¡±

    Skully reluctantly let go of his two friends as the skeletons formed a bone-ladder for Dannae.

    ¡°When this is over, come by the Necrosium.¡± Dannae climbed over the edge of the sky cutter and her skeletons dropped her, catching her at intervals¡ªthen raining down as the Necromancer landed in the middle of the arena.

    She ignored the packs of [Hybrenas] fighting Adventurers, as [Walking Graveyards] smashed through the wall of the arena and began to tear stones from the floor, working their way downward.

    The sky cutter wheeled about as Ashi moved them clear of the arena.

    ¡°Ashi, you need to leave,¡± Eve called. ¡°Any of us can crash the ship. You can make sure no matter what, Oberix doesn¡¯t get what they¡¯re after.¡±

    ¡°Explain!¡± Ashi said, as the ship pitched up, rising and sinking as though on waves.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got the Thread,¡± Eve said. ¡°For once, you need to listen to Kaden. Oberix doesn¡¯t care about some skull. They¡¯re a [Fate Changer]. Their long term goal was probably always the Thread. Use the token. Go back to Vichor. Deny them this. It¡¯s the only sane thing to do.¡±

    ¡°I will not.¡± Ashi looked to Kaden and Sara. ¡°I will not abandon you to Karma.¡±

    Pattern of Fate Detected: Deliver Thread to Broker Oberix [Deliver/Deliver/Deliver/Deliver].

    Kaden swore under his breath. ¡°No one is abandoning anyone. Imagine what Oberix will be capable of if they get it. I just got another pattern of fate warning, but all options have me delivering the thread.¡±

    The Sky-Cutter rocked side-to-side as something impacted the bottom. The screams of terror from below were possibly coincidence.

    ¡°That cannot be. It would damage the weave of fate terribly.¡± Ashi leaped over the railing and activated the portal. ¡°Evelyn? Keep this safe.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t surprised to see Eve willingly accept the thread. But she hesitated, unclipping something from her ears. ¡°If you¡¯re going into battle, and I can¡¯t be there to heal, at least take these.¡±

    In her hands sat the [Suffering Crystals] he¡¯d bought with a gnome massacre. They¡¯d always been red, but now they shown with a crimson glow. ¡°I don¡¯t inflict status effects.¡±

    ¡°You will with these. I¡¯ve charged them up by using them in battle. Your enemies will sufffer random status effects. May I?¡± Eve drove the earrings through the collar of his [Needful Cloak]. ¡°Be careful. I won¡¯t be there to resurrect you.¡±

    With that, she stepped through the Portal.

    ¡°Sara?¡± Kaden asked ¡°Remember Verdant Vineyards?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Sara said. ¡°How bad will the Karmic Penalty be?¡±

    ¡°Catastrophic. You know what that means. Everyone around me is about to pay the price for us intervening.¡± Kaden waited as Eve stepped through the shaking portal. The sky-cutter shuddered under them again.

    Sara tackled Ashi, dragging her through the portal, which snapped close.

    WARNING: WEAVE OF FATE HAS TEMPORARILY BROKEN IN THIS AREA. (OBERIX)

    FATE GUIDANCE IS UNAVAILABLE.

    KARMIC BALANCE REMAINS IN EFFECT.

    DESTINY REMAINS IN EFFECT.

    FATE WEAVERS NOTIFIED.

    PLEASE STAND BY.

    Kaden leaped to the steering deck. ¡°You and me, Skully. Let¡¯s give Oberix a taste of her own medicine.¡±

    Kaden oversteered the first time and the second, weaving back and forth like a [Winemaker]¡¯s apprentice as he learned how to pilot the sky-cutter. Eve and Ashi had made it look easy.

    Skully smashed the first Blightling to hit the deck into pulp, but now they were coming faster and faster, and soon the third Blightling was standing while the first was still being smashed.

    ¡°Leave them!¡± Kaden shouted to his monster as he wheeled the sky cutter left, straight toward an arena. He recognized the smashed walls and crumbling stone, like someone had parked a sky-cutter badly there, then rammed their way out after killing a bunch of gnomes.

    That was just one possibility, there could be any number of reasons for the arena top to be crushed. Kaden pushed the skycutter forward and leaped aside as Skully lumbered up the rails. [Plague Crows] circled him, infecting the Blight, which was life, and thus vulnerable. In fact, the infection seemed to spread across the blightlings faster than Kaden thought possible, causing them to deteriorate.

    ¡°Come with me, big guy. Time to jump.¡± Kaden leaped from the sky-cutter, landing atop a stone Outlet Shop. Skully crashed to the ground behind him, while the sky-cutter picked up speed¡ªand slammed into the arena, crushing Blightlings.

    Kaden had already activated [Stealth Aura], and kept it on him and Skully as a group of guards rushed past. Not Emporium guards. Trade-Rite guards carrying wands the size of war clubs.

    ¡°Spread out, the whole party is here. The [Polymage] has the [Thread of Fate], so don¡¯t vaporize her,¡± a guard called.

    Kaden already saw how the fates had diverged. He took a risk and drew a Echo Beetle from Inventory, ordering it to land on the back of the Guard who seemed to be in charge, then crawl up under his collar.

    As the men spread out, Kaden slipped Skully into Inventory and hid. At this point, his best option was to escape Omnor. But he froze as a rainbow dragon landed on his arm and dropped a scroll.

    Kaden. Najur adjusted time to run faster in Vichor so we may plan. Oberix has broken Fate. There is a way to restore it, though the price will terrible. Under the arena you will find a FarPortal. Toss this scroll into it. ¡ª Ashi

    He looked over the edge at the Trade-Rite guards, who seemed a lot less interested in finding him than he would have expected. Level twenty fours, maybe they really wanted to make it to twenty five.

    Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and leaped over the edge, sprinting toward the nearest business. The theory had been that all of them would have access to the underside of the arena. This one sold robes in every color and decorative battle axes that wouldn¡¯t cut a ribbon let alone a neck, along with wands that sprayed colors, not internal organs, and buckets of popcorn.

    The back of the shop opened to a crowded store-room organized in stacks for upcoming battles. But at the far end of the storeroom, Kaden found a panel that slid open. A set of iron tracks lay just beyond. As Kaden stepped forward, [Split Second] activated. He jerked back as a cargo wagon the size of a house slid silently past, moving fast enough to obliterate anything that got in its way.

    [Moment of Speed] let him cross the tracks.

    He summoned Trinity, using [Beast Empathy] to impress on her how quiet she needed to be. ¡°I¡¯m looking for the twins.¡±

    Bit by bit, they moved through different tunnels. When Kaden found a pallet of goods, he moved it across the doorway. When he found a box of fireworks, he put them into Inventory. The organization was truly magnificent, ever larger corridors let wagons pass with robes, food, trinkets for the games, even the occasional decorative weapon.

    When Trinity found a Bastion Iguana pulling a cargo cart, she sabotaged it and prevented it from resurrecting. (The iguana, not the cart). Kaden¡¯s sense of direction had gone completely wrong, and his only rule was ¡®larger¡¯ is probably further in.

    Until he reached a room where an actual FarPortal was active, and trains of goods moved through a short distance, then the portal shut down automatically. It opened again and a shorter line of carts came through. A moment later, the exit portal blinked, and Kaden¡¯s breath caught in his chest. He¡¯d found the twins.

 Thirty - Getting A Head

    Near the center of what must be the arena floor, a far older set of rails stood, rusted and uneaven. Atop them sat a wooden cargo wagon with wooden wheels, pushed by a Toad-Man twice Kaden¡¯s height. It hunched over to keep from bumping its head. Lumpy green skin like a toad¡¯s covered the Beast¡¯s body, and it gripped the edges of the car with suckered fingers.

    On its back perched a gnome with a whip attached to a wand, who sang out a tune as it whipped the Toad-man¡¯s back. And on the wagon sat a pair of chairs. One was empty, though the pools of blood around it said there had been violence. The woman, Serta? She wasn¡¯t coming back, if the angry spirit circling her body was any indication. The primary giveaway was that she was missing her head, but that wasn¡¯t the only problem. In fact, it looked like her corpse had rotted very, very quickly.

    Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul and checked [Stealth Aura] before setting off at a run. He slid under carts and hurdled a wagon. A new Far Portal blazed into existence, and the gnome shrieked, swinging its whip to crack against the Frog-Man¡¯s back. [Identify] finally kicked in.

    [Froglander]

    Once, the Lily City was the wonder of seven nations who had never seen anything but the Lily City. The last nation actually had been to a small town and wasn¡¯t nearly as impressed, but thousands of lily pads covered with Froglanders living their best life, eating [Dagger Wasps] and generally having a hopping good time was usually impressive. This particular Froglander is very far from home. It hasn¡¯t seen a lilly, let alone a lilly pad in ages. Eating flies that come for its manure is just not the same.

    *Depressed*

    Kaden sprinted for the cart, focusing on [Stealth] and leaped through the FarPortal just ahead of it. He emerged under another arena, one where the roof shook and dust settled and people screamed¡ªand hundreds of Diggus¡¯s guards lined up with swords and shields, preparing to go to war.

    He used the shaking of explosions to mask the moment he climbed on board. An ambush here would be suicide. And the dead twin¡¯s spirit was staring at him. She¡¯d stopped shrieking. Stopped circling her corpse. Just stared.

    Kaden focused on her, trying to use [Mind Speech]. *I was here to rescue you. You look¡­deadish.*

    The spirit floated forward, so much more dense and powerful than the one Sara had.

    *YOU WILL DIE WITH ME.*

    There wasn¡¯t a threat, she just screamed it mind to mind.

    *Really hoping that isn¡¯t true. What happened to your head?* Kaden held on as the cart began to move.

    *THE GNOME.*

    The FarPortal opened, and this Arena was broken, with rocks fallen from the ceiling, dead soldiers everywhere, and flashing warning lights in the corner.

    He moved quietly to the back of the cart, reaching out to touch a bulbous green sucker finger.

    You have attempted to tame a Beast.

    You may not tame a Beast under [Beast Coercion]. To remove [Beast Coercion], increase your taming skills or decrease the current Coercer¡¯s Health to zero.

    Kaden knew how to do the second thing.

    The problem was, the moment he¡¯d touched the [Froglander], the gnome driving it had leaped to the top of its shoulder, looking everywhere. It knew Kaden had tried to take control but couldn¡¯t see him with [Stealth Aura].

    Kaden drew Thorn Caster and applied a hundred points of mana to make an arrow that shimmered and twisted and appeared to have just been fired, already hit and still be resting all at the same time.

    He loosed the arrow¡ª

    Karmic Penalty applied.

    The arrow twisted around the gnome, who could, of course, now absolutely see Kaden. It drew a wand that drifted shimmering trails of black. Kaden was already running, already leaping. All he needed to do was dodge¡ª

    Karmic Penalty applied.

    The floor under him exploded into black tendrils.

    You have taken 1,500 points of Necrotic Damage (after Resistances).

    Kaden stifled a scream as he leaped clear of the tendrils. There were better times to develop resistances. He could only hope¡ªthe gnome¡¯s scream told him exactly what had happened, as Trinity crunched down on the little bastard.

    Now it was a race to prevent a war as Kaden opened a portal and leaped between the [Froglander] and Trinity, then brushed the [Froglander]

    You have tamed a Beast.

    Kaden appraised the available skills and chose the only one that fit, mentally holding Trinity at bay. He pocketed the wand. ¡°Drop the gnome, please.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s growl said she wasn¡¯t happy, but she did it.

    The [Froglander] picked it up and flicked its tongue, swallowing the gnome. Then sat down, staring at the floor. Kaden was on borrowed time, but then again, they probably weren¡¯t looking for one dead twin. He tossed Ashi¡¯s scroll into the FarPortal. It sparked and began to fizz rainbow light, but Kaden had bigger problems.

    Serta¡¯s vengeful spirit loomed over him. *YOU MAY NOT DEFILE MY BODY.*

    ¡°What do you think I want to do with it?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Actually, don¡¯t answer that. My lover¡¯s dead and I¡¯ve already had people ask why I keep her corpse.¡± Kaden took out Skully. ¡°Some of these dead people may have bones you can use.¡±

    *There is no return to the flesh for me.* She drifted over. *I refuse the comfort of Mortis¡¯s Court while my killers draw breath and I will not rest until my brother is recovered.*

    Serta gestured, and her corpse writhed. The flesh on it turned black and dropped away. *I have need of your pet. I cannot inhabit an incomplete body.*

    ¡°Skully?¡±

    The spirit levitated the re-animated skull and set it atop her skeleton like a hat. A moment later, tendrils of black grew up from the skeleton, while veins of red surged downward.

    The Vengeful Spirit sank into Skully, and Skully¡¯s eyes turned emerald green. When its jaw opened, it was Serta¡¯s voice. ¡°Let us send many before us into Mortis¡¯s Court.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The Swarm Beetle in Kaden¡¯s eear began to squiggle. ¡°Oberix swears the whole party is under the West arena. And the Hostage-Train didn¡¯t report in. Converge on that point. Kill them all, we¡¯ll take the Thread from their Inventory.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem. Half the forces in Omnor are headed this way.¡± Kaden looked to the FarPortal, which was erupting faster and faster with sparkling light. ¡°And my party is on their way. I can¡¯t leave them to be abandoned.¡±

    ¡°I said you would die here.

    ¡°And I said I really hoped that wasn¡¯t true.¡± Kaden searched for options. ¡°How many do you think you can kill?¡±

    ¡°Not enough,¡± Serta¡¯s voice held a sullen sadness that spoke of a soul that wouldn¡¯t be allowed to massacre, say, everyone.

    The FarPortal now had a minature fountain of sparks, but it wasn¡¯t nearly enough for someone to come through. Kaden held up a hand. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea. An idea that might make you everyone¡¯s nightmare. Ever hear of a tier-up scroll? I¡¯d use them, but the moment I hit fifty a Nemesis spawns. You might not.¡±

    ¡°I cannot gain levels,¡± Serta added, kneeling to look Kaden in the eye.

    ¡°There might be a way you can. But you¡¯d have to trust me. My Beasts gain levels and skills. My Party member¡¯s summons do. My lover¡¯s Dark Deception does. If you were temporarily bound to me and used a tier-up scroll? I think you¡¯re going to level. I don¡¯t know if you start from zero or twenty five. The numbers don¡¯t matter, the power does.¡± Kaden stopped as the Vengeful Spirit glared at him.

    ¡°If you try to keep me¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why would I do that? You¡¯re vengeful. Your brother¡¯s probably vengeful. You belong to a community who practices vengeance as a virtue.¡± Kaden took out a Tier-Up scroll, then shared Trinity¡¯s status. ¡°Your call.¡±

    Serta held perfectly still, lost in thought for a moment. ¡°What does it take?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to try and tame you. You need to let me.¡±

    ¡°I doubt it will work, but I am willing if it allows me to kill all of Diggus¡¯s men.¡± The woman¡¯s voice from Skully¡¯s jaws was always disconcerting.

    Kaden reached for her and gripped the bones. Activated [Beast Taming]. The [Falcrow] was an incarnation, not a beast, but it had allowed him to tame it, according to Mr. Dervish. Serta was willing, which meant¡­

    You have tamed an _ERROR_.

    You may not name _ERROR_, as it has already named itself.

    SLOT_MISMATCH_ERROR.

    INVOKING CONSISTENCY CHECKER¡­

    [Beast Taming] is undergoing modification.

    You have lost a skill: [Binding Mark].

    [Binding Mark] and [Beast Taming] synergize with [Beast Soul] to become [Soul Binding].

    All [Taming] slots converted to [Binding] slots.

    [Soul Binding]

    If it has a soul or the remnants of one, if it had one once, or if it might ever have one, you can probably bind it. Bound _ENTITIES_ must obey. Be very careful what you use this on. No judgement¡ªfrom us. Everyone else will definitely judge. Expend mana and Soul points to bind _ENTITIES_ to your soul. Warning, attempting to store an _ENTITY_ that excedes your Soul capacity will result in rupturing your Soul. That¡¯s bad, you should avoid it.

    Kaden was stunned. A mythic skill. An extremely dangerous mythic skill. Kaden took a moment to mark it hidden. It didn¡¯t let him use skills from non-beasts, as [Beast Soul] did that. ¡°Use the tier-up scroll now.¡±

    The Vengeful Spirit took it and absorbed the scroll. The world lit up brilliant blue that grew brighter by the moment, and the skeleton swelled and grew, towering over Kaden. ¡°Hide. I am more than you will ever be at level fifty. Let me reap my vengeance.¡±

    He gently undid the binding. ¡°You are free. I want Skully back when you¡¯re done. And I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t kill any of my Party. Hurt even one of them and you¡¯ll find out if Soul Binding works against the unwilling.¡±

    ¡°So demanding. My prey comes.¡± Serta spun and disappeared.

    Kaden took a moment to try [Soul Binding] on the FrogLander, releasing the binding and then re-establishing it.

    You have bound a Beast (FrogLander).

    [WARNING - Soul Attribute insufficient for storage].

    POWER/RISK IMBALANCE NOTED.

    REBALANCE_REQUIRED - DISABLING NOTIFICATION

    ¡°Come over here and hide. I don¡¯t want you caught in the crossfire.¡± Kaden hid behind a wagon with the monstrous frog-man as screams rose up all around him. Wand-fire and spells illuminated the darkness as guards fought.

    Then every light went out simultaneously.

    Kaden thought he knew what fear was. The only lights now were wand blasts and the real question was if what they revealed was worse than what they didn¡¯t. Skully had always looked friendly to Kaden, like his jaws were smiling. Now, posessed by the vengeful spirit of a Necromancer, the ten foot tall skeleten was downright terrifying.

    He was invisible until he struck, and flashing red [Plauge Crows] soared out to attack. Violet energy surrounded Kaden, and afterimages¡ªno, more spirits followed. Every time Serta slew an enemy, their spirit rose and followed in her flock.

    *Kaden.* Sara¡¯s message almost made him scream.

    The FarPortal had ceased to sparkle.

    Sara stood there with Eve behind her and Ashi at her side. And behind her were two men and a woman, Pretash.

    Kaden left the [Froglander] and crept over to the FarPortal. ¡°It¡¯s not safe out there. Most of the guards in Omnor believe we are here. Which we are. And that you have the [Thread of Fate].¡±

    ¡°We do not,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We bring help to re-establish the Weave of Fate. One of the twins is dead, as was decreed. But all of this was a [Hyperion Lizard] resting on a branch.¡±

    Kaden had to consult [Beast Knowledge.] ¡°An illusion?¡±

    ¡°We go now,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We fix Fate. Pretash, do you come?¡±

    Ashi¡¯s sister shook her head. ¡°We must stay here to reset the weave. We can only hope that Fate is kind and we are not attacked.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t trust Fate for anything,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ll stay and protect you. Eve?¡±

    Eve drew the Bloodmoon staff from Inventory. ¡°If we don¡¯t restore Fate, we¡¯re all in trouble. Ashi, can you block Oberix¡¯s [Pattern of Fate] tricks?¡±

    ¡°I can, though the focus to do so will cost me.¡±

    Kaden glanced to the [FrogLander]. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I can¡¯t leave you here. If you see Skully, he¡¯s probably possessed.¡±

    Ashi opened a new portal, one right to the entrance of the underground Market. ¡°If we fail, Evelyn has permission. Use the portal. Flee the city.¡±

    Kaden wrapped them in [Stealth Aura] and stepped through, with Ashi right behind him. The guards who had kept order here lay dead, and together they stepped through the portal and into the Undermarket. Everywhere, Necromancers slew guards.

    *Where are we going?*

    *Diggus Bikus,* Ashi sent. *The Necromancers have reached him.*

    Kaden took the lead, taking them through the underground market. [Relive the Moment] let him find the exact alley, the doorway that he¡¯d been taken to. He opened the door and stepped through, into Suridev¡¯s business. ¡°Hello? Kaden Birch here. I¡¯m looking for Suridev.¡±

    The ground shook, and curtains swayed as a full-sized golden dragon squeezed its way down the back hallway. *Kid? And you, you smell like mana. Whew, that¡¯s a lot of magic to pack into a human. And frog. Big frog.*

    ¡°Asha Vanter Opton Rahm.¡± Ashi bowed her head. ¡°We go to restore Fate. You will be safe once it is done.¡±

    *Safe? I¡¯m a dragon. I¡¯m¡­you know what? She¡¯s your problem, not mine. I like the frog. Nice, serious guy. Think he can swing a club?* Suridev looked to him.

    ¡°Get him a pond with lilly pad and he¡¯ll try. We need to get to Diggus to have any chance of fixing this. You have a skiff?¡±

    The dragon shrank to the size of an iguana. *If you¡¯d asked even three hours ago, yes. Now? Come with me.*

    Kaden pulled Ashi along behind him as Suridev led the way through his business. As the dragon approached, a wall of tiles flipped over, one tile at another. The other side was cloth, which merged to form a curtain, which pulled itself back.

    There, on a woven bamboo lounge, relaxed Syntera Fleshseeker.

    ¡°Demon!¡± Ashi shouted.

    Kaden stepped in front of Ashi. ¡°We really don¡¯t need enemies right now. Let me handle this.¡± He turned to look at the Demon. Demoness? Demon Lady? ¡°I need a skiff to get to Diggus. Ashi and I might be able to put Fate back together.¡±

    Syntera morphed as she stood, becoming tan like Ashi. Her clothes became Vichorean wraps, though the beads weren¡¯t constellations but crude drawings of men and women hugging with their hips. ¡°Interesting. And what do I gain from helping you?¡±

    ¡°A city that isn¡¯t destroyed. A business that will keep going. More victims for your pleasure games. I think it¡¯s a pretty solid offer.¡± Kaden waited, arms crossed.

    Syntera tipped her head. ¡°You and I will¡ª¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden said. ¡°Also no to me and Ashi, or Ashi and you, or Ashi and Suridev, or anyone. You¡¯re into pleasure, right? Imagine how pleasurable it¡¯s going to feel to survive all this. Imagine how it will be to look Diggus and Oberix in the eye and say ¡®Still here, in spite of your games.¡¯ That is pleasure.¡±

    Syntera¡¯s pout slowly shifted. ¡°You remind me of your father. Do you want to know how he paid for his bow? It wasn¡¯t with words.¡±

    ¡°I would not enjoy that at all. Can we use the skiff?¡± Kaden looked to Ashi. ¡°Any chance you can work your Vichorean charm here?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no need¡± Syntera smiled at Kaden, then even more at Ashi. ¡°Seeing Diggus grovel. That would be new. That would be different. Worth a favor. Suridev, darling, I¡¯ll be back. Don¡¯t forget me.¡±

    She stood and slunk out, rippling to an older, darker version of Eve with platinum hair. ¡°I so love the way both of you react to this. To the skiff!¡±

 Thirty One - Fated

    Syntera¡¯s Sky-Skiff rocketed upward toward the ceiling of lava with the Demoness at the helm and Kaden gripping Ashi with one arm and the mast with the other. Ashi had activated her Hover spell and it was more keeping her attached than carring her.

    Chains of bone hung from Diggus¡¯s island, massive bone links formed from skeletons, and the undead clung to it, climbing ever higher. Synterra wove between the chains, singing at the top of her lungs. ¡°Isn¡¯t it romantic? A battle to the death! Someone else¡¯s death!¡±

    The skiff tipped upside down as she crested the top of Diggus¡¯s island, and then settled down atop Diggus¡¯s Sky Villa. Below them, Walking Graveyards held Diggus on his knees, while Necromancers stood in front of him.

    Ashi leaped off the ship, activating Hover at the last moment to land in front of Diggus.

    Kaden followed, landing on top of Diggus but still managing to stay on his feet. ¡°Duggarn! Stop!¡±

    The Necromancer Centurion looked at Kaden with surprise. ¡°You want to do the honors yourself? I gave him a chance to give them back.¡±

    ¡°Great Necromancer, I am Asha Vanter Opton Rahm.¡± Ashi bowed her head. ¡°I come on behalf of the [Fate Weavers]. I ask you hear me before you act.¡±

    Duggarn crossed his arms. ¡°Fate has nothing to do with our ask. I saw the notice. Oberix has done something, but our ask¡ªour demand¡ªis for Diggus to return the twins.¡±

    ¡°Serta is dead,¡± Kaden said. ¡°A gnome blew her head off. Her spirit is driving Skully and killing all the guards. All of them. But Diggus couldn¡¯t give the twins back because Diggus didn¡¯t have them. Did you? Oberix had you get them, but Oberix is the one who arranged all the cargo. Oberix is the one who built the FarPortal rail they were on.¡±

    ¡°And your war?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°It was nothing but a distraction. A means to an end. Oberix cares nothing for your twins. She cares nothing for your skulls. She means to break free of the Fate assigned her.¡±

    Kaden could have heard a skeleton lose its grip on the bone chain and plummet to the market in the silence that followed.

    Duggarn spoke, his voice quiet as the grave. ¡°Is it true? You don¡¯t have them?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± The broker dropped his head. ¡°I owe Oberix. Without her [Prophecy] I would have failed as a Broker centuries ago. But your demands, even at the cost of my life, can¡¯t be met. I don¡¯t have the surviving twin and I don¡¯t know what Oberix did with him.¡±

    ¡°Focus!¡± Ashi said to Duggarn. ¡°Illusion! Distraction! What is your purpose? What is meant to be that is not? This war was mean to keep you from your duties. You hold back the Blight, it is your destiny to fight it all your life!¡±

    Duggarn GraveBreaker was not an easily frightened man, from what Kaden had seen. A devotee of the god of death, he opened rifts to the god¡¯s domain regularly. And now he looked frightened. ¡°The blight is not surging. We would know. Our [prophets] can tell¡­¡±

    He paused for a moment, whispering.

    Hundreds of shadowy shapes rushed out, dropping over the edge. Duggarn spoke to Diggus. ¡°You are not forgiven. When we are done with our duty, we will decide what to do with you. For now, I will find Oberix. I will¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Oberix shouted in a cheerful voice. ¡°Oh, look at all the weapons! Look at all the undead! I couldn¡¯t miss this moment. Who gets to kill Diggus? I know it¡¯s one of those two. I can¡¯t wait to see which one.¡±

    Oberix came with only two guards.

    Low level guards.

    Oberix¡¯s hair was pulled back in a pony tail and makeup adorned their face, and they carried a familiar knife on her belt as she headed toward Duggarn. ¡°Well?¡±

    ¡°Where is Sevin?¡±

    ¡°Oh. Drat.¡± Oberix said. ¡°This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen yet. You weren¡¯t supposed to find out until the Blight Surge was covering Omnor. You two¡ªwait, who is she?¡± Oberix¡¯s gaze locked onto Ashi. ¡°Where¡¯s the girl with the snakes coming out of her back?¡±

    For the second time ever, Oberix sounded truly confused.

    Ashi spoke again, this time in a language Multispeak didn¡¯t even touch. It reminded Kaden of when Ashi¡¯s mother spoke to him, where words were less sounds and more intention, though Ashi had only a fraction of the power.

    ¡°Too little, too late,¡± Oberix replied. ¡°Fate is broken and I am finally free to weave my own. It will be harder without a [Thread of Fate] but I have thousands of years experience. And I could kill everyone here if I wanted to. But I think I¡¯d rather play a game.¡±

    Kaden looked to Ashi.

    She looked as confused as everyone else.

    ¡°The time for games is past,¡± Duggarn said. ¡°Where¡¯s Sevin?¡±

    ¡°Life is a game we play. Do we not level? Do we not loot? Do we not strive for the endgame and then wonder what more there is?¡± Oberix disregarded how the Walking Graveyards surrounded her. ¡°You are so obsessed with Death you don¡¯t know how to live. A game. I¡¯ll tell you where Sevin is, on one condition. We go to my ship. I gathered all my employees there to keep them safe, of course.¡±

    Duggarn motioned to the other Necramancers.

    The chains binding Diggus¡¯s Sky-Villa rose up and stretched out, clamping into the distant ship. The ground groaned as the chains relentlessly dragged the two together, until they shuddered, crashing together.Duggarn looked to Oberix. ¡°Where. Is. Sevin.¡±

    ¡°You are cute when you¡¯re angry. Why don¡¯t you try that [Mortis¡¯s Grip] on me so you know it doesn¡¯t work? Come along, children. That¡¯s all of you.¡± Oberix waved as they stepped past [Walking Graveyards] which didn¡¯t so much as move.

    ¡°Oberix!¡± Duggarn shouted. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Decide.¡± The androgynous Broker turned on him. ¡°Decide what you really desire. You say it¡¯s that prattling boy but your actions don¡¯t match your words. So¡ªyou.¡± Oberix turned and pointed at Kaden. ¡°You get to make the decision he just lost. Your desires are so very clear.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m done playing your games.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a thousand times better at understanding [Prophecy] than you are. But even you know that¡¯s not true. Or you will, in about three, two, one¡ª¡±

    A stream of images hit Kaden. Blood and gore. Screams and the smell of his own burning flesh. Ashi¡¯s grip on him kept Kaden upright but didn¡¯t stop the sounds and smells that left him unable to speak.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    *Find yourself amidst this madness. I will not allow you to be lost.* Ashi¡¯s mind speech held the exact commanding tone her normal speech did.

    It took longer for Kaden to figure out he still had lips and a mouth. And even longer to decide. ¡°You give me Fate Breaker? How?¡±

    Oberix began to laugh. ¡°That¡¯s what you got out of it? But I see I have your attention. Come, Diggus. Or should I say, ¡®Patrick?¡¯ You too, Duggarn. You wish you were named ¡®Patrick, don¡¯t you?¡¯ Let¡¯s go have a seat and have a meal and I¡¯ll explain how you get your boy back. If you leave, you¡¯ll never see him again.¡±

    *Follow my lead. I¡¯m not the best liar but Oberix doesn¡¯t have the slightest idea what I saw.* Kaden walked beside Ashi.

    ¡°How long have you seen [Prophecies?]¡± Ashi asked

    Kaden considered how many people surrounded them. ¡°A few times Never like what just happened. Aren¡¯t [Prophets] wildly unreliable?¡±

    ¡°They are. You would be wise to remember this.¡± Ashi kept her grip on his arm as they crossed Oberix¡¯s island. Her Sky Vault was staffed at skeleton levels (not actual skeletons). The staff who waited on them had the look of doomed men who knew they would not survive.

    ¡°Food?¡± Oberix asked. ¡°Who¡¯s hungry? I am! You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re in a mood for a banquet, but I¡¯ve never passed up a meal of desire ever. Here¡¯s how our game works. Everyone want to hear?¡±

    Duggarn made a motion and a blast of pure black energy exploded outward. It arced eight different directions before slamming into Oberix. Who blew on their nails. ¡°Anyway, now that you¡¯ve got that out of your system. It would have been you. But now it¡¯s him. Kaden, all you have to do to get me to surrender and give these fine folks their boy back is convince my employees I should.¡±

    Kaden waited for the catch. ¡°How do I do that?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s up to you. At any point, you can call a vote. Once and only once. You vote first. If everyone agrees on what I should do, I¡¯ll do it. I swear this before the System. But if even one disagrees? I¡¯ll have the Necromancer killed. Alternately, at any point, you can give up. Come out. I¡¯ll give you the [Fate Breaker] but no matter what these men do, I won¡¯t give them what their boy back.¡±

    Oath heard and acknowledged. Oberix will return Entity [Sevin] and surrender if the vote is unanimous. The knife [Fate Breaker] will be yours if you give up.

    ¡°I can kill you,¡± Duggarn roared.

    ¡°Oh, maybe at one time, but I¡¯m a [Fate Changer]. And the Fate I¡¯ve worked the hardest to change is my own. The Blight drips from the cavern ceiling, Kaden. Drip, drip, drip. What will you do?¡± Oberix didn¡¯t seem to care at all about the dozens of Necromancers surrounding her.

    ¡°I want more.¡± He wasn¡¯t confident, but he could pretend. ¡°If I win, I want [Fate Breaker].¡±

    ¡°Done.¡± Oberix offered him a handshake. ¡°Come, come, they¡¯re right here. You too, Duggarn, Patrick. Syntera, I can¡¯t tell you how much this pleases me, but I don¡¯t need to. Why don¡¯t you watch?¡±

    What Kaden had taken for a Skeleton morphed into her platinum blonde form. Syntera winked at him as she joined Oberix.

    The doorway to the hold of the gigantic ship opened to a stone stairway that stretched downward far further than could have possibly been inside the ship.

    It opened to a room with a crystalline wall.

    Beyond it sat confident, happy employees in Oberix¡¯s geometric design smocks, and heavily armed and armored adventurers, and more [Mages] than he¡¯d seen in one place.

    Oberix pointed to a round circle with runes on it. ¡°Step in and you¡¯ll be transported inside. When you give up¡ªand you will¡ªstep back on it. We¡¯ll watch. We¡¯ll listen. I¡¯m rooting for you!¡±

    ¡°I go with him,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There are thirty of yours in there. If they turn on him, even Kaden will be hard pressed to survive.¡±

    ¡°We both know that¡¯s not going to happen, [Fate Weaver]. Yes, I know what you are. You were granted emergency training, just enough for the profession, but watching [Fate] is the first step. So watch.¡± Oberix said it with smug satisfaction.

    ¡°You are more clever than I expected. I suppose I will stay.¡± Ashi¡¯s tone was off. Kaden had heard it before when he¡¯d made a critical miscalculation and she was waiting for him to fail.

    *Stay behind Duggarn,* Kaden sent as he stepped onto the stone. In a flash, it transported him onto the other side. And the wall behind him was solid stone. *Ashi. Can you hear me?*

    *Yes. Oberix is most amused.*

    That [Mind Speech] worked comforted him. ¡°Hi. I¡¯m Kaden Birch. Any of you who are [Rangers,] my dad was Virgil Birch. Not a lot of [Rangers] in an underground volcano, are there?¡±

    This was terrible.

    [Negotiation] at his level didn¡¯t suggest useful strategies. ¡°I want you to vote for Oberix to surrender and return Sevin. It¡¯s the right thing to do. The Necromancers aren¡¯t interested in killing you. You¡¯ll all die eventually and most of you were probably not involved in the kidnapping.¡±

    The group facing him looked confused and afraid. None of them was over level twenty and most had melee classes. A few were shop guards and bouncers, with only a dozen level twenty Adventurers. They wouldn¡¯t be keen on dying for Oberix¡¯s wants.

    ¡°If you vote with me, I¡¯ll personally go to the Necromancers. I didn¡¯t attack their homes. I didn¡¯t kidnap anyone and I¡¯m not responsible for getting Serta killed by a gnome. I¡¯ll demand mercy for all of you.¡± That was a solid offer, according to [Negotiation.]. ¡°Why don¡¯t you talk it over?¡±

    When he turned away, he pulled an [Echo Beetle] and commanded it to fly across the floor and cling to the top of a man¡¯s boots.

    He hoped Diggus was watching.

    He hoped Diggus knew Kaden had stolen the beetles.

    ¡°¡­but I was in the raid. You push meal carts. I killed two guards,¡± one man said. ¡°And you know what Oberix said. If more than one of us vote against her surrendering, no one gets a reward. But¡ª¡±

    ¡°We all want it. Their riches. Next you¡¯re going to say we should let you be the one. We all vote for surrender, you vote against and you get everything. We survive.¡± The woman sounded angry.

    ¡°I was one of the ones who set up the cart. You think that won¡¯t come up? You think that Necromancer bastard won¡¯t recognize me?¡±

    Kaden cleared his throat, working off his [Negotiation] prompts. ¡°Sometimes, we need to work through a few rounds. Whether it takes an hour or ten days¡ª¡±

    The thoughts died in his throat. His mouth went dry.

    *Ashi. Something¡¯s going to happen. Oberix didn¡¯t mind swearing her oath because it¡¯s never going to come to a vote.*

    Ashi didn¡¯t respond, but Kaden couldn¡¯t help the panick. ¡°You need to vote with me. All of you. My mother had [Prophecy] and I have a little bit of it too. Something terrible is going to happen unless you all trust me. I¡¯m trying to save us.¡±

    The workers broke out in roaring laughter.

    One man spoke up. ¡°Oberix told us, [Prophecy] isn¡¯t reliable for the first two thousand years. At least. But I see you¡¯re ready to dual-class as a [Prophet]. ¡®I¡¯m the only one who can save us all!¡¯ That¡¯s perfect for a starting [Prophecy].¡±

    *Kaden, the Weave of Fate is not stabilizing. Pretash does not know why. You are clever. Be clever. But especially be quick. I believe you are correct. This is meant to stall. To what end I do not know.*

    Kaden started over, following [Negotiation] prompts. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your fears and how I can help. I will swear oaths before the System to help you. Who wants to go first?¡±

    One by one, he began to speak to Oberix¡¯s employees, sorting them into several categories. The help were easy. And they seemed easily convinced as their focus was on surviving the Necromancer¡¯s revenge.

    The mercenaries were harder.

    These men and women had broken into the Necrosium.

    They¡¯d shed blood.

    Kaden was less confident with them but still certain he could work out a deal.

    Those who had personally handled the kidnapped twins fell into a more difficult category, and the last¡ªfour Adventurers would almost certainly face vengeance. And yet they seemed most motivated to make amends.

    Adventurers knew how to adapt.

    The problem wasn¡¯t convincing any one of them, it was convincing all of them. *Ashi. Any news from Pretash?*

    *Destiny is a powerful strand for the weave of Fate, but the threads snap as soon as they are woven, even around you. Quit this game. Take your [Fate Breaker]. I am no [Prophet] but everything here is wrong.*

    Kaden went over the counts. *If even one of them doesn¡¯t agree, we lose our chance to save Sevin. I get one vote.* The revelation left him stunned. The understanding that he¡¯d never quite grasped before. And he knew now why [Prophets] went mad. ¡°Please. Swear before the System you¡¯ll vote with me. I¡¯m trying to save¡ª¡±

    ¡°We heard you the first time,¡± A woman shouted. ¡°You¡¯re trying to save everyone. Now we have to listen to you raise another round of negotiation.¡±

    Kaden hung his head. And made his decision. ¡°My name is Kaden Birch. My father was a [Ranger.] My mother was Trema Birch.¡±

    The crowd shifted uneasily at the change in his tone. ¡°That makes everything better. Now we know what bitch shat you out.¡±

    He understood the vision completely. ¡°She was a [Shadow Blade.] Trema Birch. Butcher Birch. And I am her son. I wasn¡¯t trying to save everyone, I was trying to save you. I¡¯m almost ready to call a vote.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m been ready. You¡¯re the one who needs us to vote unanimously,¡± one of the Mages said.

    There were no more options.

    There were no other ways. He drew a mana regen potion and drank it, the taste as bitter as the regret in his soul, and triggered the Suffering Crystals. ¡°The vote will be unanimous, because I get a vote.¡± He drew Remembrance and slammed it down, shattering the runeportal. ¡°And I will be the only one voting.¡±

 Thirty Two - The Price

    Kaden activated [Split Second] and brought Remembrance¡¯s axe head down on one of the Adventurers. They were the biggest threat and would recover the fastest from the shock. Kaden dropped Trinity behind the [Mage] and the [Healer].

    [Split Second] let him dodge a chain made of pure lightning that one of the Adventurers swung. The [Healer] screamed as Trinity¡¯s blind head closed over her, while the bone head continued to bash the [Mage] face to face. It wasn¡¯t going well for the [Mage¡¯s] face.

    Before he could follow up with killing blows to the [Swordsman], a wall of stone rose up to smash Kaden back, leaving his face bloody. [Split Second] hadn¡¯t helped at all with that, so Kaden willed Trinity to go after the fourth Adventurer, who must be a multi-class.

    [Mana Drain] let him push [Split Second] and bring down Remembrance in a series of mutilating strikes. Brutal Blows and Crippling strikes rained down.

    Trinity screamed with rage as a net of thorns grew around her, and Kaden pulled her back into his soul, dumping mana into [Moment of Speed] to close on the [Summoner] who¡¯d cast it, a guard.

    Kaden caught the man by the arm and activated [Moment of Speed] to ram him forward, smashing into the viewing wall.

    You have inflicted 400 points smashing damage on the wall.

    You have broken your ram.

    Spideweb cracks grew out from the impact, and the illusion that covered the wall flickered.

    Oberix stood with abject horror in their eyes, their mouth open.

    *Behind you* Ashi sent.

    [Split Second] failed again as a the wall of stone smashed Kaden, throwing him back into the wall. He cast Portal and leaped through, coming out behind the [Mage] and casting [Remove Hand], which was less spell and more effect of using a War Hammer.

    [Mana Drain] refilled his mana¡ªright as something dug into his calf.

    [Thorn Cage].

    Kaden looked everywhere for the [Summoner], knowing it was too late. He unleashed Trinity on the surviving Adventurer, who drew a sword just before Kaden hit him with [Mana Drain]. Only when mana stopped draining and blood began spurting from Trinity¡¯s bites did Kaden stop.

    The [Thorn Cage] worked its way relentlessly up his legs as Kaden became an near incarnation of battle. The [Falcrow] swooped in to claw at eyes and harrass, while Kaden and Trinity ganged up on the surviving Adventurer.

    The [Swordsman¡¯s] Dodge skill let him avoid blow after blow, but Kaden remembered fighting the incarnation of the Rat God. [Dodge] had a limited number of triggers before cooldown and when¡ªthere! Remembrance struck the man¡¯s back, throwing him forward into Trinity¡¯s snake head bite.

    Then Trinity¡¯s blind head roared.

    Her opaque eyes began to glow golden, the same color as the light Suridev radiated, and beams of light swept out, raking across the room. Revealing a [Rogue/Summoner] in [Stealth].

    Trinity screamed with rage and charged to ram the [Rogue], knocking him out of stealth and into fleeing employees.

    Kaden would have helped but he had his own battle. Even a wounded [Swordsman] could still use [Crippling Strikes], and now Kaden had to be careful, fighting defensively as the desperate man went all-out.

    [Split Second] told him to move right, but the man¡¯s skill still drove his blade into Kaden¡¯s stomach.

    Kaden banished Remembrance and gripped the [Swordsman]¡¯s arm so he couldn¡¯t remove the sword. With the other hand, he drew the Levicon Blade and cut the man¡¯s throat until his head lolled back.

    Putting the sword into Inventory removed it from his gut, but now the [Thorn Cage] was up to his thigh. Every movement broke spines in his muscles.

    A crowd set on Trinity, daggers and clubs and chairs as their weapons.

    Kaden pulled her into his soul so [Resilient Constitution] wouldn¡¯t fail.

    He offered no mercy.

    He accepted no plea.

    With every blow, status effects spread. Bleed, Slow, Confusion, even one enemy turned to stone¡ªand shortly thereafter, turned to shrapnel that left others screaming.

    And as the [Thorn Cage] reached his chest, Kaden finally had an idea he should have had to start.[Soul Binding] reached out, taming the [Thorn Cage] and drawing it inside him.

    You have tamed a Beast (Thornling).

    Remembrance was a challenge weapon and would offer him no strength for a battle against weak level twenties. He didn¡¯t need its strength. His own was far greater and with every moment, another body fell. Some fought. Some kneeled, begging, and others he chased to the bitter bloody end.

    The room smelled of charred flesh, some of it Kaden¡¯s, some the [Fire Mage] whose arms he¡¯d broken and slammed into the puddle of fire he conjured. Broken weapons lay scattered across the floor, some driven through bodies, some still clasp by hands taken from their owners.

    When the room lay silent, he summoned Trinity. ¡°Anyone else here?¡±

    Her eyes glowed as she scanned, then she roared in triumph and bit the head off one of the corpses.

    ¡°I¡¯m calling a vote,¡± Kaden said, spitting out blood. ¡°I vote that Oberix releases Sevin and surrenders.¡±

    Your vote has concluded.

    Your vote is unanimous.

    His strength failed him, and Kaden was forced to kneel, leaning against Trinity, as a wail of terror rose outside. Dannae held Oberix by the throat, and she¡¯d opened a rift to Mortis¡¯s domain.

    ¡°Hold.¡± Ashi spoke with authority. ¡°I bring a message from the Fate Weavers. Oberix¡¯s fate was to be consumed by the Blight. But she has broken free of that.¡±

    At this, the broker smiled.

    ¡°So another Fate has been woven to protect the many. She will be possessed until oblivion by one of power and used as a weapon against the Blight. The Cataclysm will not happen today, not while Fate Weavers stand guard.¡± Ashi bowed.

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    Serta¡¯s spirit floated from behind Ashi, closer and closer. Oberix struggled, yes, but the spirit descended on them, wrapping Oberix¡¯s flesh.

    The rift closed, and Oberix¡¯ possessed body stood, walking awkardly away.

    Ashi intoned a spell, and the shattered crystal wall separating her from Kaden blew inward. She leaped over the remaining shards and drew a healing potion from Inventory.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind the wounds or the blood.

    What he minded were the bodies, so many of them smashed beyond resurrection. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice.¡±

    ¡°Even the choices we do not wish to make are still ours, and the burden to make them comes with the power to do so. This was the edge of a Cataclysm. Oberix planned to break the weave of fate and escape. The Blight would consume all while the Necromancers focused on Diggus.¡± Ashi prompted him to drink the potion.

    ¡°Sara and Eve?¡±

    ¡°The battle to protect Fate Weavers was fierce. They are in Omnor guarding the weavers.¡± Ashi drew something from Inventory. [Fate Breaker]. ¡°Oberix could not touch it once the vote was complete. It burned her hand when she tried to strike with it.¡±

    Kaden took it. ¡°Dannae, I need something.¡±

    One of her lumbering giants cleared the crystal shards for her to join him. ¡°You brought me more bones?¡±

    ¡°Resurrect them. The ones that can be.¡±He surveyed the carnage. ¡°For the ones who can¡¯t¡­is there an offering to Mortis I should make?¡±

    ¡°None that would change his decrees,¡± Dannae said. ¡°You were glorious. A whirlwind of destruction, like the fist of Mortis himself. If that¡¯s what a [Beast Master] is like at tier two, you will be terrifying at fifty. I can¡¯t wait to see what kind of [Nemesis] the system unleashes. I mean, I don¡¯t want to be anywhere near it, but I¡¯d like to watch it level cities from a distance.¡±

    Her skeletons began to gather corpses, stacking them in different piles.

    Kaden didn¡¯t even want to loot them. ¡°Let¡¯s get Sara and Eve. Let¡¯s go home. I have something to do.¡±

    ###

    When he arrived at the farmhouse, it was a simple thing to send the [FalCrow] to Mr. Dervish. A simpler thing to carry Trella¡¯s corpse to the Far Portal. Eve¡¯s face was still streaked with blood, and Sara had practically made a skirt from the wands hooked to her belt, but the party went together, through the Far Portal.

    Night had fallen on Verona, but Kaden wasn¡¯t afraid of robbers or [Thieves]. One guard caught his eye and then found somewhere¡ªanywhere¡ªelse to look as they headed toward Beast Control. A single bay stood open for them to enter.

    In the doorway stood a [Shadow Blade] woman. Aunt Triss.

    ¡°You¡¯re ready to do this?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°How did you know?¡±

    ¡°Dervish sent word. How do you plan to break the binding?¡± Triss asked.

    He patted the knife in his belt.

    Beast Control was always loud, but as he made his way through, the Beasts grew silent. They stopped trumpeting, stopped growling, and shrank away from Kaden as he passed.

    ¡°You¡¯re scaring them,¡± Sara said quietly, putting a hand on his arm.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t intentionally using [Beast Soul] but right now, his focus was absolute. His determination was like the World Boss, Levicon.

    Mr. Dervish stood outside the summoning room door, wearing scarred battle armor and his usual green crystal in the empty eye socket. ¡°Kaden. I was busy. But this is worth making time.¡±

    Kaden gave him a nod as he handed over [Fate Breaker]. ¡°I was told I never use this on the binding. But I realized it¡¯s not me using it.¡±

    Mr. Dervish studied the blade, then opened the door. ¡°Jackie, they¡¯re here.¡±

    Mistress Scylla stood inside the circle, which was already adjusted to show soul bindings. ¡°You say you have a way to destroy the binding. If that happens, Trella will be offered a chance. An opportunity so rare I know of exactly three. The choice to dual-class as a [Liberator].¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t care about that. ¡°Eve?¡±

    Eve set down Vip and activated [Life Exchange].

    Trella convulsed in Kaden¡¯s arms, gave a short cry, and then went limp. Fear gripped him like Mortis¡¯s claw in his stomach, until her eyes fluttered and she raised her head. ¡°Did I?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden gently set her down on the stone and kneeled beside her. ¡°Destroy the binding.¡±

    Fate Breaker flashed in Mr. Dervishe¡¯s hands, and the red bond between them screamed, then withered into flashes of light that drifted away like embers on the wind. Another strike, and another, over and over Mr. Dervish attempted to cut it. Then he stepped back. ¡°We need drainers. It¡¯s regenerating off their mana.¡±

    Mistress Scylla dispatched a messenger bird. ¡°The mana drain process is incredibly painful. I have something that will help. Euphorium is the venom of a [Cave Mimic], a creature who pretends to be a cave. The venom makes its victims unable to sense they are being digested.¡±

    Kaden gladly accepted the drop on his tongue.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Euphoria

    A wide grin spread across Trella¡¯s face, and she lay back. ¡°I dreamed of you.¡±

    ¡°Is it just her mana, or is it mine?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°I can drain hers and use mine.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully coherent for Euphorium,¡± Mistress Scylla said.

    Kaden activated [Mana Drain] and drained away Trella¡¯s mana. She didn¡¯t even flinch or react, and Kaden knew it was sheer agony. Then he activate [Relive the Moment] and [Moment of Speed], using it to burst around the summoning circle.

    ¡°Both of you, take this.¡± Mr. Dervish drew two potions, electric blue liquid that raced up the sides of the vial. ¡°Treadle refined it from [Kalarak] essence. We¡¯re not sure what to call it, but it¡¯s damn near impossible to keep in the vial.¡±

    Kaden helped Trella drink hers.

    Then downed his in a straight chug.

    The extreme need to be free hit him like a runaway wagon. His hands didn¡¯t tremble, he couldn¡¯t help clawing at the edges of the circle. Hurling himself against the circle. [Moment of Speed] almost made him fast enough to pass the barrier.

    ¡°Jackie, you use the knife. I¡¯m going to break that binding free, you carve the threads off.¡± Mr. Dervish drew a binding and frayed it into a whip.

    The world lit up red in pain as he struck. The whip went through Kaden and came out glistening with his blood over and over. Each strike removed a fiber of the red mesh that covered Kaden.

    Mistress Scylla sliced, not at the main binding but at each fiber. ¡°Keep going. More! Get these here!¡±

    Agony came in waves, and Kaden surrendered to the need deep in his soul to break free, using [Moment of Speed] over and over. Portal would probably have worked, but this wasn¡¯t a conscious act, but a primal drive born of the Kalaraks.

    ¡°Almost there!¡± Mr. Dervish shouted.

    The world went quiet.

    Pain no longer danced along Kaden¡¯s nerves, though his limbs trembled with energy. The stone floor was sticky wet and his arms wouldn¡¯t move.

    ¡°Trella, wake up. Focus for just a moment. I need you to accept the prompt,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°Do that, and you will be able to get your revenge on every [Slaver]. You¡¯ll be free to hunt down those who corrupt the System. Excellent, you can rest now.¡±

    Kaden finally had enough coherence to check his health. It sat at twenty five and ticked upward¡ªthen a rush of healing hit him. Eve¡¯s [Life Transfusion] swept through him like warm wind. He pushed himself to his knees, then wiped crusted blood from his face.

    White lines covered Trella¡¯s face from the lashing, and there was no sign of intelligence. She rested in the Euphorium. Something had changed, though.

    When [Identify] finally worked, it left him shocked.

    Her class now showed [Shadow Blade] (22) and [Liberator] (1). ¡°What did she do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later. For now, she needs to heal mentally as much as physically,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°[Liberator] is an antithesis to the [Slaver] class. It only gains levels as she breaks the bonds of [Slavers].¡±

    Kaden picked Trella up. ¡°It¡¯s time to go home. Mr. Dervish, Mistress Scylla, thank you. What happens to Treadle?¡±

    ¡°I ain¡¯t decided yet. He¡¯s destroyed a few cities. He¡¯s caused a few plauges. Unleashed more monsters than I can count but this? This was different.¡± Mr. Dervish rubbed his chin. ¡°No matter what he meant to do, he created something that could have unleashed another [Slaver].¡±

    ¡°His fate will not be yours to decide if I have any say. We waste time here,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Let us rest at home.¡±

    Kaden accepted [Fate Breaker] from Mistress Scylla. His hands still tingled and his knees threatened to give out. ¡°How long will the Kalarak essence stay in me?¡±

    ¡°Ain¡¯t going to be long,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°It don¡¯t like being trapped in you any more than it likes being trapped anywhere else. Euphorium¡¯s short acting. I give it an hour at most.¡±

    ¡°Slightly less. There¡¯s an antidote, but no reason to use it.¡± Mistress Scylla opened the door to the Summoning room. ¡°I¡¯ll escort you to the Guild. In a few days, I¡¯ll need you to come to town. James can forge tokens, I¡¯ll answer questions Trella may have. Her secondary class won¡¯t show to anyone she doesn¡¯t trust implicitly. Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t need to be told that.

    Minutes later, he stepped through the FarPortal at the Guild and emerged at the holding. The crisp night air held the promise of snow, and Kaden didn¡¯t mind. It would be good to rest. Good to relax.

    Trella stirred lifting her head. Her eyes focused, truly focused. ¡°Level twenty eight? How long was I dead? I swear, if you make Centurion before me, I¡¯m going to kill you.¡±

    Kaden had never been happier.

 Thirty Three - Necessary Adjustments [End of Volume Six]

    The first three days passed in a blur. Quiet talks while Kaden held Trella close. A short explanation of why his chest was metal instead of flesh. Trella attempting to kill the Assistant when it buzzed in to clean Kaden¡¯s boots. He left the farmhouse occasionally to tend the Dungeon or [Field Harvest] the wolves Trinity brought more out of habit than as a challenge.

    But on the fourth day, Trella roused herself. ¡°I¡¯m never going to be ready for this. I thought it would be a blink. Instead, it wasn¡¯t oblivion and it wasn¡¯t an afterlife. I dreamed of you. Broken, odd dreams.¡±

    Kaden recounted his dream of talking with his father. ¡°Is it possible it was real?¡±

    She didn¡¯t answer quickly. ¡°I don¡¯t remember that, but it was real enough for you.¡± She dressed in the remains of her [Shadow Blade] equipment, which still bore the damage from the battle with Jagi, and joined the others for breakfast.

    Eclipse actually sat in her lap, which, for the [Shadow Cat], was nearly unheard of. And the stories began to flow. Well, sort of.

    ¡°Kaden slept with Sara!¡± Eve shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve been worrying out how to tell you and I decided the truth was the best.¡±

    Trella looked back to Sara. ¡°If you¡¯re bored, I loan him out on Mondays. Can we focus on the important stuff? Druids? Demons?¡±

    ¡°I thought it was important,¡± Eve said under her breath.

    Vip whined and licked her hand until Eve picked her up.

    After another day and a half of constant interruptions by Sara and Ashi, Kaden finished his story. ¡°So, Oberix made a critical error. She gave me a vote. I voted for her to surrender.¡±

    ¡°And everyone else went along with you?¡± Trella asked.

    Kaden found his answer in the floorboards. ¡°Something like that.¡±

    That was all he wanted to say.

    ¡°I understand.¡± Trella¡¯s answer was almost a whisper. ¡°When we were fighting Jagi, and he hit you with the wand, I saw you disintegrate. I saw your ashes. I knew you were never coming back. It was the [Slaver] class. It had lurked there, waiting. And I knew the Sisters would kill me. I didn¡¯t care. All I cared about was punishing Jagi in a way that he would never recover from. Mistress Scylla warned me it would happen and I still fell for it.¡±

    Kaden had no answers. He could only hold her until the sorrow passed.

    Trella stood and stretched. ¡°I¡¯m at least four levels behind all of you. I feel¡­thin. Not in my body, but in my soul. I want to do things. I want to see things. I want feel, whether it¡¯s happy or sad or pain or pleasure. I want to grow. And I want to do it with all of you.

    This was what Kaden had been dreaming of. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to show you Vichor. I have business there. A favor to ask the King. And Omnor, without a war? Blightfall is incredible. And you have to meet Olidar. And¡­I¡¯m going to sell the Darkling¡¯s Fangs to the Sisters. This isn¡¯t a trade. If they want them, they¡¯ll need to pay. Gold is good. Unless they have a dragon. In that case, I probably want the dragon.¡±

    Kaden had plans. [Beast Form] would be his.

    ¡°I want to see this Demon¡¯s Daughter Naski.¡± Trella didn¡¯t ask. ¡°Also, I probably want to kill her for what she did to you. You don¡¯t need her anymore. I want to be the one who looks her in the eye and then stabs her Core.¡±

    Trella¡¯s time dead hadn¡¯t dulled her edge.

    Kaden went outside. ¡°She¡¯s cut off from the Demonic Hierarchy. That¡¯s my best guess about why the [Shield Tree] doesn¡¯t destroy her.¡±

    He double checked the soul binding and forced her from Inventory. Naski had shifted back to her female form, wearing torn rags. She grinned with shark teeth at him. ¡°The Obedience Binding onme is broken. Now¡ª¡±

    Kaden willed her to be silent.

    The Soul Bond pulsed and the demon fought against it. ¡°I¡¯ll kill all of you. I¡¯ll hound your souls through the afterlife. First you, then everyone¡­¡± Her voice went silent as [Soul Binding] enforced his will.

    ¡°You¡¯re ugly.¡± Trella said. ¡°But you helped break the binding on Kaden, so, there¡¯s that. I¡¯d kill you, but I doubt I¡¯ll get much.¡±

    Naski struggled to speak, growling and shuddering.

    Kaden shoved her back in Inventory. ¡°When Sevin brinks Skully back, I¡¯m going to have him open a portal to Mortis¡¯s domain. Nasi is going to Mortis. I hate her, but I won¡¯t keep her captive. It feels like torture, and not even a demon deserves that.¡±

    Vip sniffed the ground where Naski had stood and squatted, peeing on it. *Slow*.

    ¡°She is what she is,¡± Kaden said to Vip. ¡°Let¡¯s go into town. Mr. Dervish is desperate to make tokens and he¡¯d really like me present. We can eat at BirchHome so Eve doesn¡¯t feel like she has to cook.¡±

    ¡°Eve likes to cook,¡± Eve said. ¡°But I do want to see if they¡¯re following my [Recipe] correctly.¡±

    ###

    Since it wasn¡¯t required that Kaden be sitting or even paying attention for [Leader of the Pack] to work, he spent the time at Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services observing the Beasts. ¡°How¡¯d you catch the [Drake] again?¡±

    Mr. Dervish strolled over in his yellow silk suit, with Mika, his darling (and giant) milk spider following behind. ¡°Didn¡¯t catch it. It comes back.¡±

    Kaden nodded to the shield. ¡°Mind deactivating that?¡±

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Trella spoke up. ¡°If you¡¯re planning to get roasted by a [Drake] I have objections and unlike Ashi, I will make you listen.¡±

    ¡°I make him listen,¡± Ashi said.

    Sara¡¯s scoff wasn¡¯t quiet. ¡°Sure you do. I have to go to the Guild for some Party updates. Trella¡¯s been dead so we have to prove it¡¯s actually her soul that came back.¡±

    Mr. Dervish had deactivated the containment.

    Kaden activated [Soul Binding].

    You have bound a Beast (Drake).

    [Wrath of the Furnace] was still too powerful for him to use without Mana Shock but it would always be a last resort. Kaden sent a mental image and let the [Drake] swoop out the door. ¡°Whoops. It got away.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be back,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    It might not. Kaden had sent it the image of FangWood. Of it hunting in the countryside and roosting in the woods until the [Shield Tree] grew tall enough. It wanted to be free and he could allow that. ¡°How high do you think my Soul attribute would need to be to store a Beast like that?¡±

    Mr. Dervish stared. ¡°Did you bind it? How?¡±

    ¡°We need to talk. Ashi, stop provoking the [LandKraken],¡± Kaden called.

    She kept tossing small orbs of solar mana over the walls of its cage, which it batted back, less because it liked to and more because it was hoping to catch her off guard and smash one. ¡°Do not command me so. It is enjoying the game.¡±

    Ashi was second tier.

    She¡¯d survive learning.

    Kaden kept an eye on her through the transparent floor while he talked with Mr. Dervish, sharing logs and asking questions. ¡°How do I prevent rupturing my soul? And how do I know if a Beast would do so? Suridev can look like a lizard and a Dragon is impossible. How did you know I could draw in Trinity that first time?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a few advantages to being the Summoning Saint. That gut feel is one of them.¡± Mr. Dervish studied Kaden. ¡°You should be putting attribute points into Soul. Not for the mana, for the capacity. At fifty when your tier multiplier hits you¡¯ll be ungodly. For now, bring them by and ask. We should be able to work out combinations. Your dog costs nothing. She was your first Summons. The Rock Gobbler isn¡¯t just heavy with weight, it¡¯s the sheer mana reinforcing its shell. Trinity is¡ªI don¡¯t know what she is. Never seen a Beast like her before. I know you can¡¯t handle that Drake at the same time as Trinity.¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Kaden drew the [Thornling] from his soul. ¡°This was used on me in Omnor. I killed the summoner and bound it. Sara says they¡¯re illegal.¡±

    [Thornling]

    Few live to see a Thornling when they encounter one in the dark woods. What begins as a painful prick becomes agony that covers their body as the Thornling feeds, drinking mana from their victim to eventually spawn new Thornlings who attack scavengers who come to feed off the corpse.

    Level: 0

    HP: 10

    Mana: 10

    Skills: Thorn Cage

    [Thorn Cage]

    Extend a living wall of thorns that grows into the target¡¯s flesh, impeding movement and inflicting pain. Damage is minimal but pain is maximal, and paralysis will leave them helpless.

    ¡°Illegal ain¡¯t the right word. And forbidden don¡¯t mean much to Adventurers. That kind of Beast leaves a mark. It don¡¯t just kill, it cripples as it does. Not many Beasts I¡¯d call evil, but it¡¯s close.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to sell it for you.¡±

    Kaden pulled it back into his soul. ¡°I understand.¡±

    Mr. Dervish paused to read a scroll. ¡°Four percent higher success rate this time. No increase in rarity, but that might just be random. I¡¯ll pay you in gold to come in when we¡¯re forging full summons¡ªor if I am.¡±

    ¡°Sara has a five percent efficiency bonus for employees and all our Party are employees. If she hired you to summon permanent summons would you get your bonus and hers?¡± Kaden had wondered about loop holes like this.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever tried,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°That ain¡¯t how I¡¯d experiment, though. We¡¯ll see. You having dinner at BirchHome?¡±

    ¡°And meeting some friends.¡± Kaden stopped. ¡°What did you decide about Professor Treadle?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s alive. He¡¯s not being imprisoned, tortured or forced to work. But he¡¯s being watched, so carefully. We¡¯ll make decisions in time.¡±

    That was enough for Kaden.

    ###

    He didn¡¯t mean to go to the Mage¡¯s Tower, but the messenger bird that swooped in upended his plans. Kaden headed straight there, checking in at the ground floor for the Necromancer¡¯s level, then using a staircase to go through the Tomb & Gloom set that gave most people what they expected.

    ¡°That¡¯s one nice skeleton,¡± Kaden said as a set of the walking dead lumbered toward him. ¡°Who did this work? It¡¯s good quality. Except for that knee.¡±

    The lights blazed brighter, and the skeletons halted, then stumbled back toward starting positions. Fria, the Necromancer most often in charge of greetings, rushed to wave. ¡°It¡¯s you, I figure we can save the wear on the skellies. More man-hide?¡± Her tone was hopeful.

    ¡°Sevin sent me a message. He¡¯s here with a pet of mine and I need a favor from him.¡±

    ¡°You know him?¡± Fria waved excitedly for Kaden to follow out of the mock tomb and into the endless sunny field where most Necromancers studied or relaxed.

    There in the center of the field, Skully hulked over [Bone Behemoths], roughly the same build as a tomb champion, though Skully¡¯s ribs were each smoth and curved, like a dragon¡¯s fangs had replaced the bones.

    ¡°Skully! And Sevin.¡± Kaden greeted them both.

    His undead pet wasn¡¯t smoking black ether, which probably meant Serta was enjoying possessing Oberix.

    The mana stones embedded in Sevin¡¯s bald head flashed as he bowed. ¡°I come bearing Duggarn¡¯s thanks. We stopped the Blight Surge. Barely. And my thanks for forcing Oberix to release me.¡±

    That hit Kaden harder. ¡°I wanted to save you both.¡±

    ¡°Serta says that was never Fate¡¯s design. But she likes the body she¡¯s posessing even more than Skully.¡± Sevin motioned to the undead. ¡°I had to make repairs. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    With the motion came the mental feeling of being handed Skully¡¯s control. The jaw-ribs were fantastic, but before he could try anything else, he wanted to test something.

    You have bound an ENTITY (Skully).

    Kaden relaxed as the binding took hold. It was so much more natural to direct Skully this way. ¡°There, that¡¯s better. I have a request.¡±

    ¡°You want the services of the High Priest, to speak to your parents?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I want you to open a rift to Mortis. I have a Demon I captured. She¡¯s been cast out of Hell¡¯s hierarchy and I was using her to break a binding, but she¡¯s an intelligent being and I won¡¯t torture her.¡±

    Seven called for space. ¡°Stand back. [Lethal] damage is not something to risk.¡±

    That seemed sensible to Kaden. He watched as a white rift in the air opened and color began to bleed. The necromancers gathered here cheered and shouted in awe. Perhaps this wasn¡¯t a power all had?

    Kaden forced Naski from Inventory and dodged the swipe of her claws as he crushed her attack on him with sheer will. Then, one grudging step at a time, she moved closer and closer to the rift. Near the edge, she snarled in rage and fought, shaking against the Soul Binding.

    A skeleton charged, tackling Naski through the rift, which surged blinding white¡ªand snapped shut. Kaden was left blinking. And bleeding just from the presence. And that was before the cries of shock rose up.

    Sitting on the ground was a perfect silver Demon Seed. Kaden picked it up, studying the veins outlined in the orb of metal. ¡°She¡¯s gone?¡±

    ¡°Mortis refused her. Or refused all of her,¡± Sevin said. ¡°My sister would know for sure what he said. I don¡¯t know what that is. I just know whatever it is came through his domain and out the other side. Nothing does that except Centurions, unless it¡¯s by Mortis¡¯s will.¡±

    Unlike before, the Demon Seed felt inert. Asleep.

    Kaden mentally reached out.

    You may not bind this ENTITY yet. (Incompatible state).

    He slipped the core into Inventory. ¡°Thank you for returning Skully. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for high quality bones. Do they have to be human or do Beast bones work?¡±

    ¡°If it has a mana core, it has enough mana to be worth working with. Otherwise, no, Beasts tend to have terrible bones. I¡¯m going to stay in Verona a while. The Necrosium here is¡­disappointing. Dannae wants me to harvest clippings from Skully and I can¡¯t stand to be in Omnor right now.¡± Sevin paused, almost lost for words. ¡°Life is a funny thing. People believe Necromancers don¡¯t know that, but we appreciate life even more.¡±

    It was definitely time to appreciate life.

    Time to find the owner of the next Inheritance.

    Acquire Dragon Scales and [Beast Form].

    But most of all, it was time to be with his friends. His lover.

    A small gray dog came zipping through the streets, crackling with lightning as it circled him. *Fastest Fast Ever.*

    Kaden listened with [Beast Soul]. ¡°I figured that would happen. Did Eve heal Ashi afterwards?¡±

    *Fast.* Vip raised her paws and Kaden picked her up to let her rest her head on his shoulder.

    *Love*, he sent, as he stalked through the streets. Ashi and Eve stood outside the guild, arguing loudly over something. Ashi wasn¡¯t glowing and Eve hadn¡¯t drawn her Blood Moon staff, so they¡¯d work it out.

    Sara came bounding out, followed by Trella. ¡°We have an assignment!¡±

    Trella [Shadow Stepped] through the group to stand beside Kaden. ¡°The Guildmaster was going through records. There¡¯s a dungeon in the Othelian Dunes that hasn¡¯t opened in centuries, but it consistently gave out shields¡ªand only shields¡ªas loot. Level twenty five monsters. Easy for you, a good warm up for me.¡±

    It sounded perfect. ¡°When do we go?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a sandstorm over the only working FarPortal,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ll want to grow some aquamelons. Trella can use [Create Water], but we should come prepared for anything. Where¡¯s Trinity?¡±

    That was truly worth showing them. ¡°We¡¯ll have to go back to my Dungeon.¡±

    A FarPortal trip later, Vip was tearing through open fields toward Echo Lake, where Ashi froze the water and slid across like magic. Trella used [Shadow Step] to appear on the island, while Kaden¡ªand Sara¡ªhad to watch their balance. The Guild¡¯s attendant shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s locked. It¡¯s been locked for days and no one know why.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here to fix that.¡± Kaden made a great show of moving his hands in circles and chanting ¡°pineapple pineapple pineapple¡± in Vichorean before touching the dungeon door. ¡°Now, if this explodes and you still have a head, call a Healer to resurrect us.¡±

    The attendent leaped onto the still-frozen water and scrambled as Kaden unlocked the door and stepped in. It was exactly as he expected.

    Blood and gore everywhere. He¡¯d shifted the Dungeon, despawning everythingexcept the center room for now. In the long grass, Trinity stood, covered in wounds, each of her three heads looking another direction.

    ¡°Come.¡± Kaden barked the order aloud. From one side, the grass parted, and an adult Emerald Hydra emerged. Emerald Hydras were thinner than Trinity and shorter, but no less than six heads covered the body, and if any of them were cut off, they¡¯d grow back nearly immediately. Each head had needle-like teeth and jaws that ratcheted down, so slicing an Emerald Hydra¡¯s head off was a great way to leave yourself incapacitated.

    And then there was the problem with just how fast they healed. The only way to kill one was to prevent it from re-growing and cut all the heads off at the same time. It stood three feet shorter than Trinity and still every head glared at her with either admiration, longing, or hatred.

    On the right side stood a Cerulean Hydra. It had only two heads but who needed more than two heads when one head breathed out vapor, streams of water or snow, and the other pure cold? Its scales were less hide and more solid ice. Thicker than Trinity, each head alone was a match for Trinity¡¯s blind head.

    ¡°Where did you get these?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°When we went to Vichor, I gifted some of the spells we took to the libraries. This was Ashi¡¯s mother¡¯s exchange for them. I found the door locked and them in the dungeon. Ashi, did you have anything to do with that?¡± Kaden looked to her.

    ¡°It is difficult to answer this question,¡± she said.

    Which wasn¡¯t a no.

    As Kaden watched, the two Hydras approached, rubbing their heads against Trinity like cats.

    ¡°So cute!¡± Trella whispered from outside the dungeon door.

    One of the Hydras snarled at another and Trinity rumbled, one step away from a battle. Kaden sent a command to all of them. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to know how they settle arguments. Let¡¯s just say when you didn¡¯t see Trinity for three days, she was learning that three on one is a hard battle even for her.¡±

    He pulled, taking her into his soul, and the dungeon began to shift and reform, taking on the new design he¡¯d laid out. A battle through a pitch black cave with a Cerulean Hydra lurking among the stalagmites? Or a slog through a set of dense jungle rooms with vipers and boas and an Emerald Hydra? And for those who survived, a final trio of terror.

    It wasn¡¯t the sweeping Beast Dungeon he dreamed of yet.

    It was a start.

    ¡°Potions. We¡¯re going to need a lot of potions,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Spells,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°Supplies,¡± Sara answered.

    Kaden looked to Eve.

    She shook her head. ¡°All I need is Vip. And you. Weapons? Armor? A venomous dragon?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. Everything he needed wasn¡¯t a thing. It was a who, and they were all here. Everything else, he¡¯d handle.

 One - Loot, Lies, and Loads [Start of Volume 7]

    Kaden Birch absolutely loved the Inventory magic that let him store things. As long as it was the same thing it stacked very, very deeply, and right now, he was stacking loot, well aware that by doing so, he¡¯d switched his Dungeon Master status to combatant.

    It couldn¡¯t be helped.

    He stood in a cave alcove no more than fifteen feet across.

    He stood atop a mound of silver shields, each polished to show the hundreds of other mirror shields. Each was a treasure. Each would have been loot that made the party cheer, once.

    [Mirror Shield]

    This shield will reflect spells or projectiles slung at it. The longer a wearer uses the Mirror Shield, the greater the odds the attack will be reflected back at the attacker.

    Solid loot for a level twenty five, rank five Dungeon. As Kaden understood it, this dungeon had been highly sought after centuries ago. Then the Dungeon had locked and never re-opened.

    There was probably a tunnel here, but it, too, was blocked with mounds of [Mirror Shields]. A few dozen more shields in Inventory and his feet hit solid rock. Now Kaden moved faster and faster, until Inventory ached like heartburn and he was forced to step out of the dungeon.

    It protested. This wasn¡¯t right. He¡¯d engaged in combat by taking loot and yet as a Dungeon Master, it couldn¡¯t keep him in. Kaden emerged to blistering sand and scorching heat.

    His party waited in a tent Sara had brought and setup.

    ¡°You¡¯re safe!¡± Trella shouted, leaping to her feet as Kaden stepped in. ¡°We have a problem.¡±

    He drew a [Mirror Shield] from Inventory for each of them. ¡°The dungeon is blocked with these. Hundreds. Maybe thousands. I can¡¯t say it feels erratic but there¡¯s something wrong.

    Ashi tested her shield, bouncing Solar Mana orbs off it and catching them. ¡°This is a worthy prize for a rank five dungeon. I will enter and help.¡±

    ¡°Actually, we need Sara.¡± He looked to the party leader, whose Cosmic Horror¡¯s pseudopods were trying to devour a [Mirror Shield] and failing. Given that they could devour almost anything, that spoke to the enchantments. ¡°We need crates. So many crates.¡±

    ¡°On it. A dozen?¡± Sara waited. ¡°A hundred. Two hundred?¡±

    She dispatched her green parrot Messenger Bird and watched it sail away. ¡°When can the rest of us enter?¡±

    ¡°Ashi can go in now.¡± The Dungeon core embedded in her abdomen made her not quite a Dungeon Master but also not exactly human. ¡°I¡¯ll drag Trella in once Ashi¡¯s there to keep her safe and come out for each of you, but the start is just going to be removing these. We can¡¯t get to the dungeon¡¯s monsters without getting rid of the [Mirror Shields].¡±

    Sara looked to Eve. ¡°Let the packrat remove them. Do you mind helping me with crates? We¡¯ll need to walk all the way back to the FarPortal. I¡¯m not afraid of a few level twenty four [Sand Crawlers] but it will be boring.¡±

    Eve stood and handed Kaden back his dog.

    Vip shook and settled like melting butter into Kaden¡¯s arms, closing her eyes as *Love* rolled off her. She was an easy dog to please. As his first Soul-Bound Beast, he could pull her back into his soul, where the world she chose was small. A warm fire, a blanket and Vip curled up to rest.

    ¡°I will help with these shields. Do we know if time is slower inside the Dungeon?¡± Ashi asked.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°If it felt like I was in there forever it¡¯s because I arrived in pitch black with a shield nearly taking my arm off.¡± He took her hand as he approached the dungeon door, a door made of metal with a polished shield emblazoned on it. The crystal in the door flipped back and forth between red and green, probably because of Kaden forcing his way out. ¡°Ready?¡±

    As a PolyMage, Ashi had to prepare herself against the influx of dungeon mana or it would overwhelm her. And with a little help? He focused his will as he dragged her in.

    The Dungeon yielded, and he materialized in the cave entrance with Ashi by his side.

    ¡°[Blazing Orb]¡± Ashi cast a spell that caused a miniature sun to burst into existence.

    A [Mirror Shield] materialized before her and clanged to the ground. Ashi picked it up, then dropped it, swearing as she shook her fingers. ¡°It is hot.¡±

    Kaden took a set of Inventory Cubes and began to draw shields into them, tens of shields. Dozens of shields. Hundreds. Ashi worked at his side, collecting a few dozen. ¡°Ok, let¡¯s head out and hope Sara has crates.

    The dungeon again fought to keep them from leaving, but by the time Kaden and Ashi emerged, Sara had a row of [Shipping Crates]. Larger versions of Inventory, they were reinforced steel and wood cubes.

    ¡°The cave is no longer dark,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Eve, do you wish to go in?¡±

    Eve¡¯s slight pause was a complete answer. ¡°I¡¯d rather stack out here. [Moon Glow] will act to stealth me. Come get me if anything looks threatening.¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°Stay with Eve?¡±

    Trinity lay down in the sand. Her armored head wasn¡¯t bothered by the wind and sand at all, and her blind head could spot [Stealth] creatures.

    Trella [Shadow Stepped] to the dungeon door. ¡°Finally. Monsters. Experience. I have a request, though.¡±

    ¡°Anything,¡± Kaden answered.

    ¡°Let me fight. I normally¡ªI used to¡ªI was the scout. I¡¯m going to need to damage everything to get XP and XP is the only way I catch up to all of you.¡± Trella¡¯s voice lost its usual confidence.

    ¡°This, we can do.¡± Ashi took Kaden¡¯s free hand.

    He pushed against the door and pulled both of them in. ¡°This tunnel is packed but with three of us, we should be able to clear it. Then we¡¯ll see what waits beyond it.¡±

    After three trips out, he found Sara speaking with a group of [Cargo Haulers] who loaded up the crates. Each had put almost all attribute points in strength, and carried the man-sized crates like they weighed nothing.

    Sara pointed to twenty more crates. ¡°Almost clear?¡±

    He shook his head, swapped out cubes and headed back in.

    ¡°We found the next room!¡± Trella called. From behind a wall of shields.

    Ashi stood on one side. ¡°You should not go without us.¡±

    Kaden agreed.

    ¡°The monsters are [Cave Trolls] and they¡¯re stuck under a pile of [Mirror Shields]. I stabbed all the ones I could find. I¡¯m going to go scout, [Shadow Step] will let me fit through gaps.¡± Trella disappeared.

    With every passing moment, Kaden worried more. He began to throw [Mirror Shields] out of the way digging to get to the room where Trella had been. From deep in the dungeon, something roared.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°She does not know patience,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I do not know if this is why you are attracted to her or if you have affected her so.¡±

    ¡°Less critcism, more help.¡± Kaden dodged an avalanche of shields and leaped through the gap. ¡°Standard entrance room, I think there¡¯s an underground stream somewhere under these.¡±

    ¡°Come back and help,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We will move faster together.¡±

    Kaden reluctantly rejoined Ashi, widening the gap he¡¯d scrambled through and clearing the floor. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she wait?¡±

    ¡°You see how it feels?¡± Ashi asked.

    A few minutes¡ªand one trip out¡ªlater, Trella re-appeared. ¡°Hi. Any chance you brought Eve in?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s¡ª¡± Kaden saw the blood dripping from Trella¡¯s stomach and drew a Healing potion. ¡°Drink. What did you find?¡±

    Trella waited as a set of black claws fell from the wounds on her stomach. ¡°Cave Troll that wasn¡¯t trapped by shields. Be right back.¡±

    Kaden lunged¡ªand came up with only Trella¡¯s Dark Deception, which shook its head, then patted him on the shoulder before fading away. ¡°Trella!¡±

    ¡°I should not enjoy this so,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Therefore, I will not tell you how pleasing it is to see you learn this lesson. But if I were a lesser woman, I would say ¡®Finally! Or At Last!¡¯ Bring Sara, so she, too, may comfort you as you grow in empathy.¡±

    Kaden was fairly sure Ashi meant ¡°So Sara, too, could laugh.¡± He finished filling the cubes and headed out. ¡°Sara, Eve?¡±

    The two emerged from the tent. Eve¡¯s long braid of platinum hair trickled sand, and both of the Cosmic Horror¡¯s pseudopods had their gaping maws open, swallowing sand, wind, air¡­pretty much everything.

    ¡°Trella got hurt.¡± Kaden dumped another crate full of shields and put the lid on. ¡°And then Trella ran off on her own.¡±

    ¡°That sounds difficult to watch,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°I hate caves but Trella¡¯s going to reverse-level to fifteen at this rate.¡± Eve went with him. ¡°Sara, you need to be here?¡±

    ¡°Only if we want to make money off the loot. Trella¡¯s more important.¡±

    Eve shook her head. ¡°I can handle this. Kaden? A hand?¡±

    He dragged her into the Dungeon, which fought less each time. Probably out of frustration. ¡°Trella?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s here. Wounded,¡± Ashi said.

    Blood leaked from Trella¡¯s mouth, and she wiped it on one of her gauntlets. ¡°Found the sub-boss. He¡¯s nasty. Can I borrow Trinity?¡±

    ¡°You can borrow me,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Just be patient. If Trinity can fit wherever you¡¯re headed, I can.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Trella¡¯s tone shifted. ¡°You¡¯ll jump in and ¡®protect¡¯ me. Trinity understand the value in a hard fight. Send her with me.¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity, forcing her into existence on the other side of the hall. And privately gave her instructions. ¡°She¡¯ll follow you.¡±

    ¡°This way,¡± Trella called. ¡°Watch your step, the shields are slippery.¡±

    Sara looked at the mound, dumbfounded. ¡°Do you have any idea what these sell for?¡±

    ¡°Less and less by the crate.¡± Kaden continued removing them.

    ¡°Or,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden stopped and looked to Sara. ¡°Or?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep packing them, you go find Trella.¡± Sara¡¯s determination said she had a plan. Kaden did too. Find his lover. ¡°That¡¯s enough, we can make it through.¡±

    He scrambled out into the first battle room. Dead troll heads lolled out from under the shield pile. Trinity was not what anyone would call slim. In fact, the longer the TriTerror survived, the taller and wider she grew.

    Which mean the low corridor leading west couldn¡¯t possibly be the exit. The blocked doors north wouldn¡¯t have stopped Trinity, either, but the doors were entirely to intact. Kaden scanned the cave. He¡¯d had to remove his non-combatant status so he couldn¡¯t observe the mechanics behind the dungeon. ¡°Ashi. Secret door?¡±

    ¡°I do not believe it. This is a cave dungeon. Any trap would lead downward.¡± Ashi tossed another minature sun. ¡°What do you feel about the Core?¡±

    That was a frustrating part. ¡°I swear it thinks it¡¯s helping.¡±

    Trinity roared deep in the Dungeon, then her snake head gave out a trill and the armored one rumbled. [Beast Soul] didn¡¯t translate it but Kaden knew exactly what it meant. ¡°Trella, wait for us!¡±

    The dungeon went silent, far too silent, though the crash of [Mirror Shields] said combat wasn¡¯t over. Then, after agonizing minutes, Trella called from above. ¡°Hey. Sub boss is dead, and I¡¯m pretty sure the main boss is still dead. I need your help, I have no idea what to do.¡±

    With nothing more than will, Ashi¡¯s sun rose higher, revealing a wide bridge that crossed the cavern. Trinity¡¯s snake head peaked down.

    ¡°How do we get up there?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Trinity and I climbed on a pile of [Mirror Shields] but given how they collapsed, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s safe. This is actually a cool design. There¡¯s two levels to the dungeon, and in the second one, you can see all the areas you didn¡¯t fight through because you used a shortcut.¡± Trella looked around. ¡°I could come down but I don¡¯t want to leave Trinity alone.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll work our way to you,¡± Kaden said.

    No more toying, he began stacking shields as fast as he could, putting them in orderly sets that slowly drained the dungeon. ¡°Got a live [Cave Troll],¡± Kaden called to Ashi.

    Trella burst into existence to stab it in the eyes over and over. ¡°Yes. Sorry, left Trinity alone, you¡¯re doing great.¡±

    ¡°What exactly are you going to do with all of this?¡± Eve asked Kaden. ¡°You¡¯re the dungeon expert. You can¡¯t leave all these shields here.¡±

    ¡°Not to worry,¡± Sara answered. ¡°S&K Holdings is diversified from just shipping, cargo transport, and poisonous snake vending. We¡¯re now premier armorers. Or we will be. And cavern space is easy to come by to store our wares.¡±

    Eve couldn¡¯t help laughing.

    Ashi wasn¡¯t laughing. ¡°I do not understand this Dungeon. It is not erratic but its actions are near so. To clog with its own loot? This should not be possible. The Directed Mana costs alone prohibit it.¡±

    The slog took hours.

    Hours that turned into days.

    They no long needed a tent, as the stacks of crates blocked the wind, but at last, Kaden emptied an already solved puzzle room to climb the stairs. He tossed shields off to the lower level to clear the bridge, and didn¡¯t even mean to bounce one off Sara the first time. ¡°Trella.¡±

    She stood near a pile of actual loot. Swords, bows, a wand that dripped with necrotic energy, a staff with a gem on it that just begged to spit out death rays or at least major-inconvenience rays. ¡°I made a map. And I haven¡¯t been sitting idlely, I stacked every shield in the boss room the same way you have. And I gathered up all this, and all corpses.¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°This would have been great at level twenty. Now? It¡¯s sad.¡±

    Eve tinkered with the staff. ¡°Oh, gods. A Gorgeon staff. It¡¯s powerful but deadly. How many corpses did you find, Trella?¡±

    ¡°Three. And now that you mention it, I think a few of the statues make more sense. But the real problem isn¡¯t the boss.¡± She rolled the map scroll and lead them to the boss room, which was ringed with dozens of stacks of shields that reached the roof.

    Trinity stood guard over a crystal flower as tall as Kaden. The amber petals were made of solid orange crystals, and the whole thing pulsed constantly.

    ¡°See?¡± Trella asked. ¡°It¡¯s not hostile. It¡¯s not breakable. I tried three different Alchemical Potions on it. I doubt Remembrance will harm it.¡±

    Ashi held out a hand and began to absorb mana. Her skin shifted to a light green and blue. ¡°It is a Skill, but not one I know. Healing and rejuvenation at a constant rate. I can almost [Identify] it¡­¡±

    [Rose Repose]

    Generate a Flower Shell that keeps you safe from harm. In this shell your health and mana will regenerate. If you sacrifice the mana regeneration, the cost of Rose Repose is zero. You may enter hibernation in Rose Repose for as long as necessary. You may not obtain status effects during Rose Repose.

    ¡°This is the problem,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Someone is inside. The boss is dead, thus the dungeon is defeated. It rewards the party with loot. The loot is not taken. Directed Mana continues. It cannot know better, so it tries over and over. Reward the party so they will leave.¡±

    Kaden pulled the Levicon Blade, formed from the sheer will of a mythic Worldboss. It couldn¡¯t fail to cut, though the short, hooked blade would only slice a couple inches. ¡°Here goes nothing.¡±

    When the blade traced the edge of a flower petal, sparks of light few off, embers of mana that drifted glowing to the stone as Kaden cut over and over. Orange mana began to leak out, draining into Ashi.

    The crystal flower began to flow like water and collapsed, draining away. A young man stretched and yawned. ¡°Tavender, it took you long enough¡ªwho are you?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s a [Rose Resurrectionist]?¡± Trella asked.

    Sara stepped forward. ¡°Sara Scylla, party leader. Not your party leader. We¡¯ve come to rescue you from this dungeon, if you¡¯ll come this way, I think you¡¯ll find the door unlocked since Trella killed the sub-boss.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s our [Guardian], Tavender? And Princess Hopefar? And Annie, the orphan girl with the rainbow hair and the promise of true love?¡± The man looked around blankly.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s Tavender,¡± Trella said, pointing to a broken statue. ¡°In my defense, I didn¡¯t know that statue was a person and Trinity and I were bored. There¡¯s a set of corpses I collected, most of them look like beef jerkey. One could be your ¡®Annie.¡¯¡±

    The man approached the statue of a woman holding her hand up as if to scream ¡®Halt,¡¯ and circled her. ¡°I was using the Gorgon staff to kill the boss. I told her to duck. Have you seen a gorgeon staff?¡±

    ¡°No gorgon staffs here that I can see,¡± Eve said. ¡°Anyone else see a gorgeon staff? Look around. You know, those are very dangerous. You can¡¯t even get one without being a Centureon.¡±

    The man leaned closer. ¡°I received it straight from a [God]. Listen, I¡¯m not supposed to share this far and wide, but I¡¯m not just any [Rose Resurrectionist.] I¡¯m the chosen of Rehendron, brought to this world to bring justice to the Dark Lord Malkoriatharax.¡±

    Eve shuddered. ¡°You mean you¡¯re a second lifer.¡±

    ¡°Right. No worries, I¡¯ll summon Rehendron and ask him for another staff.¡±The man kneeled and activated a skill.

    Travis Moreham has called upon Rehendron, God of Quillophants.

    The ground shook.

    Piles of shields crashed over, crushing the broken statue of the [Guardian.]

    Kaden pulled the other statue into Inventory out of instinct. He¡¯d meant to grab her hand and pull her away but instinct took over and apparently Annie wasn¡¯t alive. At all.

    A sphere of brilliant green light formed, too bright to look at.

    ¡°Lord Rehendron!¡± Travis kneeled. ¡°It is I, Travis Moreham, ready to once more take up my quest.¡±

    The cave fell completely silent. Then a voice like grinding stone spoke. ¡°Who?¡±

 Two - Forgotten

    Travis the Second Lifer stood. ¡°Travis. From Beaumont, Texas? I was the shopping cart attendant at the Piggly Wiggly. Killed in the box crusher while saving some bananas with only a few bad spots? Transported to this world as your champion?¡±

    The god rubbed what Kaden perceived as a jaw. ¡°Doesn¡¯t ring a bell.¡±

    ¡°You said I was your chosen. The only hope against Malkoriatharax.¡± Travis¡¯s voice fell with each word.

    Kaden drew Remembrance. ¡°Malkoriatharax was a wielder of my hammer. He¡¯s dead. So, you¡¯re done. Now, can we please leave the dungeon so I can reset it?¡±

    ¡°Hang on. I think I remember you.¡± The God¡¯s outline kneeled down to take a closer look. ¡°[Rose Repose] guy. Weren¡¯t you were dead? Could have swore you were dead.¡±

    Travis¡¯s eyes bulged. ¡°I¡¯m your chosen! I saved half a pound of bananas from getting crushed and you said that showed I had the character needed. You chose me¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve had a lot of chosen ones. It¡¯s sort of a multiple choice thing, you know?¡± Rehendron spoke simply. ¡°Well done, good job. You defeated the Dark Lord by¡­where are we?¡±

    ¡°A dungeon. He was hiding in a Dungeon,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°By hiding in a dungeon. The [Prophets] foretold this. Probably. At least one of them must have. Well done, Travis. I¡¯m proud of you. Go on about your life, hero, in this, your world you saved.¡± The God began to dim.

    ¡°No. You stole my life. I want to go back to Beaumont. No, Houston! No, Tulsa, Oklahoma! The big leagues!¡± Travis looked around. ¡°If I still had the Gorgon Staff you gave me¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t give those out. They¡¯re dangerous,¡± Rehendron said. ¡°And I don¡¯t like your tone. I may not be in the top ten pantheons, but you¡¯ve just gone from amusing to annoying. Everyone ready to die, just take two steps forward.¡±

    Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul and took three steps back. ¡°Lord¡ªGod¡ªRehendron, we¡¯d be happy to take Travis outside. He¡¯s spent a lot of time in [Rose Repose]. He¡¯ll probably realize he can live comfortably the rest of his life if he just stops aggravating you.¡±

    The God looked over. ¡°No, he won¡¯t. You¡¯ve got prophet¡¯s blood, you know, too.¡±

    Kaden nearly collapsed as images hit him. Travis calling Rehendron over and over and over with a thousand different questions. When he regained control, Ashi and Trella held his arms and for some reason he was looking up at the dungeon ceiling. ¡°What¡¯s a reality show? Why are people stuck living in a house on an island? Why are they voting? Is one of them going to kill everyone else so he can have the only vote? That¡¯s what I would do.¡±

    Rehendron cleared his throat. ¡°Travis. Swear before the System you will never call me again.¡±

    ¡°[Roses have Thorns!]¡± Travis shouted.

    Vines exploded from the ground to wrap around the god. Kaden¡¯s [Eldritch Shield] blocked the ones that nearly hit him, Trella left her Dark Deception behind and appeared in his shadow, while Sara¡¯s swords and pseudopods blocked the ones that attempted to disembowel her and Eve.

    Ashi¡ªKaden¡¯s gut turned to ice as he looked at her. A thorn had speared her, and blood spread rapidly, soaking her wraps. ¡°Eve!¡±

    Kaden shouted it at the same time he summoned Trinity. ¡°Trinity. Kill.¡±

    *He¡¯s got two levels on us and is a Second Lifer,* Sara broadcast with Mind Speech. *Don¡¯t underestimate him.*

    ¡°What kind of Healer commands thorns?¡± Eve shouted as she worked on Ashi.

    ¡°I am chosen!¡± Travis screamed. ¡°I bear the power of Nature, and roses will grow on your¡ª¡±

    Trinity hit him three different ways.

    Thorns grew from the second lifer¡¯s skin, stabbing her in the mouth, but Trinity wasn¡¯t one to take into account personal injury, common sense, or chance of survival. Instead of backing off, her armored head bit down harder and shook.

    ¡°[Rose Repose]!¡± Travis screamed.

    Crystals errupted, chipping Trinity¡¯s beak and forcing her jaws open. She stumbled back as Sara¡¯s horror bit down on one of the pedals, which began to shimmer and smoke. ¡°It¡¯s dissolving.¡±

    ¡°If I wagered, it would be that he¡¯s going to come out refreshed,¡± Eve said. ¡°Also, I¡¯m out of mana. That [Killing Thorn] skill is deadly.¡±

    Kaden used [Mana Well] to dump everything he could spare to Eve. ¡°Any more and [Split Second] won¡¯t work.¡±

    The boss room began to glow as Ashi shone brighter and brighter. ¡°He damaged the Dungeon Core in my abdomen. I am leaking mana and cannot stop it, so let us see if his chosen skills are my match.¡±

    Kaden cut with the Levicon Blade. ¡°Get ready. Sara, Eve, behind me. Trella, he¡¯s going to come out hot.¡±

    The crystaline rose eploded, throwing shards of crystal everywhere. Kaden wince as the Eldritch Shield didn¡¯t block all of them. One dug into his ankle. [Fortress of Stone] let him remain standing, and Eve used [Life Transfusion] to force the slightest healing.

    Lightning arrows blasted past Kaden as Sara shot.

    ¡°[Nightshade Cloud],¡± Travis shouted.

    A cloud of black began to blossom out from Travis.

    Trella¡¯s [Dark Deception] advanced into the cloud and drew its sword, slashing him over and over while Travis screamed. The living shadow couldn¡¯t be poisoned. Kaden dropped the Eldritch Shield and charged, slamming into Travis.

    He swung the man and rammed him into the ground.

    You have inflicted 431 points of damage on your ram and the floor.

    Battering Ram was the best. Even better, Travis was momentarily stunned. Before he could recover, Kaden slammed the man¡¯s head back into the floor over and over. ¡°Ashi!¡±

    ¡°Quickly!¡±

    Kaden rolled over and forced Travis up, using [Mana Drain] the whole time. All of which he poured to Eve. ¡°We came to rescue you.¡± He threw the man forward.

    Ashi became pure light, shining brilliant white. A beam of pure destruction errupted from her chest, striking Travis. The air grew rank with the stench of burning flesh as the waves of power grew stronger. Without warning, it cut off, and Ashi sagged, clutching her stomach.

    ¡°[Rose Repose]¡± Travis said through charred lips.

    It didn¡¯t activate.

    ¡°[Backstab!]¡± Trella buried her dagger in Travis¡¯s back, then side-stepped his overhand swing. ¡°[Frontstab!] Still not a skill, but it does make you bleed.¡±

    The air in the room swirled.

    Sara Scylla has activated [Speeding Wind]. Your health, mana regen and speed are boosted.

    Blood errupted from Travis¡¯s chest as a blast of red hit Travis. It started from Eve¡¯s Bloodmoon staff and the beam shimmied and twisted like it was alive.

    ¡°Time for you to experience [Rescue Reset]!¡± Travis¡¯s voice was barely understandible. He threw a shining golden coin into the air¡ªand the [FalCrow] swallowed it, phasing away.

    Travis fell to a knee. Phantom trumpets blared out everywhere as he gasped out, ¡°It¡¯s the [Final Countdown¡ª¡±

    He had no mana.

    He had no blood.

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    He had Trella¡¯s dagger rammed down his throat. No, that was [EverCut], the weapon that did constant damage. Constant damage applied to an area where any damage was critical.

    You have helped slay the [Rose Resurrectionist] Travis Moreham.

    You have gained experience.

    ¡°Very nice.¡± Trella drew back her daggers and looted the corpse. Then looked up at the nebulous green afterimage watching them. ¡°Got any [Shadow Cat] kittens?¡±

    The god stood silent, looking to each of them. Like Demon Lord Asmodeus, his gaze had weight that made Kaden want to kneel.

    Sara seemed unaffected. ¡°Unless you need shipping services or poisonous snakes, this concludes our interaction with you. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± The God spoke and it became a command that stretched out eternity. ¡°I got another second lifer arriving in a few weeks. I¡¯m always looking for a stalwart band of companions. They get all the best loot. Interested?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°No thank you. Would you like Travis¡¯s corpse?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s got this resurrection power. The moment a princess cries on him, or bleeds on him, or pisses on him, he comes back to life.¡± The God scooped up the corpse. ¡°Never did see one cry or bleed on him. You¡ªyou¡¯ve got a bit of divinity in you. And you are carrying a chunk.¡±

    Kaden still had the hidden [Divinity] he¡¯d stolen from the Rat God. ¡°I¡¯m not keen on giving it back to the Rat God. I know, I have to give it back for a bargain¡ª¡±

    ¡°To a God. Not him specifically. Think on it.¡± Rehendron faded away.

    Kaden searched the boss room and pulled a pile of shields aside. ¡°Here.¡±

    Ashi pressed her palm to a indentation, and a secret door opened, revealing the core. It was dark red with swirls of blue. ¡°Not erratic. Yet. I do not wish to harm this dungeon with no proof.¡±

    Kaden agreed. ¡°The door¡¯s open, we¡¯ll shovel everything out and crate it while the dungeon resets.¡±

    This time, the hours passed quickly, and soon enough, Kaden stepped out into the cold of a desert night. The dungeon door shut behind him. One silver circle after another formed on the door, ten in all.

    ¡°Rank ten. That¡¯s level fifty mobs,¡± Sara said quietly. ¡°How did it get to rank ten?¡±

    ¡°Directed Mana,¡± Ashi said, touching the door. ¡°It received all he spent to hibernate. We will need to watch this dungeon closely. Perhaps it is stable, perhaps it is not. Time will show us.¡±

    It was near dawn by the time all the shields were boxed, and mid-day before the last of them were hauled away. Sara led the party back to the FarPortal, while Vip rolled down sand dunes. Trinity napped in Kaden¡¯s soul, her wounds healing. ¡°Lunch is on me,¡± Sara said. ¡°We have to go by the guild for me to report. Feel free to shop¡ªoh, Kaden, BirchHome is closed to the public. There¡¯s a meeting of [Saints] and it was the only place Mr. Dervish could get them to agree on. I hope that won¡¯t be a problem?¡±

    ¡°Fine by me. Though I need to see him.¡± Kaden had Quests to fulfill.

    Trella stopped by the portal. ¡°We don¡¯t steal loot in this party. Let me show you what we got from Travis and his gang. I¡¯d rather do this in the desert than in the Guild. Keep in mind, all my equipment comes from the Sisters. I don¡¯t want anything except XP.¡±

    She spread an array of weapons and armor. ¡°[Rose Gold Crescent Blades]. They never dull and boost plant powers. Sara¡¯s [Gardening] skills might use them. This is a spear, but it requires the [Spear] skill to even unlock so I can identify. The armor has a health regen any time you¡¯re in contact with any kind of plant.¡±

    Sara used a sword to lift one of the necklaces. ¡°¡®For Annie, my love.¡¯ These have some sort of charm on them. I don¡¯t know what it does.¡±

    Kaden took them off the end of the sword and wrapped it around his fist, waiting patiently. Then swore. ¡°Hard to Kill just said [Resist Mental Attack] leveled with a sub level in [Resist Love Charm].¡± He put the necklace on, tucking it into his shirt. ¡°You can have it back when I get immunity.¡±

    Sara looked like she¡¯d turn green. She focused on a silver metallic ball which unscrewed in half. ¡°This is extremely valuable. It¡¯s a regenerating healing salve, single dose, but lasts forever. Eve?¡±

    ¡°One of you should take it. Kaden has [Vigorous]. You or Ashi.¡± Eve looked to Ashi.

    ¡°I have [Healing Mana].¡±

    Sara put it away. ¡°A Party Leader is always prepared. For anything. The shell is a pet summons but it doesn¡¯t say what it is.¡±

    Kaden took the shell. ¡°We¡¯d better find out now. I can Soul Bind most things.¡±

    He activated the shell and watched. Summoned creatures usually chose to appear out of line of sight. ¡°Either this thing is really large or it¡¯s really slow.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s gasp of shock caught his attention as she charged, nearly knocking him over to snatch something from his shoulder. ¡°Trella, [Create Water], please!¡±

    A trickle of water covered Ashi¡¯s hands as she cupped them together. ¡°It is [Fate].¡±

    Kaden had to crowd in to see what she held. A minature blue octopus with exactly three tentacles. The whole beast would have fit in Kaden¡¯s mouth. He was, after all, hungry.

    [Levi-ling - Tentaclaw Spawn]

    This tentaclaw is one of hundreds of thousands spawned by the World Boss Levicon before its reign of terror ended. Right now, it would have trouble terrifying a coffee cup, but just you wait. As long as you lower your expectations, you won¡¯t be disappointed with what it can do. This one is keenly aware why aquatic creatures and desert wastelands aren¡¯t often seen together.

    *Fear*

    Level: 0

    Skills: Claw

    Talents: Emergency Food Supply

    [Claw]

    Claw with a claw. We can¡¯t believe we needed to explain this.

    [Emergency Food Supply]

    This creature can exist without food an unlimited number of times. You can exist on this creature exactly once.

    Kaden scratched his head. ¡°It¡¯s terrified. Let me figure out how to dismiss it.¡±

    ¡°Give me the shell.¡± Sara cupped it close and closed her eyes. A moment later, the Tenta-Claw disappeared. ¡°It¡¯s a pet. It has deeply limited combat capabilities. Though, I suppose with Kaden present, it might be able to level. My Horror does. My creeping horrors self-destruct, so they don¡¯t appear to be gaining XP.¡±

    Ashi held out her hand. ¡°Please? Levicon was Mother¡¯s best friend. I need no battle beast. Kaden¡¯s dog is acceptable. But this, look into those eyes. Look at those claws and the tiny beak! Is it not beautiful?¡±

    ¡°I used to change sheets at the whorehouse when I was in the Saint¡¯s Hall and your pet smells like the sheets in room 218.¡± Trella shrugged. ¡°Kaden¡¯s got so many beasts I can¡¯t keep track. Sara¡¯s carrying the death of this universe. Eve would steal Vip if she could, you might as well have a pet sucky-thing.¡±

    ¡°And your cat? Have I not seen it hiss and draw blood?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°Eclipse is independent. The way I like her. What¡¯s the spellbook?¡± Trella opened it. ¡°I can¡¯t read this. Is it Vichorean?¡±

    Ashi took the book and flipped through it. ¡°I do not know this, either. Multispeak does not translate it. It may be very rare or mundane.¡±

    ¡°Save it for Omnor.¡± Sara worked rapidly. ¡°All of that¡¯s ok-ish. The glass orbs are artifacts., Wren will know what they do. Sell the rest, bank the gold, trade what you can¡¯t sell.¡±

    ¡°Alchemists are bastards but I love it. No trades.¡± Trella put away the last of it. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    Eve activated the FarPortal and Kaden stepped through into the smoky, hot air of the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. Down below, it sounded like all five bars were engaging in a competition to sing ¡°The [Bearserker] Who Always Said Yes¡± the loudest.

    Sara headed up to the administrative level, while Ashi and Trella headed to the Crafter¡¯s level.

    ¡°This will always feel more like home than anywhere I grew up,¡± Eve said. ¡°This was the first place where people didn¡¯t know¡ªor care¡ªwho I was related to.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] to send a message. It perched on the doorframe and vomited out a gold coin, which it picked up and carried to Kaden.

    [Rescue Reset]

    Empower this coin with a thousand mana, and you may bind it to a location. Activating the reset returns you to the binding location with the same health and mana you bound it with. You must then re-pay the thousand mana to use the coin again. If the location is blocked, you will not be able to use Rescue Reset. If the location it is bound to will kill you, you will still be able to use Rescue Reset. Obtain a second [Rescue Reset] bound to a different location to handle this situation.

    Kaden tried to show the coin to Eve, but she was squeamish about bird vomit. He sent the Falcrow to Mr. Dervish and stored the coin.

    ¡°Evelyn Black?¡± A dry voice called over the rumble of the Guild. ¡°You are Evelyn Black, correct?¡± The voice was a city [Administrator] wrapped in a scarf and a heavy overcoat. He limped over to appraise Eve, adjusting his spectacles. ¡°We sent a bird to you. You did get the bird, right?¡±

    Eve squinted. ¡°Kaden played a terrible prank.¡±

    ¡°¡®Kaden¡¯,¡± he spoke the word as if it were a disease. ¡°¡®Mr. Birch turned down our generous offer of a seat on the city council. Flavius suggested you had the intelligence he lacks. That you would understand that true power comes from ruling.¡±

    Eve shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m the one who advised Kaden to turn it down. Instead he took that zoo. Which, in hindsight, has worked out. Why would I want to be a minor council member?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the council woman¡¯s quarters. And the stipend. And the influence. And the chance to gain more.¡± The Administrator paused. ¡°Did I mention the private FarPortal?¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t forgotten Flavius Marcus saying there would be advantages to having a council member in the party. What he was suprised about was Eve showing interest.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need a larger quarters. I have party members who are essential to my knowledge of Verona¡¯s operations.¡± Eve stated it as fact.

    ¡°You¡¯ll start with the same¡ª¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking.¡± Eve pointed to the stairs. ¡°Come with me, I¡¯ll need you to show me and get the FarPortal coordinates and we can discuss compensation. Appropriate compensation. And while we¡¯re at it¡­¡±

    Kaden lost the conversation in the rumble of the Guild, and headed down to the training floor, looking for lessons.

    A common brown Messenger Bird landed on his arm, and spoke in Mr. Dervish¡¯s gravelly voice. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come on up to BirchHome? I¡¯ll give you the package, we can talk. Got a friend who needs a favor. You¡¯ll never regret having a Saint in your debt.¡±

    That was something Kaden didn¡¯t need to be told twice.

    But as he headed out the front door of the Guild, he almost ran into a mage in dark blue robes with a completly impractical towering hat. This mage, he knew. ¡°Ignus Malachor. Good evening.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s cold and wet and miserable, and there¡¯s nothing even a [Weather Mage] like I can do about it, but this isn¡¯t a visit in my offiical capacity. I¡¯ve issued you a Faction Quest for the Poteri. You¡¯ll find information waiting when you get back to your Holding. Because this was the first time, I wanted to come explain it in person.¡± Ignus waited. The falling snow fell around the mage but never on him.

    ¡°What if I don¡¯t want this Quest?¡±

    ¡°Your faction favor will go down. And you¡¯re very close to reaching that favor quest limit, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ignus asked it like he didn¡¯t damn well know.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°The last few years have been one group after another making demands and expecting me to just obey. First it¡¯s the City Council, then the Sisters, then Vichoreans and now you. I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    ¡°Read the report before you answer. Think on it. Talk it over with your friends. And get in out of this damnable snow.¡± Ignus soared three stories up to enter the Guild.

    It was time to visit some Saints.

 Three - Talented

    The streets of Verona were covered in ice and snow. Kaden tried summoning Vip to let her sprint throught he streets and she acted as though he¡¯d dipped her paws in acid, whining and begging until he recalled her.

    Trinity did not whine or beg or bow to mere natural forces like cold, ice, or snow. She plodded along beside him, her wide claws gouging the cobblestone to keep pace. Kaden kept a hand on her back and used Remembrance to keep his balance until he reached the tall stone doors of Birchhome. They¡¯d changed the engraving on the twin doors to be a tree with spreading branches, when Kaden preferred the old zoo carvings.

    Two guards wearing heat charms stood on either side. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, sir. Birchhome is¡ªoh. Let me get the door.¡±

    Trinity had been sizing each of the two up and negotiating which head got to eat what, so it was just as well that they swung the doors inward and let Kaden through.

    He stopped not two steps in.

    Every building was lit.

    Every lamp.

    And Birchhome was full. The pathways lined with Centurions who talked and argued. [Identify] began to activate, and Kaden¡¯s breath caught. Almost everyone here held a title of ¡®Saint.¡¯¡±

    ¡°71?¡± Kaden called to the Wisp. It wasn¡¯t tamed or bound to him, but he had a gut feeling that wisps craved names and attention. He¡¯d seen it floating around the Holding and figured it couldn¡¯t be that much of a threat since Dominion didn¡¯t harm it. It blazed into existence, bobbing back and forth. ¡°You are the most helpful wisp in the city. Where¡¯s James Dervish?¡±

    It set off at a relentless pace, pulling him through the pathways that made up Birchhome. 71 stopped when a being made of nothing but mana floated by, trailing wisps of fire that blazed downaward and then swept up like embers to fall on it. Near the obervator, a ring of Centurions stood, speaking silently. If they minded the snow or the ice or the cold, it didn¡¯t show.

    It made sense. Kaden could practically sleep in the snow with [Resist Cold.] 71 stopped bobbing and circled behind Kaden as though hiding behind him. ¡°Mr. Dervish.¡±

    The Summoning Saint looked back. ¡°There he is. Kaden, you¡¯ve met Ashorn Winlock, Forest Saint.¡±

    ¡°The one with Demon Sight,¡± Winlock said. ¡°The one who learned to [Bind] demons. And you¡¯re level twenty five now. Planning on dual-classing?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Respectfully, sir, no. My path is different. I won¡¯t ever be able to use [Reign of Tears], but he wouldn¡¯t mind.¡±

    Ashlock nodded. ¡°You¡¯ve got Demon Sight. If I need help finding some demons, I¡¯m sending people your way.¡±

    ¡°Find. I can find any level. Killing them is your job.¡± Kaden offered a handshake. ¡°What was the favor you wanted?¡±

    ¡°Not him.¡± Mr. Dervish put a hand on Kaden¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t go getting afraid. A Saint is the exemplar of their class, that¡¯s all. The one that embodies a class. If there¡¯s only two, it¡¯s probably the stronger one. And there¡¯s a lot of Classes.¡±

    ¡°So Eve will be one?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°If she survives to be a Centurion. And you. Ain¡¯t something to worry about with so much ahead of you. Focus on staying alive. On making friends. On making enemies. Now, most of us, you don¡¯t worry about. The one what needs help, she ain¡¯t like the others¡ª¡±

    ¡°Metami!¡± Kaden shouted as he sprinted across the way.

    The Shield Saint turned to look his way and smiled with her crooked, misshapen grin. ¡°Kaden.¡±

    Mr. Dervish fell back to give him privacy, and Kaden couldn¡¯t help noting the smile. The spring in Metami¡¯s step. ¡°Where did you go? You didn¡¯t have to leave. I was so worried about you.¡±

    ¡°I needed to see the world. See if things were the way I remember. Hey, look at this!¡± Metami pulled a block of ivory stone from Inventory. ¡°See this? After I made Centurion, I founded a town. Grew into a city. Became the heart of an empire and every road they built, everywhere, was made of these. I found a brick!¡±

    Kaden reluctantly accepted what was in fact a brick. ¡°One?¡±

    ¡°The odds were against it, but I found it, probably half a mile underwater outside one of the southern continent port cities.¡± She took it back. ¡°It¡¯s good to know not everything I did is lost to time. And I found a purpose. I¡¯ve been killing people!¡±

    The shock in his face must have read, because she clarified. ¡°It¡¯s ok. Just [Priests.]¡±

    ¡°How is that better?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Priests from the Saint¡¯s Hall,¡± Metami said. ¡°See, told you it was better. If they¡¯re doing their job and raising orphans right? I explain how I knew Trois. How I know what he wanted. How good it is that they¡¯re doing what he would have wanted. Then I ask if they heard about what happened in Zellavi. Someone killed every single [Priest] in the hall.¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°Have you found the ones from Verona? Because if you do¡ªwhen you do¡ªTrella and I want to be there.¡±

    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Metami spoke softly. ¡°Something¡¯s changed in you. There¡¯s a jagged spot in your soul.¡±

    ¡°Ever had to choose between letting the Blight take over a city and killing forty people to prevent a war between Necromancers and an aeons old Broker? Hey, did you know Oberix?¡±

    ¡°Oberix.¡± Metami¡¯s scowl put fear in Kaden¡¯s stomach. ¡°Tell me Oberix is dead. Because if not, I¡¯ll take care of it myself. I don¡¯t care much for revenge, but I¡¯ve waited entire Cataclysms for this.¡±

    ¡°Oberix is possessed by the vengeful spirit of a woman she murdered. Don¡¯t think she¡¯ll be back and I have a respectful relationship with the spirit possessing her. Listen, you¡¯ve got your quest. If you ever need a place to stay, swing by. Trinity?¡± He called out, and the TriTerror came running to slide on the ice before Metami put out a hand. ¡°Say hello. No headbutt.¡±

    Trinity rumbled and roared from her blind head.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind?¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Old Morgana¡¯s not the patient type, but helping her is always in your best interest.¡±

    ¡°Morgana.¡± Metami¡¯s tone was careful. ¡°Think I¡¯ll come along. Just in case¡±

    ¡°She ain¡¯t going to hurt him. She needs help. Winlock and Basta already tried.¡± Mr. Dervish led into the underground area where subteranian beasts were housed.

    Metami followed, each of her steps a thud.

    The darkness wasn¡¯t just the absence of light, but like the light avoided the area. ¡°Morgana¡¯s the [Witch] saint. Think like if an Alchemist and a Mage had a baby. Morgana. Cut the shadow show and come on out.¡±

    ¡°Killing my fun, killing my kind, killing is all that rests on my mind.¡± The voice reminded Kaden of the ancient woman who had guarded the door at the Saint¡¯s Hall. Except this woman wasn¡¯t frozen to death when the heatstone failed. She emerged from shadows, showing pale green skin and shriveled gray lips parted by a black tongue. Her eyes were two different colors, one purple and one orange, and her robes were the darkest brown. ¡°[Beast Master]. The [Ranger] failed, the [Druid] failed, the [Tamer] failed. This is desparation. But we are desparate.¡± The shadows surrounding her sank back like a receding tide.

    In one of the actual cages, a Beast raged, hitting the bars over and over.

    Kaden approached. ¡°It¡¯s a turtle with angel wings?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a [Serapin],¡± the Witch answered. ¡°My familiar.¡±

    ¡°A soul-bound beast that helps with her brews,¡± Mr. Dervish added. ¡°But something¡¯s wrong with it. Every other kind of Beast Speech don¡¯t work anymore, and¡­¡±

    Kaden forgot everything as he focused on the [Serapin]. It was like a tortoise except with a snake head and tail and beautiful white wings that flapped lazily to hold it in place. His [Identify] skill had always been malfunctioning, but he was certain it would give him critical information.

    It didn¡¯t activate, even a foot away. Kaden focused on [Beast Soul]. ¡°Hello.¡±

    No answer.

    ¡°I might be able to communicate, but I don¡¯t know what this will do to your bond,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°He¡¯s dying. Better I start over with a new familiar than sacrifice him.¡± Morgana¡¯s voice held sorrow.

    ¡°I want you to barely open the cage. I need to touch him.¡± Kaden knew how this would go.

    Metami pulled at the door, with Mr. Dervish on the other side.

    Kaden reached out.

    Warning: Binding another person will result in dual-classing as a [Slaver.]

    ¡°It¡¯s not a [serapin!]¡± [Split Second] activated, and Kaden poured hundreds of mana into it to twist away as the creature inside became black liquid that gushed out at him. ¡°It¡¯s a person¡ª¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    The [Shape Shifter] flashed into a demonic goat the size of an elephant. It didn¡¯t so much ram Kaden as flick its head his direction.

    Kaden met it head on with [Moment of Speed] and Remembrance. The impact threw him twenty feet backwards. Kaden slammed into the wall and lost five hundred health. The assassin wasn¡¯t focused on Kaden, it was split into ten forms, most of which wrestled with Mr. Dervish¡¯s summons. Two had attacked Metami, but one¡ªa very human one¡ªfocused on Morgana, swinging hands that morphed into axe blades.

    The decrepit witch moved with shocking grace, dodging blows as though she knew they were coming, with just enough movement to let a swing miss by a hair.

    Kaden treated Remembrance with [Bleed] potion, then drew Thorn Caster and loosed arrow after arrow, hitting all of them. The Poison notifications rolled by. One stack of Poison was nothing. A Centurion could easily ignore eight. Nine. Ten¡ªtwo of the forms merged and charged toward Kaden, who sprinted toward it¡ªthen leaped into a Portal. He emerged behind the one threatening Morgana. ¡°[Backsmash!]¡±

    It blurred.

    Kaden¡¯s response was nothing but instinct, not dodging but swinging Remembrance. He caught the blow with Remembrance¡¯s axe edge. Splatters of black sprayed from the tendril, burning his skin. This time, he expected the impact. This time, he was ready to spring from the wall. Remembrance sang in his hands. The black chunks embedded in it had ceased to emit rings and now the hammer head was nearly perfectly black.

    Kaden dodged a spear of black as Morgana drew potions from her belt.

    Metami grunted and hurled one opponent across the room¡ªstraight into Mr. Dervish. Her other she smashed with both hands repeatedly. Every time Kaden tried to attack, the Assassin effortlessly tossed an attack his way.

    Which left Kaden with an option he didn¡¯t use much.

    Stumpy claws clicked on the stone as Kaden summoned his beast.

    The Assassin swore¡ªa woman¡¯s voice¡ªand swung a blade in an arc.

    It shattered on Rocky¡¯s shell, and the [Rock Gobbler] let out an angry bray and charged straight at the Assassin, who kicked at it with a foot that was a solid black mallet. The force hit Rocky so hard the Rock Gobbler stumbled.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t removed Rocky in so long, he had no concept just how heavy the Beast was. Items carried in Inventory¡ªor a Summoner¡¯s soul¡ªadded only a fraction of their weight. But now he felt fast. Incredibly fast. Kaden charged and slid under a spear, grasping it with one hand while he cut with the Levicon Blade. It sliced a chunk of black of cleanly, and the spear turned to black blood¡ªand another quarter of Kaden¡¯s health burned off.

    This wasn¡¯t a battle he could win, and it was time to acknowledge that. He pulled Rocky back into his soul and opened a portal behind Mr. Dervish. ¡°This can hurt it.¡±

    Mr Dervish took the Levicon Blade. ¡°Stay clear. Black-Blood Assassins have a death skill that¡¯ll kill anything below seventy five.¡±

    With that, he attacked. Gone were the ponderous punches and kicks, now Mr. Dervish fought with lightning fast slashes, accepting a spear to his chest in order to trap the Assassin¡¯s form for a flurry of slashs that sprayed acidic blood everywhere.

    Kaden spotted an opportunity and sprinted across the room as Morgana began to radiate white light that burned if Kaden looked and made his clothes smoke if he didn¡¯t. The stairs up were just across the room, but Kaden would never make it there.

    Instead, he dove into a feeding chute and slammed the lid down, holding onto it with all his weight.

    The stone shook, and the metal chute tore loose. The air swam with mana as Centurions battled. Beasts screamed over and over as the light in the room grew so bright that even in his sheltered position, Kaden saw spots.

    Kaden drank a health potion.

    A woman screamed out in rage and a spell activated, so strong it sucked the mana from the air. Kaden¡¯s mana ticked downwardslowly as the spell condensed. A shockwave blasted out.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 27,732 points of damage.

    Your health is critcally low.

    You require healing.

    You have helped slay the [Black Blood] Chera Mu.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a level.

    You have attribute points to distribute.

    Kadel lay limp, his arms and legs trembling. His health ticked up two points.

    Another two. His hearing wasn¡¯t right, but voices spoke in angry tones.

    ¡°I had him shielded and that death wave passed right through me.¡± Metami tore the metal chute apart. ¡°How in the thirteen hells did you survive that? I¡¯m with James. You¡¯re a cockroach.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment.¡± Kaden stood and surveyed the wreckage. ¡°You destroyed this place.¡±

    Morgana now wore a dress of glowing white, the long trailing ends flicked strands of mana into the air. Her skin had gone from pale green to radiant pink, her hair now platinum. ¡°There aren¡¯t many uses for white magic, but it does have its advantages. Take this.¡± She tossed him a vial the size of his thumb.

    Kaden carefully deposited a drop on his thumb. His health didn¡¯t rise. It rocketed upward. ¡°What was that?¡±

    Metami kicked a corpse. ¡°Level 99 [Black Blood.] They¡¯re a specialization of Assassin and that one was hell bent on becoming a Centurion. Picked the wrong time and place, but then again, you¡¯d ruined her surprise.¡±

    ¡°Not a bad choice,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Darkness makes them stronger. All these holding cells made her far more powerful than any single Centurion. She couldn¡¯t have figured on being three on one¡ªwhich reminds me.¡±

    The Summoning Saint turned on Kaden. ¡°Listen up and listen well. When you see a set of Centurions start to brawl, you get clear. Your only job is to remove yourself. That poison was nasty, and I appreciate the thought. The blade was even better. But you owe it to your party to be smart and stay clear.¡±

    He handed Kaden the Levicon Blade. ¡°What were you trying with that hammer?¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t explained about what happened in Omnor. ¡°I have tier four skill. I spoke to the spirit of a previous wielder of Remembrance. The more powerful the enemy I¡¯m fighting, the more powerful Remembrance becomes. Once, that Tier four skill activated when the hammer absorbed enough power. How else would I have three levels in a tier four skill?¡±

    Remembrance had stilled in his Inventory. Kaden drew it out and studied the embedded Chronosium. ¡°My mana drains so fast it¡¯s almost impossible to read but I could have used the Levicon Blade for a dozen attacks.¡±

    Metami reached out. ¡°I want to swing it.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Don¡¯t break my doors.¡±

    A thunderclap rang out as the Shield Saint slammed Remembrance down.

    Waves formed in the air, and Metami strained to keep a hold on it. Again, she slammed it down, blasting chips from the floor. Chips that then floated back to their previous position. Metami gripped Remembrance with both hands, straining. ¡°Almost¡­¡± She swung it over. Remembrance went flying across the room as Metami lost her grip.

    Afterwards, Kaden couldn¡¯t say what prompted him, but the image formed in his mind. Not his imagination, but the way it had screamed when he fought Jagi. Time stuttered, and Kaden held Remembrance in his hands.

    Every stone in the constellations of his armor hummed in time with Remembrance. The humming slowly dipped to nothing, and he put away the hammer. ¡°Let¡¯s not try that again.¡±

    ¡°Broke my arms,¡± Metami said. ¡°Morgana, didn¡¯t clip you, did I?¡±

    The witch had watched their entire test with an uncomfortable level of glee. ¡°I am well, thank you. But now, I must tear this city to pieces and find my familiar. The Black Blood cannot have hidden her far, and it can only hold the shape of a living victim.¡±

    ¡°Or.¡± Kaden said. ¡°This is a small city. Just put up posters. Tell people there¡¯s a huge reward for anyone who finds your [Serapin]. Tell them he loves to hide and could be anywhere. The commoners will search every inch of Verona for you.¡±

    Morgana crossed her arms. ¡°That could work. I suppose.¡±

    How many times did a city come close to destruction without anyone ever knowing? Kaden didn¡¯t want to know. ¡°All of you are paying to repair this. You, [Witch], owe me a favor.¡±

    Morgana cackled as her skin turned greenish again and inky black spread down her hair. ¡°A brave soul binds the most broken heart. You collect Beasts, but search for Dragons. I know the location of the Sea Dragon Oceanus¡ª¡±

    ¡°Me too. My basement tunnel,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I swear before the system.¡±

    Your oath is heard and affirmed. Sea Dragon Oceanus by basement tunnel.

    Morgana sighed. ¡°Fine.¡±

    She drew something from Inventory. ¡°Don¡¯t let a soul know you have this. If you doubt me, ask the Summoning Saint. You should take it now. It will grant you a [Talent], but you don¡¯t get to choose what you get.¡±

    Kaden accepted it.

    ¡°Actually, you can influence it,¡± Metami said. ¡°Focus on the type of talent you want. The old [Talent Pool] gems worked the same way. You focused, and if what you really needed was a battle talent, you¡¯d get one.¡±

    Kaden had a talent in mind.

    He¡¯d passed it over once because getting hit was the opposite of what he wanted, but now, he saw how powerful it could make him. ¡°[Immovable.] With it, I¡¯ll be able to power up Remembrance beyond anything I¡¯ve seen.¡±

    He drank the potion, which tasted like pus, all the way to the bottom, then wiped his lip.

    You have received a Talent.

    [Quest Master]

    You understand the loopholes in the system, you see the code in the matrix, you are one with the universe and know the universe is a crock of shit and all of existence a game. Any rewards for Quests you complete are doubled.

    Kaden had couldn¡¯t contain his frustration. It was exactly the opposite of what he¡¯d focused on, not a battle talent, and the number of Quests he received went steadily down as he leveled. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand yet,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°I can see it on your face. You wanted that [Shield] talent, right? But that¡¯s problably the fifth most powerful talent in the System. You have anything to do with that, Morgana?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s literally any talent,¡± she said. ¡°But I agree, it doesn¡¯t feel random. [Luck] can occasionally cause things like this, but it¡¯s impossible to manipulate. I knew a [Bard] from a previous cataclysm with level one hundred [Luck]. His enemies would slip and fall on their own daggers. Or fall in love with each other and forget he was there.¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t mention that in Omnor, a woman could still adjust [Luck]. Any talent was better than no talent. ¡°Thank you again, and let me know if you find your Serapin. I¡¯d like to see a real one. What are you going to do with her?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll drop her to level seventy five and see if another century teaches her better targeting. Oh, don¡¯t worry, deary. I¡¯m not going to kill her. I have a potion that will drain experience and levels from her. It¡¯s my class Evolution skill.¡± Morgana¡¯s crooked-tooth grin made Kadennearly vomit. ¡°I have to go.¡±

    ¡°Relax, boy. Level twenty nine doesn¡¯t have enough experience to be worth the effort.¡± She chuckled to herself as Kaden sprinted up the stairs.

    He was level twenty nine.

    And delighted.

    But as Kaden made his way back toward the guild, he could only imagine how much more difficult this would make the situation with Trella. Kaden sprinted for the gates¡ªand slid to a stop as [Ranger Winlock] appeared from nowhere, flanked by a small, thin man.

    ¡°Ranger.¡± Kaden kept his tone respectful.

    ¡°I meant what I said. I have four towns where we know a Demon¡¯s Daughter was loose. I¡¯ll reward your help, even though killing Demons is your responsibility.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ll accept those rewards. And kill the demons, if they¡¯re at least level twenty five and not more than, say, thirty five.¡± He looked to the other man. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡±

    ¡°Basta Ron, [Taming Saint].¡± The man¡¯s voice was barely audible. ¡°I heard Brownbeak hid an egg. A broken egg. Gryphons are increasingly rare, and I¡¯d like to see it. I swear before the System I won¡¯t endanger the egg, try to steal it, or attempt to tame it.¡±

    Oath heard and acknowledged: Blair Ron Dung will not attempt to harm or take a Griffin egg in any way.

    ¡°Blair Ron Dung?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I prefer Basta. I was the first [Tamer] to successfully, permanently tame a [Giant Scorpion]. I also am immune to scorpion venom. The two are related.¡± The Saint bowed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to go to [Beast Control]. It¡¯s not ideal, but it¡¯s where the enchantments were forged, before the previous administrator retired.¡± Kaden led them through the streets of Verona to Beast Control. Beast Control was always open, and Kaden stepped through the front door door, greeting the Night Admin. ¡°We¡¯ll need to wake Wren. I have to see my Griffin egg.¡±

    ¡°Wren¡¯s Academy is in session. Okit¡¯s in charge. You really want to wake her?¡± The man¡¯s tone said there was a right answer and the one Kaden was going to give.

    ¡°Yes. I know the code for the door.¡± Kaden headed back, ignoring the protests.

    As he approached the main office doors, they opened, and a very sleepy Okit Von Czerk stepped out, still wrapped in a fuzzy pink robe. ¡°Good, you got my message.¡±

    Kaden was about to answer when a Messenger Bird landed on his arm. ¡°It¡¯s vital you come to Beast Control immediately. The crack on the Griffin egg is growing. Either it¡¯s hatching or it¡¯s dying.¡±

 Four - Champions

    Kaden charged into the office and through the door into what were Wren¡¯s private quarters. There, a silver metal cage rested with Life Mana cores at all four corners. They bathed the egg in a varying flow of life energy to replace that lost through the crack. And the crack was much larger, so large, Kaden saw an eye looking back.

    ¡°It is hatching,¡± Winlock said.

    ¡°Agreed.¡± Basta reached through the mana barrier and put a hand on the egg. ¡°How many years did it sit like this?¡±

    ¡°No one knows. Possibly a decade.¡± Kaden felt the life inside and reached out with Soul Binding.

    You have bound a Beast (Griffin)

    He couldn¡¯t help collapsing as the wave of pain hit him. ¡°He¡¯s¡­sick. Wounded. Malformed.¡±

    Winlock closed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Not even I can save everything. Nature is cruel sometimes, but even death has a purpose.

    Kaden¡¯s eyes shot open. ¡°Death.¡±

    He lunged for the egg, cradling it close. ¡°I have to get to a FarPortal. I can save him.¡±

    Basta reached out¡ªand Kaden twisted out of the way with [Split Second]. The gryphon inside was now alive according to the System and wouldn¡¯t go into Inventory, so Kaden clutched it close as he sprinted out of Beast Control, trading speed for safety. Then thought better of risking Verona¡¯s icy streets. He tore open a portal to the Guild, focusing on the smell of spilled bear and the rumble of adventureres and the sounds of crafters to locate it. The Portal was shaky and slightly unstable, but Kaden leaped through, suddenly flanked by a pair of Centurions.

    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Basta asked.

    Kaden stepped into the Far Portal and emerged at the Holding. He sprinted through snow, and slipped, twisting so he broke the split rail fence instead of the delicate egg. Just ahead, a layer of ice lay across Echo Lake.

    Was it thick enough?

    It would have to be.

    Kaden leaped and slid across the lake.

    Five feet from the island in the center, the ice cracked, but he held the egg up and charged forward, demanding with pure will the door open.

    Just past the door, the bitter winter wind was a memory as brilliant golden sun drenched green grass and a thick forest.

    Kaden took five steps in and gently set down the egg. ¡°It¡¯s ok. It¡¯s going to be fine.¡± The surge of power in his dungeon made Kaden wince and hunch over. Two centurions was agony. ¡°Get out.¡±

    ¡°A Dungeon. You mean to add the Griffin to it,¡± Winlock said.

    ¡°My Dungeon.¡± Kaden held his breath as the hatchling pushed. Warm brown feathers spread as the crack yielded. The creature within was scarred. Half its body was bare of feathers, the beak deformed. One leg twisted under it with only a single claw, and no eye. Kaden scooped it up, ignoring the wet feathers. He spoke in soft whispers as the hatchling spasmed and stopped breathing.

    The Dungeon floor swelled up, forming a bowl that Kaden set the hatchling in. It sank into the soil and disappeared.

    _ENTITY_ status indeterminate.

    Soul Binding Incomplete.

    Soul Attribute Insufficient.

    FORCE_CONVERSION_ENABLED.

    Your Dungeon has gained: 1x Wandering Champion Seed (Griffin).

    Kaden tried to spawn it and immediately hit an entity limit.

    Beast by beast, he despawned everything until the Dungeon was empty.

    Then an orb of light formed in front of him, growing brighter and brighter. It surged¡ªand when the spots cleared, a Griffin Hatchling preened in the grass, cleaning its feathers, which were wet from hatching.

    ¡°Gods.¡± Basta said. ¡°Can I touch it?¡±

    Kaden sent an impulse to the hatchling.

    The hatchling rejected it and pranced away, dragging wings on the ground as it stretched, then gave out a shriek that [Beast Soul] translated.

    ¡°It¡¯s starving,¡± Basta said. ¡°Dungeon Monsters don¡¯t need to eat. They don¡¯t grow. They¡¯re exactly what was brought in. Trust me, I¡¯ve populated enough Beast Dungeons to know. Only prime specimens will do.¡±

    The hatchling screamed again, in essence, *Hungry*.

    Kaden reached for the scraps of meat he kept for Trinity, but Winlock beat him to it, producing a fish the size of a man from Inventory. ¡°Here you go. Who loves you more than anyone else here?¡±

    The Hatchling leaped at the fish, grasping and with its beak. The bird portion had full feathers, but the lion half¡¯s fur was like a kitten¡¯s, and the tail¡¯s plume was more a different color than a thick blossom of fur.

    Name Wandering Champion? [Y/N]

    Kaden thought for a moment.

    Entity has been assigned name, ¡°Cloud Chaser.¡±

    A second hunch let him reach out again with [Soul Binding].

    You may not bind an entity a second time.

    Everything about this was wrong. Trinity had been a Soul Bound Beast when he sacrificed her to form the Tri-Terror boss. Kaden felt the link but couldn¡¯t pull Cloud into his soul. He could study the status effects.

    [Cloud Chaser - Griffin]

    Class: Wandering Dungeon Champion

    This Entity has been hybridized by your actions and nears the limits of what the System allows. Further mutations may invoke ADMINISTATOR oversight. Gryphons are the undisputed champions of the forest, whether it¡¯s soaring through the air or stalking through the trees. The only Beasts who challenge them are the Dragons, and even to them, a full grown Griffin is a threat.*Beast Knowledge - They¡¯re almost singularly physical Beasts, with only the slightest mana Skills. That said, they¡¯re beyond deadly. Agile, vicious, powerful. We watched one tear apart the City Guard once. Not a guard. The Guard. All of them. They had it coming, but watching it grab them in talons and drop them on the palace taught the Queen she didn¡¯t want a pet after all.

    Level: 0

    HP: 800

    Mana: 10

    Skills: Raking Claw, Bite, Flight(*)

    *This skill cannot be used yet.

    Kaden studied the status, then summoned the Falcrow to send a mesage to Ashi. ¡°What¡¯s a Wandering Champion and how do I use it?¡±

    A few moments later, his Dungeon groaned as the entire party swarmed in, along with two Centurions. Ashi sang out in delight and kneeled, calling softly to Cloud Chaser, who pranced over, stretching wings out over Ashi to show off caramel brown base with white tips.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°This is a wonder,¡± Ashi said. ¡°No Dungeon may have a Wandering Champion until rank ten, normally. You must empower it with Directed Mana equal to its total HP and Mana if it is slain, but once empowered, it is not bound to the Dungeon like other spawn.¡±

    That meant Cloud Chaser could leave.

    Kaden looked to the two saints. ¡°How do I care for a gryphon?¡±

    The Forest Saint shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t. You can¡¯t teach it to be a Griffin. You need to take it to the nearest Colony. Gryphons almost all reach Enlightenment, and I have no idea if they¡¯ll accept¡­that.¡±

    ¡°I know the Northern Continent Anderin Range Colony,¡± Basta said. ¡°I¡¯ve never [Tamed] one but I did spend some time living near them trying. And more time afterwards while I recovered from my wounds.¡±

    With Kaden¡¯s Soul Binding on Cloud, she couldn¡¯t be [Tamed]. ¡°I could release her binding if you want to try taming her.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Basta said. ¡°This is what the old Cataclysm folks used to call an ¡®Edge Condition.¡¯ If you disturb anything, I don¡¯t know if you can reset it. Is it the [Taming] slots?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have those, it works differently. And it¡¯s weird, he¡¯s not showing up in a slot at all. [Beast Taming] was subject to the weird way my levels increase. I have no idea if the mutated version is, too.¡± Kaden reached out and Cloud came dashing over to push his head up against Kaden like a cat rather than an eagle, then purr-screed and pranced away.

    ¡°I never¡­I¡¯m not going near it. The Horror is hungry for it, which means it¡¯s powerful.¡± Sara stepped back.

    Kaden explained how the egg had hatched deformed and dying. ¡°It was the only way I could think of to save it. Eve might have been able to heal it.¡±

    ¡°I can heal. I can¡¯t correct deformities.¡±

    Trella came to kneel beside him. ¡°What do you need to do for it? I¡¯ll help.¡±

    Basta answered. ¡°I¡¯ll get permission to take him to the Andrin Colony. Then you¡¯ll need to do it. The colony is always on edge thanks to Lashkivores. They¡¯re a type of lizard that lives near Griffin colonies.¡±

    ¡°Been there, killed a bunch,¡± Trella said. ¡°Is that the egg shell?¡±

    The greenish, thick remanants hadn¡¯t been absorbed by the Dungeon. Trella studied them. ¡°Not alchemical reagents. Do you get a [Reap Materials] notice?¡±

    Kaden left her playing with Cloud to focus on the egg shell.

    This Artifact Material may not be processed with Reap Materials.

    ¡°It¡¯s artifact material. As in Artificer, maybe.¡± Kaden put the shell fragments away. ¡°Wren will know, and my rule is that materials always go to people I know.¡± Before he could say anything else, the pain that hit him had Kadens screaming. ¡°No! No more!¡±

    At the Dungeon door, Mr. Dervish stood. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?

    ¡°You are too powerful,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Too many Centurions in such a small dungeon. You do not know how to mask your mana. Both of you must leave for another to enter.¡±

    As Winlock and Basta stepped out, Kaden breathed easier¡ªthen hitched as Mr. Dervish stepped inside. ¡°Wandering Champion? I had a hunch it was crippled, but truth be told, I thought it would be crafting materials. This. It¡¯s better.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Guardian of Life affect it?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to help wounds heal.¡±

    ¡°That title was probably the only thing that saved the hatchling,¡± Mr. Dervish said.

    Kaden stood and stretched. ¡°Cloud has the run of the whole dungeon. I had to despawn everything to create him.¡±

    ¡°A first time cost,¡± Ashi said. ¡°But this creates a problem. You cannot leave it here. It will attack the other monsters. It is a baby, it knows nothing. It must stay with me tonight, I will care for it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Sara said. ¡°Put him in my room.¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°We already have Trinity and Eclipse. The master bedroom is large but not ¡®Hydra-Cat-And-Griffin¡¯ large.¡±

    ¡°Trinity will sleep in the living room,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Come on, boy.¡±

    The Griffin leaped into the air, wings outstretched¡ªand crashed to the ground, rolling end over end. Kaden scooped it up. ¡°What were those fish?¡±

    From outside the dungeon Basta shouted. ¡°Crystal Lake Bass. I¡¯ll introduce you to Jason, he¡¯s the [Fisherman] you want to buy them from. They¡¯re what almost all colonies feed on until they¡¯re old enough to go hunting in forests. The mountains are only for nesting and rearing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have a delivery arranged until we can get Cloud a place in a colony,¡± Winlock said.

    Kaden gripped Cloud tightly and approached the door. ¡°You¡¯re sure he can leave?¡±

    Ashi nodded.

    Kaden stepped out.

    It felt like pulling a thorn from his side. Mana gushed out, draining into the Griffin. Then the drain stabilized. One by one, his Dungeon¡¯s monsters respawned. ¡°Ashi, we¡¯re close to ranking up, but the next rank¡¯s going to require major expansion. Is it worth doing now or better to conserve for a better result?¡±

    Ashi joined him, then flash-froze the lake several times to support the entire party. ¡°This is a matter of great debate. I cannot order because I do not know. The next rank raises your level cap to twenty. The abilities it unlocks are minor, you may create variants of your monsters at great mana cost the first time. Also you may choose strains of music or ambiance and lighting for low mana cost. But the costs for rank five are so very high. You will gain more with level twenties, but if you have a steady flow now, perhaps it is not worth the disruption.¡±

    ¡°I would prefer a steady progression,¡± Sara said. ¡°We can notify the GuildMaster. There are, however, so many more options for adventurers at level twenty, I see the draw in keeping the rank down.¡±

    Kaden would deal with that later. They stood on the porch of the farmhouse, and Cloud shivered, giving loud chirps. ¡°Winlock, Basta, thank you for your advice. Let me know when you make contact with a Griffin colony. Mr. Dervish, don¡¯t you have a ¡®gathering of saints¡¯ to deal with?¡±

    ¡°I ain¡¯t in charge of anything except getting us a place. It¡¯s important every few decades totalk over if anyone¡¯s seen signs of a coming cataclysm.¡± He followed Kaden in side, standing so high his head almost bumped the common room ceiling. ¡°I ain¡¯t angry about earlier, but I¡¯m serious. When someone¡¯s crazy enough to attack a Centurion and strong enough to fight three of us at once? Stay out of it. Morgana was blocking everything. Most everything. A lot of it, and that multi-form is a constant mana drain. The Assassin was going to lose, eventually.¡±

    Rationally it made sense. In the heat of combat, it was harder to remember. ¡°I¡¯ll work on it.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± The Summoning Saint looked to Sara. ¡°Got a message to pass along from Mercari. They¡¯d appreciate you not dumping ten thousand [Mirror Shields] on the market all at once. By ¡®Appreciate¡¯ I mean you won¡¯t make enemies and you¡¯ll gain some faction favor.¡±

    ¡°Dump them?¡± Sara wasn¡¯t the young woman she¡¯d been, naive and hopeful. Years of Adventuring had hardened her. ¡°I have a Business Profession, thank you. I operate an entire shipping station and two cargo ships. I know the value of a [Mirror Shield] and already calculated the average number in circulation. Tell them we¡¯ll be selling twelve shields a month shipped out to a rotating schedule of capital cities across all continents, contingent on pricing maintaining an average of two hundred and fifty gold. Should the price sink, I¡¯ll hold the next month¡¯s shipment. And of course, for the right amount, I could ¡®find¡¯ one. Over the next century, they¡¯ll provide a solid profit.¡±

    Mr. Dervish grunted. ¡°Don¡¯t recall being your messenger bird, but I¡¯ll make an exception ¡®cause I like the message. You¡¯re starting to think right. That¡¯s a hard one for most folks.¡±

    ¡°A century?¡± The sheer assumptions in that made Kaden uncomfortable. ¡°If you make it to level one hundred, maybe. Otherwise it¡¯ll be providing gold for when we both can¡¯t walk.¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t answer. She stared at him, squinting in confusion. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Old age. Not a problem as long as you get to that.¡± Kaden pointed a thumb toward Mr. Dervish. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to have gold while you¡¯re young? For equipment while you¡¯ve got a shot at it?¡±

    The awkward silence in the room was broken only by Cloud puking half-digested fish on the floor and then slurping them up again.

    ¡°When you hit level fifteen, didn¡¯t¡ª¡± Sara looked to Trella. ¡°The Sisters went over this with you, didn¡¯t they?¡± She switched her attention back to Kaden. ¡°You¡¯ve been running on the assumption you have to make level one hundred in a commoner lifespan. So much makes sense now.¡±

    ¡°Speak for yourself.¡± Eve shook her head. ¡°How do you make it to level twenty nine and not realize¡­you know what, I want to brush Vip¡¯s fur. I¡¯ll be upstairs, brushing, for as long as it takes.¡±

    Sara looked to Mr. Dervish, then dove in. ¡°The moment you gained a class, you broke free of what we¡¯d call ¡®common¡¯ lifespan. Even a level one ditch-digger should live to a hundred if not longer. Every level changes us fundamentally.¡±

    ¡°Look at yourself next to a commoner,¡± Trella said softly. ¡°You could kill one by accident. It wouldn¡¯t even take effort. They stab you, you slap them, they die, because that¡¯s what happens. How many times have you been stabbed in the gut? Or the chest? Or poisoned or held your breath for half an hour in an underwater Dungeon?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s life was a patchwork of misinformation and things he¡¯d learned while being beaten, burned or bitten. ¡°How long will I live if I never gain another level?¡±

    ¡°Two hundred years, most of it looking like you do now,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°That¡¯s ignoring Talents. But she ain¡¯t hit the important parts. You saw that [Black Blood] stab Morgana straight through the heart.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s own chest ached in sympathy where an Assassin had stabbed him through the heart. ¡°She dodged.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°Starting at level fifteen, your vital organs are more an expression of your existence than the cause of it. You can still cause Lethal Damage, say, by cutting someone¡¯s head off, but with every level and tier, the damage is more representative than physical. The System enforces [Brutal Blows] or [Crippling Strikes] but a Centurion¡¯s will is more solid than their bones.¡±

    [Planes Wielder] had spoken of will as a weapon. His [Levicon Blade] was a physical representation of the WorldBoss¡¯s unbreakable will. And he understood now what his mom¡¯s spirit had said. He had a whole life to live. ¡°Thank you for explaining. I¡¯m going to go make a nest for Cloud.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Trella¡¯s tone could slice through steel. ¡°How did you hit twenty nine?¡±

    Mr. Dervish answered. ¡°Got in between a level ninety nine [Black Blood Assassin] and her prey, poisoned it with that bow of his, then went toe to toe a couple rounds before he had the good sense to hide. I told him to be smarter. I reckon he¡¯ll listen to you better than he does me.¡±

    Trella¡¯s glare hit him like a charging Quillophant. ¡°Oh, he will.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Your party is getting a lot of attention. Ain¡¯t good. Ain¡¯t bad. Be ready, make decisions you can live with.¡±

    He stepped out into the snow, then leaned in. ¡°There¡¯s a Wandering Boss not two hundred yards from here, if you¡¯re keen.¡±

    Kaden stood. ¡°I¡¯ll be right¡ª¡±

    ¡°Party meeting right now!¡± Sara said. ¡°Good night, Mr. Dervish. If you feel like throwing the boss into the holding, Dominion will probably do the rest, but Kaden is busy.¡±

    The door shut.

    Kaden had a plan. ¡°I got a talent. One that doubles Quest rewards. If I accept a Quest and the Party completes it, do I receive the double rewards or does everyone?¡±

 Five - Options

    ¡°Show me the logs,¡± Sara said, demanding Kaden sit at the table. ¡°I want to see the description. Then we¡¯ll test.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Cloud is exhausted. I need to get him nested and warm. We can go over talents and quests tomorrow. I was almost killed and I really want to rest. We should all rest. Quietly.¡±

    Trella disappeared, dropping into her shadow. Which probably meant she was right behind him. Her breath tickled his ear as she spoke. ¡°Why don¡¯t I take Cloud? I¡¯ll keep him nice and warm while you and Sara go over this talent. And afterwards, she can watch Cloud while you and I talk.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hold in the groan. He handed the sleeping hatchling over. ¡°Watch out, she startles easily. Tear up¡ª¡±

    Trella shut the bedroom door.

    Kaden turned to find Sara, hands on her hips, her pseudopods crossed in front of her. ¡°Yes, Party Leader.¡±

    ¡°Logs first.¡±

    He shared them and summoned Trinity to let her rest by the fire while Sara studied it. ¡°Well?¡±

    Sara paced back and forth, lost in thought. ¡°We¡¯ll need to test with something easy and common. Faction Quests are everywhere. I¡¯ll find an fast one.¡±

    Kaden stood and paced to the Message box. ¡°Ignus ambushed me earlier today and said he¡¯d assigned me a Quest. I told him where he could go and what to do when he got there, because we¡¯ve been battering-rammed into so many terrible quests ¡®no¡¯ is my default.¡±

    ¡°You were Optioned!¡± Sara spoke it in awe. ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to tell the rest of us right off hand?¡±

    ¡°There was a favor to a Saint, and then there was a [Witch] and then there was a [Black Blood Assassin] and the egg, and you said you wanted a Quest.¡± Kaden pulled a wooden box from Inventory and opened it. Inside sat a scroll and a set of real, physical faction tokens. He read it, then passed it to Sara. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°First off, it comes with payment just for considering. Second, this mission is made for us. So much so I¡¯m suspicious. Being optioned is a Quest you¡¯re assigned, not offered. The pay is supposed to be so good you¡¯re excited to receive them.¡±

    Kaden re-read it. ¡°Guarding a group of level twenty mages while they go hunting in a trial is simple. Ensuring they get XP is less simple and might conflict with keeping them safe. I wonder if I can bring my Beacon of Veela and charge it. A faction token each for the party and favor that should have us completing Quests. I like it, except that I can¡¯t drag Cloud with me everywhere. And Cloud needs to be cared for.¡±

    ¡°Practice your [Negotiation.] Explain the situation. And¡ªthis is key¡ªask if it¡¯s repeatable. A hundred Faction Favor is not the limit. At higher levels we unlock Faction bonuses, and while every faction is secretive, I¡¯m told they are well worth the work.¡± Sara waited while Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] and sent it off.

    ¡°That reminds me. Check out the coin the Falcrow stole.¡± Kaden handed her the [Rescue Reset].

    ¡°The first Shadow Blade who tried to take you had a similar skill. This, however, is absolutely Second Lifer gear. Moving you to another location, that¡¯s normal. Reseting your health and mana? That¡¯s wildly unbalanced once your mana reaches a thousand.¡± Sara turned it over and set it on the table.

    ¡°Does it have to be the user¡¯s mana? Where does it say that?¡± Kaden took the coin and fed it mana, then handed it to Sara, who did the same.

    She held it up. ¡°I just got a notice, it¡¯s ready to be bound to a return point. Trella?¡±

    Trella emerged from the bedroom with Eclipse in her arms. ¡°She¡¯s jealous and doesn¡¯t¡ªwhere did you get that?¡±

    Kaden explained. ¡°It doesn¡¯t say you need to announce the skill or throw it. I don¡¯t know why he did.¡±

    ¡°Stay clear of that corner.¡± Trella took a kitchen knife and calmly cut the back of her arm. Then she walked back into the master bedroom. The air popped and she reappeared in the kitchen, clutching the coin. She wiped the smear of blood off her arm. ¡°Cut¡¯s gone, you definitely don¡¯t have to say the skill and throwing this is just stupid. When they hit twenty five, some Shadow Blades choose a similar skill. Ours is better in that it¡¯s automatic on a fatal hit. It¡¯s nowhere near as good in that this puts me back in the fight immediately. I can¡¯t power it alone, but you two did it for me.¡±

    This made Kaden more confident about hunting. ¡°Now we¡¯ll get you to twenty five.¡±

    Trella took it seriously. ¡°My turn to talk. Bedroom. Now.¡±

    The moment Kaden stepped in, she slammed the door. ¡°Fighting Centurions? Was it bad enough you challenged a Demon Lord? Do you have any idea how much power a Centurion can unleash?¡±

    ¡°I was trying to help. And I gained another level.¡± The moment Kaden said it, he knew it was the wrong thing to say.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we talk about this earlier? You have decades. Years.¡± She [Shadow Stepped] away as Kaden tried to hug her.

    ¡°That is the best thing about this night. Two hundred years, maybe more.¡± He couldn¡¯t help smiling.

    ¡°Two hundred years to gain levels,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Two hundred years with the woman I love. Whether I gain another level or not, that¡¯s the prize.¡± He reached for her, carefully. ¡°That¡¯s the only prize that matters.¡±

    Trella didn¡¯t disappear this time. ¡°Admit it. You¡¯re so excited about the Griffin you can¡¯t see straight. And he¡¯s so cute. Don¡¯t touch the feathers on his legs near the claws, or if you do, keep a healing potion close. Also, we need to replace the healing potion in the nightstand.¡±

    Kaden looked at the shredded blanket Trella had arranged into a nest. Cloud¡¯s head was tucked under a wing, and his tail wrapped around his body. ¡°He¡¯s comfortable. You did good work.¡±

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Of course I did.¡± She slipped up next to him. ¡°I want to go hunt FangWood tomorrow. I know you have to take care of Cloud, but Fangwood is a great level match for me. Ashi, Eve and I should go. It¡¯s still decent XP for Eve and Ashi will back us up.¡±

    Kaden bit back the reflexive response. ¡°The Fell Woodsman is vulnerable to fire and bleed. You¡¯ll use both. And these.¡± He went to the bed and opened a drawer, searching through Inventory cubes to take out the daggers he¡¯d been saving, foot-long daggers, with shiny black blades and glistening gems in the pommel.

    [Inkblades]

    The Inkblades are inextricably linked to each other. If one is lost, it will return to its twin. Damage from an Inkblade leaves [Huntress¡¯s Mark] on the target and inflicts [Ink]. Ink slows mana regen, using it instead to grow [Ink]. Ink inflicts continuous minor damage. Do not cut yourself with the [Inkblades]. They are not loyal. Your blood as as good as any other.

    Trella gasped. ¡°Where did you¡ªwhen¡ªthese are treasures. These are heirlooms. Your mom¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Yours, now. She outgrew them. I want you to outgrow them.¡±

    ¡°Senior Sister is going to freak. Equipment is one of the ways they keep Sisters obedient and now, I don¡¯t need the daggers they offered. The Darkling¡¯s Fangs are better, but I¡¯m not a centurion.¡± Trella attached the [Inkblades] to her belt and hung it up.

    ¡°You¡¯re never using the Darkling¡¯s Fangs. Ever. I was given three options. Destroy them, sell them, or trade them but their original owner didn¡¯t want anyone I loved using them.¡± He couldn¡¯t tell her exact words, but the System didn¡¯t balk at paraphrasing.

    Trella looked like she¡¯d argue. ¡°We¡¯re not done talking about you charging into a Centurion fight, but I¡¯m too tired to argue right now, and I have a feeling your baby is going to wake up screaming for fish.¡±

    When it was just Kaden and Trella, they often turned off the heatstone and let the winter¡¯s chill leave frost inside, but with the hatchling there, Kaden kept the heatstone turned up so the room was warm. The silvers it cost were nothing.

    He ran his hand over the griffin, proving it really was real. ¡°We¡¯ll find you a colony.¡±

    Another task on the pile.

    One Kaden was happy to do.

    ###

    When Kaden woke, a Messenger Bird had arrived. The Escort Quest was a one-time special, and while it wasn¡¯t repeatable, keeping the mages alive would give a healthy bonus that made it worthwhile. Watching Trella head off to Fangwood was like nailing his hand to the door. Trinity volunteered to go with them, less by asking and more by attempting to escape the griffin who seemed hell bent on biting Trinity¡¯s tail.

    Vip didn¡¯t mind, using her speed to dodge Cloud¡¯s attacks, all the while barking constantly until Cloud shrieked with rage, pounced into a tree, and then sprinted to hide behind Kaden, shrieking and growling and purring all at the same time.

    Over and over, the griffin stretched its wings, flapping furiously in an attempt to strengthen its wings. Flight was about as far off for Cloud as it was for Kaden.

    ¡°You make a decent mother bird after all.¡± Sara had forgone armor for a simple green tunic, and carried a cup of tea she alternated sipping and grimacing at. ¡°Trella will be fine. How often was Cloud up?¡±

    ¡°Once. He shredded a bass and then tried to climb into bed with us. Trella doesn¡¯t mind toys but wet fishbones are a hard no. Now what¡ªoh.¡± Kaden watched as Cloud kicked dirt over a pile so rank the smell made him ill.

    Sara, on the other hand, was delighted to be in deep shit. ¡°This isn¡¯t for [Gardening], there are sixteen quests at the Guild for [Alchemists] to brew attribute enhancements.¡±

    ¡°Trella gets first shit at this. Shot at this. First choice.¡± He had rules.

    Sara gathered it up. ¡°It¡¯s going to snow again soon.¡±

    They stayed out until the snow began to fall, and Cloud, after learning he could neither eat, kill, or scare the snow, gave up and skulked back to the Farmhouse, where he cleaned his fur, then passed out in his blanket nest.

    While Sara spent time in constant bird communication arranging a voyage for their cargo ship, Kaden waited until Cloud was fast asleep and snuck downstairs. There in basement, rune locks on the wall responded, opening a stone door.

    Warm air gushed in, and Kaden headed down the hall, noting the exact step where the air became salty and hot. The tunnel opened behind a large rock Kaden was certain hadn¡¯t been there before. The sea breeze was gentle and the sand undisturbed. Oceanus, the mythic dragon, hadn¡¯t been there today. Kaden had heard of locators which could be found on a map. He¡¯d pick one up the next time he went through the Guild, but for now, he rushed back down the tunnel and locked the rune door.

    A sleeping griffin was like an enemy assassin. If you didn¡¯t have eyes on them, they were probably causing trouble. Kaden sprinted up the stairs and burst into the living room beside the stairwell that led up to the second floor.

    ¡°Problems?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°Dragon hunting, and I realized Cloud was alone.¡±

    Sara stood and headed to the bedroom ahead of Kaden. ¡°He¡¯s asleep¡ªoh, gods. Listen. I¡¯ve been thinking, it¡¯s unpleasant, you sleeping on a mattress your parents had sex on. I mean, don¡¯t you worry that Trella is screaming in exactly the same place your mother did when she conceived you?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s breakfast was about to make a reappearance. ¡°I wasn¡¯t before. Now I worry about it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m heading to the city to do some shopping. I¡¯ll be fast.¡± Sara headed out to the FarPortal.

    Cloud had abandoned his blanket nest and shredded the mattress Kaden and Trella slept on, and snuggled down in the shredded remains.

    ¡°I was gone five minutes. Five minutes!¡± He didn¡¯t have the heart to move Cloud.

    Vip sniffed the edge of the bed before turning away. *Slow.*

    Kaden was already aware of what Trella would say. Vip did not need to repeat it. Instead, he focused on what he could do, replaying runs through his dungeon. Trust Adventurers to always find the loopholes. They¡¯d discovered that luring the bearzerker out while a thief snuck in and stole the loot would work, as long as the timing was exact.

    The thing was, the window was so tight, Kaden approved. If a party could time it just right, they almost deserved the loot. After lunch, when Cloud woke, Kaden put him on his shoulders. ¡°Spread your wings, boy.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t forgotten the joy a winged scorpion felt when it was blasted into the air. Every winged creature dreamed of the sky. Cloud¡¯s front claws sank into his skin, drawing some blood and costing a hundred health, but worth it. ¡°Vip, think you can keep up?¡±

    *Slow*, Vip said. *So slow.*

    Those were fighting words. Kaden backed away to the front of the gate and then sprinted across the farm. Cloud¡¯s wings caught the air and the griffin shrieked with pleasure flappping stubby wings and straining his head forward. At the end of the farm Kaden hurdled the fence and as Echo Lake approached, he activated [Moment of Speed] and poured mana into it, leaping.

    Halfway thorugh the leap it became clear that he did not have [Flight]. Cloud¡¯s joyous shrieks turned to fear and he folded his wings up and tucked his head under Kaden¡¯s chin. At least Kaden didn¡¯t need to be able to see to crash through the ice, then fight his way to the island shore.

    Vip slid across on solid ice, her weight barely a factor. When Kaden opened the dungeon door, the warm sun was welcome. Vip dashed in and began to roll in the grass, while Kaden despawned monsters and let Cloud explore.

    He¡¯d come here for a reason. While Skully was on loan to Sevin to create more Plague Crow colonies, there was a minor tweak Kaden felt right. He still carried a skeleton seed from the dungeon core, and coaxed it to accept the entity seed. ¡°We¡¯re not going to become an undead themed dungeon.¡±

    There.

    Deep in the Bearserker¡¯s burrow, a single undead skeleton now wore the loot. One skeleton alone wasn¡¯t a challenge, but it would require absolute planning, skill, and stealth to have a team lure out the Bearserker, then dispatch the skeleton and escape with the loot.

    What Kaden found curious was that the vipers at the vinyard had already changed positions. And even more curious, the decorative well was no longer decorative. Kaden looked down into the well. Then dropped a silver coin. It didn¡¯t splash in the water, but clinked.

    Without waiting, Kaden leaped over the edge of the well and dropped to the bottom. It wasn¡¯t so much a room as a swelling. A bulging of the well shaft. ¡°You¡¯re trying to create a bonus room, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    The Dungeon Core was awake.

 Six - Laying Plans

    Kaden poured directed mana into the room and let it take shape. ¡°No water, so no water beasts. What do you want down here?¡±

    Slowly, dirt formed and then changed, becoming a rusty bed with a rotten mattress, a wormy wooden desk, several glass bottles with different color liquids¡ªand a spellbook. A spellbook that had obviously been dropped by one of the parties that wiped. Kaden picked it up. ¡°[Freezing Blast]. Minor debuff.¡± He looked over the other loot options. ¡°Can you rotate spell books based on the college of the mage? You know what, it doesn¡¯t matter. But you can¡¯t give away loot for nothing.¡±

    A shimmer of light formed, then intensified.

    The dungeon had held a [Ghost Seed] since the second rank, when Kaden needed entity seeds. This was no ghost, but a minor vengeful spirit. Kaden willed a set of stones to recess in the wall. Looking down, one wouldn¡¯t see them, but looking up, they formed handholds, ones he tested to climb out. One final touch, a single copper on the edge of the well.

    A wishing well.

    This was the sort of detail that would reward Adventurers being smart. Taking chances. Taking risks. Pocket the copper or make a wish, and get a clue that perhaps everything wasn¡¯t as it seemed. And the core had sort of, almost done this on its own.

    A cry of fear sent Kaden sprinting through the Dungeon to find Cloud¡­unharmed. Simply unhappy at being alone. Vip continued to whine at him in ways that [Beast Soul] translated as *Really, it¡¯s going to be ok. And if you¡¯re going to eat anything, I¡¯ve heard that couches are really comforting, not that Love ever leaves me long enough to find out. Though you, on the other hand, he doesn¡¯t seem to care for. I wouldn¡¯t wander too far. Accidents happen.*

    Kaden scooped them both up. ¡°That¡¯s enough of that. No jealousy allowed, I love you both. Who wants some fish?¡±

    The squirming, frantic shrieks from Cloud gave him his answer. But when Kaden emerged from the Dungeon, he faced a new problem. Crossing Echo Lake with the griffin. ¡°Listen, I need you two to go across on the ice and wait for me. Just follow Vip, she¡¯s smart and fast. She won¡¯t leave you.¡± He wasn¡¯t certain the hatchling would follow. Or stay, but slowly they clawed across the ice.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind falling in. [Resist Suffocation] combined with [Resist Cold] let him swim along under the ice and then smash his way through. He pulled Vip into his soul and carried Cloud back to the farmhouse, where he broke the ice off his skin and fed the Griffin one of three remaining Crystal Lake Bass. As always, the hatchling ate until he could barely walk, then waddled to the fireplace to sleep.

    *Could you open the back door?* Sara sent with [Mind Speech]. As best Kaden could tell, the master bedroom had been the original cabin, and everything else was added on. The back door opened out of his bedroom, and Kaden raced to open it.

    Sara walked through, carrying a plump mattress, with each of her pseudopods lifting a bag. ¡°Mattress, beding, and I paid for disposal of the evidence¡ªI mean, old mattress.¡±

    ¡°What do I owe you?¡±

    Sara laughed. ¡°Quests. So many quests.¡±

    With Vip watching the griffin, Kaden quickly delivered the old mattress and remade the bed. This time, he wouldn¡¯t be leaving Cloud alone. At all.

    Instead, in between Messenger Birds, Kaden discussed his plans. ¡°I¡¯m going to pick up the second, third and fourth Inheritance packages. The first went to Sevin. The second I haven¡¯t gotten yet, but the owners are dead. The third and fourth I want to know about at the same time.¡±

    ¡°That makes sense, except that carrying too many valuable items at once is a recipe for disaster. Several [Thief] variants see valuable targets highlighted with a glow.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll at least find out what they are. I¡¯m¡ª¡± Kaden stopped as an owl swooped in and spoke in a man¡¯s deep voice, a voice Kaden recognized as the Druid Centurion Olidar.

    ¡°Kaden Birch, a friend says you need to be introduced to a griffin colony. Winlock will want you to head north, and the South East Tangle Colony is always looking for hatchlings. But you have options. There¡¯s a colony to the south that¡¯s fallen on hard times. Come by the grove. I¡¯ll take you to see it.¡±

    ¡°Are you going?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°Not yet. Not on my own. Not without my Party. Why don¡¯t you show me where we are on resettling the town and how I can help?¡±

    ¡°You gave the right answer.¡± Sara drew a binder from Inventory. ¡°If you ever know someone needing to level a business profession, I can recommend Town Planning. The number of contracts, the alignment of schedules, the meetings. It¡¯s thrilling.¡±

    Over the course of hours, she explained how repairing stone gates was the least issue (and already done). Guild Scouts had assessed the remaining structures and assigned a Town Capacity rating with a minimal population and a maximum starting population.

    From there, a [Town Planner] had offered several recommended configurations for required professions. The real problem was that the Town would require an economic function.

    ¡°The Mana Ore Mine.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t need to guess, the entire section labeled that way gave him the answer. ¡°You said it would need to be cleared.¡±

    ¡°Assessed, which is one level of protection, and then cleared. And the timing of all of this is critical. Ideally, we¡¯d want [Miners] ready at the moment the mine is cleared. An active mine doesn¡¯t attract monsters.¡±

    Kaden saw the interconnections. ¡°Those miners need food and housing. Someone to move the ore to a place that processes it, healers, teachers, merchants, guards.¡±

    ¡°The smallest villages exist with only a [Mayor] and various logging or mining professions. This Town is too large for that.¡± Sara¡¯s tone held out an option. It wasn¡¯t too late to let Ashi practice [Fireball] everywhere.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°One day at a time. When¡¯s the mine assessment?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll come when we¡¯re ready. We¡¯ve had so many other problems, I deferred the gold until later.¡±

    That brought something different to mind. A Town wasn¡¯t a business. When Kaden had faced off against Mr. Dervish it had been because he couldn¡¯t stomach the idea of demons destroying one more thing. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ask anyone else, but how does someone make money off a Town?¡±

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    ¡°Taxes¡ªdon¡¯t look like that. The tax rate is something you control, and it¡¯s usually deferred for the first five years. The larger the city, the lower your percentage, but the more you make. Would you appreciate a graph of profit over time?¡±

    Kaden would not. ¡°I don¡¯t want Party money going to this. If we need money, I have a ton of loot stashed.¡±

    ¡°I think our [Mirror Shield] income will cover your portion for now.¡± For the next few hours, Sara cast [Speeding Wind] whenever her mana was up, trying to level it, and practicing summoning a [Crawling Horror] and having the Falcrow drag it to target. ¡°I also have been breeding Pop Waddler plants which can carry them. They¡¯re just Waddlers, but they¡¯re so much faster than the Crawling Horrors anything is an improvement.¡±

    Kaden proposed wrapping them in meat and using [Blasphemous Flesh] as a weapon. Attempts to lash one to an arrow ended poorly, with a splash of barren earth scalded by the [Crawling Horror¡¯s] flesh. ¡°Let me show you something.¡±

    He summoned the [Thornling], ignoring the gasp when Sara saw it. Kaden drew an arrow from [Mana Quiver] focusing on a specific idea. A wide, blunt head, which he then let the [Thornling] grip. ¡°Mr. Dervish said how I used it was up to me. If I¡¯m up against boss monsters, I want every edge I can get.¡±

    He dismissed the [Thornling] and the arrow.

    ¡°Be careful. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll say.¡± Sara¡¯s tone told him everything she didn¡¯t say.

    Kaden leaped to his feet as Dominion told him Trella and the others had crossed out of the Dungeon. ¡°They¡¯re all walking, and that¡¯s what counts.¡±

    Cloud sensed the tension and rose. Also, Cloud wanted a bass, so Kaden dumped the remains of the previous meal, saving the last Crystal Lake Bass for tomorrow¡¯s breakfast. Or a midnight feeding.

    The farmhouse door opened and Kaden couldn¡¯t help rushing to pick Trella up. ¡°Are you ok?¡±

    Trella kissed him, then ghosted out of his arms, leaving her Dark Deception with its arms around him. ¡°We¡¯ve got a map of Fangwood. A real map. Bringing in twenty-fives is going to be a breeze now. Of course, I¡¯ll get paid for every party that uses it. But really, I did it out of the goodness of my heart. Also for the [Rogue] quest. I get an auto-map scroll every time I turn in a complete one and a slew of XP.¡±

    Kaden looked to Ashi, who dragged, barely walking. ¡°Do you need help? Mana? Food?¡±

    ¡°I need sleep. I had forgotten what it was like to run a dungeon with your Love.¡±

    It could have conceivably been a compliment, if heard from a distance during, say, an avalanche.

    Eve sat down and put her head on the table. ¡°Kaden, would you mind cooking something?¡±

    Now he knew it had been rough. While Sara watched Cloud and the others showered, Kaden cooked roast chicken and potatos with gravy and salad.

    Your skill with Cooking has increased.

    Recipe slots have been unlocked.

    You have received a Recipe (Scorpion Steak with Garlic and Mustard Sauce).

    You have received a bonus Recipe: Braised Short Rib with Rosemary garnish.

    He plated the dinner with pride. Recipes could be cooked almost automatically. He¡¯d make sure to have a few of all of them ready. That¡¯s when he realized. ¡°Where is Trinity? Where is my TriTerror?¡±

    The silence was deafening as he charged into the master bedroom with Cloud bounding after him. ¡°What happened to Trinity?¡±

    ¡°She left the dungeon and headed out hunting. All of us were exhausted, but your monster hadn¡¯t had enough blood and violence. Can¡¯t you sense what she¡¯s doing?¡± Trella asked as she dried off.

    The stronger Trinity grew, the more she leveled, the less he could. Vip. He concentrated on her and knew she was laying on her back in Eve¡¯s lap, paws in the air, sound asleep. Kaden just couldn¡¯t be jealous. Vip had a hard start to life and deserved to be treasured by everyone.

    Rocky was asleep in a pool of bubbling acid he¡¯d imagined for himself.

    Skully¡ªKaden looked away. He didn¡¯t want to know what the undead monster was doing, but it probably involved spreading [Plague Crows] to empty skulls. Kaden hoped that was what Skully was doing to those bones. The Falcrow was dropping¡­candy? Candy on children. Maybe those were coins. Or beetles, it was hard to be sure and the children sure seemed excited. Then again, Kaden would have loved to have beetles dropped on him.

    Cloud. Oh, no.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Trella shouted.

    Cloud was making a not-cloud in the middle of the fresh bed. ¡°I¡¯ll clean¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s an alchemical reagent!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°Yes! You are the best griffin ever. Hey, did you change the sheets?¡±

    ¡°I had Sara get a new set. The old set should be clean, I¡¯ll put them on in a moment.¡±

    Trella was scratching Cloud¡¯s back while Eclipse hissed from under the bed, then she moved to gather her ¡®prize.¡¯

    Kaden cleaned the bed and privately asked Sara to produce the rest of the ¡®present.¡¯ ¡°Tomorrow I have an invitation from Olidar to show us a griffin colony. I think that¡¯s a good idea. I¡¯d like for all of us to go, just in case. Plus, I want you to meet all the Druids there.¡±

    That put a little bounce in Trella¡¯s step. ¡°Come. Sit down, I¡¯ll tell you all about Fangwood, or as I like to call it, ¡®Trella¡¯s Personal Shopping Spot.¡¯¡±

    He could listen to her forever.

    On the couch in the common room, Kaden sat with Vip in his lap while Ashi let Cloud [Hover], which delighted the Griffin. And Trella began to explain. FangWood¡¯s open air, top dungeon was in fact a set of concentrinc circles with rooms branching off them. The Fell Woodsman, the sub boss, probably couldn¡¯t have been a worse room to start in¡ªor a better one. Trella had used alchemical potions to burn down a set of stumps, making a clear place to fight, then let Ashi take the lead with Fire College spells while Bleed dosed weapons drained the woodsman. ¡°His throw is dangerous, but if you never close on him, ever? He glitches and performs it over and over while his health drains. Then he raises the trees and continues to bleed.¡±

    ¡°And as long as you have a Healer to put your entrails back in the one time you don¡¯t dodge, it¡¯s ¡®easy,¡¯¡± Eve added. ¡°Otherwise it¡¯s not easy. In fact, it¡¯s not easy at all. And [EverCut] will outpace my healing handily if someone doesn¡¯t put it away. And then there¡¯s the Inkblades. Why don¡¯t we talk about those?¡±

    Trella shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re really sharp and the warning is serious. Mana regen goes to zero and the effect spreads. They came with a warning, and I didn¡¯t mean to cut myself.¡±

    After the Fell Woodsman, the Patrols hadn¡¯t stood a chance, Trella would maim one with [Backstab,] nick both with Inkblades and then kite them along until the Gloom Wolves were weakened, by which time [Backstab] would let her kill at least one.

    ¡°Unless,¡± Ashi added, ¡°one does not watch carefully. And one brings down two patrols. And the second patrol attacks from behind. Unless that.¡±

    ¡°Next time, we¡¯ll kite into the Fell Woodsman¡¯s clearing, or the Urgol Spider¡¯s nest. That¡¯s actually far better, come to think of it. Move clockwise with the patrols, take down the spider, then use the terrain there to kite.¡± Trella seemed far less repentant than he would have thought.

    Ashi drew a dagger from Inventory and dropped it on the table. ¡°Even once, have you seen me use this? You have not. And yet today I was reduced to knives. Forced to struggle just to survive. I approve. We will repeat.¡±

    ¡°You have to brew more mana regen potions. I am a well of health if I have mana.¡± Eve looked exhausted but less angry than expected.

    ¡°Thank you both. Oh, and this.¡± She drew the Rescue Reset coin. ¡°This is wildly overpowered. We figured out a fantastic strategy for using it. It lets me burn all the way down in an alpha strike and then reset and do it again. The burst damage is insane.¡±

    It wouldn¡¯t fit Kaden¡¯s needs. Reseting somewhere else meant having to close the distance again. Perhaps if he were fighting a stronger monster, one near guaranteed to kill them, it would be worth it. No wonder Rogues loved their rescue skills.

    ¡°Griffin colony, tomorrow, at dawn¡ªor after breakfast.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m eating Druid food,¡± Trella said. ¡°And I want to see Ravena. And I want to see you see Ravena. Also I want to talk to the Rangers who thought it was good idea to send you into Hell.¡±

    ¡°I volunteered,¡± Kaden said.

    It was, based on her looks, not a good answer.

    Cloud attempted to pounce on Eclipse and then sprinted in a circle as the Shadow Cat taught an important lesson on who was not a target, before hiding under Kaden¡¯s legs. He brushed Cloud¡¯s wings. ¡°Ashi, have you ever heard of Dungeon monsters growing? Cloud¡¯s feathers are longer today than they were yesterday.¡±

    ¡°Mother¡¯s beasts continued to grow in Vichor, but they were not born of the dungeon. I do not claim to understand this.¡±

    Kaden had exactly one Crystal Lake Bass left.

    Tomorrow, something had to change.

 Seven - Hard TImes

    Kaden was almost relieved that Cloud slept most of the night and woke voraciously hungry. He led the hatchling into the common room, locked the bedroom door so Trella could sleep, and fed him.

    Outside, deep snow had fallen overnight. With a little hesitation, Kaden took Cloud down through Trella¡¯s lab and across the RunePortal to the beach, where any alchemical reagent production wouldn¡¯t cost him another mattress or rug.

    Cloud stopped at the RunePortal, refusing to step forward until Kaden picked him up and carried him to the sand. No sign of Oceanus, so Kaden let the griffin play and bask in the sun until morning business concluded and collected. Griffins apparently didn¡¯t encounter sand, and what resulted was a complete war on sand with the sand winning by exhaustion.

    When Kaden returned to the farmhouse, Eve was up cooking breakfast. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t what you want to hear, but I won¡¯t miss him. Trinity is already too large for this place, but given how she defended us, I won¡¯t complain. She¡¯s always welcome.¡±

    Trinity! At her name, she roused from beside the dormant heatstone, bumped it with her head so it warmed up again, and laid back down. She was covered in gashes and spines stuck out of her back, spines he was fairly sure didn¡¯t originate with Trinity. Kaden woke up Trella. ¡°Can you watch the baby? He made you a present, it¡¯s down on your workbench.¡±

    ¡°Come here, Cloud.¡± Trella lured the griffin in and let it curl up under the covers, while Eclipse lay on her feet. ¡°You know, there¡¯s something I need to tell you about our baby. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s yours.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that about my son!¡± Kaden left them there and focused on Trinity, pulling quills coated in slime from her. ¡°What did you tangle with?¡±

    Her groan wasn¡¯t an actual answer.

    Kaden pulled a fang the length of his hand from her shoulder, and that¡¯s when he stopped thinking she¡¯d picked an appropriate fight. [Reap Materials] triggered as he looked at it.

    1x Greater Night Venom Fang (Weapons Crafting Material).

    ¡°Eve, I think Trinity may be poisoned.¡±

    Eve rushed over and applied [Life Burn]. ¡°What on earth did she go hunting for?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea, but she gained a level, a skill called Predator¡¯s Challenge, and a talent called Fearsome.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t even hesitate to borrow Predator¡¯s Challenge instead of Razor Scales or Flaming Drool. Talent-wise, Resilient Constitution was still the hands down winner.

    [Fearsome]

    To look upon you is to know fear. Any hostile creature is constantly exposed to a fear effect. This effect may be resisted by higher level or strong-willed entities.

    [Predator¡¯s Challenge]

    Your battlecry increases the damage you do for moderate mana cost. As levels increase, the cost will increase and the damage will scale. Those who hear your cry would be wise to run.

    Eve healed Trinity until her wounds closed. ¡°Magical healing is powerful but rest is also powerful. Let her sleep.¡±

    Kaden was ready to leave, when Trinity raised her armored head and pushed something across the floor. A glittering orb of solid black that gave off vapors like necro energy. ¡°It¡¯s a mana core. You killed something with a mana core and brought it back.¡±

    Trinity exuded sheer pride. Money meant nothing. Shelter meant nothing. Even meat she prefered to rip from her meal before cooking it. But blood and battle and triumph were every bit as soothing to her as any healing.

    Kaden took it with care. ¡°Thank you, girl. Don¡¯t take risks like that for me.¡±

    Deep inside, he already knew, Trinity took risks for her.

    When the others came out for breakfast, Kaden set the mana core and fang in the middle of the table and dressed properly. ¡°Any questions?¡±

    Sara pointed to the core. ¡°Trinity brought that? And gained another level?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°She¡¯s got more health than I did at level twenty four. I don¡¯t know if Beasts have tiers, but right now, she¡¯s probably equivalent to three level twenty adventurers.¡±

    ¡°I think you¡¯re underestimating her,¡± Sara said. ¡°A battle buff all three heads can use will make her like the [Harmpanzee] troop. A constant fear effect? She was already frightening.¡±

    Kaden picked up the mana core and studied it.

    The metal embedded in his chest had an indentation. A mana core socket, and Kaden had always wondered what exactly it did. He gently pressed the core into the socket.

    You do not meet the requirements to equip this. (Level: 50)

    ¡°Damn.¡± Kaden put it away. ¡°I have no idea what the mana socket does but I¡¯m hoping for unlocking spells. I guess I¡¯ll find out in twenty one levels.¡±

    ¡°Only you would test by just attaching it.¡± Eve continued to feed Vip from her own plate of meat. ¡°I have to be honest, my last trip to the Grove was empowering, but not fantastic. Demon attacks, almost losing Vip¡ªI mean, Kaden almost getting killed. So many terrible memories.¡±

    ¡°This time, you have me. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± Trella said.

    He could only hope.

    ###

    The Grove did not remain magically green in winter. Embracing the natural cycle was a core tenant of Druidic philosophy, so most of the grove stood bare-leafed. This made the [Shield Trees] at the heart stand out, because not only had they not shed their leaves, they¡¯d turned brilliant pink.

    Kaden held Cloud tightly. He¡¯d swear the griffin was heavier than yesterday, and it squirmed in his grasp as he stepped off the FarPortal platform with Trella at one side and Sara at the other. Eve and Ashi followed behind.

    There, wrapped in a black woollen tunic stood Olidar the Druid, hands on his hips. ¡°A true hatchling. Magnificent. Welcome back to the Grove. And welcome, Miss.¡± He bowed to Trella. ¡°I hope our hospitality involves far fewer demon attacks, mutilations and trips to Hell. Winlock asked to see you but it can wait until after our visit.¡±

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Kaden tried to shake Olidar¡¯s hand.

    Cloud tried to bite Olidar¡¯s hand, flaring the feathers on his neck and hissing.

    ¡°Easy, I¡¯m a friend,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Also, Winlock said you¡¯d be running out of these.¡±

    He dropped a Crystal Lake Bass on the frozen ground.

    Kaden was forced to set Cloud down. ¡°There¡¯s no way he¡¯s hungry. Ok, there¡¯s no way he¡¯s not going to puke. How are we getting to this colony? I thought they were only in mountains.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll like this part.¡± Olidar chatted with Trella as they strolled through the snow-covered Grove about Demon Daddy Darmondo and how, exactly, Naski had escaped into the Grove. ¡°Well, I expected anyone Kaden¡¯s level to run. That¡¯s what I expected. I don¡¯t expect that anymore. He¡¯s got too much [Ranger] in him.¡±

    Trella offered Kaden a glare, showing yellow cat eyes. ¡°His conscience is no longer dead. Kaden is now fully reformed and considers how his actions affect his Party. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Sounds right to me,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Eve, are you ready to learn more Moon Magic spells?¡±

    ¡°Ready but not at the right level. I¡¯ll be back at level thirty,¡± she said.

    Olidar took them through a TreeSpace¡ªand out onto a hard, icy field. ¡°Should be any minute. Here you go.¡±

    One by one, he handed out wool coats. ¡°These are enchanted with [Fire Soul], and it¡¯s a good thing. I could survive but I wouldn¡¯t want you to risk it, and the hatchling will need protection.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t listening to the rest. He clutched Cloud with one arm and the coat with the other, but his attention was on the rapidly growing specks of black high in the sky.

    Brown.

    ¡°Are those griffins?¡±

    The Beasts swooped down, tracing the tips of the Grove trees and then spun about, landing light on their feet like any cat.

    Kaden had only known Queen Brownbeak.

    The Griffin had towered ten feet over him, absolute majesty that hid the way Life Mages had extended her life far beyond her rightful years. These were larger. Wider. Wilder. One was pure black, and the others let it stride forward first. Behind it came a griffin with buff-colored feathers, and to either side, a pair of white-feathered ones with tortise shell patterns in their fur.

    ¡°Gale-Heart.¡± Olidar bowed before the black griffin. ¡°Thank you, friend. You see why I called?¡±

    Gale-Heart¡¯s head whipped around to fix on Kaden, and the ground shook as it crunched closer, claws piercing the ice as it leaned down to look at Kaden¡ªand Cloud. The little Griffin once more flared its feathers and let out a scream, then leaped from Kaden¡¯s arms to land before him.

    If he hadn¡¯t been barely taller than Vip, it would have been precious seeing Cloud set his hind legs and rake the ice with his front claws , rearing up with wings spread to beat the air as he screamed a warning.

    Gale-Heart answered, rearing high above them to scream at the clouds so loud Kaden¡¯s ears rang. The wind from his wings threw Kaden back, while Sara¡¯s horror gripped the frozen turf. The ground shook again as Gale-Heart landed, and Kaden fell over when Cloud leaped into his chest, hiding his head under wing and shivering as he let out loud peeps.

    But Kaden didn¡¯t sense anger¡ªor agression. He stood, holding Cloud close, as the buff griffin approached and let out an answering peep. The effect was intantaenous. Cloud¡¯s head popped up, even though he shrank back.

    Again, the buff called. [Beast Soul] said it wasn¡¯t speech as much as emotion. Longing.

    This time, Cloud crept forward. Cloud didn¡¯t come up to the ¡®wrist¡¯ of the adult griffin. It was like watching Vip nuzzle a Bearzerker. Cloud chirped, less fear and more curiosity now.

    *Why. Steal?* The thought came from Gale-Heart.

    Kaden shook his head, remembering Queen Brownbeak with her missing feathers and limp. He pushed the memory with [Beast Soul] and added the egg with its crack. The deformed hatchling. ¡°I want Cloud to live. But I¡¯m not a Griffin. He¡¯s bound to my Dungeon as a Wandering Champion. That doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s trapped. He¡¯s free.¡±

    The other griffins began to scream and caw in ways that [Beast Soul] struggled with.

    *Looks like a hatchling to me.*

    *Smells like a hatchling.*

    *You think that guy sat on him?*

    *Maybe. There¡¯s always freaks like him.*

    Kaden ignored the conversation, focusing on the feelings pouring off Cloud. The Griffin hadn¡¯t been sad as long as Kaden was around, but this was what it wanted. ¡°So? Can he live with your colony? Olidar said you were on hard times. I can pay for his bass.¡±

    *Spring. Hunters. Death. Cold safe.* Gale-Heart replied.

    That was something Kaden could deal with. ¡°When spring comes, and the hunters come? Reach out. Olidar will send word. I¡¯ll come hunt your ¡®hunters.¡¯¡±

    *Done.* Gale-Heart answered.

    ¡°If I can, I¡¯d like to see him. I won¡¯t always be adventuring. And I¡¯m sure Trella will want more of his shit for potions.¡± Kaden winced as [Beast Soul] translated the last. ¡°She¡¯s an Alchemist. She makes¡ªshe¡¯s going to make attribute boosting potions.¡±

    *With skrah?* Gale-Heart¡¯s question held exactly the reaction Kaden had most of the time when someone said something was an alchemical reagent.

    Kaden put his arm around Trella. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m surprised they don¡¯t come begging already.¡±

    *Steal shells. Steal future.* There was more going here. [Beast Knowledge] was ticking the inside of his skull. *It was a ritual we came to love. Gryphon mothers eat the shells not long after the hatchlings are born. Without the old shell, it takes a mother a decade longer to make a new one. Jang had three in his backpack. We gave them back still in the backpack. With Jang still in the backpack. Easy decision.*

    Kaden understood now why the shell had been so thin. Queen Brownbeak hadn¡¯t had any old shells to devour. That or the zoo staff stole them. ¡°They have to have the old shells to make it possible to raise the new ones.¡±

    Trella carefully produced the fragments of Cloud¡¯s shell, setting them in a heap and then stepping away. ¡°It¡¯s probably Artificers coming for the shells. I promise I won¡¯t take any. These are all from Cloud¡¯s egg.¡±

    The buff griffin didn¡¯t hesitate, crunching the shells in her beak and swallowing. Then she shrieked at Kaden. [Beast Soul] translated it three different ways but Kaden got the gist. ¡°They¡¯re both grateful for the egg fragments, but brewing attribute potions from their¡­waste¡­just sounds weird to them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an alchemist. Extracting the essence of ingredients and using them to become more powerful is what I do. And the first time you take a Strength potion and split a monster in half, you¡¯ll say ¡®Smell that? Smells like experience.¡± Trella¡¯s pride shone through.

    Kaden tried to translate. *She likes shit. I like her being happy.*

    Gale-Heart¡¯s squeek made Kaden laugh. ¡°He say happy nest, life is best. Sort of.¡±

    Cloud dashed out from under the Buff Griffin and climbed up Kaden¡¯s back to perch on his shoulder like an overgrown parrot. And it hit Kaden. He¡¯d have to leave. ¡°I want to come see him.¡±

    For creatures ten times his size, they moved with surprising grace, as the buff griffin lowered her head to look at them both and cooed. Cloud hopped down and slunk over, rubbing his head under her eye ridge and mixing the purr of a cat with the chirp of a chick. *Flock. Yes.*

    That was it. Kaden looked to Olidar. ¡°Yes, I can visit?¡±

    Olidar was staring. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the key point. Sand-Wing, we entrust him to your care. Teach him the sky and the trees and all that is his prey.¡±

    Sand-Wing must have been the buff colored Griffin, because she shrieked in response, pure emotion, pride. Cloud used his claws to climb up between the eagle wings and nestled down so the feathers covered him. Then his head popped up through the feathers and cried.

    ¡°He¡¯s excited.¡± Kaden¡¯s tears turned to ice on his cheeks. ¡°Go home, little guy. I¡¯ll visit.¡±

    The pair of white griffins took to the air first circling as they scanned the woods, then Sand-Wing heaved herself into the air, flying slow and low. Gale-Heart stood, head back like he was going to howl, head to the sky for a long minute¡ªthen sprinted accross the clearing straight at Kaden, leaping into the skyso close his tail whipped between them.

    ¡°Coat. You should put it on.¡± Olidar nodded to the coat Kaden still gripped.

    Snow had built up on his shoulders, and Kaden broke off the ice as he slipped it on. It was the right thing to do, but it felt wrong.

    ¡°I have a Tree-Form ceremony I need to attend,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Since you¡¯re not Druids, you¡¯re not welcome there, but you are welcome in the Grove. Kaden, I promised I¡¯d send you to talk to his protege. Wisp? I need a wisp¡±

    A orange light bobbed into existence.

    ¡°You¡¯re not ugly,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Take him to Feris.¡±

    The orange light winked out.

    ¡°71?¡± Kaden called to the wisp, certain it would answer. ¡°You are the brightest, most beautiful wisp I¡¯ve seen today. I need to find Feris. Can you take me?¡±

    Olidar said something under his breath that was probably not ¡®stupid wisps.¡¯ No, Kaden chose to interpret it as ¡®Kaden Birch is a genius.¡¯

    71 bobbed forward, and Eve followed, then looked back. ¡°Oh, come on you can¡¯t all be wowed by the giant bird-lions. You do understand they¡¯d probably eat you if Kaden weren¡¯t present, right?¡±

    Sara couldn¡¯t stop smiling. ¡°I think they¡¯re magnificent.¡±

    ¡°I do not understand how such a Beast has no mana skills, but I agree with Sara.¡± Ashi pulled her coat down closer and followed Eve.

    Trella was busy. Gale-Heart had left her a present, and with the bitter wind whipping toward him, Kaden had to agree. It smelled like experience.

 Eight - Tag

    When she finally joined them, Trella couldn¡¯t stop smiling. ¡°I¡¯m behind on my Alchemy. Level five is a major point for the skill, where we select a specialty, and I¡¯m going to grind attribute potions to get to it.¡±

    ¡°Poisons?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Every Sister learns to mix poisons. Of course the Alchemical ones are better, but I really want to work on modifiers. Buffs and debuffs for attributes. Skills. Maybe even talents. Poisons are limited. Buffs and debuffs give me flexibility.¡± Trella¡¯s tone said her mind was made up already.

    Druids didn¡¯t look twice at them as the party made their way through the Grove, since Sara¡¯s psuedopods trailed along behind her under her coat, and Kaden¡¯s hid the metal embedded in his chest.

    Rangers did not care about winter or snow or wind, and in fact seemed to be enjoying the terrible weather. Kaden counted several archery contests among level fifty rangers on the way through the encampment, and a troop passed riding horses through the snow. Wisp 71 led them to a wide circular tent and stopped at the door, fading away.

    When Kaden stepped in a low table with a projected map stood in the center with rangers gathered around it. ¡°Feris? I¡¯m Kaden Birch. Demon Sight guy.¡±

    Feris was a young man, younger than Kaden, with blond hair as long as Eve¡¯s braded in a prettier braid than hers and a grass green cloak that shifted to dark patterns as he moved. His voice was high and soft as he gave a nod. ¡°The Forest Saint said you would help. We have [Planes Hunter] rangers, but they¡¯re on a strike into the fourth level of Hell. It¡¯s a warren of stone caves and the demons there hide more than fight.¡±

    Kaden approached the map. ¡°Three towns? What continent?¡±

    ¡°This is only four hundred miles south,¡± Feris said. ¡°We track Demon¡¯s Daughters and these three have been meeting. We need to understand why. Daughters never get along.¡±

    Kaden drew Naski¡¯s Seed from Inventory. ¡°This one did. Had a twin.¡±

    Feris stared at the core. ¡°What happened to it? It has no demonic power. Oh, that¡¯s Naski, isn¡¯t it? We¡¯ve been trying to replicate what you did. Get a Demon Lord to disown their own daughter. But no, let me show you.¡±

    Ashi and Trella joined Kaden, while Sara took the opposite side of the table with Feris.

    ¡°This one is Demon Lord Zarg¡¯s daughter. That one is Tick¡¯lazur¡¯s. We don¡¯t know this one but they fought three times before coming to an agreement.¡± Feris tapped each of three towns. ¡°You purged a cult, right?¡±

    That was directed to Sara, who took it as a compliment. ¡°I organized it. I only killed a few cultists myself. The manifestation of Asmedus was Kaden¡¯s. Ashi handled the Demon¡¯s daughter, and the Demon Lord¡ªI¡¯ll have to check my records.¡±

    ¡°This won¡¯t be that. I have a Business Profession, too. I¡¯d love to discuss how you¡¯re leveling yours later, but right now, I need your Beast Master to tell us who in a town is a demon. This isn¡¯t a cult, it¡¯s an invasion. They¡¯re not recruiting commoners, they¡¯re replacing them.¡± Feris tapped one town. ¡°For my money, it¡¯s this one.¡±

    ¡°How is this possible?¡± Eve asked. ¡°We beat back the cult. We went into Hell to maintain the advantage that keeps demons at bay.¡±

    Feris drew up a scroll. ¡°It¡¯s a numbers game. They can¡¯t send Demon Lords because of Asmodeus¡¯s disaster. They don¡¯t have many Daughters. But they have thousands of low level demons whose presence alone isn¡¯t enough to tip the scales. I don¡¯t want to accidentally kill a commoner. Any commoner.¡±

    That was a sentiment Kaden could agree with. ¡°I told Winlock I¡¯d find the demons but killing them was up to you.¡±

    ¡°Not me, I just made twenty-five. All of these will be lower level. We have sixteen squads of [Ranger] recruits who will handle the actual killing. I need someone with Demon Sight to mark every last infected one.¡±

    ¡°Tell me how I mark them.¡±

    Ashi spoke in Vichorean. ¡°Gathering of the Ancients¡ªApologies. I know what spell will be used. You have a wand, do you not? [Gathering of the Ancients] was a spell to make a god mark his followers.¡±

    ¡°We call it [Tag], but yeah, same concept.¡± Feris drew a slim metal wand. ¡°It has no combat use, so the mana cost is negligible and there¡¯s ten thousand charges. If someone¡¯s a demon, mark them with it. Oh, and don¡¯t just go pointing the wand everywhere. Demon hordes will turn on the commoners the moment they know we¡¯re coming.¡±

    Kaden had a plan called [Stealth Aura]. ¡°They¡¯ll be afraid of me. [Feared By Demons] isn¡¯t negated by stealth.¡±

    ¡°And,¡± Eve said, ¡°You can expect illusions. I suggest you and I go together. I have no love for demons.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Sara said, ¡°But I do see the necessity. What¡¯s the chances there¡¯s secretly a demon lord? Or three daughters? Or some hell-beast waiting to attack Kaden the moment he arrives? Sorry, Eve, but it¡¯ll be Kaden.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth,¡± Eve answered.

    ¡°No Demon Lords. Three Daughters, all level twenty. Six minotaurs who we think are body guards for the daughters and probably two hundred minor demons wearing skin suits,¡± Feris answered. ¡°I¡¯d invite you to join in, but this is a tier issue. We have to let the younger Rangers handle what they can.¡±

    ¡°I understand. In fact, I think the best thing I can do is learn so I¡¯m stronger for my own party. Is there an entrance fee for the archery?¡± Sara¡¯s question put a smile on Feris¡¯s face.

    ¡°Head to the third range by the stable,¡± He said.

    Kaden looked to Ashi. ¡°What will you do?¡±

    ¡°It is enough for me to be. Winter does not come to Vichor, snow is not allowed, wind blows only as it is permitted. I will embrance this. When you have need of me, call.¡± Ashi pulled the coat down and headed out into the wind.

    Which made Kaden increasingly worried. Where was Trella? There, in the distance, he heard her voice. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±

    Kaden charged back into the winter storm and searched. Ashi lay in the snow, letting flakes accumulate on her eyebrows and melt on her skin. Sara stood far in the distance, bow in hand, chatting with [Rangers]. Following the sound of Trella¡¯s voice, he passed through row upon row of tents and found her standing, hands on her hips, arguing with the Forest Saint.

    ¡°And I¡¯m telling you, if you need help with demons, grow bigger, better [Rangers]. Don¡¯t push your problems off on first tier adventurers. You say demons are your sworn enemies so act like it. That¡¯s it. You can get back to your ¡®meditation.¡¯¡± Trella turned on Kaden. ¡°I¡¯m done here, just clarifying a few things.¡±

    ¡°You interrupted his six month meditation?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°With pride. It¡¯s amazing how much clarity being dead gives you, besides, he was just getting started. And, I¡¯m not level twenty five, that means stabbing demons is still on the table for me. I like stabbing demons.¡± Trella headed back toward the tent.

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    Kaden looked to Winlock. ¡°Sorry?¡±

    ¡°Must be interesting in your hourse. And we¡¯re going to do exactly what she suggests. Handle our problem before it¡¯s a problem.¡± Winlock ducked back into his tent.

    Kaden hunted down Feris¡ªand found Eve, but no Trella. ¡°Have you seen a [Shadow Blade]? She gets kind of stabby when she¡¯s hungry. We haven¡¯t been here long but it is cold, and she¡¯s acting stabby, so I want to give her a snack.¡±

    ¡°I gave her a piece of jerky and Feris gave her a Quest to kill ten demons,¡± Eve said. ¡°She¡¯s happy and currently with the [Rangers] staging. Did they explain the time frame?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Feris said. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re done, they move in. Low level demons don¡¯t like cold, they¡¯re not moving much. We have the Far Portal coordinates and a man who dual classed as a [Merchant] who can act as cover.¡±

    Kaden looked to Eve. ¡°It¡¯s always a good day to kill demons. Or mark demons. Is there anything else you need?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I need you to accept a Quest so I can advance my profession. Both of you. I have a Quest that requires me to organize higher level adventurers.¡± Feris focused on each of them.

    New Quest: Tag, You¡¯re an It - Mark the demons for Feris the Ranger so he can hurt them without hurting his conscience. Reward: Naturi Faction Token, Faction Favor.

    ¡°Perfect.¡± Kaden was ready.

    ###

    He stepped out of the [FarPortal] already wrapped in [Stealth Aura], with Eve by his side, in a village smaller than the one Eve had cleared. Feris had made it clear there were two others, and he was starting at the one least likely to be infected. Ahead of him, a burly [Merchant] lumbered, carrying a box. A box he set down in the village square. It began to unfold, and as it did, a brass bell rang atop the contraption.

    It must have been enhanced because it hurt Kaden with every ring.

    ¡°Bunson¡¯s Baked Goods, the finest magical baked goods a man can taste! Come and sample. Raise your mana, raise your health, raise your member after you raise a glass!¡± The Merchant shouted, magically loud, and people began to stir.

    That was odd.

    Small town people were hard workers and cold and dark were no barrier to the fact that things had to get done. Kaden winced as a woman looked out from the doorway, highlighted in pale gray. He clicked the wand in her direction.

    You have marked a Demon!

    Continue to mark Demons for greater rewards!

    As the village roused, Kaden moved quickly, with Eve by his side, marking an entire family in their single room home. The mayor. The blacksmith¡¯s apprentice, half a dozen farmers.

    Then a flare of yellow caught his attention. A [Demon¡¯s Daughter] scrambled to the rooftops to watch, then froze as Kaden painted her. She scanned the town while Eve huddled close to Kaden, then dropped to the ground and uttered words in a foul language.

    Three minotaurs emerged from the shop to flank her. Kaden marked them all, and then followed as the Daughter set out on a circuit through the village, stopping to whisper with other infected townspeople.

    Eve pulled at his shoulder, then pointed to the smith¡¯s forge. *Illusion*, she said in prim and perfect Mindspeak. Kaden checked¡ªand almost vomited. The forge had several burned skulls in it.

    *The Well, too,* Eve sent.

    Kaden looked at the well, thinking of his dungeon. *We can¡¯t go down there safely, we¡¯ll need to tell Feris.*

    The last Demon wasn¡¯t the [Priest], it was the little girl clinging to his robe.

    You have marked 98% of demons in this area.

    Kaden moved on, leading Eve out of the village. In the scrubby trees outside she dispatched her peacock Messenger Bird to Feris to warn him of the well and how there was at least one Demon in it. Less than a mile away, Kaden saw the outline of buildings.

    *Hold on, something¡¯s wrong about this path.* Eve nudged them off the path between villages.

    Kaden generally respected Eve¡¯s desire to be untouched, but now he held her close and focused on [Stealth Aura]. Because from the village ahead, a [Demon¡¯s Daughter] came. And behind them stood the one from the town.

    They approached, slowing as they came closer and closer¡ªthen looked down.

    A red crack appeared in the earth between them, and light shone up as the two Daughters exchanged hisses and gurgles [Multispeak] declined to translate.

    The first Daughter continued to scan the trees as she spoke¡ªthen lunged, flinging a dagger. It struck the tree right above Kaden and Eve just as he clamped his hand over her mouth to muffle a cry.

    He didn¡¯t move a muscle, even when she accidentally bit him. Twice.

    After a moment, the two daughters turned and headed back to their villages.

    As Kaden relaxed, a load of snow shed from the branch above, crashing onto him. He shrugged it loose, grateful it had held. A minute earlier and [Stealth] would have broken. Now, he picked up Eve and carried her through the snow and quickly up the path, where he marked the second Daughter. This town was like a nest of Formicideans whose Queen had been shot with an arrow. The citizens raced everywhere. And they were almost all Demons.

    Kaden quickly hoisted Eve on to a roof and began marking. With each demon marked, the frenzy grew worse. They didn¡¯t even pretend to be human here, tearing doors off hinges and flinging them through the air¡ªuntil the Daughter scaled a house and gave a scream that brought the town to silence. The demons began to shuffle forward, assembling in the square.

    *That is bad. Ferris needs to know.* Eve¡¯s peacock flew off, glinting in the pale morning sun. *How are we going to check for illusions?*

    *Quickly.* Kaden picked her up and dropped to the ground, using [Stealth Aura] to keep quiet as he ran through the village, stopping five times to check disguised doors and buildings Eve pointed out.

    You have marked 94% of demons in this area.

    Kaden shared the notification with Eve. *No minotaurs. They¡¯re here somewhere.*

    *I¡¯ll handle the communication. How are we going to get to the final village?*

    Kaden had his own ideas. He led Eve out the west entrance, searching in the woods for the right tree. There, one bent and broken from snow. Kaden pushed against the trunk with all his might.

    Crack!

    A series of louder and louder cracks rang out, as Kaden re-established [Stealth] Aura. The tree crackled and snapped as it shed ice and snow, splintering across the path.

    ¡°Careful.¡± Kaden held his position exactly where he¡¯d stood and concentrated on stealth as Demons boiled out of the village he¡¯d come from and down the path. From the far village, the one he hadn¡¯t visited yet, came a Demon¡¯s Daughter unlike the others. Her hair was the color of a sunset, shifting in colors as it fell down her body, and unlike other daughters, she wore actual clothing, a heavy coat and boots, with a short-sword slung by her side and a crossbow over her back.

    [Demon¡¯s Daughter Desmona]

    This daughter has lived so long her Demon Lord Father and all the Lords of Hell he swore fealty to are gone. No longer beholding to any Lord, she cuts her own swath through the world with those who give her loyalty.

    Level: 25

    HP:???

    Mana:???

    Kaden waited as Desmona approached the fallen tree and hissed at the frothing lot on the other side. The Daughter there pivoted and growled at her horde, driving it back up toward the village.

    Desmona hadn¡¯t moved, sniffing the air. She looked back and forth from the tree to the second village. When she turned to trot across the hilly stretch, Kaden didn¡¯t breathe. Something wasn¡¯t right.

    Twenty feet away, Desmona stuttered. Disappeared.

    Eve didn¡¯t just tense, she practically went catatonic. Because a few feet away, a second Desmona balanced on the tree trunk, working her way closer and closer.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Kaden screamed out. No, that was the [Falcrow] answering Kaden¡¯s call. It dipped down to clutch a stone between its claws and flitted to the top of a tree, where it continued to scream out, ¡°Hey! Hey! Hey!¡±

    Desmona drew her crossbow and fired a bolt.

    And another.

    And another.

    Then cursed under her breath as the almost non copreal bird continud to gaze on her with contempt. After long minutes, Desmona crept away. Ten feet from the gate, the [Falcrow] swooped down on her and yanked hair from her head. Two feet away, the hair turned to grey goo that drizzled down on the ground and crept back to Desmona.

    Kaden marked her while her back was turned and smiled as the Demon lashed out, clawing at the air, only to find nothing. She didn¡¯t hesitate, sprinting into the town, and this time, Kaden was sure it was her.

    ¡°How can you breathe? Can¡¯t you feel her hatred?¡± Eve asked. ¡°She¡¯s cunning and patient. The [Rangers] need to know what they¡¯re up against.¡± Even dispatched her bird once more, then followed Kaden up the hill. As Kaden approached, workers trod out holding axes, or saws. In the village, the constant murmur of voices heralded a village at work. Kaden didn¡¯t take to the roofs, instead sticking to street level and working his way through the village.

    He found Desmona eating in the market.

    *Illusions. All three of the men sitting around her aren¡¯t men.* Eve¡¯s statement had a note of panic.

    *Got them.* Kaden watched as one of the men stood and the table he sat at shifted and groaned. *That¡¯s way larger than a minotaur.*

    Hour by hour, minute by minute, he worked his way through the village, finding exactly one demon¡ªa grandmother who watched over children while parents worked. Kaden hated it, but leaving the demon alive wouldn¡¯t alert Desmona.

    You have marked 100% of demons in this area.

    The [Rangers] would come through soon.

    Three steps out of the village, Kaden turned right and hid along the wall, then dispatched the Falcrow with a message for Trella. ¡°The Northeast Village has only four demons, but one of the most dangerous. For your quest, you want Southwest.¡±

    Eve notified Feris. *They¡¯ll be pouring in any moment.*

    *Desmona is twenty five. That makes her fair game.* He considered it again. Alone, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to slaughter the minotaurs.

    Eve briefly clasped his hand. ¡°Trust them.¡±

    From far away, Kaden heared Demons roar. In the distance, flashes of arrows lit up in the sun. Then in the village behind them, the screaming started.

 Nine - Broken Up

    Kaden spun and leaped, scrambling up the wooden pole walls of the village. The sharp points at the top only served to let him cling to the walls. What he saw left his blood cold. One of Desmona¡¯s minotaurs was dead, and villagers ran everywhere, screaming. The other two flanked Desmona, who stood atop a dead [Ranger]. Two more lay in the street, writhing, and another was dead on the FarPortal.

    Kaden dropped to the ground. ¡°The strike team for this village is dead. I¡¯m not leaving them for Desmona to torture.¡±

    ¡°Get me to them,¡± Eve said.

    He engaged [Stealth Aura] and entered through the gate, dodging villagers.

    Desmona strode through the streets, comforting villagers even as she hunted the [Rangers].

    Kaden headed for the dead, stuffing the corpses into Inventory. When all six of the dead were safely stored, he ducked into a house whose door stood open wide. On the way in, he stopped. By the base of the house, a glittering black rock jutted from the ground. He¡¯d seen them before, used to summon an incarnation of Asmodeus. He kneeled and wrenched it out of the ground, then snuck into the home.

    A crooked staircase on one side led upstairs to a bedroom, where Eve helped him layone corpse out. Kaden chose the one who looked like a leader. Or an adventurer who collected old pins he¡¯d put in his cloak and used crossbow bolts he stored through his rib cage. ¡°Let¡¯s use this one for information.¡±

    ¡°Easy.¡± Eve activated [Life Exchange] and the Ranger gasped.

    Kaden clamped his hand over the man¡¯s mouth to stifle the scream. ¡°You¡¯re safe for the moment. How many were in your strike team?¡±

    ¡°Twelve. She has a skill. Split into six. There were bolts coming from everywhere.¡±

    Eve boosted his health twice. ¡°That¡¯s all for now. Drink a potion.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the [FalCrow] explaining the situation, while Eve resurrected the rangers one by one, raising their health just enough for a healing potion to take effect. A moment later a bird returned

    Feris spoke with concern. ¡°Hold your position. They¡¯re tearing through the first two villages and will converge. We¡¯ve practiced dealing with demo-plexis monsters but practicing and actually being attacked are different.¡±

    Kaden relayed to Eve¡ªand the [Rangers]. ¡°Stay in this house.¡±

    Eve wasn¡¯t paying attention to Kaden, she was peeking out the upper window. ¡°Desmona is doing something.¡±

    Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and looked down on the square.

    Desmona wasn¡¯t running, her eyes were closed, and she mouthed words.

    [Relive the Moment] came to life as Kaden willed it. He wanted to know exactly what she was saying.

    Desmona kneeled, cutting her forearm with a silver dagger. Purple blood dripped, the same color as the veins on Naski¡¯s Seed had been. She spoke in words that caused Kaden¡¯s health to drop with each one. The final word struck like a dagger to his heart, tearing a thousand points of health out. Kaden¡¯s head ached like a TriTerror tail had been driven into it. [Relive the Moment] had ended as he lost his focus.

    All around Desmona, commoners unlucky enough to be nearby dropped dead, as purple light burst from a ring of rocks, spraying up into the air¡ªand dispersed. Kaden didn¡¯t need multispeak to translate the guttural cry of sheer frustration. Desmona checked her circle and spotted the missing stone, then pivoted, scanning the village.

    An arrow blossomed in her shoulder, and Desmona leaped left, followed by arrow after arrow.

    *What did she do to you?* Eve asked as she activated Life Transfusion, raising Kaden¡¯s health four hundred points.

    He returned the mana. *She tried to contact an Abyss Lord. Their names alone cause damage, but I think it cost her just to try or every Demon¡¯s Daughter would run around shouting it.*

    From all around the village, shouts rose up. One of Desmona¡¯s remaining Minotaurs fell as she shattered into eight copies¡ªand each of them split in two.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help, and that hurt more than any wound, because Demona wasn¡¯t given to flair or banter. She stalked relentlessly, firing bolt after bolt at [Rangers] while dodging their arrows by just barely moving.

    But not perfectly.

    Here and there, Desmonas fell, some on fire from flaming arrows, one burned with acid to near uncrecognizably. Then one of them turned and ran for the square, ripping black stones from the ground one after the other.

    *She¡¯s running,* Kaden sent.

    Then his heart caught in his throat. A shadowy figure materialized behind Desmona, stabbing the Demon¡¯s Daughter with solid black swords, then leaping back as Desmona drew her shortsword and struck.

    ¡°Hello, demon. My name is Trella Sonos. I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade]¡ª¡±

    Desmona unslung her crossbow and fired a bolt straight at Trella¡¯s chest¡ªand again, and again, as Trella charged. Two steps away, Desmona split in two, one holding the sword, one holding a crossbow. The sword-demon sliced¡ªthrough the Dark Deception. [Deception Echo] spawned a second one which lunged, stabbing at Desmona¡¯s foot even as she cut it down.

    ¡°Demon.¡± Trella stood right where she¡¯d been a moment before. ¡°I told you I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade]. And there¡¯s only a few of you.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t say how Desmona stretched out her arm, turning it into a tentacle snare that lashed around Trella¡¯s ankle, but she twisted, pulling at the tenacle even as she flipped backward.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do better than that. And what I just splashed on you? Alchemical Potion I call [Rot]. The one I meant to make was supposed to enhance attributes, but we¡¯ll call [Rot] a happy little accident.¡± Trella bowed slightly, pointing to the bubbles that boiled along Desmona¡¯s skin. ¡°You¡¯re stained by my [Inkblades]. You¡¯re poisoned with [Rot]. Doesn¡¯t look good for you.¡±

    Desmona didn¡¯t speak. She surged. The skill reminded Kaden of [Shadow Step], in that it left purple after-images of Desmona as the sword version charged Trella¡ªand again, as Trella [Shadow Stepped] away¡ªand again¡ªand again.

    The mana cost for [Shadow Step] rose every time if the cooldown wasn¡¯t respected. Any moment¡ªTrella collapsed a crossbow bolt struck her, fired by the Desmona who hadn¡¯t moved.

    Kaden¡¯s world turned red, and he drew Remembrance as Desmona raised her sword. It was time to show Desmona what happened to demons.

    ¡°No.¡± Eve said. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare steal this battle.¡±

    The demon swung her glittering black blade. It struck dirt.

    Trella was gone.

    ¡°Hey, Demon. We¡¯re going to go over this again.¡± Trella leaned against the building, completely unharmed. ¡°I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade]. And you are poisoned with Rot. And Ink. How¡¯s your mana after that stunt?¡± She palmed her [Rescue Reset] coin and put it away.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Desmona stared, for the first time uncertain, as Trella approached, both daggers drawn. In the blink of an eye, the Sword-Demon rushed her¡ªbut the skill deactivated four feet away, making the demon stumble the last step to behead¡ªthe Deception. The Echo stabbed her again in the foot, then slapped her with a backhand before fading into nothing.

    The real Trella clutched Crossbow Desmona¡¯s chin as she carved with [Evercut]. The body fell to the ground and Trella tucked the crossbow into Inventory. ¡°Now. You and I are going to settle something.¡±

    Sword-Desmona nodded, raising her sword.

    ¡°Wait, you think we¡¯re going to settle this with swords and daggers?¡± Trella wiped a trace of blood from her mouth. ¡°No, what we¡¯re going to settle is my new favorite contest. I call it ¡®Which of us can survive getting shot by twenty arrows?¡¯¡± Trella raised her hand and pointed it at Desmona. ¡°You go first.¡±

    Kaden was used to Nasky¡¯s snarling, wild attacks that relied on fear. Desmona did exactly none of that. She dove backwards into a nearby house, dodging a hail of arrows. Her movement skill activated, flashing her two feet forward and avoiding six more. Desmona crashed through a window into darkness.

    The village went silent as Trella slipped into stealth and Rangers swarmed over rooftops and through streets, surrounding the house Desmona had entered.

    Trella tossed a vial through the window.

    A cloud of choking green gas billowed from the chimney.

    ¡°Help! Don¡¯t hurt me!¡± A commoner screamed as a woman stumbled from the house, holding a child.

    Rangers froze.

    ¡°Don¡¯t kill an innocent.¡± Trella rushed to the woman¡ªand drove an [Inkblade] through the woman¡¯s chest, then ducked as the child became a gaping maw of teeth that missed her by a milimeter. ¡°No commoner would survive that. Good try, but remember the rules of our contest? It¡¯s who can survive getting shot. So far, the answer isn¡¯t you.¡±

    She kept so close Desmona couldn¡¯t draw her sword, but the Demon used claws, and Kaden knew far too well how they could slice.

    ¡°Get clear!¡± One of the rangers was shouting.

    The dance was far too close for that. Trella no longer used both [Inkblades]. She¡¯d traded one for EverCut and didn¡¯t hesitate.

    Eve¡¯s hand on his shoulder was the only thing that made Kaden realize he¡¯d started to jump from the second story. ¡°You¡¯ll hurt Trella, or even worse, you¡¯ll save her.¡±

    Trella¡¯s cry of agony tore his attention back to the fight. Blood gushed from a gash that ran diagonal across her chest, slicing deep into her breast and showing bone. Her actions said Trella understood her peril. The first slip would be her last. Instead, she pushed battle, always a breath away from Desmona, always with a dagger ready to block and Evercut nicking.

    Desmona screamed and arched her back as a black blade emerged from her chest. Trella¡¯s Deception stood behind it. He¡¯d never seen it manifest outside of where she was. The Deception always took her place, that was part of its nature. A nature that had to be changing.

    Demon blood gushed from Desmona, glowing pink, and as it did, her eyes glowed. She surged backwards, then hurled glittering black stones at Trella.

    Kaden always knew Trella could escape. It¡¯s what had gotten her out of so many fights and ambushes at the Saint¡¯s Hall. She could twist or duck or leap. This was more like ballet, except every move put Trella closer and closer to Desmona instead of further away.

    One stone clipped Trella¡¯s knee, and she almost fell. Another followed, hitting her shoulder, forcing Trella to spin back and draw her [Inkblades] again.

    But Desmona didn¡¯t continue hurling stones, she kept them in her fists, creeping toward Trella¡ªwho stood again.

    ¡°Are you using [Life Transfusion]?¡± Kaden asked as Eve gripped her fists.

    ¡°No,¡± Eve said. ¡°Not at this moment.¡±

    Trinity wouldn¡¯t count, would she? Trinity wasn¡¯t level twenty five and thus could wreck anyone she damned well pleased. Trinity at twenty five would be a nightmare for anything short of a Centurion.

    Desmona struck in a blink, lunging straight forward, razor clawed fingers grasping for Trella¡¯s heart. She struck Trella¡¯s Deception and blasted through the illusion¡ªand the after Echo. Trella blinked¡ªa [Shadow Step] of only a foot, and stood behind Desmona.

    She drove an inkblade downward into Desmona¡¯s abdomen, obviously aiming for the Demon Seed. In the same motion, Trella twisted to the side to avoid the claw-grasp that would have removed her own heart, and punched deep into the wound the Inkblade left. ¡°Get back!¡±

    Desmona didn¡¯t go after Trella as she [Shadow Stepped] away. No, she dug in her own abdomen, yanking out a potion¡ª

    Boom.

    Chunks of demon flesh rained down as white smoke blasted out. When it cleared, Trella kneeled, pinning down a spider-like creature. The Demon Seed, with rubbery legs, which Trella yanked loose until she clutched Desmona¡¯s core, which was crosshatched with pink lines. ¡°There.¡±

    Rangers gathered around her. ¡°Stab it. We want to see what title you get.¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°Not here. I¡¯ll do it later, in private, with my party. This one?¡± She took another from Inventory. The core was dead and lifeless, the outside black. ¡°This one got me [Hunted by Demons]. The bastards will spawn and come looking for me. Pity I live under a [Shield Tree].¡±

    The gathered rangers cheered, while Kaden and Eve took the stairs down. Kaden rushed to pick up Trella. And recognized the purple gleam to Trella¡¯s wounds. ¡°Eve. Mana re-inforced wounds.¡±

    ¡°Nothing as bad as what you received.¡± Eve activated Life Transfusion. Normally, wounds knit right together, but the more Eve worked, the slower this healed. ¡°It¡¯s going to take time. A lot of time.¡±

    ¡°Everyone has scars.¡± Trella said softly. ¡°I know you were watching. I didn¡¯t need¡ªor want¡ªyou to rescue me. And let me tell you, killing a Demon¡¯s Daughter is excellent XP.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t thought so. ¡°The other two villages?¡±

    ¡°One¡¯s a ghost town. So many demons. Feris and Sara are directing the rangers there.¡± Trella pressed something to his hands. Desmona¡¯s core. ¡°Bind her. She¡¯s more powerful than the other two. More careful. More intelligent. I want to know what makes her different.¡±

    Kaden activated [Soul Binding], and stored Desmona¡¯s core alongside Naski¡¯s. ¡°From now on, I want to be part of whatever you¡¯re doing.¡±

    ¡°You mark the demons, I¡¯ll kill the demons.¡±

    That reminded Kaden. He checked his notices.

    You have completed a Quest: Tag, You¡¯re an It!

    For meeting high thresholds, rewards have been increased from one Faction Token to two.

    [Quest Master] is active!

    You have received 4x: Naturi Faction token.

    Kaden smiled as he looked to Eve. ¡°How many faction tokens did you get?¡±

    ¡°Four.¡± Eve spoke it in awe. ¡°That¡¯s double what I should have received. Why¡ªno, no, I don¡¯t ask that around you. I don¡¯t. Why is not an option, it¡¯s a reason to lose sleep. Sara is going to be so excited.¡±

    Kaden was pretty damn excited about it, too. He tried to hand a faction token to Trella. She literally couldn¡¯t take it. The system forced her to yank her hand away.

    ¡°Not cool,¡± Trella said, as they sorted through the remanants. Kaden was eager to find out what Desmona had done with the black stones, Demon summoning stones. He knew Ursus, the centurion Mage, had said they were Demon summoning stones, and both rare and expensive. All the ones that had missed Trella, he collected, but that didn¡¯t account for the rest.

    He searched everywhere, even digging in the floor of the house she¡¯d hid in, but didn¡¯t find them. Perhaps Demons had their own version of Inventory.

    Feris gathered the Rangers¡ªand Trella¡ªamong the surviving villagers. ¡°Excellent work. This is what it means to be a [Ranger]. It means finding and facing Demons. It means winning. It means sometimes losing. Every one of you shed blood. Some of you took a dirt nap. Remember those lessons next time, because there will be a next time. Just not tonight. You¡¯re all free. Go. Relax.¡± He congratulated them one after the other.

    And spent a great deal of time thanking Sara for her help with communication and organization. So much time. Based on her grin, Sara was enjoying it, and Kaden was happy she was happy. Rangers were enemies of Demons, not Cosmic Horrors.

    Trella made a beeline to the Grove, then rushed to the first group of [Druids] she saw. ¡°Where are they holding the celebration? The one for clearing the three villages of demons?¡±

    None of those Druids knew, but all of them spread out to ask friends.

    Kaden watched the word spread. ¡°There¡¯s not a celebration.¡±

    ¡°There is now,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Where¡¯s Ravena? I want to see you stand next to her without staring at her chest. I want you to sing to me¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, no, and no.¡± Kaden said. ¡°We came here to give Cloud a family. Once I find Ashi, I¡¯mgoing to take you to Vichor¡±

    Trella stopped a passing [Druid]. ¡°Are we in the right place for the celebration tonight?¡±

    He looked around. ¡°Probably? I mean, yes. The Feast Coordinators would know better.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve always wanted to learn from a [Feast Coordinator],¡± Trella said. ¡°Where would I find one? Or their offices?¡±

    ¡°71?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Who is the fastest wisp? It¡¯s you. I need to find the [Feast Coordinators.]¡±

    The wisp took off, taking them to a TreeSpace Kaden would never have noticed. Kaden stepped through and looked at the set of men arguing with an army of young Druids.

    ¡°There is not¡ª¡±

    ¡°Excuse me!¡± Trella said. ¡°Is this where I¡¯m supposed to drop off supplies for tonight¡¯s Feast? I don¡¯t have wine, and you¡¯re going to need to double up your order on food.¡±

    The oldest man in the room threw up his hands. ¡°Sure! Why not? It¡¯s not like I need warning. It¡¯s not like planning these things takes time. Don¡¯t tell Alrec what this Feast is for, just tell him to make it happen.¡±

    ¡°Demon Village Clearing,¡± Trella said. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s what it¡¯s for. Though, I mean, I guess it could be a ¡®Surviving the Third Week of the Second Month of Winter Feast¡¯ if that sounds better. Anyway, is it ok if I drop my supplies in an ambiguously large pile of supplies you already have on hand?¡±

    ¡°Follow the grass,¡± Alrec said. ¡°All of you leave. It looks like we¡¯re celebrating killing demons. Or the second week of the third month of something. Some days, I really hate this [Profession.].¡±

 Ten - Naming Names

    Before anyone could start asking too many questions about what Trella was delivering or if she resembled the woman who had started asking about a Feast in the first place, Kaden took Trella and went hunting for Ashi.

    He found her sitting in the middle of a circle of Druids, coaching them on clarifying Mana. He wasn¡¯t even aware Ashi could speak so gently. So kindly. He followed her instructions to produce an aqua mana dart that was moderately clear.

    Trella pulled a dark yellow mana dart that was so cloudy it barely put off light.

    And another.

    And another.

    It felt good to work together, and as Ashi led the exercise, he was near certain Trella¡¯s mana became a shade clearer. It was quite possibly wishful thinking, but it was the kind of wishful thinking he wanted to do.

    After an hour, Ashi ended the class¡ªand welcomed the next set of Druids, with a few Rangers.

    Kaden knew Trella grew bored when she started drawing the largest darts she could, then began juggling them. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go check on Eve.¡±

    Eve was relaxing in a hot bath in a treespace with Vip swiming beside her, and Trella wanted to get demon blood off. Kaden gave Eve her privacy. Instead, he sent the [Falcrow] to Ursus, summoned Trinity and went to the [Taming] corals to practice [Soul Binding.] After a few minutes in the snow, he conceded that having Trinity with him would make it near impossible to [Soul Bind] anything.

    ¡°You¡¯re growing so strong,¡± Kaden said. ¡°My Dungeon Boss will never be as strong as you. Cloud will be. Cloud will be bigger. Stronger. But you¡¯ll always be the best battler.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s black tongue flopped out, dropping burning drool on Kaden¡¯s skin as she licked him.At one time, losing fifty health would have been catastrophic. Now, he ignored it and leaned against her, enjoying the snow fall and the bitter wind. ¡°I could have been happy here as a Druid. But then I wouldn¡¯t have you.¡±

    A low growl echoed from Trinity, which [Beast Soul] translated as *Really dodged an arrow there, huh?*

    He had. It was easy to relax here. Even the wisp that bobbed toward him didn¡¯t upset Kaden. Behind it came a tall black woman, Ursus, a [Mage] who had overseen the purge of the cult. ¡°Demon Summoning Stones? Show me.¡±

    ¡°Good to see you, too.¡± Kaden dumped out the ones he had. ¡°And I have a couple of Demon Seeds to show you. Not sell you, show.¡±

    Ursus studied the summoning stones. ¡°Oh, wild. This set isn¡¯t made to be kept in place. The carvings on the ends are specifically to keep them from growing into the ground. Think of it like a portable Demon summoning circle.¡±

    ¡°Got to hear the name of an abyss lord. I really didn¡¯t enjoy it.¡± Kaden took out Naski¡¯s seed first.

    Ursus whistled. ¡°We¡¯ll get back to the Abyss Lord in a moment. Their names are deadly, yes, but it¡¯s because they¡¯re information. A handle, of sorts, to grasp an Abyss Lord. Still have a headache?¡±

    ¡°Not bad. That¡¯s Naski, the Disowned Daughter. Stripped of her class and place in Hell.¡± Kaden waited until Ursus handed back the Seed. ¡°This is Desmona¡ª¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Ursus clapped her hands. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about her. She¡¯s the oldest Daugther in all the Hells. She¡¯s outlasted dozens Abyss Lords. She¡¯s still alive, and yet not regenerating?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°I can [Bind] Demons. Even if she regenerates, she¡¯ll be under my control. The oldest Daughter in all the Hells. I bet she¡¯d have good information. I can make her answer.¡±

    Ursus shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking this. The only reason she¡¯s lasted so long is she doesn¡¯t have Demon Lords to bring through. The number of Daughters allowed at any time is limited. She¡¯s both deadly and harmless.¡±

    ¡°Tell that to the Abyss Lord she tried to contact.¡±

    Ursus collected the summoning stones. ¡°I¡¯d like to talk to the [PolyMage] in your party. Rumor says she stole an ultra-rare spellbook from Omnor.¡±

    ¡°There are words in that sentence that are true.¡± Kaden was glad not everyone knew what had happened. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to Ashi.¡±

    With Trinity plodding ahead, Kaden went to find Ashi¡ªand ran into Trella and Eve. ¡°This is Trella Sonos. She¡¯s the one the summoning stones belong to.¡±

    ¡°Summoning stones?¡± Trella looked at them. ¡°Yes. Those are mine. And I definitely knew what those were. Very valuable.¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± Ursus looked to Kaden. ¡°I wasn¡¯t born last century. Ten gold a stone. And I really want to try to extract that Abyss Lord¡¯s name from your memory. I have something your [PolyMage] might find worth the trade.¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡± Kaden asked.

    Eve laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve never once see you worry about what you need. Not once.¡±

    Kaden had Remembrance. And armor. And beasts. And friends. ¡°I have everything I need. What are you offering and what am I giving up?¡±

    ¡°Olidar!¡± Ursus ran to throw her arms around the Centurion Druid. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s so good to see you! Came to take some demon stones from my favorite Beast Master and who do I see?¡±

    The two talked for a moment, oblivious to the party. Then Olidar turned to Kaden. ¡°So you have the Name of an Abyss Lord. Trust me, you don¡¯t want to leave it in your brain, it¡¯ll grow. Ursus here can cut it out, and use it. Every name tells us at least one true fact about the Abyss Lord, sometimes more. Those truths can be used to corner them. Ravena is deep in the Grove, using the Healing Pollen you brought us. You can use her chambers.¡±

    Eve clamped her hand down on Kaden¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You didn¡¯t answer the question. What does this involve. What does Kaden give up in exchange for whatever worthless bit of magic you have?¡±

    ¡°And what does it entail?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Kaden¡¯s nice. I¡¯m not.¡±

    The low chuckle from Ursus said there wasn¡¯t going to be a stab-off. ¡°I know several spells from the [Mind] collection. If we have a grimoire ready, I can transplant the name into it. Then, someone my level can not just read the name, but dissect it for information.¡±

    ¡°Still not answering,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°I have to take the memory. Permanently. It¡¯s similar to what happens during a Resurrection. When a Healer reconnects the soul, there¡¯s always a chunk of memory lost to make that connection. Always.¡± She drew a tube from Inventory and handed it over. ¡°And this is what I¡¯d be willing to offer.¡±

    Kaden opened the tube, expecting a scroll.

    It was a page from a book.

    The writing was most definitely not Vichorean, but the page exuded sheer magic. ¡°Where did you get this, and why are you not using it?¡±

    ¡°Mages have to pick a college. I don¡¯t know what it does, but I do know it doesn¡¯t match me¡ªor any mage I could find. Anywhere. And every time I think I know what college it belongs to, it shifts. So maybe a [PolyMage] might be able to,¡± Ursus said.

    Kaden knew without asking, the spell wasn¡¯t Chrono. It jangled against his hand. Olidar had always been trustworthy, and he claimed Kaden needed it removed as much as Ursus wanted it. ¡°We¡¯ve got a deal. Take that name. If you have to take the whole memory, do it.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Less than an hour later, he lay in a bed in a TreeSpace with Trella on one side and Ursus on the other. Trinity rested in his soul along with Vip, while Eve stood at the head of the bed. ¡°You should have told Ashi and Sara.¡±

    ¡°Sara¡¯s got other people to do,¡± Trella said. ¡°I saw how she was looking at Feris. Trinity is more subtle when she¡¯s looking at a slab of meat. Or a live monster.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Kaden lay back. ¡°How does this work?¡±

    ¡°You have a title, Planes Wielder. I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t use it to fight back. It won¡¯t kill me but it will make extracting the memory¡ªand the name¡ªdifficult. You¡¯re going to feel the magic take hold and then I¡¯ll ask you to focus on the memory. On reliving it.¡± Ursus began to vibrate with power reached out.

    [Split Second] tried to activate, but Kaden didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°Focus on me,¡± Trella said, leaning over. Her black hair hung in curles, shadowing her face. ¡°Look at me and relax.¡±

    Kaden winced as mana flooded around him. Pain wasn¡¯t the right word, but it felt like someone had slipped steel into his skull, a place where he didn¡¯t want steel.

    ¡°Now, remember the memory. That Demon, every word she said, all the way up to the name. Eve, that¡¯s your name, isn¡¯t it? His health may drop if things go right. Don¡¯t panic, just heal. An Abyss Lord¡¯s name is a weapon for a demon. This kind of remembering is like grabbing a sword by the blade.¡± Ursus drew a clean, fresh book from Inventory and an ink pen. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    ¡°I forgot to mention something,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I have a Chrono spell, [Relive the Moment]. I had it in active mode. I can show you what she carved on herself. And I should have perfect memory of the name.¡±

    Ursus looked less happy. More worried. ¡°We¡¯re going to need a bigger band of healers.¡± She called for help, a set of five for Kaden and one for Ursus herself. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s see.¡±

    Kaden drew on [Relive the Moment], focused on what he¡¯d seen. On Desmona. The guttural sounds she¡¯d spoken as she cut herself. The way the blood squirmed and wormed its way to the stones. The way she called out, desparate. The last word had hit him. The last word had made the air bleed and the ground crack and ¡ªKaden bit down on his tongue to keep from screaming as the memory became real. Words had edges and hooks and thorns, words weren¡¯t just sounds, they were alive¡ª

    ¡°Stop! Give Eve a chance to heal him.¡± Trella shouted.

    ¡°He got it. He got the real thing. I thought maybe he heard part of it. A piece of it. Kaden, do it again. This time I¡¯m ready. This time, I¡¯m prepared. No way was I ready for that. I¡¯ve got the naming runes recorded, just focus on the name.¡± Ursus¡¯s tone held calm.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to continuously heal this time. With five of us we should be able to out-pace it,¡± Eve said.

    Kaden closed his eyes, ignoring the smell of blood and the way his insides twisted. Viktor had said Abyss Lords were mysteries. If he could expose one? It was worth a little blood. This time, the memory came stronger, faster. She hadn¡¯t just cut her arm, she¡¯d carved runes into it, each distinct. The gutteral language was spoken with care, the words harsh but crisp as though she¡¯d focused on each, giving them edges like steel.

    In his memory, she spoke.

    The name unfolded.

    It wasn¡¯t just a name, it was the Abyss Lord. It was his claw, it was his fist, his face, his eyes gazing from the depths of a Hell to take in everything. That is what had killed the commoners. Not the words, but the presence of something so alien, so evil life evaporated-evap¡ªeeeeee.

    This time, Kaden did scream, locked in the moment where a Abyss Lord had gazed upon him. Even in the memory, it happened, and for a split second, Kaden understood that hearing or remembering an Abyss Lord¡¯s name was being in their presence.

    The only think keeping it from killing him was that Kaden couldn¡¯t take in the vastness of this being. The depths, the strength, the power. But the memory shifted. The Abyss Lord¡¯s head twisted. Its eyes focused on him.

    Kaden¡¯s soul burned under withering fire, but his soul wasn¡¯t empty. Three Beasts made their homes in it, and Rocky simply did not burn. The gaze of an Abyss Lord scratched an itch deep in his shell that Rocky could never quite reach. The Falcrow might have been the size of a [Storm Condor], blotting out the face of the Abyss Lord with its wings.

    The Falcrow blazed with lightning, shifted with green hail.

    And Kaden¡¯s eyes shot open.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 175,431 points of damage.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 218,223 points of damage.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 119,124 points of damage.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 211,309 points of damage.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new Resistance: Resist Infernal.

    Your skill with Resist Infernal has increased.

    Your skill with Resist Infernal has increased.

    Your skill with Resist Infernal has increased.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 74,777 points of damage.

    Resilient Constitution has blocked 60,116 points of damage.

    Your skill with Resist Infernal has increased.

    Your skill with Resist Suffocation has increased.

    He took a deep breath, and sagged back onto the bed. His clothes were wet. Blood? Sweat? Worse? Hard to say. Trella gripped him tightly.

    His health sat at fifty seven points, his mana at zero. ¡°How do I have Mana Shock?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at the book!¡± Ursus shouted at Eve as she slammed it shut. ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn anything? That¡¯s the Name of the fifth Abyss Lord. Not part of it. Not an echo of it. That¡¯s the name. ¡°He of Ice and Blood, He who Commands Legions, He who Conquered Shabath with only a Pizza Cutter. There¡¯s more but I¡¯d rather not have you all lose a level.¡±

    ¡°He saw me.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t say more. And there lay a gap in his memories, like a sore in his mouth he couldn¡¯t help running his tongue over. Eve had said she¡ªDesmona?¡ªwas doing something. Rangers were shooting her. In between, an emptiness that burned.¡±

    Ursus took three more tubes from Inventory. ¡°These are the other pages. We were certain at the time they were a fire, ice, and life spell. What spell they are now, no one¡¯s been dumb enough to try and find out. You earned it.¡±

    Kaden accepted them and tried to sit up. ¡°Ashi?¡±

    ¡°She sent a bird an hour ago,¡± Eve said. ¡°She¡¯s waiting for us down at the Feast.¡±

    There wouldn¡¯t be any feasting for Kaden. ¡°I need to sleep.¡±

    Trella helped him up. ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°For you?¡± Ursus stood and scowled. ¡°You rest. You party. You relax. You heal. This isn¡¯t just a strike. This is the key to an assassination. We can murder the fith Abyss Lord in his home. Wreck the order of Hell. And by We, I don¡¯t mean you. Or Him, though I bet he¡¯d join if we asked.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m done with Demons for a while. Let¡¯s go sit at the Feast and eat.¡±

    Eve went ahead and came back, leading them to Ashi¡¯s table. ¡°Kaden did something Kadenish for magic scrolls that are just pages from a book that isn¡¯t Vichorean, and an Abyss Lord looked at him.¡±

    Ashi swore in Vichorean. ¡°Were they Chrono Mana spells? Was this reason to risk yourself?¡±

    ¡°No idea.¡± Kaden passed her the set. ¡°I can¡¯t read them, but they¡¯re not Chrono. These three are fire, ice and life. That one¡¯s a mystery.¡±

    Ashi unwound her forearm wrap and held the three she knew. Her skin turned green, then red, then white-blue. ¡°Agreed. They are at least second tier. The fire may be third tier, but Fire is hard to guage.¡±

    She took the last scroll and held it close, her eyes unfocused. Her skin turned back to the deep tan it always was. In a blink, the page disappeared, banished to her Inventory. ¡°Do not speak of this. You wished to show Trella Vichor. So it will be.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden rarely argued with Ashi. ¡°This is getting out of hand. Every time I find some kind of artifact, it¡¯s Vichorean. Or it¡¯s dangerous, or we ¡®must take it to mother.¡¯ If they want it, let Vichor come and get it.¡±

    ¡°Did you not wish to show Trella? These are not some prize for the Librarians of Vichor, may their dillegence always remain. These are mine. I do not have a spellbook like most [Mages]. I would need dozens, if not hundreds. But these are the foundation of power to come.¡±

    That piqued Trella¡¯s interest. ¡°At Twenty-Five, I¡¯m going to take the Sisters up on using Nocto condensate. Show me this ¡®power¡¯.¡±

    ¡°I cannot without a binding, but the magic you sense is not the spells, it is the pages themselves. I will have them re-bound and seek more. They will call to their brothers to let me find them. I will go alone if I must.¡±

    That was a problem, not just because Ashi would be gone for weeks, but because Kaden really did have business in Vichor, even though it wouldn¡¯t take long. ¡°Fine. Trella, you come, too. Eve?¡±

    ¡°I find it lovely. Then again, no one has attempted to murder me. You know what all these murder attempts have in common? Kaden.¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t send the Falcrow after Sara. The bird had a vulgar mouth and delighted in frightening people. Instead, he hunted her down with Wisp 71¡¯s help, and found her sitting in a commisary tent, surrounded by Rangers with their own planning books. ¡°Sara.¡±

    It was like him calling her name woke her from a dream. She quickly stifled the frustration, showing only the happy smile she always carried.

    Trella tapped on his hand in [Rogue] code. She¡¯s enjoying herself. Or she was before we arrived.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready. Is it a demon incursion?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Or are we being summoned to account for our actions. Did you find a precious artifact that will end the world in a pit? Did we find a pit of any sort?¡±

    Her tone wasn¡¯t humerous.

    ¡°I want to show Trella Vichor. You look¡­tired. Why don¡¯t you rest at the Grove? Work on planning for the Town? It¡¯s only going to be a day. That¡¯ll give you a few weeks to relax and work on your Profession.¡± Kaden watched her body language. He¡¯d picked up skills for reading emotions and sensing lies in Omnor. He didn¡¯t need [Relive the Moment] to see Sara was tired.

    ¡°I could do that. There¡¯s so much planning,¡± Sara said, her voice quiet. ¡°I could do that. Can¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Kaden said. ¡°If you need to, there are dozens of summons scrolls under the bed in my room at the Holding. Toss one into a FarPortal and you can join us.¡±

    [Read Emotion] signaled relief. That Sara was grateful. Then she looked over her shoulder at Feris and smiled.

    *You know, having a [Ranger] in the party wouldn¡¯t be so bad,* Trella sent. *Someone for Sara to talk contracts with. ¡®Clause me, baby! Clause me again!*

    Kaden had to stifle the laugh. ¡°We¡¯ll see you soon. Not too soon.¡±

    Ashi waited for them outside the tent. ¡°Why do you always look like this? A return to our home does not have to mean disaster. Just because it has always done so does not mean it will.¡±

    ¡°This time will be different. This time, you have me.¡± Trella led the way to the FarPortal.

    When Ashi touched it, it changed into a rainbow of light that overflowed.

    ¡°Now,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Before you go, you must understand. There is no stealing. There is no murder. There is no¡ª¡±

    Trella had already stepped through. Kaden ignored Ashi¡¯s glare and followed.

 Eleven - Scaley

    Vichor was beautiful. That was all Kaden could think as he emerged from a FarPortal in the Royal gardens. The sun shone down in brilliant yellow against a deep blue sky. In the distance, clouds gathered for a thunderstorm that would arrive near midnight, and the grass was greener, the plants in the garden more active than he¡¯d ever seen them. Kaden stored his coat to return to Olidar later and looked for Trella.

    She wasn¡¯t there, but that didn¡¯t mean disaster.

    Kaden summoned Trinity, Vip, and Rocky, letting them all out to wander. A few minutes later, Ashi stepped through the FarPortal. Her wraps transformed from deep tan to almost crystaline white, and her mana stones began to glow as they absorbed ambient mana in every flavor.

    ¡°Eve is right behind me,¡± Ashi said.

    It was less than ten minutes before Eve stepped through.

    She stored her coat and unbraided her hair, taking in deep breaths. ¡°I presume Trella took off before we arrived?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s probably exploring everything,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I did warn her not to enter houses. She probably won¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Asha!¡± A woman called as she ran to meet her. Ah, this was Ashi¡¯s sister, the [Fate Weaver] Pretash. ¡°Fate has been kind to you. You are stronger.¡±

    ¡°Do I thank you? Is this your work?¡± Ashi produced the tubes, showing pages.

    ¡°It is forbidden that I, or anyone, even Mother, tamper with [Fate] for a family member. But this is good. You are only a Fate Weaver for now. Fate Guardian is your role in the weave, and for that you will need more power.¡± Pretash looked to the others. ¡°Najur gives an award in the south garden. Come.¡±

    She willed open a portal, and Kaden headed through with the others following. He¡¯d been here once. The Queen¡¯s garden, though he didn¡¯t sense her nearby. That meant the royal zoo was here, and his goal.

    Najur stood with a Mage, speaking in quiet whispers, as the man wept, then gave the [Mage] a hug, and produced from Inventory a small book, which only made the man cry more.

    A few moments later, he stalked over to wrap Ashi, too, in a hug. ¡°It is so good to see you, Sister.¡±

    ¡°Please. I cannot breath!¡± Ashi pushed him away. ¡°You have meditated. You have grown one with Vichor. And stronger!¡±

    Najur¡¯s face turned red and he looked away. ¡°I have done only as I must. Did you hear? Estoban discovered the basis of [Lightning Bolt], [Primal Bolt]. It is a terrible spell, worse in every way than [Lightning Bolt], but what knowledge!¡±

    ¡°What did you say to him?¡± Kaden asked.

    Najur thought for a moment. ¡°He ask of me, ¡®What is my work now? What is my legacy?¡¯ I told him perhaps his life¡¯s work would be his family. His legacy, his love for them. His duty to Vichor is fulfilled. Asha has told me of your request. It is a difficult one, but I will not say no.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll give me a dragon scale from the undead dragon?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°She will do so for me. Deciding is not the difficult part. Surviving, that is difficult. Ghenia is Death Mana made incarnate. To survive this, we must counter her being with Life Mana. But that is for tonight, not now. I have adjusted Vichor¡¯s time so you may relax without fear. Now, Asha, show me these pages!¡± Najur led them back to the pavillion.

    Kaden stayed put, playing a hunch. ¡°Wisp 71, you there?¡±

    After long moments, Wisp 71 blazed into existence, a ball of light the size of Kaden¡¯s head as Vichor¡¯s rich mana engorged it.

    ¡°You¡¯re the largest Wisp I¡¯ve every seen anywhere. Can you find me Trella?¡±

    The oversized wisp began to bob back and forth, leading out of the garden and through the streets of Vichor, to a pavillion where Mages crowded around, shouting encouragement¡ªand conflicting instructions.

    Trella sat at a bench in the middle, surrounded by Mages, her Alchemy kit open, and even the ¡°grind¡± kit set up. ¡°Now, here¡¯s the reaction again. The materials haven¡¯t changed, but watch what happens when I charge it with even more mana.¡±

    Kaden loved the smile on Trella¡¯s face. Sure she was a scout. And a kind of assassin. But she took joy in creating, whether it was healing potions or mixes so foul the System warned her against using them.

    This was happiness, watching the people he cared about find their own hapiness.

    ¡°Less Mana!¡± several [Mages] shouted in unison. ¡°You¡¯re overflowing the capacity of the ingredients. You need to give it time to adjust, and the time is a factor of the ingredients. The Fire Mana from your burner¡ª¡±

    It broke down into arguments. Was it the heat? Was it the fire? Was it the mana? Was it an interaction of the fire mana through the flasks that let the ingredients hold the mana that would turn literal shit into actual potions?

    Trella couldn¡¯t hold her own on magical theory, but the interaction with Alchemy, well, she was the only Alchemist, and even if someone left Vichor to learn, she had years of experience on them. She spotted him watching and gave him a wave¡ªthen leaped back into an argument. ¡°Fine, you think that will work? Let¡¯s try it. Put your hand right here. You don¡¯t need both hands, do you?¡±

    Oh, he¡¯d heard that tone before and knew the outcome.

    ¡°This, it is not so awful.¡± Ashi had snuck up beside him. ¡°The people of Vichor are too trusting. Too open with power. Too sharing with destruction, to allow the world in. But it was, for thousands of years, a place of learning and peace. Let it be so again.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t practice Alchemy.¡±

    ¡°It is a derivative of magic, not the source. Though the practical applications are intriguing. You said you would speak to Pretash. I must warn you, she may not alter [Fate] for you, as it would affect mine.¡±

    Kaden turned and headed toward the gardens, trusting Trella to decide when she was done. ¡°I don¡¯t want [Fate]. I don¡¯t want to change it, I don¡¯t want to follow it. I just want to be.¡±

    ¡°The Loom of Fate weaves lives together. It protects against Cataclysms. It is no shame, to be a fiber of steel in the weave of the world.¡± Ashi didn¡¯t open the portal, instead taking the long route to the garden.

    There, Pretash waited, along with Najur¡¯s younger brothers. ¡°Asha asked, and I am pleased to assist. What questions do you bear?¡±

    Kaden took a seat, this was going to take a while. ¡°I want to understand [Twist of Fate]. I won¡¯t back away and watch people die, not even if it¡¯s ¡®Fate¡¯s Design.¡¯ So how do I avoid damaging the weave the way Oberix did?¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Fate is not gentle. It does not care for the individual,¡± Pretash began, then launched into an explanation that took hours.

    The purpose of Fate was never to reward or punish. People were the basis of of the weave, and it was people, not magic, not skills, or abilities, which held off on the cataclysms that massacred commoners. With every Cataclysm, the System adapated to produce stronger Adventurers who would protect the weaker ones. Fate was often harsh, occasionally unjust. Pretash believed strongly in [Fate] but Kaden thought that was because her family was largely safe from it.

    Which led to his most important question. ¡°Let¡¯s say I decide Fate¡¯s got it wrong and I take a Karmic penalty. How long until that gets reduced? Or is it only when the penalty hits? Or until I pass another branch of Fate?¡±

    ¡°There are ways to balance your actions. You have a Profession already, but perhaps you could train for another. I cannot promise this, but I will ask on your behalf. You did much to restore the weave in Omnor.¡± Pretash gave him a respectful bow.

    Which led Kaden to his next ask. ¡°Is there any place in Vichor which is actually safe? Somewhere I could store a weapon I don¡¯t want destroyed but don¡¯t want stolen? Even my Dungeon could be broken, or the core smashed.¡± He drew from Inventory [Fate Breaker], the knife which could undo any binding. ¡°I¡¯m not giving this to you. I¡¯m not giving it to anyone, but trusing Dominion to protect something like this worries me.¡±

    It was clear from the moment he asked, Pretash didn¡¯t like the blade. If he didn¡¯t know better, he¡¯d say it was fear driving her as she refused to take it. ¡°I do not know. I will ask. You do not enjoy our mother¡¯s company, so I ask on your behalf, and will tell you. Asha, will you go with me?¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± Ashi accepted [Fate Breaker] from Kaden. ¡°Do not believe those who say ¡®Never should such a thing exist. The Fate Weavers cannot cover the entire weave of the world. Fate is not infallible. And I would trust the heart of someone who cares more than a thousand prophets.¡±

    ¡°Technically, I have [Prophecy]¡ª¡± Kaden thought better of technicalities. ¡°I think I¡¯m going to go find something to eat.¡±

    ¡°Evelyn cooks now, in the market,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Go and enjoy it.¡±

    Eve had a crowd.

    Eve worked the griddle and heat-stone before her with a ferocity Kaden rarely saw, with Trinity at her side, charring meat. Vip also assisted by waiting in faith for Trinity to accidentally drop a chunk every so often.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t convinced it was an accident.

    This was like Trella¡¯s battle with Desmona, the art and skill on display worth savoring as much as the end product, as Eve drained noodles, whipped sauce that smelled tangy and bitter, then plated. She flinched as a plate slipped and shattered, but the cheers of the crowd encouraged her onward.

    ¡°Stuffed [Terror Bird] on egg noodles with a biquma splatter and sweet honey mellon chunks,¡± Eve said, serving plate after plate. Then she looked over to Trinity. ¡°And [Twice Charred Meat].¡±

    Strangely, Trinity didn¡¯t have a line of people demanding her dish. She did have Vip begging, pleading, and Trinity loved her own cooking.

    It was so rare to see Eve with even a hair out of place, that watching her eat her meal with flecks of sauce still on one cheek and her platinum braide falling out of the hair net made him smile. ¡°That was an amazing job.¡±

    ¡°I appologize,¡± She said through mouthfuls. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be here, so I didn¡¯t save you any.¡±

    Kaden had picked up a plate of stir-fried vegetables and a bowl of soup from a vendor. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I got to watch the performance. Good work, too, Trinity. And Vip, the world¡¯s furriest sous chef.¡±

    There wasn¡¯t much to say with good food to eat and beautiful Beasts to keep him company, but as the sun set, he began to worry about Trella.

    Ashi returned without her sister, or [Fate Breaker]. ¡°It will not be taken now, and I swear before the System, if you ask, it will be yours, no matter what the [Fate Weavers] desire.¡±

    Oath heard and acknowledged. The weapon [Fate Breaker] must be returned to Kaden Birch immediately on request. Breaking this oath will: UNMAKE_REALM.

    ¡°Najur waits at the zoo for you,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I wonder if it would be better to find another dragon. This one was meant to show Najur true power and make him desire it. Father never understood, Najur craves peace over power.¡±

    One of the things Kaden liked about him. ¡°What are you doing with those pages?¡±

    ¡°Mother had made from a thread of them a charm to help me seek more. They will be bound into the living spine of a book. I must find the hide for the cover and bring it to them. This book will welcome new pages as we find them, and with two Tier Two spells, I will be even more magnificent.¡±

    ¡°Two. There¡¯s four pages.¡± Kaden knew how to count to nineteen on fingers and toes. Once he¡¯d been able to count to twenty, but an accident with an axe he hid from his parents had reduced that slightly. The point was, four was definitely more than two.

    ¡°One is a tier three spell. And one is a Class Evolution. I will not be able to use it until I am a Centurion. Not even Mother knows what it does. They will remain hidden here until I can use them. Now, let us get you this scale.¡± Ashi led him through the gardens to the zoo, where King Najur waited alone.

    ¡°Come,¡± he said. ¡°Ashi tells me you have a skill you can unlock through Dragon scales.¡±

    Kaden explained about the Must Obtain Many quest. How it was probably meant to add power to someone who already had [Beast Form] but he was gambling it would unlock the skill. Since higher tier skills were meant to be learned from older members of a class, Kaden¡¯s only option was to find edge conditions.

    ¡°It is a reasonable premise and a worthy goal. Now, I will set rules for your survival. You must not speak to the dragon, even if it chooses to speak to you. You must not step in its domain, only I will do so. You move as I say, you act as I say, and I will do my best. Here, the greatest [Life Mages] in Vichor wait to asssist.¡± Najur pointed ahead. Near the Dragon¡¯s domain, a group of Vichoreans waited, almost all of them Centurions in dark green robes.

    Kaden was less certain by the moment.

    ¡°Only in darkness does the Dragon truly manifest. Death walks unseen by day.¡± Najur gazed up at the bone bars. And the Dragon that materialied behind them. Unlike when Kaden had disturbed it, he didn¡¯t sense active malice.

    Najur swung his legs over the edge. ¡°When I was young, I would come here to hide from Uri or Jagi. Not even they dared approach. But she is not evil, any more than Death is evil, any more than Mana is evil.¡±

    The Dragon¡¯s head was taller than Jagi, but the skull descended to brush his hand.

    ¡°Kaden Birch, approach the edge. Mages, empower him.¡± Najur motioned for Kaden to come closer. As he did, all the mages began channelling healing into Kaden. His life counter rocketed into what Eve called Over Heal, then the number continued to climb, glitching, becoming letters, then question marks, then __ERROR__.

    ¡°If you truly desire this, place your hand on her skull.¡±

    Now was not the time to back out.

    He pressed his hand on the cold bone. The ice cold bone.

    The endless expanse of eternity, of oblivion. The forever that came for all that lived, patient and unyielding, that looked on cataclysms and laughed and stalked the strongest relentlessly. Centurions mattered nothing.

    This Dragon had seen stars born and die, witnessed an explosion at the start of the universe and the last crackle of motion as cold claimed all at the end, and now, Kaden had offered himself to it. It wasn¡¯t evil, but an offering was always welcome.

    Kaden¡¯s health counter had gone wild, reducing from the error to question marks.

    He knew why. To receive a scale from a Death Mana Dragon was to take a physical, solid piece of Death into him. So be it.

    You have received: 1x Dragon Scale (Death)

    Quest Updated: Must Obtain Many (Part 1)! - Obtain three Dragon Scales (2/3) Reward: Beast Form Slot.

    But Kaden¡¯s health continued to rocket downward, one point at a time.

    Najur shouted.

    Kaden yanked his hand back as the counter continued to drop. ¡°Ashi. When I say to, hit me with lightning, hard as you can.¡±

    The Life Mages worked to heal him, but the scale he now saw burned into the top of his right hand was death, and death would not be denied.

    ¡°Ready?¡± He couldn¡¯t actually count the drop, it was too steep. But he could exploit a glitch. ¡°Now!¡±

    Ashi didn¡¯t hestitate. Lightning exploded from her hands, striking him like a thunderclap.

    The world went silent and black.

    Resilient Constitution blocks 6,99 points of damage

    __ERROR_HEALTH_LOCKED__

    __ERROR_PROCEDURE_VIOLATION__

    CONSISTENCY CHECKER INVOKED.

    Health may not go negative.

    Health is locked.

    Procedure terminated.

    CONSISTENCY CHECKER ENDS.

    Kaden opened his eyes. Ashi stood over him. His health would rise and then lazily drop, then rise more and drop, then finally, just rise. ¡°I¡¯m alive.¡±

    On his hand, a black scale sat beside the golden one. One more to go, and [Beast Form] would probably unlock. He¡¯d asked [Druids] and unlocking a [Taming] slot always unlocked the skill. Anything would be worth it. His second Tier Two skill would make him that much more deadly.

    Kaden sat up, unsteady.

    Someone went sailing far overhead, while Ashi sprinted, using [Hover] at the last moment to catch Najur. He stumbled back to Kaden, surrounded by [Life Mages] who worked to heal him. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her so angry. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t think she would do that. I told her to grant you a scale. That should have left an outline.¡±

    Kaden was more interested in a second notification.

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Death.

    Your skill with Resist Death has increased.

    He checked his status sheet. ¡°How exactly do I ¡®Resist Death¡¯?¡±

 Twelve - Dismembered

    Najur had no idea how ¡®Resist Death¡¯ worked, and neither did any of Vichor¡¯s other scholars. Death was a state, not a damage type. Eve¡ªand other healers¡ªwere certain that when your health hit zero, it was time to die.

    Kaden had his own theory. Mana Shock hit when mana reached zero. Maybe Death was similar. The same way that being tier two meant not collapsing from Mana Shock, perhaps Resist Death left him at zero, with a sliver of a chance to heal before there was no going back. He wasn¡¯t eager to try again¡ªor to increase his resistance. After repeatedly thanking Najur, Kaden went to find Trella.

    He found her, all right, surrounded by Mages in the market, drinking coffee and accepting all manner of gifts. ¡°You look like you¡¯re doing well.¡±

    ¡°You look like death,¡± Trella said. Then squinted. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    Kaden showed her his hand. ¡°Two dragon scales. One more. One more and I unlock [Beast Form]. I don¡¯t know how I was supposed to do it, but I know how I will.¡±

    Ashi and Eve took places beside Trella.

    ¡°So,¡± Ashi said, ¡°How is my home, now that you have seen it?¡±

    ¡°Too focused on what could be to see the power in what is.¡± Trella took a potion out of Inventory. ¡°That. That¡¯s a tier seven potion. My skill is level four, it¡¯s always possible to brew potions one tier out of range. Here, I¡¯m not sure the limits apply. Also, you should go visit your griffin soon and take me with you.¡±

    Kaden studied the flask. ¡°What does it do?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. It¡¯s an attribute boost. If my [Alchemy] skill were higher I would have been able to influence which attribute it affects. As it is, I¡¯m damned lucky I was able to brew it at all, but Nieman said brewing higher tier potions is the key to advancing.¡± Trella passed it around. ¡°Tier five boosts are temporary. Tier ten boosts are usually one point and permanent. There¡¯s a fifty/fifty chance this is permanent.¡±

    ¡°Take it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We¡¯re not in a fight. If it boosts your Soul and then drops it, you won¡¯t be hurt. If it raises it permanently, you know and will use it.¡±

    Eve nodded. ¡°You should take it. It¡¯s your potion.¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°I used Griffin¡­extract. They don¡¯t have mana skills, so their magic enhances their attributes. I think it¡¯s going to be strength or HP, and both of those are Kaden¡¯s department.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree,¡± Eve said. ¡°You made the potion. You will be able to make more, in time.¡±

    Ashi pushed the potion back toward Trella. ¡°It is your power. Your skill. Your sacrifice and practice.¡±

    Trella grasp the flask, opened it and poured the contents into her mouth, drinking in steady chugs. To Kaden, she momentarily glowed a deep forest green. Then belched, long and loud. ¡°That was disgusting.¡±

    ¡°What is it doing?¡± Eve asked, leaning in. ¡°Soul. Tell me it¡¯s increased your soul. Assassins always need more soul.¡±

    ¡°Intelligence,¡± Ashi said. Then, as Trella glared at her. ¡°She was already intelligent. Now she will be more so.¡±

    Kaden kept his mouth shut. ¡°I love you no matter what stat goes up.¡±

    ¡°Weird. It increased ¡®Constitution¡¯ by two. Permanently. I don¡¯t know how to describe it. It¡¯s like I¡¯m that much harder to hurt. It isn¡¯t what I would have chosen, but any stat upgrade is good.¡± Trella hunched over. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s so rank.¡±

    Eve yawned. ¡°I would like to sleep.¡±

    Sleep. The idea hit him like a down hill wagon aimed at a line of orphans and filled with lead plates, steered by a mad priest. Which was definitely not something that had happened in Verona more than once. ¡°I¡¯ve got room for three in my house. Ashi?¡±

    ¡°Mother would like to speak to me. I choose to remain.¡± She smiled as she lay back in the grass and looked at the stars. ¡°Always, these stars were cold and uncaring. Now I see them as beautiful.¡±

    That probably had to do with not having a murderous brother hunting her, but it seemed rude to point out. Kaden half-carried Trella to his house. ¡°Eve, the spare bedroom is yours. We can bathe tomorrow in the public baths.¡±

    The farm-house style decore made Kaden feel at home. The two foot wide wisp who came out to bob back and forth made him less so. He summoned Trinity and Vip and let them climb the stairs. ¡°Vip. Are you with me?¡±

    *Love.* Vip turned into the spare bedroom and leaped onto the bed.

    ¡°You said love. And you¡¯re going into her bedroom?¡± Kaden tried not to shout. Her love for Eve was pure and returned. It would be ok.

    He looked to Trinity. ¡°You want me to turn on the heat stone so you can cook?¡±

    She shuffled to his side of the bed and lay down on the stone, resting her blind head where it could stare at him all night long.

    ¡°Wake up, you¡¯re wearing armor.¡± Kaden helped Trella strip down to her wraps, then tucked her in. Her armor still carried stains from Desmona. Kaden lay down next to Trella, tracing the line of her jaw. The gash that had probably been meant for her throat. The place on her scalp where the hair never grew back after one of her accidents. Every last one a trophy of a trial she¡¯d survived.

    When the storms rolled through, shaking Vichor with thunder and lightning, Kaden finally found a way to sleep.

    ###

    Morning came late, clear skies, a fresh wind from the south and the screams of terror as a [Lightning Storm] spell grew out of control until it towered over Vichor. Kaden took the opportunity to gain [Resist Lightning] and a good reason to trim his hair.

    Trella and Eve waited until the mages of Vichor got control of the weather before joining up with Ashi for breakfast. Ashi seemed worried. ¡°Time. Time has been reset to deal with the storm. We must not abandon Sara.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the protocol? Do I need to thank your brother or request permission to leave?¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help the unease at having to face Ashi¡¯s mother.

    Ashi laughed. ¡°By the blessing of the King, you go out to tend your dungeon and destroy erratic dungeons. We leave as we will.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready now,¡± Trella said. ¡°I want to go home. This place is amazing, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m cut out for Vichor. People keep giving me reagents instead of making me take terrible deals. And it¡¯s everything I can do to not take advantage of that.¡±

    Eve clapped, and Vip jumped up into her lap. ¡°There, I¡¯ve packed.¡±

    Kaden understood. Trinity was hunting deer-men in his soul, Rocky was laying in what was probably acid in his dreams. ¡°Ashi, is your spellbook ready?¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°I must find the hide for the cover. I will search the world to find the other pages. Fate will guide me where I need to be.¡±

    Trella was careful to hide her eyeroll. ¡°Will we wind up back where we were? Will we wind up out in the middle of nowhwere like Kaden did?¡±

    ¡°We went there to avoid the eyes of the King,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We will return to the Grove. Najur sends regards, but the east Librarians have lodged a formal complaint against the south Librarians.¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Kaden stopped at the FarPortal. ¡°I¡¯ll go through first.¡±

    ¡°Before you do, Pretash would like to speak to you,¡± Ashi said. ¡°She waits in the south garden, and says ¡®you will need to tell him I wait alone, Mother is not here.¡¯¡±

    Kaden headed to the south garden, passing a team of mages attempting to create a single endless portal which would either allow unlimited travel or turn the realm inside out and kill everyone. He wished them luck.

    In the south garden, vast swaths of earth lay ripped up and plants died everywhere. Sitting among the destruction was Ashi¡¯s sister, who hovered an inch above the stone bench beneath her, reading from a book so wide it took both hands for her to turn it. ¡°Asha gave you my message. She spoke of your hatred of [Fate], and your fear of [Destiny.]¡±

    ¡°I never told her I was afraid of¡­¡± She¡¯d probably sensed it. ¡°¡®Destiny¡¯ is the reason I wasn¡¯t allowed to be a [Ranger] or [Shadow Blade]. Destiny tore away my earliest skills and prevented me from getting a Class,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And [Fate], I¡¯ve seen what it can do.¡±

    Pretash turned a page. ¡°The Weave of Fate is a guard-fence against Cataclysms. Fate draws the lesser to their purpose. Destiny is more powerful. Destiny increases the strength of those around you. Is this terrible?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind Sara, or Trella, or Eve getting more powerful, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°The [Shadow Blade]. Your love. Every skill you lost, did she not gain one? Has this set her on a path to power? Or Sara, the end of all. You made a business agreement with her, true?¡±

    Kaden nodded.

    ¡°And did it not say, you would share some skills and experience? So you were able to soul bind your first beast, the lovely dog. And her Cosmic Horror grew more powerful, evolving skills and levels as your beasts do. Indeed, each of your companions has grown more powerful, and their pets as well.¡±

    ¡°Not Eve.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t certain about Wren, either. ¡°Eve¡­¡±

    ¡°Was barely human when she met you. The damage to her soul was extreme. Oblivion might have been kinder. And yet she survives, stronger now, and stronger to be in time. You are bound up in Destiny, this is true. It affects all around you, also true. But embrace it, and you will see kings turn away when you pass, and Emperors pray your path runs through another mountain.¡± Pretash closed her book, and as it did, it shimmered and dissolved into fragments of light. ¡°When Asha is more skilled as a [Fate Weaver], she can counteract [Twist of Fate]¡¯s side effects. That is all I can say for now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kaden would need to think on it.

    Pretash gave him a short bow and stepped aside as an earthquake struck, rending another gaping hole in the garden. ¡°When all is destroyed, it is time to rebuild. Remember that.¡±

    Kaden hated cryptic messages. They tended to precede bloody moments in his life, so instead, he sprinted back to the FarPortal, where Eve had already empowered it.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, heading through. Cold punched him in the gut, not the miserable cold of early winter but the bitter, deep cold of true winter. Right behind him came Trella and then Ashi and Eve.

    ¡°Coat!¡± Trella shouted as she drew hers from Inventory. ¡°We are going straight to the island when we get home.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the Falcrow to Sara. There weren¡¯t many Druids moving around, and when he attempted to summon Trinity, she protested. ¡°Wisp 71, I¡¯d really like to find Sara. Since you¡¯re the smartest wisp in the forest, you can do it.¡±

    Wisp 71 burst into existence¡ªstill ridiculously large.

    The other wisps that bobbed between trees scattered. 71 showed zero awareness that it wasn¡¯t a miniscule point of light. It led them through various Treespaces and out onto a frozen rope bridge, then down a spiral staircase inside a tree that went ever deeper.

    Roots hung down from the floor as they opened out into a cave. 71¡¯s glow cast light across the cave¡ªand the woman who stood, studying plans on the table. Sara¡¯s hair looked tangled. Her armor lay in a heap over by a cot. She didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Go away.¡±

    ¡°Not happening,¡± Kaden said. He took the last step into the cave, through a shower of beautiful sparks. Sara looked up, then raced to hug him. ¡°You. And you, come here. You, too, Eve.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather¡ªthere, there.¡± Eve said it mechanically as she patted Sara¡¯s back. ¡°How long have you been down here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been three weeks since you left. It¡¯s been ten days since I caught Feris bragging to his friends about how he was using me to level his profession, then had the audacity to demand I treat him to something special in bed that night. I did.¡± Sara stepped back. ¡°Since then, I¡¯ve been focusing on planning. And putting off Ignus by saying you were in another dimension. And also restricted down here because of what I did to Feris.¡±

    Kaden looked to Trella and used [Mind Speech]. *Is this a tough-love scenario or a woman¡¯s touch situation?*

    ¡°Did you kill him?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°No.¡± Sara ran her hands over one of her pseudopods. ¡°Ravena says they¡¯ll regrow his¡ª¡±

    Trella burst out laughing. ¡°Ok, then I don¡¯t need to go take care of it, you already did. But you reek. You¡¯re filthy, you¡¯re sad. I don¡¯t know when your last good meal was, and it¡¯s freezing here. Let¡¯s get you back to the Holding. And showered. And fed.¡±

    ¡°I can help with two of the three,¡± Eve said.

    Kaden could help with one problem. He opened a Portal to the surface of the Grove, right by the FarPortal. ¡°After you, ladies.¡±

    Trella hauled Sara by the wrist through the Portal, and Eve followed, activating the FarPortal immediately.

    Kaden¡¯s portal wavered, distorting. ¡°Go on, Ashi and I can handle this.¡±

    He let the portal close and gathered up all of Sara¡¯s stuff, carefully stacking the planning documents and her organizer. As he finished, footsteps on the stairs drew his attention.

    ¡°Stealth Aura?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden would meet this head on with diplomacy. He recognize the Druid at the lead. ¡°Ravena.¡±

    ¡°Kaden?¡± The curvy druid with long black hair and deep green robes waved to the others to stay back. ¡°I came to talk to Sara Scylla. The Council has reached a decision, she¡¯s banned from this Grove for a year, which is about how long it will take to regrow¡­parts. How, may I ask, did you remove her? This area is warded.¡±

    Ashi summoned a portal. ¡°We go as we please.¡±

    ¡°And the spell barrier?¡± Ravena said. ¡°It should have knocked you out when you set foot in the room, assuming it didn¡¯t outright kill you.¡±

    Kaden checked his notifications. Now his health level made more sense. ¡°Didn¡¯t see anything like that. That would have hit for, oh, probably eighteen hundred and seventy three points of damage. That¡¯s a random number I came up with, not something I read from a notification.¡±

    Ravena crossed her arms. ¡°Well, I came to remove her. She¡¯s gone. You¡¯re still welcome here, and I hope you won¡¯t be a stranger. A year is nothing. Is your [Shield Tree] growing?¡±

    ¡°Slowly.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re feeding it demons, right?¡± Ravena raised an eyebrow.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t fed it anything. ¡°How would I feed it something it repels?¡±

    ¡°You have an axe. Chop them up, spread them around the roots. It¡¯ll be fifty feet tall by summer.¡± Ravena sighed. ¡°The Rangers know what happened was Feris¡¯s fault. Any man who acts like that should expect to be dismembered. Literally. But he¡¯s the Forest Saint¡¯s protege. Just¡ªdon¡¯t bring her back for a while.¡±

    Ashi bowed. ¡°It will not happen. Unless you call for us. Then it will happen. Or unless the Rangers desire Kaden¡¯s skills. It will happen then, too. It was a pleasure to see you, Ravena. Kaden does not sing often. It is easy to see why you inspired him.¡±

    ¡°The banishment is still a year,¡± Ravena said. ¡°Hold on, let me reinforce the spell ward. There. I¡¯d like to see you avoid that.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s portal was perfect and rock solid and didn¡¯t shake or rotate or smoke or spill dead cattle like Kaden¡¯s sometimes did. She kept her smile prim. ¡°You should reinforce more.¡±

    Kaden stepped through to the FarPortal and dispatched a bird to a PortalMage at the Guild. He¡¯d grown used to Eve¡¯s work and any FarPortal that didn¡¯t end upside down or in a cartwheel felt wrong.

    Snow covered the Holding, fully covering thefarmhouse. On one side, a drift reached the second story windows, and the fences weren¡¯t even visible. Ashi climbed onto Kaden¡¯s back and he trudged through the snow to the back side, where he opened the door to the master bedroom, then set down Ashi and shook off the snow.

    Trella showered in the spring, and waved to them. ¡°Hey. Good to see the Druids let you go.¡±

    ¡°Sara?¡± Kaden shouted as he headed to the common room. ¡°You¡¯re banned from that Grove for a year.¡±

    ¡°Not going back there. There are other groves and a FarPortal trip is a FarPortal trip.¡± Sara¡¯s voice came from upstairs.

    An actual fire blazed in the fireplace on top of the HeatStone, and Eve lounged on a couch. Kaden summoned Trinity and let her go over to rest by the fire. ¡°Where¡¯s Vip?¡±

    ¡°She won¡¯t leave Sara,¡± Eve said with a frustration that Kaden recognized.

    The [Assistant] burst into the room, cleaning the floor where Kaden had stepped, before moving on to a spot on the wall. He headed back to the bedroom to find Trella dressed in pajamas, letting Eclipse rub against her face. ¡°You can¡¯t be ready for bed. You¡¯ve been awake a few hours.¡±

    ¡°I killed a Demon¡¯s Daughter yesterday, and no, I¡¯m not going to bed, I¡¯m going downstairs to do some light potion brewing. As in heavy potion brewing. I raised my skill to level four by brewing varieties. Now I need to focus on quality.¡± She gave him a kiss and headed downstairs with a mini-panther following.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Sara called. ¡°I have good news and bad news. Would you like the good news?¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Ignus is demanding we fulfill that Quest and he¡¯s demanding we do it tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the good news?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°The good news is, we don¡¯t have to go out in the ice and the snow. We get to escort the mages through a volcanic cave network on the Southern Continent. Supposedly warm.¡±

    ¡°I have actual good news.¡± Kaden shared his system logs with Sara. ¡°[Quest Master] works. You should ask Eve how many faction tokens she got. Also, I didn¡¯t get a chance to say it, but I¡¯m sorry. I was hoping you¡¯d found someone.¡±

    ¡°Me, too. Eve! How many Faction Tokens did you get for completing that Quest?¡±

    That was the Sara he knew.

    The [Prismatic Frog Colony] was hibernating, locked in ice. Rocky would sooner eat the foundation of the farmhouse than come out, Trinity was asleep by the fire. His mind wasn¡¯t ready to sleep so soon after Vichor. Instead, he sent a message to Sevin at the Mage¡¯s tower. It was time to retrieve Skully. A [Plague] spreading undead monster was just the thing to make a farmhouse feel like a home.

 Thirteen - Favorite Monsters

    Kaden had several goals in mind and by the time he hit the FarPortal, the Falcrow was becoming very annoyed with his messages. He emerged from the portal in the Guild and headed straight to Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services.

    Mr. Dervish wasn¡¯t there, but the concierge at the front desk had a package. Kaden swore. ¡°Of course it was a [Ranger]. Of course it was. Then he noticed the note. This is the one the System says was auto-completed. The arrow head is a relic from a previous System. You can¡¯t manufature these anymore. Also, it¡¯s ten kinds of illegal, but again, Centurions don¡¯t hear ¡®no.¡¯ - J.D.

    Kaden studied the package contents. Three different kinds of bows with level fifty, seventy five, and one hundred requirements. Oddly, none of them required the [Ranger] class. The arrow head in question was clear, like glass.

    [Splinter Swarm ¡ª Arrow Head]

    This head will divide on impact. With every point of mana it draws from the target, it will further divide. Any mana regen will result in additional division.

    [Dawn Cloak]

    A cloak empowered with the light of dawn, this cloak will let you see in all conditions as though it were early dawn. [Blind] will not remove this ability. This cloak may not be worn with the [Sunset Cloak]. This cloak costs a thousand mana to bind, but no mana to use thereafter. This cloak will regenerate slowly if damaged, or faster if fed mana.

    [Sunset Cloak]

    A cloak empowered with the growing shadows of sunset. This cloak will let you cast the gentle shadows of twilight, making it easier to hide. [Stealth] class abilities are greatly enhanced while wearing this cloak. This cloak many not be worn with the [Dawn Cloak]. This cloak costs a thousand mana to bind, but no mana to use thereafter. This cloak will regenerate slowly if damaged, or faster if fed mana.

    Kaden stored everything away and opened the other package. This time, the note popped out first. This ain¡¯t what I expected, and I don¡¯t know how it¡¯s supposed to be an inheritance. That¡¯s the System for you. You¡¯ll need to go to the main Temple of Varun and meet with their priestesses. Sorry.

    Within it were three items. A wand labeled [Hand of Varun], skill scroll for [Minor Mend], a [Staff of Varun] and a thin Healer¡¯s white robes. The staff and wand resisted his attempts to [Identify] them, giving errors.

    CLASS_CONSTRAINT_NOT_MET.

    He wasn¡¯t a healer and wouldn¡¯t be, but someone at the main temple could explain. That was going to be a problem.

    Eve wouldn¡¯t be willing to go, and Kaden didn¡¯t like abandoning her, but the Quest would be worth it.

    From there, it was a quick trip across Verona to the Mage¡¯s Tower. At this time of night, only the most cursed or desperate would show up. Or Kaden. He waved to the initiate on duty.

    ¡°Curses, take the portal to the right.¡±

    ¡°Necromancers, please.¡± Kaden smiled. ¡°Sevin¡¯s expecting me.¡±

    ¡°Freak,¡± the initiate said under his breath as he activated a different portal.

    Kaden stepped through and found the Necromancers had transformed their dimension into a sandy beach. Skeletons didn¡¯t need to breathe, and they acted as guards while the actual Necromancers slept on rafts rocked by the waves.

    Jutting from the water a good five feet, Skully stood out because his bones had turned a stained wooden brown with red veins. [Plague Crows] perched in his eye sockets, and Skully¡¯s ¡®hair¡¯ bones grew all the way down to his hips on his back, while a beard of finger bones rattled. His ribs were still smooth fangs from some beast, but instead of raw bone, a fleshy red track ran down the spine.

    ¡°Skully!¡± Kaden waved.

    Skully lumbered forward, dragging a line of floats behind him, dumping the necromancers off into the water as he approached and kneeled to stare into Kaden¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Greetings.¡± The quiet voice was Sevin. He still had black mana stones embedded in his skull, but he wore only a loincloth, and the man had tanned. ¡°It¡¯s good to see he still remembers you.¡±

    Kaden had swapped the obedience binding for [Soul Binding]. Skully couldn¡¯t forget. ¡°You¡¯re looking better.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not feeling better. Not yet. I miss my sister. The food tastes wrong without poison in it. There¡¯s no [Blight] to fight here, and the other Necromancers are, frankly, weak. But it¡¯s good to be away from Omnor.Come, let me show you my work.¡± Sevin dried off with a towel and put on a thin black robe, then led the way to a set of sand castles. ¡°Right through here.¡±

    When Kaden took one more step, he stood in a lab.

    Well, it was kind of a lab like Danae¡¯s. Row upon row of undead like Skully stood, most of them with [Plague Crows] hopping back and forth.

    ¡°I¡¯ve replicated his build exactly. Down to the bone. Down to the exact bone, and still, he has something they don¡¯t. I can¡¯t put my finger on it, but none of them will devour a criminal if offered and Skully will. Their rib-jaws are joined, but only he chews.¡± Seven sighed. ¡°It¡¯s such a wonderful monster. Skully, show off, please.¡±

    Skully reached up to rip his own head off.

    Hair and beard rearranged to form legs, and the friendly animated skull Kaden knew was back. It scuttled over to wave at him. ¡°Oh, a fun-sized monster! What happens to the rest of him?¡±

    Sevin picked up Skully to show off rivets in the back of the cranium for easy access to the plague crow nest. ¡°I remembered you said you lived in a farmhouse. I¡¯ve seen your TriTerror. I thought, why not park most of Skully outside? The cold won¡¯t matter. Snow and rain won¡¯t matter. Also, what made you attach an Inventory to him?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°It seemed like a good idea.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a kleptomaniac. If it¡¯s not nailed down, he takes it, but who wants to tell him no when he¡¯s towering over you?¡± Sevin focused. ¡°Give it all back.¡±

    Small black stones clattered to the floor.

    Sevin shook him. ¡°I said all of it.¡±

    A wand, two spellbooks and six crystal balls clattered to the floor.

    ¡°See?¡± Sevin picked up the book. ¡°He¡¯s your problem now. Don¡¯t take him to the Crafters floor at the Guild or you¡¯ll have a mob after you. Oh, and he needs enrichment. Make sure he has lots of empty skulls to spread [Plague Crows] to. Check out his status.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    [Skully - Persistent Reanimation]

    This thing ought to be in a dungeon. As a matter of fact, it will be in a dungeon the moment you fall asleep. Sure, you can claim you created it from scratch, but who are people going to believe? The [Beast Master] they¡¯ve never met or their own [Identify], which will tell them the story of a mad necromancer with a fear of spiders and a loathing for salesmen? ¡°Skrider¡± sounds nice. Yes, Skriders. Which are legally distinct from Skully. What a stupid name. Next you¡¯ll be naming a zombie ¡®Moulder¡¯ and getting yourself in trouble with an [Attorney].

    Level: 5

    HP: 1200

    Mana: 25

    Skills: Bite, Wall-Crawl, Bone Net, [Various, dependent on body], Devour

    Talents: Dense

    Titles: Progenitor

    [Devour]

    By consuming the corpse of any entity with mana, you may temporarily obtain one of their skills

    [Dense]

    Your bones are near unbreakable. Since you¡¯re nothing but bones, that¡¯s a tad unbalanced. We should probably do something about that. Maybe after we fix [Bearserkers].

    [Progenitor]

    You are the first of your kind, but thanks to your actions, not the last. Any skills you develop will become bloodline attributes for your descendants. Way to get your freak on, you creepy skulliton.

    Progenitor had such potential. ¡°What counts as his descendants? Is it skulls infected with Plague Crows?¡±

    Sevin began to point out individual bones. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a bone from Skully and built it into each of these. I¡¯m hoping that¡¯s enough. Your beasts level. My creations don¡¯t, but perhaps we can bridge this divide.¡±

    Kaden shook Sevin¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll bring him by for visits. And, I¡¯d guess, you want any skulls he ¡®enriches?¡¯¡±

    ¡°They will be appreciated. In return, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll need our services to repair damage. He can heal, but so slowly, compared to what any Bone Mender can do.¡± Sevin¡¯s tone said he understood Skully would be a brute.

    ¡°Any chance I can learn that bone mending skill?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°If you dual class as a Necromancer, certainly.¡±

    That did it. Kaden was ready to take Skully home. He left them to their beach relaxation and headed out through the streets of Verona with Skully thudding along behind him. He waved to the wagons passing by. Skully waved to the wagons crashing into buildings. Skully really was the friendly sort.

    ¡°Halt!¡± A city guard shouted. ¡°Stop¡­I mean¡­who are¡­what is¡­¡±

    ¡°Skully. Kaden Birch. A reanimated skeleton spider who took over the body of a [Tomb Champion] and houses [Plague Crows]. I was heading to the Guild to leave. You really want me to stick around? He¡¯s got twelve hundred health. You¡¯ve got, what, three hundred? And that¡¯s before he uses your corpse to heal.¡± Kaden nodded to the Guild. ¡°How about you follow along behind me and keep the city safe by ensuring we leave?¡±

    The man lowered his spear. ¡°Keep walking. Straight to the Guild.¡±

    Kaden reached out and touched the spear tip. ¡°Maybe sharpen this later? Come on, Skully. You¡¯re not allowed to bone him.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± the guard shouted.

    ¡°Bone you. He strips the flesh off of things and devours the bones, and he¡¯s not allowed to do it to you.¡± Kaden pushed open the doors and led Skully through the first floor of the Guild, stopping and waiting for a [Summoner] with three full-sized elephants to pass. Skully squeezed up to the second floor, and they took the FarPortal back. At the farmhouse door, Skully ejected his head and hopped to grab Kaden¡¯s arm. Kaden stepped inside to find Sara passed out on the couch, Eve lounged in a chair, reading a book, and from the master bedroom came the strains of Trella¡¯s lute.

    ¡°Oh, look, another monster.¡± Eve yawned. ¡°Is that the same one as last time?¡±

    Skully raised a tentacle to greet Eve, which had the misfortune of looking like a rude gesture. Kaden thought he meant well.

    ¡°You have a moment?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°I need your advice. One of the Inheritance packages is for a healer. A set of artifacts ¡®of Varun.¡¯ I¡¯m going to have to go to the main temple to track down who it was supposed to go to.¡±

    Eve was rarely warm annd kind, but her normal cool nature grew ten degrees colder. ¡°And what sort of advice could I possibly offer?¡±

    ¡°Queen Bruna is the High Priestess. Is there anyone else I could meet with?¡±

    Eve shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t really have friends in that temple. You have to understand, there are no temples to Nurav. There are no other priestesses. But I do know the woman who taught us the litany. I¡¯ll send you her contact information. Just¡ªdon¡¯t ever mistake purity for kindness.¡±

    That was solid advice. Kaden left her there and headed to the bedroom to find Trella dressed in warm yellow pajamas. ¡°You look good. Skully¡¯s back. Say hello, Skully.¡±

    ¡°Is he giving me the finger?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Eclipse, feel free to eat him.¡±

    In the corner of the room, a pool of shadow opened one yellow eye and then closed it again.

    ¡°Go on,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯ll wait.¡±

    Trella put away her lute. ¡°This guard duty sounds made for a [Shadow Blade].¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my hope.¡± Kaden pulled the scroll from Ignus out. It had updated with new instructions. ¡°We meet at the Guild, jump to a city on the Southern Continent to collect our mages, from there, we FarPortal to the caves. They¡¯re Fire Mana flooded, so we won¡¯t have [Fire Mages]. The group is supposed navigate through the caverns all the way to Trunistan, where we grade them and they grade themselves. We get two gold each to spend in Trunistan.¡±

    And the faction tokens.

    ¡°And all we have to do is keep them alive?¡± Trella raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°All we have to do is keep any wandering spawns over twenty five off them. Now, if they challenge one of the bosses? Or choose to attack a spawn? Different rules.¡± Kaden referered to the second scroll. ¡°Body recovery is a must. Resurrect if we want to. Only one gold when we hit Trunistan if it¡¯s bodies.¡±

    ¡°And if they kill each other?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not¡ª¡± Kaden consulted the box. And pulled out another scroll, reading it twice before announcing it aloud. ¡°Use your imagination.¡±

    ¡°I love this Quest.¡± Trella put away the lute, as Trinity lumbered in and pushed the door shut. ¡°If you keep collecting Beasts, we¡¯re going to need a bigger bed. Eclipse already pushes me off.¡±

    Skully had climbed up the ceiling and clung to it like the chandelier from hell. He didn¡¯t need to sleep, and Kaden felt safer with him there. Also with Trinity. And Dominion. And Kaden wasn¡¯t sure what Trella would do if anyone ever tried to sneak in, but he was certain it wouldn¡¯t be gentle. When he looked out the window, the outline of the [Falcrow] said it hadn¡¯t abandoned him to go out working mischief.

    There was always tomorrow.

    ###

    Morning, in the streets of Verona, was always busy, snow, ice, storms, or not. Trade routes ran through Verona to get anywhere better, and that meant the city didn¡¯t pause. While most of the party relaxed at the Guild, Kaden was making hard choices in Beast Control.

    Fire attacks like a Drake¡¯s wouldn¡¯t be useful in a cavern of fire beasts.

    No, what he wanted was currently curled at the far end of a holding pen, covered in ice and snow, and shaking. Not from cold. From rage that it wasn¡¯t being allowed to murder humans.

    [Yattui - Blizzard¡¯s Avatar]

    This is not a yetti. Those will just freeze your body and smash it to fragments. The Yattui hasn¡¯t just been touched by [Storm] and [Ice] mana, it has embraced them. Now, in the depths of winter, it seeks to extinguish the warmth hidden away by feeble men. *This yattui did not expect to meet Centurion class Adventurers before it even finished echoing the call of doom. This is not how it was supposed to go at all.

    *Frustrated*

    Skills: Freezing Gale, Ice Plate, Ice Slide, Mangle, Brutal Blows, Blizzard¡¯s Breath.

    Talents: Antifreeze, Immovable, Brass Knuckles.

    Kaden read through the various skills. He could only pick two skills and one talent, but bonding the beast gave him options. So many options. Immovable was the easy talent choice. [Blizzard¡¯s Breath] would be deadly like [Wrath of the Furnace] but Kaden still didn¡¯t have enough mana to avoid mana shock. [Freezing Gale] was a lesser version which carried a debuff, slow, and [Ice Plate] could coat a surface in ice, probably so [Ice Slide] would work better.

    Binding Slots were becoming a real barrier to power. Soon he would need to figure out if [Soul Binding] would level on its own or if it retained the bond-based leveling of [Beast Taming].

    ¡°Are you going to stand there and stare all day?¡± Wren¡¯s voice startled Kaden.

    The ex-shield turned [Artificer] stood in the hallway with Okit by her side.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate to give her a hug. ¡°You look so good! Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at school?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on a practical project break. I have to craft something to be evaluated. I heard the Griffin hatched. I heard a lot of things.¡±

    ¡°Give me a moment.¡± Kaden dispatched the Falcrow to the Guild. ¡°Everyone else will want to see you. If I casually say ¡®And Wren says hello,¡¯ Sara will string me up. We don¡¯t have long, we have to run some mages through caverns, but anything¡¯s better than nothing.¡±

    ¡°Go.¡± Okit said, taking the clipboard from Wren. ¡°Go with them. Test your creations. The days here are quiet. There are no customers at the Big House.¡±

    Wren looked stunned. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ªI won¡¯t adventure anymore. I¡¯m never setting foot in a Dungeon again.¡±

    ¡°This is a cavern, not a dungeon,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And you¡¯re with a Dungeon Master. I recently discovered I can force people in and out of a dungeon. I had to, because of those stupid [Mirror Shields].¡±

    Wren¡¯s eyes grew round. ¡°You have a [Mirror Shield]? Is there any way I can buy it? Listen, Artificer come in eleven flavors. Some work like Alchemists, from base materials. I¡¯m a [Revisionist]. I work with the properties something already has. Changing size, shape, or combinining functions. I¡¯d love to run some experiments on your shield.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help the grin. ¡°¡®A¡¯ shield? No. You should talk to Sara. She might give you a stack of them.¡±

    He had to race her to the Guild.

 Fourteen - Ground Town

    By the time Kaden and Wren made it to the Guild, Sara was frantic. ¡°We have to go now. We¡¯re going to be¡ªWren!¡±

    They were neither late nor Wren, though Kaden took to walking ahead of the group with Trinity on one side, Skully on the other, and Vip in his arms. Vip had four legs and never saw a reason to use them if she could be held.

    At the FarPortal, they gathered while Sara handed over coordinates. Kaden pulled Trinity and Vip into his soul and stepped through, emerging in the blessed warmth of the Southern Continent. Here, trees were green and flowers covered a woodland meadow, though in the distance, the crash of waves betrayed the sea.

    And a group of six [Mages], none of them over level twenty-two.

    And Ignus Malachor, head of the Mage¡¯s Tower in Verona. The head mage wore a deeply impractical hat that rose in a cone high above his head and trailed small wisps of smoke, like he was warming his brain. His robes were decorated with crystaline blue designs. He stood, arms crossed, looking like an angry mage scarecrow more than a Centurion. ¡°Finally!¡±

    Sara rushed to greet him. ¡°Ready and reporting. Is this our escort group?¡±

    ¡°Just so.¡± Ignus looked to the Mages. ¡°You understand the parameters of your assignment. I expect to see at least one of you alive at Trunistan, but remember, your rewards go up as more of you make it. You won¡¯t always have [Shields], [Summoners] or [Healers] to protect you. You¡¯ll never have another [Beast Master]. They will not coddle you. Your power is the only thing you can truly count on. Go on, go through. If you can¡¯t survive at the entrance alone, you have no hope of the caverns.¡±

    One by one, the men and women stepped up to the FarPortal and disapppeared in a flash of light.

    ¡°You took long enough,¡± Ignus said.

    ¡°Sorry, we were busy,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°Encountering an undead dragon in another dimension.¡±

    ¡°If I had a copper for every time I¡¯ve heard that, I¡¯d have a copper. This group is fragile. I half-way expect them to implode, but if they don¡¯t, any of them could be the most powerful mage of their college for a generation. These caverns are trials, and has been for centuries. Any [Mage] must be able to make wise decisions about battles to survive.¡±

    Trella laughed. ¡°Wise decisions. When they¡¯re tempted with power?¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Ignus said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen successful groups avoid all combat. They survive, weaker, but they survive. Do not, under any circumstance, interfere with their decisions. Anything twenty-five or over is yours to kill if you desire, you won¡¯t encounter higher than thirty in the caverns this group can reach.¡±

    Trella raised a hand. ¡°What if they do something stupid and get lost?¡±

    ¡°Let them starve. Your job is to protect them from monsters, not poor planning.¡± Ignus nodded to the portal. ¡°They¡¯ll be eager to take the first monsters, and a basic rule of [Mages] is that anything your power allows is permitted. Perhaps I¡¯ll see you in Trunistan?¡±

    ¡°You will. Everyone through the FarPortal.¡± Sara brought up the rear instead of Eve, since FarPortalling was handled by the Mage¡¯s Tower in this case. Kaden sent Skully through and followed without hesitation.

    You have entered the Fire Domain: Krakatoa Cavern System.

    Fire Mana Surge!

    All Fire skill cost reduced 50%.

    All Fire skill damage reduced 50%.

    ¡°Those two seem contradictory,¡± Eve said as she stepped through the Portal. ¡°Unless it¡¯s for grinding. I supposed first tier mages could raise their skills through repetition alone.¡±

    ¡°Where are our mages?¡± Sara asked.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t stopped marveling. Unlike Omnor, the ceiling was clearly visible and lined with veins of brilliant red. The floors were smooth basalt split by rivers of flame. In the distance, molten rock blazed. The air wasn¡¯t still, but pulsing, the breath of a beast the size of the world, dry as the desert and hot.

    ¡°[Create Water] is going to be worth its weight in gold here,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Found them!¡± Sara called.

    Kaden hurried toward her.

    The young mages had gathered around a pool of lava and were working to kill a worm which spat blazing balls of molten rock at them. They truly worked as a team, electrifying the beast, then hitting it with water spells, then stone to shatter the freshly cooled skin. What fun they had with magic. Ashi¡ª

    Kaden looked for her. She kneeled by the FarPortal, her skin flaring red. ¡°Sara!¡±

    Sara ran to meet them. ¡°Do you need healing?¡±

    ¡°These wraps are not sufficient,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I am being overflowed with Fire Mana. This is not like Vichor, it is like drinking from a waterfall.¡±

    ¡°Your skin is glowing,¡± Sara said. ¡°Get out of here, meet us in Trunistan. This isn¡¯t safe.¡±

    ¡°It is my duty to go with you,¡± Ashi protested.

    Kaden had seen what happened when Ashi went into overload. ¡°It¡¯s your duty to protect yourself, or you won¡¯t be able to protect us. Are there better wraps to shield you from mana?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps. I will seek them. Then, I will seek you.¡± Ashi stepped through the FarPortal and winked out of existence.

    ¡°Sara, they¡¯re on the move!¡± Eve called.

    Kaden rushed with her to try and setup a perimeter¡ªwhen Trella burst into existence from a shadow. ¡°There you are!¡±

    Trella took a regen potion from Inventory and downed it. ¡°Ignus gave me a Quest, since I¡¯m not second tier and can¡¯t collect Faction Tokens. I have a second [Mapping Scroll] and the Quest is to cover the caverns. There¡¯s no limit or requirement. Whatever we map is good.¡±

    That made perfect sense. It would ensure Trella participated and make her keen on picking up Faction Quests when she hit twenty five. Kaden studied the map. ¡°Is there really no limit?¡±

    ¡°There probably is. We know which way this group is heading. I¡¯ll stay near the group by day, but at night I want freedom to range. I can take care of myself.¡± Trella said the last like a defense. ¡°This place has one of those things you talk about. An Ecosystem. I figured out the prey in this area and I have decent idea of the predators.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°Then we tell everyone else, too.¡±

    Wren was waiting and watching everyone, even though she didn¡¯t wear armor or carry a weapon. ¡°They¡¯re getting too close on the far side. Call them back?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°Only if the mobs are twenty five or over, and then we kill them before they can cause problems. Stay behind Kaden, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°Trella, Sara, come here.¡± Wren dug in her Inventory and pulled out nickel orbs. ¡°You can only wear one. They won¡¯t interfere with [Stealth]. They¡¯re ranged attack defense and close combat offense. I made them from the corpses of [Mechanion] minions.¡±

    Sara activated one. It glowed a brilliant blue and began to circle her. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re so pretty. Can you change the color?¡±

    ¡°Not without changing the mana. Artificers create enchanted artifacts, but at my level we have to start from something at least moderately enchanted. Like, say, [Mirror Shields.]¡± Wren said the last to Sara. ¡°You have any idea where I can get one?¡±

    Sara paused. ¡°You have to understand, you¡¯re not active as part of the Party. I can¡¯t just give you ten [Mirror Shields].¡±

    ¡°Ten!¡± Wren¡¯s excitement was close to exploding. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything.¡±

    ¡°Ten [Mirror Shields.] I need someone to carry something for us. Uh¡­that stick. Mind you, that stick must make it to the end of the caverns,¡± Sara said, pointing to a glittering piece of broken tree branch. ¡°Do we have a deal?¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°Our Mage-Babies have gone off script. They¡¯re heading exactly the wrong direction, and they¡¯re heading there fast.¡±

    Kaden took off sprinting, trusting the others to catch up. He hurdled rivers of flame and when a three foot eyeball burst from the ground to ambush him,a [Shield Bash] from the Eldritch Shield knocked it backards and into fire.

    Most of the creatures here were immune to fire.

    Not eyeballs.

    It exploded in a gout of steam as Kaden caught sight of the mages. He wasn¡¯t aware they could move that fast, until a glimpse of a blue glow gave him a clue. Sara had a buff called [Speeding Wind], and the mages were exchanging buffs.

    [Moment of Speed] wasn¡¯t a movement buff exactly, but Kaden poured mana into it. Then dropped into [Stealth Aura] to see exactly what was worth risking permanent death.

    After nearly twenty minutes of dodging monsters, the Mages slowed. They¡¯d reached something different. A hole in the floor led downward, and bright white light sparkled upward from it. Kaden slowed, focusing on steady movement and letting [Stealth Aura] do the rest. From a few dozen yards away, Kaden took a tin of [Echo Beetles] from Inventory and commanded one to fly over and cling to a robe. Another went in Kaden¡¯s ear.

    ¡°¡ªwon¡¯t have long. They¡¯ll find us. When they arrive, say we held the map scroll upside down. Do you all know what to do?¡± That was the tall woman in the center, some sort of nocto mage.

    The group exchanged agreement and one by one, cast [Hover] and dropped down.

    Except for the Nocto Mage and a Life Mage.

    ¡°Can we really all get a starfire crystal?¡± The life mage asked.

    ¡°You and I can each get three. Everyone else can get one for us. It only works if we stick to the rotation. Don¡¯t collapse the healing until I call for it, or it¡¯ll be obvious exactly what happened.¡± The Nocto Mage leaped down, followed by the Life Mage.

    Kaden studied the area they¡¯d dropped into. White crystals grew from ground like snow in mounds around a fozen lake. At the center of the lake stood a throne of jagged crystal, and hovering atop it was a fairy. She glowed with power and hovered on butterfly wings, holding orbs of power in her outstretched hands. So many stories spoke of their beauty and how their touch would ruin a man for the pleasures of flesh.

    The people telling those stories had never stood near a creature that exuded power like this. Whose gaze was not alluring, but alien, measuring each of them not as a person but as a possible snack.

    Tavern Tales had prepared Kaden for this moment, and yet he couldn¡¯t help being awestruck. Not so awestruck he couldn¡¯t send the Falcrow to Sara, and will Skully to come to him carefully. If he didn¡¯t add the last bit, the skeleton might surge straight through the fire.

    Bones would burn.

    Three minutes later, the shadows exploded as Trella appeared. ¡°I¡¯m out of mana but now I know where you are.¡±

    ¡°Out you say?¡± Kaden opened [Mana Well.] ¡°Fairly sure you¡¯re not.¡±

    ¡°Be right back with the others. Also¡ªoh, this is the edge. This is an edge of the caverns.¡± Trella drew her map and studied it. ¡°Stay put, if they get killed, so be it.¡±

    Kaden listend to the Echo Beetle as the Nocto Mage began calling out casting orders. The fairy burst from her throne and began to summon crystals the size of Kaden¡¯s arm, blasting them.

    Their strategy was genius. Three of the party used [Speeding Wind] to keep everyone buffed. The other three rotated fire and electricity blasts combined with Nocto Mana that lashed out to slice deep into the boss.

    ¡°Kaden¡ªOh.¡± Sara was out of breath and from her tone, out of patience. ¡°Hidden boss and they knew about it.¡±

    ¡°It grants starfire crystals,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And those two are going to engineer a party wipe after the boss is burned down to claim all the crystals. The healer will stop healing and the rest will snowball.¡±

    Sara studied the boss. ¡°It¡¯s level twenty five, but they chose to engage. If you¡¯d gone in first, they wouldn¡¯t have been allowed to.¡±

    ¡°So we wait and I rez?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°Oh, hell no,¡± Trella said. ¡°That rewards the kind of ass-hattery that will follow them their whole career. Eve, can you tell who¡¯s the tail of the Healer chain?¡±

    ¡°That one, Wind Mage,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°Life Transfusion is messy,¡± Trella said. ¡°Can you hide it?¡±

    Eve¡¯s smug smile was answer enough. ¡°Look at them. They¡¯re taking crystal shards to the legs. I don¡¯t need to hide it. They¡¯ll be so bloody if they can tell, I¡¯ll give one of them a hug.¡±

    Trella looked to the boss. ¡°Am I clear to move in and observe?¡±

    ¡°Your call.¡± Sara studied the rotation. ¡°If they detect you, you¡¯re simply doing your job. You¡¯re guarding them. If they turn on you, I will personally educated them on the mistake.¡±

    Trella dispeared in a shadow, while Kaden wrapped Eve in [Stealth Aura], and Wren hid behind a pile of bones. Skully came trudging up and stopped at the edge, staring down. He couldn¡¯t be hidden, but Kaden had a plan.

    The skeleton didn¡¯t speak. For all the Mages knew, it had simply been commanded to follow them. Particularly if he didn¡¯t move until they left, the Mages would never know.

    *This is a near perfect rotation,* Trella sent. *I¡¯ve recorded every buff and every cycle. Someone knew about this boss and specifically selected skills to defeat it. They¡¯ve been building toward this, which means whatever those gems do is a massive reward.*

    *Good, hold your position, Eve¡¯s watching for healing drop.* Sara handled the coming betrayal with perfect aplomb.

    ¡°Boss is nearly down,¡± Eve said aloud. ¡°It¡¯ll be any moment.¡±

    If Eve hadn¡¯t pointed it out, Kaden probably wouldn¡¯t have noticed. The Life Mage simply stopped casting every second heal. Eve began casting more rapidly than he¡¯d ever seen. Small heals, the least heals. She could trigger the lesser versions of her skills, although there was rarely reason to.

    ¡°Boss is going Nova!¡± The NoctoMage shouted out.

    Kaden triggered [Mana Drain] and still couldn¡¯t stop the explosion that raced outward, throwing all the mages to the ground. Eve quietly kept healing¡ªthen stopped.

    The Nocto Mage¡¯s eyes widened as the other six rose and took health potions, followed by Mana Potions. She looked to the Life Mage, who shook her head in fear.

    The Crystal Domain Boss Chrysantheum has been defeated.

    You have gained a bonus: 2x Starfire Crystal.

    *For some reason, I got a Quest Reward,* Kaden sent to the team. Wait. Mana Drain probably counted as damage.

    One by one, the mages approached and took a crystal. The moment they touched it, the crystal throne turned solid black, and they shied away.

    ¡°There you are!¡± Sara shouted from above. She leaped down. ¡°You six ran off and¡ªoh, you¡¯ve already defeated this boss. Excellent.¡±

    ¡°I got a [Starfire Crystal],¡± one of the [Wind Mages] said, holding it up.

    Sara took out a messenger bird. ¡°Oh, I bet you all got one. Ignus will be so happy, and you¡¯ve discovered a great resource for other mages. Well done. Now, let¡¯s get back to moving in the right direction.¡±

    If looks were [Grip of Mortis], Sara would be dead, as the Nocto Mage seethed.

    Sara waited until all the mages used [Hover] and then leaped up, gripping the ledge with the Cosmic Horror¡¯s tentacles.

    Skully turned and lumbered after them, while Kaden dropped down and collected his reward. ¡°You, too, Eve. It says you have one.¡±

    ¡°You may claim it for me,¡± Eve said. ¡°You¡¯ve earned my trust many times.¡±

    Kaden clasped a second one¡ªthen smiled as the corpse flared black, erupting into a dark version of the Fairy.

    ¡°Greed will be your undoing. Test me if you doubt this.¡± The illusion bobbed threateningly.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. Then it hit him. *Sara. They only did the first boss. There¡¯s a second one if you¡¯re willing to face it. A Tier Two version.*

    ¡°Coming!¡± Sara said. She leaped from the cavern edge, rolling as she landed ¡°Our mages are exhausted. Wren¡¯s having them make camp so she can check for Status effects and offer them defenses. I¡¯ll take this battle.¡±

    ¡°Your challenge is accepted¡±, the Dark Fairy boss said. ¡°Let it commence.¡±

    Sara leaped¡ªand almost lost her head as a sheet of sheer black crystal exploded across the opening, sealing her inside.

    Eve stomped at it¡ªand failed to make a scratch.

    ¡°Now, I will test you,¡± The Dark Fairy said, laughing. Her wings exploded out into ragged butterfly wings that smoked, and she swooped at Kaden.

 Fifteen - Tested

    The first form of the Dark Fairy had stood still in the center of the domain, throwing crystals. This one did no such thing, swooping down at Kaden to blast him with a crystal. The [Eldritch Shield] shuddered and cracked as it absorbed the blow, and Kaden got the chance to [Identify] his enemy.

    [Dark Fairy Queen]

    If the Light Fairy Queen seeks to challenge those strong enough, the Dark Fairy Queen seeks only their end. Dark Faries spawn in the new moon of a monster surge, and woe be to the adventures who seek them out. For every gift they offer comes at a price, and few survive the challenge to earn their choice of reward.

    Level:???

    Skills:???

    Talents:???

    Kaden led with [Mana Drain], and thrilled when it struck the Queen, sending her to her knees. Less thrilling was how she tore loose one of her own wings, wielding it like a sword as she attacked him. [Split Second] activated over and over, just barely letting Kaden dodge.

    Then one dodge wasn¡¯t enough, and the blade sliced deep into his side, drawing blood and a cry of agony, as black miasma rippled off the blade and onto Kaden¡¯s side.

    You have gained a Status Condition: Umbral Mold - Mana regen will cause health loss.

    ¡°Eve! Status Condition!¡± Kaden shouted.

    No more [Mana Drain], Kaden hit her with a hundred point [Mana Spike]. Sara¡¯s Herald of Life Title wouldn¡¯t be effective. Sure, it would grant him health and mana, but with [Umbral Mold] it would offset.

    Summoning Trinity would only result in her losing one¡ªor more¡ªheads to the Queen¡¯s blade, so Kaden changed focus. He couldn¡¯t win alone, but Sara was here, closing in, both swords drawn. She blocked a blow from the Queen and lashed out with her Horror.

    The Queen leaped back and flew into the air, summoning a crystal shard.

    But not a large one. And not a cluster.

    ¡°How much mana does she have?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°A hundred and thirteen of three thousand,¡± Sara said. ¡°She¡¯s not casting, so [Anthem of the End] will hurt us more than it does her.¡±

    Kaden had a theory. Trella was down here, probably in [Stealth] and definitely waiting for the right moment to attack. ¡°You have your bow?¡±

    ¡°What kind of Party Leader would I be if I didn¡¯t?¡± Sara drew her bow and began working, using [Speeding Wind] to keep them moving and [Mana Quiver] to produce electric arrows for cheaper than a single [Lightining Bolt].

    Without mana, the Queen was limited in her ability to throw crystal shards, and so it became a dance. Block, arrow, drain, block, arrow, drain.

    ¡°I can¡¯t remove status conditions through this barrier,¡± Eve called. ¡°But you¡¯re doing well! Don¡¯t die!¡±

    ¡°Get ready,¡± Sara said as she loosed another arrow. ¡°She¡¯s about to switch forms again.¡±

    The Queen dove at Kaden, tearing two wings off to land in front of him.

    [Last Man Standing] made Kaden tougher in party situations, and he needed every last bit of it since two swords were twice the trouble. The only good part was that without both hands on a blade, the Queen couldn¡¯t crack the Eldritch Shield.

    His health sat at thirteen hundred, more than enough for now, but he couldn¡¯t quite gain an advantage.

    ¡°Let me take her this round. Dual swords are my style.¡± Sara stepped in front of Kaden.

    Kaden drew Thorn Caster and began loosing arrows as fast as he could. Poison cost a percentage of health, and three stacks of poison on anything was a mountain of hurt. ¡°Can you keep [Speeding Wind] going?¡±

    ¡°Little. Busy.¡± Sara said through gritted teeth. Over and over she blocked sword strikes and let her Horror lash out.

    With three stacks of poison, Kaden rejoined the battle, forcing the Queen to split her attention. A war hammer was the sort of weapon you didn¡¯t just block without another war hammer, so now he could pressure her, forcing her back¡ª

    ¡°Backstab!¡± Trella burst into existence, plunging the [Inkblades] into the Queen¡¯s back, while Kaden slammed Remembrance into the Queen¡¯s knee. Unlike usual, Trella didn¡¯t immediately use her Deception to disappear. Instead, she drew EverCut and stabbed deep.

    The Queen exploded, throwing Kaden, Sara, and Trella across the crystal floor.

    Kaden hit her with Mana spike again.

    Instead of a single creature, now a swarm of fairies formed the shape of the Fairy Queen. ¡°Set the Feast, and fill every belly!¡± The swarm shouted. It swooped straight for Sara.

    Kaden used [Sheild Bash] to smash aside most of the swarm, but not all. The individual fairies were no more than six inches tall, but their mouths were filled with razor sharp teeth. With a single chomp, one bit a chunk of flesh from Kaden¡¯s arm, taking the armor with it.

    [Fortress of Stone] allowed him to ignore the agony and focus on killing each of the fairies.

    Sara¡¯s pseudopods worked to devour others.

    And Trella, wisely, stayed hidden.

    Kaden pursued the swarm, pushing it away from Sara to give her a chance to get on her feet. Remembrance was a liability against small, fast opponents, so he banished it and drew the Levicon Blade.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Were all of the mini fairies poisoned? Or had the boss put the three stacks of poison on one?

    A vial arced through the air to explode on the ground near the swarm. [Agony Cloud,] Kaden recognized from the orange color. Hundreds of fairies screamed as one.

    The ground shook, and Kaden had only a moment of warning as the throne became a swarm of crystals that circled the room, throwing blasts of black mana back toward the Queen, who had re-coalesced into her single form.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get caught between them and her,¡± Sara said. ¡°Also, I think they¡¯re buffing her.¡±

    Kaden spun and unleashed Remembrance, shattering a crystal. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of these.¡±

    Before he could smash another, the Queen dove at him.

    ¡°Did she have four arms before?¡± Kaden asked, as the Queen tore off four wings and attacked him. ¡°I don¡¯t think she did.¡±

    Bosses having different patterns was expected. Different attacks, expected. But changing the number of arms just felt unfair. Kaden pushed the attack, using [Shield Bash] not for damage but for the side effect, a split-second [Stun] that gave Sara the chance to use [Shocking Grasp], which was an actual stun.

    ¡°There!¡± Sara shouted as a blazing ball of electricity exploded.

    Kaden dismissed his [Eldritch Shield] and drew Thorn Caster, putting three bolts straight into the Queen. ¡°She¡¯s about to go swarm.¡±

    This time, he had his shield ready and Sara safe behind him.

    This time, the Queen soared backwards and as she transformed into her swarm form, an [Agony Cloud] burst around her. Sara used the opportunity to loose arrows at the swarm, spearing several.

    Kaden was waiting with Remembrance the moment crystals began rotating, and this time, he destroyed two before they even buffed the Queen once. Her scream signaled the shift in phase.

    ¡°Back to single blade,¡± Kaden called. The Queen was no longer a dark beauty, but a hulking monstrosity carrying a single greatsword made from one wing. The last of his mana powered a [Mana Spike] that ensured she wouldn¡¯t be launching crystals.

    ¡°Backstab! Frontstab! Damnit, still not a skill!¡± Trella attacked again and again. [Ink] didn¡¯t seem to affect the Queen, but the distraction let Kaden attack.

    Backsmash would have been perfect, but without mana to power it, Kaden had to rely on regular blows. She was still faster, but now Kaden had a feel for her attacks and blocking with Remembrance bought opportunities for Sara to use [Shocking Grasp].

    The Queen dropped all pretense of defense, attacking Kaden with all her might.

    [Immovable] didn¡¯t stop him taking damage from sheer impact but it let him go toe-to-toe with her, and Remembrance began to hum, then sing, and finally scream.

    [Shocking Grasp] struck, paralyzing the Queen for the slightest moment.

    Kaden spun, burying Remembrance¡¯s axe in her chest and unleashing all the stored up power, just as Trella materialized to [Backstab].

    The impact sent the Queen¡ªand Trella¡ªsailing.

    One of the two had [Acrobat] as a talent and landed light on her feet.

    The other hit the ground and rolled, unmoving.

    You have helped defeat a Secret Challenge Boss: Dark Queen

    Challenge Reset Timer Started: 99 years, 364 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.

    You are no longer elligible for Dark Queen¡¯s Challenge.

    You have gained experience.

    ¡°Level!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°Oh, that feels good. That was a ridiculous amount of XP. How much did you get?¡±

    Sara seemed lost in thought. ¡°Twenty Seven is close. I¡¯m three quarters of the way. Kaden?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ll need a bunch of those to hit thirty.¡±

    ¡°So sad. That¡¯s me feeling sad for you. Do you feel the sad?¡± Trella asked. ¡°I was always lower level and now I¡¯m not even in the same tier. But a few more of those and I¡¯ll be at least earning my keep.¡±

    The crystal barrier that kept Eve from joining had retracted, and she applied [Life Burn] to Kaden repeatedly until [Umbral Mold] finally cleared. His health and mana immediately ticked upward.

    ¡°Kaden. Trella.¡± Sara¡¯s voice held an edge. ¡°Perhaps we should finish.¡±

    The Queen¡¯s corpse had disappeared, and the Light Queen once more sat atop a restored throne, beckoning.

    Choose your reward:

    3x Redfire Crystal

    3x Bluefire Crystal

    2x Starfire Crystal

    1x Blackfire Crystal

    ¡°Wait.¡± Kaden spoke before anyone could move. ¡°Don¡¯t choose. Don¡¯t choose yet. Before the challenge, she said ¡®Greed will be your undoing.¡¯¡±

    Trella swore. ¡°It¡¯s a trap. What are these crystals?¡±

    ¡°Your guess is as good or better than mine,¡± Sara answered. ¡°I¡¯ll go first, I¡¯m choosing a Blackfire Crystal¡ªOk, I received one.¡±

    Kaden looked to Trella. ¡°The safe thing to do is choose the Blackfire Crystal.¡±

    ¡°Safe is good.¡± Trella received hers.

    Kaden considered his options. There was no telling what these crystals actually did. The warning had been clear, but the question was, what did it actually mean? But he had a thought. He took the Starfire Crystal from his Inventory and held it out.

    The Light Queen reached out and took it from him¡ªor he thought she did.

    You have received 1x Soulfire Crystal.

    The crystals lighting the room went dark, and the Queen disappeared, leaving Kaden in darkness. Kaden climbed out, using Remembrance to hook the cavern floor, and joined Eve, Sara, and Trella. First, he handed over Eve¡¯s crystal. ¡°Does anyone know what these do?¡±

    Eve frownedas she studied it. ¡°Yes. These are skill boosters. Major skill boosters. They¡¯re ridiculously rare. I¡¯m going to apply mine to [Life Explosion]. Five points! Five skill points!¡±

    Sara held up her [Blackfire Crystal]. ¡°Let¡¯s find out what these do. It¡¯s not offering me a prompt to apply it to a skill.¡±

    The crystal faded away, and Sara stumbled, nearly collapsing. ¡°That feels strange. That feels so very strange. I dont understand. I think it just multi-classed me. That is not a bonus, that¡¯s a penalty. I¡¯ve got [Swordsman] as a secondary class and [Double Cut] as a skill.¡±

    Shit. That meant Sara¡¯s leveling would basically stop until [Swordsman] caught up with [Summoner], and then she¡¯d gain at half the speed.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Sara shared a set of system logs.

    This is an elective class. You may only gain experience toward one elective class at a time. You must select to dedicate experience to the elective class. Other skills will not be available while leveling the elective class, but elective class skills remain available while leveling your primary class.

    Now, that changed everything. ¡°Think about how quickly you¡¯ll gain the first ten levels. We can hunt and boost you the first ten. Will you get another talent? What skills will you get?¡±

    Trella didn¡¯t hesistate, activating her crystal. And she laughed.

    There was always a healthy amount of laughter.

    Then there was this.

    ¡°Guess who is an optional [Huntress]?¡± Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°Well?¡±

    Kaden shared what he received. ¡°I just tried to use it. It¡¯s not for me. I don¡¯t know what it does, but I literally can¡¯t use it. So let¡¯s catch up to our mages. I¡¯m going to set some ground rules.¡±

    ¡°Acually, I¡¯ll be setting the ground rules,¡± Sara said.

    Trella grabbed Kaden¡¯s hand. *I¡¯ll catch up. I¡¯m going to run the edge in both directions for the map.*

    *Be safe*. Kaden unleashed Trinity and ran to catch up with the others. By focusing on where Skully was, he could navigate. The undead monstrostity had taken his orders literally and loomed over one of the mages. Instead of picking their way around, they plowed straight through the monsters. Kaden made certain Sara got at least one cut in before Trinity demolished them. Cave spiders, giant centipedes, a [Lava Scorpion] and thirty [Fire Bats] later, Sara called a halt. ¡°Kaden, circle around and come from the north. Eve, you¡¯re with me. Follow my lead.¡±

    Kaden dropped into [Stealth Aura] and sprinted around the edge with Trinity at his side until he stood on the other side. *Ready*.

    Sara practically shouted. ¡°All clear this way.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a level thirty [Lava Scorpion] that way,¡± Kaden called. Which was probably true. Somewhere in the cavern network, there probably was a level thirty lava scorpion, and since Kaden hadn¡¯t said which direction, it wasn¡¯t his fault if they assumed it was the way he came from.

    The Mages, generally, looked deeply pleased with themselves. Odds were they¡¯d all applied their skill points. The Nocto Mage and her Life Mage lackey looked less pleased.

    ¡°Hello, my little darlings,¡± Sara said. ¡°We didn¡¯t get a proper introduction. My name¡¯s Sara Scylla. My party is providing you protection from the greater threats, and we¡¯re going to come to an agreement. Which is to say, I¡¯m going to tell you how it is, and you are going to agree.¡±

 Sixteen - Ruling

    ¡°You are just the hired help,¡± one of the mages shouted at Sara. ¡°You work for us. We set the rules, you follow them, and we go where we please.¡±

    Sara¡¯s smile would have set a wiser man running. ¡°We have a very strict set of rules we have to follow, and they don¡¯t include anything you just said. For instance, that Light Fairy boss you targeted? You¡¯re completely allowed to. In fact, we¡¯re not allowed to interfere. And I¡¯ll lose fifty percent of my pay if you all arrive in a Corpse Inventory.¡±

    ¡°Keep in mind,¡± Eve said, ¡°It¡¯s only a difference of one gold piece. I have six gold pieces in Inventory. I could pay the entire party to end this expedition right now. But I won¡¯t¡ªif you agree to Sara¡¯s sensible rules.¡±

    ¡°If you know of a hidden boss, you tell us and we detour to let you die,¡± Sara said. ¡°If you feel like tackling a level thirty monster, you tell us so we let you die. If you lose your map and can¡¯t find your way out, have the good sense to say so, or what follows will be three weeks of us eating well while you starve. I packed enough rations for a year and might choose to share if you¡¯re polite. Which of you is Party Leader?¡±

    The Nocto Mage raised her hand. ¡°That¡¯s me. Oshamar Vertic.¡±

    ¡°Oshamar. I¡¯m going to give you my contact information, and then my party is going to draw back. You give us a general direction, we will move ahead of you looking only for level twenty five threats. You choose to engage a boss, you tell me. You camp, you tell me so we can guard you.¡± Sara¡¯s green parrot swooped out, which would let Oshamar reply.

    Oshamar seemed daunted by Sara, though she still glared. ¡°Fine. I don¡¯t even want to see you. We¡¯re capable of taking down anything in these caverns.¡±

    Sara pointed to Skully and Trinity. ¡°Harm the TriTerror or the skeleton, and Kaden will allow them to act. You probably won¡¯t survive. Lastly, betraying your party to kill everyone will result in me losing gold. I¡¯ll personally sacrifice a gold piece to make an example of the offender. And before you think about banding together, all of you together are no match for me alone. Now, happy hunting and have a great exploration!¡±

    Wren had been dressing one of the Mage¡¯s wounds, but now she stood and stretched and joined Sara, Eve, and Kaden as they moved a few hundred yards away.

    Kaden put the Echo Beetle back in his ear and listened intently while Sara found a place to setup camp and Trinity demolished the monsters who mistakenly thought it was their home. ¡°So, Sara¡¯s got their attention. [Life Mage] #1 says they can¡¯t take a level twenty seven, let alone thirty and everyone else agrees. They¡¯re talking about charting a path to the [Tar Troll] pits, then killing a boss called the [Digestor], who you actually have to enter.¡±

    ¡°[Swordsman] is at level six already, and the answer is no. I did not get another Talent. I do have three total skills. [Double Cut], [Mortal Wound] and [Lunge], which allows me to close with an enemy.

    [Double Cut]

    Deliver two blows with enhanced damage. The level of additional damage will increase as this skill does. At higher levels, so will the number of cuts.

    [Mortal Wound]

    Deliver a strike which caused Lethal damage. This strike is not enhanced but will prevent healing.

    [Lunge]

    Close the distance faster than your opponent could possibly believe. The distance you can [Lunge] increases with level. For greater mana cost, Lunge further.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t envious. Sara had been working toward ranged solutions and her new Class was even more melee focused.

    A brown Messenger bird landed on Sara, and she listened. ¡°They¡¯re going to setup camp here and head east, hunting.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Should I get out ahead of them?¡±

    ¡°Can you order Skully to protect our camp so nothing comes from this direction?¡± Sara studied the Western direction of the caverns. ¡°I¡¯ll feel better when Trella has mapped everything.¡±

    Everything was probably Trella¡¯s goal. ¡°Skully will guard the camp, Trinity will go south, you go North and I¡¯ll head east. If I see anything worth killing, I¡¯ll send word.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to relax here at camp,¡± Wren said.

    Sara produced two [Mirror Shields] from Inventory. ¡°Would these help pass the time?¡±

    Kaden was familiar with how quickly Trella could setup her alchemy kit and brew potions anywhere. It didn¡¯t prepare him with how quickly Wren set up an actual workbench with so many tools on it Kaden didn¡¯t recognize. And another bench, and another.

    ¡°There. It¡¯s just a mobile workshop, and I can¡¯t afford half the tools yet, but this should let me get started.¡± Wren took a [Mirror Shield] and locked it into a vice. A scroll nearby lit up with green and red writing that scrolled. ¡°Oh, this is going to be such fun!¡±

    ¡°Your idea of fun needs work,¡± Eve said. ¡°I¡¯ll stick near Sara.¡±

    They began to hunt.

    ###

    Within days, they fell into a pattern. Trella went out in the morning and scouted. Kaden would have sworn she was just working the map, but her guidance was always solid. If Trella said there was a level thirty [Fire Bat Matriarch], there was. If she said the [Lava Scorpions] patrolled a route, they did.

    Kaden used [Reap Materials] on everything, passing every reagent to Trella and anything remotely food-like to Eve. The Mages were simply terrible at managing resources. They slew monsters and didn¡¯t harvest at all. Not [Field Harvest], not [Reap Materials], they didn¡¯t even cut chunks off of monsters.

    Kaden took them all.

    After two weeks, Sara began to worry, and when the Mages settled down to sleep, she called a meeting with Trella. ¡°First off, excellent scouting. We¡¯ve only been surprised three times and one of those was our babies breaking the rules. I¡¯m starting to grow worried. They¡¯re not moving in a particular direction. I strongly suspect one of them lost the map.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Kaden took it out of Inventory. ¡°They left it behind three days ago. And their meal kit. And whatever this is.¡±

    ¡°Wand Recharger,¡± Eve said. ¡°That Meal Kit is better than mine.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve dropped five of them. The kits come with [Recipes] built in and they don¡¯t seem to understand they¡¯re reloadable,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Skully¡¯s carrying most of their stuff.¡±

    Eve stood, cursing softly. ¡°Nobles. They choose [Mage] classes believing it will be safe and easy. Which one of them is a noble? Never mind, I see both of them. That¡¯s why they could afford an escort party. That¡¯s why Ignus himself arranged this. And most of the enemies here are Beasts, making Kaden uniquely suited to guard.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t help,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Watch me.¡± Eve took the map and a cooking kit and marched over the rise down toward the Mages.

    Kaden found an Echo Beetle and listened in.

    ¡°You. So-called Party Leader. Why did you leave the map? Why did you abandon your cooking kit? Explain yourself.¡± Eve¡¯s tone said there wouldn¡¯t be a good explanation. ¡°Perhaps this is someone else¡¯s map of these caverns we found?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not¡­¡± Osharam didn¡¯t finish her statement. ¡°A spare map would be good. And we don¡¯t keep garbage because it doesn¡¯t feed us.¡±

    ¡°This is a set of basic cooking tools,¡± Eve answered. ¡°With the [Cooking] skill, you could re-use it to feed yourselves. For instance, [Lava Scorpions] are delicious. Giant Centipedes are edible. Don¡¯t eat the spiders. Was your plan to starve until you could fit through some crack and challege another boss in a malnourished state?¡±

    The echo beetle repeated only what it heard, and the answer was a muddled mess.

    ¡°Do better,¡± Eve said. ¡°I expect you to kill a scorpion and roast the meat over the fire tonight. If I don¡¯t find roast scorpion meat, I¡¯ll cook for my Party and then we¡¯ll come sit next to you while we eat.¡±

    A moment later she returned. ¡°I expect tomorrow will go better. If it doesn¡¯t, I will make it go better. As much fun as it is seeing everyone gain skills and Kaden harvest every material known to man, I¡¯m growing bored. We should be leading them toward the exit.¡±

    ¡°I disagree. I only had one [Huntress] skill at first,¡± Trella said. ¡°Now I have [Tracking], [Crossbow] and [Mark Prey]. This has been well worth the trip.¡±

    Kaden borrowed her map. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between your map and their map?¡±

    ¡°Mine works. Also, theirs only indicates the relative direction of the exit. Mine has everything.¡± Trella took it back. ¡°It¡¯s a long run each morning but I¡¯ve mapped the east side of this cavern. There¡¯s easily a dozen bosses they haven¡¯t even seen. This place is one hell of a proving ground.¡°

    ¡°There¡¯s no reason we have to leave,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I could keep hunting here with you until twenty five. We could come back and wreck this place.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°This entire cavern system is claimed by the Mage Tower. All over the world, mages are sent here to prove their right to reach second tier by surviving.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take guard Quests,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I could practically run a guard quest with nothing but my Beasts. Trella could hunt.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Sara¡¯s tone said she¡¯d rather be hunting elsewhere. ¡°The first hell is an option now. Between Kaden and I, we should be able to level you much faster.¡±

    Trella¡¯s frown told Kaden how she felt about that. She didn¡¯t want to be leveled, she wanted to earn experience.

    ¡°We¡¯ll burn that bridge when we come to it,¡± Kaden said. Trinity took overnight shifts, since two of her heads would sleep while one kept watch, and Skully never missed a chance to stand menacingly.

    Morning found the baby mages off at a good pace, and in the right direction, according to Sara. Trella came back midway through the morning. ¡°I need to borrow Trinity. She¡¯ll probably be fine.¡±

    ¡°I can¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just her,¡± Trella said. ¡°I found a challenge these idiots should be making a beeline for and I can¡¯t stand to see it go to waste.¡±

    Kaden looked to Trinity and gave her the choice. It wasn¡¯t really a question of if. ¡°She wants to know if there¡¯s going to be a lot of blood. She doesn¡¯t really care whose blood. Yours. Its. Hers.¡±

    Trella thought for a moment. ¡°If we do it right¡ªand we¡¯re going to¡ªthere¡¯s going to be nothing but blood.¡±

    Trinity gave a roar of sheer pleasure and followed Trella off into the distance. Skully just wasn¡¯t the same. Skully would do anything Kaden commanded, but very little he didn¡¯t. Trinity had her own desires. They weren¡¯t complex, but they were desires.

    Sara called a halt. ¡°They¡¯re going to try and harvest those three lava scorpions.¡±

    Kaden kept going to make sure there wasn¡¯t a level thirty Golem directly in the way. Ahead, the cavern floor turned to fine sand in a wide disk that slanted downward. He chipped a stone with Remembrance and tossed it into the cone.

    It bounced a few feet from the center.

    What exploded upward looked like a Forimicidean, only chunkier, with wider, thicker mandibles and jagged jaws. It crushed the rock and swallowed it before digging back down. He sent the Falcrow to Sara and Wren.

    A few minutes later, the two arrived.

    ¡°Mages are trying to learn [Cooking],¡± Wren said. ¡°You would think they would have planned for this expedition. To come here and not leave until they were level thirty.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be wrong,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden showed them the Burrower. ¡°Wren, do you have any bombs?¡±

    ¡°Not with me. Could I make some? Yes.¡± Wren watched as he triggered it to attack.

    ¡°Hold on the bombs.¡± Sara summoned a [Crawling Horror] and hurled it into the pit. The grub went squealing end over end until it bounced in the sand and immediately began inching forward.

    The Burrower exploded upward to swallow it¡ªand flopped over, dead.

    ¡°[Blasphemous Flesh] causes extreme damage to anything that eats one,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s not usually handy but when it works, it works. Oh, and did I mention I finally leveled?¡± Sara said the last so nonchalantly.

    ¡°You just killed a boss. By yourself.¡± Wren sounded sad. ¡°Is there any chance you have another [Mirror Shield]?¡±

    Any other time, Sara probably would have bargained. Now, she handed Wren two and sauntered back toward the Mages.

    ¡°Sara is more like you every day,¡± Wren said. ¡°I don¡¯t think I mean it as a complement. That was a boss! Someone you¡¯re meant to work together to kill.¡±

    ¡°We do work together.¡± Kaden slid down the sand funnel to the dead Burrower, but when he touched it, the list of materials it offered was depressingly bad. The mandibles were weapons crafting for greatswords. The meat was labled (foul), and shell, almost always an armor component, was an exclusive component, meaning he couldn¡¯t harvest the mandibles and it.

    Kaden Reaped the mandibles¡ªand had a second thought. He began digging in the sand. Then flinging his prizes out. Bones. Robes. Wands, Kaden just kept digging until he reached stone. When he climbed out of the pit, it was to Wren staring. ¡°What did you just do?¡±

    ¡°I harvested the Burrower,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Then I thought, what¡¯s a giant insect going to do with all that loot? Nothing. Same thing I did with the Torrods, really.¡±

    Most of these were basic tomes of magic, basic robes with mandible gashes in them, basic bones with mandible marks on them. ¡°Any idea what this is?¡± He passed Wren a crystal in the shape of a clamshell.

    ¡°Not an artifact or anything I can work from. Ask Ashi. She¡¯s the magic expert.¡±

    Sometimes at night, the dense fire mana grew so thick Kaden imagined writing on the ceiling and patterns in the mist. Ashi would have overflowed with Fire Mana within an hour. Kaden put it away and stacked the books by type. ¡°Vivomancy. Necromancy. Geomancy. Noctomancy. What¡¯s Lumomancy?¡±

    ¡°Illusions. Probably the weakest branch at first and one of the strongest near the end,¡± Wren said. ¡°Grandma was an [Illusionist]. She gifted my mom a version of her that followed me around when I was young, taking care of me. Lasted over a decade.¡±

    Cheering and cries of absolute triumph said his mage babies had defeated a boss, so he went to check.

    ¡°One of them got [Cooking] level one from roasting scorpion,¡± Eve said. ¡°How long do you suppose it will take them to realize they got rid of all their cooking kits?¡±

    The answer was ¡®Not long.¡¯

    Kaden handed Eve a pair of kits as Trella¡¯s crow came flapping down. ¡°Can you help me harvest something?¡±

    He checked with Sara and summoned Wisp 71. ¡°You are the best wisp in these caverns. Where¡¯s Trella?¡±

    The wisp led him through the caverns to a dead tree that reached all the way to the ceiling. Spiderwebs stretched from the ground to the branches, and 71 bobbed upward to a tangled mess of webbing¡ªand Trella, who fought to cut herself loose.

    Kaden began using [Reap Materials], receiving 1x Grave Spider silk each time, and working his way carefully up to where Trella hung. He caught her as [Reap Materials] removed the webbing holding her. ¡°Where¡¯s Trinity?¡±

    ¡°Eating the spider¡¯s head,¡± Trella said. ¡°She helped me kill it, but once it was dead, she wasn¡¯t interested in helping me get down.¡±

    [Field Harvest] collapsed the webbing, and Kaden dropped to the ground to find his TriTerror destroying the corpse. ¡°Girl, stop. The web glands are for Alchemy, and if you keep devouring¡ª¡± Kaden gasped as Trinity raised her head.

    There, in the center of the corpse, lay a hunk of meat with liquid black beads embedded in it. Kaden ripped it out. ¡°Look at this. It¡¯s nocto condensate. The spider was going to form a mana core.¡±

    Trella¡¯s eyes grew wider. Was that excitement, or fear? She shoved the chunk in her mouth and swallowed.

 Seventeen - Keeping Swarm

    Kaden stared at Trella as she shuddered. ¡°You can¡¯t just stick things in your mouth and swallow. That could have been a [Dagger Wasp] egg.¡± [Identify] had said it was Nocto Condensate, but his Identify had always been broken. That was a problem for later. Right now? ¡°Start using mana. Condensate changes your mana¡¯s nature. You¡¯re going to be sick until it¡¯s all gone.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Trella [Shadow-stepped] forward, trailing thousands of shadows instead of the normal two or three. Her Dark Deception burst into existence walking beside Trella. It put a hand on her shoulder and helped keep Trella upright.

    ¡°Mana Dart. Keep them coming.¡± Kaden winced as black ooze whipped up from Trella¡¯s skin, slicing his hand open.

    Trella¡¯s shadow went one direction¡ªthen another¡ªthen split off three more times to become thin versions of her Deception.

    ¡°Keep using the Deception. The mana cost goes up,¡± Kaden said.

    The problem was, her original Deception was still there, standing on the other side. Kaden tried to disperse it. It caught his hand and shook its head.

    [Shadow Step] mis-fired, sending Trella backwards faster than [Moment of Speed] could let Kaden move. He picked her up and carried her as bands of black errupted from her body and sank back in. As he approached the others, Eve took one look and came running. ¡°What happened?¡±

    Kaden lay her down on a bedroll. ¡°She killed a spider with nocto condensate. I pulled it out. She absorbed it without even waiting. We would have let her have it. She didn¡¯t need to take it without preparing. Eve showed us how to do it without getting sick.¡±

    Sara hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°She¡¯s levels behind and desperately wants to catch up. I could have told you this was coming but I didn¡¯t expect you to find the one kind of condensate she was planning on taking.¡±

    Trella convulsed, completely unconscious.

    Kaden drew a [Mana Spike] with a hundred points of power and gently pressed it to her.

    Her back arched, and even unconscious, she groaned, biting the tip of her tongue until it bled¡ªthen sagged back against the roll.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got this,¡± Eve said, putting a hand on Trella as she activated [Life Transfusion]. ¡°There we go. Get the piece of her tongue and hold it in place. Good, good.¡±

    A trickle of blood from Trella¡¯s mouth ran down her cheek.

    ¡°She should be awake,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°No,¡± said Eve. ¡°When I took my condensate, I was unconscious for two hours that I know of. I say that based on the alignment of the moon when we started. Don¡¯t move her, just let her rest.¡±

    It was an absolute that Kaden could love someone and still be infintely frustrated with her decisions. It wasn¡¯t like he didn¡¯t grasp being less powerful than everyone around him, or that moment of decision when he¡¯d taken the chrono condensate. It was just that he¡¯d been in a safe¡ªok, Vichor wasn¡¯t safe, but it wasn¡¯t filled with monsters. Other than Jagi.

    It was a terrible choice made worse by not warning Kaden.He could have at least warned her to expend all her mana. Now, they could only wait. Kaden set Trinity lose with simple instructions. Start at camp and kill everything in an ever expanding circle. She¡¯d make a (probably bad) judgement call if she ran into a boss.

    Skully stood at the center of camp, his head rotating three hundred and sixty degrees as he scanned for any incoming threats.

    Kaden summoned Vip and let her lay against Trella¡¯s chest, not because Vip had any form of magic, but because he always felt better when Vip snuggled against him.

    ¡°Would you mind helping me with an experiment?¡± Wren asked. ¡°I know this doesn¡¯t match your style, I just want to see if the bindings work. Sara¡¯s too short, Eve doesn¡¯t wear armor and it¡¯s impossible to fully test something on yourself.¡±

    Kaden stood still as Wren produce a breastplate obviously warped from a Mirror Shield. ¡°How did you do this? You don¡¯t have a forge.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what my class does. Well, my specialization of it. I warp existing artifacts into new uses, and I gained two levels just producing this. There¡¯s a reason we have project breaks.I can learn all the theory I want but at some point I have to do. I have to make. I have to fail.¡± Wren took something out of Inventory. It looked like a crumpled scroll, only it was shiny metal. ¡°I stretched it too far. People laugh at times because I¡¯m a dual class Shield/Artificer but anyone else wouldn¡¯t have survived the failure.¡±

    Kaden was probably three times stronger, and he couldn¡¯t bend the metal at all. ¡°I have to see this.¡±

    ¡°Some other time.Like I said, it doesn¡¯t fit your fighting style, but you¡¯re a decent armor dumy.¡± Wren pulled a full sized shield, unmodified and handed it to him, followed by a bracer and pauldron with an arm guard. ¡°How does that feel?¡±

    Kaden put them on and tried to lift and swing Reembrance. ¡°It¡¯s cutting into my arm on the underside and I can¡¯t raise my forearm all the way.¡±

    Wren stripped the pieces and set up her workbench. ¡°See, this is what I was missing. My mace attacks are simple up or down, side to side swipes.¡±She locked the pauldron into place and began to focus on a set of tongs which arced white energy that reminded Kaden of the Void Walker. ¡°Just a minor change here, we¡¯re going to push this in a bit, and now the enchantment is all broken, so let¡¯s adjust the enchantment flow. I should be able to make changes like this without breaking the flow, but my skills aren¡¯t high enough level yet.¡±

    After several minutes, they repeated, and this time, Kaden could raise Remembrance far enough, though the armor felt heavy and restrictive. ¡°What¡¯s the advantage of this?¡±

    ¡°I call it ¡®mage killer¡¯ armor. [Mirror Shields] reflect spells. Imagine not being able to throw a spell for fear of hitting your friends?¡± Wren was near gleeful. ¡°Imagine a full set of armor in this.¡±

    He left her working and went to check on Trella.

    She sweated drops of inky black that evaporated under the dim red glow of the cavern.

    ¡°Shit.¡± Sara swore. ¡°Mabies are breaking camp. They didn¡¯t message me, so they¡¯re not heading for a boss. We¡¯ve got to move.¡±

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kaden recalled Trinity immediately and lifted Trella, bedroll and all, into Skully¡¯s waiting arms. ¡°Trinity will take west, I¡¯ll take lead, you take east.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m with Sara and Wren,¡± Eve said. ¡°I¡¯m really hoping to escape these caverns without having to resurrect everyone.¡±

    Kaden listened in with the Echo Beetle, but he¡¯d missed the discussion that led to them breaking camp. ¡°They¡¯re not moving north. They¡¯re moving northeast.¡±

    ¡°Let them roam,¡± Sara answered. ¡°I¡¯m applying [Speeding Wind] to everyone.¡±

    The buff made Kaden that much faster, letting him keep up with the Mages, who weren¡¯t constantly cycling buffs. They were conserving mana. ¡°What gets a group like this fired up?¡±

    ¡°Power,¡± Eve sent back by Messenger Bird. ¡°Power is their only goal and it¡¯s what they¡¯re taught to seek.¡±

    Less than two hours later, the mages slowed, coming to a stop as they spread out into an arc. Kaden let Trinity start her sweeps while he fell back and circled the long way around to where Wren stood in heated discussion. ¡°There¡¯s three major trials. They have to beat one to receive their Quest reward. While I was bandaging one, I found out the Light Fairy isn¡¯t on the list. She¡¯s hidden. They were talking about the Path of Fire. It¡¯s a challenge where each of them must keep themselves from being charred with nothing but mana.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a boss, so they didn¡¯t tell us,¡± Sara said. ¡°All right. Kaden, you and Trinity sweep to make sure we don¡¯t have wandering bosses. Wren, if you don¡¯t mind, keep an eye on Trella.¡±

    Trella rolled over, kicking herself out of Skully¡¯s arms.

    [Acrobat] kicked in at the last moment, so she rolled when she hit stone. ¡°Oh my gods. That hurt.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not injured,¡± Eve said. ¡°I could overheal but I can¡¯t heal you.¡±

    Trella rose, unbalanced and stumbled sideways into Skully. She might as well have hit a wall. The Skeleton looked down at her and put a hand on her head to put her upright. ¡°[Mana Spike]. Why the hell did you hit me with [Mana Spike]?¡±

    Eve spoke before Kaden could. ¡°If you had any restraint, any intelligence, any form of planning, Kaden or I could have told you the key to transitioning mana is to exhaust yourself into near Mana Shock before taking the condensate. Kaden did you a favor. Sara did things the hard way, Kaden at least had Mana Dart. You didn¡¯t have to do what you did.¡±

    Trella wouldn¡¯t meet her gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be carried by the party. I said no when the Sisters offered because I watched initiates suffer. I regretted that every day, but the Sisters would make me wait until second tier and then I¡¯d owe them. I got [Shadow Chains].¡±

    Kaden waited as she shared the skill.

    [Shadow Chains]

    Summon chains of pure shadow to bind and harm your prey. The edges are sharp and will become sharper as this skill levels. The strength of these chains and the size of prey you may bind will increase as this skill levels. This skill deals double damage in the dark.

    ¡°This is what the noctomage used during our escort mission,¡± Kaden said. ¡°It¡¯s not leveled but that¡¯s a powerful skill.¡±

    Trella reached up to Skully. ¡°I don¡¯t mind him carrying me, I just want to sit up while I recover my strength. Eve, how many hours was it until you felt solid?¡±

    ¡°A week,¡± Eve said. ¡°I went into Hell still unstable.¡±

    Before Kaden could order him, Skully cupped his arms so Trella could sit against the smooth sides of his rib cage rather than the razor sharp points.

    ¡°They¡¯re starting the Path,¡± Eve called.

    Each mage stood with their back to the others as a column of flame rose up before them. Even from where Kaden stood, the Fire Mana was overwhelming, let alone the heat. A sphere of mana surrounded each mage. Solid black for the NoctoMage, deep green for the life mage. Two blue water mages, a yellow Kaden didn¡¯t recognize, and a brilliant white sphere that pushed the column of fire back.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do for them now except keep wandering bosses clear.¡± Sara turned to Trella. ¡°Does your map cover this area?¡±

    Trella nodded. ¡°Not all the way through, but I¡¯ve been north east of here almost to the exit. I could see the exit in the distance from where I was. West of here is a swarm of [Rock Rollers]. Don¡¯t underestimate them, they¡¯re classified as a Boss for a reason. I put myself into Mana Shock just to escape.¡±

    ¡°Swarms.¡± Eve spoke the word with pleasure. ¡°I¡¯d like to see this ¡®swarm.¡¯ I have a skill specifically focused for destroying ¡®swarms.¡¯¡±

    She had to mean [Life Explosion]. Kaden had yet to see it actually function as Eve almost always used it in its less evolved form. ¡°Skully¡¯s [Plague Crows] could spread plague through the swarm before you use it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate his company. I don¡¯t need to do this myself, I want to hone my skills. Kaden, you are welcome to come in case of unforseen disasters.¡± Eve looked to Sara. ¡°Would that be acceptable?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely, if Trinity has the far side.¡±

    Trinity didn¡¯t just ¡°have¡± the far side, she was gradually murdering every monster in an ever widening arc.

    Trella patted Skully¡¯s head. ¡°This way, big guy.¡±

    He lumbered forward, leading Eve and Kaden for nearly an hour. The first sign they were near were scorpion husks. Centipede shells. Fragments of bone golemns still vibrating and trying to connect to each other, but with chips and chunks of bone missing, probably doomed.

    Trella slowed Skully. ¡°There. That looks like an open plain, and they don¡¯t bother the little scorpions, but see the small holes? They¡¯ll come boiling out the moment they sense vibrations. Anything other than [Shadow Step] wouldn¡¯t have saved me. I was able to burn all my mana and [Shadow Step] out of their nest, then run and keep running.¡±

    Eve studied the area. ¡°If this goes badly, we¡¯ll retreat. How close does Skully need to be to use the [Plague Crows]?¡±

    Kaden moved them slowly back. ¡°There.¡±

    ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll be using [Life Explosion], We just need a target to get started.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡± Trella hurled one of her daggers deep into the field of small, narrow gopher holes. As it bounced off the stone, something gray and red burst into the air with a squeal.

    [Life Explosion] blasted it into chunks that covered others, which was impressive and yet, as the ground rumbled and shook, Kaden couldn¡¯t help worrying. He grasp Trella¡¯s hand. *How¡¯s your mana?*

    *Rising, faster than it ever did before, but not full.*

    Kaden gifted her mana with [Mana Well] to ensure she could use [Shadow Step].

    She returned the favor with a mana regen potion that tasted like ash.

    ¡°Come on!¡± Eve shouted as she activated [Life Explosion] over and over. The tiny swarm beasts exploded in waves, only triggering more of their comrades to die. [Plague Crows] dove in between, nipping and scratching, and any infected Roller did twice the damage when it exploded, passing on plague.

    Sometimes, a battle hinged on a bad bounce.

    Eve had focused her [Life Explosion] attacks on the center of the field, but just as she activated it, a ring of Rock Rollers vaulted up, jaws opened wide to devour the expected threat. Most died in the [Life Explosion], tainted with [Plague].

    One sailed through the air, bounced, and rolled to Eve¡¯s foot.

    She screamed as it chomped down on her toe.

    Kaden smashed it, but already the ground began to tremble under his feet. ¡°Run!¡± Kaden threw Eve and Trella over his shoulder and began to sprint away. He¡¯d never considered Skully fast, but never tested Skully, either. The Undead monstrosity covered major ground with every thundering footstep.

    Behind them, swarms of [Rock Roller] rolled through an [Agony Cloud] tossed out by Trella and kept coming. Kaden leaped up, climbing onto Skully¡¯s back like Eve and Trella weighed nothing. ¡°Keep going, big guy¡ªthat way.¡± He wouldn¡¯t lead them back to the mages, no, Kaden crossed a pack of [Lava Scorpions] and kept going. ¡°Why are they still chasing us?¡±

    ¡°Hold still!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°There¡¯s one biting your arm. One sets off the pack.¡± Trella stabbed at it until the swarmling dropped to the ground, immediately swallowed in the flood of [Rock Rollers] who rolled along behind them.

    ¡°Over the lava!¡± Kaden hated directing Skully that way and tried to imply him jumping. Many Adventurers had the [Acrobat] talent which allowed fantastic leaps and landings. Some fish could leap from the water and soar through the sky. Skully, like the average mountain range, was not meant to leave the ground.

    His version of a jump was a slightly longer step that landed him in the middle of a lava stream. He stumbled two feet more and collapsed on the other side as his legs charred.

    The wave of [Rock Rollers] hit lava and drew back.

    Then began to stack atop one another taller and taller.

    Eve hit them with [Life Explosion] but now there were three towers of [Rock Rollers].

    Skully¡¯s hair dropped off and re-arranged itself as leg bones for a quadruped, and he took off running at Kaden¡¯s direction. ¡°How far do we think the aggro goes on?¡± Kaden asked Trella.

    ¡°Not much¡ªLook out!¡± Trella shouted as swarms of [Rock Rollers] converged from either side.

 Eighteen - False Profit

    Kaden saw the [Rock Rollers] converge and activated his borrowed skill, [Ice Plate]. It drained two hundred points of mana, but coated the floor in solid ice, which Skully¡¯s claws dug into, letting him leap and slide just ahead of the converging swarm.

    [Freezing Gale] took another hundred points but blossomed out into a cloud that struck the swarm, slowing it.

    You have helped defeat a boss monster (Rock Roller).

    The notification rolled on over and over.

    They were vulnerable to cold, and Kaden could have destroyed them at the nest.

    Kaden kept them moving until they¡¯d circled all the way back to where Sara stood.

    ¡°What happened to Skully?¡± she looked at the burn marks on what were now ankles.

    ¡°[Life Explosion] is powerful but has limits, and Kaden didn¡¯t mention having an area of effect cold blast,¡± Eve said.

    He was embarrassed to admit forgetting it. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t we take Trella around hunting¡ªwhy are our mages headed this way? How did they pass their trial that quickly?¡±

    ¡°White mage froze her column then assisted everyone else,¡± Sara said. ¡°Hello, little darlings. Are you having fun on your big-boy hunt?¡±

    ¡°You!¡± The Nocto-Mage pointed at Kaden. ¡°What are you thinking? We set out to kill the Krystaling. Your monster was dragging the corpse back to camp. A boss monster. All by itself. What else has it killed you didn¡¯t tell us about?¡±

    ¡°Chill,¡± Trella said. ¡°There¡¯s like a hundred and fifty bosses in this cavern network. Maybe more.¡±

    Kaden thought for a moment. ¡°Where¡¯s Trinity?¡±

    ¡°That Boss was our right!¡± The Nocto Mage shouted. ¡°She should have backed down! I gave her a chance!¡±

    [Moment of Speed] gave Kaden strength to sprint in the direction he¡¯d felt Trinity. He found her laying on her side, one leg missing, her center head crushed by a block of ice. Her serpentine head had only one eye, but it trilled softly as he approached. ¡°It¡¯s ok, girl. It¡¯s ok.¡± He pulled her into his soul and headed back to camp, a bundle of cold fury.

    ¡°Do you see that?¡± Eve asked calmly. ¡°That¡¯s the look of a man who¡¯s realized that six gold truly isn¡¯t worth the trouble you¡¯re causing. Sara, are there legal reprecussions to allowing Kaden to dip them all in lava?¡±

    ¡°None,¡± Sara said. ¡°They¡¯re allowed to choose any challenge they want. I didn¡¯t anticipate it being Kaden, but we¡¯re not to interfere.¡±

    The Noctomage struck, thick black chains coalescing from shadow to wrap around him. They cut. They cut deep. He didn¡¯t stop, even as blood spurted. ¡°Good choice, [Shadow Chains]. See that, Trella? Great spell. I¡¯ll use something different.¡±

    [Mana Drain] hit her like the legendary wagon-to-another-world Tavern Tales often included, and Kaden funneled the mana to Eve, who used it to heal the slices on his body. With no mana, her chains evaporated.

    Kaden grabbed her by the face, squeezing. ¡°Trella. Would you do me a favor and mark her with [Ink]? I don¡¯t want her dead, so cut carefully.¡±

    Trella [Shadow Stepped] right beside them, placing minor nicks on each arm. ¡°Done.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s Party Leader now?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°It¡¯s not her. It¡¯s not you, [Life Mage]. You conspired with her to kill the others when you fought the Light Fairy. You would stop healing, the chain collapses, party wipe. What I don¡¯t get is how you expected to get their crystals.¡±

    The Ice Mage gasped. ¡°The rewards are set when the battle begins. She¡¯s the most powerful¡ª¡±

    ¡°No Mana. No regen, thanks to [Ink].¡± Trella wiped her blades on her armor and sheathed them. ¡°She¡¯s your packmule now. Pick a new leader.¡±

    ¡°I am still in charge!¡± The noctomage shouted. ¡°We¡¯re only two miles from the exit, and my father will be there to celebrate¡ªand punish you.¡±

    ¡°Two miles?¡± Trella seemed actually confused. ¡°Two miles? That way? No. Two miles that way is the edge of this cavern. The whole network is bigger than I¡¯ve been able to run in a day, even with endurance potions. I¡¯m guessing you have a couple weeks if you don¡¯t fight anything.¡±

    ¡°Which of you has [Cooking]? You? You¡¯re now the most important party member,¡± Eve said.

    What followed was the fastest election in history, as the [Ice Mage], a black woman named Neshad was quickly chosen as the new leader. The Water Mage with [Cooking] was second in command and looked deeply uncomfortable at the thought.

    To Kaden¡¯s surprise, they didn¡¯t kill Osharam. They didn¡¯t load her down with books. Stripped of her power both literal and figurative, she was now at their mercy, and Kaden was surprised to find they had any. Most [Mages] he¡¯d met had been real dicks.

    While the party made new plans, Sara called hers together. ¡°Will Trinity have to reform?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s heavily wounded but alive. Eve could heal her, but I¡¯d rather we conserve mana. If this was just the first cavern, I don¡¯t even want to guess what¡¯s waiting.¡±

    ¡°Fewer monsters, larger bosses,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Everything after this feels like it¡¯s almost sculpted. Like someone collected [Fire Mana] bosses and packed them. I think they¡¯ve got entirely the wrong idea about how this place is supposed to work.¡±

    If they did, so did Kaden. ¡°Tell me how it¡¯s supposed to work?¡±

    Trella looked around. ¡°My best theory is that this is a gift. A gift those idiots are squandering. You¡¯re supposed to prepare for an experience. Plan ahead. Pack gear. Learn skills. And then you stay. You level. You get stronger and as you outgrow one cavern, you move on to the next. They¡¯re not earning the right to reach level twenty five, they¡¯re supposed to be doing it.¡±

    ¡°I can see it,¡± Sara said. ¡°Those six got the wrong message. They focused on a single hidden boss with a huge benefit. Surviving a trial is the minimum. They should be aiming to survive them all.¡±

    Kaden sent the [Falcrow] to Ashi, but it refused to leave. ¡°Ashi must have gone back to Vichor. She said her wraps weren¡¯t enough to protect her from this place. Wren can¡¯t stay down here for years. As long as you three are leveling, I¡¯m happy to wait. Eve and I can cook, Trella can create water, and we can all get stronger.¡±

    ¡°Wren,¡± said Wren, ¡°Is working on a suit of armor made of [Mirror Shields] and has made more progress down here than I did at the Academy. Wren is perfectly happy where she is.¡±

    ¡°The only thing we¡¯re not allowed to do is force them to do something,¡± Sara said. ¡°I say we make use of our time here. For every opportunity they pass, I want us to take two. Trella, is it possible to complete your map of this cavern?¡±

    ¡°Probably.¡± She unrolled it. ¡°We have to pass through this section anyway, I left it because it¡¯s small. The real problem is this arc here, near the [Rock Rollers]. Hmmm.¡± She walked toward the [Mage] camp. ¡°It¡¯s a real pity the [Rock Roller] swarm boss is vulnerable to area-of-effect ice attacks. Such a pity, since we heavily weakened them earlier.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t listen! She probably just wants to kill us.¡± Osharam hadn¡¯t lost her flair for dramatic.

    Before Kaden could speak, Trella [Shadow Stepped] to stand beside Osharam, her Deception on the other side. ¡°Between you and me? If she wanted you dead, you¡¯d be dead.¡±

    In trail of shadows, Trella burst back into existence beside Kaden. Instead of pale after images, her [Shadow Step] left deep, dark, actual shadows that continued to move on their own for a moment.

    Neshad organized her party. ¡°You can all stay here or you can come help, but I can wipe out this boss on my own.¡±

    That was the spirit.

    ###

    Each ¡®day¡¯ began with Sara checking in with the party to understand their goal: Rest, Hunt, or Boss? They were completely in control of decisions, but deciding was essential and communicating those decisions was no longer optional.

    Kaden took Trella and Eve hunting, letting Trella level [Shadow Chains] and Eve grow more and more effective with [Life Explosion]. Eve hit level twenty seven the same day the Mages suffered a full party wipe, which strangely, they took better than their successes.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Trella returned at noon, out of breath and worried. ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem. Where are the mabies?¡±

    ¡°Eve and Sara escorted them to Golem of Fire,¡± Kaden said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Trella pointed west. ¡°We have to leave. We have to leave now. I was doing an final pass on the first cavern. Look south.¡±

    On the horizon, a bright line of red stood, like a coming sunrise.

    ¡°It¡¯s a wall of fire mana. I think it¡¯s meant to force people to keep moving,¡± Trella said. ¡°I may have been slightly wrong about the purpose of this place. The Farportal we came in by is completely engulfed.¡±

    Wren immediately stored her workbench and began packing, loading camp onto Skully¡¯s back. She¡¯d crafted slings for him, and Skully carried bag upon bag of materials reaped. Even Kaden¡¯s inventory was getting full.

    They raced to find Sara and explain the problem.

    Osharam spoke for the first time in a week. ¡°My grandfather warned me about this. He said you had to pick your pace. Go too fast and you¡¯re not strong enough to defeat the final guardian. Go too slow and you¡¯re turned to ash. The timer resets with each cavern you pass.¡±

    ¡°We should pass on into the next cavern. Preferrably far into the next cavern. Trella, how far have you scouted?¡± Sara kept her eye on the horizon. The glow was definitely brighter.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been almost to the actual exit. Straight down the middle would be hard for us. The highest is level thirty, but they¡¯re all level thirty, and it¡¯s a gods-damned boss rush. The sides are more densely packed but closer to twenty six.¡± Trella looked to the mabies. ¡°This is your expedition. Worst comes to worst, I¡¯ll [Backstab] you all and stealth to the far end with your corpses in inventory.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve barely gained three levels each. Twenty five isn¡¯t far off, but if we die, it¡¯s even further off.¡± Neshad¡¯s tone said she¡¯d made up her mind. ¡°I have something differerent in mind. We form a [Raid Party] and push the middle. We¡¯ve got two dedicated buffers, a [Life Mage] who¡¯s probably on par with your [Transfusionist] and if you let Osharam regenerate mana, her damage output is phenomonal.¡±

    Sara looked to Kaden.

    He summoned Trinity. ¡°Girl, your job¡ªyour only job¡ªis to watch her. If she looks at us wrong, eat her, then kill her. Eve, purge the [Ink].¡±

    Eve activated [Life Explosion] which both raised Osharam¡¯s health and let her regenerate. ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, we need to be clear, Sara calls the shots. She¡¯s got more experience with boss battles than all of you put together.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s three we can probably bypass with a little planning and one we absolute can¡¯t engage,¡± Trella said. ¡°The third cavern is going to be different. It¡¯s going to be harder.¡±

    ¡°Hard how?¡± Neshad asked.

    ¡°Best I can tell, all the spawns are mages who died down here. They have an [Ensnare] skill that makes it hard to fight back against them, and the truth is, they don¡¯t need to kill us. They just need to slow us down.¡± Trella expanded her scroll and showed it to Sara ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®around¡¯ the first four, but it¡¯s actually number eight that worries me. It¡¯s a grind battle. If we have to go a long way around, it¡¯s probably still faster.¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°You¡¯re the scout. Take us to the first boss.¡±

    Trella lead them around a line of scorpions and detoured far past what looked like boulders, but she assured them were hibernating trolls. The ceiling arced downward sharply to an opening thirty feet across.

    Kaden stepped through into a white rock floor that radiated heat.

    You have entered the secondary training zone.

    Zone timer is reset.

    The rewards in this zone are greater, but the more you harvest, the less time you will have. Choose your opponents carefully.

    Sara swore as she read the notice.¡°Buff up, the first boss is a regular, boring [Fire Boa]. Loot goes to the Mabies.¡±

    Kaden dosed Remembrance with [Bleed] potions from Trella, took a sip of Mana Regen potion, and waited as three stacks of [Speeding Wind] hit. It felt like [Moment of Speed] as he raced toward the coiled Boa. Flames raced down its back and it struck as Kaden activated his on [Moment of Speed] to slam Remembrance¡¯s hammer head straight into the boa¡¯s nose.

    Immovable made him a force of nature. The boss flipped aside, momentarily stunned, while Remembrance made the heat drift downard as it screamed. Kaden delivered an axe blow that chipped off rows of scales, then burned the stored up power in Remembrance to split the skin in a ten foot segment. ¡°That¡¯s your target!¡±

    The boa whipped itself upright and slapped at Kaden with its tail¡ªand a chunk of tail went sliding free as Kaden chopped with Remembrance. ¡°It¡¯s bleeding now. We¡¯ve got this.¡±

    Chopping the tail triggered the boss to back up. A vast hood swelled from its head.

    Kaden broke all polite protocol, using Thorn Caster to deliver two stacks of poison before the Boss could finish its transformation.

    With ice shards in its neck and shadow chains sawing at it from both Trella and Osharam, the fire Boa was dead before it knew it was dying.

    Kaden [Field Harvested] the body and tossed fangs to the Mabies. ¡°Move on. Next boss is a twin Fire Moth boss, the key is movement patterns, I¡¯ll keep it busy, you knock them down.¡± Before they even engaged, Kaden opened fire with [Thorn Caster], poisoning both of the Fire Moths.

    He boosted off of Skully to land atop one moth as it completed a ceremonial swoop, which was probably a funeral ceremony. They were meant to strafe mages, forcing them to learn the boss pattern and where to stand. Kaden used the Levicon blade to slice one wing until it began to waver.

    ¡°It¡¯s Blasta all over,¡± Sara shouted, dodging a gout of fire to grab a moth leg and climb on board.

    Their first dungeon boss. An unfair challenge. Spells thunked into the moth Kaden perched on, and it began to spiral toward the ground as the injured wing went limp. Kaden leaped off and switched to using the Eldritch Shield to block flames.

    ¡°Shoot faster¡± Sara called as she stabbed at the moth¡¯s thorax. ¡°Must. Shoot. Faster!¡±

    The fire moth burst into flame, sending Sara leaping away, batting at her hair.

    Oshara screamed as she triggered [Shadow Chains], lopping the boss¡¯s head off its body. ¡°That is what a noctomage is capable of! Next time¡­¡±

    Trinity¡¯s low rumble from behind Oshara silenced the shadow mage.

    ¡°[Field Harvest]!¡± Kaden collected both wings, both eyes and forced the Mabies to take them.

    Trella was already ahead of them. ¡°Crystal Goblins. It¡¯s a wave boss. One, two, up to ten at a time.¡±

    ¡°Sara, [Mana Conduit] for the later waves.¡±

    ¡°Hold,¡± Eve called. ¡°First, we overheal.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s health surged upward two thousand points as [Speeding Wind] struck. ¡°Leave the first few to me. When they start to overwhelm, Sara will take care of them.¡±

    The creature standing there looked a lot like a goblin, except it was see through, and clusters of crystals jutted off of its shoulders, eyebrows, and down its back.

    [Crystal Goblin Horde - Stage 1]

    The Crystal Goblins were normal goblins who couldn¡¯t shake their love of enticing crystals, which slowly grew over their skin. But even the forces of nature underestimated the greed of goblins, because as it overtook them, their nature overtook it. Now they are their horde. Defeat a single goblin and its brothers will rise to take it back.

    Skills: Crystal Smash, Crystal Slice, Spearing Charge

    Talents: Stone Skin

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and brought Remembrance down on the first Goblin¡¯s skull as it moved to spear him. [Immovable] broke its arm on the metal in his chest. Remembrance broke the goblin.

    [Split Second] let him twist to dodge a crystal sword that tried to slice his throat open. It didn¡¯t do a damned thing for the one that stabbed deep into his back. Kaden threw himself forward, then brought Remembrance down overhead to smash the arm of the stabby goblin, then caught the thrust of the other goblin and picked it up to hurl it at the other.

    You have acquired a [Mortal Wound].

    You have acquired a status condition: Heavy Bleed.

    ¡°Eve!¡± He shouted, even as [Life Explosion] struck him. The bleeding stopped.

    The health loss didn¡¯t. Kaden had bigger problems to deal with, using [Split Second] to leap back as three Crystal Goblins materialized in a crescent. Drawing on Mr. Dervish¡¯s training, he didn¡¯t commit to an overhand swing, instead moving constantly, waiting.

    The Mabies were finally earning their keep. [Shadow Chains] and ice blasts struck over and over¡ªand inspired Kaden. He used [Ice Plate], trusting his heavy boots to keep traction.

    The first [Crystal Goblin] to lunge slipped¡ªand shattered. Four more appeared, as a wave of water washed over their feet and froze into ice. Kaden summoned his [Eldritch Shield] and charged, bashing through the crowd. Five, Six, Seven more took their place, too crowded to swing their weapons.

    ¡°Sara!¡± Kaden shouted.

    You have channeled [Lightning Bolt].

    Chance Procedure Activiates! [Lightning Bolt] strikes as [Chain Lightning].

    [MultiTasker] provides targeting bonus!

    Thankfully, Sara didn¡¯t stop to see if she¡¯d succeeded, because now Kaden stood in a mob of goblins.

    Neshad Cobb is requesting permission to use [Mana Channel] [Y/N]

    Sometimes, you had to take a risk. Kaden accepted.

    You have channeled [Glacial Blast]

    A wave of ice blasted out from Kaden, followed by chunks of ice that left [Crystal Goblins] destroyed. Kaden had to kneel to catch his breath. ¡°Health is still going down.¡±

    ¡°[Mortal Wounds] do that. You¡¯ll loose your entire health amount. If you had five hundred, you will loose five hundred, even if you¡¯re healed.¡± Osharam sounded eager to be helpful. She probably had a [Mortal Wound] skill. ¡°That¡¯s really bad luck. All Mortal skills have at most a two percent chance of activating.¡±

    Even less with [Leader of the Pack].

    While Eve refilled his health, Kaden studied the remains. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to harvest. There¡¯s always something to harvest. Even Torrods have jaws you can harvest.¡±

    Trella shrugged. ¡°You win some, you lose some.¡±

    But Eve hadn¡¯t moved. ¡°Did you get a decent [Identify]?¡±

    Kaden shared the logs.

    ¡°They have become the treasure. The treasure is them. There¡¯s nothing to harvest because they are treasure.¡± Eve waved to the crystals. ¡°Do your thing.¡±

    Kaden waved to the Mabies. ¡°You heard Eve. Do your thing. This loot is yours.¡±

    Skully lingered behind after the Mabies took shards, stuffing crystals into Inventory, then loping forward to catch up.

    Trella hadn¡¯t moved forward. She studied her map, then turned to Sara and Neshad. ¡°This isn the same. I recognize this boss but it should be near the exit, not a quarter of the way through the cavern. I don¡¯t like it when bosses change. Do we hold while I scout, start fighting our way around, or plunge in?¡±

    Sara waited for Neshad to speak.

    ¡°Hold?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Hold,¡± Sara confirmed. ¡°We need to regen from that last fight, and it will only get worse. Can you safely scout?¡±

    Trella was already gone.

    She came back an hour later. ¡°Look at the scroll. Look at it!¡±

    Kaden took it and watched as clearly labeled bosses swapped places, then swapped again, and again. ¡°It¡¯s a pattern.¡±

    ¡°Possibly. Or it could be the scroll can only show what we see and I haven¡¯t seen something key.¡± Trella put it away. ¡°There¡¯s three bosses I really want to avoid and one we absolutely must not engage. That means there¡¯s more bosses left to avoid than fight.¡±

    The exit from the first cavern was a blinding wave of red and the wave hadn¡¯t even reached it. Kaden considered what the zone message had sent. ¡°Stealth. Ignus said he¡¯d seen teams make it through without defeating anything. It¡¯s possible to [Stealth] your way through it, but we don¡¯t even need to do that. I know how to Portal. Trella, take me to the next cavern. I¡¯ll open a Portal back to here. We don¡¯t have to leave but we can choose our battles.¡±

    ¡°Do we get a vote?¡± Neshad asked.

    Sara nodded. ¡°The only vote that matters.¡±

    ¡°We watched what you did back there. We¡¯re stronger than we ever could have been, but there¡¯s not a chance we could take on these bosses. We¡¯re done,¡± Neshad said. ¡°We¡¯re entirely done.¡±

 Nineteen - Dreams of Ruin

    Nesharad looked to her party before speaking. ¡°This was ridiculously good hunting. We¡¯ve got so many materials to sell. We¡¯ve got experience most would die for, but if we keep taking risks, we¡¯re going to die, and we¡¯re so close to twenty five. If anyone has changed their mind, speak up.¡±

    Osharam raised her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not done. I want more and I¡¯m disgusted that you don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Then we kill to the right,¡± Trella said. ¡°You kill to the right, we¡¯ll back you up. Your first enemies are four different spawns of [Tar Trolls.] They have [Slow] but will be vulnerable to ice, not water. Also, you really don¡¯t want to let one touch you and then catch fire.¡±

    To her credit, Osharam didn¡¯t hesitate, running toward the group of trolls.

    Trella looked back to the exit. *You should still go to the cavern transition.*

    Kaden relayed to Sara. *Trinity will stay and guard you. Skully, too.*

    They set off at a run, taking a wide route less to avoid bosses and more to let Trella update her scroll. Kaden¡¯s endurance was far beyond what any commoner could handle, and he¡¯d been a runner before he even got a class, but by the time the ceiling began to arc over, he was tired.

    ¡°Water?¡± Trella asked as they looked at the transition Previous caverns had been lit in dull red. This was solid black with veins of red.

    Kaden pulled a shell and drank from it as Trella used [Create Water], then passed it to her. He kneeled down, touching the stone, smelling the sulfur, the rasp of claws on stone as beasts hunted. ¡°There. I can get back here. I can probably open a portal back to where we were.¡±

    Trella pointed left. ¡°I really want to follow this wall. There¡¯s no prayer of fully mapping anything at this point, but if we see any change in the boss pattern, the map will know.¡±

    It took hours for them to finally catch up to Sara, who stood, arms crossed in front, pseudopods crossed behind her, resembling nothing so much as a frustrated cosmic-horror pretzel. ¡°Before you ask, yes, those are still the [Tar Trolls]. No, it is not the same spawn as they started at. They¡¯re out of mana, low on health and loosing to minion level monsters.¡±

    ¡°Help!¡± One of them screamed.

    Kaden hesitated. They were supposed to choose challenges.

    Trinity was not bound by the same restrictions, and she charged into the fray, accidentally bashing Osharam to the side before accidentally backing up to stand on her leg while her serpentine head spat venom in each troll¡¯s eyes.

    [Plague Crows] took flight, spreading [Plague] across the trolls, and one by one, Trinity destroyed them.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough girl.¡± Kaden called her back. ¡°Get off of Osharam. Eve, is healing a broken leg allowed?¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re not in combat. Trinity has wounds I should really take care of first¡ªoh, all right.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t ask. He opened a portal. ¡°Anyone want to move on?¡±

    No one hesitated, and once Skully and Trinity were through, Kaden followed. Wren stood at the edge of the divide. ¡°There¡¯s a major geis on this. I¡¯m not even certain this is part of the same physical place. Stepping across is going to trigger, like, eighteen conditions and I know you can¡¯t go back.¡±

    She pulled an intact [Mirror Shield] from inventory and equipped it.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help staring. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a dual class [Shield/Artificer],¡± Wren said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to dive into a dungeon and bash my way out the other side, but I know what I am and I know I¡¯m better off armored going into a place like that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s changed,¡± Trella said. ¡°I¡¯ve been most of the way through the zone and I promise you I was able to come back several times. I even bound my [Rescue Reset] to this side just in case I got trapped in there.¡±

    ¡°Pitch black?¡± Sara looked to the Mabies. ¡°Osharam. You¡¯re up in front. Kaden, leash your beasts. Trella, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re better off scouting or if you¡¯d do more damage with [Shadow Chains].¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got time. I¡¯m going to make Lesser Mana Potions for everyone¡ªand as many spares as I can. Same for health. We treat weapons with bleed. We go in ready for war. Wren, can I borrow a bench?¡±

    This time, Kaden watched as Wren produced the workbench. It began as an impossibly thin sheet of steel about the size of a scroll. When it unfolded once, it was the same thickness, but longer¡ªand again, and then legs folded down and out, maintaining a perfectly light but solid base.

    Trella began brewing, while Kaden let Trinity stalk a [Lava Scorpion].

    After three hours, Trella declared them done and passed out potions. ¡°All of you are topped up thanks to Sara. This will provide a mana regen boost and some base mana. We should sleep as well¡ªat least, you six should. Kaden, Sara, Eve? I need a favor.¡±

    He was there in an instant. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Boss 22C is a Fire Mana infused [Dagger Dream]. I still regret losing that stinger to Jagi¡¯s [Storm Condor]. It would have multiplied damage from poison. I think the four of us can handle it. Skully and Trinity can guard the Mabies with Wren.¡±

    The last [Dagger Dream] had been occupied killing a [Moon Moth]. It had been hit by Dominion. It had also been much higher in level than Kaden. ¡°We¡¯re going to need Vip. It will start laying eggs. Remember Blasta?¡±

    The eggs had exploded.

    Sara nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a reasonable risk. I¡¯m going to inform the Mabies and tell them that stepping into the next cavern constitutes choosing a battle. I think they¡¯ll stay put.¡±

    A few moments later, she returned. ¡°The words ¡®Dagger Dream,¡¯ ¡®Giant Wasp¡¯ and ¡®Fire Boss¡¯ are a remarkably effective deterrent. Now, how do we expect this boss to attack?¡±

    ¡°Sting.¡± Kaden pointed to Skully. ¡°Skully can¡¯t be poisoned. I¡¯m immune to Dagger Wasp venom but I¡¯d rather not risk it. Skully takes sting attacks. The head can bite, the claw tips spear. Normally I¡¯d say get on top of it and hack the wings but I¡¯ll bet it will be on fire.¡±

    ¡°If it bites, I¡¯ll give it a [Crawling Horror],¡± Sara said. ¡°Otherwise I¡¯ll focus on [Shocking Grasp} through my swords and call out when it¡¯s stunned.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll lead with [Freezing Gale], [Plague Crows] and Thorn Caster.¡± Kaden wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake twice. His ability to borrow skills and talents was powerful but only as long as he used it.

    Trella led them carefully through the cavern. ¡°The nest is up there. I don¡¯t know that the workers are decoration but [Identity] doesn¡¯t lock on to them at all. On the other hand, I didn¡¯t want to aggro the boss.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and crept toward the giant oval that hung from the cave ceiling. Crawling on the surface of the oval was a nightmare, a [Dagger Dream] the size of a wagon. Instead of yellow, its bands were bright red, and the veins on its wings gleamed red.

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Trella called. ¡°It¡¯s looking at us. We haven¡¯t even entered its range and it¡¯s looking at us. It shouldn¡¯t be looking at us yet.¡±

    [Stealth Aura] wouldn¡¯t activate. Kaden tried three times, swearing louder each time. ¡°It is watching us.¡±

    Sara took one step after another, tense. ¡°Got her. We should choose another boss. Any other boss. We should leave now.¡±

    [Vespa Adere - Burning Dream Queen]

    When the summer breezes turn to fall cold, dagger wasps dig down deep into the earth seeking warmth and sleep until summer returns. This one dug too deep, and found itself in a realm of endless heat. Transformed by intense Fire Mana, it has grown in strength, feeding on monsters until they have become the foundation of a new species. Soon, it will be the ruling species, first of these caverns and later, the world.

    This one is curious what kind of monster does not know to fear it. Normally it must chase down its food.

    *Hunger*.

    Level: 31

    HP: 10,000

    Mana: 3,000

    Skills: Summon Worker, Blazing Sting, Burning Wind, Fire Aura

    Talents: Hive Mind, Queen¡¯s Reign

    Titles: Progenitor

    [Queen¡¯s Reign]

    As the first of your kind, enjoy the System¡¯s Blessing. You will be more successful in all combat and take less damage while any of your subjects survive.

    Hive Mind didn¡¯t resolve, but [Queen¡¯s Reign] looked alot like [Leader of the Pack]. ¡°Sara¡¯s right,¡± Kaden said. ¡°That¡¯s not part of the boss set for this area. It¡¯s an intruder who¡¯s survived. It¡¯s level thirty one. It¡¯s feeding on other bosses, and that nest may not show up on [Identify] but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s for show, I think it enabled [Summon Worker]¡±

    Trella backed away, pulling on Sara¡¯s arm. ¡°Changed my mind. It can keep the stinger.¡±

    With every step, Kaden focused on [Beast Soul]. Most beasts would give away an attack with sheer emotion. For a good twenty paces, the Burning Dream crawled further down the nest to keep both of its eyes focused on the Party.

    When it didn¡¯t fly off the nest toward them, the nervous feeling in his gut settled, and with every boss put between them, Kaden grew more confident. Any Beast would choose easier prey, it was part of what made apex predators apex.

    The Mabies lay on bedrolls, slumbering comfortably in the midst of a cavern of terror. Skully stood on all fours on one side, while Trinity bided her time on the other. Wren wasn¡¯t sleeping, she worked on warping another [Mirror Shield] to form a back plate. ¡°No Boss?¡±

    ¡°Stingers are overrated.¡± Trella shared the [Identify] results. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hunt in the next cavern, so honestly, the faster we move, the better I¡¯ll feel.¡±

    Sara paused. ¡°I¡¯m grateful you understood the danger. We might be able to kill it, but I¡¯m told every party wipe is just one poor decision that snowballs out of control.¡±

    ¡°I want to make it to twenty five. I¡¯m going to.¡± Trella borrowed Kaden¡¯s [Needful Cloak] and spread it out as a deep, fluffy blanket. ¡°I¡¯ll take dawn shift.¡±

    Kaden took the first shift, and practiced his [Archery] by shooting [Fire Bats] as far away as possible. If one of them survived, Kaden had plenty of chances to hit it again, and the [Falcrow] lurked as a last resort.

    The bird continued to stare into the darkness to the south. Trella¡¯s map showed a wandering boss with a route that brought it toward the boundary, and the bird¡¯s vision was near perfect.

    After killing dozens of [Fire Bats], Kaden gave up and put Thorn Caster away. At midnight, he woke Sara. ¡°If the [Falcrow] goes off, wake me. It¡¯s been keeping an eye on that [Multi-clops] boss.¡±

    He lay down next to Trella, and Trinity lumbered over to stand beside him.

    The dense fire mana and dry heat made it easy to sleep, and Kaden slumbered¡ªuntil a hand on him shook him awake. ¡°Quickly, get up,¡± Sara said. ¡°Trella¡¯s waking the mabies and Eve is helping Wren. We have to move to the next cavern immediately.¡±

    Throughout the cavern, the sounds of battle raged. ¡°The wave?¡±

    ¡°Yes and no. It¡¯s coming, but we¡¯ve got bigger problems. There are [Burning Dreams] everywhere. They¡¯re attacking the bosses in teams,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the Queen?¡± Kaden had a hunch he knew where she was.

    ¡°She¡¯s not at the nest.¡±

    That was more than enough to get him moving. The workers were smaller, maybe a fourth the size of the queen, but they were still deadly, covered in flames. And invasive. ¡°Get the Mabies across. I¡¯m going to burn a few dreams.¡±

    ¡°No. We make a run for the Far Portal,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t. ¡°Those wasps will destroy everything down here and then errupt. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s above us but it won¡¯t take long for them to find a town, or even worse, make new nests.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t kill them all,¡± Trella said. ¡°The right thing to do is get the Mabies out.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to kill them all, we just need to give the bosses an edge. That Queen is smart. She won¡¯t waste workers on an attack that can¡¯t succeed.¡± Kaden drew Thorn Caster and nailed a [Burning Dream] as it descended on a [Magma Tortoise], then again on the second one, and the third.

    When a worker spun to find Kaden, the tortoise bit it in two, then clamped a claw down on the other and began lazily crushing it.

    ¡°I have to take them over,¡± Sara said. ¡°Eve, Wren, Skully, and Trinity are coming. You two should as well.¡±

    Your party has shrunk by nine.

    Leader of the Pack is less effective.

    Kaden looked to Trella. ¡°Go with them.¡±

    ¡°Not happening. What¡¯s the plan?¡±

    ¡°Raise hell. Seriously, I want to run a circuit of weak bosses and cull workers. They¡¯ll gang up against the big ones.¡± Kaden accepted the potion Trella offered without even asking what it does. ¡°What¡¯s mint flavor?¡±

    ¡°Mana. Stealth up, we¡¯re hunting.¡± Trella led him further into the darkness. [Shadow Chains] errupted to slice the wings of workers on the ground, while Kaden unleashed Thorn Caster to poison workers flying in to attack.

    At first, the battle was chaotic, running and shooting, running and shooting, but with less than thirty dead, the wasps ceased their assault. Bosses nursed their pride and wounds, and a few stunted [Burning Dreams] attacked giant centipedes, but the air no longer hummed with the beat of wings.

    *They¡¯re not gone. They¡¯re too smart,* Trella sent in code.

    Kaden nodded. *The nest. They probably retreated to the nest.*

    The oval nest glistened with [Burning Dream] workers, just as Kaden expected. He had a plan. *We¡¯ll use the golem to break line of sight and go back into [Stealth].*

    The Golem was dead, but since it was stone, the wasps hadn¡¯t tried to chew it up.

    Trella put a hand on his back and faded into the shadows. That way, she could tag team with him to escape.

    Kaden drew Thorn Caster and dumped mana into [Mana Quiver] to produce an arrow that blurred and jitttered and couldn¡¯t decide if it was still in the quiver, in flight, or buried deep in his target.

    The bow creaked under the strain as he chose his target, the fat middle of the oval.

    The bow sang as it launched the arrow, which passed straight through a worker, into the nest and out the other side. Kaden hit the ground and activated [Stealth Aura] as dozens of workers took to the air. The gods smiled, or at least weren¡¯t watching, because [Stealth Aura] activated, and Kaden raced to the nearby shadows. Any moment now¡ª

    The arrow struck three times more, and the third time, something deep in the nest shrieked. The leathery skin of the oval rent open and wept half-formed pupa and wet white larva that sizzled as they hit the stone.

    The Burning Queen crawled out engulfed in fire, her body pulsing in waves of red energy as she took to the air, circling again and again. Juvenile workers trapped in the nest let out cries of distress that brought most workers back, but these were Beasts.

    Their instincts identified the larva as food, and they set on them, chewing even as the Queen raged, too large to tend her own offspring and filled with fury at their destruction.

    Ichor wept from a wound in her abdomen, but Kaden had seen the [Identify]. Ten thousand health would make her a deadly opponent.

    Though¡­one percent damage from poison as a constant damange was a lot of health in very little time. Rarely did Kaden think of beasts as disposable, but this was a war. He [Soul Bound] a [Tar Troll] and sent it toward the nest, hurling globs of tar at the flying wasps. Troll after troll, he sent them, using tar to ground workers.

    And each time a worker screamed as [Shadow Chains] sliced wings or legs, Kaden smiled. Trella had focused on the skill and now reaped the rewards.

    Lava Scorpions were a terrible match, the wasps grasped their tail and stung them to death, but Kaden knew there were three different threats. First was the Queen. He needed to put another stack or three of [Poison] on her. Three hundred points of continuous damage would wreck even a ten thousand health monster.

    The key was to be as far as he could from the nest.

    Kaden prepared. This time, the Queen would probably be looking for the arrow. This time, she¡¯d respond personally, and probably with all her workers. So he¡¯d aim to hit her right in the thorax, a [Crippling Strike] for sure.

    But as he drew back, the smell of burning flesh grew stronger and stronger.

    Kaden stored his bow and prepared for a battle.

    Trella came sprinting by, her hair burned off, her cloak on fire. ¡°Move!¡±

    As she spoke, she turned and triggered [Shadow Chains].

    Kaden almost gasped.

    Behind her lumbered a dragon.

 Twenty - Consequential

    A [Fire Dragon], with six legs like trees, a tail that ended in a spade-shaped point, and jagged fin-like plates all the way down its back chased Trella at a relentless pace. Its scales rippled with red that wasn¡¯t just heat but pure fire Mana.

    Every time it breathed in, Trella [Shadow Stepped] away to avoid the blast of white hot heat that melted the stone. Kaden grabbed a rock from the floor and threw it.

    It struck the dragon¡¯s chest and melted.

    The air shook as it roared and slammed a claw down.

    Kaden dodged with split second, and charred the skin on his palm as he touched the [Dragon]. *Hey. Those wasps are killing everything and taking over.*

    The Dragon recoiled as though shocked. Its tail lashed side to side, and it shifted its weight the way Trinity did when she was getting ready to lunge. *Not. Everything.*

    *Well, of course not you. You¡¯re a Dragon. A Fire Dragon. So much larger than Suridev.* If he didn¡¯t mention the undead dragon it was just common sense. *I¡¯m sorry about the misunderstanding with my lover. She doesn¡¯t speak dragon and those chains were her way of warning you about the wasps.*

    *I. Kill.* The Dragon¡¯s thoughts thundered through Kaden¡¯s mind, a connection he couldn¡¯t break if he wanted to.

    *Excellent, we¡¯ll get out of your way¡ª*

    *I. Kill. All.*

    [Moment of Speed] let Kaden lunge forward as the dragon slammed its claws down right where he¡¯d been a second before. *I know we didn¡¯t get off to the best start, but how would you feel about giving me a scale?*

    The roarered answer was a maybe, in Kaden¡¯s book. He engaged [Stealth Aura] and sprinted toward the nest. *Maybe we could work out a trade? I make a nice chicken soup!*

    He would need to make a lake of it.

    Kaden dropped [Stealth Aura] so the dragon would keep focus and aggro, and shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t even know your name. How can we be friends and you give me a scale if I don¡¯t know your name?¡±

    *Alev.*

    ¡°I¡¯m Drumond Stag,¡± Kaden shouted back. ¡°See, look at us exchanging names like friends where one friend would give another, smaller friend, a scale.¡±

    *Burn!* Alev roared as he breathed out destruction.

    Kaden was so close the Nest loomed overhead, but the wasps now had a much larger problem. [Stealth Aura] wouldn¡¯t activate, so Kaden poured mana into [Moment of Speed] past wasps missing limbs and legs. *They¡¯re actually fire-proof, so it would help if¡ªyeah, that does it.*

    Wasps were not squash-proof or dragon-jaw-proof or intelligent enough to recognize a losing battle. They swarmed to attack, and, to Kaden¡¯s shock, their stingers wedged between the scales, while others tore at the dragon¡¯s legs. But it was the [Burning Queen] herself who drew blood, tearing skin and muscle from the dragon¡¯s neck.

    Kaden was deep in [Stealth Aura].

    He almost forgot to breathe as the dragon became brilliant white. Its head whipped down and ripped a wing loose from the [Burning Queen]. She tried to fly, but without a wing, spiraled through the air. A precision tail-strike set the [Burning Queen] on actual fire and sent her shooting like a comet across the cavern.

    With brutal calm, the dragon squashed and bit and whipped the remaining workers, before clawing down the nest with all its weight, leaving a ruined mess.

    Only [Stealth Aura] saved Kaden¡¯s life.

    The Dragon¡¯s attention whipped up to scan the area.

    Kaden¡¯s focus was only, entirely on [Stealth], even as Alev¡¯s presence hung over him like a spiked blanked.

    Your skill with [Stealth Aura] has increased.

    Alev turned and lumbered back toward the center, scattering bosses as it went.

    Kaden almost screamed when Trella appeared beside him. She pointed to the nest. ¡°I¡¯m finishing off workers. You clear the nest.¡±

    With Remembrance, Kaden went to work, smashing juvenile workers. But in one hexagonal cup, a different egg rested. Unlike the others, it pulsed red and black.

    This [Burning Dream] egg is not developed enough to identify.

    Kaden put the entire cup in Inventory. The Druids would know if there was anywhere safe or if it had to die.

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Trella¡¯s voice was filled with awe.

    He stalked over to her. ¡°What?¡±

    She pointed with her toe. ¡°Don¡¯t touch. It¡¯s so hot it burned me through my boots.¡±

    The chunk of skin torn from Alev lay on the ground, smoking. Kaden hooked it with Remembrance and flipped it over. The edges were torn, but in the center lay a single glowing scale. Inventory was already full. Already stretched, and yet, this had to come. Kaden took it, too. ¡°Workers?¡±

    ¡°Mostly dead. We can¡¯t be sure. The Queen¡¯s not dead, but we can warn the mages and they¡¯ll send someone to clean her out. I hacked the abdomens out of a ton of workers. You can [Reap Materials] later.¡± Trella began to lead them back. Injured bosses were less hostile, but it still took an hour to safely reach the cavern edge.

    Sara stood on the other side. She waved for them to join her, and Kaden did, hand in hand.

    You have entered the final trial cavern.

    You must learn the greatest lesson a mage will ever face.

    Your mana will not regenerate in this zone.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    The rewards here are unparalleled.

    ¡°No mana. No big deal,¡± Trella said. ¡°We can still take down one of the bosses. There¡¯s a giant spider on the right hand¡ª¡±

    Sara held up a hand. ¡°Who¡¯s missing here?¡±

    The Mabies. And Wren. And Trinity. And Eve. Skully had re-arranged bones again to look much more like a frong with a tail, a tail that wagged as it stared at him. ¡°Where are they?¡±

    Sara offered them both a bowl of soup. ¡°This is the final zone. They took a vote and agreed the spider was the boss they¡¯d burn their mana on. The ¡®monsters¡¯ here appear to be exactly what Trella reported.¡±

    Mages who had died permanently in the trial.

    Sara began to explain. ¡°The minions here are remarkably easy to avoid as long as you exercise caution. They don¡¯t even engage if you don¡¯t attack, and only warn you to move along. It¡¯s really all about what boss you believe you can handle. What do you think you can handle?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°None. Trella got a dragon to tear down the [Burning Dream] nest. We killed most of the workers. The Queen is crippled but not dead, we¡¯ll warn Ignus and have him send someone to clear it.¡±

    ¡°Excellent.¡± Sara¡¯s broad smile was contagious.

    ¡°This hasn¡¯t been fair to you at all,¡± Trella said. ¡°You¡¯ve barely gotten to kill anything.¡±

    Sara¡¯s gentle laughter went on and on. ¡°If I didn¡¯t trust you, I wouldn¡¯t tell you this. You know the Party Leader gets a cut of party Xp, correct?¡±

    Kaden nodded. He never had a problem with it. If it was anything like what he got from the Dungeon, a long, long term gain.

    ¡°I get a cut of everything they gain as well, and a final bonus when we finish the Quest. I didn¡¯t mention it because I can¡¯t share, and I regret that.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Trella spat. ¡°You dealing with those¡­darlings¡­probably cost you a year of your life. Take that bonus and run with it.¡±

    ¡°Eve said the same thing. Let¡¯s join them and see how the battle goes.¡± The three of them skirted single ghost-mages and parties who had fallen in the challenge. And not a few [Shields] and [Healers], Kaden noted. The final cavern gave wide space for every boss to fight without running the battle into another, and the [Ash Spider Giant] was very much worth its name. Kaden couldn¡¯t have reached its belly with Remembrance.

    Eve stood close, ready in case of a wipe, while Wren had actually put on her [Mirror Shield] armor, ready to charge in and save them, while Trinity lay, all three heads resting as she watched the battle. Intense bordom radiated off the TriTerror.

    The battle was a team test, where every mage had a role to fill and if any of them failed, all of them would pay. The ¡®Ash¡¯ part of the spider¡¯s name came from noxious clouds of ash it spewed at intervals.

    These, the Wind Mage dispersed.

    The Life Mage healed the damage it did. The Ice Mage and Shadow Mages poured in damage¡ªand all six moved in a set pattern to avoid the boss as it rotated, stomping.

    Kaden found it boring. His kind of battle was the wild, unplanned fight that took split-second decision and even better timing. When the spider finally collapsed (in a careful, coordinated way that gave each a chance to dive aside), Kaden felt bad for it.

    The Mabies did not.

    ¡°Nearly half way to twenty five!¡± Osharam shouted. ¡°And the loot!¡±

    Second tier spellbooks.

    Now Kaden understood the value of this trial. If Mage Spellbooks cost as much as the rest of the second tier gear this was an incredible reward.

    Neshad left the celebration to come to Sara. ¡°We¡¯re truly ready to leave now. None of us made twenty five, but all of us will within a year. Are you ready?¡±

    Kaden pointed to the corpse. ¡°You¡¯re not just going to leave that there, are you?¡±

    [Reap Materials] gave dozens of options, so Kaden followed the rule he¡¯d been taught. Go for the rarest material. He activated [Reap Materials] and guided the skill for over twenty minutes as it separated dozens upon dozens of mana connections.

    Your skill with Reap Materials has increased.

    You have received 2x Ash Spider Spinerrets (Epic Crafter Tool Material).

    Kaden had to store it in Skully, he was out of room, and then he held the rear line of the party as they made their way through the pitch black of the cavern. As they approached bosses, globes of light lit up ahead, but at last, stairs rose to a platform Kaden recognized as a FarPortal.

    ¡°Neshad, as Party Leader, you¡¯ll need to trigger the portal,¡± Sara said with pride.

    There was a simple pleasure in helping others grow stronger, the sort of moment Kaden could savor for a lifetime. But as he stood watching, [Beast Soul] activated. *Rage*

    ¡°Look out!¡± Kaden shouted.

    [Shadow Chains] whipped out from Trella, dragging all six Mabies off the platform, which really put a damper on the moment.

    A moment completely ashed by the blazing, ruined form of the [Burning Queen] who plumetted from the ceiling to land square on the FarPortal where the Mabies had been a moment before.

    ¡°Don¡¯t activate it! We can¡¯t let her out.¡± Kaden shouted. He summoned his [Eldritch Shield] as the Queen spat a ball of fire at the [Mabies]. In a flash, Wren stood by his side. ¡°Just like old times, huh? You, me, a mutated boss monster from a fire mana zone?¡±

    ¡°Old times. We have to get it off the portal to get them through.¡±

    Wren bashed two shields together to draw attention. ¡°The easiest way is with it dead. Poison her while I draw aggro.¡±

    It was never a question of trust. Kaden dismissed his shield and drew Thorn Caster, firing over and over. The [Burning Queen]s wings were twisted and broken, so she wouldn¡¯t be flying. ¡°Sara, be ready with a crawling horror.¡±

    ¡°Way ahead of you.¡± Sara clutched a sticky white horror, ready to throw it.

    Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] to snatch it, and the bird dove straight for the Queen¡¯s mouth, but the Crawling Horror caught fire and exploded instead of poisoning her. Fine. Kaden hit her with [Mana Drain], flooding the power out with [Mana Well] until everyone rained down spells, arrows, whips or acidic drool.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Kaden shouted, as the wasp collapsed. He rose up the stairs, looking into multifaceted eyes that reflected him back a thousand times. [Soul Binding] let him take control of the dying monster.

    You have tamed a legendary beast (Burning Dream Queen).

    You have gained an __UNDEFINED__ bonus.

    Kaden focused on a memory. The egg, still in its cup. Safe.

    The monster ceased fighting.

    You have helped defeat a legendary beast (Burning Dream Queen).

    You have gained experience.

    The shouts of victory behind him, Kaden understood. They wouldn¡¯t understand the sorrow he felt. It wasn¡¯t her fault she had mutated, or that she¡¯d followed her nature, or that her hive would kill everything or that she¡¯d nearly succeeded in her ambush, murder and escape plans.

    Kaden strained and lifted the corpse, then steadied as Trinity came alongside him to shoulder weight. He carried it off the FarPortal and waited as the Mabies activated the FarPortal and exited.

    You must now exit the zone within five minutes.

    Failure to exit the zone in five minutes will result in ejecting your internal organs from the zone.

    Thank you for your cooperation.

    Only after every last one of the Mabies left did Eve step through, followed by Sara. Wren and Skully left via the portal, and lastly, Kaden and Trinity carried the [Burning Dream Queen]¡¯s corpse. He emerged in blindingly bright sunlight. All around him, crowds cheered.

    Kaden blinked his eyes clear, while Trinity¡¯s grumble was, in essence, *You think you¡¯ve got problems? I¡¯ve got eight sets of eyes.*

    There were in fact crowds. They were, in fact, cheering. They were not cheering for Kaden. He¡¯d emerged in a small inner couryard, and the cheering seemed to be outside the walls. Eve stood off to the side, smiling and stretching.

    Wren was absolutely blinding in her partial [Mirror Shield] armor, and shouted with joy as Sara produced five more [Mirror Shields]. That made Kaden happy, too. Trella lay on top of a wagon trapped in the courtyard, her eyes closed, the sun beating down.

    The FarPortal flashed in warning, and Trinity helped Kaden move the [Burning Queen]¡¯s corpse off.

    It exploded with rainbow light, and Ashi stepped out.

    At least, he thought it was Ashi. Now her wraps were tightly fit gloves and a mask that showed only her eyes. She pulled it off and called out. ¡°Yes! You did not die in the depths! I did not expect that, but it is good to be right!¡±

    Three giant explosions rang out, and the crowds went silent.

    A man began speaking, his abnormally loud voice still muffled.

    ¡°I did hope we would meet here.¡± Ignus Malachor stood in the courtyard. He¡¯d traded the impractically tall hat for a wide one like a chef¡¯s hat which was surrounded by a raincloud which kept his robe slick and wet with a steady drizzle. He studied the [Burning Queen], then looked over each of them. ¡°Come. We must meet with the Keeper of the Trial. Bring that under cover. Quickly, the faster this is done, the faster you get paid. The faster you feast!¡±

    That got Kaden moving. That got all of them moving.

 Twenty One - Invasive

    The Keeper of the Trial was a young man, by Centurion standards, he didn¡¯t look a day over thirty. His skin was still healthy, his hair straw yellow, and he wore a sickly white set of robes decorated with crystaline patterns. They stood in a wide training yard lined with dummies while Ignus spoke with him, then the Keeper turned and introduced himself. ¡°My name is Evander Trunis. My family founded Trunstan a few thousand years ago, and we¡¯ve cultivated the Fire Domain to train the most powerful, discerning¡ªand rich¡ªmages for centuries. I¡¯ll say this once: You¡¯re welcome to what you carry, if you declare it. Any skills you gained¡ªor classes, which is unsual¡ªare yours as well. Ignus sent another scout, I see. How many of the fourteen caverns did you explore?¡±

    Trella produced her scroll map. ¡°Fourteen? Not fourteen. I never saw¡ªthere weren¡¯t fourteen. We saw three.¡±

    ¡°There are eleven paths through the Fire Domain through a total of fourteen caverns. Not to worry, three is the normal number for first tier mages. Let¡¯s see.¡± He accepted Trella¡¯s scroll and unwound it, comparing it to a ¡°master¡± map of how he expected the layout to be. For over an hour he asked questions, particularly about the [Burning Dream] nest. At last, he cast a spell, and Trella¡¯s map converged with the Master. Her annotations appeared in the air, written in her fine script, detailing bosses, attacks, and stages. Her map faded, losing most of its notes. ¡°We can¡¯t give them too much information. I don¡¯t want them to know everything, I want them to take risks and push themselves and be afraid. But an idea of what¡¯s there? That¡¯s a good adjustment. Notes on the attack forms for the Fire Moth will drive parties that way, excellent. And I¡¯ll personally choose which parties get what notes.¡±

    Eve went next, explaining how the [Rock Rollers] had nearly killed them, her view on the effectiveness of [Plague], her bitter unhappiness with the mana restrictions in the final trial.

    Wren had stripped her armor and joked with Evandor about picking the worst tours with the best work benches. ¡°The company was perfect, the crafting was even better, even my instructors won¡¯t complain about this Mage Killer armor.¡±

    Ashi interjected before Evander could call her, explaining that she simply couldn¡¯t function in the Fire Domain, but thought she might be able to survive now. Evander was quite clear, the trial was for [Mages] and any problem [PolyMages] might have was not one he wanted to solve.

    Evander called for a break. ¡°We need to do two things. First off, food. This is not a normal debrief. Secondly¡ªand I need to be clear about this¡ªdrop everything you took so we can catalogue what might come out of the Domain.¡±

    Kaden blushed as everyone began to stare.

    ¡°Perhaps we¡¯ll go first and then let our resident [Pack Rat] take his turn?¡± Sara carried a surprising amount of loot, and as she unloaded, she began to rant in vigorous detail about how unprepared the Mabies had been. ¡°[Create Water], [Cooking], [Reap Materials] and [Minor Mend] are a bare minimum of skills,¡± she said. ¡°And this party came optimized to kill the Light Fairy and would have had their first party wipe. Osharam was prepared to kill the others for more [Starfire Crystals].¡±

    ¡°Ah. I did wonder if her family would let her in on the secret.¡± Evander said, as he wrote down Sara¡¯s loot. ¡°The jaws¡ªthese are a beetle, you say? They¡¯re not a normal loot drop.¡±

    ¡°[Reap Materials] granted them,¡± Sara said, pointing to Kaden. ¡°From now on, if you¡¯re going to use the term ¡®not a normal drop¡¯ do us all a favor and assume it¡¯s a crafting material Kaden reaped from the corpse. And how would she have survived without her party?¡±

    ¡°Osharam¡¯s family is the one who paid for the trial. She¡¯s a Noctomancer, and the conditions are very favorable. A mage who claims all six {Starfire Crystals] can have second tier skills well developed before ever leaving.¡±

    ¡°The Dark Fairy is a serious challenge, but was completely worth it. I do see why she¡¯s hidden. And no, we didn¡¯t steal her, the Mabies left her.¡± Sara¡¯s tone said what she thought of that.

    Evander hadn¡¯t stopped staring. ¡°The ¡®what¡¯ Fairy?¡±

    Sara was done and took a seat at the table, devouring food. ¡°Dark. Fairy.¡±

    Over the course of the meal, they relayed how there was a secondary challenge, one the Trunis family hadn¡¯t known about.

    ¡°Secondary classes are so rare we¡¯ll need to close the trial to mages when it comes up,¡± Evandor said. ¡°Not that [Starfire Crystals] are bad rewards. Five points of skill is life changing.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Eve said as she dumped the last of her loot, which was almost all for crafting cooking gear.

    Kaden relayed the key to the Dark Fairy¡¯s true test. ¡°You have to give her the [Starfire Crystal] you got from the first stage. In return, you get this.¡±

    Evander turned pale.

    Ignus looked to the windows, then cast a barrier spell.

    Kaden went back to eating.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask, he doesn¡¯t know what it is,¡± Eve said between bites.

    ¡°Please?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°I would look on it.¡± She studied the [Soulfire Crystal]. ¡°It is both the least valuable of all you would take and the most. It grants a soul.¡±

    Ignus produced a rough cloth bag, woven from strands of what loooked like straw. ¡°This blocks [Thief Sight]. There are so many mages who would kill to be able to grant their [Golem] a soul. Keep it hidden until you sell it.¡±

    ¡°I could use it on Vip or Trinity,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Your beasts near enlightenment and will gain one on their own,¡± Ashi answered. ¡°Fate works in wondrous ways. Believe this.¡±

    Trella had done Kaden proud. Her Inventory was filled with poisonous, explosive, deadly reagents. ¡°The real prize for me was the [Huntress] optional class. I¡¯ll be able to use Kaden¡¯s bow to kill kings and queens, since Huntress is a specialization of [Ranger]. Also [Shadow Chains] is an awesome spell. When do I get my Quest bonus?¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Ignus seemed deeply frustrated. ¡°When I say it¡¯s done. You¡¯re almost as impatient as him. Perhaps more so, and if you wish to live long enought o use a legendary weapon meant to murder royalty, perhaps don¡¯t say so in front of a King!¡±

    To say the room was silent would be like saying that Beast Control stank. It didn¡¯t just stink, it stank in a way that other stinky, odiferous, offensive places aspired to. The number of commoners who had had their eyes roll back in their head before collapsing to the floor was legendary, so much so that losing one¡¯s train of thought was usually excused with ¡®Sorry, got a solid whiff of Beast Control. Where was I?¡¯

    Evandor savored his sudden respect. ¡°Well, I hope I¡¯m not on your list. Oh, to be young and in my first tier¡ªjust kidding. I wouldn¡¯t go back it you paid me. All right, Pack Rat. Start with whatever you¡¯re carrying, then we¡¯ll deal with our invasive species.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s party moved to the other side of the room.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to need a bigger training yard,¡± Eve said.

    Half way through unpacking his Inventory, Evandor handed Trella an Inventory Cube and let her pack things away. ¡°See? I told them to take the crystals, and instead, all they did was take ¡®a¡¯ crystal.¡± The last thing Kaden withdrew was the [Burning Dream] egg. ¡°It didn¡¯t belong there, and those [Burning Dreams] would kill everything but the dragon, given time. I didn¡¯t feel comfortable with them erupting from the ground on whatever¡¯s above. But killing an entire species is usually wrong.¡±

    Evandor waved to the area around him. ¡°This city is what is above the caverns. You¡¯ll understand if I feel differently about slaughtering a species. And the workers aren¡¯t all dead?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to say yes or no. The caverns are huge. There were hundreds. That said, a worker alone is a threat but not impossible. The Queens are different.¡± Kaden stored the egg away. ¡°I already send the [Falcrow] to a druid friend for advice. There has to be somewhere they can live.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be here. You met the dragon. He¡¯s going to be furious with you. And you should never give your name to a dragon,¡± Evandor said.

    ¡°Alev was grumpy, yes. But Drummond Stag was the head priest at the Saint¡¯s Hall, so I wish Alev luck hunting him down.¡± Kaden stored the scale, which was still so hot it would char skin. He had a plan.

    ¡°You¡¯ve truly pulled a wonderful harvest,¡± Evandor said. ¡°More than¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Kaden nodded to Skully. ¡°We¡¯re not done. That was just my Inventory. Now we have to do Skully¡¯s.¡±

    Part by part, Kaden unloaded his pet, setting bones aside. ¡°These are [Mage] bones, the best bones for Skully to repair himself because they¡¯re soaked in mana.¡±

    Oddly, neither Ignus nor Evandor found that cool.

    Kaden dumped the spell books and wands. ¡°The [Burrower] killed a lot of people.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll reduce its power, or maybe range,¡± Evandor said. ¡°The Domain is like a proto-dungeon. Most creatures will reset within months, then I¡¯ll have a vivomancer enhance or weaken the monsters to adjust their strength. Is that all?¡±

    Kaden took out the seashell necklace. ¡°This.¡±

    Evandor¡¯s sigh was heavy. ¡°I remember this young man. [Sea Mage]. It¡¯s not uncommon to have a single survivor, but we really hoped he¡¯d make it. You want a Quest?¡±

    ¡°Yes, please,¡± Trella said. ¡°We¡¯re like, experts at returning dead people¡¯s things. Kaden returned some skulls to necromancers recently, it resulted in a civil war in Omnor, the weave of [Fate] breaking, and Kaden arranging the demise of a six thousand year old broker.¡± She accepted the necklace.¡°No matter how this goes sideways, it¡¯s going to be great.¡±

    ¡°You plan to [Reap Materials] from the [Burning Dream Queen]?¡± Evandor asked.

    ¡°Not me.¡± Kaden knew his limits. ¡°I¡¯ve got the spinerettes that are legendary crafting tool materials, so they¡¯re not even something I¡¯ll use. I have a crafter who works for us, but we need to branch out. I need a team of crafters. Dozens of specialists.¡±

    Ignus cleared his throat. ¡°If only there were someone¡ªsomeone in this room¡ªwho had the best interest of his local city at heart. Someone who understands what would be produced and who will use it. Maybe you should consider asking the King how Trunistan operates?¡±

    ¡°We have strong ties in Verona,¡± said Sara.

    ¡°And you think we won¡¯t move around during our career?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I will always have a soft place in my heart for Verona¡ªand you know my heart is far from soft, but it is a small city at the edge of a desolate continent. There are better crafters and greater opportunities almost anywhere else. We¡¯ll be happy to connect with crafters here, sir.¡±

    ¡°So says the councilor-audier woman regarding her own city.¡± Ignus spoke without judgement. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t look like that. You and I and everyone short of the City Lords know it is the truth.¡±

    Evandor glanced to Sara. ¡°Our crafting communes are highly organized. You may be used to making personal connections and favoring specific crafters. Attempting to do that here will result in chaos we don¡¯t tolerate. [Master Crafters] on our Crafting Commission will evaluate and assign all materials so, for instance, you don¡¯t have legendary spineretts going to a journeyman [Weaver].¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t like this arrangement, though Sara¡¯s delighted smile said it was in fact something she approved of. ¡°If I get to make deals with crafter I need, I get the equipment I need. If you assign my loot to some crafter who makes negliges for nobles, I¡¯ll probably never need them.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a system similar to what brought you here. Ignus knew the [Prophets] agreed Osharam would die during the trial without a [Beast Master], so he arranged for your services. Those beautiful faction tokens can be exchanged for similar favors.¡±

    Trinity put her serpent head over Kaden¡¯s shoulder to help herself from his plate, while Kaden mulled over the situation. ¡°Are we free to go?¡±

    ¡°Even better, you¡¯re free to stay. Evelyn, you know royalty. Tell him how the kingdoms of the world work.¡± Evandor struck up a conversation with Wren, purposefully not paying attention.

    Eve looked like she¡¯d been handed a dead scorpion, so Kaden summoned Vip and let her climb into Eve¡¯s lap. ¡°Small kingdoms with weak kings are vicious. They demand ritual and respect because every scrap makes their [King] class more powerful. Empires are usually ruled by Centurions with a lust for power. They demand rituals and respect because they don¡¯t have anything better to do.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Evander said. ¡°There¡¯s a third kind? Do tell! Sorry, Miss Wren. Please expound on the concept of [Mage Killer] armor.¡±

    Eve reached out with [Mind Speech.] *The best kind is a merchant kingdom. There are many kinds, this is only one of the possibilities. My favorite are island shipping kingdoms, but this works as well. They favor Crafters and treat them like champions. They can afford favors and gold for Surge protection. If you¡¯re not disrupting their economy, you¡¯re contributing, and their royalty can be almost reasonable.*

    ¡°Almost reasonable,¡± Evandor repeated. ¡°I¡¯m almost pleased with that explanation. You really should stop screaming in [Mind Speech] if you don¡¯t want others to hear. Now, I am going to leave you to my trade advisor to get setup. I¡¯m not upset you harvested all of this, but I do want most of it to go to my Kingdom, my Crafters.¡±

    With that, King Evandor rose and gestured. ¡°Eat your fill. When you¡¯re ready to rest, there will be rooms. When you¡¯re ready to trade or deal or purchase, again, speak to my trade Advisor.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t stopped making connections. ¡°Ignus got something valuable from the King for arranging us to escort that party.¡±

    ¡°My debt to him is repaid, and you profited most heavily,¡± Ignus said. ¡°I had hoped you would be wise enough to come prepared, and you exceded my hopes. Your Quests are completed. I hope next time I ask, you¡¯ll be more open to the opportunity. I did say you have the strangest loot. We will be in touch.¡± Ignus stood, having barely touched his foot, and touched a bracelet. A Portal opened, and he stepped through.

    The party exploded in cheers and celebration.

 Twenty Two - Connections

    ¡°Yes!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°I leveled off the mission bonus! And four faction tokens, [Quest Master] is applying to all of us! Eve?¡±

    ¡°Four tokens and a minor experience bonus,¡±Eve said as she let Vip eat straight from her plate.

    Trella hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°I didn¡¯t get faction tokens. I¡¯m three points away from level twenty four. I¡¯m nearly there. Once I¡¯m in the same tier, it won¡¯t be so bad.¡±

    Wren gave Ashi a pat on the back. ¡°I didn¡¯t get any bonus, but I already got everything I needed. I can¡¯t wait to have my armor inspected. I know I didn¡¯t setup the new inscriptions right. I know there¡¯s something wrong with the reflection enchantment. This sort of thing¡¯s never been done. I hate to sound ungrateful, but I really need to head to the academy. If I need more, can we work a deal?¡±

    ¡°All you have to do is ask,¡± Sara said. ¡°They¡¯re not [Mirror Shields] anymore, so they won¡¯t lower the value of our stock. Though you¡¯ll need to watch out for Ignus. He¡¯s probably planning to have your armor destroyed.¡±

    Wren laughed. ¡°He wants to buy it. He says rogue mages are always a problem. He wanted an oath I wouldn¡¯t give it to Kaden. Sorry, Kaden.¡±

    ¡°No worries there.¡± Kaden walked with her as she headed for a FarPortal. ¡°You¡¯re welcome at the Holding. It¡¯s not an academy and you don¡¯t have a workshop, but you¡¯re still welcome.¡±

    Wren looked happy. ¡°You know I barely made it there. You know I was forced to take a [Shield] class to survive. I hated it and loved it at the same time. I hated it taking the thing I wanted to do from me. But now, just a tiny amount of adventure feels right. I won¡¯t go into a dungeon, but if you need my help, reach out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger.¡± Kaden waited for her to use the FarPortal. ¡°Trella.¡± He felt her presence behind him.

    ¡°What gave me away?¡± She asked, putting her arms around him. ¡°Did I make a noise?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± It was just a feeling in his soul. ¡°I told you not to worry. I said we¡¯d get you to twenty five and beyond. Look how slow it is. I didn¡¯t come close to leveling again.¡±

    ¡°I will be useful.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be anything except yourself.¡± He returned to find Sara deep in discussion with a young man who had to be related to the king. The resemblance was unmistakable. Ashi leaned against Trinity¡¯s back, scratching her scales.

    Vip had decided the whole table was her feast and no one was going to tell the small gray dog no. Eve lay head down, snoring quite loudly.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Sara called. ¡°This is Yituri, Evander¡¯s cousin¡ªsecond cousin¡ªand Craft Advisor. Yituri is a master [Leatherworker] and will handle transport for evaluation.¡±

    Yituri lacked the commanding presence of Evander. His skin was tan with spots of pure white which could have been scars from leather tanning, and his dirty blond hair hung in ragged curls, but blue eyes with a genuine smile made Kaden want to like Yituri.

    Kaden shook the man¡¯s hand, trying not to associate Jagi and Ashi¡¯s siblings. ¡°You¡¯ve got your work cut out for you.¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t be more excited, but there are a few problems and solutions I want to discuss before I do. I can¡¯t undo them, after all.¡± Yitoru pointed to the rest of the courtyard. ¡°Now, quantity, I¡¯ll give you, is exceeding. Rarity, there¡¯s probably fourteen pieces in the lot that are truly unique, and then the [Burning Dream Queen]. I¡¯d like to show you all.¡±

    Yitoru drew a workbench from storage. Unlike Wren¡¯s it didn¡¯t unfold, and unlike Wren¡¯s it wasn¡¯t light. The small man producing full size furniture made Kaden almost laugh. Next came a leather bound book, a glass artifact case and a few tools. ¡°First off, the Trial participants ignored the hearts of the [Crystal Goblins] in favor of larger chunks. Most of these are broken, but these five are intact and will be the subject of a royal ruling to prevent Crafter infighting. Who collected these?¡±

    He was pointing to a set of daggers. No, teeth.

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Eve said. ¡°I out-plagued a [Plague Ghoul] and healed it to death. Only one of its kind and totally unprepared for me to not only heal it but make myself stronger with its debuff. Also, Skully held it down.¡±

    At his name, the skeleton attempted to stand. It had replaced the lower section of its legs but the feet weren¡¯t right yet. It tripped and landed with a crunch.

    ¡°And you took them. And you survived touching them, which is unusal. They¡¯ll be a set of poison based rapiers for [Fencers], a specialization of Swordsman. I¡¯ve seen one in the last century, you¡¯ve got a set.¡± Yitoru pointed to stacks of reagents. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, none of these are rare. I¡¯m aware loot isn¡¯t always fair.¡±

    Trella didn¡¯t blink. ¡°I got what I needed, thanks. I got everything.¡±

    ¡°Miss Scylla, I¡¯m impressed with your taste in loot. Those [Burrower] mandibles are powerful weapon mould materials and we have enough for a set. The [Psychic Owl] eyes are magnificent, we don¡¯t even know what these silver teeth are, but they are in fact metal, and they are in fact enchanted and I¡¯m shocked your [Artificer] wasn¡¯t fighting for them.¡±

    Sara looked confused. ¡°I don¡¯t think either of those were mine. I¡¯m fairly sure Trinity brought them back from something that attacked the camp. The teeth fell out of a jawbone she was gnawing on.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re yours as far as we¡¯re concerned,¡± Trella said. ¡°Trinity doesn¡¯t do loot.¡±

    Yituri turned to Kaden. ¡°The spinnerettes are a crafting tool material. A talented weaver can draw silk from them for centuries if incorporated into a spinning wheel. We only have one Centurion rank weaver and it¡¯s certain he will put claim on it.¡±

    That didn¡¯t bother Kaden much. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s so much you brought back. Evan has said you¡¯ll find a host for the egg, the dragon scale is yours as well. The [Burning Dream Queen] requires decisions. [Vivomancers] everywhere will pay for the entire corpse. As your Assassin lover can attest, the stinger can form a weapon that enhances poison, not to mention venom sacks will yield new types of poison.¡±

    Sara cleared her throat. ¡°Just a rough guess, how much do you think the Vivomancers would pay?¡±

    ¡°I saw a rainbow frog go for fifty thousand,¡±

    ¡°Sell it,¡± Trella said. ¡°There¡¯s no way a single dagger is worth that much gold. Not to me.¡±

    Kade¡¯s [Read Emotion] skill activated, telling him how conflicted she was. Trella really had been looking forward to a weapon made to poison.

    Sometimes, you had to make decisions. Kaden made one. ¡°Put out word, let it go to auction. Start it at a couple hundred thousand gold. It¡¯s literally the only one of its kind right now. Whether they want to craft with it, study the corpse, display it like a trophy, I don¡¯t care.¡±

    Yituri¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°No one is going to pay¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then I keep it. I¡¯m ready to relax. Do you have healing baths? Or regular baths? I haven¡¯t had a bath in so long Trinity keeps sniffing,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Of course. Your¡­pets are somewhat problematic. Your party is welcome to stay in the palace, but you must keep them under control.¡±

    Kaden pulled Vip and Trinity into his soul. Skully rocked back and forth, scanning the room. ¡°You don¡¯t happen to have any empty skulls sitting around, do you?¡±

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    ¡°No?¡± Yituri asked. ¡°Do you need some?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better if there aren¡¯t.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t want to go into details. ¡°Skully needs to spread his seed to more empty skulls so he can infect them with [Plague Crows]. It¡¯s been a few weeks and he¡¯s getting really agitated, but there¡¯s a time and a place and this isn¡¯t it.¡±

    Despite Kaden¡¯s assurances, Yituri seemed less happy by the moment. He placed them on the ground floor closest to the palace kitchen and laundry, which didn¡¯t bother Kaden at all. Skully was happy to stand outside, even when a rainstorm passed over.

    It wasn¡¯t bitterly cold in Trunistan, though Kaden wouldn¡¯t call it warm. There were no public baths, but Kaden found the palace baths and scalded himself while the cleaning box rejected his armor four times before finally sterilizing it. Vip swam in circles in the bath and then dashed back and forth shaking water everywhere.

    Trinity could swim.

    Trinity chose not to.

    Afterwards, he dressed and left Trella napping while he found an aviary. Trunistan, as a center of commerce, had public messenger bird colonies, scroll centers, and [Priests of Ethos] ready to negotiate contracts at any moment.

    Kaden sent a message to Mr. Dervish. What¡¯s a common beast that¡¯s completely immune to fire?

    All the ones the Professor had taught him were monsters who would set fire and then rampage through the flames.

    If Kaden was going to use the dragon scale, he expected it to burn him during the process. The key was being immune to fire, not just resistant.

    Not thirty minutes later, a bird returned to him. It spoke¡ªand Kaden almost missed what it said because the voice was Profressor Treadles. Or his ghost. The voice was a whisper with rasps. ¡°In Trunistan, find an [Alchemist]. They¡¯ll have common [Match Lizards], cross breeds of [Fire Salamanders]. And eating them won¡¯t give you the talent, no matter what anyone says, though enough mayonaise and mustard makes them delicious.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t forgiven the Professor. His love of destruction and disdain for System Limitations had lead to the disaster that offered Trella the [Slaver] class, but his guidance was probably right.

    ¡°Wisp 71, any chance you¡¯re listening?¡±

    A pink orb of light the size of Kaden¡¯s head swelled into existence.

    ¡°You smell so much better than my boots,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I need an [Alchemist] shop.¡±

    Kaden followed the wisp through Trunistan. The crowds were amazing. The guards, amazing. The lack of thieves, surprising. And Trella was going to have to come with him. This was to Alchemy what Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services was for Summoning. The shop alone was larger than all of Verona¡¯s Alchemy shops put together, and their row upon row of reagents and walls of equipment were only the start. In the center of the shop, teams of [Alchemists] brewed for waiting customers in flasks made of pearl and silver light.

    ¡°How may I help you?¡± A young lady asked. ¡°We¡¯re waiting roughly thirty minutes for all potions, longer for tier nine.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like a common [Match Lizard], please.¡± He smiled and waited.

    ¡°Brewed into a potion?¡±

    ¡°Just the lizard.¡±

    She blinked as she focused and tilted her head to ensure she was hearing. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Just the lizard. There¡¯s no need to box it up. Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to eat it to gain a Talent.¡± Trella often said he needed to be more friendly, so Kaden gave her a smile with teeth.

    ¡°How about a mana potion?¡±

    ¡°To wash the lizard down? No. Just the lizard. Though do they do better in pairs? I don¡¯t want him to be lonely. Plus, if it turns out I do need to eat them, having one per slice of bread makes a sandwich more even, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    His shopkeeper grimmaced. ¡°You said you weren¡¯t going to eat them.¡±

    ¡°Probably not going to eat him. I guess I can wrap a slice of bread around him if things go badly. Which I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t. Do you sell salt? Not for the lizard, of course. You know what? I can probably get it someplace else. Bread¡­¡±

    ¡°Is not an Alchemical ingredient or potion,¡± the girl said through gritted teeth. ¡°So, you want¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just the lizard. And if you have two, a friend for the first one.¡±

    She stalked away, muttering under her breath and returned a few moments later with a metal cage. ¡°That¡¯s two hundred silver.¡±

    That was highway robbery. Kaden paid anyway, then applied [Soul Binding].

    You have bound an Entity (Match Lizard).

    You have bound an Entity (Match Lizard).

    Your skill with Soul Binding has increased.

    That had Kaden paying attention. His binding slots had just increased. Soul Binding had derived from [Binding Mark] and [Beast Taming], and the leveling system was probably use based. The lizards had only a single skill, [Burn] and a talent [Fireproof], which he selected as they climbed up to sit on his shoulder. That should be all it took to allow him to absorb the scale.

    Kaden reached into Inventory and pulled out the Dragon Scale. It burst into flame and glowed so bright everyone looked away, causing him to make a fast retreat from the shop. He sprinted through the streets all the way to the palace, where Trella looked up as he burst in. ¡°Is it an emergency?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden stepped out into the courtyard, standing clear of the palace structure. He pulled the scale out again. It didn¡¯t burn, and yet it was still hot. This was not the time to back off. Kaden pressed the scale¡ªand skin¡ªup against his hand between the other two. The scale twisted off the skin and seared into his hand with a flash of red.

    It glowed even brighter. His armor on his right forearm melted, the wrist gauntlet burned clean off. Even though it couldn¡¯t burn him, the light hurt his eyes, and Kaden couldn¡¯t help falling to his knees as he cradled his right hand. It wasn¡¯t pain as much as power, power that gushed and rushed and now locked into him. He held on against the torrent of power, even as it tore through him, causing his health to drop without even taking damage.

    You have received: 1x Dragon Scale (Fire)

    Quest Updated: Must Obtain Many (Part 2)! - Obtain six Dragon Scales (3/6) Reward: Beast Form Slot.

    You have completed a Quest: Must Obtain Many (Part 1)

    Quest Master is active.

    You have received 2x: Beast Form Slots

    ERROR_SKILL_NOT_ACTIVE.

    Activating Skill.

    You have learned a new skill: Beast Form

    [Beast Form]

    You have the soul of a Beast, and now you can take their shape. While in the shape of a Beast, you may use its skills and talents. Your health and mana will average. The resulting Beast¡¯s size will vary based on your level. As this skill levels, you will innately grasp some skills of your selected forms. You must contact a beast to save it as a form.

    The sky began to rain, and it hissed and steamed as it struck his hand, where now a bright red scale nestled with the other three. For the first time in forever, Kaden wasn¡¯t just strong. Now, he held the key to power. And a piece of dragon meat, which had warped the stone it sat on.

    When his skin stopped smoking, Kaden stepped back in.

    ¡°Tell Trinity not to cook so close to the house,¡± Trella said sleepily. Then she sat up. ¡°What did you do to your arm?¡±

    The skin wasn¡¯t burned. [Fireproof] wouldn¡¯t let it burn, but it was cooked. The tingling in his arm was his only feeling, and Kaden suspected the sheer power had done severe damage. ¡°I did it. Three scales unlocked [Beast Form].¡±

    ¡°Change into a cat,¡± Trella said. ¡°Wait. Change into Trinity.¡±

    The only problem was, Kaden had no idea how to use the skill. Unlike [Beast Soul], he had no idea how to select a slot or start a transformation. Good thing he knew someone who could. He sent the Falcrow to Kanli the [Druid] with a simple question. ¡°How do I change into a Beast? I¡¯m in Trunistan and just unlocked [Beast Form].¡±

    An answer came back immediately via a bright blue hummingbird. ¡°Don¡¯t attempt this on your own. Every [Druid] ever has gotten stuck in a Beast Form and had to have help changing back. You¡¯re probably going to have a harder time because of your connection to Beasts. Don¡¯t risk it alone.¡±

    Frustration was the binding line of Kaden¡¯s life. He had a skill but didn¡¯t know how to use it. Someone he trusted said it wasn¡¯t even safe to experiment yet. Three steps forward and two back. Kaden repeated Kanli¡¯s message. ¡°You¡¯d keep me safe if I got stuck in a Beast Form, right?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t kill you to wait. We can go to a grove straight from here. Not Sara, but everyone else can. What would you tell me if our positions were reversed?¡±

    Kaden thought it over. ¡°Nothing, because you would have already tried it. Nocto Condensate, sound familiar?¡±

    ¡°Different and you know it. I¡¯m five levels below you and a different tier. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make sure I¡¯m not left behind.¡± Trella pulled at his uninjured hand. ¡°Rest. You haven¡¯t really rested.¡±

    It was difficult to argue that, though he had to lay on his other side. The injured arm smelled like a freshly roast ham.

    ¡°Are those two lizards just going to sit there and stare at us?¡± Trella stood at the courtyard door. ¡°Yeah, I think they¡¯re just going to stare. Tell me you have a plan to stop them from staring.¡±

    ¡°Only if you have a loaf of bread.¡± Kaden turned over and blinked.

    Darkness hit him.

    Exhaustion like a wave.

    His dreams were troubled and full of mustard and bread with holes and small lizards with deeply accusing stares who wouldn¡¯t stay put until he threatened them with a butter knife.

    ¡°Wake!¡± Ashi¡¯s command pulled him from sleep. ¡°How did he injure himself so? This wound is terrible. The flesh is filled with illness.¡±

    Kaden sat up. His right arm didn¡¯t tingle, it flat out burned, not fire but pain, and the sweet ham smell had become sickly. ¡°Dragon scale.¡±

    ¡°Evelyn!¡± Ashi called.

    Eve looked him over and gaped. ¡°Why¡ªno, no. For the sake of my own sanity, I know better. [Life Explosion!]¡±

    Chunks of Kaden¡¯s arm exploded, leaving ragged muscles clinging to the bone. The scales remained seared into his hand.

    ¡°Could we not have done this outside? Also, a chunk of his arm just barely missed my mouth, and there¡¯s some in your hair. And unless you have a hairy mole on your cheek, I have bad news.¡± Trella asked.

    Eve gritted her teeth and activated [Life Transfusion]. ¡°This isn¡¯t injured, it¡¯s near destroyed. We need to get you to a Temple. And why is there a lizard on your shoulder?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any bread,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Also, there¡¯s two.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s one,¡± Eve said. ¡°We were going to the Craft Committe to hear the results of their assessment but now we¡¯re going to the Temple to see what they can do for this. At this point, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll lose the limb.¡±

 Twenty Three - Unfooled

    Kaden kneeled at a bench in the temple of the Spring God, praying that Trella wouldn¡¯t kill him. Eve was not the problem. Ashi was furious. Sara muttered about paperwork and the priest had taken one look at his arm and run to fetch his superiors¡ªthen theirs. Now, he was undergoing a very expensive treatment with moderately effective results. It had cost him six gold¡ªall his gold from the Domain of Fire¡ªand even worse, the attention of a God.

    Gods and Demon Lords felt exactly the same, and that told him more about Gods than they probably would have wanted him to know. The room was festooned with green vines and pink flowers which the Priest swore were evidence of Ehuhehaheh¡¯s blessing. The god manifested as a impossibly brilliant green light that made Kaden¡¯s eyelids itch. The scar he¡¯d given himself when he was seven burned as it tried to heal repeatedly.

    Kaden had tried to pronounce the god¡¯s name correctly four times and given up and at this point, was just hoping the god could heal the damage to his forearm. One armbone showed clean and white, raw muscle covered the other and tendons flexed under the unburned portion of his hand.

    ¡°You may pray to Ehihuhaheya for healing now, if you seek the wisdom of spring and growth,¡± the High Priest said. ¡°He has descended to his altar. Rest and heal.¡±

    Blood vessels knit themself into place and skin that was previously white turned pinker. According to his understanding, Kaden didn¡¯t need faith in the god himself, the Priests offered more than enough of that, and the phalanx of priests bowing the ever-shifting entity at the head of the inner sanctum had more than enough.

    Until the healing stopped.

    ¡°Ehuheyohu asks why you do not seek his wisdom?¡± The High Priest made it clear there was a right thing to do and a wrong one.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to offend a Healing God. All my questions are probably offensive. Like, ¡®Does he know the Rat God?¡¯ or ¡®What¡¯s the biggest difference between a Demon Lord and a Healing God?¡¯ Besides the eyes. Ass-modeus was nothing but eyes.¡±

    The High Priest turned pale. ¡°He seeks only to bask in your presence, Mighty Hihehuhehe.¡±

    The flowers surrounding Kaden died¡ªthen surged back as the entity spoke.

    Kadne was much more interested in the fine layer of skin slowly covering his arm. Like a really great sandwich, skin was one of those things you really missed when you didn¡¯t have it.

    ¡°You are most blessed,¡± The High Priest said. ¡°The source of life and regrowth has taken an interest. He asks if you know the name is ¡®Asmodeus.¡¯ And why you have the Rat God¡¯s tail. And why there¡¯s a [Match Lizard] on your shoulder.¡±

    ¡°Ass-modeus makes more sense if you¡¯ve met the guy, the Rat God tried to kill me and my party, and you just can not make a good sandwich without any bread.¡± Kaden looked to the Match Lizard, sensing its emotion. It was a simple beast. Everything it desired could be handled with a savanna full of dried grass.

    Flowers grew bright and shining as the god spoke at length, in increasing passion and urgency.

    ¡°Apparently the Rat God owes Ehahahahehu over a bet made centuries ago, but every time he stops by to collect, the Rat God isn¡¯t there, off spreading plague or manifesting as an incarnation to murder adventurers. And also he wants you to know that eating a [Match Lizard] will not grant you a talent.¡± The High Priest began bowing again. Pleading in a strange language.

    Again, the entity spoke.

    This time, Kaden grimaced as muscles writhed and stretched, tendons grew white instead of brown.

    You have received a Quest: Regrow the Withered Seed. Reward - Upgraded Title Effect. Regrow the withered seed with the blessing of Ehehehahehihu to show the world that growth is the ultimate way of healing.

    The god was gone.

    Kaden¡¯s arm wasn¡¯t even completely healed. Skin covered the place where sheer magic had destroyed muscle, tendons and bones, but it was shrunken in and scarred. Kaden tested and the hand at least opened and closed, though his grasp was weak. He stood and wiped sweat off his face. ¡°Thank you for your care, and pass my thanks on to Hehuhihuha or whatever is name is at this second.¡±

    Eve, Ashi and Trella waited outside the temple. Trella didn¡¯t eve pause as she clasp his hand and studied the arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a wound from pure magic. The [Match Lizard] made me fireproof but I miscalculated the sheer amount of power the scale would hold.¡± He shared the Quest. ¡°I think this is the key to really healing it. The question is, ¡®what seed am I supposed to grow?¡¯¡±

    Ashi ran her fingers over the sunken, scarred portion of his arm. ¡°Fate will make it known. Can you fight?¡±

    ¡°Probably, but my grip isn¡¯t as strong. I¡¯m probably going to need a glove, or a gauntlet, or something to help with my grip.¡± Kaden made a fist and winced. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s new skin and fresh tendon. Give it time to stretch,¡± Eve said. ¡°Sara went ahead to the Commission to hold our place. Was it worth the harm to your hand?¡±

    A second tier-two skill.

    Kaden knew of three and now he had two.

    [Beast Leader] was still not available and the System had stated as much, but he didn¡¯t know why. ¡°I think in time it¡¯s going to be entirely worth it.¡±

    Trunistan didn¡¯t have a crafting commune, they were a crafting commune. City Plazas were decorated with statues of crafters at work. Glowing Mana Signs proclaimed the winner of differnt crafting competitions.

    Guards on the street corners weren¡¯t threatening, they were shockingly helpful. The moment one knew where the party was headed, they had an escort helping them navigate the crowded streets and ensuring that above all, the moment the Commission ruled, the rights would be released.

    ¡°It¡¯s a colleseum,¡± Eve said. ¡°They built a sporting event around watching people¡¯s craft rulings. How peaceful and idylic¡ª¡±

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Boring,¡± Sara said. ¡°The word you¡¯re looking for is boring. ¡®Look! Tinius Crochet-Hook Hand retrieved some legendary quality bat droppings! I can¡¯t wait to see who gets to sort it. I mean, yes, I can. We would all go Kaden if we were stuck here.¡±

    ¡°There is glory beyond battle,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There is worth in pursuing learning and skill.¡±

    Trella grabbed Kaden¡¯s hand. *Never thought I¡¯d be a fan of libraries but Ashi¡¯s got it right.*

    ¡°They have crafting schools,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Maybe before we leave I¡¯ll take a course on smithing.¡±

    ¡°Shhhhhh! We¡¯re almost up.¡± Sara stood near the front of a line as the group in front of her were rewarded for some enchanted ring.

    Their halfling wasn¡¯t happy with the offer. ¡°It turns you invisible! How is three gold fair? Watch!¡±

    He dashed forward and took the ring,

    And fiddled with his pants.

    ¡°Ooooh. I thought it would go on his finger,¡± Trella said.

    One of the other party members shouted. ¡°Where is Baldo? I can¡¯t see him!¡±

    ¡°Me either,¡± said the [Ranger] loudly. ¡°Must be invisible again.¡±

    Kaden started to raise his hand, but Trella¡¯s elbow said this was a private conversation, just that party and fifty thousand spectators, as the halfling snuck around the table to steal a gold piece while the Guards watched him in confusion.

    ¡°See!¡± The halfling thrust his hand into his pants and then held aloft the ring. ¡°And there¡¯s this thing it does if you put it in the fire. It gets hot. Ask me what I¡¯ve got in my pockets. There¡¯s a hole in the right pocket.¡±

    A tall, thin woman at the end of the table rose. ¡°We miscalculated. Your treasure should definitely stay in your pants¡ªhands. Keep the gold. Please. You¡¯d be doing us a favor. The Commission has ruled, please leave. And keep Baldo a thousand paces from any Crafting School.¡±

    The crowds around them roared in violent approval, casting streamers of yarn and origami cranes out into the colluseum.

    A voice boomed out accross the colloseum: ¡°Party Leaders: Neshad and Osharam. Up next, we have the victorious team of mages who faced the Fire Domain and emerged unscathed and positioned to be the most powerful mages of their generation!¡±

    A flying platform descended into the arena, circling so that the Mabies could wave to the crowd.

    ¡°Beneath the platform lies a sky skiff!¡± Ashi said. ¡°I know how to pilot it, if you wish to steal it and make an escape.¡±

    Sara¡¯s glare said that wasn¡¯t happening. ¡°Look at them. Is it just me, or was Osharam powerleveled? I¡¯m showing twenty five on [Identify].¡±

    Kaden had heard¡ªand been warned¡ªabout paying for power leveling. It produced adventurers with no field experience with their skills and boosted them toward threats they wouldn¡¯t be ready for. A single level, particularly one that hit a significant floor like twenty five, wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d begrudge anyone. ¡°She¡¯s level twenty five and doesn¡¯t understand party mechanics. I hope she¡¯s put in a strong party.¡±

    The crowd fell silent as the party loot appeared, and flying eyeballs zoomed through to project closeups of so many treasures.

    Still, it was good form to applaud as the Fire Boa¡¯s fangs appeared surrounded by dozens upon dozens of minor treasures, each hosted in a crush velvet pillow or floating in a crystal cube so it could rotate.

    Then the spotlight switched off of the Mabies, tracking, instead, a wide older woman wearing a plain leather tunic and heavy work gloves.

    ¡°We present, for your crafting pleasure, [BioForge Carena!], the undisputed champion of BioForgers, she will take possession of the Fire Boa¡¯s fangs!¡±

    The stadium shook as people cheered and jumped up and down clapping. ¡°Who knows what twin wonders she will forge? But they¡¯ll be long and sharp and infused with fire, so there¡¯s only a limited number of possibilities.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t find out until this year¡¯s Forging Games,¡± the woman said gruffly, accepting the fangs. ¡°But just you wait.¡±

    One by one, artificers accepted Crystal Goblin chunks. Not apprentices, these were master [Artificers]. Rock Roller shells, some sort of black goo Kaden didn¡¯t recall them picking up, the parade went on for nearly an hour.

    ¡°We should be up next,¡± Sara said.

    They were not up next.

    Up next was a Party of two who had slain an immature Tyrantor while it attacked a village. The juvenile beast filled a third of the colluseum, and the [Ranger] and [Healer] took it in good stride as crafter after crafter was given pieces of the animal.

    ¡°Let me offer a wager,¡± Eve said. ¡°We are up next, but my wager is that we will not be.¡±

    Trella handed her a handfull of gold. ¡°I¡¯ll take that bet. Also I just sneaked a peek at the schedule, but a bet¡¯s a bet.¡±

    The lights went out in the stadium. The air popped and Kaden tensed.

    ¡°You¡¯re up. Follow the green gems,¡± A guard said.

    In the floor of the stadium, green gems led in a path that took them out toward the center. When the lights came on, the stadium floor was covered in treasures. The [Burning Dream Queen]¡¯s corpse lay on a patform, and to one side, the [Ash Spider] spinerettes, and on another, a ring of silver orbs. Probably teeth. Crystal Goblin hearts, carapaces.

    Kaden had felt [Skills] that turned sound into a weapon.

    This was pure collective chant.

    ¡°By order of King Evandor himself, and with the blessing of the Commission, [Legendary Crafter Zi¡¯zi¡¯zi¡¯ri¡¯x] will craft a [Spinning Wheel] for Natu herself!¡± The voice came from high above.

    Legendary Crafter Too-Many-Apostrophes was a barrel of a man with stubby arms and short legs and practically no neck, resembling the Tavern Tale dwarves. He took a bow to the crowd for every unpronouncable apostrophe and collected the spinerettes. ¡°This will be the item of my life. The key to reaching level one hundred. And for you, Natu, the tool from which you will weave legends.¡±

    Natu was the woman with yellow golden skin and oily black hair who wore robes woven of pure mana. If the crowd loved Zi-whatever, they adored Natu, chanting her name.

    ¡°Get on with it,¡± Trella said. ¡°What do we get? We¡¯re the ones who dragged all that back.¡±

    Instead, announcers spoke about the quality of the mysterious metal teeth, speculated about what would be made from Crystal Goblin hearts, and spoke in mock-hushed tones about the fate of the [Burning Dream Queen] corpse.

    Trella burst into existence among them. ¡°I snuck a peak at the schedule again, then went into the stands. Who wants roast lamb skewers and pineapple juice refreshers? Calm down, I brought enough for everyone.¡±

    ¡°I know what I want to do,¡± Eve said. ¡°My [Cooking] skill should be high enough level to empower my dishes with mana but every time I try, they explode. I¡¯m going to find infused recipes and have someone teach me.¡±

    ¡°Same,¡± said Trella. ¡°Except with poisons, not food. And not cooking. And exploding¡¯s normal.¡±

    Ashi kept her gaze on the ground. ¡°It is unlikely they have what I need, but I will see.¡±

    Sara waved away Kaden¡¯s gaze. ¡°I need nothing equipment-wise. I would love training with my new skills but that¡¯s not going to happen here, in a city focused on Crafting.¡±

    Almost everything Kaden needed wasn¡¯t a thing.

    You have received 1x Legendary Equipment Voucher.

    You have received 3x Epic Equipment Voucher.

    You have received 214x Unusual Equipment Voucher.

    You have received 385x Common Equipment Voucher.

    Not yet determined: [Burning Dream Queen].

    Kaden read the notices. ¡°We should make a list of what we need and what we can get. Trella already has higher grade equipment. Ashi?¡±

    ¡°I need only spell book pages, or the hide of a Beast.¡± Ashi sounded saddened. ¡°I received a Common Equipment Voucher.¡±

    ¡°Two Epics, Six Rares,¡± Sara said with pride.

    Trella laughed. ¡°All epics. Ten of them. I¡¯m going to need to book Lark Willis to build me an actual lab.¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Kaden said. ¡°You all received different notices? That wasn¡¯t a ¡®party loot¡¯ thing?¡±

    He shared the logs.

    ¡°We¡¯re supposed to wave,¡± Sara said. ¡°And apparently we need to accept a [Contract]. Wave people!¡±

    Kaen summoned Trinity and Vip as a spotlight shone down on him, and he waved to everyone while Vip dashed in circles. The crowds cheered even louder¡ªat which point Kaden realized they were actually cheering for a team of Crystal crafters who had taken possession of the crystal goblin hearts.

    Trella bumped into Kaden, frozen, not even moving as the guards urged them forward. He put a hand on her. Her skin was slick with sweat and she trembled. ¡°I see him. He didn¡¯t fool me. He might have fooled all of you, but I see him.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    When Trella answered, her voice shook. ¡°I don¡¯t know his name. I don¡¯t know his class. I don¡¯t know anything about him except that he¡¯s a [Slaver]. And the System just gave me a quest to free every one of his slaves. Killing him¡¯s a bonus. But I definitely want him dead, too.¡±

 Twenty Four - Plan

    Kaden signed the agreement with the City as soon as Sara reviewed the contract. It simply stated that the vouchers were all they received. Sara seemed to think that the vouchers were excellent, even though Kaden felt distinctly like this was a Trade Token situation. For now, his priority was Trella.

    Kaden took her back to the Palace, where he ordered food and sat by her as she purchased and dispatched three secure messenger birds. These silver-black birds didn¡¯t fly¡ªthey evaporated.

    Trella rocked back and forth on the bed. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. You can¡¯t see what I see. I see what he was. I see what he is, and I see what he stole to get there.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t possibly kill a Centurion,¡± Sara said. ¡°Kaden managed it once and that was a fluke you can¡¯t possibly pull off. Can she?¡±

    Kaden still kept a [Ghost Seed] or five. ¡°No. A random Centurion is not going to accept a gift from me. If I were a [Slaver] I¡¯d be paranoid.¡±

    Eve was far more focused. ¡°Tell me about his location. I don¡¯t care what he looked like, where in the stadium was he? Centurions wouldn¡¯t slum it with commoners. He¡¯ll have his own box and that¡¯s how we identify him. Focus!¡±

    ¡°There may be spells which could protect against his [Bindings] but not against his attacks,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I could return to Vichor to find out, but it might take days of your time. I would not risk longer. Is there a time limit on the Quest?¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep, now that I know. I have to do something. I have to do it now. Kaden. You can¡¯t come with me.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t what he expected. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because I can¡¯t risk him getting to anyone I love. And that goes for all of you.¡± Trella spoke with Eve, explaining exactly where she¡¯d seen the man, where he¡¯d been sitting, where she¡¯d been facing. The lighting had made it harder to be certain, but Trella could narrow it to one of six boxes.

    ¡°More than enough,¡± Eve said. ¡°Sara, you¡¯re always looking to expand S&K Holdings, right? In a city like this, it¡¯s certain every Centurion is a Crafter and or a business owner. I¡¯ll reach out to explain you¡¯d like to send product samples to the people in these boxes. One among six is better than one among a city.¡±

    Sara went with them, while Ashi slipped away.

    Vip sat in Trella¡¯s lap, trying to soak in her worry like rainwater. Vip ran on the dog theory, that if one person was wet and miserable, everyone should be wet and miserable with them. *Love,* she stated.

    It needed no translation.

    Trinity had sensed the change in Kaden¡¯s mood, and while she was normally surly and violent, now she was quiet and violent, watching everything.Skully stood in front of the doors, having devoured enough [Mage] bones to repair himself. Kaden had caught him eyeing an attractively shaped planter, and reprimanded the skeleton.

    A knock at the door had him ready to attack, as Trella [Shadow Stepped] to the door and pulled it back.

    On the other side stood a misshapen man-figure with stubby arms that ended in two fingers at best and blunt legs more like uncooked sausages. One of Mistress Scylla¡¯s Jackaroos.

    It held its arm to the faceless head aproximately where a mouth would be. Probably telling them to be quiet. Another followed, running to the door Skully guarded.

    Another joined the second, and another stood guard at the front.

    Mistress Scylla wasn¡¯t old for a Centurion. Her brown hair was just starting to turn gray, her face had sharper, harsher figures than Sara¡¯s, and her cloak let all six pink octopus tentacles flare out from the base of her spine, each holding a different weapon, wand, or spellbook. ¡°Kaden. Step aside, please.¡±

    He did, letting her in.

    She closed the door, and then rushed to hug Trella. ¡°It¡¯s terrifying the first time you see one. I would have taken you somewhere to experience it, but every [Slaver] I¡¯ve found is dead, and this one will be, too.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll kill him.¡± Kaden stated it as fact. A fact that didn¡¯t bother him at all.

    ¡°Indeed. I¡¯m¡ªwould you please ask Skully to stop?¡±

    Kaden ran to the door and opened it. Skully held one Jackaroo in each hand and slammed it down over and over. The impact flattened the not-men. But moments later, they re-animated and continued smashing at his fingers, though it didn¡¯t do much damage. ¡°Skully. Stop. Those are¡­friends. Sort of.¡±

    The skeleton looked his way, his beard-bones rattling.

    ¡°I said put them down.¡± Kaden turned around and shut the door. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like he¡¯s permanently destroying them, but he¡¯ll attract attention,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°Now, as I said, I will kill this [Slaver] and I¡¯ll do my best to keep collateral damage down. Your Quest is the normal one. Break the bonds he¡¯s placed. You¡¯ll know his victims when you see them, but there¡¯s a complication.¡±

    ¡°Timing,¡± Trella said. ¡°The moment I start cutting bonds, he¡¯ll know I¡¯m doing it.¡±

    ¡°Correct. And the other problems are obvious once you consider his stature. He¡¯ll have escapes planned. Far Portals in his house, Portal Mages in his possession, flying beasts. And it¡¯s likely he¡¯s in good standing with the City.¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Now Kaden swore. ¡°So when we kill him, as far as the City is concerned, we just assassinated a Crafter.¡±

    ¡°Until a [Slaver] is dead their class is hidden,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°Now listen and learn. Your talents and abilities as a [Shadow Blade] work in your favor. You have [Banal Blend] on top of stealth on top of the natural protection [Liberator] provides. He wouldn¡¯t recognize you if you stood right in front of him.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not how it feels,¡± Trella said. ¡°It feels like he was looking right at me. And only me.¡±

    ¡°You are natural enemies. Slavers have no allies and only enemies. He lives with that feeling every moment of every day. Have you identified the man?¡±

    ¡°Sara and Eve are working on it, pretending to send business information. Ashi is trying to find a spell to protect us,¡± Trella said. ¡°I could break a bond but then he¡¯d know. I¡¯d do it in a heartbeat, though. What do I do?¡±

    ¡°First, we must know who we face. We must learn about him. We must learn his schedule. His business. His acquaintances. The Sisters have trained you for this, have they not?¡± Mistress Scylla asked.

    ¡°Some. We aren¡¯t required to kill. Sometimes it¡¯s the best way.¡± Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°I don¡¯t want to live my life just to end others.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Mistress Scylla spoke softly. ¡°I would appreciate privacy. Isn¡¯t there some Beast you haven¡¯t tamed? Or a demon to provoke? Why is there a lizard on your shoulder?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s out of bread,¡± Trella said. She took his hand. *I need space. I won¡¯t go after him without telling you, I promise.*

    Kaden stepped out into the courtyard and pointed to the door. ¡°Protect Trella.¡±

    The palace guards seemed less equipped to guard the palace and more equipped to, say, tell Kaden about the art hung on the walls. ¡°Leatherworkers. Where do I find them?¡±

    ¡°Master Yitoru should be your first contact for any need,¡± the guard said.

    Of course. Kaden dispatched the [Falcrow] and waited for a response.

    A response that came in person.

    Yitoru came striding across the courtyard. ¡°Do you want to get me in trouble with the King? He said I was to assist. I will assist. What¡¯s this about a Leatherworker?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s either that or a [Chef],¡± Kaden said, producing the piece of skin the dragon scale had come from. ¡°Careful, this will burn you. It did burn me, and I was [Fireproof] at the time.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Dragon Hide,¡± Yituri said. ¡°The Mana Burn alone will do incredible damage. Let me see the wound.¡±

    Kaden showed the right hand with the shriveled muscles and pale skin. ¡°This is after a visit to the temple of Hehuhashumanyhames. Some kind of spring and growth god.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fortunate you have an arm at all,¡± Yituri said. ¡°You received this from the Fire Dragon?¡±

    ¡°Received is a strong word. The [Burning Dream Queen] savaged the Fire Dragon and this was left over.¡± Kaden lived by the loot law, if the dragon wanted it, it should have taken it.

    Yituri seemed ecstatic. ¡°I can¡¯t even touch it. Gods above. And the meat. You told Evan this was yours. Why?¡±

    Kaden showed the scale pattern on his hand. ¡°It unlocked a tier two skill for me. Since there aren¡¯t other [Beast Masters], I have to take the chances I can. Can I ask you for equipment advice?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be offended if you didn¡¯t.¡± Yituru motioned. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to a workshop. We have a saying in Trunistan. Craft it out. It¡¯s easier to think when crafting.¡±

    Along the way, Kaden explained his problem. ¡°I¡¯ve got a Legendary Voucher and no clue what it¡¯s good for, and to be honest, I¡¯ve already got a better weapon that your Crafters can probably make.¡±

    ¡°Strong words,¡± Yituri said. ¡°Show me.¡±

    Kaden took out Remembrance.

    [Remembrance of Battle - War Hammer]

    Every day, new legends are being sung into the world. This weapon carries their echos, drawing from the past to make a future where it is once more feared and revered. If there is to be oblivion, let your foes enter it first.

    Effects: Special, varied.

    Seek out previous wielders to learn how to use this weapon¡¯s abilities! Previous wielders: Traugma, [Hellscaper] (Dead). Mascasius, [Reaper] (Very Dead). Gleb [Terror Gnome] (Completely Dead), Malkoriathorax (Dark Lord) @#!==__ERROR_HISTORY_LOST.

    ¡°It¡¯s a challenge weapon. It interacts with the Elemental Chronosium in my armor. It has effects I don¡¯t even understand.¡± Kaden gently offered it to Yituri.

    The Leatherworker almost dropped it. ¡°That¡¯s heavy. Too heavy for me, but you should be thinking more of what we could do with this weapon. How are you holding it with your hand like that?¡±

    Not well. ¡°I¡¯m going to see if I can get an enchanted grip. The current one makes it hard to drop. I want it to be permanent.¡±It wasn¡¯t like the hand wouldn¡¯t close, it was just that his grip strength was half, at best.

    Kaden produced the Levicon Blade. ¡°This is my other weapon. I got it from a World Boss who outgrew his world.¡±

    ¡°So keep your weapons. Your armor¡ªit¡¯s quaint.¡± Yituri opened the door to a workshop. ¡°First off, we need to flesh the hide. I have an enchanted [Fleshing Blade] which repairs the hide, but I can¡¯t actually touch that skin.

    Kaden pulled it from Inventory. ¡°[Fireproof], courtesy of this [Match Lizard.]¡± He spread the dragon skin on the workbench. The scale on his hand was no larger than a thumbnail. The skin it came from was the size of Kaden¡¯s hand, but near destroyed. The pattern where the other scales had rested still showed.

    ¡°Ah, about that, I heard you had a need.¡± Yituri produced a loaf of wheat bread. ¡°I¡¯m afraid to ask what you¡¯re going to do.¡±

    Kaden offered the end to the [Match Lizard], which did exactly what [Match Lizards] did. It caught fire, burning the bread, then contentedly lapped up ash. ¡°There we go, little guy. Or girl. You didn¡¯t think I was going to eat him did you?¡±

    ¡°¡­No?¡± Yituri said.

    ¡°Not without a mana potion to wash him down.¡± Kaden looked to the skin. ¡°Now what?¡±

    Yituri took a blade from Inventory with a handle on both ends. He quickly scraped across the hide. The enchanted blade glowed dull and then red and orange and then white. As it scraped the last bit, the blade shot sparks and a cloud of blue mana burst out. Yituru tossed it to the side, using a metal pan to catch the meat. ¡°Store this.¡±

    Kaden put it away.

    Most of the heat went with the meat, letting Yituri bring out a bag of salt that glowed white. He whistled as he worked, brushing a thick layer of salt on, and then activating a skill. ¡°This skill is named [Instant Age] but I assure you, no crafter of skill uses it like that. There¡¯s a right speed for everything and using it just right is key.¡±

    The salt crackled and aligned into pattern after pattern, then began to shimmer as it turned to fine powder.

    Yituri swore. ¡°One moment, just need to re-apply. Just a little more. Ok, maybe a lot. Hold on, I¡¯ve got hundreds of pounds. We may need them all. There¡¯s wine in the fridge, just get comfortable¡ªdamnit!¡±

    After six times, the salt pattern locked into a circle, that then filled in with minature circles until the entire hide shone with thousands of rings that interlocked. Yituri drew a tube from Inventory and began to paint runes on the hide with exacting precision. ¡°What will you do with it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a problem for future Kaden. Ashi¡¯s looking for a hide for a spellbook.¡±

    ¡°You are a madman.¡± Yituri sounded deeply shocked. ¡°You steal dragonhide, mana burn yourself to take its power, and you¡¯d use it for a book cover?¡±

    ¡°Ashi is a [PolyMage],¡± Kaden said. ¡°She could have a permanent source of Fire Mana. Her fire spells would be incredibly powerful.¡±

    Yituri nodded. ¡°We are not familiar with [PolyMages]. She can cast from different colleges? If so, Fire would be strong, but other spells would be weaker or have unexpected interactions. It¡¯s so small, I¡¯d suggest having it fashioned into a glove for your injured hand. Use one of your vouchers.¡±

    A Messenger Bird trailing sparkles landed on Kaden¡¯s arm. ¡°The King would see you now to discuss the [Burning Dream Queen]. We have a proposal from the Vivomancer¡¯s Guild that is worth listening to.¡±

 Twenty Five - Buzz Word

    Kaden followed Yituri through the castle, leaving behind the business portions and entering halls that looked personal. The guards here were no joke, Centurion warriors who appraised him and rapidly calculated their options and his odds if he was a threat.

    Yituri wasn¡¯t even remotely intimidated. ¡°This way. That way is the Queen¡¯s private quarters and if you go there, there aren¡¯t enough vouchers in the world to have you survive.¡±

    Kaden waited while Yituri knocked on the door, which swung open as an [Assassin] stepped out. She wore a monk¡¯s robes and carried smooth silver spikes. ¡°Yituri. Guest. The King will see you now.¡±

    ¡°Evan!¡± Yituri said, so much more relaxed now. ¡°What can¡¯t wait for tomorrow? Are those monsters from the Vivomancer Guild chewing your ass that badly?¡±

    Evandor¡¯s gaze would have given Kaden [Mana Burn]. He looked to the wizened man sitting next to him. ¡°Forgive my cousin, Grand Dean. Kaden Birch, this is the Grand Dean of the first College of Vivomancy. He has a proposal regarding your [Burning Dream Queen.] I would appreciate you hearing him out.¡±

    The Dean stood and dusted himself off. ¡°I¡¯d heard rumors there was another [Beast Master]. Such a useful class with such terrible mechanics. Of course, if you consider the history of the class, it¡¯s not surprising.¡±

    Kaden recognized the tone from long afternoons in Beast Control. ¡°I don¡¯t know the history. I barely know the present, but I was told by Professor Treadle the key to learning was knowing when to listen.¡±

    ¡°Treadle Barnes. Genius. Madman. I sometimes regret having him banned. It was only one city, after all, but he¡¯s right. Your class is thought to be from the third iteration of the System. Back then, reaching level twenty five was the goal. Fifty took an miracle. Seventy Five was near unheard of. Centurions were near gods. The Class isn¡¯t balanced. Like [Rune Master], it scales far faster than it should, and those bond mechanisms are the only thing keeping it in check.¡±

    ¡°I see. It¡¯s a fascinating viewpoint and one I¡¯ll consider.¡± Those were the magic words that calmed the Profressor. ¡°So, are you here to bid on my [Burning Dream Queen]?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± The Dean stood, almost half Kaden¡¯s height. ¡°I¡¯m here to buy it. But you and your ridiculous asking price. Two hundred thousand gold? Who do you think you are?¡±

    ¡°The man who owns the only [Burning Dream Queen] corpse.¡± [Negotiation] kicked in, telling Kaden how to press his advantage. Hopefully telling him when to stop. ¡°So, my starting price was two hundred thousand gold, but now I understand that an Assassin of the Nova Star order could use the Fire Mana to make the kind of weapon we¡¯d all live in fear of. Perhaps¡ª¡±

    ¡°The Nova Star Order was obliterated six hundred years ago, young man. Unless their ghosts are coming to bid, you won¡¯t find a better offer.¡±

    Kaden had made the sect up, but then again, with so many different Assassins and so many different sects, it was likely that almost every good name was taken. ¡°What¡¯s your offer?¡±

    ¡°Two hundred thousand gold. Fifty thousand now, the rest over four years.¡±

    [Negotiation] pushed him to ask for more, but there was a different kind of tension. And Kaden had something else he wanted. ¡°Treadle¡¯s damn near a genius, but kicking him out of your colleges was an idiot move that only caused more damage. At least when he was a member of your groups, you had some idea of what he was up to. Do you want to know what he created?¡±

    ¡°I knew [Gigantorrod] was too convenient,¡± the Dean muttered. ¡°Did he pay you to give it a potion? I know you ¡®woke¡¯ the beast. I knew of your association in minutes.¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°If I did, I would probably be under an oath of some sort. You know the kind.¡±

    ¡°I do. It¡¯s a hell of an application monster. But you don¡¯t understand. He¡¯s been kicked out of all five colleges.¡±

    ¡°Then make a sixth. Put him in charge of it, so you have an excuse to constantly watch him. For all you know, he could be tampering with the System Limits on Obedience Bindings. Wouldn¡¯t you sleep better knowing his assistants¡ªassistants who work for you¡ªwould tell you when he starts doing something?¡± Kaden knew it was an advantage. ¡°Two hundred thousand gold over four years, and I want Professor Treadle imprisoned¡ªI mean, reinstated¡ªwith round the clock assistance. And in return, I share with you a fact that will let you plan your research.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re confident. Interesting,¡± the Dean said. ¡°What fact alone would change our research plans?¡±

    Kaden took the [Burning Dream Queen] egg out of Inventory. ¡°Don¡¯t ask. There¡¯s no amount of gold you can offer me. The [Druids] are working on a location for me to release it. You¡¯re dealing with the only known specimen now.¡±

    The Dean stared until Kaden put away the egg. ¡°We have a deal. Tell me, are you interested in Quests to tame a few monsters¡ªI mean¡ªspecimens¡ªwho may have gotten out of control?¡±

    ¡°If Ignus Malachor says so, I¡¯d probably be open to taking those Quests.¡± Kaden was starting to understand how this world worked.

    ¡°Very good, very good.¡± The Dean excused himself with the King, heading to a private FarPortal.

    Kaden wanted to leave, but the bored, non-attentive Assassin positioned herself in such a way it just exudeded ¡®you-dont-want-to-try-to-step-past-me¡¯ vibes.

    A moment later, King Evandor returned. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that to go so easily. I expected I¡¯d need to coerce you to take a deal. And trust me, I can be quite coercive. As a [King] I have to deal with all sorts. Some are sweet, some are savory, some are less savory. All are essential. Once I was a man with principles. Now, power.¡±

    ¡°You can have both,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Only up to a certain point. Why mention Ignus?¡±

    That Kaden had an answer for. ¡°The Vivomancers are always losing control of monsters. Now they¡¯ll go through Ignus to request me. Which means Ignus gains favors, which means he owes me.¡±

    Evandor seemed pleased with that answer. ¡°From here, where does your party go? Not that I¡¯m kicking you out, I just want to understand.¡±

    ¡°North, there¡¯s some [Beserkers] I have to make a deal with. Actually, probably to return that shell first. Then a [Grove] for training. North for [Beserkers]. I have a Griffin I need to check up on, and Sara wants to go to the Souther Islands to meet the [Captain] of our trading ship.¡±

    So much to do.

    Asking for help with the [Slaver] was the smart thing to do. Proving the man was a [Slaver] beforehand would be difficult. Trella could see him but no one else could, which meant, from their standpoint, he was just another citizen. Just another Centurion.

    ¡°Thank you for your assistance.¡± Kaden bowed before him. ¡°And you, too, Yituri. I probably will have the Dragon hide made into a bracer. Can I ask a question? How did you create that domain?¡±

    Evandor actually grinned. ¡°The spell that resets the bosses is the result of a [Wish] from a Goddess. We collect the most unusual of fire bosses. It costs a hundred thousand gold at least to move some here. The [Fire Boa] was just an egg. I can imagine a greatly restrained or reduced [Burning Dream] nest. You were correct, not all of the workers were destroyed.¡±

    That had Kaden worried. ¡°You¡ª¡±

    ¡°I sent a team of Centurions in not twenty minutes after your party returned. A few dozen workers, no queens, not even one egg. The Dragon is not my pet nor part of the trial, he simply finds the Domain comfortable for resting.¡± Evandor paused as the [Assassin] appeared by his side, whispering. ¡°Oh, excellent. If you don¡¯t mind, I have matters of state to attend to.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. In fact, he¡¯d expected exactly this.

    Yituri went with him. ¡°You don¡¯t seem upset.¡±

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Two hundred thousand gold over four years is a fortune,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And I expect the King has to repeat this three hundred times a year. Lavish attention on the latest Party bringing treasures and then move on to keeping the city calm and prosperous.¡±

    ¡°Try seven hundred times a year, maybe more. Tomorrow, when you go to spend those vouchers, remember, an item from the most skilled craftsman in our city and one from the newest graduate cost the same voucher. Patience can be rewarded.¡± Yituri shut the doors to the royal quarters and guided Kaden through the maze back to the corridor where his rooms were. ¡°Tomorrow, if you have any problems while shopping, reach out.¡±

    Kaden would. He knocked on the door to his own room and waited for Trella to answer, pulling him inside. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is all new to me. Mistress Scylla was very clear. I stick to my Quest and my Quest only. She will handle killing the bastard.¡±

    ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Eve and Sara aren¡¯t back. What did you do?¡±

    Kaden explained about the meeting. ¡°I have a thousand reasons to hate Professor Treadle but this way, he¡¯s watched. He¡¯s guarded. When do you attack the [Slaver]?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t. We get one shot at him. I¡¯m going to gather information. I already sent word to the Sisters and Senior Sister herself issued a Quest. I used to dream about this moment. Now that it¡¯s here, it¡¯s scary.¡±

    Kaden held her close and told her the most apealing lie. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Trella pushed him away abruptly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just want to comfort you,¡± he said.

    She batted at her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that. Your lizard set my hair on fire.¡±

    Now Kaden put the lizard back in its cage. It should have felt like victory. Now it felt like the start of a war.

    ###

    Sara and Eve didn¡¯t return until nearly dawn, and Sara burst into the room without even knocking, ignoring the fact that neither Kaden nor Trella were dressed. ¡°Get up, we found information for you. Also I need your help, Kaden.¡±

    Vip was overjoyed to see Eve and demanded to be held while Kaden dressed and Trella showered. ¡°What did you find? And what do you need?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a caravan wagon covered in bees stuck at one of the gates. I need you to tame them, move them, slaughter them and we can collect a Mecari Quest.¡± Sara waited impatiently. ¡°We¡¯ll be right back!¡±

    Kaden left Skully to guard, summoned Trinity and ran through the streets of Trunistan with Trinity enjoying the morning stretch. They crossed the city, running along side a canal loaded with barges and crossed at a bridge.

    Sara had left out a few details.

    ¡°Wagon¡± was a term for anything with wheels. This was like a house with wheels that stood fifteen feet tall. The doors on either side hung open, revealing honeycomb that filled the house.

    ¡°Bees¡± were also a term. Each of these was the size of Kaden¡¯s fist and the house was covered in them.

    And Quest was probably the most accurate term he¡¯d heard since nothing was moving in or out of the gate. The Colony had a furius hum to their wings, and Kaden didn¡¯t doubt their stings would hurt. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±

    ¡°The Quest is to clear the gate.¡± Sara pointed to either end. ¡°The mobile cabin was empty, or so they thought. It¡¯s been stuck here three days.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t afraid of a few stings. ¡°This is going to take a bit. Move back, don¡¯t come with me.¡±

    He began to [Soul Bind] and release individual bees,few at a time. If they buzzed near, he prioritized them. One landed on his arm and stung before Kaden could [Bind] it.

    [Resist Poison] made it nothing but pain and a hundred points of health.

    Foot by foot he grew closer. [Beast Soul] showed him the truth. There was only one [Beast] here, and it was the colony as a whole. [Bind] and release, Kaden focused until he was close enough to climb the ladder with slow, careful steps

    Kaden looked back, only to realize now the air was so thick with bees he couldn¡¯t see Sara.

    [Giant Honeybee Colony]

    This colony of Giant Honeybees found a quiet home in a perfect place in the woods, a place where it could settle down, raise a few thousand larva, and make a quiet life. Then, while they were sleeping through the winter, someone stole them¡ªand their home¡ªand dragged them far away. Now, they¡¯re mad as hell and they¡¯re not going to take it anymore. They¡¯re not sure what ¡®it¡¯ is, but not taking it at all, and if that means buzzing menacingly and stinging anyone who gets close and stays close, so bee it. * Beast Knowledge: The best mead on earth is made from Giant Honeybees. We got drunk for three years straight. Had a hangover for a decade. 1/10, do not recommend.

    Kaden took [Identify] as a clue. [Soul Binding] the colony was a gentle affair and required that he first bind over half the workers, so he took his time, reaching a truly calm state where his only concern was the pattern of bind and unbind.

    You have bound an Entity (Giant Honeybee Colony).

    Now [Beast Soul] let him express an emotion. *Calm.*

    He projected the image of the bees returning to the colony. Of him protecting it. The air grew quiet as the bees clustered on their home. ¡°Sara, tell the workers to unchain both ends of the wagon.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Sara ran forward, working the pins that kept the wagon chained together until the front released. ¡°Move, move. Clear off,¡± she shouted. Her pseudopods offered differing directions to illustrate all the ways people could choose to move the front of the caravan that were anywhere but here. ¡°Is it safe?¡±

    Kaden set another pulse of *peace* ¡°It¡¯s sort of safe, you can duck under the side by the gate. If there are dead workers, try not to step on them. The smell will upset the colony. If we can get this car separated, I can probably move it out into a field beside the city.¡±

    ¡°The owners will want the bees removed.¡± Sara moved slowly, picking each step with caution, then lifted herself up on the other side of the wagon-house. ¡°This will take a moment, and there may be some recoil when I release the other side.¡±

    Concepts like ¡®some recoil when we release¡¯ didn¡¯t translate to Giant Honeybee, so Kaden instead pictured a storm shaking the colony, and the bees keeping close and clustered to protect their young. With a crack, the caravan¡¯s rear detatched, and the entire colony raised a split-second roar of wings before Kaden once more stilled them.

    ¡°Give us a few moments,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s not as easy backing up a caravan as you might expect.¡±

    Kaden was telling a story in thoughts and pictures. Ofthe colony gently rocking as the wagon moved out. Of them being free to soar out and find flowers. Of the flowers being ¡®away¡¯ from the city. The concepts were ones the colony grasped. He was free to walk carefully to the back of the wagon, still outside the gate and hop down. Broken chains hung down to the ground, and Kaden grabbed one and began to pull. Like most cities, Trunistan had vast walls to protect against Surges, and kept the fields just beyond mostly clear.

    Sara rushed to take the other chain, gripping it with both hands and both pseudopods. ¡°How far do we need to move them?¡±

    ¡°The Colony doesn¡¯t actually care about people. Point the wagon north-south along the wall and they¡¯ll fly away from the wall.¡± Kadens¡¯ injured hand kept slipping. He wrapped the chain around it and strained, forcing the wagon to roll over grassy land. Every rock, every branch, every rabbit hole required him to stop and re-assure the colony.

    At last, he was confident. ¡°That¡¯s far enough.¡±

    The mental image he send to the colony was of them flying free, out toward the fields and forests. And most importantly, ignoring the woman in green armor with the not-snakes on her back. Sara hid in his shadow as the rumble of wings grew louder and louder.

    Kaden carefully guided her until they stood twenty feet from the wagon home. Unbinding the colony didn¡¯t turn it hostile. ¡°Well? Quest status?¡±

    ¡°Stay here, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Sara ran to the gate, where the (shorter) caravan was already moving. Down the eastern road, wagons backed up as far as Kaden could see.

    Your party has completed a Quest: My Kingdom for a Gate!

    Quest Master is Active.

    You have received 4x: Mercari Faction Tokens.

    Your favor with Faction (Mercari) has reached a new threshold.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t impressed with the gain.

    Sara emerged from the gate with a trio of men and women following close behind. *We have a new problem. Probably a new Quest.*

    Kaden saw this coming. ¡°You three own that wagon house?¡±

    ¡°Our village does,¡± the woman said. ¡°We were¡¯t expecting to move again so soon, and after Rada and her family died of the fever, no one was checking it. But money is money, and a caravan moves when it has to. When it got warmer here, we didn¡¯t think the whole house was invaded.¡±

    ¡°The house is covered in wax,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And sticky inside. And also it¡¯s full of giant bees.¡±

    The man to the right spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll authorize a Quest. Kill the bees, recover the house. Ten silver sound right?¡±

    Sara opened her mouth to speak¡ªthen stopped as she studied him.

    ¡°Say I wanted to build one of those for myself. How much would it run me?¡± Kaden asked.

    The third woman, an old woman with white hair answered. ¡°Two thousand gold. Living in an actual house while you move makes us a village. It protects us from monsters at night. You¡¯d need at least two more for form a traveling village.¡±

    Kaden had seen prices in villages outside Verona. Five hundred gold would buy a new mansion built from scratch. Odds were this was as much about the family that had lived there as the house or the massive wagon it was built on.

    ¡°I¡¯l buy it from you,¡± Kaden said. ¡°You have a [Builder] build you a new one. That one¡¯s mine.¡±

    You have offered two thousand gold to the Istavi Caravan for one bee-infested singlewide mobile home.

    ¡°Done.¡± The caravaners laughed and cheered to themselves as they headed back to the gate.

    ¡°Kaden.¡±

    He ignored Sara¡¯s tone, watching his bees take flight. ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine.¡±

    ¡°Must I ask?¡±

    He was already thinking of everything that would go into it. ¡°I need a permit from the city to keep it there. I need you to hire a [Beekeeper]. And a single wagon with horses. And arrange a FarPortal shipment to our shipping station. And provisions for the trip. And someone to transport the colony back to Verdant Vineyards.¡±

    Sara had gone silent.

    ¡°That colony produces honey. And it pollinates. And the wax. And we can move it around Verona to pollinate wherever is needed. We could make mead. Broker a deal with Verdant Vineyards¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡± Sara said, her voice filled with excitement. ¡°I just¡ªI should have seen it. But there¡¯s so much more. Oh, so much more. You can¡¯t just pluck a rolling home filled with giant honeybees from one continent to the other. There are protocols for this type of transfer. [Vivomancers] have to sign off that we¡¯re not transporting disease or competing with them to unleash rampages. [Beekeepers], I don¡¯t even know where I¡¯d find one!¡±

    For someone listing problems, she seemed awfully excited.

    Your business, S&K Holdings has expanded operations into: Monster Transport and Meadmaking.

    Kaden froze as a black messenger crow landed on his arm, speaking in Trella¡¯s voice. ¡°Eve found him. Come see the [Slaver] we¡¯re going to kill.¡±

 Twenty Six - Scout It Out

    Trella was waiting at the door¡ªwith Ashi beside her. ¡°Good, I¡¯m grateful the party received Faction tokens for whatever you did. It put me over the level barrier. I¡¯m on my way to twenty five. I¡¯ve got so many skills at level nine it hurts.¡±

    As she spoke, Trella¡¯s Deception rose up from the floor, then stalked away. Trella [Shadow Stepped] to a table that definitely hadn¡¯t been in the room before, where Eve sat.

    ¡°I have checked,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There is no magic to protect against [Slavers]. They are vulnerable to demons, beasts, and golems. I went as fast as I could.¡± She held up a [Match Lizard]. ¡°I like it. It burns, which is its nature, but I like it. You will not eat it in a sandwich, as Eve suggests.¡±

    Nine hours for a trip to Vichor was blindingly fast. ¡°How did you manage to go that quickly?¡±

    ¡°I used FarPortal. I sent a message and waited for the response. I returned.¡± Ashi headed to the table to sit beside Eve.

    And Kaden listened.

    Mistress Scylla said killing a Centurion could be difficult. That the battle was often calamitous and against [Slavers], even worse. The first task was to understand the man¡¯s routines. His profession. His business partners. His history.

    ¡°Ducat Vermison,¡± Trella said. ¡°Centurion for six centuries, all of it here in Trunistan. He made Centurion in eighty five years. It¡¯s not proof he¡¯s a [Slaver]. I¡¯m proof. Mistress Scylla is trying to spot him in the city to second check me.¡±

    Sara tapped the scroll. ¡°He¡¯s a shipper, not a crafter, that puts him in contact with thousands upon thousands of people. I¡¯ll take the City Records. S&K Holdings has a free Mercantile shipping vessel. Should anyone ask, I¡¯m researching to ensure he¡¯s profitable before approaching him about signing our ship on.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all well and good,¡± Eve said. ¡°But it won¡¯t tell you who his friends are. Ashi and I are abusing my position as a Councilwoman to attend a meeting. The goal isn¡¯t business, it¡¯s gossip. I want to see the reaction to his name, that will tell me a great deal.¡±

    Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°You are the opposite of blending. You¡¯re the only [Beast Master]. People don¡¯t need to know your name or face, [Identify] marks you in the city. You can¡¯t help.¡±

    Kaden was about to protest when Eve spoke. ¡°In a way, he can. We need to act like things are normal. We need to do what anyone else would do. Anyone in power is going to know Kaden received major vouchers.¡±

    ¡°Vouchers.¡± Sara spoke it like a word of wonder. ¡°By the way, each of those is worth a great deal of gold. More than what you spent just now, Kaden.¡±

    ¡°What did you buy?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°A house on a wagon that was taken over by [Giant Honeybees] and blocked a city gate,¡± Kaden answered.

    Trella went back to studying. ¡°Cool. The XP was nice, do that again. Several times.¡±

    Eve opened her mouth, then stoppped as a ring on her finger glowed red. She visibly relaxed.

    ¡°That¡¯s a beautiful ring,¡± Sara said. ¡°Enchanted?¡±

    ¡°Sort of. Any time I get agitated, it lights up to remind me not to ask why Kaden did something.¡± Eve stroked Vip. ¡°Who¡¯s never done anything ridiculous like buy a house infested with bees? It¡¯s you, best dog.¡±

    *Love*. Vip¡¯s answer was full agreement with all of Eve¡¯s sentiments.

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in ¡®shopping¡¯ while everyone else helps,¡± Kaden said. ¡°What does he craft? What does he sell?¡±

    ¡°Actually,¡± Sara said, ¡°I think¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want Kaden near a [Slaver],¡± Trella said, her tone cold. ¡°I know Kaden. I know the sorts of things that happen around him. I¡¯m the only one who has to go into the slaver¡¯s house. There will be slaves there and I will release them. You can help me plan. You can help me with information. Then, when it¡¯s time, you can wait for me to return.¡±

    ¡°Not happening. I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand their power. A slaver with an opening for a slave can enforce his will on you. You won¡¯t get the chance to fight back. You won¡¯t be able to stop him. And a slaver can always have an opening. All he has to do is command one of his to stop breathing.¡± Trella¡¯s voice shook. ¡°You have all taken on monsters and bosses and demons, but these are the worst entities in the System. And I¡¯m not just immune, I¡¯m the antitode. You have got to trust me,¡± Trella said. ¡°You have got to have faith in me. In my skills. In my training.¡±

    ¡°Lover¡¯s quarrel later, please,¡± Eve said. ¡°Ashi, I need you to pretend you don¡¯t speak common. It excuses rude or direct questions I wouldn¡¯t be able to ask.¡±

    ¡°Am speak good,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Very speak. Much good.¡±

    ¡°Perfect.¡± Eve rolled up a scroll. ¡°Vip, you¡¯re with me, love.¡±

    Sara excused herself. ¡°I actually do have something to do. I need to file for a permit for the wagon. Actual business mixing with false business is ideal.¡±

    The moment she left, Kaden turned on Trella.

    On three of her. One that was Trella, one that was her Deception, the other was a washed out copy of Trella. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°Dark Deception reached level ten. Now I have [Dual Deception]. It lets me spawn more than one at a time.

    [Dual Deception]

    Spawn afterimages of yourself that can move and act on their own. Spawn even more for reduced time and increased cost. This spell has a cooldown of (1) minutes. This cooldown can be reduced by paying additional mana.

    Level: 10

    HP: NA

    Mana: NA

    Skills: Shadow Walk (7), Shadow Strike (6), Backstab (7), Deception Echo (4)

    Talents: Thoughtful

    Kaden hadn¡¯t seen another [Shadow Blade] do that. ¡°What about [Backstab] and [Shadow Walk]?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. When I first got it, [Shadow Step] was easy to evolve into [Shadow Walk] and sometimes, it makes sense to use the weaker version.¡± Trella spoke softly. ¡°You understand, right? Why I don¡¯t want you near a monster? You can¡¯t protect yourself. I can¡¯t protect you.¡±

    ¡°[Planes Wielder] will let me hurt anyone who tries to command me,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°And you think a [Slaver] would hesistate to murder you?¡±

    ¡°I think it might be harder to kill me than you think.¡± Was there anything Kaden could do against a slaver? Probably not. But he¡¯d rather go down swinging at Trella¡¯s side.

    A Jackaroo opened the door, and Mistress Scylla stepped inside. ¡°I got a glimpse. He¡¯s a tier twelve slaver. You haven¡¯t raised your level enough to see tiers. It¡¯s how we rate their control. He has twelve people under his control. And he¡¯s not in the city. I saw him use a FarPortal, a specific FarPortal. He¡¯s gone to Omnor and I¡¯ll be following shortly.¡±

    Trella stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    ¡°No. Your Quest is to break his bonds, which means knowing who he¡¯s bound. Leave as soon as I do. Find and break into his house. It¡¯s impossible to describe looking at a Bound person, but once you do, you¡¯ll earn a skill that marks them. Level it and track them all, find every one. Know their schedules.¡± Mistress Scylla whisted and her Jackaroos stepped inside, then fell to the ground, melting away. ¡°I¡¯ll return. Be patient and prepared. If I tell you to act, do so without hesitation. Your window to save them will be small.¡±

    She stepped out into the hallway, shut the door, and was gone.

    ¡°Wisp 71?¡± Kaden waited for the wisp to appear. ¡°You are the most beautiful color of pink. Can you find me the house of Ducat Vermison?¡±

    71 immediate surged toward the door. Trella was on her feet behind it.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Scully?¡± He called to his pet monster. ¡°Fall in behind us. We¡¯re not stealthing, we¡¯re out to see the city.¡±

    Trella barely came up to Kaden¡¯s chin, which made it easy for her to blend in next to him. What struck Kaden was how little attention either of them gained. In Verona, nearing level thirty, Kaden was a powerful adventurer. Here? He was one among thousands.

    Daylight made wisp 71 a washed out giant globe of mana, but Kaden felt the location as much as saw him, so he followed the wisp out of the palace and into a district that couldn¡¯t be nobles, because the houses mixed narrow two story homes with towering villas surrounded by walls.

    ¡°There.¡± Trella spoke, pointing down the street to a house with white marble facades over a three story building, each story smaller than the one above it, with overhangs that covered more and more. The top story was likely a single bedroom surrounded by covered area. ¡°I can feel his presence. It¡¯s like heavy smoke hanging over the entire building.¡±

    *Guards.* Kaden sent with quick taps. *Slaves?*

    *No. Too many decisions they need to make.* Trella looked to the sides. *Distract. Move on. Meet up later.*

    She didn¡¯t wait for him to agree, falling back behind Skully.

    Kaden had the Skeleton pick him up and set Kaden on Skully¡¯s shoulders so Kaden towered over everyone. ¡°Forward!¡± He said, at the same time, willing the command for Skully to halt.

    ¡°I said, forward. Forward, you bag of bones!¡± Kaden shouted the last as he leaped off the skeleton. Trella was already done. A single moment of inattention was all she needed to slip into [Stealth] and now, she could be anywhere.

    ¡°Away from the wall!¡± Kaden barked, even as he ordered the skeleton to take a step closer. ¡°This way. This way. To me.¡±

    Skully, stumbled toward Kaden before recovering his balance.

    ¡°Damned skeleton will get me killed,¡± Kaden fake-muttered as they passed the gate guards. He was certain their attention was on him as he stopped and read street signs, turning to face the outer wall first¡ªthen back toward the palace. ¡°Found it. That way, Skully.¡±

    Every plodding step increased his anxiety.

    This wasn¡¯t training in Shadowvale.

    This wasn¡¯t a dungeon where an entire party could rescue her.

    You have to trust me.

    Kaden kept moving, heading past schools of crafting the size of Verona¡¯s entire noble district. ¡°Wisp 71, best wisp, I¡¯m looking for blacksmiths. Or armorers.¡±

    The ¡®or¡¯ seemed to confuse the wisp, and it went two different ways, dividing, then merging. ¡°Armor,¡± Kaden said.

    Now the Wisp went quickly through entire city blocks of cobblers, weavers, seamstresses. Eventually the clothing gave way to metal and leather. Kaden gave a lot of thought to Yituri¡¯s comment. ¡°71? I need a Legendary armorer.¡±

    Now the Wisp moved with purpose, heading through Trunistan to a low, single story armor shop that smelled of leather, burning oil and steel. As Kaden stepped through the door, the wave of heat made his [Match Lizard] squeak with delight. It was hard to move, racks of armor, belts and boots crowded the shop.

    Kaden wormed his way through to a cracked wooden desk and rang the bell.

    The hammer in the forge fell silent, and the whir of machinery stopped. A man and a woman emerged from the back. The woman was as tall as Kaden, with thick arms and a barrel chest, soot around her eyes and heavy goggles on her head. Her hair, where it wasn¡¯t burned, was probably red.

    Beside her stood a man six inches shorter, with long thing arms and fingers that seemed a tad too long. His arms and hands were scarred and calloused, and he carried three different kinds of scissors. ¡°We¡¯re not taking commission¡ªoh. You.¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch,¡± he said, offering each his hand.

    The woman shook it, the man declined. She stared at him, looking over the array of mana stones embedded in his tan armor. ¡°What are the stones for?¡±

    Kaden produced Remembrance. ¡°They help me control this.¡±

    ¡°Echo of War. I¡¯d know that hammer anywhere. I thought it was destroyed a few centuries ago, to be honest. New name, same hammer.¡± She reached for it and then stopped. ¡°Julie and Jules Anders, Champion Armorers in Team Crafting three years running. What is it you want?¡±

    ¡°What happened to your armor?¡± Jules grabbed at the arm that had been damaged. ¡°You destroyed the enchantment. How did you destroy the enchantment? And where did you get peasant armor? That¡¯s cow hide. Tanned, but still, you should get paid to wear it.¡±

    Kaden pulled his arm back. ¡°I was using a Dragon scale and [Mana Burned] my hand. On the plus side, I got this.¡± He showed the hide Yituru provided. ¡°What do you sell? I don¡¯t need armor, this is second tier.¡±

    ¡°If you mean, the stuff they stack on top of garbage cans, yes.¡± Jules reached for the hide. ¡°May I? It has the normal properties one expects from Dragon hide. Fire Dragon, obviously. Difficult to integrate into your pig-armor.¡±

    ¡°Not a problem, since you¡¯re not accepting commissions.¡± Kaden took the leather back. ¡°Thank you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait. Show me what you mean. Those stones ¡®help¡¯ you?¡± Julia scooted a rack of cloaks aside. ¡°Oh, you have a [Needful Cloak]. Those are handy. There¡¯s, what, twenty in the world?¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t known. His cloak was a gift from Mr. Dervish and it had been a life saver. ¡°A gift from a friend.¡±

    ¡°This way. I want to see it myself,¡± Julia said, leading the way to the forge. Just beyond the doorway the room divided, one side a leatherworker and tailor¡¯s shop, the other a smith¡¯s.

    Julia removed her hammer. ¡°If you can break the anvil, I need a better anvil. It has an enchanment that will rebound hits against it. Helps me forge.¡±

    [Moment of Speed] let Kaden unleash a blow he held back to keep control of, striking the anvil dead on. Not even against the beserkers had Kaden felt a response like this. Remembrance shuddered and the head sang out. The chunks of Chronosium began to ripple and the surface of the hammer turned to a mirror that reflected the forge fire. All the stones in his armor vibrated in time with the hammer.

    Again, Kaden struck, this time, risking a full blow. Sparks few back from the anvil and smoke retreated to the fire.

    Jules stared, eyes wide.

    Kaden struck again, this time following through with the swing so the hammer couldn¡¯t bounce back. His arms ached as the anvil pushed back. The mirror surface of Remembrance no longer showed any chunks of Chronosium.

    Sparks flew up from the anvil¡ªthen drew back, vanishing.

    One last time, Kaden used [Moment of Speed] to bring Remembrance overhead in a blow.

    The world stopped.

    The forge fire froze, no longer flickering. A black line appeared on the anvil, gradually, patiently growing outward. Kaden¡¯s mana was a waterfall rushing downward. The hammer head was no longer a mirror, but absolute black, like the stones that had spread across his armor.

    Your skill with Moment of Eternity has increased!

    Your mana is critically low!

    You have mana shock!

    Kaden sagged as the world snapped back into existence. The anvil he¡¯d struck broke in half as Kaden fell to one knee, dizzy. All around him the world spun, and his head pounded.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± His mouth felt like it was full of sand. ¡°Water?¡±

    Jules grabbed a jug from the wall. It must have been enchanted, because the water inside was ice cold and the jug didn¡¯t get lighter as Kaden drank, and drank, and drank. ¡°So thirsty.¡±

    Julia stared at her anvil. ¡°Look at the iron. It¡¯s almost raw, like pig iron. This is incredible.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Not from where I¡¯m sitting. And don¡¯t ask me to do that again, I¡¯ve got mana shock and I can barely keep a grip on the hammer since I injured my hand.¡±

    ¡°Have a seat.¡± Julia lifted him easily onto a bench. ¡°The hammer breaks things and causes mana shock?¡±

    ¡°Something like that.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t have much to say about the experience. This time, he knew what was coming and this time, he understood. Remembrance had allowed him to activate a tier four skill. ¡°How much was the anvil?¡±

    ¡°Twenty thousand gold.¡± Jules picked up the broken part. ¡°Magnificent. I¡¯ll have to get a better one, of course.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t expected a number that high. ¡°I¡¯ll show myself out.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Jules said. ¡°First off, you have a voucher. All of Trunistan knows exactly what you received. Armor is usually by the piece but this is unusual. It¡¯s a set. The set bonus from crafting it would be fantastic. You¡¯re going to be a monster.¡±

    ¡°I think that ship has sailed,¡± Julia said. ¡°He broke a Epic quality anvil. How¡¯s the headache?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s mana was still at zero. ¡°Mana Shock hasn¡¯t cleared.¡±

    ¡°Keep drinking,¡± Jules said. ¡°Here¡¯s what we can offer. We could make new armor. Dragon hide is out of the question, but a Tyrantor isn¡¯t. Your mana stones are stitched in, they each need sockets for better transferrence. Your right hand needs an enchanted guantlet. It¡¯ll cost mana to operate but it¡¯s worth the cost. We¡¯ll strip the dragon hide down and stitch it into the armor, it¡¯ll make you damn near fireproof. Not that you should test it.¡±

    Julia spoke up. ¡°I can forge mana stone sockets for those. Is the pattern decorative?¡±

    ¡°No. Ashi¡ªa part member of mine¡ªcan instruct you, but in essence we¡¯d want exactly this pattern.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t superstitious but he wanted to honor Ashi¡¯s traditions.

    ¡°I¡¯m not touching the hammer. I think trying to reforge it might be the last mistake any smith makes. Boots. Your boots look like you had them crafted on a street corner. Your knee guards look like something a zoo keeper would wear. Your belt has potion hooks. Alchemist?¡±

    ¡°My Lover.¡±

    She nodded. ¡°I¡¯m thinking two more Inventory cubes. There¡¯s no such thing as too much Inventory space. And we should give you an integrated sheath for that short knife.¡±

    Kaden liked all of this. ¡°How do I pay and how long does it take?¡±

    Jules looked at his workbench. ¡°Ten days to do most of the work. After six I¡¯ll need your current armor for the stones. We¡¯ll take measurements today. It¡¯ll be unfomfortable but worth it.¡±

    ¡°I was measured for this set.¡±

    ¡°By a hobo,¡± Jules. ¡°And for a hood, a bear head?¡±

    Kaden considered the options. ¡°I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s only two types of people. Those who don¡¯t look good in a beast head cloak and those who don¡¯t look good and know it. Just the needful cloak.¡± Kaden was confident in his decisions. ¡°How do I offer you the voucher?¡±

    You have offered Jules and Julia 1x legendary voucher.

    Very handy.

    With a speed and precision that would make an [Assassin] jealous, Jules began measuring, making notes in a scroll. Kaden knew of general sizes. Jules spoke exact distances and left nothing to chance. If the left arm was two point five pico-blue-whales, the right arm was equally measured to see if if was only two point four pico-blue-whales.

    ¡°Eat more meat, less wheat,¡± Jules said as he checked Kaden¡¯s stomach and then his hips. ¡°Stop laughing! Hands out!¡±

    Fingers and thumbs, diameters and distances, all measured, and lastly, Kaden¡¯s feet. The whole time, Julia made sketches of his armor and the stones. ¡°Do you like the color?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Pure white is too bright. Brown is too boring.¡±

    Jules huffed. ¡°Give your Ashi my contact information. Men should not pick the color of their thumbs, let alone their clothes.¡±

    When all was done, Kaden squeezed back out to the front of the shop. Skully stood, arms crossed, in front of the doors, glaring at every person who passed by. Kaden summoned Trinity and headed through the city. ¡°Got something special for you, girl.¡±

    He¡¯d spotted this school on the way there, and walked under the arch to the open grills where students worked to learn new recipes.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± An older woman asked. ¡°Classes start on the hour. Are you here for [Grilling]?¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°Two. Can you give us grills close together? I can translate for her.¡±

    ¡°Her?¡±

    Two stacks of silver exchanged hands. ¡°My TriTerror has [Cooking] and unlocked [Recipes] by cooking for a dragon. I want to give her options.¡±

    Trunistan was accepting. They strongly believed anyone could become a great crafter. As Kaden watched the teacher look from him to Trinity over and over, he felt confident this was going to truly change the city¡¯s outlook.

 Twenty Seven - Parts to Play

    Kaden got back to the palace well after dark, with Trinity lumbering along behind him, barely able to walk with all the meat she¡¯d consumed. He passed the guards and gently opened the door to his room.

    To disappointment and worry.

    Trella wasn¡¯t there.

    Trinity waddled to the side of the bed and flopped over.

    Kaden went looking for trouble, staring with Sara, who answered the door in a nightgown. ¡°Have you seen Trella?¡±

    ¡°No. Come in.¡± Sara opened her door wider and let Kaden sit at the table. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe what all our Slaver is involved in. If it brings in gold, he¡¯s got contacts, or friends, or contracts. I thought S&K was diverse. We¡¯re opportunistic, this is insanity.¡±

    She had scroll upon scroll. ¡°He moves from business to business, no focus, no relationship that I can identify, but I have yet to cross check shipping records. Also, your wagon is essentially permitted to stay there for years. It won¡¯t be years, it¡¯s moving next week. I need to go eat, but there¡¯s more.¡±

    Kaden took grilled chicken from Inventory. ¡°I took a class and got [Grilling]. So did Trinity.¡±

    ¡°Of course she did.¡± Sara began to devour the meat while shuffling through papers. ¡°These are the oldest records. He started out as a Portal Stone crafter. These shipments are normal. Crystal in, finished stones out.¡±

    Kaden drew one from the pile. ¡°Squid. Live squid trading. There¡¯s a market for live squid?¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°That¡¯s from fifty years ago. I need to start at the beginnng and work my way forward.¡±

    A soft knock at the door sent Kaden running for it.

    Ashi and Eve waited outside with Vip prancing to see him.

    Eve looked from him to Sara and sighed. ¡°Of course you¡¯re together. Let us in, we have news. Where is Trella?¡±

    ¡°Still scouting,¡± Kaden said, trying to remain calm. ¡°Sara got business records. What did you find?¡±

    ¡°No magic. No sign of magic. If the [Slaver] acts, it is not a spell, but a skill.¡± Ashi looked to Eve.

    ¡°He¡¯s not respected. He¡¯s not feared, either. When you mention his name, it¡¯s like conversation pauses, then continues. They have neutral, careful comments about his business dealings. I don¡¯t like it.¡± Eve produced a treat and fed Vip. ¡°Everyone loves a dog. Everyone wants to to pet the cute, fluffy, small dog. We probably wouldn¡¯t have found half the things we did except they didn¡¯t want to stop petting Vip.¡±

    Sara focused on Eve. ¡°Go back, tell me the rest. Why don¡¯t you like neutral reactions?¡±

    ¡°Because no one feels that way forever. He¡¯s certain to have made a good decsion in his favor or a bad decision in theirs at some point. Think about how many people you¡¯ve offended making generally good decisions.¡± Eve paused. ¡°In nobility, reading people is a survival skill. I learned early on how to understand what wasn¡¯t being said. There¡¯s too much not being said.¡±

    Ashi cleared her throat. ¡°I do not know your rituals and customs, but I do know power. These people have been touched by power. Instinct says ¡®be silent, be careful, we may yet escape the [Itorlax]¡¯s jaws.¡¯¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Kaden handed out more grilled meat. ¡°Trinity learned [Grilling] tonight. The class came with some utensils she can¡¯t use without hands.¡± He gave Eve a set and left her to stare.

    Moonrise came and went.

    The sky turned from black to deepest blue, and oranges flared over the castle walls when the slightest whisper of a shadow came racing along the wall. Trella burst into existence, staggered three feet, and fell.

    Kaden rushed to grab her and hauled her into the room.

    The [Falcrow] followed his instructions, going straight through the walls, and moments later, Eve rushed in dressed in only a thin sleeping robe. ¡°Lay her out. She¡¯s got poison. So much poison. What did she get into? And she¡¯s got [Ink] from her own blades. And almost zero mana. And three different applications of [Lockdown]. I have no idea what that is.¡±

    Eve worked for thirty minutes while Ashi and Sara joined them. ¡°This is a third or fourth tier status effect. I¡¯m out of mana.¡±

    Kaden used [Mana Well]. ¡°You¡¯re not out.¡±

    Twenty minutes later, Eve sat back, sweating. ¡°I¡¯ve lifted two of them. It prevents healing and I¡¯m not sure what else. I¡¯ll get the last one, it¡¯s just hard. Ink only took three tries.¡±

    Sara produced a Mana Regen poition. ¡°Drink up and rest.¡±

    Trella opened one eye and whispered. ¡°I made it back. Yay.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk,¡± Eve said. ¡°Save your strength. Kaden, are we good for a few more rounds?¡±

    Kaden dumped all but a point to Eve. ¡°I¡¯ll regen fast.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Eve shouted as Trella rolled over and vomitted blood. ¡°There. There. [Lockdown] is reduced. Her health isn¡¯t dropping when she gains mana.¡±

    ¡°Found them.¡± Trella whispered, then took Kaden¡¯s hand. *Found eight of them. Got [Liberator¡¯s Vision], and I mapped his house.*

    Kaden squeezed her hand to stop her talking. Then realized she didn¡¯t need to talk at all. *How did you get [Ink]? Where was [Lockdown]?*

    *[Backstab] gives you [Lethal Strike] at level ten. And [Shadow Walk] becomes [Shadow Arc.] It lets¡­* Trella said. Her eyes closed and she lay over.

    Kaden began to gently unstrap her boots, dumping a silver dagger that wasn¡¯t one of hers from a boot. As he unstrapped her bracers, a silver needle dropped to the floor¡ªand another¡ªand another. ¡°Poison, I bet.¡±

    ¡°Needler traps are illegal,¡± Sara said. ¡°But what does a [Slaver] care?¡±

    Ashi triggered one of her mana stones and her skin turned deep green. ¡°I am not as efficient as Eve, but if I may help, I will.¡±

    As she worked, Trella¡¯s skin went from pale to a more healthy pink, and her labored breathing grew more even.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it from here.¡± Eve took over, using [Life Transfusion] until at last she stopped. ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to do. The mental exhaustion only has one cure. When she¡¯s ready, I want to know where this [Lockdown] came from.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kaden gave her a quick pat on the hand. ¡°Vip, you want to go with Eve?¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    *Fast.* Vip hopped down off the bed, then looked back to Kaden. *Love?*

    ¡°She¡¯ll be ok. She just needs a nap.¡± When they left, Kaden barred the bedroom door, then woke Trinity. ¡°Someone hurt Trella. We should be safe in this palace, but I won¡¯t risk her health on should. Can you guard the inside door?¡±

    Trinity gave a creaking, whistling cry that was one Kaden associated with rage. [Razor Scales] unlocked all over her body, and she paced to the door, settling each head down. She¡¯d positioned herself so if the door opened, she could strike from behind.

    Kaden turned down the lights and lay down beside Trella. Her skin was cold and clammy, and she shivered in the dark,then passed into a deeper sleep.

    ###

    He woke to find Trella bathing, studying green streaks in her skin. ¡°What are those?¡±

    ¡°The bastard has traps. Good traps. Great ones. The status effect makes you pay with constant health drain until you use a skill and prevents health regen, while making it hard to use skills.¡±

    She called for the others, wearing little more than wraps, and accepted a piece of grilled meat Trinity offered without qualms. ¡°I overestimated my skills. Normally, the Sisters would have sent me on training missions. So many training missions. Then real ones with an elder sister at my side. Our training is good. It¡¯s not good enough.¡±

    Eve reached for Trella¡¯s arm. ¡°Needle wounds with arsenic. Old fashioned poisons. How are you even alive?¡±

    ¡°Remember Kaden¡¯s snake farm? A few months ago I snuck over and got [Resist Poison] from it. It¡¯s now level four.¡± Trella didn¡¯t look at Kaden.

    ¡°You said you were never going to intentionally get bit¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know what I said.¡± Trella produced a scroll from Inventory. ¡°I mapped his house. My luck stat is working overtime. I can¡¯t rely on [Luck] for a year at least. Every room is a [FarPortal]. Mistress Scylla saw what she saw, but that means nothing.¡±

    Kaden adjusted the scroll. ¡°What building is this?¡±

    ¡°His house is enchanted. It¡¯s much, much larger on the inside and goes down five levels. I stole six vases and a [Healing Stone] and sold them at the closest shop to his house for six [Cure Status] potions.¡± Trella spoke the last with shame.

    ¡°Brilliant,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Now, his expectations will be met. A thief broke in. Many traps were encountered. Desperate, they sold their prize to save their life. It is a lie most solid.¡±

    ¡°Not a lie. Those potions removed sixteen stacks of [Lockdown].¡± Trella turned her arms over, pressing each point. ¡°The [Inkblades] are what saved me. [Lockdown] burns health every time you regen mana. [Ink] prevents mana regen.¡±

    There were still pieces she wasn¡¯t sharing, Kaden was certain. ¡°Tell me what happened. Your stealth is better than mine. How did they even know you were there?¡±

    ¡°I made a mistake. The traps have an alarm on them, and I was so panicked about dealing with [Lockdown] I made a second mistake. There are no third mistakes.¡± Trella drew a hand from Inventory. Just a hand. ¡°This is filled with those needles. I¡¯m going back to Shadowvale for help. Nieman will help me analyze this. She¡¯s seven levels higher in Alchemy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±

    ¡°I need you to do something for me. There¡¯s a beast with hallucinegenic poison. This son of a bitch has a standing quest for it, I think he¡¯s an addict.¡± Trella spoke with certainty. ¡°I got into his correspondence. He puts out weekly Quests for anyone who can bring the venom and hasn¡¯t had a dose in a decade. All of those were from the collection of other Poison Masters, but I want you to get the real thing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get you one. Or ten. What do I do with them when I have one? Also, what is it? Also, where is it?¡±

    Trella handed him a scroll.

    Unono. He hadn¡¯t heard of them before but Beast Knowledge tickled as he read the name. The whole gods-damned marsh was infested. If the Inverted Tower didn¡¯t give such fantastic loot, we would have quit. As it was, we fought through, avoiding them when possible.

    It was clue.

    A start. ¡°I¡¯ll get them. You want one? You want ten?¡±

    ¡°One and some slime. It¡¯s a slime, not a venom. Anything else is too suspicious. It would help if the one is beat up. Sell that you had to work for it. Sara, does S&K holdings deliver from the Xiao Empire?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°We don¡¯t have a license. It¡¯s not a matter of travel, it¡¯s that you can¡¯t enter their waters without a letter.¡±

    ¡°Assuming you had one?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Could you conceivably buy a Phoenix Feast?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but I wouldn¡¯t be able to get it back here. Ships are great for moving large amounts of cargo slowly. There¡¯s a global FarPortal network in Shan-Fa for shipping, but usage is restricted. I just arranged transfer for Kaden¡¯s bee colony. I can¡¯t possibly get another slot.¡±

    ¡°Those bees are going to need to sit. Or roll. Or however giant honeybees normally move from one continent to another.¡± Trella wasn¡¯t asking. ¡°I have a good feel for this man. He¡¯s a glutton. He gets everything he wants and he wants everything. I sent a bird to Mistress Scylla this morning, and I have a plan for how to lure him out and lock him out.¡±

    ¡°So, Ashi and I?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°You go with Kaden. All I know about [Unonos] is that their venom is so powerful it leaves anyone less than a Centurion unconscious for an hour. Mistress Scylla intends to throw a celebration. A private thanks for only her business associates. We¡¯re going to make that feast so attractive Ducat forces his way into attending. [Unono] elixir. Phoneix Feast. The things Ducat desires most.¡± Now Trella smiled. ¡°While he discovers his mistake, I have a task. We. We have a task.¡±

    Kaden knew what that was. ¡°His house.¡±

    ¡°The other eight slaves must be freed before he dies or they die, permanently. I have to find the other four. The moment Mistress Scylla signals, I¡¯ll break their bonds. You need to hit his house at the same time. I marked the ones I found using the same kind of wand you used on the demons.¡± Trella produced stones from Inventory and handed them out.

    You have received 1x Shared Marking Stone. Targets will be highlighted.

    Kaden stored them away.

    ¡°There¡¯s something else I have to say. These aren¡¯t monsters you¡¯ll be dealing with. They¡¯re people. Adventurers serving one of the most vile Classes in existence. They will kill you. They will burn your corpse. He has an incinerator, I¡¯ve been inside it.¡± Trella paused. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take part in this. It¡¯s my duty, not yours.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯ll volunteer to take the front gate. Whether I win or lose, I can draw every guard in the house out front. The moment they see Skully tearing down the gate, they¡¯ll respond.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Sara jumped in before Trella could. ¡°We¡¯re guests here. He¡¯s a citizen. If you start this outside, the city guard will be involved in minutes. No, we want to close off the ¡®house¡¯ so anyone outside can¡¯t get in.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. This is going to make us probably banned from Trunistan. Get your equipment now. I¡¯m going to.¡± Trella dressed quickly. ¡°Eve, is there any way you could get me into a city council meeting?¡±

    ¡°Not for another two days,¡± Eve said. ¡°As a minor councilwoman, I can always say I¡¯m trying to learn how to better serve. That and five hundred silver for tea will get me a seat in the gallery. If you want time with different councilors, I¡¯m going to need a reason.¡±

    ¡°The real reason is I have to find the other four slaves. I want to find the other four. Mistress Scylla says it¡¯s not the King or his Craft Advisors. I don¡¯t know how we find the others in a city this size.¡± The frustration in Trella¡¯s voice was clear.

    ¡°If I were a slaver, I¡¯d enslave a king,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°And you¡¯d be discovered shortly thereafter,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Kings and Queens, all rulers, anyone who needs to make a lot of quick decisions in changing situations aren¡¯t suitable. It¡¯s not that Slavers don¡¯t occasionally try, it¡¯s just that there¡¯s no command they can give that covers what¡¯s needed. And there¡¯s nothing they fear more than being discovered.¡±

    ¡°I doubt that.¡± Eve wasn¡¯t being cruel, but her tone said she was confident. ¡°They have all this power, you say. No one can resist them, you say. And they fear being discovered?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Because if they¡¯re discovered, one of us will find them. I¡¯m going to take a different approach. Sara, can you tell me who Ducat deals with most? Anyone associated who doesn¡¯t live in his house?¡± Trella was being awfully diplomatic.

    ¡°Perhaps, but I need to leave now. Our cargo ship is in the islands now, but getting it headed for the Xiao empire is going to require me going personally. You can get us a permit?¡±

    ¡°Not me, but Mistress Scylla will have it done.¡±

    ¡°Mom has all the connections. I don¡¯t have time to shop. Eve, I¡¯m entrusting you with my vouchers.¡± Sara gave Trella a hug, followed it with one for Kaden, and offered Ashi a pat on the shoulder. ¡°If everything explodes before I get back, just make sure he dies. Kaden, could I borrow Skully? I¡¯d like a bruiser at my back.¡±

    Kaden handed over the mental leash Sara would need. ¡°He¡¯s very literal. And he really needs an empty skull or two.¡±

    ¡°The Guildmaster will know where the ¡®Inverted Tower¡¯ dungeon is. That¡¯s where we¡¯ll find a [Unono].¡± Kaden sent the Falcrow to the Guildmaster. ¡°We¡¯ll leave as soon as I know.¡±

    Ashi spoke up. ¡°There may be a way to get you to see the King without waiting. I must ask permission, even as a Daughter I would not presume. But I can approach the King as an envoy of Vichor. We buy much that is not made in Vichor. Perhaps Najur would buy from Trunistan.¡±

    ¡°Please.¡± Trella took Kaden¡¯s hand. ¡°This will be worth it. The death of a [Slaver]. The freedom of twelve people.¡±

    A messenger bird landed on Kaden. ¡°That Dungeon shut down five centuries ago. I¡¯m sending coordinates to the nearest FarPortal but it¡¯s a long way through a swamp that makes Foulwater Swamp look friendly. Go prepared.¡± The Guildmaster¡¯s tone said there was prepared and there was prepared for what he¡¯d be facing. ¡°Eve?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± She said.

    ¡°Not yet.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t Sara, but he had learned from her. They weren¡¯t ready yet, but they would be.

 Twenty Eight - Putting the Ewws in Ooze

    Kaden slogged through chest-deep mud, headed toward the coordinates the Guildmaster sent. Behind him, Eve huddled on a raft, less a sign of her being afraid of mud and more that she would need to stand on tip-toes to keep her head above water in places. Kaden pulled a rope to keep her moving. ¡°Night¡¯s a few hours off. If we spot any place better, we should camp. There¡¯s no telling what will spawn.¡±

    Eve¡¯s long blond hair was braided and pinned to her head, and she wore glass spectacles that would let her sense heat. ¡°It¡¯s all the same color, for now, we¡¯re safe.¡±

    Stabbing pain in Kaden¡¯s leg told him he¡¯d been attacked again. He ripped the [Sludge Poisoner] off his thigh, broke the spine, and [Reaped] the meat in one blow. The one he¡¯d [Soul Bound] earlier offered him complete poison immunity.

    ¡°There¡¯s a structure,¡± Eve said. ¡°It¡¯s small but I can see it through the trees, probably five hundred yards away.¡±

    That gave Kaden motivation to keep moving. It had been sixteen hours in muddy water, sixteen hours of swimming when he couldn¡¯t ford. ¡°Keep an eye on it, it¡¯s probably where we¡¯re heading.¡±

    After another hour, Kaden was growing tired. ¡°Any closer?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s larger than I thought. And further away.¡±

    Night, and the Time of Monsters came with a howl that echoed through the dark. All around Kaden, bubbles rose to the surface and popped, and in the distance, wings began to hum.

    ¡°Probably [Giant Mosquitoes],¡± Eve said. ¡°Watch for [Bog Toads] as well. They¡¯re cold blooded and won¡¯t show up like the mosquitoes will. The structure is a hundred yards off.¡±

    Eve¡¯s hundred yards off was about as accurate as most men¡¯s six inches, as Kaden saw the looming shadows in the darkness. He pulled the raft faster as his feet brushed solid muck, and then, inch by inch, rose up from the water. Leeches did their best to bite and then fell off.

    He pulled Eve ashore and helped her stand. ¡°71, I could use wisp light.¡±

    The wisp bobbed into existence.

    The Inverted Tower had been the dungeon¡¯s name, and now Kaden knew why. The structure sticking up was the top floor of a tower with a broken banner pole atop. Kaden stepped over the railing and located the door.

    Node is suspended. Resume? [Y/N]

    Kaden chose no, opening it wider. ¡°The Dungeon is suspended, it says. I have no idea what that means.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to suppose it¡¯s safer inside than out.¡± Eve joined him inside. ¡°The stairwell goes down, and there¡¯s writing here, but I can¡¯t make it out.¡±

    Kaden wanted to start a fire, but the slightest movement had him throwing himself against the dungeon door to slam it shut, as a deep growl sounded from outside and echoed ten times. A hundred times. A thousand. ¡°[Demodiles], that¡¯s all.¡±

    Eve triggered a heat stone, using it for light. ¡°It¡¯s a map of the dungeon. The dungeon provides a map with notes on each boss. How quaint.¡±

    Kaden wanted to check on the core, but priorities were priorities. ¡°Are there any [Unonos?]¡±

    ¡°Sixth floor,¡± Eve said. ¡°There¡¯s a note here. Floor three is flooded. ¡®We flooded floor three. Take that, you maurading bastards.¡¯¡±

    DISTRESS CALL ON HOLD FOR 536 YEARS, 8 MONTHS, 10 DAYS, TWO HOURS AND ONE MINUTE ROUTED TO NEAREST DUNGEONMASTER.

    New Quest: Rescue the Tower from the Princess! Node 75520145x10x24<sup>th </sup>is in danger! Resume the node and destroy the intruders. Reward: Entity Seed Set (Matched).

    Now was not the time for dungeon distractions. Kaden repeated the Quest to Eve. ¡°We need to go to floor six to get an [Unono]. How many levels does it say?¡±

    ¡°Seven,¡± Eve said. ¡°How am I supposed to survive the flooded level? Not all of us have been suffocated by Centurion [Shadow Blades].¡±

    ¡°I came prepared. I have to resume the node. That means whatever monsters this thing has will be unleashed. Stay near me, if it¡¯s too high, I¡¯ll drag us both out.¡± Kaden waited as Eve joined him.

    Resume Node? [Y/N].

    Kaden chose yes. The air cracked like static electricity. Five moons appeared on the door in a circle. ¡°Fifth rank. Stay with me. I wasn¡¯t given the option to choose combatant or non combatant.¡±

    Lights lit up on the first floor, and moss withered and died. A crackling voice rang out. ¡°Welcome, Adventurer. Know the peril on which you stand. A wizard builds his tower high, but mine grows deep, and if¡ªif¡ªif¡ª[Mauraders]. [Mauraders] everywhere. Too strong.¡±

    The last words weren¡¯t human. They were the right sounds but not a voice. Kaden had heard Dungeon cores speak through mobs, and these concepts were basic ones, the sort of instincts he expected. Dungeons were a great deal like beasts. Their desires and thoughts were simple.

    Eve¡¯s normally pale face had gone white. ¡°Was that..the core?¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°Think of it like Vip. It has a home. It wants that home free of these [Mauraders]. And on the way, we¡¯ll get a [Unono].¡±

    ¡°Anything attacks us, I¡¯m going full Kaden,¡± Eve said.

    Kaden led the way down the stairwell. The second floor was carnage. The mobs were probably [Mushroomians] but they were all dead, torn to shreds and sprinkled through the tower floor. This room was markedly larger than the one above it, but still, these would have been minion battles, probalby three spawns and a spore trap.

    Kaden picked up a heavy spear with an obsidian head and a torn leather breastplate. ¡°Mauraders are melee with some range.¡± He summoned Trinity, letting her follow him to the second floor. Or was this the fifth floor? Did numbers count up or down? The answer would come soon, if the next floor was flooded.

    This floor was mechanical traps. Swinging logs, rolling logs, logs with spikes logs that exploded. The machinery still rotated but a multitude of corpses filled the floor, clogging machinery. Kaden pulled one into Inventory and then dumped it on the ground.

    They were humanoid, but with features like dogs with overgrown canines and flat noses and all different colors of fur and skin. Their armor was leather, their weapons obsidian, and [Reap Materials] offered nothing from the corpses.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of these,¡± Eve said. ¡°They¡¯re strong. So strong, and they disregard pain during battle. They have a pack buff, but more importantly, a skill called [Share Wounds]. Mother¡ªMother said once killing one of them required killing the whole pack.¡±

    That was bad. ¡°These are level twenty five. That skill is going to make them stronger than us.¡±

    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°I can help. [Plague] reduces everything. Movement speed, agaility, mana and health regen. It¡¯s regarded as weak but only by those who don¡¯t appreciate what it can do.¡± Eve kept close, holding on to Kaden as he blocked several spear traps.

    ¡°Those shouldn¡¯t have triggered. Ok, that means Dungeon mobs are hostile.¡± Kaden reached the far side and got his answer. ¡°This is the flooded floor. I had to do an underwater dungeon once without any equipment, so when I picked up stuff, I got this.¡±

    He handed her a mask with six wide, flat flaps. ¡°I¡¯ll warn you ahead of time, it reeks like dead fish. You can work out why that is on your own. Hold on to my back, I¡¯ll walk us through the underwater portion.¡±

    Eve wasn¡¯t much of one for physical affection, but she grasp his neck like she was trying to strangle him and gasp in short, choking breaths as Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul and descended. Bubbles rose near his shoulder as the [Match Lizard boiled water.] Kaden hesistated, then pulled the lizard into his soul. It didn¡¯t even register.

    The flooded level was flooded by a cluster of waterstones. Kaden could turn them off, but the water was keeping whatever waited below, below. The eerie green underwater light highlighted the dozens of dead [Mauraders] Kaden collected.

    A shimmering mana barrier kept the water from descending, but as Kaden started toward it, Eve pulled on his arm, pointing.

    He strode in slow steps across the tower floor. A woman floated, her hands still gripping a bracelet. Kaden tried to take her into Inventory.

    The corpse didn¡¯t budge. He quickly dragged her and Eve back up the stairs and out of the water. ¡°She¡¯s alive. At least, technically.¡±

    ¡°Carwon Balis, level twenty [Chain Beserker], she¡¯s using [Endless Chain].¡± Eve checked the woman¡¯s pulse. ¡°Her clothes are rotting threads. How long was she under there?¡±

    *Hello.* Kaden made every effort not to shout with [Mind Speech].

    Carwon gasped and wretched, rolling over, and speaking. It took a moment for [Multispeak] to kick in. ¡°Death to the Marauders.¡±

    ¡°I can get behind that, ¡° Kaden said. ¡°This is Eve Black. You¡¯ve been underwater a really, really long time. It¡¯s night. There¡¯s [Demodiles] outside. The dungeon¡¯s been paused forever, and I¡¯m sorry to say this, but I have to keep going down. There are [Mauraders] below.¡±

    ¡°Like I didn¡¯t know,¡± Carwon said. ¡°Thank the gods, a [Beast Master]. We sent for help. I didn¡¯t expect one of you. [Vokraken] or [Drake?]¡±

    Awkward. Kaden thought of half a dozen different lies. ¡°There are no other [Beast Masters]. I have a [Drake] I tamed but it¡¯s not here. With me, I have a [TriTerror], a [Rock Gobbler], a [Lightning Chevalier] and the world¡¯s most pissed off [Match Lizard].¡±

    The woman couldn¡¯t look at him. ¡°And a [Transfusionist.] How¡¯s life, Princess?¡±

    ¡°You know nothing about me,¡± Eve said with a chill colder than the water.

    ¡°[Transfusionist.] Always royalty. Ever seen one who wasn¡¯t? No, you haven¡¯t.¡± She stood and stretched, ripping the rotted robes she wore. ¡°How long¡ª never mind. I don¡¯t want to know. Where¡¯s everyone else?¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about being outnumbered.¡±

    ¡°They were supposed to pull me out after the [Mauraders] were drowned,¡± Carwon said. ¡°So, let¡¯s be honest about things. There¡¯s thirteen [Mauraders] in the lower levels. Hassan blocked the core room. We flooded the puzzle room.¡±

    ¡°Ok. Stay here, you too, Eve. I¡¯m going downstairs and killing them. If I have to, I¡¯ll drag them back to the water room one at a time¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to halt the water stones, then break the seal, and be ready. The moment you do, they¡¯re going to come running. [Share Wounds] makes them unbelievably tough.¡±

    ¡°Well, we have to go to level six. We need an [Unono] to lure in a [Slaver] so we can kill the bastard. Kaden?¡± Eve held up her mask.

    He headed back down, this time, turning off the water stones and keeping a grip on one. The water began to lower immediately, and in less than thirty minutes, Kadens tood in two feet of water. ¡°If they come charging up, let them come. I still have [Glacial Blast].¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡± Eve truly was excited.

    Kaden broke the mana barrier and let the water gush down the stairs. The stench that rose up was truly awful. The howls were even worse. Five [mauraders] scrambled up the stairs, fighting water.

    Straight into [Glacial Blast].

    [Maurader - Beast Man]

    Mauraders come from the Veron wasteland, where eating their own and anything that moves is not only acceptable, it¡¯s the way. Forming packs that grow stronger as they share each other¡¯s harm, they overrun any Adventurers who underestimate their power.

    Level: 25

    HP: 3,000

    Mana: 600

    Skills: Bite, Claw, Blunt Weapons, War Club, Share Wounds

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and brought Remembrance down on the head the first [Maurader]. The blade bit deep¡ªand stopped.

    [Share Wounds] distributes 800 points of damage.

    No worries. Thirteen of them meant thirty nine thousand hit points. Kaden drew [Thorn Caster] and fired six arrows, stacking poison. The first [Maurader] stumbled forward¡ªinto Trinity¡¯s blind head, which bit down and crunched, then worked back and forth, chewing with her hind molars.

    She¡¯d never met anything meaty enough to grind.

    [Beast Soul] said she was ecstatic, letting her serpent head poison and her blind head chomp repeatedly at fingers.

    Kaden had moved on, leveling a strike with Remembrance at the next one¡¯s neck.

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a crippling injury.

    [Share Wounds] distributes 500 points of damage and paralysis.

    Plauge infection struck all five, as Kaden unleashed the water stone¡ªand [Glacial Blast] against the ones trapped in the stairwell. ¡°Keep them trapped. The pack is vulnerable.¡±

    ¡°How the hell do you see that as vulnerable?¡± Carwon shouted from the stairs.

    ¡°They share their HP,¡± Kaden said, delivering a neck-strike¡ªand another¡ªand another. ¡°Which means the pack is getting weaker while these are encased in ice.¡±

    A scream of raw, unadulterated rage ripped from Carwon¡¯s throat, and the woman leaped down to swing a chain with hooks on every edge, wraping it around one of the [Maurader]¡¯s necks and sawing. ¡°Bleed! Bleed! Bleed!¡±

    Every move came faster, and the blade cut deeper. Beneath them, howls of fury said the pack had worked out their mistake. Kaden wasn¡¯t counting damage, but Trinity had pinned hers and ripped and tore with her hind legs, stabbing and biting.

    The wounds built up.

    Without warning, Trinity crunched, and her [Maurader] died. Kaden¡¯s simply slumped over, while the one Carwon sawed lost his head.

    ¡°They cut the pack bond,¡± Carwon said. ¡°I was doing almost eight hundred damage per pass. Either we run, or we attack, we can¡¯t let them heal.¡±

    Kaden slammed Remembrance down, smashing the ice and stealing the corpses in the same blow. He had Thorn Caster drawn and two arrows in the first [Marauder] before it slipped the first time. Trinity tackled that one, screaming in rage as it clawed her. Kaden speared the one that peeked out. ¡°Poison¡¯s flowing.¡±

    Something was wrong. The [Mauraders] had stopped attacking, and the one alone died as Trinity ripped, bit and speared.

    Nine left.

    Kaden held up a hand and activated [Stealth Aura], then leaped down, grasping the stone wall so his feet never touched the ground. The next floor had been an armory, probably a reward for facing the previous ones. Eight heavily armored [Mauraders] huddled together around one who made Kaden feel small. He used [Stealth]to slip around the room and activated the water stone before climbing onto a weapons rack. The stone gushed water that trickled out wider and wider. It crept across the floor.

    The first [Maurauder] noticed the water and sniffed.

    A roar from above told Kaden everything was going sideways, as the staircase shook, and Trinity descended, dragging a dead [Maurader].

    [Glacial Blast] only caught five of them, freezing them to the floor. Kaden used Thorn Caster to shoot every last one of them, then put a fifty point arrow through the big [Maurader], who spun to face him. ¡°Surprise!¡± Kaden shouted.

    The hiss was Trinity activating [Razor Scales], each of which dripped with poison. She charged the fourclosest, using her bulk to slam into them.

    [Split Second] let Kaden dodge a spear to the head and slam Remembrance down at the neck of one of the [Mauraders] even as Carwon¡¯s chain rattled and she struck, wrapping a chain around one of the dog-men¡¯s feet. In the same motion, she summoned a spiked weight on the end of another chain and swung it overhead.

    ¡°[Plague] everyone!¡± Eve shouted, then activated [Life Explosion] over and over on the biggest [Maurader].

    It stumbled forward, then pivoted to crouch.

    Kaden poured two hundred points into [Moment of Speed] and tackled him, driving the legs out from under the [Maurader] as he tried to lunge at Eve. The result sent both of them crashing into the staircase just below Eve.

    The one he wrestled with fought to strangle Kaden, who could [Resist Suffocation] with the best. A simple summons. An angry [Match Lizard]. A burst of flame, and a roar of pain made Kaden smile as he cut with the Levicon blade.

    ¡°Whatever you did, keep doing it!¡± Eve shouted. ¡°They¡¯re all bleeding. Oh, they¡¯re all bleeding! I need mana!¡±

    Kaden activated [Mana Drain] and powered Eve as she used [Life Explosion] to bleed the pack. ¡°Keep going.¡±Kaden ignored the blows that rained down on him as he switched targets, draining and powering.

    An iron ball exploded through the head of one of the pack, and Kaden learned exactly what a [Chain Beserker] was. Now she wrapped her fists in her chains and used them to punch.

    Every blow appeared on all of them.

    Kaden only had to hold on as Carwon tore her way through the pack, ending it by smashing the big one repeatedly. She crouched over the corpse and then turned to look at Kaden, snarling as she prepared to attack.

 Twenty Nine - Princess Power

    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Kaden said. ¡°I can put you on the floor with [Mana Drain] and I will. You¡¯re way out of your league.¡±

    Whether it was his speech or just not attacking, slowly, the rage in her eyes retreated. Carwon blinked and looked around, then down at her own bloody hands. ¡°Was this me or you?¡±

    ¡°A little of both,¡± Eve said. ¡°I¡¯m low on mana. Do you need healing?¡±

    Kaden shook his head and pulled a healing potion to sip, then offered it to Carwon. ¡°How many more below?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Their commander was alive and may still be, and if we¡¯re really unlucky, the woman who runs the packs is here. Your [Unono] will be right before the bottom level. Good luck touching it. The whole level is designed around not touching it. The ooze will knock you out.¡± Carwon peeked down the stairs. ¡°I¡¯ll let you lead.¡±

    Kaden headed down quickly, Rembrance ready. No one waited below, but dead fungaloids littered the ground. ¡°Spores. This was a debuff level. And they weren¡¯t killed by [Mauraders].¡±

    Eve studdied the burns. ¡°These are spells. We¡¯ve got a [Mage]. Or had one.¡±

    The next level was traps. Active traps, mostly spear traps. Kaden took every spear, then trotted back through. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. I don¡¯t think anyone could have gone through here.¡±

    Carwon looked at every trap. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of mages who can Portal from one side to the other.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not how that spell works,¡± Eve said. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a Class ability.¡±

    Every level grew larger. This one was barrels, floating barrels in black liquid. Moving among them was what looked like an eel, coverend in glowing purple slime. It bumped barrels as it passed, making them sink or roll.

    ¡°We¡¯re not doing this,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Eve, when I tell you, hold onto me as I reach. I¡¯m going to pass out, when I do, treat it like a Status condition.¡±

    He dipped his hand into the water.

    The reaction was immediate.

    The eel-creature swam his way, rattling floating barrels and making them roll and slosh. Kaden focused on [Soul Binding], reaching, touching¡ª

    You have

    A wave of pleasure swept over him. The world bled colors and sounds and it was like receiving a foot massage in a bath that went on an eternity, and every moment, it got better. Kaden could¡ª

    Bound a beast (Unono)

    Kaden opened his eyes to look up at Eve. He lay on the edge near a barrel. The [Unono] swam in lazy circles nearby. ¡°It¡¯s a dungeon beast. We can¡¯t remove it.¡±

    ¡°Then we harvest as much slime as it can give,¡± Eve said.

    Kaden drew a jar from Inventory, and a wooden cooking spoon. What followed was a careful dance of positioning and scraping along the eel¡¯s body, then putting the slime in the jar.

    ¡°I¡¯ll carry it. You¡¯ve already got a dozen [Marauders].¡± Eve tucked the jar and spoon away.

    His high agility made hopping accross on the barrels an easier taks. That and the Unono being friendly and not jarring barrels or attacking. In less than five minutes he¡¯d crossed the floating barrel filed and demanded a Portal into existence. ¡°Step right up, this is the easy way. And that¡¯s how Portal actually works.¡±

    Carwon stared as she stepped through.

    Eve accepted his offered hand. ¡°Well done. The boss floor should be just below us.¡±

    Kaden led the way down. The boss room was three times the size of the one above it, a round track encircled the room, and a mechanical monster was meant to roll around the outside, firing spears and arrows as Adventurers worked through a maze of thorns, razor wire, flooded pits with floating barrels, and worse.

    Except that the boss lay smashed, tipped over into the maze.

    Small fungaloids ran in circles around it as Kaden walked the wide track. ¡°Stay back, I¡¯ll deal with the shrooms.¡±

    As he approached, one turned and began to bob and wiggle back and forth.

    *We¡¯re sorry, Dungeon Master, but the Princess is in the other tower.*

    Kaden blinked and studied the two-foot tall fungaloid with its jaunty red cap. ¡°What ¡®other tower¡¯?¡±

    It pointed with stubby arms. The stairwell continued downward.

    ¡°It¡¯s an inverted tower,¡± Eve said. ¡°We climbed down one, now we¡¯ll climb ¡®up¡¯ another, all the while going deeper. Will the rooms get larger?¡±

    ¡°We never made it past here,¡± Carwon said.

    Kaden didn¡¯t wait. He headed around the room edge and down. ¡°It¡¯s smaller.¡±

    ¡°Coming!¡± Eve ran to join him with Carwon on her heels. ¡°How many [Mauraders] were in here?¡±

    ¡°Twenty. I saw five die, the scout pack. We killed thirteen. The problem is, I haven¡¯t seen their commander.¡± Carwon paused as they cleared the stairwell. Another trap room. This was barrels stacked above checkered squares.

    Kaden tapped a square with a spear, and watched the barrel dump black ichor. ¡°It¡¯s just poison. Stay there.¡±

    He walked straight across, ignoring the deluge, and opened another Portal. ¡°Not even good poison.¡±

    Carwon stared.

    ¡°It¡¯s really not worth asking,¡± Eve said.

    The floor below was a liutenant room, with two mechanical snakes torn to fragments by an explosion that had left bits of them embedded in the stone. And the floor beneath that presented a real problem.

    The stairs were gone. The floor was gone.

    Fragments of stone had fallen to the level below, and caved in a portion of that room as well.

    Eve pointed down. ¡°If you¡¯re moving fast enough, I think you can make it to that ledge. From there, it¡¯s only twenty feet to the rubble below. We can follow via portal.¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Carwon summoned her ball and chain and flung it downward to strike the rubble mound. ¡°Slide.¡±

    Kaden leaped off and slid down the chain, landing near the ball. ¡°Eve, I¡¯ll catch you.¡±

    She didn¡¯t jump as much as fall backwards, trusting him to cushion her fall.

    Carwon leaped and triggered a skill that pulled her to the metal ball. She skidded down the rubble mound and dismissed her chain. ¡°The ¡®top¡¯ should be below here. If there¡¯s a commander, we¡¯re going to be in close quarters.¡±

    Kaden was ready.

    He located what remained of the staircase. ¡°I have [Stealth Aura]. You two stay close.¡±

    The two spread out to stand just behind Kaden on either side as he activated the skill and crept down the stairs.

    A Dungeon Core floated on a pedastal, dark murky brown, while a woman in a bright pink dress pointed an umbrella at it. ¡°I said, give me a [Wishstone]. I won¡¯t say it again.¡±

    Kaden tried to activate [Identify]

    [Princess Pear - Warrior Princess]

    The Fungaloid kingdom is ruled over by their princess, who is technically a Queen, but who¡¯s going to tell her otherwise? Drawing her attention is the origin of the phrase ¡®going Pear shaped¡¯ as once she arrives, destruction follows. Her kingdom isn¡¯t a sewer, but she¡¯s currently realizing it may not be in the best shape.

    Level: 35

    HP: 9,000

    Mana: 18,000

    Skills:???

    Talents: ???

    Titles: First and Last of Her Name, Pretty in Pink

    First off, this was ridiculous. She had stats that rivaled most bosses and was only a handful of levels higher. Nine thousand HP was too much to slash and bash. Kaden would need to be careful and smart¡ªCarwon screamed as she charged, throwing razor chains.

    ¡°I think not!¡± The princess¡¯s voice came out soft and cheery.

    Carwon stumbled over her own feet and lay limp.

    You have come under Authority.

    Kaden shook it off. He knew Dominion and Authority. ¡°Leave the core alone.¡±

    ¡°Such a big, strong, handsome man!¡± Pear said, beckoning. ¡°Come save me from the monsters.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s vision swam, and he shook as he wrested control back. ¡°Leave the core and I¡¯ll let you go.¡±

    ¡°That would make me very sad,¡± She sang out. ¡°You dont want me to be sad. Come, carry me out of this terrible tower. I don¡¯t want to get muddy.¡±

    You have come under [Princess Power].

    It wasn¡¯t a fight. The words just made sense. He didn¡¯t want her to get muddy. He didn¡¯t want to fight. He definitely didn¡¯t want to split Eve¡¯s head open with Remembrance and then cut her throat with the Levicon blade while Trinity devoured her face, or set her on fire with a match lizard, or let Rocky bash her to death as long as Rocky didn¡¯t have to move or swing.

    ¡°I said, pick me up.¡± Pear¡¯s statement contained a thousand times the power. Kaden ran to her and lifted her up, cradling her so she didn¡¯t get blood on her if he accidentally choked Eve to death, bashing her head into the wall.

    ¡°Kaden, put her down.¡± Eve spoke clearly, calmly.

    Maybe that was the problem, he was supposed to pull Eve¡¯s tongue out. But that, too, would get blood on Princess Pear. Something was wrong here and it was either Kaden or Pear or Eve and he couldn¡¯t think clearly.

    ¡°You, cut your own throat,¡± Peach said.

    Eve drew the short dagger she carried, staggering forward. ¡°No! I can¡¯t¡ªI can¡¯t¡ªHelp me¡ªplease, you disgust me.¡± She slapped Pear with a wooden spoon covered in Unono ooze.

    Princess Pear collapsed, a delerious smile on her fae.

    Kaden mentally gasped, shaking his head clear. ¡°What the hell was that?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s royalty. Don¡¯t you think at least once in history a knight has arrived at a tower, exchanged five words with a Princess and said ¡®It¡¯s not worth it. I¡¯m going home?¡¯ That skill is meant to prevent her being abandoned.¡± Eve spoke with clear disgust.

    ¡°She used it to build an empire of [Marauders],¡± Carwon said. ¡°And as soon as she wakes up, she¡¯s going to kill you, Eve. You¡¯re a rival, she¡¯s a Queen. She¡¯s got to understand that losing to you means the System give you her Kingdom. Princess.¡±

    Eve faced Carwon, hands on her hip. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what that means. First born or the fifty eighth, it¡¯s just a title. I don¡¯t want her kingdom, even assuming it still exists.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not going to matter. You haven¡¯t heard the bards sing about her. She leaves only corpses and ashes and desolation in her wake. They¡¯re depressing songs, really. I¡¯m not sure why anyone asks for them, but she will come for you when you least anticipate it and finish¡ª¡±

    Kaden cut Pear¡¯s throat with the Levicon blade and kept sawing until he got the notification.

    You have killed the Queen Deidra Pear.

    You have gained experience.

    You gained a level.

    You have gained an epic title: Queenslayer

    [Queenslayer]

    You faced the might of second tier royalty and survived their powers, at least somewhat. You are no longer affected by [Authority]. Put them all in their places, even if that place is a grave.

    Kaden stored the corpse and tossed the head into a barrel, the looked to the core. ¡°Any chance I can get a Portal out of here for me and my friends?¡±

    You have completed a Quest: Rescue the Tower from the Princess!

    [Quest Master] is active.

    You have received: Entity Seed Set (Matched).

    Kaden checked his inventory. One was for a [Bogwalker], the stump-like creatures he¡¯d practiced [Battle Axe] on. The other was a [Bog Spider Nest], and a plant-like crocodile whose tail was a nest of roots that anchored it. Very nice. Rare entity seeds that would form a thematically complete section.

    A sparkling blue portal opened, and a loot orb appeared at one side of it. Kaden accepted the loot orb. ¡°[Hangman¡¯s Noose]. Some kind of weapon. Who wants to leave?¡±

    Eve and Carwon hadn¡¯t stopped staring, both of them looking at him in shock.

    ¡°You killed her.¡± Carwon whispered. ¡°You just¡­killed her. You didn¡¯t even ask if it was the only way. You didn¡¯t wrestle with the moral dilema or debate or agonize. You just killed her. You have to agonize over it!¡±

    ¡°She tried to mind control me. Successfully. She would have killed Eve,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit what Eve¡¯s family is. Whether the threat is some [Maurader] or a woman in pink, Eve¡¯s still part of the Party. And if you think I¡¯m going to leave someone to come back for her when we¡¯re not looking, you don¡¯t know us. Eve?¡±

    She looked unsteady as she joined him. ¡°I want to go back to Trunistan. Can we do that?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Kaden waited for Carwon. ¡°You still have the FarPortal coordinates?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s in the village outside,¡± she answered.

    Eve stopped just before the portal. ¡°The only thing outside this tower is a swamp that goes on for twenty hours.¡±

    Carwon gave Kaden a wide bearth as she stepped through the Portal with Eve behind her.

    Kaden looked to the core. ¡°You¡¯re a fungus core. Can you deal with the head for me so we don¡¯t risk a resurrection?¡±

    The Core glowed brightly and the barrel he¡¯d tossed her into bubbled and fizzed¡ªthen split, spilling mounds of bugs.

    Only a gleaming skull remained.

    Kaden put it in Inventory. Skully had been a good monster. It was time to go back to Trella. Dawn was close at hand, but Kaden was amazed at the transformation as he exited the Inverted Tower. The lifeless bog had changed to a deep green swamp that stretched far away.

    ¡°We can share the raft,¡± Eve said. ¡°Kaden, do you mind?¡±

    Kaden waded into the swamp water and took the chains. ¡°All aboard. Or stay here, you don¡¯t have to come. I¡¯m about to send word to the Guildmaster. What rank and level was that dungeon?¡±

    ¡°Rank four,¡± She said, still stairing. ¡°Are we not going to talk about how you cut a woman¡¯s head off? The Adventurer¡¯s Code says we can kill all the monsters we want, but people are off limits unless it¡¯s really justified and we feel bad about it. There¡¯s still time to show remorse. There¡¯s time to flog yourself over the price of human life. Don¡¯t you care about the Adventurer¡¯s Code?¡±

    ¡°Not a bit.¡± Kaden dispatched the [Falcrow]. ¡°Last chance. There¡¯ll be someone here to run the dungeon soon. The door doesn¡¯t lock, so you can hide in the dungeon at night.¡±

    Carwon crouched down behind Eve, grasping the edge of the raft as she stared at Kaden.

    Kaden pulled.

    ###

    At that the FarPortal, Eve gave Carwon a gold piece and contact information. ¡°Cutter Karn runs a fierce party, and even better, she has contacts all over. She¡¯ll find you a Party.¡±

    Carwon took the coin and backed away into the FarPortal.

    ¡°I¡¯m shocked you didn¡¯t invite her back to the Holding,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°Remember how I picked up skills to read body language? She¡¯s terrified of me. Like, I seriously expected her to jump off the raft and run straight into the portal.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t joke. ¡°I have no regrets. Trying to save everyone just risks the people who matter to me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Eve spoke softly. ¡°That means a lot. What will you tell the others?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°She hit me with a compulsion. You hit her with a spoon. You can relax, we don¡¯t care.¡±

    ¡°I care.¡± Eve activated the FarPortal and together they stepped through, coming out in the middle of a courtyard of FarPortals. Eve listened as a Messenger Bird landed. ¡°This way. Mistress Scylla bought a house near the city wall. She says for me to tell you not to send a bird to Trella and have you go straight there.¡±

    Kaden ran.

 Thirty - Bad Options

    The house Mistress Scylla had bought was an ugly square offense to architects everywhere. The windows were line with heavy bars on the outside, the wall separating it from the street was rusted metal. Dead plants lined the courtyard, where a Jackaroo kneeled, pulling weeds.

    Another opened the door as Kaden arrived with Eve.

    ¡°Upstairs,¡± Mistress Scylla called.

    Kaden headed up a spiral staircase to the second floor, where torches flickered and Jackaroos worked to scrube the walls and floor. ¡°Where¡¯s Trella?¡±

    Mistress Scylla left the desk she stood at. ¡°Did you get the [Unono] ooze?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re extinct, but I found one in a Dungeon and scraped it clean.¡± Kaden looked to Eve, who handed Mistress Scylla the jar, then, carefully, the spoon.

    ¡°Trouble?¡± she asked.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Where is Trella?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s hiding in the royal audience chambers, checking everyone who interacts with the King. It took her ten hours to get into position, it will take another twenty four for her to get out. I tried explaining to her that no Slaver would risk going after the ruler of a kingdom, but this is something she must learn.¡±

    That was likely Eve¡¯s fault, but Kaden had thought it a reasonable move. ¡°There¡¯s always the possibility, right?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s happened in the past and been dealt with quickly. Brutally. Ashi has met with almost every trade minister in the kingdom, which is a level Slavers would be far more likely to target. The woman is brilliant.¡± Mistress Scylla pointed to a second set of stairs. ¡°Eve, if you¡¯d like to wash up, there¡¯s private showers and a cleaning box.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m covered in swamp water, even with Kaden pulling a raft.¡± Eve headed upstairs.

    The moment she did, Mistress Scylla turned on him. ¡°Do you know how to hide a title? [Queenslayer] is one you need to hide.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t thought of it, but mentally checked the option. ¡°Better?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You need to be more careful. Titles like that can have a provocative effect. Who was it?¡±

    ¡°Deidra Pear, this¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Mistress Scylla grinned and gave him a hug. ¡°It¡¯s loot all around, then. I¡¯d heard of her when I was young. She wasn¡¯t a [Slaver] but that compulsion skill of hers walked the line, almost identical in power. The only difference is that Deidra Pear¡¯s ability could be resisted, it¡¯s a System skill. [Slaver] comes from outside the system, there¡¯s nothing you can do to fight it. I thought she was dead already, but, there¡¯s a time and place for everyone to meet Mortis.¡±

    Her power had been overwhelming and just made so much sense, but Kaden had fought it and won, at least momentarily, where Trella was certain no one could fight a Slaver. Kaden dumped Pear¡¯s corpse out of inventory. And then held up the skull. ¡°She threatened Eve. That won¡¯t happen again, but who knows if her people will come looking?¡±

    ¡°I see. Collect the loot package, and I¡¯ll have a Jackaroo eat the body, then dismiss it.¡± Mistress Scylla hummed as she worked. ¡°Sara had a few problems. She was attacked by pirates.¡±

    ¡°Do I need¡ª¡±

    ¡°S&K Holdings has a second ship now. It¡¯s greatly in need of repair but a ship is a ship.¡± Mistress Scylla pointed to the corpse with a tentacle. ¡°Loot the body, please. The Jackaroos don¡¯t have teeth. It takes time for them to gum a corpse to bits.¡±

    Kaden took the loot package. ¡°The dress is enchanted. Who makes enchanted dresses, especially in that color pink? Fireproof. Stabbing protection, regenerates, self cleaning, environment damping. You know what? I¡¯m not stripping a woman¡¯s corpse for clothing. Not even enchanted clothing with a set bonus with the umbrella. It just looks bad.¡±

    ¡°Everyone has to set their own boundaries. There¡¯s a second shower upstairs. You smell of swamp. I¡¯ll have food ready when you return.¡±

    Kaden headed upstairs, taking the half of the third floor whose door was open. A brand new bed with mattresses and quilts sat unused. He cleaned quickly, waiting only for the bells that signaled the cleaning box was done. When he opened it, a furious [Match Lizard] steamed on the collar of his shirt. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to stay.¡±

    The lizard held a distinct frown.

    [Match Lizard]

    Level: 2

    HP: 10

    Mana: 3

    Skills: Burn

    Talents: Fireproof

    The Beast had done enough damage to the [Marauder] to gain experience and a level, making him the world¡¯s strongest [Match Lizard] by a fair margin.

    When he returned, Kaden found Eve sitting at a table with Mistress Scylla, devouringpotato soup. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help Sara?¡±

    ¡°Wait patiently and pretend to be surprised when she tells you about the ship. What did you get in the Loot package?¡± Mistress Scylla slurped her soup as she ate.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t unpacked it. ¡°Eve?¡±

    Eve touched it, scanning the bundle, then frowned. ¡°That stupid umbrella that lets her glide and offers a set bonus with the dress.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, dress is gone. I wasn¡¯t going to strip a woman¡¯s corpse. It just looks wrong,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Mistress Scylla set a folded dress on the table. ¡°I have no idea where it came from.¡±

    Eve added it to the package. ¡°The jewelry is gaudy and awful. Attribute boosts for Soul and Mana while heavily penalizing agility. This is odd.¡±

    She set a wood stick down on the table. ¡°It¡¯s a summoning artifact.¡±

    [Dog Whistle]

    Summon a [Marauder] to do your bidding with the word of your choice. You do not need to blow on the dog whistle, your summoning word will communicate in a way they can hear. The type of [Maurader] you can summon will increase as you level your bond with this item.

    Mistress Scylla picked it up held it out. ¡°Come.¡±

    From the shadows of the room, a skinny, near starving [Marauder] limped out, carrying a heavy wooden stick. It bared its teeth and snarled before turning and disappearing into the shadows.

    ¡°That¡¯s a truly interesting summons. I wonder if James could transmute the whistle to a skill scroll?¡± She looked to Kaden. ¡°I presume you wouldn¡¯t want to suddenly take up Summoning.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Not happening. My Beasts are not disposable.¡±

    ¡°Why do you own a house? You¡¯re not staying,¡± Eve said.

    Mistress Scylla glanced over as one of her Jackaroos picked up a lantern and unshuttered it. Purple light flooded out, illuminating runes on the walls. ¡°You two have no grasp of how difficult it is to kill a Centurion. Particularly a cagey, paranoid Centurion who will have acquired many defensive skills and artifacts. The damage from our battle alone might have collateral casualties.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Will you win?¡± Kaden asked.

    Eve stared, mouth agape. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to ask.¡±

    Mistress Scylla didn¡¯t. ¡°I hope so. By choosing the time and place of battle I hold several key advantages. I¡¯ve relayed his information to the one who taught me. Should I die in a way that there¡¯s no return from, he will be pursued.¡±

    ¡°I asked once about your faction,¡± Kaden said. ¡°You told me you wouldn¡¯t speak about it. I think I understand why.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps you do. Sara is three days from a Cargo FarPortal. Trella will hopefully escape tomorrow. Ashi will likely be a guest of the King for the night. I have work I must do, but you two should sleep. How many hours have you been up?¡±

    Kaden looked to Eve. ¡°Forty hours? A couple days? How long has it been since you slept?¡±

    ¡°We live on different scales of existence. Besides, if I¡¯m not awake, my Jackaroos are limited in their responses.¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°She can let two heads sleep and keep one awake. She¡¯s the ultimate night guard. And she¡¯s smart enough to wake us up instead of trying to handle it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll consider it. There is only one entrance and exit to this building now. The others are present but have Mana Barriers cast over them. Trinity, would you mind guarding the front door?¡± Mistress Scylla¡¯s Jackaroos moved aside.

    Trinity lumbered down the stairs, her growls echoing in the emptiness.

    Kaden summoned Vip and sent her to Eve. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. Wake me if anyone attack¡ªnever mind. Just wake me if Ashi or Trella return.¡±

    Sara had said once that every time he fell asleep in a strange place, it got easier. It did not get easier. He took a woodcarving knife and fed curls of wood to the [Match Lizard] for ash, which it gobbled up. After consuming a small stick, it wrapped its tail over its head and laid down.

    In the night, he woke and sprinted for the stairs, only to find Jackaroos had knocked over chairs as they sparred with black spears he¡¯d taken from the [Marauders.] Mistress Scylla dozed on a bedroll, and Kaden reluctantly went back to sleep.

    Noon came and went with still no sign of Ashi or Trella. Eve went out shopping with vouchers. Evening, and Kaden was ready to lay siege to the palace. ¡°Something has gone wrong. Ashi and Trella should have been back.¡±

    Trinity paced with him, while Mistress Scylla engraced runes on every available surface. ¡°Many times, fate will be beyond your control. Do what you can do, rather than worry about what you can¡¯t.¡±

    Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul and headed to the palace.

    A palace surrounded by guards.

    Kaden slowed as he approached the guards. ¡°My name is Kaden Birch. I¡¯m staying here as a guest of the King.¡± He waited as the message passed up and down the guard line.

    A captain approached. ¡°Come with me, we feared the worst, but if you¡¯re alive, that¡¯s good.¡±

    Kaden followed him through busy palace hallways to the area near the kitchen. An area blackened by fire. A sickening feeling deep in his stomach made Kaden certain what had caused this.

    ¡°You¡¯re alive!¡± King Evandor shouted as he sprinted down a hallway toward Kaden. ¡°Do you have any idea how bad it looks when guests of the King die in a fire?¡±

    Kaden took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this was all my fault.¡±

    The King stopped, looking from Kaden to the room. ¡°That¡¯s¡­an usual claim. Why?¡±

    With [Beast Soul] he asked the [Match Lizard to leave his collar. ¡°I needed one for a potion, I bought it a friend. I¡¯ve only been able to find one, and now I think I know where the other went.¡±

    The King kept quiet, staring at Kaden.

    Was he trying to use [Authority] and failing?

    ¡°What do you think I should do to the person who burned down a wing of my castle?¡±

    ¡°If it was an accident? Make them pay for repairs.¡± How he¡¯d do that, Kaden didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Well, unless your [Match Lizard] can now cast [Arcane FireStorm], I¡¯m fairly sure you¡¯re not at fault.¡± King Evandor moved past the guards and waved Kaden on. Kaden¡¯s room was utterly destroyed, black. The walls were melted, the furniture obliterated.

    Kaden reached out with [Beast Soul], feeling. Then sifted through the ashes to remove a fat, happy [Match Lizard], which squeaked when it saw the other. ¡°Sara and I run S&K Holdings. She¡¯s been dealing with a Pirate attack. Eve was with me rescuing a dungeon from some adenturers. Ashi¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is she always that demanding?¡± the King asked. ¡°I welcome trade but her energy is boundless, her standards exacting. I don¡¯t know if I should be flattered or furious.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s usually both,¡± Kaden said. He left his room to check on Eve¡¯s.

    The room was burned but not obliterated. Sara¡¯s door had been kicked in and the bed set on fire. Ashi¡¯s door wasn¡¯t broken, but the furniture had been obliterated and the courtyard door smashed open.

    Kaden turned on the king. ¡°How does this happen without a guard knowing or responding?¡±

    ¡°They did. We held the funerals this morning. Trunistan has held economic might for nearly a thousand years. Our guards are well trained but the number of individuals willing to attack is almost zero.¡± The King glanced down the hall. ¡°I¡¯ve hired the services of a [Inquisitor] but fire destroys almost everything. Even the most skilled would be hard pressed to get information from ash.¡±

    Kaden nodded along. ¡°Please don¡¯t be offended if we spend our vouchers and move on. I¡¯m not blaming you and I will speak to the others to make it clear it wasn¡¯t your actions against us. But I think once our business is concluded, the best thing to do is go. Anywhere. If the attackers follow, it¡¯s not your problem. If they remain here we won¡¯t be in range.¡±

    ¡°That saves me having to ask. How soon can you leave?¡±

    Kaden considered his needs. ¡°I have custom armor being made. As soon as it¡¯s ready, you won¡¯t see me for a good, long while.¡±

    ¡°I hope Ignus puts you on another guard patrol,¡± King Evandor said. ¡°I¡¯d love to see what you come out with the second time around.¡±

    Kaden knew a dismissal when he heard one. ¡°Have a prosperous year, King. May it be a long and quiet time before we meet again.¡±

    He found his way out of the palace and into the streets of Trunistan, then made his way to Jules and Julia¡¯s shop. The couple worked together in the back, sewing and stitching, and Jules insisted he wasn¡¯t ready.

    Kaden headed back to Mistress Scylla¡¯s Killing House. The courtyard was replanted, and Jackaroos worked around the edges, painting, patching, cleaning. When Kaden pushed opent he door, voices drifted from upstairs.

    He sprinted up to lift Trella off her feet and squeeze her until she wriggled lose. ¡°How did you get out?¡±

    ¡°As though you do not know.¡± Ashi spoke with amusement. ¡°The King was called away to deal with an important matter. I heard your name spoken.¡±

    ¡°I found them all,¡± Trella said. ¡°And marked them all. I¡¯ll have information on everyone by tomorrow. The only problem is how many I found.¡± The last, she directed to Mistress Scylla. ¡°Thirteen. You said twelve.¡±

    ¡°I did, but understand that our knowledge of [Slaver] abilities is limited. We know that before they go up a rank, they claim another slave. It is likely that he nears rank thirteen. I¡¯ll prepare accordingly.¡± Mistress Scylla offered all of them a warm smile. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. All of you. Sara will return in two days with the Phoenix Feast. It¡¯s a meal that can only be appreciated¡ªor survived¡ªby a Centurion. The experience would kill anyone else. I¡¯ve set matters in motion by accidentially leaving the cargo list unsealed.¡±

    Trella scoffed. ¡°And that works? That will get the information to Ducat?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve had sixteen new contacts in two hours. Including our ¡®friend.¡¯ Of course, all were denied. This is, after all, an intimate gathering of only those who helped me thorugh a difficult time.¡± Mistress Scylla paused as a Jackaroo rushed to her, carrying a scroll. ¡°Oh, good. So many want to be new friends. I do love new friends. Trella, you may not get the time I want you to have. From the moment he takes the Unono venom, his senses will be dulled. But if I can kill him quickly, I will.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡± Trella said the word like it was sour. ¡°Do I have to reach the government ones first?¡±

    ¡°Yes. You must minimize the damage as best you can. Be out, be close, have a plan. Your [Bond Breaker] skill will level quickly to give you range. Have the assault on his house start the moment I send word.¡± Mistress Scylla looked to the rest of them. ¡°Now, who wants icecream?¡±

    Kaden hated to interrupt icecream. ¡°Someone busted into our rooms at the palace. Burned mine and Trella¡¯s to cinders. Torched Eve¡¯s room, burned Sara¡¯s smashed Ashi¡¯s and killed a bunch of guards before disappearing.¡±

    The house fell silent.

    ¡°If it were Ducat, he¡¯d flee. No [Slaver] ever has stood and fought. Unless he doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m present. But Trella didn¡¯t have any of her basic skills. She¡¯s invisible to him, almost literally.¡± Mistress Scylla spoke even more softly with each line. ¡°This has to be someone from the Vivomancers. Someone who thinks it would be cheaper to kill you and keep the gold.¡±

    ¡°What do we do?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°Stick to the plan. You have your lodgings near Ducat¡¯s house. What have you learned about his household?¡±

    Trella spoke rapidly. ¡°The biggest problem isn¡¯t the guards. He doesn¡¯t hire high level guards. Maybe he doesn¡¯t trust them. The biggest problem is his household manager, a young [Soldier] who¡¯s served him for a decade.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s got to know,¡± Eve said. ¡°What level?¡±

    ¡°Thirty two,¡± Trella said. ¡°I¡¯d rather not kill him. Despite the whole Shadow Blade thing, we¡¯re careful. There are often options.¡±

    ¡°Tell that to Princess Pear,¡± Eve said.

    Trella glanced to Kaden and frowned¡ªthen continued. ¡°My Quest is to break the bonds. My choice is to get those people out. The first problem is his servant. The second is the house itself. It¡¯s trapped. I don¡¯t mean a little trapped, like, ¡®it¡¯ll poison me¡¯ trapped. It¡¯s designed to blow. Several Fire Mana bombs embedded in the basement.¡±

    ¡°Not unsual,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°Slavers often have to leave. When they do, they tend to arrange disasters that kill everyone and everything in the premesis. There will be a trigger on the property. And no matter what anyone says, I promise you, once it¡¯s triggered, it will go off. No button combinations, no secret words to stop it. If there is a timer, expect it to go off while there¡¯s still ten minutes.¡±

    Kaden now had a new most-worry. ¡°Can he trigger it from accross the city?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°His existence is his most prized possession. A remote trigger would allow remote assassination. If his servant can trigger it, he has strict protocols for when and how.¡±

    ¡°All right.¡± Trella stood and gathered her scrolls and maps. ¡°We¡¯re leaving. I did as you suggested, we have a house down the block from Ducats.¡±

    ¡°How did you manage that?¡± Eve asked. ¡°The odds of a house just being available¡ª¡±

    ¡°Pretty good. I chucked a bag of [Dagger Wasps] in through the window while everyone was gone, then happened to hear the screaming when the owners came home and offered to exterminate them. I know someone immune to [Dagger Wasp] venom. I don¡¯t want to take the house, I just want to use it for two days.¡± Trella nodded to the others. ¡°Follow me, stay close, I¡¯ll explain the plan when we get there.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Mistress Scylla spoke. ¡°I need a favor.¡±

 Thirty One - Go

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind Mistress Scylla¡¯s favor. He handed her the colony of Echo Beetles and showed her how to place them and use one to listen. He kept three, separating them into their own tin. ¡°Should anything go wrong, you¡¯re not replaceable. I¡¯d rather Sara have her mom than me have a bunch of beetles.¡±

    Mistress Scylla froze. ¡°She was never old enough to understand before. Every time I take on a [Slaver], there¡¯s a chance I¡¯m dealing with a soft adventurer who outraced his Nemesis to reach a hundred and has no clue how his abilities work. There¡¯s an equal chance they are a battle hardened survivor. Eventually, odds will turn against me. When it happpens, just¡ªmake sure Sara knows how proud I am of her.¡±

    ¡°I will. I wish I could help Trella. Or you.¡±

    Her smile would have melted cheese on a [Match Lizard]. ¡°I¡¯m sure you do, but there¡¯s a reason I¡¯m going to isolate Ducat. As Trella breaks the bonds on his slaves, he could take over anyone with only a glance and his Class skill. Talents, Resistances, Authority and Dominion mean nothing versus a Slaver. They are all functions of the System, and that Class is outside it. But she and I are immune. Let him try and bend me to his will. It will precious seconds that give me an edge.¡±

    Kaden headed out to join the others. He took Trella¡¯s hand and followed her through the streets. Every step, every sound, he watched for someone to come blazing at them. Trinity would be the ace in the hole, as he kept Ashi and Eve wrapped in [Stealth Aura].

    ¡°There.¡± Trella pointed to a dark house. ¡°There really are dagger wasps inside. Can you take care of them without destroying the house? The nest is in an atrium, most of them will be with it.¡±

    Kaden silently approached and slipped in through a back door. He hunted in the dark until the distinctive buzz of twelve inch wasps told him where the cluster hung. He took no pride in slaying what were in essence large insects, but they could cause intense pain and even kill commoners.

    When the nest was dead, he lit a lamp and hunted down survivors, finding them on ceilings and under beds and closets. At last, he opened the door and called them in. ¡°Be careful. I can¡¯t unleash Trinity here. She¡¯s just too large.¡±

    Within the hour they¡¯d all found rooms. Trella chose one that let her watch Ducat¡¯s house, even though she wouldn¡¯t be here on the attack day. And as soon as she could, she turned on Kaden. ¡°I can see it written on your face. What happened when you went to that tower?¡±

    Kaden unhid his title. ¡°I had to make a choice. The same kind of choice I made in Omnor, except this was easier and harder. She was so confident I¡¯d let her go and she¡¯d come back and kill Eve.¡±

    ¡°People are like that. Especially royalty with powers like hers. Their history says this couldn¡¯t possibly be the end. Then they meet someone like me. Someone who doesn¡¯t gloat, or brag.¡± Trella put her arms around Kaden. ¡°It doesn¡¯t get easier.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t what he expected. ¡°But [Assassins]¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not one.¡±

    He had no argument with that. ¡°What do you need? What can we do for you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re already doing it.¡± She sat up. ¡°I actually have something you can help with. [Soul Binding] is a lot like [Slave Binding] except that the soul bond they setup is only meant to kill the slave. Can I practice on one of your beasts?¡±

    Kaden picked up two [Match Lizards]. ¡°Try these.¡±

    Trella focused on them. ¡°It¡¯s not the same. But the skill feels really close. If I can level my skill breaking these bonds, it¡¯ll make me that much more powerful.¡±

    She focused for several more minutes. ¡°Mistress Scylla said it would be hard. That each one would get faster.¡±

    The feeling made Kaden¡¯s teeth tingle, like someone had slipped their fingers into his skull and was pulling at his brain.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°[Bonds Breaker] just leveled, but I got no experience. None. The error says it¡¯s not the right bond type.¡±

    It was still powerful. ¡°You could cut the bond between a summoner and their summons. You could kill any summoner. All of them. Leave them helpless and let someone else do that.¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°It feels wrong. Like I¡¯m misusing the skill. It¡¯s meant to free people, not cripple them.¡±

    Kaden reached out to bind to the [Match Lizard]

    Bond may not be established. This creature can no longer be bound.

    ¡°Holy shit. I can¡¯t bind this lizard anymore. It says can¡¯t be established.¡± Kaden swore. ¡°Don¡¯t do that with Vip or Trinity. Or any of my beasts.¡±

    True to the nature of [Tamed] beasts, the [Match Lizard] didn¡¯t attack. It didn¡¯t even move until Kaden offered it a seat on his lapel. ¡°I have no control over it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Trella said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±

    At least it wasn¡¯t the one who had leveled. It could probably do twice as much damage as a regular [Match Lizard]. Two points wouldn¡¯t make it an apex predator, but every apex predator started somewhere. Probably somewhere higher up the chain than this.

    Ashi spent the day explaining how she had negotiated so many different deals with Trunistan. The wait hung over everyone like a winged scorpion waiting to strike. When Sara¡¯s green parrot sailed in to announce she was arriving, Kaden rushed to the shipping Portal.

    Once, he had broken every rule of FarPortals.

    Once, he had looted a town through a regular FarPortal

    A stern discussion with a cluser of furious Portal Mages taught Kaden the error of his ways. Vast transfers happened only at Cargo portals with teams of mages working together to ease the strain. That way, an vindictive Portal Mage didn¡¯t ambush a young adventurer who had, say, kept a portal open for sixteen hours.

    The Cargo Portal surged and opened wide, as a wagon rolled through, pushed by a familiar giant skeleton. Skully wore a pirate¡¯s hat the size of a kettle, and ribbons had been tied to his finger-bone-beard and hair, and he carried a pair of swords that were more like gate bars, too large for any human.

    On the wagon sat a heavily sealed cargo that shook and rattled and glowed golden. And at the front of the wagon stood Sara Scylla. She¡¯d always worn short swords, but now she also carried a flail. As the wagon rolled to astop, she leaped down, attention on the guards. ¡°This cargo is already spoken for. It is property of Mistress Jacquelyn Scylla.¡±

    Mistress Scylla pushed her way through the crowds to inspect the cargo¡ªand the seals on it. ¡°Excelllent work. I will look to use your services again, since you have rights to trade with the Xiao Empire.¡±

    ¡°And our payment?¡± Sara demanded as though she didn¡¯t speak to her mother.

    ¡°You¡¯ll find it as agreed.¡± Mistress Scylla grabbed the wagon with four tentacles and took over, moving it far more easily than Skully had, even up the gentle hill away from the Cargo Portal.

    Sara embraced everyone, even Eve, then returned to business. ¡°Kaden, I¡¯d like you to meet Captain Lain, previously first mate Lain.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t forgotten Mistress Scylla¡¯s warning. ¡°Did the old captain finally retire?¡±

    ¡°He did not.¡± Sara could barely contain herself. ¡°Pirates make terrible business decisions, did you know that? They¡¯ll follow a [Captain] anywhere. They love [Captains]. You know what they don¡¯t love? Ten foot tall skeletons who toss their [Captain] overboard and then eat the first mate.¡±

    Captain Lane tipped his hat. ¡°If you could just teach him to do a little less damage, that would help. He put as many holes in the ship as the enemy did. A bunch of them, he put in the ship with the enemy.¡±

    Kaden shook the man¡¯s hand. ¡°So you just took their ship?¡±

    ¡°They weren¡¯t using it,¡± Sara said. ¡°It will take some time to repair and retrofit, which is why Lane and his crew were willing to help guard.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I buy you a meal and you teach me the basics of shipping?¡± Kaden shook each of the men¡¯s hands. Not a one was over level fifteen. Over lunch, he learned how freelance crews had to take whatever cargo was available. Shipping companies paid their sailors and could be more intelligent, taking risks that made sense.

    That explained where so much of the gold went. ¡°So, will you make regular trips to the Xiao Empire now?¡±

    Lain shrugged. ¡°If I do, I want it to be in a fleet. You know why pirates attacked? Because we looked like a good target. I told Ms. Scylla, she has permission to trade. She should make deals and send a fleet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make contacts,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, the Phoenix Feast wasn¡¯t the only thing we brought back, it¡¯s just not worth the charge to move it by Cargo Portal. If you take a ship, you take it full.¡±

    ¡°And the other ship?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s full, all right. Full of sea water and corpses. We could barely keep it afloat to get it to port. Again, that skeleton, he¡¯s ferocious but you don¡¯t kick your way into a hold and then break people through the hull.¡± Lain seemed deeply frustrated by Skully doing an overly great job.

    ¡°I¡¯ll work with him,¡± Kaden said, then let Trella and Ashi run the conversation. Ashi had been to the Xiao Empire three times and, other than it being two thousand years ago, had enjoyed it.

    After several hours, Lain explained it was time to take a regular FarPortal back, with his Inventory loaded with goodies for the crew. Kaden really was going to make a trip out to port to teach Skully how to behave, and he would run a wagon-load of lumber cut from Fangwood to offset the repair costs.

    Sara practically fell asleep on her feet halfway back to the house, but once Ashi had her tucked into a bed, sound asleep, the anticipation began to build.

    ¡°Mistress Scylla will throw her feast tomorrow,¡± Trella said. ¡°She¡¯s refused requests from Davos four times¡ªand tonight gave in, on the condition he bring wine. Centurion wine.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t tired, he was wired, but he ensured Skully was hidden away in the back yard before producing Queen Pear¡¯s skull. ¡°You did good. I was thinking, you haven¡¯t made [Plague Crows] in a long while. I¡¯m just going to leave this here, and if a nest of [Plague Crows] shows up? That¡¯s what happens.¡±

    Eve was cooking¡ªand storing dishes in the rations box, Ashi hovered six inches off the ground, surrounded by orbs of mana which slowly sank into the mana stones surrounding her.

    ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Kaden said.

    Trella nodded. ¡°Skully gave me something earlier. It might have been for you, but it was really for me.¡± She produced a Pirate hat with only a few bloodstains. ¡°I said I don¡¯t really like Pirates. But I was thinking, maybe I just didn¡¯t have the right one?¡±

    ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± He said.

    ###

    Morning dawned, and Kaden went with Trella on a final scouting run. Mistress Scylla¡¯s home was immaculate, with hired guards at the gates who were definitely not jackaroos, and every window covered with black cloth. Wagons lined up to deliver plate upon plate, and more than one Centurion stood down the street, staring.

    Including one Kaden knew.

    He pulled Trella along, heading toward the short, thick [Man At Arms]. Bryce was here in Trunistan, and it couldn¡¯t be coincidence, but as he spotted Kaden, a quick shake of his head told Kaden all he needed to know.

    Trella turned them away. *You know him from Beast Control?*

    *He¡¯s got to be here to help.* That made more sense. Mistress Scylla would have help, probably not to kill the [Slaver] but to ensure any other party guests didn¡¯t join in the battle and become victims of Ducat.

    *I¡¯m surprised Mr. Dervish isn¡¯t here.*

    Kaden was, too. Then again, the Summoning Saint was known everywhere. Bryce was known in the back halls of Beast Control at a small, poor city, but there was no weapon he hadn¡¯t seen the [Man at Arms] use and use with shocking skill.

    As they completed the city circuit, Kaden began to grow uneasy. [Stealth Aura] refused to activate. *Someone is following us*.

    Trella didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t look around, but hung off him, playfully kissing him, while her body was tense as a spring. *Don¡¯t attack.*

    She chose a seat outside a shop and patted for him to sit. *There. Initiates*.

    Kaden spotted the [Shadow Blade] trio slipping through the crowd. Unlike Trella, they wore green cloaks that would have fit a [Ranger]. Trella¡¯s Deception rose from her feet and dodged the crowd to approach the Initiates¡ªwho scattered, disappearing into [Stealth].

    *Come on, let¡¯s have some fun,* Trella said, pulling him down the street. She veered to a brothel, looked over the list of rooms, and paid a stack of silver for two rooms. *You wait here.*

    Kaden opened the door and stepped in¡ªand relaxed, because it was empty.

    Next door, voices rose in greeting. He would have expected better sound-proofing charms. This place was unprotected. Every squeak of every bed. Ever mock laugh as women pretended to enjoy their clients. The whisper of boots across carpet, the slightest rasp as steel left a scabard.

    [Split Second] activated as Kaden spun, catching one black dagger with his bare hand and wrenching it way. His right hand didn¡¯t quite close, and the dagger dug deep into his side as the [Shadow Blade] initiate drove it home.

    He head-butted her, sending her flying across the room. ¡°You are in trouble.¡±

    ¡°And you are poisoned. Enjoy your nap,¡± The woman said. ¡°No one gets to listen in on the secre¡ª¡±

    She stopped as Kaden licked the edge of the blade. ¡°Oh, I like this one. It tastes like mint. You know, at the Senior Sister¡¯s table, the ham tastes like this.¡±

    Your skill with Resist Sleeping has increased.

    Kaden drew Remembrance, ignoring the blood on his hands. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn.¡±

    To her credit, she attacked, sweeping a kick at his legs, then tried a punch at his throat.

    ¡°You actually want to hit me right here.¡± Kaden caught her fist and pushed it to his throat in the right place.

    She screamed, as an angry [Match Lizard] burst into flame, and twisted, driving an elbow up into his chin, which actually did hurt.

    Kaden dropped her more out of respect than need, then caught her again by her cloak. ¡°Let me show you¡ª¡±

    Smoke exploded, and the cloak went limp, as glass shattered.

    Kaden looked out the window, but the Initiate was gone. He snapped her cloak around his neck, willing the [Needful Cloak] to recede, then activated [Stealth Aura] and waited.

    Nearly an hour later, a soft knock at the door came in the pattern Trella always used. A moment later, the door clicked as Trella used [Lockpicking]. ¡°Kaden?¡±

    She closed her eyes a moment. ¡°I know you¡¯re there. I know it. Don¡¯t make me point.¡±

    Kaden dropped [Stealth Aura]. ¡°Look, I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade]! Look at me, skulking around in the shadows! I should have a theme song. And singers to sing it when I arrive. ¡®Shadow Blade, Shadow Blade, Hunting through the Night! See his cloak, it¡¯s black and his swords are black too. Everything is black. It¡¯s all black, because he¡¯s a [Shadow Blade].¡±

    Your skill with [Songwriting] has decreased.

    Kaden swore.

    Trella looked to the window. Sniffed the air. ¡°Sleeping poison?¡±

    ¡°Tastes like mint.¡±

    She sighed. ¡°Take it off. Hand it over. Stay here, I¡¯ll be back in a moment.¡±

    ¡°But I can¡¯t be a [Shadow Blade] without my cloak of night! How will people know I¡­¡± It had sounded like a good speech. Kaden gave it to her and sat patiently on the bed for five minutes.

    ¡°Kaden Birch!¡± Trella said.

    He looked away, petting his [Match Lizard]. ¡°Yes?¡±

    She held out a hand. ¡°We do not steal from Initiates. Not even ones tasked with protecting the meeting. Ever.¡±

    ¡°She stabbed me!¡± Kaden replied.

    ¡°Oh, I can see. You¡¯re so stabbed. You look totally stabbed. Probably about to fall over right now from all the stabbing. Letme guess, she poisoned you, too. Was it a new poison?¡±

    He sighed as he handed the daggers over. ¡°No, but I like the mint one.¡±

    Kaden waited again, and when Trella came back, this time she was happy. ¡°I was given a Spell Scroll for [Shadow Portal]. Right now, it can barely move me across the room, and it cost two thirds of my mana. As it levels, it¡¯ll make me kind of like you and Ashi, except I have to have a shadow to emerge from.¡±

    ¡°Your deception doesn¡¯t count?¡±

    ¡°Not until the skill levels.¡± Trella closed the door and leaned against it. ¡°I¡ªI shouldn¡¯t be involving you. Or Sara, or Eve, or Ashi. This is my class¡¯s duty. But I need your help.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help laughing. ¡°Try and keep me away. Go on. I don¡¯t mind giving your little sisters their weapons back. I don¡¯t even mind the cloak. But if you¡¯re going to war with someone, I¡¯m going too.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what¡ª¡± Tella stopped as a solid black bird materialized. It didn¡¯t speak aloud, but Trella wasn¡¯t focused. ¡°Davos showed up early. Said he wasn¡¯t going to get the dregs of the Unonos venom.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll head to get the others ready. Send a bird the moment we should start.¡±

    Trella unrolled a scroll. ¡°Hit the servant¡¯s door on the west, it doesn¡¯t even have a lock. Barricade it. His four guards will be at the front and rear gates, don¡¯t let them in. Don¡¯t kill the victims, but if you can get them out, do so and send that monster bird of yours. His house manager¡ª¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°If he lets us go, I let him go. Eight in the house, get them out.¡±

    ¡°If I tell you to leave, you have to leave. You know about the Fire Mana bombs?¡±

    ¡°No matter what, if that happens, we leave.¡± Kaden ran for the stairwell with Trella just ahead. She spun and lunged to kiss him. ¡°I¡¯ll find you. Believe it.¡±

    He had to.

 Thirty Two - Pear Shaped

    Kaden raced to the house under [Stealth Aura]. He liked how Skully reacted even before Kaden dropped it. The Undead had some sense of the living, even in [Stealth]. ¡°Get ready!¡± Kaden called out. ¡°The moment Trella sends word, we start.¡±

    Trella had explained the plan twice before but once more never hurt.

    Eve emerged wearing heavy silver bracelets he¡¯d never seen. ¡°You¡¯re collecting jewelry?¡±

    ¡°Mana banks. All my vouchers and some gold. They only hold three hundred each, I have to direct mana to them, but they¡¯ll grow in time. More life, more damage.¡± Eve¡¯s other bracelet was a single-use version of [Resilient Constitution], once a day.

    Ashi stood and stretched. ¡°I am ready. Mother has only one request. The slaver must die. His foul branch of magic will die with him.¡±

    Sara came out dressed in her copper green armor, with a new mask and helmet. ¡°I was tired of being subject to status effects. I¡¯m never going to convince people these aren¡¯t snakes on my back.¡±

    Kaden pulled the bound [Match Lizard] into his soul and put the other in a metal box to keep it from burning down the house. ¡°My new armor isn¡¯t ready.¡± He¡¯d probably never be able to pick it up if they weren¡¯t welcome in Trunistan, or he¡¯d have to [Stealth Aura] his whole way through the city. ¡°We go as we are. Lock the guards out. There¡¯s six staff who aren¡¯t slaves. If they don¡¯t fight, they don¡¯t die.¡±

    Sara opened the front door and stopped. ¡°Kaden, something¡¯s wrong.¡±

    He ran to look down the street at Vermison¡¯s house. Six guards stood at the front gate. Kaden ran back in to the upstairs, then climbed onto the roof. Six more sat at the back gate. ¡°Twice the number of guards. No telling what¡¯s in the house. I don¡¯t like it. We should notify Trella and Mistress Scylla.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m on¡ªoh, no.¡± Sara¡¯s gaze followed the black crow that sailed through the sky to land near Kaden.

    It spoke, relaying Trella¡¯s message. ¡°Go or call it off. I¡¯m freeing the first slave.¡±

    Kaden knew his answer. ¡°Four guards or eight, I¡¯m going in. I¡¯m willing to bet Portals don¡¯t work from inside or out.¡±

    ¡°Such work requires runes,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I will go and remove them.¡±

    ¡°Like I¡¯d let you have all the fun,¡± Sara said. ¡°Eve?¡±

    ¡°Someone¡¯s got to resurrect you all.¡± Eve followed as Kaden crossed the street. He gave the command. ¡°Skully¡¯s going to make a distraction.¡±

    The undead giant lumbered down the street, his beard and hair clicking with every thunderous step. He passed the gate, and the guard visibly relaxed¡ªthen turned and charged, crushing the stone wall that was more formality than fortress. Skully¡¯s charge carried him straight past the house and through the opposing wall, then out into the street on the other side.

    Kaden sprinted through the abandoned gate and to the side entrance.

    Skully held a guard in each hand, using them as clubs to beat the others, but he yielded with every step, backing up. His orders were to retreat, leave the skeleton behind and hide as his head-spider form. The body could be replaced.

    The servant¡¯s door led down broad stairs to a wide tile hallway with bright sconces overhead, just like Trella¡¯s map showed. Once Eve stepped through, Kaden shut the door softly, then rammed spears from the [Marauders] into the hinges, jamming it shut.

    ¡°This doesn¡¯t match Trella¡¯s map,¡± Sara said.

    She ducked down stairs. ¡°That, either. The building has changed, and I think I know how. This is a more defensible version.¡±

    Eve looked to the door. ¡°We¡¯re already in. Treat it like a dungeon. The people are either victims or mobs.¡±

    ¡°Who are you!¡± A guard shouted from down the hallway.

    He shone with a sickly orange aura. A slave.

    Kaden held his hands up. ¡°Friends. We¡¯re here to rescue you. All you have to do¡ª¡±

    The man sprinted at him, drawing a spear and screaming ¡°Intruders! Intruders!¡±

    Kaden summoned his [Eldritch Shield] and bashed the spear aside, then slammed the man into the wall until the plaster broke. ¡°Sara, I forgot to buy restraints.¡±

    ¡°What kind of party leader would I be if I didn¡¯t have them?¡± Sara drew leather cords from Inventory and tied the unconscious man. Upstairs, too many feet moved. Too many people.

    *Stay*. Kaden pointed right here and activated [Stealth Aura] and sprinted forward, looking for the stairwell that led up. Two guards with swords waited at a T-Junction, working up the courage to attack. Both were level twenty [Swordsman] with the Guard profession and neither looked like they¡¯d splattered a man¡¯s skull with a warhammer.

    Kaden dropped [Stealth Aura]. ¡°Listen, we¡¯re here to remove the slaves. If you attack me, I¡¯m going to attack you. On the other hand, if there¡¯s an empty room I locked you in, what I can I say? I can¡¯t search everywhere.¡±

    ¡°The master¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is not coming back,¡± Kaden said. ¡°How many people are upstairs? Why did the layout change? Where¡¯s the household manager?¡±

    ¡°Master Vermison¡¯s little brother is¡­¡± The [Guard] fell over, clutching his chest.

    Violating his oath of loyalty has cost Conner Bradford his Class.

    Do not violate oaths of loyalty.

    The remaining guard looked at his buddy and began to sweat. ¡°Better my life than my class.¡± He tried to raise a sword in a defensive stance.

    [Moment of Speed] let Kaden hit him with Remembrance square in the chest. The look of confusion in the man¡¯s eyes made Kaden sad. He¡¯d never realized what was happening.

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a Mortal Injury.

    You have defeated the Guard Jamison Petty.

    ¡°Take him. Hide his corpse with you,¡± Kaden said. ¡°You already broke your oath. What haven¡¯t you told me?¡±

    Connor shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s just the first of four. I¡¯ll die. I¡¯ll permanently die.¡±

    Kaden opened doors until he found a pantry. ¡°Last chance.¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    [Split Second] activated as Connor attempted to stab Kaden. He threw the man into the pantry and jammed the door closed. The other guard could go with him as a corpse, but now he had something critical to report. Sara had advanced to the end of the hall with the others behind her.

    ¡°The household manager isn¡¯t a servant, he¡¯s Davos¡¯s little brother. No wonder Trella says he has to know.¡±

    ¡°Kaden and Sara, you¡¯re the only ones who could conceivably win against him. He¡¯s a [Swordsman] and will close to melee immeidately.¡± Eve looked to Ashi. ¡°You and I are backup for that battle.¡±

    ¡°I must find and disable the runes,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I do not sense them here.¡±

    Kaden took the role of scout, scouting the servant¡¯s quarters and finding three more slaves. None of them could tell him where the others were, and two directly attacked, weeping as they did so.

    Sara¡¯s [Anthem of the End] was the fastest way to put them on their knees so Sara could tie them up. But now they had a problem.

    ¡°Up or down?¡± Kaden looked to Sara.

    ¡°Up. I want to bar and lock the front and rear doors.¡± Sara headed up the stairs with him under [Stealth Aura].

    The ground floor was wide open with a central fireplace, and sitting in a plush high back chair was a younger man, probably late twenties.

    [Selion Vermison - Household Manager]

    Everything else [Identify] produced was garbage. And the man held a cup of wine as he leaned back. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but my brother will be very angry when he returns. Also, the wards say you¡¯re there, even if I can¡¯t see you. And I don¡¯t need to see you. I have [Nightfighter] as a talent.¡±

    Sara looked to Kaden, nodding.

    He dropped [Stealth Aura]. ¡°We¡¯re here to remove your brother¡¯s slaves. You know he¡¯s a [Slaver], right?¡±

    Selion nodded. ¡°He let me in on the secret a few years ago. Please understand, he¡¯s not a terrible man. He chooses the lowliest. The most worthless, and gives them purpose. Cares for them. I sign off on expenses and I would be honored to care for as many as my brother does.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to kill you,¡± Kaden said. ¡°But I am gong to take every slave in this house. It¡¯s your choice if that fight involves you or just your brother.¡±

    ¡°Neither. You two, kill each other.¡± He waved toward them.

    Sara drew her swords. ¡°That isn¡¯t how the world works. I¡¯d be happy to provide an object lesson, if you insist. Or you can simply surrender the slaves and we leave.¡±

    ¡°I said fight! It always works when Ducat says it. Always.¡± He drew a sword from [Inventory]. ¡°I don¡¯t like fighting myself. I like it when you do it. And I said¡ª¡±

    Selion staggered forward, clutching his chest. ¡°What did you just do? What did you just do? I lost Renya. I can¡¯t feel her anymore, but I¡¯m¡­stronger. I feel so much more powerful. You. Kill her.¡±

    ERROR: SLAVER INFECTION ENCOUNTERED.

    EXTERNAL CONTROL INJECTION IN PROGRESS.

    BLOCKING EXTERNAL CONTROL OF ENTITY.

    BLOCKING UNSUCCESSFUL.

    The [Slaver] Selion Vermison has assumed control.

    You must obey his commands.

    Kaden had felt this before, the feeling of someone else pulling strings attached to his arms and hands. But this time, he didn¡¯t hold back, pushing back on the power that hit him.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    His hands still moved. He spoke by sheer will, forcing a body that didn¡¯t want to obey to do the slightest thing. ¡°Run.¡±

    ¡°You, snake woman. Kill him.¡± Selion waved. ¡°Go on, kill him. Do it! You, [Priestess], kill them both. Why are neither of you listening?¡±

    Oh, gods. Mistress Scylla had assumed they were dealing with a slaver with the ability to enslave thirteen. Instead it was one who could control twelve, and one¡ªSelion¡ªwith the ability to control exactly one slave.

    Over and over, Kaden resisted the command.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    At this rate, he¡¯d kill Selion. And that¡¯s when it hit him. If a slaver died, so did his bound slaves. ¡°Sara. Run. He¡¯s a godsdamned [Slaver], too.¡±

    ¡°Oh, good. You can fight!¡± Selion shouted, clapping his hands. ¡°I lost something, it actually hurt. But now I have a new toy!¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°Kill him. Whatever it takes.¡±

    Trinity needed no more encouragement. She charged straight for Selion.

    ¡°Stop!¡± He shouted¡ªthen screamed as she dodged a swipe and bit deep into his shoulder. ¡°I hate Beasts. I hate them!¡±

    Trinity dodged another swipe, and another, then blocked a blow with her bone head.

    ¡°[Ultra cut!]¡± Selion screamed.

    His blade glowed black as it whipped out.

    Kaden could only cry as Trinity blocked the wiped with her bone head, which threw sparks¡ªand shards of bone. He willed her to leave. To run. But when he tried to pull her into his soul, the skill failed to activate.

    You may not inject Entities into another¡¯s soul.

    Access is denied.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Selion bled from his nose and mouth. ¡°If I die, you die! Why are you not killing her? I said, kill her, I said¡ª¡±

    Trinity struck, tearing deep. Selion¡¯s scream made Kaden happy, even if he knew it was his own oblivion coming.

    ¡°[Sacrificial Cut!]¡± Selion screamed. The blow barely glanced off of Trinity¡¯s scales, but Selion¡¯s sword glowed brighter. Five more times he screamed it out, the last vomitting blood.

    Trinity speared him straight through the gut with her tail.

    ¡°[Final Sacrifice!]¡± Selion screamed. His sword incandesced as he swung. It cleaved off two of Trinity¡¯s heads in one blow, leaving her snake head with a gash that showed the spine.¡°Forget the snake woman, save me.¡±

    The command took over, and Kaden couldn¡¯t help as he drew Remembrance. Run, girl. I can¡¯t control him.

    But he could fight back, unleashing [Planes Wielder] over and over, even as he willed Trinity to flee. Her serpentine head struck over and over, poisoning Selion with every strike.

    ¡°I will not die to you.¡± Selion slashed, taking Trinity¡¯s serpentine head off, and she fell to the ground. Then he looked up. Blood ran from both eyes. ¡°Hunt her down. Kill her. Don¡¯t stop until she¡¯s dead, and then come back and protect me until my brother comes.¡±

    Clarity came with acceptance, that this was the end.

    Was it truly oblivion, or Mortis¡¯s Court that waited? Kaden didn¡¯t know. But he knew he wouldn¡¯t be killing his friends.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    Planes Wielder cuts back for 125 damage.

    *Kaden, come to the lower levels. Sara¡¯s there. Unguarded. Vulnerable.* Eve¡¯s voice came clear and calm over Mind Speech. He turned and sprinted, the commands sinking deeper into his skull with every moment. Living a life like this would be a horror beyond imagination.

    Worse yet was how it whispered into his mind. Moving faster wasn¡¯t just a release of pain, it was sheer pleasure. Obedience would let him drown in delight, even as his hands became someone else¡¯s tools.

    Kaden raced down the stairs and then scrambled through hallways to find one that lead lower.

    *Almost. She¡¯s right here. Unarmed. She¡¯s got her back turned.* Eve spoke with sweet, light tones.

    The knowledge spurred him on. The command wasn¡¯t subtle or conditional, it was clear and clean and absolute. Kaden descended three more floors, reaching ones that were no longer decorated, only utilitarian. Motivational chambers with bars lined the hall, and others had wooden slat doors.

    ¡°Sara! Run!¡± He spotted her down at the end of a hall with huge wooden doors. She kneeled on the floor, not looking, even her psuedopods studied something on the ground before her. She hadn¡¯t even heard his warning.

    Kaden sprinted forward, drawing Remembrance for an overhand swing that would split Sara down the middle.

    Wham!

    His feet left the ground as a gust of wind hit him, throwing him over Sara. Kaden¡¯ couldn¡¯t help spinning to land lightly. He couldn¡¯t help that a thick sheet of ice covered the floor. He slid helplessly into the stone wall and bounced back dazed.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sara said as she hacked down on his right hand. His injured hand.

    Kaden fought¡ªand lost.

    Sara tore Remembrance away.

    [Plague] struck, making him slide and sneeze and shiver.

    Hard to Kill has given you a new resistance: Resist Plague.

    ¡°Now!¡± Ashi shouted. A fireball formed before her.

    Kaden summoned the [Eldritch Shield] to drink in the spell¡ªand slid sideways as Sara¡¯s horror clamped down and used the ice to slide him through a door that slammed shut.

    ¡°Not that side!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°The other. How hard could it be? The other side was empty. That side is not.¡±

    Kaden hurled himself against the door over and over. The command slowly subsided, waiting. He couldn¡¯t physically reach Sara, and it wasn¡¯t sophisticated enough to say what he should do about it.

    Something rammed into Kaden.

    He looked back. A level fifteen minotaur backed up, lowered its head, and rammed again. Kaden ignored it. It was not Sara. He did not need to kill it. Sara. He so despearately needed to kill her.

    Deep in his mind, Kaden raged against the part of him that not only accepted the [Slaver]¡¯s command, it worked with it. Selion had killed Trinity. Trinity, who he hadn¡¯t been able to control.

    The minotaur rammed Kaden again, then brayed in frustration and rammed the door. Deep in Kaden, the part of him stil in control caught a desparate hope. All it would take was something impossible.

 Thirty Three - Beast

    His party was arguing over whether to risk attacking Selion or if they should drag Kaden out and flee. Their voices were urgent but calm, and Kaden wanted to help them right after he killed Sara, but right now, he was focused on killing Sara by getting out of the cell. The Minotaur had calmed down. Technically it had passed out after he tried to pet it and it tried to head butt him. The reflexive punch had knocked it out cold and Kaden now held it by the undergrown horns.

    There was something there. With it in his grasp, he felt the skill shift as though it were getting ready. For the thousandth time he read the description.

    [Beast Form]

    You have the soul of a Beast, and now you can take their shape. While in the shape of a Beast, you may use its skills and talents. Your health and mana will average. The resulting Beast¡¯s size will vary based on your level. As this skill levels, you will innately grasp some skills of your selected forms. You must contact a beast to save it as a form.

    That was the difference. ¡°Save form. Save Beast Form. Form of Beast. Shape of Beast. Beast Shape, go go, Go!¡±

    Nothing.

    He thought of how [Hatred Mark] had mutated, how the skill had felt as it changed from almost a status condition to an ability. He reached out mentally, gingerly, feeling for the difference. And something activated.

    You have saved [Minotaur] as a Beast Form.

    You may now use [Minotaur] as a target. Warning! Your natural abilities with this form are zero. Focus on forms to increase natural abilites.

    Yes! Kaden was rewarded with a flood of pleasure for doing something¡ªanything¡ªto kill Sara. Then frustration as it realized he as no closer to twisting her head until it popped off her neck.

    Now the [Beast Form] skill felt different. Active, like a door that was unlocked and ready to open. Kaden triggered it, and fell to one knee as pain split up hand down his body. His feet felt broken, and only removing the boots would help. His chest ached, and his clothes felt like they were strangling him.

    Kaden tore the armor off, putting it straight into Inventory so he could breathe. Naked, he kneeled on the floor. The [Beast Form] skill itself felt tender, bruised, but Kaden activated it. Pain became his world.

    His feets split and shriveled at the same time, a painstakingly slow process, like his body wanted to do it but couldn¡¯t quite figure it out. Toes merged to form misshapen hooves, which then divided out again and reformed. His skin itched everywhere as coarse brown hair grew in thick¡ªthen fell out in patches and regrew, and worst of all was the ache that split his skull as horns, short, stubby horns gew out of his skull.

    Moments became minutes, which might as well have been hours. His jaw jutted forward, the teeth were now broad and blunt, but power swirled through Kaden. This body was so much stronger. So much more powerful. For a moment, his body locked up, the spine shifting and re-arranging to absorb impacts to his skull.

    Then the mind changes began. Everything stank, even Kaden stank, but it was the herd-smell, the right-smell. The [Slaver] commands recoiled, unable to comprehend what had become of Kaden¡¯s mind.

    Kaden knew a few things.

    First off, he belonged on the plains, hunting in the tall, cool grass, not in a box.

    Second, that door was no match for Kaden¡¯s power. His little brother might not have been able to open it, but that was because his little brother was weak and useless.

    Kaden stood, unstable, and staggered back and forth on hooves. The balance was wrong, his knees were wrong, his weight uncentered and difficult to keep on top of his feet, and his limbs moved slowly, so slowly.

    The first charge ended with Kaden¡¯s feet going different directions and his tail getting squashed. The second charge, he mistimed [Headbutt] and woke up with the younger [Minotaur] sniffing him for injuries. The plains waited.

    Bitter plains wind and darkness and roaring battles waited.

    Kaden struggled to his feet and charged. [Headbutt!] He couldn¡¯t say the skill but he could declare it, and the System rewarded him with the most powerful headbutt of his short life as a minotaur.

    The door buckled outward, but held.

    Little Brother slammed into it.

    Good try, Little Brother. On one hoof, his blow had done nothing. On the other hoof, it was the thought that counted. No, actually, it was the headbutt that counted, but Kaden wouldn¡¯t tell Little Brother that.

    Kaden rose with purpose, remembering the cold grass whispering at night, the moon high above. Then lowered his head and charged, relying on instinct to activate [Headbutt].

    Splinters flew, and the door twisted as Kaden slammed into it. Little Brother¡¯s cries of encouragement had Kaden on his feet, and in a burst of inspiration, he picked up Little Brother and charged, smashing the door to splinters.

    You have gained a new skill! [Battering¡ªERROR_SKILL_ENTRY_EXISTS.]

    You have specialized!@# __ERROR_SPECIALIZATION_ALREADY_LOCKED

    [Battering Ram] is now available.

    You have broken a door.

    You have broken your ram.

    Little Brother didn¡¯t look so good anymore. He stumbled, as unstead as Kaden, but the pride-smell that came off of him gave Kaden hope. He brayed out a battle call¡ªand began to hunt, following herd-smells. Narrow stone-stairs let him climb up a level, where prey waited. Prey with swords and shields.

    The beast portion of his mind knew fear as lightning arced across the [Swordsmen]¡¯s shields, but the human portion knew names. People. Herd. The bad-things here were so focused on hurting his herd they didn¡¯t even notice until Kaden towered over them. [Headbutt] reduced one to a limp wreck, and Kaden picked up the other .

    The bad-thing kicked and struggled, striking the metal in Kaden¡¯s chest.

    It might as well have been kicking his horns.

    Kaden wall-rammed the man, then set him aside for Little Brother to trample, bite and bash. In that instant, the two halves of his mind went to war. One half knew what was right. It was cold and dark and battle and blood and the sheer joy of a bray that sent terror down the spines of everyone for miles.

    The other knew names and histories and hearts, and Kaden reached out, forcing, demanding he be in control. The battle was difficult, and far from settled, but he approached the pile of overturned furniture his herd hid behind and kneeled, giving a soft bray.

    Speech just didn¡¯t work in this form.

    Ashi. That was her name, the [PolyMage] in beautiful tan wraps that glistened with stones. She stepped out first. ¡°Kaden. It is he. The metal in his chest, the mana in his soul.¡±

    ¡°[Slavers] can¡¯t control Beasts.¡± Sara stepped out and looked him up and down. ¡°You still feel compelled to kill me?¡±

    Kaden gave a slow shake of his head. His fingers were thick and only four remained on each hand. He reached out, grasping air.

    Sara drew Remembrance from Inventory. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you use this. I can barely put it away.¡±

    It felt too small in his hands, but he didn¡¯t have a double-edge axe. It would have to do for now. Kaden sniffed the air, then looked up.

    ¡°Yes, we still need to deal with Selion. Ashi hasn¡¯t found the Portal blocking runes, but she did find the ones that control the Fire Mana Bombs. Selion isn¡¯t as dumb as he looks. He let the guards in. There were eight, now there¡¯s three unaccounted for.¡± Sara looked to Ashi. ¡°Where now?¡±

    ¡°Up. We must face the [Slaver] no matter what or risk dying in an explosion. Let him contend with us now. How much of your mind remains?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°[Their Swordsmen] will rush to attack. Hold them back and we will do the rest.¡±

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    Kaden tried to summon a [Mana Dart]. The skill wouldn¡¯t activate. Instead, he pointed up, then made a fist. That should be clear.

    Little Brother stood behind Kaden, snorting with rage at Kaden¡¯s party, because he was little and stupid and weak. Little Brother didn¡¯t understand how some family you dropped from onto the earth and hit the earth, shivering and wet. Some family you found as you migrated through the plains of life.

    Kaden turned and lumbered for the staircase, dragging Little Brother along behind. There was no Stealth. There was no aura. There was only fear in the air as he climbed, the smell of fear that grew stronger with every step.

    At the top of the stairs, he raised his head and bellowed.

    You have used [Bahamut Bray]. Allie¡¯s attack will be raised. Enemies will suffer [Fear].

    Kaden charged out into the ground floor where he had met Selion. A [Swordsman] leaped from behind the high back chair to swing down, cutting deep into Kaden¡¯s thigh. Kaden lifted him up and smashed his face into the ground and then threw him to the side.

    Lightning struck the man, followed by arrow after arrow, while Kaden sniffed. There was someone else here. Someone hiding. Deep snorts brought his scent, and the adrenaline that any clever prey felt when he hunted them.

    The Sara-Herd and Ashi-Herd didn¡¯t notice, but the Eve-Outsider was more aware, glancing about.

    Kaden picked up the chair and hurled it across the room, then tore cabinets off the wall and slung them to smash out the windows with a roar.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Ashi-Herd shouted. ¡°Calm yourself. Are you a man or a Beast?¡±

    He knew the answer to that. The broken window brought new air, and with it, a trace of the fear-scent that made Kaden bray with pleasure. He grunted to Little Brother, who bled from his horns as any growing minotaur should. Then grabbed Little Brother and spun, hurling him.

    Something oofed as Little Brother crashed into them.

    [Stealth] dissolved, and Sara attacked before Kaden could even charge. She fought a [Slyfoot] who carried a blowgun for about twenty seconds, then carried half a blowgun.

    A flash of glitter, and the rogue disappeared.

    Kaden sniffed, smelling blood from where Sara nicked him, and pointed.

    ¡°[Chilling Blast]!¡± Ashi cast the spell, ¡°[Misty Fog]!¡±

    A shadow moved in the fog as it solidified, and Sara loosed an arrow that stuck in nothing. The [Slyfoot] fell over as [Life Explosion] activated, and Sara mercifully ended the battle a moment later.

    Ashi circled the room, then pointed to the wall. ¡°There. A Control Rune.¡±

    Any wall that threatened his herd was a dead wall. Kaden tapped the wall, looking to Ashi. When she nodded, he [Headbutted] it over and over until the plaster cracked. A glowing rune showed in the stone.

    ¡°Lift, please. I will not burn mana on [Hover].¡± Ashi let him lift her up, then put a hand on the rune. It pulsed and blinked, then went black. ¡°No longer will he control anything.The Mana Bombs can no longer activate through these runes.¡±

    A black crow sailed into the room through the broken windows and circled Kaden, and kept circling. After a few minutes, it sailed away. Then returned to Sara. ¡°I¡¯m almost there. One of them was willing. It took so much time to break that bond. Mistress Scylla¡¯s home burst into flame a moment ago and I can¡¯t find Kaden.¡±

    Trella-mate. He couldn¡¯t help the grunt of pure pleasure. Kaden pounded Remembrance for attention and pointed up. He had a [Slaver] to kill.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Sara-herd said. ¡°Just a little while longer.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t understand.

    The smell of others drifted downward, some anger, some fear, some like a sickness, and every ounce of Kaden¡¯s soul longed to chase them down and show Little Brother how to properly gore an enemy.

    The Eve approached, looking up at him. ¡°It really is you. I mean, you look like you. Except uglier. So much uglier and you smell terrible. But a level twenty seven [Minotaur]. That¡¯s powerful.¡±

    Something was wrong about that. Kaden was sure he was stronger. Sure he had been stronger. And that was the point at which he panicked, because Kaden no longer remembered what the other form looked like. Or felt like.

    ¡°Sara!¡± Trella¡¯s voice carried through the window as she leaped in. ¡°What are you still doing here? Did you find the slaves? Did you¡­¡±

    She stared at Kaden. Swallowed. ¡°That¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got bigger problems,¡± Eve said. ¡°The estate manager is Ducat¡¯s little brother. He¡¯s also a [Slaver] and he attacked Kaden. Beasts aren¡¯t affected by [Slaver] commands.¡±

    ¡°That. Is. Kaden.¡± Trella put a hand on his. Hers fit in his palm, and his four fingers covered her entire hand. She touched the metal embedded in his chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is going to hurt for a moment.¡±

    Kaden winced as white light flared behind his eyes, and he almost fell over as searing pain blossomed in his head.

    EXTERNAL ENTITY CONTROL REMOVED.

    The bond on you has been broken.

    You are no longer elligible for binding.

    Trella wasn¡¯t speaking. She wasn¡¯t even looking at him. She kneeled down, her head dropped, as her arms shook.

    ¡°She¡¯s hit level twenty five,¡± Sara said. ¡°Hold on, it will pass.¡±

    [Identify] actually differently for Kaden, showing rings of colors like those that told him how dangerous demons were. And Trella was changing color from a light yellow to a deep red.

    She stood and patted her self. ¡°How do you deal with this? It¡¯s so intense. Every skill is screaming at me. And I¡¯m so much more powerful.¡±

    ¡°Give it a day or two,¡± Eve said. ¡°Kaden, it¡¯s safe to change back, right?¡±

    Kaden shook his head, then held out both palms. Back would require remembering where to go back to. And how to get back. And also wanting to get back. This form was so much easier. See an enemy, kill an enemy.

    ¡°Kanli told him this could happen,¡± Trella said. ¡°I have four more slaves to free and one [Slaver] to end. Then we burn this place to the ground in case there¡¯s any ritual equipment left.¡±

    At last Kaden was free. He unleashed another [Bahamut Bray] and charged up the stairs. Remembrance caught a sword swing meant to cut off his head, and Little Brother rammed the [Swordsman] in the chest.

    Kaden held him up and put Little Brother¡¯s head right in the center of the man¡¯s chest. Then rammed him forward to break bones.

    This time, Little Brother understood. This time, he didn¡¯t just break ribs, he smashed a heart and bleated for approval.

    Trella stood behind him, mouth open. ¡°I love you, but it¡¯s going to be a while before we have sex again. I¡¯m going to have to get¡­all of this¡­out of my mind.¡±

    Kaden grunted. Grumpy mates were the worst mates.

    The other [Guard] stood in front of a group of women, his sword drawn. ¡°If you come one step closer, I¡¯ll kill them.¡±

    Kaden shouldered Remembrance and began to dance, tapping his hooves on the floor in a pleasing pattern.

    ¡°What the actual hell is that? Some kind of ritual?¡± The guard said. His attention slipped for the slightest moment.

    Trella [Backstabbed] him as her Deception [Frontstabbed] him, then dodged his slash to cut over and over. Every cut left black stains that grew outward. [Plague] exploded on the man¡¯s body and [Life Explosion] left him a wreck that Little Brother practiced his [Headbutt] on.

    One by one, Trella freed the women. ¡°Downstairs. Find the woman with the cosmic horrors¡ªthey¡¯re not snakes¡ªon her back.¡±

    Then she looked to Eve. ¡°You can go help Ashi and Sara.¡±

    Eve shook her head. ¡°Just because you¡¯re going to kill a [Slaver]? This death is well earned, and I will help you survive to deliver it if you can protect me from him.¡±

    ¡°Let Kaden go first. Once he¡¯s occupied, you¡¯re welcome to join in if you keep out of sight.¡± Trella looked upward. ¡°Distract him?¡±

    Kaden headed for the stairs to the rooftop.

    Selion stood on the rooftop, clutching a sword. He stared across the city to the inferno that raged on the other side. ¡°Ducat isn¡¯t coming home. So the house is mine. And I¡¯ll claim those beautiful green snakes on your back¡ªwait. Where is the snake woman?¡±

    With each lumbering step, Kaden closed the distance.

    ¡°You look familiar, Beast.¡± Selion pointed his blade at Kaden. ¡°But I have bad news. I¡¯ve killed a beast already¡ªalrea¡ª¡±

    His lips began to bleed, and flies buzzed all around him. Eve had ducked out to use [Plague]. [Life Explosion] hit and blood gushed from every orifice in Selion¡¯s body. Kaden couldn¡¯t use [Mana Drain] but he did have [Blood Drain] in the form of using Remembrance.

    Selion might not have been a Centurion but he was a [Swordsman], and instinct alone brought his blades up to block¡ªexcept that now Trella fought him, and her Deception¡ªand its echo. Selion had levels for advantage, but Kaden pressed him with sheer power, while Eve¡¯s debuffs increased with every minute.

    The first strike that delivered [Ink] to Selion was the moment of momentum. Without mana regen, Selion had to choose when to use his skills. Kaden smelled the moment coming, when Selion¡¯s bravado swapped to fear.

    He roared a warning, but *Hey, he¡¯s about to run* didn¡¯t really translate into ¡®Rawwwaarrrr.¡¯

    Selion danced backward to dodge a thrust¡ªand leaped off the building top. He hit the ground and took off running for the gate.

    Trella was with Kaden on the roof¡ªand then stepping out of a shadow by the gate to slam a dagger into his belly. Evercut, the weapon that did constant damage. She clutched him close as the suprise faded, then cut both sides of his neck with Evercut.

    There was no flash of light, no trumpets.

    The Slaver died.

    Trella stored his corpse and ran for the house.

    Kaden had followed Eve downstairs with Little Brother close behind. Trella watched as Ashi checked each person before allowing them through a portal. ¡°These have no magical implants,¡± Ashi said, then pointed to a young man. ¡°He will explode if he leaves this building.¡±

    Trella studied him. ¡°Can you remove it?¡±

    ¡°It is but a silver ring in his heart.¡± Ashi looked to the man. ¡°If I remove it, you may die. If I do not remove it, you will die. The decision I leave to you.¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t let him kill me.¡±

    Inventory wasn¡¯t natural for Kaden in this form, but he drew the Levicon Blade, which he couldn¡¯t grasp with his blunt, thick fingers. It clattered to the floor, frustratingly small.

    Ashi took it.

    Kaden didn¡¯t see her move, but blood gushed from the man¡¯s chest, and she pulled back his rib cage to grasp a silver ring before he could scream. And scream he did, even when Eve applied [Life Transfusion].¡±

    ¡°Everyone out. I¡¯m going to set off the activators by the Fire Mana bombs. There won¡¯t be anything left. No evidence we were ever here.¡± Trella pushed Kaden in the chest.

    Well, she gave it a solid try, pushing his belly button. ¡°Trust me. I¡¯ll sabotage a heatstone and set off the activators.¡±

    Kaden fumbled to draw something from his soul. A [Match Lizard]. He pointed at the lizard, then the house, and waved his fingers to indicated fire.

    ¡°You seriously think this little guy can set off the activators?¡± Trella squinted. ¡°It¡¯s better than sabotaging a heat-stone. You could do it remotely, right? Tell him to explode?¡±

    [Beast Soul] worked better in this form, and Kaden appreciated the [Fire Lizard¡¯s] deepest desire for sheer purity. Some lizards just wanted to see the world burn.

    He turned and escorted the others out of the house and onto the streets. The city watched as Mistress Trella¡¯s house blazed. Thirty seconds later, the shadows beside him welled up as Trella used [Shadow Arc] to stand beside him. ¡°No one run. Everyone stares at a fire, and we want to be everyone. Kaden, stay right behind Sara. Sara, if anyone asks, you¡¯re a minotaur summoner. Have that lizard do its thing.¡±

    Kaden gave a grunt to reassure Little Brother.

    The world turned red as a column of brilliant red fire exploded upward. It was easy to stare. Easy to be one of a growing crowd. And then, as [Fire Mages] gathered to try and control the inferno, easy to drift away.

 Thirty Four - Free [END OF VOLUME]

    Kaden was loose, running as fast as his hooves could carry him. He ducked under branches and leaped over rails, twisting to avoid the many hands that would catch him. That would drag him back and keep him from being free.

    Faster and faster he ran, twisting down a path.

    He dodged one pursuer.

    Too late, recognized the ambusher who leaped out and dragged him up in the air. A violent ¡°Baaaaaaaaaaaaa¡± of frustration errupted from Kaden¡¯s lips.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t say he¡¯d be this cute!¡± Trella shouted as she clutched him close.

    Kaden wiggled his hind legs and fought to gain ground, but it was no use, he was just too short.

    ¡°That¡¯s why people love [Sheep Men]. We were using a minotaur form, but someone couldn¡¯t control their temper,¡± Kanli said. The Druid Centurion focused on Kaden. ¡°Now, do it. Adrenaline is high. Your heart is pounding, that Beast in your brain wants to run. Change back. If you can¡¯t start the change under stress, you can¡¯t do it.¡±

    Kaden grasp his tenous link. The place in his mind she¡¯d reminded him of. The place she¡¯d forced him to go when he arrived, a hulking eight foot tall Minotaur, at the grove. His transformations were painfully slow, but deliberate, exactly as she¡¯d instructed.

    ¡°Is he actually changing?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Come on, little guy. You¡¯d already be on a barbecue spit in a real battle.¡±

    Kaden let out a bleat of frustration.

    The headbutt was instinctual and left Trella stumbling.

    Kanli slapped him on the head so fast it left Kaden stunned. ¡°What did I say? What did I tell you would happen next time you did that?¡±

    Kaden bleated and squirmed and fought as the Centurion drew a pair of shears. ¡°Some people have to learn the hard way.¡±

    ###

    Kaden sat at a table in a Treespace, wrapped in a blanket. The cold air hit his bald head and stung, but he¡¯d managed the transformation in less than an hour under Kanli¡¯s demanding gaze.

    She said it would get faster.

    She said he would get more powerful

    The cries of shame from Little Brother had left his cheeks red as the freshly shorn skin of his [Sheep man] form. But he¡¯d done it. In time, changing to a minotaur would be easier. In time, changing to other forms would be possible.

    The Treespace portal opened, and Sara stepped through. ¡°I picked up your new armor and what was left of Skully, he¡¯s being tended by the Necromancers in Verona. Trunistan is in mourning. Two valued citizens killed, a visiting Centurion gravely wounded by a lurking [Assassin.]. No one questions why Mom won¡¯t be sticking around in Trunistan.¡±

    Then she handed Kaden a jar. ¡°Pure genius, using that [Match Lizard] to set off the charges. They found this little guy in the ashes. The official conclusion was Ducat had a home protection system that was triggered accidentally.¡±

    Kaden let the [Match Lizard] out to climb up to his lapel. The lizard was distinctly fatter than it had been, and had a curious golden shine to it.

    Trella emerged from the shower wrapped in a robe. ¡°She told me she has some investigation to do. They¡¯d never heard of two [Slavers] but the system logs don¡¯t lie. This brings a lot more questions than it does answers.¡±

    Kaden dressed in his new armor, which stiff and creaked as he put it on. With Ashi¡¯s help, he snapped the mana stones into metal sockets on the armor. When the last one connected, it resonated across his body. The guantlet gripped his hand tightly, and when he flexed, it added strength.

    It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it would help. The new boots were dark brown and coated in tiny jewels on the soles for traction. He snapped the Needful Cloak on and willed it to be longer, heavier against the cold. ¡°Sara, any word from the fleet?¡±

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    ¡°Repairs won¡¯t happen until spring,¡± Sara said. ¡°We need to train another crew anyway, and odds are we¡¯ll need to act as guards for a few runs until our flag is recognized as a hard target.¡±

    ¡°I need to go to Egalion,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I have an inheritance to return. Eve, I¡¯ll make it quick.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going, too. I won¡¯t let anyone control where I do or do not go. But if I decide to leave quickly, know it¡¯s what I need to do.¡±

    Trinity hadn¡¯t recovered from her death at the Slaver¡¯s hands, and Kaden didn¡¯t feel comfortable going into the wilds, but a civilized city like Egalion, he could handle. Skully had several infected skulls for Sevin. ¡°The Druids have decided where the [Burning Dream Queen] egg will go. I agreed last night.¡±

    ¡°Let it be somewhere far away,¡± Ashi said

    ¡°There¡¯s a volcanic wasteland far to the south where they can become the dominant monster species. Their dependency on [Fire mana] should keep them from spreading,¡± Kaden said. ¡°They¡¯ll send word when it¡¯s time.¡±

    Ashi cleared her throat. ¡°I have located a page of my spellbook. Evelyn, it is your help I need. I will pay as I can. You are familiar with customs of diplomats. A page is in the treasury of the Iron Gear Empire.¡±

    Eve pursed her lips. ¡°Iron Gear has been on the edge of collapse for a generation. You could probably take the page as easily as negotiate. That said, during this stage, there will always be individuals who want out. That¡¯s your approach.¡±

    When he headed out of the Treespace, Kan Li was waiting, arms crossed. The tall black woman had been relentless, but he bowed. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°What are my rules?¡±

    ¡°Stick to one form for now. Change someplace safe. Don¡¯t stay a beast more than twenty-four hours.¡± Kaden still didn¡¯t like the one-form rule.

    ¡°In a decade or three, you¡¯ll be fast and powerful. Right now, just relax. When¡ªnot if¡ªyou get stuck, your party knows to drag you back here. And don¡¯t mix forms, ever, at all. I can do it, but I have hundreds of years experience.¡± She turned to Little Brother, who stood a good foot taller. ¡°You are welcome to stay here, or I have friends in a herd. I think you should join a herd. You¡¯d be happy there.¡±

    Little Brother let out a bray. Kaden had listened to him long enough now that [Beast Soul] just worked. ¡°Kanli can teach you to gore a man¡¯s heart just as well as I can. Probably better. I¡¯ll be by to visit, and if you want to join a herd, that¡¯s ok, too. I got you a present.¡±

    Kaden drew the weapon from Inventory, a heavy double-edged battle axe. ¡°This is a minotaur¡¯s weapon. I mean, it was a minotaur¡¯s weapon. Not anyone you knew. I hope.¡±

    Little Brother took the axe and grunted in pleasure.

    ¡°With a fine weapon like that, you could make friends,¡± Kanli said. ¡°All the female minotaurs would be impressed.¡±

    From what Kaden had learned, the minotaur had been taken as a calf from his herd and used for Ducat to experiment on, attempting to learn to use [Slaver] on Beasts. He had a lot to learn about living on the plains as a wild minotaur.

    Goodbyes were never easy, so when Kanli took Little Brother to find a tree he could smash with his new axe, Kaden and the party left. On the way to the FarPortal, Eve spoke. ¡°Did anyone else just get that notification?¡±

    Kaden had been focused on forgetting.

    Sara wasn¡¯t paying attention, her gaze distant.

    Ashi looked shocked.

    And Trella, that was amazement on her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell anyone about [Quest Master]. Mistress Scylla said there would be a reward for what we went through. You should know, they didn¡¯t kill Selion. Not permanently.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s stomach revolted, and he missed a step. He hadn¡¯t spoken of what it was like, not even to Trella. And she¡¯d stopped asking. ¡°What was the reward supposed to be?¡±

    ¡°A thousand gold. Did we all get two thousand?¡± Trella asked.

    The nervous laughter all around told Kaden the answer.

    His number was different. *Did you know?*

    *His slaves were granted a choice. Swear a set of oaths to never reveal anything about us and receive enough gold for a new life, or Eternis would grant them rebirth in a different world, immediately. The [High Priestess] owes us. Mistress Scylla said she didn¡¯t think you¡¯d want reincarnation.*

    Kaden didn¡¯t want a new life. The things he wanted were simple, much like a [Match Lizard]. ¡°I want to finish the Fangwood Open Air dungeon and move on to the second level. And I will go all the way down to the erratic at the bottom.¡±

    ¡°The Guildmaster wants to know if we¡¯re available to run a rank six dungeon.¡± Sara said it without commitment. ¡°He thinks it¡¯s erratic, but it¡¯s only claimed three parties in a year. One survivor said the dungeon went erratic. Started spawning different monsters and changing the layout in the middle of a run.¡±

    That would be a priority. ¡°Get the location.¡±

    Trella¡¯s Deception materialized beside him, and spoke in an echo of her voice. ¡°Can¡¯t wait to try my new tricks in a dungeon. The Sisters have a mission waiting for us, when we¡¯re ready.¡±

    ¡°Us.¡± That made him startle, as the shadow melted away to reveal Trella in its place. ¡°All of us?¡±

    ¡°If they¡¯re interested. If not, you and me. I need to start building Faction favor. I know which one I¡¯ll join, but I¡¯ll take the XP for the Getting to Know You Quests. Doubled.¡± Trella leaned against him as they waited for the FarPortal to activate, and Vip dashed over to beg for attention.

    ¡°This is it,¡± Kaden said.

    There were more demons and slavers and monsters in his life than he would have expected. There were more demands from powerful people, more expectations and risk, too. But there were friends. Lovers. And as the FarPortal activated, he felt the soul bond surge between him and Trinity.

    There would be beasts.

    So many beasts.

 YAN (Yet Another Recap) [Start of Volume Eight]

    If you just finished reading Fire Beast Master, just click on ahead. If you¡¯ve slept since then, have a toddler or a head injury, just plow ahead for a recap of Fire Beast Master.

    Last book¡­Kaden and party checked up on BirchHome and found it thriving. Kaden got in between two centurions brawling, earned a talent that doubled his Quest Rewards, and the gryphon egg finally hatched, deformed and dying. Kaden took it to his dungeon where it was reborn as a Wandering Champion, Cloud, and placed Cloud in the care of a smaller colony to learn to be a gryphon.

    Working with a group of rangers, Kaden and Eve marked demons infesting a village and the rangers slaughtered them, with Trella fighting the oldest Demon¡¯s Duaghter, Desmona, and Kaden capturing the name of the fifth Abyss Lord, which he traded for spell pages that, like Ashi, shift colleges.

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    They escorted a group of level twenty mages through a Fire Domain maintained by the royal fmaily of Trunistan, where Kaden encountered a fire dragon, stole a scale, and wound up in possession of the only Burning Dream Queen egg, which was just loot all around.

    When they emerged in Trunistan, a city that reveres crafters, Trella spotted a [Slaver]. Her first mission? Free the slaves, while Mistress Scylla dealt with the slaver. Kaden used the dragon scale to unlock [Beast Form], severely burning his right hand with sheer mana. While Trella freed the slaves outside the Slaver¡¯s house the party hit the house, where they discovered a second Slaver, the younger brother. He took control of Kaden, who fought back by using [Beast Form] to become a minotaur. Trella broke the slaver¡¯s control, they killed the slaver, and blew up his house with a [Match Lizard] and a few spare mana bombs. Afterwards, the slaver¡¯s victims were rewarded with enough gold for a new life¡­which Kaden¡¯s talent doubled. With Trella finally at tier two, the party prepared for a new phase of life.

 One - Happens to Everyone [Also Start of Volume Eight]

    Kaden Birch drank in the roaring heat, the smell of sulfur, the buzzing of a colony of [Dagger Wasps] who would strip the flesh from his bones if he made a mistake. Beside him, a [Druid] in a loincloth urged him forward. ¡°Quickly, the Queen accepts your presence, but only for now.¡±

    The Nest hung overhead, a wide disk of cups, most containing eggs, but some held dagger wasp grubbs the size of his fist, or pupae who would emerge as foot-long wasps with black and yellow stripes and stingers that jutted from their abdomens.

    Kaden continued to [Soul Bind] individual wasps and release them. Releasing them didn¡¯t turn them hostile, but the wasps weren¡¯t friendly to start. They woke up angry, they went to sleep angry, and in-between they flew around stabbing things with their butt-knife.

    In the center of the nest, a hollow spot waited, chewed out by the Queen. Kaden drew a paper cup from Inventory, six times the size of any of the others. The egg inside glowed bright red and pulsed as it drank in heat. Kaden slipped the cup into place and held it there long enough for the sticky paste to grasp it.

    It was everything he could do. From a few feet away, the [Dagger Wasp Queen] watched, hanging upside down from the comb. Kaden backed away, still binding them all. ¡°Tell them to relax. It¡¯s not like their venom hurts me.¡±

    ¡°That would not make them relax.¡± The Druid [Tamer] had selected this colony to raise the [Burning Dream Queen], the first (or last) of a new species of boss monster. [Dagger Dreams] were the boss monster version of [Dagger Wasps] and [Burning Dreams] were the fire-infused bosses.

    Together, the two retreated until they could turn and run, then raced out of the volcanic underground.

    You have failed a Hidden Quest: I am the Decider - End the Burning Dream Species.

    You have completed a Hidden Quest: My Little Monster - Save the Burning Dream Species. You have chosen to believe there is a path and place for every species. [Guardian of Life] is upgraded.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t expected that. Quest Master, his talent, hadn¡¯t doubled the rewards, but perhaps these rewards couldn¡¯t be doubled. He checked the title description again.

    [Confirmed Guardian of Life]

    Life Energy surrounds you and nurtures those protected by your presence. Status Effects expire sooner and wounds begin healing immediately, even wounds that would not normally heal. Skills grow faster in your presence, and all XP rewards are increased. In your presence, death is forestalled. Life that develops in your care reaches its maximum potential. Follow your Destiny.

    A group of [Druids] waited near the farportal they used to reach the cave network. The head of the Grove, a woman named Alina, waited anxiously. ¡°Gerard, was the Queen accepting?¡±

    Gerard, Loin-Cloth-Druid put his hands together and bowed. ¡°Yes. Nature approves. That nest will die. It will take all their energy to raise their new daughter, but when she hatches, she will be ready to assume her place.¡±

    Kaden shared the quest logs. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware a title could be upgraded.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s uncommon but hardly unheard of,¡± Alina said. ¡°Will you be staying a night or two with us? I got your request, Bliss and Zill both have [Shape Shift]. You can ask them anything.¡±

    Kaden looked to the man and woman. ¡°I have a skill called [Beast Form]. I got stuck the first time I shifted, Kanli from our local grove had to help me shift back. I learned from her for a few weeks. Lately¡­I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Shapeshift skills are slow,¡± the man said. ¡°And a bad shift happens to everyone, usually the first or second time. It puts a barrier in your mind. You¡¯re subconsciously trying to protect yourself.¡±

    ¡°Can you start the shift?¡± The woman asked.

    Kaden nodded. ¡°My target form is a Minotaur. I can change my feet to hooves. About the time my knees break, the process stops.¡±

    Both seemed relieved. They exchanged glances, and the man spoke. ¡°As long as you can start the transformation, don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯re trying to rush. Shift in moments. I¡¯d bet it takes you hours, or it did when you did it successfully.¡±

    ¡°Two hours, the first time. Four hours to change back the first time I did it intentionally. I had both down to about two hours with Kanli¡¯s guidance.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help with the frustration. ¡°What do I need to do?¡±

    Bliss, who seemed to be the woman, reached out and took his hand. ¡°Oh, I can feel the skill. Your expectations are all wrong. It takes [Druids] ten years to get good shift control. Second, you¡¯re rushing. If it takes you twenty four hours, it takes twenty four hours.¡±

    ¡°Start the shift and when you get stuck, just wait,¡± Zill added. ¡°You could go months without starving to death. Stay there. Sleep like that. Drink like that. Your mental barriers literally can¡¯t stay up forever and when they go down, the process will complete. Every time after that gets easier.¡±

    That sinking feeling in Kaden¡¯s gut was acceptance there wasn¡¯t a better way around the block. ¡°Thank you. Can you let me know how the colony progresses?

    ¡°Of course!¡± The druids allowed him to take first trip on the [Far Portal].

    Kaden headed straight to Verona, where his Party would be, and emerged in the chaos and joy of the Guild. Down below, Adventurers were celebrating with someone who had apparently slain their first demon. The floor shook as people stomped their feet and chanted, ¡°What do we do when Demons invade? We send them home in pieces!¡±

    Kaden bypassed the crafters floor, and almost made it out of the guild before a Quest Broker ran him down. ¡°Hey, you. Guild Administrator¡¯s been looking for you.¡±

    ¡°Pretty sure he hasn¡¯t.¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯ll send a bird. I¡±m a little busy.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ve got eleven Faction dispatches for your Party leader,¡± the broker said.

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°Take it up with Sara. I¡¯m just the muscle.¡±

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    ¡°Your name is on ten of these. Kaden Birch. I had a creepy guy from the Thieve¡¯s Guild hanging around for two days last week, waiting for you.¡± The Broker¡¯s tone said Kaden should be apologizing.

    ¡°I can¡¯t accept quests. I can only advise Sara, and Sara has been really busy.¡± Sara had been really busy, mostly on projects benefiting the Party directly. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to her today.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s in the City Council meeting hall,¡± the broker said. ¡°Please? I can only hold ten. I have to return one of these today.¡±

    Kaden headed out into the city¡ªaway from the City Council. He had an agreed stop to make, and that was at a two story building with white stone walls and glass doors large enough to let a full grown quillophant through. Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services.

    James Dervish stood inside, illuminated by the golden display lights that lit up his beasts, and he saw Kaden coming. The man was almost seven feet tall, with white scars covering what little skin showed, and one missing eye that was replaced with a glowing green crystal. His white silk suit didn¡¯t dare have a wrinkle, and his cane¡ªwhat most people would call a war hammer, stood as tall as Kaden¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Thanks for stopping by.¡±

    Kaden shook his hand. ¡°Got something you need me to check out? Or generating summons?¡±

    ¡°Little of both, but that ain¡¯t the reason.¡± The Summoning Saint drew something from a suit pocket¡ªa pocket linked to his Inventory. The simple wooden whistle had been a prized possession of a Queen Kaden killed. ¡°You certain you¡¯re not going to use it?¡±

    [Dog Whistle]

    Summon a [Marauder] to do your bidding with the word of your choice. You do not need to blow on the dog whistle, your summoning word will communicate in a way they can hear. The type of [Maurader] you can summon will increase as you level your bond with this item.

    ¡°Fairly sure.¡± Kaden had leant it to Mistress Scylla. ¡°It just summons a [Marauder]. Right?¡±

    ¡°One that don¡¯t leave.¡± Mr. Dervish summoned a [milk spider] the size of his fist. Then a second one. The first faded away as the second appeared. ¡°Don¡¯t judge it by how it is. Think about what it could be.¡±

    One of the nearby displays shook as an [Ice Drake] blasted the mana barier with ice. Kaden had never been a huge fan of Summoning because a summoned beast was just one instance of the entity bound to their soul. Summoners could and would use their Beasts as disposable warriors. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really match my style. I named a [Match Lizard]. What do you have in mind?¡±

    ¡°¡®Summoning Saint.¡¯ It¡¯s in my name. I train new summoners, and I got one I¡¯d like to train. Now, nothing gets you nothing, but I got a trade, if you¡¯re interested.¡±

    The first lesson Kaden had ever learned. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡±

    ¡°Stop listening, start reading.¡± Mr. Dervish handed Kaden a scroll. Not a skill scroll. A bill of sale.

    Kaden read it and couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°You most definitely have a deal. I don¡¯t really control it, but if it shows up, you know where to find me.¡±

    ¡°I do. It¡¯s down at Beast Control right now, which is where I¡¯m going. You ever think about learning to make Skill Scrolls?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°[Mana Dart] isn¡¯t in high demand.¡±

    ¡°[Backsmash] might be. Or [Stealth Aura].¡± Together they stalked through the streets of Verona. Spring wouldn¡¯t come for months. This far north, Spring would be like a Priest, often talked about but mostly seen from a distance, then disappearing.

    Beast Control was built into Verona¡¯s city walls, literally. The wide bays of the intake entrance stood closed against the winter cold, but Mr. Dervish lifted a door ten times his size with ease, and let Kaden duck under.

    The night shift workers leaped up.

    ¡°Lay back down, I got no problem with rest,¡± Mr. Dervish said as he passed through into the back hallways. Each was coded with colors that indicated what Beasts could be found in what direction.

    ¡°Sir?¡± Okit Von Czerk, a tall, thin woman with shiny white hair that changed to blue at her shoulders, stood with a clipboard. ¡°We are ready for your surprise inspection.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were working at the big house,¡± Kaden said.

    Okit looked to him with a grimace. ¡°There was a small incident.¡±

    ¡°Everybody almost burns it down at least once,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°And this ain¡¯t an inspection. Kaden¡¯s here to bind that Drake with an obedience binding. And I¡¯m here to start you on a road.¡±

    Mr. Dervish cupped his hands tightly around the wooden whistle. ¡°Learned to make Skill Scrolls a hundred years ago. If I wasn¡¯t the Summoning Saint, this probably wouldn¡¯t work. But I am.¡±

    Mana rushed inward toward Mr. Dervish¡ªthen popped in a way that left Kaden¡¯s ears ringing. When he opened his hands, broken pieces of wood sat with a pristine scroll. ¡°This will make you a Summoner, if you want. If you don¡¯t, you won¡¯t offend me.¡±

    Okit gingerly took the scroll, as though he¡¯d clamp down his fist. She read it, and it collapsed to nothing beneath her fingers. ¡°How¡ªoh¡ªthat is how. Abris!¡±

    From just around the corner, a scraggly [Marauder] limped. This one was so much weaker than what Mistress Scylla had summoned. Its ribs showed, and it dropped the stick it held with a clatter and pissed itself as Mr. Dervish looked at it. ¡°Yep, that¡¯s a starter summons. Feed ¡®em, give it a bath. I¡¯ll work with ya on dismissal tomorrow.¡±

    Okit seemed terrified to touch her own Summons. ¡°In Den Tolten, to receive a Class was to owe twenty years of service.¡±

    ¡°We ain¡¯t doing that.¡± Mr. Dervish pointed on down the hallway. ¡°Kaiden, your drake¡¯s waiting. Hope you can handle it better than we have.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t wait. He headed straight to the War Beast containment section of Beast Control. A pair of [Railadras] fought against the barriers that kept them contained. A crossbreed of scorpions and goats, they featured the worst parts of each, but at least didn¡¯t have wings.

    [Beast Soul] let him project calm until they went back to chewing on their food, which was chunks of meat mixed with thorny vines.

    In the far corner, a great black [Drake] perched, his wings closed tight, his long black tail coiled around his body.

    ¡°Hey.¡± Kaden stepped up and punched in the code for the mana barrier. ¡°Remember me? I told you you could go to Fangwood.¡±

    *Cold. Dark. Lonely.* The Drake¡¯s words were punctuated with emotion. Most Drakes were enlightened, meaning they had actual thoughts, opinions, and desires. This was the first one Kaden had seen unhappy about being alone. In the wild, they were solitary, meeting only to mate. Still, Kaden had ideas. He summoned the FalCrow and sent to with a message, then held up the purple binding Mr. Dervish gave him. ¡°If you accept this, there¡¯s somewhere you can go. If you don¡¯t, you need to head to Fangwood, or stay here.¡±

    Along with the words, he sent the image of BirchHaven, and the Drake perching atop a building, watching people come and go. Of keepers who would shovel wheelbarrows filled with food. Centurions marveling at his majesty¡ªor at least choosing not to attack, as long as the drake did the same.

    It slowly lowered its head and opened violet eyes to stare, then flicked its tongue to touch the binding. [Soul Binding] had already done its work. What formed between then was the weakest Obedience binding on earth. Kaden couldn¡¯t see it, but he could feel it. It was less obedience and more suggestion.

    ¡°Come on.¡± Kaden led the beast to the front doors and shuddered as cold wind struck. ¡°They¡¯re expecting you. If you go now, there could still be dinner. Why do you even want to be around people?¡±

    The Drake stopped, and Kaden grew very aware of how much larger it was as the long neck bent so it could look at him. What come out was a feeling. *Bored.*

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Kaden checked, he¡¯d borrowed [Wrath of the Furnace], but [Flight] wasn¡¯t available. Would you mind giving me a lift to the City Council? It¡¯s not far from Birchhome. And I¡¯ve always wanted to fly.¡±

    The Drake opened its mouth and let out a crackling roar that [Beast Soul] translated as *Flying IS the best.*

    Okit stood near a food bin, letting her [Marauder] gorge itself on anything it wanted. Kaden wasn¡¯t sure how that would work. If the marauders all arrived starving and sick, how would she ever gain power as a summoner?

    Behind her, Mr. Dervish stood, instructing her on how to guide it. How to care for it. How to please give it a bath because it smelled like death.

    The howling wind said a storm was moving in, and Kaden donned a stolen coat. It belonged to the druids of the closest grove, but enchanted with fire mana, it let him ignore the cold and scramble up onto the back of the Drake. Mara, a [Ranger] friend had ridden this drake, so it knew how¡ªIt lunged straight upward on powerful wingbeats, heading straight toward clouds of snow.

    This was so much better than riding a winged scorpion. The powerful way the Drake flew, the supple motion of its body as it almost swam through the air. The lack of scorpion venom or being stung over and over.

    Without warning, they broke through the cloud cover and moonlight shone down on an ocean of gray. Kaden couldn¡¯t help the fear that made him clutch the Drake¡¯s wing-knobs¡ªthen gravity took over as it folded its wings and plummeted downward.

 Two - Trade You

    Kaden clung tight to the Drake as it plummeted downward, bursting through the cloud floor. BirchHome stood out in Verona, the Griffin¡¯s tree a brilliant beacon of light. The enchantment made it impossible to see in, but shapes moved in the light, and below a dozen buildings twinkled with lamplight.

    At his mental urge, the Drake landed in the wide open pathway beside Queen BrownBeak¡¯s tree, which also served as administration for BirchHome. Kaden slid down from it, still shakey, and let [Beast Soul] send the adrenaline, the pure excitement to the Drake.

    Which huffed. *Flying. Best.*

    It was a combination of ¡°Flying is the best and also I am the best at flying,¡± in the Drake¡¯s mind. Kaden wouldn¡¯t argue. He tossed a handfull of silver to the attendants. ¡°Feed him, don¡¯t cage him, he¡¯s probably going to roost on the dome.¡±

    ¡°Do you have reservations?¡± One of them asked. His tone said he knew the answer.

    ¡°Don¡¯t need them.¡± Kaden headed inside to leave a note for Mr. Keela, appologizing for the lack of warning. He left a second note for Mistress Scylla, and walked the short distance to the Councilor¡¯s quarters.

    Halfway there, Eve¡¯s voice drew his attention, and Kaden pivoted¡ªalmost surprised as a Shadow took form and Trella stepped out. She threw back her hood and put her arms around him. ¡°There¡¯s ice in your hair. Where have you been?¡±

    ¡°Got a Drake, took a flight, also I can breath fire.¡± Kaden looked to the room. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Mr. Birch!¡± A city couselor had spotted him. ¡°Did you ignore your notice from the Council?¡±

    The words he wanted to use were ¡®What¡¯ and ¡®Summons¡¯ but the panicked look on Eve¡¯s face accompanied [Mind Speech] from Sara.

    *Say yes. Tell them you were underground, dealing with invasive fire monsters. This is typical council garbage.*

    Kaden swallowed his pride. ¡°I was underground, starting a new invasive species of fire monster. Then I bought a [Drake] and got the ability to breath fire. Last time I did that, I killed six hundred gnomes. Do you need a problem?¡±

    The councilor kept quiet a moment. ¡°Evelyn Black is alligned with your party and since accepting her position as a minor councilor she¡¯s done nothing. Not a single trade deal for Verona. The Council¡¯s reason for existence is to improve the lives of the citizens who live here. At least S&K Holdings has made Verona known for the quality of their poisonous snakes.¡±

    Sara had stealthily moved to the side and began gesturing, pleading for Eve to speak.

    ¡°Which is why I¡¯ve don¡¯t look at Kaden¡ªI mean, which is why I¡¯ve issued a Quest to S&K Holdings to negotiate a new¡­agreement? With the Xiao Empire? To sell something here in Verona.¡± Eve¡¯s level of doubt rose with every line. Then she focused. ¡°Of course, if they¡¯re successful, we would expect the City to allow them to operate tax free.¡±

    ¡°Xiao goods,¡± The old man said. ¡°That would bring caravans here to buy them to take places where people have more money! Well, in that case, we¡¯ll be patient just a while longer.¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t spoke at all during the exchange. She sat with a bubble of water in her lap, petting the minuature octopus Levi-ling, but the moment the councilor left, she turned on Eve. ¡°Why did you not speak of this?¡±

    Eve blushed. ¡°I¡¯ve been traveling once a week, working with different cities. I¡¯ve almost had agreements on four occasions. I ran out of time.¡±

    ¡°Ask for more,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°I already did! Four times!¡± Eve pulled at her braid in frustration. ¡°I am a competent healer, a skilled diplomat, and the idea that I can¡¯t get a simple trade agreement¡ªa minor trade agreement is so frustrating. And being on the City Council is important work.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s scoff wasn¡¯t quiet. Or subtle.

    ¡°It is!¡± Eve said. ¡°I was on the sewer committe. We put anti-ratman (or woman) grates on all the sewer entrances! Without an Adventurer to advise, the grates would have been standard. The sewers, infested.¡±

    Sara stepped in before the sewage conversation could get heated, because nothing smelled worse than boiling sewage. ¡°We were planning a trip back to Xiao anyway, in a few years. This will be faster. How long would it take to cut a tree to bring by wagon?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°A few days, but I need to know how long or how thick it needs to be. We should just cut down the trees and take them whole. We can saw them up on site.¡±

    ¡°We moved both ships west for the winter, after paying for patch jobs,¡± Sara said. ¡°We¡¯ll have to make a land-trip to make sure the lumber arrives but this was always on the plans. It¡¯s just a different schedule.¡±

    ¡°Xiao is closer to the Iron Gear Empire,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I must go there anyway for my spells.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t really care. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure my Dungeon is set up for a while. Skully and Trinity can pull the wagon better than any horses. Is the weather clear for us to sail?¡±

    ¡°Voyages started again last month, once the ice flow broke down. I don¡¯t dare go ahead on my own. Krebat is dangerous in its own way for solo travelers,¡± Sara¡¯s discomfort manifested as her Horror¡¯s pseudopods rubbing themselves together like hands. ¡°I¡¯d like to be in port and hire other captains to make the journey with us a few days early. An armada, of sorts.¡±

    Kaden considered different options. The Drake wasn¡¯t trustworthy, yet. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a FarPortal and bring Skully along as backup?¡±

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    ¡°And I as well,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Let them threaten us. A bonfire of enemies sets the standard for negotiation.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it¡ªon one condition.¡± Sara drew a white summoning token. ¡°Go to Beast Control and soul-bind Levi-ling before it gets killed by something. Anything. At this point, Kaden¡¯s [Match Lizard] could kill it.¡±

    ¡°Burny is strong! The strongest [Match Lizard] in existence!¡± Kaden protested. It wasn¡¯t really a feat of strength, since [Burn] produced one point of damage most times.

    ¡°It will be done.¡± Ashi took the token and headed out.

    Trella stood beside Kaden. *Going to your Dungeon?*

    Kaden nodded. ¡°See you there?¡±

    Her Deception was all that remained, but it blew him a kiss before fading away.

    ###

    Kaden sat in the antechamber to his dungeon, listening to TriTerrors fight and checking the status of his core. It had grown so far.

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x100,000 (97,821 acquired)

    1000x Adventurer Party (899 acquired)

    100x [Entity Seeds] (100x aquired)

    1x Lieutenant Seed (1 acquired)

    10x Loot Seed (10 acquired)

    Optional, Required for next Rank: 1x [Secondary Boss] (acquired).

    Banked for next rank:

    218x [Entity Seeds]

    2x (Lieutenant Seeds).

    That was solid. Ashi had been correct, the growth of the dungeon had slowed. The next rank would allow level twenty monsters and double the rooms. Kaden couldn¡¯t wait. He¡¯d built a bog offshoot for the [Bog Walkers] and the [Bog Spider Nest] and seeded it with loot scattered all over. The nest was mostly inaccessible, so this room was an endurance test and entirely optional.

    Kaden checked on the secret room at the bottom of the well. No one had found it yet, so he directed the core to form a sign. ¡®Wishing Well¡¯ - ¡®Wish for Loot¡¯. The copper coin on the edge of the well ensured there was something to wish with, though level fifteen Adventurers would have coppers to spare.

    He found Trinity laying on her side, letting Vip pull at her skin with short nips and playful barks. The [Lightning Chevalier] had zero concept that Trinity was sixty times her size, and Trinity seemed to enjoy the attention. ¡°Why aren¡¯you fighting with the others?¡±

    Alongside, with, very little difference to Trinity.

    Trinity raised her blind head and looked right at him, then gave a long, deep groan he couldn¡¯t interpret. She had been surly for the last week, worse than usual, and he wasn¡¯t sure if it was the winter or the lack of blood and battle.

    ¡°We¡¯re going east to deliver some wood. There¡¯s almost certainly bandits.¡± That might cheer her up, as bandits rarely if ever surrendered willingly. The Kingdom¡¯s ¡®hang them from the nearest tree¡¯ edict probably had something to do with that, but Kaden was sure it was a waste of perfectly good skeletons, and probably bad for the trees.

    The Dungeon would be fine without him.

    Trinity reluctantly rose as Kaden reset the Dungeon. The next rank-up bonus would push him to thirty, for sure. Kaden left the dungeon and checked on his [Prismatic Frog Colony], which wanted Kalarak hooves as a just-woken-from-hibernation snack.

    It would be waiting a while, but Kaden accepted the life frog and death frog from the colony, letting two more begin their transformation into adults. Both went into Inventory.

    Trinity chose to stay out in the dark when Kaden went inside and found Trella handing out alchemical potions. ¡°Ooh. Yellow is what?¡±

    ¡°Not for you. Yellow is a speed boost and Ashi says it might conflict with [Moment of Speed] and [Split Second]. Speeding Wind doesn¡¯t because it¡¯s external.¡± Trella handed him vials the size of his thumb, each blood red. ¡°Bleed doses for Remembrance.¡±

    ¡°You can make new ones. Give them to Sara.¡±

    ¡°Sara has her own.¡± Trella hooked three others to her belt. ¡°I have short term agility and soul boosts. Soul will act a lot like mana regen, but spells hit harder. Already gave them to Ashi and Eve. Eclipse is coming along. She likes ships.¡±

    Sara cleared her throat. ¡°One other matter. To keep in good standing with the Guild, I was forced to accept some of the Quests. Kaden and Trella, there¡¯s a possibly rank seven erratic dungeon. Eve will be with me and Ashi, so I¡¯d suggest being cautious and stocking up on health potions. Kaden can scout it and hand off the map to another team of Adventurers.¡±

    ¡°Hello? Alchemist? Shadow Blade? I don¡¯t have to fight anything to map a dungeon. You remember that, right?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°Eve will handle the second Quest on her own.¡± Sara looked to Eve. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but it does play to your strengths. The Guilds in Osgil and Rigil are this close to a civil war over some dungeon loot, they want a mediator they can intimidate to make a ¡®final decision.¡¯¡±

    ¡°And they asked for us?¡±

    ¡°He suggested Kaden bring Trinity, wipe them out and take the loot, ending the war. I was thinking you¡­¡± Sara gestured.

    ¡°Could make them all hate negotiations so much they decide no amount of loot is worth engaging for? That I can do.¡± Eve accepted the scroll from Sara.

    ¡°The Faction Quests have gotten ten times more numerous. When we¡¯re done shipping, we have to dedicate some time to Factions. Trella, that¡¯ll help you level. And that¡¯s everything. I¡¯m not waiting for sunrise,¡± Sara said. ¡°Ashi, did you bind Levi-ling?¡±

    Ashi held out her hand as a bubble of water grew. Inside of it, a blue-green [Tenta-claw] hovered, three stubby tentacles drifting in the bubble as it bobbed. ¡°It is the most beautiful of summons. And it desires to show its might. So very cute.¡±

    ¡°Vip is with me,¡± Kaden said. He wasn¡¯t going to subject her to negotiation. ¡°Sara, Skully will follow your commands.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, tie a tree to a wagon and head east along the Shalish road. Keep going east. The Erratic is along the roadway,¡± Sara said.

    You have received a new Quest: Not Again! The stupid dungeon on the stupid road did something stupid. Again. Now you have a quest to smash it. Also, there could be Adventurers, but really, who cares when there¡¯s that stupid core?Reward: Mana Core (Indeterminate).

    Kaden looked to Trella. ¡°You get that Quest?¡±

    ¡°I like it. I like it a lot.¡± Trella still felt joy when receiving Faction Quests, where Kaden often felt weary.

    ¡°See you in Krebat. I¡¯ll take good care of your bruiser skeleton.¡± Sara gave each of them a hug and headed out the door.

    ¡°This erratic. Do not be merciful. Do not touch it or some of its madness will leak into you,¡± Ashi said. ¡°And do not accept a pitiful title.¡±

    ¡°Best guidance ever.¡± Kaden looked to Trella. ¡°I promise you I won¡¯t touch the erratic dungeon core just to see what it¡¯s like. And you promise me, you won¡¯t enter the erratic dungeon.¡±

    She shook her head. ¡°No promises from me on that. If you can handle it alone, we can handle it together that much better.¡±

    Ashi , Eve, and Sara headed out to the FarPortal, and for once, Kaden was mostly alone, if one ignored the small gray dog (she wouldn¡¯t allow herself to be ignored), the ever-larger TriTerror slumped by the fire, the Falcrow perched on a ceiling beam, preening itself¡ªok, they were never alone. But they were alone-er than usual.

    He turned to look at Trella, and she wasn¡¯t there.

    Probably in her lab.

    Possibly, based on the warm fingers on his shoulder, behind him. ¡°You know what I¡¯d like you to do?¡± she asked playfully.

    ¡°No, but I¡¯d love to hear.¡± [Moment of Speed] left him almost catching her, and instead, grasping for an instant, her Dark Deception, which dramatically fainted in his arms.

    Trella stood in the dining room.

    This time, he poured a hundred points of mana into [Moment of Speed], catching¡ªand moving on to lunge at the place where she popped up, only to find a second Deception blocking him.

    Kaden leaped through a Portal and actually caught her waist, only for Trella to twist from his grip and plumet through her own shadow¡ªand into his arms. ¡°Gotcha. Now. What can I do for, or to you?¡±

    ¡°Can you teach my Deception to [Cook]?¡± Trella asked.

    It was by no means the strangest thing she¡¯d ever asked.

 Three - Timber Falls

    If trees had nightmares, it was about the war hammer Remembrance of Battle. Kaden wasn¡¯t the weakling he¡¯d been when he moved to the Holding. Now, Remembrance bit deep into the enchanted trees that made up FangWood, and even the magic of the Dungeon couldn¡¯t stop him hacking trees down.

    Trella couldn¡¯t lift, but she could drag, with Trinity¡¯s help, and dragging the trees far enough that FangWood settled on regrowing rather than recovering was key. By mid-day, Kaden stood atop a truly impressive pile of trunks. He¡¯d had a genius¡ªor insane¡ªidea to use a wagon at either end, and nailed rough slats to the edges of the wagon to let him stack even more logs on top. He¡¯d scavenged every bit of rope at the holding to tie the bundle together and to the wagons, and now fashioned a long set of ropes that lead to a leather harness.

    ¡°Ready?¡± Kaden looked to Trinity as she threaded her blind, middle head through the leather.

    The other rope led to a wide belt that wrapped around Kaden¡¯s chest, with handholds. He wasn¡¯t going to make Trinity pull by herself.

    Trella carried a backpack of potions and had helped Kaden load up his Inventory with provisions and camping gear. She wrapped her cloak tightly about her as she climbed to the top of the log stack. ¡°This is really unsteady. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for bandits. I¡¯m hoping they take one look at Trinity and decide to wait for better targets.¡±

    Vip dashed in circles around Kaden, barking at the wagon stack. Beast Soul translated this, but Kaden chose to remember that Vip had not been trained as a [Builder] and had a limited grasp of physics beyond defying them. *Slow*.

    ¡°It¡¯s not going to roll over and kill us,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Probably.¡±

    With that, he started hauling.

    Foot after foot, mile after mile, Kaden simply kept going, taking short breaks to let Vip offer Trinity rabbits or drink cold water Trella generated with [Create Water]. Her Average Quality Stamina potions made him almost able to keep up with Trinity, which is to say, they passed the few solo travelers heading east. Verona was a small city surrounded by hundreds of farms, and by late afternoon, the farmsteads came fewer and fewer, the grass taller. Broken stones jutted up through the soil in places, the remnants of buildings long gone.

    ¡°There¡¯s a door there,¡± Trella called.

    Kaden looked out across the grass and saw nothing.

    Trinity stopped, knowing his need, and let him stand atop her back. Two hundred feet away stood the ruins of a building. Possibly a temple, probably to a forgotten god. ¡°There¡¯s not much besides a door.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Trella slipped down, landing lightly. ¡°There¡¯s an illusion on it, but all classes descended from [Rogue] have a natural chance to see through illusions. The door is still there. And it goes somewhere.¡±

    Kaden pulled, taking the wagon off the road and into the field, to stand in grass that came up to his chest. The closer he came, the darker the stone was, almost black, with glittering specks in it. And this close, the broken front of the temple still exuded power.

    ¡°Vip, Trinity, stay back.¡± Kaden summoned the [FalCrow]. ¡°Is it safe to enter that?¡±

    The Falcrow took flight, swooping through the broad stone foundation and passing the alter¡ªthen circled and dove through the doorway.

    It disappeared.

    A moment later, it phased back into existence on Trinity¡¯s back and spoke in Mr. Dervish¡¯s voice. ¡°Thought you could hide from me, did you?¡±

    Trella¡¯s deception rose up and stalked across the stone, and tried to enter the doorway. The shadow flattened into a puddle as it tried to enter.

    ¡°It is a doorway,¡± Trella said. She put one hand beside the stone. ¡°You need to read this.¡±

    Trial of Yarrow - You have discovered the trial of Yarrow, the forgotten god of harvest. Within this domain you will be challenged. Should you fail, you will be harvested, but succeed and Yarrow will bless you. This trial will relocate when completed, failed, or declined. Seek the forgotten places of the world for more trials.

    Trella stepped back and summoned her messenger crow. ¡°Sara, we¡¯re a few hours out of Verona and discovered a hidden trial, ¡®Trial of Yarrow.¡¯ It¡¯s going to move if we leave or if we go in.¡±

    Twenty minutes passed before a green parrot circled to land on Trella. ¡°We have a minor problem I¡¯m resolving. One of our ships is on an unscheduled voyage to buy rum without my authorization or knowledge. Trials are like a god¡¯s version of a dungeon. The only notes I have is that Yarrow is a harvest god. Most trials can be abandoned. Don¡¯t hesitate to abandon if needed.¡±

    Kaden looked to Trella. ¡°I want to know if I¡¯m up to the trial.¡±

    ¡°Same. When you hit seventy five, Noctua¡¯s Trial is available to [Shadow Blades]. But we¡¯re encouraged to grow ourselves.¡± Trella went to her backpack and took out cubes. ¡°I was paranoid about not having a healer. Two resurrection potions, ten healing and a tube of salve.¡± Trella¡¯s voice carried nervous excitement. ¡°I was riding along, looking for idiots stupid enough to rob us, and this just called to me. Like my eyes were itching when I looked at it.¡±

    [Master of the House] felt similar, ¡°What do you say we crash a Harvest God¡¯s party?¡±

    Trella blinked with yellow cat eyes. ¡°Ready.¡±

    Kaden pulled Vip and Trinity into his soul, took Trella¡¯s hand, and waited as she selected the trial.

    You have chose to endure the trial of Yarrow.

    You will be tested three times.

    The world went black, and when it cleared, Kaden stood in a field of green wheat. Behind him stood a cathedral¡ªa cathedral to Yarrow, no doubt. The green of the field didn¡¯t touch the cathedral, no, the wheat grew longer the closer it came to the cathedral, and then golden, and closest to the walls, it bent over as though bowing.

    Kaden tried the black oak doors.

    You may not enter the cathedral of Yarrow without passing the first trial (Trial of Spring).

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Trella spoke in a whisper. ¡°There¡¯s monsters coming.¡±

    The wheat swayed and thrashed. They were meant to stand and fight, using the Cathedral to back up against. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kaden turned around and leaped up, grabbing the lowest stained glass window edge and climbing with sheer strength. At the top of that window a decorative ledge let him clamber up, and from there, Trella leaped to a gargoyle and then hung her cloak down so he could join her. ¡°Bows?¡± Kaden drew Thorn Caster.

    ¡°And [Shadow Chains],¡± Trella answered, though she had an iron bow of her own.

    The creatures which emerged from the wheat were like gorgons. Snake bodies ended in women¡¯s torsoes, women with hair of green wheat, with long claws. They encircled the cathedral, thirty of them, and wailed as they slithered back and forth. ¡°Where are the challengers? Come and be reaped!¡±

    ¡°Not interested in being reaped,¡± Kaden shouted. He drew Thorn Caster and shot one staring at him¡ªand another, and another. The red roof of the cathedral clattered as Kaden scrambled up and over the side to where Trella crouched, alternating arrows with [Shadow Chains].

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    The monsters weren¡¯t unarmed. The women tore the wheat from their heads, and as they did, each stalk became solid and straight. The wheat head flared out like an arrow tip.

    The air whistled as a cloud of wheat-spears shot past. Those that struck the stone of the cathedral embedded in it, and a moment later, the wheat head exploded in a cloud of green miasma.

    Everyone deserved a poison arrow. Everyone deserved to fester, in Kaden¡¯s mind. He didn¡¯t hesitate to take shots with Thorn Caster. ¡°Can you get [Identify] on them? I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m fighting.¡±

    ¡°Once I get close? You bet.¡± Trella stood and fiddled with her necklace, a black gem she always wore but rarely used, and handed Kaden a potion. ¡°I¡¯m going stealth on the ground. You¡¯re going to aggravate them all so I can pick them off. That¡¯s [Agony Cloud].¡±

    She [Shadow Stepped], stuttering downward into the slight shadow of the cathedral.

    [Wheamyn]

    Servants of the spring goddess Viri, the Wheamyn believe nothing overcomes the power of new life. Their ability to regrow is near unlimited, powered by the strength of spring itself. A Wheamyn does not hesitate to die, because it can be grown again.

    Level: 30

    HP: 2,000

    Mana: 200

    Skills: Marrow Head, Reaping Claw, Cancerous Growth

    Kaden began to snipe in a set pattern, circling the cathedral. Taking the high ground was always a good idea when facing an insolent brat, a dark lord or an insolent brat who would become a dark lord, and apparently it was good for trials, too.

    He reached out via [Mind Speech]. *They can regrow. We¡¯re wasting our time and mana if we let them regrow from the wheat.*

    *Then don¡¯t let them regrow. Burn it all,* Trella replied. *I¡¯ll climb up one level.*

    [Wrath of the Furnace] waited for him, and this time, Kaden would be careful. He sprinted to one end of the Cathedral, threw back his head and activated the skill. A stream of fire errupted from his throat, arcing out into the wheat¡ªand Kaden cut it off. A hundred and twenty mana gone in one moment, but now wasn¡¯t the time to hesitate. He turned and ran for the other side, repeating the rain of destruction that delivered molten death, and again.

    Kaden¡¯s mana sat at eighty points, and the south wasn¡¯t on fire yet. Below him, Wheamyn scramed in agony and wailed in rage. He couldn¡¯t risk them regenerating. He wouldn¡¯t. He slid down the cathedral roof and stopped at the very edge, spewing fire.

    It arced out to the edge of the field and stopped, just short of green wheat.

    [Split Second] activated as a wheat-spear aimed at his gut approached, but his mana hit zero.

    Your mana is critically low!

    You have mana shock!

    A spear struck him in the hip and carved straight through like he was made of paper. Even worse, the wheat heads tore off, each forming green pustules that dug at his skin. Two more hit him in the right arm, and one in his left hand.

    You have been afflicted with [Cancerous Growth.]

    All healing will aid [Cancerous Growth].

    Smoke billowed everywhere, filling the sky and casting shadows across the entire trial realm. Some [Wheamyn] rushed to put it out, only to burn.

    Kaden tore at the pustules, receiving agony instead. Each branched out, growing veins that looked like roots. And they continued to grow.

    With no mana and no options, Kaden took the worst one he had. He threw the agony cloud potion down at a clump of [Wheamyn]. And followed, landing as the potion bottle shattered.

    Kaden knew to keep his eyes shut. He knew not to breathe. The air around him turned to acid. Loud *pop*s sounded as each of the wheat pustules exploded, burned by the cloud, and Kaden¡¯s health kept dropping.

    His mana ticked up one point, and Kaden spent it to enable [Stealth Aura]. And stood exactly still, waiting for the cloud to dissapate. Wrapped in stealth, Kaden swallowed a potion through blistered lips. His eyelids broke crust when he opened them, but the damage to the [Wheamyn] was far worse. Only seven remained, and they stuck together in a group, near the field least burned.

    A black arrow whistled past, and a panther leaped from the shadows to drag down a [Wheamyn]. Eclipse sank into the ground as spear after spear riddled the mauled [Wheamyn]. Kaden crept toward the cluster of monsters. His skin cracked and clear liquid dripped with every step, but now his mana had ticked up to three.

    [Vigorous] was a hell of a drug.

    [Backslash]! Kaden drew Remembrance and hacked down on one [Wheamyn]. The moment the axe head sank in, Kaden banished it to Inventory and drew his Eldritch Shield.

    Wheat-spears dug deep, causing cracks on the inside of the shield, but now Kaden could [Shield Bash].

    Trella [Backstabbed] one [Wheamyn] and let her Deceptions follow up, focusing on one. When the monster tore up the first Deception, its weak echo also stabbed. Kaden focused on blocking, and [shield bashing], while Trella [Shadow Stepped] to the other side of the monsters. Evercut¡¯s damaging aura blazed out, causing all the [Wheamyn] to scream, but if they focused on Trella, Kaden was only minorly outnumbered.

    If they didn¡¯t, she poisoned.

    One lunged, closing the gap in a heartbeat, and Trella must not have had enough mana to [Shadow Step]. Its claws closed on her calf, ripping muscle so Trella screamed. Rage overtook Kaden. He activated [Moment of Speed] and burried Remembrance in one [Wheamon¡¯s] stomach, then grabbed another, using it as a shield¡ªand then a ram to charge through the group.

    One wheamon fell too close to burning wheat.

    In a flash, the fire consumed her.

    Trella¡¯s [Backstab] killed another.

    Normally, Kaden would have strategized, but with only three, he had a better plan. He threw the unconscious [Wheamyn] into the fire, blocked four more wheat-spears with the Elderitch Shield] and began to close on the last two.

    The general rule was ¡®Never take your eyes off a [Shadow Blade].¡¯ A good secondary rule was ¡®Always check for black panthers.¡¯ Eclipse leaped out of Trella¡¯s cloak to maul a Wheamyn, and screamed in pain as it scored her¡ªthat that moment of inattention was all it took. [Backstab] followed by normal stabs with Evercut left the Wheamyn limp, and Trella used it to hide behind.

    The last, lone one could only listen as the fire spread.

    The wheamon were still respawning, but they did so in the middle of fires, to immediate death.

    It dropped its head and lay over, whimpering until Kaden put it out of its current misery and into one so much worse.

    Trella first scouted to make sure the fire was everywhere, that they wouldn¡¯t be swarmed, then exploded from the shadows near Kaden. ¡°[Agony Cloud] is for enemies. Only enemies.¡±

    Kaden collected wheat-spears from everywhere. ¡°The [Cancerous Growth] poison is harvestable.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you know what a woman likes. At least what this woman likes.¡± Trella helped him gather corpses and studied the green globes the size of a peppercorn. ¡°There¡¯s got to be a way to use this.¡±

    For now, Kaden focused on getting everything. The [Wheamyn] corpses yielded 1x [Wheamyn Seed], which seemed like a terrible thing to plant, given that it would grow into a Wheamyn.

    You have completed: Trial of Spring.

    You may now visit the temple of Yarrow.

    You may now yield the trial.

    Yielding the trial now will grant a minor blessing.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want a minor blessing. I want the real thing.¡±

    ¡°All or nothing,¡± Trella said. ¡°Let¡¯s see this temple.¡±

    Together they approached the front of the temple. The black wooden doors swung open, revealing a candle-lit interior. There were no seats. Instead, the temple interior opened to an octagon of alcoves. In the center, a tall maple shed leaves that changed color as they fell. The musty smell of damp leaves and cold winds blew out, and above, instead of a ceiling, the orange harvest moon hung like the eye of the universe.

    Each side held a different offering. Ripe corn, sheafs of wheat, clusters of grapes. One alcove held a slaughtered deer, and another, acorns the size of Kaden¡¯s head. The final side held an ominous statue. Kaden reached out to touch it just to be sure it was a statue.

    The figure was a man with a skull for a head and deer antlers. Chains of beetles formed hems for its robes, and the stone looked like fallen leaves had formed cloth. The figure kneeled, holding out a cup the size of a barrel.

    You have come before the alter of Yarrow, the harvester. Choose the offering you would make to determine your reward.

    Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°What do you want to offer?¡±

    Kaden took a closer look at the massive accorns. As he touched one, a notification appeared.

    The offering of the seedling. Your resurrections will be certain.

    Trella stood at the slaughtered deer. ¡°The offering of the faun. Healing will be more powerful.¡±

    Together they checked each alcove. Wheat would mean business success, grapes, irresistable to others, corn would mean never being hungry.

    ¡°Healing or resurrections?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Everything else I can handle myself.¡±

    Something didn¡¯t sit right with Kaden. ¡°An offering is supposed to be something you bring. Not something you take from the god. Gold and silver don¡¯t mean much to this god.¡±

    ¡°I know the most valuable thing I brought with me. I¡¯m not willing to die on that altar,¡± Trella said. She drew a short silver dagger and nicked the back of her arm. A drop of blood rolled down her arm and dripped into the cup.

    Your offering is accepted.

    Kaden had been thinking of offering some loot, but blood was probably better. He held out his arm, letting her cut, and added drops of his own.

    Your offering is accepted.

    The blessings are set.

    You may leave at any time by taking the blessing from the altar, or face greater trials for greater rewards.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. Not yet.¡±

    ¡°Me either.¡± Trella stood and stretched, petting the black panther that sauntered from the shadows. ¡°Bring on this challenge.¡±

    You must leave the cathedral of Yarrow to face the second trial (Trial of Summer). Returning to the cathedral will end the trial.

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Trella handed him a potion, then treated Remembrance, her daggers and the Levicon blade with Bleed potions. ¡°Stamina and mana regen, too.¡±

    They sat quietly, waiting for the potions to finish their work, and together, hand in hand, strode through the cathedral doors.

    The world errupted in fire.

 Four - Fear the Reaper

    The sky errupted in blazing light that burned¡ªliterally burned. The fields of wheat were dead, scorched brown and bent. Dead turtle shells the size of the Shrine of Veela littered the fields.

    Kaden and Trella sprinted for the nearest shell and discovered a nasty surprise. Under the shell lurked humanoid creatures covered in yellow slime. Long fingers on each hand ended in suckers that dripped slime, and as Kaden swung Remembrance at the first, it didn¡¯t even react. The hammer blow threw the monster out of the shell and into the deadly sunlight.

    It caught fire, exploding in a wave of heat that singed Kaden¡¯s hair.

    But it didn¡¯t die. Now, it circled the shell. Then lobbed flaming balls of slime straight at Trella. She dove to the side, and Kaden lunged to deflect it with the Eldritch Shield.

    ¡°There¡¯s four more here,¡± Trella said. ¡°They¡¯re not attacking. Yet.¡±

    Kaden drew Thorn Caster and shot the flaming one in the head, then followed it up again and again until it collapsed in a blaze of heat. ¡°Ok. So, we bash the next one and repeat.¡±

    ¡°Kaden. The shell is burning.¡± Trella looked upward. ¡°Eclipse can¡¯t come out, this will kill her.¡±

    Trinity and Vip would die as well. But now Kaden had an idea. He summoned Rocky. The [Rock Gobbler] was no longer dull gray. His shell had slowly transformed to glistening black.

    ¡°Hit one in the dark with [Shadow Chains].¡± Kaden drew Thorn Caster.

    The moment the chains hit, the creature scrambled toward the sunlight, straining to reach it.

    Rocky barked out a challenge and swung his tail in a [Landslide Smash], crushing the creature. He wasn¡¯t the kind to willingly go to battle, but a battle right in front of him was the least objectionable type.

    The shell groaned and a shaft of light burned through in one place.

    Trella shoved him toward the sunlight. ¡°When the shell goes, they¡¯re all going to catch fire. The explosion alone might kill us.¡±

    Kaden turned and sprinted toward another shell, ignoring the sizzle as the burning sun turned his skin red. This shell, too, held five more of the creatures. [Identify] kept trying¡ªand failing

    This ENTITY is not compatible with current System requirements.

    To [Identify] this ENTITY, approach [@#%&^1] for upgrades.

    ¡°They¡¯re coming,¡± Trella said.

    The four creatures had in fact caught fire. Kaden shot them as they came with Thorn Caster and downed two, leaving two. The shell he stood under was already smoking.

    Trella, too, loosed arrows, concentrating on one creature at a time. ¡°We¡¯ve got to run. This one¡¯s not lasting as long.¡±

    Again, they sprinted to another shell. Again, Kaden and Trella rained down death, but this time, there were still three when burning sun began blazing in. The Eldritch Shield blocked the sun for mere seconds before collapsing. ¡°This isn¡¯t working. We¡¯re going to run out of shells before we run out of monsters.¡±

    Rocky¡¯s short bray said they were running too fast, and too much. In other words, at all. Kaden pulled Rocky into his soul¡ªand had an idea. He summoned the Rock Gobbler, forcing it into existence right in front of him. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do the damage. Use Thorn Caster.¡±

    Trella accepted his bow, as Kaden lifted Rocky, heaving him onto his shoulders. It was like carrying the earth. Kaden stepped out into the sunlight, and didn¡¯t burn. With Trella right beside him, they backed away from the shelter.

    ¡°One down,¡± Trella said.

    Kaden kneeled to tilt Rocky, turning him into the world¡¯s least enthusiastic shield. It let Trella take shots, while the flaming slime was the only part of this Rocky enjoyed. He was moving, which the Rock Gobbler didn¡¯t like, and someone else was moving him, which was another thing Rocky didn¡¯t like.

    ¡°Two!¡± Trella shifted to her next target. ¡°Get me closer, I¡¯ll use EverCut.¡±

    She lobbed the weapon like a mana bomb. ¡°Now, move. Keep them exposed and us protected, I¡¯ll help. Actually, he¡¯s too damned heavy. I¡¯ll keep shooting. I have dozens of regular arrows.¡±

    Strained didn¡¯t describe the weight on Kaden. His arms trembled, but hadn¡¯t Sara told him his body was more an expression of his will? And he willed them to hold on. Back and forth they moved, until at last Trella put a hand on him. ¡°Stay right here.¡±

    In a flash she was gone, shouting, slicing¡ªthen back. The skin on her face blistered. ¡°That¡¯s all of them. Set Rocky down, mostly.¡±

    Kaden put Rocky¡¯s hind legs down and kept the Rock Gobbler lifted up just enough to grant them shade. Trella used [Create Water] over and over to slake their thirst. ¡°All right. Next shell.¡±

    Kaden lifted Rocky again to give her space to shoot.

    She loosed an arrow, and another, and another, five in arow, then tossed out EverCut. ¡°Let the poison work. Just keep them blocked and anything that flanks, I shoot.¡±

    The key thing Kaden could do was use [Mana Well] to keep Trella topped up. ¡°Keep shooting. I can¡¯t hold Rocky forever.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all going to die at basically the same time.¡± Trella leaned out to release an arrow, then pivoted past him to repeat from the other side.

    ¡°Almost.¡± Trella hurled a potion.

    Rocky grunted as a blast wave hit¡ªand Trella was already in battle again, slashing and smashing. ¡°Get under the shell,¡± she called as the last one fell.

    Kaden set down Rocky and ran to take blessed shelter. He moved in a circle. ¡°I have a theory. The burning light is focused on us. If we move and distribute it, the shell should last longer.¡±

    ¡°Every minute counts.¡± Trella sipped a potion, which caused the blisters on her skin to burst. The clear liquid dried in moments, and the blistered skin fell in flakes that drifted into the sun and turned to ash. After twenty minutes, the turtle shell didn¡¯t just smoke, it caught fire. And they repeated, shell after shell, monster after monster, until the last one fell.

    Like the torch of the world had been snuffed out, the sun went dark.

    Stars shone overhead, and a chill wind kicked up, rustling dead wheat like a thousand whispers.

    You have completed: Trial of Summer.

    Yarrow waits in his cathedral.

    Yielding the trial now will grant a normal blessing.

    Kaden pulled Rocking into his soul. His arms ached. His hands were burned from where he¡¯d clung to Rocky. Trella¡¯s face and arms sported blisters and strings of skin hung down where blisters had burst under blisters.

    Trella took out another healing potion and shared it. ¡°That was rough. Odds are we¡¯re not up to the next challenge.¡±

    Kaden listened to what wasn¡¯t said, and sat at the threshold of the cathedral, letting her sit beside him as her health ticked up. ¡°You will always wonder.¡±

    Trella blew hair out of her face as Eclipse bumped her face. ¡°I will. We barely managed that. I can make more potions. I don¡¯t know I can make them strong enough or drink them fast enough for whatever¡¯s coming.¡±

    Kaden stood and pulled her up. ¡°We¡¯ll make smart decisions. If the Trial of Fall is too bad, we take what we get and leave.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡±

    When Kaden looked up, he couldn¡¯t help being shocked. The cathedral¡¯s interior had grown. Before, he could have crossed it in twenty steps. Now, he¡¯d need to sprint. ¡°Large, open space. That spells boss battle to me.¡±

    Trella took one step inside¡ªthen back. ¡°I really thought it would trigger once I stepped in.¡±

    Together, they crossed the cathedral to where the statue still kneeled.

    You may choose to face the third trial (Trial of Fall).

    You wil be reaped.

    Choosing to abandon the trial at any point will still grant the earned blessing.

    Trella hesitated. ¡°What if this is the mistake we don¡¯t see coming?¡±

    ¡°Then we go on to Mortis¡¯s Court together. I choose the third trial.¡± Kaden smiled as she squeezed his hand. ¡°You know that stupid statue is going to attack us.¡±

    ¡°Totally going to attack us.¡± Kaden turned and headed toward the acorn display. ¡°Since the giant statue is just a statue and not going to do anything like, say, charge or blast or stomp, I¡¯ll just take one of these acorns.¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°And I¡¯m taking some grain. And corn. And eww, there¡¯s flies on the grapes. They can stay. Always wanted a deer skull, thank you very much.¡± Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better he can¡¯t animate the statue. It¡¯s kind of trite¡ª¡±

    THAT IS ENOUGH! The voice boomed out across the temple as stone cracked and the statue rose, with a weight heavier than a thousand Demon Lords. ITS A CLASSIC METHOD. ALL THE GREAT GODS USE IT.

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re a literal deity and all you can think of for your last trial is to reanimate the huge, scary statue? The only huge scary statue in your cathedral? No wonder you¡¯re forgotten. If you want to be remembered, you have to do things worth being remembered for.¡±

    LIKE YOU WOULD KNOW.

    ¡°Look, there was this orphan at the Saint¡¯s Hall, Rober¡ª¡±

    ¡°Biscuit-Ber!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°He ate five [Preserved Biscuits] in one go, washed it down with a cup of rain water, then stood up, looked the head priest in the eye, and said ¡®Please sir, I want some more.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Choked to death five minutes after the Priests left the mess hall,¡± Kaden added. ¡°But you know who¡¯s not forgotten? Biscuit-Ber. Because he did something worth remembering. And what¡¯s with moving your trial all around?¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°Of course you¡¯re forgotten. Adventureres who find you go running back to tell all their friends about the amazing trial. The amazing trial they can¡¯t prove, because you¡¯re gone.¡±

    THERE ARE RULES FOR FORGOTTEN DEITIES. I HAVE NO PRIESTS OR PRIESTESSES. EITHER OF YOU LOOKING TO DUAL CLASS?

    Kaden swore. ¡°I¡¯m looking to kill some priests. Saint¡¯s Hall priests, not yours. Not looking to kill yours.¡±

    MINE ARE ALL DEAD. THANKS FOR REMINDING ME.

    ¡°Sorry, that was insensitive,¡± Trella said. ¡°Look, if you really want followers, you¡¯re going to have to stay in a general area. Like FangWood. I¡¯m not saying you have to stay in the same set of trees, but if I could point to a location, and say ¡®I heard a rumor there¡¯s a trial to a cool harvest god in there¡¯ you¡¯d have a better chance finding someone.¡±

    I WILL THINK ON IT. AND FOR THE RECORD, THE STATUE IS THE FINAL PART OF THE TRIAL. FIRST, YOU ARE ATTACKED BY SOMETHING FROM EVERY OFFERING TO WEAR YOU DOWN.

    ¡°Oh, no. Rotten grapes, they¡¯re staining my uniform. Acorns. They¡¯re¡­rolling?¡± Trella said. ¡°Stick to the statue. At least it¡¯s moderately impressive.¡±

    IT IS, ISN¡¯T IT?

    ¡°Or.¡± Kaden said. He¡¯d been thinking on what Yarrow said. What the system text had warned him. ¡°The trial isn¡¯t about the battle, is it?¡±

    The statue leaned in close, looking at him with eyes that contained stars. YOU BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND?

    ¡°You will be reaped. You said yourself, this was the final form¡ª¡±

    THIS ISN¡¯T EVEN MY FINAL FORM. BUT ITS ENOUGH FOR NOW.

    Kaden fought for his composue. ¡°After everything else. After the corn squirts corn juice at us. After the acorns roll menacingly. After that dead deer reanimates¡ªok, that part probably would have been cool. The point is, you attack then. Because it¡¯s inevitable.¡±

    Trella¡¯s hand found his. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill us, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    A HARVEST AWAITS ALL. CENTURION OR COMMONER, YOU WILL BE REAPED.

    Trella nodded. ¡°The Sisters taught me not to fear death. I¡¯ll go first. I¡¯ve got nothing to lose, I¡¯m only level twenty five.¡±

    Kaden had a great deal to lose. ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    THE TRIAL HAS ALREADY BEGUN. Yarrow¡¯s statue rose, looming high above them. Kaden had never appreciated just how tall it was, but being that close to a marble monstrosity gave him a new perspective.

    *Trust me?* Trella asked in code.

    Kaden did. *Always.*

    She stepped forward, unarmed, head bowed. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    The statue raised a giant foot¡ªand slammed down¡ªon stone.

    Trella was halfway up its cloak, clinging to the beetle hem. ¡°You seriously didn¡¯t think I¡¯d just lay down and die, did you? Take his ankles out!¡±

    Kaden used [Moment of Speed] to drive forward, slamming Remembrance down on the statue¡¯s big toe. The hammer sang, and cracks spread. It looked alive, but the statue was still marble. ¡°It¡¯s vulnerable. Use Evercut!¡±

    Trella dodged as Yarrow grasp, trying to smash her. ¡°Gotta be faster than that.¡±

    Kaden dodged a stomp and shattered another toe. Remembrance shone with black fire, and the head became a perfect mirror.

    YOU ARROGANT LITTLE SHITS. FINE. HAVE IT YOUR WAY. The Statue leaped into the air. As it landed, a shockwave hit Kaden, throwing him back into the harvest corn. Tongues errupted from every kernel of corn, with hooks on the end of them, and the cob husks bent into feet to let them skitter forward.

    ¡°Look out!¡± Kaden shouted, as [Split Second] let him dodge and smash a cob. Another leaped onto his back, lacerating the back of his head until Kaden dropped and rolled, smashing it.

    The damned deer stood on two legs and held bone swords as it teetered back and forth headlessly. ¡°Up!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°Get up.¡±

    Kaden activated Portal and leaped through, coming up behind the skeleton, and with the Levicon Blade, began to dig his way up the statue¡¯s back.

    Trella had Evercut buried behind the statue¡¯s ear. ¡°Carve his eyes out. Then we¡¯ll use him to kill all the offering monsters. Then, we¡¯re going to harvest a few thousand stone chips from Yarrow.¡±

    YOU WOULD NOT DARE.

    Kaden would totally dare. ¡°I get one eye, you get the other?¡±

    I CAN HEAR YOU. YOU ARE STANDING BY MY EARS.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the point. I want you to know.¡± Trella withdrew EverCut. ¡°On three.¡±

    The statue bent. Another leap, another shockwave, Kaden was sure.

    Trella looked to him, panicked. ¡°Jump! Jump now!¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, because the statue had bent over so his harvest monsters could climb up its arms, a flood of monsters who poured out of the offering alcoves, covering the cathedral floor.

    Trella dove with him, flipping through the air. ¡°We wish to end the¡ª¡±

    A stone fist struck her in mid-air.

    Bones crunched like dry leaves as Trella¡¯s body hit the cathedral wall and hung from a gargoyle. Kaden saw the punch coming and met it with Remembrance.

    The shockwave stripped two thousand health, but this time, he was ready as the world turned black. And this time, he unleashed his beasts, all of them. And never, ever would he look on Trinity the same way. She stood so tall her head reached the statue of Yarrow¡¯s knee, with five heads and three tails.

    Rocky was twice his size with sharp points at the edges of his shell, while the [FalCrow] had become the size of a storm condor. Vip was small, gray, and furry. She crackled with lightning with a resolve that said *I will nip ankles to the death.*

    Kaden landed among frozen monstrosities and lashed out, swinging Remembrance in wide arcs that exploded harvest monsters. Like a hurricane they swept the cathedral floor, leaving only death in his wake, racing his mana to zero.

    He knew the numbers.

    Understood simple math said they couldn¡¯t possibly kill them all, but that didn¡¯t stop the onslaught.

    Your mana is critically low.

    You have mana shock!

    The world snapped back into motion. Trinity stumbled and collapsed, while Rocky simply groaned and lay down, napping.

    Kaden pulled them all into his soul. Two of the offering alcoves hadn¡¯t been smashed in the rampage, and harvest monsters began to spawn. Ignoring the weakness and pain, Kaden slammed Remembrance into the nearest display one. Boots and shields, he bashed.

    Every movement, every moment came slower.

    NOW, THERE WILL BE AN END.

    The statue slapped down a hand on Kaden.

    Resilient Constitution blocks 10,923 points of damage.

    Your health is critically low.

    Kaden laughed and pushed back aganst the palm, forcing himself to his kees. ¡°Gotta do better than that. I had a wraith lord who learned the hard way.¡±

    The hand crushed down again.

    His health dropped to zero.

    You have successfully resisted Death.

    It stayed at zero. A moment later, ticked up to one.

    THIS IS ANNOYING. The statue picked up Kaden and slammed him into the floor.

    ¡°Suck it!¡± Kaden whispered with broken lungs. ¡°Resillient¡ª¡± He hit the floor again.

    And died.

    ###

    The world was cold and dark and smelled of wet earth and rotting wood. But it wasn¡¯t black or empty, and Kaden¡¯s breath came in easy sighs.

    You have passed the Trial of Fall.

    Yarrow¡¯s Blessing awaits.

    You must collect the blessing and leave the cathedral.

    Kaden sat up and looked over at Trella, who lay snoring softly in a mound of wet leaves. They were in the cathedral, though now it was broken and ruined, with sunlight shining in through the roof in patches. The harvest offerings displays were empty, though cracked pieces of shell betrayed where the acorn mound had sat.

    Trella startled, then looked over to him. And smiled. ¡°That was¡­changing. Did you dream?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I unleashed Trinity, Rocky and Vip. And I came close. But the trial wasn¡¯t to win. It was to understand and accept.¡±

    Trella looked to where the remains of the statue stood. The broken hands still grasped the cup, and from it, a glowing golden light poured out. ¡°I want to see what this blessing is.¡±

    Together they approached.

    Reach into the cup to receive as your offering provides.

    Kaden reached with Trella.

    You have received Yarrow¡¯s Blessing: Harvest Wind.

    [Harvest Wind]

    The Harvest Wind heralds the end of the growing season. Enemy healing and mana regeneration will be greatly reduced in your presence.

    Kaden whistled. That was one hell of a blessing. ¡°What did you get?¡±

    ¡°[Blood Harvest]. Every bit of damage I do provides at least a point of healing to me. You would be damn near immortal with this.¡± Trella shared the logs.

    You have received Yarrow¡¯s Blessing: Blood Harvest.

    [Blood Harvest]

    You were the first to recognize the true desire of Yarrow, the first to offer your own lifeblood. You heal from the damage you inflict, harvesting your enemy¡¯s life to feed your own. Damaging an enemy will grant you at least one point of health.

    ¡°Is there any way to trade?¡± Kaden asked. One point of healing wouldn¡¯t be life changing among thousands, but when battles came down to the narrowest edge, he wanted Trella to have the edge.

    Together they left the cathedral, and when Kaden stepped out, it was into a mix of rain and snow. He changed the [Needful Cloak] into a thick, heavy waterproof cloak and wrapped it around him and Trella.

    Kaden tried to summon the Falcrow. It appeared, resting on the log wagon. Patches skin showed, and as it settled, feathers fell out. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    ¡°Leave nothing in your wake,¡± it replied in Ashi¡¯s voice.

    A hunch had Kaden checking. Trinity. Rocky. Even Vip, the soul bond was still present, but the Beasts weren¡¯t ready. It was like pulling them into his rampage had injured them. Something he wouldn¡¯t repeat. ¡°My beasts are all reforming. Falcrow, go heal.¡±

    It didnt¡¯ even fly off, just faded away.

    ¡°How is Eclipse?¡±

    Trella shuddered. ¡°She got killed. The acorns rolled. And exploded. I can feel her, but I can¡¯t summon her. Are you going to be able to pull the wagon?¡±

    ¡°One way to find out.¡± Kaden took both ropes and tied them together. It took him and Trella together to drag the leading wagon through the fields and back onto the road, which were muddy and covered in melting slush.

    ¡°I sent an update to Sara telling her we¡¯re out of the Trial and asking how long we were gone. I¡¯m not hungry yet, but when you are, we¡¯ll stop and eat.¡± Trella stood still atop the highest log in the stack, scanning the road ahead.

    Soon, the trial ruins were a speck in the distance. Though the road east looked winding, in practice, Kaden barely noticed because the curves that looked winding were so far away that each became gradual. As darkness aproached, Trella leaped of the wagon. ¡°As we go down toward the coast there¡¯s hills right up by the road. If I were a bandit looking to make a bad decision and damage a tree branch with my neck, that¡¯s where I¡¯d be. I¡¯d rather do that in the light.¡±

    Kaden halted the wagon and worked with Trella to hang the tent.

    ¡°I brought a charm of Veela. This far out there won¡¯t be many night spawns, but it¡¯s not worth taking a risk,¡± Trella said. She hung the charm from the logs, where it glowed pink.

    Soon, soup boiled on a heatstone. A heat stone helped by a [Match Lizard] the size of kaden¡¯s finger. The [Match Lizard] concentrated, glowing bright as it used [Burn] to apply three points of damage¡ªor heat¡ªto the pot.

    ¡°Where did you get that?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Wasn¡¯t he in the fireplace?¡±

    ¡°Burny is tiny. I didn¡¯t bring him out during the rampage because¡ªhe¡¯s better at heating pots.¡± Also absolutely useless. ¡°Awww, I hurt his feelings. You¡¯re the King [Match Lizard].¡±

    The lizard glowed even brighter. Possibly four points of damage brighter.

    Not long after dinner, Kaden curled up in his bedroll and fell fast asleep. But the moon was still up when he woke. Trella¡¯s grip on his shoulder sent coded messages.

    *We¡¯ve got a lurker stalking us.*

    *Night Spawn?* Kaden sat up and prepared.

    *A Demon.* She shared system logs.

    Congratulations! You are being Hunted by Demons!

 Five - Some Battles

    In the dark of the night, the [Sniffer¡¯s] claws on the wagon stood out. Kaden wrapped them both in [Stealth Aura] and waited, laying out his plan for Trella. *If I can bind it, I¡¯ll made it hold while you [Backstab].*

    A risky plan, but one that would get them serious damage on the [Sniffer] before it had a chance to fight back.

    Trella held her position. Hunted by Demons meant they would spawn near her, not that they would attack, but another could spawn.

    A ropey figure built like a [Storm Ape] dropped down from the log-wagon and took a deep breath through a nose with a trunk like a [Quillophant]. It looked right where Trella had been standing a moment before.

    [Sniffer - Demonic Hunter]

    Sniffers are the hunters of every Hell, seeking those Hunted by Demons. Their goal is to mark the hunted so that others can follow the trail and finish what the sniffer starts. They are not affected by [Blind] or [Deaf] status effects, and will use their demonic portal abilities to unleash minions.

    With every step, the [Sniffer] winced. The Charm of Veela burned, it, but the lure of close prey drove it forward.

    [Binding Mark] has activated. Binding process is underway. To reduce binding time, increase your will or reduce target health.

    Kaden drew the [Levicon Blade] and readied himself.

    [Backstab!] Trella had [Shadow Stepped] to appear behind it. The [Sniffer] squealed in pain and twisted, rotating its spine in a way that would have killed anything but a demon.

    Kaden leaped on its back, slicing at the nose with the Levicon Blade, which sheared the trunk from the [Sniffer]. He activated [Mana Drain] and ripped mana as fast as he could, powering [Split Second] and letting Trella ignore the cooldowns on her abilites.

    Only a fool attacked a [Shadow Blade] at night.

    [Shadow Chains] errupted from the night, sawing into the demon, which screeched¡ªand locked onto Trella. It threw back its head and gave a call. An empty, weak call that sank into the grasslands.

    ¡°No Mana.¡± Kaden attacked it with Remembrance. ¡°No regen. No backup.¡±

    Trella¡¯s Deceptions tag-teamed the [Sniffer], one sacrificing itself so the other could stab deep into the demon¡¯s throat.

    Kaden¡¯s skin burned as Trella drew EverCut and attacked.

    Binding process is complete.

    You have bound an Entity (Sniffer).

    It stopped struggling, falling to its knees at his command. [Shadow Chains] formed over it and sliced deep. The demon fell lifeless, and its flesh evaporated, leaving a demon core the size of a lemon.

    Kaden put it into Inventory. ¡°We¡¯ll need to be careful and make sure it doesn¡¯t regenerate.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be getting back to sleep,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Me either.¡± Kaden carried hot meals in Inventory for this very moment. Not ¡®just attacked by a demonic sniffer¡¯ but that, too, was on the list. ¡°Sausage and potatoes? Or pancakes and bacon?¡±

    ¡°Both?¡± They sat together under the wagon and ate quickly. The sky was a dark blue instead of black, and Kaden was eager to get moving.

    By sunrise they had reached the low rolling hills, and the scent of wood smoke said they weren¡¯t alone. Trella had engaged stealth and sat atop the wagon. But no one attacked as they rolled further into the hills. Near noon, Kaden spotted dust in the distance, and picked up his pace, trotting toward what looked like a barricade with a hundred foot tree-wagon rolling behind him.

    It was, in fact, a barricade, heavy logs with spikes lashed together with metal and guarded by five [swordsman] and six [spearmen], along with a couple archers, none of them over level ten.

    Kaden let the wagon slow as he approached. ¡°Hey there. I¡¯m Kaden Birch. Who¡¯s in charge of this town?¡±

    The spearmen, who had leveled their spears at Kaden, stopped. ¡°Town?¡±

    Kaden pointed to the ramshackle wooden houses. ¡°Village. Who¡¯s mayor? I¡¯m on a Quest. I have to bring back thirty [Bandit] eyeballs for a witch. I figure the mayor will know where the bandits are.¡±

    One swordsman drew his sword, and another, and another, and then the first to draw spoke. ¡°This road is our property. You can¡¯t pass without paying a toll. It¡¯s money, or your life.¡±

    ¡°That sounds a lot like what a [Bandit] would say. Or [Mayor]. There¡¯s a lot of similarities. Your village guards here seem decently trained.¡±

    Trella appeared behind them. ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. But we¡¯re really focused on collecting those [Bandit] eyeballs. You know of bandits who have eyeballs they¡¯re not using?¡±

    The swordsmen pivoted as one, proof that someone¡ªprobably their leader¡ªhad a tactics skill.

    Trella¡¯s Deceptions rose and walked in different directions, inspecting the men.

    ¡°They¡¯ve got eyeballs!¡± Trella called to him. ¡°The only question is, are they [Bandits]?¡±

    The [Archers] were each targeting a Deception. The [Spearmen] weren¡¯t used to having to point spears in different directions, and the tension would choke a [Mulick].

    Kaden was patient. ¡°Do you have a guild hall in your village? I¡¯d like to report to the Guildmaster.¡±

    Trella [Shadow Stepped], appearing on the hill. ¡°Good news! These trees are very strong. And as you can see, we¡¯ve got plenty of rope. But depending on how reasonable the tax is, maybe we¡¯ll just pay.¡±

    A quiet conversation passed between the men, then one took off running toward the houses.

    Trella made no effort to disguise her contempt as she strolled back to the tree-wagon. She spoke loudly. ¡°Between you and me, I think they¡¯re [Bandits] pretending to be villagers.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t kill villagers. Their eyes aren¡¯t any good for the Quest,¡± Kaden said, leaning against the wagon. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just see what they say? Oh, I have a better idea! Let¡¯s go see the village!¡±

    ¡°You! Stay with the wagon!¡± One of the [Spearmen] pointed with his spear in case Kaden had forgotten where the hundred foot long, fifteen foot tall wagon was. ¡°Stay there until the chief¡ªthe mayor¡ªgets back.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    The mayor was coming, and bringing with him the whole bandit troupe¡ªor village. It was hard to be sure. Men and women, and not a few teens barely old enough to hold the weapons they carried formed a ring around the wagon. The Mayor pointed his sword. ¡°Three hundred silver or you life is forfeit.¡±

    Before Kaden could move, Trella was standing between the Mayor and the woman to his right, an arm around each. ¡°You are doing this all wrong. The barricades need to be around your quaint little village, not across the road. Now, I¡¯m going to hand you some silver. You¡¯re going to count it. And afterwards, we¡¯re going to decide how this goes.¡±

    Kaden drew a pouch of silver he used for city purchases and tossed it to the Mayor. ¡±This is to fund your village wall, right?¡±

    The bandits looked more at loss with every moment. Sometimes, it was right to take a risk. Kaden headed toward the chief. ¡°Walk with me, why don¡¯t you? Show my your village. I¡¯ve got more points in Strength than your entire militia, and I had a hard night. My lover and I were attacked by a demon Sniffer. That¡¯s a demon that comes to hunt from hell. We killed it, but we¡¯re tired. Maybe we could rest here? Mayor?¡±

    The man mumbled an answer Kaden took as ¡®We¡¯d love to have you and the lovely [Shadow Blade].¡¯

    Calling it a village was an insult to villages everywhere. Twelve houses dis-organized in a rough square stood without even a log wall.

    ¡°You grow food here?¡± Trella said. ¡°There¡¯s always good market for food. Tell me about food, I¡¯ve always wanted to know how it was grown, Mr. Mayor. What is your village called?¡±

    ¡°Deshun a Noduska Bahon De,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Deshun for short. He was just telling me. They guard the road to protect it from bandits. That¡¯s entirely different than robbing people who pass down the road, isn¡¯t it, Mr. Mayor?¡±

    ¡°You! Give me all your money!¡± One of the archers had drawn her bow and trained it on Kaden. ¡°This isn¡¯t a village and we aren¡¯t some stupid guard. This is¡ª¡±

    Trella errupted from the shadows behind the Archer and clamped a gloved hand over the woman¡¯s mouth. ¡°Shhh. Shhhhhh. You¡¯re about to ruin everything. The [Beast Master] you¡¯re aiming at killed a hundred people in Omnor. A hundred to one. They thought he was trapped in room with them. Turned out, they were trapped in a room with him.¡±

    Trella took the bow and examined it. ¡°This is garbage. If you shot me with this, I¡¯d be offended you didn¡¯t respect me enough to use a good weapon.¡±

    Kaden turned his attention back to the nervous man beside him. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me. I have a three headed triterror who¡¯s mutated from a hydra. She eats people and then kills them. Anyway, you were showing me Deshun. What do you produce out here, Mr. Mayor?¡±

    ¡°When we first came, we sifted the river for mana stones.¡± It was the first time the ¡®Mayor¡¯ had spoken of his own accord. ¡°Now, the cavern the river flows from is too dangerous to enter.¡±

    ¡°Sounds a lot like a Dungeon to me.¡± Trella spoke from just behind him. ¡°You know who have coins to spend and love dungeons? Or just caverns filled with monsters? Adventurers. Is that your inn? You have to have an inn.¡± She pointed to an obviously abandoned house. ¡°It needs more inn. And beer. You can¡¯t have adventurers without beer and an inn.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have adventurers,¡± one of the women said. ¡°We don¡¯t have beer, and if you think that¡¯s an inn¡­¡± she trailed off as Trella¡¯s Deception emerged and headed into the building.

    ¡°Looks like an inn to me,¡± Trella said. ¡°Who¡¯s the innkeeper? You need to be able to pour beer from a barrel and lie about cleaning the sheets. One of you is an inkeeper. I just have this feeling. You.¡± She pointed to the woman who had spoken. ¡°Come with me, show me your inn.¡±

    Kaden looked to the other bandits. ¡°You, you, you. Come with me.¡±

    He set off toward a copse of trees. Fangwood¡¯s trees were tall and thick and perfect. No way was he using them to make a barrier. As he worked, he chatted with the possibly-reformed bandits. ¡°So, what brings nice men like you to the middle of nowhere?¡±

    With every blow, Remembrance brought down a tree. Kaden shouldered one and began dragging it back, while the three men with him took the other end. ¡°You¡¯re going to need walls but not huge ones. This is a village, the night spawns will approach but mostly go away when they can¡¯t get in. All we need is a nice pole wall.¡±

    By mid afternoon, he¡¯d buried split trunks around three of the four sides. Kaden joined Trella in the village ¡¯square¡¯ for a meal from Inventory. They spoke in code, while definitely-not-bandits-while-watched stared from houses. *It would have been easier to hang them all.*

    Kaden nodded. *Since when do you do easy?*

    *It would have been cheaper to hang them all. Rope is cheap. I ordered three barrels of beer, some beds, plates, that kind of stuff. Had to hire a wagon to bring it and pay extra because there¡¯s bandits on this road.* Trella glanced around. *Technically they¡¯re not on the road right now.*

    *How much?* Kaden already had a town to resettle.

    *Twenty five gold.* Trella looked up at him, watching for a reaction.

    Twenty five gold. Roughly six hundred silver for a life. Probably worthwhile. It was possible that they¡¯d be robbing travelers within days. Kaden wanted to believe better. But rather than just believe, he needed a way to ensure it.

    The first thing was to make certain they didn¡¯t have a way to go back to what they¡¯d done. Kaden looked to the gate and tapped out a request. Trella moved with him as he activated [Moment of Speed].

    Before the now-villagers could react, Kaden had lodged his shoulder under the edge of the barricade. He strained with every ounce of strength, with Trella at his side. The barricade groaned and shuddered as Kaden tore it loose from the earth, gate and all.

    As ex-bandits rushed from the houses, Kaden dragged the barricade back. ¡°You have a perfectly good gate, and since you want to let people in, it makes more sense to put it here, in front of the village.¡±

    Trella tensed as angry men drew swords.

    Kaden went back to digging, burying the new village wall and gate. ¡°So, when you¡¯re ready to expand, you have room for an entire row of buildings. A blacksmith, a crafter, and a healer would be my recommendation.¡±

    Trella faced the mostly-non-bandit people. ¡°Your first Adventurers are going to arrive tomorrow.There¡¯s a Quest from the King himself to kill bandits and they¡¯ll be hunting up and down the road. They¡¯ll also be hunting your caverns, which should make it safe to go back to sifting for mana stones.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the Falcrow and stood beside Trella, admiring the absolutely nothing. The holding was quiet. The holding was isolated. The holding wasn¡¯t surrounded by people. A moment later, a miniature peacock glided down to rest on Kaden¡¯s arm, and Eve spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve already dispatched a message to the Council at Verona. They¡¯ll courier in an agreement. It doesn¡¯t really matter how either side makes. Your ¡®villagers¡¯ will have a place to retreat during surges, and the Council will credit this as a minor agreement. Thank you.¡±

    Sara¡¯s green parrot sat on Trella¡¯s arm, issuing instructions, which went on much longer than Eve¡¯s had.

    ¡°Good news!¡± Trella said in the way that meant there was no good news, at least not for the people she was talking too. ¡°The City of Verona has extended your beautiful village an offer. The King is financing bandit hunting patrols, and they¡¯ve decided to send a squad of knights to help the Adventurers.¡±

    The message sank in. It was Kaden¡¯s turn, as an actual bird, an eagle descended to land near the new Mayor. ¡°That is a trade agreement scroll. You agree to sell mana stones you sift in Verona. In return, you can shelter there during a Surge. All you have to do is swear before the System.¡±

    Kaden accepted the scroll from the eagle, which watched him. *Waiting.*

    ¡°This will only take a moment.¡± Kaden unrolled it and read it¡ªthen took out the Levicon Blade and sliced the contract. ¡°There was a minor error in that one.¡±

    Thirty minutes later, another eagle landed.

    This time, the scroll had Evelyn Black as the councilwoman who had arranged the agreement.

    The Mayor had spent his time talking quietly with the men and women. The gaze he locked on Kaden and Trella said this wasn¡¯t friendly, it was forced. But he took the scroll and recited the oath, then handed it back to Kaden. ¡°You¡¯re a monster.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Kaden offered the man a handshake. ¡°We¡¯ll be going. You have our tax for passing. And I¡¯ll be back by, because Deshun has a special place in my heart.¡±

    *What the hell kind of name is that?* Trella asked.

    Kaden thought a moment. ¡°Deshun? It¡¯s Vichorean. The translation isn¡¯t quite right, but it means ¡®The Shadow of the Bandit Hanging From a Tree.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Love it. Deshun forever.¡± Trella followed Kaden through the gate and back to the road.

    Kaden took up the ropes, Trella climbed to the top of the stack, and they began to roll.As he picked up speed, he couldn¡¯t help noticing the trio of messenger birds, plain, brown ones who circled and headed east.

    Trella hopped down to pull with him. ¡°They¡¯re sending messages. Either we¡¯re going to have a lot of problems with more bandits, or we¡¯re not going to have any.¡±

    Three hours down the road, Trella spotted the abandoned camp. She leaped off the wagon and rolled to her feet, sprinting off to scout, then returned with a wicked grin. ¡°Fresh ashes, and signs there have been tents. I could track them, but they¡¯re heading west to Deshun, through the wilderness.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. The Mercari would be delighted. Some battles were fought with the head of a hammer and the blade of an axe. And some, you won by the edge of a coin.

 Six - Sea Me

    Three days later, Kaden arrived in the port town of Krebat, almost running through the flat land with Trella helping. Trinity was so close to reforming. Vip was ready. Rocky was never going to want to leave again. Krebat was built on low cliff overlooking the sea. An maze of docks stretched out, and a sea of ships rested inside a distant ring of rocks with guard towers. Tiny ships with only two sails, ones with six masts and twice as wide and long as the one Kaden had gotten from the Greater Abyssinian. Wide roads led north and south¡ªbasically every direction except Verona. The closer he came, the more Kaden had to slow to avoid wagons leaving, or wait his turn.

    Eve met them at the edge of Krebat, dressed in her dark blue robes.

    Kaden unharnessd himself and waved. ¡°You look good, Councilwoman.¡± [Split Second] activated, and he had zero idea what to do as Eve stiffly hugged him, patting him on the back with a closed fist. She then backed away and repeated with Trella, her face red. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Did I do that correctly? Did I send any mixed messages? I told Sara I didn¡¯t want to mix messages, but ¡®thank you¡¯ doesn¡¯t suffice.¡±

    ¡°No mixed messages,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And you¡¯re welcome. Here¡¯s a bonus.¡±

    Trella handed Eve the original scroll for the trade agreement with Deshun. ¡°I¡¯m a hundred percent certain your last name isn¡¯t black, but ¡®Gertrude Slish¡¯ also isn¡¯t you, and Kaden noticed the wrong name. We debated what to do. I was in favor of giving Gerty some complimentary dagger therapy. Kaden said you would want to know.¡±

    Eve studied the scroll, her face expressionless. ¡°Do nothing. The only person who knows the agreement was re-issued is the city scribe, who owes me a favor. So we leave Slish thinking she has a trade agreement when she has nothing. Later? There will be time to capitalize on her mistake.¡±

    ¡°Your idea of vengeance is terrible,¡± Trella said. ¡°Never underestimate the power of stabbing to make someone feel better. Usually me, if I¡¯m the one doing the stabbing.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle it my way. Sara sent me to warn you, don¡¯t leave the wagon. She says, and I quote, ¡®People will steal your tree for a mast.¡¯¡±

    Kaden looked to the stack. ¡°Which one?¡±

    ¡°She should have expected this. Regardless, I will wait with you. Sara and Ashi will be up soon with the cargo crew. It¡¯s not acceptable to move your own cargo, and this town is already a powder keg.¡± Eve circled their tree-train. ¡°Sara will be impressed. I¡¯m impressed.¡±

    Hours passed with Kaden creeping a wagon length closer at a time.

    Then, up the stairs from the cliff came Sara, dressed in her green leather, her Horror¡¯s psuedopods looking around, then opening their mouths to hiss. Ashi hovered up the stairs beside her. White salt crusted her tan wraps, and her skin was deep blue like the water mana in the air. Behind them came a crew of [Sailors].

    Sara waved.

    Then her jaw fell open. ¡°Did you bring all of FangWood?¡±

    Trella couldn¡¯t help laughing as Sara rushed to give each of them real hugs. Real hugs came with two arms and two psuedopods. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you both. Tell me about the Trial! Tell me about the blessings. Tell me about¡ªhold on, business first.¡±

    She turned and handed two gold to the head of the sailors. ¡°We can¡¯t leave. We¡¯ll have to wait here until it¡¯s all taken down to the dry docks, and then we¡¯re going to have to negotiate with the ship builders. I promised them a mast. This is more like a ship.¡±

    One by one, the [Sailors] unloaded the trunks, loading them into slings and then over the cliff with wooden cranes. In between, Kaden and Trella relayed the trial. The battles. The brutal end.

    ¡°Show me the system logs,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I have heard of these trials. Perhaps I would seek out this Yarrow.¡±

    ¡°[Fireproof] didn¡¯t protect me,¡± Kaden said. The only part he hadn¡¯t mentioned was how Remembrance froze everything. How his Beasts transformed. ¡°You could totally handle the first trial with [Wheamyn] and that¡¯s all it takes to get a blessing.¡±

    Still, they took time speculating on how effective each would be in larger battles. Then Kaden explained about the totally-not-bandits-anymore. ¡°Trella paid for the inn. That¡¯s gold we¡¯ll never get back, but I¡¯d rather pay in gold than blood.¡±

    ¡°Fifty-fifty they¡¯ve either abandoned the village or all been hung a week from now,¡± Kaden said. He was usually hopeful, but change worked best when people chose change.

    ¡°It¡¯s never wrong to hope,¡± Eve said. ¡°It can be foolish, but not wrong.¡±

    At last, the final trunk descended. Sara exchanged information with a [Wagoneer] and let him hook the wagons. ¡°The Merchant¡¯s Guild will guarantee us two wagons on return. Probably not the same two wagons, but if it rolls it will do. The enchantments are standard.¡±

    Ashi looked to the sea. ¡°A storm is rising. We would do well to return to the inn. Whether you see it, or not, the Sea whispers. It is good that you have survived. I have missed the company of you both.¡±

    Sara hurried down the stairs. ¡°If Ashi says there¡¯s a storm, there¡¯s a storm. If I move quick enough, I can sell the information. Excuse me!¡±

    She hurdled the railing and dropped, catching herself near the ground and sprinting out into the maze of ships. Ashi kept her pace steady. ¡°We have time, for now.¡±

    Kaden felt sicker with every step.

    The creak of wood and the slosh of waves brought back memories he hadn¡¯t faced since the Greater Abyssinian. His skin grew slick with sweat, but he forced himself to move.

    Trella put a hand on him. *What¡¯s wrong?*

    *Memories. Can¡¯t hurt me.* It wasn¡¯t entirely true.

    Near the dry docks, the ship waited, christened with a name: Chalmer¡¯s Child.

    Kaden looked at the name and then to Trella. Chalmer wasn¡¯t a name he knew. ¡°Ashi. Who¡¯s Chalmer. The captain?¡±

    ¡°Sara¡¯s father,¡± Ashi said. ¡°They wanted to name it after her, she chose this.¡±

    That was more than enough reason. Kaden looked for Sara, who stood over by a dry dock. The ship in the dock was, put simply, a wreck. All three masts were smashed, two at the base. Half the railing was gone, and Kaden could look down into the hold through a suspiciously Skeleton shaped hole.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Sara waved for them to come. ¡°Kaden, Trella, meet [Shipwright] Cohn. He¡¯s managing repairs on the new ship.¡±

    Cohn wasn¡¯t tall or wide, he wasn¡¯t intimidating. The man¡¯s pale white skin and orange hair wouldn¡¯t strike fear into anyone. He carried a dozen tools hung off his belt and placed a large draft plan into Inventory before shaking Kaden¡¯s hand. ¡°Good to meet you. You know, when Sara sailed into port with this¡­wreck¡­I though she was coming to scrap it. But with two cargo levels and a reinforced bow, it¡¯s a heart-hauler. Or it will be when we¡¯re done mending it. Does that skeleton of yours know what a ship is? Or that you want the ocean out it, not in it?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Skully is overly enthusiastic and barely knows his own strength. Can you fix it?¡±

    ¡°With what you brought?¡± Cohn nodded. ¡°The real problem¡¯s going to be other captains. We expected a mast and maybe some side lumber. I could build the frame of a ship from scratch with what you brought, and finish it with two more loads like that.¡±

    ¡°Other captains,¡± Sara said with venom. ¡°They get nothing.¡±

    Cohn didn¡¯t hide his discomfort. ¡°I do business with many people. I can¡¯t afford to anger everyone, and there might be a good reason for you to make a deal. Captain Senegal¡¯s been stuck in port for months. His ship was attacked by [Gigantorrod] in the southern sea, lost all three masts.¡±

    Sara listened. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Ship¡¯s owned by Elgarath Trading, but they don¡¯t pay keep for a crew that can¡¯t sail. You said you were looking for others to sail with you to Xiao. There¡¯s probably something to arrange there.¡± Cohn offered Sara a scroll. ¡°If you do strike a deal, I¡¯d appreciate being mentioned.¡±

    ¡°Can I go aboard at it?¡± Kaden studied the blocks holding the ship up in the dry dock . Ropes and hoists and stone pillars kept it steady.

    Cohn laughed. ¡°It¡¯s your ship. I spread word of the incomming storm but we¡¯ve got time.¡±

    Together they walked a wide ramp down into the floor of the ship.

    This was definitely Skully¡¯s work. At least it felt like there had been a rampage. Everywhere, instead of smashed boards, carpenters had pulled back deck boards so new ones could be layered in, and new beams sistered to broken ones. The center mast still stuck up as a stub, splintered, and when Kaden dropped down through one of the cargo hold entrances, he was suprised the ship hadn¡¯t sunk. If every missing board had been a hole in the hull, it should have just gone down. ¡°How did you get it here?¡±

    Cohn rapped the boards. ¡°Anyoneon a ship gains a skill, [From Hell¡¯s Heart]. It¡¯s not just the boards holding the water out, it¡¯s the determination of the person at the helm. With enough determination, you could sail with half the hull mising until you reached port. Every board is enchanted. Won¡¯t rot, usually won¡¯t break.¡±

    Giant skeletons were probably not covered by [From Hell¡¯s Heart.]

    The interior of the ship smelled of sawdust and fresh pitch. They weren¡¯t relying on will alone. Ashi hovered upward and picked up something from a deck beam. ¡°Is this not a finger bone?¡±

    Kaden accepted it. Friends didn¡¯t keep other friend¡¯s finger bones. ¡°Best gift ever. Where is Skully?¡±

    Sara pointed up. ¡°He¡¯s not welcome on the docks, so he¡¯s been sleeping in the courtyard of the inn. Cohn, this is fantastic work. How fast can you have her ready?¡±

    ¡°A week. It¡¯ll take you that long to provision, and if all goes well, I¡¯ll need to do repairs for Senegal¡¯s ship. Pirates have gotten smarter in the last few months, you¡¯d be wise to bring a fleet.¡± Cohn studied a timber and then marked it with chalk.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head to the inn. We only have two rooms, but there¡¯s two beds in each.¡± Sara led them back up the cliffs, explaining about the cargo. ¡°We won¡¯t just go empty. My [Mercari] contacts are fighting to send cargo with us, and of course, I want the best to ensure we can arrange a trade agreement.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got room to breathe now. I¡¯ve got room to breathe,¡± Eve said. ¡°If Verona never sees a single mana stone from Deshun, it¡¯s worth buying time.¡±

    ¡°Deshan. Deshan a Nodiska Bahon De,¡± Ashi said, correcting Kaden¡¯s Vichorean. ¡°Shadow of the Hanging Bandit. Not shadow of the hanging badger.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not changing the agreement,¡± Eve said. ¡°Badgers or Bandits, it¡¯s all the same to Verona.¡±

    The inn was far, far larger than Kaden expected, a U-shaped building with four stories and actual guards¡ªand a skeleton moping in the yard. Skully stood, resting his skull on the second story balcony, staring at the ground.

    Undead were, above all, patient, but Kaden felt bad for Skully. ¡°Hey, big guy!¡±

    The skeleton looked up and stood straight, waiting for orders.

    ¡°Look what Ashi found!¡± Kaden took out the finger bone and handed it to Skully, who clicked it into the ¡°beard¡± of finger bones that hung off his jaw.

    It was probably Kaden¡¯s imagination that he stood a little straighter. That the red fire in his eyes looked a bit merrier. That the [Plague Crows] infesting his skull looked less angry and more out to plague something. ¡°Good job, big guy. You want to leave the body and come in?¡±

    Sully¡¯s head would detatch for cases where a smaller, spider-like undead monster was more useful. It shook the head, rattling beard and ¡®hair¡¯ bones.

    ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Kaden went looking for Trella.

    Each floor of the inn centered around a communal kitchen and bar. Hallways were wide enough Trinity would be able to lumber along comfortably with room for other guests, and one look at his room door said the inn was used to guests who didn¡¯t trust each other. The array of locks, charms and wards would flatten a thief.

    Eve had received permission to cook in the kitchen because, as she put it, ¡®everything there was garbage.¡¯

    Kaden secretly agreed based on the slop he saw customers pay good coppers for. He bathed in the common bath and paid to put his armor through the cleaning box. It felt like an eternity since the trial.

    Eve¡¯s peacock landed on Kaden¡¯s bed. ¡°I¡¯ve fixed a proper meal. I was trying a new technique and the fish are too dry, but the sauce should be a counterbalance.¡±

    Kaden found Trella going over a ledger with Sara. Trella held a bottle of red wine in one hand and a fork in the other, and took turns eating fish and drinking. ¡°So much better than Inventory meals.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kaden took his plate and dug in. ¡°Oh, this is great. Lemon. Lemon juice would make it perfect.¡±

    ¡°You could be right. You probably are right.¡± Eve seemed lost in thought as she sat.

    Kaden summoned Vip. ¡°Look who it is!¡±

    Eve had her priorites and they didn¡¯t include eating when Vip squirmed and yipped and licked her neck. ¡°It¡¯s all right, love. I¡¯ve missed you, but this town isn¡¯t kind to animals or Beasts.¡±

    ¡°Did I mention an unsanctioned rum run?¡± Sara asked. ¡°That won¡¯t be happening again. I have no problem with rum runs. Rum is mildly profitable. I have a large problem with not being aware and an even larger one with not being paid.¡±

    ¡°What did you do about it?¡± Kaden asked.

    Ashi cleared her throat. ¡°She did nothing. I spoke with the captain. I explained to him of how it would be. I set him on fire when he drew a sword. He has grown fresh skin and a fresh attitude now.¡±

    ¡°My frustration is with him seeing an opportunity and not talking to me,¡± Sara said. ¡°I would have approved the voyage just to get sailing time for the new crews.¡±

    Trella kept looking over the logs. ¡°Someone¡¯s lying. This is all too orderly. You say they stuffed the hold full, I¡¯m telling you there¡¯s no way you fit exactly two hundred of everything. The hold¡¯s not even the same width all the way down. But not to worry, I¡¯m here now. I¡¯ll handle it tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°If you could keep the stabbing to the minimum?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°I, too, will help,¡± Ashi said. ¡°The sea is not gentle. It is not forgiving, but I have enjoyed teaching these sailors to respect me. A little of Vichor goes with each as they grant each other kindness.¡±

    Kaden took out the Sniffer¡¯s demon seed. ¡°It didn¡¯t regrow. I haven¡¯t cut it open because I don¡¯t know if I want another demon attribute yet.¡±

    ¡°Please?¡± Ashi reached for it and concentrated. ¡°I feel no mana. I feel no life. I do not underestand if the demon was immature, or if it lacks the power to regenerate.¡±

    Sara took a turn rolling it. ¡°You should sell it to a [Mage¡¯s Tower]. There isn¡¯t one here but you could take a FarPortal while we wait for repairs.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the Falcrow to Olidar with one set of questions, then to Ignus with another. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t realize I had this in my Inventory. I took an acorn from Yarrow¡¯s offering. You can¡¯t remove pieces of dungeons, but this is still with me.¡± He set an acorn the size of a man¡¯s head on the table.

    ¡°I¡¯ve still got a deer skull and some of the largest corn kernels you¡¯ll ever see,¡± Trella added. ¡°I like the skull. The corn is just weird, and the wheat feels poisonous. Kaden, you mind holding it?¡±

    Kaden took both into Inventory. ¡°Druids will know. I asked Ignus about the Sniffer core.¡±

    You have received a new Faction Quest: You took WHAT from WHERE? - Meet the Arch Druid Memonar to understand exactly what the hell you brought back. Reward: 1x Naturi Faction token, Faction Favor.

 Seven - Tree

    Kaden shared the quest logs with the party. ¡°Trella. Druuiids?¡±

    ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m over Pirates, too. I want to rest. Stab a few sailors who are stealing from us and altering the cargo manifests. Take it easy. That Trial took more than I expected, and I haven¡¯t really slept since.¡±

    Kaden looked over the quest logs. ¡°I want the tokens. I¡¯m going to need help from a [Druid] at some point, and I¡¯m really not comfortable with the [Wheamyn] seeds. Where¡¯s the FarPortal?¡±

    ¡°I will show you,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I grow bored of foretelling storms. These Druids will show you respect, too.¡±

    The Arch Druid was probably not someone Ashi could intimidate, but Kaden would never so no to company. He rose and gave Trella a kiss. ¡°Rest. You¡¯ve earned it.¡±

    She gave him a smile. ¡°You have, too. Don¡¯t stay too long. Though, if you do see an attractive [Druid], you know what and who to do.¡±

    That made Kaden laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±

    Outside, storm clouds gathered on the horizon, black, with lightning branching from them. Kaden hurried to the FarPortal, dragging Vip back into his soul. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go.¡±

    ¡°I choose this,¡± Ashi said.

    Kaden paid the Portal Mage on duty and transfered the portal coordinates. The FarPortal errupted into light, and Ashi took his hand as Kadens stepped through¡ªinto blinding sunlight.

    Kaden blinked covered his eyes until he could look around.

    The air here was not just warm, it was hot, and grasshoppers sang in the grass, and birds in the trees.

    ¡°Kaden Birch.¡± The voice was Olidar, Druid Centurion. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d come quickly. The Grove Spirit and Arch Druid are waiting.¡±

    Ashi continued to shield her eyes as she stumbled forward. ¡°Where is this?¡±

    ¡°The World Heart,¡± Olidar said, like that answer made sense. ¡°Druids don¡¯t have a country but we do have a continent all our own. Be respectful. You¡¯re going into the presence of Nature¡¯s daughter and the highest ranking Druid in the world.¡±

    Kaden could finally see¡ªand feel¡ªwhat surrounded him. It wasn¡¯t just a forest, it was a forest of [Sheild Trees], each of them so tallKaden could barely see the top. Their trunks grew together to form an arched path deeper into the forest.

    ¡°Let us go and see,¡± Ashi said.

    Olidar had combed his wild hair and now it lay, smooth and black, hanging to his waist. He wore no shoes, and as he stood, plants grew and flowered by his feet. ¡°This way.¡±

    The deeper Kaden went into the [Shield Tree] Forest, the heavier the weight on his shoulders grew. Ashi often used [Hover] to move and now, she hovered, but her feet dragged the ground every few feet until she was forced to walk.

    Beneath the shield trees, glowing wisps of every color moved, and beyond that, [Beast Soul] told Kaden he was being watched.

    The tree-tunnel ended in a clearing miles across, and in the center grew a single shield tree, glowing bright blue. It would have dwarfed Queen Brownbeak¡¯s tree in Verona.

    Olidar stood at the edge of the tunnel. He drew simple brown robes from Inventory. ¡°Change. No shoes, you¡¯re walking in the presence of Nature¡¯s Daughter herself.¡±

    He turned his back, and Kaden quickly stripped and donned the robes, while Ashi contorted and undressed wearing a robe over her top. ¡°I will not be exposed before others,¡± she said.

    The moment Kaden¡¯s feet touched the soul, warmth blazed up. Not just heat, but like the earth itself was grasping his feet. He stood still, uncertain of whether or not he should continue. Or could.

    Ashi¡¯s skin flushed deep green, and she retreated. ¡°I cannot go without my wraps. The Life Mana here is too strong.¡±

    Olidar grumbled, but nodded. ¡°Do what you must. No shoes. That¡¯s not debatable.¡±

    Kaden helped her apply them, binding the skin on her arms and legs before wrapping her hips, stomach, and chest with the cloth enchanted to shield her.

    Ashi spoke, and a wave of green power rushed out, brushing past Kaden, before sweeping back to her. ¡°I think I may pass now.¡± She gasped as her feet touched the ground, and kneeled, touching it with her hand.

    The power surrounding them pulled back, ever so slightly. At least, from Ashi. ¡°Now, I go.¡±

    Olidar led them across the field, and as they did, the plants on it shifted and changed, growing, dying, withering and growing again every few feet. ¡°This place is sacred, not to any god or goddess.¡±

    Beneath the shade of the blue tree, a man waited, exactly what Kaden would have expected from someone called the Arch Druid. His robes weren¡¯t brown but faded gray, his face was more a maze of wrinkles than skin, and his eyes were cloudy, his head balding.

    The sheer pressure that exuded from him beat a Demon Lord easily.

    ¡°Olidar, young man. Good of you to bring them,¡± he said in a voice that was barely audible. ¡°Ceri, will you council?¡±

    I WILL. The voice came from all around.

    The blue tree¡¯s trunk split longways from the base, and Kaden had to look away as power flooded out.

    Ashi groaned and almost fell.

    From the tree came a woman, or the suggestion of one. When Kaden looked at her, like with Ashi¡¯s mother, he had to struggle to define the entity before him, but as she grew closer, he settled on an image. A woman with beautiful blue green skin and hair of vines that wrapped into a dress which grew into the ground, dying and regrowing with every step.

    MEMONAR. OLIDAR. YOU ARE WELCOME IN MY PRESENCE, CHILDREN.

    Before this being, they were all children.

    The Arch Druid kneeled. ¡°Thank you. We may have found it. These two passed a Trial of Yarrow and brought items from his Harvest.¡±

    WHAT HAS BEEN IS KNOWN TO ME. SEA DAUGHTER, YOU, TOO ARE WELCOME. AND YOU, BEAST MASTER. IN THIS PLACE YOU ARE THEIR EQUAL. SHOW ME.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Kaden took out the corn Trella had taken, and the wheat, and the [Wheamyn] seeds, and last, the acorn. ¡°There were a whole mound of them.¡±

    FROM THIS A SCION OF YYGRA WILL GROW. THE WORLD TREE GROWS FROM A WORLD, AND FROM IT, WORLDS ARE GROWN, BUT LONG AGO THE SNAKE DEVOURED THE TREE, CUTTING OFF WORLDS.

    ¡°Yarrow must have harvested these,¡± Memonar said. ¡°But Yarrow has been lost for cataclysms.¡±

    How a snake could devour a tree that grew from the world and with other worlds on it made no sense, but there were basic rules about disbelieving the daughter of Nature herself and Kaden didn¡¯t need that kind of trouble. ¡°How do we grow it?¡±

    LEAVE IT HERE WITH ME. WHEN YOU ARE STRONGER, RETURN. I WILL GRANT YOU THE QUEST. A WORLD SEED TAKES DECADES TO GROW. FOR NOW, I WILL CARE FOR IT.

    The goddess approached, reaching carefully for the acorn, careful not to touch his fingers.

    ¡°What of the corn and wheat?¡±

    THEY ARE ICONS OF SPRING GODDESSES LONG GONE. WHERE THEY ARE KEPT, CROPS WILL GROW QUICKLY AND HARVESTS HEAVY. BUT BEWARE THE WHEAMYN. THEY OFFER SERVICE AND POWER BUT NONE CAN CONTAIN THEIR WRATH.

    Olidar picked up one of the seeds. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. Nature is what nature is, but these are just plain violent.¡±

    THEY DO NOT BELONG IN THE NATURAL WORLD. DESTROY THEM BY FIRE.

    Kaden put the seeds away, then the corn and wheat. He could already envision a crafter making relic holders, and putting them in a temple. Or hiding them away to prevent a holy war over who would gain them. No, if Verona were suddenly blessed with healthy crops and heavy harvests, better that no one knew. ¡°What level do I need to be to handle this quest?¡±

    YOU CALL IT THIRD TIER. ANYTHING LESS AND THE NEW WORLD TREE WOULD CONSUME YOU AS IT GREW. RETURN WHEN IT IS TIME. WHY IS THERE A MATCH LIZARD ON YOUR COLLAR?

    ¡°Do not speak of bread,¡± Ashi said.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t even thought of it much. ¡°To remind me of what¡¯s important. Trinity is a warrior. Rocky¡¯s a defender. The Falcrow annoys everything and occasionally takes messages. Vip loves everyone. Burny just exists. That¡¯s all any of us need to do. But, at level three, he¡¯s the most powerful Match Lizard in existence. King of the Match Lizards.¡±

    Your bound ENTITY ¡®Burny¡± has gained a title: King of the Match Lizards.

    That was unexpected. Kaden checked Burny¡¯s status.

    [Burny - Match Lizard]

    Level: 3

    HP: 12

    Mana: 4

    Skills: Burn

    Talents: Fireproof

    Titles: King of the Match Lizards

    The mighty fire salamanders are feared and worshiped for the ability to melt rock and boil oceans. Their stunted cousins, the match lizards are largely ignored because eating one requires getting burned in the mouth and almost never confers a talent. This match lizard is living the high life, burning dry, burnable materials and eating ash. Beast Knowledge: We know of a really great grilled cheese recipe. They practically cook themselves, melt the cheese and toast the bread at the same time. You got to try it.

    [Burn]

    Catch fire, burning something. It¡¯ll probably have to be something dry and relatively burnable to start with, but you¡¯ll burn it into tasty ash.

    [Fireproof]

    It wouldn¡¯t make a lot of sense for you to catch fire and burn yourself, which how Match Lizards went extinct the first four times (our mistake). You don¡¯t burn at all. You do, however, squish nicely, and fit between two slices of bread, so keep moving, little lizard.

    [King of the Match Lizards]

    Your fire damage will be doubled. The good news is, you¡¯re the indesputable king. The bad news is, you¡¯re king of the Match Lizards.

    Double fire damage? In a few hundred levels, Burny would be deadly.

    Circi, daughter of Nature stared at Kaden, specifically at the metal embedded in his chest.YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE PATH OF MAN.

    ¡°A demon tore my chest apart. I chose to live. I¡¯ll never be a [Druid] or a tree, which is ok with me. I¡¯ll be back when I¡¯m level fifty. Take care of the acorn for me.¡± But as he spoke, for the first time, Kaden sensed emotions from the Beasts in his soul. ¡°My Beasts want to meet you.¡±

    IT IS ONLY NATURAL. THEY ARE PART OF MY DOMAIN. BRING THEM FORTH. DAUGHTER OF THE SEA, YOU CARRY A SPARK OF LIFE AS WELL.

    Ashi produced the globe of saltwater that suspended Levi-ling. ¡°It is pleased to see you.¡±

    Kaden summoned Vip first.

    The dog rolled over and wagged its tail. *Love?*

    Rocky came next. The Rock Gobbler actually bowed. Or he layed down, front feet first and fell asleep before remembering to lay the rest of him down. It was sadly a real possibility.

    Trinity burst into existence, strangely calm. She didn¡¯t bow down, but lowered her left and right heads to the ground, then her middle head unleashed a low roar that went on. Not a thought, but a need Kaden didn¡¯t understand.

    SO IT WILL BE.

    Kaden understood the urge. It wasn¡¯t [Authority] or [Dominion], just the power of Nature personified. The arch druid drew something from Inventory. ¡°When you reach level fifty, this will let you return. You took the seed. It falls on you to plant it.¡±

    You have received a new Quest: The All-Root - Plant the World Tree Seed in the middle of the Damar Wastes. Reward: Unique

    You have received 1x Heartland Passport.

    You do not meet the requirements for this item (Level 50, [Beast Master]).

    Your skill with [Beast Form] has increased. (Circi, Nature¡¯s Daughter).

    THE SERPENT WILL MOVE AGAINST YOU. I WILL WORK TO RESTRAIN IT UNTIL YOU ARE STRONGER, BUT ITS REACH IS LONG AND ITS FOCUS UNRELENTING. WHEN IT IS TIME, YOU WILL NOT FACE IT ALONE.

    ¡°This serpent, can it die?¡± Ashi asked.

    IT CAN ONLY BE RESISTED. GROW STRONGER. FIND MIGHTIER BEASTS TO LEARN FROM.

    That matched Kaden¡¯s goals anyway. But here, the daughter of Nature herself might be able to help. ¡°I have Quest. Restore the withered seed. We had a meeting in Verona with every gardener and we don¡¯t have a withered seed.¡±

    YOU CARRY IT WITH YOU NOW.

    ¡°Demon seeds,¡± Ashi whispered. ¡°Did you not show us one?¡±

    Kaden actually carried three. Naski¡¯s, Desmona¡¯s, and the Sniffer. ¡°One of these?¡±

    The silver orb that had been Naski glowed brighter¡ªand then dimmed. A barage of images hit Kaden, faster than he could possibly interpret. At last, they slowed.

    Ever since Kaden offered Naski¡¯s seed to the god of Death, he hadn¡¯t sensed anything from the demon, though she remained a bound Entity according to the skill. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    SEA DAUGHTER. YOU CARRY YOUR MOTHER¡¯S MAGIC.

    ¡°I carry all magic,¡± Ashi answered. ¡°All colleges. In time, all spells.¡±

    THAT IS THE MAGIC OF THE ONE WHO SIRED YOU. YOU ARE MORE THAN THAT. REMEMBER THIS: IT CANNOT BE TAKEN FROM YOU. THE FOLLY OF MAN IS TO CHAIN THE SEA.

    The Nature goddess began to recede, taking the World Acorn with her, until the tree trunk resealed around her.

    The Arch Druid walked like a man headed to his deathbed, limping over to Kaden and Ashi, as Kaden drew his Beasts back. ¡°You should have been a [Druid]. Your heart is right for it. I know you¡¯re responsible for the [Burning Dream] surviving.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t trade my class for anything. When I¡¯m level fifty, I¡¯ll come back for the World Acorn.¡± Kaden bowed before the Arch Druid. ¡°I plan to take the wheat and corn to Verona and hide them somewhere in the city.¡±

    Olidar laughed. ¡°Or you could sell them. Those belong to a harvest god and a spring god. We¡¯ve no qualms with anyone using them.¡±

    ¡°Just like you¡¯ve got no qualms about the metal plate in my chest?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a slight, it was a fact,¡± Olidar said. ¡°Circi¡¯s got no quarrel with you, just, your life¡¯s going to have a different bend to it than a [Druid] would. She didn¡¯t rip that plate out, and she could have. Most who encounter her are drained or energized. Which is it?¡±

    ¡°Drained,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Not injured. It was like the first time I encountered Asmodeus. What do the servants of this ¡®snake¡¯ look like?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll take time for the Ouroboros to realize a World Tree seedling has sprouted. Even longer for it to know where in all the worlds it is. When it does come, you¡¯ll be the first to know.¡± Olidar followed them to the FarPortal. ¡°Don¡¯t try to come to this place uninvited. This time, Circi herself wanted to see you. You don¡¯t want to see what happens when you¡¯re not suposed to be here.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the [FalCrow] and waited for the FarPortal. Ashi had been near silent. Something had changed in her, and he wasn¡¯t sure what, but she felt different. ¡°Are you ok?¡±

    ¡°I am many things,¡± she answered. ¡°Let that be answer enough for now.¡±

    The Farportal activated.

    All around Kaden, lightning flashed and hail clattered. Winds tore through the town of Krebat, sending lanterns rolling through the darkness.

    ¡°Quickly,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We must retreat indoors. This is not just a storm. The Sea Dragon Oceanus comes.¡±

    The mother of all lightning bolts lit up the sky, framing a winged dragon the size of the sunset. It hovered over the sea in the distance. As the after image faded, Kaden couldn¡¯t shake the feeling it was looking at him.

 Eight - Omen

    Every once in a while, Kaden¡¯s Class lead him to do things that would make Eve develop an ulcer. Right now, it was screaming at him that this was the most magnificent Beast in existence and it was his duty to every Beast Master past and future to run straight toward the sea and either tame it or go down in Tavern Tales as the Beast Master who almost tamed the sea dragon (as far as anyone could tell from the crater that remained. Craters were not known for disputing tavern tales).

    Ashi was doing breathing exercises, ones in which she repeated screamed ¡°Run¡± while breathing.

    Oceanus was magnificent, lit in silver lightning. Like Suridev, the dragon changed size to fit, and Kaden¡¯s gut feeling was that the smallest size that fit was ¡®massive¡¯ and from there it went up to ¡®earth-rending.¡¯ The storms didn¡¯t surround the dragon, they issued from it, and now Kaden sensed it was moving toward him with the unstopable momentum of, well, a storm.

    Burny hissed and began to steam as a drops of rain exstinguished his fire. King of the Match Lizards was no match for the Emperor of Storms.

    Kaden¡¯s fingers tingled with excitement. Actually, his whole arm tingled. Make that his body, with excitement. Also lightning. Lightning coursed down his body, starting from Ashi, who had leveled up her breathing exercises to screaming. ¡°You will die!¡±

    Mayor Ashford has invoked [Mana Screen]. All individuals should seek immediate shelter.

    [Mana Screen] made the sky fuzzy, though the hail and wind continued unabated.

    ¡°I can¡¯t shut it out,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I can barely keep from sprinting toward the dragon.¡±

    ¡°Close your eyes. Let my voice be your guide.¡± Ashi led him along. ¡°It is not far.¡±

    Blind, it felt forever before Ashi prodded him. ¡°Step up. Step up again, and inside. The wards here will block it further.¡±

    Two steps inside, the pull on Kaden lessened, and he opened his eyes. A crowd packed the inn, every soul in town taking shelter from the incoming dragon. Kaden and Ashi climbed the staircase to the second floor and found Sara sitting out in the commons.

    ¡°You¡¯re both drenched. Kaden, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    The last dragon hadn¡¯t affected him like that at all. His gaze fell on the scale pattern burned into his right hand. Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] and dispatched it with a question to Suridev. The Solar dragon was the most personable of all the ones Kaden had met. His question was simple: ¡°Why do people go looking for dragon scales?¡±

    It unlocked a [Beast Form] slot for him, but the was Suridev spoke it wasn¡¯t just [Beast Masters] seeking dragon scales. And after what had just happened, Kaden had to get to the bottom of it.

    The lights in the inn went out, and only the fire light, the glow of the heatstone, and a furious [Match Lizard] fought the darkness.

    Rain pounded down in waves. Waves like wingbeats.

    Fear crawled up his spine like frost.

    Kaden didn¡¯t even breathe as the rain cut out.

    The storm wasn¡¯t over. The dragon was directly overhead.

    Someone screamed as a clap of thunder rolled, and then the rains resumed, and gradually slowed. The lights flickered back on. Kaden felt sick, deeply sick, like an illness had crept into his soul. He managed to reach the room at the inn, and found Trella fast asleep inside. For a class derived from Assassins, she slept like the dead, even as Kaden stripped his armor and collapsed into bed, summoning Vip to sleep against his back and Trinity to guard the door.

    ¡°You¡¯re already back?¡± Trella murmurred. ¡°Gods, you¡¯re burning up. Do you need Eve? Is this some status effect?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s teeth chattered and he pulled the spare blankets down, finding a way to sleep at last. His dreams were of wind and storms and hail, and a dragon that blotted out the sky.

    ###

    ¡°He¡¯s not sick, not in a normal sense.¡± That was Eve. ¡°He has a fever, but his health is maxed out.¡±

    Kaden rolled over, pulling back the covers that buried him. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±

    Trella leaned over, her face filling his vision. ¡°You haven¡¯t slept this long in forever. You practically have [Tireless] as a talent, and last night you were either sweating or shivering. Ashi told us about the World Tree. Did that stupid Nature spirit do something?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°She helped. Told me what the Withered Seed was.¡±

    ¡°Yes, lovely.¡± That was Sara. ¡°You have a Quest to regrow a Demon who tried to kill you and got her core ripped out by Ashi. Did you by any chance send a message to Suridev?¡±

    Kaden nodded, which made the world spin. ¡°I could barely resist Oceanus¡¯s presence. Every ounce of me wanted to run to him, knowing damn well he¡¯d kill me. Something¡¯s wrong, and my gut says it has to do with that third scale.¡±

    ¡°That at least explains our visitor.¡± Sara said.

    The door creaked open.

    The whisper of claws on carpet had Kaden open his eyes. A golden lizard the length of a hatchling iguana perched on the end of the bed. ¡°Suridev?¡±

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    *Not exactly, kid. Just a suicidal [Sun Lizard] doing me a favor.* The mental voice matched the Solar Dragon, though distant. The [Sun Lizard] leaped off the foot and crawled over the blankets to stick out a forked tongue at Kaden¡¯s hand. *You actually did it. Three scales. Of course, I gave you the most important one, but you got two more. Death, whew, you got guts. And Fire. Oh, well, that explains a bit.*

    The [Sun Lizard] turned in circles, whipping its tail back and forth until Burney raised himself in a dominance display, and burst into flame.

    *Got yourself a sparky one, huh? Real [King of the Match Lizards]. Cool your scales, sparky.* Suridev¡¯s sun lizard backed up a few inches but continued to twitch. *Ok. So, you were after scales for a skill. Congrats on the skill, don¡¯t try to be a dragon.*

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kaden said. ¡°[Beast Form] was worth getting burned by the scale. Also that Fire Dragon was an ass.¡±

    *You say I said this, I¡¯ll say you lied. Not every dragon is as glorious as, say, me. And some dragons are less glorious or intelligent or rich or worshipped, but have more raw power. Haven¡¯t met the Death dragon, but I¡¯m willing to bet it was a trip.*

    That was an understatement. Kaden shared the logs from when he¡¯d received the scale. ¡°Nearly killed me.¡±

    The [Sun Lizard¡¯s] tongue flicked out at his hand, touching the black scale outline. *Then you add Fire. Fire¡¯s probably the strongest dragon there is. And THEN you go near Oceanus in his natural form, yeah, think I got this one. You¡¯re sick from over-exposure to dragon mana. That part will sort in a week or two, and you¡¯ll be stronger. So it¡¯s good news/bad news.*

    Kaden did not got this. ¡°What¡¯s happening? And how do I fix it?¡±

    *Those scales aren¡¯t just an illusion. They¡¯re a nugget of us. Of power. That¡¯s why smart adventurers have always been after dragon scales.* The Sun Lizard touched a claw to each scale. The Solar scale, the first Kaden received, glowed briefly. *Every scale does something different. That fire scale makes you more resistant. Death made you more deadly. Solar¡­you¡¯ll figure it out in time. I¡¯m proud of what I did there.*

    Kaden hadn¡¯t seen any benefits from the Fire Scale. ¡°How do I avoid being drawn? And why is it even happening?¡±

    *Us dragons? Real dragons, not lizards with aspirations¡ªI¡¯m looking at you, sparky¡ªwe¡¯re mana. Our scales work to hold it in. On you, it¡¯s doing the opposite, sucking in dragon mana and pumping it into your body. No offense, kid, but you¡¯re not a dragon, and there¡¯s side effects.*

    ¡°What do I do?¡±

    *Stay clear of powerful dragons. Stick with us smart, stylish, wise dragons. You¡¯ll acclimate eventually and then your body won¡¯t be so hungry for more. I could introduce you to better dragons. For a price.* Suridev¡¯s tone had switched from light-hearted to business serious.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk. We¡¯ll negotiate.¡± At the mention of negotiation, his [Negotiation] skill activated, offering warnings about how devious dragons could be. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    *I meant to tell you, but the whole business in Omnor went Princess Pear-shaped. Come find me, I got work for go-getters like you.* The [Sun Lizard] stepped back. *Now, don¡¯t panick. I promised this little guy he¡¯d get to be a dragon-hatchling, and warned him what would happen. Only one way that gets done.*

    The [Sun Lizard] coiled up in a circle, his tail wrapping around his body, and began to glow brighterand brighter until Kaden¡¯s eyes hurt. Sara didn¡¯t blink, staring as the lizard incandesced.

    When the spots cleared, a golden egg six inches long rested on the bed. Kaden picked it up, cradling it close. The egg was warm, the surface smooth and it radiated solar mana.

    ¡°May I?¡± Ashi asked.

    Kaden fought the feeling in his gut that wanted to clutch the egg and hide it. He offered it to her.

    Ashi¡¯s skin flushed golden as she drank in solar mana. ¡°It will be powerful. You will keep it, will you not?¡±

    ¡°[Sun Lizards] are from the islands where [Ruby Hydras] are. Trinity is different. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯d be too happy in Verona.¡± Kaden hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. ¡°I need to get up and get moving, and work this off.¡±

    ¡°I was listening!¡± Sara said. ¡°Rest. Recover. We¡¯re hitting the seas soon and there will be no rest there.¡±

    Eve put a hand on Ashi¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯d like to hold the egg, please.¡±

    Ashi passed it to her. ¡°With care, Evelyn.¡±

    ¡°It smells like summer,¡± Eve said. ¡°It feels like laying in the sun in the grass. I¡¯d like to tend it. Did the lizard say who should tend the egg? I could tell it was speaking but not what it said.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Suridev didn¡¯t give orders, but I¡¯d bet he knew I¡¯d take it. Eggs can go into Inventory right up until they hatch. If you get tired of it, give it back.¡±

    Eve¡¯s broad smile said she wasn¡¯t going to get tired of it. ¡°Vip, keep him warm. I¡¯m the closest thing to a Healer you have. Healer¡¯s orders: rest. Recover.¡±

    ¡°No Dragons,¡± Sara added.

    Kaden could do that.

    ###

    After five days, Kaden felt mostly recovered, though bruised and sore in his soul, like he¡¯d been put through a press. Eve brought him mostly soups in bed. When Kaden finally got dressed and made his way out, the mood in Krebat had turned chill.

    Kaden made his way to the dry docks, letting Trinity hunt fish by the wave shore. Rocky made an excellent counterweight for cranes, and [Shipwright] Cohn and his crew let Kaden watch¡ªand even saw a board or two.

    His [Building] skill was low, but boards were boards. All three masts had been replaced, new Spars hung, and now the builders rushed to tar the hold and test enchantments. Sara came looking for Cohn with Skully lurching along behind her. ¡°Are we ready for cargo?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re ready. We¡¯ll get a Sea Mage to flood the dock and load this afternoon while we make the last touches,¡± Cohn said. ¡°That skeleton can¡¯t come near this ship. I just finished repairing it. Not one step closer, you understand?¡±

    Skully stepped back.

    Sara cursed again. ¡°Oceanus was seen as an omen. No one wants to sail, especially not Captain Senegal.¡±

    Cohn nodded. ¡°It¡¯s seen as an omen because it was an omen. Oceanus didn¡¯t just pass by, he came straight for the town. No voyage will end well until we have another omen. Give it a month.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be in Xiao within a month,¡± Sara said. ¡°We sail with the two ships, we sail with the cargo we have. With four of us onboard, we are an armada, and that¡¯s before we count Trinity.¡±

    ¡°Your funeral,¡± Cohn said. ¡°I got your terms for the other lumber and they¡¯re acceptable. Elgarath Trading ok¡¯d the repairs.¡±

    Sara shook his hand, then looked to Kaden. ¡°Someone¡ªyou¡ªbrought far more lumber than expected. I approached Elgarath Trading about making a Fleet Alliance, they refused. So S&K Holdings bought a minor stake using lumber. There are twenty five ships their fleet. Guess which one they wanted to peg our stake to?¡±

    Kaden had a decent idea. ¡°The broken, unable-to-sail one stuck in port?¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡± Sara began to grin, and her Cosmic horror¡¯s psuedopods shook as though laughing. ¡°That gives me the right to authorize repairs, but the crew won¡¯t sail right now.¡±

    [Shipwright Cohn] looked at Sara with a new appreciation. ¡°They¡¯re up for repairs next week, but Senegal¡¯s cautious. Too cautious. Topaz Trading tried to hire him to make local runs but he¡¯s unreliable. If the wind blows wrong, he doesn¡¯t sail. If there¡¯s blood on the moon, or blood on the deck, he doesn¡¯t sail. If a [Match Lizard] sneezes, he doesn¡¯t sail.¡±

    ¡°That will have to change in time. For now, it¡¯s acceptable that we get repairs started.¡± Sara looked to the docks, where cargo carriers lined up. ¡°Kaden, what do you think?¡±

    He thought the sooner they started, the sooner he could meet new beasts in Xiao. ¡°Get ready. We¡¯re going to sea.¡±

 Nine - Sea Sick

    Kaden lay in the crow¡¯s nest, curled in a ball, naked. Sweating. His feet were hooves, his lower legs, a minotaur¡¯s. His hands were thick and heavy but his shoulders, a man¡¯s.

    ¡°Coming up!¡± Trella called as she hauled herself into the nest. ¡°You need to drink. Also, your knee looks way more hairy. Good work.¡±

    Kaden accepted the flask she filled with [Create Water] and gulped it down. Ten days into the voyage, this was the only place he could sleep. The only place where nightmares and waking flashbacks didn¡¯t ambush him. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be stuck like this. Stuck up here. Stuck in between forms.¡±

    He let go of [Beast Form] and his feet and hands shriveled back inminutes. ¡°I survived the Greater Abyssinian. I beat it.¡±

    Trella sat beside him and wrapped her cloak around herself against the wind. ¡°You can survive and still be wounded. You almost died on this ship. You should have died. Eclipse won¡¯t come out at all.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just the ship itself, it was the slow creak, the slosh of waves, the smell of salt and wood and desperation and the weight of knowing that this was the end. Only up here, in the place he¡¯d been safe, could Kaden sleep. The rain didn¡¯t bother him. The wind didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Kanli said to just keep focusing on the transformation, and that it would get easier. It¡¯s not easier.¡±

    ¡°And you¡¯ve been working on it a week. There¡¯s nothing else to do,¡± Trella said. ¡°Both ship crews are terrified of me because I hunted down the cargo thief. Also because I was wearing a necklace made from his fingers, so a little of that¡¯s on me.¡±

    That sounded like Trella. ¡°How¡¯s Ashi?¡±

    ¡°Sea sick. She¡¯s blue from the sea mana and green from puking. She says the ship never moved on Echo Lake.¡± Trella brushed his forehead. ¡°We saw a pirate scout boat today. They turned and sailed the other way.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Kaden looked up at the flag fluttering above the nest. A pair of green cosmic horrors which definitely didn¡¯t resemble snakes to people who didn¡¯t know Sara entwined on a field of white. The flag definitely represented the Horror surrounding the world and devouring it, not two snakes forming a heart. ¡°How¡¯s Eve?¡±

    ¡°Beloved. Sailors can drink all they want, Eve cures [Hungover] and they go right back to work. Did you know Trinity can work the cargo lift?¡± Trella asked.

    Trinity had taken to sleeping in the crowded hold of the second ship, christened the ¡°Jaqueline¡± after Sara¡¯s mother. ¡°I believe it. Didn¡¯t know it, but Trinity is smart.¡±

    ¡°I have to get back to the other ship. Sara and Eve have this one, Trinity and I have the other. Skully¡¯s down in the hold. At least his head is.¡±

    Sara had quelled a near mutiny by shipping Skully¡¯s giant body back to the Holding, while Kaden insisted his head shift to the spider-skull form and lurk below deck. Kaden had seen him twice at night. The undead monster climbed up the ropes to the crow¡¯s nest and looked at Kaden before scuttling down again.

    He blinked away memories.

    He was not alone.

    He was not trapped.

    The ship was repaired and not rotting, there weren¡¯t hordes of skeletons, just one, and it was friendly. ¡°I¡¯m going to keep working on [Beast Form].¡±

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll be by at dinner.¡± Trella stood and climbed to the top of the mast, touching the flag. ¡°I wish there were, like, a haystack below I could dive into.¡±

    ¡°Why would there be a haystack on a ship?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Because it would be cool.¡± She leaped, doing a dive downward, a splash echoing up a moment later.

    Kaden went back to working on [Beast Form]. Hooves first, like Kanli taught him. Claws for fingers. Calves swelling as minutes became hours. The tension set in, the fear that came as he rembered being lost in the mind of Minotaur.

    Never making it back to the part of his mind that was human.

    Kaden let it go and closed his eyes. His temples itched, a great sign because you couldn¡¯t grow horns without some itching. His teeth ached, also good because having his jaw jut forward didn¡¯t come without some cost.

    The transformation stopped with one arm a husky minotaur, and a thigh that had been stung by a bee or was somewhat transformed.

    Night came, and Kaden ate vegetables from a bowl Trella brought and talked with her. A heavy fog remained after the last squall and the sailers were rightfully nervous. Oceanus himself could rise up and they wouldn¡¯t see him.

    Trella pulled a blanket from Inventory and lay down, putting her head on his chest. ¡°Oooh. So hairy.¡±

    ¡°Not transformed,¡± he said with some difficulty.

    And with her sleeping at his side, Kaden was able to rest.

    ###

    He woke to the sound of shouting, the clang of steel and the cries of battle. Heavy fog had given way to driting mists, and three ships clung to the two in Kade¡¯s fleet. Two were war ships, sleek and thin and long, with wide sails.

    Trella¡¯s crow landed on the nest. ¡°They used an illusion to hide their approach and have giant spiders webbing the ships together. I hate to interrupt your practice but we¡¯re neck deep in pirates.¡±

    Kaden stood, his hooves clopping on the wood of the crows nest and gripped the edge with a thick hand. He leaped over, gripping a rope to lower himself, then dropped. If they wanted to attack his herd? They¡¯d pay.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Kaden landed on the back of a pirate¡ªor a sailor, it was hard to tell with the man¡¯s spine broken¡ªand threw back his head to let loose a war cry.

    You have used [Bahamut Bray]. Allies attack will be raised. Enemies will suffer [Fear].

    A distant part of his mind basked in triumph. He¡¯d managed the change, though it had taken days. The more immediate part of his mind wanted every intruder dead, a desire Kaden embraced.

    Identifying pirates was easy, now. The pirates were the ones who screamed and ran as he thundered across the deck, flinging enemies into the water and ending his charge by goring one.

    ¡°Focus!¡± A man shouted. A man dressed in all black, with a fancy hat that hid his complete lack of horns. Everyone knew the best warriors had horns. ¡°Kill the minotaur or¡ª¡±

    An arrow plunged into the pirate captain¡¯s arm, letting lightning course over him.

    Sara had taken advantage of the distraction and struck. She was a worthy herd-member.

    Kaden found himself surrounded by pirates with short, stubby swords meant to hack and slash. He drew Remembrance. It, too, could hack. Now, the pirates rushed to retreat, holding out their weapons.

    ¡°[Big Boom]!¡± Ashi screamed from high above.

    One pirate ship¡¯s sails caught fire near the base. It couldn¡¯t be easy, burning something surrounded by the sea, but Ashi continued to lash out with fireballs, targeting the ship¡¯s sails.

    ¡°Forward!¡± The pirate captain shouted. ¡°There¡¯s no going back!¡±

    Screams of terror rose from the other ship, then Trinity let loose a battle cry.

    ¡°Back! Go back! There¡¯s no going forward!¡± someone screamed as the pirates rushed to retreat. ¡°Cut the webbing! Don¡¯t let the skeleton onboard! Summon the storm! Summon the storm now!¡±

    The moment of distraction was all Kaden needed. He swung Remembrance down, using the hammer head to smash the skull of a pirate, then charged through the ring.

    Stubby swords cut, but these were weak weapons, and Kaden ignored the blood, rampaging from one end of the deck to the other. A trample was as good as a gore. Breaking limbs was the new trample, and nothing beat head-butting a man in the chest to send him flying over the railing.

    ¡°Take their ship!¡± Sara screamed. ¡°Kill them all. We¡¯ll have our own fleet.¡±

    Pirates were, in essence, full-contact negotiators, but they were also businessmen, and Sara¡¯s cry put fear into the pirates still onboard. Faced with a hostile takeover, they sprinted for the webs, sliding down them to land on their own ship.

    Running like cowards from a challenge.

    Rage made Kaden¡¯s eyes fill with red and again he unleashed [Bahamut Bray]. The big ship was cutting webs. The big ship was fleeing like a beaten hydroboar. A pirate sprinted for the railing on the other side, and Kaden, too, sprinted.

    With thundering hoofbeats he stampeded toward the pirate, and when his prey leaped, Kaden couldn¡¯t help himself. He followed, sailing into the open air to smash into the man, then falling¡ªnot into the ocean, but to a wooden deck.

    A short, small ship with only two masts had moored on the other side, and pirates covered the deck. Trapped on the ship with him, they drew weapons.

    There might have been fifty. There could have been a hundred. A minotaur didn¡¯t mind being outnumbered. Battle was inevitable and defending one¡¯s herd from predators was the right and responsibility Kaden embraced.

    Lightning arced across the sky, illuminating the fog.

    Kaden attacked, using Remembrance to smash and chop. It wasn¡¯s so much being surrounded as having his pick of victims. He couldn¡¯t dodge their attacks, only endure, but as the boat began to pitch and roll, he welcomed the sea¡¯s anger.

    Side-step a slash and grab the pirate. Use him as a [Battering Ram] to smash through five of his friends and end the dash with Remembrance leaving a gash through a man¡¯s chest.

    Then agony struck.

    One of his legs almost collapsed.

    A pirate had slashed, not randomly, but at the tendons on Kaden¡¯s leg. Kaden lifted the man with one hand and smashed him through the deck, but the damage was done. These were rats, rats who outnumbered him.

    A wave crashed over the side of the ship as it tilted.

    Kaden caught the mast with Remembrance and hung on as it swept over. Saltwater burned in a dozen cuts. As the ship righted itself, he clung to the mast with one arm and hacked with Remembrance, cutting men¡¯s legs.

    Lightning showed the swell of another wave rising up. With only a moment, Kaden clung to the mast, wrapping his claw in the ropes.

    The wave struck, going on for eternity, until Kaden¡¯s lungs burned. He didn¡¯t have [Resist Suffocation] in this form, and gasp for breath. Ball lightning arced above, revealing the desperate men who, like Kaden, had tied themselves to the ship.

    Kaden leaped to the railing and nearly crashed through. Wood groaned and cracked as he struck it, then pulled himself along toward the nearest Pirate.

    The man slashed his arm twice before Kaden¡¯s claw closed on his throat and tossed him overboard.

    ¡°[Backstab!]¡± A Pirate drove a dagger deep into his back.

    Kaden¡¯s health began to plummet as he back-handed the assasin pirate and broke the man¡¯s jaw. If his leg had been functioning, a hoof-stomp could have broken the pirate¡¯s foot but he settled for pushing the man down until Kaden could smash him against the deck.

    The skull broke before the boards did.

    Lightning showed him the last three, back near the ship¡¯s wheel. They fought to turn the ship toward oncoming waves. One never saw him. Kaden siezed him with both hands and threw him over the back.

    The other drew a dagger and stabbed while Kaden punched him with heavy fists until the man¡¯s eyes rolled back in his head.

    The last had tied himself to the wheel and wept as Kaden stood and drew Remembrance. The ship pitched back and forth thrown by the squall, but Kaden brought Rembrance down with all the fury in his soul, chopping the man¡¯s arm off and leaving it tied to the wheel.

    It was a simple thing to strike him in the chin with Remembrance. The ocean could keep his body.

    The storm thundered, and Kaden answered with a roar of his own, calling to his herd, a cry lost in the storm as hours passed.

    Gradually, the waves slowed.

    Gradually, the wind eased.

    Kaden¡¯s mind was somewhat minotaur, and he limped up and down the deck, stomping the few corpses not swept over the rails.

    And time dragged out, the rage dulled. The mists thinned, and a cold sun shone down. In the distance, sails appeared like white clouds, clouds that grew larger with time.

    Thirty feet away, the ship stopped and a moment later, Trella climbed aboard, dripping.

    His heart knew her, and Kaden limped over to try and embrace her. She was just too short. ¡°You killed them all by yourself? Next time, share the fun?¡± She said. ¡°You¡¯re hurt. Can you drink some of this potion for me?¡±

    Trella gave him a potion, too small for his hands, then held it to his lips. ¡°Good. Now, listen to me. This ship is sinking. Can minotaurs swim?¡±

    Minotaurs, according to Kaden¡¯s Beast memory, were champion drowners. The problem was, Kaden¡ªall of him¡ªdidn¡¯t want to surrender his battle with the sea. He gently, slowly began to tap.

    Trella looked around. ¡°It¡¯s not me! It¡¯s already sinking. Look. See that railing? Beneath that railing is water. I¡¯m pretty sure it¡¯s not supposed to be that far up. So, I¡¯ll find a barrel or something. We can float over.¡±

    Kaden roared and stamped his foot. It wasn¡¯t code, but it sort of was.

    ¡°If it fits in Inventory, you can have it,¡± Trella said. ¡°Does a ship, even a small one like this, fit? No? Leave it.¡±

    First she didn¡¯t want him stealing from Initiates. Now it was abandoning a damaged, sinking ship he couldn¡¯t sail in the middle of an ocean. Kaden was a reasonable minotaur, but he had limits. He stomped back to the ship¡¯s wheel and set his hands on it.

    You have assumed control of the ship ¡®Leticia¡¯s Axe Wound of Love.¡¯

    Ship hull is at 36%.

    Your ship is sinking!

    [From Hell¡¯s Heart] is active! Your ship may not sink while you grip the wheel.

    Where his claws met the wheel, Kaden¡¯s hands burned with pain like he was holding on to a red-hot pan. But minotaurs weren¡¯t weaklings like men. The sea pushed, and Kaden pushed back.

    Trella lurched as the ship rose a good six inches. ¡°Really? Really? Fine. Sara! He¡¯s doing something again. Throw a rope!¡± She turned on Kaden. ¡°I¡¯ll tie this ship to the Child. But you had better change back the moment it¡¯s floating.¡±

 Ten - Looty

    Kaden lay on the deck while Trella gripped the schooner¡¯s wheel. His legs hurt. His arms hurt. The healing potion his herd-mate¡ªno, Trella. She had a name. Her potion wasn¡¯t enough for someone his size. He really needed a taller mate, she didn¡¯t even come up to the middle of his chest, and her horns¡ªhe loved her, but they were pathetic, more swirls of hair over an embarrassingly smooth skull.

    Deep in his mind lay a memory.

    He¡¯d been almost completely Beast when he met Kanli.

    She¡¯d spoken with words for hours before finally recognizing a minotaur¡¯s truth - a headbutt was worth a thousand words. That blow had shattered one of his horns, but more importantly, it made Kaden¡¯s mind ache in a spot he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about. The spot that was human. The more he thought about it, the more his thoughts were human, until the human-ness began to leak out and steal the hair from his body and the horns and hoves.

    Now Kaden focused on that spot.

    He was mildly aware of Trella groaning as she forced her will on the ship. He was also aware of the cold wind, which was cold because his chest wasn¡¯t covered in fur. On the way his fingers rubbed together without claw-tips clicking.

    The sun went down, the sun rose, and inch by inch, Kaden regained his human form. After three days, he could speak, his jaws no longer inhuman. ¡°What happened to the other ships?¡±

    ¡°Trinity is now a saint among sailors. They¡¯re carving a bow-head figure of her. Figures. Several figures. Skully is building a new body with pirate corpses. Sara¡­let¡¯s just say she won¡¯t have problems with respect anymore.¡± Trella tossed a blanket over his shoulders. ¡°We¡¯re getting company. You¡¯re human enough the sailors aren¡¯t terrified of coming over.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t really move around well,¡± Kaden said. His knees remained somewhere between human and minotaur.

    ¡°Don¡¯t really need to!¡± Trella waved. ¡°Send him over, I¡¯ll untie him once he¡¯s here.¡±

    Over at the Child, the sailors lowered a rowboat into the ocean, and a moment later, dropped someone into it. The body thumped into the bottom of the rowboat, and then Sara dropped down. With two hands and two psuedopods rowing, she rowed over. ¡°Kaden, you¡¯re looking¡­actually, I can¡¯t look at you right now. Your right eye is still all minotaur.¡± Sara turned around. ¡°Let me just help Trella.¡±

    She grabbed a rope and began to pull. ¡°Kaden, you should meet Entroa. He¡¯s a sailer and working on a business profession. A profession he started by stealing from S&K Holding. Entroa has volunteered to help sail the ship.¡±

    Trella pulled herself up and flipped over the railing. ¡°On¡ªhold on. Did you hear that?¡±

    Kaden had been focused on his eye. On returning to normal. Now he stood, flexing toes and working on his balance as he gripped the ship¡¯s wheel. Something wasn¡¯t right.

    Trella drew a dagger and stalked to the door which led to the hold. She held a finger to her lips as Sara drew both short swords. She threw the door open and pulled the man hiding behind it out, putting a dagger to his throat. ¡°Hello. You¡¯ve been awfully quiet, hiding down there. I didn¡¯t even hear you. How¡¯d you do that?¡±

    ¡°Ho-ho-hold¡¯s flooded,¡± he said, his voice a whisper. ¡°I kept myself on the stairs but the water¡¯s rising.¡±

    Trella spun a dagger. ¡°Well, you know, I think I¡¯ve heard this story. See, there¡¯s two kinds of people who might be hiding below deck on a ship that attacked us. Option one - you¡¯re a helpless prisoner who¡¯s been forced to serve his evil pirate overlords but now that you¡¯re free, you¡¯ve always dreamed of swearing an oath of loyalty to the captain.¡±

    Sara raised her hand. ¡°I like option one! Tell me about option two!¡±

    ¡°Option two, you¡¯re a piece of shit like the other pieces of shit Kaden killed. I should cut your knees and elbows and throw you into the water.¡± Trella waited.

    ¡°Option two does have its advantages,¡± Sara said. ¡°For us, not you.¡±

    The man spit out blood. ¡°Option one! Option one! I swear I¡¯ll serve you.¡±

    Tyris Thom has sworn an oath of loyalty.

    ¡°Excellent!¡± Sara helped him up. ¡°You remember Kaden, standing at that wheel? Eight foot Minotaur? This is his more dangerous form. You¡¯re going to help Entroa keep this wreck floating by taking a turn at the wheel.¡±

    Kaden let the deckhand take over, even though the ship sank eight inches.

    Entroa was a pale white man with black hair and bruises all over. He produced a pump kit from Inventory, as well as sixteen lengths of wood that glowed with a soft white light ¡°We¡¯ve got to get the water out of the hold. And patch any holes in the ship¡¯s hull with these. They won¡¯t hold for ever but they will get us to land.¡±

    Kaden stretched and relaxed as one knee, and then the other popped back the right way. ¡°I¡¯ll handle patching the holes in the hull.¡±

    Their deckhand shook his head and spoke through the strain. ¡°The whole thing is flooded. It¡¯s pitch black, the crates have all shifted and you¡¯ll need to find the holes.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡± He picked up the boards and descended into the hold. With a [Mana Dart] in one hand for light, he relied on [Resist Suffocation] to let him fix three seperate sections. The broken boards were too neat to be his work, the pirates must not have done proper repairs.

    When he returned, Sara ran the two man pump, using psuedopods to drive it. ¡°Excellent work. What¡¯s the cargo below?¡±

    ¡°Not cargo. Empty crates we¡ªI mean they¡ªtook. Probably the only thing that kept this ship from sinking,¡± the deckhand said. He¡¯d let go of the wheel, and his hands were bright red with blisters.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Kadena and Trella took their own turns pumping on one side until the pump refused to spit out more water. The schooner, as the two-masted ship was called, sat high in the water now.

    Now that Kaden was moving, he appreciated just how much damage his battle had done. Ripped ropes, smashed gunwales, holes in the deck Kaden didn¡¯t remember making, holes in the deck he remembered pirates making (with help) and suspciously axe-like gashes everywhere, including the foremast.

    ¡°I see where Skully gets it,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°I got a ship.¡± Kaden hadn¡¯t spoken to her. Or anyone but Trella.

    ¡°It¡¯s awfully small.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a ship. I like it better than the big ones.¡± He couldn¡¯t explain why, but it didn¡¯t trigger the same memories. Probably because it was so small. ¡°I broke some stuff. And some pirates. How did you manage to capture a big one and I could barely handle the small one?¡±

    ¡°First off, I had Skully.¡± Sara said it like it was a game changer. ¡°Second, they had no reason to expect I was anything but a swordsman. I had the Horror suppressed until I landed on the deck. By the time they realized what was happening, I¡¯d already dealt with a third of the crew.¡±

    ¡°And the other two thirds just surrendered?¡±

    ¡°In a manner of speaking. Word will be out, now, that attacking our ships, with our flag, is a recipe for disaster.¡± Sara headed down into the hold, leaving Trella to watch the sailors, who worked to repair the ropes first so they could raise the sails.

    ¡°How did you know Entroa stole?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Did you [Shadow Walk] into some hidden vault filled with loot?¡±

    Trella put a hand on his cheek. ¡°I love how you think, but it¡¯s much more boring. I paid a broker to put out a priority call on stuff our ship was carrying. I got five replies with sellers for our cargo¡ªand him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like thieves. I don¡¯t tolerate being stolen from,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Tell me why I shouldn¡¯t put him a barrel with a jug of water and a mound of preserved biscuits and let him go.¡±

    ¡°Entroa re-packed the hold, more efficiently than it was supposed to be, then loaded it with additional cargo. Then unloaded exactly what was on the bill of lading and took the rest. I like the creativity. I want him to use it for us instead of against us.¡± Trella shrugged.

    A few minutes later, Sara emerged. ¡°The best thing I can say is that it¡¯s not sinking and that¡¯s the only positive thing I can say. It¡¯s literally coming apart.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m staying on this one,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I don¡¯t care of the crew quarters are flooded, I like it.¡±

    ¡°How did I know?¡± Sara asked. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the Child. If you need anything, have Trinity scream.¡±

    ###

    One week, six emergency patch jobs later, one mast collapse and constants round of bilge pumping, the sailor atop the crow¡¯s nest gave the shout. Land spotted. The wind itself seemed to pick up, urging the two ships forward, and urging them to lug the schooner along behind.

    The Xiao empire occupied islands, islands so large that sailing from one to the other could count as a voyage for [Sailors]. The Captain himself rowed over to explain to Kaden. Xiao could only be entered at specific harbors. S&K Holdings had a letter of permit courtesy of Mistress Scylla, but they were strangers in a hostile empire.

    The warriors here grew mana cores the way Beasts did and enlarged them to power skills in a process they called ¡®cultivation.¡¯ Apparently their skills were limited in scope and yet, because they had mana cores, the cultivators could use their skills far more at the same rank.

    The Xiao harbor was organized and careful. A short boat propelled by a water mage jetted out to meet them and examine Sara¡¯s records, then escorted them past warships four times the size of the S&K Holdings vessels. These ships were like cities alone, with blacksmiths and winged beasts and warriors and so many levels. They had to be ponderous but when such a ship went to war, the only counter would be its equal.

    Every wing of the harbor had a dockmaster, who came out to tie off the ships. He took one look at Kaden¡¯s schooner and dispatched a mana bird. ¡°You can¡¯t leave that there. It¡¯s going to sink.¡±

    ¡°Not while I have my hands on it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°It¡¯s probably just another leak.¡±

    Water mages worked to shift the schooner and draw it down to a Xiao drydock, where a tidal wave raised the schooner up and left it sitting in the cradle.

    Kaden ran down the plank¡ªthen stopped and stared.

    The underside of the schooner wasn¡¯t just leaking, it was damn near ruined. Barnacles and rotten boards abounded, and every golden patch board stood out in a sea of black rot.

    ¡°You. Are you the captain or the owner?¡± A [Shipwright] in long purple robes approached.

    Kaden shrugged ¡°It¡¯s my boat. I took it from some pirates. They didn¡¯t need it anymore.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d bet they didn¡¯t fight too hard to keep it. Two hundred gold to break it down and scrap it,¡± the [Shipwright] said.

    That was a terrible offer. ¡°It¡¯s worth more than two hundred gold.¡±

    ¡°Two hundred you pay me to break it down. You want it repaired, that¡¯s¡­six thousand gold. Maybe more, depending on what we find. Could be twelve thousand gold.¡± The [Shipright] spoke in patient, cautious terms, like he was a [Healer] delivering bad news.

    Kaden dispatched the [FalCrow] and waited until Sara arrived. ¡°Six to twelve thousand to repair my schooner. That sound good?¡±

    Sara¡¯s [Negotiate] was far more powerful, and she focused on the [Shipwright]. ¡°It¡¯s a good starting place. Let¡¯s go talk with some other [Shipwrights] and see what they offer.¡±

    ¡°Eight thousand total,¡± he countered.

    Sara glanced to Kaden. *It¡¯s not a good deal but it may be the best we can get. You could sell it. Don¡¯t you want to resettle a town?*

    Kaden had made a few bad purchases. This felt more like an investment. ¡°Eight thousand. I bank with the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. That work here?¡±

    The [Shipwright] produced a contract, which Sara scanned and made a few modifications to. ¡°We have a deal. How long will it take?¡±

    ¡°As long as it takes. By the end of the week, you¡¯ll think we¡¯re tearing it apart. Because we¡¯re tearing much of it apart. I have your bird information, I¡¯ll keep you appraised.¡± The [Shipwright] called and assembled a crew, pointing to the ship and giving orders.

    Trella and Ashi came strolling down the dock with Trinity behind them.

    Ashi looked at the ship with its rotten hull and stared. ¡°Do you plan or is this another act of Kaden?¡±

    He stood with Sara on one side and Trella on the other. ¡°You know what I see when I look at this?¡±

    ¡°Worms,¡± Sara said. ¡°Wood eating worms. You probably tamed one.¡±

    ¡°A ride home that doesn¡¯t bring back memories of the Greater Abyssinian?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°A rum runner.¡± Kaden had listened to the two sailors talk at night while his will kept the schooner afloat. ¡°Our ships are too large and too slow. They cost too much to provision and require a larger crew. This could make rum runs all winter. I¡¯m going to pay to have the hull reinforced with metal.¡±

    Sara crossed her arms and watched it. ¡°It¡¯s not quite so simple. You need a route that¡ª¡±

    ¡°You have a Quest for it, I¡¯m sure,¡± Trella said. ¡°If not, I bet there¡¯s a hidden Quest. Or maybe there¡¯s no Quest and all we make is money. And training crews. And gaining skills so our sailors are more effective.¡±

    ¡°I feel mocked, but I¡¯ll investigate.¡± Sara seemed pleased. ¡°Skully is staying in the hold. Undead are not welcome in Xiao, but he didn¡¯t seem to mind when I ordered him to fold down and hide.¡±

    Kaden was going to visit Skully, but he spotted Eve with a cluster of soldiers behind her, heading down the dock. Eve spoke to them, then turrned to the group. ¡°Our cargo is being offloaded. These fine gentlemen are to escort us to the castle. We¡¯re guests of the local province lord.He¡¯s the one who I need to sign a trade agreement.¡±

    ¡°Sara will negotiate. I¡¯m not even here,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Same,¡± Trella added.

    Ashi laughed. ¡°I am not one for hiding, but the Xiao empire is almost respectable. It has stood nearly a thousand years of our time. I will meet with this lord.¡±

    Eve seemed reassured. ¡°Excellent, because I am not certain it¡¯s an ask. Do you remember the Sister of Shadows and their motivational chambers? Let¡¯s not end up in one of those.¡±

 Eleven - Cultivated

    Kaden had heard Tavern Tales about the Xiao empire that made it sound lofty and distant and strange. The tales said they grew rice on lakes layered all up their mountains, and as Kaden and Party followed their soldier escorts out of the harbor, there were a few fields that might have been that. The stories said the people were quiet and reserved and rarely spoke out of fear that they¡¯d commit some sin of disrespect.

    Maybe there were people like that, but the ones in the market stood in groups and talked and laughed. The drunkards brawling in the bar looked and sounded familiar, and the blood they shed was no different.

    But as they approached the palace, Kaden¡¯s nerves began to sing. The buildings were low, the wall-tops flat, and the guards here were all level fifty or higher, dressed in matte brown armor over tanned leather. Their spears had curved sword blades at the end, and every last one of them carried a short bow with a mana quiver.

    At the palace gate, a young woman waited. Her hair was dark black, almost as black as Trella¡¯s after she took shadow condensate, her robe was shiny silk in a woven purple design, but with practical sleeves and a short hem that revealed boots. She gave a short bow and spoke in crisp, perfect Common. ¡°Welcome, guests. The Harbormaster tells us you have brought wonderful treasures to trade, and you come under the letter of the Scylla herself. The Lord, my father, has ordered a spectacle for tonight to accompany dinner with you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Sara paused, uncertain. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t know if I should bow, or what the appropriate greetings are. We have no wish to offend.¡±

    The woman laughed. ¡°I have forgotten, you depend on [Identify], while we write our records in our Chi. I am Sato Tomoko. Lord Sato is my father, and I see to visitors. We are used to visitors here in Okata. Other islands, perhaps, would not be so understanding. Please, accompany me?¡±

    The interior of the castle was built more like a mercantile store than a place for royalty. Everywhere, workers labored, carving and crafting, scribes recorded spell books and it sure looked like every bit of cargo was unpacked, inspected, and then re-packed.

    Tomoko chatted constantly with Eve, in what sounded to Kaden like a carefully prepared conversation she¡¯d had a thousand times [Detect Lies] didn¡¯t activate, but [Read Emotions] said there were none, just a set of responses known by heart. Trella studied people. Kaden studied beasts - the draft horses that pulled wagons were short and the wagons narrow with close together wheels perfect for mountain roads.

    *So much for legends,* Trella tapped out on his hand. *They have different customs and languages, but they¡¯re human just like us. See the one sleeping on top of the wagon?*

    Kaden had not. *They probably have their own [Shadow Blades]. This is not a time to go running off and scouting. Stay with the party, let Eve do her thing.*

    ¡°I¡¯m not running off,¡± she whispered. ¡°Not right now. It¡¯s my responsibility to make sure we¡¯re safe and not being spied on.¡±

    Ashi slowed down to let Kaden and Trella catch up and leaned over. ¡°The mana here is constrained. It does not flow freely in the air and stone, they guide it. Their mages will rely on mana stones. I will use this should we come to battle.¡±

    Interesting. And worrying that Ashi was already planning for combat. Trella was already planning to go spying. Or counter spying. Sara glanced back and saw the three of them, and waved impatiently for them to catch up.

    Tomoko adjusted her pace ever so slightly. ¡°As I was telling Sara, this island is the barrier. All cargo entering Xiao comes here, where we inspect for disease, parasites, pests, and more. Only after it is cleansed does cargo move on to the empire. Father¡¯s name is the bond by which goods are deemed safe for our many sacred villages.¡±

    ¡°Meaning,¡± Sara added, ¡°They may reject some of our cargo. I consulted with several Mercari about what sold best and accepted bids only from those vendors. A certain amount of loss is factored into our projections.¡±

    Tomoko waived. ¡°A tour of our artisans will wait. For now, please, enjoy the prabetu. Here you can buy personal gifts of many Xiao wares. The market is not a place for conflict, and be aware that stealing can result in you being removed from the empire via portal mage. The territory line is fifty li from our shore. Your ship will leave by normal methods.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t worried. He could swim for miles, and there was always [Resist Suffocation]. The prabetu stood just outside the castle, rows upon rows of vendor stalls with colorful painted signs and row upon row of wares.

    ¡°Oooh!¡± Trella rushed forward to a stall that sold bright yellow dresses and robes, along with tunics. ¡°So pretty!¡±

    ¡°Mom¡¯s advice is to shop the whole market first,¡± Sara said. ¡°You never know what you¡¯ll find.¡±

    Kaden was happy to wander with Trella.

    The wares were different, and sometimes high quality, but Trella had to admit Evercut was a better weapon than even the silver daggers the weaponsmiths sold. The third time she slipped back to admire the yellow silk dress shop, Kaden made a decision¡ªand passed five gold.

    ¡°Sara!¡± Ashi called. ¡°I need negotiation!¡±

    She stood at a shop selling Xiao antiques, and held a lyre with miniature mana stones embedded in the body at each of the strings. As she strummed, her skin changed colors. ¡°I learned my first spells on one of those.¡±

    ¡°The lady¡¯s taste is good, but that one is over a thousand years old,¡± The vendor said. ¡°Once, Xiao was rich with mana stones. As they ran dry, we learned to draw in mana ourselves, changing its nature the way Beasts do.¡±

    Ashi plucked a simple tune. ¡°In Vichor, when I was young, I would play spells. Some would turn night to day, others cause it to rain. Mother claimed if I had enough power, I could even travel through time.¡±

    Kaden had heard legends of chronomages. ¡°Could you?¡±

    ¡°In a way. For instance, if I played for hours, lunch would become dinner time, and then again, dinner would become night.¡± She cradled the instrument and plucked it.

    Sara spoke at length. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s a thousand gold.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Ashi set it down. ¡°I did not expect so much.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t either. Something seemed wrong with those numbers. He looked to Trella. *Something¡¯s off.*

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    Trella nodded and turned right, heading down aisles, away from the stall. A few moments late, she returned with Eve¡ªand Tomoko, who were deep in discussion. Tomoko strolled right up and pointed. ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°For this fine piece, mined from the ruins of Kanto?¡± He looked to Ashi. Then to Tomoko and back to Ashi. ¡°Seven¡ªfour hundred gold, my lady. It has genuine mana stones.¡±

    Ashi bowed. ¡°I would like to buy it. I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ji.¡± Tomoko tone had turned cold. ¡°What price did you tell her?¡±

    The vendor wouldn¡¯t look up. ¡°A thousand, my lady. A fair price for someone from so far away.¡±

    Tomoko kept her hands behind her back, but a weight exploded out, hitting everyone in the market. A presence, almost an aura. It reminded Kaden of Authority, and he didn¡¯t flinch, though two stalls away a plate crashed and more than one person cried out in alarm. ¡°Pack your goods, Ji. Leave the market. Return spring after next. This is my father¡¯s decree through me. If I cannot trust you to deal fairly when I am not present, I cannot trust you. My apologies, Asha.¡±

    ¡°It is forgotten,¡± Ashi dipped her head. ¡°I know of being judged for the actions of others. Tell me, where may I buy [Sun Scorpion] candy? It was a favorite of mine when I was a child.¡±

    Tomoko¡¯s pretty smile faltered. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m sorry. [Sun Scorpions] went extinct in the time of the second dynasty. Where did you taste them?¡±

    ¡°My eldest brother, Uri, would bring them to me when he went out to explore. No matter where he went, he always stopped at Nanto to get a pacakge.¡± Ashi sighed. ¡°Uri is dead. The [Sun Scorpions] are extinct. Nanto?¡±

    ¡°The ruins of Nanto are sacred,¡± Tomoko said. ¡°No foreigners have set foot on the island for five centuries. The penalty is death.¡±

    Ashi shrugged. ¡°Uri was like mother, a [Sea Mage]. He went where he pleased. He searched for monsters worth his magic and died at the nest of Gigantorrod.¡±

    ¡°Sadness.¡± Tomoko bowed slightly. ¡°I will light a lantern for his soul. The Sea Dragon passes and only the storm remains. Gigantorrod lays waste.¡±

    Ashi leaned close. ¡°I will tell you a secret that you may take hope. Mother has decreed, I shall kill Gigantorrod. His end has been decided, and waits only until I am strong enough to use the spell. So do not worry, Sato Tomoko. He will not trouble your people forever.¡±

    Tomoko kept her mouth closed, watching Ashi. Then nodded and spoke cheerfully. ¡°I am certain we would be grateful if this happened. Please, do not let this end your enjoyment.¡±

    Trella took Ashi by the arm. ¡°I need your advice on my¡­something down here. You¡¯re the best at advicing. Do you mind?¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Sara said. ¡°I trust my [Negotiation] too much, it appears.¡±

    Tomoko didn¡¯t even look to the man packing his goods. ¡°Sailors and soldiers, merchants and captains, all should be dealt with fairly. Evelyn, I cannot carry your ask to my father, but I have listened to many such requests. I would be willing to listen to yours and tell you what he will say.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°There are seats this way, and food for the hungry. Let us practice.¡± Tomoko said. ¡°Oh, Little Friend! Please watch the prabetu for me.¡±

    A statue the size of Skully lumbered forward. Made of brass, its limbs were polished, and it wore decorative robes. The face was not a face, a blank sphere of brass that still radiated presence and awareness. Each foot ended in three-claws that splayed to keep it balanced.

    It kneeled down and nodded as Tomoko spoke.

    Multispeak kicked in without him trying.

    ¡°Watch Ji. He was setting different prices to steal from commoners. Again. The barbarians are getting drunk, keep an cohort of cousins ready, and the Subteraneans are digging smuggling tunnels like always.¡±

    The Statue shifted and looked toward Sara and Eve.

    Tomoko shook her head. ¡°The [Polymage] is delusional but harmless, the [Transfusionist] is the real threat in that party. The pretty woman with pet snakes is pure merchant. Their [Night Knife] will probably try to steal. Break her arm if she does, but don¡¯t pull it off.¡±

    The statue nodded.

    Kaden focused on a decorative set of what looked like entrail pullers. At least, that¡¯s what he would use them for. Anything to keep him from staring.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what his class does, but it has Beasts in the name and he has no Beasts. Oh, all right, one Beast, it¡¯s a [Match Lizard]. No, it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s the ¡®king.¡¯ Just¡ªkeep an eye on them.¡± Tomoko stood and dusted herself off, then looked to Eve and spoke in common. ¡°Thank you for your patience.¡±

    Now that he was alone, Kaden spoke. ¡°I¡¯d like to buy that instrument for my friend.¡±

    The merchant looked up at him with pure disdain. ¡°Your friend cost me my place in the prabetu. I¡¯m not selling you anything. I¡¯ll have you know, this is all a show. An illusion meant to make you think this isn¡¯t the poorest province in Xiao. You think Lord Sato was given this as a reward? No, he was sentenced to this port. And to deal with¡­you. And I¡¯ll tell you something¡­.¡±

    Ji¡¯s voice trailed off as he looked up.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t heard the statue move, but it loomed over him now, arms crossed, staring at the merchant, who packed in silence.

    So much for childhood memories. Kaden looked to the statue. ¡°Do you have beasts? Or do you sell animals? Or summons?¡±

    The statue shifted, tall enough that it could look over the displays, then motioned in crude, jerky movements for Kaden to follow.

    In the far corner, rows upon rows of bird cages sat. Not just birds¡ªelemental birds the size of small parrots with every attunement.

    ¡°Sir, you look like a discerning man,¡± one vendor called. ¡°A Four Seasons Flightling is just the Beast ever Beast Master needs to truly compliment their class. And I have talking crickets, if one wishes to have a truly intelligent companion.¡±

    Kaden loved the birds, each radiating mana of a different type. ¡°Where do they come from? What do they do?¡±

    ¡°A master cultivator imbues each with Chi of the appropriate alignment, then balances it, then adds until they overflow. What do you mean, ¡®do?¡¯¡±

    With a thought, the Falcrow landed on Kaden¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Like this guy, he tears out eyes and also I can direct spells through him, and he¡¯s incorpreal, and basically indestructable. And he¡¯s a messenger bird.¡±

    The vendor swallowed and stepped back. ¡°Then consider a [Wisdom Cricket].¡± He opened a cage and took out a purple cricket, whispering to it, then held it out. It was, in fact, a cricket with an odd sapphire glow.

    *Well, hello there!* The cricket sent. *We could be friends.*

    Kaden was impressed. ¡°How much?¡±

    ¡°Five gold. Five gold and he¡¯ll be your constant source of wisdom and companionship.¡± The merchant spoke as though it were a foregone conclusion.

    [Beast Speech] had let Kaden listen to all kinds of beasts, but here was one who didn¡¯t need a translator. ¡°Do you have a name? Share some wisdom.¡±

    The next second was a blur. One moment he was holding the cricket. The next, Burny the [Match Lizard] leaped to his hand and caught fire, mouth open, tongue out. Kaden cupped his hands over Burny. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is going to work out. This little guy sees that little guy as lunch.¡±

    *You¡¯re going to die alone and sad,* the [Wisdom Cricket] sent. *Also, you¡¯re putting on weight. Your wife is seeing the man who charges your Fairy Lights. Your son doesn¡¯t look like you. There was no second plane! Birds aren¡¯t real! The Earth is flat and vaccines¡ª¡°

    ¡°Would your lizard like a snack?¡± The merchant asked as he shoved the cricket into a glass tube. ¡°Most of these are wise, but some are less wise and they have a way of infecting the others with their nonsense.¡±

    Kaden paid him a silver and accepted the tube. ¡°We feast later, Burny.¡±

    The[Match Lizard] returned to Kaden¡¯s collar, radiating smug. Kaden loved the miniature flying squid, and the foot-tall monkeys who the vendor assured him would be a personal servant.

    None of these beasts would help in a battle, and Kaden already had a decorative Beast (sorry, Burny). He took a seat in the pavillion near Eve and summoned Vip just to hold. Tomoko¡¯s statue lumbered through the prabetu in widening circles, watching everything.

    ¡°Hey.¡± The shadows welled up beside him, but it wasn¡¯t Trella. It was her Deception.

    Kaden had heard of shadow blades speaking through them, and Trella had the [Shadow Speech] skill. ¡°Hello, beautiful.¡±

    ¡°We like the tunic, not the dress.¡± The Deception melted away.

    We. Not ¡®I.¡¯ Kaden needed to talk to Trella and understand what, exactly, was happening. The deception was a semi-permanent illusion, not an entity of is own.

    *Slow?* Vip asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably ok. I just haven¡¯t heard of this happening,¡± Kaden said. He went to find Trella. She¡¯d taken Ashi to a row that sold pills and potions, and which of the two was more interested, Kaden couldn¡¯t tell.

    Trella spotted him and [Shadow Stepped] to stand beside him. ¡°It¡¯s [Alchemy] but different. Their reagents are all different. They don¡¯t use mana stones for anything. You have to help me. I want to learn from one of them. I want to learn the best of both kinds.¡±

 Twelve - Show Me

    Kaden had seriously underestimated how far the prabetu reached, and by the time he found Trella in an entirely separate section dedicated to services, she was barely recognizable. She lay on her stomach with clusters of spines sticking into her back.

    ¡°Do I need to get Eve? Are those poisoned? If so, can you poison me?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s a treatment,¡± Trella said. ¡°The Adventurers here, sorry, ¡®Cultivators,¡¯ are dependent on mana flow to their cores. Unblocking the pathways is essential to their survivaaaaaaaallllll¡­.¡±

    Trella¡¯s head lolled over.

    ¡°Patience,¡± the [Healer] in thick green robes said. Wooden decorations hung from the robes and clacked as she moved. ¡°The meridian is opening. You have been blocked all of your life, it will not be a gentle experience. It will take years to repair them all, but your ¡®mana¡¯ regen, as you put it, will increase.¡±

    Trella lay over on the table and moaned in a way that wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°It¡¯s like being shocked.¡±

    ¡°You have survived on a diet of garbage,¡± The healer responded. ¡°It¡¯s like you have lived in impurity. This is the natural flow of energy, you are not familiar with it.¡±

    ¡°You gotta try this. Show her your hand,¡± Trella said with slurred speech.

    Kaden started with the simple, the easy, handing over five gold.

    When he removed the glove on his right hand, the healer¡¯s sharp intake of breath told him more than any assessment. The muscles in his wrist, the base of his palm, and forearm were still sunken and shriveled.

    ¡°How did this happen?¡± The healer tapped the scales embedded in his hand, which looked more like tattoos than actual dragon hide.

    ¡°Mana burn from a fire dragon,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Stop fighting!¡± She pinned down his arm. ¡°Relax the muscles.¡±

    Frustration welled up in him. ¡°They are relaxed.¡±

    She lifted his hand and turned it over, tsking the whole time, then called her assistant to speak in hushed whispers, then called another ¡®doctor¡¯ to look. ¡°This muscle growth is unnatural. How did you heal it?¡±

    ¡°God of Spring. I was missing a large chunk of my wrist.¡± Kaden looked over to Trella, who was fast asleep, shivering.

    ¡°The channels here are nearly destroyed. The flesh is a reflection of that. What¡¯s baffling is that it healed at all,¡± the [Doctor] said.

    Kaden shared the details of his [Confirmed Guardian of Life] title. ¡°That¡¯s what I would expect. So? Is there anything you can do?¡±

    ¡°Not me,¡± the Healer replied. ¡°I unblock meridians. I adjust imbalances¡ªand there¡¯s far too much fire in your soul¡ªand I treat normal problems. You¡¯re curious. Second tier and very few impurities. Your body should be riddled with them.¡±

    ¡°Druids.¡± Kaden hadn¡¯t appreciated what their healing pools had done. ¡°I fought a Lord of Hell and his daughters, they used a healing pool on me.¡±

    Her disapproval didn¡¯t need [Multispeak] to translate. ¡°I don¡¯t offer false cures. That wound is probably forever. Interesting, an enchantment on the glove? Trying to compensate for lost strength.¡±

    The [Doctor] spoke up. ¡°There are pills that can rebuild pathways, but their cost would be more than every ship in the harbor. And if it were known you had one, every third tier cultivator in the Empire would come looking for the foreigner who has no core and yet possesses a treasure.¡±

    It was a good lesson. ¡°Would these treatments work on beasts?¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± The accupuncturist jerked around to look at him. ¡°We treat the Emperor¡¯s [Night Sky Tigers]. Your dog needs no such treatment. She is a gem.¡±

    Kaden summoned Trinity. ¡°I was actually thinking of her. She was mutated, which is forced growth. She¡¯s constantly in a bad mood and I wonder if she isn¡¯t in pain and just has always been.¡±

    The [Doctor] practiced his soft landing skills, fainting.

    The assistant screamed and sprinted out the back of the tent.

    The [Healer] grinned. ¡°Oh, a majestic spirit beast. And what a terrible mess inside. Three sets of meridian pathways, one body. She has not formed a core, which is curious. Will she let me attend?¡±

    Trinity answered by clomping forward and sinking to her knees, then her belly, with her tail coiled about her. Her serpentine head watched attentively while her bone head closed all four eyes and laid down to sleep.

    The blind head continued to track the [Healer¡¯s] every movement, even as she drew a cluster of needles from Inventory. ¡°This will not be fast, easy, or cheap. But she is magnificent. The Mother of Nightmares.¡±

    Trinity flinched as a needle pricked her center neck, and [Razor Scales] activated¡ªthen deactivated. Kaden put a hand on her, and Vip whined, nosing Trinity. *Slow.*

    ###

    After hours, the healer removed needles one by one and stored them. ¡°I don¡¯t dare do anything else, not yet. She should not have grown so quickly. It¡¯s made a mess of her channels. Give her a few years to heal and establish a stronger foundation for her soul.¡±

    Trinity rose, slightly wobbly, exuding the kind of exhaustion that said she was healing and so very tired.

    Kaden pulled her into his soul, trusting [Guardian of Life] to help her heal. Trella had woken and privately told him the pins and needles feeling had gone, though she didn¡¯t feel more energy yet.

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    ¡°Lots of water, and absolutely no martial tournaments tonight!¡±

    When Kaden emerged, a soldier in black waited. ¡°There will other days for your to enjoy but now is the time for business. We find that giving foreigners entertainment keeps the trouble to a minimum.¡±

    The prabetu had shifted to a quiet mode, with vendors eating and cleaning, preparing for the next day as much as looking for customers. It made sense - every day, new ships might arrive but if they hadn¡¯t docked by late evening, they wouldn¡¯t be allowed in.

    The guard led them to a dining hall built around a combat arena for two. This wasn¡¯t the monstrous displays of Omnor, but more like training yards with racks of equipment. Swords, spears, knives and axes, polearms and flails, along with common shields stood in matched sets.

    Trella nudged him. ¡°These are all soldiers. Sailors. Captains. I¡¯m pretty sure we got lumped in with the crew.¡±

    ¡°I like the crew.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Let Sara and Eve handle the business. Ashi can impress them, you and I can relax.¡±

    Different crews separated themselves, forming neat boundaries, but Kaden didn¡¯t see theirs. Instead, he and Trella picked a seat next to the fighting ring. Raucous cheers rose up as servants carried in plates of food.

    There was no ordering, there was only what was provided.

    ¡°Fish is good. Shrimp is good,¡± Trella said.

    Kaden helped himself. ¡°The rice and peas are good, and poisoned.¡±

    Your skill with [Resist Sleep] has increased.

    Trella froze. ¡°And what?¡±

    Kaden took nibbles of each. ¡°Only the rice and peas and the pudding, and it¡¯s some kind of dilluted sleeping drug. He took another of her shrimp, just in case. ¡°Shrimp are fine.¡±

    Trella flagged down a waiter. ¡°Can I have some more fish and shrimp.¡±

    ¡°More. Food.¡± He replied in broken common.

    And brought a whole plate. It was the only way anything got served. Kaden sampled everything. ¡°Don¡¯t eat the beans, everything else is fine.¡±

    ¡°Sleeping poison?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°Too much salt.¡± Kaden leaned back. ¡°That was a very mild dose. Even if I didn¡¯t have [Hard to Kill]it wouldn¡¯t put me to sleep.¡±

    Trella tapped on his hand. *I¡¯d bet it¡¯s crowd control. Dose them with something that makes them relax instead of killing each other.*

    As the minutes passed, the formerly surly crowd grew quieter. Laughter exceeded jeers, and Kaden began to wonder if it was all sleeping powder or if they¡¯d been drugged as well.

    *Stare and laugh,* Trella said silently.

    He did.

    ¡°Hard working guests, you honor Xiao with your presence. While your masters gawk and bargain, you enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Now, let us show you the valor of Xiao.¡± The voice came from stones above.

    Kaden summoned Vip and let Vip clean the plates of everything except the sleeping poison foods, then petted her as sets of warriors began battles. Mock battles, he suspected, because these were working warriors with scars on their arms and lean muscle, and every blow was close, yet not deadly.

    ¡°If they were trying to kill each other? One of them would have succeeded.¡± Trella leaned back, her head on his chest, as the battle switched.

    The previous combatants had been warriors.

    These wore flowing robes and bowed to each other.

    ¡°You may know of blade and bow, but now watch as our warriors battle by the power of their soul. These first realm cultivators are masters of their chosen techniques. Flame Fist!¡±

    The cultivator in red thrust her hand aloft, and it caught fire.

    Kaden held up Burny. ¡°Hooray! Fire¡¯s the best! Water¡¯s pretty cool too! Stone, at least you¡¯re not the Wind guy!¡±

    ¡°Hey.¡± Trella sat up, momentarily serious before she carefully grinned. ¡°They¡¯re taking bets.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Bad idea. These fights are fixed. If everyone bets on the wind guy, he¡¯s going to just barely lose. Tell me you¡¯re not going to bet.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t lie to each other.¡± Trella stood. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    She stood and mimced the same slightly off-kilter walk to find a betting table, where she spoke, then handed over a palm full of silver before returning. ¡°I bet on them all. If we don¡¯t bet, we stand out. I want to blend. I¡¯m this close to being able to engage [Stealth].¡±

    Kaden tried [Stealth Aura] and felt the skill almost take hold. He stood and lurched over to the end, where a server waited. ¡°Hey. My woman and I are having a good time. Is there a private room where we could have a better one?¡±

    His server shuddered. ¡°Some people find the toilets lock.¡±

    Instead of answering, he waited for his turn at the betting table. ¡°My woman. Dressed in black, serious, she bet she¡¯d win. Who¡¯d she put her money on?¡±

    The old man running the bets glanced to Trella. ¡°All on Fire, though I¡¯ll let you in on a secret. Ho Zhu has been practicing his Tornado Thrust since his last humilating defeat. The man¡¯s out for blood.¡±

    Kaden dropped four silvers on the air cultivator and stumbled back, his face plastered with a crude smile. *Definitely a regular betting ring. He wanted money on the air cultivator.*

    All in all, no different than what he¡¯d expect in any small-time gambling hall meant to keep the workers from causing trouble and give them reason to celebrate.

    The first battle began.

    Trella was entranced from the moment one of the cultivators rocketed forward in an open palm strike, then back. ¡°It¡¯s like Sara¡¯s [Lunge] except he¡¯s using it constantly. We could never do that.¡±

    The [Fire Fist] technique looked like a flaming punch, but the mana cost must have been negligent¡ªor the woman regenerated mana very quickly, because she used it with wild abandon.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not wind up on the wrong end of cultivators,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°The best battle is one you never fight,¡± Kaden replied.

    She looked back at him. ¡°What? No, the best battle is the one two of your enemies fight and then you swoop in and clean up both of them when they¡¯re weak. That¡¯s the best battle. Unless you can get three enemies to fight, and that would be better. Or four.¡±

    Lunging man lunged face-first into flame-woman¡¯s fist.

    Bone crunched and teeth fell, and the man screamed in agony as he dropped to the ground, clutching his burned face.

    ¡°Shit just got real,¡± Trella said, tensing. ¡°I don¡¯t think that was supposed to happen.¡±

    Fire-woman burned off her red robe, revealing a server¡¯s outfit, then ran and leaped from a weapon rack to scale the wall and drop into the stunned audience. Fire-woman grabbed the first server in range and the woman exploded into flames. With every step, she left another victim, heading for the betting table.

    ¡°Not a robbery,¡± Trella said. ¡°Let¡¯s see how she likes the Deception.¡±

    Trella¡¯s shadow rushed toward the assassin, rising up before her.

    Apillar of flame errupted, turning the shadow to non-ash and leaving the weaker echo in its place. ¡°Bad Asssassin,¡± It said in Trella¡¯s voice. ¡°You call that immolating an enemy?¡±

    Another pillar of flame¡ªand this time Trella¡¯s [Dual Deception] activated, leaving one who sat primly on the seat just ahead. ¡°You really need to do better,¡± the Deception said. ¡°It¡¯s ok, a lot of people have trouble on their first mission.¡±

    The Fire-Assassin screamed, and a wall of flames exploded outward, leaving the Deception echo sitting where the first had been, picking at its nails. At that instant, Kaden understood Trella¡¯s strategy. The screaming, the burning, the running employees would all bring guards and this one had drawn attention far too soon.

    Kaden will the Falcrow into existence. It emerged from the servant¡¯s passageway behind the betting table, screaming, ¡°Death is your decree! Death for us both!¡±

    Fire-Assassin swung with flaming fists¡ªthrough the falcrow, which turned and swooped. She wouldn¡¯t be fooled by an illusion a second time, she¡ªshrieked as the Falcrow raked her eyes with claws. The Fire-Assassin let go of her bleeding eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°[Final Flame.]¡±

    Kaden had only a moment to trigger the Eldritch Shield and step in front of Trella. An explosion of flame burst out, sinking into the eldritch shield. Those unlucky enough to be on the same side of the arena weren¡¯t shielded by the mana barriers.

    Their screams were short and intense.

    Trella stepped out from behind Kaden, choking on the sweet smell of roasting flesh. ¡°We have to get moving. That wasn¡¯t the assassin. That was the distraction.¡±

 Thirteen - Flame On

    Kaden and Trella raced to the servant¡¯s tunnel, where the betting table man stood, his jaw open in shock. ¡°Where does this tunnel go?¡±

    Multispeak activated, so the man understood, but he gaped.

    ¡°There are assassins loose. However many you¡¯ve seen assume there¡¯s at least one more,¡± Trella said to her crow, sending it off. ¡°There. Sara will understand.¡±

    Kaden pushed the old man aside. ¡°She was headed this way. Pity we don¡¯t have Sevin here to bring back her spirit and ask.¡±

    Trella paused at an intersection ¡°More screaming this way. I smell smoke from that way.¡±

    ¡°Screams.¡± Kaden followed Trella as she sprinted down the narrow hall and hurdled carts of food. There were, in fact, screams coming from this way, and it was probably the people on fire screaming.

    Trella leaped, drawing both dagger to bury them in a man¡¯s chest before kicking the man back. ¡°Look out!¡±

    The [Eldritch Shield] blocked the fire that exploded outward. ¡°How the hell did you know he was one of them?¡±

    ¡°Their outfits are brand new and clean, the leather is shiny. The¡¯ve never worked a day in their lives.¡± Trella sheathed both daggers and turned right, heading upward.

    ¡°Can you hear something?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I smell blood,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Either a lot of someones cut themselves while eating dinner or the assassins went this way.¡±

    Kaden wrapped them in [Stealth Aura] as they ran up two more flights of stairs, through industrial kitchens, and over a trail of burned bodies.

    Trella slowed, pulling back a door carefully.

    Guards¡ªactual guards¡ªfought with assassins, and to Kaden¡¯s suprise, it wasn¡¯t a slaughter. Their armor made them less vulnerable, their discipline let them fight through the pain, and if Kaden were guessing, every last one had been chosen for the same mentality that let [Shields] look death in the face.

    Kaden spotted Sara, Ashi and Eve together with Tomoko, and a man he was sure was Lord Sato. Two guards worked with them, and Sara had drawn her bow, making it near impossible for the Assassins to stop moving.

    ¡°[Backstab]!¡± Trella shouted as she burst into existence behind one of the assassins.

    The man contorted, dodging one dagger but not the second¡ªand the guard fighting with them struck as well.

    It wasn¡¯t fair to let Trella have all the fun. Kaden sprinted across the room and leaped over the mana barrier, activating [Moment of Speed] to slam shoulder-first into an assassin.

    She rolled and came up throwing flames.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t see the lizard on his lapel smirking but he bet Burny was as Kaden caught a fireball and put it out between his palms, then stepped through a pillar of flame that left his armor smoking¡ªthen blocked a knife thrust and grabbed the Assassin¡¯s arm.

    Kaden had been mildly watching when the warriors fought barehanded.

    It was one thing to watch it and another to suddenly find himself flying through the air. Except he didn¡¯t let go. Did his bones ache? Yes. Did his shoulder wrench? Also yes, but now Kaden had her with both hands.

    He jerked his head to the side as she stabbed with a free hand, then pulled, yanking her over. Now, he understood why Trella¡¯s foes hated [Acrobatic]. The woman twisted, landed on her feet and tried to deliver a line drive kick to his [Preserved Biscuits].

    Desire to live and love let Kaden twist and take the kick to his thigh.

    ¡°Change into a Minotaur!¡± Eve shouted as she activated [Life Transfusion].

    Kaden blocked another kick. ¡°If only I had three days and a ship¡¯s lookout, I would.¡±

    The assassin burst into flame, screaming in frustration as she attempted to pull away. And that was all it took for Kaden to get one foot under him.

    This time, as she pulled and thrust her hip at him, Kaden was ready. He brought down his boot on the edge of her foot, stomping. The crack of bones beneath him and her gasp of agony let him drive his boot down again, this time, rewarded with a chorus of cracks.

    He knew better than to let go of an [Assassin].

    When she drove her fist into his throat, he almost choked. But better than almost choking was actually driving his forehead down into her nose.

    ¡°Die!¡± She screamed, stabbing him in the gut.

    Mistake. The mistake was opening her mouth. He grabbed her by the open jaw, ignoring how she bit. Ignoring how every inch of her¡ªand him¡ªwas engulfed in flames. ¡°[Fireproof], idiot.¡± He slammed her back into the mana barrier even as she sawed at the tendons of his arm.

    Her jaw snapped.

    Her hand dropped, leaving the dagger still stuck in Kaden¡¯s elbow.

    Kaden¡¯s pulse pounded in his ears, and he couldn¡¯t remember why he hadn¡¯t just cut her leg off with Remembrance. Or pounded her skull into the mana barrier until it collapsed.

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    ¡°Hey,¡± Trella said. Her hair was burned off on one side, her cloak gone. ¡°You know what¡¯s better than killing an unconscious assassin? Questioning them when they wake up. How about you let these guards take her?¡±

    Trella¡¯s voice cooled the rage in his heart.

    The assassin sagged to the dirt floor as Kaden pulled the dagger out of his arm. Everything was a blur, and the world spun around him.

    ¡°I will be there in a moment,¡± Eve called. ¡°Ashi got barbecued.¡±

    ¡°Not so!¡± Ashi answered. ¡°I was slow to use Ice mana. Too slow, but I am not cooked.¡±

    Kaden took a healing potion from inventory and drank some, then offered it to Trella, who toasted him with one of her own. ¡°So, Xiao empire. Pretty place, nice entertainment. Cool assassins. I like it.¡±

    Sara climbed over the barrel, landing heavily in the dirt and approached. ¡°So frustrating. I wanted to kill them but all I could do was wound. Ashi was far more effective.¡±

    ¡°Did you doubt this?¡± Ashi called. ¡°That hurts, Evelyn. Be gentle!¡±

    Sara watched as the guards bound Kaden¡¯s [Assassin] with enchanted manacles before using a [Healer] to revive her.

    ¡°You.¡± Lord Sato spoke to the Assassin. ¡°You failed. But know this, you didn¡¯t fail alone. My staff overwhelmed two more of your band. Your timing was impecable, striking while the Master of the Guard escorted a shipment inside. But even the best timing fails.¡±

    She bowed. ¡°I struck as were my orders. I accept the consequences.¡±

    Lord Sato waved to his guards. ¡°Store her safely. I will meet with her master for breakfast tomorrow. Heal those who can be healed. Resurrect those who can. How many traders wounded?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re still counting,¡± a servant answered.

    Lord Sato sighed. Then spoke in Common. ¡°My deepest apologies, guests. In the Xiao empire one way to be promoted is to wait for someone to die. Another is to make someone die. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve guessed our flaming friends were here for me, but the Empire rules forbid another attempt for three months.¡±

    Nervous laughter and even a few claps echoed through the entertainment hall as Kaden finally stood. ¡°What happened up here?¡±

    ¡°Dinner was mostly business, very little food. The combat was entrancing until the cultivators took the arena. The first three fights featured the same man, getting beat further and further, until he was forced to use a spear.¡± Sara looked up at the spear embedded in the ceiling. ¡°He leaped up and hurled the spear¡ªat Lord Sato. I still don¡¯t know how Ashi saw the attack coming.¡±

    ¡°I did not trust him. No one smiles when forced to use a spear!¡± Ashi swore. ¡°Be gentle!¡±

    Sara pointed to two different entrances. ¡°They expected him to be alone. Most of the guests are merchants or diplomats. Eve didn¡¯t even hesitate to hit him with [Life Explosion] and that bought the guards time to respond. If all of the assassins had converged, this would have been over before it started.¡±

    ¡°Succinct. Accurate.¡± Lord Sato stood. ¡°This is not how guests should see us. And yet, it is how it is. I must ask you to remain here for a phase of the sea. The Emperor himself has dispatched guards to enforce the waiting period for the next attack.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t shake a feeling, a bad feeling. ¡°I need some room. Nobody move, nobody attack. What I did to that Assassin will only be a start if you attack.¡±

    He summoned Trinity. ¡°Girl, I need you to do something for me.¡±

    Trinity padded to one end of the room and stood, motionless. Her blind eyes began to glow, and beams of gold light swept out, swinging across the room. Then, at Kaden¡¯s will, searching the beams overhead. Revealing a hand that ducked out of view.

    Trinity¡¯s head snapped up as she followed. A [Spy] dressed in gray clung to the rafters, revealed.

    ¡°[Death Grasp!]¡± Ashi shouted. A band of black mana reached out encircle the man as he leaped from beam to beam.

    Sara launched [Lightning Bolts] while Kaden and Trella loosed arrows. It was only a matter of time before Eve¡¯s [Plague] caught up. Before he missed a leap and caught himself by one hand.

    Three arrows struck his legs, and the spy screamed as he fell to land flat on his back. Kaden stalked over to him. ¡°What do we have here?¡±

    ¡°I have nothing to stay to you, foreigner!¡± the spy said.

    Kaden glanced to his monster. ¡°Trinity, eat his arms.¡±

    ¡°I work for the Emperor! To kill me is to offend him! I swear this before the System.¡± The spy suddenly had a great deal to say to Trinity, who was quite comfortable being a monster.

    Oath acknowledged. Li Jian is a servant of the Emperor.

    Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul before she could cause an international accident. Eve waved desperatedly for his attention. Yes, this could definitely be an advantage.

    ¡°Lord Sato, it would be our pleasure to leave this man to you,¡± Eve said. ¡°We¡¯ll wait patiently while you deal with this.¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara. That left a lot of room for them to get shafted, but she gave a quick nod. *We¡¯re negotiating from a strong place,* she sent to him. *We only need a minor trade agreement. It¡¯s better to stick to what we need than force our hand.*

    ¡°Please, if you would be seated, I will serve tea.¡± Aya gestured to a slightly charred table.

    ¡°Did a dragon spit in it? I take my tea with dragon spit.¡± Sara looked around for a dragon that was neither present nor coming.

    Kaden would tolerate it. ¡°Can I get whatever drug they put in the rice and peas? I¡¯m working on my resistances.¡±

    ¡°There is not¡ª¡± Tomoko stopped before she made a mistake she couldn¡¯t take back. ¡°I will return.¡±

    While she was gone, the party gathered, in theory to let Eve heal Kaden, in reality to discuss, with Eve leading. ¡°Whether you drink tea or not, drink some, please. It¡¯s a cultural norm. That woman just survived an assassination attempt and she¡¯s doing her best to cling to something she knows.¡±

    ¡°I want to see you put them to the screws,¡± Trella said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind losing hair, hair grows back, I can even brew a potion for it. I don¡¯t mind some burns. I do mind if we¡¯re attacked and we don¡¯t gain or grow.¡±

    That was Sara¡¯s to handle. ¡°Normally, I would use this as an opportunity to level [Negotiation.] My priorities are simple: first, get some kind of trade agreement¡ªany kind. Second, turn a healthy profit on the voyage. That means experience, gear, coins or relationships, in that order.¡±

    ¡°This I understand. My hair is part of my identity. I would like to buy a potion from Trella,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t done,¡± Sara said. ¡°Getting an agreement for Eve, turning a profit, collecting the mercari quest tokens and favor, those are primary goals. But when we step in, I expect more. Which leads to the obvious problem.¡±

    ¡°A spy for the Emperor watched the assassination.¡± Ashi¡¯s disdain came through clear. ¡°This means we negotiate a trade agreement with a man who may not be in power long. While I would gladly help Eve make an agreement, I would prefer it is profitable for all of us.¡±

    Kaden exchange glances with Trella. ¡°So, what do we do?¡±

    ¡°Wait for the dust to settle. Negotiate for what we must have rather than everything we can get, make good purchases and the best decisions we can with the knowledge we have.¡± Sara¡¯s old hesistancy crept in. ¡°I want to succeed wildly, and this Quest aligns with my business profession, but I don¡¯t know what we don¡¯t know. It¡¯s impossible to account for that.¡±

    Lord Sato had been speaking with one of the guards, and now, the spy in gray stood at his side. Lord Sato cleared his throat. ¡°Mr. Birch. If you would be so kind, the Emperor¡¯s servant has questions for you. I would consider it a favor.¡±

    A favor from a man in no position to repay was as valuable as a pile of shit in a Beast Control hallway. He gently took Trella¡¯s hand. *What do you think?*

    *I think he¡¯s not here to kill any of us,* she replied. *I¡¯ll come with you. I was taught basic interrogation. If he plays nice, we play nice. If not, he said he had a secret mission to run, and we feed him to Trinity.*

    Kaden looked the spy over. He was short, and not particularly heavy. Trinity had room. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to answer your questions.¡±

 Fourteen - Difficulties

    Kaden and Trella followed the guards through the castle to what was clearly living quarters with a small bedroom, a common room with a heatstone and a table. The [Spy] stayed ahead, completely unworried that they might [Backstab] him, but stopped outside the doorway. Inside, another [Spy] dressed in royal purple sat.

    ¡°Please, make yourself comfortable,¡± he said. ¡°I am Wan Daku, servant to the Emperor. Since your love is a spy, I will dispense with the formalities. I assess threats and oversee assassinations when permission is granted. The Fiery Dawn Sect are quite effective and well sought because their victims cannot be resurrected. It is disturbing to me that you so easily overwhelmed one.¡±

    Kaden rubbed his shoulder. ¡°That wasn¡¯t easy.¡±

    ¡°Let me restate. I am disturbed you managed to overwhelm one at all. Is this a common power of [Beast Masters?]¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t dropped Trella¡¯s hand even as they sat. *Ok*, she sent.

    He nodded to his lapel. ¡°There are no other [Beast Masters] and I have a talent, [Fireproof] I picked up from this [Match Lizard]. Some people claim eating one can give you the talent.¡±

    Daku kept careful notes. ¡°May I examine the lizard?¡±

    Kaden carefuly removed Burny and sat him on the table. The lizard burst into negligible flame, darkening the tabletop. ¡°Be careful.¡±

    ¡°Ah, it is not a common [Match Lizard]. It is their king. This one is curious, it has three levels.¡± Daku sketched Burny, then wrote notes, then rolled it up. ¡°And without this [Match Lizard], you would have died?¡±

    ¡°Possibly. I have decent resistances and [Hard to Kill] and also¡ª¡± Kaden winced as Trella¡¯s nail dug into his palm. The moments before were fuzzy and he wasn¡¯t sure why he¡¯d spoken so plainly. But he had suspicions. ¡°I¡¯ve survived a lot.¡±

    Trella¡¯s stare of death said they had moved out of friendly discusion. ¡°Any other questions? Also, lay off the charm.¡±

    ¡°It does not harm,¡± Daku answered. ¡°And yes, I have questions. Your spirit beast, Trinity, where does she come from?¡±

    ¡°The southern isles,¡± Kaden said. That she was no longer a cute ruby hydra was his secret to keep. Possibly the worst kept secret. Maybe the secret was that she had ever been a cute ruby hydra.

    Daku weighed his words. ¡°I must ask, is she for sale?¡±

    Kaden laughed. ¡°Let¡¯s ask her that. Trinity is damn near enlightened. She¡¯s weak to¡ª¡± This time, he caught it, biting his own tongue. ¡°Trinity!¡±

    The TriTerror sucked in her gut to squeeze out of the bedroom and advanced, tail whipping back and forth.

    ¡°Left head, you want to get sold. Right head, you want to eat this guy while he¡¯s still alive.¡± Kaden crossed his arms. ¡°I¡¯m betting on right head.¡±

    ¡°Me too.¡± Trella leaned back and put her feet up.

    The spy was not impressed, or worried. Instead, he drew a pouch from Inventory, and from it took a cluster of green leaves. ¡°Hello, great beast. I offer you spirit herbs. Do you like them?¡±

    Trinity crouched low, sniffing them with her center, blind head, then reached out to crunch them with her tongue, then hungrily swallow the whole cluster before licking the table.

    ¡°Your beasts do not have these. That is why they are weak and tiny,¡± Daku said. ¡°By the second realm, she should be the size of a house. But these grow only here in Xiao. If you eat me, great beast, you will not get more.¡±

    Conflict rolled off Trinity in waves.

    She adored being feared but for the first time in eternity, she craved a salad, and not the kind where she went to devour a victim and accidentally bit some grass. It probably didn¡¯t really count as a salad but it was close as she came to willingly eating plants.

    Until now.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, girl.¡± Kaden willed her to back off. ¡°So, you have questions. I want one of those plants.¡±

    ¡°For thousands of years, merchants have tried. Our greatest scientists believe there is only one spirit plant, and it sprouts across the land. However, I can offer you three more clusters. Feed them to the Beast of your choice.¡± Daku waited.

    ¡°In return for?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°The Xiao empire was home to the greatest [Rune Masters]. The Emperor¡¯s family were [Rune Masters], and the only class they ever feared were [Beast Masters]. I want a guide to your skills so we can understand.¡± Daku offered Kaden pen and paper.

    If only they knew Kaden had left guides for the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. It made no senseto make the next [Beast Master] discover the way Kaden had. Assuming there ever was another [Beast Master].

    ¡°Six clusters,¡± Trella said. ¡°Oh, I just got a level in [Negotiation].¡±

    ¡°Then it should inform you that it does not grant all you desire. Four,¡± Daku said.

    Kaden began to write, write for nearly two hours. He was certain this was meant to be used against him. The key would be ensuring he was ready. That he¡ªand his beasts¡ªwere stronger. And if he kept certain details to himself, that was his decision.

    Trella read through, dipped her quill in the ink, and added notes to explain how useless [Beast Form] was and note that most strong talents couldn¡¯t be borrowed, and how strong surges of emotion could overwhelm him, so it was important to limit the beasts to ones with calm emotions. And dragons, how they could overwhelm.

    Daku studied it. ¡°Truly? You are weak to dragons?¡±

    Kaden swore an oath before the system. ¡°I was almost overpowered by Oceanus. It never happened before the second tier.¡±

    The spy sat back, crossing his arms. ¡°Why do you share this?¡±

    Kaden shared the system logs for [Sole Survivor]. ¡°I¡¯m hoping the next [Beast Master] won¡¯t have to go through what I did. I¡¯d like to meet your [Rune Master]. How does their class work?¡±

    ¡°We have no [Rune Masters], but the records claim each had a collection of living runes. Not just a shape but a living entity which served them. The longer they used a rune, the greater their control.¡± Daku put away the paper, and spread four clusters of herbs. ¡°They will keep for years in Inventory, but must be consumed quickly after removal.¡±

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Kaden accepted them with pleasure.

    ¡°I have questions for you. But no fancy plants.¡± Trella focused her attention as she sat up. ¡°Why does the Emperor want Lord Sato dead?¡±

    ¡°Want.¡± Daku shook his head. ¡°A young heir believes they can serve the Empire better and made a convincing case to remove the Sato family. The Firey Dawn Sect does not serve for free, so this heir made a major investment, proof of their commitment to the empire.¡±

    ¡°And we screwed it up.¡± Trella said. ¡°So, we can expect that this ¡®heir¡¯ has it out for us.¡±

    ¡°Hardly. The Firery Dawn Sect is probably angry, but we have a principle we teach even children: understand why you failed before trying again. My report will explain what I believe they did wrong, it is their elder¡¯s responsibility to correct the mistakes.¡± Daku stood and nodded to the door. He spoke to Trella. ¡°May your victims never hear you coming. May your blade strike the innocent man¡¯s heart, but the guilty man¡¯s intestines, and when you sleep, may the dead surround you.¡±

    ¡°Thanks?¡± Trella asked.

    Kaden pulled out the silver dagger the Fiery Dawn Assassin had used. The weapon didn¡¯t [Identify]. ¡°Is this not even an actual dagger? Why doesn¡¯t it show as a weapon?¡±

    ¡°Let me guess on this.¡± Trella took it. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely a dagger, my skills activate when I¡¯m holding it. Your [Guards] have a skill that identifies weapons, or people carrying weapons. This doesn¡¯t show up on them.¡±

    Daku nodded. ¡°You do not mask your weapons.¡±

    ¡°I mask myself until I¡¯m committed to the battle. At that point, I don¡¯t care if they know I have a weapon because only one of us is leaving.¡± Trella flipped it end over end, then caught it and slammed it into the table, driving it clear to the handle. ¡°I don¡¯t like it at all. Feels wrong. Like I¡¯m telling a lie just by holding it.¡±

    Kaden wrenched it loose from the table and put it in Inventory. He wasn¡¯t an [Assassin] and had no compunctions about stabbing people with things that were only mildly meant for stabbing.

    ¡°It is a pity you do not feel chi. Lord Sato has re-established order, and you will be guests in the merchant housing,¡± Daku said. ¡°Come, we will see.¡±

    Instead of going to the entertainment hall (or any of the other entertainment halls), Daku quickly navigated them up to a courtyard where the household employees stood by the hundreds.

    Lord Sato stood with Tomoko just behind on a second story balcony. ¡°You have heard that there was an attack on my life. But look and see. Am I dead? I swear before the system I was not resurrected. And the Fiery Dawn Sect is not known for leaving corpses. Be at peace. The Emperor¡¯s word protects us for a season.¡±

    Kaden watched the crowd, listening to them as they gossiped.

    ¡°What are they saying?¡± Trella asked Daku.

    Daku cocked his head. ¡°Apologies. The Lord assures his servants they are safe. When they have resumed their work, we will meet your friends and settle you. The sea is not gentle, you will sleep well.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a bird¡¯s nest or the deck of a schooner,¡± Trella said. ¡°And you¡¯re human so you¡¯ll fit in a bed tonight.¡±

    Daku threaded his way through the dispersing servants. ¡°We have many who can shift faces, and some who can shift form with speed. Please do not think I mock you, but if it truly takes days or even hours, you will never match them.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t any of Kaden¡¯s business how fast anyone else could change forms, and he wasn¡¯t going to give away information on his [Druid] friends. ¡°I¡¯ll get better.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t understand the architecture. Daku opened one of dozens of normal doors that all lead to the same wide workroom and held it. Inside, Sara, Ashi and Eve waited. They¡¯d changed clothes. Sara wore servant¡¯s clothing, while Ashi and Eve wore gowns like Tokomo.

    ¡°Thank goodness!¡± Eve said. ¡°I was worried when you didn¡¯t come back. I¡¯m all for currying favor and making connections but I was nervous. Never underestimate a [Spy]. The first skill they learn alters [Identify] and allows them to mask their level.¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Daku said, materializing from stealth to the side. He savored Eve¡¯s panic for a moment. ¡°I appreciate honesty over silken words, but this is where I leave you in Lord Sato¡¯s care. I must report to the Emperor and chastise the Fiery Dawn Elders. If the presence of five second tier Adventurers destroyed their plan, it was not truly a plan.¡±

    He didn¡¯t drop into stealth, instead climbing the staircase on the east side with slow, careful steps.

    Eve sighed. ¡°While you were gone, Ashi listened to Lord Sato with [Multispeak]. I have a decent idea of what to expect. For the next few days, there won¡¯t be business meetings. Sailors will be free to go to the port, cargo will continue inspection and shipping, but Lord Sato won¡¯t be meeting¡ªor agreeing¡ªwith anyone.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I want to meet with one of the local [Alchemists] and study them,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°I know.¡± Eve didn¡¯t hide the pleasure. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked that you be permitted to observe the House Alchemist. Kaden, I hope you don¡¯t mind, but Lord Sata has an expedition going to an island. All I heard was the name and I thought of you.¡±

    ¡°Drakon Island,¡± Ashi said.¡°Everything is a dragon to these people. A snake is a dragon, a winged lizard, a dragon. If a fly had scales, I would expect it to be ¡®tiny dragon.¡¯ I, too, thought of you. It was a simple ask.¡±

    Dragons¡ªreal or imagined or aspirational¡ªwere a special topic for Kaden. ¡°What¡¯s this expedition going to do?¡±

    ¡°These creatures exude mana, so eggs placed in a hibernation holder are placed in caves under the nest. A month later they¡¯re replaced. The lizards and birds that hatch will have special qualities,¡± Sara said. ¡°They¡¯re highly sought after in Xiao as ¡®spirit beasts.¡¯ Lord Sato does a healthy business there.¡±

    That sounded fantastic. ¡°Thank you, Eve. Ashi, what are you going to do?¡±

    Ashi drew something from Inventory. The instrument she¡¯d played earlier. ¡°I choose to remember. I choose to enjoy these days. Tomoko brought this as an apology. The music holds special memories.¡±

    Perfect. That left one question. ¡°Sara?¡±

    ¡°Just because Lord Sato isn¡¯t doing business doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve got merchant quests to fulfill and a unique opportunity. I can rest when I¡¯m dead.¡± Sara crossed her arms and smiled. ¡°Mom regrets not working on a profession when she was young. I won¡¯t have her regrets, I¡¯ll have new and different ones.¡±

    ¡°Guests?¡± A servant man asked them. ¡°Please, follow me. The evening has been eventful. An evening tea with relaxing herbs will be provided, and bath services. It is the custom of Xiao that musicians play to distract ghosts. We hope it will be settle your soul.¡±

    The man¡¯s hair was singed and his uniform burned, but he was doing a damned good job of holding up, and if his voice trembled or the tone wasn¡¯t perfect, Kaden wouldn¡¯t hold it against him.

    ¡°Room¡± was a code for ¡°overly large quarters.¡±

    Kaden stepped in through the door with Trella behind him and gaped at the canopy bed with layers of blankets, a heat stone too far away to actually warm the bed, and the wide doors that formed windows to show the port city below.

    He summoned Trinity and unleashed Vip before setting Burny on the Heatstone. The Falcrow would come when it wanted, if it wanted. Trella checked the room over, then vaulted off the walls to hang from the rafters, searching. ¡°Can you have Trinity do the eye thing?¡±

    Trinity roared out an answer, which [Beast Soul] interpreted as *Eye thing. I don¡¯t ask you to do the stabbing thing. But, I guess.*

    She scanned the room, the ceiling, the rafters, while Vip ran in circles barking.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a magic hug-beam,¡± Kaden said to Vip. ¡°Why would you even think that?¡±

    *Fast!* Vip sent back.

    Trella dropped to the floor and picked up Vip. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a magic hug beam. I¡¯m hugging you, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t certain, but it sure looked like Vip was smug as she lay her head down on Trella¡¯s shoulder and closed her eyes.

    ¡°Yeah, definitely a cat person.¡± Trella set Vip down and summoned Eclipse, who appeared in the rafters. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just like my beasts to have dignity. You¡¯re cute but you have all the self-worth of a [Preserved Biscuit].¡±

    Not long after, Kaden dimmed the lights, leaving Trinity to keep watch. He slept well for a man who¡¯d been burned and stabbed. When he woke, it was to a soft knock at the door and the rumble of a TriTerror who classified door-knockers and dungeon bosses in the same group.

    When he answered the door, a [Harvester] in blue bowed. ¡°Kaden Birch, I regret you weren¡¯t told this last night. Our boat to the Drakons leaves in less than an hour.¡±

    Kaden rushed to get dressed, pulling Trinity into his soul and waking Trella. ¡°Vip should stay. Eve is going to be lonely, can you make sure she takes Vip?¡±

    Trella looked at him with blury eyes and nodded. ¡°Get get a dragon.Or a lizard, I love you regardless.¡±

    His armor still smelled burned but it would have to do,and Kaden scooped up his [Match Lizard] and let him take his usual place on Kaden¡¯s collar. ¡°Ready.¡± On the way out, he asked the Havestor, ¡°So what kind of lizards are these dragons?¡±

    ¡°Dragon? No, No. Drakon. You will see.¡±

    Exactly what Kaden had been hoping.

 Fifteen - Draggin

    On the way down to the docks Kaden couldn¡¯t resist a pass by the bay where their ships moored. Workers already unloaded heavy crates, one at a time, from the Child, while guards stood on the second, spears ready.

    ¡°We came here on that one,¡± Kaden said. ¡°And I came on a schooner. It¡¯s the dry dock over¡ª¡± He forgot what to say next. His schooner, his beautiful schooner, stood ten feet off the ground, the keel blocked up and with pillars holding it upright. And the ship was a seleton, ribs and keel and cross members but almost no hull except for random strips.

    Not random, those were the repair pieces Kaden had hammered on.

    ¡°You won¡¯t be sailing on that for a bit,¡± The [Harvester] said. ¡°You got a [Taming] skill? We can use that. Everyone on this will have [Taming] but it¡¯s not for the drakons. It¡¯s for the eggs.¡±

    Eggs did not¡ªand could not¡ªbe tamed, in Kaden¡¯s experience, but his fingers tingled and Kaden couldn¡¯t wait to see the beasts. And tame them. And probably feed them. And maybe ride one.

    They boarded a low, skinny ship with a no mast or crew quarters. A Cultivator stood at the back, bracing himself. Kaden arrived almost last, and workers loaded trays of eggs onto the ship.

    Not just chicken eggs, but racks of quail eggs, leathery eggs that might have been croccodile and what Kaden deeply feared would be [Terror Bird] eggs. Would his binding skill work on these creatures? Kaden had no idea but looked forward to trying it.

    The [Harvester] who¡¯d come to get Kaden stood up at the front of the boat. ¡°Thank you all for volunteering. Your pay bonuses will be based on how many of the eggs we retrieve. If you know any of the survivors from the last expedition, ignore everything they said, it¡¯s all lies.¡±

    A man at the front raised his hand. ¡°My brother says they were swarmed by Drakons on arrival. That the ship never made it into the underground tunnels. And that men were left behind.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s an exaggeration. I don¡¯t know your brother, you probably don¡¯t know him as well as you think,¡± the [Harvester] replied. ¡°Regardless, the plan is the same. Underground caves. The network of caves connects to each nest site. The racks keep the eggs so close to the bottom of the nest they get enveloped by the chi of the drakons.¡±

    A woman beside him pointed to a tray. ¡°You work in teams. Carry a new tray in, pull the existing tray, load the new ones. Retreat and repeat. If you have to choose, you take the smallest eggs. Do not, under any circumstances, take a Drakon egg. If the parents don¡¯t kill you, I will.¡±

    The [Harvester] pointed to Kaden. ¡°He¡¯s a guest, but word is he killed ten Fiery Dawn assassins last night. So if you think you can handle me or Cho, ask yourself if you can survive him.¡±

    The boat lurched as the Cultivator used a technique that blasted water from the ocean, striking his outstretched palm. At first, it moved slowly, then picked up speed as it crossed the smooth bay.

    Wide metal gates swung back just enough for their ship to pass¡ªthen snapped shut with a spray of saltwater as the ship turned and picked up speed, skirting the line of the coast. Kaden smiled and watched the water, drinking in everything.

    Including the converations [Multispeak] translated. These men reminded him of the Pest Patrol he¡¯d worked with. They were taking on dangerous work for pay, and for them, this was no adventure.

    He stretched and walked to the front of the ship, matching the rise and fall of waves. The spray of seafoam as the cultivator drove them at inhuman speeds. In the distance, the remains of a statue several hundred feet tall stood The head had split in half, leaving only one eye, and one arm was sheared at the shoulde, the other at the elbow. The ship gave it a wide bearth.

    Kaden¡¯s heart skipped a beat as the statue turned, watching them go. The island stretched on, but now, in the distance, cloudy shaped betrayed even larger ones. The ship groaned and leaned, as it turned away, heading out further into the ocean.

    The sun rose higher and higher before Kaden squinted. Yes, a storm boiled on the horizon, but beneath it lay an island, barren and rocky. And above it flew drakons. Wyverns, he noted. Professor Treadle had been quite clear, dragons had four or six legs, drakes two, with stubby claw hands and short necks with wide heads. Wyverns stood on two legs with only a single claw at the far edge of their wings, and long, supple necks that moved like Trinity¡¯s serpentine head.

    [Beast Knowledge] offered no insight, but Kaden recognize the similarities between Lashkivores and Wyverns. Wyverns had no razor-whip tail, but the body shape, the head, the wings and claws, all brought back memories of the Lashes. When perched on the rocks, they wrapped their wings around themselves, a perfect shield from ocean wind or spray.

    Hundreds upon hundreds filled the skies, and their clacking, rattling calls filled the air.

    ¡°Hold on, we¡¯re heading for the caves!¡± the [Harvester] called. The ship gurgled and water cascaded over the sides as it sank lower and lower. Now Kaden understood why there wasn¡¯t a mast on the ship. It would never have survived. The waves receded, the water itself lowered, and the ship slipped into a hidden cave in the island. The world went dark, and the ship stopped, rising higher as the Cultivator willed the water out.

    Lanterns lit at the edges of the boat, and the Harvester lead the way. ¡°Ramp¡¯s here. Get out, get a lantern stick for each of you. Stay with your partner.¡±

    He settled them all, then came up the ramp to Kaden. ¡°The pathways are lit. You can get so close you can touch a Draken. Do not take their eggs.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. Wyvern eggs need an alternating cycle of heat and cold to develop, which they get out here. You can¡¯t just sit on one and hope it hatches.¡± Kaden raised and lowered alternate hands to show the cycle. ¡°You said I could help with my taming abilities. What did you want tamed?¡±

    ¡°If any hatch when we leave, taming keeps them aboard the ship,¡± the Harvester said. ¡°The caves were tunneled over hundreds of years to let us get as close as possible to the Draken nests. It¡¯s truly a wonderful system that lets us create mana infused beasts.¡±

    Kaden headed off into the caverns, filled with excitement. Waves shook the island and thunder echoed from outside. The first branch led him through a lower tunnel to a round room flooded with weak daylight.

    Rain dripped down through metal bars that covered a hole in the rock. Above the bars sat a cluster of eighteen dark green eggs. A draken perched on the grate, spreading its wings over the eggs and radiating green light that bathed its eggs. The waves of green continued down to racks of eggs sealed in crystal boxes.

    It would be something to try and replicate.

    Kaden stood on tip-toes and reached out to brush the edge of a wing.

    You have bound a beast (Life Wyvern).

    Name Life Wyvern? (Y/N).

    Kaden declined. This one had eggs to care for and he wouldn¡¯t risk upsetting that. Instead, he moved on, pausing to wait for workers to pass carrying racks of eggs that gave off a yellow glow.

    Fire wyverns rained down ash, while the ice wyverns had frozen their grate solid, and the yellow was solar. Kaden drank it in, the warm yellow reacting with the scale on his hand Suridev had granted him.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The dragon had said he was proud of what the scale did, and yet Kaden hadn¡¯t figured it out. The mana clearly resonated with the scale, but it didn¡¯t do anything that Kaden could identify.

    He moved on, spending hours to move cave to cave without disrupting the workers, and taming wyvern after wyvern and releasing them. He continued to follow the pattern on the floor lights¡ªuntil he reached a branch that wasn¡¯t lit. The floor lamps bypassed it entirely, but Kaden stepped past them, walking past rivers of rain that sloshed over his boots as he climbed up. Wind whistled past rocks and the daylight¡ªwhat daylight there was¡ªwas dim. The iron grate was corroded and bent, but it still supported a clutch of eggs under a violet wyvern with specks of black in its scales.

    Kaden crept up, careful not to disturb the nest.

    You have entered a field of destruction. You will take continuous damage.

    Before he took one more step, Kaden pulled Burny into his soul. Destruction was definitely not a mana type. Probably. This seemed to be a skill or aura, and that knowledge lead Kaden to the next terrible discovery. Beneath the grate, a field of egg shards rested, built up over years.

    Not just shells, bones and teeth revealed the terrible truth. Any egg that survived the mother¡¯s aura would be crippled by it during hatching. The skeletons below were malformed. Some blind, some wingless.

    Kaden reached up, ignoring the way his heath began to drain, and bound the wyvern.

    Then focused on [Beast Soul], sending a feeling of calm to go with the words. *Your hatchlings are dying.*

    The mother shrieked¡ªan entirely reasonable reaction to a stranger crawling into a hidden cave under your nest¡ªand shifted so she could peer down through the grate.

    Kaden wasn¡¯t afraid. He sensed the concern, but it was as much for her offspring as it was for him. Wyverns were strangers to fearing anything. *Your eggs disintegrate, don¡¯t they? Or they hatch deformed?*

    The Wyvern gave a rising shriek, and passed memories the way Trinity once did. Almost all of its hatchlings had neither legs nor wings, resembling more than anything leggless alligators. Those who survived died within days as they couldn¡¯t grow faster than the mother¡¯s aura damaged them.

    The problem was, this wasn¡¯t a simple fix. The destruction aura did only what it was supposed to, and he was fairly sure that if the mother could have turned it off, she would have. Moving these eggs to another nest would only kill the other hatchlings and eventually the surrogate parents. And of course, he¡¯d learned from Cloud how he wasn¡¯t a substitute.

    *Can you lessen the aura?* Kaden asked.

    The wyvern growled. The aura surged to painful levels. It was supressing, this was actually weaker.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kaden spoke the words, letting [Beast Soul] translate. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. If I save your eggs from you, I doom another. If you come find me, I might be able to hire a Vivomancer to figure something out, but your hatchings will have the same problem.¡±

    The [Destruction Wyvern] as he¡¯d called it, lowered its head. Then screamed in rage. With one blow, it smashed its own eggs, then took flight. Others begain to shriek and scream.

    Kaden kneeled in the dirt, cradling the hatchlings that had slipped through the bars, slick with egg-water. They¡¯d been so close to hatching, so very close. He activated [Soul Binding].

    This is not a living beast.

    It wasn¡¯t, failing to draw a breath. Kaden went through them, one by one. Only the last responded to his warmth, pressing up against his side. Kaden sheltered it from the rain and triggered [Soul Binding].

    You have bound a beast (Destruction Wyvern).

    Name Destruction Wyvern? [Y/N]

    Kaden pulled the beast into his soul, imaging a warm craggy rock where it would be safe. The corpses went into Inventory, along with all the eggshells and bones. He stood and returned to the center cavern. Workers ran everywhere, panicked.

    ¡°It got Jai!¡± One of them screamed.

    ¡°Quickly, move the eggs to the boat,¡± The Harvester shouted. ¡°All eggs on the boat, stay on the boat with your eggs. Where¡¯s the [Beast Master?]¡±

    Kaden shouted down the hallway, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are people running?¡±

    Before the Harvester could answer, another worker grabbed him. ¡°The Fire Drakens have a place for Monitor Lizard eggs to be placed with the actual Wyvern eggs. My brother in law was placing them when the Draken swooped down and grabbed him.¡±

    ¡°Where?¡± Kaden followed as the man rushed to another cave, one Kaden hadn¡¯t reached yet, and wouldn¡¯t have spent time at, since it only had another [Fire Wyvern] nest. Sure enough, a molded stone staircase led up to a tight turn, keeping Wyverns out but letting skinny workers (and Kaden holding his breath) squeeze out.

    A [Fire Wyvern] as tall as Kaden stood with a worker pinned under one foot. It opened slavering jaw to swallow.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Kaden shouted, focusing on [Beast Soul] and projecting the determination that this would not happen.

    An axe split his skull as pain shot down his spine. The world turned gray and Kaden¡¯s vision dimmed as he almost fell over.

    The [Fire Wyvern]¡¯s head swung around as it focused on Kaden. Evaluating if maybe it had found a better dinner. Kaden lunged forward at the same time it did, brushing his fingers against razer sharp teeth¡ªand applied [Soul Binding].

    Everything stopped.

    The [Fire Wyvern] looked from Kaden to the worker. *Steal. Egg.*

    Along with it came a memory. Kaden had underestimated these wyvern¡¯s intelligence. This one was enlightened, and it knew. Knew that the weak men-things brought not-eggs to the nest. Knew that they took them.

    Accepted that the not-eggs were the outermost, and if an egg-eater snuck in, the not-eggs would die first, protecting the real-eggs. In red-tinted vision, Kaden watched the happless man deposit a Monitor Lizard egg. Then, as he turned, one disappeared into Inventory.

    ¡°Eat him. Eat him slowly,¡± Kaden said.

    The [Fire Wyvern] shrieked with delight.

    ¡°Unless.¡± Kaden stalked over to pin down the worker. ¡°Give it back. Give it back now, and maybe I can convince her to let you go. Maybe she eats you anyway and I take it out of your corpse inventory.¡±

    The worker¡¯s teeth chattered and he wept. ¡°I need it. I need the money. Lord Sato barely pays, even for dangerous work.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t believe anyone would be so greedy, but he could imagine desperation. ¡°I¡¯m trying to save you. A little help saving you would go a long way.¡±

    ¡°Let me stand up. You saw what she did to my hand?¡±

    Kaden sent an image. An idea to the [Fire Wyvern]. The egg was gone right now, but it didn¡¯t have to be. A maybe-egg was better than a no-egg. If she killed him, it was a no-egg, but Kaden might be able to help. The wyvern shifted, letting the worker stand and retreat. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡±

    Squeezing back through the gap took way longer, and by the time Kaden descended the stairs, the worker was nowhere in sight. But this was an island, and he knew where the boat was. He stalked down to the underground bay. ¡°Give it back.¡±

    ¡°Too late for that.¡± The Harvester stood over a lifeless body, a firey red egg in hand. ¡°I told him if he stole I¡¯d kill him. And once you take them, the mothers won¡¯t accept¡ªhey!¡±

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed], snatching the egg. ¡°Stay here. If I¡¯m forced to swim back, I will and I will arrive in a really bad mood. Then, I¡¯ll find you.¡±

    He returned to the griffin nest and lead with the egg, holding it out before him as he returned. It took nothing to remove the binding once the egg was returned. ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡±

    Gratitude would have been great.

    Instead, the Wyvern screamed and snapped jaws at Kaden, pushing him away from the eggs. This was no display. [Split Second] activated on every lunge, and Kaden moved only back, only away, until he could step sideways into the rock, ignoring the flames that wreathed the wyvern.

    Such amazing creatures. Not as powerful as a drake, only a ¡®dragon¡¯ in the sense they weren¡¯t [Match Lizards,] but intelligent, enlightened, emotional. Kaden returned to the bay expecting the boat to be gone, but the workers still huddled there. The ache in his skull was steady, and would be for days, probably.

    Back in the central cavern, workers had stripped the dead man of his clothes and posessions, but left the corpse in a puddle of water. Kaden shoveled it into Inventory and went to find the harvester back at the ship. ¡°You.¡± Kaden said to the Harvester. ¡°Did you get them all collected? Did you get them all exchanged?¡±

    ¡°No?¡± He spoke as a man afraid.

    This was simply unacceptable, and no amoung of Skill Shock would stop him.. Kaden boarded the ship and picked up the entire stack of eggs. ¡°Come with me.¡±

    Cave by cave, they worked through the network, binding the wyverns and then working to remove the eggs. Some grates allowed wyverns to spit fire or acid or poisonous gas. Kaden handled those. Others just required the monstrous lizards to back away so workers didn¡¯t panic. ¡°Where¡¯s the eggs for the [Destruction Wyvern? I wouldn¡¯t bother if you have some, because anything you subject to that is going to die. Also she smashed her nest and left.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t go in there. The aura will kill you. That¡¯s thirty points of damage a minute,¡± one of the workers said.

    Commoners. Kaden remember when thirty points was a serious wound. He couldn¡¯t blame them for not wanting to die. ¡°Is that everything?¡±

    He¡¯d made serious progress on unlocking another binding slot, found a different kind of wyvern, acquired a new problem, and generally speaking, enjoyed the day. Totally worth getting stabbed by an assassin.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get the hell out of here,¡± the Harvester called.

    Their cultivator moved carefully, approaching the mouth of the cavern. The sea water rushed out, taking with it the ship, which surged forward as the waves crashed back to the rocks.

    Shouts of fear accompanied the frenzied rush of workers to the back of the ship. Because on the bow perched the [Destruction Wyvern]. It threw back its head and issued a scream, loosely translated by [Beast Soul] as *All right, you trash talking piece of shit, let¡¯s see you say that without a rusted iron grate between us. Also, did you take all the corpses of my corroded unborn? Because that¡¯s kind of weird.*

    It was a loose translation.

    What wasn¡¯t a loose translation was the way she stalked forward across the deck. Straight at Kaden.

 Sixteen - Bad Moms

    Kaden¡¯s time in Beast Control had taught him a lot about dealing with angry owners and his reasoning was that angry owners and angry mothers had to be a lot alike, in that both were probably at fault for whatever they were angry about. For instance, the [Destruction Wyvern] was probably at fault for the death of all of its young and wanted to complain to him.

    ¡°You can kill it!¡± The [Harvester] shouted. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡±

    ¡°It has a Destruction aura,¡± Kaden replied, as he approached. He¡¯d never released the [Soul Binding] on the wyvern.

    ¡°You can survive it!¡± other workers called, cheering for him.

    Kaden probably could. The ship, on the other hand, would be less likely to survive if she unleashed her full strength aura. Already, the wood planks her claws touched looked five years older than the others. ¡°Hey there. I know, I gave you some bad news. The good news is, one of your eggs survived your temper tantrum. What it really needs is for you to be less involved. You know how it is, you¡¯re a young wyvern, flying free and suddenly you have a clutch of eggs and did you ever really figure out who you were?¡±

    The mother opened her jaws wide, a threatening display.

    Kaden summoned the hatchling from his soul, catching it and sheltering it close. ¡°You¡¯re what we call a toxic parent. Not that I would know, I didn¡¯t have parents. I guess we¡¯re looking for something between ¡®dead in an erratic dungeon¡¯ and ¡®smothering with a destructive aura.¡¯¡±

    The hatchling [Destruction Wyvern] shrieked and buried itself up against Kaden until he pulled it back into his soul.

    The mother lowered her head, centering both alligator-like eyes on Kaden.

    You have been offered: Oath of the Hatchling.

    Oath of the Hatchling - This wyvern will allow you to take a hatchling it was going to murder with its own terrible power. You must swear not to devour the hatchling in your own nest.

    ¡°That¡¯s a thing [Wyverns] do? I¡¯m not going to eat it. I haven¡¯t even eaten my [Match Lizard], and it could potentially give me a talent. I swear I won¡¯t eat it. Don¡¯t you want me to offer something like, swearing to feed it? Or give it shelter?¡±

    The [Destruction Wyvern] seemed confused. It sent a memory of howling storms. Of small wyverns venturing out to eat other, smaller wyverns. Of scraping and devouring just to cling by a single claw to a bitter existence. Truly the best years of its life, now that it looked back. Where did the years go? When did it just become an egg machine to ungrateful little monsters that disintegrated and died? It never got to terrify the Enchanted Isle like it always dreamed of.

    You have sworn not to eat a hatchling in your own nest.

    Optional Quest Available: Not in My Nest - Devour the hatchling in someone else¡¯s nest. Reward - Cloak of Destruction

    Kaden read the description and swore to himself. Optional Quests almost always came in pairs, and this one didn¡¯t have a Quest for not eating the hatchling at all, or one for eating the hatchling in a number of different nests. Professor Treadle had once remarked on the dwindling population of Wyverns and now Kaden had a clue about why that was. ¡°All right. If you lay any other eggs¡ªnot saying you should¡ªmaybe come see me at FangWood?¡±

    The Wyvern gave a low growl that shook the ship and sent workers quivering even further back. Beast Soul worked to translate and wound up glitching several times before finally converting it into something, sort of *I always did want to be president of the nesting site owner¡¯s association. Too many nests with the wrong shape and size rocks.*

    She didn¡¯t acknowledge Kaden¡¯s oath, instead turning and vaulting from the bow of the ship to take heavy wing-beats away, not even heading to the island. The ship jerked and twisted, then burst forward, riding higher and higher in the water.

    Kaden stayed near the front of the boat, aware of how every eye stared at him, every hand rested near a dagger or a club. Only the Harvester and his first mate remained calm. In fact, the two joked and laughed and pointed at the stack of eggs in their trays. He drew the [Echo Beetle] tin from his pocket.

    The [Destruction Aura] had killed all but three and boiled the paint off the tin. One beetle went in Kaden¡¯s ear, another he sent flying back to the egg racks so he could listen in.

    ¡°Best haul we¡¯ve had in three years,¡± Cho said. ¡°Lord Sato will pay everyone a bonus. This will let us fulfill a third of the standing orders.¡±

    The [Harvester] locked his gaze on Kaden, who waved, then pointed to the view. ¡°It¡¯s not natural. Beast-Bound Warriors are so common I could throw an axe and kill two during the ten year tournament. He¡¯s not one. Kill his beast and he probably does¡¯t even drop dead.¡±

    Cho smiled and waved and pointed to the eggs. ¡°Then just make it clear to the Lord that we don¡¯t want him bonding with the Wyvern colony and convincing them to move their nesting site. Or risking them moving the colony just to be nearer. I don¡¯t know what a [Beast Master] can or can¡¯t do.¡±

    ¡°If the Violent Drakin left, it would only be a benefit,¡± Cho said.

    ¡°And if a Fire, and a Life, and a Death follow? What if both breeding pairs of [Life Wyverns] decided to follow the [Beast Master?] No, no profit is worth that risk.¡± The Harvester leaned back with a grin that didn¡¯t match his tone. ¡°Make sure to compliment him. Give him a [Lifengale] egg on the way out. I¡¯d rather have a second-lifer onboard, to be honest.¡±

    Kaden embraced the ocean wind, the feeling of life in the ocean beneath him, and all the smells. Fish and algae, burning cloth and wood and flesh¡ªFrom the castle, smoke billowed up.

    The gates to the bay opened as the ship approached, and Kaden¡¯s heart pounded as the ship sliced across the calm bay to the docks.

    ¡°Honored Guest.¡± Cho had approached him, carrying a crystal case with an egg in it. ¡°I¡¯d like to offeryou¡ª¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Kaden said, taking the egg and leaping to the dock as the ship came to a rest. He sprinted up the docks, all the way to the cliff top and then to the castle. If the Fiery Dawn Assassins had come back for round two, he¡¯d make the sect a bad memory.

    He dispatched the Falcrow to Trella, then Sara, Eve, and Ashi with the same question: ¡°Why is the castle on fire, and is everyone safe?¡±

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    Sara¡¯s green parrot returned almost immediately. ¡°Go to the Viridian Sunset Sect. They¡¯re south of the castle, just past the wineworks.¡±

    Before Kaden ever had a class, he¡¯d run with Vip, learning from the [Lightning Chevalier] how to race through the city, and now he used every ounce of that knowledge to sprint through the crowded streets, to a gate with a round door that split in half. Multispeak didn¡¯t translate writing but Kaden knew viridian was a brilliant green, and it matched the color of the walls. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Trella Sonos.¡±

    The two initiates bowed. One on the right spoke. ¡°She was brought here an hour ago. Elders tended her after the Master Alchemist.¡± He motioned for a young boy with a shaved head. ¡°Take him to Master Chen¡¯s alcove.¡±

    With every step, Kaden¡¯s worry grew like a [Destruction Wyvern] stalking along behind him instead of terrorizing the Enchanted Isle. Where was the Enchanted Isle? Kaden had no idea but with a name like that, it was just asking to be terrorized. No [Destruction Wyvern] would dream of terrorizing Deshun, because there weren¡¯t bragging rights. ¡®Look,¡¯ one might say, ¡®there¡¯s Split-Claw. She totally destroyed Deshun,¡¯ and all the other wyverns would say ¡®Where?¡¯ But the Enchanted Isle, that place was probably a total shit-hole, constantly under attack by every monster with an ounce of self-respect and ambition.

    The boy leading him slowed, and bowed his head as he approached a octagonal garden. Vines climbed from the floor to the ceiling. And Trella floated in a sphere of green light, her hair trailing downard as she rotated upside down.

    Eve and Ashi stood on either side, feeding mana into the orb.

    ¡°Trella!¡± Kaden said.

    Her eyes shot open. ¡°I said, ¡®Tell him to wait at the castle.¡¯ I said, ¡®accidents happen.¡¯ He still hovers from me spending a little time dead. You can¡¯t make a breakthrough without breaking a few bones, Sara.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Kaden asked.

    Trella twisted to right herself. ¡°Turns out their kind of Alchemy and ours are only mildly compatible. They use the mana in their core, we work with ambient, and their version of [Agony Cloud] is more powerful.¡±

    Elder Chen was a woman who looked not a day over twenty, except for her eyes. Kaden couldn¡¯t say exactly what the problem was. They didn¡¯t look real, or maybe they didn¡¯t look human. Her skin was flawless in a way that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up, but she checked Trella over. ¡°Were you a cultivator, you would be dead! That cloud should have boiled your core. Be more careful.¡±

    She clapped her hands, and the sphere of green disappeared.

    Trella landed on her feet thanks to her talents, and bowed to the elder. ¡°Thank you. Mao says you cannot learn without failure but this was a larger failure than I expected. That was only the secondary lab, I¡¯m going back to work. They have entirely different types of reagents. Sara, forget whatever garbage the Mercari sent, you should be negotiating with the Alchemists¡¯ Hall to exchange reagents.¡±

    ¡°Noted,¡± Sara said. ¡°We had party quests to get cargo here. We have a business quest for S&K Holdings to make cargo voyages. We had mercari quests to deliver their cargo and sell them, and then there¡¯s my personal quests to obtain cargo to bring back. Xiao goods sell well to nobility, but there¡¯s only so much space.¡±

    Kaden spoke up. ¡°I have a ship.¡±

    ¡°Its¡¯s a schooner, it¡¯s not built to carry the same kinds of cargo. Your gold is yours to spend, but I have to say my business profession was screaming at me to warn you. It¡¯s a huge investment that will take a long time to recoup, let alone profit. I would literally fail one of my basic quests if I¡¯d done the same.¡±

    ¡°Trella will handle cargo for it.¡± He looked to her. ¡°Whatever you tell me will sell best. I¡¯ll invest in cargo. We¡¯ll reap the returns.¡± He would never get tired of seeing her smile like that.

    Ashi had watched the exchange with amusement. ¡°I, too, will invest in this cargo. And while Eve and Sara negotiated, I spoke with the other victims of the Fiery Dawn assassins. One of the captains was in the wrong place and was reborn as a pile of ash.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°They do not like the new captain. We have another ship; will we not need more sailors?¡± Ashi¡¯s tone said she was certain of the answer.¡°What I do not have is a [Captain].¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll promote from our primary crew,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ll set it in motion and see if I can rent a ship for some crew exercises. It¡¯ll be expensive but disaster is more expensive.¡±

    That reminded him of something. ¡°I loved my trip. I appreciate you arranging it, Eve. Drakins are just [Wyverns], but I got to tame a bunch, I¡¯m the first Beast Master to meet a [Destruction Wyvern], and I got an egg as a present. Something called a [Lifengale], which I know nothing about beyond it being a small bird.¡±

    Every once in a while, Eve truly smiled. Sometimes it was a meal, sometimes it was Vip rubbing her head on Eve¡¯s lap. Sometimes it was an enemy suffering from multiple stacks of [Plague]. Right now, she smiled at Kaden, and clasped his hand. ¡°You are very welcome. As expected, there¡¯s no progress on a trade agreement because there have been no talks. Instead, I spent the day learning about Lord Sato and Tomoko. And her mother.¡±

    ¡°Dead?¡± Sara asked. ¡°You can¡¯t be a young princess in a position of power without at least one dead parent. Don¡¯t look at me like that, I don¡¯t make the rules.¡±

    ¡°Imprisoned for leading a coup against the Emperor. Which is why Lord Sato was demoted to running the entrance port. Forced to work with outsiders, cut off from access to the court.¡± Eve spoke as though addressing the weather. ¡°It means that Sara¡¯s goals are the most reasonable. We should get whatever agreement we can and get out. When this one fails¡ªwhen Lord Sato is assassinated, we negotiate a new one. I can do that in person, by FarPortal.¡±

    Ashi drew something from Inventory. The musical instrument she¡¯d wanted to buy. ¡°I found the vendor and negotiated to buy the book of songs. It was a foolish purchase, but when I play it, I hear my oldest brother Uri. He taught me the first notes and the first spells, and always said it was his favorite music.¡± She began to play, and as she plucked notes, her skin shifted colors as mana flowed in different combinations.

    ¡°There is value in the world beyond gold,¡± Sara said. ¡°Not much and not often, but it is out there.¡±

    A bell rang somewhere in the sect, and they began to chant. The plants in the sect began to grow in response.

    ¡°Excuse me, honored guests.¡± A woman spoke, and Kaden glanced back to see Tomoko. Instead of ceremonial robes, she wore gray scribe¡¯s robes with ink and quills and wax candles in loops. ¡°My father will not speak on official business for two more days. But tonight, he would speak with you all, not as Port Lord.¡±

    ¡°That would not be appropriate,¡± Eve said. ¡°We will wait our turn, be dealt with fairly, and accept the consequences. I am so very familiar with the nature of deals done over dinner between ¡®friends.¡¯¡±

    Tomoko¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°The new contracts will open at the start of business. Surely you want this chance.¡±

    Kaden often found Eve abrasive, cold, or just plain difficult, but he couldn¡¯t help admiring her poise. Or her conviction.

    ¡°Thank you for the kind offer. We will wait and negotiate when we can, for what we can,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°I will relay to him your honesty.¡± Tomoko bowed and quickly ran.

    Sara looked ill. ¡°I knew Lord Sato was in trouble, but that seals it. We make the deal, we get the agreement, we leave and come back when the port has new management. Once you start such dealings you will never be free of them.¡±

    ¡°Let the consequences come. We have endured worse.¡± Ashi went back to playing. ¡°Where are the powerful among them? Where are the great warriors?¡±

    Eve perked at the question. ¡°We¡¯re at the furthest end of the Xiao empire, in a port where people are looked down on for having to deal with foreigners like us. The entire empire is a chain of islands and the further north and east you go, the more powerful the ¡®cultivators.¡¯¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not permitted off the first island,¡± Sara added. ¡°Not that I want off the first island.¡±

    Trella held up her cloak, looking at holes in it. ¡°I would normally leave the business and the politics to you two, but I think the whole situation stinks and I think if I can save up an attribute point, I¡¯m putting it in luck, because ours is terrible.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Arriving here, now. A week earlier and we negotiate with Lord Sato and leave. A day later and Tomoko¡¯s succeeded in having her father assassinated and we negotiate with her instead.¡± Trella shook her head. ¡°Just awful luck. Why are you all staring at me?¡±

    ¡°Tomoko,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°Father,¡± Kaden offered.

    ¡°Assassinated,¡± Sara added.

    Ashi didn¡¯t stop playing. ¡°I see it.¡±

    ¡°Can we have this conversation somewhere private?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I¡¯m tired. I want to see this lifengale, and I want Trella to explain how she knows this and why I didn¡¯t.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that things were going to get worse¡ªmuch worse.

 Seventeen - Take Its Course

    They retreated to Kaden and Trella¡¯s rooms, which Trella checked¡ªagain¡ªthis time, begging Kaden to climb up as well. At the top of one rafter sat a pearlescent beetle the color of fresh milk.

    [Whisper Beetle], according to Identify. Kaden tucked it into the can with the [Echo Beetles] more for the muffling than for ownership. Two more echo beetles had hatched, meaning the swarm was rebuilding. Plus, the [Whisper Beetle] looked lonely and not even mindless beetles should be lonely.

    Kaden summoned Trinity, gave her a cluster of ¡®spirit herbs¡¯ and let her search the room with her eye-light. ¡°Ok, so what¡¯s going on, and how long have you known?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve suspected since the night of the assassination,¡± Trella said. ¡°They had good shots at Tomoko and didn¡¯t take them. Of course, there are lots of reasons that could be. Her mother¡¯s still alive and even prisoners can have pull. She¡¯s also involved in the daily port operations. Killing her is just a terrible decision all around.¡±

    ¡°How does that equate to her killing her father?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°So, I¡¯m talking with Old Mao about the differences in our [Alchemy] ingredients and he lets slip that ten thousand gold were stolen from the treasury.¡± Trella waited for the appropriate gasps. ¡°The emperor is the source of all wealth, according to local bullshit, so the physical gold doesn¡¯t matter. But, a [Fiery Dawn Assassin] gets a thousand gold for an assassination.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t need fingers, toes, or spear-tails to do the math. ¡°The stolen gold was used to pay for the assassination.¡±

    ¡°The stolen gold wasn¡¯t stolen,¡± Eve said. ¡°A spy for the Emperor was on hand to observe the assassination. The Emperor grants Tomoko permission to hire assassins to remove her father. The gold becomes a debt that ensures she¡¯s loyal.¡±

    ¡°I sent messenger bird to Shadowvale,¡± Trella said. ¡°I don¡¯t often ask them for information, but the Sisters owe us, and I got good advice. The Emperor¡¯s level one hundred and sixty. The closest provincial lord is level fifty. We didn¡¯t know¡ªand couldn¡¯t have known¡ªwhat was happening. Now that we do? We stay clear.¡±

    ¡°This is wise.¡± A man spoke from the corner.

    Trella hurled an [Inkblade] at him while Sara [Lunged].

    He was already gone, dodging both of Trella¡¯s Deceptions.

    Kaden brought Remembrance down, knowing the man would dodge but following through to build up power in the hammer.

    Trinity¡¯s bone head struck the man¡¯s thigh¡ªand stopped cold as he caught her serpent head and twisted it. ¡°Please. I do not wish to fight. I came to speak.¡±

    He coughed and sneezed as [Plague] struck.

    ¡°Hold,¡± Eve said. ¡°Explain yourself.¡±

    ¡°You know of my master Wan Daku. He will explain. I came only to speak and ask your presence.¡± The [Spy] bowed and stepped back. ¡°In Xiao, it is understood that to attack a hand of the emperor is to attack the emperor himself.¡±

    ¡°Are you the hand?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Unless the hand wants to be bitten, perhaps consider knocking on the door, introducing yourself and explaining.¡±

    ¡°I was one second from using [Agony Cloud] in an enclosed space,¡± Trella added. ¡°You may be familiar with it, it¡¯s the potion that installed the new window and skylight in the west laboratory.¡±

    The Spy bowed again to her. ¡°Restraint is appreciated. Please, listen to Wan Daku. Hear the word of the Emperor and show respect for Xiao.¡±

    ¡°We can do that,¡± Eve said. ¡°How long have you been following us?¡±

    ¡°I was waiting here for you,¡± he answered. ¡°I will be quiet now, you may discuss as you were.¡±

    Not likely. Kaden pulled Trinity back into his soul. The [Spy] had withstood her so easily she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. He reached out with [Mindspeech]. *I don¡¯t know what level he is, but he¡¯s way stronger than Trinity.*

    *Guessing sixty.* Trella didn¡¯t take her eyes off Kaden but her Deception stared pointedly at the spy. *That dodge he used is a third tier skill. It activates automatically and he used it twice. Looked winded afterwards. Mana drain would probably work faster.*

    Ashi spoke softly. ¡°We do not know Lord Sato. We do not know his daughter. We should not make decisions about who should rule. It runs against my nature, but who is the tyrant and who the just ruler?¡±

    ¡°It could be a matter of life or death,¡± Eve said. ¡°Our lives and our deaths, if Centurions decide we¡¯re interfering.¡±

    That reminded Kaden. He flopped a corpse out of Inventory. ¡°This guy did something stupid and got killed for it. Eve, you mind?¡±

    Eve activated [Life Exchange] and the man jerked, giving a sharp scream as he clutched his chest. The wound was already healing under [Life Transfusion], but the man¡¯s eyes said he was having a hard time. ¡°Where am I?¡±

    ¡°No idea, but it¡¯s somewhere in Lord Sato¡¯s castle,¡± Sara said. ¡°You were on the lizard expedition and got killed.¡±

    The man began to weep. ¡°Why did you bring me back? I am a dead man. I have no money, I have no Class. What will happen to my wife?¡±

    Sara stepped in before Kaden could, sending her Messenger Parrot. ¡°Go to section twelve, building three, room one. Knock on the door, you¡¯re expected. Panic won¡¯t solve your problems, following my instructions might. Repeat it back to me.¡±

    A moment later she ushered him to the door. ¡°Where do we meet this Daku?¡±

    Kaden had almost lost track of the [Spy] even knowing he was present, which shocked him. And the way Trella stared daggers (figurative) and gripped daggers (literal) told him it wasn¡¯t just a lack of attention, but probably a skill or talent.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Understand we must be patient. Most of the household is loyal to the Young Misstress, but most is not enough.¡± The Spy stood and walked to the door. The knob rattled, then stopped. A screech owl¡¯s distant call echoed.

    ¡°All is ready.¡± The spy opened the door and led them out into the courtyard. His clothes morphed to a servant¡¯s black button-front robes and [Identify] gave him a new name, ¡°Tao Wong,¡± a level (12) and a class, [Courier].

    This let them pass through the castle.

    *No foot traffic,* Trella tapped out. *What¡¯s the odds we wouldn¡¯t meet anyone in the hallways or courtyards?*

    Pretty good if it were arranged.

    Their guide stopped as a pair of wooden panels slid back, revealing a dusty banquet hall and half a dozen guards along with Daku, who was now dressed as a [Scribe]. Hell, he probably was a scribe.

    And beside him, Tomoko Sato. She still wore her work robes and carried a scroll board and quill.

    *If this goes south, we kill Tomoko. You can delay the [Spies] just long enough for me to do it.* Trella always planned for the worst. Kaden loved that about her.

    Tomoko smiled as the doors shut. ¡°I am told you understand the situation, in Gokesen. I am sorry that you have become aware. Now we must make a difficult decision together.¡±

    Kaden knew this tone. ¡°Either we agree or you kill us? Either we agree or you force us to agree?¡±

    Tomoko coughed as her face turned red. ¡°You cannot be allowed to interfere again. I will not allow my father¡¯s corruption or his love for my mother to shame the people of this city.¡±

    ¡°Now, hold on,¡± Sara said, her pseudopods flaring in a way that said she was about one second from [Anthem of the End]. ¡°Assassins attacked. You can hardly blame us for dealing with them.¡±

    Tomoko didn¡¯t react. ¡°And this morning, your [Beast Master] brought home three times the elemental creatures a normal run yields. With this money, my father will buy more time and do more damage.¡±

    Daku bowed. ¡°It is most unfortunate, but thieves stole the shipment. We are searching everywhere. Perhaps it will be found when Heaven smiles on us again.¡±

    ¡°Instead of theatening, I offer you something that will be more valuable,¡± Tomoko said. ¡°Your mother served the empire by dealing with the Scribe of Insanity and destroying his scrolls of madness. This earned you the letter which permits you passage.¡±

    ¡°Correct,¡± Sara said. ¡°Are you suggesting that letter is not valid?¡±

    ¡°Never.¡± Daku drew a blank scroll, which then filled in with letters. ¡°If you stay here, it will under house arrest until you can meet with the new Lady of the Port. But you could earn your own rights.¡±

    Eve¡¯s jaw opened. ¡°Who can earn these rights? Me? Sara?¡±

    ¡°All of you, of course,¡± Daku said. ¡°But perhaps you should ask what would be asked. We are not ignorant of the outside world. Your ¡®adventurers¡¯ are weak. Your beasts are even weaker, and yet you have variety of skills that our sects do not match. This matter does not involve Lady Tomoko.¡±

    Tomoko bowed. ¡°Daku, assure the Emperor my loyalty has not waivered.¡±

    ¡°He does not doubt. There will be no assurances because what I know the Emperor knows.¡± Daku waited for her to leave, taking her guards with her. ¡°Long ago, we lost a Natural Treasure to the Iron Gear Empire. It was a staff which shows a cultivator their mistakes, so they can build a solid core.¡±

    This sounded good to Kaden. ¡°All we have to do is retrieve it?¡±

    ¡°If only it were so easy. We have hired thirty teams of ¡®adventurers¡¯ to search. Our belief was that powerful beasts overwhelmed them, so the last team was unsual. We hired a woman named Circe Karn. Her work against the [Redcap Swarm] is legendary.¡± Daku paused and pulled out a scroll. ¡°She left three months ago. The Iron Gear Empire is sealed. You cannot enter without a diplomat¡¯s seal, and she took our last one.¡±

    ¡°Where can we get a diplomatic seal?¡± Sara asked.

    ¡°If we knew, would we need you?¡± Daku asked. ¡°In return for trying, I swear these things are true: You will recieve a trade agreement, a minor one. Vases are popular. Your ships will be released. And here is the most important part. Do you listen?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± Kaden said. ¡°At least, I do.¡±

    ¡°You do not need to retrieve this treasure. We must understand what has become of the others we equipped and hired. The Iron Gear Empire was never bloodthirsty. Never cruel. They do not answer any messages. Find us one¡ªany one¡ªof the parties and return to tell us.¡± Daku looked to each. ¡°Do this and you will each have your own trading rights.¡±

    Cutter Karn had gone to the Iron Gear Empire and not returned. ¡°Is there any chance the empire runs on a different timescale?¡±

    Eve shook her head. ¡°Kings and Queens can adjust so many things about their kingdoms, but time is only different in different realms. Trials. Dungeons. Pocket universes.¡±

    Sara gathered the party at the opposite end of the disused hall. ¡°Odds are he can hear even if we were a hundred feet away but I like the feeling of privacy. Staying here burns months we could be spending anywhere else.¡±

    ¡°What about my ship?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Repairs will take time, loading with cargo, too, will take time,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯ve laid orders for our ships, Trella can set agreements for yours. The delay will give the crew time to recruit and train.¡±

    ¡°Where do we want to head first?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°Home,¡± Ashi said. ¡°First we go home and prepare. I did not expect to come so close to the Iron Gear Empire and leave without the page of my spellbook, but I would go prepared.¡±

    Eve had nodded as Ashi spoke. ¡°We should go to Egalion. Kaden has a quest there, and the kingdom had a diplomat to the Iron Gear Empire not fifteen years ago, so they have a pass. Two wyverns with one stone.¡±

    ¡°I thought you were never going,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°I have powerful bad memories.¡± Eve started to say more. ¡°This whole party re-arranged their lives for my needs. I can endure Egalion for a few hours.¡±

    ¡°Home, then Egalion,¡± Sara said. ¡°Can we live with what will happen here?¡±

    Trella pointed to Daku. ¡°We couldn¡¯t handle his servant. We can¡¯t handle the Emperor¡¯s pet [Spy]. Be angry if you want but don¡¯t pretend a level twenty eight party decides what the Emperor of Xiao does.¡±

    ¡°Take the deal,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Ashi?¡±

    Ashi shook her head. ¡°It is the responsibility of those in power to use that power responsibly. Had my father set an example for Jagi, perhaps all would have been different. I will not weep in the darkness for a man who does not put his people first.¡±

    Sara turned to Daku. ¡°We¡¯re in. We need two days, possibly three to set cargo orders. We¡¯ll be happy to have your people escort us to ensure we keep our agreements. Will that timeline work?¡±

    ¡°By the order of the emperor, there cannot be another attempt for almost three months. Your trade agreement is assured, I swear this before the System.¡± Daku noded to his servant. ¡°Arrange escorts for each of them. I will personally handle the [Beast Master].¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡ª¡±

    ¡°It is the order of the Emperor. The closest the Xiao empire ever came to defeat was when it went to war with a pair of [Beast Masters]. To win, we had to beg assistance from the Iron Gear Empire. There are not many records from that war. Nor are there antiques, or temples.¡± Daku dipped his chin. ¡°You will of course have rights to trade. It would be appreciated if others did so on your behalf.¡±

    ¡°Two of them?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Against your empire?¡±

    Daku¡¯s stern expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°They had armies of beasts. The islands they took rose up against us when we tried to land. The seas themselves became hostile. But a hundred thousand warriors from the Iron Gear Empire reinforced the Army of Heaven, and the Empress sacrificed herself to destroy Glass Eternity Island, killing one of them. The other retreated to mourn. What are a few hundred thousand deaths for the survival of an empire?¡±

    ¡°This is how it is for empires,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Let us be done with you for the day. Trella has studies to continue, and the strife of an empire that has only survived three cataclysms are like the mewling fit of an infant.¡±

    Daku stared. ¡°We have healers of the mind, some who can cure even [Grand Delusion]. I will give you their information.¡±

    ¡°I need to go back to the lab,¡± Trella said. *Are you ok?*

    Kaden thought about what to say. *A lot happened. I need to find some place to practice.*

    The events on Drakin Island had shown Kaden where a new Beast Skill lay buried. Now he wanted to dig it up.

 Eighteen - Frustnation

    Kaden stood in a stable surrounded by a dozen Beasts, most of them different types of mounts, though a few draft Beasts stood in stalls. Daku lay on a bench, pretending to sleep. His [Identify] claimed the man was a [Stablehand].

    ¡°I know you¡¯re not sleeping,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I heard you talking to a messenger bird a moment ago.¡±

    The spy rolled over. ¡°You can¡¯t know that. I talk in my sleep.¡±

    Kaden focused on the nearest horse. ¡°Lay down!¡±

    It remained standing.

    No matter how much he stared or shouted or pointed or pleaded, the ache in his head got no worse and his control over the Beasts got no better. A few hours in, he caught Daku staring. ¡°You need something?¡±

    ¡°Every child in Xiao knows the legends of the Beast Masters who nearly destroyed us. I knew legends grew with time. I never appreciated how much they grow. The Emperor will be very pleased with tonight¡¯s report.¡± He went back to sleeping.

    Kaden knew¡ªand felt¡ªthe moment everything had changed. Like a mulick spine embedded in his calf, it stood out now that he¡¯d used it once. But then again, so many of the other skills hadn¡¯t unlocked at first.

    Darkness came and Kaden still worked, finally giving up to pace back to the room where Trella waited with a cold dinner. ¡°I hope your day went better than mine.¡±

    She smiled¡ªa missing tooth smile. ¡°It didn¡¯t. I haven¡¯t been this bad at reactions since I learned from the Sisters and this is amazing. Their version of Alchemy is all controlled failures. We push for success, they walk the brink of failure, but when they do manage the balance, the results are better.¡± In silent code, she relayed a different concern. *He¡¯s giving me re-agents worth more gold than we¡¯ll make off the shipping. I think it¡¯s because we¡¯ve agreed to back off the port situation and let Tomoko take control.*

    That would be very shrewd. A single messenger bird to Lord Sato would destroy every plan. The price of everything they were given was fair, given the stakes. Now that they were alone, Kaden unleashed Trinity. ¡°Girl, can I try commands with you?¡±

    Trinity¡¯s wave of acceptance said he was welcome to fail with her.

    ¡°Sit.¡± Kaden said.

    She did.

    Excitement rose in him. ¡°Did you sit because I told you to?¡±

    Her middle head growled an affirmative.

    ¡°Did you sit because I made you?¡± Kaden asked with a sinking feeling. He knew the answer without Trinity¡¯s reply. ¡°Never mind. Don¡¯t sit if I don¡¯t force you to.¡±

    Trinity was not a small beast, but the way she loomed, staring at him as if to say he couldn¡¯t force her, that made him reconsider his ask.

    ¡°Think back to what happened,¡± Trella said. ¡°You did it once, you can absolutely do itagain.¡±

    [Relive the Moment]. It let him look at a moment repeatedly. Since he hadn¡¯t had it in active mode, he wouldn¡¯t be able to move around and look, but he didn¡¯t need another view. He wanted his view.

    The skill activated, and with only a thought, Kaden was back in the nest. The panic was a memory but it still made his chest tight as the [Fire Wyvern] raised his head. It hadn¡¯t been a thought as much as a combination of need, desperation and sheer will.

    The pain of Skill Shock let him know exactly when the skill had activated, and Kaden went over it again and again. Need. Fear. Decision. Demand. It hadn¡¯t been just words, it had been an expectation.

    Kaden opened his eyes. Trinity snoozed, two heads asleep while the armored head watched him.

    ¡°See? He¡¯s alive,¡± Sara said. She sat in one of the chairs with a bowl full of noodles, tossing meatballs to the Horror¡¯s psuedopods. ¡°How many times did you have to relive that moment?¡±

    ¡°Lots.¡± Kaden stood and stretched. His muscles were stiff, his legs cold from resting on stone. But he looked to Trinity. ¡°Stand.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s serpentine head opened one eye to look at him and closed it again. That command hadn¡¯t had the right urgency. It had the expectation but not the emotion.

    ¡°Stand!¡± This time, Kaden winced as pain split his skull.

    All three of Trinity¡¯s heads whipped up to stare at him.

    So close. There was something here, something powerful and if he could only find it, it would make the difference. ¡°Stand!¡± His willpower, the drive to find this skill, and the expectation that Trinity would stand combined to hammer a spike into his brain so badly that Kaden lost his balance and fell.

    You have learned a new skill: Beast Command

    [Beast Command]

    Your suggestions are more than words, Beasts will be compelled to obey your commands. The complexity of the command will affect the length of time it is in effect. As this skill grows, your commands will last longer and be more effective. Strong-willed beasts can resist your commands.

    New Second Tier Skill Prerequisite met - Beast Leader (Required for: Beast Lord).

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Trella¡¯s Deceptions worked together to help him up. What had begun as shadowy projections now had actual strength. Trella herself had disappeared and burst through the doorway with Eve behind her. ¡°He was trying to figure out that skill and collapsed.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t collapse. Turn down the lights, please, my head is killing me.¡± Kaden cradled his head.

    Eve pressed cold fingers to his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s a status condition but not a normal one. Skill Shock. What did you learn?¡±

    ¡°Beast Command.¡± Kaden shared the logs and description. ¡°I don¡¯t remember it hurting like this.¡±

    ¡°Lie down, let me try [Life Explosion],¡± Eve said. ¡°It feels like a high tier status effect.¡±

    Sara stood over him, eyes narrow, her brow creased with worry. ¡°Every other Beast Skill you had you either learned over time or paid the price for. I¡¯m not surprised you¡¯ve got skill shock, that kind of power is¡­I suppose, epic. How do you unlock Beast Leader?¡±

    ¡°Older [Beast Masters.]¡± Kaden flinched as something shifted in the pain.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Eve stepped back. ¡°I¡¯m out of mana and only managed to reduce it a single tier. Frankly, I¡¯m shocked I was able to reduce it at all. The best thing to do is wait, this is the System¡¯s price for power.¡±

    Trinty¡¯s low groan echoed through the room, reminding Kaden. ¡°Yeah, you can sit down again.¡±

    ###

    Two days later, Kaden stood on the edge of the dock while Sara made final arrangements. His ship was no longer a skeleton, a thin layer of hull covered the lower fourth, but it would be months before the work was complete. It wasn¡¯t just wood, it was the effort of enchanting the ship.

    Trinity stood at his side. Ever since he¡¯s learned [Beast Command] she¡¯d been worried, watching over him while he slept.

    Trella carried a chest on her shoulders. ¡°Old Mao gave me training scrolls for their version of Alchemy. It will take decades, but I¡¯ll combine the best of both.¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t spoken much for days beyond confirming that she could speak, but she grew more nervous by the moment. ¡°I can feel the spell book page. I know it will come to me. Imagine what I will be capable of with a spell book to capture spells from each college.¡±

    Though it made his headache spike, Kaden nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Eve arrived at the dock with guards surrounding her¡ªand Sato Tomoko. ¡°Are we set?¡±

    Sara would never be set. She always found one more thing to mention. ¡°I made a few adjustments and gave the crew a dispensation. If they can repack the cargo tighter, each can choose to bring back their own goods, keep the money, or pool it to make more.¡±

    ¡°Generous,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not my money. The Mercari are always looking for people with innate business sense. Funding a few dozen silver for each sailor is a bet, one they might lose on most voyages, but when they win?¡± Sara was on the verge of launching into another explanation of business plans.

    *How do you know Xiao will honor the trade agreement?* Kaden asked Eve via mindspeech. He still had to take care to avoid shouting.

    *The agreement isn¡¯t with the Sato family, or Tomoko herself. The Emperor¡¯s order, two shipments a year of furniture, is absolute. And it¡¯s worth so much gold over the years.* Eve¡¯s awe came through the mind speech clearly.

    ¡°My father regrets he cannot see you off,¡± Tomoko said, giving a short bow. ¡°I hope to work with you in the future, when peace is a constant. And I hear rumor you will undertake a journey to Xiao when you are stronger. May it be successful.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s entire body had tensed, and her spear-tail posed to strike. The TriTerror shared no kind sentiments.

    Before Kaden could speak, Trella put a hand on Trinity¡¯s back, then rested it on Kaden. *It¡¯s a big world. We don¡¯t have to see her again.*

    That would make it worth leaving. He wasn¡¯t a fool, and recognized that they were being bribed in vast amounts to leave. The gold would be amounts that even Centurions took notice of, and if he could find out what happened in the Iron Gear Empire, he could multiply it even further. But that didn¡¯t mean Kaden liked any of these people. *Let¡¯s go. I don¡¯t trust anyone here. They¡¯re all working for someone or something. I want to work for myself. My profit. My value.*

    Tomoko and her guards escorted them to the Far Portal. ¡°You have our information. Send reports when you can. The Xiao Empire remembers its friends.¡±

    Eve activated the FarPortal.

    Kaden drew Trinity into his soul, checked on Vip. Skully would have to stay for now, but undead could wait forever, if needed. He stepped through the portal¡ªand emerged in Verona, in the Council quarter, with Trella right behind him and Sara on her heels. A moment later, the entire party had gathered and the portal deactivated.

    ¡°Thank the gods,¡± Kaden said. He took the chest from Trella and stuffed it in Inventory.

    ¡°I need to register the agreement,¡± Eve said. ¡°Give me a moment, but this will satisfy my duties to Verona for a long, long while.¡±

    She disappeared into the Council headquarters.

    Sara looked around. ¡°We should have lunch at BirchHome. The whole party there while there¡¯s not a disaster, this is ideal.¡±

    ¡°I need to talk to James Dervish,¡± Kaden said. ¡°When do your Mercari quests complete?¡±

    ¡°The first set already have, the second set¡ªand the party quests¡ªdon¡¯t complete until the ships return. Patience!¡± Sara oriented herself. ¡°I have business at the Mage¡¯s tower.¡±

    Kaden looked to Ashi and Trella. ¡°And you two?¡±

    ¡°I have so much new equipment I need,¡± Trella said. ¡°And I¡¯m probably going to have to move my lab to one of the servant¡¯s buildings. This could be very dangerous but it¡¯s worth the effort.¡±

    ¡°I go to the crafters as well,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I search for the beast that will cover my spellbook.¡±

    Kaden set off into the city, heading for Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services. He hadn¡¯t leveled much, and it was frustrating, but the world couldn¡¯t be all battles. Not that he would want to battle with the level of Skill Shock that lay on him.

    Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services¡¯s front entrance was white marble with crystal doors that reached to the ceiling, but the man he wanted to talk to stood out front, seven and a half feet of summoner with ash-white skin, a bald head and one missing eye. Beside him, the captain of the city knights, Captain Blanco, stood, engaged in a heated argument.

    He spotted Kaden and the argument died. ¡°Look who it is. Verona¡¯s [Beast Master.] I¡¯ve been looking to talk to you. I have a squad of knights searching for bandits on the road east, and we¡¯ve only found a handful. And there¡¯s this village. Deshun?¡±

    ¡°Deshun a Noduska Bahon De,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°Deshun for short.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s hanging badgers from a tree?¡± Mr. Dervish asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be ¡®Deshan?¡¯¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to re-do an agreement at that point. Is there some place we can talk? I received a Beast that I have no idea what to do with. It doesn¡¯t need to be secret, just safe from commoners.¡±

    Mr. Dervish herded them inside to the floor of Summoning Services. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I like people talking about what they saw here.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [Destruction Wyvern] hatchling, ignoring the feeble aura of destruction that stole ten points of health at a time. ¡°The mother is imbued with [Destruction Mana]. Her aura killed all her brood. I swore an oath I wouldn¡¯t eat this one in my nest. What do they eat?¡±

    No longer in his soul, the hatchling radiated hunger.

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Mr. Dervish put out a call and a moment later, fed the hatchling from a wheelbarrow of meat. As a Centurion, its effect on him was negligible. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this twice. Beasts whose own nature threatened them.¡±

    Kaden privately shared the logs. ¡°I don¡¯t want a [Cloak of Destruction]. I already had to place my griffin in a colony. This little guy can¡¯t go to another wyvern colony. He¡¯ll destroy it or they¡¯ll destroy him.¡±

    ¡°Wyverns are precocious,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°From the moment they can walk they¡¯re on their own, hunting other hatchlings until they can fly and then eating fish. They only come back to the nest for shelter at night. It¡¯ll be flying within the month. The Vivomancer¡¯s guild will want it.¡±

    ¡°Not happening. I got a new skill. Want to see?¡± Kaden focused on the hatchling. ¡°Come to me.¡± Once again, Skill Shock struck, but he was getting used to it.

    The hatchling was not a creature of great will. It was one of great appetite, but fell prey to his command, stumbling over to Kaden to wipe bloody jaws on Kaden¡¯s cloak before turning in a circle to lay down.

    ¡°Commands. That¡¯s going to be powerful. You mind taking a look at a Variated Drydel? They¡¯re walking trees that some people use as mounts and this one¡¯s got a illness we can¡¯t identify.¡± Mr. Dervish led him back to a sterile steel room where a tree-beast the size of a wagon stood. If someone had chopped down a tree ten feet across, and then dug it up, and the roots animated to allow it to move, that would have been a [Drydel]. It had no visible eyes, and only stubby branches sticking out from the thick bark. Its root-legs whipped back and forth nervously as it shifted back and forth.

    And it smelled of rot.

    [Drydel - Tree Beast]

    The Drydel were the weapons, the warriors, the tools and servants of the Dryadians when they ruled their continent. Like all Empires, they fell to ruin with time, but the living tree-beasts they engineered still walk the earth with ponderous, sure steps. Drydels cannot trip or fall, and though their pace is slow, they can cover any distance over even the most hostile terrain, regrowing burned limbs, ignoring poison, and serving as a base of operations for Adventurers. This Drydel has a rot deep inside, one that spreads with each day.

    *Sick*.

    Kaden shared the notification. ¡°I think it¡¯s being literal. I can feel the rot. Trees are odd. The outer rings are the living, growing part. My guess is there¡¯s a fungus, or maybe termites, or something that has literally gotten deep inside.¡±

    ¡°What would you do?¡± Mr. Dervish asked.

    ¡°Find a class that can sense hollows. Hidden chambers. Safes? Then get a spearman to stab down and open it up. I can¡¯t say how to kill the rot when I don¡¯t know what it is.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help hating the unease that leaked off the drydel. It knew it was sick, but had no mouth to ask for help.

    ¡°I¡¯m not bad with a spear though I prefer lances,¡± Captain Blanco said. He lifted the Drydel with one hand, holding it high overhead. ¡°There¡¯s a black dot here. Looks like rotten wood. And I hear chewing.¡±

    ¡°Kaden, out.¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Ain¡¯t risking you to find whatever¡¯s hiding within.¡±

    Kaden stepped out the door and shut it, watching from the observation crystal.

    Captain Blanco thrust his fist through the knot, which crumbled.

    An army of black swarmed out.

 Nineteen - Done-geon

    Kaden¡¯s first urge was to try and help the Centurions as a crawling cloud of black swarmed outward. [Soul Binding] didn¡¯t work and [Identify] gave him no clue what it was. His second urge was to recognize that both of them had at least seventy levels.

    ¡°Gods-damned [Bog Ants],¡± Mr. Dervish called. ¡°Whole damned beast is probably rotten.¡±

    Captain Blanco swore and danced and twisted. ¡°I hate ants in the armor!¡±

    ¡°Lemme find the queen.¡± Mr. Dervish lay the Drydel on its side and began to dig out rotten wood. ¡°Got her! All right, now let¡¯s see our [Beast Master] do his work. Kaden?¡±

    Mr. Dervish carried the queen to the door. ¡°Do you have to touch it?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Kaden focused on the queen, a [Bog Ant] the size of Mr. Dervish¡¯s fist, with overly larger eyes. ¡°Stop moving.¡±

    The Queen. Her entire colony, all of them froze.

    ¡°To the corner,¡±  Kaden ordered, though the exertion hurt deep in his soul. The Drydel rocked as [Bog Ants] crawled out, carrying white grubs above their heads. The colony was evacuating. Now Kaden could open the door.

    [Bog Ant - Swarm Beast]

    The lowly bog ant is not a threat, until they come by the thousands, which they do. Living inside trees, the colony grows until it bursts from its home and swarms to others, eating everything in its path. *Beast Knowledge - These aren¡¯t worth the time it takes to burn. They only attack rotting wood, and we haven¡¯t found a use for them. You could craft brown dye, according to one of our crafters, but we could do that with horse shit and not have to go near a bog.

    Kaden reached out and [Bound] the queen. ¡°Put her down. She¡¯s going to join her children in that corner.¡±

    Mr. Dervish tossed her into the swarm. ¡°Now what?¡±

    Kaden pulled a potion from Inventory. ¡°Now, we hold our breath, close our eyes, and turn away. Ready?¡±

    He hurled Trella¡¯s [Fire Bomb] potion into the corner.

    It exploded, roasting thousands of [Bog Ants] in a disgusting flaming pyre that squealed and screeched and clicked.

    As the smoke cleared, two annoyed Centurions stared at Kaden. Captain Blanco crossed his arms. ¡°How about a little warning? How about asking before you set off an explosion? Gods, that [Shadow Blade] has gotten to you.¡±

    Kaden reviewed the slew of notifications. ¡°Each one was worth one xp. Sorry to steal it.¡± He¡¯d already shifted his attention to the [Drydel], and drew Remembrance. With steady, easy carving he carved out the rotten wood. [Building] and [Woodcarving] combined to give him greater control than any one skill would have. The Drydel had been ten feet across. By the time he was done, it was still ten feet across, with about a foot of wood at the perimeter still healthy.

    ¡°That ain¡¯t promising. You mind explaining to the owner? She¡¯s the good sort.¡± Mr. Dervish dispatched a Messenger Bird.

    Kaden waited, cleaning up the cuts he¡¯d made. The [Drydel wasn¡¯t hurting, but it wasn¡¯t going to be useful for its intended purpose, not in this state. It was essentially a ring-shaped Beast, and in the wild, the chances of it getting caught on terrain or trapped were absolute.

    A few minutes later, a thin brown woman in [Druid] robes stepped into the room. ¡°James, what have you done?¡±

    [Alvea Alstad - Druid Wanderer]

    ¡°Your Beast had a colony of [Bog Ants] living in it, chewing it up from the inside out. Kaden here found e¡¯m and removed them.¡±

    ¡°It will survive,¡± Kaden said. ¡°In fact, it¡¯ll grow now that it¡¯s not being consumed.¡±

    Alvea shook her head. ¡°How am I supposed to wander with my yurt on that?¡±

    ¡°You could have beams cut and nailed to re-enforce it,¡± Kaden said. ¡°It¡¯s very vulnerable like this, but with the right enhancements¡ª¡±

    ¡°You want to nail pieces to the Beast who carries my home?¡± Alvea asked, horror evident¡ªthen her eyes dropped to Kaden¡¯s chest, where his armor let the metal ribs show through. ¡°Of course you do. Of course. Put it out of its misery. I¡ªI won¡¯t be party to an abomination.¡±

    She handed Mr. Dervish a handful of gold and walked out, weeping.

    ¡°The good sort, you say.¡± Kaden spoke it as a pronouncement. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with this [Drydel]. Nothing that some gold and some steel won¡¯t fix.¡±

    Captain Blanco began to laugh. ¡°That¡¯s why they call you the Stray Beast Master. Never met a Beast you didn¡¯t like? Never found one you didn¡¯t rescue?¡±

    ¡°Alvea¡¯s a good woman. Grief will hit you hard, don¡¯t judge her on this minute of a life that¡¯s spanned centuries.¡± Mr. Dervish sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t give it to you. She said to put it down.¡±

    Kaden understood. ¡°Is Wren open to taking some project work? This looks a lot like a mobile fortress. I mean, it would if it weren¡¯t going to be put down. Don¡¯t [Artificers] basically work like gnomes? They¡¯re always building. I wonder what Wren¡ªyour grand daughter¡ªwould think of this opportunity.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Still can¡¯t give it to her.¡±

    Kaden looked at the room. ¡°I think I hear a commotion out front. I think you two should go maintain the peace. I think there could be some mulicks¡ª¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Captain Blanco said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t allow this. If I look away when you¡¯re stealing something for the right reasons, I¡¯ll look away when someone else is stealing for the wrong reasons.¡±

    ¡°At least wait.¡± Kaden rushed out of the room and sprinted through the back halls to the display room. From there, to the front door. He scanned the crowd and summoned Vip. ¡°I need to find a [Druid]. You¡¯re faster than anyone I know.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    With the need he sent the image of Alvea.

    *Oh so fast!* Vip took off through the streets of Verona, circling the building and then moving out into the city.

    Alvea could have headed straight to a Far Portal. Or maybe she had another Beast to ride, or¡ªVip¡¯s lonesome howl sent Kaden running down toward the market and across to the [Healer¡¯s] booth Kaden had never been able to afford.

    There, Vip yipped and pranced, trying to convince the [Druid] she loved her.

    ¡°You.¡± Althea said with disgust. ¡°This delightful dog keeps saying she wants me to talk to you. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°First off, let¡¯s set a few things straight. I was attacked by demons in a grove and injured fighting a demon lord twenty seven levels higher than me. That was before I went into Hell to rescue some adventurers and mock Demon Lord Asmodeus, who I personally sent back to hell when I purged a cult. I have a [Shield Tree] growing outside my home. Don¡¯t look at me or talk to me like that.¡±

    Althea studied him closer, her mouth still downturned. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°I want to¡ªharvest your [Drydel]. You ordered it put down. I want you to turn it over to me. Nature¡¯s cycle, right? I¡¯ve seen your crafters tanning [Bearzerker] hides, so don¡¯t tell me it doesn¡¯t work that way. Ask Olidar Kemel if I¡¯ve done anything worthwhile.¡± It would be a very long-term harvest.

    Alvea shuddered and turned her back on him. ¡°It¡¯s what I expected anyway. I was alive when the Necromancer who made your chest plate was using them. I know people who lost family members. I don¡¯t want to see you again.¡±

    You have been given authority to harvest from a Drydel.

    Kaden sent a Messenger Bird to Mr. Dervish. His grand scheme wouldn¡¯t be accomplished in a day, or a week, or a month. Beast Control would charge him to house it, but the [Drydel] would be indoors and protected from the weather. And Kaden had such glorious ideas.

    A plain, brown bird circled Kaden repeatedly before finally landing. An old woman¡¯s voice spoke. ¡°This is for the [Beast Master]. We have been waiting for you to reach the age of Factions. It¡¯s time for you to take your place as our leader. This bird will put you in touch with us.¡±

    Every Messenger Bird allowed one to contact the sender. Kaden summoned the Falcrow. ¡°Not interested. Sara had something similar happen, we looted the folks they sent after her. Have a good day.¡±

    It was time for dinner.

    ###

    BirchHaven was packed¡ªand not with Saints, though he¡¯d probably made good money off hosting the gathering of Saints. With Trinity and Vip at his side, Kaden walked through the streets of the once-zoo amazed by the number of people. Not just centurions, so many level seventy five, fifty, even a group of tens who were quite obviously a family of mages. Trinity worked as the best crowd mover in existence, as her [Fearsome] talent made lower level adventurers scatter, and quite a few fifties stop and take note. She had no issue with the Beasts who followed their masters everywhere, or if she did, they were too pathetic to risk a rumble.

    At the main registration tree, Kaden waited at the front desk. ¡°Wasn¡¯t BirchHome supposed to have a guest limit of a hundred?¡±

    ¡°Sorry if it¡¯s crowded, your guildmaster signed off on the arrangements, Name and class and I¡¯ll know where to put you.¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch. [Beast Master].¡± He crossed his arms and waited. ¡°I¡¯m not checking in, I¡¯m here to eat dinner with my party.¡±

    ¡°Oh thank goodness, because you¡¯re not on the guest list, Mr. Birch, was it? I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t even accomodate you in the dining facilities. So sorry, and do come again.¡± She waved behind him. ¡°Next?¡±

    Trinity gave a trill.

    ¡°We don¡¯t do that, not even to commoners, especially especially not to employees,¡± Kaden said, as he turned to leave. In the madness outside, no one would notice. At the entrance to the underground dome and dining, he paused. A line led in¡ªand out the other side, with vast tables of food. No fine dining, this was like the Adventurer¡¯s Guild hall, except with fewer people and fewer pubs and without the GuildMaster to murder people who stepped out of line.

    ¡°Mistress Scylla!¡± Kaden shouted from halfway down the stair. He pulled Trinity and Vip into his soul and leaped off the stairs, cut through the line to meet her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­a bit much?¡±

    ¡°Sara and the others are dining in a private hall,¡± Mistress Scylla said. ¡°I was going to send a bird but the chaos here is keeping me quite occupied. This is the Undying Tree, one of the largest private Adventurer¡¯s Guilds in the world. After the success of the Gathering of Saints, I was certainly open to similar events. We had to finish furnishing every room in the grand tree¡ªall of them¡ªto accomodate, but this is worth every moment.¡±

    She flagged down a worker. ¡°Take Mr. Birch to the Scorpion hall. All the buildings have Beasts as a label. It makes it easier to map and refer to. Say hello to your party, I would love to give you a proper business update. How was Xiao?¡±

    ¡°Murdery, but I got a [Wyvern],¡± Kaden answered.

    ¡°It¡¯s always slightly murdery. We¡¯ll talk later!¡±

    Kaden followed the worker out of the dining hall and down a back alley to what had been a [Armored Sloth] display before it was rebuilt. Now it was a bar on the bottom level, sleeping quarters on the second, and on the top, an dining room enchanted so the roof reflected what was going on outside, an illusion of openness.

    Sara, Eve, Ashi, and Trella sat around a table.

    ¡°Finally! I¡¯m starving. And grumpy!¡± Trella¡¯s tone didn¡¯t say she was grumpy. It did say she was hungry, though, so grumpy wasn¡¯t far off.

    A waiter quickly took their orders, and for the first time in months, Kaden truly, deeply relaxed.

    Eve stood and held up her glass. ¡°Thank you. Each of you. All of you. Verona won¡¯t be bothering me about Trade Agreements. Or if they do, it will be met with ¡®What about the Xiao Empire?¡¯ I treasure my time in council meetings. I would have greatly regretted not being allowed in.¡±

    Sara raised her glass. ¡°Someone¡¯s got to do it and it sure as hell won¡¯t be me.¡±

    ¡°Or me!¡± Kaden added.

    ¡°Same!¡± Trella said.

    Ashi dipped her head. ¡°I would never dream of being a council woman. But it is good that some care for the business of ruling rather than the power.¡±

    Kaden took out the [Lifengale] egg, still in its preserving case. ¡°Supposedly this will accelerate growth and transform into a carrier. Anyone want to see? Eve, would you do the honors?¡±

    She reached forward and triggerd the button on the gold and crystal case. For a moment, the interior turned completely green and mana surged. Gold began to twist and rise like a growing vine, while crystal collapsed, forming a silver ring at the bottom. The egg inside hatched in seconds, and the bald, hideous hatchling grew fuzz, then quills, then slowed as its quills took on a deep green. No larger than the palm of Kaden¡¯s hand, he watched as it hopped onto a perch and preened.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you like freedom.¡± Kaden applied [Soul Binding] and opened the door to let the bird hop out. It began to sing, and as it did, gentle waves of life-mana rolled out.

    ¡°It¡¯s a Healing Bird,¡± Sara said softly. ¡°You put them by your bedside and they sing through the night, healing wounds.¡±

    Kaden loved it. ¡°That island trip was the best gift ever. I got this bird, a new skill. Oh, and these.¡± He pulled the bones and eggshells from Inventory. ¡°Decades of dead [Destruction Wyvern] egg shells and bones. Pretty cool, right?¡±

    The tablecloth turned brown, curled and decomposed. The wood underneath blistered. Kaden put most of them back into Inventory, passing around a shell-shard. ¡°It¡¯s infused with [Destruction] mana. What do you think we could have crafted from it?¡±

    Trella took the piece, wincing. ¡°It hurts my hand. It¡¯s not really a reagent. I don¡¯t know what to do with it.¡±

    Ashi accepted it, then yanked her hands back as black spots spread up her arms. ¡°I do not like those spells. They are cruel. There is a place for [Destruction], yes, but is the battlefield not bloody enough?¡±

    Sara and Eve passed on the chance to examine it, so Kaden took it back. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to crafters tomorrow.¡±

    The dinner that followed was exactly what Kaden had imagined. Food. Friends. Laughter as Sara explained her strategy. She¡¯d always planned to leave space for the crew. ¡°It makes every one of them invested in ensuring a safe voyage.¡±

    Kaden listened as Ashi waxed poetic about magic and music, and Trella spoke of how she¡¯d need a lab so she didn¡¯t accidentally blow up the house. When the conversation fell quiet, he finally spoke. ¡°I have something to do when we get to the Holding. I have a Quest from a God, and the Daughter of Nature herself told me how to achieve it. Told isn¡¯t the right word.¡±

    Sara perked up. ¡°You figured out the species?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a what. It¡¯s a who.¡± He pulled Naski¡¯s Demon Seed from Inventory. ¡°I had this flash of images I couldn¡¯t make sense of. But I know what to do. I¡¯m going to bring her back.¡±

 Twenty - Plans

    The private dining in Birchhaven was always quiet but in the aftermath of Kaden¡¯s proclamation that he¡¯d restore Nask, Trella drew one of her [Inkblades]. ¡°I said I would kill that demon and I meant it. Why do you even want to regrow a demon?¡±

    Kaden shared the Quest logs and the notices from Circe. ¡°Look, the way I see it, I almost killed Naski myself. Ashi tore her core out barehanded. You never got a turn, so we bring her back, get an upgrade to my title and then you get a title for killing her.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a suprisingly reasonable plan,¡± Sara said. ¡°What if she runs off?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll bring her back in a cage. Also, I¡¯m going to plant her under the [Shield Tree]. It¡¯s the image I saw when I spoke with Circe, me kneeling and burying her seed at its roots. The thing eats demons. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯ll be but it won¡¯t be a demon.¡± He also shared the messenger bird info. ¡°I said no. I don¡¯t know that I want to join a Faction, let alone lead one.¡±

    Sara clapped for him. ¡°I¡¯m so glad! I was terrified I was the only one with a freakish Faction pursuing me. It¡¯s nice to know other people have the same problem. Maybe there¡¯s some kind of program for people like us with different steps.¡±

    ¡°Admit the Faction is a problem,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Appeal to a Centurion to deal with them,¡± Eve added.

    Ashi thought for a moment. ¡°Make a list of enemies. Do not let their power or presence protect them.¡±

    ¡°Determine to finish them off?¡± Kaden said. ¡°I just want them to leave me alone. I checked around, Cutter Karn really did go off to the Iron Gear empire and you woudn¡¯t believe everything she packed. She coudn¡¯t even go by Far Portal.¡±

    Sara nodded. ¡°I confirmed it myself. The Iron Gear empire isn¡¯t like Xiao. Xiao, you could sail to anywhere on any island, if you didn¡¯t mind their cultivators destroying you. You literally cannot enter the Iron Gear empire without a diplomat¡¯s token. The token acts as a FarPortal reference, and any place other than a Port has a physical barrier around it.¡±

    ¡°Well, Cutter¡¯s party took six sets of tents, bedrolls, camping gear and enough rations for three years, assuming none of them [Cook], and I¡¯m pretty sure they do.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t sure why anyone would walk in the empire. He didn¡¯t walk to the Holding most days.

    Eve pushed back her chair and began feeding Vip scraps as she thought. ¡°Circe Karn is what I¡¯d call paranoid and Sara would call prepared. Each party brought in has carried more and more gear on the assumption that something will go deeply wrong. The difference for our party is that we are not even remotely interested in this treasure.¡±

    ¡°Also, we won¡¯t rush,¡± Sara said. ¡°We¡¯ll go on our time. When we¡¯re ready. There¡¯s absolutely no reason to add our names to the list of people who never came back. We can¡¯t even get in right now.¡±

    ¡°About that,¡± Eve said. ¡°Egalion had a diplomat to the Iron Gear Empire before [Diplomacy] failed. I¡¯m absolutely certain they¡¯ll negotiate if we bring the right trade. The problem is finding something they actually want.¡±

    ¡°Got it covered.¡± Kaden had collected so many things he planned to use. ¡°The Guildmaster himself said to sell that [Infernal Pearl] to an island nation like Egalion. So I say we trade it for the Diplomat¡¯s Pass.¡±

    ¡°As long as you do not use it. I have seen those who did. It makes them powerful, yes, but it also makes them hungry for more [Infernal Pearls].¡± Ashi shuddered. ¡°You do not know how they work, do you?¡±

    Kaden shook his head, then looked to Sara and Trella. ¡°Either of you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s on the ¡®not-until-you-multiclass-as-a-centurion¡¯ list,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Then listen and learn,¡± Ashi said. ¡°An [Infernal Pearl] will never fail to unlock at least one skill of the next tier. But those who use them hunger for more. And it is not know if one even can advance without an [Infernal Pearl] afterwards.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a Tier Up scroll,¡± Sara said. ¡°And even more dangerous.¡±

    Ashi shook her head. ¡°Not so. The [Nemesis] the System generates ignores skills from [Infernal Pearls]. It ensure you are far more powerful than your nemesis. Given enough pearls, one could destroy their nemesis at level fifty without help.¡±

    Suddenly the pearl felt that much more valuable. ¡°What happens when you run out of skills?¡±

    ¡°Your Class Evolution is also a skill. I heard Uri speak of a man who had unlocked it at level twenty four.¡±

    It felt like a violation of how the world should run, but then again, Adventurers were meant to break the rules and push limits. ¡°I have an option. I¡¯m not saying we do it, I¡¯m saying we ask ourselves the downsides.¡± Kaden thought through the problems. ¡°If I fed this pearl to my dungeon, it could spawn more. It¡¯s low rank right now, but I could, ever time, spawn enough to get all of us unlocked.¡±

    The room fell deathly silent.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been that person. The one whose skills outmatch my level.¡± Trella spoke clearly, calmly. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly powerful. I won¡¯t even claim it¡¯s bad. It¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s amazing. But I want the ¡®adventure¡¯ in ¡®Adventurer.¡¯¡±

    ¡°And I as well. Life alone is not enough,¡± Ashi said.

    Sara started to speak and then stopped. ¡°For a Summoner, those are more powerful than you can imagine. We don¡¯t have a large number of class skills. Every pearl would unlock a new summons. I want to use it.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Eve said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen¡ª¡±

    ¡°I said I want to use it,¡± Sara shouted. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I¡¯m going to, but I want it. I can¡¯t help wanting it. Summoners are meant to be the most powerful class in the System given time. Mages fear us, men at arms flee, and I have stuck been stuck using dual swords for most of my damage. My level fifty summons will be something incorporeal, I believe, able to move about and inflict area of effect damage.¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°How do you know?¡± Trella asked.

    Sara summoned a Crawling Horror. ¡°I had dreams about these disgusting little guys long before I reached twenty five. Now I dream about a gasseous creature that causes my enemies to choke and panic and lose focus and flee.¡±

    Kaden put the pearl away. ¡°I¡¯m fairly sure this is what I would have had to use to unlock tier two skills if I hadn¡¯t gone to Vichor. I still don¡¯t have a way to unlock my tier three or four skills, let alone class evolution.¡±

    But he knew where the dungeon was that spawned them. And he knew its layout, its monsters, its entire setup. ¡°Are we sure Egalion will trade?¡±

    ¡°Certain,¡± Eve said. ¡°It¡¯s an island nation with no dungeons and its army is small but entirely built with [Infernal Pearls].¡±

    Kaden looked to Sara. ¡°Do you mind writing up an offer and contacting their trading minister?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t. Infernal Pearls are not illegal in the ¡®we will hunt you down and kill you¡¯ aspect, but they are definitely not on the Trade Guild¡¯s allowed list.¡± Sara drew her Messenger Parrot and whispered to it. ¡°Mom will know how to make the trade.¡±

    A few moments later, a jet black bird returned, whispering to Sara. She listened closely as it continued far longer. ¡°Eve, Mom says you shouldn¡¯t go. I¡¯ll take it Egalion myself.¡±

    ¡°I have to go for my Quest,¡± Kaden said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who else goes, I have to go to the Temple of Varun in Egalion.¡±

    ¡°Then we go together. Ashi, Trella?¡± Sara waited.

    Trella¡¯s deceptions stood on either side of her. ¡°If he¡¯s going, we¡¯re going. I trust Kaden, but I don¡¯t trust anyone from a kingdom built around the temple of a happy cheery goddess. No one should be happy and cheery all the time.¡±

    ¡°I would stay and tend the Dungeon, if I may. I am weary. Everywhere we go, we find conflict and battle. There must be a season of rest,¡± Ashi said.

    Trella tapped on Kaden¡¯s hand. *Better to leave her here if she needs time. Hell, we need time.*

    Cutter Karn wasn¡¯t exactly a friend but she was an ally. Kaden wouldn¡¯t ignore her party. ¡°Ashi, I¡¯m worried that the balance on my dungeon mobs isn¡¯t right. I should have been able to rank up again already and the parties just aren¡¯t coming. I may have overdone it with the Bearserker.¡±

    ¡°Have you not checked the status?¡± Ashi asked.

    Kaden pulled it up. In the months that they¡¯d been gone, it had definitely advanced.

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x100,000 (99,991 acquired)

    1000x Adventurer Party (989 acquired)

    100x [Entity Seeds] (100x aquired)

    1x Lieutenant Seed (1 acquired)

    10x Loot Seed (10 acquired)

    Optional, Required for next Rank: 1x [Secondary Boss] (acquired).

    Banked for next rank:

    241x (Entity Seeds)

    2x (Lieutenant Seeds).

    4x (Loot Seeds)

    Special:

    1x Wandering Champion (Cloud)

    ¡°Ten parties is not even a challenge,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There cannot be so much wrong. If they so much as sneeze you will have the Directed Mana. You should not go to Egalion until after the rank up.¡±

    That would be intense. ¡°Will I gain another level?¡±

    ¡°Most likely,¡± Ashi said. ¡°It will be slow now, but I will stay and adjust if you grant me this permission.¡±

    The System acknowledged his will without hesitation. ¡°How long do you think it will take?¡±

    ¡°A few days,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Cutter has been gone months. If a few days makes the difference, it is a wait worth it.¡±

    She was right. ¡°Fine. Sara, we have a ton of quests stacked up. There¡¯s a roadside dungeon I blew off after the trial. Eve needed to end a civil war, there¡¯s so much to do.¡±

    ¡°Your honeybee colony is on the move, I¡¯ll need to get Vivomancers to sign off on the transport,¡± Sara said. ¡°Are you ok to handle this dungeon?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a rank four dungeon. I¡¯ll destroy it in my sleep. I won¡¯t really get any XP, either.¡± It didn¡¯t matter. Protecting other dungeons from erratic energy was his responsibility. ¡°Anyone want a shot at a title?¡±

    ¡°Queen of Entropy has been useless to me for most of our encounters. I¡¯d like titles but I want good ones,¡± Eve said.

    Sara, on the other hand, thought it over. ¡°I want more. I will always want more. Will it be a good title?¡±

    ¡°Not likely,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Rank five is where the valuable ones come, but I have gotten worse from high levels.¡±

    Trella cleared her throat. ¡°Who wants faction tokens from the Sisters? It¡¯s me. Not everyone has a trustworthy party. I could arrange a group of twenties to fill out the party. And I could make sure they understand who¡¯s in charge. They¡¯ll follow your orders.¡±

    There was exactly one [Shadow Blade] Kaden loved and respected. The others frustrated him to death. Always trying to poison him. Always with the threats. ¡°Sara. Your pet party, Anika, how about we drag them through?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Sara said. ¡°Their progress is much more normal. I saw a note they¡¯d reached level fifteen and promptly had a full party wipe in the Crystal Spires Dungeon. Twenties are of course possible, but I doubt she¡ªor her party¡ªwould willingly enter an erratic.¡±

    ¡°I know women who will happily enter an erratic,¡± Trella said. ¡°This will be different, I mostly promise.¡±

    Ashi had leaned back in the chair and summoned her pet octopus, Levi-ling. ¡°A promise is absolute. It is like being on fire. One is either on fire or not. One promises, or does not.¡±

    Kaden pointed to Ashi. ¡°What she said. I¡¯m willing to take anyone through. It¡¯s an erratic, so there¡¯s always going to be danger, but I¡¯ll only do it if they follow my lead. No skulking off in the darkness on their own. They are basically inventory cubes with hands and feet. Talking inventory cubes. Do they have hair? Hairy talking inventory cubes that flop around waving their hands.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the Sisters. And we can stop in at Deshun and see how our miner-not-bandit buddies are doing,¡± Trella said. ¡°That Quest gives a mana core. You want it, right?¡±

    Trella was forgetting Quest Master.

    That was fine. ¡°I better not get stabbed or poisoned. I¡¯m heading home. I have a wyvern to feed and I need sleep. And I forgot to deal with something at Devish¡¯s Summoning Services. Kaden dispatched the Falcrow, and a moment later a bird returned.

    It spoke in Mr. Dervish¡¯s gruff voice. ¡°I¡¯m working all night, going to create my next major Summons. Come on by.¡±

    A few minutes later, Kaden slipped in through the back door of Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services and found Mr. Dervish in a summoning room, working on a workbench with several binding tokens. ¡°I forgot to ask something. I did a trial. The Trial of Yarrow. First off, I need a stone bowl. Then, I need a place to hide a couple things. Somewhere they won¡¯t ever be found.¡±

    ¡°Show me.¡± Mr. Dervish waited as Kaden produced the corn and grain.

    ¡°Carrying these around is just asking for someone to kill and loot me. They¡¯re relics like the Icon of the Builder. They cause crops to grow and harvests to be heavy. I thought about putting them in my town but Verona is surrounded by farms.¡±

    Mr. Dervish studied them. ¡°Yep, Spring relics from a god. Probably some ¡®marriage of the seasons¡¯ bullshit. You shouldn¡¯t use them in Verona. I¡¯ll keep them safe if you¡¯re afraid of them being stolen, but there¡¯s a network for relics like this. The Justari move them around as needed.¡± He pointed to the workshop basin. ¡°That probably won¡¯t burn.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate. He dumped the [Wheamyn] seeds in the basin and activated [Wrath of the Furnace] for a split second, filling the metal bowl with lava. The seeds screamed as they caught fire.

    ¡°Did not see that coming,¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°What did you burn?¡±

    ¡°A monster called a [Wheamyn]. The daughter of Nature told me to. Said they had no place outside the trial.¡± Unleashing Wrath had left Kaden shaky.

    ¡°Heard about them, never fought them, and that¡¯s how I like it. You holding up ok?¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t listening. He was focused on the notification that had popped up.

    Demon Lord Asmodeus has offered you an alliance. Accept? [Y/N]

 Twenty One - Nope

    Kaden shared the logs with Mr. Dervish. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to be known as the Adventurer who made a deal with a demon lord.¡±

    ¡°You mean ¡®as one of them,¡¯¡± Mr. Dervish said. ¡°Normally wouldn¡¯t happen until level fifty but with you, I an¡¯t surprised. Turn it down, not like he¡¯s going to hate you more.¡±

    It was an easy decision. ¡°Why? And How? And also, what does it mean?¡±

    ¡°Means you got power. Demon Lords ain¡¯t human. They don¡¯t hold the same kinds of grudges, and if they can use your power, well, they will. I¡¯ve made a few alliances in my time.¡± With that, Mr. Dervish headed back to the workshop. ¡°We got five employees in the building. That enough for Leader of the Pack?¡±

    Kaden checked the logs. ¡°One point one percent higher.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll have to do, I can¡¯t wait on this one.¡± Mr. Dervish began to focus, applying a skill to a workbench token. Threads of white energy wrapped around it, then blue, then green, then yellow. The energy began to shift back and forth, getting brighter and brighter until all Kaden saw was spots. When the spots faded, the token he¡¯d worked on pulsed through the entire spectrum. ¡°Did it fail or succeed?¡±

    ¡°This is only the first part. An epic sumoning token could still draw a valuable beast. Now, I use it and we see what shows up.¡± Mr. Dervish tossed the token into the circle.

    It exploded into fibers of a soul-bond, which whipped toward Mr. Dervish¡ªand stopped an inch from his hand. ¡°Come on. I can feel you watching.¡±

    A shape coalesced, expanding¡ªthen collapsed down into an ape shorter than Kaden, with curly black hair and silver claws and hands too large for its fists.

    ¡°Harmpanzee. Sorry,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be. Ain¡¯t what I was hoping for, but there¡¯s five others in a Summoner¡¯s Party, and it¡¯ll sell to one of the others because with six of ¡®em, they¡¯ll buff the owner and each other.¡± Mr. Dervish activated another skill, and the bond threads that hadn¡¯t attached whipped back into the [Harmpanzee]. ¡°May as well while you¡¯re here.¡±

    He turned and activated his abilities on each of the other tokens. ¡°Epic, rare, rare, rare, rare. It¡¯s just that kind of night.¡±

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Kaden always expected more from his title. ¡°I have to head home. How¡¯s Okit doing with her [Marauders]?¡±

    ¡°Long road to go. We figured out that improving the health of the basic [Marauder] improves health of additional ones. Don¡¯t think that skill would have fit you. You don¡¯t have the right mindset for a [Summoner]. Your beasts are weapons, shields and tools. You treat them like¡­I don¡¯t know what but it¡¯s not how you need to be.¡±

    ¡°No worries. I can¡¯t force you to be right,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Captain Blanco about the Icons when I get time. And I know you don¡¯t agree with all the things I do. It¡¯s ok.¡±

    Mr. Dervish turned to face Kaden, not menacing, for the first time, truly looking at him like an equal. ¡°I¡¯ve committed my life to the balance of how things are. When I was younger, I was like you. I built up cities and destroyed dungeons. I¡¯d have told myself I was doing right and only the centuries have made me sure I wasn¡¯t.¡±

    Kaden had always been in awe of Mr. Dervish, but as he gained levels and experience, that awe had changed to respect. ¡°See you around.¡±

    He headed out to the Guild, wrapped himself in [Stealth Aura] and pretended he didn¡¯t hear the Quest Broker shouting his name as he sprinted upstairs to the FarPortal and left.

    ###

    Dawn rose on the Eastern Road, and Kaden sprinting along with Trella at his side. Behind him four women followed in single file, matching his pace exactly. The Dungeon¡¯s location called out to Kaden, though he called a stop at the ruins where the Trial of Yarrow had been.

    Trella had met the Sisters in Verona and laid down hard rules. Kaden was in charge. Kaden called targets, Kaden set rules. They were being brought along for XP and a chance at a title, and that was the beginning and end of their roles.

    What had surprised Kaden was that these women didn¡¯t dress in the traditional black that [Shadow Blades] were known for. Two wore green that would have him mistake them for rangers, one wore a brown cloak and tan, and one wore indigo blue with a gray cape. ¡°You should take style advice from them,¡± Kaden said. ¡°You could wear yellow.¡±

    ¡°My [Stealth] skills need to be high enough that the color doesn¡¯t affect them, and then I will¡ªat least some of the time. I have a set of gear on commission that will change colors.¡± Trella watched as the others combed the ruined cathedral, testing anything remotely door-shaped in case Yarrow hadn¡¯t truly moved.

    An hour later they ran the final miles. ¡®Closeto the road¡¯ was relative. The dungeon was, in fact, closer to the road than, say, the nearest volcano. In the distance, in scrublands, stood a cabin.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Kaden said as he slowed near it. ¡°The Infernal Abyss. Fake demons, level twenty five, possibly erratic. We have to kill every mob, period. I¡¯ll scout first.¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Bluey (as he called the blue [Shadow Blade]) scoffed. ¡°We¡¯re a party of scouts. Let us handle it. We can do¡ª¡±

    Kaden seized the door and declared himself non-combatant.

    The Infernal Abyss was modeled on narrow pathways along steep cliffs, where the Adventureres would fight their way to the bottom. According to the report it wasn¡¯t a long dungeon, but it didn¡¯t need to be. Flying monsters assaulted parties on the rock sairs leading down, and several eternally broken bridges placed even more peril.

    Add that to the pit of death on one side and perhaps it was enough. Very few treasure rooms, almost every trap sent rocks sliding down from above, except for two sections of cliff that would collapse for instant death with no warning.

    Kaden worked his way down through the dungeon¡ªthen stopped midway through. The descent here was certain to set off an avalance of rock that would trigger the demons performing a ridiculous ritual at the bottom.

    The result would be a battle on treacherous ground where the goat-men¡¯s headbutt could send an Adventurer off the edge and into the abyss. If Kaden crossed it, the rocks might count as an attack. Better to climb back and bring them in.

    He emerged from the dungeon in complete darkness. All around him, growls and screeches rang out. ¡°Hey, we¡¯re ready. Let¡¯s go in.¡±

    His cry brought a [Hydroboar] rushing to have its head split open by Remembrance. Bacon was always good. The smell of fresh blood brought a pack of [Walking Wolves], wolves who walked on two feet like men, but also didn¡¯t walk at all with their legs cut off, just like men. Kaden dispatched the Falcrow and waited paitently, killing the occasional spawn, until movement in the wilds had him ready¡ªto put Remembrance away as Trella led her fellow [Shadow Blades] back. The women emerged from the darkness dragging something.

    ¡°Sorry, we saw a wandering boss and I just couldn¡¯t resist. Brought you a present!¡± Trella turned and pointed to a corpse.

    [Shadowrack - Shapeshifting Dark Warrrior]

    The Shadowrack exists to punish those who defy the Time of Monsters. Taking the form of its enemy, it perfectly battles every oponent with its own skills. It is not afraid of dark, and to engage it near dawn is to die, for the Shadowrack will wrestle until first light, and drag you with it when it departs to lands unknown.

    What remained was possibly humanoid, but even as he watched it, the corpse shifted forms, sometimes looking like a Beast, sometimes a man, and once a [Gauntling]. Kaden studied the [Reap Materials] report. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing this offers you actually want. The hide will make a [Shifting Cloak]. I doubt it shape shifts.¡±

    Kaden activated [Reap Materials], taking time to snip all the highlighted mana points, dozens of them, until at last he got the notice.

    Your skill with [Reap Materials] has increased!

    You have gained 1x Fine Preserved Shadowrack hide.

    Kaden held it up. ¡°Who killed it?¡±

    All of them pointed to Trella, and Bluey spoke. ¡°It took all of us. And I¡¯m sorry, but your cloak is going to be so full of holes you can fish with it as a net.¡±

    ¡°Funny thing about crafting skills.¡± Kaden ran his fingers over the hide. ¡°Once they level, they repair a lot of damage.¡± He folded it and handed it to Trella. ¡°I bet you know someone. Or you can trade it for equipment.¡±

    She handed it back. ¡°Never heard of a [Shifting Cloak]. Anyone?¡±

    Her Sisters all murmured denials.

    It might be a [Thief¡¯s] equipment. Kaden stored it and looked to them. ¡°Sara gave me the eplanation, we¡¯re going to form a Hunting Party. It¡¯s not the same bonds as a regular party, but it¡¯ll let me know if one of you is dead. Speaking of which, this dungeon is full of death traps, as in you die traps. We¡¯re going to map it and clear every mob. Good news is, not a lot of hidden rooms. As in zero. Bad news is, if you fall off, it¡¯s over.¡±

    Kaden focused on Trella and the will to start a Hunting Party.

    You have extended an offer to Trella Sonos to join a Hunting Party.

    Adventurers are stronger when they stick together!

    Trella Sonos has accepted your invitation.¡±

    Kaden repeated the process. Now five additional indicators gave him an alive or dead indicator.

    You have received a quest: Stronger Together - Keep your Hunting Party alive. Reward: Specific Loot Drop on party disband.

    Cutter Karn had never mentioned that Quest and he was fairly sure it was standard. That implied she¡¯d collected drops on at least three occasions and never mentioned them. He¡¯d mention them to Sara for sure. The notifications weren¡¯t done.

    You have received a quest: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way - Successfully complete a Quest with your first Hunting Party.

    You have received a quest: Stand By Me - Do not have a single party member defect. Reward: minor weaponry.

    You have received a quest: A Rising Tide - Have a party member level in your hunting party. Reward: minor armor.

    Before they entered the dungeon, he shared all the quest logs. ¡°See this? If you don¡¯t believe Trella, believe your common sense. I have every reason to get you four through alive. The Dungeon Entrance leads to a low cave that opens into the abyss. I¡¯ll go through first, Trella will come in last.¡±

    He lead the way into the dungeon, stepping clear of the entrance and counting until Trella joined them. Then he shut the door. The crystal on this side turned red, but the door didn¡¯t lock.

    Good.

    Kaden looked to Trella. ¡°You want to scout down to the first stairway?¡±

    ¡°No need. We know our plan, we know our enemy. Ladies? Kaden and I are the shield but you are the edge of the blade. Teamwork can make up for one tier of difference, and where teamwork won¡¯t cut it you have us. Rhys, what do you see?¡± Trella stepped aside for the blue cloaked [Shadow Blade].

    ¡°Four Goat Men on foot, two shriekers circling.¡± Bluey activated a skill. ¡°They¡¯re the first spawn, we can use this cave to block off [Shriekers] and stagger their attack. We use bows on the [Shriekers]. If they come alone, we kill them alone. If the goat men follow, goats die first.¡±

    Trella considered it. ¡°How many Dungeons have you scouted?¡±

    ¡°Four. We completed three,¡± she answered.

    ¡°Who packed what I told them to?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Show me your [Agony Cloud] potions.¡±

    Three of the four drew them. Bluey had health potions. ¡°We don¡¯t have a real healer. Just [Minor Mend].¡±

    ¡°Lead with one potion,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Bows if the [Shriekers] are flying, if they¡¯re not focus on one [Goat Man] (or woman) at a time. You know what¡¯s better than healing? Not getting hurt. Go when you¡¯re ready.¡±

    ¡°And remember the signal we talked about,¡± Trella added. ¡°If you find yourself out of your league, scream. What are we waiting for? You heard the plan.¡±

    One of the green [Shadow Blades] didn¡¯t hesitate. She hurled her potion. It arced through the air¡ªright as the other one appeared behind a [Goat Man], [Backstabbing] it. The potion exploded, blossoming out in a cloud of death.

    ¡°Four seconds in, and there¡¯s the signal,¡± Trella said, sprinting forward.

    How Sara put up with this, Kaden couldn¡¯t say.

 Twenty Two - Abysmal

    Before Kaden could even reach the spawn point, Trella [Shadow Stepped] to the edge. Her Deceptions entered the cloud and emerged dragging a bleeding, choking [Shadow Blade] who was no longer screaming mostly because she¡¯d scarred her lungs. Trella dragged her back. ¡°Focus fire on the first to emerge,¡± she shouted to the other three.

    All three drew stacks of throwing knives from Inventory. As the first [Goat Man] staggered out, blades errupted from its flesh until it fell over, bleating into the abyss.

    Kaden rushed to help Trella, leading with health potions. ¡°Should I clear this spawn?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Trella answered. ¡°That was a disaster. Let them sweat.¡±

    She turned and shouted ¡°The cloud¡¯s dissapating. Work together to pick a target and focus on it.¡±

    Each time the burned [Shadow Blade] gasped, Kaden trickled health potion down her throat until she could sip. ¡°Hurts so bad.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called [Agony Cloud], not [Feather Tickles Cloud],¡± Kaden answered.

    ¡°When I said pick a target, I was sure you¡¯d pick the closest target.¡± Trella drew her bow and put an arrow through a [Shrieker] that had launched itself at them. ¡°Pick the closest target and focus it down. When you can¡¯t shoot, daggers and deceptions, again, focus damage.¡±

    Kaden tried [Soul Binding].

    This is a dungeon spawn. You may not bind it.

    The Unono hadn¡¯t had any such protection. Perhaps the monster nature altered it. [Beast Command,] too, wouldn¡¯t work, and if he summoned Trinity, she¡¯d clear the dungeon herself. [Harvest Wind] would help, as well as [Leader of the Pack] and [Guardian of Life], but everything he could do would leave them with nothing.

    One [Shrieker] and two [Goat Men] remained, both wounded from the potion explosion. The shrieker fell to the ground as the trio switch to a combat style Kaden knew from watching Trella over and over. [Backstabs] killed one, and between the three, they [Normal Stabbed] the remaining mob.

    ¡°On your feet,¡± Trella said. ¡°Finish them off. When every last one is dead, you can rest and recover.¡±

    Kaden pushed Grilled Girl to her feet. ¡°Get out there. Kill at least one of them.¡±

    Trella stalked among them, pointing to the mobs still drawing breath. ¡°How did any of you make it to twenty? Gather. Everyone gather. Kaden gave you a good plan. In a minute, you¡¯re going to try again. Everyone take a sip of a healing potion and one of a mana regen potion, and one of stamina. I cannot stress this enough. Stick. To. The. Plan.¡±

    Kaden put his arm around her. *They need to regen.*

    *They need to suck less. These aren¡¯t initiates, these are Sisters whose primary training has been in ShadowVale. They¡¯ve got the XP but not the experience.* Trella [Shadow Stepped] away to the next spawn.

    Kaden turned to the slowly healing Sisters. ¡°When you act together, you four have serious burst damage. When you lead with debuffs or AOE attacks, your burst damage is that much more powerful. You¡¯re good at that. I¡¯m asking you to do what you¡¯re good at.¡±

    You have learned a new skill: Leadership

    [Leadership]

    You¡¯ve learned to get others to follow your guidance. It¡¯s not about beating them into doing what you say, or forcing them to walk until they reach a shrine of Veela. Real Leaders lead hearts and minds.

    Kaden read the notice and shrugged. Sara was a better party leader because she prepared. Kaden had failed to prepare properly and he¡¯d do better.

    ¡°Lieutenant up ahead,¡± Trella said. ¡°A flying humanoid demon who¡¯s going to try and pick you up and throw you off the cliff. Don¡¯t use potions, he¡¯s not going to stay still. Who¡¯s got the highest mana and [Deception] skill?¡±

    Bluey raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯m preparing for Nocto condensate.¡±

    ¡°Great. You¡¯re the bait.¡± Trella looked to the others. ¡°Who knows what to do?¡±

    ¡°Knives¡ªbows?¡± one asked.

    ¡°[Agony Cloud],¡± the other said.

    The tan one paused. ¡°[Backstab], deception, reset. No! Bleed potions first, then everything else.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s your plan. Kaden has a power that¡¯s keeping them from healing or regenerating mana, plus he makes the potions more effective just by being around. Your goal is to not need me.¡± Trella pointed ahead. ¡°Now, do you want to fight where he wants to fight? Near the dangerous edge? Or where you want to fight?¡±

    Kaden held his breath as Tanny spun and threw a dagger in a high arc that slammed into the distant demon. By the time he reached the party, she¡¯d hit him four more times.

    Blue dove forward and spread her arms. ¡°Hello, demon. I know¡ª¡±

    The Demon swooped, wrapping his arms around her [Deception] as three [Backstabs] landed. He crushed the shadowy image, but now every solid swing hit only shadow and resulted in more [Backstabs].

    ¡°Back off, let him bleed!¡± Tan shouted.

    ¡°Away from the cliff,¡± Trella added. ¡°But other than that, good.¡±

    The Lieutenant hit a threshold and glowed red. ¡°The Abyss awaits. But most of you won¡¯t¡ª¡±

    Blue slit his throat and ghosted away. ¡°Shut up. Mobs shouldn¡¯t talk.¡±

    Trella looked so pleased.

    ###

    By the time they¡¯d reached the rockslide stair, Kaden and Trella had hammered the four into a team. Admittedly, that had taken hours upon hours. And he¡¯d reluctantly accepted that they had names. Rhys wore blue and specialized in illusions to go with her shadows. The greens were an older sister and younger sister named Zinia and Omala who specialized in sabotage, and Tan was Wyrix, who Kaden was fairly sure was meant to be a leader. The others deferred to her when she spoke, which wasn¡¯t often enough, given that she usually had a good idea.

    Trella stood at the top of the trap stairs. They were wide stone, and crossed the abyss to the next horizontal run. Crossing the abyss meant no way to keep from falling, and the broken part in the middle would require a jump straight onto the section that triggered the traps.

    At the bottom, an extra-large spawn of goat-men waited. Trella descended to the broken part of the stairs, which Kaden was certain would trigger the rocks. ¡°It¡¯s not just these. I think when the party passes, something spawns up top and attacks from above. Hell, it might be some kind of rock-rolling monster.¡±

    Wyrix spoke up. ¡°I say we pull the spawn from the bottom across the traps. I can hit one with a knife from here. We¡¯ll all be focused up top for whatever spawns.¡±

    Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°This dungeon doesn¡¯t play fair. You and I need to be ready. Screw the XP.¡±

    The longer this went on, the more aggravated Kaden grew at the Core. There were rules and this one was living at the edge. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it setup to spawn anything besides the trap but that doesn¡¯t mean anything.¡±

    ¡°Wyr¡¯s plan is good.¡± Trella looked to Kaden. ¡°Spawn is yours.¡±

    Wyr¡¯s knife was already in the air, sailing down to strike one of the Goat Men in the chest. The stairs began to rumble and the debris below moved of its own accord, sliding downward to strike the rest of the spawn, who roared and came racing up the stairs¡ªonly to stop at the broken section.

    After all, these were monsters, not intelligent creatures.

    Kaden stood at the top of the stairs, his Eldritch Shield drawn. Sure enough, a section of the abyss wall gave way, creating an avalanche downward. Kaden couldn¡¯t stop it, but he didn¡¯t have to, he just had to redirect the worst off the side.

    The low growl from beyond had his attention.

    ¡°We got a monster spawn up here,¡± Trella called. ¡°Oh, hello. You¡¯re ugly.¡±

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    From the collapsed wall, a fat, waddling demon lumbered. Well, sort of a demon. Kind of like what someone who had never seen a demon would think of as a demon. It had sharp horns and a forked tongue and bright red skin and wide arms with forearms swelled and flattened like built-in shields.

    ¡°Trella, [Identify]?¡± Kaden called.

    ¡°It¡¯s glitched. All I see is [Shield Bash]. Probably all it needs,¡± she answered.

    Kaden rushed it. ¡°Get behind it. Use me as a ladder.¡±

    The Demon lashed out with a [Shield Bash], which always moved the target aside¡ªand off the stairs. Kaden met it with a [Shield Bash] of his own¡ªand now he was close enough that it couldn¡¯t swing.

    He braced himself against the stairs and pushed. Trinity would destroy this demon utterly, but that wasn¡¯t the point of taking a party.

    ¡°Coming over,¡± Trella shouted as she put light hands on his shoulders and vaulted clean over the top of the [Shield Demon].

    The monster wasn¡¯t completely dumb. It knew the moment Trella passed over it was in trouble. And then three [Shadow Blades] followed.

    ¡°Vault with your arms, don¡¯t dig your boots into my back!¡± Kaden said, cursing.

    The [Shield Demon] lurched forward as a trio of [Backstabs] hit. It couldn¡¯t turn to face them with Kaden holding on, and blow after blow struck until the demon collapsed, disappearing. As a group the Sisters turned and began raining down throwing knives on the hapless [Goat Men] who would have completely murdered everyone if they could only cross the broken stair gap.

    ¡°Hey.¡± Kaden called for attention. ¡°That [Shield Demon] didn¡¯t materialize. It came out of a cave. You know what that means, right?¡±

    Rhys nodded. ¡°Means it was a physical manifestation, not a trap mob.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Trella asked, picking up on the significance. ¡°It came out of where?¡±

    ¡°The walls. We have to watch for trap walls,¡± Omala added.

    Trella looked to the other two. ¡°And? It came out of the walls. It came out of a cave. What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t know about every room in the dungeon,¡± Wyr said, her gaze unfocused. ¡°We had a decent scout of the first half but we don¡¯t know about every room. There¡¯s dangers here¡ª¡±

    ¡°Check the damned cave it came from,¡± Trella said. ¡°If a monster comes out of a room, that¡¯s usually a signal there¡¯s something worth getting in the room. How many dungeons have you run? How did you reach level twenty like this?¡±

    ¡°We worked sweeps in ShadowVale,¡± Ryhs said. ¡°And I¡¯ve run four. Three of them were Clown Town¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not a dungeon it¡¯s a training¡ªok, it¡¯s a dungeon. Barely. What parties were you in?¡± Trella asked as Rhys searched the cave and returned with a two-handed sword with a bright green gem set in the handle.

    ¡°Look, it¡¯s a [Sword of Greed!] It increases all loot drops.¡± Rhys gripped the sword tightly. ¡°And it¡¯s mine. My sword. My loot. If one of you so much as blinks at me wrong¡ª¡±

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed], hitting the [Shadow Blade] with his shoulder and slamming her into the stairs. The sword clattered to the ground and Kaden kicked it off into the abyss. ¡°[Sword of Greed?] I don¡¯t see one of those. Always beware of cursed loot.¡±

    Rhys looked broken, not just because Kaden had crushed several of her ribs. ¡°How did¡ªwhat did...¡± She silently accepted a healing potion, tears running down her face. ¡°I hate this dungeon.¡±

    ¡°Everyone over the gap. We¡¯re crushing this dungeon and then smashing that core.¡± Trella leaped easily over the gap. Kaden waited until everyone had gone, then climbed back up the stairs and into the trap room. It hadn¡¯t shown in his sight, or maybe he hadn¡¯t looked close enough.

    With a sprinting leap, Kaden cleared the stair and landed on the next level of the Abyss.

    ¡°Another lieutenant, 4x2 [Goat Men], a spawn of only [Shriekers] and then a trap setup,¡± Trella said. ¡°Get it done, do not approach the stairs to the third level, it¡¯s a death trap, as in no one is supposed to be able to cross.¡±

    She headed to Kaden, speaking in code. *Doesn¡¯t matter whether this core is ¡®erratic¡¯ or not, we¡¯re busting it. Wait until you see the next set of stairs.*

    ###

    Every spawn grew more difficult and easier, because the Sisters became more coordinated, more reliant on each other¡¯s attacks. Kaden intervened exactly once, and he was certain Trella¡¯s Dark Deception had killed a [Shrieker] when it dove for Rhys.

    Now he studied the stairs. They were meant to be a puzzle, that much was certain, but it wasn¡¯t the good kind of puzzle. ¡°There¡¯s no pattern. There¡¯s no cypher. Can you send your deceptions down to trigger them?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but watch and see what happens.¡± Trella sent both of hers down. Pieces of stairway crumbled to dust, a fairly typical trap setup, except this trap was above a kill-pit. As they reached the end, the stairs repaired themselves. ¡°Ready?¡±

    She sent out one deception. Different sections of stairs collapsed. ¡°So not cool. We¡ªthe Sisters¡ªcan bypass this entirely with [Shadow Step] but look at the next floor. It¡¯s covered in dust. There hasn¡¯t been a party this deep and we¡¯re exactly two levels down.¡±

    Kaden was studying the path on the other side. ¡°If I were a sneaky, bastard dungeon core, I¡¯d have something break out of that wall the moment someone clears the stairs. Drive them back onto it.¡±

    Trella cursed. ¡°What do we do?¡±

    ¡°Do you have anything that explodes?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°Like, really explodes?¡±

    ¡°I love you.¡± Trella drew a potion from Inventory and hurled it down the stairs. It struck at the base of the abyss wall and exploded in fragments of rock. ¡°Oh, sorry, I killed a [Extreme Defiler,] whatever that was. Everyone [Shadow Step] to the other side. Kaden, take a flying leap.¡±

    He didn¡¯t hesitate, sprinting for the abyss and throwing himself off. Instinct had him drawing Remembrance and buring the axe in the stone as he struck the other side. ¡°Stay here. We don¡¯t need another [Sword of Greed] situation.¡±

    The collapsed cave held no corpses, just a diamond necklace on a broken statue. Kaden studied it until [Identify] activated.

    [Necklace of Lust]

    You will be irresistable to all who see you. Your wishes form their commands, and they are powerless to act against you. Make sure you remove the Necklace of Lust before entering areas with farm animals or crowds.

    Kaden stuffed it into Inventory and returned to find the Sisters clearing the path forward. ¡°What¡¯s on this side?¡±

    ¡°The boss. Looks a lot like a Demon Lord but he¡¯s only level twenty five and is currently a statue.¡± Trella pointed forward. ¡°The real danger is the path. It gets narrower and narrower until you reach the boss battle. Do we have to kill everything?¡±

    ¡°All of them,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I don¡¯t know that this dungeon is erratic in the proper sense but I know if it is, only clearing it will end the infection. You and I can handle it and let the Sisters rest.¡±

    ¡°When this is done, I need to go to ShadowVale. This isn¡¯t acceptable. This isn¡¯t right. We¡¯re setting them up for failure if they¡¯ve hit twenty and don¡¯t know teamwork and tactics and basic dungeon sense.¡± Trella [Shadow Stepped] away as a mis-thrown knife drew a second spawn.

    Kaden summoned Trinity and stood, scratching her back, as she watched in confusion. ¡°No, girl. We don¡¯t get to help. It¡¯s been one of those runs. Let me tell you how it¡¯s gone.¡±

    ###

    Trella stood on a pathway so narrow the tips of her boots stuck off with her back against the wall. ¡°There¡¯s room to assemble and prepare just on the other side of this ledge. The boss is going to be a brick. He¡¯ll charge and try to bash you off. No surprise, it¡¯s a pit of death below.¡±

    The Sisters edged along behind her.

    Kaden stood back with Trinity. ¡°It¡¯s go time. You can¡¯t possibly fit on that ledge.¡±

    She hissed in a way [Beast Soul] translated as *It¡¯s not my fault I¡¯m built like a Dragon.*

    Pulling her into his soul was only natural, and Kaden balanced as he ran forward and then slid past the last of the Abysmal Path. Trella was right, an oval lip gave a short space before the radius that would engage the boss. The boss was modeled on an actual Demon Lord, except the scales were wrong, the nose too small, the eyes too large and only two, and the whole Boss hunkered instead of towering.

    ¡°No fliers. No minions. It¡¯s definitely a charger, so don¡¯t let it charge,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Sisters.¡± Trella pointed with a dagger. ¡°The entire way here, what I have I said? Tactics. Planning. Don¡¯t rush in. Now, I give you your free-for-all. Swarm that bastard and put him down.¡±

    Kaden had only seen Trella fight up close until today.

    Now, as Rhys sprinted straight for the boss, he understood just how deadly [Shadow Blades] could be as a team. The boss straightened up and boomed out, ¡°Who dares¡ª¡±

    She slid past his swipe, cutting at his knee. They came as a hail of shadows and blades, cutting, [Backstabbing] and disappearing before the boss could swipe, and they stayed on him, never more than an inch out of reach, always at least one dipping in to cut.

    The Boss roared and raised a deception above his head to tear it in two, getting stabbed in the back, front, and ribs. Tactics could in fact overcome level differences, and these tactics were hell for this boss.

    ¡°They¡¯d get murdered against a Swarm Boss,¡± Trella said. ¡°Or they¡¯d use [Agony Cloud] to lead.¡±

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] as a spinning kick by the boss sent Wyr flying toward the edge. He caught her and spun her back onto the platform. ¡°Don¡¯t get kicked. I didn¡¯t say it because I didn¡¯t think I needed to say it.¡±

    His heart stopped as the Boss heaved Rhys over the edge¡ªand Trella followed, dropping into the abyss. ¡°Trella!¡±

    She exploded upward from his shadow using her teleport, throwing Rhys to the ground. ¡°You just cost me most of my mana.¡±

    The problem was, the boss was no longer swarmed. He turned, trying to keep all of them in sight.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Wyr called. ¡°Wait for our Deceptions. If he charges, let him go off the side. If he doesn¡¯t, we close using them as decoys.¡±

    The boss snorted and pawed the ground¡ªbut didn¡¯t charge.

    ¡°Now?¡± Rhys asked as her Deception spawned. It rushed the boss, who ignored it until its shadowy blade stabbed in an open wound.

    The roar of rage heralded a fist-strike that sent shockwaves out, but Rhys hurdled the wave and landed on its back, stabbing the throat over and over. Zinia struck at the knee, not slicing but stabbing deep, while the other two switched places, dodging the boss¡¯s flailing strikes to stab over and over.

    The boss gripped Rys¡¯s leg and slammed her down, but before he could follow, Omala grabbed her sister¡¯s leg and heaved her out of range, letting her Deception leap onto the demon¡¯s back. The boss spun to throw it off¡ªand his left knee collapsed.

    ¡°Back! Throwing knifes!¡± Wyr called, though she stumbled as she rose.

    Every blade poisoned with Bleed, every cut wept as the assassins struck. At last, the boss collapsed, unmoving¡ªthen winked away, leaving a ball of light and a blue portal.

    ¡°No one leaves,¡± Trella said. ¡°What¡¯s the chances the loot ball is cursed?¡±

    Kaden grabbed it. ¡°It¡¯s a beltbuckle.¡± A round beltbuckle the size of Kaden¡¯s fist, it depicted an Adventurer with a wide hat either riding or having carnal relations with a bull.

    [Buckle of Champions]

    This gaudy gold buckle is proof you went two point six seconds on a bull named Sleepy Petunia, and this time, Petunia wasn¡¯t drugged or dead. While wearing it, your grasp is near unbreakable.

    Kaden offered it to each of them. ¡°No one? I guess it¡¯s mine. Now, where is that core?¡±

    The rules were the core had to attach to the boss room.

    He focused, looking around. ¡°Oh. Of course. I know you¡¯re there, come on up, open the way down, or I will smash my way there and you really don¡¯t want me in a smashy mood.¡±

    A rock pedastal rose from the center of the boss platform, and atop it rode a blood-red core. Kaden¡¯s [Dungeon Master] abilities activated. ¡°Shit. It¡¯s not erratic, just bloodthisty. I can¡¯t break cores that aren¡¯t erratic.¡±

    Rhys grabbed the core and smashed it on the floor. ¡°I can.¡±

    The dungeon went black.

    Conserving Mana in Node Until Genesis.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Give it a moment, the node will be relocated. It should eject us to the cabin. Also, if you see anything glowing, don¡¯t touch it, it will explode you.¡±

    He hunted in the darkness, snagging a mote of light. ¡°Got it, [Shrieker] seed.¡±

    Moments ticked by.

    Node selected for relocation. Deactivating Node.

    The earth shook, and when the clouds settled, Kaden stood in a dimly lit cabin. Quest notifications began to roll in, and Kaden finally understood why Sara put up with this.

 Twenty Three - No Thank You

    In the darkness of the old cabin that had been the dungeon entrance, Kaden read a string of Quest notifications.

    Quest Master is active.

    You have completed a quest: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way - Successfully complete a Quest with your first Hunting Party.

    You have completed a quest: Stand By Me - Do not have a single party member defect. Reward: [Dripping Dagger], [Plague Arrowhead].

    You have completed a quest: A Rising Tide - Have a party member level in your hunting party. Reward: [Hex Ring], [Absolution Earings].

    There was one other pending quest, and Kaden had to disband the Hunting Party to do so.

    You have completed a quest: Stronger Together - Keep your Hunting Party alive. Reward: [Summoner¡¯s Haircomb], [Summoner¡¯s Gauntlet].

    The Quest had never said it was loot for him. Or even stuff Sara could use.

    On the long walk back to Verona, the Sisters chatted excitedly. Wyr had hit level twenty one, the others made good progress.

    Trella let them walk ahead. ¡°Get anything good?¡±

    He shared the loot with her. ¡°Haven¡¯t checked any of it out. Dripping dagger decent?¡±

    ¡°Not if you have [Inkblades]. They¡¯ve got a chance of proc¡¯ing [Bleed]. Hey! You four! Fight it out among yourselves.¡± Trella toss the [Dripping Dagger] to them. ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything about the [Extreme Defiler] loot.¡±

    ¡°Necklace of Lust. Trust me, you don¡¯t need it to convince me.¡±

    Her laugh rang out in the falling light. ¡°I sent a bird to Sara, Ashi and Eve. We could have been down there four days for all I know.¡±

    By the time they reached Verona, night had fallen. The guards at the city gate ushered them inside, and Kaden headed toward the Guild while Trella exchanged a final conversation with her fellow [Shadow Blades].

    Kaden watched them activate [Stealth] and slip away into the city, and waited for Trella. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m challenging Sara for Party Leader any time soon.¡±

    ¡°Look at me.¡± Trella took both hands. ¡°You and Sara and Eve and I got started really early. We have the advantage of relationships before we needed to rely on each other and we got to work out tactics when the stakes weren¡¯t permanent death.¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t know to check for loot. Or cursed loot.¡±

    Trella shrugged. ¡°I got a sweet Quest Bonus from mapping the dungeon completely. And of course, since every time you create a map, you get a new one, and [Quest Master] affects me, so I have four open maps. Two from the Fire Domain, two from here. And they¡¯ll train others better. Have some faith.¡±

    It was something Kaden needed to work on. ¡°No response from Ashi or Eve or Trella. Ashi¡¯s asleep in her guest tower. Sara and Eve, I don¡¯t know about.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get Guild Quarters. I finished a Quest for the Guildmaster and want the reward. Also, need to figure out the loot.¡± He and Trella accepted their assigned quarters, ordered food and sat on the bed looking at a corroded brass ring.

    [Hex Ring]

    Protection from Status Effects. You may delay the onset of any status effects for any length of time. You may not defer them forever, and the more you defer, the more likely they will all take effect at once.

    ¡°That¡¯s a hell of a protection,¡± Trella said.

    Choosing when [Bleed] or [Stun] or anything else would happen would be powerful. ¡°I think they¡¯re meant to be used together. Absolution earings are like Sarah¡¯s old Absolution Armor. They purge status effects over time.¡±

    ¡°She sold that to get me started with Alchemy. You¡¯re going to offer her the summoner¡¯s gear?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. The hair comb increased the HP of summoned creatures, the gauntlet increases their attack. Not likely she¡¯ll want the hair comb, her crawling horrors have to die to explode and her Cosmic Horror has HP that¡¯s meaningless.¡± Kaden relaxed back on the bed. ¡°I hope the others have had some success clearing Quests. I hope Ashi found Adventurers to run my dungeon. I want to return that Inheritance package and find out what happened to Cutter.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Trella said.

    He could wait that long.

    ###

    Morning came late because for the first time in months, Kaden slept in. When he woke, the room was empty. Trella¡¯s crow sat by his bedside and spoke. ¡°Made a quick trip to ShadowVale¡ªand I do mean quick¡ªbe back this afternoon.¡±

    Kaden dressed and grabbed breakfast downstairs. He didn¡¯t need to summon Trinity but the TriTerror always made moving crowds easier, so he headed up to meet with the GuildMaster, who listened to his recap and his explanation. ¡°So, the core is smashed, the dungeon¡¯s gone. I have a [Sword of Greed] and [Necklace of Lust] and no idea what to do with them.¡±

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Get an Artificer to give you a quote. They buy equipment like that all the time. Quest is complete, you¡¯ll get prompted to pick a mana core. It¡¯s good to have you working.¡± He shook Kaden¡¯s hand and ushered him out of the office.

    Kaden pulled up his reward entries.

    You have received 2x: Mana Core (Choice).

    The first choice was easy¡ªstorm mana would allow Remembrance to shock targets. The second was more difficult. Life would raise his health, fire would burn. Oh, Kaden knew the answer for the second. Void. He snapped the core into Remembrance¡¯s head. Every blow would negate power and siphon mana.

    Wren would get first choice of the jewelry. Maintaining a good relationship with an [Artificer] would pay off for centuries. For now, Kaden went through the crafting commune, looking for Munoz. She worked at a stall, punching leather, and waved as he approached. ¡°Ruman¡¯s in the Southern Isles. There¡¯s a raid party taking on Gigantorrod and he¡¯s repairing armor.¡±

    Kaden drew the Shadowrack hide. ¡°Actually, looking for you. What¡¯s a [Shifting Cloak], and if you were picking a crafter, who would you have make one?¡±

    Munoz dropped her punch and rushed to check it out. ¡°Oh, oh, this [Rogue] gear. Not a derived class, actual [Rogue] gear, not a thief, or an assassin, or even your lover. This is Class Gear for [Rogues]. Pennsie! Hey!¡±

    She tore through the rows of the commune to stop at a seamstress, a short black woman with short cut hair. ¡°Pennsie, meet Kaden Birch, more importantly, meet this.¡±

    Pennsie shrieked with delight. ¡°Shadowracks are the best! Except for the whole certain death thing. You want a [Shifting Cloak], right? I hope you do because the only thing this makes is a [Shifting Cloak].¡±

    ¡°I do. I would normally use Munoz for all my crafting, but if she¡¯s willing?¡± Kaden looked to her, knowing the answer.

    ¡°I¡¯m willing. We¡¯ll talk later about that [Griggle] Leather I keep hearing you have.¡± Munoze looked to Kaden. ¡°Come by when you¡¯re done if you need something else.¡±

    For now, Kaden haggled with Pennsie, using the chance to work on [Negotiation], and settled on four gold for her to stitch the hide into a proper cloak, which would take a few days. Four gold felt like a lot when the hide itself held most of the magical properties, but for now, Kaden could afford it.

    A sparkling dragon landed on Kaden and spoke, a message from Ashi. ¡°Your dungeon is ready to raise its rank and I have arranged a party for afterwards. Please do not delay.¡±

    She said please.

    Kaden hurried to the FarPortal with Trinity close behind, and stepped through to the Holding.

    From there it was easy to Portal to the dungeon itself, and step inside.

    Ashi waited just inside, hovering with legs crossed and eyes closed. Her skin was entirely turqoise and when she opened her eyes, they glowed blue. ¡°Such speed. Understand, I have thought about how to protect you during the rank up. Each time will be more difficult, so our preparation must be better. If you will allow, I will upgrade the monsters and make basic changes.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Kaden let Trinity wander.

    It was time, the core felt stuffed, the dungeon over-full.

    He selected the status.

    Rank up.

    Yes.

    The world expanded outward as though he¡¯d let out a deep breath of air and could finally take a new one.

    Dungeon Rank increased.

    New level cap: 20

    Bond Level: 3

    New capabilites: Generate Loot

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x200,000

    2000x Adventurer Party

    200x [Entity Seeds] (38x aquired)

    3x Lieutenant Seed (acquired)

    20x Loot Seed (11x acquired)

    1x [Secondary Boss] (acquired)

    As fast as it came, the directed mana dropped. Ashi moved through the dungeon, raising monster levels and adjusting spawns. ¡°This time, we will not add additional monsters immediately. Let them adapt to the higher level first. And you received [Generate Loot], did you not?¡±

    Kaden felt nauseus. ¡°Yes. What does it do?¡±

    ¡°It allows you to reward your allies with loot as though they completed the dungeon, but it will not be truly useful until next rank, when what you generate is useful to your party.¡± Ashi pushed with her will, and the staging room expanded. Grapes grew on side, and herbs among the trees. ¡°Now, teams may retreat here and prepare if the first battle does not go well.¡±

    Kaden released the [Shrieker] seed. ¡°I don¡¯t want demons but it counts toward the requirements.¡±

    ¡°Tell me of this dungeon.¡±

    With Ashi at his side, Kaden worked through different rooms, explaining about the traps. The instant death. The unfair monsters. ¡°It wasn¡¯t erratic. I literally couldn¡¯t smash it.¡±

    ¡°Do not weep for a punishment earned. I found something most curious.¡± Ashi had reached the farmhouse and hopped on top of the wishing well, before dropping down. ¡°Come and see.¡±

    ¡°Oh, the core made it. It¡¯s a bonus room.¡± Kaden followed¡ªand landed in the middle of an underground dungeon. Gone was the mage¡¯s study room, replaced with a maze of bars and stone. ¡°This is new.¡±

    ¡°Indeed. The Core has made this. See? Centipedes. And Spiders, and a pit trap.¡± Ashi made adjustments as she passed, increasing the size and rank of the centipedes and camoflaging the pit trap. ¡°This room, the bedroom, I feel was first. The others do not have the same style. They are ¡®soft¡¯ and bland.¡±

    There was the original mage¡¯s study with its spellbook loot. ¡°Dungeons are supposed to tell a story. I have no idea what story this is.¡±

    ¡°Let it be,¡± Ashi replied. ¡°That the Core moves at all is a miracle. Every story is evolving, every story has portions. Do you recall the legend of Ten Toes, the thief, and his pet duck?¡±

    ¡°No. Missed that one in the whole psycho-brother-trying-to-kill-me.¡±

    Ashi worked on each of the bars, adding rust and moss and warping them. ¡°The Duck. What means the duck? We do not know. It is there, always he speaks to it, but the Duck is only present for Ten Toes¡¯s crimes. This is present. It is the Duck to your Dungeon.¡±

    Kaden climbed back out and expanded one of the winery fields. ¡°I want expand the bog section and it¡¯s going to branch off the forests this way eventually.¡±

    ¡°When you can afford the mana, yes.¡± Ashi flexed her will, and the forest thinned. From beyond it came the smell of stale water and moss and mud. ¡°Let us tell adventurers of what comes. Let them look between the trees and see. Let them listen and hear the buzz of wings and the splash of water. But is this not also a ¡®Duck¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t have too many ducks,¡± Kaden said. ¡°How do I get through the first runs?¡±

    Ashi produced something from Inventory, a leather bag that currently was only a foot long and wide. Neganta¡¯s Larder, the bag that the Cyclops used to collect his victims. ¡°You cannot escape from this. Even your skills will not allow you to attack the Adventurers. When a few runs have passed, the worst will be over.¡±

    It was a solid plan. ¡°How do we do this?¡±

    Ashi grimaced. ¡°You must enter. It is dark there. Monsters roam, and everywhere are the remnants of those who did not endure long enough to be devoured.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Somewhat.¡± Kaden took the bag and stretched it over his head. ¡°Going to need a little¡ª¡±

    The mouth of the sack convulsed, yanking him forward¡ªand then he was falling.

 Twenty Four - Sacked

    Kaden had borrowed the [Acrobatic] talent from Vip but it didn¡¯t have enough time to react before he landed flat on his back in cold sand. In a flash, Kaden stood and surveyed. The Larder¡¯s description said every victim was kept separate but if that meant there were thousand to explore, or they all explored the same space, kept isolated, Kaden didn¡¯t know.

    It wasn¡¯t pitch black, no, in the sky above, six stars blazed in a constelation Kaden didn¡¯t recognize. The inside of the larder was made of rolling dunes with dead brush and dry riverbeds, and a constant wind that scoured his skin.

    How different was time here? Kaden had no idea. But he summoned Burney. ¡°I need light.¡±

    And Trinity. ¡°I need you to watch my back.¡±

    Kaden began to hunt, searching for everything. Bones clattered beneath his feat as he crested a dune, and Kaden found a curved dagger of bronze. Not a quarter mile away lay the burnt remains of what must have been a soldier. Neganta was capable of eating corpses, so anything left here was probably dessicated or burnt.

    Though it was a risk, Kaden summoned Vip and let her search, too, hunting everywhere through the wasteland. He had no doubt why Ashi had panicked. Without the knowledge that she would let him escape, Kaden, too, would have panicked.

    Instead, it was a scavenger hunt. Bone? Armor? Burned plant?

    An almost destroyed tomb of magic with skeletal hands still attached, a Shield driven into the rock, with chains through its loops and withered arms that had been torn from the one who held it. So many had fought the Cyclops¡¯s grasp.

    Chunks of buildings, a door, even a fountain that still drizzled water thanks to the enchantment. Kaden drank and stored it for later, moving on. His determination was to move in an ever-widening spiral, with Vip and Trinity to keep him honest. There were no signs of the monsters Ashi had seen, but the skull of something taller than Kaden made a worthy prize.

    It must have been hours before he stumbled across the staff with the crystal. The moment Kaden touched it, the crystal blazed to life, the image of a man projected. ¡°Misita, we have a plan. We will take to the sky far above the hand that grasps. Hear and remember¡ª¡±

    Kaden activated [Relive the Moment]¡ª¡°Chaudra Eache Kolata Yi!¡±The words burned in Kaden¡¯s mind, some kind of spellcraft he wasn¡¯t familiar with. He used the staff to keep moving, proding piles of bones.

    A single animated skeleton stood, waving back and forth, staring with empty eye sockets at the sky. Probably where its master had gone.

    ¡°Come.¡± Kaden triggered [Soul Binding] and the skeleton burst into flame. And walked along behind Kaden. The further he ran, the more desolate and empty the desert. Either he was growing mad or horizon had grown teeth.

    With Trinity and Vip, Kaden stalked the edge of the world, moving ever closer.

    Not teeth. Buildings. A city.

    Kaden pulled Trinity into his soul and sprinted with Vip at his side, closer and closer. A city of black stone neared¡ªthen instict had Kaden slide to a stop. He stood at the edge of a deep bowl. Far, far beneath stood the city whose tip tops he had seen as teeth on the horizon.

    Nothing had prepared him for something like this. It dwarved Verona, would have swallowed it whole. It might be miles to the bottom of the crater, but Kaden¡ªcrumpled over as a wave hit him. Sheer agony. Swords and shields and the roaring of Beasts and the flashes just kept coming.

    There was only so much of Kaden and right now he drowned in experiences that couldn¡¯t be his. Ashi had said it would be bad. Ashi couldn¡¯t comprehend how it was his hands being burned or his body stabbed. Every thing that happened in his dungeon was reflected in Kaden.

    It might have been forever.

    Maybe it was only hours, but at last, a cool sense of relief flooded Kaden.

    You have received a rank-up bonus.

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a level.

    You have unchosen talents. Warning - this is your last talent until level forty.

    Sweat made his hands and arms slick, and Vip sat on his chest, licking his cheek and broadcasting fear. Kaden clutched her close as he stood, using his acquired staff as a cane. His breath came in ragged gasps.

    Vip gave a frightened yelp and tried to struggle from his grasp, but Kaden pulled her into his soul and turned. A blazing fist reached from the sky with three fingers and one thumb.

    Kaden sprinted to avoid it, but the hand moved faster than he could react, grasping his chest and yanking him up. He couldn¡¯t help the panic, even as the sky struggled to keep him like a prize¡ªthen his head burst free and Kaden gasped for breath, laying on his side.

    ¡°What the actual hell happened to him?¡± Sara asked.

    Kaden rolled over on his back and looked up. ¡°Didn¡¯t look like you. Didn¡¯t look like you at all.¡±

    ¡°The first party has completed their run,¡± Ashi said. ¡°And I see the bonus was well received.¡±

    Trella swore. ¡°I¡¯m never going to catch up to him.¡±

    Ashi glanced her way. ¡°None of us will. His Dungeon will supply constant XP. There is no catching up to a high level dungeon. Was it what you expected, in the domain of the Cyclops?¡±

    ¡°A city. I saw a city.¡± Kaden stood and dumped everything from Inventory. ¡°The staff has a spell in it. Some kind of flight magic.¡±

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    Ashi took it and activated it, and smiled. ¡°When I have a spellbook, this will be recorded. It is not so special, but I will not need to buy it from other [Mages].¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get inside. I think it¡¯s going to rain,¡± Sara said. ¡°I need to wash all the blood off and collect my Quest Bonuses.¡±

    With help, he gathered everything from Neganta¡¯s Larder and limped back to the farmhouse. ¡°How long do you think this will go on?¡±

    Ashi shrugged. ¡°The next two will be hard, but after that, you will acclimate. Each rank increases your bond, but also the level at which you you experiene what happens in the Dungeon. The worst has already happened.¡±

    An hour later, Sara came down. ¡°Did I get all the blood out of my hair?¡±

    ¡°I believe so,¡± Eve said. ¡°How long do you think they will wait to restart their private war?¡±

    ¡°However long it takes them to find the Snake Goddess of Black Harbor.¡± Sara looked to the others. ¡°Good news, the war between different Adventurer¡¯s Guilds is over thanks to a terrible sneak attack during negotiations.¡±

    Eve waited, arms crossed. ¡°What did you get?¡±

    ¡°Faction tokens and favor.¡± Sara spotted the haircomb and guantlet. ¡°Oh, very nice. Are these from your Hunting Party Quests?¡±

    Kaden shared the [Hex Ring] and [Absolution Earrings]. ¡°It¡¯s a set, I think. Defer the statuses and then cleanse them.¡±

    She handed it back. ¡°Keep the ring, rely on Eve for status cleanses. She clears tier two, that¡¯s a tier one artifact. Always bet on your party. There¡¯s a solo class for items in the auctions, you should list it there. Same for the comb, but the guantlet, that will make my Horror more dangerous.¡±

    Kaden handed the damaged spellbook to Ashi. ¡°Describe this without using the words ¡®vichor¡¯ or ¡®librarian¡¯ or ¡®treasure.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Balat Tor,¡± she said flipping through it. ¡°It is old magic but not ancient. Written when there was only [Mage], not specialties. It is hard to say more as of yet. But the knife, that I recognize.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Eve picked up the copper knife and shared [Identify]

    [Dreamcutter - Ritual Knife]

    Among the high priests of Xenu, Dreamcutter was passed as the weapon of Xenu himself. Every soul sliced with it added to Xenu¡¯s power, and that of his priests. But the day came when a priest turned the blade on Xenu himself, creating a weapon that unmade its maker. None dare wield it now, because to reap its power you must first feed the blade.

    Adds 1-3 status effects for the first seven cuts. The seventh cut clears all status effects and enhances equivalant abilities. Every cut after this will buff the attribute of your choice and one of Dreamcutter¡¯s choice.

    Kaden put it away, then swore as an Adventurer party started their run. He put his head down on the table and let it go. ¡°Where¡¯s Trella?¡±

    ¡°She called a council of elders in ShadowVale, said she¡¯d be late,¡± Sara said. ¡°We¡¯ll leave for Egalion tomorrow. While you and Trella handled the that erratic, I made nice with the Quest Brokers and handled three.¡±

    A knock on the door made Kaden¡¯s head blur when he tried to sit up too soon. Sara opened the door. ¡°Wren! You don¡¯t need to knock.¡±

    Wren stepped inside, dripping water and took off her cloak. ¡°Where is he. Granddad told me about the Drydel. Have you even thought about what we could do? Imagine putting automated wands or wards on it! Imagine it stomping through enemies and blasting them!¡±

    Kaden sat up. ¡°Just the artificer I wanted to see. Do not touch these, ok? If you do, we¡¯ll have problems.¡± He dumped the lust and greed loot. ¡°Can you adjust these? The necklace could be a constructed version of [Hated by Demons.] The sword could be..I have no idea.¡±

    ¡°Courage.¡± Wren drew tongs from Inventor and picked up the necklace. ¡°Whew, that one¡¯s messy. The good news is, lust, love and hate are all really, really similar. Adapting it to only affect demons would be the real challenge. The sword is easy. Also dangerous, because courage overrides fear, and fear is sometimes smart. But people will buy a sword of courage and no one will tolerate greed.¡±

    Wren pocketed the sword. ¡°The Drydel. I want it to be my student project, but I¡¯ll need to take it to the Artificer¡¯s Academy.¡±

    ¡°How do you plan to do that?¡±

    ¡°I know someone,¡± Wren said. ¡°I have to get your permission in person. I was really worried you were heading out.¡±

    Wren North has requested permission to modify your [Drydel]. Allow? [Y/N].

    Kaden selected yes. ¡°I want the inside braced in a way that will still let it grow. A huge part of their durability is that center mass and if we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Who is the builder? Who designs and builds? You? No. Who is going to school to learn about modifying and building artifacts? Who¡¯s not even remotely worried about modifying your lust and greed stuff?¡± Wren crossed her arms. ¡°Me. Trust me. Granddad couldn¡¯t stop talking about how you have plans for every beast you encounter.¡±

    ¡°That reminds me.¡± Kaden took out eggshell pieces from the [Destruction Wyverns]. ¡°This isn¡¯t a re-agent. I have a lot of it, but it destroys everything.¡±

    Wren studdied it, then took out instrument after instrument. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t work with this. I mean, legally. Anything like this can only go to a Master Artificer. Can I take this piece? How much is a lot?¡±

    Kaden retreated to Trella¡¯s lab and came back with a mistake box. Made of enchanted metal, it served to contain unstable potions. And he began to dump egg shell into the box, then put bones on the table. The mistake box radiated destruction mana so fiercely it boiled the skin on Kaden¡¯s arm when he shut the lid. ¡°I have a bit.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take this piece back. What do you want made from it? It would make a killer solo suit, but it literally might kill your party.¡± Wren studied it. ¡°Like I said, I can¡¯t help with this but I know people who could.¡±

    ¡°That depends a lot on whether the aura will affect me. Why don¡¯t you get proposals and we¡¯ll see?¡± Kaden stored the rest away. Stone wasn¡¯t as vulnerable to Ruin.

    Wren sat on the couch and talked as a storm swept through, shaking the farmhouse. She spoke about learning to make artifacts, which almost always started as ten years modifying artifacts, swapping one enchantment for another. About magical engineering and the principles at play in large structures.

    About her intense desire to disassemble gnomish artifacts and learn. ¡°They can build at level one. We can¡¯t. Didn¡¯t you bring back some gnomish war wagons?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I sold them to the [Mage¡¯s Tower].¡± Kaden had probably gotten ripped off.

    Close to midnight, the front door blew open and Trella stepped in, sopping wet, with her hair plastered to her head. ¡°You¡¯re all up! Wren!¡±

    While Trella spoke, Kaden stepped out into the storm.

    The [Shield Tree] Ravena gifted him had grown, now standing close to fifteen feet tall. Its roots spread out from the base of the house, and the trunk grew closer every day, it seemed. At night it glowed the most gentle of pink, like a Charm of Veela.

    Kaden ignored the wind and the rain and picked up a shovel from Sara¡¯s gardens. He knew from the memory Nature¡¯s Daughter gave him exactly where he¡¯d kneeled. Exactly how deep to dig. And when the shovel struck a root, Kaden didn¡¯t hesistate, sheering it off. Naski¡¯s core fit exactly in the hole he¡¯d dug, and sap from the [Shield Tree] began to bubble out, soaking into the cracks. Kaden carefully burried it and then patted down the dirt.

    You have progressed a Quest: Regrow the Withered Seed.

    That was what Kaden had expected.

    He returned to the farmhouse and stepped inside. ¡°Trinity, give her some space by the fire.¡±

    The farmhouse wasn¡¯t going to be practical for a beast her size. It already wasn¡¯t practical, but everyone made room for her. At some point, he¡¯d need to rebuild or build on.

    ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯re heading to Egalion,¡± Sara said. ¡°Noon bell, meet at the Guild.¡±

    Kaden found Trella showering in the bedroom. ¡°How was your short trip?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not welcome back there for a while. Senior Sister¡¯s words were ¡®If you¡¯re going to lead a revolt, you need to do a better job.¡¯¡± Trella shrugged as she dried off and slipped into a gown. ¡°They need to know. We don¡¯t do a lot of dungeons, but we do work in parties, and that means dungeons. We have to do better or we¡¯re failing our Sisters.¡±

    ¡°I planted Naski¡¯s Demon Seed under the Shield Tree,¡± Kaden said. ¡°The Quest progressed.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t hesitate to kill her.¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t either. ¡°Tomorrow is going to go bettter.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow will go a lot like today and a lot like yesterday and a lot like tomorrow. But I¡¯ll be there, and if the folks in Egalion give Eve any trouble, I¡¯ll make a sacrifice to the blood goddess myself.¡±

    That was exactly what Kaden worried about.

 Twenty Five - Eye Land

    The sun hung high in the sky and the mana rat skeleton bounced across a field as Vip dashed after it. Trella¡¯s Deception appeared in the distance, picking it up and hurling it back¡ªonly for a second Deception to catch it and throw it even further.

    ¡°I can¡¯t control them that far out,¡± Trella said. ¡°I can tell them what I want done but I can¡¯t control exactly what they do.¡±

    Trinity watched the dog and deceptions with one head for each. Kaden put a hand on her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, girl?¡±

    The TriTerror lay one head on his shoulder and groaned. *Worry.*

    That was a complex emotion for a beast who usually only had hunger or rage. He put an arm around her and focused on [Beast Soul]. Deep under the thin layer of anger that always covered Trinity lay worry, and beneath that, fear. ¡°You¡­don¡¯t want to come?¡±

    Trinity ambled to the porch and lay down, circling her tail around her. *Fear.*

    Now Kaden was the one worried. Never, ever, had the TriTerror shown fear, except as a status effect. ¡°Eve, can you come check Trinity?¡±

    Eve emerged from the Farmhouse wearing dark gray robes, with her hair falling loose all the way to the small of her back. ¡°She¡¯s not sick, but there¡¯s something odd about her.¡±

    That was the other aspect. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to go into my soul. She wants to sleep on the farmhouse porch.¡± Trinity had been a constant companion for Kaden. Now, seeing her doze made him worry. She only dozed after a rampage, and there had been no rampages he was aware of. ¡°You can stay here. I can handle an island trip, and it¡¯s mostly diplomacy.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never been to Egalion. It¡¯s all war. Some of it is war fought with words and some of it is war fought with weapons but it always at war. The only question is if you can see it.¡± Eve headed back inside.

    *We should leave her, too,* Trella sent in code. *Seriously, I¡¯ll send a bird to Ashi and Sara. You and I should handle this. There¡¯s no reason to make Eve go if she¡¯s this worried. I don¡¯t like the goddess Varun anyway.*

    A moment later, Sara¡¯s parrot landed on Kaden. ¡°You know the trade we want, that Iron Gear Empire Diplomat¡¯s Seal for an infernal pearl. I wish you luck with the Inheritance package.¡±

    Trella joined Kaden as he headed for the FarPortal, sending the Falcrow to the Guild with his location and destination. It activated as he arrived. Kaden took her hand and strepped through, from early spring into oppressive humidity and the dense heat of summer. All around him stood FarPortal pavillions. Guests streamed off them and down paths meant to loosen the knot of people.

    Trella and he trotted clear and veered left, and left again, each time choosing the branch that led toward the diplomat¡¯s enclave. Eve¡¯s plan had been to approach, get the attention of the guard, and let the [Infernal Pearl] do the talking.

    All around them on the green rested the full-sized versions of Eve¡¯s messenger bird, with long necks and beady black eeys and then rainbow eyes on every feather of their tail.

    ¡°Notice anything?¡± Trella asked. ¡°They¡¯ve got guards at every fork, but they¡¯re not stopping us. It¡¯s because they don¡¯t want to stop us. They want us further in so we have to fight our way out.¡±

    *Memorized the second fork as a Portal,* Kaden replied.

    ¡°You did not!¡± Trella continued to speak out loud despite the fact that she could be over heard. *Rescue Reset is bound back at the third fork where I fed the eye-bird.* ¡°I¡¯m out of mana.¡±

    Kaden poured mana into her via Mana Well and accepted the regen potion. *This isn¡¯t a war.*

    *Didn¡¯t you hear Eve? It¡¯s all war.* Trella spotted the gates and guards ahead. ¡°Hello. We¡¯re looking for a diplomat. Specifically the one from Egalion to the Iron Gear Empire.¡±

    ¡°The market for trades¡ª¡± The guard to the left stopped as Kaden drew the [Infernal Pearl] from Inventory. The man licked his lips and stared. His hands began to tremble and he spoke a string of giberish. Kaden put the pearl into Inventory. ¡°You heard the woman. We¡¯re looking to meet with the diplomat from Egalion to the Iron Gear Empire.¡±

    The guards rushed to send messages, while Kaden exchanged glances with Trella. The sour smell of sweat and anxiety filled the air.

    ¡°Who are you and what do you want?¡± A man¡¯s voice rang out as a [Priest] approached. He projected a presence that stifled the anticipation and caused Trella to take a step back.

    [Gladson Salc - Priest of Varun]

    The Priest of Purification has served Varun for more centuries than most Adventurers have survived. To stand in his presence is to be subject to his power, a power that does not tolerate any but the purest desires.

    Level: 100

    HP: 16,000

    Mana: 8,000

    Class: Priest (Varun) - Specialization (Purifier)

    Kaden offered the priest a hand. ¡°You don¡¯t happen to work for the Saint¡¯s Hall, do you?¡±

    ¡°I do not.¡± Gladson looked from Trella, who¡¯d hidden behind Kaden, back to Kaden. ¡°What brings you down this wrong path? You said you¡¯re looking for a diplomat. One you know isn¡¯t in service, and you bring¡ª¡± Gladson stopped, his gaze distant. ¡°Oh, I see. Kaden Birch, Trella Sonos. You should have presented yourself to the first guard and let him verify via [Identify]. I have many duties and this should not have involved me.¡±

    ¡°I came to make a trade and I thought this would be the fastest way,¡± Kaden said.

    The Priest stopped and looked back. ¡°Really, this? I wouldn¡¯t have leveled you with [Authority]. Our notes say you have a resistance to it based on your Holding. Obviously your friend doesn¡¯t.¡±

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    Kaden wrapped his arm around Trella and held her close. His Queenslayer title left him immune to it. ¡°You can lay off of it. And why do you have notes on me? The last time I was here I was a sack of sausage the Queen had to resurrect.¡±

    ¡°Quite humorous. And missing most of your Beasts, which means you are largely powerless,¡± the Priest said. ¡°Never reduce me to this again or I will find reasons to interfere with you, no matter what favor you hold. You¡¯ll find our Minister of Diplomacy and the our general waiting for you in one hour at the Saphire Hall. I hope that¡¯s all.¡±

    Kaden drew the [Hand of Varun] and [Staff of Varun]. ¡°I wish it was. I need to meet with a priest of Varun¡ª¡±

    ¡°Priestess, for those,¡± Gladson said.

    Which prompted something else Kaden thought of. ¡°I¡¯d specifically like to talk to a lower ranked Priestess. Not the High Priestess, just an average level, boring priestess of Varun who can look these up, tell me who should have them, and let me turn them over.¡±

    That was probably a grin that Gladson showed for just a moment. ¡°Noted. Odd, but ¡®specifically¡¯ noted. Don¡¯t disturb my kingdom, my priestesses or my anything.¡±

    Only after he left did the pressure in the air recede.

    ¡°I hate [Authority.] I need to kill a Queen or King,¡± Trella said, spitting. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head to the Saphire Hall. It¡¯s fifty nine minutes to our meeting and I don¡¯t want to be late.¡±

    Despite Trella¡¯s claims, she didn¡¯t head straight to the hall. Instead, she sat to the side of one of the furtherst forks, watching Adventurers stream by. As the location of Varun¡¯s primary temple and the home of her High Priestess, Egalion attracted the strangest, the most desperate and afflicted. ¡°Look at that one! He¡¯s dissolving into weasels.¡±

    ¡°Those are [Mink],¡± Kaden said. ¡°Stop running,¡± he said using [Beast Command]. As a simple command it gave him a moment to cross the stone paths that led everywhere and [Soul Bind] a few [Mink] before offering them back to the [Shield] who stumbled along the path. ¡°I think this was one of your ears.¡±

    ¡°Never run the [Transformation Triplet] Dungeon,¡± the [Shield] muttered. ¡°Figured with level one hundred resistances I¡¯d be safe.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Kaden shouted at the man¡¯s nose, which had transformed into an ermine and tried to leap off his back. ¡°Get back here. All of you. Trella, hand it over.¡±

    She reluctantly handed back the mink she¡¯d been petting.

    He herded the weasels down the path until a [Priest] spotted them. ¡°We need cages. He¡¯s going to pieces,¡± the priest yelled.

    One by one, Kaden ordered the man¡¯s ears and nose and left hand into the cages. The weasels were getting into everything, including attacking the eye-birds, which had them greatly upset. Kaden projected calm¡ªand the idea of fewer weasels¡ªand wished he¡¯d brought Vip.

    The Priest used a preservation skill to halt the curse¡¯s progress and led the man into a hut for more intensive treatment.

    ¡°That one isn¡¯t going to make it.¡± Trella pointed to an [Assassin] stumbling, then crawling, and finally laying over as a hole the size of a [Magrat] appeared in his torso. ¡°You know, this place could be interesting. Just watching the walking wounded come in. You didn¡¯t get a warning, did you?¡±

    ¡°Warning?¡±

    ¡°Any [Assassin] related class gets a warning. Killing here except in self defense will cause Varun to refuse to heal you anywhere in the world. And a lot of the lesser healing gods will take her side. You really have to want someone dead badly to try it here.¡± Trella took a left fork, avoided the line for limb re-attachment and found a market where they served cold juice and water. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard about this. It raises mana regen, raises health regen and purges status conditions in one go.¡±

    Kaden bought four and stored the coconuts with their metal drinking spouts in Inventory. Then sipped one. ¡°This actually is nice. Warm sun. Shade and a cool breeze. A moment ago I could smell meat cooking. Don¡¯t know what that smell is.¡±

    ¡°Her.¡± Trella pointed to a woman overgrow with toadstools being carried along by four companions. ¡°She¡¯s rotting. Give a moment¡ªoh, they¡¯re roasting goat and potatos. Maybe the meeting can wait?¡±

    Together they strolled the pristine stone streets to buy skewers of goat and potato from a [Fire Mage] who¡¯d taken [Chef] as a profession. As long as Kaden handed over silver the chef kept handing over skewers. ¡°Sara and Ashi will love this,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Plus, you never know when you need to stab someone.¡±

    Now it was time to find the Saphire Hall, a bungalo that looked out on the ocean. Kaden spent the minutes eating and taming the Eye-Birds, which weren¡¯t beasts, but they were very cranky.

    ¡°I should eat more often. I was in a terrible mood.¡± Trella leaned back, twiring a pair of kabob skewers. ¡°Now I¡¯m in a mood to negotiate.¡±

    As if she¡¯d triggered a trap, the Hall doors swung open, and guard stepped out. ¡°Trade Minister Echels and General Knef will meet with you now.¡±

    The hall was clean, near barren, the roof flat without support timbers (or places for spies to hide), with only a wide, long table, a heatstone and a pillar with the runes for [Create Water] engraved on it.

    One glance, and Kaden was certain the Trade Minister was the elderly commoner with graying hair and a scroll unrolled. The man to the Minister¡¯s right made Kaden¡¯s skin crawl. He was [Soldier], but obviously a Centurion, as tall as Mr. Dervish but wider, thicker, with twin swords strapped to his forearms so the handles jutted back.

    *How¡¯s he going to draw those?* Trella tapped out. *Let¡¯s not find out.*

    Kaden dipped his head. ¡°Good day. I¡¯m Kaden Birch, this is Trella Sonos. We came to trade, and I hope we can both leave here happy.¡±

    ¡°Show me the pearl.¡± The General spoke softly, a man who didn¡¯t need to shout. ¡°I have sixteen soldiers who could gain third tier skills from it, if it¡¯s real.¡±

    Kaden drew the pearl from Inventory and set it on the table. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in using it.¡±

    ¡°Good. And you want? A trade agreement? Gold?¡±

    Trella coughed. ¡°You don¡¯t have a diplomat to the Iron Gear Empire because they expelled all the diplomats. We need to go to the Empire and the only way in is with a Seal. A seal you aren¡¯t¡ªand won¡¯t be¡ªusing, for that.¡±

    Her confidence made Kaden happy.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding. You want a seal¡ªto that place¡ªyou know, I don¡¯t care. Give them the Seal.¡± The General offered Kaden a handshake. ¡°If you find more, you won¡¯t get better deals elsewhere. But this isn¡¯t a deal, this is theft.¡±

    Trella glanced to Kaden. Her expression confirmed his feeling. Letting anyone know what they stood to gain would only work against Kaden¡¯s party. ¡°Well, we¡¯re happy to make the deal.¡±

    Kaden shook the man¡¯s hand. ¡°How do we get the Seal?¡±

    ¡°Queen Barrister has control of all of them,¡± said the trade minister. ¡°I¡¯ve asked her to stop by. You should consider yourself fortunate.¡±

    Trella¡¯s loose grip on Kaden had become a panic, but before he could protest, a shimmering portal of white light opened at the back of the Hall. Queen Bruna, as always, came dressed in a dress of pure white mana that drapped off of her shoulders. Flecks of mana rose off like reverse snowflakes, and her hair, white-blonde, had been split in two braids that hung over a single shoulder. At least she didn¡¯t come with a presence.

    Trella¡¯s hand had gone slack, her jaw open, her eyes wide as she stared.

    ¡°The Classless Wonder pays a visit to my home,¡± Queen Brunna said. ¡°What a darling pair you two make. Mouth closed, dear, mustn¡¯t drool.¡±

    Kaden stood and stretched. ¡°It was a pleasure seeing Egalion. I love your eye-birds. They like the corn, hate the grain, and they¡¯ve been shitting in your private pool at night.¡±

    ¡°Sit.¡± Her command washed over Kaden.

    ¡°Thank you, but I really have to be going. I have an appointment at the temple to return some artifacts of Varun, and before you ask, I can only return them to the person who should have inherited them.¡± Kaden leaned down and squeezed Trella. ¡°Thank you for your time, I just need that seal.¡±

    The Queen¡¯s eyes narrowed as she stared at him. ¡°Where is the rest of your lovely party?¡±

    ¡°Not here,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Sara¡¯s busy, Ashi¡¯s tired, Eve is probably throwing an animated rat skeleton for Vip. Now, if you¡¯ll just¡ª¡±

    ¡°How dare you come here alone?¡± Queen Brunna asked. ¡°How dare you set foot on this island without her?¡±

    ¡°Ashi. Napping.¡± Kaden said, starring right back. ¡°Sara. Negotiating.¡±

    Queen Brunna glared, and then her gaze went from offended to an icy fury that made Kaden worry. ¡°You have a title for killing royalty. That¡¯s the only way you could possibly resist my [Authority]. So I hope for your sake you have a good answer. Where is Evelyn? Where is my daughter?¡±

 Twenty Six - Hi, Mom

    Kaden probably should have been terrified of the furious queen. He was in her territory, far below her level, and her anger made the air tremble since she obviously believed Kaden might have killed Eve intentionally more than once.

    Before he could answer, Trella started laughing, jarred from her trance. ¡°That¡¯s what Eve was so worried about us finding out? Oh, I wish I¡¯d known. Seriously, worst secret on earth. Hang on, Frosty, let me send her a message.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve sent her messages,¡± Queen Bruna said.

    Trella dispatched her crow. ¡°The difference is, Eve likes to talk to us. So when we send her birds, she actually listens. See, I knew she was noble, and after what Kaden said about [Transfusionists], that kind of pinned it down.¡±

    ¡°What about [Transfusionists?]¡± The Queen seemed lost. ¡°There¡¯s no information on them.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t forgotten what the Carwen, the Chain Beserker had said. ¡°It¡¯s a class only given to Royalty. It¡¯s why Eve wasn¡¯t affected when Princess Pear tried her mind games on me. Big deal. Eve¡¯s a great cook, a decent healer and she can make an enemy bleed from their eyes for three thousand points of damage.¡±

    A moment later, Eve¡¯s messenger bird arrived. Kaden recognized it now as a miniature eye-bird. It perched on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly. Sara and Ashi are busy negotiating with the [Mage¡¯s Tower] but I¡¯ll get Mom off your back.¡±

    Queen Brunna shuddered at Eve¡¯s voice. ¡°Pear. Deidra Pear? What did she do to Eve? And more importantly, where is she?¡±

    ¡°Here and there,¡± Kaden said. ¡°She was busy ranting about how she¡¯d have her revenge on Eve.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± The Queen asked.

    Trella answered for him. ¡°She won¡¯t.¡±

    The next ten minutes were the most uncomfortable of Kaden¡¯s life. The Queen revealed absolutely nothing from her expression, and she looked as though she¡¯d just as happily have him murdered as wait.

    A sharp knock at the door startled everyone. ¡°You will open this now,¡± Eve stated.

    The door swung open, and Kaden stared.

    Eve had changed to her blood-red robes and carried her staff. Unlike her mother, her hair still hung loose, and Vip pranced beside her radiating pride. ¡°Mother. I see you couldn¡¯t resist the chance to interfere with my party.¡±

    ¡°A party you¡¯re only a member of because I paid for you to be placed in it,¡± The Queen responded. ¡°Is it required that you dress like some kind of butcher?¡±

    ¡°[Transfusionist]. A Class your goddess so kindly bestowed on me.¡± Eve spoke with the exact emotionless tone she¡¯d used so often. ¡°The trade has been agreed to, please hand over the Ambassador¡¯s Seal. I have business in the Iron Gear Empire.¡±

    ¡°Evelyn¡ª¡±

    ¡°Eve,¡± Trella said. ¡°Call her by her name.¡±

    ¡°Evelyn.¡± Queen Brunna said as a challenge. ¡°I named her. Evelyn, you¡­you look well. Almost happy.¡±

    Vip sat dutifully at Eve¡¯s side. *Love?*

    ¡°Give us the Seal.¡± Eve said. ¡°I recovered many of the memories I lost to your efforts. Did you know I like raspberry pie? I didn¡¯t know that until recently, but I remember sticky fingers and hot pies and summers sitting by the fountain eating. I remember.¡±

    ¡°Good. I regretted the side effects but never the choices. It¡¯s absolutely possible to remove a Class with enough resurrections,¡± Queen Bruna said. ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered, if I¡¯d had just a little longer, would it have worked?¡±

    ¡°The Seal.¡± Eve stepped forward, holding out her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve killed a Demon¡¯s Daughter who had more zest for life than I did. Now, we can trade barbs or we can do business. You accepted the trade. Please don¡¯t make this more difficult.¡±

    The droning buzz of flies and the crash of waves held the conversation for a moment.

    ¡°You left many of your belongings. I¡¯ll have them packaged for you, and your party can go to the temple to return Varun¡¯s relics. Show me them and I¡¯ll have the right priests ready.¡± The Queen did not cry but Eve had definitely won.

    Kaden took out the Inheritance package. ¡°These came from a Healer who attempted to run the FangWood dungeon with my parents. I need to give them to his or her descendants.¡±

    The Queen hadn¡¯t moved. She hadn¡¯t even breathed. ¡°His. If I had these, Evelyn never would have been lost. These are given to initiates when they present in the temple to ensure Varun¡¯s favor.¡±

    ¡°Those belong to Eve?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°No.¡± Queen Brunna had nothing else to add for long minutes. ¡°General, Minister, your job here is done.¡± She drew something from Inventory and passed it to Eve. ¡°This evening is Rachel¡¯s presentation. You can¡¯t attend in the presence of Varun, but Rachel asks about you. It would mean a lot to her to see you.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not staying,¡± Eve said.

    Kaden sensed her hesitation and looked to Trella, who spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re doing a stocking up run through the market. Won¡¯t take that long, maybe an hour? The healing items here are exceptional.¡±

    ¡°Be quick.¡± Eve looked to the Queen. ¡°Is Rachel dressed already?¡±

    ¡°Soon.¡±

    Kaden and Trella quickly left, embracing the humidity and the heat to escape the awkward. Kaden continued to tame and release eye-birds. His goal? All of them. Of course he didn¡¯t have enough binding slots but what he did have was loose silver and a knowledge of what treats they liked.

    ¡°They¡¯re kind of creepy,¡± Trella said as she looked at healing necklaces.

    ¡°They are the holy birds of Varun!¡± The vendor said. ¡°You do not interfere with them. You do not threaten them. They are Varun¡¯s eyes, their calls heal. They watch her chosen and preside in her temple. To gather the attention of even one shows her favor. You are most blessed.¡±

    Kaden threw a handful of blessing to the flock and moved on, broadcasting his approval along with gentle urges to them. They were birds. They liked to move in a flock, though the males all wanted to be the leader.

    While Trella bought a set of one-shot cleanses, Kaden collected four more birds and charted a course through the market and off toward the temple.

    ¡°You know what I wonder about?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Eve,¡± Trella said as he detoured to reward another eye-bird.

    They were always on the same page. ¡°Like how does she wear those heavy robes and not die of heatstroke? My armor is like an oven.¡±

    ¡°We enchant our armor with Ice Mana,¡± Trella said. ¡°I bet her robes are the same.¡±

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°The same what?¡± Eve¡¯s voice startled Kaden. She clutched Vip to her.

    ¡°Enchantment. Your robes are super thick and this island is basically Asmodeus¡¯s crotch.¡± Trella held up her cloak. ¡°Got to be enchanted.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you were discussing.¡± Eve seemed doubtful. ¡°That¡¯s really what you wanted to ask? And what are you doing with the Ironi? They¡¯re sacred creatures, not pigeons.¡±

    Kaden handed her a scoop of feed from Inventory. ¡°This is their favorite. I¡¯m on a private Quest I issued myself. I¡¯m going to tame them all. Every last one on the island. Most of them you see? Not tamed. The tamed ones are out spreading the word to their friends about the treats.¡±

    ¡°Sacred.¡± Eve sighed as she fed one from her hand. ¡°I want to stay for the presentation. I have a half-sister, Rachel. She¡¯ll present herself before Varun today. It¡¯s a special day, the day she receives her Class. You¡¯re welcome to leave.¡±

    ¡°Leaving me alone with Kaden? You know that will end in disaster. Or sex.¡±

    ¡°Personally, I¡¯d like to avoid both,¡± Eve said. ¡°We can head to the Iron Gear Empire tomorrow. Sara and Ashi are stocking up and preparing for an expedition. Sara¡¯s reasoning is that if Circe saw fit to pack camping gear, it¡¯s hedging bets.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t shake the sense of foreboding. ¡°I¡¯m not saying we shouldn¡¯t go. I¡¯m just saying I¡¯m worried. Remember how we didn¡¯t go hunting in Hell? It¡¯s not that. But it¡¯s like it.¡±

    *You shouldn¡¯t trust [Prophecy]. You don¡¯t even have the full Talent,* Trella sent.

    *I know.* Kaden was so deeply aware of how his hunches had gone haywire. He didn¡¯t even know what the feeling was. With the demons, Kaden has smelled the stench, heard the clink of chains. With this, it was an oppressive blanket of smothering gray streaked with lightning.

    He¡¯d been steadfastly ignoring the talent options since leveling, because none of them matched what he wanted. Part of him wondered if Trella somehow knew what he¡¯d been offered.

    [Prophecy]

    You receive and understand glimpses of the future. You do not control the subject or timing of these glimpses. Your understanding will grow as you receive visions and live through the events.

    [Natural Leader]

    You were born to give orders and have others take them. You will be more effective in a group who is following your commands and your followers will be mildly more effective as long as they are following you.

    [Northstar]

    You are never lost. You naturally sense your location and general directions. You resist Disorientation status effects at a much higher level and can even sense other¡¯s locations relative to you.

    [Ambidextrous]

    Suffer no penalty for using a weapon with your off hand. Tools and writing implements are similarly usable.

    Where was [Immovable?] Where was [Brass Knuckles?] Where was anything Kaden actually could use? [Twist of Fate] was as much punishment as ability. His main weapon was double handed, the Levicon Blade never cared which hand he used it with, and using his bow with either hand was rarely a bonus. Northstar would be ideal for a [Ranger] or even a [Druid]. Natural Leader was the closest and Kaden was absolutely certain he had no interest in leading a party.

    ¡°You¡¯re missing an Eye-Bird¡ªjust kidding, I couldn¡¯t get your attention any other way,¡± Trella said. ¡°You do have a bunch you haven¡¯t fed or tamed. I think.¡±

    Kaden quickly grew his flock. ¡°Sorry. Talent troubles.¡±

    ¡°Does¡¯t matter what you choose, only that you choose. No talent ever broke a build. What did you get? [Double Jointed?] [Prehensile Toes?] It¡¯s actually useful if you¡¯re a [Thief].¡±

    ¡°I hope those aren¡¯t real. Here, we need to meet Rachel this way.¡± Eve took the lead, heading to the Temple.

    The temple of Varune was built in the shape of a dome with a high ceiling that sheltered priests and priestesses from the brutal sun. Crystal walls on either end pivoted to let a breeze flow through, and [Wind Mages] worked to keep it cool. Adventurers streamed through the doors, making a U shaped path to approach the statue of Varun, who looked a lot like Brunna.

    So much so that Kaden couldn¡¯t help wondering who had made the statue and if they¡¯d taken inspiration from the woman who paid for it. The only difference was that Varun had wings made of eye-bird feathers. Also that the eyes looked like they were actual eyes.

    Eve pointed behind the temple. ¡°This way. I¡¯d like for you to meet Rachel as well. Her father was a good man, I¡¯m told. His daughter certainly is.¡±

    They took the east path, into the shadow of the temple. Kaden told the flock to wait there rather than crowd everyone out. There, at the side stood a group of [Priests].

    And a young girl, maybe eight, wearing light white robes. Her black hair couldn¡¯t have been more different than Eve or the Queen¡¯s, but Kaden recognized Eve¡¯s eyes and chin.

    And the smile. The girl smiled as she saw Eve and ran to hug Eve¡ªthen picked up Vip, who struggled slightly before deciding that this was just another person who loved her and Vip was fine with that. ¡°Evie!¡±

    Eve sat down against the temple and Rachel sat beside her as the two began to talk. For once, Eve wasn¡¯t careful or proper and Eve¡¯s smile¡ªusually reserved for when [Plague] hit multiple enemies¡ªwas genuine.

    *There¡¯s something wrong with Eve¡¯s face.*

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help laughing.

    ¡°Kaden, Trella, this is my sister, Rachel.¡± Eve stood up and dusted herself off.

    Rachel was not interested in anyone besides Vip, but eventually gave them both a ¡®hi¡¯ before discovering that Vip did in fact understand everything Rachel said.

    ¡°Trella¡¯s a [Shadow Blade. She can disappear¡­¡± Eve sighed as Rachel sprinted after Vip. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, none of us compare to that dog. The only [Beast Master] in a Century, an actual [Shadow Blade] and she¡¯s chasing Vip.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Trella said.

    One of the priests by the side cleared his throat and called over and over. ¡°Rachel! It¡¯s time! We¡¯re closing the temple for presentations.¡±

    ¡°Not to worry,¡± Eve added when Kaden frowned. ¡°The temple closes once a day for an hour. The other twenty three the Goddess waits to bless with healing. Resurrections are free for the first fifteen minutes after it reopens.¡±

    As Rachel approached, Kaden drew the inheritance items from Inventory. ¡°Your dad would have wanted you to have these.¡±

    The staff was as tall as Rachel, the wand more like a cane. Kaden handed the [Minor Mend] scroll to Eve, who tucked it into the belt on Rachel¡¯s robe. ¡°Now, be calm and be present. Clear your mind and relax. The Goddess will reach out to speak to you, and with a heart like yours, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Quest Completed: What¡¯s Right isn¡¯t always Easy, Part 4.

    Rachel bit her lip. ¡°Is that what happened to you?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m a Healer, but not like you and Mom.¡± Eve looked to Kaden. ¡°Kaden has some of Varun¡¯s special offering. So you can have an Eye-Bird go with you. Since it¡¯s good luck for an Eye-Bird to attend.¡±

    Trella nudged him, but Kaden had already caught on. He drew a handful of feed. ¡°I have a feeling Varun is already watching you.¡±

    ¡°Go,¡± The older priest said. ¡°Remember. You enter from the south. You approach the statue. The Celestial Crystal will ensure that no other¡¯s heart influences the Goddess. But you have nothing to fear.¡±

    Rachel headed toward the front of the temple¡ªand the mass of eye-birds. As she approached the flock, Kaden sent a command to the ones he controlled.

    Eve gasped as the flock of eye-birds bowed¡ªand followed Rachel. Then she looked to him.

    He nodded and gave her a smile. ¡°If one is lucky, I figured the whole flock was more lucky.¡±

    Another priestess motioned to the side door. ¡°We have a viewing gallery. Like the Queen, you may not enter the temple or influence the presentation. But I want you to know, we don¡¯t fear Varun¡¯s twin or hate her. She is a counter balance that allows Varun¡¯s healing power to flow.¡±

    Eve dipped her head. ¡°Thank you, Slive. You were magnificent teacher. I¡¯ve come to accept my Class. I wouldn¡¯t say embrace it, but accept, yes. Slive, would you do me a favor?¡±

    Kaden followed Eve in to find a narrow wooden bench pressed up against plates of crystal that ran to the ceiling. Trella looked from one end to the other and shuddered. ¡°One exit. I need to sit on the outside.¡±

    That was her [Shadow Blade] training at work.

    Kaden sat next to Eve, who leaned across. ¡°Slive, Kaden is struggling with a choice of talents. He¡¯s got prophet¡¯s blood but didn¡¯t get offered the talent until thirty.¡±

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Kaden asked, shocked.

    ¡°You told us about Vichor,¡± Eve said. ¡°You told us your mother had the talent. It¡¯s always offered, and you¡¯ve rightfully come to distrust the flashes you get. Ever since you leveled you¡¯ve been distracted. Every other time you¡¯ve ranted for days about the choices.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Trella stood and bolted for the exit. ¡°I can¡¯t breath in here. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Kaden rushed after her, with the Priestess close behind. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s ok.¡±

    Trella shook her head as she sweated. ¡°One of the trials I did in ShadowVale was being trapped in a room that filled with water. One just like that. I can feel the water in my lungs.¡±

    ¡°Varun¡¯s Blessings, child.¡± Siven pressed a hand to Trella¡¯s head and her breathing slowed, coming in deeper gasps. ¡°The ceremony is short and the weather is lovely. Let¡¯s stay out here. Young man, why are you afraid of [Prophecy?]¡±

    ¡°Have you met a [Prophet]?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Nut jobs. Every last one of them.¡±

    Kaden pulled the [Wisdom Cricket] from Inventory. It took a deep breath. ¡°NASA faked the moon landing. There was a second shooter on the grassy gnoll. The bumps on leeches are second eyes so the Ilumnati can watch anyone who eats a leach from the inside. They¡¯re watching you all!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He shoved it back into Inventory. ¡°Prophecy.¡±

    Slive chuckled. ¡°Madness. They¡¯re often confused. You already get flashes, don¡¯t you? Why wouldn¡¯t you want them better? They¡¯ll help you prepare. And the mistakes you make interpreting will help you learn not to make them again.¡±

    The Wisdom Cricket was one end of the scale. At the other were Kaden¡¯s near useless flashes. ¡°How does it work?¡±

    ¡°The first one is always right. After that you¡¯ll need to learn to interpret,¡± Sliven said.

    Kaden selected [Prophecy].

    The world disappeared as a memory hit him. A memory that hadn¡¯t happened yet. He looked up, eyes wide and turned toward the temple. ¡°There¡¯s still time to stop this.¡±

 Twenty Seven - Blood Bath

    Kaden drew Remembrance as he approached the side door and shattered it with a single blow. Fragments of door embedded in the corpse of the old priest, who was bleeding from his eyes.

    ¡°Run!¡± Eve screamed as she pounded on the wall. ¡°Rachel, run!¡±

    First off, the temple was filled with eye-birds. Every bird in Kaden¡¯s flock had followed Rachel in for the presentation, which as far as Kaden was concerned constituted maximum [Luck]. Four [Assassins] ringed the temple and one was giving a grandiose speech to Queen Bruna on the other side of the temple, shouting about how the lineage had to end, and if this was the cost, so be it.

    Kaden didn¡¯t have time to listen to evil, cackling speeches, or Queen Brunna¡¯s plea to please, take their rage out on her.

    Portal almost always relied on Kaden remembering the locations he used. He¡¯d never been in the Temple of Varun. But when he¡¯d been learning Portal, his first remote loops were never more than a few feet away. With effort, Kaden split the spell back into its components. [Mana Loop]. [Remote Mana Loop]. [Sharpen Edges], [Reality Weave]¡ªthe portal flashed into existence, beheading an eye-bird, which was probably bad luck.

    Kaden leaped through and slammed into the crystal wall, causing a gush of blood from his nose. Yep, his exit faced the wall. Bad luck. Trella followed, twisting to avoid Kaden¡¯s mistake, then pulled as Eve joined them.

    ¡°Level thirty two [Eclipse Edge] Assassins,¡± Trella said. ¡°Not good.¡±

    Without Trinity or Scully, Kaden could only engage with one, and he¡¯d died to an [Assassin] once. ¡°Get Rachel,¡± Kaden said to Trella. It was all about the girl.

    Eve held her [Blood Moon] staff and swept it across the temple. The light in the temple turned maroon and the smell of blood flowed out. ¡°That should help lower their agility.¡±

    ¡°Blood Healer! Look out!¡± One Assassin shouted as he flung a swarm of daggers at Eve.

    Kaden blocked three with the [Eldritch Shield] and one with his stomach, and put all of them in Inventory. One Assassin fell to his knees as Eve activated [Life Explosion], and Kaden followed with [Mana Drain], feeding it to Eve. He could probably kill one of the other three, but that would leave Eve undefended for a heartbeat. Assassins didn¡¯t need more.

    The temple went pitch black as Trella activated her shadow pendant.

    When it cleared, Trella stood behind Kaden and Eve with Rachel, keeping her behind the trio.

    Three Assassins still stood, all with level advantages. One lay curled in a ball, unmoving, coated in blood.

    ¡°[Mana Lock]!¡± One assassin shouted¡ªand another¡ªand another.

    While Kaden didn¡¯t know the skill, much like the recipe for [Grilled Cheese], the name was the skill.

    ¡°Keep your eyes on them, they can¡¯t activate [Stealth],¡± Trella said.

    Kaden drew Remembrance and began to advance on the three. The real battle was for time, as the shouting and screaming were bringing more and more Centurions. ¡°You know you don¡¯t leave this temple. I know I do. Give up now.¡±

    One of the Assassins disappeared. Stealth?

    [Split Second] activated as the Assassin appeared behind him. ¡°[Mortal Blow]!¡±

    You have received a [Mortal Blow].

    [Resilient Constitution] has blocked 16,000 points of damage.

    Kaden looked down at the dagger sticking out of his chest. Hadn¡¯t Sara said his organs were less the way he survived and more an expression of his existence? He gripped it tightly, hanging on.

    ¡°[Backstab]!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°[Neck Stab!] Damnit, one of these has got to be a skill.¡±

    Warm blood sprayed on Kaden¡¯s neck, even as his own gushed out. ¡°Need healing!¡±

    The grip on the dagger impaling him gave, and Kaden stored it away. The [Assassin] had given it up because it was the only way he could survive Trella¡¯s attacks. Kaden¡¯s life flared up, even as the [Mortal Blow] continued to drain HP.

    Rachel was screaming and the smell of [Plague] engulfed the world.

    A sharp cry of pain hit Kaden harder than any dagger to the gut, because that was Trella, but if he turned to help, the other two would be free to strike.

    A blast of fire exploded out, hitting Kaden. A screaming, burning [Assassin] stumbled past and fell to the ground, writhing.

    ¡°Eve.¡± Trella¡¯s voice was a whisper. ¡°Heal.¡±

    Kaden drew a healing potion and passed it back, still scanning an empty temple, then followed it with one of his own. ¡°Agony Cloud,¡± he said. ¡°Agony Cloud will reveal them.¡±

    Even as he spoke, Kaden recognized the cry of pain from an eye-bird, one just to the right. He activated [Moment of Speed] and threw himself forward as [Split Second] burned.

    ¡°[Mortal Blow¡ª¡± The Assassin stopped his blade passed a hair from Kaden¡¯s throat, and Kaden sliced at the man¡¯s knee with the [Levicon Blade].

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a crippling injury.

    Target mobility halved.

    ¡°Come on, you bastard. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± Trella¡¯s challenge almost distracted Kaden. With invisible targets, Kaden couldn¡¯t afford to finish the Assassin. He had to keep his focus. He summoned the [Eldritch Shield] and smiled as a gasp revealed the other Assassin had to be twenty feet away. The [Fear] effect hadn¡¯t lasted more than a second.

    But it was enough to cause the man to retreat.

    ¡°Trella?¡± Kaden risked a glance back.

    She traded dagger strikes as her target deftly struck the inside of her wrist. One Ink Blade clattered to the floor, followed by another.

    The Assassin groaned as Trella drew a lamb-and-potato skewer from Inventory and stabbed him in the eye. His answer was an Assasin¡¯s triumphant shout as he activated skills. ¡°[Mortal Blow!] Oh, think you can avoid me? [Overkill!]¡±

    Fear locked Kaden¡¯s gaze as Trella faded from view. Her [Rescue Reset] had activated, meaning she wouldn¡¯t be able to get back inside the temple.

    ¡°[Mortal Blow]¡± another Assassin shouted.

    Kaden knew, because [Split Second] didn¡¯t try to activate, it wasn¡¯t aimed at him. He spun to find Eve grappling with an Assassin, who seemed shocked she wasn¡¯t dead¡ªand then shocked when Kaden [Back Smashed] him. Kaden summoned Vip, who leaped on the assassin, seriously making his ankle bleed. ¡°Vip, dash attack!¡±

    The dog began to circle and crackle with lightning that struck the man in the center.

    ¡°This one¡¯s mine,¡± Eve said. ¡°Where are the other two? Let¡¯s see if my [Blood Moon] staff reveals [Stealth].¡±

    Eve activated it. When the light washed over Kaden, it smelled like a battlefield and made Kaden want to vomit. But it struck a blurry figure in the middle of the temple¡ªa blurry figure who became the fourth assassin, who hurled a storm of blades.

    Too late, he recognized they weren¡¯t aimed at him, or Eve, but at Rachel.

    Kaden leaped forward, using [Moment of Speed] to focus and [Multitasker] taking the leading blades into Inventory, but the swarm split. Two daggers clouds sailed outward in a wide arc, converging on Rachel.

    Influenced by the panic in Kaden¡¯s gut, Eye-birds leaped into the air in a desperate flight and caught the daggers with their chests. Maybe they were lucky after all.

    Kaden focused on [Beast Command]. ¡°Forward.¡±

    The flock, crazed and in a panic, surrendered to his command, and struck two different [Stealthed] Assassins.

    Eve echoed, appearing at every corner of the temple. ¡°[Moon Fall]!¡±

    Instead of beams of light, two white meteors impacted one of the Assassins, while the others killed Eye-birds on the spot. ¡°[Life Explosion!]¡± Eve shouted as she channeled the healing to him.

    [Mortal Blow] was the worst.

    ¡°Keep the healing going,¡± Kaden shouted as he charged forward.

    The Assassin drew a curved sword and swung in, but [Split Second] let Kaden dive under the swing and counter with the Levicon Blade. ¡°You¡¯re not regenerating mana or health, are you? Most [Stealth] abilities like that cost mana. Hope you like [Harvest Wind].¡±

    The Assassin dropped stealth and leaped at Kaden, trying unarmed combat. Kaden caught the man and charged, sprinting straight at the crystal wall of the temple.

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    You have inflicted 800 points of ramming damage on your ram.

    You have broken your ram.

    The Assassin wheezed blood, but he activated something on his armor and razor spikes errupted from his elbows. ¡°Poison. You die.¡±

    ¡°Always looking for new poisons.¡± Kaden wrestled to jab the man¡¯s spikes on his arm¡ªthen caught the other fist and broke the man¡¯s arm. It was one thing to attack him. It was one thing to stab his heart. It was another to try and murder a child. Also, the eye-birds.

    Kaden ducked as the assassin spat black bile at him. It ate at the stone and burned, but Kaden coudn¡¯t tell if the drop in health was the [Mortal Blow] or the acid. He smothered the man¡¯s face with his hand, then gripped the man¡¯s head and pounded it down.

    His gut burned, and he looked down to find the man had slashed him with his broken arm. Kaden unleashed all the fury that had been building, using both hands to slam the Assasin¡¯s skull backwards into the stone.

    Anyone of a lesser tier would have been killed on the spot. The ruined Assassin still fought, slashing at Kaden¡¯s chest only to throw sparks from the metal there.

    A trickle of health raised him up again, and Kaden twisted the [Assassin¡¯s] head to the side to block more of that bile, then jerked left to avoid a spiked dagger with gleaming red edges.

    ¡°Kill him,¡± Eve said. ¡°And make sure there won¡¯t be a resurrection. My bracelet won¡¯t let me survive another [Mortal Blow].¡±

    Kaden answered with [Wrath of the Furnace], vomiting liquid fire onto the [Assassin] and holdinghim until the body stopped jerking. His health had become an odd loop, rising and falling like his breath, always lower.

    A health potion made it stay steady, but not rise¡ªthen ticked five points up.

    You have been affected by [Minor Mend] (Rachel Barrister).

    You have been affected by [Hand of Varun] (Rachel Barrister).

    Bleeding is slowed.

    One by one, Kaden looted the [Assasins] and blasted their corpse with fire. ¡°How do we open the temple?¡±

    Eve looked to the doors¡ªthen the statue. ¡°Rachel. I need you to do something. You need to finish your prayer. Those men won¡¯t hurt you. They can¡¯t hurt you anymore.¡±

    Kaden picked up one of the burned corpses. ¡°See, this guy¡¯s rooting for you to finish the prayer.¡± He waved the arm back and forth and spoke in a high pitched voice. ¡°Go Rachel! You¡¯re the Best!¡±

    Dead eye-birds littered the floor, so Kaden harvested materials from all the dead ones and herded the others into an arc around Rachel. The burned assassins he made a tasteful mound of, and then covered with dead eye-birds so the corpse mound was giving thumbs up. ¡°There we go, all cleaned up, let¡¯s do this. Pecky and Flappy will be your wingmen.¡±

    The eye-birds began to nudge Rachel forward as she approached the statue of Varun and kneeled in a puddle of blood. Eye-bird feathers stuck to her robe and the smell made Kaden hungry enough to pull a skewer and offer one to Eve, who accepted with grace.

    ¡°G-g-goddess hear my prayer and s-s-see my heart, consider my deeds, please.¡± Rachel said, her voice echoing in the quiet temple.

    For the briefest moment, the temple air weighed a thousand pounds. Then Rachel glowed. Her robes shifted, growing eye-feathers and the chunks of gore and stains disappeared.

    Goddess Varun has accepted your offering of loyalty.

    Rachel backed away and then sprinted to Eve, burying her face in Eve¡¯s shoulder as she wept. Kaden looked to the doors¡ªwhich remained locked. ¡°How the hell do we get these open? You know what? I don¡¯t need a door. Give me a minute to portal¡ª¡±

    A body slammed into the crystal wall, outside, as Trella stabbed a soldier through the chest with a lamb skewer and then ducked another¡¯s attack. ¡°Do not bring her out! And don¡¯t give me that look, I¡¯ll buy more of these.¡±

    ¡°Rachel, was that all of the ceremony?¡± Eve asked.

    The girl murmurred something that must have been yes, because Eve looked to Kaden. ¡°It should have unlocked. I don¡¯t get why it didn¡¯t unlock.¡±

    ¡°Because the goddess¡¯s temple must not be invaded while she holds council with a priestess,¡± said a rich and warm voice. ¡°And I have waited long to hold council with you, Evelyn.¡±

    Kaden was almost afraid to look. The statue was no longer a statue, it was a woman wrapped in crimson light, with eyes of the night sky and wings like a demon and skin that was pearly red. ¡°Let Rachel go.¡±

    ¡°Go? Out there? Where people are killing each other?¡± Nurav asked. ¡°Oh, I¡¯d never do that because she¡¯s one of mine. Not like Eve, of course. The little girl lacks that special something I need in my priestesses. She¡¯s gentle. She¡¯s afraid. She looks around and doesn¡¯t recognize the power here.¡±

    Eve kept Rachel behind her. ¡°Why did you come? I didn¡¯t call you.¡±

    ¡°But you made a most wonderful sacrifice. In my temple. How could I ignore it?¡± Nurav asked. ¡°No, I am a goddess of healing, but I am the aspect that understands that healing flows like blood and for every resurrection there is a violent end. And you are my priestess, Evelyn. You show the world the truth with your skills.¡±

    Kaden chugged another health potion. ¡°Great. You met, Eve¡¯s awesome, we need to be leaving. We¡¯ve got a long walk to the FarPortal and a friend who went missing in the Iron Gear Empire. You have some housecleaning to do and you need to work with someone to fix your image because everyone¡¯s terrified of you. No need to unlock the temple, I can open a Portal.¡±

    His portal exploded into fragments as chunks of gore transitioned through.

    ¡°Be silent, [Beast Master]. I didn¡¯t manifest for your entertainment. I didn¡¯t even manifest because of that deliciously violent show of power you gave. I came because for the first time I didn¡¯t have to fight to maintain my grip on her.¡± The goddess looked to Eve. ¡°You understand? One coin, two sides. For her to exist in sweetness and warmth, I must exist like this. We have thousands of priests who dispense love and warmth. Only one to deliver our wrath. You will be more powerful now, Evelyn ¡®Black.¡¯ I give you my blessing.¡±

    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°Use the power I¡¯ve given you. Teach Adventurers there is no give without take. Let them appreciate the light by experiencing the darkness. We will speak again, when it is time. I have much for you to do, but not yet.¡± Varun looked to Kaden. ¡°I would offer you power, but every branch you deny. My blessings, my abilities. You waste so much blood, your enemies, and your own. I will not waste my words on you. But there will come a time when you beg for my power.¡±

    ¡°I could totally make a deal with you,¡± Kaden protested.

    ¡°Excellent. Would you like to know how I bestow it? It¡¯s very primal. It¡¯s sexual. It¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Pass,¡± Kaden said. ¡°My lover is right there.¡± Kaden pointed out the crystal front, where Trella made a concerted effort to slit a soldier¡¯s throat with a lamb skewer.

    ¡°She loans you out on Sundays,¡± Nurav said. ¡°It¡¯s Sunday somewhere.¡±

    ¡°Not! To! You!¡± Trella shouted.

    *Hate*. Vip¡¯s thought echoed out as she positioned herself between Kaden and the goddess.

    The goddess gave a huff of disdain. ¡°Run away, little dog. Evelyn, remember¡ª¡±

    You have been effected by [Divine Secrets] (Nurav).

    Time stuttered. Kaden fell to his knees and vomitted blood as the world turned red. He was crying. His nose dripped, he¡¯d puked and his ears were sweating. Or he was bleeding from all those places.

    ¡°Deep breath,¡± Eve said. [Life Explosion] activated, raising his health and purging the dozens of status effects Kaden hadn¡¯t even had time to hear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had just enough time to put my hands over Rachel¡¯s ears, but I didn¡¯t have spare hands. Just hold on, the Temple has a natural healing aura that should activate the moment I leave. I can¡¯t out-heal a goddess, so I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±

    A gush of cool island breeze hit him, and people stampeded in.

    True to Eve¡¯s word, a warm presence filled the temple, soothing the wounds in his chest and the constant drain of [Mortal Wounds]. Vip crawled up in his lap and licked the blood from his cheeks. Dog hair was probably not medicinal but Kaden would trust in his enhanced [Constitution].

    ¡°Her blessings on you.¡± Slive¡¯s voice made Kaden open his eyes and look up as the wounds in his chest spasmed and filled in. ¡°That¡¯s a nasty skill. I¡¯d purge it if I could but it¡¯s better to out-heal it.¡±

    Twenty eight hundred points of damage took forever, but with every moment, Kaden felt stronger. He stood and looked at the line of adventurers advancing to the statue to make offerings. ¡°Does Varune take offerings of goods? I have a bunch of weapons the Assassins dropped.¡±

    ¡°Our goddess is not so mercenary. True, we charge to reverse curses and hexes and for difficult resurrections, but this, healing from the Goddess¡¯s presence? If they make offerings, she accepts it. If the only offering is the understanding of Varun¡¯s nature, that, too, is accepted.¡± Slive directed him forward. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. You already met the dark half.¡±

    Kaden drew a handful of daggers and waited. Like Yarrow, a barrel-cup sat at the base of Varun¡¯s statue. Kaden tossed in the daggers and relief flooded him when the Goddess let him go. ¡°Oh, wait, I guess these are yours, too.¡±

    He dumped the eye-bird feathers he¡¯d taken. ¡°Sorry about killing all your eye-birds. Also about some of them getting roasted. Also about taming them and using them as decoys to kill a bunch of assassins in your sacred temple.¡±

    The healing surge ceased, and Kaden began to wonder if he¡¯d annoyed another god. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll head out now.¡±

    Outside, Kaden found Eve surrounded by healers who focused energy on her and focused praise on Rachel. Slive clapped her on the shoulder. ¡°Minor Mend! An excellent skill, the skill you will use more than any other. What a great [Priestess] you will be.¡±

    Kaden kneeled down so he didn¡¯t tower as much. ¡°You saved my life. Without your healing, who knows what would have happened?¡±

    ¡°Can I see your dog?¡± Rachel asked.

    It wasn¡¯t what Kaden expected but he could oblige. ¡°Vip! Stop chasing the eye-birds!¡±

    Vip came streaking through crowds, shocking people as she threw off lightning and circled Kaden. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Vip wants to run and she¡¯s extremely fast. You¡¯d need to be very fast to catch her.¡±

    Rachel squinted. ¡°She¡¯s got four legs, so I have run twice as fast. That¡¯s not fair. I¡¯ll give her food if she lets me pet her.¡±

    Vip pranced over and jumped until Rachel picked her up.

    Trella walked up with an Inkblade in one hand and a skewer in the other. ¡°I hate other Assassins. Also, I leveled and I¡¯m damn close to leveling again. The thing about assassination attempts is that there¡¯s always people on the outside. Now there¡¯s fewer. Hello, Priestess.¡±

    Rachel stared as Trella sheathed an Inkblade and put away a skewer. ¡°I saw when you took me through the darkness. I saw.¡±

    ¡°I did say to keep your eyes closed.¡± Trella glanced to Eve, who stood conversing with the Priests. ¡°This place is wired. Depending on how the Queen wants to play it, it¡¯ll either cool down or explode. We should get out of here before anything else goes wrong.¡±

    Kaden looked to Eve. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t leave her.¡±

    ¡°Eve cooked a level thirty two assassin on her own. Yeah, you and your lovely [Mana Drain] helped, but she¡¯s not defenseless.¡± Trella tapped Eve¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re good here, right? This whole island gives me the creeps. No one is this happy or friendly and I just keep waiting for someone else to attack.¡±

    ¡°I am. I¡¯ll be back tomorrow. I think I¡¯d like to spend a few more hours here.¡± Eve stepped closer. ¡°You should stick around. Demand a reward.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not. I got a bunch of cool daggers and sweet scars and I got to tame an Eye-Bird,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°I got to kill a man with a lamb skewer without ruining the skewer or the meat,¡± Trella said. ¡°Not that first skewer. He did manage to punch me in the throat, so Inkblades are definitely better. Going to need you two to help me recharge the [Rescue Reset].¡±

    ¡°What do you want me to tell Sara and Ashi?¡± Kaden asked.

    Eve sighed. ¡°This was always going to happen. I¡¯ll leave the decision to you. I¡¯ve been dreading this for years.¡±

    ¡°Not a huge deal, trust me.¡± Kaden walked with Trella to the FarPortal and messaged the Portal Mages to take them to the Holding. It was dark, well past midnight, and Trinity lay coiled on the front porch. She rose and ambled to meet Kaden, sending a clear desire.

    ¡°Of course, it¡¯ll be unlocked for you.¡± Kaden stopped to feel of Trinity, who allowed him to check her teeth and tongue and look for poisonous spines. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll lock the dungeon after you go in and check in the morning.¡±

    When Kaden opened the farmhouse door, Ashi emerged from the master bedroom in a gown. ¡°Ah, you have returned. A Raid Boss was threatening the towers again. I will move up to Eve¡¯s room.¡±

    Sara came down the stairs in lime green pajamas with the Horror holding a blanket around her. ¡°You¡¯re back late. Did you get the Seal?¡±

    ¡°Yep. Eve¡¯s Queen Brunna¡¯s daughter, her little sister¡¯s a [Priestess] now, [Assassins] tried to kill her at her ceremony, the Goddess Nurave manifested and now we have a bunch of Assassin loot to trade.¡± Kaden dumped it all on the table. ¡°And we brought lamb skewers. Not that one, Trella.¡±

    Trella drew a different set of skewers. ¡°These have extra ginger.¡±

    Sara rushed to take a pair. ¡°You remembered the important part!¡±

 Twenty Eight - Gearing Up

    Kaden slept well at the farmhouse, but woke early as Dominion warned him that Eve had returned. He rushed to fry up a breakfast when she entered. She carried a flower in a pot with both hands, bright orange with a twirling vine. ¡°Good morning. Whatever that is, it smells wonderful.¡±

    ¡°Eye-Bird.¡± Kaden flipped it over and scrambled the eggs. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t make them go extinct.¡±

    Eve took out plates and passed him one after another. ¡°Most of them were resurrected. Some the royal keeper couldn¡¯t account for. I told him they¡¯d probably been immolated with fire. Good news, Rachel is safe, all the conspirators have been sentenced to two decades dead.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the plant?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea. I like the color. I think it¡¯s some kind of mini-trumpet? I don¡¯t know. The gardner seemed quite upset, but honestly, I could steal the statue of Varun and no one would say anything.¡± Eve took something out of Inventory and set it on the table.

    A statue, a blood-red statue that made his skin crawl.

    ¡°Is that Nurav?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°It is. I¡¯d like permission to put a small shrine behind the house near Sara¡¯s gardens. No matter what, I am her Priestess.¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°What does it take?¡±

    ¡°An arbor and a pedestal for this statue. And a few words from me, of course.¡± Eve hesitated, then dove in to the omlet. ¡°I swear this is the most delicious sacred bird I¡¯ve ever eaten. How did Ashi and Sara react?¡±

    ¡°Ashi knew, don¡¯t ask me how. Sara didn¡¯t care.¡± Kaden spooned some more out. ¡°I want to go to the Guild and see if there¡¯s a skill that will help us locate Cutter Karn. Our Quest says we need to find what happened. It never says which party, but I have a preference.¡±

    ¡°I do, too.¡± Eve paused, an awkward pause. ¡°Did you level from killing those Assassins? Because I very nearly did.¡±

    Kaden reviewed his logs. ¡°No. Are we close enough that it¡¯s worth delaying?¡±

    ¡°Please, no. There will be plenty of experience. Night spawns. Probably assassins. Murderous goats. I remember Sara loved the goat skewers. I brought some with extra ginger. Also some with no ginger. I couldn¡¯t remember which was her favorite.¡±

    Kaden mouthed the word ¡®extra¡¯ as Sara trudged down the stairs. ¡°Speak of the snakes!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the energy to protest.¡± Sara sat down and lay her head down. ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep much. I¡¯m too worried about the expedition. And that statue is really creepy.¡±

    Eve produced a skewer. ¡°Did I mention there will also be a shrine by the front gate? I want to make a private one near your garden.¡±

    Kaden left the two to talk and headed to the dungeon. Adventuring parties waited on the other side of the lake. ¡°I¡¯m checking out the dungeon to make sure it¡¯s safe,¡± Kaden said, then walked across the lake working on [Resist Suffocation] until he came up on the island.

    Inside, the dungeon felt off, like it was silent when it should be terrifying and alive.

    Kaden had only to feel and sense, and he set off for the [Bearserker] den. Trinity was definitely that direction. The dead [Bearserker] was his first clue something was wrong. He sprinted to the cave opening. ¡°Trinity!¡±

    A low, rumbling growl echoed from the cave, and from the shadows, Trinity lumbered forth, her teeth barred, her tail lashing back and forth.

    ¡°Hey, girl.¡± Kaden took two steps back, projecting love and respect. ¡°You want to talk?¡±

    Conflict rolled off the TriTerror in waves. She wanted to lay down and have her scales scratched. She wanted to scream and chase him, and a not-insignificant part of her wanted to kill him for setting foot in the clearing.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kaden reached to pull her into his soul¡ªand felt the panic before it became a hiss and a spit of flaming venom. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to help me here. I want to help but I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong.¡±

    Trinity stood still, not even breathing, before her serpentine head let out a choking cry filled with emotion. *Worry. Fear.*

    ¡°I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Kaden projected the memory of Trinity as a tiny [Ruby Hydra] stuck on a hook as bait. ¡°I¡¯ve always taken care of you.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t sure what the next memory was for a moment. Her answer was of Circe, Nature¡¯s daughter. A need Trinity had projected. One answered. When the meaning hit, it would have knocked Kaden off his feet. ¡°Show me?¡±

    Trinity rubbed up against him, the fear and worry getting thicker with every moment. Kaden responded with calm and the best he could do to project ¡°safety¡± as an emotion, which it wasn¡¯t. And he rose, putting a hand on Trinity¡¯s back and letting her set the pace toward the [Bearserker¡¯s] cave. Five steps in, she stopped, shifting diagonally to block him.

    Dozens of eggs, each the size of a terror bird egg, sat in the cool dark. Some were green, some red, some blue and all glowed in the darkness of the cave. But even without [Beast Knowledge] there was something wrong. ¡°It¡¯s too cold here, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ruby Hydras hailed from the Southern Islands, thousands of islands left over from a cataclysm. ¡°You want it to be warmer?¡±

    That took almost no effort, forming a magma well beyond the rock walls and adjusting its location until the cave began to warm. Kaden leaned against Trinity and rubbed her necks. ¡°Tell me when it¡¯s right.¡±

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    Right was almost warm enough to proof bread. Kaden sweated under his armor, and the humidity was stifling. Trinity could have raised her eggs comfortably in Egalion. ¡°Do you want grass? Bamboo? Thorns?¡±

    Trinity¡¯s answer was a memory so old it was fuzzy and hard to hold to, of her nibbling egg shells and the legs of a dead sibling in a nest made of vines. ¡°I¡¯ve got vines. And you can be a better mother. Your mother did the best she knew how. At least she didn¡¯t have a [Destruction Aura]. You¡¯re doing the best you can, and you don¡¯t have to do it alone. This dungeon is mine. That means it¡¯s yours. We can teach them to hunt. We can train them to swim. And to cook.¡±

    At the mention of cooking, Trinity¡¯s armored head swung round to gently bop him. She was hungry. Kaden forced the dungeon to spawn a pack of wolves. ¡°Go on, I¡¯ll watch them.¡±

    Her three heads engaged in a conversation¡ªthen she sprinted out of the cave. Nothing that large should be moving that fast, as far as Kaden was concerned. The eggs were truly beautiful, smooth and gleaming and not haphazardly laying about, no she¡¯d tended this nest.

    While he waited, Kaden spawned vine after vine, putting them in a pile.

    Eventually she returned, dragging one wolf carcass. The moment she spotted the vines, it hit the dirt as she rushed to arrange them, weaving them with her serpentine head into a protective edge. When she was done, Trinity settled down in a circle and lay her armored head in his lap. Kaden wasn¡¯t a small man and it was still a lot of armored head for a small lap, but he ran his fingers over the edge where the bone armor sank beneath scales. Trinity had been lonely.

    Her only request, offspring who wouldn¡¯t know being alone.

    Skully didn¡¯t know being alone. Vip was never alone. Rocky wouldn¡¯t remember if he was alone and the Falcrow spent as much time dropping candy or beetles on unsuspecting people as with Kaden. It was time to see how his wyvern was doing. ¡°Girl, I¡¯m going to a different part of the dungeon to see a Beast. Do you want me to seal off the clearing so Adventurers can¡¯t get here?¡±

    Trinity¡¯s low rumble was gratitude.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come back to check on you, ok?¡± Kaden took care as he left, removing the passage that led from the Forest section to this den. Instead, he spawned a giant spider, which turned out to be no larger than Kaden, but he gave it lots of small spider buddies to haraass Adventurers and then placed trees so archers wouldn¡¯t get free kills.

    No, if they wanted to kill the giant spider they needed to get spidery by coming close. This was another duck in the dungeon, but if Kaden had to, he¡¯d shut down the dungeon just to let Trinity raise her young.

    When he left the dungeon, Kaden found three groups waiting out front. ¡°I think the dungeon¡¯s evolving. There seems to be some kind of spider in the woods.¡±

    ¡°How big?¡± one of the adventurers asked.

    Kaden held up his hands about a foot apart. ¡°At least this large.¡± It was always better to underpromise and over deliver. The spawn didn¡¯t drop loot, but giant spiders were their own reward.

    When he reached the farmhouse, he found Trella devouring breakfast Sara and Eve sat in deep discussion. ¡°Trinity is a mother. She laid eggs in the dungeon, I blocked off the Bearserker¡¯s den. Ashi! Is it possible to have a second entrance? One for Trinity?¡±

    Ashi rushed down the stairs to question him at length. ¡°It is not wise for any of us to approach. I will help you place a second entrance, but the cost in Directed Mana is high.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kaden approached Sara, who grew more animated by the moment. ¡°Everything ok?¡±

    ¡°It is not!¡± Sara said. ¡°We were headed for the Iron Gear Empire, but Eve relayed your plan, and I discovered something. I had a good relationship with Cutter¡¯s Healer. A great relationship, for a while. He gave me a heart stone, and I dug it out of the fertilizer pile a few moments ago.¡±

    The fertilizer pile, at least, did not contain a corpse at the moment. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°Circe¡¯s party never made it to the Iron Gear Empire. At least, Rey didn¡¯t, and he was more loyal to his party than any woman. I think they were attacked heading toward the Iron Gear Empire. I think they never made it there.¡± Sara rushed to the table, where she drew a map scroll from Inventory, followed by a pulsing red stone, which immediately projected a beam of light into an area of ocean. ¡°Nothing on the map, but maps are often wrong. Your basement island, for instance, doesn¡¯t show, and we¡¯ve been there.¡±

    ¡°Lots,¡± Trella added. ¡°Oceanus comes there once every week or so. I think it¡¯s a circuit he flies. Assuming Rey isn¡¯t dead or swallowed by a whale or something, he¡¯s not floating around in the ocean for weeks.¡±

    Kaden looked at the line they¡¯d sailed from Krevat to Xiao. ¡°That¡¯s really far north. Any pirates there would spend more time sailing back and forth on the off chance a ship to or from Xiao just happens to sail by?¡±

    ¡°See?¡± Eve said to Sara. ¡°Exactly my point. No, there¡¯s a spy in Krevat, probably one in Xiao, and both send messenger birds. The second question we still don¡¯t have an answer to. Why would they keep Cutter and her party?¡±

    ¡°Rey¡¯s a healer,¡± Sara said softly. ¡°Healers are valuable. I don¡¯t know that they did keep Cutter or anyone else. But I know where he is and I know where I¡¯m going.¡±

    ¡°Not alone,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°Faction tokens. They should buy us the services of higher level adventurers, right? How many have I banked up?¡±

    ¡°Too many from the Poteri. Plenty from the Justari and Naturi, but we don¡¯t even know what we¡¯re going after. It could be a full city, it could be a pirate outpost,¡± Sara said.

    Outpost. Kaden had only one inheritance package to return, and the quest offered him an Outpost. ¡°What does it take to buy a fleet willing to take on pirates directly?¡±

    ¡°The Mercari might bankroll some retaliation because pirates constantly harrass merchants,¡± Sara said. ¡°The Justari may volunteer with the evidence we have. The problem is, they¡¯re going to want more than just a beach port in a northern island. They¡¯re going to want to hit a fleet. The other problem is that the Mercari will care nothing about Rey or Cutter or any of those. They¡¯ll see them as casualties¡ªand pirates are known for burning all the evidence.¡±

    ¡°Then strike first¡± Ashi said. ¡°Lead the way with a focus on your lover¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ex-lover¡ª¡± Sara interjected.

    ¡°Lead the way. Show these pirates a target they cannot resist. Did we not agree to ship mana-stones to Xiao? Let us ship some and talk in Krebat about how much they are worth.¡± Ashi crossed her arms, pleased with herself. ¡°Let the villagers in Deshun sell us mana stones. If they do not have enough, buy more. Enough that these pirates cannot resist.¡±

    ¡°How does that get us where we need to be?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden had a decent idea of that. ¡°We¡¯re going to hit the pirates when they attack, take a ship, sail it back and rescue Rey. He¡¯ll know where Cutter is. Of course, this time they¡¯ll probably be more cautious. If they see any of us, they won¡¯t attack and we can¡¯t sail one of their ships into a pirate cove.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t sail at all,¡± Eve said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll learn.¡± Trella perked up at the thought. ¡°I¡¯ll head to the southern islands, hit a port, pay someone to train me until I have [Sailing]. One of us needs to know what to do and everyone else just needs to listen. Our story is we just barely escaped and I took over as [Captain] until we could make port.¡±

    ¡°I will make arrangements with the Mercari and Justari,¡± Sara said. ¡°Do I have permission to use your tokens? Most adventurers horde them to help push difficult dungeons or deal with their nemesis.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d better use them,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± said Eve. ¡°I am not¡ªand will not¡ªbe a Pirate. I could be a captive, that¡¯s a part I can play. And I¡¯d be delighted to go to Xiao and retrieve Skully.¡±

    ¡°And you?¡± Ashi¡¯s question was to Kaden.

    He knew his answer. ¡°You and I are going to see a bunch of badgers¡ªI mean, bandits¡ªI mean, mana stone miners. First, we need to swing by the Guild, buy some more rope, and pick up the Quest to hunt down bandits. Just in case.¡±

 Twenty Nine - Getting Stoned

    It was rare for Kaden to rethink a plan once he decided on it, but as Ashi clutched his waist and screamed in terror, it was definitely the moment to rethink. Instead he leaned in and urged the [Drake] to fall faster and closer. A little terror was good for the soul. Just because they¡¯d walk back from Deshun didn¡¯t mean they had to walk to Deshun, and Kaden had been eager to revisit the [Drake], who¡¯d become a mascot of Birchhome.

    Flying was so much better than walking but even better than flying was falling, a complete surrender to gravity, giving the middle finger to the earth, and only changing your mind at the last moment.

    ¡°Less fall!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°I will walk from here. I will walk!¡±

    They rose again on powerful wing-beats as the [Drake] followed the road east. ¡°This is all about appearances,¡± Kaden said. On the horizon he spotted the cluster of buildings that was Deshun and leaned in. On one hand, landing with a [Drake] in the middle of Deshun sent a particular message. On the other hand, one of the archers shooting his Drake might lead to a death¡ªthe archer¡¯s.

    He settled for sweeping north with a screeching scream and setting in the road.

    Ashi looked a little green as she took in [Life Mana] from one of her beads to heal.

    ¡°There were two bands of people headed south,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Workers?¡±

    ¡°South isn¡¯t the road, so maybe.¡± Kaden approached the gate to Deshun¡ªa gate he¡¯d personally placed. ¡°Good morning! I am but a humble trader, here to do business with a small village selling Mana Stones. I have plenty of rope to trade.¡±

    From inside came a murmurred discussion, then someone spoke clearly. ¡°It¡¯s the [Beast Master] from Verona. If a Drake were going to attack, it wouldn¡¯t land outside the walls.¡±

    Kaden thanked the [Drake] and sent it winging home. No matter what, he didn¡¯t want it involved. He held his breath as the gate unlocked. Inside stood four [City Knights], wearing silver armor and carrying lances. ¡°Good morning. Know anyone selling Mana Stones? Verona has a trade agreement and I¡¯m here to trade.¡±

    The Knights began to laugh among themselves and greeted Ashi with bows, which she greatly enjoyed. Ashi was hardly prim and proper like Eve but she still enjoyed the attention. ¡°You know what we haven¡¯t found?¡± one of the knights asked. ¡°Bandits. Not a single damned bandit on this whole road. We found their camps and Ches got attack by a trio the third day, but the bandits are at an all-time low.¡±

    ¡°Is that good or bad?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Bad if you have the Quest, which you do. Knights have a skill that shows us potential [Alliances]. Seriously, what brings you to Deshun?¡± The Knight led the way to the inn, which looked a lot like a once-abandoned house, where they chatted.

    Ashi looked over the village. ¡°Where are these mana-stone caves?¡±

    ¡°The river is south of here,¡± a knight answered. ¡°The caves are near the source, but the miners let Adventurers handle the caves and sift in the river.¡±

    ¡°I need a shipment of mana stones to ship to Xiao as bait for [Pirates],¡± Kaden said. ¡°We found a hidden pirate island. My Party Leader is organizing a strike with the Mercari.¡±

    Now he had all four Knight¡¯s attention. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Justari are often involved in such operations. Just saying, if you¡¯re interested, it¡¯s going to happen and it¡¯s going to happen quickly.¡±

    Ashi excused herself to go see the sifting operation, while Kaden ordered a round of beer and spoke frankly. ¡°I thought you¡¯d get stuck slaughtering everyone in this village. I really thought they¡¯d go right back to robbing people.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t seen any evidence of Bandits, and only bandits would do that. Though it wasn¡¯t until after the third round of Adventurers that they really started mana stone operations. The Captain says sometimes you have to help people make the right choice.¡± The Knight sighed. ¡°This place desperately needs a [Priest] to heal. Even a disgraced priestess with a mana dust habit would be better than no healer.¡±

    Kaden waited in the silence. ¡°You¡¯re telling me¡­why?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s your village, it¡¯s your problem, I¡¯m doing you a favor by letting you know.¡±

    That was not how this worked. The choice he¡¯d presented was simple - be villagers or be bandits¡ªand one of the two was on the approved hunting list. Still¡ªKaden summoned the Falcrow and sent it off with a private message. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±

    ¡°Good. And a blacksmith, if you can find one,¡± another [Knight] added.

    Villages weren¡¯t given Blacksmiths, they usually sent one of their own to be trained, training that cost in time and apprenticeship. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±

    Rumon Long travelled about selling wares, and Munoz was a decent general crafter and a fantastic leatherworker. Maybe both would be willing to add Deshun to the circuit for the right amount.¡°What¡¯s there to do around here?¡±

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    The first Knight answered. ¡°Nothing, which is why Captain Blanco¡¯s swapping out a garrison of [Guards]. Ten of them is about worth one of us, but the more these villagers be villagers, the easier it is to stay villagers.¡±

    So this was probably a favor he¡¯d owe Captain Blanco. Or maybe this was the right thing to do, according to the Justari. More wrinkles, more relationships to manage. Kaden took his beer and his bird and sent the Falcrow with a message for Rumon and Chen. Sara would know what standard rates were for visits, which mean Kaden needed a messenger bird. ¡°Where¡¯s the messenger bird colony?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t have one,¡± the bartender replied.

    Ridiculous. It was like someone had forced this town together with zero planning. Instead, Kaden waited for the Falcrow to return and this time, sent it to Sara with so many questions. And he went looking for Ashi, following the trails out into the woods closer to the river.

    There, sifters worked in the river, checking row upon row of wooden racks and diverting water over them. Kaden approached carefully. ¡°I¡¯m looking for Asha Rham. [Polymage]?¡±

    The miners pointed up river, toward the mouth of a yawning cave, but before he could sprint in, the river errupted, and Ashi rose on a geiser, her skin bright blue inspite of the wrappings that protected her. She clutched the end of a pipe in one hand and a cluster of stones in the other. ¡°Pass to me the sifter.¡±

    Kaden helped the miners feed the longer end of their device to Ashi, standing in the river with water flowing over his head while she attached it. Then she tapped his hand and he followed her to shore.

    ¡°If one wishes to harvest, it helps to do so in a field. There is nothing in the shallows,¡± Ashi said. She flushed red and burst into flame, sizzling as the water boiled off, then gripped his hand pushing a wave of heat that left him steaming and damp instead of soaked. ¡°I gathered a few. We will pay forwhat they have harvested.¡±

    That wouldn¡¯t take much. Kaden and Ashi went to the mayor¡¯s house, where he handed over five gold for a case of poor quality mana stones. This trade agreement was the definition of how not to do it, but if five gold got him a path to Cutter¡¯s party, it was cheap.

    ¡°On to Krevat?¡± Ashi asked as they approached the road. ¡°Or back to Verona?¡±

    This hadn¡¯t been discussed, but Kaden had opinions. ¡°Krevat. I want to get there early. I want people to see me with the mana stones. I want to talk about how lucky I am to have them shipped to Xiao. Lots of time for everyone to know.¡±

    Kaden summoned the [Wyvern] hatchling and a pile of meat, which he fed. The hatchling¡¯s scales had deepened to a lavender. Its snout was blunt and wide, and unlike Trinity¡¯s blind head, every tooth was the same length, with additional rows past the first.

    The hatchling devoured meat until its belly swelled and staggered around in circles, using its tail to balance. The Drake¡¯s tail was long and agile, almost as suple as Trinity¡¯s, but the [Wyvern] had a stumpy tail more used to prop itself up when it leaned back than to strike or balance. It spread wing membranes over and over, stretching wider each time as it learned to balance.

    The grass under it withered and died. The mud cracked. Kaden lost ten points of health with every moment, and it didn¡¯t seem to cost the Wyvern any mana to use. Then again, an aura which destroyed everything and couldn¡¯t be disabled already had downsides. Kaden used [Beast Soul] to enable the aura and stepped back from Ashi and the hatchling. ¡°I¡¯m going to try its aura.¡±

    Ashi took three more steps back.

    Kaden activated the aura.

    A wave of purple rushed out, killing grass in a ring ten feet out. His armor creaked and groaned, and Kaden¡¯s boots shifted. His armor was definitely affected. His everything was affected. Kaden shut down the aura before it damaged the guantlet that kept his right hand functional.

    ¡°That¡¯s powerful. And deadly.¡± Kaden fed a gush of mana to his equipment, most of which had enchantments to repair themselves even from near total destruction.

    Ashi kept silent. ¡°Is it wrong that I do not want to know what I would be capable of?¡±

    ¡°Not wrong. It took Trella and I three days from here, but we were pulling a load of wood and watching for more bandits. Hover!¡±Kaden waited for her to rise a few inches up. ¡°Now, I just need to tie you up.¡±

    ¡°Oh really?¡± Ashi laughed as he tied the rope around her waistand pulled the [Wyvern] into his soul. Kaden handed her the case of mana stones. ¡°Hang on.¡±

    Before Kaden even had Class, he¡¯d worked for Beast Control running medicine, food and equipment through the streets of Verona to get closer to using Vip¡¯s speed. Now he called on that, sprinting down the road with Ashi trailing behind him.

    ¡°I must go higher!¡± Ashi rose slightly higher to avoid the easy dips of the road.

    And Kaden ran, ran for the sake of running, with the wind in his face and the power of thirty attribute points driving him, stamina won from fighting for his life. The first fifteen hours easy. Then the sun set and Kaden was forced to slow.

    Ashi used mana orbs to light their way in the darkness, and the occasional monster spawn volunteered their crafting materials. The only pause was when Kaden spotted a wandering boss not half a mile from the road.

    ¡°Focus,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We can return at any point and destroy as we please.¡±

    Kaden accepted that and pushed onward until a gust of wind brought the first scent of the sea. ¡°We¡¯re close!¡±

    ¡°Hold!¡± Ashi floated higher and higher. ¡°On the horizon, Krevat waits. I must descend. Catch me?¡±

    He did, putting her on her feet. ¡°Ready to float?¡±

    She was already a foot and a half up.

    Kaden sprinted away, driven by the lure of the sea, of Krevat, and ships and pirates and the promise of answers. The sky had turned blue with the first light on the horizon when Kaden slowed and walked side by side with Ashi past vast lines of wagons waiting to unload or load.

    He left the rope coiled over his chest so he looked like a worker. Krevat buzzed and boiled like the [Burning Dream] nest. The port city didn¡¯t sleep when it was time to sail. Instead of heading to the first bar he could find, Kaden watched the merchants who unloaded and followed them through Krevat to a building shaped like an oversized barrel, with level after level of balconies.

    The Broken Barrel, read the glowing letters spelled out in pure mana over the doorway.

    Ashi slipped ahead of him through the doorway. ¡°You. Where may I eat and look out on the sea? Also, I require shipping services to Xiao.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hear the answer but he recognized the shift in her stance. ¡°Ashi?¡±

    ¡°We go up, fifth floor and eat breakfast. Food first, business second. We must be patient to move such precious cargo safely.¡± Ashi looked from Kaden to the portals that led upward. ¡°We will be safe here, I am sure.¡±

    Kaden had been using [Read Emotion] on the people around him and several of Ashi¡¯s statements had stuck deep in the staff. Excitment, desire and jealousy, along with eager¡ªand note of triumph from a short bald man in the corner. Ashi said she was sure they were safe. If she was sure, she was the only one.

 Thirty - Fire Sail

    Ashi had booked the top floor of the Broken Barrel, and Kaden couldn¡¯t for the life of him understand why. Each floor was divided into pie-shaped pieces with a narrow door near the center and a wide arc of railing looking out at the sea¡ªat least on the side Ashi chose. She sat at a table near the edge eating crab meat, while Kaden¡¯s crab roamed the table under his instruction. It had taken time to convey when he said ¡®live¡¯ he truly mean it and not ¡®raw.¡¯

    Crabs were odd, their feelings akin to scorpions, largely instinct and little thought.

    ¡°Try this,¡± Ashi said, handing him a bite. ¡°And this as well. How long, do you think, it will take them?¡± Kaden looked out over the port. ¡°Hard to say. Our real targets aren¡¯t even in this city, but I¡¯m certain Eve is right, and they know full well what¡¯s being shipped. So the more captains we talk to, the more we talk about guards for our important shipment, the greater the chance this works.¡±

    Ashi didn¡¯t answer, staring off into the horizon. ¡°Can you feel the dragon? The tide shifts when he moves.¡±

    Kaden could not. ¡°Is he underwater?¡±

    ¡°No. The waves whisper he is far away.¡± Ashi closed her eyes and breathed in deep. ¡°Your choice is good, to let Trinity rest safely. It cost much of your directed mana to grant her a hidden exit, but the value will show over time. It emerges in the depths of Fangwood.¡±

    Tackling hard conversations (and monsters) was Kaden¡¯s specialty. ¡°Are we pushing you too hard? Wren burned out, trapped in a dungeon. If you need to stay home and relax and tend the dungeon, I won¡¯t be offended.¡±

    ¡°You said to me once, there must be more to magic than battle and blood. I must find this ¡®more.¡¯ Sara runs a business. Eve loves her council, and Trella her disasters¡ªI mean, her alchemy. Wren makes artifacts. I said I would make scrolls, but what I want is to make wonder.¡± Ashi looked to Kaden. ¡°And what of you?¡±

    ¡°I want to tame beasts. Teach people to live with the ones who can be lived with, kill the ones that must be killed. Collect the ones with no better home.¡± Kaden really wanted to show off the Wyvern again but doing so on the fifth story of a building was a recipe for danger. ¡°Nature¡¯s Daughter told me I should find stronger beasts. I have a better idea. I¡¯ll make them. The beasts I have are strong, or they will be.¡±

    Kaden sat up as Sara¡¯s green parrot sailed down to sit on the table. ¡°The Mercari are enraged. They¡¯ve had three meetings. Three! That¡¯s one more meeting than usual. They are bankrolling a surge against the pirates, staging out ofHoriheim, which is even further north. The good news is, the barbarians take time to do anything. The bad news is they do as much¡ªor more¡ªdamage. Eve will arrive with Skully tomorrow, Trella is actually sailing with a crew right now. I saw the update to the trade agreement, you¡¯re doing well. I¡¯ll be there tonight with a plan on how to make sure our pirate friends know we¡¯re coming.¡±

    A knock at the door had Kaden reaching for Remembrance.

    ¡°Sirs.¡± One of the hotel managers stood outside. ¡°Sorry, sirs and madam. I couldn¡¯t help hearing that you were looking for transport for cargo, and in fact that¡¯s what Krevat provides. We at the Barrel have many great captains who are members. Would you like to meet a few?¡±

    Ashi beckoned. ¡°Please, you would win our gratitude if you explained. I am but a refugee from a far-away kingdom who has come into riches worth much in Xiao. I know I want them to be safe. I know I want the sailing to be swift. Who should we choose?¡±

    The manager stepped in with a warm smile, but [Read Emotion] said the man was hungry for opportunity. ¡°You are far more intelligent than you let on. The most valuable information you¡¯ll ever have is about what you don¡¯t know. There are four kinds of shipping in Krevat. The slowest and safest are the flotillas financed by trade organizations. The last left yesterday, or I would surely say it was the right choice.¡±

    Kaden spoke in Vichorean. ¡°A flotilla yesterday? To an empire that restricts trading?¡±

    ¡°My husband says it is terrible luck,¡± Ashi said. ¡°We must make sacrifices to the gods today. This is the only way such a mission can succeed.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps.¡± The manager looked around as though he was sharing a secret. ¡°There are other options and for a clever woman such as yourself, they can balance speed and safety. If you can¡¯t ship with a flotilla, the best option would be a trading company, and the good news is, I know a man, Captain Senegal, of the Elgarath trading fleet. He¡¯s cautious, careful ,and won¡¯t leave port if there¡¯s a chance of failure.¡±

    [Detect Emotion] read nothing from the man, which meant, as far as Kaden was concerned, Senegal was a decoy, an option not meant to be chosen. ¡°This Senegal sounds perfect. Is his ship in good order? Does it have all three masts?¡±

    ¡°Funny you should ask. It was recently repaired. Before you even consider anything else, you should send a message to the captain and approach the Elgarath fleet. Unfortunately, word is that his ship was recently sold as stake to a new investor.¡± The man could truly act.

    ¡°Tell us of this investor,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Please, if we must do business with her¡ªor him, if it is a him¡ªit would help.¡±

    The manager leaned in. ¡°She¡¯s terrifying. Bonded to a pair of pythons with poisonous fangs.¡±

    ¡°Pythons aren¡¯t poison¡ª¡± Kaden winced as Ashi cracled with electricty. ¡°That¡¯s hideous. Are you certain they¡¯re snakes and not some sort of cosmic horror?¡±

    ¡°Let me tell you, young man, she kills as she sees fit. Cross her and she¡¯ll cross her twin swords at your throat and cut. Senegal is a wise captain, but to get him to sail you¡¯ll need to risk the snake bitch¡¯s wrath.¡±

    Another false option. Kaden looked to Ashi. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it makes sense to risk a summoner with a cosmic horror bonded to her and a [Swordsman] second class. Though I bet she makes a great party leader.¡±

    ¡°I will send a bird now to Elgarath,¡± Ashi said. ¡°And I thank you. While fortune did not smile upon us, to meet with Senegal is perhaps the best outcome. Tell me, wise sir, where would I find Adventurers to guard the ship? The seas are wild, the cargo valuable.¡±

    ¡°Adventurers¡­¡± The manager paused.

    [Detect Emotion] read nothing but worry, which made sense to Kaden. Adventurers would be nothing but trouble. ¡°We have little gold for guards,¡± Kaden added. ¡°Though more once we reach Xiao.¡±

    ¡°Adventurers are the best, it¡¯s true, but space on a ship is limited. What you want is battle-ready sailors who would fight and die to protect their ship. Such men are hard to come by.¡±

    [Detect Lies] almost never served Kaden as well as he wanted. He¡¯d bought it to help with negotiation, but most of the lies people told weren¡¯t helpful or critical, born of embarrassment or fear. In this case, he didn¡¯t even need the soft chime the skill gave that said it was a lie. This man knew exactly where to find the men he spoke of.

    ¡°We¡¯d be forced to trust you,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Being as I¡¯ve never even smashed a pirate¡¯s skull against a deck until it burst, since I¡¯m not a minotaur.¡±

    Ashi glared at him. ¡°We thank you. You have helped us greatly. What is your name, sir, that I may ask again?¡±

    ¡°Shim,¡± he said.¡±But my lady, you haven¡¯t heard the other two options. There are independent ships. Their cost is high but their speed is great. One could spend a thousand gold just to hire the boat, but next to the flotilla, there is no safer option. If one doesn¡¯t have the gold for that, perhaps¡ªno, I shouldn¡¯t mention it. Their ships move too quickly, and who knows if one is even in port?¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Kaden knew. ¡°Ghost ships? I sure like the sound of that. It sounds great.¡±

    ¡°No, sir, no, madam, there¡¯s no point in getting your hopes up. Wait for captain Senegal. Wait for Elgarath, or save your gold.¡± Shim bowed his head. ¡°I know a friend who knows a friend. If I can find one of these ghost ships¡ªand that¡¯s not guaranteed¡ªI¡¯ll send word. But truly, focus on the best and safest way.¡±

    Ashi stood and put her hands together, waving them in a circle. ¡°May the Sea¡¯s breeze blow this way for your guidance, Shim.¡±

    He rushed from the room, gushing with excitement according to [Detect Emotion].

    ¡°What was that?¡± Kaden asked, mimicing her wave.

    ¡°As though you do not know. In Vichor, we may sample all the world¡¯s foods, and some do not agree. Some rush to leave the body, and the result is unpleasant. When that happens, it is a charm to remove the stench.¡± She carefully broke the motion down into segments. ¡°His advice was like that. When the next one comes, do not speak of bursting skulls or of minotaurs.¡±

    ¡°Next?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°There were many ears below. There will be many such men and women. Even those who mean well serve our purpose, to spread news through the port.¡± Ashi shrugged. ¡°I know no spell to reveal the ones we seek, so I must work to our goal.¡±

    A knock at the door accompanied a woman¡¯s reedy voice. ¡°Sir, may I have a word?¡±

    Ashi smiled and motioned to Kaden.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Kaden raised his voice. ¡°Please? We are but poor refugees who have come upon riches.¡±

    ###

    The night wind whipped down on the open balcony of the Barrel, pelting the outer edge with rain and whipping the heavy leather curtains Ashi wouldn¡¯t close.

    ¡°Yes, yes, we have heard of them,¡± she said to a [Cooper] in dark brown who¡¯d begged and pleaded. ¡°Also of Senegal, safest, also Salazar, also of independents. Now, since my husband is not a minotaur who can smash skulls, where can we find a ghost ship? You do not know yet, do you? But tomorrow, come and see if you have found one.¡± Ashi ushered the man out and beckoned for Kaden to follow. The inner core of the Barrel was warm and cozy with one group singing rousing Tavern songs while another seemed to be engaged in group stabbing, if the blood and screams were any indication.

    ¡°You are acting hangry,¡± Kaden said as he activated the [Eldritch Shield] to block a careless dagger. ¡°Are you hangry or cold or tired?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Ashi said. ¡°Please, may I have your lizard?¡±

    Kade detatched Burny and handed the lizard over. ¡°You¡¯re not going to catch fire, are you? He does that.¡±

    Ashi¡¯s skin flushed red and she steamed. ¡°Where is Sara?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll get here when she gets here. I sent the [Falcrow] to all three, but I haven¡¯t heard back.¡± Kaden looked ot the bar, where the Falcrow listened intently to conversations. [Sailors] loved it and it loved attention. ¡°Eve should have been back already. It worries me. Also, we should get out of here. The Barrel¡¯s not a inn and we¡¯re not leaving through the front door.¡±

    Ashi tilted her head. ¡°You fear robbers?¡±

    ¡°Level fifty ones, yes.¡± Kaden led them back to their slice-room and activated [Stealth Aura], then picked her up. ¡°Does [Hover] work for two?¡±

    ¡°We will fall, but not fast,¡± Ashi said, clinging to him.

    Kaden stepped off the balcony and drifted downward. It wasn¡¯t truly falling, it was a gentle desent to the rainswept cobblestones. He kept it active as they snuck through the streets to find the inn Sara had used before. As a thick drizzle wrapped Krevat Kaden and Ashi stepped inside, choking briefly on scent of incense that poured out.

    ¡°Greetings, come in and dry off,¡± The woman at the door called. ¡°Step through the charm, it¡¯ll wring off the water.¡±

    Kaden and Ashi squeezed through the door, which pushed back against them¡ªand stepped through dry.

    ¡°Kaden! Over here!¡± Sara called out.

    Ashi was already headed toward the fire, where Sara¡¯s psuedopods added logs (and devoured every third log). ¡°It is good that you are here.¡±

    Sara¡¯s right pseudopod pointed to an open table, which is where Kaden headed. The moment he sat down, a popup appeared.

    Your conversations are protected in this zone.

    Attempting evesdropping on others will confer heavy penaties and mark you as a bonus target.

    Ashi sat on one side, Kaden on the other and Sara joined them, brushing down her armor before sitting. ¡°Perhaps one of you two can explain why it is that every contact I have is alive with knowledge of this precious mana stone shipment?¡±

    Kaden pointed at Ashi as she pointed at him. ¡°Their idea.¡±

    ¡°We saw opportunity,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°And took it,¡± Kaden added. ¡°We met with six different people getting very similar stories. A flottilla just left yesterday¡ª¡±

    ¡°Or last week!¡± Ashi added. ¡°But Captain Senegal is cautious and we should speak to him¡ª¡±

    ¡®Or Salazar,¡± said Kaden. ¡°Both of whom are super busy and never sail, but we should definitely talk to them. Of course, even if we do, Elgarath controls it, and even if they do, so does the mysterious, deadly vicious snake-woman.¡±

    Sara smiled slightly.

    ¡°Of course, there¡¯s independent ships,¡± Kaden offered. ¡°Which cost eight hundred¡ª¡±

    ¡°A thousand¡ª¡± Ashi interjected.

    ¡°Ten thousand gold,¡± Kaden continued. ¡°If you can find one, and of course Adventurers are the worst, sailors are the best, and no one can say ¡®if¡¯ a ghost ship is available but if there was it would be the option we should totally choose.¡±

    Sara began to clap. ¡°Very impressive, both of you. Of course, there¡¯s a few wrinkles. Our stake is pinned on Senegal¡¯s ship, which we paid to retrofit, so he will be sailing. This ¡®snake woman,¡¯ she¡¯ll be along to make sure it happens. And Adventurers, we¡¯ll come standard with the ship. We do have more serious problem.¡±

    Kaden waited.

    ¡°This is my third pass through Krevat. The first time I personally took over a boarding ship. The second time, we drove off two boarders and Kaden demolished the crew of a wreck¡ªI mean, his ship. There were, however, two survivors. One had [Unsinkable] and the other had a pair of handcuffs on the one with [Unsinkable]. The stories cannot be undertold, of a [Beast Master] who summoned a monster to destroy invaders.¡±

    Kaden began to unfold the situation. ¡°You think either of us alone is enough to dissuade an attack.¡±

    Sara dipped her head. ¡°I do. I can probably be disguised. You or Skully or Trinity will be impossible.¡±

    ¡°Unless.¡± Kaden said.

    Ashi snorted. ¡°No unless. Say what you will.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to be on the ship. I can be under it. All I need is a sea beast to borrow water breathing from. Skully doesn¡¯t need to breathe, either. Ashi doesn¡¯t have to stay above deck, and Trella will blend with the [Sailors].¡± Being a [Beast Master] had its benefits.

    ¡°There is another aspect,¡± Ashi said. ¡°If many attack, what then?¡±

    Sara pointed to Ashi. ¡°Fire attacks against their sails the moment they get within range. There¡¯s a literal navy forming with the [Beserkers]. It¡¯ll be an easy story that we barely escaped. Rey¡¯s heartstone is still active. He¡¯s alive and we¡¯re coming for him. The Mercari hired a [Cartographer] who projected Rey¡¯s position on their map and there are [Spies] already scouting. We don¡¯t know if there¡¯s a network of islands, a missing continent, or what.¡±

    That set a definite time limit. ¡°Have you heard from Eve?¡±

    ¡°Yes. She¡¯s a powerful negotiator and chose to handle a critical issue for the Mercari in Xiao. She also retrieved Skully and says he won¡¯t be a problem. She¡¯ll join us tomorrow, extremely early. Trella hasn¡¯t responded to any of my messages.¡±Sara summoned her parrot and sent it off again. ¡°I booked us rooms and have a plan for tomorrow. For this to work, I need you two to back me up.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Ashi summoned Levi-ling and set the orb of water in the middle of the table. ¡°We must find beasts for it to battle. Levi-ling cannot grow stronger without battle.¡±

    The real problem would be finding something weak enough to fight Levi-ling without obliterating it. Maybe a small rat. One that was sick, one that was maimed and near death. ¡°I have ideas. Maybe Burney would be willing? I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s a fair fight. King of the Match Lizards versus a level nothing tenticlaw.¡±

    ¡°You may be surprised.¡± Ashi reached into the orb to brush Levi-ling¡¯s body. ¡°Size is not a factor, ferocity is the key.¡±

    Sara snatched Leviling with a pseudopod and slurped it down before Ashi could react. ¡°Size is almost certainly a factor. Based on the size, I¡¯m guessing you have a thirty second re-summon timer.¡±

    Ashi sat stunned, looking at the orb of seawater. ¡°How did you¡ªwhy did you? It is a baby!¡±

    Moments later, the seawater orb blazed brightly, and Levi-ling materialized in the globe. It was probably kaden¡¯s imagination that its round, soulless eyes glared at Sara. Kaden needed to defuse the situation. ¡°Well, I¡¯m exhausted. So is Ashi, who¡¯s been up for over a day. We should probably get some sleep. Sara, you want the case of mana stones?¡±

    Ashi drew it from Inventory and set it on the table.

    ¡°Take good care of these,¡± Kaden said. It wasn¡¯t like the real mana stones were in there. Kaden had replaced all of them with pretty stones from the riverbed, ones that could be polished and put on the mantle.

    The real stones would go in Skully¡¯s Inventory once he arrived and right now, Kaden held them. He retreated to the room at the end of the corridor and settled in for what sleep he could, with Burney on the night stand and the Falcrow sitting at the foot of the bed.

    The sun was well up when Sara knocked on the door and entered. ¡°Trella arrived a few hours ago and had business in the harbor. She said to let you sleep. Eve will be here any moment, she was delayed.¡±

    Kaden was on his feet immediately. Armor took so long to adjust correctly but there was never a reason to wear it wrong. Soon enough, he dressed and headed out with Ashi and Sara close behind. He stopped at the top of the bluffs. ¡°Where do we meet her?¡±

    ¡°Captain Senegal¡¯s ship,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s on the eleventh pier. See, the one with the body hanging from the mast? Oh, that¡¯s probably not good.¡±

    Kaden sprinted down the stairs and leaped to the arm of a crane, swinging down to the ground and off into the port. Senegal¡¯s ship was like the Child, a three mast special with a wide hull and built in cranes, one of which held the gutted boddy of Captain Senegal.

    At the foot of a crane leaned a woman. Trella.

 Thirty One - Limited Vocabulary

    Standing on the deck of the ship, Kaden could only stare at his creation in wonder while Skully¡¯s first word still hung in the air. Skully had been so cute as a skull-spider. As a lumbering Bone Behemoth he was less cute but considerably more dangerous. Undead could not normally become enlightened, meaning speech was supposed to be impossible. ¡°How? What happened to him?¡±

    ¡°I went to Xiao first, of course,¡± Eve said. She nodded to Skully, who kneeled down and bent his arms forward to provide a chair for Eve to sit. ¡°Then, after negotiations were complete, I collected Skully and headed to the Guild to get a pedestal. We have the first functioning shrine to Nurav at the gate of the Holding. Let me tell you, she adores the [Plague Crows] in Skully, and the moment she began speaking to him, he spoke back. Somewhat. His vocabulary is limited. Also, she asked for an offering of [Plague Crows] and I was afraid to say no.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be afraid, too,¡± Kaden said. ¡°The nest will generate more, but she needs an impregnated skull.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware. Please, never ask about that,¡± Eve said. ¡°Vip was the best girl. She didn¡¯t even growl.¡±

    *Slow*. Vip wasn¡¯t proud at all, though Kaden couldn¡¯t express his gratitude. ¡°Well done. So now, as High Priestess, you have to go out and convert people?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not. I¡¯ll be happy to fill you in on my duties when the party¡¯s all present. For now, suffice it to say that every time I use [Life Explosion] or [Life Endowment], I¡¯m fulfilling my duties.¡± Eve stood and stretched. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯ve been up for what feels like days. Are there crew cabins where I can sleep for a few hours?¡±

    Trella flagged down Captain Targ, who bowed to Eve and then offered her his cabin.

    ¡°Is it all right if Vip goes with me?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden picked Vip up to give her a squeeze and let her nuzzle him. ¡°Vip¡¯s the best girl. She¡¯ll take care of you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Eve opened the door for Vip and headed in. A moment later she opened the door. ¡°Did someone leave a meat puzzle in the bed? It¡¯s a corpse. I think the corpse is all there but I don¡¯t have the focus to try and resurrect someone this far gone at the moment. Perhaps tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Dead is dead, later¡¯s good,¡± Trella said. ¡°Come on, Kaden. I¡¯ll start teaching you positions¡ªnot those positions. Where to go when the captain calls locations. Sailing is a lot like party combat. It¡¯s the crew versus the ocean. Learning will make us better at working together.¡±

    Kaden could hardly wait.

    ###

    The gusting wind struck Kaden in the face as he stood at the front of the ship, determined not to sink into depression as they headed further and further out to sea. The sun sank deeper and deeper on the horizon, turning the sea red where it touched, and in the distance, clouds gathered. It was time for him to go underwater and prepare an ambush for any pirates.

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Trella asked. ¡°You could go below deck with Sara but this underwater attack is the best ideal you¡¯ve ever come up with. Or the worst, but if you pull it off, the best. Hiding under a ship to attack a pirate is something I¡¯ve never heard of.¡±

    Kaden was. ¡°The [Flip-oar] fish is following the ship, and even if something eats it, it¡¯s a sea. It¡¯s full of beasts. I¡¯ll bind another. Skully?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s waiting at the back of the ship. Sara put chains through him so he can¡¯t fall off and sink.¡± Trella put a hand on his cheek. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this.¡±

    ¡°Says the woman who spent months in a dungeon learning to sail.¡±

    ¡°Not just sailing. I learned a ton about [Pirates] and a good amount of [Deception.] Be ready, if there¡¯s anything I¡¯m sure of, it¡¯s that the pirates will either be smart or desperate and both are dangerous.¡± Trella followed him to the back of the ship, where Ashi stood on one side of a heavy chain and Sara stood on the other. The chain looped up and around Skully¡¯s spine, then trailed off into the water, where it went all the way forward to the front of the ship.

    Ashi handed him a stone. ¡°If the darkness becomes powerful, this will give you light in equal measure. If you are hungry, if you are thirsty, I will know and tell the others.¡±

    Sara started to speak and stopped. ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t drown. I¡¯ll have you pulled up once a day at sunset to have Eve check you over.¡±

    There was no putting it off.

    Kaden stepped to the rail and dropped over the side, clinging to the chain, which sank into the water and then ran along the underside of the entire hull. Kaden didn¡¯t need to breathe, so he sank underwater, and quickly used a strip of leather to loop himself to the keel-chain. Now, he didn¡¯t need to hold on.

    The seawater was cold, and the movement kept a constant current across his face, pulling at his hair and gently flaring the leather ties on his armor.

    A splash above him heralded Skully crawling hand over hand along the chain to Kaden¡ªthen positioning himself over Kaden. The Skeleton began to shift, molding his bones. The jaw-rib cage opened wider, enclosing Kaden and then stabbing the hull so the enchantments flashed yellow.

    The world was dark, any semblence of sun through the seawater had disappeared. The gentle rock up and down of the ship was the only movement.

    Then the sharks came.

    The first were normal sharks who rammed Skully until the skeleton grabbed one and smacked it against the hull. But the blood drew others. As the Time Of Monsters set in, the sea below came to life with hundreds of spawns, some so distant they were embers of light far below, and glowing orbs of red that said that bosses were nothing new to the sea below.

    A squid half the length of the ship swam up and settled in to snack on Skully¡ªonly to find itself Soul-Bound. This was magnificent. Fantastic. Kaden let his squid friend loose, studying the skills it came with.

    [Explodius - Sea Boss]

    The bomb-squid are not known for the strength of their arms, but their ability to detonate in the mouthes of predators, turning their hunters into easy meals¡ªor at least driving them off. But let a bomb-squid reach adulthood and what remains is a nightmare capable of wrecking a ship, or worse. This particular bomb-squid had spotted a tastey meal and is currently wondering if that was a great idea. *Beast Knowledge - so we took the bomb squid, and we stuffed it down his throat. Felt bad for the squid but the result was exactly what we hoped for.

    *Uncertain.*

    Skills: Splode, Regenerate, Claw

    Talents: Rubbery Flesh, Knotty Nature

    At his command, the Explodius swam alongside, and when sharks came too close, it moved to attack. Then he thought of something even better. Instead of killing them, it was better to have Explodius drag them close enough for Kaden to reach through Skully¡¯s rib cage and bind them. He dropped [Water Breathing] for [Water Born] which let him not only breath but move freely, and at his command, Skully moved forward, releasing Kaden to trail along under the ship.

    With only a thought he had Explodius drag Kaden with him, never more than a few hundred feet from the ship, but now he could descend to tame a [Barrel-cuda] or go shooting up toward the surface to stop a swarm of Furrahnas from gnawing at the ship.

    The sea was vicious, that was true, but with each passing spawn Kaden¡¯s army of beasts that were either bound or at least cooperative grew.

    You have completed a Quest - Times Ten - Tame a thousand beasts. This quest is repeatable.

    Quest Master is active.

    You have received: 2x Soul Binding Slot.

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Perfect. There were thousands of beasts in the sea which meant thousands of slots for Kaden to use.

    Warning. Your Soul Attribute is low. Soul limits bindings.

    Kaden swore and deposited a point into Soul. It would increase his ability to hold beasts, but he¡¯d really been planning on more agility. But every slot could be a different skill. Maybe he was fast enough.

    Speaking of skills, the exploding ability from Explodius looked like fun, but the [Regenerate] ability was truly magnificent. Oh, how easy it was to see a spawn, attack it with a random fish and then have Explodius drag them in to meet Kaden. So many fish, so many emotions, all of them hungry or angry or horny. So, not that many emotions but enough to keep the sea alive.

    Far below, Kaden focused on a shark that spewed swarms of smaller sharks from boils on its skin. Wraped in a bubble of red, it was deadly without question. He willed Explodius closer. The best attack would be one where an explosion destroyed the swarm and Kaden bound the boss. Timing was everything.

    Without warning, he flew backwards, upwards as the chain on his belt yanked backward, clattering against the hull until he burst from the water, dragged upside down. Kaden spat out a mouth full of water and clambered up to the deck. ¡°Pirates?¡±

    Trella stared at him as he dripped. ¡°No, it¡¯s near dawn and we were worried about you. The crew¡¯s been on guard for monster spawns but nothing attacked.¡±

    That made Kaden laugh, as Explodius hauled itself up the chain to loom behind him. It waved with all of its tentacles to almost every sailor. ¡°Say hello to Explodius. We¡¯ve been working to keep the ship safe.¡±

    From behind Trella, someone groaned. A broad chested, skeletal man who looked more undead than alive spoke in a whisper. ¡°Taming sea monsters. Never, ever a good omen. The beast will drag you into the depths, mark my words. He¡¯ll drag us all.¡±

    ¡°Kaden, meet Captain Senegal, he was the pile of body parts tucked inside the mattress Eve found,¡± Sara said. ¡°He¡¯ll be recovering from the resurrection for a while, but helping guide Captain Targ. Eve has a meal ready for you. How is Skully?¡±

    ¡°He likes fish. Can¡¯t actually digest them but it doesn¡¯t stop him from taking bites out of them and then throwing them back, which brings sharks, which is ok, because Skully likes sharks better than other fish.¡± Something smelled amazing. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°Fish stew.¡± Eve carried a bowl up to the back of the ship. ¡°I packed yours with meat. Your health is high, I don¡¯t see any status conditions. Why is there¡ªNo, I won¡¯t ask. You and your giant squid have a good meal.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not a giant. In fact, Explodius is small as squids go. A giant could pull this ship to pieces.¡± Kaden grinned at the thought. Of the giant squid, not the ship being torn to pieces. He slurped the soup and then drank every bit. ¡°Pull me up at sunset, or sooner if the water gets all bloody and it looks like my blood.¡±

    Trella gave him a kiss. ¡°We¡¯re two days from where Cutter¡¯s ship would have passed closest, but anywhere from here on out could be hostile waters. Get some sleep. If we yank the chain but don¡¯t pull you up, it¡¯s because there¡¯s a problem.¡±

    Kaden stepped backward, letting Explodius wrap a tentacle around him, and then together they returned to the sea, where Kaden let Skully cage him to the boat and fell asleep to the cold rush of water.

    He startled awake when the ship lurched upward and plunged down on a squall wave. Even ten feet below the surface, the waters calmed. Kaden quickly ordered the [Bearacuda] he¡¯d tamed to circle the ship in a widening circle, and then hold that radius. By daylight, the sea was a desert devoid of life with only distant schools of fish.

    Once, he caught a glimpse of a turtle the size of a ship, but when Explodius turned toward it, it dove deep and fast, leaving a trail of boiling water in its wake. The ship moved at a rate that made Kaden want to hitch up whales and pull, but the whole point was to bait the pirates into an attack. Moving faster would run against everything they¡¯d worked for.

    Evening found him quickly drinking and devouring a meal. There were monsters coming and chances to tame more beasts. While he clung to the underside of the ship, he practiced ideas with Skully, things Skully could do during an attack. The ideas were simple, like throw people off the ship,¡¯ ¡®swing people like clubs,¡¯ ¡®break the masts,¡¯ or ¡®bite faces,¡¯ but most importantly, raise pure mayhem.

    Tonight, the monster spawns avoided the ship. Sharks, of course came, but Kaden had tamed a dozen sharks and now only bothered when an elemental one showed its toothy face. And [Bearacudas]. One could never have too many of them, even though he could only afford to bind a pair. Vip, Rocky, Trinity, Skully, Burny, the Drake and Wyvern left only eight slots and Kaden juggled creatures, feeding some to keep them loyal. A[Drill Fish] was just too valuable to risk losing - the horn on its nose tip would damage even enchanted planks, and punching holes in the attacking ships was a key strategy. He¡¯d know exactly which ship he was going to take and which would be left for the pirates to escape on. The escapees would tell the story that would let them slip into port.

    As Kaden waited, a pattern in the deep began to worry him. Bosses spawned and winked out, like something had killed them¡ªor cut off his view. Such a creature would be unthinkably large, but Kaden kept thinking it anyway.

    *Kaden.*

    He startled at Sara¡¯s mind speech. None of them had actual training with the skill. She must be down in the hold right next to where he clung to the hull.

    *Hey. How¡¯s life in the air breathing world?*

    *Dark. I have to stay in the hold and I¡¯m losing my mind. Ashi is up in the crow¡¯s nest. She tied a rope to the top of the mast and used [Hover] to rise even further.*

    Kaden smiled¡ªthen winced as another boss disappeared. *There¡¯s something down deep in the sea. It¡¯s huge, large enough that it¡¯s eating boss spawns. There¡¯s no evidence of it coming higher, but the sailors should know.*

    *I¡¯ll tell them. It¡¯s past midnight, get some sleep. If there¡¯s going to be an attack it will be in the next two days and I think it will happen at dawn or sunset.*

    For the next few hours, Sara kept him company as Kaden tamed another electro-shark and an octopus the size of his fist, imbued with death mana. Four hours to sunrise, he drifted off to sleep. The gentle bump of his chain being pulled didn¡¯t disturb him until his head broke the surface.

    The tension on the ship was thick as a preserved biscuit soaked in sewage and then used as a roulette game piece. Ashi wasn¡¯t visible at all, Eve kneeled by the side board. ¡°Please. I know you have [Prophecy]. Have you sensed or seen anything? Even if it¡¯s wrong, it might help.¡±

    ¡°Not a glimpse. But I have a small army down here. The best army I can build. I¡¯m going to put Vip in my soul, just in case.¡± Kaden pulled on the soul binding and relaxed as Vip disappeared into the depths of his soul. ¡°Where¡¯s Trella?¡±

    ¡°Consulting with Captain Senegal, Captain Targ, and Bliss. Targ wants to kill all the pirates, Senegal wants to turn back. Listen closely and quickly - I don¡¯t trust Senegal. His resurrection felt wrong. Sara and the others know. Trella wanted to kill him just to be safe, but if we do, the [Sailors] might mutiny.¡± Eve hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m going to reserve enough mana to kill him if he turns on us. I hope I¡¯m wrong. I really hope I¡¯m wrong.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t ready to kill the man, but if Eve had a hunch he wouldn¡¯t ignore it. ¡°Sara¡¯s been using [Mind Speech] to talk to me. If anything happens, use it.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t. Every time I try, I wind up talking to Sara or Trella. But I¡¯ll yank your chain as soon as possible if anything goes wrong.¡± Eve stood and looked back. ¡°Quick, the shift¡¯s ending.¡±

    The ocean welcomed him back

    Days underwater made his skin feel dry in the open air, and something was wrong about that. Explodius did not speak. Squid were not given to thought, which didn¡¯t mean they weren¡¯t intelligent, it was simply that squid knew what it wanted to do. There wasn¡¯t an internal argument in its mind, decisions were easy as biting a shark.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help appreciating the clarity that Explodius enjoyed. [Beast Soul] let some of that leak in, and he began to present decisions to the squid. The mess of interconnected quests to re-establish his town? Explode it. The mana stone miners in Deshun becoming bandits again? Explode them. Ashi¡¯s failure to find love? Explode it. The clarity came at a cost, true, but it was refreshing.

    Evening came, and Kaden recognized the sunset before the relentless pulling hauled him back up toward the deck. Trella waited there as she pulled on the chain, but when he went to hug her, she recoiled. ¡°Are those crabs hanging off your chest?¡±

    He glanced down. ¡°Maybe.¡±

    ¡°Are they tryingeat you? Where did you even get crabs? The ocean floor is so far down!¡± Trella reached for one, which snapped at her.

    ¡°I think they were in the stomach of that carnivorous whale.¡± He watched her blank expression. ¡°The whale that came to eat the manta ray. The ray? The ray that came to eat the shark? Oh, look what Skully tore out of a whale!¡± He fumbled, unsure of how to use Inventory for a moment and drew a metallic hand. ¡°It¡¯s enchanted.¡±

    [Hand of Dog]

    This hand belonged to the legendary [Sailor] Dog. Dog doesn¡¯t need it anymore, the same way he doesn¡¯t need his belt or his bones, but his hand is still around. The weilder of this hand has absolute knowledge of knots and can tie them one-handed. The weilder of this hand will never lose his grip on a ship. This hand doubles the effectiveness of [From Hell¡¯s Heart].

    Trella studied the artifact. ¡°Eve told you how she feels about Senegal. About how his resurrection didn¡¯t take? I want to use this. When I¡¯m around him, I feel like he¡¯s staring at me, even when he¡¯s looking another direction.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to cut your hand off just to tie knots ?¡± Kaden asked, shaking the sea-brain free enough to focus.

    Trella shook her head. ¡°The Sisters told stories of dark spirits who cling to souls who spend too long dead without moving on. They¡¯re drawn to artifacts. Maybe he¡¯s not focusing on me. Maybe it¡¯s the [Ink Blades]. I¡¯ll have Sara carry it. If she gets the same treatment, I¡¯m going to arrange an accident for him.¡±

    Kaden ate quickly. ¡°Days suck. Nothing attacks. Nothing comes near. There¡¯s plenty of fish if you look down, but they don¡¯t want to die, so they leave us alone.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good thing. Sailors are trained to fight off monsters.¡± Trella put a hand on his cheek. ¡°You look strange. Wild. I don¡¯t think this is good for you, and if Sara gets much worse I¡¯m going to need to drug her.¡±

    ¡°Just explode her¡ªsorry, I¡¯ve been spending too much time with a squid.¡± Kaden shook his head. ¡°Where¡¯s Eve?¡±

    ¡°We had an outbreak of explosive sharting after the ship¡¯s cook didn¡¯t clean everything. She¡¯s been using [Blood Burn] on everyone. We haven¡¯t seen Ashi in forever but Sara says she¡¯s ok.¡± Trellalooked overboard. ¡°Are you going to try and tame another boss?¡±

    Kaden nodded. Then squinted. A chill ran through him even as he clung to the back of the ship. ¡°Alert everyone. There should be bosses out. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s pirates. I think that monster beneath us is coming.¡±

    With that, he dove off into the water. If death was coming from below, he was swimming down to meet it.

 Thirty Two - Squid Games

    Kaden peered into the dark water as he swam down beneath the ship. The sea should have bene filled with golden bubbles of monster spawns or red orbs for the roaming bosses, but the ocean depths were pitch black. Explodius took Kaden down a few feet, as far as his chain would let him. In the far distance, dim pinpoints of gold said it wasn¡¯t the entire sea.

    *Sara, something¡¯s coming,* He sent by mindspeech.

    *Ready.* she answered.

    Skully put one arm around Kaden¡¯s leg, pulling him back toward the ship. Without warning, a [Bearacuda] whipped by, broadcasting alarm. Kaden couldn¡¯t see anything, but the sea life said there were intruders.

    Far beneath him, a monster spawn winked into existence¡ªand disappeared. Kaden had only a moment to command Skully, to slice through the chain with the [Levicon Blade] and point himself downard as Skully hurled him down, down.

    Explodius sensed something coming, and before Kaden could give it an order, jetted away, while Kaden swam deeper and deeper, as tentacles as thick as trees reached upward, grasping at the ship. He slammed into a monster, and [Identify] activated.

    [Squidvard - Raid Boss]

    This giant squid would rather be sleeping on the ocean floor, attacking whales, eating giant turtles, and living its best life. Instead it is forced to turn ships into toothpicks and hurl unsuspecting sailors to their dooms. It¡¯s not like the sailors even taste good, but that¡¯s what it gets for being [Tame]. *This Raid Boss is highly agitated and physically in pain from being so close to the surface.*

    *Agony*

    Kaden grasp a sucker the size of his head and held on, attempting [Soul Binding]

    This beast is already [Tame].

    Dissolving [Taming] to replace with [Binding].

    Lower target¡¯s health to speed the process!

    The raid boss didn¡¯t even notice Kaden as it jetted upward to wrap tentacles around the ship, and Kaden slammed into the hull so hard ribs cracked. A few feet from him, a beak the size of a wheelbarrow chomped, sparking on the enchantments and tearing chunks from the keel.

    Kaden swam deeper, closer to the beak, and drew Remembrance for the first time in days. He couldn¡¯t overpower the raid boss, but he could jam its mouth, forcing the axe edge down into the edge of the beak.

    Sparks flew and Remembrance began to vibrate. Each time the squid thrashed, Kaden forced the axe further into its beak, preventing it from snapping the keel in two.

    You have removed a [Taming]. Skum Feld is no longer master of this beast.

    You have bound a beast (Squidvard).

    For taming your first Raid Boss, you receive a minor bonus: +1 Soul

    Kaden willed the raid boss to set the sailors it held down gently and slide back under the water, and took stock. Two massive pirate ships hung on either side of his ship, their hulls black, their sails glowing red, and from above water came the screams of combat. Two smaller sloops clung to their sides like pirate infested piglets suckling from much larger, also pirate-infested mother pigs.

    With only a thought, Kaden went to work, sending [Squidvard] against one of the black monster ships and Explodius to destroy the second sloop. Then he cut the chain that ran the length of the shipand swam underwater toward the second black ship. Skully couldn¡¯t swim¡ªat all¡ªbut he could climb along the chain Kaden carried. As Kaden reached the black ship, the giant skeleton clung to the chain, then punched his fist into the pirate ship¡¯s hull and began to climb. Kaden went with him, then, when Skully got stuck at the iron anchor, Kaden climbed over the giant to vault onto the railing.

    The pirate ship was alive with row upon row of pirates waiting their turn to slide down the boarding ropes, which hung from spars on the four masts. Rather than announce himself with words, Kaden drew Remembrance and charged forward, activating [Moment of Speed] as he swung, driving Remembrance deep into the foremast.

    In the second of confusion that followed he swung again, this time driving a chunk out of the mast.

    ¡°Get him!¡± A man at the rear of the ship screamed. His voice should have been swallowed in the dinn of battle, but the [Pirates] turned as one, drawing swords and spears. Kaden leaped upward, climbing the mast to the first spar and then from one mast to another, cutting lines with the [Levicon Blade] as he went.

    [Split Second] let him twist out of the way as a pirate with twin daggers dropped from the crow¡¯s nest in a leaping attack. Kaden cut the rope the man caught and let him fall to the deck in a swarm of pirates. The good news was, they¡¯d all given up on boarding the ship, the bad news was that they were focused on Kaden.

    ¡°I challenge you!¡± A man below screamed out. He wore a fancy black had with a feather and an actual suit, but carried twin swords.

    You have been challenged to a duel. Defeat [Dagger Dan] to win his surrender. Accept? [Y/N]

    Kaden risked a glance at the challenger. Level forty, stronger, faster. There was honor in fighting a duel. There was also honor in surviving and Kaden wasn¡¯t sure about survival. Besides, the drill fish had punched three holes in the hull and was working on a fourth. All of them small, but all of them holes in a place where you didn¡¯t want holes.

    He leaped from the mast he clung to, swung off a spar and landed near the wheel, across from his challenger. ¡°You want to duel?¡±

    ¡°Sure, if you¡¯ve got the guts,¡± Dagger Dan replied, drawing both swords and activating a glowing shield that surrounded him. ¡°Dagger Dan¡¯s killed more men than he can count. Dagger Dan is the end of all you Adventurers what think you can just roam the seas. Dagger Dan¡ª¡±

    Went flying over the railing as Explodius wrapped tentacles around the man and swam downward. The ship shook repeatedly as Explodius dealt with the problem in the best way possible. But before the pirates could react, the clank of chains drew all attention to the front.

    Skully heaved himself over the railing, dragging the ship¡¯s anchor behind him. Then he spun and flung the anchor down the ship¡¯s deck. It bounced, gouging wood from the deck and smashing [Pirates]. Skully surveyed the men frozen in fear and opened his jaw to bark in a rumbling voice. ¡°Charge!¡±

    He sprinted down the other side of the ship, still holding onto the anchor chain.

    Kaden thought maybe this was what it was like to be a parent. The immense pride a parent felt the first time their child used one end of a giant anchor and the other end of the chain to maim a horde of pirates. It was great.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The foremast cracked and fell backwards, and men screamed as the chain around Skully whipped forward, tearing deck planks loose and limbs from [Pirates]. Kaden activated [Aura of Destruction] and leaped into the fray, using a pirate as a battering ram to knock three others overboard.

    It wasn¡¯t like the pirates didn¡¯t fight back, it was just that what had begun as their ambush became his. An [Agony Cloud] exploded on one end of the deck, while Kaden used Remembrance to maim, specifically avoiding killing.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Trella shouted¡ªand pointed to the small sloop. ¡°The plan!¡±

    This time, Kaden led with an [Agony Cloud] that enveloped the entire sloop. Where was the other one? He had no idea but it wasn¡¯t doing well, wherever it was.

    Skully¡¯s roar sounded distinctly like laughter. Skeletons weren¡¯t truly vulnerable to bladed weapons, and Skully¡¯s current body was a bladed weapon, so he¡¯d stopped wreaking mayhem and started wrecking, pure carnage.

    Kaden leaped from the black ship to the sloop, ignoring the burn of [Agony Cloud] as he helped [Pirates] into the sea, where his [Bearacudas] and sharks feasted. Lightning struck everywhere around Kaden, who stood as the king of carnage, surrounded by bloody waves.

    *Let them go.* Sara¡¯s message came loud and clear over [Mind Speech].

    Kaden willed Squidvard to release the one black ship and instead focus on the [Pirates] filling the water¡ªand almost attacked as Trella [Shadow Stepped] onto the deck. ¡°Head to the front, grab that cut rope and hold on. Everyone else is fleeing, we¡¯re going to flee, too.¡±

    In four bounds, he grasp the rope and heaved, holding the sail tight as Trella swung it around, letting it fill with the wind. The sloop dipped and then surged on the wind, grinding against the hull of the black ship where Skully continued his carnage and then shuddering to the side free.

    ¡°No freeloaders!¡± Trella leaped from the wheel to stab a [Pirate] who clung to the railing. ¡°We just have to keep moving. In a moment, I want you to let the rope go and hit the deck, or that boom will hit you in the chest. Now!¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, throwing himself down as the loose sail whipped right in the wind, and the sloop dipped to the side, taking on water.

    ¡°Get it again and pull mid-way. I want them to see us foundering. We were doing our best to control it.¡± Trella threw open a hatch. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too much water. You work the bilge, I¡¯ll steer us back and forth.¡±

    Kaden charged down the stairs into the salt water. The sloop was more sunk than afloat, but [Waterborn] let him ignore the flooded hold and pump, every moment raising the hull.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, I need to hold the wheel!¡± Trella called. ¡°Get the rope, let¡¯s put some distance between us and the mayhem.¡±

    The sloop was a fast, fast ship. It had swung far out, while the black ship¡ªone of them¡ªfled north, sails burning. Kaden flinched as Ashi¡¯s messenger dragon landed on him. ¡°Evelyn¡¯s fears were well founded. Senegal killed four sailors, Captain Targ, and nearly killed Evelyn. His soul rotted from the inside. Sara says ¡®do not risk a quick approach.¡¯¡±

    Kaden relayed to Trella, who swung the ship west.

    Shepointed to one rope. ¡°Retie that, then lash to the port side. Left side. Other left. A quick approach isn¡¯t possible. We can tack our way toward them, or move east and let them catch up, but the thing about boats is they don¡¯t sail straight into the wind.¡±

    Kaden reached out mentally. ¡°We can. We¡¯re not sail powered, and squids don¡¯t care about the wind.¡±

    A bright green parrot landed on Kaden¡¯s arm. ¡°Please give me permission to command Skully. He¡¯s over-succeeding. Call him off!¡±

    That gave Kaden an idea. Trinity took up a ton of space in his soul. Skully wasn¡¯t anywhere near the same power. Kaden pulled¡ªand groaned as his limbs grew so much heavier. It wasn¡¯t as much a decision as a requirement to eject Skully from his soul. The sloop lurched to the right as the bone behemoth materialized on deck.

    ¡°Skully, move the boom to the right,¡± Trella said, not even skipping a beat.

    ¡°Boss.¡± Skull raised one hand to block the boom as it swung his way and pushed it aside.

    With Trella at the helm, she steered them east. ¡°Ok, we¡¯re gong to work our way there. Have your squid friend move us back toward Sara and the others.¡±

    She didn¡¯t understand.

    Kaden made a gentle ask, not a requirment, and smiled as the raid boss surfaced from underneath them, seized the anchor, and jetted forward.

    ¡°Less fast!¡± Trella called frantically as waves crashed over the bow of the ship. ¡°The goal of sailing is to keep the ocean out of the boat!¡±

    [Squidvard] slowed his pace, though a wave of annoyance said the giant squid didn¡¯t understand. Kaden asked him to go, he went. Four squid-lengths from the main ship, Kaden let Squidvard sink in. The Raid Boss was made for the pressure of the depths, and being in water this shallow made its skin ache.

    ¡°Go deep,¡± he said.

    Explodius hadn¡¯t returned, but Kaden knew from the soul bond the squid wasn¡¯t dead. The feelings he picked up said the squid was enjoying a good meal with some crab friends. Or maybe a good meal with a sprinkling of crab meat.

    Trella raised the sails to slow the ship, and sailors swarmed aboard to help. When she approached Kaden, her hands dripped blood. She held them up. ¡°Don¡¯t let Eve or anyone else heal. This is the nail that pins in the story.¡±

    Kaden had suffered as a minotaur for using [From Hell¡¯s Heart], but not like this. Minotaurs were simply built better. He waved as Ashi came floating downard from high above. ¡°The lightning was you?¡±

    ¡°It was.¡± She turned off the hover fifteen feet off and let Kaden catch her. ¡°Your monster was magnificent. Trella, do you need aid?¡±

    Trella shook her head. ¡°Absolutely not. When we sail into that port, we do so full of water and with burns caused by [From Hell¡¯s Heart]. No one will look twice at us.¡±

    The sailors lowed a ladder, and Eve climbed down, joining them, while Sara shouted louder and louder. ¡°You¡¯ll do it because I said so. And because you really don¡¯t want to explain to me why you didn¡¯t. I¡¯ll see you in Xiao. Charge the dock fee to me.¡±

    Sara looked to Trella. ¡°Do you have the pendants?¡±

    ¡°All ready changed.¡± Trella handed off pendants. ¡°Listen up, everyone here is going to show as a level two [Pirate]. Your story is that you were on a merchant trader and given the choice and joined up. Sara, you were a traveling merchant, Eve, their cook. Ashi, you were a servant girl. Kaden, I have no idea what to do with you.¡±

    ¡°Bandit,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯m a bandit.¡±

    Trella focused on the pendant. ¡°Close enough. You¡¯re a bandit. The King of Verona hangs bandits and has a Quest out and you¡¯re allergic to rope around your neck.¡±

    ¡°What of the argument?¡± Ashi asked.

    Sara didn¡¯t want to talk. ¡°Later. I swear I was this close to stripping Captain Targ of his authority. He works for me, but this far out at sea, I have to accept that the crew¡¯s loyalty is powerful. What are we waiting for? We should be sailing north.¡±

    Trella raised the sails and turned the wheel, sending them north, while Captain Targ¡¯s ship bobbed slowly east with the black pirate wreck clinging to it. ¡°Kaden, will we be safe?¡±

    ¡°Close enough.¡± He still had two [Bearacudas] and a shark, and Explodius, who was resting in a torpor, digesting Iron Dagger Dan. If the worst happened, he¡¯d jump in and rebuild the army. Sailing in with an army of monsters wouldn¡¯t get him the chance to find Rey.

    They sailed through the night, with Sara stopping to check Rey¡¯s location regularly. Near dawn, Trella lowered sails to slow. ¡°We need to take on more water. Also, Kaden, take out that front mast. Don¡¯t cut it, just break it and leave it hanging over. I¡¯m on the wheel from here on out. Kaden and Sara are at the ropes. Remember, rival crews, lucky to escape. Hungry, and angry.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing out there,¡± Kaden protested as he headed down into the hold and cut into the hull in eight spots with the [Levicon Blade]. And to finish it, he broke the overhead planks and pushed his way up, then commanded Skully to leap on the edge of the hole.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Trella called. ¡°Break the mast and then store Skully.¡±

    Skully didn¡¯t hesitate, swinging one arm at the foremast and then following it up with a punch. With a shower of golden sparks, the foremast crushed the railing and sank into the water, still bound to the ship.

    ¡°It¡¯s shallow,¡± Eve said, looking down. ¡°There¡¯s no land ahead but I can feel the ship grazing the bottom. It¡¯s so muddy.¡±

    Kaden knew exactly how to hide Skully.

    The behemoth stumbled to the side railing and tore it as he fell off, sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Then he turned and began to lumber after them.

    Eve gave a gasp of surprise. ¡°It¡¯s an illusion. It¡¯s all¡ª¡±

    A wave of magic swept across Kaden, and the empty ocean was now a chain of islands with heavy stone sea walls and dozens of black ships docked.

    You have entered a Tidal Lock.

    You may not leave without permission of the owner (Harrigan).

    Trella swung the wheel and shouted, angling toward the far end of a dock. ¡°Slow us down! Slow us down or we¡¯re going to crash!¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have anchors!¡± Kaden shouted back, as [Pirates] began to boil out along the dock like rats.

    ¡°Hard dock!¡± Trella shouted¡ªbut dozens of hands reached out to grab the ship and cushion the blow, then rope after rope lashed them to the dock.

    ¡°You!¡± A man shouted out as he lumbered down the dock. ¡°You¡¯d better have a good explanation, or I¡¯ll cut your throat myself.¡±

 Thirty Three - Pyre-rats

    A crowd of angry pirates surrounded the sinking sloop Kaden had stolen. The dock creaked as the ship sank lower and lower. Some were upset because Trella¡¯s hard dock had crushed them between the dock and the ship and some seemed upset because it was a day that ended in y and also because they were pirates.

    The harbormaster¡¯s threat to cut their throats if they didn¡¯t have a good explanation sat well with the crowd. He knew what would please them.

    Trella sprinted to the edge of the ship and leaped, landing in the crowd. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try, you fat, smelly tub of shit. I just worked a gods-damned miracle. Kaden, Sara, bring the healer, I need her. My hands are blistered to hell and back.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t work for you,¡± Sara answered in an uncharateristically sullen tone¡ªthen stopped as every eye turned her way. ¡°I mean, yes, captain.¡±

    With Kaden¡¯s help, they unloaded Eve and Ashi.

    Trella stood five inches from the dockmaster, engaged in a heated argument.

    ¡°You¡¯re not a captain. You may have saved the ship and you definitely saved those sea-biscuits, but that doesn¡¯t make you captain of one of Harrigan¡¯s ships.¡± The Harbor Master paused, looking at her hands. ¡°But you did well. The Smoke Trail said there were no other survivors. What about the Ash Dawn?¡±

    Trella didn¡¯t answer for a moment. ¡°There¡¯s no ship named the Ash Dawn. Black Marie was in flames, with a fifteen foot skeleton monster killing everything. I thought for sure the Marie went down, wrapped in tentacles, but we were six inches from sinking, and if not for the current, we¡¯d have gone on a salt-water drinking binge, too.¡±

    ¡°That damned Squid betrayed Dagger Dan and turned on us after four centuries. What of them?¡±

    Trella glanced to Eve. ¡°That one¡¯s not a biscuit, she¡¯s a healer with a taste for blood. If you want healing from her, you bring a knife. We picked up the [Bandit] in Norim, can¡¯t sail but he¡¯s got his uses where I¡¯m concerned, the other two are gods-damned wastes of skin. You, Sara, tie a monkey¡¯s fist.¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know what that is.¡±

    ¡°See?¡± Trella pointed to all of them. ¡°Fall in. Keep your mouths shut, keep your daggers away, you owe me your lives and I mean to collect. First stop, I need a drink. How long until we have my ship patched up?¡±

    ¡°Your ship.¡± The Harbor Master grinned. ¡°That¡¯d be for Harrigan to decide, but I like you. You¡¯re too green to be a [Captain.] A real captain knows a healer¡¯s always valuable and that every ship needs a cook and every crew servants. You¡¯ll learn. Go on. Harrigan will have questions. When he does? Less sass.¡±

    As Trella led them away from the docks, [Pirates] set to work raising the sloop and cutting loose the ruined mast. Kaden kept close to Ashi and Eve, with Sara on one side and Trella just ahead. No one so much as glanced their way as they made their way out of the harbor and into the town beyond.

    Once they weren¡¯t pits-deep in [Pirates], Trella looked to Sara. ¡°Follow my lead here, we need information.¡±

    She headed toward an obvious bar and stopped, bowing deep enough that her top fell open a little to a group of men. ¡°Mind doing me a favor?¡±

    Several of them grinned and reached¡ªonly to find Trella just beyond their grasp. ¡°What do you want? I¡¯ve got it, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°If I have to repeat this one more time¡­someone¡¯s going to bleed.¡± Trella looked to Sara. ¡°Ask him. Food, drink, lodging.¡±

    ¡°I was told this would be explained when we reached port.¡± Sara said. ¡°Kill the sailors, take the ship, get fed and a place to sleep where my snake friends won¡¯t be so frightening to everyone.¡±

    ¡°Food, drink, you buy,¡± one pirate said. ¡°Sleep on your ship or buy a bunk at the Bleached Whales. Do as your [Captain] says, don¡¯t die. That¡¯s all you ever need explained.¡±

    Trella pointed ahead. ¡°Keep moving, don¡¯t ask stupid questions, don¡¯t buy anything. Hands to yourself. Ladies, if someone touches you, take off a finger-tip but not one knuckle more.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t be doing that.¡± Eve locked her gaze with one of the pirates. ¡°Anyone who touches me catches [Plague]. You there, I need to make an example. Would you mind suffering a debilitating status effect that makes you weak and clumsy?¡±

    The men stepped back, and Kaden would have taught them not to use such terms for women, but this was almost perfectly the right amount of conflict. Instead, he let Trella and the others move ahead and spoke to the [Pirates]. ¡°Say I wanted something different. Some companionship?¡±

    The men laughed and one of them spoke up. ¡°Get it at sea, get it when you dock over in Norim, the company here will get you ten status effects in the first thirty seconds.¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll wait.¡± Kaden dipped his head to them and turned and headed toward Trella.

    She punched him on the shoulder. ¡°Keep up!¡±

    *I¡¯ve got that location for Portal,* Kaden replied in code.

    Trella didn¡¯t answer, but she gave him a quick nod. ¡°There we go, that¡¯s our kind of place. We¡¯ve got few coins and fewer options and we need some privacy.¡± Trella steered them toward a bar that looked like it was about to fall in. ¡°Kaden, if the bouncer gives us trouble, give him trouble.¡±

    Kaden took the lead, pushing open the door so hard the wood crunched as a wide man tried¡ªand failed to block it.

    ¡°Get out.¡± The bouncer growled.

    Kaden turned on [Destruction Aura]. ¡°I want to sit and drink quietly with my friends. Or I want to break a lot of people and maybe some things. Your call.¡±

    ¡°There.¡± The bouncer pointed to the corner. ¡°If the Strikers come in, you go out. There¡¯s thirty of them and six of you.¡±

    Turning off the aura was just good sense, especially when it looked like the bar was two minutes from falling in already. Kaden sat and shuffled through Inventory. It wasn¡¯t likely the businesses here would allow debts with the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, which kept him from carrying all his gold. Kaden slapped down two silvers, more for the keeper to leave them alone.

    Trella spoke loudly. ¡°You all owe me. We were damned lucky to survive that disaster, and I¡¯ll find another ship if I have to sling a sheet from a row-boat. For now, you need to convince me how it was worthwhile.¡±

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Sara waited until after the barkeep set down a pitcher of beer to unroll her map. Rey¡¯s heartstone location flashed on it. ¡°He¡¯s very close. A block or two north at most?¡±

    Trella studied the map closely. ¡°I¡¯d bet that¡¯s a [Leecher]. They¡¯re healers that thrive off of disease. Makes sense they¡¯d stick the healers in together.¡±

    ¡°I want to go look for him,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea.¡± Trella glanced his way.

    Kaden stood up and stretched, then limped over to the barkeep. ¡°I feel like I might have come down with a Status effect from some company I kept. Where could I get cleansed?¡±

    ¡°Go see Pulchor. North two streets, then inward one street,¡± the barkeep said. ¡°And stay away from the whores here. You¡¯ll be stuck in the mines or logging if you can¡¯t pull your weight on a ship.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. This itch just won¡¯t stop.¡± Kaden shuffled back to the table. ¡°Eve, can you [Plauge] me?¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t use that on friends¡­¡± Eve sighed. ¡°This will be unpleasant.¡±

    Kaden winced as his skin flushed and flies buzzed into existence, circling him. His agility dropped and the system flashed a warning.

    You have acquired a status condition! Plauged.

    Strength and Agility are reduced.

    ¡°That¡¯ ll do.¡± He headed out of the bar.

    Trella caught his hand as he walked away. *There¡¯s a Sister of Shadows on this island. She left the usual rune-marks we use to notify each other. I¡¯ll find her, we need all the help we can get.* The excitement in her body language was clear.

    That was exactly the sort of thing Kaden expected from the [Shadow Blade] organization. Whether the Sister had been sent to infiltrate or gotten trapped here and survived, reporting in, it fit their mode of operation. *Be careful.*

    Though Kaden would have expected a [Pirate] town to be filthy and falling apart, many of the stores here showed new construction and careful maintenance, and the streets had thin layers of pumic making it hard to slip. Wagons moved through the street drawn by ponies. That was a lot of cargo for a small town, but then again, when the illusion dropped, it let them see a chain of islands, and this was only one of them. Probably the largest, but every island could be entirely built out.

    Three streets over, Kaden spotted the dimly lit mana-sign that said ¡°Pulchorium.¡± Beneath the word was the symbol of a frog, which didn¡¯t exactly scream health. Kaden pushed through the double doors and then through a second set¡ªand flinched. The air inside was clean, medicinal, pure and smelled of alchemical reagents. Though the shop was made of wood, it was fine construction with polished counters and stone work basins, and an thin man with balding blond hair in seven tight braids hunched over a basin. His white coat carried pockets with dozens of frogs.

    ¡°Oy. Wait at the counter, wait your turn, you don¡¯t smell like you¡¯re dying, so you aren¡¯t, but if you mess up this reaction, you may.¡± Pulchor leaned further over and fished in his pocket, pulling out a bright yellow frog, which he tossed into the sink.

    The man didn¡¯t even flinch as it exploded, throwing yellow dust up in a cloud that enveloped him. ¡°There we are. Now, let¡¯s get a look¡ªoh, delicious!¡±

    Pulchor¡¯s eyes were a watered down blue, his face covered in wrinkles and spotless white teeth gleamed in his smile as he breathed in. ¡°[Plague?] You have [Plague?] Oh you lucky man. I must have it.¡±

    Below the counter, Kaden drew the [Levicon Blade] and braced himself, carving into his own thigh. ¡°That and I had a disagreement with someone. I need a healing potion.¡±

    ¡°Bah. Waste of good potions and lords, boy, keep it in your pants if whoever did this can [Plague] and cut like that.¡± Pulchor put a hand on Kaden and breathed in deep. A ball of black energy collected in front of him, and he drew a vial from Inventory. ¡°Now I have [Plague] too. What a fortuitous day. Let¡¯s see about that cut.¡±

    Kaden followed Pulchor through a set of curtains¡ªand recoiled. Chained to the wall were half a dozen men and women.

    ¡°Don¡¯t flinch, this is cheaper than a potion. Who¡¯s up next?¡± Pulchor scanned the wall.

    Rey hung from manacles on the end, his tan skin sallow, the marks on his wrists deep. But he locked his gaze on Kaden and stood. ¡°It¡¯s me. I¡¯ve got mana. That wound is reinforced, though.¡±

    Pulchor huffed. ¡°That¡¯s going to cost a silver, then.¡±

    Kaden paid three. ¡°I recognize him. How much for some time alone?¡±

    The way Pulchor cackled made Kaden¡¯s skin crawl. He pocketed the silver and took out a set of keys. ¡°These come from Hell. Can¡¯t be removed at all, so we have to unlock the wall.¡±

    A moment later, Rey stumbled down¡ªstraight into Kaden¡¯s fist. Kaden picked him up. ¡°I¡¯ll heal my own wound in exchange for this. Remember Vaya? I said we¡¯d meet up again.¡±

    Pulchor motioned to a door. ¡°Don¡¯t kill him or I¡¯ll be coming after you, but take your time¡±

    Inside, Kaden found a leather table with straps¡ªand set Rey down, pulling potions ¡°First, healing.¡±

    Kaden took one swig and gave the rest to Rey. ¡°Now, stamina. And here¡¯s some goat skewers, sorry no ginger.¡±

    Rey devoured each. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re here alone.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Sara still had your heartstone. There¡¯s an flotilla arranged by the Mercari coming this way. Where¡¯s Cutter and the others?¡±

    ¡°Six of us are in the mines¡ªif they¡¯re still alive. Tolt¡ªour hauler¡ªwas logging. Circe¡­¡± Rey began to weep.

    Kaden slammed the wall with his fist to make it sound like he was getting his silver worth. ¡°Where is she?¡±

    ¡°She almost killed Harrigan. The son of a bitch doesn¡¯t fight fair, and she almost killed him. Her corpse is tied to the masthead above his throne. He¡¯s level fifty and loves to make an example, but having to beg his crew to jump in to what was supposed to be a duel has the man on edge. She made him show weakness.¡± Rey swallowed and wiped away tears. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can make a deal with him. You shouldn¡¯t have come. We¡¯re in a Tidal Lock.¡±

    ¡°A bit late for that. I can¡¯t take you with me yet, but we¡¯re not leaving you, either. Are there FarPortals here?¡±

    Rey shook his head. ¡°Harrigan would never allow them. Too afraid of a flood of City Knights. He controls the local seas through the Tidal Lock. Ships can¡¯t leave the island without his permission. I should know, Circe sent me to get help in a sloop.¡±

    ¡°I have to get back to the others to plan. But I¡¯ll be back to get you. What level is Pulchor?¡±

    ¡°Forty. He deals status effects like thorns deal scratches. Tell Sara to run. Hide in the forests, or the old abandoned mine. You can¡¯t get off this island, but you can do that. Circe still talks about what you did with the Torrods. She did.¡± Rey looked away. ¡°You better bust me up or Pulchor¡¯s never going to believe this.¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± Kaden cut the back of his arm and smeared blood all over Rey, then stepped outside and dug for another five coins. Pulchor tended the front, collecting disgusting puss from a [Pirate] who looked about to collapse. He slapped the coins down. ¡°Rey and I have a lot of catching up to do. I want him in good shape and I¡¯ll pay premium for more¡­healing.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not going anywhere. I do hope to see you around, especially if you get more of that lovely [Plague].¡± Pulchor went back to extracting puss.

    The moment he could, Kaden engaged [Stealth Aura]. The fewer conflicts, the better. But as he returned to the bar, the hair on his arm began to stand up. Pirates swarmed the bar where they¡¯d been, and several human-sized cages rolled away.

    The last one contained Trella, who¡¯d dropped her illusion as a [Pirate]¡ªand spoke to another [Shadow Blade]. Kaden had become an expert in Trella¡¯s body language and right now, she brimmed with rage. ¡°You will regret this, Arden. We thought you were dead¡ª¡±

    ¡°I might as well be. Senior Sister had a new pet project. You. I was sent on missions meant to kill me, not train me. So how wonderful that [Fate] arranged for me to see you come sailing in. Harrigan himself wants to question you.¡± Arden paused, looking at the others. ¡°The snake woman is your Party Leader. I have no idea who the other two are. Where¡¯s your lover?¡±

    ¡°Kaden is hunting for people to kill,¡± Trella said. ¡°He¡¯s loose in your quaint town, finding all your secrets. Arranging to meet you in a dark alley. And you really don¡¯t want to meet him.¡±

    Arden nodded. ¡°A lie. I was trained for this, you weren¡¯t. So he¡¯s here on the island?¡±

    ¡°Hunting you, right now,¡± Trella answered. ¡°He¡¯s right over by the street lamp. You just can¡¯t see him.¡±

    Trella had always known where he was, but Kaden almost ran. Only force of will kept him still as the traitous [Shadow Blade] looked his way. [Stealth Aura] would have to do.

    The [Shadow Blade] studied the streets and the alleys for a moment. ¡°You¡¯re really not good at this. Keep your pulse steady. Keep your lies somewhat believable. Oh, and don¡¯t try that with Harrigan. I¡¯ll be there to laugh when you do.¡± Arden motioned to the wagons. ¡°Go. Ragman, take everything to my quarters, Harrigan himself said it was mine. That Blood Moon staff is something different, I couldn¡¯t even pick it up. Leave it in the inventory cube, we¡¯ll have a [Hexist] look at it.¡±

    Kaden watched the [Rogue] who¡¯d looked at Arden when she spoke. Of course they¡¯d take everything from his party. Step one would be getting all of that back.

    No.

    He began to follow Ragman, but that was not step one. Not at all. Kaden swallowed his pride, put away the [Levicon Blade], and summoned the [Falcrow]. Step one, he knew.

 Thirty Four - Audience

    It pained Kaden to delay rescuing his party, but there was a time and place to be the hero and a time to be cautious. Pirates wouldn¡¯t hesitate to kill. Any chance of rescue relied on careful timing, even more careful planning, and a point or two of [Luck].

    The [Luck] probably wouldn¡¯t happen. So Kaden followed Ragman, who had his party¡¯s possessions, through the streets of the pirate town. The servant was quick to stare at women who passed and slow to pass a vendor selling fish stew, giving Kaden a break. He sent a trio of messages, detailing where they were, the issue with Harrigan¡¯s Tidal Lock, and an explanation of what he planned. Because even though he might not succeed, Kaden would rather die trying than live abandoning them.

    With only a command through the soul bond, the [Drill Fish] began its work, attacking the largest ships first, while Kaden focused on [Stealth Aura] and keeping up with the [Rogue]. He knew Trella like he knew himself, but Kaden had listened over and over to stories told in the Guild. The most trustworthy rogues could be trusted to look out for themselves.

    The man attempted to engage [Stealth], something Kade was used to dealing with from growing up around his mother. He kept close, just footsteps behind until the man, in a fit of frustration, stepped through the back door of a [Tanner¡¯s] workshop.

    It was probably a trap, but Kaden held his place just outside¡ªthen ducked through the doors. The break in eye contact had allowed [Stealth] to engage, but Kaden wasn¡¯t a unclassed commoner. Instead of staring, he studied the room of vats filled with caustic chemicals and soaking hides.

    The key was the place where the System pushed his attention away, the west corner. With slow, careful steps, Kaden approached¡ªthen sprinted forward, slamming into someone.

    [Stealth] evaporated and loot clattered to the ground as Kaden grappled.

    Over and over, the [Rogue] stabbed him in the gut, but he hadn¡¯t taken [Limber] and Kaden¡¯s grip was absolute, as was his hand, clamped over the man¡¯s mouth.

    Critical strike! You have been heavily wounded!

    Critical strike! You have been heavily wounded!

    Kaden activated [Destruction Aura] and spun the man up against a red-hot vat, forcing his head backwards further and further. The man¡¯s head brushed the top of the liquid and he screamed, a muffled cry, and slashed at Kaden¡¯s hand.

    A mistake. It let Kaden push with both hand until the boiling vat fluid crept up to the fear-wide eyes of the man. At the last moment, he slashed out, laying Kaden¡¯s cheek open¡ªand the man¡¯s head slipped under the liquid.

    Now Kaden ripped the man¡¯s jaw open and drove his knee into the [Rogue¡¯s] crotch.

    You have slain the [Rogue] Ragman Smithson.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden stuffed everything into Inventory and then quickly dismembered the body and fed it into different vats, all the way to the bottom. Then he slipped out the back and headed toward the docks. The docks lay in a state of panic as ship after ship began taking on water. As soon as the crews stabilized one, another began to sink with holes drilled or gashed in their hull. Perfect.

    Next stop? Pulchor¡¯s. Kaden didn¡¯t bother healing. He headed straight in. ¡°You. How do I get an audience with Harrigan?¡±

    Pulchor shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t want to do that. Only those who have committed crimes against him get to see the Pirate King. You need healing. And sleep. And possibly a [Mind Mage] because you have the look of a madman.¡±

    ¡°Where is Harrigan? I¡¯ll only ask you once.¡±

    The [Leecher] shifted, looking at Kaden in a new way. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but I¡¯m a very dangerous enemy. If you¡¯re so damned eager to march to your death, follow the road inland. A few centuries ago, a storm washed Harrigan¡¯s flag ship onto the island. He holds court there.¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°He¡¯s got an assassin, woman, name¡¯s Arden. Where do I find her?¡±

    The shop grew silent as Kaden took off his disguise charm and let Pulchor study him. ¡°She¡¯s a favorite of Harrigan¡¯s. I¡¯ve seen her kill a man from across the street without breaking stride. She¡¯s six levels above you and fueled by sheer hate. But I¡¯ll send her a message. If you leave me out of this, I swear before the System I¡¯ll only message her. I don¡¯t know what a [Beast Master] is and I¡¯m not eager to find out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving, and when I do, I¡¯m taking Rey with me.¡±

    Pulchor nearly choked. ¡°How? You can¡¯t leave this island without Harrigan¡¯s permission. No one can. It¡¯s why he hasn¡¯t been erradicated. There¡¯s no escape without Harrigan personally granting your ship leave.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t believe that for a moment. ¡°Regardless, I¡¯m taking Rey.¡± Kaden walked straight into the back room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rey.¡± Before the [Healer] could react, Kaden drew [Remembrance] and chopped the healer¡¯s hands off, one after another, then fed him a healing potion and held the stumps in place while Rey screamed through gritted teeth.

    ¡°You were never here,¡± Pulchor said as he handed Kaden a metal card with contact information. ¡°I never saw you. But if we need to fight, I¡¯ve pulled so many diseases¡ª¡±

    ¡°I have [Resist Status Effect] and I¡¯d love to put levels on it.¡± Kaden waited for the man to fall silent. ¡°Rey, you¡¯re with me. I¡¯ve got a [Shadow Blade] to kill. Who can fight?¡±

    ¡°Mick, Cato, but they¡¯re in the mines. Because they could fight,¡± Rey said.

    ¡°Stick with me.¡± Kaden strolled out into the city as an ever-growing panic at the harbor drew more and more men to help. One [Drill Fish] could not sink a fleet, but one [Drill Fish] and a clever bone behemoth could wreak havoc. For now, he ordered them to stop. Skully, he sensed, lay down in the muck, crawling along the floor of the bay. The [Drill Fish] nibbled at a stray arm stuck through Skully¡¯s rib cage.

    Kaden hesistated a moment. What he was doing was wrong. Trella would be furious. Kaden could live with that. It took him an hour to find a ship set up the way he needed, but a man working with hammer and nails in the chaos was basically invisible and one more hole in the side was like one more spot on a [Shadow Leopard].

    The Sisters didn¡¯t often use written communications, but Kaden had watched Trella write her reports, and knew enough to dash off the short message he needed. The boat rocked heavily to one side, and Kaden let himself down into the hold, the largely empty hold, where he laid out the parts of his simple plan. It was barely a plan, but it was enough.

    ¡°She¡¯s got five levels on you, not two,¡± Rey said as Kaden prepared to shut the door. ¡°That shadow bitch is at least thirty five if not higher. She disguises everything about herself. Are you sure you want to do this?¡±

    ¡°I am.¡± Kaden shut the hold door and waited. It was possible Arden wouldn¡¯t come. It was possible she¡¯d send an army of [Pirates]. If so, he¡¯d hack a hole in the hull and walk away. But something about Arden¡¯s tone told Kaden different.

    It was time for the [Drill Fish] to get to work again, starting close to Kaden and then working its way outward, this time hitting the rowboats alongside the big ships.

    With each passing moment, Kaden¡¯s worry grew. Every scrape of wood was the bootsteps of a [Pirate] army, every creak the herald of his doom even through [Stealth Aura]. Kaden tensed as the cargo bay door swung open. But nothing came down the stairs.

    Then Arden spoke from the darkness. ¡°I should have known they¡¯d send an older sister to watch Trella. Come out. I¡¯m not afraid.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Kaden drew a [Mana Dart] and tossed it down the empty hold. ¡°Trella did tell you, after all. That I was hunting you.¡±

    ¡°The [Beast Master]. The Sisters keep an entire scroll section on you. What is it about you that has the Council terrified? And you dare challenge me without any beasts. How have you not died?¡± She stepped forward.

    ¡°I get by.¡± Kaden kept his back to the hull. He knew how [Shadow Step] worked better than anyone other than a Sister. He also knew Arden¡¯s Deceptions wouldn¡¯t have mutated and grown.

    The slightest whisper of darkness, and Kaden twisted to avoid a stab from his right. His counter strike was measured to draw Arden¡¯s Deception, his second to draw her Deception Echo, and then he activated [Moment of Speed].

    The backhand strike wasn¡¯t hard, Kaden couldn¡¯t afford to put that much force into it, but impact was everything Kaden needed to ensure it was safe. The ship lurched further right, and Arden leaped lightly to the side. ¡°Lucky hit.¡±

    ¡°No luck involved.¡±

    The hold door slammed shut, then wood splintered above them. Rey had done what Kaden asked, on the signal they¡¯d agreed.

    Arden looked back, momentarily unsure. ¡°What¡¯s your game?¡±

    Kaden drew Remembrance and backed to the wall, bringing it down on the floor as a [Drill Fish] broke through. ¡°I can breathe water.More importantly, I don¡¯t need to breathe at all.¡±

    Water began to swirl around his feet as Kaden drew Thorn Caster, aiming at Arden.

    ¡°You have got to be the stupidest man on earth. You think you can shoot me?¡±

    Kaden loosed an arrow. ¡°No.¡±

    An [Agony Cloud] potion hidden in the hull rib beneath her exploded¡ªthen another. Kaden used the single moment of distraction to hurl a crate at Arden¡ªa crate she dodged with her Deception. ¡°That was your mistake,¡± she whispered from behind him. ¡°[Back¡ª¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Kaden stomped the potion right under him and twisted to dodge the blades she drove toward his back with [Split Second]. His health began to burn away as multiple [Agony Clouds] engaged, but Kaden could take a health potion. [Harvest Wind] meant Arden couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°You bastard!¡± She choked out. ¡°You¡¯ll die too.¡±

    Kaden risked dipping his head to take a breath through the water that rose higher and higher, while Arden¡ªand her Deceptions¡ªbanged on the hold door. ¡°I can get out through this porthole. You can enjoy dying.¡± Health was at less than six hundred and still dropping.

    He leaped toward the hole he¡¯d made in the hull.

    Arden¡¯s Deception blocked him a hand¡¯s width away as Arden [Shadowstepped] in front of him and leaped, pulling herself through the hole.

    Kaden stumbled toward the cargo door, which swung open as Skully stepped off them and pulled them open. His skin was covered in burst blisters, bright red, his hair was gone, his health at eighty of twenty eight hundred. Kaden swallowed a health potion as Rey activated [Major Mend], but now wasn¡¯t the time to stop. He rushed to the side and swung down to pry at the nails which held Neganta¡¯s Larder to the hull of the ship.

    ¡°You look near dead,¡± Rey said, as Skully folded up into his rolling trunk form. ¡°You need to slow down and heal.¡±

    No, they needed to go faster. Skin could grow back. Kaden headed down the ramp, stumbling past workers. ¡°There¡¯s something in the holds. Some sort of shadow woman setting explosions.¡±

    [Pirates] rushed onto the ship¡ªthen out of the ship as the lingering [Agony Clouds] struck.

    Kaden headed inland with Rey at his side. The [Healer] continued to work, raising Kaden¡¯s health every few moments as they made their way against the crowd. As long as Rey left Kaden¡¯s face and hands blistered, pirates veered out of their way. The stumps of trees swept sideways stood everywhere, the footprints of the storm surge from long before.

    ¡°Shit.¡± Rey stopped cold, staring.

    The largest ship Kaden had ever seen sat nestled between a pair of rocks. All three of S&K Holding¡¯s ships together wouldn¡¯t have been a match for this one. Built of solid black wood that had aged to white in places, the hull alone was wider than a city street in Verona, the top of the deck wasn¡¯t visible from below, but atop all the towering masts stood crow¡¯s nests. With iron cages hanging from them.

    Kaden handed Rey his disguise charm. ¡°Stay close but don¡¯t get involved. Does your heal work from a distance?¡±

    ¡°Fifty feet. My hands are barely functioning or I could hold a dagger.¡± Rey hunched over, using the same bent walk everyone else did.

    ¡°Good. I can survive any attack as long as I have two points of health. Small heals are better than big heals.¡± Kaden pointed to a line of servants carrying goods. ¡°That line goes on forever. Stand in it. Stay near, I don¡¯t know how this goes.¡±

    Wrapped in [Stealth Aura], in the warm morning sun, Kaden veered side ways toward the Pirate King¡¯s ship. The wood was warped, the enchantments worn, and Kaden began to climb, hand overhand until he could peek over the edge of the deck.

    Harrigan, the Pirate King, was a strong, wide man with graying hair. Identify sparked and fizzed, but showed a level, fifty, and a class ¡ª [War Wolf]. He sat on a garrish throne made of broken ship¡¯s wheels, and above it soared the cut off prow of a ship. And hanging there, was the rotting corpse of Cutter Karn, like a figurehead from hell.

    On the actual ship masts, vast iron cages hung like bells. Kaden studied the masts not only for their captives, but for which were least guarded, and made his decision. The Pirate King didn¡¯t worry much about being attacked at the center of his hidden island, and the guards kept their eyes on the King (and the men arguing in front of him).

    Which left a nice window of opportunity for Kaden to begin to climb the rotted rigging, slowly, steadily, focusing on quiet movements and relying on [Stealth] to keep him hidden. Higher and higher he climbed until the deck below made Kaden dizzy if he looked down. But just above him, across the spar, hung a cage, and in it sat Ashi, plucking a tune on her mana harp.

    The spar wavered as Kaden ran along it and jumped up to grab the bars, wrapping them both in [Stealth Aura]. ¡°Ashi.¡±

    She startled. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Rescuing you. Rescuing everyone. Maybe.¡± Kaden explained about retrieving Rey and dealing with Arden. ¡°Where¡¯s Trella?¡±

    ¡°The foremast.¡± Ashi pointed behind her. ¡°The aft mast? That one. Our skills are locked behind these manacles. I can cast no spells. Beware the king, we were compelled to speak the truth in his presence. Sara is there. He holds Eve close, planning on how to ransom her.¡±

    ¡°He better plan fast, I sent a bird to Queen Brunna and Mistress Scylla.¡± Neither Sara nor Eve were the ones Kaden worried about. Ashi was a form of royalty, but not in the line of ascension, and she could be dead before anyone in Vichor knew she was in trouble. Plus, it was highly unlikely the Pirate ¡®King¡¯ had a way to contact her mother. And Trella was a [Shadow Blade] orphan. No one but Kaden was coming for her. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡±

    Moving from mast to mast took previous time, but killing people onboard this ship would draw attention far too fast. As long as Kaden moved slowly, he was essentially invisible. No one had reason to look up, and [Stealth Aura] was a decent stealth.

    With care, Kaden worked his way to the aft mast and climbed it slowly, quietly. And wept as he saw the bruises on Trella¡¯s face. The way both arms hung, dislocated. The gashes on her thighs. Before he could speak, she looked around, then stared his way. ¡°Kaden?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± He passed her a healing potion. ¡°I can get you out.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t get me out of these.¡± Trella drank some of the potion, but held up her arms to show bronze manacles like Kaden had taken from Hell.

    She gasped as her shoulders popped back into their sockets. ¡°Gods damned Arden. I¡¯ll kill her myself if it¡¯s the last thing I do.¡±

    ¡°About that. Arden¡¯s not going anywhere.¡± Kaden took out Neganta¡¯s Larder and handed it to Trella through the bars. ¡°Would this make you feel better? She¡¯s trapped in there, and she¡¯ll stay that way until you take her out.¡±

    Trella accepted the bag and clutched her hand. ¡°Your face is¡­not good.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll heal.¡± Kaden gave her her equipment. ¡°Rey¡¯s loose, too, but I had to cut off his hands to do it. It beat killing him. I saw Cutter¡¯s corpse.¡±

    Trella held up a hand. ¡°I need my hands, so I need you to do something. Break the bones. I can slip out of these if you do.¡±

    ¡°No. If I¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got no skin on your face. I can see your teeth through your cheeks. If we¡¯re getting loose, it¡¯s going to cost us.¡± Trella held out both hands. ¡°Do it.¡±

    Logically, it made more sense. It was better than what he¡¯d done to Rey and yet, it would be easier to undergo another [Agony Cloud]. Kaden closed his hands over Trella¡¯s. ¡°Wait. I¡¯ve got an alternative.¡±

    He drew the [Levicon Blade] and raked it through the chain binding the manacles. They sparked and the blade left a gash. The metal turned shiny, almost a liquid, and ran together before solidifying. ¡°What if I just cut down the middle of your palm?¡±

    ¡°I need those nerves.¡± Trella looked away. ¡°The sooner it¡¯s done, the sooner I¡¯m healing.¡±

    She bit down on her cloak collar.

    Bones crunched, shifting, shattering, as Kaden squeezed. Trella¡¯s hand deformed, and one manacle slipped loose. She shook and shuttered, cradling one hand close, but stretched out the other even as tears streamed down her face.

    He made it quick, storing the manacles and then cradling her face to help her drink from the potion. Trella had never had a dark complexion, but sweat poured down her face and her skin was a pale white as she rocked back and forth. ¡°That¡¯s going take a while to heal, even with the potion.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t stopped shaking either. ¡°Where¡¯s Eve?¡±

    ¡°Below deck with the high value prisoners. It¡¯s perfect. His guard stays at the wheel and if a prisoner does manage to break out? The hull damage alerts him immediately. How did you beat Arden? She¡¯s level forty.¡±

    ¡°Several [Agony cloud] potions and a closed in location. I flooded it with water and convinced her it was my escape. I might have been able to kill her, but she put herself in the bag.¡± Kaden smiled at the shock on Trella¡¯s face. ¡°Know anyone who could help deal with a rogue [Shadow Blade] who didn¡¯t hesitate to turn on her own Sister?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡± Trella smiled even as she winced. ¡°Go free Sara. I¡¯m guessing Ashi didn¡¯t want her hands crushed, but Sara won¡¯t hesistate. Eve¡­I don¡¯t know about her. But I¡¯m not going to leave this cage until shit¡¯s going down. A level fifty versus even a bunch of thirties isn¡¯t really a fair fight, but it is you we¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°I have a plan.¡± Kaden ducked away from her and slid down arope to the deck of the ship. Sara¡¯s cage hung from the foremast, which stood directly in front of the Pirate King¡¯s throne. That made reaching her difficult, but not impossible. The cage itself hung so far up that line of sight to Sara was completely blocked. Reaching her, on the other hand, was a challenge.

    The first step was making it to the midmast, which towered above the others. Kaden paused there to talk to Ashi, who plucked at the mana-harp she¡¯d bought in Xiao. ¡°I got Trella out of her manacles by crushing her hands. I can do the same for you.¡±

    ¡°Please, no. I do not wish to seem a coward¡ªbut I am not like you. There is something I can do, something the manacles cannot stop. Uri taught me this when I was young, a spell-song of aid. A call for help.¡± Ashi didn¡¯t stop playing the whole time. ¡°He told me once that it would not fail to reach him. Uri is dead, but I remember.¡±

    For the first time, Kaden noticed the clouds gathering. Beneath him, a circle on men engaged in a duel to the death to settle whatever argument they¡¯d brought to Harrigan, who lay back on his throne, paying more attention to the serving maid than the men shedding blood with short, curved swords.

    Kaden slid down a rope to the next mast, whose cage sat empty, clanging as the wind rose. The foremast stood not far off, and as Kaden readied to slide down to it, a silver bird landed on his arm, speaking in two different voices at once.

    First, a man. ¡°Hear now, the declaration of Queen Brunna Barrister, and obey.¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch,¡± said the Queen. ¡°I cannot and will not authorize you to bargain for Evelyn¡¯s freedom. But I can promise this. If she is not released, I will come and take her myself. Do not abandon her. If all I find is your corpse next to hers, I swear before the system you will be resurrected.¡±

    Kaden shook the bird loose. Eve was rarely pleasant, but she grew on you, like moss on a man crucified to a stone deep in the woods for years. Before the first bird could dissapate, a second one joined it, speaking in Mistress Scylla¡¯s voice. ¡°Kaden, leave. Swim, float, walk along the sea bed. I can use the soul bond between you and Ashi to find her, but only if one of you escapes. Abandon the party. Find me.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t happening.

    Below him, a man screamed and blood splattered the deck as pirates burst into applause. Kaden took the opportunity to leap and catch a rope, then climb until he could grasp the bell-shaped cage that held Sara and wrap them both in [Stealth Aura]. ¡°Good morning. I¡¯ll be your rescuer for the day.¡±

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Sara was on her feet in a moment. Kaden couldn¡¯t believe how strange it was to see her without the horror¡¯s pseudopods pushing out of her shoulderblades. Cuts lined her cheeks, fine slices like someone had taken their time. ¡°You need to get out of here. Steal a ship, sail away.¡±

    ¡°Not happening. Probably not possible without Harrigan¡¯s permission, thanks to [Tidal Lock.]¡± The carnage at the docks would demand the King¡¯s attention soon, since Skully and the [Drill Fish] hadn¡¯t stopped their assault. ¡°Your mom sent a bird saying the same thing. Eve¡¯s mom says we¡¯re dead if we abandon her. I¡¯m not abandoning anyone. Trella¡¯s free. I broke her hands to let her slip out.¡±

    ¡°Me, too. Now.¡± Sara thrust her hands through the cage until the chains blocked them.

    He didn¡¯t hesitate, squeezing one and then another until bones cracked and shifted, then pulling her hands through the manacles. Sara¡¯s title would help her heal immediately, but Kaden gave her the last of the healing potions. ¡°Drink up. Ashi isn¡¯t free, but she says she¡¯s calling help.¡±

    ¡°With what skills?¡± Sara asked. ¡°These manacles prevent everything.¡±

    Even as she spoke, the Horror¡¯s psuedopods whipped out, hissing in rage as they bumped her broken hands.

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I have no idea. Could be, she can¡¯t handle the idea of being a prisoner for years. But she¡¯s not going to be. Any moment now, the harbor master is going to go from upset to panicked. When that happens, we¡¯re taking Cutter and getting out of here.¡±

    ¡°You have to be careful with Harrigan. He has a skill that enforces the truth around him. I couldn¡¯t lie even though I wanted to,¡± Sara said. ¡°Trella told him you were on the island. Flat out said you¡¯d be coming to kill him. It was brilliant. He took it as nothing but bluster. The question is, how do we get out of here?¡±

    Kaden glanced downward. ¡°Trust me. I¡¯m not going to abandon you, but when everything happens, I¡¯ll only have seconds to act. When it¡¯s time, you¡¯ll know.¡± He passed her her swords and sent the order to Explodius, Skully, and the [Drill Fish].

    Out in the way, an explosion rang out, and men¡¯s shouts rose in a din.

    Kaden counted seconds, clinging to the side of the cage.

    Messenger birds arrived in a swarm as another explosion rang out. The Pirate King was on his feet in seconds, barking orders, shouting, screaming¡ªand then he took off, leaping over the edge fo the ship and sprinting toward the bay.

 Thirty Five - Dual

    The shouts from the harbor grew louder, along with smoke plumes, and pirates took off in that direction in a horde, while Kaden clung to the mast. ¡°That was the signal. Stay here until I send word, then cut Ashi out of her cage while I distract the King.¡± Kaden had places to be. He flung himself off the cage and drewn the [Eldritch Shield] to [Shield Smash] the ship¡¯s prow behind the throne.

    You have inflicted 800 points damage.

    The prow shattered, and Kaden grabbed Cutter¡¯s corpse as he engaged [Stealth Aura]. The ship wasn¡¯t empty, and guards rushed toward the throne as Kaden clung from the shattered prow.

    ¡°Check the prisoners!¡± the head guard said.

    Kaden clambered up onto the next level of the deck and sprinted after the man, who drew a key ring and unlocked a double door that led down into the ship. He took three steps down and stopped. ¡°No one¡¯s down here, they¡¯re on the deck!¡±

    With every ounce of concentration he had, Kaden held himself perfectly still, flat, against the door of the ship¡¯s hold, two inches from the guard. He didn¡¯t even breathe as the man turned and walked back up the stairs.

    The door swung shut, trapping them in darkness. And so many voiced cried out in terror. The hold was nearly pitch black, only dim fairy lights let Kaden see the rows upon rows of motivational chambers. He dropped Cutter¡¯s corpse from Inventory and drew one of Trella¡¯s potions, dribbling it into her lips. This was the [Resurrection] potion.

    It sank into the corpse. The body crackled like old leather and then twisted¡ªand took an agonizing breath like it was reverse-dying. And then another. And another. Kaden drained the last drop of a healing potion onto her lips from a flask he¡¯d call empty any other day. ¡°Cutter.¡±

    One eye wasn¡¯t healed well enough to open, but the other did, dim and milky. Her cheeks split as her jaw opened wider. ¡°Shit.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Trella¡¯s resurrection potion doesn¡¯t heal.¡± Kaden wiped healing salve on her eyes and lips and picked her up. ¡°We have to find Eve.¡±

    ¡°Down.¡± The one word took most of Cutter¡¯s strength and an entire breath. ¡°All. Noble. Prisoners.¡±

    Kaden summoned Vip. ¡°Find Eve. If there are guards, be super fast and come back to me. I need your help to rescue her.¡±

    *Super Fast!* Vip tore off into the hold as Kaden tried to follow, taking turns and stairs ever deeper. The cry of voices begging for help became a din of screaming, weeping, pounding. Then, in the darkness, crackles of elecriticty betrayed Vip¡¯s arrival as she sprinted up stairs. *Come!*

    Kadenchased her, carrying Cutter over his shoulder like a bag of flour, down to where rotten water sat ankle deep. He sprinted after Vip, who slid to a halt in front of the most narrow motivational chamber Kaden had seen. Eve¡¯s hands jutted through the bars, and she¡¯d been chained with demon manacles.

    ¡°This is going to hurt, but it¡¯s the only way to get you loose,¡± Kaden said. He had a hunch about Eve, about her healing. And with the Levicon blade, he cut deep into her hands, even when she screamed, even as she tried to jerk away.

    When the blade cut free, he folded her hand through the manacle. And cut the other until at last it slipped free. Eve jolted upright and when her eyes opened, a dim red light glowed in them as her mana surged. Unlike with Trella or Sara, Eve¡¯s hands unfolded , the skin knitting itself as the blood rushed upward, back into her.

    Kaden sliced through the cell lock and opened it. ¡°Cutter¡¯s alive but barely.¡±

    Eve began to laugh even as she wept.

    Blood boiled from Cutter¡¯s eyes as her skin plumped and her body straightened. Kaden set her on her feet and handed Eve her Blood Moon staff and jewelry. ¡°When we emerge, there¡¯s going to be guards. So many guards. Also, probably the Pirate King. Rey¡¯s loose but most of Cutter¡¯s men are in the mines.¡±

    Cutter jerked her head to the side, cracking her neck. ¡°We start here. I almost killed that son of a bitch the last time. This time, we do it together. He¡¯s multiclassed more than I can tell you, and I swear to you, I killed him, and then he was instantly back.¡±

    Trella¡¯s [Rescue Reset] coin had similar abilities. Kaden drew the ritualist knife he¡¯d taken. ¡°This you can have.¡±

    Then he held out the Levicon Blade. ¡°This, you have to swear an oath you¡¯ll give back.¡±

    ¡°Done. I swear it before the System.¡±

    Circe Karn has sworn an oath to return the Levicon Blade at your asking.

    Cutter took both, looking at each. ¡°Yes. This will do. This will do nicely.¡±

    Eve wasn¡¯t looking at any of them. She stood down the hallway, grasping a stone embedded in the wood. When she spoke, her voice echoed everywhere. ¡°Quiet, everyone. Listen to me. We are leaving this place, and we are leaving no one here. Do not panic. Do not fight. Do not attempt to push your way past us, oryou will be alone before the Pirate King.¡±

    Her words held a melodic quality that Kaden couldn¡¯t ignore. He¡¯d felt something like this, only a thousand times more powerful, from Princess Pear.

    ¡°When we pass, you will offer your hand through the bars. Each of you will be cut, and your cell opened. Those we do not pass will open others. If you can fight, you fight. If you don¡¯t have a weapon, rush a guard. Today you earn your liberty. With blood.¡± Eve turned to Cutter. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I can offer, but it comes at a price. I am the high priestess of Nurav. Her blessing will raise your strength, your agility, your speed, and all your attacks will cause [Bleed]. But from the moment I give you it, your health will begin to drop. You will die. Any healing will delay your death, but it won¡¯t stop it. Until that moment, however, you will be the hand of the goddess herself.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°I¡¯m laying on my level floor,¡± Cutter said. ¡°I want it. I want it so badly. One buff I get makes me regenerate, another gives me more health.¡±

    ¡°No thanks,¡± Kaden said. ¡°[Resilient Constitution] doesn¡¯t help against constant drain damage.¡±

    ¡°So be it.¡± Eve drew her personal dagger and pricked the end of her finger. ¡°Let The Blood Flow.¡±

    Cutter opened her mouth and accepted the single drop. She screamed and gripped her head, then fell to one knee¡ªand stood, eyes dripping blood. ¡°Yes! Let it flow.¡±

    Kaden could barely keep up as she sprinted up the stairs, knicking the outstretched hands. Eve had opened the first two cell doors but now rushed to follow, channeling Life Endowment as she followed.

    They reached the top door and Cutter glowed an unearthly red as she burst through the door, ripping apart the frame. The guard just beyond didn¡¯t move fast enough, and Cutter nicked him just before Kaden slammed into the man, picking him up.

    You have gained a Flesh Ram. (Ewww).

    Your damage with Flesh Ram is greatly increased (Double Ewww).

    Kaden charged forward, slamming into a pair of guards and throwing them¡ªand the one he¡¯d picked up¡ªoff the edge of the ship.

    ¡°Kill her! Kill her!¡± The Pirate King Harrigan shouted as Cutter wove her way through his men¡ªthen he caught sight of Kaden, and swore. ¡°[Beast Master!] You¡¯re the reason the beasts are attacking my fleet.¡±

    Kaden bowed. ¡°Let me explain¡ª¡±

    He had only an instant before pirates swarmed him. Thunder rolled above him and lightning crackled through the sky as hail pelted down.

    You have been affected by [Speeding Wind] (Sara Scylla).

    Your agility and movement are increased.

    [Harvest Wind] blows upon your enemies. Mana and Health regen are greatly reduced.

    An [Agony Cloud] burst on one side of the deck and another blocked the ramp.

    *Kaden, leave the pirates to us. Trella has Eve, but Harrigan¡¯s going to kill us all if he gets the chance.* Sara¡¯s [Mindspeech] was perfectly clear. She¡¯d been practicing.

    Cutter¡ªCutter was gone. She leaped over the side of the ship, leaving Kaden weaving through a storm of blades.

    ¡°Back!¡± Harrigan shouted. ¡°Back, all of you. The [Beast Master] is mine to kill. I challenge you to a duel! No attacks from your godsdamned party. You and I.¡±

    Kaden considered it. ¡°Do we get to use skills or is this just me chopping you to pieces?¡±

    ¡°Of course. All Class abilities. Your party doesn¡¯t attack me, my crew doesn¡¯t dismember you.¡±

    Kaden braced himself as he pulled Skully into his soul, taking [Dense] and [Painless]. Both were a function of Skully¡¯s core and would operate even if his body was destroyed. ¡°Agreed. You. Me.¡± Kaden drew Remembrance as a wall of [Pirates] formed around them.

    You have entered a duel with Pirate King Harrigan.

    Any attacks by your party will result in compounding Karmic Penalties.

    Harrigan shed his jacket and shook, as a suit of gems covered his body, each a different color. ¡°You¡¯re level thirty. Tell me, how do you think this ends?¡±

    You have been affected by [Aura of Truth]. Your answers must be truthful.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t stop the words from bursting out. ¡°You were dead the moment you agreed to fight me.¡±

    For the slightest moment, Harrigan paused. ¡°What makes you think you can kill me?¡±

    ¡°History.¡± Before Harrigan could ask anything else, Kaden banished Remembrance and drew Thorncaster. His arrow missed the pirate¡¯s neck by a hair as Harrigan activated a skill that let him ghost sideways and hurl a dagger straight at Kaden¡ªwho took it into Inventory, then looked around wildly as though he didn¡¯t know where the dagger had gone. ¡°You think this is funny?¡±

    He drew Thorn Caster again and fired an arrow that crackled with black energy straight at Harrigan¡ªand again snatched the dagger Harrigan threw with Inventory. ¡°How are you doing that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m twenty levels higher. I have skills you haven¡¯t imagined,¡± Harrigan answered, drawing a spear and trident. ¡°Now, let¡¯s take care of that hammer.¡±

    Even knowing that Harrigan was coming, his extra agility left Kaden scrambling to trigger [Moment of Speed] and [Split Second]¡ªexcept the pirate was toying with Kaden, testing his reflexes and range. Twenty points was a lot of points, but even worse was the tier multiplier. This had to be fought with intelligence.

    But Remembrance buzzed in his hands, eager for this battle. And Kaden, too, was eager, as Thorn Caster¡¯s after effects triggered, slamming into Harrigan¡¯s chest.

    You have inflicted poison x3.

    The only positive was that Kaden hadn¡¯t expected a pause, he was ready for the onslaught, dodging Harrigan¡¯s spear and swinging Remembrance in a way meant to catch the Trident.

    ¡°And¡ªTwist!¡± Harrigan shouted as he pivoted to disarm Kaden.

    Who had already banished Remembrance. [Destruction Aura] flared out as Kaden grappled. He couldn¡¯t overcome Harrigan¡¯s strength, but he didn¡¯t want to¡ªinstead, he let the Pirate throw him, and then held on to slam the man down into the deck¡ªand an instant of [Wrath of the Furnace] that took two hundred mana.

    Pirate King Harrigan has used Ageless Escape.

    Ageless Escape timer resets to: 29 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.

    Kaden dove to the side as [Split Second] activated. There was no battle of banter, the smug self assurance that had wrapped Harrigan was gone like the charred deck which burned around Kaden, whose [FireProof] let him ignore it. Except that he wasn¡¯t ignoring it, instead pressing his attack even as pirates screamed, burnt by the fire that had nearly incinerated their King.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you,¡± Harrigan snarled as he drew a pair of wands.

    Every flick of his wrist was a cast spell, every moment, changing elements.

    There was no attacking during this, only surviving. Kaden let the [Eldritch Shield] drink in an arc of lightning, but it groaned and shattered as a boulder exploded, throwing him across the ring. [Moment of Speed] let Kaden draw Thorn Caster and loose an arrow which Harrigan deflected with a ring on his finger.

    Pirate King Harrigan has used Deathly Deflection.

    Deathly Deflection timer resets to 2 hours and 59 minutes.

    Every finger of the man¡¯s hands held a ring, and bracelets. The pirate king was a fancy man, that much was sure, but Kaden followed up with arrow after arrow, even as Harrigan laughed and used his ghosting skill.

    His laughter died as Kaden activated [Mana Drain] and ripped thirty points of mana from the man. Pulling mana from a higher tier adventurer was like sucking clots through a straw. The effort to get started was vast, the effort to keep draining was minimal.

    Harrigan charged, drawning serrated shields from Inventory and weilding them with [Shield Bash], which would stun, but this put Kaden on equal footing. He met [Shield Bash] with [Shield Bash], an in a [Moment of Speed] stood behind Harrigan to [Back Smash!]

    Brutal Blows has inflicted a crippling injury.

    Harrigan stumbled forward, groaning in agony¡ªand activated a necklace. Green healing energy rippled out across him, and he spun¡ªthen triggered the necklace again¡ªand again.

    ¡°[Harvest Wind].¡± Kaden spoke it as a death sentence. ¡°No healing. No mana regeneration.¡±

    Meanwhile, his own health ticked upward, along with mana. And Kaden recognized the desperation in the Pirate King¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°[Unending Strike]!¡± Harrigan shouted as he drew a spear. Time blurred together as Kaden dodged a spear jab, only to find another spear jab already coming, one he deflected¡ªand another. One spear couldn¡¯t possibly be in all these places. It couldn¡¯t¡ªram straight through Kaden and into the deck.

    Kaden hung, pinned to the deck, every nerve screaming as he failed to draw breath. And Harrigan drew a sword, eager to finish what he¡¯d started.

 Thirty Six - Not Good

    Rain and blood splattered down on the deck of Harrigan¡¯s ship, as the brewing storm grew more fierce. The agony of the spear driven through Kaden was near impossible to hold back. Only [Painless] let Kaden keep himself upright as Harrigan threw back his head and screamed in triumph. ¡°You earned this. Your bitch friend ran off and abandoned you, but now¡ª¡± Harrigan stopped as Kaden spulled the spear into Inventory and pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the bleeding.

    Kaden¡¯s health had cratered, less than eight hundred and dropping because of the [Bleed] effect. Then it began to rise, and rocket upward.

    Eve. She clung to a mast high above. Healing him wasn¡¯t an attack on Harrigan and didn¡¯t violate the duel rules, which was probably a loophole.

    ¡°Where were we?¡± Kaden drew Remembrance. ¡°Ah, yes. Here.¡± He sprinted at Harrigan, twisting to avoid a strike, and once more sprayed [Wrath of the Furnace] in an arc. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that Harrigan ghosted away. It was a suprise that he didn¡¯t fully escape. The gush of flame hit Harrigan¡¯s left foot, causing the boot to burst into flame.

    Three of Harrigan¡¯s rings glowed, and molten iron exploded outward in a shower.

    Kaden kept the [Mana Drain] going, thirty points at a time, and used that to power [Split Second] and [Moment of Speed]. Even if Harrigan was a third tier adventurer, it didn¡¯t mean his mana was endless.

    Without warning, the fight shifted as Harrigan¡¯s gemstone armor shifted into razor spikes and he switched to short, curved swords with wide blades. Now he dared Kaden to grapple and risk the spikes.

    Kaden had exactly one answer to this. He would regret using it later, but he¡¯d regret it when his party was safe. ¡°Your man, Dagger Dan. He had a giant squid, didn¡¯t he? I like that squid. He¡¯s a cool pet. It¡¯s a pity you don¡¯t have a giant squid anymore. It¡¯s a pity you¡¯ll never have a giant squid again.¡±

    Even as he spoke, Kaden prepared. He could only carry one heavyweight beast at a time. Skully and Trinity were each too powerful for him, otherwise his soul might rupture. Vip was special, as his first Summons she wasn¡¯t so much in his soul as part of it. Storing a match lizard cost nothing, and the Destruction Wyvern took no more space than Rocky.

    But there was one more Beast Kaden stored, one he rarely brought out and never used. A [Thornling], a beast which grew into the flesh of Adventurers. Harrigan bellowed with rage and switched to a battle hammer with spiked heads. He didn¡¯t so much charge as explode toward Kadenwith the force of a storm.

    Kaden banished the Thornling and met Harrigan¡¯s swing head on, drinking the power into Remembrance. The blow stole fifty points from his health just from the impact, but Kaden measured his attacks, baiting Harrigan to swing over and over.

    ¡°Die, you worthless scum!¡± Harrigan swung.

    Kaden dismissed Remembrance and rolled under the swing, drawing Thorn Caster to unleash an arrow of sheer Chrono Mana straight at Harrigan¡¯s gut.

    Harrigan triggered a skill.

    The arrow speared straight through him, as the Pirate King ran out of mana.

    You have inflicted Poison x1.

    As Harrigan looked up from the spreading bloodstain on his belly, the after-blows struck, punching three more times, each inflicting poison. ¡°Jeffries, Kern, Wilks, Bull.¡± Harrigan spit out blood as he spoke. ¡°Your turn. Kill him.¡±

    One of the pirates recoiled. ¡°It¡¯s a duel. You and him. Interfering will get us a penalty.¡±

    ¡°Five hundred gold to the man who kills him,¡± Harrigan said, clasping his hand over his belly. As the silence grew, he spoke again. ¡°A thousand gold. Two thousand.¡±

    The four leaped into the arena, and the monster of a man named Bull hurled axe after axe at Kaden. He grabbed the first three into Inventory and twisted, letting the last one graze his shoulder.

    Your duel has been interrupted!

    Pirate King Harrigan suffers a Karmic Penalty!

    Kaden didn¡¯t mean to let the swordsman, who was probably Jeffries, slice down his arm, stealing a hundred health and leaving him at less than five hundred. But it did count as interfering.

    Pirate King Harrigan suffers a Major Karmic Penalty!

    Even though karmic penalties were what Harrigan deserved, he simply couldn¡¯t afford to take more hits. ¡°Sara! Trella! Eve!¡±

    A shadow dropped from above as Trella landed, driving both daggers down into Bull¡¯s rib cage. [Ink] marks boiled up onto his neck from each blade as she leaped free and dodged daggers thrown by Kern.

    Wilks was a mage, an Ice Mage, who didn¡¯t cast a spell. He enveloped the entire deck in a blizzard with biting cold and blasting winds.

    You have been effected by [Winter Blast].

    You have acquired a status effect (Slow).

    Your skill with [Resist Slow] has increased.

    The real problem was a constently plumeting health. Ripping Wilks¡¯s mana out with [Mana Drain] was easy, but actually reaching the man to kill him was not. Trella¡¯s [Backstab] resulted in a swarm of ice shards that speared her Deception, her second deception, both echos, and required her to [Shadow Step] away.

    Until the blizzard evaporated and pirates ran screaming for the edges of the ship, as [Anthem of the End] rose, tearing deeper into Kaden¡¯s health.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± Eve called. She gifted him five hundred health, less than a fifth of his full pool, but better than the seventy he¡¯d had.

    Wilkes didn¡¯t get the chance to respond, as Trella leaped on him, stabbing him over and over.

    ¡°Where is Harrigan?¡± Kaden shouted. The ship¡¯s deck was pure carnage, prisoners fought with pirates on the far end, but the Pirate King himself wasn¡¯t visible at all.

    The wind and hail had become a sheer tempest, and above it all, Ashi¡¯s tune continued to pluck out, the odd tune audible over the din of battle, over the gusts of wind and clatter of hail. It echoed in the roll of thunder louder than any simple instrument should ever have sounded.

    ¡°[Backstab!] Frontstab! Dickstab! Why the hell aren¡¯t these Skills?¡± Trella shouted as she made Wilkes more and more dead.

    Bull had run, his skin a patchwork of [Ink] and Sara¡¯s horrors devoured the swords of the man named Jeffries. Swordwsman versus swordswoman, it was a battle of skill. Except that Kaden wasn¡¯t interested in battles of skill. He drew Thorn Caster and shot Jeffries in the back. It left the man with an impossible decision.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Sara would kill him quickly if he faced Kaden, while Kaden would continue to stack poison.

    ¡°[Lunge!]¡± Jeffries shouted.

    Sara dropped back into a guard while Kaden leaped forward to attack.

    Jeffries shot backwards, crashed through the ship¡¯s railing and over the side.

    Kaden would have chased him, but the wind had become a physical force that threatened to throw him off the ship.

    ¡°We need to get Ashi down!¡± Sara pointed to the taller mast. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s doing, but this storm isn¡¯t natural.¡±

    ¡°She was calling for help.¡± Kaden said. ¡°How do we lower the cage?¡±

    Eve pointed. ¡°They¡¯re tied underneath. You¡¯ll need to cut the knot. Don¡¯t let her fall.¡±

    As fast as he could, Kaden sprinted to the mast, tossing weapons to prisoners and [Shield Bashing] pirates as he passed. Even with Kaden¡¯s strength, holding on took focus and effort. The closer he got to Ashi, the louder the music. And the wind took on the sound of stringed instruments, the thunder, drums. ¡°Ashi! We have to get down. The storm¡¯s going to break the mast!¡±

    *Do not fear for me.* Ashi¡¯s reply came by [Mind Speech]. *My call has been heard and help comes on the storm. It is as Nature¡¯s Daughter said: these manacles can suppress talents and skills. They cannot suppress the blood in my veins.*

    Kaden had about a dozen arguments with that, but all of them died as a pentacle of lights blossomed inthe wood of the deck, and a figure in grey rose. From this far up, the Demon Lord looked normal sized.

    So that was where Harrigan got the manacles for his prisoners. He had a relationship with a Demon Lord. And before the demon lord kneeled Harrigan.

    Sara and Eve had retreated, and Trella was nowhere to be seen, exactly as it should be.

    ¡°Stay here.¡± Kaden flung himself from the mast and drew Remembrance as he fell, bringing the hammer head down aimed at Harrigan¡¯s head. The best time to kick an enemy was when they were down¡ªor dead.

    At the last instant, Harrigan summoned two shields, blocking them above him. Remembrance shattered both¡ªand his arms, but the Pirate King rolled clear and rose into the air as clouds of black blossomed out from him.

    The Demon Lord looked at Kaden and grinned, then stepped back into his circle, dissolving into nothingness.

    ¡°You.¡± Harrigan¡¯s voice boomed out from the cloud as it expanded further. ¡°You have cost me a thousand years service. But I have lived centuries.¡±

    The clouds of darkness retracted, and Harrigan landed on his feet. His skin was now tarnished with streaks of purple, his eyes blazed crimson, and stubby, pathetic horns graced his head. Any minotaur older than twelve would be ashamed.

    But the damage Kaden had done was erased, and Kaden wasn¡¯t even back to full strength, which spelled trouble. He glanced to Eve and Sara. ¡°Get out of here!¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Eve sprinted across the deck. ¡°If you¡¯re staying, I¡¯m staying. You almost killed him once.¡±

    Before Kaden could attack, a meteor of red landed on the deck. Cutter Karn. She stalked toward Harrigan. ¡°Remember me? Hung from your prow there?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you both.¡± Harrigan held out both hands, and a blast of pure mana errupted to strike Cutter¡ªwho wasn¡¯t there anymore. She stalked toward him, while Rey stood at a distance, healing.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t even keep up with the exchange as Cutter struck, but black energy exploded outward¡ªand Cutter Karn went flying, her body smoking and limp. This was not ideal, but there was only one hope here. Kaden drew Thorn Caster and shot Harrigan.

    Who pivoted and looked at him. ¡°You fought well. But you should have been running. Let your friend suffer first. Escape for the brief moment in time you could.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not the running type. Unless it¡¯s something I should run from.¡± Kaden drew Remembrance from Inventory. ¡°Do you remember how this ended last time?¡±

    ¡°[Infernal Inferno!]¡± Harrigan didn¡¯t move. He simply was standing in front of Kaden, gripping his armor with one clawed hand. The other clawed hand glowed brilliantly with purple energy. It impacted Kaden right in the metal of his ribs.

    Resiliant Constitution has blocked 12,834 points of damage.

    Kaden didn¡¯t remember falling.

    Or flying.

    Or hitting the ground.

    He opened his eyes to pouring rain and lightning overhead.

    And Eve, who kneeled over him, healing him. ¡°Kaden. He¡¯s going to kill us all. Can you open a portal to anywhere safe?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. Across the deck, Harrigan toyed with Cutter Karn. Cutter fought with care, and her blows drew black blood that rotted the ship¡¯s deck until the hail and driving rain washed it clear. ¡°I need the Blessing. It¡¯s the only way we get out of this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Eve cut her arm on Remembrance¡¯s blade. ¡°Let the Blood Flow.¡±

    The blood wasn¡¯t Eve¡¯s. It was crimson in a way that made regular blood look pink. It was thick, and moved on its own.

    The drop hit Kaden¡¯s tongue, and time stopped.

    The goddess herself spoke. Well, well, well. Now you come begging. Now you come pleading and desperate. And now, what I would have given you freely comes at a price. Rise, servant. Begin your slaughter with the words of agreement. I¡¯ll be waiting at your end¡­

    Kaden¡¯s skin felt like electricity coursed along it, and his muscles ached with raw power. Harrigan moved quickly, yes, far faster than any human should, but not as a blur. ¡°Let the blood flow.¡±

    You have been afflicted with [Blessing of Nurav]. Your health will continue to drain for as long as you live. In return, your strength is greatly magnified and all attacks will cause your victims to [Bleed].

    His health began to drop, slowly, steadily, as Kaden Birch began a battle he could never win. His movements felt measured and careful as he dodged raindrops to attack from behind, slamming Remembrance into Harrigan¡¯s shoulder.

    It rang like he¡¯d struck stone, but Kaden poured on [Split Second] to dodge Harrigan¡¯s attack, which missed his chest by an hair. But now, there were two of them versus him, and Cutter was still faster and stronger. She used the Levicon Blade to cut into the bone-like armor. All of Harrigan¡¯s gems had transformed into teeth, and every swipe carved one off.

    An idea tickled deep in Kaden¡¯s mind, a possibility. Harrigan¡¯s attacks were powerful, but Kaden, took, could deliver powerful attacks. Especially if he timed his blows with Remembrance to drink in Harrigan¡¯s strength. Eve¡¯s overhealing had kept Kaden from falling dead immediately. Instead, his health sat at three quarters within moments.

    [Plague] flies surrounded Harrigan, and [Speeding Wind] pushed Kaden faster than ever as he leaped over Cutter to block a swipe, then another. Remembrance began to hum with power as Kaden worked to block Harrigan¡¯s attack and let Cutter damage him.

    ¡°[Infernal Inferno]!¡± Harrigan shouted.

    And found himself alone, both Kaden and Cutter stood five feet back as the attack fizzled. [Harvest Wind] meant Harrigan could only use that attack a limited number of times. It was time to uneven the odds.

    As Harrigan cast a spell that sent boulders of ice flying at Kaden, lightning struck the deck, throwing all of them back. Kaden chose that moment to summon Skully, who lumbered into existence behind Harrigan. The Bone Behemoth slammed his hands down, smashing Harrigan forward.

    Kaden was ready with a full swing, hitting Harrigan in the face and sending him flying back for Skully to stomp down, even as a surge of healing hit him, raising his health to eight hundred, health that immediately began to bleed away.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got boarders!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°Keep the prisoners on, keep the pirates off, because we¡¯re all screwed if they get on board.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t spare a moment.

    Skully hand brought both hands down to strangle Harrigan, which left Harrigan wrestling as Kaden lined up for a head-splitting blow.

    Demon Slave Harrigan has used [From the Depths].

    Skully exploded backwards, bits of bone raining down as his hands disintegrated, and Harrigan rolled just as Remembrance split the deck where he¡¯d been a breath before. Before Harrigan could rise, Skully kicked him, sending the man sliding across the deck to Cutter, who drove her broadsword down, cutting deep into Harrigan¡¯s chest.

    Before Harrigan began to move, Kaden knew the strike coming, a claw swipe straight at her exposed throat. His health had crateered, one hundred and dropping, but his mana was solid. Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] to kick Cutter back and met Harrigan¡¯s swipe with Remembrance. It wasn¡¯t enough.

    He needed more power. He knew how to get it. Kaden sprinted toward Skully, who obeyed the command without question, charging to kick at Kaden, who met the kick with Remembrance. Skully¡¯s body exploded into fragments.

    Color drained from the world as [Moment of Eternity] activated. The rain stood frozen, but now wasn¡¯t the time to admire it. Kaden¡¯s mana began to drain faster than his health had. He launched himself at Harrigan, using [Moment of Speed] to strike with Remembrance¡¯s hammerhead over and over with every drop of mana and every point of strength.

    One hand supported him against the deck and as his mana approached zero Kaden brought Remembrance down axe-head first.

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a crippling blow.

    Fingers separated¡ªand Kaden took them to get the rings on them.

    Your mana is critically low!

    You have mana shock!

    The world snapped back into motion as raindrops resumed their suicide plumet.

    Harrigan¡¯s armor exploded into a thousand pebbles that clattered on the deck with hailstones. He grasp at the sword driven through him. ¡°You¡¯ll never escape these islands without my permission. Without me, you remain here forever.¡±

    ¡°Kill him,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Then I¡¯m going to tame some crabs and feed them his corpse.¡±

    Before Harrigan could look react, Cutter Karn ripped her sword through his belly and twisted, cutting him in half. It was a race, health versus strength for Kaden to bring down Remembrance, smashing Harrigan¡¯s head.

 Thirty Seven - Getting A Head

    You have killed the Demon Slave Harrigan.

    You have gained experience.

    Cutter laughed as she kneeled down and lay over¡ªthen fell still.

    Eve desperately healed Kaden again and handed him a potion. ¡°Drink!¡±

    ¡°Won¡¯t help.¡± Kaden pushed it away. His body was cold. The rain was cold, and it fell in bands as the ship shook and shuddered and lifted.

    ¡°She did it.¡± Eve wasn¡¯t looking at Kaden. ¡°Ashi flooded the island. She summoned a storm so large it flooded the island. How the hell did she do that?¡±

    Kaden watched his health drop. Four. Three. Two. One. Zero.

    You have resisted Death.

    He lay still as the rain washed the red from his eyes. Breaths kept coming, even though his health sat at zero.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Even leaned over him, water dripping from her blond hair in a waterfall.¡°How are you still alive?¡±

    ¡°Resisted Death.¡± He¡¯d survived. But he wasn¡¯t exactly alive. ¡°Small healing.¡±

    His health surged to fifteen¡ªand then ticked down again to zero.

    You have resisted Death.

    Your skill with [Resist Death] has increased.

    ¡°It¡¯s not over. The blessing, or its curse,¡± Eve said, as the ship lurched sideways. ¡°I didn¡¯t want this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s ok.¡± Kaden drew a dagger from Inventory. Nicked his arm. Again. A third¡ª

    GENESIS STATE DETECTED.

    ERROR_ENTITY_NOT_IN_NODE.

    No Resolution Available¡­

    GENESIS HALTED.

    You have died.

    DIVINE INTERCESSION IN PROGRESS

    Oh, that was a wicked trick, resisting death.

    You almost escaped me.

    We should talk. Eve and I aren¡¯t exclusive and she won¡¯t be jealous. We will talk. When you return to your home, I will be waiting.

    END OF INTERCESSION

    RESUMING OBLIVION IN 3, 2, 1¡­

    You have been resurrected.

    You have suffered a level penalty.

    Your health is critically low.

    You require healing.

    Kaden slid across the deck and gasped as someone caught his hand. Trella. She kneeled over him, one dagger driven into the deck. ¡°I really can¡¯t stand Nurav.¡±

    His health surged upward as Sara¡¯s title kicked in and Eve used [Life Endowment] on him. Kaden struggled to his feet as Sara helped Cutter up.

    ¡°Get below deck. All the sails are down and I¡¯ll steer us. Right now it¡¯s just ¡®into the waves. I still don¡¯t understand how she flooded the island.¡± Trella said.

    A bolt of lightning split the sky and lit up the storm clouds. Kaden finally understood exactly what Ashi had done. ¡°Oceanus. She called the Sea Dragon. With no skills and a children¡¯s toy, she summoned the sea dragon.¡±

    Wing beats like storm gusts rocked the monster ship like a child¡¯s toy in a tub as Oceanus in his vast majesty hovered just above the ship, extending his head downward to turn an eye to Ashi. She spoke, her voice a part of the wind and rain, of the waves and the hail.

    Blue mana crackled in a ball of lightning, and Ashi¡¯s cage rattled down in fragments, bouncing off the ship and into the water. A second later, her manacles followed. Ashi glowed brilliant blue inspite of her wraps.

    *Kaden.* Her message came in the crash of waves. *I have bargained for our freedom, and safe passage home. But I cannot earn this alone.*

    As the waves pitched the ship, Kaden stood and ran for the mast, climbing higher and higher until the need to pursue the mana grew so strong he couldn¡¯t have stopped if he had to. There was only the draw of dragon mana and his answer.

    Ashi hovered next to the mast, a rope tied around her waist, and she grasp him. ¡°I acknowledge I owe you a favor, great Sea Dragon.¡±

    *Indeed. And this one, too, to balance the debt.* Oceanus¡¯s eye was as large as Kaden was tall, and now it shifted to him. *You chose poorly your first scales, Solar Mana and Fire are weak. My servants cannot be weak. You will accept the Ocean. Or you will experience the Ocean.*

    The world was made of debts and repayments, of risks and rewards. Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I acknowledge I owe you a favor.¡±

    You have acknowledge a favor to Oceanus, incarnation of Sea Mana.

    The same blue mana that had surrounded Ashi surged around Kaden, and his hand burned.

    *I will call when it is time. You will answer.* Oceanus swung round behind the ship and began to flap his wings.

    Kaden untied the rope around Ashi¡¯s waist and began to climb down, dragging her with him until they touched the deck. The ship surged forward, driven by waves more than wind, as though the sea itself grasp it, guiding it forward. This wouldn¡¯t have been alarming, except not a single sail stood high to catch the wind.

    Oceanus himself slowly disappeared on the horizon, though Kaden had no question the dragon¡¯s attention remained on the ship. Soon, passengers, prisoners and a few lucky pirates covered the deck. Kaden had no illusions about why Harrigan¡¯s prisoners didn¡¯t want to be below deck. He sought Trella and found her near the wheel, watching three [Sailors] take turns manning it.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how we turn the rudder, the ship only moves that way,¡± Trella said.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Kaden sat against the deck, reflecting on the battle. [Relive the Moment] gave him the ability to know it all again. See every attack, every missed opportunity, every mistake. Harrigan had been stronger, yes, but Kaden¡¯s own mistakes had made the battle harder. Mistakes he wouldn¡¯t repeat.

    Near the front of the ship, Sara stood with Rey. Kaden couldn¡¯t imagine it lasting but he could see her happy for the moment, and that was enough.

    ¡°Beast Master.¡± Cutter¡¯s voice drew him from his reverie. She handed him the [Levicon Blade]. ¡°I want to use that ritual knife for now. Just until I can solo a dungeon and get something better.¡±

    Kadden accepted it back. ¡°How are you holding up?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll live. I have seven levels to recover, thanks to that bastard. I was level thirty two, close to thirty three. Did she speak to you while you were dead?¡± Cutter¡¯s tone filled with dread, something Kaden expected with seeing Circe Karn, not listening to her.

    ¡°She did.¡± He¡¯d thought about her words. ¡°I¡¯m not eager to meet the blood healing goddess again. I¡¯m not eager to accept her blessing again. I¡¯m not eager to lose another level. Even when I hit zero health, the curse stuck. It wasn¡¯t ¡®until you hit zero,¡¯ it was literally until I died.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry about abandoning you. I had to build up enough buffs to be able to fight him. And I had to get my men out of the mine and rescue some of the healers. I can out damage you, but only when I¡¯ve had time to build up. On the plus side, I had enough healers to let us outlast him.¡± Cutter glanced behind them. ¡°That was a dragon. An actual dragon.¡±

    ¡°Oceanus.¡± Kaden wouldn¡¯t be afraid to see the dragon again. And if there were a price for the blue scale traced out on his palm, it was one worth paying. ¡°I have no idea what a man can do for a dragon, but if it¡¯s the cost of getting home, it¡¯s what I¡¯ll pay.¡±

    Five days into the journey, the ship slowed and stopped.

    Trella worked with the sailors to raise the sails that hadn¡¯t been ripped, though most of them had been savaged by the storm long before the flood wave came through to free Harrigan¡¯s ship. Which Trella insisted was hers, the source of constant bickering between her and Sara.

    Kaden had his own problems. He dove off the end of the ship and sank down. The scale embedded on his hand glowed as it came into contact with the salt water, letting him breathe and increasing his healing, but this was a meeting.

    This was a farewell.

    Explodius held still, drifting in the water. *You can go.* Kaden sent it with the image of the boss squid terrorizing whales, attacking random ships, leaping from the sea to eat unwary [Storm Condors].

    Far beneath him, Squivard lay cool and rested on the ocean floor, toying with the masts of two ships like a child sword-fighting.

    *You, too. Thank you. Thank you both.*

    Explodius unfurled a tentacle to touch Kaden¡ªthen jetted away into the distance. Kaden swam upward and then climbed a rope to rejoin his party on the deck high above.

    ¡°Land!¡± Trella shouted from her spot at the wheel. ¡°Land ho! Looks like Krevat. You know there¡¯s nowhere this ship can dock, right? It needs a smaller ship just to transfer cargo to.¡±

    ¡°Or Krevat needs larger docks,¡± Sara replied. ¡°There¡¯s turmoil in the north. The Mercari hired Beserker clans to fight the pirates and the Beserkers reneged on the contract due to a civil war. The Justari are furious and demanding justice, the Mercari aren¡¯t shipping to the north until it¡¯s resolved.¡±

    That sounded like bad business for everyone.

    ¡°Cutter won¡¯t be heading to the Iron Gear Empire, but she shared with us what she did know. Every party to reach the empire has reported back arriving safely. Three to five days later, they stop reporting at all.¡± Kaden still hadn¡¯t gotten rid of the nightmares that happened every time he thought about going to the Iron Gear Empire.

    Trella yielded the ship¡¯s wheel and joined him. ¡°Every time I think we¡¯re getting things done, ten more arrive. I have to take Arden to Shadowvale. You can¡¯t come, and you don¡¯t want to, either. You know what¡¯s going to happen to a traitor? Nothing good.¡±

    Kaden nodded. ¡°I need to spend time with Trinity. I need to get Skully repaired. I need that Inheritance package. I have a level to gain back and probably a dozen erratics to deal with. And Sara will be busy. So busy. She¡¯ll fight anyone for this ship.¡±

    Trella looked around. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in running businesses. I want to do. I want to see. I want the coins, but only for what it will let me experience.¡±

    Sara wanted it for the xp and the experience, an advantage of her profession. Kaden? ¡°I want to experience things with you.¡±

    A day out, ships sailed to meet them, probably as afraid of a ruse as much as answering Sara¡¯s messages. With a full crew, they sailed into the bay and anchored. Kaden woke to find Trella had returned to ShadowVale and would return when she was done.

    Kaden left the business negotiations to Sara and Eve, and headed straight for the Far Portal, and from there, to his dungeon, with Ashi close behind. When he arrived, a party was preparing for a run¡ªonly to find the dungeon door locked.

    ¡°Give me a moment,¡± Kaden said. He placed his hand on the door. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good. I think there¡¯s a level thirty boss. Let me go clear it out for you.¡±

    Once he was inside, locking the dungeon left Ashi free to put her hands on her hips and strip the mask that covered her face. ¡°There is no such boss. If you do not wish them to enter, say it.¡±

    Kaden headed straight for the blocked section which would lead to the Bearserker¡¯s den. His will made the trees melt away, leaving an open path. ¡°Stay back.¡±

    ¡°Trinity!¡± Kaden shouted.

    From deeper in the dungeon, her blind head¡¯s roar answered, a warning that Beast Emotion translated as *You should be running.*

    But as Kaden turned to warn Ashi, dozens of smaller roars echoed.

    Trinity¡¯s serpentine head gave a sharp shriek that silenced all the smaller calls, and she lumbered out into the clearing where Star Shadow would normally wait. Every head looked in different directions, then all three looked to Kaden.

    ¡°Hey, girl. How¡¯s the brood?¡± Kaden waited, hands down, as she approached. Trinity¡¯s serpentine head looked over his shoulder at Ashi, but he waved his hand. ¡°She¡¯s a friend. You know that. I want to meet your children. You¡¯re not the only TriTerror anymore. You¡¯re the original.¡±

    He sat down on the ground as she approached. ¡°I have friends for you to meet later. A friend, one with a deadly aura.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s bone head lowered to stare at him, then nuzzled as gently as an armored club-head could. Trinity¡¯s emotions tended toward the more violent end of the spectrum, but now, grattitude and relieve streamed off her as she circled him twice and lay down, putting one head on each side.

    Kaden ran his fingers over her¡ªand felt ribs. ¡°You haven¡¯t been eating?¡±

    Her memories overflowed to Kaden, who understood in moments. ¡°Not enough food. How much do these little guys eat? And when do I get to meet them? Hey, I know what you can have right now!¡±

    He flung an ex-pirate-king out of inventory. The prisoners had given strong opinions on leaving enough of Harrigan to resurrect , and Kaden respected that. ¡°He hurt a lot of people, girl. He hurt Ashi. Ashi, come out!¡±

    Ashi peeked from behind trees, then slowly approached while Trinity gorged herself on Pirate King. ¡°Thank you, Trinity. He called himself a king, but cruelty was his only rule, greed his only precept. That he will never draw a breath makes me sleep easier.¡±

    Trinity settled down with a femur, and her blind head let out a rumble. All around, them, the underbrush began to rattle and shake, and one by one, miniature tri-terrors poppped out. Red, greeen, and blue, each had exactly three heads, and not one was taller than Kaden¡¯s knee, though their center heads weren¡¯t blind, instead looking a great deal like Suridev himself.

    Trinity¡¯s soft trill was *They¡¯re a little bitey. And always hungry. I was never this hungry.*

    Kaden hesitated to toss them more corpses. ¡°We really shouldn¡¯t be teaching them people are food. Twenty four? Twenty. What happened to the others?¡±

    The memories this time were thick with emotion. Trinity was a real Wyvern parent, constantly hovering over her brood, but even with three heads, she hadn¡¯t been able to keep all of them safe. A red had snuck away and challenged the dungeon boss. A blue and green had fought to the death and died of wounds. Another blue had been eaten by their siblings after repeatedly attacking everyone.

    Kaden would have been a nervous wreck. Trinity saw it as nature¡¯s way. As she lay there, watching her brood devour what was left of Harrigan and fight over his bones, she sent a thought. An actual question. *Help?*

    ¡°Of course.¡± Kaden removed a Tri-Terror attempting to gnaw on Ashi¡¯s feet. ¡°I¡¯ll get them food.¡±

    *No.* Trinity¡¯s left and right head circled to stare at Kaden, and a new image hit him.

    This time, he waited to make sure he understood. ¡°We can do that. I¡¯ll need help from the Druids, and I¡¯ll need permission from the Southern Island druids, but we can take them there.¡± A vast network of islands left over after the destruction of a continent, some were so small they barely housed a tree and others so large they hid the remains of cities. As a Ruby Hydra, Trinity had grown up there.

    It made sense she¡¯d want her brood to have the same chance. While an [Emerald TriTerror] repeatedly gnawed on his boots, Kaden dispatched the Falcrow to Olidar, who would know who to ask to find them a permanent home. ¡°I promise I will make it happen.¡±

    ¡°Must they try to eat me?¡± Ashi asked, hovering three feet off the ground while a pack of [TriTerrors] discovered that while they were capable of many things, leaping was not one of them. Instead, they cooperated, letting others climb on their backs, forcing Ashi higher and higher.

    Trinity raised her middle head and gave a short bark Beast Speech interpreted as *You¡¯ve had enough junk food for the day. No eating the [Polymage].*

    Ashi drifted downward as the horde scattered. ¡°Kaden, a Centurion waits at the door. I do not know more.¡±

    Kaden willed a portal into existence, connecting him straight to the antechamber, and the moment it closed, willed the doorway to close to Trinity¡¯s brood chamber. He looked to Ashi. ¡°If they¡¯re hostile, the dungeon floor will swallow you and spit you out after they leave.¡±

    With trembling hands, he prepared to fling the dungeon door open.

 Thirty Eight - A Way Forward [End of Volume]

    The dungeon door unlocked at Kaden¡¯s command, and he swung it inward, blocking the way. There, filling the doorway, stood Captain Blanco, captain of Verona¡¯s city knights. ¡°They said I¡¯d find you here. Dervish says this dungeon¡¯s your pet. I didn¡¯t hop four different portals for nothing. Accept this quest, it¡¯ll be worth it.¡±

    New Faction Quest! Rescue the Hostages - Pirate King Harrigan has been taking hostages for years. Take them back. Reward: Faction Tokens, Faction Favor.

    Kaden immediately accepted.

    ¡°I, too, have accepted,¡± Ashi said.

    Moments later, the notification came in.

    Quest Complete: Rescue the Hostages!

    You have received: 30x Justari Faction Tokens.

    Your favor with the Justari faction has reached a new threshold: 2x.

    You have unlocked Justari equipment.

    You have unlocked Justari contacts.

    Your first Justari contact has been assigned (Dominic Blanco).

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°No thanking me for doing our job. We contracted with the beserkers and they broke the contract when a civil war broke out. You and Circe Karn put an end to Harrigan¡¯s rule. I would have preferred¡ªand it would have been right¡ªto bring him back for trial.¡± Blanco sighed. ¡°I know how battles go. I know how easy it is to finish an enemy. You need to learn to temper that.¡±

    They would have to disagree. ¡°Help me understand something. Let¡¯s say Harrigan was King. King of his own country. And he passed a law saying it was legal for him to take hostages, steal, and kill. How¡ª¡±

    ¡°You know. We don¡¯t step in on petty theft. We don¡¯t take sides in religious wars, except to protect the powerless. You know damn well Harrigan was on the wrong side of every law. Next time, you leave final punishment to Justice.¡± Blanco turned and slogged off into the lake, ignoring the water before he came up on the other side.

    ¡°I do not agree. Your word, your decisions are as good as any king of this world,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Let us retire. Night comes, and with it, monsters.¡±

    Monsters were welcome to try and threaten him. For now, Kaden headed to the farmhouse. Eve sat at the table, eating a meal from the storage box, which to Kaden said she was hungry and desperate. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re back. How is Trinity?¡±

    Vip sat beside Eve, begging for food, which wasn¡¯t desperate, it was hopeful.

    ¡°Tired of motherhood,¡± Kaden said, drawing a soup from the prepared meals and offering another to Ashi. ¡°I thought you¡¯d still be in Krevat.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t comfortable staying and Sara had several tasks. While you and Cutter were both dead. I looted Harrigan. The gold is boring and surprisingly little. The weapons various, you¡¯ll find them downstairs.¡± Eve drew a rusted key the size of her forearm from Inventory. ¡°This is the real loot. I don¡¯t even understand how to work it.¡±

    [Tidal Key]

    The holder of this key controls a section of the ocean absolutely. You may choose if others may enter or leave. Not even your death will release the Tidal Key¡¯s lock on a region. The size of the area you may control will grow with time.

    Kaden picked it up, turning it over and over. ¡°This. Egalion would be impossible to attack with this.¡±

    Eve nodded. ¡°They would. But they already hold the Temple of Varun and the power that comes with it. I think no nation should be unassailable. Fear tempers ambition.¡±

    Kaden stored it away. It would be a powerful trade at some point. If he¡¯d known, and if Ashi hadn¡¯t already called Oceanus, he could have established his own area, then released the lock on top of it. Maybe. ¡°If you need anything, I¡¯m going to play with a wyvern out in the fields. Vip, you want to come?¡±

    Vip looked back to Eve and lay her head down.

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind.

    The evening encroached as Kaden unleashed the Destruction Wyvern, already holding a slab of tuna in one hand. ¡°Hello. This¡ª¡±

    The Wyvern lunged, chomping down with a ferocity that Kaden found amazing. But as it ate, it began to whimper. The food it devoured turned to mush and black flakes even as it ate. Kaden reluctantly siphoned it back into his soul. The beast didn¡¯t need to eat there, but it couldn¡¯t grow, either. Perhaps a Vivomancer could help. King Evan had one who served him to modify the bosses in the Fire Domain.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Another task. Another beast to care for. His giant honeybee colony would arrive within months, and their ships from Xiao.

    When a Messenger Bird arrived, Kaden eagerly greated it¡ªthen sat back, frustrated. He¡¯d expected Olidar answer. Instead Kaden answered the summons, taking a FarPortal to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild, and climbing the stairs to the Guild Administrator¡¯s office.

    ¡°He¡¯s been waiting,¡± the administrator¡¯s secretary said. Her smile showed row upon row of shark teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when people keep him waiting.¡±

    Kaden dipped his head. ¡°I was trapped in a Pirate King¡¯s hidden island lair and had to be let loose by a Sea Dragon Oceanus.¡±

    ¡°Who hasn¡¯t?¡± she nodded to the door.

    Inside, the wall sconces lit the stone with warm light, while the Guild Administrator lounged at his desk. A thin black man with close cut hair, he had forgone the traditional assassin¡¯s black for deep blues, and set aside his quill. ¡°Kaden. I heard you found Cutter Karn and some pirates. Good to see you came back. I wanted to have this discussion with Sara, but since the Mercari say she¡¯s going to be very busy for the next few months.¡±

    ¡°Weeks.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t worried about the time. He was worried about Sara. ¡°We¡¯ll join her¡ª¡±

    ¡°This is a private Quest, think of it like your Trial of Yarrow. It¡¯ll change her if she¡¯s strong, and break her either way, but it was her choice. The rest of you owe the Guild and I have a stack of complaints that you¡¯re not taking Quests.¡± The Guild Admin motioned toward Kaden.

    You have been promoted to Temporary Party Leader.

    A slew of notifications filled his list. ¡°How many of these¡ª¡±

    Kaden winced as feedback hit him. ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°Got a headache? Your Quest list is probably overflowing. Go see the Quest Brokers, take some off the top and the pain gets better. You can leave now.¡± The Guild Administrator turned his attention back to a stack of paperwork.

    How had Sara even functioned like this? It was something he¡¯d be asking himself for a long time. The additions to his available menus left Kaden dazed and confused. It was similar to the Hunting Party only with more detail. In particular what caught his eye were the Quest markers with notes. Sara had added notes about which ones would help advance every party member¡¯s progress.

    The top ten faction Quests stood gleaming at the top. Poteri, Justari, Mercari, Naturi, he expected. Every one beneath that was Demoni. And entirely new sections of the System Interface opened up, a slow-scrolling set of notes from other Party Laders.

    Kaden started by focusing on his own notifications.

    You have received a new Quest: Balancing Act - Complete one Quest a Party Member Requires - Reward - Experience

    You have received a new Quest: Lead from the Front - Die in defense of your party - Reward - Attribute Boost (choice).

    You have received a new Quest: Suck it, Dungeon - Clear a Dungeon - Reward - Equipment (unmatched)

    You have received a new Quest: Full Contact Negotiation - Survive a battle against an enemy party - Reward - Inventory Boost (10%)

    Most Adventurers would know if they wanted to lead a party long before level ten, and these starter quests would certainly benefit a young Part Leader. With most of the System interface minimized, Kaden headed to the Far Portal and returned to the Holding.

    Ashi stood atop her guest portal, and jumped out, activating Hover so she could land lightly. ¡°What is wrong? Your soul is filled with turmoil.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s find Eve.¡± Kaden headed inside, turning off a flashing notice that a premier Quest had been issued for a dungeon break. Level forty five monsters would be a challenge for him, let alone for the people he was responsible for. ¡°Eve? Part Meeting.¡±

    She came downstairs dressed in a nightgown¡ªand Vip wore a matching vest. ¡°Since when can you call¡ªoh. Oh, Party Leader. Sara. Did she quit? Is she dead? Can you get me within ten feet of her corpse?¡±

    ¡°Not dead. She¡¯s running a ¡®private challenge.¡¯ Could be months, and we¡¯re on the Administrator¡¯s shit list for not taking Quests.¡± Kaden looked to Ashi. ¡°You have no class quests. Not one. How is that even possible? Eve has Quests for number of people healed, amount of health healed, resurrections, purifictations, debuffs, one for marrying a couple¡ª¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I hated my class so much I ignored the quests. Yes, there¡¯s ones for gallons of blood shed. I¡¯m actually not far off on that.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯re going to take a Quest. I don¡¯t know what it is, but it¡¯ll be a Faction Quest, probably something for the Mercari, since they pay well. If I get permission to move Trinity¡¯s brood, we¡¯re doing that. I¡¯ll see you both tomorrow.¡± So many requests for help.

    So many options.

    Kaden picked a Demoni Quest and squinted. A Demoni faction token would let him bind a demon, which he could already do. But what Kaden found interesting was that the pay was adjustable. He bumped it to a hundred tokens and max favor.

    Your proposal was not accepted.

    Astronomicus has issued a counter-proposal: 2 faction tokens.

    Kaden bumped it to ten thousand. This time, he didn¡¯t get a response, and that was ideal. As he lay in his bed, he couldn¡¯t sleep until the bedroom door bumped open. Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness as Eclipse leaped up onto the bed, no larger than a house cat. ¡°She¡¯s not here. Trella will be back as soon as she can. She had a traitor to deal with.¡±

    Kaden lay back in bed and summoned Burney, letting the [Match Lizard] sit on a stone coaster, and feeding him slivers of wood he carved from the bedpost as he added a wyvern to the carved beasts. Match Lizards weren¡¯t known for feasting, and soon enough the lizard curled up, wrapping his tail around his body.

    The flames that sometimes engulfed Burney turned down to a soft blue glow, a night light that made Kaden happier. The night stuttered, and Kaden jerked awake as the first rays of sun came through the window. No Trella. Eclipse had fled for darker areas.

    Sixteen urgent notifications had come in overnight.

    Three more faction quests.

    Eve was already awake, already cooking, with Vip as an assistant. More of an observer. A taste tester, who approved of every taste as long as she got some. ¡°Morning, Party Leader.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Temporary. Just temporary.¡± He didn¡¯t look up as Ashi entered, too engrossed in reading the updates. And then he stopped to listen to a messenger bird as it arrived.

    ¡°Dungeon?¡± Eve asked.

    Kaden shook his head.

    Ashi thought for a moment. ¡°A faction quest.¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Now, he could enjoy the breakfast. And later, plan his attack on the mound of quests they needed to fulfill. ¡°The head druid of the Southern Isles has approved Trinity¡¯s brood for the island of our choice. That¡¯s the priority.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t anything the guild wanted, but as Kaden considered what had to be done, he couldn¡¯t help smiling. In a distant way, he understood Professor Treadle¡¯s pride at unleashing monsters on the world. It was time to help Trinity unleash her kind. And Kaden knew exactly how he¡¯d do it. He drew the Tidal Key from Inventory. ¡°What do you say we take a trip to the Southern Isles?¡±

    END OF VOLUME

 One - Heavy the Head [START OF VOLUME]

    Kaden Birch was absolutely certain of a few things. First was that [Lashkivores] were some of his least favorite beasts. The second was no quest rewards were worth the stress of being Party Leader. He gained xp from every member of the party, but most days gained more from his Dungeon. The two weren¡¯t related, but they occupied a lot of his time as he worked his way deeper into a cavern, wrapped in [Stealth Aura].

    All around him stood sleeping [Lashkivores]. Their greasy gray fur stuck to their bodies, which resembled monkeys with wings and long tails. Serated bone teeth ran down the entire length of the tail, which ended in a ball of gristle and bone with a monkey¡¯s face and teeth.

    He moved with purpose, [Soul Binding] each one and then releasing them so he could pass closer and closer to the heart of the nest. At the heart of the nest stood a larger, nearly hairless [Lashkivore].

    The longer he listened with [Beast Soul], the more he understood the balance. The more he understood the balance wasn¡¯t even close. Lashkivores, according to [Beast Knowledge] were scavengers who came to eat the parts of the kill Gryphons wouldn¡¯t deal with. In hindsight, the group that had nested near Queen Brownbeak¡¯s tree made perfect sense.

    Lashes survived off the edges of a successful colony, occasionally even managing to steal eggs in the darkness. This colony had stolen so many eggs it stood on the verge of killing the gryphons they depended on. Now it was up to Kaden to set it right. These weren¡¯t weaklings like those living in Verona, these were wild Lashes, hardened by fighting for their survival.

    Kaden had only one more beast to tame and then the carnage could begin. He reached out, stretching his hand.

    You have bound a beast (Mime-ic).

    Mime-ic has shifted.

    Your binding is undone.

    Mime-ic is no longer elligible for binding.

    Kaden had only a moment as the creature he thought as the Lash calculated its attack. No longer a Lashkivore, now it loomed over him like a centaur with the foreparts of a preying mantis.

    [Mime-ic - Enlightened Boss Monster]

    These rare beasts are parasites that move into colonies and situate themselves as leader. Their strength and speed gives them an edge to empower their colonies and then allow themselve to be fed and cared for. Not true shape-shifters, they embody the essence of the creatures they become. Every skill and attribute are stronger. *Beast Knowledge - Bloody hate these things. Found one mime-ing a Dragon and had to go find an actual dragon because the damned thing was just too strong. Wound up in service for twenty years to a dragon.

    ¡°Ashi! Now!¡± Kaden drew Remembrance of Battle to block as the [Mime-ic] lashed out.

    Ashi Rahm is requesting Access to use [Mana Conduit].

    Kaden had already approved it, twice. A thousand shards of stone exploded outward from Kaden¡¯s chest as Ashi¡¯s spell detonated through him. Dozens of lashes screamed in pain and attempted to identify the intruder.

    There were technically two.

    The [Mime-ic] was, without question, an enemy, and so was Kaden, except that Kaden¡¯s approach through the coloy had left him with many who weren¡¯t hostile and the [Mime-ic] didn¡¯t have that advantage.

    This was the time for him to let nature takes its course. Kaden sprinted through the lashes, using [Moment of Speed] over and over to reach the crag he¡¯d climbed down through. Behind him, the [Mime-ic] found itself at the center of an enraged set of [Lashkivores] who worked as one to punish the now-intruder.

    A moment earlier it had been a leader. Now it was meat for the colony.

    Or.

    One by one, the Mime-ic began tearing lashes apart, trampeling them, gashing and tearing them with its jaws. The colony¡¯s rage turned to fear and the lashes began to flee, leaving only the strongest¡ªand Kaden.

    ¡°Give me your hand!¡± Eve called from above, reaching down. Her platinum blond hair fell further than her hand reached, but at least she wasn¡¯t afraid to help.

    ¡°Can¡¯t.¡± Kaden turned and faced the [Mime-ic], which had finished its slaughter and now focused on Kaden, clattering caws as it pawed the ground with front hoofs. ¡°We have a problem.¡±

    Ashi slid down the crag to land beside him. ¡°Then let us make it not¡ªthat beast. What is it?¡±

    Before Kaden could answer, the [Mime-ic] shifted, becoming a [Minotaur], only larger. Harrier. With bigger horns and a more impressive axe.

    Kaden, to be frank, felt intimidated. His minotaur form wasn¡¯t awful, but would have looked more like Little Brother next to it. At least he understood minotaur¡¯s style of fighting. ¡°Fine. You chose the way you want to die.¡±

    ¡°Or you.¡± The [Mime-ic] answered. ¡°Many have died. Now you.¡±

    Ashi hadn¡¯t spoken since it changed. ¡°It is a shapeshifter. It is perfect. Whether you kill it or not, I want the skin it wears for my spellbook.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll probably have to kill it.¡± Eve had joined them down in the cave. ¡°Most creatures won¡¯t let you take off their skin without first killing them. Though I suppose it¡¯s always possible. What do you think, Kaden? Do you want to kill it, or just cut its skin off?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡± the [Mime-Ic] roared, shifting to a [Bastion Lizard] six feet tall, with armored skin. ¡°You can¡¯t just talk about taking my skin right in front of me.¡±

    ¡°Such magnificent skin,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I am afraid to use fire, it might ruin the hide. Kaden, please do not put large gashes in it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s very considerate,¡± The [Mime-ic] said. ¡°Still, I must kill you all. You¡¯ve ruined a good thing I had here, but once you¡¯re all dead, I¡¯ll shift back, become one of them and get that feast rolling.¡±

    Kaden held up a hand. ¡°You¡¯re a shape-shifter. You get new skin every time you shift. Isn¡¯t there some way I can just pay you for your skin, and to leave this colony? My pet gryphon lives here, and I¡¯m¡ªhold on.¡±He checked the registry. ¡°There¡¯s Quest for [Mime-Ic] corpses from the [Vivomancers.].¡±

    ¡°Now you want my whole corpse. You¡¯re a bunch of greedy little [Cenovites] and I¡¯m going to enjoy offering your corpses to my lash friends. Maybe I¡¯ll wear your skins, how would you like that?¡± The [Mime-ic] hefted its axe and let loose a bray.

    Mime-ic has used [Bahamaut Bray].

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    Mime-ic¡¯s attack has increased.

    Your skill with [Resist Fear] has increased.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate. He leaped toward the charging [Minotaur], using [Split Second] to sidestep the thunderous axe-blow. His own didn¡¯t have the force to break bones, but it struck the gut and let Kaden kick the knee.

    The giant axe clanged to the floor, and Kaden snatched it into Inventory, causing a roar of agony. The Minotaur was gone, what remained was like a rubbery pink ball of meat with veins and skin that shifted shapes every few moments.

    Kaden¡¯s soul ached and burned and he couldn¡¯t keep himself from ejecting the axe from Inventory. It emerged as a smaller ball of flesh that rolled toward the bigger one¡ªand exploded into a geiser of blood. Apparently the weapon was literally a part of the shifter.

    ¡°On your feet,¡± Eve called to Ashi. She¡¯d obviously recovered from the Fear effect and now had Ashi standing. In the same moment she began burning mana to cost the [Mime-ic] health.

    Without warning, a [Dragon] stood in the cave, a full-sized [Dragon] with icey blue scales. Every inch of its body was covered in frilly spines, which had to make personal grooming difficult at best.

    ¡°Run!¡± Kaden shouted.

    He felt the air moisture crystalize.

    The wind in the cavern whipped as the false-dragon inhaled, and frozen death errupted.

    Kaden met it with [Wrath of the Furnace], the firey breath he borrowed from the [Drake] at BirchHome, spending every point of mana he had to block the dragon¡¯s deadly cold.

    You have Mana Shock!

    A dense cloud of steam hid him for a heartbeat, and Kaden wrapped himself in [Stealth Aura], then sprinted to the crevice where Ashi helped Eve climb. Stealth Aura was level three, meaning Kaden could hide both Ashi and Eve, though Eve¡¯s [Moon Glow] skill could have hidden them, they¡¯d never worked out tests for which was the more powerful skill.

    Kaden picked both women and began to climb. Ashi could activate [Hover] and become weightless, Eve just didn¡¯t weigh much, and either way they had to escape the underground cavern or become an icecicle. Ten feet from the crevice top, the ground beneath Kaden shuddered and rocks began to fall inward.

    ¡°[Moon Fall!]¡± Eve shouted.

    Ameteor two feet across whizzed by Kaden¡¯s head and something roared in the darkness behind them. Kaden summoned Remembrance of Battle and used the hammer to haul himself up to the surface and vault out.

    He threw Eve and Ashi away as a storm of electricity struck.

    You have been struck by [Thunderstorm].

    You have taken 1,891 points shocking damage.

    You have resisted paralysis.

    Mana Shock prevented his skills from saving him, and without Sara, he didn¡¯t have a constant influx of mana. His [Vigorous] talent made him twice as fast, but her constant mana boost made all of them more powerful.

    The [Mime-ic] shifted again and errupted as a spider ten feet tall.

    ¡°That¡¯s him!¡± Kaden shouted to the empty night, as storm winds tore at the mountain crag. Somewhere up there were the griphons. ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s been killing. That¡¯s what¡¯s been eating your eggs.¡±

    In a heart-beat, the [Mime-ic] shifted, becoming a [Gauntling] that stood twelve feet tall. Tendrils of orange light ringed it and it crackled as it formed a sword as long as Kaden was tall. ¡°And you thought to take my skin.¡±

    Kaden trusted Eve stay behind him, and Ashi to choose her attacks using the right type of many. Right now, he activated [Mana Drain] and used it to fill his stores, directing the overflow to Eve and Ashi. Eve responded with [Life Endowment], repairing eight hundred points of health.

    All around him, the air grew white as the temperature dropped. The rain that pelted them froze into hail that clattered.

    Ashi Rahm has used [Glacial Chill]. Allies are not affected.

    Gauntlings were tall and thin and that made them perfect targets for Kaden to hack a leg off. He dodged a graceless kick that would have broken every bone in his body and aimed for an ankle.

    Crippling Strikes has delivered a critical blow.

    Mobility is reduced.

    The Guantling shriveled downward and even before Kaden could see, the heat warned him what was coming. The legs and arms became thick and scaly, the skin brilliant red, the eyes golden, and a Fire Dragon opened its maw to breath destruction.

    Kaden banished Remembrance and sprinted toward it even as the jaws glowed so bright it left spots in his vision. ¡°Ashi, ready!¡±

    The air turned to flames.

    Stone glowed beneath Kaden¡¯s boots. His needful cloak incandesced and turned to cinders. Kaden, however, was unharmed by virtue of a three inch long lizard which clung to his collar, and now basked in the heat. [Match Lizards] weren¡¯t fierce or fast or deadly.

    They were, however, [Fireproof], and thanks to that, so was Kaden.

    Ashi Rahm has channeled [Glacial Strike].

    Ice exploded out from Kaden¡¯s leading fist, spearing through the mimic-dragon¡¯s hide and then branching out. [Mime-ics] were more powerful because they enhanced their target¡¯s strengths. But they also enhanced their vulnerabilities. The ice-crystals multiplied as mana gushed through [Mana Channel].

    The Dragon¡¯s eyes began to melt down into a pool of pink flesh, before they froze solid.

    You have defeated a Boss Monster (Mime-Ic).

    You have gained experience.

    You have gained a level.

    Of course, since it was a level he¡¯d already gained before dying to the pirate king Harrigan, no attribute points or talent.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°Level twenty eight! And the hide!¡±

    Eve stepped out from a rock outcropping. ¡°I, too, leveled. It¡¯s taken months but it¡¯s still faster than anyone should gain a level. No new talent.¡±

    Kaden nodded, watching as the mound of flesh that had been the [Mime-ic] slowly transmuted into its true form. ¡°I¡¯m not going to harvest this, we¡¯ll go to Trunistan and get a professional crafter. And make certain they understand we need this hide, not a voucher.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Eve¡¯s voice nearly cracked as the ground thudded.

    He turned and looked as gryphon after gryphon landed. Kaden¡¯s head reached the top of their knees, but they surrounded him. ¡°I told you I¡¯d come back and protect Cloud. That thing was pretending to be a [Lashkivore], but it¡¯s the reason you lost so many young. I need the corpse, or I¡¯d let you eat it.¡±

    Kaden steadied himself and then pulled the Boss corpse into Inventory. It was large. Too large, and as always it felt like eating too many [Preserved Biscuits], which was to say, one.

    The largest of the gryphons was Gale-Heart, black as the night sky. He towered over Kaden but lowered its eagle head so it could stare face to face. *Good death. Strong Aeirie.*

    ¡°Yes. The Lashes will always be around. I can¡¯t get rid of them and even if I did, more would come, but you¡¯re strong. You can protect against lashes.¡± Kaden dipped his head out of respect to Gale-heart.

    Beside Gale-heart stood a gryphon with tan feathers, Sand-Wing. She let out a screech, and stepped back, revealing a gryphon as tall as Kaden, built like an actual lion with an actual eagle front half. It gave a chirp of delight and sprinted toward Kaden, claws outstretched.

    Kaden crouched and leaped, letting [Split Second] tell him when to move his head so his skull wasn¡¯t cracked open. He slammed into the juvenile gryphon and fell backwards, rolling. ¡°You are huge! You fit under my arm last time I saw you.¡±

    Beast Speech translated Cloud¡¯s cry as *Big. Strong.*

    Not compared to its surrogate parents. ¡°Can you fly yet?¡±

    Cloud stood with one claw on either side of Kaden¡¯s chest and stretched out his wings, flapping hard. His eagle claws lifted off the ground, but his hind legs remained stubbornly attached to the ground until he folded his wings and gave a frustrated shriek. *Strong. Weak.*

    Before Kaden could even speak, Sandwing¡¯s cry cut through the night, a tangled mess of meanings [Beast Soul] translated as *It¡¯s ok. Who¡¯s proud of you? Mama¡¯s proud.*

    Kaden pushed himself up and put his arms around Cloud to squeeze him. ¡°You¡¯re doing great. And Ash-Claw laid an egg, that¡¯s fantastic. You¡¯re going to have a sibling!¡±

    [Beast Soul] caught the strong whiff of jealousy that rolled off Cloud, who shivered in the rain until Sand-Wing called him back under her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come back in a month to check on you, ok?¡± Kaden bowed to both the gryphon leaders, who had no response. It was natural, in their view, for him to help protect Cloud¡ªor any other gryphon. ¡°You mind if I clean up?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no.¡± Eve said softly. ¡°Please, don¡¯t.¡±

    Kaden made it quick, because alchemists couldn¡¯t afford to be sqeamish, and neither could their lovers. ¡°I brought an Inventory cube this time. I don¡¯t mind storing corpses in my soul. Literal mounds of shit are another thing.¡±

    Ashi had turned slightly green and it wasn¡¯t from absorbing life mana. ¡°Please, let us go to Trunistan.¡±

    They almost made it to the FarPortal before a messenger bird arrived. Kaden had gotten used to this, as a temporary party leader. He listenened to it, then performed quick Inventory juggling. ¡°Eve, Ashi, this is the corpse. The hide goes to Trunnistan for processing, the corpse, turn into the [Vivomancer¡¯s] college there so we can get the Faction Quest reward. I have to meet with druids. And our Quest broker.¡±

    Ashi accepted the cube and hugged him gently. ¡°So it will be.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll ensure there¡¯s no voucher disaster,¡± Eve said. ¡°I enjoy Trunistan now that it¡¯s low on slavers.¡±

    King Evander had made it clear that he¡¯d appreciate Kaden staying away for a few decades, and Kaden could respect that. Right now, he had to see some druids about controlling an invasive species, and some other druids about creating one.

 Two - Island Dreams

    Kaden stepped through the FarPortal and blinked, blinded, while his lungs struggled to draw a breath. The sunlight was brilliant, the air thick and muggy, the heat oppressive as he stepped down from the FarPortal mound. Vines hung thick from low trees, and heavy underbrush concealed a myriad of wildlife.

    ¡°There he is!¡± A woman shouted.

    Kaden blinked until he could see the form of Ydra Cain, the [Druid] of the Southern Ilse. When he¡¯d first gone to visit her, he was sure she was trying to seduce him, wearing very little to cover skin turned deep brown by decades of sun. Common sense soon taught him that life in the Southern Isles wasn¡¯t friendly to heavy armor, cloaks, or most clothing. ¡°Ydra. How are my monsters?¡±

    ¡°Doing well!¡± she waved for him to follow, as Kaden stored his armor in Inventory. The Needful Cloak was busy rebuilding itself, and Kaden sprinted barefoot through the sandy soil to follow Ydra across the island, then swam a narrow river. The Southern Isles numbered in the thousands, each separated by small inlets no more than thirty feet deep.

    Many had rope bridges between them, and Kaden sprinted along these, the path familiar.

    Up ahead, Ydra stopped under the tree canopy. She wore a loose loin cloth and a wrap on her chest, but didn¡¯t even carry a weapon. Then again, as a level seventy five druid, she had animal servants everywhere. ¡°Please?¡±

    Kaden drew a rusted key from Inventory, a key two feet long and heavily corroded. He focused on it. The air ahead shimmered, and a new island snapped into view where it hadn¡¯t been a second before. ¡°After you.¡±

    Ydra dove into the water, swimming across ahead, while Kaden took a passing moment to [Soul Bind] and release a new kind of snake, one that froze the water as it slithered. He emerged from the water with the snake following along behind him, and immediately focused on the key again.

    You have closed this island.

    ¡°That¡¯s an [Glacial Snake],¡± Ydra said. ¡°They don¡¯t belong here. I¡¯ve seen poacher teams trying to get onto this island for weeks, and I bet they were using it as bait.¡±

    The snake slithered forward, into the brush¡ªand the brush exploded as two TriTerrors no taller than Kaden¡¯s waist burst forward. One TriTerror was bright green, the other bluer than the sea, but they used their three heads to wallop, poison and rip the [Glacial Snake] to shreds.

    Kaden carefully [Soul Bound] and released each before approaching. ¡°They¡¯ve doubled in size. Trinity was only twice this height when I first met her. Well, actually, when I first met her, she was a [Ruby Hydra.]¡±

    ¡°These things eat [Ruby Hydras.]¡± Ydra said. ¡°In fact, they eat everything. The blues will freeze the water for reds to attack eels. Yesterday I caught a green regrowing heads to keep a [Vorpal Fox] busy while two reds ambushed it.¡±

    That was a little worrisome. ¡°Are they going to take over the islands?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so. When they first arrived, they¡¯d roam as a single pack. The larger they get, the less they work together and I suspect the adults will be solitary if they¡¯re not mating.¡± Ydra bent over and ran her hand down a TriTerror¡¯s back. ¡°And they drag fish back to the volcanic vents and leave them there to steam.¡±

    That, too, made sense. Trinity had [Cooking] and had a special title, [Mother of Monsters], which meant her brood had her talents and skills. ¡°How long do you think until these reproduce?¡±

    ¡°Ten years or so. We had a few [Prophets] look into it and while they¡¯re all nut-jobs, it¡¯s almost certain they lay eggs in a decade. We¡¯ve already had reports of them spawning as monsters in the Surge Wave.¡±

    The surge wave was now weak, but as it passed over, monsters spawned more fiercely. Kaden¡ªand the rest of the world¡ªwere still waiting to see if a true Monster Surge would return.Right now, he had business.

    Kaden followed the pull on his soul, moving inland through the dense jungle. A few poisonous snakes contributed to the effort to grow his resistances, a few Cerulean TriTerrors contributed to his attempts to remove snakes, but this island really only had one boss monster.

    He pushed aside vines and stepped into a clearing where the sun broke through, highlighting Trinity. His TriTerror dozed in the sun, only her armored head awake, but the moment she saw him she rose and sprinted forward, giving a trumpeting cry with her snake head that [Beast Soul] turned into *Oh, thank goodness.*

    She slowed as she reached him and wrapped her necks around Kaden to hug him against her thick center head, which was still blind.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok, girl. Your brood are everywhere. And they¡¯re so large!¡± Kaden scratched under each of her chins as she nuzzled him, careful to keep her razor scales flat. Then her middle head growled in a way that went on and on. The translation wasn¡¯t exact, but Kaden understood it as *I had such great plans. This one would be an architect, that one a doctor. Now, some days if none of my children ate any of my other children, it¡¯s a victory.*

    ¡°There¡¯s been a few deaths,¡± Ydra said.

    Trinity¡¯s snake head whipped around to look at her, then returned to bumping Kaden in the chest to get petted. Yes, he could tell, Trinity knew about the deaths. They were unavoidable. Children had to grow strong. Children had to eat things and this world had teeth and claws and often objected to being eaten.

    ¡°Mother of Monsters, it¡¯s time. Time for you to let your brood be free,¡± Ydra said. ¡°They won¡¯t all survive. But some of them will. And this island will always be yours, if you want to return to lay eggs.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s armored head answered, a grinding sound like rocks crushing each other that Beast Soul translated as *We all become mothers too early. I mean, I know I should leave my eggs to hatch in the sand, but it¡¯s easier said than done. You¡¯ll understand when you leave your own newborn in the sand to fend for itself.* Then all three heads focused on Kaden.

    He understood the want. The desire. And pulled on the silver cord in his soul that bound them together, pulling her into his soul where she could at last rest. ¡°I want to keep this island locked down. I know there are poachers hunting them, this place should be safe.¡±

    ¡°Agreed. Did you get the report on the Burning Dream Queen? She slaughtered the nest that raised her and moved deeper into the volcano. She¡¯s been hunting there and has three eggs we think will be workers.¡± As Ydra spoke, she led the way through the jungle. The vines and plants moved for her.

    At the islands edge, they tromped down into the canal separating islands.

    Kaden stopped, because touching the sea always brought a moment of awareness.

    Oceanus, the Sea Dragon, was out there, and each time he came into contact, Oceanus briefly turned his attention to Kaden. It was like an electric shock down Kaden¡¯s spine. He plunged in and swam across, emerging with a pair of fish he stuffed into Inventory. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m so grateful you gave the TriTerrors a place to start.¡±

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Nature¡¯s daughter blessed them. How could I not?¡± Ydra asked. ¡°Where are you off to? Going to see Olidar? You know he talks about you all the time.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m headed to the Iron Gear Empire soon.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not a [Druid] so keep in mind, that whole place feels like I got stung by a [Dagger Wasp]. Druids can sense the earth, but not the empire. It¡¯s cut off. Did, by any chance, Memonar give you a Faction Quest?¡± Ydra¡¯s tone said she was really hoping the answer was yes.

    You have completed the Quest - A Most Mysterious Beast

    ¡°I¡¯ve got more faction quests than I can keep track of. If we don¡¯t do three a week, the Guild Administrator gets upset and I get a migraine. A literal migraine.¡± In the last two months Kaden had become an expert at scanning the Faction Quests, accepting fast ones, rejecting the long-haul quests and using the gap to for Party Quests.

    The ever growing list of missing Quest Reports was a different problem.

    The head of a boss monster was a report, as far as he was concerned. Or the liver, if the head held a crafting material. Kaden declined a dungeon run that would take five days and leave him behind, then accepted an escort quest from the Externi. Who were they? What was their view on how the world should be run? Kaden didn¡¯t know or care, but the escort mission would take eight hours and leave them space to relax, heal, recover, or plot. ¡°What does the Arch Druid want? Doesn¡¯t he have dozens of [Druids] of every level?¡±

    ¡°We can speak to beasts but only those who have a form of speech. There¡¯s a type of monkey we can¡¯t talk to and they¡¯re disappearing, and we don¡¯t know why. The Quest is to find out who¡¯s been taking the [Crystaline Capuchins]. My lover is in charge of their territory.¡± Ydra paused. Waiting. Prompting.

    Kaden¡¯s [Negotiation] skill had grown in the last two months and it prompted him to bargain here. Not for greater rewards. ¡°Have one waiting for me. Have it near a FarPortal. I¡¯ll swing past and see what it says¡ªif it says anything. If it doesn¡¯t say anything, no reward.¡±

    ¡°I can make him make that happen. Poachers are going to get the TriTerrors. The further they branch out the less I can protect them.¡± She drew a sack from Inventory. ¡°These are the ones I took from the poachers I caught.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help shiering. ¡°Why can¡¯t we resurrect them?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re beasts, they accept that death is a part of the natural cycle and move on more or less instantly. With no soul, you¡¯d create an empty body that just cries out for something¡ªanything¡ªto take control. There are entities who wait. Entities who hope for just that.¡± Ydra shook her head. ¡°Beasts that are gone, are gone.¡±

    That¡¯s why Kaden kept most of his soul-bound, even those he couldn¡¯t store in his soul. Speaking of which, he summoned Vip, because the small gray dog adored Ydra. Vip adored everyone who returned the favor. Vip danced along the shoreline, walking on hind leggs and hopping until Ydra clapped and petted her.¡°I¡¯ll expect a bird from you when those [Crystaline Capuchins] are ready. If you get a line on who is poaching the TriTerrors, let me know. I¡¯ll make an example of them. I know at least one place that will be hunting them, and I¡¯ll use these corpses to deal with them.¡±

    Kaden dispatched the [FalCrow] and waited as the FarPortal burst into existence. There was so much he wanted to do, so much he had to do, and so few hours to do it. He stepped through and emerged at the Holding.

    It was dark, and monsters moved just past the border but right now, he wasn¡¯t going to waste time killing weak night spawn. Sleep was a necessity, even in the second tier. Eve was already in bed. Sara¡ªSara! Kaden sprinted toward the farmhouse and threw open the door.

    The fire crackled, and on the couch, Sara Scylla rested, staring at the flames.

    Vip exploded forward to leap into her lap, and Trinity sucked in her ribs, pivoted, and worked back and forth until she could squeeze through the doorway and lay longways behind the couch.

    ¡°Sara?¡± Kaden called softly.

    She¡¯d shaved her hair, short and spikey, and what remained was sticky with black goo.

    Her metalic green armor with the scale patterns was scarred and repaired with gold that reflected firelight where it lay near the fireplace. Her swords lay near them not even sheathed, and an array of loot and papers looked like a hurricane had come through.

    Kaden approached quietly, taking a seat beside her. ¡°I¡¯m glad you survived.¡±

    She didn¡¯t answer, as tears rolled silently down her cheeks. Her Horror¡¯s psuedopods licked them from her chin before they could fall, but even the entity from beyond this universe lay quiet. Sara took his hand and gripped it tightly. Hours passed before she spoke. ¡°Where is everyone?¡±

    ¡°Ashi is either in Trunistan or Vichor. We found the hide for her spellbook. Eve is asleep upstairs. Trella still hasn¡¯t come back from ShadowVale.¡± Kaden tried to shoo away a pair of messenger birds, both of them asking for help with a Dungeon Break.

    Sara sat up and stared at him. ¡°Oh. Party Leader. When did that happen?¡±

    ¡°When you accepted the Trial of the Strong. Don¡¯t worry, you can have the title back. I hate the Guild Administrator. I hate the petty juggling of Faction quests. I hate the back and forth to increase what they¡¯re offering. I hate the headache when I don¡¯t take enough quests.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t help the frustration that leaked out.

    ¡°Not to worry, that all ends tomorrow. Wait, what do you mean, back and forth?¡±

    Kaden brought up the Quest interface. ¡°The box where they offer. Focus on it, change the value, send it off. I¡¯ve been driving Asmodius up for months. You knew that, right?¡±

    Sara didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Yes. Yes, of course I did. What have you been doing? The quests look all wrong. We shouldn¡¯t have this many Faction Quests completed. We shouldn¡¯t have this many quests completed. It¡¯s been months. How did you even handle this?¡±

    As the fire burned lower, Kaden explained about his unwanted promotion. About the migraines which could only be controlled by keeping the Faction Quests under control.

    Sara¡¯s eyes narrowed with every moment. ¡°Tomorrow, I promise. In fact, why don¡¯t we go now?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s exhaustion disapeared with the promise of freedom. ¡°Now sounds good. Vip, go sleep with Eve. Trinity, stay here.¡±

    Sara¡¯s actual outfit reminded Kaden of a commoner, loose grey pants, a long sleeved shirt with heavy loops where the belt should have been, and she wore soft leather moccasins rather than hard boots.

    Together, they headed straight to the Guild. Emerging on the second floor was like getting punched in the nose by the smell of beer and sweat and smoke and blood, as the Guild hummed with activity tonight.

    Sara stepped off the FarPortal and lightly slid down the stairs to the ground floor and the Quest Brokers who stood at the entrance, always looking for people to take their quests. ¡°You. Or you. I don¡¯t care, any of you will do.¡±

    Kaden waved to his favorite Quest Broker, a thin young man with a near skeletal appearance and wispy brown hair and a bald spot. ¡°Parnic? Can you help Sara?¡±

    Sara snapped her fingers. ¡°I¡¯m invoking section twelve for Kaden Birch, myself, Sara Scylla,Trella Sonos, Ashi Rahm, Evelyn Black, and Wren North.¡±

    ¡°Section twelve.¡± Parnic spoke it like a ghost. ¡°It hasn¡¯t¡­oh. You¡¯ll be converting?¡±

    ¡°We will.¡± Sara tapped the desk. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving until it¡¯s done. Five Gold or five years. Do you know what passed four weeks, three days ago?¡±

    Kaden slowly did the math.

    Without warning, the Quest Counters dropped away. The Faction Quest list turned gray just like the normal Quest queue.

    Sara Scylla requests leadership of the Party. [Y/N]?

    Sara Scylla has resumed control of the Party.

    You have been demoted.

    You have failed multiple quests.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help the sigh of relief. ¡°How did you do that?¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s subjective time. I¡¯ve never known anyone crazy enough to spend five years in a dungeon but technically one could. Now we don¡¯t owe the Guild anything. Now we¡¯re free to do the quests that make sense without worry.¡± Sara put an arm around his waist. ¡°Thank you. We could trade off if you want to.¡±

    ¡°Never.¡± Kaden had had a taste of power and it tasted disgusting. Someone else could have the title and the choices and the responsibilities. Kaden would take the loot, experience and gold. ¡°I have a quest I need to do with the [Druids], but it shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve left your Quest interface enabled. Flag it for me when it comes up.¡± Sara said. ¡°You have twelve private quests. And¡­Kaden Birch, how many quest reports have you filed?¡±

    Kaden sighed. ¡°Did I tell you I kept your pet party employed? Annika? She¡¯s been sweeping the town for us every week. Killing grahts, the occasional imp, demon spider, that sort of thing. Last week, I filled Neganta¡¯s Larder with Ratmen (and women) and left them a real surprise.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Sara wasn¡¯t asking for his attention. It was a statement, probably of how much of a genius he was. ¡°They have a Quest Report due tomorrow. I¡¯ll handle it personally. I¡¯ll reward them personally.¡±

    She headed for the FarPortal with a grip on Kaden¡¯s arm.

    While they waited, Kaiden asked the question he¡¯d been wondering. ¡°Did you pass the trial?¡±

    ¡°There is no passing the Lesson of The Strong,¡± Sara said. ¡°I made money. I honed my profession. I accomplished five hidden quests, put three levels in my optional [Swordsman] class and gained skills. But there is no passing.¡±

    Kaden considered what the Guild administrator had said. It would change Sara if she was strong, and break her regardless. ¡°Do you want to tell me about it?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Not yet. But yes. Know this. I hate the Demoni. I would send a thousand cultists on to final judgement and sleep peacefully. But however much I hate the Demoni, I hate the Mercari more.¡±

 Three - Worth Your While

    Kaden slept so long it took Trinity dropping a dead wolf at the foot of the bed to rouse him. He couldn¡¯t tell what time it was, the sun was high and the outside light bright, and for the first time in months he didn¡¯t carry the weight of worrying about who would be demanding what quests.

    It was like someone had lifted an invisible [Quillophant] from his chest. Kaden was fairly sure there weren¡¯t invisible [Quillophants] but if there were, they would feel exactly like that. He crawled over to the hot-spring and washed until he simply couldn¡¯t do it anymore. And emerged to find Sara sitting at the table, speaking with Eve and Ashi who held her pet octopus in a globe of water. Ashi pointed. ¡°He lives!¡±

    ¡°I do. Thanks for the sleep. I needed it. We all needed it.¡± Kaden headed to the stove and took a cold steak from the pan, then applied [Match Lizard]. Burney managed to de-congeal the fat but not even warm the steak. ¡°Ashi? Please?¡±

    Ashi tapped a mana stone in her wraps and her shin shifted redder by the moment, then she held her hands over the plate until the steak sizzled. ¡°[Burning Grasp] is rarely of use. If an enemy is close enough to touch, I have failed.¡±

    ¡°Sara was recounting how our duty to the Guild is ended,¡± Eve said. ¡°We are free to take quests, but not slaves to their demands. So how shall our newfound freedom be spent?¡±

    Kaden had an idea but before he could speak, Dominion warned him that the FarPortal activated. And of who it was. ¡°Just a moment, I need to deal with something. Annika Kabat is here to deliver a quest report.¡±

    ¡°Annika comes to deliver her report in person?¡± Sara said, not hiding her shock. ¡°Why?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°One time she thought I was mad at her. I was busy, after that she just kept coming and I didn¡¯t have the heart to tell her no.¡±

    A knock at the farmhouse door, and Annika Kabat stepped through.

    She¡¯d traded her traditional [Healer]¡¯s robes for thin crystaline armor that coursed with green mana, and she carried a healer¡¯s staff, not a mace, even if it did have a conspicuously large, spiked, weighted orb on one end. Her strawberry blond hair was pulled back in a tight pony tail and both eyes were black with bruises. ¡°Mr. Birch, I¡¯m here to report.¡±

    Kaden dipped his chin. ¡°Any monsters?¡±

    ¡°Rat men! Maybe some Rat Women, too, trying to move into the town. We handled them quickly, though there was some minor damage to one of the windows.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good. Eve, any questions?¡± Kaden figured he¡¯d handle it just like every other report.

    ¡°Anyone bleed?¡± Eve asked.

    Annika didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Several Rat Men. Also our Shield. Also our Mage, Benson, but that was because he fell through a window.¡±

    ¡°Blood is blood,¡± Eve said. ¡°Good job. Ashi?¡±

    Ashi thought for a moment. A moment she didn¡¯t need because she asked the same question as always. ¡°Did you cast any spells?¡±

    ¡°[Minor Mend], [Mend], [Purify] and [Find Button]. I never thought I¡¯d need that spell, but Jotar¡¯s entire outfit is buttons and while, yes, I¡¯m a healer, no, I don¡¯t want to see certain things.¡± Annika looked back to Kaden. ¡°Is that all?¡±

    ¡°You stab anyone?¡± Trella asked.

    Kaden let shock paralyze him for a single moment, then he lunged sweeping Trella up. And it was just her, wincing as he almost crushed her. ¡°When did you get back?¡±

    ¡°A few minutes ago, but I came the long way from the city.¡± Trella wiggled a bit. ¡°Eve, he broke a couple ribs.¡±

    Eve immediately cast [Life Endowment]. ¡°We were so worried. You said you were taking Arden back for punishment how did that become two months?¡±

    ¡°Later.¡± Trella turned on Annika. ¡°I asked a question. Did you stab anyone? Do I need to demonstrate what stabbing is?¡±

    Annika seemed to have lost her tongue. She shook her head. ¡°Maybe our [Rogue] did?¡±

    ¡°Good enough.¡± Trella turned to Kaden. ¡°You can pick me up again, just be gentle.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind when Trella¡¯s eyes turned cat yellow.

    Sara ushered Annika out of the farmhouse using terms like ¡®standard quest report¡¯ and ¡®guild rates¡¯ and promising bonuses. There were also a disturbing number of apologies being offered on all sides, where as Kaden saw it, everyone had a good deal.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Sara shouted. ¡°What exactly is ¡®Loot Grab Bag?¡¯¡±

    Eve rushed to the door. ¡°This is my favorite part. Sara needs to keep Loot Grab Bag. Ashi, help!¡±

    Ashi joined them outside as Kaden prepared for the game that made Quest Reports worth doing. ¡°Annika knows Loot Grab Bag. Annika loves Loot Grab Bag. Miss Kabat, the question is, does the bag love you?¡±

    He pulled out Neganta¡¯s Larder. ¡°You know the rules. You pull a monster, you kill the monster, you get the loot.¡±

    Sara stood open mouthed, staring as Annika steadied herself. ¡°I want something big. Something I can sell, something that will fund Jotor getting resistance training.¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°Better put a point in Luck before you draw, or keep an eye out for our next mission. Trella is here, Trella will help with monster duty. I put a bunch of new ones in the bag!¡±

    ¡°Luck!¡± Annika shouted, reaching into the bag. She fought, bracing herself as she struggled, pulling and pulling. ¡°Almost¡­.got¡­it!¡±

    Neganta¡¯s Larder yielded, letting Annika pull out a [Wolf Man] two feet taller than her. The [Wolf Man] landed awkwardly and fell in the grass of the Holding. Kaden had suppressed Dominion so it took Trella¡¯s Deceptions and her leaping down on the monster with both daggers drawn¡ªonly to disappear as it slashed.

    Kaden stored Neganta¡¯s Larder, caught one claw and then the other. ¡°All right, Annika.¡±

    The healer darted forward to stab the [Wolf Man], then ducked away as Trella shouted ¡°[Backstab!]¡±

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    You have helped slay a [Wolf Man.]

    You have gained experience.

    Shit. He hadn¡¯t meant to damage it at all. Kaden used [Reap Materials] to harvest a [Full Moon Hide], and pulled a silver longsword from Inventory. ¡°Sorry, all we got today is a Full Moon Hide and sword of some sort. I got it from a siren laying in a lake who told me I¡¯d be King. Better luck next time.¡±

    Annika accepted both. ¡°Thank you. I told a bunch of my fellow Party Leaders about Loot Grab Bag. Trevor insists it¡¯s not part of the standard Quest reward set.¡±

    ¡°What does this ¡®Trevor¡¯ know? I bet he doesn¡¯t know everything, and even if it wasn¡¯t, then the standard needs to change. Sara agrees.¡± Kaden turned to Sara. ¡°Right?¡±

    Sara kept her eyes closed, and was either counting or breathing or both, both of which were great activities. She walked Annika back to the FarPortal, speaking softly, almost like she didn¡¯t want Kaden to overhear.

    Kaden had people to focus on. ¡°What took two months?¡±

    ¡°Lots of things. I¡¯m starving, I¡¯m exhausted, and I¡¯m so close to hangry I¡¯d eat that [Match Lizard],¡± Trella said. ¡°Can you cook me potato soup?¡±

    ¡°I can.¡± Kaden rushed to prepare the heatstone and slice ingredients, and didn¡¯t even complain when Eve stepped in, seasoning, while Trella attempted to avoid petting Vip. Once the soup was cooking, he joined Trella. ¡°Now. Explain.¡±

    Trella lay back and dozed until Sara slipped in the front door¡ªand a shadowy figure closed it. ¡°She¡¯s here.¡±

    It was like Trella was never asleep. She sat up and dropped both [Inkblades] on the table. ¡°So. Arden. Traitor. Bitch. Also ¡®Daughter of the Second Sister.¡¯ Taking her to ShadowVale took a few minutes. Testifying under [Aura of Truth] and then [Vision of the Past] and then [Thorny Lies], that took days. So did having her do the same.¡±

    Trella paused. ¡°We should have seen it coming. No mother was going to stand around and watch her daughter be final-executed. Second Sister took Arden and ran.¡±

    ¡°And you hunted her down,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Me? Kaden¡¯s the one who goes after people ten levels higher. I was tasked with running the Sister¡¯s spy network while Senior Sister and First Sister hunted them both down. It was boring. I know secrets no one cares about. Also, the [Vivomancer¡¯s] Colleges have a bounty on TriTerrors, one of each color.¡± Trella said the last to Kaden as she took his hand. *There was a lot of concern about you. About how easily you captured Arden.*

    *It wasn¡¯t easy,* Kaden answered. Being seared by multiple [Agony Clouds] hadn¡¯t been what Kaden wanted.

    *That you were able to do it at all. Aunt Triss got into a screaming match with the council, telling them they knew this would happen. That they should have expected it.* Trella¡¯s grip on him became tighter with every moment.

    Kaden had chosen the time and the place. Kaden had prepared before hand and that, to him, meant the outcome was slanted in his favor. If the sitations were reveresed?

    No, he¡¯d still have been the one hunting her. *Anything to do?*

    Trella shook her head. *Don¡¯t ever make yourself less of a threat.*

    Eve hadn¡¯t spoken. Her meticulous petting of Vip was almost vicious. ¡°You saw them burn Arden¡¯s corpse? You watched her final death? You have some of her teeth in Inventory for Sara¡¯s garden?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Trella said. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Sara needed teeth, or I¡¯d have used the shovel to fill my pockets before I came home¡±

    ¡°Then assume she¡¯s not gone. Did you ask Senior Sister?¡± Eve said.

    Trella shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t need to. The Council expelled Arden. And I gave up my claim on her life. If she ever shows up, Kaden and I will work together to final-kill her¡ªand the two of us will succeed. But in return for giving up my claim on her, I never have to take a mission for the Sisters. I will take missions, but I choose.¡± In that moment, Trella was the nervous, shy girl Kaden grew up with. ¡°Arden hurt all of you because of me. When you need my help, there won¡¯t be a question of whether or not I¡¯ll give it.¡±

    Sara shuddered, rubbing her wrists where Kaden had broken them to free her. ¡°You¡¯re the reason Arden was kicked out. She¡¯ll come for revenge. Won¡¯t she?¡±

    ¡°Not any time soon. She had no dignity by the time they were done questioning her, and Arden was certain she was going to die in that hold. Baffled, frustrated, furious, and no question the last thing she¡¯d see was Kaden¡¯s axe splitting her skull.¡± Trella leaned in and gave him a kiss. ¡°And that¡¯s what she will see, if she ever comes back.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll gladly use her corpse for fertilizer,¡± Sara said. ¡°Now, as I showed Kaden yesterday, we¡¯ve fulfilled our duty to the guild. We¡¯re no longer forced to take Faction Quests or Dungeon breaks. We¡¯re free to do as we see fit.¡±

    ¡°Then what shall it be?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Sara asked.

    His quests weren¡¯t ready. ¡°I have an Inheritance package to return. Mr. Dervish told me it belongs to one of the Beserker clans. I want demons to feed the [Shield Tree]. Ashi wants to go to the Iron Gear Empire,¡± Kaden said. ¡°She¡¯s going to want that spellbook page. Sara?¡±

    Sara¡¯s smile grew grim. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in my profession quests right now. The only thing I need to do for my [Summoner] quests is level. And I have a plan to do what I want to. Can we tolerate some business talk?¡±

    There had been enough of that during his time as Party Leader. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°Harrigan¡¯s ship. I want to sell it to the Mercari. Ours will make port sometime in the next week. I already have arrangements, and we¡¯ll stop by to see them in on the way to our next Faction Quest. The ship is too large. It costs too much to operate, it requires special berthing that¡¯s only useful for the one ship, and that makes it wrong for everything we want to do.¡±Sara stopped, looking to each of them. ¡°Leasing it out is just a longer-term way to lose money once you factor in repairs.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about Harrigan¡¯s monster one. What about my ship?¡± When last Kaden had seen it, it was a bare wood skeleton.

    ¡°We¡¯ll use it for rum runs to Krevat and training. The rum route is along the coast all the way to the Targa Confederation. The profit in rum is low, the value in morale and training is high. The other two ships will sail with our partners,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Sell Harrigan¡¯s ship. Burn it. Get a lot of gold and I don¡¯t care what you do with it.¡± Trella relaxed slightly as she spoke. ¡°I learned [Sailing] just so we could ambush pirates. I don¡¯t want to take it up as a profession.¡±

    ¡°Eve?¡± Sara asked.

    Eve shrugged. ¡°All the gold in the world isn¡¯t more valuable than having a home. Having meals. Having friends. I never want to set foot on that ship again.¡±

    Sara sighed, relieved. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. I¡¯ll negotiate with the Mercari and divide the profits. Kaden, if you¡¯re still interested, we¡¯re going to resettle your town.¡±

    ¡°Not with any of your money. I¡¯m sure the ship will be valuable, but you really think it¡¯ll cover that?¡±

    ¡°Consider that my problem to solve. You see, I¡¯ve learned the Lesson of the Strong. It might not have been the lesson they wanted me to learn, but I most definitely learned.¡± Sara drew a notebook and scribbled a sentence or two. ¡°I have a Faction Quest I think will benefit all of us. It came specifically addressed to Kaden, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Remember the ¡®rescue¡¯ the Mercari paid for?¡±

    Eve grimmaced. ¡°I remember the one they didn¡¯t do. We rescued ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Payment was made. Then a civil war errupted among the beserkers. Now, I¡¯ve been authorized to recover said payment. Kaden has an inheritance to return. The Mercari have refused to make deliveries until the beserkers pay up, so our arrival should be welcomed.¡± Sara looked to Kaden. ¡°And of course, you¡¯ll want to meet their beasts.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re out of room. If it¡¯s bigger than a [Match Lizard] it¡¯s not coming home,¡± Trella said. ¡°Trinity used to fit. Trinity makes herself fit, but even she¡¯s not going to be able to forever. And then there¡¯s your wyvern which destroys everything. And Cloud. Have you seen how large Gryphons are?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t have to keep them all. Little Brother stayed with the Grove. Explodius is out in the ocean, and Squidvard¡ªeven I can¡¯t bring a Raid Boss home.¡±

    ¡°But you want to,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Your desires echo in your soul. And these are good desires. Houses can be built larger. Bonds must be allowed to grow so that you are more powerful.¡±

    ¡°What does it pay?¡± Trella asked. ¡°And what does Eve get out of this? Eve¡¯s going to say ¡®All I need is the power of friendship and blood,¡¯ but what does she get?¡±

    Eve started to protest but nodded. ¡°Well said.¡±

    ¡°Money. The Mercari are cutting us in for a small percentage of what we recover. They paid a near impossible amount as an investment in safe shipping. No matter how little we recover, it¡¯s still a generous payday.¡± That part made everyone smile.

    The freedom to take Quests as he saw fit would make up for how the Guild had driven him over the last few months. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing I have to do before we go. Ashi? I need your help. Trella, you¡¯re welcome, too. Any of you could come, but it might get rocky.¡±

    It was time to upgrade his dungeon.

 Four - Change Happens

    Ashi and Trella accompanied Kaden down to Echo Lake and into his dungeon. It should have taken months¡ªor years¡ªto increase to rank five. Instead, the dungeon was bursting at the seams with directed Mana, and Kaden knew exactly why.

    King Chemaniz and his family had once rented out BirchHome, and his youngest son, Etrimalu, hadn¡¯t been able to take part in the Fangwood dungons. And yet, the Dungeon Core clearly remember the boy entering. Blasting Thorn Monkeys. Moving out to wolves. Running in fear from the Bearzerker, and finally, developing a pattern that let him demolish most of the dungeon.

    The things that boy had done to Kaden¡¯s dungeon monsters would fill a book of horrors.

    And he¡¯d done it over and over, experimenting with his spells like a young boy with a new toy. How much had the King paid for the Adventurer¡¯s Guild to allow him exclusive access? How mana potions had it taken for Etrimalu to destroy the monsters?

    ¡°It is not right,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Perhaps with the increase in rank, you should make your dungeon more dangerous. Second tier Adventurers must be challenged.¡±

    Exactly. Kaden selected the option to increase his dungeon rank.

    Dungeon Rank increased.

    New level cap: 25

    Bond Level: 4

    New capabilites: Generate Enchanted Loot (Grade - Rare), Dungeon Connection

    Your Core requires Directed Mana x400,000

    4000x Adventurer Party

    20x [Matched Entity Seeds]

    10x [Matched Loot Seeds]

    1x Secondary Entrance (acquired)

    1x Unique Boss Monster

    [Generate Enchanted Loot]

    At the cost of directed mana, you may cause your dungeon to create enchanted loot. The quality of this loot will increase with each level. This loot is persistent and may take any form your dungeon has acquired.

    [Dungeon Connection]

    Even when you are not present, your connection to your dungeon core remains accurate. You may review and make changes from a distance. The nature of these changes will grow as your bond does.

    All the accumulated directed Mana drained away. The pressure in the dungeon receeded, but this time, the dungeon didn¡¯t grow larger in diameter. Kaden¡¯s sense of the space available expanded, both upward and downward.

    The ground shook under him, and Trella gripped Kaden¡¯s hand. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    ¡°The Core, it moves of its own accord,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I did not think this would happen, but perhaps your Guardian title works on Dungeon Cores.¡±

    The ground of the dungeon rippled. The trees at the antechamber both grew and shrank, as brush thickened and the trees changed shape. The sound of rushing water betrayed a stream that ran towards the woods section.

    Kaden let it all change even as the changes rippled out further and further. Beasts cried out across the dungeon, and wood cracked and exploded. When the din settled, Kaden adventured out. The thorn monkeys were gone, but the familiar mound of a Formicidean colony rose.

    Trella drew a map from Inventory. ¡°I want the Quest for this. Leave it hostile, I can survive and scout.¡±

    She collapsed into a shadow on the ground and raced off into the dungeon.

    ¡°I never expected this,¡± Kaden said. A new emotion poured over the bond he had with the Dungeon Core. Anticipation. ¡°It can¡¯t wait for the first adventurers.¡±

    ¡°But what has it done? You must guide it.¡± Ashi paced as she waited for Trella.

    Thirty minutes later, three shadows rushed together and rose up, forming the shape of the woman who Kaden loved. ¡°It¡¯s huge. And broken, you have to fix some of this. There are no wolves on patrol, only [Bearserkers].¡±

    Ashi and Kaden headed out and right, ignoring the way tall grass moved and growls from beyond the treeline promised threats. The spiderweb of paths Kaden had made in imitation of Fangwood had remained, except now they narrowed and grew larger and varied like natural paths. The [Bearserkers] struggled just to fit through the path. Its thick brown fur tangled in the branches, and the monster growled with sheer frustration.

    Kaden pushed his will, forcing it to despawn, and then replacing it with a wolf.

    A moment later, the wolf shriveled out of existence, and a giant land-crab replaced it.

    ¡°Like a child, petulant and stubborn,¡± said Ashi. ¡°There are no land-crabs in forests. Make sense, dungeon!¡±

    Room by room, with Trella at his side, they surveyed the new dungone. Now, the hills of his vineyard were rolling and uneven, less constructed and more natural. Now the farmhouse had worn wood and missing shingles, and broken glass in a window.

    The well¡¯s bucket lay broken to the side.

    ¡°There¡¯s an entire layer down there, it¡¯s a demonic cult with cultitsts and a minotaur as the miniboss,¡± Trella said. ¡°The loot¡¯s terrible. It¡¯s a few spellbooks and a wand.¡±

    Ashi hopped on the edge of the well and hovered down. ¡°I will adjust.¡±

    Kaden explored the farmhouse. ¡°The basement has a broken wall that leads into the viper¡¯s nest, and now there¡¯s a maze. It¡¯s a small maze and there¡¯s only two wrong-turns and an ambush, but I like it. I spawned a few scorpions throughout.¡±

    Trella studied her map. ¡°Where¡¯s the core? I¡¯m at ninety-nine percent and didn¡¯t find it. The Tri-Terror is still the boss, but you have to choose, you can run the gauntlet straight toward it, or branch left or right and face a sub-boss. And it¡¯s not an [Emerald Hydra] anymore, they¡¯re all TriTerrors.¡±

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    With Trella at his side, Kaden headed down through a bog, under a set of bog-spider traps and down the set of cut-backs which lead to the TriTerror. She¡ªno, now the TriTerror was a he, stood a good three feet taller than Trinity. His tail ended in a cluster of spears, each jagged and brittle, and his middle head had plates down the center of the spine.

    ¡°Show me,¡± Kaden said, sending out his will.

    The ground under the TriTerror shuddered and rose, six pillars supporting a hidden room where the core floated above a pedastal. The gem had been aquamarine in color ever since Kaden saved it with his own mana. Now the edges looked razor sharp, the gem didn¡¯t just contain aqua mana, but was a window into a realm of pure mana. And hanging from the ceiling above the orb, a smoking black spider waited. It drooled a drop of fire that made Burney blaze.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Remember me?¡±

    The core didn¡¯t answer, it just flooded him with feelings of hapiness. Maybe they weren¡¯t truly intelligent, or maybe this one was just too young.

    Trella stayed hidden behind Kaden. ¡°That was the missing part of the map. Is it going to zap me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden reviewed the Core¡¯s observation of Trella. ¡°It¡¯s disappointed you didn¡¯t engage with any of the monsters, and at the same time, grateful you didn¡¯t wipe them all out.¡±

    Kaden considered his new ability. ¡°I can create enchanted loot. Like your blackout necklace, anything it has a pattern for, I can create. It costs Directed Mana, but if you need it, I can make it.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the dungeon need that mana?¡± Trella asked. ¡°And how are we going to get you through the first parties?¡±

    The core pulsed with bright light, shining a beam across the boss room, where Ashi came striding. ¡°If the core is awake, Kaden will only feel the overflow of emotions. And there will be an overflow. Greetings, Core. I am Asha Vanter Opton Rahm. You have the blessing of the Rahm Dynasty. Grow strong. You must be mighty, so those who face you are also mighty.¡±

    The core again pulsed brightly.

    The feeling Kaden got from it was like it didn¡¯t have the slightest idea what she¡¯d just said, but it did like the mana that radiated off Ashi. It really wanted to see her radiate more, maybe by eradicating a wolf or three, or maybe by dying. Yes, dying would be perfectly acceptable, and then it would swallow her corpse and absorb it.

    Kaden shook his head, clearing away the feelings. ¡°We should probably give it some time alone. Is it going to respawn the Bearserkers?¡±

    ¡°It is rank five, and your bond increased,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Select the core and choose ¡®Lock Layout.¡¯ This will give it time to adapt.¡±

    Kaden did, ignoring the flood of disappointment. ¡°All right. Grow, core. I¡¯ll find you a unique boss. I¡¯m not certain how to modify them, but I will find out.¡±

    Your skill with Beast Command has increased x2 (The Zoo Dungeon Core).

    Build your bonds to progress.

    Now that was something that left Kaden surprised. He wasn¡¯t certain the bond with the core even counted. At tier two, every skill increase was significant. Now he understood the limits better, the way intent mattered in the command. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. Before we head north, I have to go see a man about a monster.¡±

    Together they left the dungeon.

    Trella was deeply pleased. ¡°I got the map. Quest Master granted me two more, so I need to turn this in to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild.¡±

    ¡°I will go with Kaden. Soon, Adventurers will come. This time will be different,¡± Ashi said.

    Trella [Shadow Stepped] to the FarPortal, while Ashi stayed by his side.

    ¡°Who is this man?¡± Ashi asked.

    ¡°Professor Treadle. I need a [Vivomancer] to alter the Destruction Wyvern so its power can be turned off. Ideally so its power doesn¡¯t directly affect it.¡± That would be the key. It was the right thing to do. ¡°I don¡¯t like him, but he¡¯s the most talented in all six colleges.¡±

    ¡°His recklessness nearly unleashed another [Slaver] on the world. Have you forgotten the price Trella paid?¡± Ashi¡¯s tone held an underlying bitterness.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± And he wouldn¡¯t. But Kaden needed someone to modify the Destruction Wyvern so it could survive, and all four of the [Vivomancers] he¡¯d reached out to claimed it was impossible.

    At the FarPortal, Kaden hesitated.

    His education as a young boy had been basic, reading, writing and the simplest math. In the Saint¡¯s Hall, a strong back was more valued¡ªand fed¡ªthan a strong mind. To go to Plexis, home of the [Vivomancer] colleges was to step into a world where Kaden felt he didn¡¯t belong. Beasts needed someone to feel their needs, not analyze them.

    Usually.

    He dispatched the [Falcrow] anyway.

    The FarPortal blazed to life, and Kaden stepped through, emerging into a drizzly gray day in a circle of towering stone buildings. Clocks set to different times hung from the towers all around, and it was always something-o-clock somewhere, which meant the bells rang constantly.

    Everywhere, [Vivomancers] in multi-colored robes rushed through the rain, eager to get somewhere and probably mutate something. With Ashi at his side, Kaden stepped off the FarPortal and headed for the nearest building, where a proctor stood, smoking a pipe.

    ¡°Sir? I¡¯m looking for the sixth college. Treadle Barnes?¡± Kaden asked.

    The proctor¡¯s eyes grew round. ¡°You. Your name¡¯s attached to the [Burning Dream Queen]. Is it true, it spewed smaller wasps from its jaws?¡±

    ¡°It is not.¡±

    The man looked entirely less enthused. ¡°The Professor is held¡ªI mean, holds classes¡ªin the main hall, across there.¡±

    Ashi marveled at the construction. Ashi marveled at the rain. Kaden began to wonder if she would marvel at the half-eaten sandwich in the gutter. She watched the crowds as they rushed to a new class. ¡°In Vichor, learning is calm and patient. It is methodical. Here, they have not lost their joy or excitement.¡±

    From a building across the way, screams rose up and crowds rushed as something shook the ground and glass shattered. Kaden headed straight for the building, not so much fighting his way upstream through the crowds as bashing them out of the way with the Eldritch Shield.

    The closer he got to the hall, the thinner the crowds, probably because everyone who could run, had run. It was also possible that vivomancers had identified Kaden¡¯s shield as another threat and were actively avoiding him.

    ¡°What kind of monster is it?¡± Ashi asked as Kaden stepped over broken glass and shattered doors.

    A blast of sound hit Kaden and Ashi like a fist.

    HONK!

    Hard to Kill has granted you a new resistance: Resist Deafening.

    Your skill with Resist Deafening has increased.

    Not a dragon. No, worse.

    Kaden shouted. ¡°Some kind of Goose!¡±

    The interior of the hall had once been a classroom, like the ones where Kaden learned exactly how teen girls liked to be kissed and exactly how they didn¡¯t. Except this hall had very few students, which was not to say none. What it had plenty of was goose.

    A goose thirty feet tall stood, nipping at the lights on the ceiling. Its feathers had turned crimson, its eyes blood red, and a smell like death rushed off of it.

    [Murder Goose]

    This was a goose, which made it plenty murdery to begin with. Then it was used to illustrate the basic [Vivomancy] skill, [Enrage] and then used to illustrate the less basic [Vivomancy] skill, [Enlarge]. We¡¯d say the guy who did this needs a point or three in [Common Sense] but he was eaten by a large, enraged goose. This particular Murder Goose is deeply frustrated because it was created in what amounts to a large box and most of the murderable things have run away.

    Except you. You aren¡¯t running.

    Yet.

    *Goose.*

    [Identify] didn¡¯t offer level or skills but Kaden didn¡¯t need them. He focused on [Mind Speech]. *Can you get its attention without hurting it?*

    Ashi brushed a mana stone in her wrap and her skin turned electric blue. A bolt of lightning blasted out to hit the [Murder Goose] in the bill. In a move so fast [Split Second] activated, the beast¡¯s head whipped down.

    Kaden activated [Moment of Speed] and tackled Ashi, driving her clear just as the beak snapped shut where she had been¡ªthen he sprinted forward, slapping his hand on a webbed foot ten feet across.

    You have bound a Beast (Murder Goose).

    As an unnatural creation, this beast does not confer attribute bonuses.

    With less than a thought, Kaden directed it to lower the massive head and climbed aboard the neck. This was easy and right and it felt amazing to finally control the [Murder Goose] as it followed his direction, flapping upward to push the clock at the front of the hall out.

    Adventureres were screaming. Outside, and in his dungeon, and Kaden had never been so happy to hear their screams. Let them run. Let them hide. The [Murder Goose] was filled with the hunger of a thousand geese, and the rage of at least one.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Ashi shouted. ¡°Stop! Do not let the core influence you! The feelings are not yours!¡±

    At the sight of her, Kaden fought a civil war in his heart. The Dungeon Core was quite clear, sometimes, the right thing to do with an Adventurer was feed the to a fifty foot tall goose. The other part of him liked Ashi. Who would ask ¡®What have you done?¡¯ if she were devoured by a goose?

    The goose honked, loud and long, and [Beast Soul] interpreted it perfectly. *There¡¯s a thousand of them. If you don¡¯t want to eat that one, let¡¯s go get some of the others.*

    What a magnificent idea.

    The [Murder Goose] flapped, and stretched and squeezed¡ªand emerged in the square. That¡¯s when the real terror began.

 Five - Good for the Goose

    Riding atop a monster goose as it waddled threateningly about the square at the Vivomancer college, Kaden had never felt such wonder. With a fifty foot goose at his command and the extreme desire of the Dungeon Core to kill all the adventurers, he urged his feathered disaster forward. Hundreds of Vivomancers decided now was a great time to head indoors, under doors, anywhere a [Murder Goose] wasn¡¯t stalking.

    Which wasn¡¯t to say there weren¡¯t Adventurers.

    A [Shield] seven feet tall rushed the [Murder Goose], only to find [Thundering Wing Slap] was a counter to anyone without [Shield Bash]. Kaden fought the urge to send Goosel (as his friend was now known) after the stunned [Shield]. After all, there were [Vivomancers] available to punish, several of which the [Murder Goose] recognized from the lecture that had afflicted it. Inflicted it. Whatever, they were responsible.

    ¡°Get ¡®em!¡± Kaden shouted, clinging to Goosel¡¯s head and pointing in a way that wasn¡¯t really necessary. If, say, it decided to devour a different [Vivomancer], Kaden would still cheer Goosel on in his quest for revenge and also killing all Adventurers for entering the dungeon.

    They weren¡¯t in a dungeon.

    The thought hit Kaden and then was overwhelmed by the pleasure of a [Bearserker] ambushing a [Rogue] who thought they had stealth but really had level five [Present Self As Meal]. Which was also weird, because there weren¡¯t any [Bearserkers], those were in¡ªA blast of saltwater struck Kaden from behind, sending him flying off Goosel.

    Kade twisted and rolled with the impact, ready to split the skull of¡ªAshi. No, wait. that wasn¡¯t going to happen. For the first time, he grasped the edge of emotion that had flooded him. The ease of giving in and letting it take control called out. And his mana recoiled, jangling in ways that made his limbs weak as Ashi hefted a globe of aqua. ¡°No! Who is the Dungeon Master? Are you weak, that it should be the one in control? Rise up! Take charge!¡±

    With a flourish, Ashi absorbed the orb of mana she held.

    Kaden focused now. Goosel halted, his beak closing on a [Vivomancer]. Now it was a war of will, and Kaden knew will. He forced the [Murder Goose] to step back and turne to face him. ¡°You can go. If you stay, they¡¯ll kill you. Or even worse, they¡¯ll make you small. But if you leave now?¡±

    The monster goose knew how to negotiate. It focused on an image, one Kaden wouldn¡¯t deny even if he could.

    ¡°Yes, you can eat him. And that one. And those three,, if you¡¯re quick about it, it¡¯s a long flight south and you might get hungry otherwise. But only if you leave immediately afterwards!¡± Kaden shouted.

    The beak snapped shut on the helpless professor. A thunderous HONK rang out, and the air rushed with powerful wingbeats as Goosel stretched out its neck and sprinted along the street, rising up as it smashed everything in its way, then flop-flapped up off what was probably a cathedral and heaved itself into the air. It circled the city and headed south west, rising higher and higher, until it was only a distant speck of rage and feathers.

    All around the square, [Vivomancers] wept or cried out for healing, or argued in ever louder voices about who was responsible or got credit for creating Goosel. Then attention pivoted to Kaden and Ashi.

    *Follow my lead. I learned from the best,* Kaden sent to Ashi as he approached the every growing knot of high-level [Vivomancers]. The key was to speak first, loudest, simplest, and imply that whatever had happened, it was obviously someone else¡¯s fault. ¡°You! What¡¯s the meaning of this? My friend and I arrive here at a supposed hallowed hall of learning and instead we¡¯re attacked! I was nearly killed by that¡­thing. And if it weren¡¯t for my [Polymage] friend driving it away, there would be a lot more of you dead. Where does she collect her bounty? And I¡¯ve been injured. By a beast you unleashed, all trying to protect you.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Ashi added. ¡°You are fortunate the [Beast Master] was present. Such a will cannot be tamed but he slowed it down so I could drive it off.¡±

    One man glared at them. ¡°It looked a lot like you hit him with that [Rogue Wave] spell. If he¡¯s injured, that¡¯s on you.¡±

    That was fine, the goal had always been to deflect blame. ¡°But Ashi¡¯s [Wave of Fear] is what sent Goosel flapping. I mean, the goose. Whatever its name might be. Goosel is as good a name as any. That¡¯s what I¡¯m calling it.¡±

    ¡°[Flame-Fueled Ravian],¡± said a woman. ¡°It was right there under [Identify]. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be that large. Or that vicious. Or that angry. All of those, absolute successes.¡±

    ¡°Madness,¡± Ashi said under her breath.

    Opportunity, as Kaden saw it. He took the opportunity to head back to the main hall, where [Vivomancers] were an inch from breaking out daggers as they argued over whether the answer was more mutation or a lot more mutation.

    ¡°There. She is not a [Vivomancer].¡± Ashi pointed to a side alcove, where a woman in sleek white leather waited, carving the desk with a shortsword.

    ¡°Excuse me.¡± Kaden asked politely. ¡°I need two things. First, I need to claim a bounty. Second, I¡¯m looking for Treadle Barnes.¡±

    She almost choked. ¡°After what you just went through? Down the center hall, lecture room zero. As in there are zero students because of what nearly happened last week. Bounties are over there.¡± She adjusted a bracelet, and new doorway opened in the hall as letters carved themself into the stone.

    Just inside the doorway alcove stood a curved metal fence separating a young man on a chair from¡­everything. He tapped the desk. ¡°What bounty, what did you bring? It goes in the cube.¡±

    Kaden drew the dead triterrors. ¡°I understand you¡¯ve been looking for one of each color. You need to understand that this species is under my protection. Here¡¯s a blue and a green. If you want red, I¡¯ll make one red.¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The attendant sighed. ¡°This is Leshamite. Empowered Leshamite. Nothing from that side comes to this side, and if you want the bounty, it goes¡ª¡±

    Ashi tapped him on the shoulder as she stepped through a portal from their side to his. ¡°Kaden, you have heard him. Deliver the bounty.¡±

    Kaden stepped through her portal, which collapsed, and dropped the dead TriTerrors. ¡°You want one of these to be red? Give me your arm and a moment. I¡¯ll make one red.¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI think we already have a red one.¡± The attendant dug in Inventory and handed out bags of gold. ¡°If you hurt me, the entire college¡ª¡±

    ¡°Did you see what I did with just a goose? Drop the threats. Cancel the quest for TriTerrors.¡± Kaden made his own portal back. It might not have been stable. It might not have stood still. It might have smelled like rotten fish, but it was a functional portal. ¡°If anyone has questions and needs problems, we¡¯ll be down the hall with Professor Treadle.¡±

    ¡°No questions,¡± the man whispered.

    Perfect. Kaden headed down the hall, oddly excited to see his old mentor¡ªand also angrier by the moment. He didn¡¯t open the double doors to lecture room zero as much as obliterate them. ¡°Treadle!¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch.¡± Professor Treadle¡¯s voice was soft. He¡¯d always been a frail, thin man with wispy hair, but he hadn¡¯t regained the weight he lost while working on undoing the bindings. ¡°I saw. I saw you handle the [Flame-Fueled Ravian.] You seemed to be enjoying it as much as working to lop that head off. Come to lop another head off?¡±

    The sorrow in Treadle¡¯s voice was like driuving cold rain.

    Kaden summoned the Destruction Wyvern. ¡°The only survivor of a brood. It can¡¯t even eat without its own aura destroying food. It¡¯s not growing healthier, even exposed to my title and stored in my soul. I need you to change it.¡±

    ¡°You want it bigger? Or angrier? Or you want that aura more powerful?¡± The Professors eyes grew wider with each sentence.

    ¡°I want it to be immune to its own aura.¡± Kaden felt pity for the poor wyvern, which cried out in pain as the effects of [Destruction Aura] made its skin turn raw. He stored it away. ¡°Can you do it? I contacted five other [Vivomancers]. All of them said it was impossible.¡±

    ¡°Normal auras have a radius where they do not function. That¡¯s why being swallowed by a [Void Beast] is safer than being outside one!¡± Professor Treadle approached. Every step he took, he groaned with pain and leaned on his cane. ¡°Let me use [Analyze Life] on it. A minute won¡¯t kill the Beast.¡±

    Kaden reluctantly summoned it again.

    He¡¯d rather have listened to a human child wail as the Destruction Wyvern cry in hunger. ¡°How much longer?¡±

    ¡°Almost.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t a timeframe. ¡°Almost what?¡±

    A pale, see-through echo of the wyvern stumbled sideways, and stood, shaking itself. Professor Treadle waved. ¡°That will do, I can study its abilities. [Destruction Aura] is a stock aura skill, but there¡¯s a flaw in the skill itself. Tampering with skills is frowned on. Elsewhere. Here, it¡¯s celebrated. Any great attrocity requires time and dedication. I¡¯ll let you know if I make progress.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, a [Nullify] artifact?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°Could you not nullify its power while it eats? It is not a mana type, I cannot absorb it.¡±

    The echo twisted and turned, growing larger. ¡°Observe the damage to the scales. And those muscles should be larger. Freshly hatched, have you fed it?¡±

    ¡°I have. But it kept crying. Like I said, I think the food is being destroyed before it can digest it.¡± Kaden regretted every moment he¡¯d left it in the real world. ¡°Can you help?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to say yet. I¡¯m guessing you want something boring. To create an [Immunity] skill, I¡¯ll need a supply of active Destruction Mana. Testing the skill is easy enough, acquiring the mana is¡­well, you¡¯ve met the beasts.¡± Professor Treadle limped in a circle around the echo. ¡°Bring me a corpse, I¡¯ll work with it. I don¡¯t need much.¡±

    Kaden drew shards from the egg shells. ¡°Will this do?¡±

    His skin began to crack and bleed under the shell, but it was points of health among thousands.

    ¡°Fascinating.¡± Treadle resembled¡ªand was¡ªa very old man, but he was also a Centurion. He took the egg shell fragment. ¡°If all you needed was a bigger monster, or an angrier monster, orone with three foot spines or noxious gas spewing from every body orifice, this would simple. All of those are standard, any surviving third year student could handle that. This is complex.¡±

    ¡°If anyone can, it would be you.¡± Kaden wanted to say more. He wanted things to be like they¡¯d been once, where he admired and learned and looked up to Professor Treadle. And all those wants would never amount to a mound of wyvern shit, because Kaden wouldn¡¯t forget. ¡°Do you like being back here at the Colleges?¡±

    Professor Treadle thought for a while. ¡°It¡¯s nice to be feared. It¡¯s acceptable to be respected. Don¡¯t tell anyone I said this, but I suspect one of my lab assistants is a snitch, reporting to the Board.¡±

    Hopefully they all were. ¡°Well, this should be the kind of experiment that makes Vivomancers famous.¡±

    ¡°In a good way,¡± Ashi added. ¡°Not the way we all speak of them now. Not ¡®What horror have they done this time?¡¯ or ¡®Who invited the [Vivomancer?]¡¯ or ¡®Someone hit the [Vivomancer] with [Death Bolt] while no one is looking!¡¯¡±

    ¡°But those are the best ways!¡± Professor Treadle said. ¡°I suppose. I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt to do occasional good. But only sparingly, I don¡¯t want to get a reputation for responsible research. It would kill any hope of regaining my full standing.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Kaden said.

    In the silence that hung over Lecture Hall Zero, Kaden was almost willing to pray.

    ¡°I know. I know you bargained to allow my return,¡± Professor Treadle said. ¡°I know the [Burning Dream Queen] was the price. I never meant for what happened with Trella to occur. Usually disasters are only good news, but those are disasters I visited on strangers. Or the guilty. Or at least someone who reminds me of someone else who offended me. Usually not the entirely innocent.¡±

    This was not an apology, but Kaden needed the Professor. If Trella still felt the need to stab Treadle, Kaden would support it. ¡°Send a bird if you have any success. I don¡¯t know if I ever told you. [Beast Knowledge] was a skill I gained because of what you taught me. Now I¡¯m adding to it.¡±

    Your skill with Beast Soul has increased (Treadle Barnes).

    Build your bonds to progress.

    Kaden had always considered the Professor a mentor, and student and teacher were bonds he could accept, even with Treadle¡¯s crimes. ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°It will be my highest priority. Except getting drunk. And eating. I do so enjoy both of those.¡± Professor Treadle looked up as bells rang out ¡°Oh, it¡¯s attrocity hour! Young aspiring [Vivomancers] are given one hour and a fully stocked lab to create their application to the College. Come, you¡¯ll want to see this. There¡¯s almost always a mutant beast, or an accident! Or an accident that creates a mutant beast!¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°We have a Quest. I wish I could. I need to learn to customize my beasts for my dungeon. I¡¯ll come learn at some point.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± The Professor waved, and the echo of the wyvern disappeared. ¡°I¡¯d like that a lot.¡± He limped out of the hall and joined a throng of professors and students carrying shields and wearing armor.

    Ashi watched him go. ¡°It is not always so easy to divide a life into good and evil. He committed a crime of the highest order. A permanent death would not be too harsh. And yet, it is not the desire in your heart.¡±

    There were so many things Kaden couldn¡¯t answer in that. ¡°We need to get back to the Holding. Sara¡¯s probably jumping to head north.¡±

    ¡°You do not wish to speak of this.¡±

    ¡°Jagi hated you. Jagi went out of his way to kill you. But was he always your enemy? Was he always out to kill you?¡± It was of course a possibility. ¡°Or did you ever look at him and remember better moments?¡±

    ¡°We should hurry back,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There is no magic here I desire.¡±

    That was answer enough for Kaden.

 Six - Voyager

    Sara was in fact waiting when Ashi and Kaden stepped through the FarPortal to the Holding. It was past midnight in Verona, and night spawns dotted the landscape. Kaden summoned Trinity from his soul and let her roam. She rushed straight for the Holding boundary, eager for battle.

    Sara and Trella stood around a fire built in one of the fields, burning scrolls.

    ¡°Kaden! Ashi!¡± Trella waved. ¡°Come, help out. We found records in Trunistan of some of Mistress Scylla¡¯s work. I bought them. Some of them. I bought one and acquired the others with the services of a [Thief] and we¡¯re celebrating, because the less anyone knows, the better.¡±

    Kaden accepted a scroll and tossed it in the fire. ¡°I thought no one knew anything about what really went down.¡±

    ¡°These were records of purchases. Records of Sara¡¯s shipment. And Sara, of course, has sworn an oath to the system. She literally can¡¯t speak of what the cargo was, only imply it was for a centurion and it was very expensive and she¡¯d really like to run that shipment again.¡± Trella nodded to Sara.

    ¡°All of which are true. How unfortunate that I can¡¯t speak about it.¡± Sara fed scrolls to the Horror instead of burning them.

    Eve held up one. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t burn this. It¡¯s the deed to the house Mistress Scylla purchased. It makes no sense to destroy it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the burned out husk of an ugly house in the low-end merchant quarter of a Crafter city,¡± Trella answered. ¡°You want to go all Kaden, fine by me. It was useful for one purpose, it¡¯s not my gold, but I have a Quest from Mistress Scylla to destroy records and wasn¡¯t going to turn down free XP.¡±

    Eve stored the deed. ¡°Kaden understands.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no business value in it. You¡¯ll spend more restoring it than you¡¯d spend if you hired an assassin to murder someone in a restored house and then bought it.¡± Sara tossed scrolls in the air two at at a time.

    Kaden gave Eve a nod. He really did understand. ¡°When do we head north?¡±

    ¡°At dawn,¡± Sara answered. ¡°I didn¡¯t need more work but the City was offering a Quest to escort a shipment. At level thirty it¡¯s less a matter of us following them and more of them following us.¡±

    That made sense to Kaden. ¡°I¡¯ll get some sleep, then and be ready at dawn.¡± Then he stopped, blinking as he stared at the [Shield Tree]. It didn¡¯t quite tower over the farmhouse, but stood a good thirty feet tall, glowing soft pink in the darkness. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°A [Ranger] came looking for you,¡± Eve said. ¡°He kept lobbing demon corpses at the tree. It absorbed them and broke them down to essence. He said we should have been doing that. And that he¡¯d be in touch about finding some demons.¡±

    There were dozens of things he should be doing.

    ¡°I picked up the Inheritance Package like you asked,¡± Sara said. Kaden had been reluctant to carry more than one at a time. It made him too attractive a target for high level [Thieves]. He knew it belonged to a [Beserker] clan, but not who.

    Kaden accepted the package from Sara and unlocked the package.

    [Bracers of Xorn]

    While wearing the Bracers of Xorn, if you will enter a [Beserker Rage], these bracers will absorb Rage points. Your damage, resistance, and health bonuses will continue to scale with total rage points, but those contained by the Bracers do not count toward your limit. Do not exceed your [Rage] limits!

    Not being a Beserker, Kaden knew little about them beyond how their rage grew, and apparently their Class had different mechanisms, a [Rage] attribute that would grow, increasing combat abilities.

    The bracers were made of heavy leather and covered in runes burned into the leather. The insides had no padding, the coarse skin would blister quickly if it didn¡¯t fit. Kaden stored them away.

    Sleep was more optional than a hard requirement these days, and Kaden stayed with Trella, burning documents until there was nothing left and talking about what they¡¯d do when¡ªnot if¡ªthey finally found the [Priests] from the Saint¡¯s Hall.

    ¡°I have [Huntress] but it¡¯s not high enough. And I¡¯ve hung bounties in ShadowVale for even a scrap of information,¡± Trella said.

    Kaden had approved her taking random pieces of loot. ¡°Metami will call me if she finds them. She won¡¯t promise to keep them around for us to question, but if she says they¡¯re dead, they¡¯re dead.¡±

    ¡°Kaden, did you see the notice?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Your giant honeybee colony arrived at Verdant Vineyards near sunset. I spoke with their keeper and he says the colony will benefit from settling in. And he sent a jug of honey. It¡¯s odd, a crafting ingredient, re-agent and cooking ingredient all in one.¡±

    ¡°Let me see?¡± Trella asked. She took the jug Sara produced from Inventory and studied it before handing it to Kaden. ¡°It¡¯s just for making potions less disgusting. If the benefits are good enough, it doesn¡¯t matter how it tastes. Like the attribute potions I¡¯m going to brew. They¡¯re not permanent but they¡¯re valuable.¡±

    Kaden sampled it. ¡°It¡¯s honey. It¡¯s thicker than regular honey but taste-wise, it¡¯s just honey. Ashi? Can you tell if this has mana in it?¡±

    ¡°Minor solar mana,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Better for eating than magic. Once, there was a [Mage] who bathed in it for a hundred years.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Eve asked. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°For thirty six thousand days, she was sticky, and not for pleasant reasons,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Do not make her mistake. Honey is good for many purposes but not for power.¡±

    Eve gave a genuine smile. ¡°Where I grew up, honey was offered to the goddess at the summer solstice. I would sneak into the temple at night and eat it while I was supposed to be purifying my heart. May I?¡± She sampled the jug in such a dainty manner. ¡°For a long time after I was marked as a [Transfusionist] I wondered if stealing the sacred honey was the reason. Now I can enjoy this without guilt.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a jug. The smallest harvest known was twenty barrels. Eat all you want,¡± Sara said. ¡°We really should get a few hours sleep. I have a few plants that will be ready to harvest near dawn, and the [Prismatic Frog Colony] is ready as well. It¡¯s all [Aether Frogs], unfortunately.¡±

    ¡°I tamed an [Granite Golemn] and took [Tireless],¡± Kaden said. ¡°I don¡¯t need to sleep, not like everyone else.¡±

    Trella reached back in the shadows and picked up a black housecat with gleaming yellow eyes. ¡°Are you going to help me, Eclipse? I¡¯m almost jealous. Kaden¡¯s beasts love him. Kaden¡¯s beasts serve him. Trinity¡¯s always there for Kaden.¡±

    Ecllipse began to purr and buried her head in Trella¡¯s arms.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have [Tireless],¡± Trella said. ¡°As much as I know you¡¯d love to stay up all night shooting monsters, I¡¯ll sleep better with you beside me.¡±

    Kaden looked into the darkness. Somewhere out there, Trinity was putting herself through a nightly trial, always seeking the biggest boss she could battle. But his heart was right here. ¡°There¡¯s always more monsters.¡±

    ###

    Sara woke them a few hours past sunrise. ¡°I have explosive waddlers, strangle vines, and a few other surprises that took longer than I expected since I had to climb out my window to harvest them. I hope everyone slept well, we¡¯ll eat at the harbor. Kaden, Trinity dragged back a monster. Could you please take care of it?¡±

    Kaden found Trinity asleep on the front porch, curled around the head of a centipede with literal swords spiking out of its back every few inches. The body stretched all the way to the Holding gate. ¡°How did you even kill this thing?¡±

    Then he took a closer look. The monster¡¯s head had been smashed.

    And Trinity was covered in gouges and slashes. The feeling of satisfaction that radiated off her made him smile.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°At least you won.¡± He pulled her into his soul so she could heal and used [Reap Materials] on the centipede. The Centipede¡¯s crafting options were like none he¡¯d seen before.

    [Bladed Crawler]

    The Bladed Crawler is a fearsome foe, capable of rolling at enemies and spearing, slashing, and mauling them. Prized for the enchanted weapons belts made from their corpses, they have been hunted for ages. Far too often, the hunter becomes the prey, as these beasts create new weapons perfect for slaying their foes.

    One look and Kaden made a decision. He wasn¡¯t a crafter, though he did reap materials, and [Field Harvest] was always handy. The monster was too large to fit in Inventory. So he hefted it on his shoulders and dragged it to the FarPortal. The Falcrow carried his message¡ªand his warning¡ªto the portal mages at the Guild.

    It would cost extra gold, but when the FarPortal activated, Kaden dragged the monster through¡ªand emerged in the Guild, where he let the array of swords do the talking as he wrestled the corpse up the stairs and onto the crafting commune floor even before it opened.

    ¡°You! We open at¡ªoh.¡± The Commune Director shouted at Kaden¡ªthen called for help as he dragged it further and further onto the crafting floor. ¡°What a pleasant surprise! We¡¯ve got work to do! I want this monster harvested in under an hour! This isn¡¯t a moment for stars, it¡¯s teamwork.¡±

    Kaden dipped his head. ¡°I¡¯ll pay the fee for the harvesters, bill it to my account at the guild, I don¡¯t know what I want crafted, and I appreciate the understanding. I didn¡¯t want to risk a valuable corpse on my skills.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s only one piece of equipment that monster makes, and once it¡¯s known we have one, [Men at Arms] will be coming to bid from every continent,¡± she answered. ¡°With the right enchantment, it makes a [Belt of Weapons]. Only a [Man at Arms] would dare try and use them, but the ability to pull endless weapons makes them sought after.¡±

    ¡°Talk to Munoz, find out who¡¯s looking to craft one. It¡¯s her call who gets to do it, it¡¯s my loot to auction.¡± Kaden really had to make it to his party. He ran down the stairs, ducked past the Guild Administrator¡ªand ran into the Guild Administrator as the [Assassin] used a short range teleport. ¡°My party is waiting, I have a quest.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± The Guild Administrator was a black man with a smoothly shaved bald head and surprisingly kind eyes for a Centurion [Assassin]. He wore comfortable robes and would have easily been mistaken for a [Scribe] if Kaden hadn¡¯t seen him in action. ¡°I saw the notification about Sara. The Guild pace can be hard, I don¡¯t blame you for wanting some time off, but I do hope you¡¯ll consider Faction Quests. Sara has a queue of ones only for your party. She doesn¡¯t want to talk to me, so you¡¯ll do it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to.¡± Kaden would bring it up when it was time and not a moment sooner. ¡°When were you planning to mention we¡¯d fulfilled our obligations?¡±

    ¡°You were making my life easier! I¡¯m never going to say no to good Quest-work. Go on, I hear you¡¯re headed to collect from some beserkers. I remember when that was worth doing. Can I offer advice?¡±

    Most of the time Centurion advice wasn¡¯t applicable. ¡°Anything to make the job easier.¡±

    ¡°During a civil war there¡¯ll be half a dozen clans. When you first arrive, make the rounds and collect from anyone willing. Then arrange deliveries to the ones who do. That¡¯ll pressure the others.¡± He pointed to the stairs. ¡°Pretty sure they just took a FarPortal to Ellespring Harbor. What, you think we don¡¯t keep track on everything you go? There are factions terrified of what Sara or Eve will become.¡±

    Kaden rushed to the FarPortal, consulting the bored mage. ¡°I¡¯m heading to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Guildmaster sent word.¡± He spoke as though it was normal. ¡°You still have to pay.¡±

    The silver coins were cheap for the luxury of immediate travel. Kaden stepped through the portal¡ªand out into the cleanest, most well built port city he¡¯d ever seen. The wood, while faded wasn¡¯t rotted, the salt buildup was minimal, the smell of dead fish and seaweed was¡­normal.

    Then again, Ellespring had been destroyed during the last Monster Surge and that was one way to get rid of decay. ¡°Wisp 71? I bet you never have morning breath. Can you take me to Sara?¡±

    The oversized globe of mana faded into existence and began to bob through the streets. Kaden had thought Krevat busy but this was ridiculous. People stuck to the sides because cargo wagons would run them over. Unlike Krevat, city officials stood at every corner directing each wagon to keep cargo moving in¡ªor out.

    No wonder the Mercari loved Ellespring, it was a vital artery of their trade.

    Your business: S&K Holdings has completed Quest(s)

    Quest Master is Active.

    The Long Haul - Make a profitable trade run of over 5,000 leagues. Reward: Port Tax Reduced.

    Strange Waters - Trade with a nation whose total exports are less than 1% of the total shipments. Reward: 30% bonus on reselling

    Blood in the Water - Defend a shipment and have it successfully arrive at a friendly home-port. Reward: 2% bonus to attack and defense

    I¡¯ll Take That - Recover a vessel from pirates and make a profitable run with it. Reward: Vessel may not change hands for ten years.

    Kaden sprinted through the streets now, sliding under wagons and ignoring shouts as he headed west to a dillapidated dock. The Chalmer¡¯s Child sat moored to one side, the Skeleton Crew on the other, and at the far end, a slim, double-masted schooner Kaden barely recognized. The name on the side read Tresha.

    A name he hadn¡¯t seen for over a decade.

    In the depths of Fangwood, where the brush had grown thick and dark, Kaden had found a quiet clearing and left the cradle his father had built for the sister who never drew breath. Tresha had been carved in the wood.

    Sailors labored to unload the ship, and standing on the deck was Trella, directing every box. ¡°Trella!¡±

    She waved, and her Deception snapped into existence beside him. ¡°We¡¯re so rich. Well, you and her are. The Achemist¡¯s Guild is bidding on the entire shipment.¡±

    That made Kaden frown. ¡°Sara? Go get Sara.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t work for you,¡± the Deception answered.

    Kaden spotted the tip of one of Sara¡¯s psuedopods waving above a group of sailors and sprinted up a mooring line. ¡°Sara! I need a business manager!¡±

    ¡°There you are!¡± Sara looked to Kaden. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    He filled her in, and Sara dispatched her messenger parrot immediately, then headed across to where Trella stood locked in negotiations with a spindly [Alchemist]. She looked to Sara and Kaden. ¡°Do you have any idea how much they¡¯re offering?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know.¡± Sara looked to the [Alchemist.] ¡°These are the only alchemical reagents to leave Xiao. You might be offering a tidy sum, perhaps a large sum. But the power of thousands of different [Alchemists] competing against each other is a much larger sum.¡±

    Trella¡¯s Deception rushed to instruct a sailor. Now, Kaden understood, they were making a collection of items specifically for Trella. It was fine. Keeping the ship had been more an act of defiance than good business sense. It had cost him so much gold Kaden had sometimes wondered if he would have been better off just letting it sink.

    A [Sailor] approached, a Xiao man Kaden didn¡¯t recognize. Well, mostly didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Do I know you.¡±

    ¡°Wyverns. I stole an egg,¡± the man said. ¡°Now I sail with my family. It is not such a great life, but it is a life, and I am not alone.¡±

    Kaden nodded. The best life was the one you built for yourself. He couldn¡¯t give anyone that life, just the chance to build it. All around him, the ship was a thing alive as the crew worked it.

    And negotiations had ceased as the spindly [Alchemist] stormed off. Trella seemed deeply pleased with herself. ¡°Sometimes I wish I¡¯d chosen a business profession. But I like making potions even more.¡±

    ¡°All you need is a friend with the profession,¡± Sara said. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind, I had distribution routes scheduled for everything a month ago. Trella, I know I said I wouldn¡¯t get involved with your cargo, but if you want help making the most gold¡ª¡±

    ¡°That!¡± Trella said. ¡°I want my stuff shipped home but the rest of this, I want shipped out to every Alchemist¡¯s shop that pays for the privilege.¡±

    That was the Trella he loved. Bloodthirsty and cutthroat in battle and business deals. ¡°Did you time our arrival with the shipments?¡±

    ¡°I did!¡± Sara beamed. ¡°I was terrified they would come back during the Lesson of the Strong. This is just the start. We¡¯ll build. We¡¯ll grow. We¡¯ll make so much money we could afford to build a town from scratch. Not that we should.¡±

    Eve came up the ramp with Vip in her arms. It was like she didn¡¯t even realize Vip had legs. ¡°Those Quests were impressive, but they didn¡¯t add XP. Tell me you had Faction Quests.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not on good terms with the Mercari right now,¡± Sara said. ¡°But yes. I not only leveled, I¡¯m a fair chunk of the way to 30 and my last fast talent.¡±

    Thirty had seemed impossible, once.

    Kaden picked up Sara and tossed her in the air ¡°Look who¡¯s trying to catch up!¡±

    Sara landed in a flurry of messenger birds who clung to her armor, speaking in a flurry. She righted herself and listened, her frown growing deeper. ¡°I planned to have us stay in port and celebrate with the crew. Then we would sail north with basic trading supplies. The war among the beserker clans has become less of a civil war and more of an all-out war. We¡¯ll take a FarPortal north and let the ships catch up, the Quest has changed.¡±

    Kaden checked the Quest interface.

    Quest: Checks and Balances - Among the Beserker clans, the Resyr are allies to the Mercari. As a ill-advised war descends, protect the allies. Your presence alone will send a message, and if it does not, the blood you spill will send a different message. This Quest will pay by the week, in addition to any benefits you reap. Reward: Gold, 3 per week. Faction Tokens (1x month), Favor (minimum 1 level boost).

    ¡°This is going to a be a long haul, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kaden asked.

    Sara nodded. ¡°Eve, Trella, Ashi, I¡¯ll understand if you don¡¯t want to commit for what could be months. Kaden and I are required. Me, to handle business and Kaden to shed blood.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in. I don¡¯t care where. I don¡¯t care what. If Kaden¡¯s there, I¡¯ll back him up.¡± Trella put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Ashi, it¡¯s near an Ice Mana Domain. Will you be able to handle that?¡±

    ¡°I cannot yet tell,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I do not choose to absorb mana. My wraps are far more protective now, we shall see.¡±

    That left Eve. ¡°I don¡¯t like the cold. I grew up in Egalion, where cold is when the sun dips below and you only sweat when you move. But I knew more about the line between peace and war by fifteen than most will by fifty. Please contact your Quest Broker and ask what rewards they would offer for alliances, pauses in conflict, or full peace agreements.¡±

    That was a lot of intelligence beyond what Kaden would have asked for. ¡°The Guild Administrator said we should make a quick round of clans on arrival. Sara can ask for repayment. Eve can offer her services as a negotiator. I can introduce myself.¡±

    Sara hadn¡¯t stopped staring at Eve. ¡°I didn¡¯t even think of asking for bonuses based on agreements. I¡¯ll do it immediately. We have a guide from the Resyr waiting for us. Let¡¯s not keep them waiting.¡±

    Kaden led the way to the FarPortal. New lands awaited. New challenges. And new beasts. He couldn¡¯t wait.

 Seven - Snow Job

    The north awaited but Kaden did not. He stepped through the FarPortal and into a fist of cold in his gut. The sweat on his skin iced over, his breath came out in a plume, and his eyes burned as he blinked.

    You have entered the [Kavan Destruction Zone].

    You are exposed to extreme cold.

    You agility and endurance are greatly reduced. Seek shelter or flee!

    The walls were blocks of ice, clear blocks and high above, a cold yellow sun shone. Bitter wind whistled outside an arched ice doorway.

    ¡°Here, quickly,¡± a woman said. ¡°Let the [Letidyr] hug you, or you will freeze.¡±

    Something like a deeply furry blanket wrapped itself around him, then stretched out, enveloping his arms and then legs. Warmth coursed through his limbs, and Kaden¡¯s stiffnessmelted away as he studied the beast. It clung to his back , resting a flat, bearded head on the side of Kaden¡¯s shoulder, and flinched away as Burny caught fire in an effort to fend off the cold.

    [Letidyr]

    The Letidyr was once a fearsome monster, but thousands of years of manipulation by [Vivomancers] turned an armored warrior into a lover, not a fighter. Unable to generate their own body heat, they have become adapted at retaining other¡¯s. They are not immune to the cold, but work with other living creatures to survive it.

    Skills: Surround, Absorb Heat

    Talents: Malleable

    Kaden looked more like he¡¯d grown long brown fur than like a beast was wrapped around him. Small hook-like claws kept the fur clinging around his arms and legs. It took Kaden zero time to bind the beast, which immediately relaxed, sagging onto him much more comfortably.

    Behind him, a shriek of pain accompanied Trella arriving on the Far Portal, while Sara stepped off to the side, glancing around. ¡°Help her,¡± she said to a [Beserker] woman wearing a tan letidyr. ¡°The Horror is immune to cold. I¡¯m not completely but this is simply brisk.¡±

    Before Kaden could help, the beserker lifted a Letydir from a squirming mound and drapped it over Trella. The Beast¡¯s arms wrapped down hers, enfolding her, and Trella stopped gasping. ¡°So cold.¡±

    No time to wait, Kaden had already lifed a Letidyr from the mound and as Ashi arrived, he wrapped it around her. Her hands and face took on a white-blue tint as she absorbed Ice mana. ¡°Off to the side so we can help Eve.¡±

    Eve arrived wearing her Alpha robes and shrugged off the Letidyr. ¡°I¡¯m already wearing the hide of one beast and immune to cold.¡±

    Now Kaden could focus on their helper.

    [Drokor Skan - Beserker]

    Drokor Skan was once a mighty warrior among beserkers, as close to a Centurion as any ever get. Her quest to avoid losing control to her rage led to the destruction of her skills and surrender of her class. Now she lives in quiet, welcoming the few visitors who come to this domain and searching for an answer to a problem her people cannot fix.

    Level: 79

    HP:???

    Mana:???

    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± Sara said. ¡°According to my Quest, you should be aware of my party and our goals.¡±

    Drokor bowed slightly. ¡°I am. You¡¯re the last to arrive. All the Factions have clans they support and we¡¯ve seen parties arrive all week. What short straw did you pull to wind up with my clan?¡±

    Kaden¡¯s [Detect Lie] and [Read Emotion] skills said Drokor believed what she was telling them, that they¡¯d gotten the worst tribe to support. ¡°We¡¯re here to make it easier to attack someone else, and I promise you, we can do that. That¡¯s our primary goal.¡± His other goals could wait until Kaden knew who to trust, preferrably after this whole mess was sorted.

    ¡°We¡¯re very exposed,¡± Trella said. ¡°And not to complain but I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade] in a place that¡¯s almost nothing but white. Is there an underground¡ªor stone¡ªor stick¡ªbuilding where we can discuss? I like being able to see enemies coming, but this is extreme.¡±

    ¡°There are no enemies coming. There is no honor to be had in defeating the Resyr We are traders and merchants. We embrace strangers where they tolerate them when necessary. We have little voice at the council of clans.¡± Drokor turned in a circle. ¡°We have the only FarPortal. We have [Makur] for milk and meat and hide. The harbor is not ten miles south east, and normally we would have medicine, potions, salves. But there are no shipments.¡±

    Sara cleared her throat. ¡°I can fix that. Were you part of the agreement to take down the pirates?¡±

    ¡°We promised both of our warriors and were paid as much. Your [Ledidyr] is worth more than we received,¡± Drokor said, her voice bitter as the wind. ¡°One is dead and awaiting a [Priest], the other so injured it would have been more merciful to kill him.¡±

    Sara closed her eyes a moment. ¡°Then your debt to the Mercari is paid. In fifteen days, perhaps less, our trading ships will arrive. And the Resyr clan will once more have power. We want peace. We want you to drive your deals for peace.¡±

    ¡°I can help with your warriors,¡± Eve said. ¡°Bring your dead, your wounded, your ill or those with Status conditions. There is always a price for healing, but that price need not be paid by you. I will extract it from any who come.¡±

    Trella¡¯s hand found Kaden¡¯s. *I think Eve¡¯s scarier since she made peace with her Class.*

    Kaden agreed. ¡°If enemies aren¡¯t coming to us, we should be coming to them to let them know we¡¯re here. If there are other Adventurers, they won¡¯t want to tangle with a fully staffed party.¡±

    ¡°This would make us sleep easier. Go west, across the frozen river, the Skan are our closest allies during times of peace. People of the bow, they build ships and sail. They are sailors, not warriors of land. They will have guards posted, but if you only wish to talk, they do not desire blood.¡± Drokor pointed west. ¡°Do not stay out past dark. The spawns here are not what you know. [Ulfen] come for our [Makur], but they would accept your flesh. When dusk approaches, look for the beacons.¡±

    Kaden pointed to the [Letidyr]. ¡°Sara, don¡¯t take a chance on the cold getting worse, or a storm.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t work. The Horror occasionally wonders what I taste like. Wrapping myself in a living beast will absolutely end badly. And I need to be with you to present clans the chance to make good on their debt.¡± Sara stepped out of the door¡ªand back in. ¡°This is going to be a problem.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Trella was already at work, using the [Inkblades] on a hapless [Letidyr]. ¡°Eve, heal it enough to stop the blood but not enough to close the wounds. We¡¯ll repeat until we have an opening for the Horror.¡±

    The world was spinning, and Kaden was moments away from passing out. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. They¡¯re hurting.¡±

    ¡°Not for long. Hold the wound open or the healing will close it¡± Eve invoked [Life Endowment]. ¡°How is that?¡±

    With Kaden¡¯s help, she wrestled the Horror through, then sighed as the [Letidyr] wrapped around her. ¡°No! I said No!¡± Sara shouted at her horrors. ¡°You¡¯ll do as I say or I¡¯ll dismiss you. You won¡¯t eat as much as a snow-flake. Test me on this.¡±

    The Horror opened all of its jaws and gurgled, then ground its teeth in way that made Kaden¡¯s skin crawl. [Beast Soul] rarely detected thoughts from the Horror. Sarah claimed once it knew he could sense them, it vowed not to think in his presence, but now, it sensed an emotion-thought. It had seen stars born, grow, die, and be diced up into jiggly salads of star-bits that were so very tasty. It could wait for star-salad, which would include these beasts.

    For now it backed off.

    ¡°That feels fantastic,¡± Sara said. ¡°I may not be damaged by cold but it doesn¡¯t mean I enjoy it.¡±

    Kaden looked to Ashi. ¡°Is it safe for you out there?¡±

    ¡°I do not wish to abandon you, but whether I help or hinder I cannot say. Let me stay and adapt.¡± Ashi looked to Eve. ¡°I can heal. I have mana stones.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡± Kaden headed out with Sara at his side, letting his gut be his guide as he surveyed. Stone mounds led underground, and bare white bone fences made a coral with high sides. [Mages] had made thin walls of ice so the structures shielded the constant arctic wind, and everywhere, [Beserkers] worked, butchering beasts and cleaning the hides. They stared as Kaden passed¡ªthen he spotted a young man leading a mound of snow and fur.

    [Makur]

    The Makur have existed for so long in the cold they are not only immune, they grow stronger in it. Feeding on the Ice Mana crystals that grow beneath the snow, they thrive in a realm where most die. This one is tame from birth and eager to receive more crystals without digging through drifts. *Happy*.

    Skills: Bull Rush, Gore

    Talents: Ice Born.

    Kaden bound it and selected the [Ice Born] talent.

    [Ice Born] there is no such thing as cold, for you. Where others find cold you find strength. The colder it becomes for others, the stronger you are. Your stamina is greatly increased as temperature decreases.

    This talent conflicts with [Fire Proof].

    Neither talent will function while both are active.

    Kaden deactivated the one he got from Burney. Bull Rush was a Beast version of [Shield Charge] and wouldn¡¯t be any better, so Kaden skipped that.

    Now it was easy to head west, over low hills and down to a river so frozen Kaden couldn¡¯t sense fish underneath.Sara tested the ice, though it probably would have supported a [Quillophant].

    ¡°We have competing goals,¡± Sara said, as they climbed up on the opposing side of the river. ¡°I need to at least ask for repayment. We get a bonus just for asking.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t need to make an example of them. In fact, I¡¯d rather not. When we¡¯re in the guild, do Adventurers rush up and attack? No. Because it doesn¡¯t benefit anyone. I need them to go back and say ¡®let¡¯s not be hasty.¡¯¡± Kaden paused. Something had moved in the blur of blinding white. He¡¯d made an intentional decision not to use [Stealth Aura] because appearing in the middle of someone¡¯s encampment would be interpreted as an attack. And of course, it was how he¡¯d attack if it came to that.

    *Slow down. We¡¯re being watched.* Kaden sent the message by [Thought Speech]. [Stealth Aura] wouldn¡¯t activate now, and that was all the proof he needed.

    Sara¡¯s psuedopods perked up, scanning, then reached out.

    [Split Second] activated, and Kaden triggered [Moment of Speed] to catch an arrow that whistled by his head. He held it, waiting for more. ¡°My name is Kaden Birch, I¡¯ve got a Quest to guard the Resyr. I just want to talk.¡±

    Another arrow whistled in, striking the Horror, which accepted the offering, swallowing the arrow caught in its maw. The other pseudopod waved frantically, asking if it, too, could have an arrow to swallow.

    *If they wanted to hit us, they would have,* Sara sent.

    She wasn¡¯t wrong, but Kaden didn¡¯t like being a target. Trinity would die in short order exposed to cold like this. Skully would be perfect but he wasn¡¯t functioning. Kaden summoned the [Falcrow]. ¡°I need to know who is watching us and where they are.¡±

    It faded out of existence.

    A moment later, Kaden almost flinched as it dove at a snow mound on the far right, then sailed in an arch before diving again. Two guards. ¡°You may as well both come talk. Or if it makes you feel better, you, on the left, cover us, while the other one leaves the snow drift.¡±

    The wind carried moments of a coarse conversation spoke in barked orders. The snow itself rose up as someone stood, carrying a bow they kept drawn, aimed at Kaden. The man was a [Beserker] but he carried some form of elemental stealth, perhaps a stealth that functioned better in snow. ¡°Do not come closer.¡±

    Kaden held out his arrow. ¡°You want it back? I don¡¯t need it, I have [Mana Quiver] and my arrows always do poison damage. This isn¡¯t useful to me.¡±

    ¡°Why are you here?¡± The Beserker asked.

    ¡°My party is late and the Resyr said you were allies. I just wanted you to know, if someone¡¯s attacking you and you can¡¯t handle them, just drive them our way.¡± Kaden offered the man a smile.

    ¡°Resyr. If we had not believed their lies, we would still stand proud. They spoke of trade and agreements, of battles we would fight for coin. We are shipwrights! We are fishermen! Our only part was to ferry the Fen and Tun to the pirates.¡± The man swore under his breath. ¡°What good is gold when the clans hold knives to each other¡¯s necks?¡±

    ¡°I see.¡± Sara looked to Kaden. ¡°I want to meet with your leaders. This isn¡¯t an attack. If we were attacking, you¡¯d never have seen us. The Resyr will have medicine, potions, and tools within the month, and they don¡¯t want to fight.¡±

    ¡°What kind of potions? [Chill-Ban?] We¡¯ve got¡ªwe¡¯ll buy it and any [Fire Soul] potions you have.¡± The man¡¯s voice held a tremble.

    Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] and dispatched it to Trella. He had no idea what either of those were but she spoke potions the way he spoke beasts. And if nothing else, she¡¯d be able to buy them. ¡°My best friend is an [Alchemist]. I¡¯ll check with her.¡± ¡°The Resyr have access to a FarPortal. They could bring in almost any type of potion you require,¡± Sara said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you trade with them?¡±

    ¡°Because we don¡¯t have anything they need!¡± the guard spat¡ªthen fell quiet. ¡°You should talk to the leaders. Hildur & Almur will hear your words. Do not think to attack them. Just because we are weak does not mean we will kneel.¡±

    Kaden and Sara followed the guard. The west side of the river became more hilly, which worked to block the wind, but after nearly an hour the cold air carried the smell of salt, and distant cries of seabirds.

    *There¡¯s water that way,* Sara sent.

    Low trees dotted the hills, and if this was what passed for lumber, Kaden could trade them Fangwood and improve their ship building. Skan [Beserkers] hung fish up to freeze and dried them over low heatstones.

    *There¡¯s easily three for every one of the Resyr,* Kaden sent. And many bore the look of warriors, hardened stares that locked on Kaden and didn¡¯t shy away. Like the Resyr, their homes appeared to be mostly underground, but the structures here were larger, twenty feet around, ten feet wide, covered in snow and ice.

    ¡°Stay.¡± The guard said. ¡°Your own kind will watch you.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind. He loved almost everything about this place. They wore beasts like robes. The cold could be managed with a little talent swapping, and if some of the snow were stained crimson to teach people manners, new snow would fall.

    A few moments later, a commotion brought a group sprinting toward Kaden. A [Shield], a [Swordsman], a [Ranger], [Assassin], [Mage] and a [Priest] of Elkor. All of them level thirty, all of them looking like they¡¯d been napping and their reverie smashed.

    The [Mage] approached slowly, as clouds of darkness wirled around him. ¡°What are you doing here? Don¡¯t you know, you¡¯re not supposed to attack? You¡¯re supposed to deter attacks. Samuel¡¯s orders. Civilization doesn¡¯t exist here yet.¡±

    Sara dipped her head. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we¡¯re doing. You¡¯ll think twice before attacking now. Good to meet all of you, we¡¯re one tribe over, if you need anything, let us know, we have access to a FarPortal.¡±

    The [Assassin] wore white with red trim and the heavy chainmail, and clinked as he strode forward to offer Sara a handshake. ¡°Know this. If it comes to conflict, Samuel has already decided, no final-death.¡±

    ¡°Excellent!¡± Sara gave a cheerful laugh Kaden had almost never heard. ¡°You know, I wasn¡¯t sure about this Quest. Months in the north, bitter cold. There¡¯s little to do and only gold to earn.¡±

    [Read Emotions] told Kaden most of the other party found this humorous, and they struggled to hold it in. Kaden waved. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Kaden Birch, [Beast Master]. What¡¯s to do around here?¡±

    ¡°Rest,¡± said the [Shield], a lanky, thin man who carried a shield so thin even its owner couldn¡¯t hide behind it. ¡°You¡¯re going to need it when¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s good to rest and recover,¡± said the [Priest]. ¡°Life is fast paced, this job pays you to wait and do nothing. Get some sleep, it¡¯ll do you good.¡±

    Their guard emerged from an underground doorway. ¡°Come. You¡¯ve got five minutes with the speakers. Make it count, you won¡¯t be coming back unless we ask you back.¡±

 Eight - Cutting Edge

    Woodsmoke hit Kaden in the eyes the moment he stepped into the ground-house, which was long and low and surprisingly warm. Everyone here wore a [Letidyr], but theirs were different colors, different lengths of fur, different patterns. Men cooked over heatstones or smoked fish over twig fires. Kaden threaded his way through the crowded ground-house.

    He wasn¡¯t worried about an ambush. There wasn¡¯t room to attack. Near the far end, a round table stood, and there, beserkers gathered. As Kaden approached, a pair stood, a younger man and woman. The woman was wide as Kaden, the man twice so, and both had an inch on him in height. They wore heavy plate leather over their furs, and the man¡¯s head was shaved bald, while the woman¡¯s was so blond it almost matched Eve¡¯s.

    The woman offered Kaden a handshake. ¡°Hildur. What do you want?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re the new party stationed with the Resyr,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I just wanted to say hello. Also to make it clear we¡¯re not interested in shooting arrows at anyone if someone stumbles the wrong direction.¡±

    Almar spat. ¡°So you¡¯re spineless as the Resyr. It¡¯s a good match, enjoy your battle against the [Frost.] It¡¯s a losing war and we can¡¯t retreat through some magic portal. Don¡¯t go north or east. East are surly and mean, north, they¡¯ll come to all of us in time.¡±

    ¡°Actually,¡± Sara said, standing a bit taller, ¡°I¡¯m here as a representative of the Mercari. You own a portion of their debt. I¡¯ve already cleared the Resyr, I¡¯d like to offer you the same opportunity.¡±

    ¡°If you want gold, you¡¯re heading north east to deal with the Tun. What little gold we received went to wood for repairing ships,¡± Hildur said. She didn¡¯t threaten, just stated it as a cold fact. ¡°If you have other ideas about how to collect, we¡¯ll fight you blood and bone.¡±

    ¡°Perfect, because that¡¯s precisely what I have,¡± Sara said, heedless of the implications. ¡°You have no gold, but the Resyr have only a small bay. Our trading fleet will arrive within weeks. I could settle your debt and restore trading privileges if you guarantee them safe harbor. I¡¯d like to have a regular trade route.¡±

    ¡°Do you have [Fire Soul] potions or not?¡± Their guard spoke out of turn, then looked down, ashamed.

    Trella hadn¡¯t responded, which wasn¡¯t a good sign. But Kaden could put enough fo the pieces of the puzzle to ask the right questions. ¡°My best friend is an alchemist, I¡¯ll speak with her about it but for now, no, we don¡¯t. Your party mentioned [Frost.] What are they talking about?¡±

    Almar¡¯s stance softened. He¡¯d held himself stiff and tall, and now, his shoulders dropped. ¡°You were really plunged head first. This whole continent was once a proving ground, the Ice Mana domain. The domain kept growing stronger. Now, at night, portals errupt from the domain and creatures of Ice Mana pour out.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here,¡± Hildur said. ¡°Despite our name ¡®beserkers,¡¯ we¡¯re not monsters. We speak as much as we fight, because the cost is so high. Though the Resyr are so weak, they won¡¯t have a choice but to ask you to stand in their stead. The monsters from that domain have a status effect, [Frost] that can only be countered by [Fire Soul] potions.¡±

    Sara seemed surprised¡ªand almost shaken¡ªby this revelation. ¡°We¡¯ll consult with our Alchemist. About my offer. It stands. Safe harbor for our ships, working with the Resyr to transfer our cargo, in exchange for restoring trade privileges.¡±

    Hildur shook her head. ¡°We have no deal until I¡¯m certain you can help. We¡¯ve lost too many of ours to [Frost]. Until they are unearthed, there will be no deals. If your ships come and they have no potions, they will not come here.¡±

    Sara turned and headed out without asking more. She didn¡¯t speak as they headed east over the hills and back toward the river which was probably the dividing line in summer. ¡°Trella hasn¡¯t responded?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of those but I¡¯m not the Alchemist. We can send her through the FarPortal and have her buy the potions, but how is this making anyone money? Aren¡¯t we supposed to be recovering money?¡±

    ¡°We are.¡± Sara¡¯s horrors worked to help her up the hill while Kaden struggled, so she could speak. ¡°But there¡¯s no gold to recover there. Sometimes, an agreement is as good as gold. Getting the Resyr trading again, getting the Skan to provide harbor, it¡¯s worth as much as gold they don¡¯t have.¡±

    ¡°Two ships could easily have harbored with the Resyr.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better for business if everyone has a hand in it. The more people invested in making sure this succeeds, the better. I¡¯ll explain when the others are here. I¡¯m more worried about this ¡®Frost.¡¯¡± Sara picked up her pace, moving faster and faster.

    This far north, sunset came sooner, and before Kaden and Sara could reach the Resyr village, a gout of green light lanced upward into the sky. It twisted like the roots of a giant tree, bending to other strands. Behind them, a blue strand arced from the Skan settlement, and far north, a bright red one straightup toward the center.

    It left Kaden feeling small in a very large world, and happy to be there that moment.

    ¡°We should keep moving. Night isn¡¯t far off,¡± Sara said. ¡°The day is so short, we need to get comfortable hunting, or at least survivingthe night spawn here.¡±

    Kaden sent the Falcrow to scout as they crossed frozen fields to the Resyr village. He waved to Eve as she stood outside a groundhouse. ¡°Enjoying the show?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s magnificent. I¡¯ve witnessed the arrival of a Goddes. Every year, Varun would descend at the solstice to her temple. This is better. We need to talk. Ashi¡¯s huddled inside, she needs a source of fire mana or she¡¯s not going to make it here.¡± Eve dropped her tone and stepped closer. ¡°And I¡¯ve resurrected five of their ¡®warriors.¡¯ There¡¯s a status effect called [Frost] that¡¯s impossible to remove.¡±

    ¡°I sent a message to Trella,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°She¡¯s been working ever since in the fifth groundhouse down. Talk to her, I¡¯ve never seen her so determined.¡± Eve went back to studying the sky.

    Kaden found Trella underground, alone, in aroom that stank of dried fish and mold, with her alchemy lab set up on a table and four different flasks bubbling. ¡°You got my message?¡±

    ¡°Of course! Niemen sent me the recipe for [Fire Soul] potions, they¡¯re tier two, so it¡¯s possible, but it¡¯s an essence inversion potion, which I haven¡¯t made.¡± Trella said it like it meant something. Then watched Kaden and explained. ¡°Fire Soul nullifies almost all cold-based status effects, but it¡¯s not from magma or something sensible. You have to acquire Essence Fragments from beasts and invert them, it¡¯s the only way to get enough power.¡±

    The pieces of the puzzle began to click. ¡°This is an ice domain. Supposedly there are monsters from the domain that spawn at night. I¡¯m placing bets that those monsters give up Essence Fragments.¡±

    Trella nodded. ¡°Here¡¯s the catch. To gather essence, you can¡¯t melt them or ash them or shock them, they need to be smashed or chopped. I talked with several of the Resyr. Their biggest problem is the [Ulf] coming for their livestock. The domain creatures don¡¯t spawn for several miles north.¡±

    Sara drank it all in. ¡°If we got you essence shards, you could make potions?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Trella¡¯s Deception said, since she¡¯d gone back to work. ¡°Get us lots of shards. There are bound to be accidents.¡±

    ¡°Smashed. Sounds a lot like a job for someone with a hammer,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°Hold on.¡± Trella turned off all three burners. ¡°Before you go planning, before we start saying who¡¯s going to do what, you need to understand. Ashi listened to them while Eve was healing the Resyr. Much as you might want to hunt these domain creatures, and much as I want to do it with you, the Resyr need help here, first.¡±

    Kaden sent the Falcrow to Eve and Ashi. Ashi came first, triggering her mana stones to flush red for a moment. ¡°It is hard to function here, but I will not be pushed away.¡±

    In a flash of brilliance, Kaden summoned Burney. ¡°All you need is a constant source of Fire Mana, right? Meet a constant source of fire mana.¡±

    Ashi cupped her hands around the [Match Lizard]. ¡°I swear before the system, I will never eat you on bread. Not even without bread. With this, I will wield fire against these creatures.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    Heard and acknowledged. Asha vanter opton Rahm will never receive a talent by eating this particular Match Lizard.

    Burney wasn¡¯t enlightened. The lizard¡¯s intellect had all the depth of a pie plate, but it did understand the concept of burning, being allowed to burn, being praised for burning, and then probably burning something else. And yet, the [Match Lizard] exuded a feeling of pleasure at Ashi¡¯s declaration. It was, after all, the King.

    ¡°All right. Ashi will keep me honest, but the Resyr bought into the whole ¡®trade is power¡¯ bit the Mercari were selling. And now that trade ain¡¯t power, they¡¯re in trouble.¡± Trella looked to Ashi, who nodded. ¡°And for the last month, the only thing they do have to trade has been getting killed left and right. Those blizzard cows are meat, fur, milk, and an absolute meal for the wolves here.¡±

    ¡°These aren¡¯t wolves like Gloom Wolves,¡± Eve added. ¡°Each is the size of a boss monster. It¡¯s said they ignore weapons. They hunt in groups called Paws, and each paw has five wolves.¡±

    ¡°And they are emboldened,¡± Ashi added. ¡°Night after night of feasting have made them confident.¡±

    Everything Kaden had learned about predators, and consulted [Beast Knowledge]. ¡°Then the highest priority is taking away that confidence. Sara, you worked Pest Patrol on several occasions. You know what I¡¯m thinking?¡±

    ¡°Traps.¡± Sara said it with pleasure. ¡°Traps. And poison, we should use Thorn Caster. And [Agony Cloud]. If we get the chance to kill, that¡¯s just good luck, but wounded, poisoned wolves will quickly move on.¡±

    ¡°I will try binding them, but if I can¡¯t, we¡¯ll handle them.¡± Kaden stood and stretched. ¡°I have traps to build. Where¡¯s Drokor? I need information.¡±

    The next few hours passed in a flurry of activity as Trella brewed potions and Kaden worked to understand where his traps would work best. The center [Makur] pen was rarely a target, but the calving pens were regularly hit, doubling the injury.

    Tonight, Kaden wanted to ensure there would be a price paid for every Makur taken, ever. [Glass Spider] webbing lay in layers across the entrances to the calfing pen. Trella had bound [Agony Cloud] potions to either end, and Ashi had used Geo mana to dig in the frozen soil. The Resyr said their enemies were smart, so Kaden had gone for a particularly brutal solution. A tripline of thick rope would trigger pop-waddlers, but the triplines stood right against the pits, where Sara had broken ice into razor sharp spikes.

    As the moon rose over the far horizon, Drokor called them. ¡°We are grateful for your resurrections and healing, but this is different. The [Ulf] are clever and vicious enemies. Fully armed parties of Beserkers think before challenging them.¡±

    Kaden passed Thorn Caster to Trella, who¡¯d frozen ladder rungs onto the ice walls. ¡°Poison them. Are you sure they¡¯ll come?¡±

    Drokor pointed to the calfing pen, where a lone [Makur] calf cried. ¡°The mother was taken last night. It will die within days, but its sorrow will bring the [Ulf]. Jusar tells us of your plan to hunt the domain Beasts. If your [Alchemist] can create [Fire Soul] potions, it will bring all the tribes to your door.¡±

    ¡°To your door,¡± Sara said. ¡°I can give you the chance. I can¡¯t make you take advantage of it. I want to see these [Ulf]. I want to face them. If I bleed, they will bleed to.¡±

    Kaden focused on the orphaned [Makur], binding it. [Beast Soul] told him exactly what was wrong, not that he needed it. Many beasts bonded with their offspring, and this one¡¯s bond was permanently severed. The pen wasn¡¯t well protected. It might well die, but if it did, it would be the last.

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Eve approached. ¡°I have a new skill I want to use on you. It¡¯s a lesser form of Nurav¡¯s Blessing. My own blessing. The bonuses aren¡¯t as intense, but they only apply when you make enemies bleed. I¡¯ll share the description.¡±

    [Blood Blessing]

    Grant a blessing that increases damage when the recipient makes enemies bleed. Recipients may sacrifice health for increased damage.

    Kaden read it over. Dosing Remembrance with [Bleed] was standard practice. ¡°Is this going to kill me?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not. The [Ulfs], I make no promises about. I¡¯ll be behind Sara the whole way. Ashi will back you up. Do you want the blessing?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°Please.¡± Kaden waited.

    You have received the Blessing of a Priestess (Evelyn Black). When you inflict [Bleed] on enemies, your damage will be boosted. You may sacrifice a percentage of your health for a damage boost that matches your sacrifice. Surrendering this boost or blessing will not restore the health without healing.

    Perfect. ¡°Is Sara accepting it?¡±

    ¡°She has too many memories of you weeping blood on Harrigan¡¯s ship. This will be different. I will make it different.¡±

    ¡°I believe you. Get in position, the [Ulf] could come at any time.¡± Kaden would prefer to have Trinity beside him but none of his beasts were suited for bitter cold. Trinity would die. Rocky would be so miserable he wouldn¡¯t fight. The [Falcrow] wasn¡¯t a battler, and Skully¡¯s bones would be terribly brittle. It was an opportunity to find something stronger and better. Maybe an [Ulf].

    ¡°A prepared battle is the best battle,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I have walked the grounds and practiced portal locations. Your [Match Lizard] will bask in glory as I burn these [Ulf].¡±

    Conversation died as a long howl echoed over the frozen wastes. Sara unslung both swords and studied the entrance to the pen, while Kaden wrapped Ashi and Eve in [Stealth Aura].

    A low bird whistle told him Trella had spotted something, the [Makur] began to bellow and push against the coral walls. The orphan cried ever louder, despite Kaden¡¯s efforts to calm it through the bond.

    Orange eyes opened in the darkness, and Kaden gasped. He just wasn¡¯t prepared for how large the [Ulf] would be. The Beast¡¯s shoulder was as tall as Kaden, its head as wide as him.

    [Ulf Scout]

    These ulf are fast and sleek, built for finding prey and leading the Paw to it. Less adapted to fighting, the Ulf scouts are always ahead or behind the pack, striking before they melt into the darkness. This particular ulf came for [Makur] but has found additional free meat.

    *Pleased.*

    The Beast threw back its head and loosed a short howl that cut off as it bounded forward¡ªand screamed in agony as [Glass Spider] nets sheared its nose from its head and left gashes. The monster stumbled, and an arrow blossomed in its gut¡ªand another¡ªand another.

    Three stacks of poison was a death sentence, but Kaden wasn¡¯t waiting, he rushed the wounded monster, bringing Remembrance¡¯s hammer head down on its skull. The hammer sang out, vibrating with sheer power as it struck.

    You have stunned an opponent. Your opponent will be [Stunned] for (2) seconds.

    ¡°These are too large to take on directly,¡± Sara called. ¡°That¡¯s a scout.¡±

    The scout had never anticipated the traps. It spasmed as Kaden delivered another blow¡ªand another, even as Sara switched to her bow.

    ¡°Conserve mana!¡± Kaden shouted as Ashi blasted it with a fireball. He didn¡¯t begrudge her XP, but this enemy was already ruined. Blind in one eye, in sheer agony, it couldn¡¯t even dodge as Kaden brought Remembrance¡¯s axe down on its spine and triggered the pent-up blows.

    You have defeated an Ulf.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden immediately triggered [Field Harvest] and collected 1x Ulf hide and 20x Ulf Claw. He wanted to reset the webbing traps, but moving through that zone would be just as dangerous to him in the dark.

    *Two more circling the pen,* Sara sent, *[Ulf Strikers], they¡¯re the hunters of the pack.*

    Quick as he could, Kaden sprinted forward the orphaned Makur. Pack hunters split up to divert attention from a third strike, that was standard behavior. If the strikers moved away, then at any moment¡ª

    Whoosh!

    The [Agony Cloud] at the closest end of the entrance exploded. A pitch-black [Ulf] rolled free of the cloud, wheezing.

    [Ulf Stalker]

    These are the assassins of the paw. If the scout finds the prey and the strikers drive it, it is the stalker who waits unseen to strike when the prey believes itself free. This striker does not understand how it was found in deep stealth. *Confusion*

    ¡°[Big Boom!]¡± Ashi shouted. A lance of fire burned deep into the side of the stalker, which leaped to the side, smoking, and attempted to sink into [Stealth], only to find Trella¡¯s arrows lodged in its back.

    Sara moved to reposition herself with Eve behind her.

    [Plague] already buzzed about the stalker, and Sara had switched, using her secondary class¡¯s [Lunge] to move into range and strike. Blood gushed from its nose and eyes, and the Horror¡¯s psuedopods nipped forward, feigning attacks.

    The real damage came from poison, which Trella continued to rain down.

    A wall of flame materialized in front of Ashi, encircling the stalker ulf and converging inward. It screamed¡ªthen froze as Sara struck. Lightning blasted down her swords. [Shocking Grasp] left the stalker paralyzed even as it burned.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t focus on that battle, because in the darkness beyond the [Makur] pen, something else had revealed itself, snuffling to drink in the smell of its kin-blood and ash. Kaden dropped into [Stealth Aura] and focused on the beast.

    [Ulfen - Ulf Boss]

    This paw is led by an ulfen, strongest, most cunning and dangerous. He knows reason, revenge and fear, and plans attacks. Most dangerous his its ability to coordinate with paw-mates to form an unceasing chain of attacks. He is death in the night for all he sets sights on. Curious, that he has not yet set sights on you.

    Before it could lunge, Kaden sent the [Falcrow] swooping down to claw at the ulfen¡¯s eyes. After all, as boss, it was never used to being the one attacked.

    *Boss inbound!* Kaden sent to Trella, trusting her to choose targets.

    You have helped defeat an ulf.

    You have gained experience.

    The ulfen roared in rage, probably sensing the pack-bond dropping, and charged for the pen, where Ashi, Eve and Sara would be trapped in close quarters. With [Moment of Speed] Kaden leaped over the railing and swung Remembrance¡¯s axe head downward.

    It met the ulfen as its front paws hit the snow, on the foreleg.

    Crippling Strikes has inflicted a permanent injury.

    The ulfen tried to pivot to attack Kaden, but its wounded leg crumpled, and it flew right through the pop-waddler trip line and fell into the trap pit.

    ¡°[Lava Burst]¡± Ashi shouted, spraying a thin stream of molten rock. ¡°I am out of mana!¡±

    [Mana Well] let him gift her more, while Trella offered poisonous ruin from her perch high above.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got poison stacks on the other two, just let them bleed!¡± Trella called.

    A low rumble shook the ground, and the Ulfen rose, bleeding everywhere. It crawled up out of the pit-trap, limping as the front leg hung useless. It threw back its head and howled¡ªand stars began to fall, multicolored stars that whistled down, sizzling in the snow.

    [Ulfen] has used [Ancestral Call].

    The ulfen has sacrificed its remaining days for assistance in gaining revenge.

    Some of the color drained off to the Ulfen, but more of it rose as three wolf-shaped forms, two red and one green.

    [Ulf Ancestral Watcher]

    The watchers were ulfen once, but when their trail ended, they found a new one among the stars, keeping watch over their kin. Now they have returned to deal with a threat to their way of life. The cost of coming is vast, the price for remaining is steep, but the determination has been made, you must not know another dawn.

    There was bad and there was worse.

    This was worse.

 Nine - Calling Stars

    All around Kaden, red, green, and blue glowing wolves rose, almost spectral forms whose light cast color on the white snow of the north. The [Makur] in the pens didn¡¯t just bray, they almost screamed in terror, pressing back against the ice walls of their pen.

    ¡°They¡¯re not physical!¡± Sara called. ¡°I can¡¯t hurt them with my swords. The Horror might be able to, but I can¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Plague isn¡¯t affecting them,¡± Eve called.

    The glowing wolves converged on the ulfen, whose white fur now glowed with streaks of colors. Then they fell in line behind it, pacing toward Sara, Eve, and Ashi. The ulfen he could handle, the immaterial ones¡ª¡°They¡¯re mana!¡±

    Kaden ripped at them with [Mana Drain], and was rewarded with an unholy scream of agony from one green watcher. It stumbled, then snarled and spun to sprint at him.

    For a beast like this, Kaden knew his weapon, a two-hundred point [Mana Spike] he wielded like a dagger. The green ulf leaped through the air, blurring and slammed into Kaden¡¯s forearm, throwing him back.

    Blood gushed as it tore through his gloves, but Kaden slammed the [Mana Spike] into its unprotected gut, then rolled aside to dodge an attack from another red ulf¡ªand another. One grabbed his leg and began to thrash, digging teeth in.

    Another two hundred point [mana spike] to its spine made it let go. Which might possibly have been worse, as its teeth had been stopping him from bleeding. ¡°Eve!¡±

    ¡°On it! Use the damage bonus!¡± she called.

    The gush from his legs slowed as [Life Endowment] hit. Kaden used [Mana Drain] to siphon off the last of the green ulf, and formed another [Mana Spike]. Both red ulf still existed, though one had turned pale and see-through thanks to the [Mana Spike].

    They struck as one, and Kaden was forced to decide. [Split Second] let him dodge one attack, but the second aimed straight at his throat, going for the kill. Kaden thrust his fist into the monster¡¯s throat and triggered [Soul Binding]

    Force-Bind to dual-class as [Slaver?] [Y/N]

    Kaden dismissed the binding.

    Even with Fortress of stone, the way it tore his flesh was agony.Eve¡¯s healing and his constitution kept him fighting, but the ulf watcher¡¯s jaws had torn through Kaden¡¯s arm. [Mana Spike] didn¡¯t care about how attached an arm was, it materialized in the watcher¡¯s gut.

    That watcher fought¡ªto get away, even as Kaden engaged [Destruction Aura]. True to its name, it shredded wisps of light from the watcher. One second more and he would have killed there, but the first watcher hadn¡¯t given up. It bit at Kaden¡¯s shoulder¡ªthen shrieked and turned as Trella landed, slashing with inkblades.

    ¡°Get back, you can¡¯t hurt it!¡± Kaden shouted.

    ¡°It¡¯s called buying time.¡± Trella [Shadow Stepped] out of the watcher¡¯s lunge.

    Kaden¡¯s mana was perilously low, but he spiked the watcher again. It dissolved into fragments of light.

    You have defeated an Ancestral Watcher.

    You have received 1x Watcher¡¯s Essence.

    You have gained experience.

    Trella drew [Mana Darts] and hurled them at the other watcher, but now Kaden wasn¡¯t being attacked three on one. [Vigorous] ensured he regenerated health and mana quickly, and he spiked the watcher with all but one point of his remaining mana.

    Instead of attacking, it bounded toward the others, and sank into the body of the ulfen, which glowed green as wounds closed.

    While Kaden had fought the watchers, the ulfen had mauled Sara. Blood ran like water from her right am, and her horror¡¯s psuedopods worked only to fend off its gasps. It lunged at Sara¡ªand Ashi dragged her back through a portal to appear behind Kaden.

    ¡°[Burning Grasp!]¡± Ashi slapped the ulfen with a blazing hand just as the portal collapsed. Two shadowy figures appeared to the right and left of the Ulfen, while Trella hauled Eve out of range. The ulfen fought without fear, destroying one deception and then the next. The echos left it furious even though their blows were mostly weak.

    ¡°How¡¯d you fight that?¡± Sara asked. ¡°It would have killed me without the horror. Ashi¡¯s out of mana, Eve¡¯s low, tell me you have an answer.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got the answer,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Give me a crawling horror.¡±

    Sara summoned a fat foot-long grub with ringed teeth on one end. ¡°I tried, it was too smart. It sniffed the crawling horror and refused to take it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask. Trella, keep poisoning it. Eve, keep me moving. Sara and Ashi, stay clear.¡± Kaden led with the Falcrow, and in the instant the ulfen was distracted, he opened his Eldritch Shield and charged, using [Shield Bash].

    You have stunned an enemy.

    The ulfen shook off the stun and lunged, snapping with jaws that could tear Kaden apart. [Split Second] let him dodge, but his mana was too low. Instead, he used the Levicon blade, slashing with every near miss, until the Ulfen¡¯s blood ran thick down its chin, and it panted.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Any moment it slowed, Trella shot it with Thorn Caster, stacking poison until the boss¡¯s eyes were wide with rage. Every attempt to shove the crawling horror down its throat was met with the Ulfen whipping its head to the side, even when Kaden carved it with the Levicon Blade, until Kaden slammed the horrific grub down in the ice out of frustration.

    Call it luck, or maybe lack of skill, but Kaden¡¯s dodge didn¡¯t quite put him out of range, and the ulfen slammed into Kaden, sending him flying into Eve.

    Again, it threw back its head. Again, it raised a mournful howl. Stars glittered above and colored streaks flowed through the sky. It was calling for help. Again.

    There was no time to debate, only to decide.

    Kaden drew Remembrance and activated the [Blood Blessing], sacrificing all but two points of health.

    You have selected a (massive) damage modifier.

    Every point of mana he poured into [Moment of Speed], every ounce of skill in the charge that sent him hurtling, a blur, at the Ulfen. It crouched, peparing to to strike.

    Two steps before Kaden struck, a Portal tore open to his right. Kaden leaped through¡ªand hit the Ulfen from the side. Remembrance¡¯s axe head sank deep into the back of the Ulf¡¯s neck. As it wisted to swipe at him, Kaden¡¯s grip on the axe handle threw him upward, just out of reach.

    ¡°[Moon Multiplier!] [Life Explosion!]¡± Eve suddenly surrounded the ulfen, who opened its mouth to snarl and instead vomitted blood, even as its eyes turned red and every wound gushed.

    Kaden¡¯s health burst upward. The ulfen stood, unstead, and leaped over the group, bounding for the exit¡ªstraight into an [Agony Cloud] which burned Kaden as well. A [Glass Spider] net sliced down his side, while Kaden held on, pulling himself closer. A burst of lightning struck the Ulfen, thrown from Sara¡¯s open hand, which gave Kaden just a moment to grasp the beast with his legs, hugging its back.

    The ulfen leaped sideways to dodge Trella¡¯s Deception and slammed into the pen wall. Though Kaden¡¯s arm shook, he pulled the [Levicon Blade] into his open hand and slashed deeper and deeper. Bone shards flew from the wound.

    The Ulfen¡¯s body went stiff, and it cried like a wounded puppy. Then went limp.

    You have broken the Rokur Claw.

    You have defeated an Ulfen.

    You have gained experience.

    Pinned under the lifeless beast, Kaden had to wait until Sara rolled its corpse back. He didn¡¯t hesitate, [Field Harvesting] the monster, then repeating it with the dead stalker. In the calfing pen, the orphan continued its lonely wail.

    Kaden could sympathize.

    ###

    He sat in the [Makur] pen while the sun peeked above the horizon, one hand on a mother with a calf, one hand on the orphan. See? He sent, as the orphan began to feed. Now you have two.

    The mother resisted. It had a calf, it had one, and only one and now there were two, and at least one wasn¡¯t¡­well, it probably wasn¡¯t its calf. As hours passed, its attitude changed. It had a calf. That calf was one of these. Which one, she wasn¡¯t clear. Maybe there were two. Probably not, but what she was certain of was that there were a bucket of Ice Mana Crystals, and that was what mattered more than which of her two calves she loved more.

    It was the one on the left.

    A mother wasn¡¯t supposed to have favorites but she did and it was the left calf, the right calf looked lumpy and weird and she didn¡¯t resemble the father at all. There would definitely be questions in the herd. But there were no questions in the Ice Mana Crystal bucket and for now, she kept eating, even as both calves fed.

    ¡°Tell me, please, you¡¯re not bringing that home,¡± Trella said. She sat on the fence, kicking her legs as the sunrise wind grew stiffer. ¡°Trinity, I get. Vip, I understand. Eclipse, I love. Skully stays outside, and it¡¯s not like a [Match Lizard] takes up space. But that¡­have you smelled it?¡±

    Trella had a point. A [Makur] would be incredibly miserable anywhere else. ¡°I¡¯m not taking it home. I didn¡¯t bring home Explodius¡±

    ¡°But you thought about it.¡±

    Kaden wouldn¡¯t deny it. His limbs were stiff, his health high but his muscles tired from the battle.

    Sara had disappeared near dawn to report on their success, taking the three hides and claws with her as proof, and leaving a promise she¡¯d return with them. Kaden let Trella examine both Watcher Essences. ¡°What do we do with these?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re skill seeds,¡± Trella answered. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they do, I know that they are.¡±

    That matched how both felt. ¡°They were enlightened. Maybe I could have reasoned with them.¡±

    ¡°Or maybe they¡¯d have cracked jokes about feasting on us,¡± Trella said. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside. You¡¯re healed, but that doesn¡¯t mean healthy.¡±

    Kaden left the Makur in the care of their handlers. Sara had said the last groundhouse was theirs, low and empty and smelling of stale smoke, but she¡¯d set a heatstone in the circular bulge at the far end and stacked sleeping mats with blankets all around.

    Eve worked to fold the blankets, but stopped as they entered. ¡°Kaden. Are you sure you don¡¯t have status effects?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep down on that end, if you want.¡±

    ¡°That seems uncalled for. I¡ªI was raised how I was raised. But I seriously doubt this is the moment you¡¯d be untoward.¡± Eve dipped her head. ¡°You two can have that one. I¡¯m sorry. I really thought I¡¯d be more useful, but those essence wolves weren¡¯t affected by anything I did.¡±

    ¡°Join the party,¡± Trella said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t scratch them except by [Mana Dart]. You kept us in the fight. Where¡¯s Ashi?¡±

    ¡°She went with Sara to ask more about this Ice Domain. Do you think I could see Vip for a short while?¡±

    Kaden peeled his [Letidyr] off and deactivated [Ice Born]. The air was frigid, dangerously cold. ¡°For a bit.¡±

    He summoned Vip and she bounded off the makeshift beds to lick his face before turning and wriggling to go to Eve, who hugged her until Vip finally went limp, wagging her tail. Eve wrapped her alpha robes around them both and sat down on her bedroll.

    *Is that your dog or hers?* Trella tapped out on his shoulder.

    *Vip belongs to herself,* Kaden replied. He hadn¡¯t released the bond on the orphan [Makur], but the feelings coming through the bond said it was full, tired, and mildly anxious, all of which Kaden could identify with.

    Kaden pulled a pot of chili from his Inventory. It was still so hot it steamed. ¡°Bowl?¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± Eve took one and so did Trella. Eve fixed better food, there was no question, but Kaden specialized in easy, hearty meals with plenty of food.

    ¡°Oooh!¡± Ashi called as she entered. ¡°Sara, there is thick meat soup!¡±

    Sara looked like Kaden felt. Healing made her health high but a battle just left her beat. Her Horror wasn¡¯t even looking for things to devour. One pseudopod dragged the ground, and she cradled one arm with another. ¡°Drokor wants to speak to all of us tonight. I can say she¡¯s really pleased, but I explained that we¡¯d just fought a difficult battle. It will wait. I¡¯m sorry¡ªI need to eat and I need to sleep.¡±

    Kaden knew what would fix one of those problems, and filled her bowl to the brim. Once the pot had been scraped clean,Eve stored it in her cooking kit, which would clean it. ¡°How¡¯s Burney?¡±

    Ashi drew back the wrap on her chest and took out the lizard. ¡°I will keep him for now. He is made of fire, the cold cannot touch him.¡±

    Sara snored, her head lolled over, her bowl still held.

    *She¡¯s going to wake up feeling awful,* Trella said. *Move her?*

    Kaden was used to swinging Remembrance. The Cosmic Horror gave Sara real weight, but he lifted her and layed her into the open bedroll. Trella waited for him, wrapping her arms around his waist as they rested. Perhaps the sun was high, and maybe life in the North was beginning that hour, but adventureres slept when they could, and he could.

 Ten - Essential Choices

    Kaden startled awake as the door to the groundhouse opened. He still ached, but that was the way of battle. The cure was to fight and get wounds so much worse the aching muscles didn¡¯t matter.

    ¡°Will you sleep away the winter?¡± The voice wasn¡¯t Drokor, but one of the older Resyr women. She was gnarled and bent with age, but her voice was strong. ¡°Wake up! When I was young, I, too, fought against the paws. In my day, they¡¯d patrol ruthlessly, testing for any sort of weakness.¡±

    ¡°You. Fought those ulf?¡± Sara asked through a yawn.

    ¡°I was a beserker! So strong, so fierce they called me ¡®Veiour¡¯ - it means ¡¯ball smasher.¡¯ But like all of us, I had to surrender my class or be devoured by it. The rage, it¡¯s always waiting. It never really goes away.¡± Reiour tapped her cane. ¡°Get up! The Crafters have been working all day on a token of our thanks.¡±

    Kaden pulled Vip back into his soul, where she found herself on an endless road filled with pigeons. The orphaned Makur felt completely normal. It was hoping for its next meal, staying close to mother, and plotting how to push its brother out of the herd when no one was looking. All in all, a success.

    The sun was in fact, setting, but the Resyr village hummed with activity. An actual fire burned against the night, and the [Makur] in their pen seemed calm, if wary. Everywhere, people moved, digging snow away from doorways or working in groups.

    ¡°Veiour! I said to let them sleep!¡± Drokor¡¯s call came louder than the rising wind.

    ¡°And I might be dead before they wake. In my day, we did not sleep after a battle. We said ¡®I may have died in the battle and not known it, and death will come looking for me.¡¯¡± Reiour led them through the village at a creeping pace.

    ¡°How¡¯s your health?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I wish I had a skill for bruises and aches, but I suspect my class will never have one. Nurav is not a goddess who eschews pain.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± Kaden said.

    Trella had disappeared from the group, but her Deception walked with them, studying the villagers. Its hand on Kaden¡¯s arm was cool and firm. The Deception had been illusory once, but now it had substance and a growing intelligence. *What are you?* Kaden tapped on on its hand.

    *What I am. You should ask her. She¡¯s afraid of the answers.* The Deception looked away.

    Rejour slowed as she approached a ring of crafters. ¡°We¡¯ve been working all day. Those ulf had turned us into their private feast ever since the discord broke out. The other clans feel we are weak, but we have skills. We work the [Makur] hide to make armor for our land. But you brought us more.¡±

    One of the crafters stepped aside to reveal a stone table. Laid out on it were items crafted from thick, heavy leather and gray-white fur streaked with colors from the fallen stars.

    [Ulfen Armor]

    This armor was crafted from an empowered Ulfen. The ancestors no longer watch over it, but traces of their power remain. It will drink essences to permanently gain aspects of the ancestors. When combined in a set, the aspects of the ancients are increased.

    [Ulfen Boots]

    These boots were crafted from the feet of an Ulfen. They offer sure grip on ice and snow and protection from the most bitter cold. They can be empowered with essences of the ancestors to grant traits.

    [Ulfen Gauntlets]

    These guantlets were crafted from the jaws an empowered Ulfen. Powerful against the cold, they will only grow more powerful as you slay enemies with them. They cannot be empowered with essence, only the lifeblood of your foes.

    [Ulfen Cloak]

    This cloak is made from the head of an empowered Ulfen. Alone, it doesn¡¯t confer any special attributes, but it is warm and tough and sends a definite message to your enemies. As part of a Set, it will heal over time from damage and conform to your body.

    Trella pushed him forward. ¡°What are you waiting for? Those are incredible. Except the cloak, no one can pull off a beast head cloak.¡±

    Sara and Ashi and Eve and Trella had all fought the boss, but Kaden moved quickly stripping off his old armor he¡¯d had made in Trunistan. The ulfen armor wouldn¡¯t be good except in cold environments, but as he pulled on each piece, his confidence grew. It was flexible and thick and heavy. The boots looked awkward with their glittering claw-tips, but sure enough his feet stood just as solid as dry ground. Hardened leather plates covered the front and sides of his thighs, and the gauntlets fit so well he couldn¡¯t help smiling. His right hand would be weaker because these didn¡¯t have the grip enhancements.

    It was worth it.

    Resyr began to cheer as Kaden clipped the cloak in place.

    You have obtained a Set Bonus. All Ancester effects increased.

    Which reminded him. Kaden drew from Inventory the two Ancestor Essences, both bright red. ¡°The armor says it will accept Essences. How do I use them?¡±

    Drokor pointed to an essence. ¡°Select it, and the System will prompt you. An essence will only give a bonus like the ancestor it came from, and there were once ones for every type. These are Damage essences. How they affect each warrior is different.¡±

    Once, Kaden had believed he had all the equipment he needed. Last night had taught him better, as the Ancestral Watcher shredded his best armor¡ªand his arm. Now he focused on the essences.

    Each Essence may only be bound to one piece of armor.

    Analyzing¡­.

    Options:

    Bind to Chest Armor - Your chance of Brutal Blows or Crippling Strikes increases the longer battle goes on.

    Bind to Boots - Any blow that includes movement will inflict increased damage.

    Both of those felt like key elements of how Kaden fought. Sara had told him once when choosing talents that he¡¯d be more powerful with either, if he just made a choice. Both essences went to the chest. His chest grew warmer, and the essences dissolved, sinking into the armor. ¡°I feel stronger. I am stronger, thanks to you. Thanks to all of you. I want to go hunting. I want to find more Ulf. And I want to claim their essences.

    ¡°Come, while the clan celebrates, I have sword-questions,¡± Drokor said. ¡°Our gratitude flows, but I must cut to the truth. And not all are pleased that you received the spoils of your battle and not one of the clan.¡±

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    ¡°Then let the clan fight and bleed.¡± Eve spoke loudly, her voice cutting through the merriment. ¡°If they want the spoils of battle then let them battle. We chose the darkness and the danger. Let them choose, and we won¡¯t say a word when they claim their prizes.¡±

    The party had died, and only the sharp whistle of the wind and the roar of the fire carried in the night.

    Drokor laughed. ¡°We are merchants and traders and crafters. Come, we will eat and speak such truths.¡±

    Drokor¡¯s groundhouse was short and wide, and filled with broken weapons and bent armor. She kicked it out of the way and pushed a bedroll off what was clearly a table. ¡°Sit, we have fish stew we bought from the Skanak before the discord. You can smell it ten miles away, but it is a rite of passage.¡±

    Trella hadn¡¯t stopped petting his armor. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. Just amazing. But I can¡¯t help asking one of those sword-questions. There were three Ulf hides and a ton of claws. What happened to the other two?¡±

    ¡°That was me,¡± Sara said. ¡°The claws make decent daggers, assuming you don¡¯t have equipment like ours, I traded them to the Crafters to make Kaden¡¯s equipment. The hides are different. We could be here for months, it¡¯s in our best interests that our hosts are equipped to protect themselves.¡±

    ¡°You will be repaid,¡± Drokor said. ¡°I swear it before the system.¡±

    Oath heard and acknowledged: Drokor Sigur will ensure you are repaid for 2x Ulf Hide

    ¡°Good enough for me,¡± Kaden said. ¡°How do I heal my [Letydir]? It¡¯s cold and wounded.¡±

    ¡°They grow, they die, it is their life.¡± Drokor responsed. ¡°Now, let us speak of the truths I will not say before a clan that is celebrating. You have won us reprieve from the ulf, that much is true. You have among you an [Alchemist] who can make [Fire Heart] potions. But should the Tun turn on us, you will not be able to withstand them. They are to the east, and unlike the north clans, held back from conflict.¡±

    Eve perked up at this news. ¡°Excellent. I was hoping at least one of your neighbors had combat strength. I have faith in Trella¡¯s capabilities as an Alchemist. And I have faith in our ability to seek out domain creatures and get her the components needed. While you work to gather power and respect, I need to know who already has power and who has respect.¡±

    ¡°Can you make contact?¡± Sara asked. ¡°Kaden could go with you. I want to go back to the Skan and understand the trade situation better, Trella needs to get her lab setup for [Fire Heart] potions and I don¡¯t feel comfortable leaving the village unguarded, but no one will challenge Ashi. Or if they do, it¡¯ll only be for a moment.¡±

    Drokor considered the conversation. ¡°You are so confident I want to believe you will succeed. What do you need of us that we can provide?¡±

    ¡°Information.¡± Ashi spoke with confidence. ¡°Every great bridge toward peace must be built on a foundation of the skulls. The skulls of those who would tear it down. Beserkers are fearsome warriors, but how does their class and skill function?¡±

    ¡°Ah. A sword-question for sure.¡± Drokor sighed. ¡°We are like you. We choose a weapon and train with it. We choose armor and gear and work to let skill be the edge. But every Beserker has another attribute: Rage. As we level, the limits of our rage grow and we may fight longer and harder without losing control. When our rage level exceeds our rage attribute, we become mindless.¡±

    This matched Kaden¡¯s general expectations. ¡°And your damage and speed goes up with rage.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Drokor said. ¡°Any attack, even a constant threat, could build Rage. And therein lies our downfall. In the first tier we are dangerous fighters. During our second tier, the base level of our rage rises. We are more dangerous to start. At the third tier we are deadly, because there is always a boiling lake of power just beneath the skin. But that rage never dissapates. Our class is flawed ever since the last Cataclysm and the system update.¡±

    Kaden wondered why [Identify] had claimed Drokor sacrificed her skills, but if avoiding irreversable rage was only possible by giving up her skills, it made more sense. ¡°Are we going to have to fight beserkers? Or just other adventureres?¡±

    ¡°I hope neither. But my hopes don¡¯t change the decisions others make. Beserker battles are bloody and fast. They cannot afford to let their enemy gain power, nor can they risk their own control slipping. Your role is not as our front line but to protect our people.¡± Drokor emphasized the last, but Kaden couldn¡¯t help thinking that without a line of warriors, battle was sure to be coming their way.

    It was his time to ask a sword-question. ¡°How many warriors do you have?Eve resurrected at least two.¡±

    ¡°[Frost] has claimed eight of ours,¡± Drokor said. ¡°We have them buried underground to keep them safe until they can be cured.¡±

    ¡°How, exactly, were you surviving before?¡± Trella asked. ¡°I¡¯ll learn to make this [Fire Soul] once Kaden gets me essence from the domain beasts. Where are we going to find these beasts? I¡¯ve never brewed this, there will be failures. There will be mistakes.¡±

    ¡°North. The Domain beasts spawn after moonrise. They¡¯ll flood from gates that open in the wastes and disappear at dawn. Their presence can inflict [Frost], which will progress until you are locked in a block of ice.¡± Drokor looked to Kaden. ¡°Your armor will give you a way to resist. Perhaps the snakes you summon as well, Sara.¡±

    Ashi scoffed. ¡°I can become Fire incarnate. I do not fear [Frost]. I will keep Evelyn and Trella safe.¡±

    ¡°Can you take a FarPortal back and hire an [Alchemist] to come?¡± Kaden asked Trella.

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± she answered. ¡°I¡¯ll head back¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait.¡± Drokor said. ¡°You haven¡¯t met the northern clans. To answer your question, we had an [Alchemist] on loan from their hall. He would travel to the clans, taking payment and the essences we gathered and turning them into [Fire Soul]. He was north with the Fen. He did not return, and I fear it was not by choice. Others of his kind came looking and returned with only a corpse.¡±

    ¡°That would change things.¡± Trella summoned her messenger bird and spoke to it at length before sending it off. ¡°The Alchemist¡¯s Hall will take that as a final offense. I won¡¯t be able to hire one, but we can work on a different plan. I¡¯ll take the essences to them.¡±

    ¡°Essences from the Ice Mana Domain dissolve if they travel too far from the domain,¡± Drokor said. ¡°This is why he came. We have a [Tracker] who can show you where we once hunted the Domain Spawn. Tonight, though, you should celebrate. In your own way.¡± Drokor nodded to the door. ¡°I do not think you want to celebrate our way. Though many of our women would treasure a child by a [Beast Master]. The child is always the mother¡¯s to raise in the clan.¡±

    ¡°Not interested in raising children for a few centuries. The Sisters say no one under three hundred should have to be a parent.¡± Trella shrugged. ¡°If Kaden wants to? Fine by me.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Thank you for the armor, but how would I leave knowing I have children?¡±

    ¡°You do not trust the mothers to love them,¡± Drokor nodded. ¡°I understand. It is our way, not yours. Enjoy your evening, I will send food and wine. And truly, we are grateful. There will always be threats. There will always be a need to watch. But tonight we celebrate, that those who stalked us are dead.¡±

    Sara stood to go with Drokor. ¡°I would enjoy your celebration. I won¡¯t be having children, but company is always welcome.¡±

    ¡°And I,¡± Ashi said. ¡°It is unlikely any of your men are my match, but perhaps it will be enjoyable. Let us drink and enjoy the skies above, and the company below.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help laughing.

    Though now, Eve shifted uncomfortably. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of how you two will celebrate.¡±

    Trella¡¯s grip tightened on Kaden¡¯s hand. ¡°You can join us, Eve.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I¡ªI don¡¯t know where you misunderstood. You¡¯re welcome to celebrate together, but I don¡¯t¡ªI don¡¯t even want to.¡±

    ¡®We¡¯ll be out hunting,¡± Trella said pulling Kaden to his feet and kissing his cheek. ¡°We can have sex anytime. Hell, we do have sex all the time. But right now, I want to know how Kaden¡¯s armor works, and I want to find one of those domain beasts. That¡¯s how we celebrate.¡±

    ¡°I thought¡­be careful.¡± Eve sat back. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate company, though.¡±

    Kaden summoned Vip, who stopped dashing to growl at Kaden. Then sniffed every inch. *Stink.*

    ¡°It¡¯s new,¡± Kaden said, scratching her head. ¡°You want me to hold you?¡±

    *Love.* Vip wriggled loose and headed to Eve, turning in circles to settle.

    ¡°You¡¯re losing your dog,¡± Trella said, laughing as Eve wrapped her arms around Vip. ¡°I think you already lost her.¡±

    Vip was bound to Kaden¡¯s soul. Her emotions flowed to him, and vice versa. He sometimes woke in the night to find she¡¯d curled up on his chest, starting at him until he petted her. Then, re-assured, she would slink back to Eve and sleep in peace. All the little dog had ever wanted was for someone to love her. ¡°No chance of that, but she¡¯s excited to stay with Eve.¡±

    Ten steps away, Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and put his arm around Trella.

    Outside, the night wind made bonfires rise.

    Sara sat in a crowd, raising a mug high as she laughed and talked. Ash¡ªshe sat with two Beserkers, one on either side, making shapes appear in the flames as she cradled his [Match Lizard] in one hand.

    *We could kick Eve out,* Trella said.

    Kaden shook his head as they trotted away from the village, heading north. The moon shone as a sliver of silver-blue on the horizon. ¡°Somewhere out here are beasts with essences for potions. We can have sex later. We can only harvest domain beasts now.¡±

    Trella gave him a wide grin and sprinted into the night with Kaden close behind.After less than twenty minutes, the band of light from the Resyr village was a thin thread of light.

    Ahead, a gaping gate of brilliant blue rose from the ground. In front of it, a trio of creatures so bright they hurt his eyes stood. Each was shaped like a crab, with wide claws and six legs, and spines that stuck out of its shell. ¡°We should pull one and kill it far from the others,¡± Kaden said.

    The night didn¡¯t answer, and Kaden stood alone.

    Trella was gone.

 Eleven - Crabby

    Kaden¡¯s trust for Trella lay in matters of the heart. He wouldn¡¯t be surprised if her eagerness to gain essence shards had led her to attack first. Still, against any large creatures, his battle plan remained the same. He drew Thorn Caster and sighted on a crab.

    [Dungeonesque Crab - Dungeon Monster]

    These were regular crabs that wandered into an Ice Mana Domain. Now fortified with ice mana, they are armored and armed with ice. The power of the domain has mutated them, making them agressive, but their reserves of power are minimal.

    Beast Knowledge - We met these at the bottom of the Frozen Abyss Dungeon and discovered their claws will literally cut a [Shield] in two. Thought they were made of nothing but ice, but turns out they were as delicious as they were ferocious.

    Could he Soul Bind a dungeon¡¯s monsters? He could definitely bind beast ones, but monster varieties were often bound to dungeon that spawned them. Better not to risk it. Part of being a [Beast Master] was understanding that Beasts were guided by their nature and most natures were violent. They were neither good nor evil, but expressions of their nature. And these were once scavengers, now predators.

    Kaden sighted on the center crab, drawing a full-strength mana arrow. Before he could loose the arrow, an orange cloud exploded over the gate, enveloping it. The crabs scuttled in three different directions to escape the searing area-of-effect potion.

    No time to wait, he unleashed his first arrow at the closest crab, trusting the chrono-mana to deliver the impact three times.

    Your weapon¡¯s damage has been rounded up to: 1 point of damage.

    You have inflicted poison x3.

    Piercing weapons didn¡¯t work, or at least didn¡¯t pierce the way Kaden was using them, but poison was always his lead on large monsters. His attack stopped the crab cold, and now it scanned the night, searching for Kaden.

    He used the opportunity to poison another crab, which also rotated to fixate on Kaden. There wouldn¡¯t be time for a third shot, the first crab barreled toward Kaden. Its razor-feet pierced the frozen ground, but now Kaden ran with absolute surety toward the monster. [Moment of Speed] sent him rocketing forward, while [Split Second] let him evade a claw twice as wide as Kaden.

    You have been affected by [Frozen Aura].

    You are not affected by [Frozen Aura] (Ulfen Armor).

    Of course. If the Ulf were truly the predators of this realm, such status effects wouldn¡¯t bother them.

    A crash like thunder echoed as the crab¡¯s claws snapped shut above Kaden, throwing a shockwave that crashed into him as he slid under the monster. Before it could react, Kaden picked a leg that looked planted and brought Remembrance across, striking just above where the leg pierced the ground.

    Brutal Blows has inflicted a permanent injury.

    The leg cracked, and pink ichor gushed from the crack, steaming in the relative warmth of the frozen night. The crab attempted to pivot, unsure where he¡¯d gone, but its broken leg twisted instead of lifting.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Trella¡¯s voice carried. She stood off to the right, just out of claw range. ¡°I don¡¯t have nearly enough lemons and butter, but I¡¯ll make do.¡±

    The monster lunged, snapping a claw on Trella¡¯s Deception.

    Kaden used the opportunity she¡¯d bought him to smash a leg on the other side¡ªand then another. Each broke where the frozen ground held firm. If it wasn¡¯t for his Ulfen boots, the gushing ichor would have made standing hard. And speaking of standing, the crab teetered, then scuttled in circles, certain it would find Kaden.

    Nowhere on his life-plan did ¡®Get eaten by a giant ice-crab¡¯ feature, so Kaden kept moving like a [Match Lizard] who just spotted a slice of bread. His crab paid no attention to the Dark Deceptions which appeared in its path. Its injuries were devastating. It was time to claim another leg, tip the monster, and end it.

    Before he could attack, the wounded crab shrieked, and collapsed on top of Kaden, crushing him to the ground. Eight hundred points of crushing damage hurt, even with Kaden¡¯s resistance.

    The other wounded crab had attacked them both to get at Kaden. Its wide claw slid back and forth, searching for Kaden. As much as Kaden wanted to lift the wounded crab off him, it was acting as a shrieking, wiggling, bleeding shield against the one that would murder him.

    A blue claw the width of his [Eldritch Shield] stabbed forward, snapping shut a hair-width from Kaden¡¯s nose¡ªthen withdrew.

    Kaden braced and heaved, slipping out from under the crushed crab.

    Against the blue glow of the gate, Trella¡¯s outline was pure black. She wielded both [Inkblades], and as the poisoned crab advanced, her Deceptions rose on either side. There had been three crabs, and now Kaden¡¯s attempts to engage [Stealth Aura] said the other was still focused on him.

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    ¡°Find me that other crab and make it angry!¡± Kaden shouted to the Falcrow, which swooped into existence and began to circle. There was no choice, Kaden drew Thorn Caster and stacked poison on Trella¡¯s crab, which was completely unprepared for an enemy it could never focus on.

    Trella [Shadow Stepped] underneath it and stabbed at a joint.

    Kaden had never seen exactly how Trella¡¯s Dark Deception worked, but as the crab pivoted, a heavy blue glow descended, enveloping Trella. She didn¡¯t freeze in place, but time slowed just as she activated [Dark Deception.] Shadows errupted from her heart, spreading outward, wrapping around Trella as the Deception took her place.

    The icey lump in Kaden¡¯s chest wasn¡¯t [Prophecy], just intuition. He poured every point of mana he had into [Moment of Speed] and swung for the leg driving downward at Trella in a race between her Deception, Kaden¡¯s attack, and the spear-leg descending.

    Remembrance met the leg an inch above the razor sharp tip and shattered it.

    Brutal Blows has inflicted a crippling injury.

    Trella¡¯s scream of agony rose above the wind as the splintered shards drove downward through her foot a second before the shadow envoloped it. She snapped out of existence, and Kaden spun for a second hammer strike on the next leg.

    Of course, Kaden wasn¡¯t using one of his more powerful abilities¡ªa mistake he corrected, unleasing [Mana Drain]. [Mana Drain] ripped mana from the monster, and with it came a burning sensation in his chest.

    You have been afflicted with [Frost].

    Frost Points: 99

    When Frost Points reach 0, you will be incapacitated.

    Kaden used the poisonous mana to dodge the crab¡¯s swipe, and switched tactics, hauling himself up from the ground to ride atop the crab, which turned in circles. Kaden slid down and used the [Levicon Blade] to slice the crab¡¯s eye stalks off, thencarved deep into the clacking mandibles and sawed the feeder-legs which waved wildly.

    A shadow snapped into existence beside Kaden, transparent and without substance. ¡°She¡¯s wounded but hiding. It¡¯s not worth the risk.¡±

    Kaden drew Remembrance and let his agility compensate for the wild pitches and turns the blind crab took. With every chosen strike, he shattered a knee joint, until the crab collapsed.

    ¡°No!¡± Trella shouted, breaking stealth. ¡°Don¡¯t let it get away!¡±

    The unwounded crab had snatched their first victim. Crabs were scavengers, and its wounded kin were just as worth of being devoured. It dragged the wounded one through the blue gate before Kaden could loose an arrow.

    He took out his rage and frustration on the one beneath him, breaking every leg and each claw joint until at last it went limp.

    You have defeated a Dungeonesque Crab.

    You have received 7x Essence of Frost.

    You have gained experience.

    Kaden slid down off the crab as Trella came limping out of the shadows. ¡°It¡¯s dead. How many essences do you need for a [Fire Heart] potion?¡±

    ¡°One.¡± Trella clung to his shoulder.

    Kaden took a fragment of shattered leg and handed it to her. ¡°We¡¯ve got a long way to go to get back. Did it hit you with [Frost]?¡±

    Her eyes widened. ¡°No. How bad is it?¡±

    She could study the logs on the way back. ¡°Climb on its back, I¡¯ll drag it to the village.¡±

    The icey snow was no match for Kaden¡¯s [Ulfen Boots], and he began to pull, leaving a trail of pink goo behind. Near dawn, he approached the village, and scout scame running, rousing clan members to come help.

    Drokor looked like she¡¯d had her fill of mead, and neither Sara nor Ashi were present, but Eve came running. ¡°What happened to your foot?¡±

    Only now did Kaden get a look. The foot was mangled, broken, smashed and almost disconnected.

    ¡°I can heal some of this.¡± Eve invoked [Life Endowment] and the heavily damaged threads of flesh began to bleed more, then knit together in places. ¡°This isn¡¯t damaged, it¡¯s almost destroyed. Kaden, mana?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Kaden shared the logs with her. ¡°It¡¯s a status effect. My guess is it ticks down until I freeze solid.¡±

    ¡°You really are one of us,¡± Drokor said, her words slurred. ¡°Fire Mana will poison you now. Stay as warm as you can, it will slow the [Frost.]¡±

    Kaden drew the essence from Inventory and passed it to Trella. ¡°We should both rest. There¡¯s no excuse for using an essence shard when you¡¯re not in top condition.¡±

    It felt like he¡¯d swallowed a snowball and a ball of cold rested in his chest. ¡°This is my fault. I tried to [Mana Drain] one of the domain creatures.¡±

    ¡°Speak of fault when you hold a cure,¡± Drokor said. ¡°You can acquire [Frost] just from being near the domain spawn.¡±

    Kaden picked up Trella and carried her to the groundhouse. She was his lover. His faith was absolute. And with rest, Trella would not only cure him, but have the key to a relationship with the Skan.

    ###

    Kaden flinched as another explosion shook the ground. A cloud of green smoke billowed up from the groundhouse, and a moment later Trella crawled out into the snow. Sores covered her exposed skin, and she lay still as Eve removed the hex and then healed her. ¡°Perhaps a break?¡±

    The first three mistakes Trella took in stride.

    Sara had shown up late in the morning, her armor loosely fitted, her smile pleasant, while Ashi seemed both angry and frustrated with all the Resyr, even though it wasn¡¯t possible for all of them to have failed her in bed.

    Kaden felt¡ªdisconnected. He¡¯d woken with his frost points at 84 and the spears of cold spread through his chest. He watched with disinterest as Trella tried¡ªand failed¡ªover and over.

    ¡°I have mana now,¡± Eve said. ¡°[Frost] is a tier four status effect, but if I ran reduce it, I will.¡±

    ¡°Save your mana,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We¡¯re going hunting again tonight.¡±

    Eve stared in disbelief. ¡°After what happened? What makes you think that¡¯s a good idea?¡±

    Another explosion rang out, followed by Trella cursing. ¡°I broke an unbreakable flask. This potion is impossible. I can¡¯t possibly heat the ingredients. No matter how gentle the heat, the moment I invert the essence, it explodes. ¡®Repeat,¡¯ it says.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s got a shard of flask stuck through her breast,¡± Sara said to Eve.

    Kaden dipped his head. ¡°Probably ought to heal that.¡±

    ¡°But¡­¡± Eve looked back to Kaden. ¡°I¡¯ll take another round of [Life Explosion] on you once she¡¯s good.¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter. Maybe he wasn¡¯t forged from the same material as the Resyr. Many of them had Frost points and functioned perfectly well. Kaden¡¯s enthusiasm, his anger, his fear were blunted, almost non-existent.

    Ashi sat beside him on a block of ice, hoving an inch off of it. ¡°I feel it in your soul.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then let this flow through you.¡± Ashi drew a mana orb of perfect aqua, clear as crystal. Then she cupped her hands and concentrated.

    It wasn¡¯t so much heat as the essence of fire itself. His soul shifted, and Kaden gasped. His Frost points had shifted upward. ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°Fire.¡± Ashi repeated. ¡°I have taken fire mana from your lizard and directed it into your soul. It is not a cure.¡± She repeated over and over, as his Frost Points ticked upward¡ªthen sharply downward, resting at eighty-nine. ¡°That is all I can do for now.¡±

    The strangest part was how Kaden didn¡¯t care.

    How he shrugged as Sara ran screaming from the groundhouse, clutching bleeding eye sockets. Tonight, he¡¯d hunt alone.

 Twelve - Even Ground

    Every attempt to brew [Fire Soul] took Trella longer. Each time she studied more, prepared longer, focused and cursed herself, but Kaden had stopped watching from outside, and stood next to Trella, calm, focused, cool, as she prepared the final attempt.

    ¡°Everything is stable right here, but it¡¯s always been stable,¡± Trella said. ¡°The next step is to invert the essence, and the moment I do, it goes from bitter cold to explosive. Every attempt to end the brew only causes it to explode.¡±

    Kaden shrugged and summoned his [Eldritch Shield]. ¡°Ready.¡±

    ¡°Inverting at the count of three, two, one,¡± Trella said.

    The potion in its flask incandesced, swapping from blazing blue to brilliant orange.

    For the slightest moment, Kaden¡¯s entire soul longed for the potion, the first true desire he¡¯d felt since Frost infected him. Then the ember of orange pulsed and glowed and flickered.

    ¡°It¡¯s destabilizing,¡± Trella said. ¡°I¡¯m going to try and extract the fire essence.¡± She drew long tweezers from Inventory and gingerly probed the mouth of the flask, then thrust downward.

    [Split Second] gave Kaden his warning, and he thrust the shield between Trella and the flask as a deafening roar accompanied the pop of his eardrums bursting. Only a whining silence remained as Kaden picked up Trella and carried her through the smoke, up the stairs and out into the warm winter wind.

    She clutched the stump of a hand, and he couldn¡¯t hear Eve sigh, but he knew the expression as she went to work. Eve glanced to Kaden, and his ears filled with blood as they healed, then drained.

    ¡°She is truly an [Alchemist?]¡± Drokor asked. ¡°I am not used to such¡­learning.¡±

    ¡°The profession, not the class. It grows slower and Trella has to put a lot more effort into it. How have some of your clan lived with Frost for decades and I¡¯m on a slide to zero in a week?¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t upset about it, just curious.

    ¡°We live with passion. You live with caution. The fire in our souls is always burning. If it¡¯s a fist-fight with an enemy, an affair with a paramour, the brutal hunt of prey, or the stubborn defiance that lets us carve a groundhouse, there is fire in our soul that does not easily go out.¡± She tsked at him. ¡°You look like one of us but you don¡¯t live like it.¡±

    Kaden considered options. Being turned into living ice wasn¡¯t ideal. ¡°So I should get drunk, deck all seven of your warriors, ravage all your women, and kill everything for miles.¡± He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll start with the warriors.¡±

    ¡°No! You must find your passion. All of those are fine, but you must stoke the fires inside to slow Frost.¡±

    Very few of Kaden¡¯s passions could survive in this bitter environment. The love he held for Trella remained neither a blazing fire nor a dwindling ember, but a constant of his life. Finding new Beasts was a passion but also a core part of his soul. Most of what the Resyr called passions he called impulses.

    He stood and approached Trella, who cupped freshly grown eyelids, then wrapped his arms around her, kissing her. It was exactly as it should be, the strength of a relationship forged and reforged.

    ¡°Still got it,¡± Trella said as he set her on her feet. ¡°What spawned that?¡±

    ¡°Testing passions.¡± Kaden turned and lifted Ashi, gently kissing her on the lips¡ªthen stronger as she returned the favor. The memory stirred a gentle warmth in his chest that remained as he gently released Ashi. ¡°Not what I expected.¡±

    Kaden turned and stalked away.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Sara called. ¡°What was that? I¡¯m plenty passionate! Shouldn¡¯t you have tested me, too?¡±

    He needed a battle, something that would have his blood pumping, his body sweating. The edge of life and death as a razor to whittle away the things that didn¡¯t matter.

    And in that moment [Detect Lies] triggered.

    On his own lie.

    Battle was fine and growing stronger was great, but what truly mattered were people. The reason he¡¯d wanted a class, the reason he¡¯d wanted to grow stronger had never been for the gold or glory. ¡°Town!¡±

    Kaden sprinted back as fast as he could, hurdling the dead crab, where Resyrak labored to harvest meat. ¡°Sara! I¡¯m passionate about resisting demons. Talk to me about the town.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you want from me?¡± Sara asked, pseudopods on her hips, arms crossed. ¡°Everyone else gets kissed and you want to hear about quest logs? Fine.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have company last night?¡± Kaden asked as he followed Sara to a stone worktable.

    ¡°Two different sets of company, very pleasurable, but both of them were terrified of my Horror, which is tantamount to being terrified of me.¡± Sara spread the quest journal and began to speak, explaining about the need for a mayor, and a council, and guards, and even the necessity of their own town [Thieves] so that other, more unscrupulous [Thieves] didn¡¯t move in. ¡°You¡¯d love our best candidates for [Mayor]. It¡¯s a husband and wife duo, so when one of them dies of a monster attack, we¡¯ve still got a mayor!¡±

    ¡°Smart.¡± Kaden looked through the merchants. ¡°This healer. He¡¯s an outcast?¡±

    ¡°And the priestess has sworn an oath not to come within fifty feet of farm animals, but it¡¯s fine, the butcher will be on the other end of the town!¡± Sara flipped forward to the mana ore miners. ¡°A [Blacksmith] and [Alchemist] will be hard to come by, but I¡¯ve been searching the Kingdom jails, looking for convicts with final-death sentences who would be willing to swear oaths.¡±

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The Justari had sworn to help protect the people, and Kaden would make sure it happened. The longer the discussion went on, the better he felt about the situation. ¡°So all we have to do is clear a mine and we can start?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly.¡± Sara paused. ¡°The mine monsters won¡¯t be over level twenty five.¡±

    Kaden knew the problem immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll handle them myself. My responsibility to help other Adventurers get stronger isn¡¯t present if I¡¯m the only one. Trinity, Scully and I will clear the mine.¡±

    ¡°I do not agree with this plan,¡± Ashi said. ¡°There must be chances for the young to grow strong. It is our honor to provide this. The cost cannot be an issue. Is it your impatience?¡±

    ¡°I just want to get it done,¡± Kaden said. Which wasn¡¯t exactly a ¡®no.¡¯ ¡°Not everything has to be a production. Not everything needs to be a dozen parties working together. [Agony Cloud] gets the job done.¡±

    ¡°May I offer counsel?¡± Eve asked.

    Which was remarkably gentle for her. Kaden dipped his head. ¡°Please.¡±

    ¡°First off, thank you for not testing my passion. It¡¯s limited to Vip and cooking, and occasionally state negotiations. Second, I want to offer a different perspective,¡± Eve said. ¡°The perspective of a young group of Adventurers who are growing on a much more normal trajectory. They don¡¯t destroy Torrod breeding corals. They¡¯ve never descended into a Formicidean colony. They want to grow and earn and learn¡ªbut slowly. Safely.¡±

    ¡°These operations¡ª¡± Sara stopped to wait for Eve¡¯s nod. ¡°They offer opportunities for growth. You, I, our entire party would walk straight into the mine and begin killing. They¡¯ll work as part of a greater team. They¡¯ll rely on each other and fall back, then push forward together. You?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°Head to the bottom of the mine. Kill everything on the way there. Probably break through a crack in the wall and discover a hidden temple to an ancient god and some evil hiding there. Loot it all. Isn¡¯t that what happened last time?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve never been in the mine, but it¡¯s a reasonable guess,¡± Sara said. ¡°That¡¯s exactly the opposite of what most Adventurers want, and so, we¡¯ll coordinate. We¡¯ll cooperate. We¡¯ll arrange and get quest XP for arranging.¡±

    That cooled the passion that had been surging in Kaden, the desire to make the world better for people and worse for demons. ¡°Ashi?¡±

    ¡°As long as I have Fire Mana, I will warm you.¡± Ashi cupped her hands again, spreading warmth through his soul.

    ¡°Not how I thought you¡¯d keep him warm,¡± Trella said. ¡°This is my fault. I should have succeeded, but I didn¡¯t. And without my fingers, I¡¯m not certain if I¡¯m a help or a liability tonight.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s plenty of blame to go around. Some for you and some for Kaden,¡± Sara said. ¡°Really, there¡¯s exactly enough blame for you two. If you¡¯d been patient, we would have killed all three crabs and no one would have gotten [Frost].¡±

    There were upsides to having everything dulled. ¡°You¡¯re right. Come dark, I¡¯m going out and I¡¯m killing crabs. Or wolves. Or snakes. If it¡¯s blue and glowy, it¡¯s getting an axe to the skull until it stops moving.¡±

    ¡°I have a different idea,¡± Sara said. ¡°It¡¯s impossible that every [Alchemist] is on board with the Hall¡¯s decision to avoid the Beserkers. There has to be at least one who is more gold motivated who I could pay to come and brew enough [Fire Soul] potions to let us hunt these beasts safely while Trella learns.¡±

    That was reasonable. That was even logical. ¡°It¡¯s a plan.¡±

    Eve spent the afternoon cooking. The domain beasts had meat just like any creature, and crab was crab. Kaden found it flavorless and cold, but everything was flavorless and cold. How the Beserkers lived like this he didn¡¯t know. Drokor had said almost all their older warriors had [Frost] most of the year and survived by the strength of their internal passions.

    By sundown, Trella¡¯s fingers weren¡¯t stumps, but they didn¡¯t move right, and she consistently dropped her daggers. ¡°My Deceptions can still act as decoys. I¡¯m going. [Shadow Step] and [Dark Deception] can keep the domain creatures busy. My plan to use [Agony Cloud] on the domain gate was good, but I didn¡¯t keep it blocked.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle that,¡± Eve said. ¡°Wounds are probably either fatal or directly survivable. Of course I¡¯ll heal, but the goal is to keep the domain creatures from retreating.¡±

    ¡°My fire spells will obliterate,¡± Ashi said as they filed out of the village. ¡°I will not attack unless your lives are in danger. I have Geo mana and will use that. We should test before battle, how [Mana Conduit] will transform [Landslide]. But if we do, I may not have enough mana to use it again.¡±

    ¡°Save it,¡± Kaden answered. He¡¯d seen a [Geomancer] use [Landslide] once, a hail of boulders exploding behind him to crush victims. [Mana Conduit] broadcast spells all around Kaden. ¡°If you see blue, say so.¡±

    An hour out, the moon had yet to rise and the night lay dark and cold. Not that the cold bothered them, wrapped in their [Letydir]. Kaden¡¯s wounded one remained in Inventory until he could figure out a way for [Confirmed Guardian of Life] to heal it. Why it wasn¡¯t curing [Frost], Kaden didn¡¯t know. The title seemed to effect long term growth even more, though it mentioned status effects expiring sooner.

    Trella ghosted ahead, the darkness giving her [Shadow Blade] class an extreme edge. [Shadow Chains] hadn¡¯t harmed the crabs in the least but her job was to find the enemy.

    The moon had fully risen before she returned, running instead of using skills. ¡°I found our target. The crabs had seven essence each and were huge. We have to bypass three other gates, but I found one with a mini-swarm. Lower risk, lower reward, greater numbers.¡±

    ¡°Perfect.¡± Sara waved for them to follow. ¡°When we arrive, strategy first, attack second.¡±

    The journey took them past the first gate with only two crabs, around another where a golem twenty feet tall stood alone, and far from one where Kaden was near certain human figures in glowing blue stood, holding spears and swords.

    ¡°There.¡± Trella stopped at a snow drift. ¡°The form is [Razor Geese], and they will cut. They have an aura attack that will infect you with [Frost], so don¡¯t get close unless you¡¯re Kaden. My Deceptions will lure them together for the first [Agony Cloud].¡±

    ¡°I can get close,¡± Sara said. ¡°The Horror can¡¯t be inflicted with [Frost] and it¡¯s unlikely I can. Don¡¯t let them escape.¡±

    Kaden used [Stealth Aura] to peek over the dune.

    A cluster of [Razor Geese], each as tall as he was, stood about the gate. Their feathers dripped pink blood where the inter-flock battles had already resulted in death. ¡°How are these creatures outside the domain?¡±

    ¡°Dungeons break and errupt monsters,¡± Ashi answered. ¡°Domains are more powerful dungeons, but without cores to control them. This one has overflowed. Kaden, if you are among them, I will unleash [Landslide] but you will be beset from all sides. Or we can fight from a distance and let them attack.¡±

    ¡°That one¡¯s safer,¡± Trella said. ¡°Let¡¯s not make more mistakes than I already did.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t mind either way. He summoned Thorn Caster. ¡°I go when it explodes.¡±

    Trella disappeared into the darkness, as Kaden drew back his bow, which crackled with chrono mana. A whoosh of air, a blossom of orange that turned purple in the blue light of the gate, and [Agony Cloud] enveloped the gate at the same time a black figure appeared in the flock.

    Eve didn¡¯t hesistate to hurl her own potion, which errupted around the Deception.

    Monsters screamed and honked and slashed. Pink spurts of blood flung from the [Agony Cloud] as the flock savaged itself in a panick, then strong wing-beats drove back the acidic gas.

    The flock rushed straight at them.

 Thirteen - Good for the Gander

    In the darkness of the frozen north, and with a swarm of [Razor Geese] heading straight for him, Kaden wasn¡¯t surprised by their onslaught. Nothing suprised him or bothered him, and if this was something to fear, someone else would need to do the fearing. So while Sara drew her swordsand took a defensive stance, Kaden loosed his arrow, stored Thorn Caster, and charged forward. He summoned the [Eldritch Shield] and leaped into the air over the first deadly beaks to snap at him. ¡°Ashi!¡±

    Ashi Rahm requests permission to use [Mana Conduit]. [Y/N]?

    As he granted permission, a storm of boulders exploded outward from him, tearing through the flock. What had been a planned battle became extreme mayhem. Everywhere, [Razor Geese] buzzed with [Plague].

    ¡°[Moon Multiplier!] [Moon Fall!] [Moon Strike!]¡± Eve, at least, understood the shift in the battle, how it had become destroy or die, and the only way to survive the storm of bladed wings was to go all out. White beams of light lanced into the flock as a storm of meteors struck from above

    Kaden couldn¡¯t take time to focus on any one enemy.

    Every second was a dodge and a blow powered by [Moment of Speed]. Razor wings sliced his arms, gashed his legs and stabbed at his chest, but the [Ulfen] armor blunted some of it. A cold fury built in Kaden as he smashed and slashed.

    ¡°Incoming AOE!¡± Sara called. Each pseudopod held a [Razor Goose], and she worked with brutal efficiency, slashing them with swords, but the sheer size of the flock threatened to overrun her. Both pseudopods spat out the geese they¡¯d held and belted out [Anthem of the End].

    Kaden bled.

    Sara bled.

    Everyone but Eve bled, no, she glowed, and if anything grew healthier. The geese, beset by an enemy that attacked from every angle gave the briefest pause to their onslaught. Arrows whistled past and single stones as Trella fired and Ashi unleashed spells, and Kaden summoned the [Falcrow], which detested all other forms of life, up to and including geese.

    Instead of attacking, it landed in the middle of the carnage, cawing out a challenge that enraged the [Razor Geese]. Geese were also intelligent, but these were monsters spawned from a domain, which increased their aggression, even when they discovered that their attacks passed through the Falcrow.

    ¡°Keep them away! They have a timer debuff that inflicts [Frost],¡± Eve called. ¡°If they get too close, we¡¯ll all catch it.¡±

    Trella¡¯s Deception appeared directly in front of the group, clutching an [Agony Cloud] which it smashed at its feet. The acid cloud billowed out toward Eve, Ashi and Sara, but acid burns could be healed.

    Kaden used the sheer confusion to press his attacks. Without a dozen [Razor Geese] attacking, he could focus them down, using [Moment of Speed] slip past their attacks and land crippling blows on them. And once one was crippled, he moved on.

    The night filled with the crys of angry geese, dying geese, and angry, dying geese who couldn¡¯t retreat to the Domain.

    ¡°Kill and harvest!¡± Trella shouted. ¡°This gate¡¯s going unstable, I don¡¯t want to risk them disappearing with it.¡±

    The [Levicon Blade] was perfect for cutting the head off a [Razor Goose], if one ignored the deadly wings, which Kaden did. His [Ulfen Boots] didn¡¯t slip in the blood, theirs or his, and he moved through the wounded flock.

    ¡°My aim is terrible,¡± Trella said. ¡°But both Deceptions can stand on wings.¡±

    Sara used the same methods, pinning the wings with her horrors and slashing at the neck until the birds died, while Ashi worked with pinoint accuracy to strike wounded geese with stones.

    ¡°Is the healing working?¡± Eve called.

    Kaden hadn¡¯t noticed her healing. ¡°If I¡¯m not dead, it¡¯s working.¡±

    A handful of Domain geese had formed a tightly huddled flock, beaks and wings at the ready. Not ready for Kaden to fire an arrow through the entire group. Not ready for it to strike again as Chrono mana activated. Not ready for Trella to explode an [Agony Cloud] at their feet. ¡°That was my last one.¡±

    Rather than harvest there, Kaden gathered all the corpses into Inventory. Together, they trekked back toward the village, which lay quiet tonight, only the guards watching. Kaden dumped a mound of Domain Geese.

    His frost points had dropped mightily during the battle, hovering at fifty.

    [Reap Materials] activated at his command, and Kaden selected a goose and began harvesting. ¡°One essence each on most of these, seventeen dead. This was a good run.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly,¡± Sara said. ¡°The Horror was completely immune. I wasn¡¯t as immune to [Frost] as I expected. My [Frost] points are at forty.¡±

    Trella accepted the essence from Kaden. ¡°If you need me, I¡¯ll be working in my lab. Carefully working.¡±

    ¡°Reserve some of that essence,¡± Sara said. ¡°I¡¯m heading to find an [Alchemist.] No offense meant, Trella, but we can¡¯t risk it.¡±

    ¡°I will succeed. But I¡¯d rather not risk you and Kaden.¡± Trella headed for the groundhouse where her lab waited.

    Why had Sara¡¯s [Frost] increased so quickly? Had it been the [Ulfen] armor? Or Hard to Kill? Or some mix of all of them? Regardless, it meant she wouldn¡¯t be hunting tonight unless Trella succeeded in brewing [Fire Soul] potions.

    As sunrise dawned, the Resyr emerged, looked at the mound of goose meat Kaden had harvested and went to work as though it were expected, smoking the meat, which had frozen solid. Kaden and Ashi watched them work, while Eve cooked in a groundhouse with Vip clutched in her arms.

    ¡°You grow colder,¡± Ashi said.

    ¡°Not as much as Sara. We need to find a way to warm her. She¡¯s passionate about business, or she used to be. And summoning, though the Horror kind of makes that less of a goal.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t exactly fight the [Frost] inside but he could survive it. His concern was for everyone else.

    A shriek of agony had Kaden on his feet and sprinting toward the ice dome where they¡¯d arrived. He dodged the Resyr who also ran, using [Moment of Speed] to boost himself faster. Sara lay beside the FarPortal, her skin covered in blue boils.

    ¡°She tried to leave with [Frost]?¡± Drokor asked. ¡°The cold here keeps it dormant. Anywhere else, it errupts. Quickly, take her out into the open. We need to chill her down.¡±

    ¡°How does that help?¡± Kaden asked as he hefted Sara and took her out. The Horror¡¯s psuedopods whipped back and forth, filled with concern. After all, without Sara they would be reduced to eating snow and frozen earth. Eve and Ashi came close behind as he headed into the open.

    ¡°[Frost] is a living entity. Exposed to the power of the Domain, it is comforted. Slowed.¡± Drokor heaped snow on Sara¡¯s body. ¡°It will destroy her rather than be far from the Domain. Her only hope is [Fire Soul].¡±

    ¡°Ashi?¡± Kaden was reluctant to ask. ¡°Is there anything in Vichor that could simulate [Fire Soul]?¡±

    ¡°I cannot go to Vichor. You are afflicted with [Frost]. If I leave and find nothing, I will return to find you reduced to a shell. I could go the Trunistan, and the Alchemists there. I will go now, that I may return with aid sooner.¡± Ashi sprinted for the FarPortal.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Drokor?¡± Eve asked. ¡°Do any of the other tribes have [Fire Soul] potions? I could negotiate with them. I¡¯m comfortable making bad deals and negotiating from a place of weakness.¡±

    ¡°Only the Fen have them. They took the [Alchemist] who summered here,¡± Drokor said.

    There was the answer. ¡°Where do I find these Fen?¡±

    ¡°The Fen live far north,¡± Drokor said. ¡°It was Kai Fen who began the discord, saying that the clans had no business fighting other people¡¯s wars. And that if we were so hungry for battle, there was no need to sail.¡±

    Kaden knew exactly what he wanted to do. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, possibly with [Fire Soul] potions. Eve, can you try to reduce her [Frost] level?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we wait and see how Trella does with her new materials? Don¡¯t you have faith in her skills?¡± Eve asked.

    The ground shook. Trella gave a short, muffled shriek.

    ¡°Best of luck,¡± Eve said, pulling crab-meat soup from inventory for Kaden. ¡°I¡¯ll see you when you get back. You sneaking into an enemy village, stealing their captives and the treasured potions they hoard is at least possible. The sooner you set off, the sooner you arrive.¡±

    ¡°I just keep heading north?¡±

    Drokor shook her head. ¡°They aren¡¯t peaceful like us. They are constantly under attack. You think you¡¯ll just walk in and buy what they keep from all of us?¡±

    Kaden shook his head and began walking north.

    He had no intention of buying.

    Wrapped in [Stealth Aura], Kaden began to run. Long before he¡¯d had a class, he¡¯d run the streets of Verona tirelessly. Now, thirty levels later, his stamina was far more capable. [Ulfen] boots made Kaden swift in the snow, sure footed.

    The hours passed with ease as Kaden drove himself faster. After Omnor, he no longer questioned if violence was an acceptable solution. It wasn¡¯t his favorite solution, but anyone who said it was never the answer had never been locked in a room while the Blight threatened to take over a city and forty people of different classes and levels waited for their chance to vote against peace.

    On second thought, it made sense that many people avoided violence.

    Six hours later, he slowed as the first signs of life sent warnings. [Stealth Aura] remained locked on Kaden, and his mana regen made it a minor tax at worst. In the distance, smoke rose in the growing darkness.

    And then, there was the ice pillars, each with a [Beserker] man or woman¡¯s corpse hung from them. Kaden carried corpse inventories for a reason, and didn¡¯t even need to touch the corpses if he was close enough. The next line of corpses was closer together and more numerous, and dressed differently.

    After three more lines, Kaden got the point. ¡°We¡¯re so tough. We hang your corpse out in the cold where it doesn¡¯t rot. Also there aren¡¯t any scavengers, it¡¯s like a nap where you lose a level, but we¡¯re so dangerous!¡±

    A band of crimson rose into the sky ahead, from a village so much more busy than the Resyr. Fires burned everywhere and Beserkers in black [Ulfen] armor stood all around, warming themselves, like a mere fire would ever bring them warmth.

    Kaden made a difficult decision, and dropped [Stealth Aura] as the light shone his way. There wasn¡¯t a reason for anyone to be looking, unless he drew attention. Dozens of warriors, all of them shouting, drinking, eating.

    ¡°Night Watch!¡± A razor thin Beserker in white [Ulf] fur cried. ¡°Move out. Let the terror of the Fen keep the peace.¡±

    A warrior stepped away from the fire, as a group of four wolves trotted out of a snow drift.

    Kaden¡¯s breath caught in his chest as the warrior bent over. What he¡¯d taken for furry armor became fur as he shifted, until giant [Ulf] monsters stood in a circle. One howled, and the others followed as it trecked off into the snow.

    The system had told him.

    [Ulf-Fen]

    Beserkers who could shape-change. Could they all? Could the Resyr shift as well and just failed to mention it? His attempt to bind one had offered him the opportunity to dual-class as a [Slaver]. And Drokor must have known. Now he wore someone else¡¯s skin.

    It really was supple and warm, and if he had to cut it off one of these warriors, so be it. [Multispeak] would let him speak the language, [Relive the Moment] let him study how they acted. Some of these warriors were garroulous and loud, some joked and laughed, others barked threats that [Read Emotion] said were boasts.

    Others kept quiet, their eyes on the ground, arms crossed, a brooding air of ¡®someone-dropped-dead-beetles-in-my-stew-without-asking-if-I-liked-dead-beetles-and-I-do-but-it¡¯s-the-lack-of-respect,-really.¡¯

    That was something he could handle. Study the ground like it was Trella fresh from the bath. Hunch his arms like he¡¯d upset a priest and would have to eat two [Preserved Biscuits] tomorrow instead of one. It was a different kind of stealth, the one that said ¡®You see me, but you don¡¯t want to.¡¯

    Now, he could afford to watch and study the settlement.

    Groundhouses lay in ever widening rings but these people had stone buildings as well, all thronging with people. And not just [Beserkers]. Many held crafting classes, healers, and more. One hall near the center burst at the seams with people pushing and shoving just to stand near the edges.

    Kaden made his way closer.

    From inside, a soft voice could barely be heard, but the moment Kaden listened, he understood. This was the voice of a man who knew authority through strength. He spoke and others cooperated to listen. ¡°And if the Tun do not cooperate, we will teach them cooperation. Accord arrises from discord. Peace arises from war. Is it difficult to raise a blade against a brother? Yes. Is it harder to watch us starve doing the bidding of others? Yes.¡±

    [Identify] clicked on as Kaden got a glimpse of the thin man in white fur armor.

    [Kai Fen - Beserker Warlord]

    Kai of the Fen was little more than a band leader when the clan elders died, but a man born to raise his voice on the battlefield will raise it elsewhere. He now fights for the reunification of the clans under an accord of his own, one that will see them feared, respected, and paid well to remain in their homelands¡ªor sweep as a scourge across so many kingdoms his name will be written across the earth and reflected in the stars.

    Yeah, Kaden wanted nothing to do with the man. He left Kai to his speech and fell into line with others moving through the village. Was it really a village this large? Hard to say, but Kaden liked the numbers because it made hiding in plain sight easier.

    Ahead, a brawl broke out between two groups, first fists, then knifes as the shouting over who had, in fact, killed more [Ice Trolls] grew louder and louder. Steel flashed in the torchlight, and red blood stained fresh snow as the shouts and cheers grew louder and louder until one [Beserker} pickeed up the other and threw him to the ground, where the man lay, senseless.

    The victor glowed with red energy the same way Cutter Karn did when she was fully buffed, and he kneeled, shaking with Rage for several moments¡ªthen stood, wiping sweat and blood from his eyes. Once more, cheers rose up around him and people raised mugs.

    Kaden¡¯s focus was on the loser.

    He¡¯d crawled to his knees, and now left a trail of bloodstains as he crawled through the village.

    No doubt, seeking healing. And where there was healing, there would be cleansing potions like [Fire Soul]. It was an easy thing to stare at the ground and move slowly, fifty paces from the wounded beserker, who crawled to a groundhouse door and pounded with all his strength.

    The doors burst open, hitting the wounded man in the face and rendering him unconscious. ¡°Oh, for Frey¡¯s sake!¡± A woman in a heavy gray fur tunic stepped out and studied him. ¡°Like I don¡¯t have enough work already. Like there¡¯s not enough blood spilled every day.¡±

    Kaden shifted demeanor, standing tall, shoulders back, head up. ¡°Do you need a hand with him?¡±

    The healer woman glance up. ¡°Yes, if you¡¯ve time. Take his feet.¡±

    Together they carried the man down into the groundhouse, which was line with rows and rows of stone beds with [Makur] fur on them. She heaved the wounded man onto one. ¡°Not wasting a potion on a drunken brawl. I¡¯ve got precious few of them, so it¡¯s salve and a lesson.¡±

    ¡°Sensible. The [Alchemist] can brew new potions but that takes time and ingredients,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Sure he can. We¡¯ll just turn that ash back into flesh and pack it onto his bones,¡± she said. ¡°Sorry, that was harsh. We have what we have.¡± With brutal efficiency, she worked, applying thick green salve to the man¡¯s slashes and stab wounds, then with a clap, the fairy lights blazed brighter so she could inspect for more wounds.

    Her hair was golden where it didn¡¯t have specks of blood, her skin pale and covered in scars, one eye slightly misshapen, and her features sharp as any Resyr.

    [Basu Fen - Battle Healer]

    Basu Fen was daughter to the leader of the Fen before he¡ªand the other clan leaders¡ªmet an unfortunate end at the claws of an Ice Dragon. Now she delivers injuries and heals them as she sees fit, the senior healer for the Fen clan, and waits to see when the Discord will settle.

    Basu glanced his way, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Don¡¯t go getting ideas. I¡¯ve got a sister-child by Kai himself. I can hold my own against you.¡±

    ¡°Apologies,¡± Kaden said, stepping back. ¡°I have ideas but I promise they don¡¯t involve you.¡±

    ¡°What, I¡¯m not good enough?¡± Basu put her hands on her hips. ¡°You want someone dainty to break under your hips? Ha! Look at you blush!¡±

    Kadens¡¯ cheeks were not hot. None of him was hot, ever since [Frost]. He helped her lift the wounded Beserker and drag him to the doorway.

    ¡°Face up in the snow,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯ll never learn if he suffocates.¡±

    Kaden dropped the man there. ¡°I have a request, ma¡¯am.¡±

    Basu wasn¡¯t paying attention, she¡¯d headed back into the Groundhouse, waving for him to come. On one thigh, a short mace glistened, and her hand, relaxed, rested close to it. ¡°Shut the doors. We¡¯ll have to do something about that [Frost].¡±

    Kaden shut them, letting them latch. ¡°You can tell I have [Frost]?¡±

    ¡°That, yes. I have a record of everyone I¡¯ve healed. Which is why I know you aren¡¯t Fen. You¡¯re wearing the skin of Kai¡¯s brother, and walked right into our settlement. You look a lot like a warrior, and it¡¯s dark.¡± Basa drew her mace and leaned against a stone table. ¡°So tell me why I shouldn¡¯t cry for help and bring them all down on you.¡±

 Fourteen - Convincing

    In the Fen village, Beserkers were screaming at each other, but that was apparently normal. In the healer¡¯s house, Kaden searched for answers to Basu¡¯s question, a reason she should help instead of calling her kin.

    [Negotiation] attempted to take over, but Kaden pushed it aside. These people lived by passion, by emotion, and though he felt little right now, it was the way forward. ¡°My name¡ª¡±

    ¡°Unlike most Fen, I have [Identify],¡± Basu said. ¡°Never met a [Beast Master], but if it¡¯s like any of the [Tamers] I know enough. You were convincing me not to have you captured and killed.¡±

    ¡°Can I sit?¡± Kaden waited for her to point with the mace at one of the stone tables, which, due to his height, wasn¡¯t quite a chair, but he could make it work. ¡°So, I¡¯m an Adventurer assigned to the Resyr clan. We had a bad encounter with some domain beasts and wound up with [Frost]. I heard your clan has [Fire Soul] potions and decided to pay a visit.¡±

    Basu almost laughed. ¡°Start over. You¡¯re wearing the Kai Fen¡¯s brother. He¡¯d been hunting successfully for weeks, when he didn¡¯t come back, we assumed the ice dragon found him. Do you have any idea how offensive that is?¡±

    ¡°His brother had very nice fur that¡¯s given my armor a bunch of great properties. See the boots? They don¡¯t slip on snow at all!¡± Kaden held up a boot to illustrate. ¡°Does Kai Fen have any more brothers? I have friends who could use this kind of armor.¡±

    ¡°Kai will kill you,¡± Basu said. ¡°What madness drives you to this extreme? No one walks into the wolf¡¯s den on a whim.¡±

    Kaden really liked wolves and would be happy to meet them but that wasn¡¯t the point right now. ¡°My friend caught [Frost]. It¡¯s bad for me, but it¡¯s slower. She tried to leave by FarPortal. So I came for her.¡± [Read Emotion] said Basu wasn¡¯t filled with hatred, almost sympathetic. ¡°If you give me a [Fire Soul] potion for her, I¡¯ll disappear. You won¡¯t see me again unless Kai does something dumb like attack the Resyr.¡±

    ¡°He means to re-unite the clans in accord. The Resyr are weak, even weaker than the Skan or Tun. He will come to you, in time,¡± Basu said with a sorrow Kaden recognized.

    ¡°Then you¡¯ll see me again either way. But this way, my friend isn¡¯t freezing. Also, what¡¯s with the line of corpses I collected from the edges of the village?¡±

    The look of shock on her pleased Kaden. ¡°You took them?¡±

    He nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve got a healer who can resurrect. Seriously, what¡¯s the point?¡±

    ¡°If any clan dared attack, Kai hung their warriors as warnings. What is your goal? Do you want to rule the clans? We will never have that, not even one like you.¡± Basu¡¯s tone had shifted to one [Negotiation] recognized. She didn¡¯t approve of Kai¡¯s brutality. This was opportunity.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to rule anyone. I¡¯ve got a town I¡¯m resettling, ¡®Eville,¡¯ and I¡¯m not even going to rule that. It¡¯s just my way of defying the demons and I just can¡¯t let go of it. Your clans need to work this discord out on your own,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Please. One potion, for Sara.¡±

    ¡°And one for you?¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve got a different plan for me. Frost dulls everything and I¡¯m supposed to find my passions to fight it, but it¡¯s growing slowly. I¡¯ll fight off the Frost. One potion, for a woman working toward peace.¡±

    ¡°Why would I do this?¡± Basu asked. ¡°I¡¯m taking a huge risk by not having you killed. If Kai knew? He might kill me. Or my sister, who raises the child I bore by him.¡±

    Kaden sat up, momentarily curious despite frost. ¡°What¡¯s with that? What¡¯s the whole ¡®by¡¯ and sister-child? How the hell do your men abandon their children?¡±

    The healer studied him for a moment. ¡°You really aren¡¯t one of us, no matter what my eyes say. No child is ever abandoned. The mother is the one whose body makes the child. The mother is the one whose pain births the child. How much of the child is the fathers? How many months did he contribute? What pain did he endure to bring it forth?¡±

    ¡°But his responsibility¡ª¡±

    ¡°Is to all the children. If Rachir wants his child to live in safety from the [Razor Geese] then he will harrass the flock so it moves, and make it safe for all the clan¡¯s children. If Yusif fears an ice drake will take one of his, he will stand watch guarding for everyone. It is not right for the children of some to feast and sleep peacefully and others starve in fear.¡± Basu spoke gently, as though to a young boy.

    ¡°You¡¯re not raising your child.¡±

    ¡°My sister could not have her own but has wisdom and love for many. My son by Kai will need that love to temper his father¡¯s nature. Why would I risk him for your friend?¡±

    Kade fell silent as he mulled the many uncompelling reasons. And settled for the riskiest good one. ¡°I don¡¯t think you want Kai to be the leader of all the clans. I doubt the Resyr are going to rise up and conquer everyone, but some other tribe must be the Fen¡¯s equal. I think the line of corpses says men like Kai aren¡¯t making it safer for any children. Not that he should have any.¡±

    ¡°When you were young, did you have lovers?¡± Basu asked.

    He nodded. ¡°One in particular, but a few who wanted pleasure, not love.¡±

    ¡°Would they know you now? Not just your face, but your deeds?¡± She motioned, from the bottom of his Ulfen boots to the top of the beast head cloak.

    ¡°No. Probably not. I was cautious. Careful. Afraid.¡±

    ¡°We choose men of power to bear a child by, and if fate agrees, so it is. Kai Fen was not the man then that he is now. His ambition was strong, his battle prowess, stronger, his anger tempered. He may yet be that man again.¡± She was meandering and [Read Emotion] said she was sad.

    [Negotiation] said to press his ask.

    ¡°You get our party working toward peace. You get me removing all those corpses. You get more sunrises for other voices to speak to each other, then as one to the Fen. For a single potion, it seems like the best way you could make all your children safer.¡±

    Basu crossed her arms. ¡°You have a [Letydir] tongue. No matter what, it wraps around your foes and warms them.¡±

    ¡°I smash things pretty well, too,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Now, about that potion?¡±

    ¡°Patience. You ask me to betray my clan. You ask for what could save a brother. You wear kin-skin and believe a smile and soft words are enough.¡± Basu¡¯s words were harsh, but the emotion behind them was anything but.

    ¡°I have gold,¡± he said.

    ¡°I do not want it.¡±

    Kaden had expected that. ¡°I have good reasons.¡±

    ¡°And yet, not reason enough.¡±

    There were so many ways this could go wrong, but Kaden wasn¡¯t a boy of seventeen, and his mistakes with Ashi had been something he didn¡¯t want to repeat. He stood, looking down at her, though not moving closer. ¡°How would you want to be convinced?¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Thoroughly. Now is not the ideal week for a child. Next week would be when the fertile moon shines, and the clan would benefit from strength and the words you spin. My child would be Fen in their soul, because their soul comes from the mother.¡± Basu spoke plainly, simply. ¡°If you want to take from the clan, you must give something of value. I do not usually need to convince men to convince me.¡±

    Kaden shrugged. Sex was enjoyable in most cases, and not a matter of contention. In Verona the child was the property of the father, the father¡¯s responsiblity. Basu spoke about it as if there were no relationship between them in the clans. But even orphans in the Saint¡¯s Hall knew of fertile days, in order to avoid them. ¡°If all you want is sex, get the potion. I¡¯ll make it worth your while.¡±

    ¡°Confidence,¡± she answered. ¡°The Resyr are a rotten log. The Skan not much better. Do you truly believe you can hold them up long enough for others to decide?¡±

    ¡°Yes. But if the others decide the Fen are right, the Resyr won¡¯t matter,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°I like this confidence,¡± she said. ¡°I like it very much. But confidence is often unfounded.¡±

    Kaden flinched as she touched his chest. Her hand felt like fire. ¡°It¡¯s called experience.¡±

    ###

    The Fen village was alive with cries and the stampede of feet. Kaden¡¯s theft had been found. He lay beside Basu, conflicted. He¡¯d used her for a potion. A potion he wanted a great deal, at the cost of almost no blood, if you disregarded the scrapes on his back and the way she¡¯d bitten his shoulder. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Praying to the goddess that I may have a child. She does not answer with words, but I will know, in time, her answer.¡± Basu pushed him away. ¡°You should leave before dawn. Do not pretend this was a heart-connection, and I will not be forced to make up lies for you to leave. You were thorough.¡±

    That was¡­possibly a compliment? Kaden dressed quickly, pulling on his armor and boots and cloak.

    ¡°The potion. Our stores are above the right hand, third bed,¡± Basu said. She kept her gaze on him as he approached.

    Inside sat twenty green healing potions, a few that looked like status cleanses¡ªand three that glowed with the brilliant red of a thousand suns. His sluggish heart thrilled, and Kaden had to use all his willpower to avoid chugging. Instead, he put it in Inventory. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°You did not take more?¡±

    ¡°We said one potion.¡± Kaden wouldn¡¯t let desire compromise his word. ¡°Will you be safe?¡±

    ¡°If you are gone, yes. Buy us many sunrises for anger to cool and calm hearts to speak louder.¡± She hadn¡¯t moved, nor did she show any sign of it. ¡°When you leave, cry out to the sky and run toward the towers. The Rage would drive others to do so, none will question. Make it safer for all children, even if one is not yours.¡±

    Kaden left, shutting the door behind him. A line of Beserkers waited and whistled and cheered as he walked away, raising fists and claiming the Fen would be the strongest. Three buildings away, Kaden kicked on [Stealth Aura] and began to run, faster and faster. [Ulfen] stood guard at each line ofice pillars.

    After studying how they moved, Kaden chose a pace and pattern to let him skirt the guards and then sprint away, moving faster and faster into the night. At the outer line, [Ulfen] wolves and men gathered, watching a Domain Gate that had opened and belched out a swarm of moving trees that dropped blue leaves in some form of attack.

    One of them, Kaden recognized. Kai Fen.

    Preparation was key.

    This might be a chance to negotiate peace. Then again, Kaden was wearing armor crafted from Kai¡¯s brother¡¯s hide, and telling Kai that he¡¯d personally killed the [Ulfen] and then harvested him was probably not the best introduction.

    ¡°Brother!¡± Kai screamed out. ¡°I smell you there. You ran off to another clan, but it was always your way, to skulk in the darkness. Hiding won¡¯t save you. Running won¡¯t save you. Only submitting will do that.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s [Identify] had always been a weakness. It misbehaved, causing people to know when he used it on them, but now, Kaden had to know. And he dropped stealth completely. ¡°You¡¯re only ten levels higher than me!¡±

    Kai whipped around to snarl at Kaden as he dropped stealth, and all four of his men drew weapons¡ªuntil their leader held up his hand. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch. I came looking for an Alchemist, because I heard you had one. Turns out, you don¡¯t, and now we can¡¯t get any [Fire Soul] potions. I need one myself.¡± Kaden approached without fear. Level forty could be deadly but he¡¯d faced worse.

    What remained after was how cautious and calculating Kai Fen was. ¡°My Brother?¡±

    ¡°Attacked me. Damn near killed me, but I didn¡¯t know how to fight Ulf then. Also, that ¡®calling the ancestors¡¯ skill was awful the first time. The second time, not as bad.¡± No matter what, Kaden would be ready with [Split Second] to dodge an attack he was sure would come. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d give me a [Fire Soul] potion, would you?¡±

    ¡°No. My brother called the Ancestral watchers?¡±

    ¡°Twice, I swear before the system. He was really difficult to kill. And I specialize in killing higher-level people and monsters.¡±

    Oath heard and verified. Bal Fen used [Ancestral Call] twice in a single combat.

    Kaden had asked for a [Fire Soul] potion, been denied, and his read on Kai Fen grew with every moment. Kai wasn¡¯t driven by hatred or blind or the kind of man who could be goaded. He might be consumed, but that didn¡¯t make him less dangerous. ¡°Why are you doing this? Attacking your other clan members?¡±

    ¡°I did not agree with sending our warriors to die in someone else¡¯s war. If the elders were so thirsty for blood, then it should begin with theirs. If battle was their desire, then let it be on our lands. If clansmen must die let it be where our bones freeze to the ground, not on the seas.¡± [Read Emotion] showed nothing. This was the truth from his perspective.

    And Kaden understood. ¡°We picked up a Quest from the Mercari to recover payment. I¡¯ll bring my Party leader. If you want to return what your clan was paid, she¡¯ll restore your trading rights.¡±

    ¡°Restore. ¡®Rights.¡¯¡± Kai spat on the ground. ¡°War isn¡¯t cheap. Freedom comes at a price, a price I paid with your Mercari¡¯s coins. If I bow, she¡¯ll give me back what we always had. If I empty my pockets, I can crawl south to trade for what I do not need. No.¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°I had a Quest to ask, now I¡¯ve asked. I¡¯ve had a long day and a long night and an even longer trip waiting to go back, so I¡¯m leaving. How many [Fire Soul] potions do you have?¡±

    ¡°Enough to last years,¡± Kai answered.

    An odd thing to lie about, and probably his one true worry.

    ¡°Sell me one for gold?¡±

    Kai chuckled. ¡°Gold. Look around you. What do you see, as far as you can see? Study the ground beneath your feet. Look up to the sky. Do we need your gold? Embrace the [Frost]. It will be there to claim you. I swear no oaths for my brother because you¡¯ve already chosen how you die.¡±

    They were done, for the most part. ¡°One more thing. Where can I find the [Ice Dragon?]¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for a suicidal fool,¡± Kai said. ¡°Is it so terrible to feel Frost grow that you¡¯d choose to die another way?¡±

    ¡°No, I need him to grant me a scale so I can unlock more [Beast Form] slots. Already got a bunch from other dragons, it would be nice to add Ice to the mix. Also, can I touch one of your Ulf bosses?¡± Kaden had just had a magnificent idea.

    The men gathered around Kai whispered in the Fen tongue of madness and how it might be in Kaden¡¯s blood.

    Kai Fen was not afraid. He wasn¡¯t taller than Kaden or wider than Kaden, and when he moved, it gave Kaden the impression that this was a man who didn¡¯t attack head on. A man who wore down his enemies and then struck when they were weak and tired. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re dogs to be petted?¡±

    ¡°No, the [Ulf] is welcome to bite me, if it wants. Your brother had four, I¡¯m asking for one. A [Stalker] would be nice.¡± [Negotiation] told Kaden this was a reasonable offer.

    ¡°My Brother inherited the [Star Pendant] that let him call on Ancestors,¡± Kai said.

    Kaden had a very cold feeling in the pit his stomach. He drew the [Bracers of Xorn] from Inventory.

    What¡¯s Right is Not Always What¡¯s Easy, Final Part. Return the Bracers to the descendant or forgo your reward and claim their power for yourself.

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have a father who went off to run an erratic dungeon a decade or so ago, would you?¡± Kaden asked.

    For the first time, Kai Fen showed actual emotion, his eyes growing wider. ¡°Where did you get those?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°They were left at my Holding. Now the System¡¯s given me the choice to give them to you or take them for myself. Life¡¯s full of tough choices. I¡¯ll think on it.¡±

    ¡°Give them to me. I swear I will not harm you or your party,¡± Kai said.

    But he didn¡¯t swear before the System.

    Kaden stored the bracers. ¡°Like I said, I need to think on it. Say, can any Beserker use these? It¡¯s not like the reward is that great. I bet anyone challenging you would be willing to offer me more than the Quest reward. I really do have a lot to think about.¡±

    ¡°Kill him. Take the bracers,¡± Kai said, his voice colder than the [Frost] in Kaden¡¯s heart. ¡°Everyone! Kill him and bring me his corpse! You will be rewarded as a champion of the clans!¡±

    The cry went up through the night, all the way back to the distant village. Kaden had considered many possibilities, the most likely being that Kai attacked him. Kai summoning everyone hadn¡¯t been on the list. [Stealth Aura] was powerful but [Hunters] and [Huntressess] could both stalk prey inspite of stealth.

    Kaden was fast on his feet but probably not faster than the [Ulf]. Faced with terrible options, another terrible option shone bright as the Domain Gate in the distance. Kaden turned and sprinted like his life depended on it. The moving forest of Domain tree-monsters didn¡¯t have a chance to react as he sprinted through them, leaping over roots that whipped and dodging leaf-missiles they flung like throwing-knives.

    His pursuers were less fortunate, as the riled monsters focused their ire on the closest target, not the first. The Domain gate glistened up ahead, a mirror of pure blue like a frozen lake of mana.

    Kaden stepped through.

 Fifteen - Sliding By

    If Kaden hadn¡¯t done the expedition to the Fire Mana Domain, he might never have considered entering the Domain Gate. Blue monsters with the [Frost] power spilled out, and for most adventurers, that was too much.

    But something Sara had said stood out. How Domains and Trials predated dungeons. Kaden had been through the heart of a Fire Domain. Now he stood on an icy cliff overlooking an Ice Mana Domain that overflowed with power. The Ice Domain was a series of canyons amid peaks that stretched to the sky. A mountain wind hit him so hard it made standing near the entrance, which was a terrible mountain path with heavy rock walls.

    Which left Kaden wondering if the domain beasts traversed this, or if their spawing was caused by an overflow of energy and they simply came into existence beyond the gate. And his notifications had filled.

    You have entered the Ice Domain: Urkav Mountain Range.

    Frost growth is stalled.

    Ice Mana Surge!

    All Ice skill cost reduced 50%.

    All Ice skill damage reduced 50%.

    Domains could be vast, and Kaden didn¡¯t have time to spend traversing the entire domain, but surveying the valleys, Kaden quickly focused on a distant trail climbing up the far side of an opposing mountain. Every gate was probably a separate exit and any exit that wasn¡¯t directly in front of the Fen village would do.

    Frost wasn¡¯t decreasing or increasing while he spent time in the Domain, which was a solution he hadn¡¯t expected. With [Stealth Aura] engaged, Kaden began the journey. His previous experiences in a Domain told Kaden how to spot spawns at a distance. Frozen rivers, moving ice storms, and so many domain monsters Kaden lost count, Kaden avoided them.

    Not that he was alone.

    [Ulf] hunted the domain, brilliant white wolves who blended into the snow with a form of [Stealth]. Smaller than the Ulfen, they were without doubt the brethren of the ones outside the domain. They stalked [Razor Geese] in groups of five, driving the flock to separate and then converging.

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help holding his breath in amazement each time.

    These were beasts in their prime¡ªwell, some of them were. Others were younger, hungry and less experienced. From this high up, watching the groups slink along through drifts, in and out of stealth made Kaden smile. When he wasn¡¯t being hunted, watching hunters work was amazing.

    He held position as a pack of ulf moved to encircle a wounded stag. A stag at least nine feet tall, with crystaline antlers that gleamed bright blue. It lay, hindquarters trapped in what must have been a snow-covered pond, scrabbling weakly with its hooves to break free.

    Only the slightest puff of snow gave away the movement of the [ulf] who closed in. Maybe the crystal stag recognized their presence, but its antlers glowed, and lightning arced from them to strike an ice-covered pine.

    Even wounded, it could fight back.

    These [Ulf] were white as the snow they ran on, with pitch black eyes, and together they dropped their [Stealth] to appear around the stag, five points of white intended to startle the prey. Their arrangement wasn¡¯t perfect, too far to one side left another almost alone, but it was a fantastic tactic.

    The stag gave a panicked cry and struggled¡ªand the lone wolf on the far side leaped onto its back, chomping down.

    The others closed, snarling.

    The frozen lake errupted in slabs and fragments of ice. The ¡®stag¡¯ was a shape-shifting lump of flesh on the tail of a creature like a scorpion, easily three times the size of the [ulf]. Spear-like spines launched from its face, stabbing the wolves ahead of it, while its tail whipped downward, smashing the one on its tail into the bank once, twice, and a third time before it slipped loose.

    [Lurepion - Scorpinoid Boss]

    The Lurepions are elders of their kind, able to sleep in environments that would kill most of their prey, exposing only a lure meant to attract victims, be it a chest of gold or a helpless maiden, they cry for help only until their food is close enough to strike. This one is deadly no matter how you face it, and once its prey are pinned, it will feed before returning to its rest.

    You may not sense emotions from this creature.

    Skills: Lure-Form, Tireless, Armored Essence, Claw-Grab, Tail Strike

    Talents: Tireless, Armored

    Its claws were unlike the crabs, small and agile, and with frightning speed, it lashed out to grasp one of the speared [Ulf], stuffing it into a chewing maw with no regard to their agony or fear.

    It wasn¡¯t so much a decision as a need where Kaden leaped from high above, plumeting toward the [Lurpion]. He just couldn¡¯t watch as it fed. Just before impact, he drew Remembrance and slammed it down, striking in the middle of the [Lurpion¡¯s] back.

    The blade sparked, and the [Lurpion] shell split wide, exposing pink muscle and red nerves in a mesh beneath his boots. This was not where he wanted to be, the tail could easily arc over to bash him.

    With a series of cracks, the [Lurpion] broke off the mouth-spears it had used to pin [Ulf] to the ground. It spun in circles, and the tail came whistling over, striking Kaden in the back as he fought to cling to his perch.

    Bones broke in his shoulder, leaving Kaden clinging with his bad hand, which had never fully recovered from the mana burn. Without any other weapons, Kaden invoked Inventory to drop random items into the open shell.

    Three empty potion flasks weren¡¯t ideal. A bent sword fell into the split, an arm Kaden was sure he hadn¡¯t picked up, followed by the owner of the arm, a froze Beserker. Daggers he¡¯d taken from people who tried to stab, some arrows he woke up with in his chest, a handful of Trinity¡¯s scales she¡¯d lost while healing. [Split Second] activated as the tail swung back, and caught Kaden across his already wounded shoulder, breaking more ribs.

    With boots he stomped the flasks, then banished Remembrance.

    The shell snapped shut.

    The [Lurpion] screamed and convulsed as its own armor forced shrapnel into areas that were shrapnel-free on more functional scorpion bosses. Scorpions were sturdy creatures even when small enough to be stomped with a boot, let alone large enough stand atop.

    Agility let Kaden decide the time and place of his dismount, but not whether or not he¡¯d get off. Thorn Caster was out of the question since he couldn¡¯t draw the bow in his current state. Instead, he dropped to the shell, drew the [Levicon Blade] and began to carve, cutting a handhold. If he lay flat, the [Lurepion¡¯s] lure-tail passed a blade-width over the back of its head.

    Every twist grew slower. Every rise and stomp, the monster groaned as the interior damage grew. At last, Kaden was ready to take a risk, summoning Remembrance for a single-handed overhead smash to the black eyes near the front of its carapace. An eye exploded, and the tail reflexively whipped sideways, catching Kaden and hurling him off.

    He rolled with the impact, letting the snow absorb most of it, and activated [Stealth Aura].

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Two feet away, the boss thrashed, desperate to kill the source of its pain and unable to comprehend that the source of the pain was deep inside and cutting deeper with every movement.

    A low rumbling growl from ten feet away made Kaden split his attention. The [Ulf] who¡¯d attacked first had survived, somewhat. It lay on its side, panting in pain and baring gleaming teeth at Kaden. He focused on [Beast Soul] ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to argue. Be quiet, or it¡¯s going to kill us both.¡±

    The [Lurepion] spun as Kaden spoke. It might be blind, it might be mortally wounded but it aimed to die the way it had lived: striking terror into everything within range, and proving once and for all that scorpions were better than spiders. Its mouth bubbled with pink goo where something deep inside had cut where lurpions weren¡¯t meant to be cut. Its jaws opened, revealing fresh mouth-spears, as it scanned back and forth, waiting for a clue.

    Kaden drew a dagger from Inventory and hurled it into the nearest tree.

    Four mouth-spears followed the impact, each spraying ichor.

    The [Ulf] whined and lay its head over.

    [Moment of Speed] had Kaden on his feet and sprinting to intercept a smash from the tail-lure. The [Eldritch Shield] cracked as the lure slammed into it. Kaden was already wounded in one shoulder, and every breath came with fire from the ribs. The [Ulfen Armor] had blunted the impact and still left him with major wounds.

    Kaden learned a critical [Lurpion] principle passed down from one generation of lurpions to the next: When wounded with shrapnel deep in your shell and blind, hit everything. It probably hadn¡¯t been the most useful principle for lurpions up until now.

    He ducked another blow, then scooped up snow and hurled a snowball to strike its underside. The monster reared up, scraping at its own underside with its claws. As it landed, one side crumpled and the other spasmed, throwing other side¡¯s legs out straigth.

    You have helped slay a [Lurpion].

    You have gained XP.

    You have gained a level.

    Kaden gasped as healing rushed through him. The level had refilled his health and mana, though it would be a long time to his next talent. First things first. Kaden focused on the [Lurpion] and activated [Reap Materials]. Scorpion steak was delicious. The harvest tree required a hard choice. No matter what, he¡¯d get scorpion steak¡ªso much scorpion steak.

    Essence, as well, the boss held twenty five.

    But from there, he had to make a decision. One option gave him the basis of a minimum-rare spear, possibly legendary, depending on the skill of the craftsman. From the underplating came lightweight armor that would protect him against fire and make running the Fire Domain a breeze. Then there was the tip of the tail, which caused the crafting interface to fill with garbage as the System attempted to analyze it.

    There was really only one choice, and that was to gamble on the tail. He might have to take it to Trunistan to have it evaluated, but as young as Kaden was, it was right to take risks on the highest rewards.

    [Reap Materials] drained five hundred mana and delivered the essence, meat, and tail-lure into Inventory. Kaden looked back at the wounded ulf, which stood on three legs, one leg clearly broken, and limped over to lick the speared corpses of its claw-mates.

    Which made Kaden regret what he felt was right. When in a Domain, take everything. Also dungeons. Also anywhere. When anywhere, take everything. Yes, that sounded right. As he approached, the [Ulf] growled again, but backed away, clearly hobbled by its front leg.

    One by one, Kaden [Reaped] the hides, receiving a single essence each. And the spears. When everything was done, Kaden pulled a healing potion from Inventory. ¡°It¡¯s brutal in a Domain. This will heal you.¡±

    The [Ulf] bared its teeth, which was reasonable since Kaden had just harvested the corpses of its claw-mates, receiving 4x ulf stalker hide. He took a lurpion steak out and offered it. Force-Binding an enlightened beast would make him a slaver, and the middle of a foreign domain was not the time to pick up pets.

    Only when Kaden tossed the steak a few feet away did the ulf rush to choke it down.

    Kaden repeated twice more. His leap had cost him, now the exit he¡¯d spotted lay across the valley and up the opposing mountainside. When he looked back, the [Ulf] was gone. And yet, [Stealth Aura] wouldn¡¯t engage, so it wasn¡¯t gone far.

    He began to move across the domain, ignoring the need to sleep, and the way his limbs felt heavy. The fastest route would take him through a village of heavy, furry with black fur and blue stripes all over. Kaden didn¡¯t even get close enough for [Identify], skirting the village far away, and crossing the frozen river at the bottom of the valley. As he approached the far mountain, the weather, always clear, bitterly cold sun, shifted. Clouds gathered, and snow began to fall.

    The [Frost] in his soul responded, and in it, Kaden felt a warning.

    He climbed a steep grade through thick pines thirty feet up before hitting a rock face. This wouldn¡¯t work. Kaden could probably climb for hours with his endurance, but with a storm moving in and ice, it wasn¡¯t going to happen.

    Instead, he headed deeper into the thicket of pine and pulled out his [Needful Cloak], which didn¡¯t offer the same set bonuses. What it could do was become extremely long and very, very heavy. With the [Levicon Blade], he cut down saplings and leaned them against the cliff, then stacked them thicker and thicker. The final step was to wrap the cloak around the inside.

    Snowflakes fell, twisting in the wind, while Kaden watched the skies¡ªand then the beasts. From his vantage point, a giant golem made of ice had kneeled down. [Razor Geese] filled the trees, even lower branches where they wouldn¡¯t be safe, but the [Ulf] weren¡¯t hunting.

    Fear radiated out in the beasts who lived here, and even the boss monsters held their breath. Snow fell heavier with each passing moment, piling up against Kaden¡¯s makeshift shelter. Deep in his soul, the [Frost] shifted like a living creature recognizing its master.

    Wind picked up, not just whistling, but screaming until it was all Kaden could hear, all he could feel¡ªbut not all he could sense. The storm wasn¡¯t just clouds and cold. The power was that of a [Dragon], and for once, Kaden truly wanted to avoid the dragon. There would be chances to encounter it later, when he made it back.

    He hunkered down in his tent, relieved when snow blanketed it so high the wind no longer struck it head-on. Then motion outside the tent had him drawing the [Levicon] blade. The leeward side of the tent hung open to let air in, and a shape moved in the blinding white.

    Then pools of black opened in the storm outside.

    The wounded [Ulf] limped in, so tall its shoulders brushed the roof. But the emotions rollling off of it were ones that told Kaden the truth. Pain was its world, every step agony since one leg was useless and another¡ªyes, at least one paw was broken, and who knew how many ribs?

    Kaden waited for it to turn in a circle three times and settle, filling the room with the stench of damp fur. He reached out with [Soul Binding], careful to watch for prompts. But this [Ulf] wasn¡¯t enlightened. It settled into the bond.

    You have bound an _ENTITY_ (Ulf)

    Name Ulf? [Y/N]

    Agony flowed across to Kaden through the soul bond. The beast wasn¡¯t just hurt, it was maimed, but its nature was never to show weakness.

    Now he could review its stats.

    [Ulf Stalker]

    The Ulf Stalkers are not as strong as the hunters, nor as fast as the scouts, but they are nimble and near impossible to spot when hunting. This one has found itself in death¡¯s shadow. You do not have its respect, and its loyalty is earned.

    *Agony.*

    Level: 0

    HP: 1400

    Mana: 30

    Skills: Tracking, Keen Hearing, Stealth, Maiming Bite

    Talents: Pack Tactics, Ice Born

    Status Effects: Frost (Immune)

    Keen Hearing was an interesting skill, so Kaden borrowed it, then drew a healing potion and tried to coax the [Ulf] to drink it. With the Soul Bond in place, it wouldn¡¯t bite, but it had standards and they didn¡¯t involve drinking green potions from flasks. Now, lifeblood from a stag¡¯s throat? Sure. Standards.

    The problem was that with it in that much pain, Kaden couldn¡¯t sleep, just from what it was sending over the soul bond. With no better choices, he dribbled potion on his fingers and put them in the [Ulf]¡¯s mouth, which whined, licked, and then gagged.

    A drip or two at a time, Kaden fed it healing until the Ulf stretched away, burying its nose in the snow outside to avoid him. After hours, the wind died down and a deathly quiet fell over the domain, the kind of quiet that made Kaden more nervous than a howling storm.

    His skin felt heavy, like a presence weighed down on him, and at times Kaden felt sure he heard the swoop of vast wings. Trees cracked and ice crushed, the [Ulf] startled as something screamed¡ªthen lowered its head, tail tucked.

    Kaden pulled down the edge of the [Needful Cloak] and carefully poked a hole through the snow. The valley air was filled with winged serpents who glided through the air, snatching [Razor Geese] from tree tops.

    A dozen had latched onto the Ice Golem, though they didn¡¯t seem to be doing tons of damage. If this is what happened when the domain reset, Kaden understood why the life here was so fierce. At last, he dozed, still immune to the cold thanks to borrowing [Ice Born].

    When he woke it was to a challenge roared out by the Ice Golem. A pack of stags like the [Lurpion] had wandered too close to its spawn point. Razor Geese rooted through snow. Kaden pulled a scorpion steak from inventory and ate it raw, then offered one to the [Ulf], which ate it.

    They were curious beasts. Kaden thought they¡¯d behave like dogs, but this one didn¡¯t trust him as much as fear everything else in the Domain. [Beast Soul] gave Kaden a presence he rarely thought to suppress.

    Now, with it awake and staring, Kaden appreciated how precarious their relationship was. ¡°I¡¯m heading out of the domain. I have a packmate to help. You don¡¯t have to come, but every minute you¡¯re with me, you¡¯re healing.¡±

    It cocked its head and stared as Kaden took the [Needful Cloak] into Inventory and stepped out of the snow cave that had formed. His choice of hiding place, deep in the thick pines, had proven wise. Heavy tracks through the snow said other predators hunted here, but few would climb the steep incline to the cliffs.

    The cliffs.

    Kaden stared upwards, shocked and frustrated.

    The storm had wrecked the domain mountainside. The trail he¡¯d seen a Gate on was gone.

 Sixteen - Alternative Lifestyle

    Kaden studied the destruction the domain storm had wrought and the face of the mountain where the gate had been before. It was gone, along with thousands of tons of rock. Panic wanted to come and have tea with Kaden. It wanted to dance in his belly and send chills down his spine. But logic also whispered, saying key things to Kaden, like ¡®You don¡¯t like tea or panic, why would you have tea with panic?¡¯ and also that the gates shifted every night. It made sense that their exits inside the domain did, too.

    Kaden had been trapped in the domain of a Greater Abyssenian once and survived that, and he was more of a dog person than a cat person, so the [Ulf] was already better in that regard. At the thought, the [Ufl] raised its head and huffed. It wasn¡¯t like Vip, but it agreed with his assessment.

    Instead of panic or tea, Kaden engaged [Stealth Aura] and began to search, moving carefully through the domain. During his time high above, he¡¯d noted the river wound back and forth, and so Kaden was certain Adventurers were meant to fight their way along the river, facing greater challenges.

    His challenge would be escape.

    He was looking for anything that might resemble a structure, anything that might contain a doorway. The paths into the Domain had lead to carved stone gates, and the key would be finding one.

    Like the Fire Domain, most of what lived here was simply surviving, and what Kaden had taken for brutal battles was the ebb and flow of life, and it didn¡¯t end well for the predators in so many hunts.

    The [Ulf] followed, sometimes within reach, sometimes out of sight, but it limped along, and Kaden kept his pace steady, since he hadn¡¯t been able to heal the broken legs. Three storm-cycles passed, and another loomed, when Kaden finally found another gate.

    At the moment, it was simply stone columns that arced together at the top, but the shape was unmistakable. Set into the mountainside, the columns opened to a wide, flat area devoid of pines and stomped smooth, which said to Kaden it was something¡¯s spawn point.

    If Domains were like Dungeons, this, too, made sense. Any exit or entrance should have a challenge, though Kaden wouldn¡¯t put a boss directly in front of an exit or entrance. A stampede of Frozen Elk had Kaden hiding in a thicket, not because he couldn¡¯t kill one, but because he couldn¡¯t kill twenty.

    And if the herd fled, it fled from something worth fleeing.

    The air grew impossibly cold as Kaden worked to dig a hole in the snow, which was an easier way to survive the storms than what he¡¯d done the first time. The [Ulf] whined and dug with one paw as best it could.

    Every storm cycle, he dribbled healing potion into the beast a drop or three at a time. Now it no longer shuddered with every breath. Now, it stayed close, like Kaden, sensing something wrong. Kaden forced himself down into the snow-cave even though it wasn¡¯t large enough yet, and the [Ulf] joined him. Fear made allies of everyone. Kaden raked the snow he¡¯d dug out down in front and on top of them.

    Then held his breath, focusing on [Stealth Aura].

    A pine tree exploded¡ªand another.

    Others swayed and leaned as something pushed them aside.

    A silver-blue snout, reptilian in nature, and as long as Kaden was tall, emerged from a copse of trees, followed by a serpentine body with six short legs on each side. This was the Ice Dragon, in one of its many forms.

    [Stealth Aura] trembled under the dragon¡¯s pressure, while Kaden balanced so many needs. Keep [Beast Soul] from reaching out. Hold on to [Stealth Aura], and worst of all, the jangling in his hand where Kaden¡¯s collection of scales lay imprinted.

    The Ice dragon, while deadly, didn¡¯t exude the same amount of mana as, say, Oceanus, but any dragon was enough to flood him. Oceanus was magnificent, Suridev was clever, this dragon was primal, a hunter who embraced the hunt, reveled in it.

    Its serpentine body lunged skyward, and fell, spearing a random drift¡ªand emerged clutching the body of a [Frost Bear], which it shook side to side, then swallowed, forming a lump in its spine. Then it tromped over to the clearing in front of the arch and curled in a twisting, lumpy ball.

    As the coming storm mounted, the dragon glazed over.

    *Patience,* Kaden sent to the [Ulf]. When the storm cleared, the dragon would move on. He settled in to wait.

    ###

    The storm still blew, but a change in the pressure jolted Kaden from his nap. The Ice Dragon had risen and stretched and shat in front of the gate, which glowed bright blue through the swirling snow. Then with the speed of a hunter, it snaked through the Domain Gate.

    Kaden was on the move in an instant, sprinting through the storm toward the gate. He stopped just long enough to unbind the [Ulf], trusting it wouldn¡¯t turn hostile. ¡°You¡¯re on your own, I¡¯m leaving this domain. I might be back to hunt. If I see you in here, I¡¯ll do my best to hunt someone else.¡±

    The Ulf¡¯s emotions weren¡¯t what Kaden expected. He¡¯d thought perhaps it would be grateful or attached, instead, it simply engaged [Stealth] and slunk away, limping along.

    It wasn¡¯t Kaden¡¯s right to force it to do anything. One more task, he drew a corpse inventory and collected the dragon¡¯s waste. Whether it was for gardening or alchemy, almost everything had a use. With [Stealth Aura] engaged, Kaden slipped through the Domain gate, emerging to a scene of pure carnage. The crushed corpses of Domain beasts littered the icy waste. In the distance, a band of yellow rose, a Clan enclave.

    Detecting the [Ice Dragon] was surprisingly easy, the screams in the distance gave him a decent idea of where it was.

    [Field Harvest] claimed the crushed beasts had been {Cyclone Wolverines], but what Kaden actually cared about was the essence. And the teeth, which made arrow heads. And the hide, which wasn¡¯t all that useful but still.

    The stars above glittered, and Kaden turned south, a direction [Beast Soul] told him. Then back to the village. No longer in the domain, Kaden dispatched the [Falcrow] to Trella, and a moment later, to Ashi, then Eve, explaining about the dragon.

    Eve¡¯s response came first. ¡°There are two clans who are hostile, three friendly to us, and three undecided. Odds are the victim is at least neutral, but a dragon is probably beyond our abilities.¡±

    The crystaline mana dragon which landed on Kaden¡¯s arm dropped a scroll. Do not challenge a dragon alone. Even the solar dragon is beyond your abilities. Return to us.

    The last came from Trella. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you. I never doubted.¡±

    Hunting the ice dragon would be best. Hunting the ice dragon could let him claim another scale. But perhaps there was an alternate path. Kaden sprinted toward the village, still wrapped in [Stealth Aura], and only slowed as torchlight revealed fleeing figures¡ªand fighting ones.

    He drew Thorn Caster and produced a maximum power [Mana Arrow].

    The ice dragon had reduced its size, less than fifteen feet long, and it stalked through the village with gleaming eyes.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Kaden timed his shot¡ªand loosed it, diving into the snow as the arrow flew true, striking the ice dragon. The chrono-aspect activated, striking twice more.

    Damage rounded up to: 1 point.

    You have inflicted poison x3.

    Kaden was already moving to his left, already in [Stealth Aura], and already drawing another arrow. No creature could ignore poison forever. The damage it did was a percent of maximum health, which meant these arrows were probably more dangerous than swords, hammers or spears.

    The dragon whipped its tail down, smashing a different snow-bank, then focused on a screaming [Beserker]¡ªonly to receive another trio of [poison] from Kaden, who sprinted away, heading straight into the village even as the Ice Dragon charged the position he¡¯d held a moment earlier.

    No time to fully charge, Kaden settled for nailing it in the back. Seven points of damage from arrows. Probably thousands from poison. The ground shook as the dragon roared, and in answer, clouds began to gather, a freak storm which Kaden knew had to be the dragon¡¯s doing.

    Suridev had said some dragons were little more than beasts with vast mana, and the ice dragon didn¡¯t behave like Oceanus, Suridev, or even the fire and death dragons. It didn¡¯t make them less dangerous, just more predicatable.

    Kaden waited as the thuds grew louder¡ªthen created a Portal that led back to where he¡¯d emerged from the Domain Gate. The Ice Dragon perched atop a stone house, blasting ice shards from its mouth. When three more arrows struck it, it whipped the breath around, aiming for Kaden, who hid behind the Domain Gate.

    Storm winds buffeted Kaden as it rushed the Domain Gate.

    Kaden kept himself cold, calm and careful. When facing a dragon, the only right thing to do was run, but leaving a dragon to ravage a village wasn¡¯t right, either. Now, it would take more than strength and more than poison. Timing, intelligence, and bravery would combine.

    The footsteps slowed as the dragon approached the domain gate.

    Kaden hid on the other side, ready. Whichever side the dragon came from, it would receive another arrow. More importantly, it would find Kaden gone through a Portal, setting him up for another round of pin-the-poison-arrow-on-the-dragon. Which would totally be a game he¡¯d play.

    But now the night lay silent except for cries for help and warriors organizing.

    Kaden didn¡¯t blame them for not chasing a dragon that looked to be returning to its domain. He also didn¡¯t want to lead the dragon back to the village, so he focused on [Stealth Aura] and holding Thorncaster ready.

    Something struck him from the side, sending Kaden rolling in a ball of snarling white fur and snow. The [Ulf] had turned on him¡ªan ice dragon slammed down in the spot where he¡¯d been a second earlier. It had leaped over the Domain Gate the same way it attacked the bear, striking from above.

    ¡°Hide,¡± Kaden said as he stood. Then he focused on the Ice Dragon and [Beast Soul]. ¡°Hi. Kaden Birch, [Beast Master]. You¡¯re a great hunter. Incredibly powerful, agile, deadly. I¡¯ve really enjoyed hunting you, too.¡±

    The dragon seemed shocked by his words, or maybe by [Beast Soul] translating. *Prey.*

    ¡°Or friends. The kind of friends where one friend shoots the other with poison arrows and the other friend tries to squash the first friend, but then they laugh and give each other scales and go home.¡± Kaden could hope.

    This time, it took the dragon even longer to answer. It shook its head back and forth, as though the ideas hurt it more than arrows. *No.*

    ¡°You¡¯re awfully small here. Not your fault, it¡¯s really cold. But I saw you in the Domain, six times this size.¡±The [Ulf] had slunk away. Any debt it owed him had been paid in full as far as Kaden was concerned, and he wished it good hunting, far from the village. Or perhaps it had already returned to the Ice Domain, its home. Buying time for the villagers to escape was his only goal now.

    *Challenge.*

    That wasn¡¯t the answer he was expecting. It had chosen this shape and size to challenge itself. It hadn¡¯t expected this challenge. ¡°Goodbye, ice dragon. I¡¯ll return to hunt you at some point. If the only way to get a scale is to carve it off your corpse, that works for me.¡±

    Kaden waited for the words to work their way through the dragon¡¯s brain. It was definitely on the strong/deadly end of the scale and less on the smart/powerful end. He would would know when the message finally made it to the dragon¡¯s brain.

    It roared in rage and opened its mouth wide to spray him with ice.

    Which meant, for the briefest moment, it couldn¡¯t see directly in front of it.

    [Moment of Speed] drove Kaden forward to slide under the tip of the dragon¡¯s lower jaw. He already clutched the [Levicon Blade] and sank it into the dragon¡¯s flesh just past its lips.

    Touching it made the Frost inside him dance with joy.

    The writhing the Ice Dragon did was not joy, it was pain, as Kaden cut downward. He was waiting, ready for the dragon to roll right, whipping coils around like a constrictor, and [Split Second] let him vault off the dragon¡¯s body and slash again, this time, scoring so deep rib bones flashed through the wound. Kaden¡¯s mana plunged as only a chain of [Moment of Speed]/[Split Seconds] let him dodge the constant whipping body, slashing claws and deadly jaws.

    Kaden¡¯s counter attacks were opportunistic, relying on the [Levicon Blade]¡¯s power to inflict dozens of small cuts.

    You could kill a quillophant with enough cuts, the old saying went. Perhaps dragons were also vulnerable. The ice dragon groaned, and roared, lunging forward to strike, and slamming into the pillars of the domain gate instead of Kaden, who drew Thorncaster and shot it again. ¡°Should¡¯ve just given me the scale. Now I¡¯m going to wear ice-dragon boots. See, when you said ¡®prey,¡¯ you probably meant me. You actually meant you.¡±

    It righted itself and dragged in air to breathe ice, breath that whistled through the gash in its side. Before it could react, Kaden loosed another arrow at it, then dove left through a portal that brought him out beside the dragon. This time, he raked the [Levicon Blade] down the back of one leg as he leaped over. ¡°See, you gave me a scale after all! We are friends!¡±

    One miscalculation.

    One moment of arrogance.

    Kaden already had a portal open to escape, but in mid-air, [Split Second] could only warn him of the dragon¡¯s head coming around to chomp. Kaden twisted, pushing himself away from the fangs that would bite clean through him.

    He passed through the portal and slammed into stone, breaking his leg, his arm. Breaking so much.

    You have gained a status condition: Grievous Wounds.

    [Grievous Wounds]

    There¡¯s more of you broken than there is fixed. You will not heal on your own, regardless of talents or skills. Seek help or die. Death will reset [Grievous Wounds.]

    Kaden struggled to stand. Everything ached. He¡¯d meant to appear behind the groundhouses. The dragon¡¯s impact had slammed him into the stone roof. He rolled over and looked. In the distance, the Domain Gate flickered and went dark.

    Cries of triumph rose over the village.

    Kaden drew his healing potion and drank it. As his health rose, his focus returned. His bones crackled and moved under the skin as they patched, but his health barely rose. With whispered words, Kaden dispatched the [Falcrow] to Trella, describing the village and the ornate leather patterns the dead wore.

    A whine beside him drew Kaden¡¯s attention.

    The [Ulf Stalker] nosed him.

    Kaden leaned on it to stand, and found himself surrounded by clansmen. [Beserkers] and [Backsmiths], they looked at Kaden with fear.

    ¡°That was a dragon,¡± he said, pointing toward the domain. ¡°Also, the [Ulf] is with me. I¡¯d appreciate you not harming it.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± one of their guards said.

    For once, Kaden completely agreed. ¡°What do you say you take me prisoner? I¡¯m used to sleeping in motivational chambers and my Party is already on their way.¡±

    ¡°Drop your weapons! Empty your Inventory!¡± another Beserker shouted.

    ¡°Did you not just see what happened?¡± Kaden stood, drawing on the dregs of his strength. ¡°That was a dragon. It was wrecking you. I damn near killed it. Now, put away that sword, lead me to a cell where I can sleep, and pray to whatever gods you believe in that I choose to stay there. Also that my party doesn¡¯t decide to burn this place to the ground. You should have killed that dragon.¡±

    ¡°Our weapons don¡¯t hurt it. Nothing hurts it,¡± said a beserker woman. ¡°How did you hurt it?¡±

    Kaden shrugged. ¡°Actually, I¡¯ll be back for my cell in a moment.¡± He limped out to the domain gate, leaning on the Ulf for balance. His health wasn¡¯t rising, and walking hurt. Standing hurt. Breathing hurt. But he circled the empty domain gate making certain there wasn¡¯t a scrap of dragon hide or scale laying in the snow. As he returned to the village, a ring of clansmen waited, still armored, but without weapons.

    Kaden studied them. ¡°You. You have thirty levels on me. Why didn¡¯t you kill it?¡±

    The man, older with a grey beard and hair glared. ¡°We told you the truth. Our weapons don¡¯t hurt it. Plus, we¡¯re beserkers. We¡¯re the most powerful warriors you¡¯ll ever meet against other warriors. That thing will kill you before [Rage] takes hold enough to harm it. What are you?¡±

    ¡°A boss-killer,¡± Kaden said.

    It was the truth. Resillient swarms like the torrods overwhelmed him, while even a large-lizard-with-mana would attack smart next time instead of relying on superior strength, speed, armor, and damage. Taking it on that way had been amazing.

    Oh, [Frost] had dropped since leaving the domain, sitting at thirty-five. It let him wander the village, following the guides, until they reached a groundhouse. The [Ulf] balked. Its kind were known to nest in caves, but it smelled the emotions around it. It knew the fear could turn to anger at any moment, and that being underground would leave them both vulnerable. ¡°Go on, I¡¯ll stay here,¡± Kaden said, sitting down in the snow with it at his side.

    ¡°And if we don¡¯t agree?¡± one Clanswoman asked.

    Kaden looked around at the dead, the smashed houses, the burning roofs. ¡°We have a saying where I¡¯m from. Don¡¯t go borrowing trouble. You¡¯ve got enough trouble as it is. Don¡¯t borrow me.¡±

    And that was where he was sitting when Ashi arrived, her skin ablaze, and the burning power of the sun trailing her.

 Seventeen - Deal or No Deal

    The [Ulf] cowered behind Kaden as Ashi drew the flames surrounding her back into her skin. ¡°Who has done this to you? I leave nothing but ash if these clansmen did so.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t them. The dragon was attacking. I harrassed it into leaving.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like a tale you would tell. What of this beast?¡±

    It took no effort to re-establish the soul bond and express how he felt about Ashi to the [Ulf]. ¡°Come on, say hello. He¡¯s wounded, still. I need Eve to heal him.¡±

    Ashi drew a healing potion.

    He shook his head. ¡°[Grievous Wounds] makes those less effective until I get an actual healing. I¡¯ll wait for Eve. How did you fly?¡±

    ¡°Ten days ago, Pretash brought my spellbook from Vichor. The first [Air] spell it gave was [Soaring Wind]. The mana cost at first level is extreme, every level only reduces the cost.¡±

    Flight. Ashi could fly like the mages he saw in Verona. Student mages, level fifteen. It was still impressive. ¡°Eve and Trella?¡±

    ¡°They come by sled with gifts from the Resyr. Eve is not a runner.¡± Ashi spoke as though she were. Kaden wouldn¡¯t bet on either of them in a sprint. ¡°The frost in your soul is not so bad. It has been near two weeks.¡±

    ¡°I went into the Ice Domain,¡± Kaden said.

    Ashi nodded, then pressed a mana stone on her thigh.

    Her skin flared red, and she began to direct mana into his soul, which let him close his eyes and bask in the inner warmth. The sun was high, the sky clear when scouts shouted of an approaching sled.

    A long train of [Makur] pulled what could only aproximately be called a ¡®sled.¡¯ It was more a wagon train on slats of wood that slid over the snow, and slowed as guards rushed out to greet it. Atop it sat Eve, and beside it on one side ran Trella, her black cloak fluttering. At the other side ran Drokor, wearing armor. She ran ahead to greet the guards¡ªthen motioned for the sled to continue.

    Eve climbed carefully down and then followed as Trella sprinted toward Kaden, wrapping her arms around him. ¡°You. You decided to kill the dragon, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden wanted to hug her, but his shoulders, his arms ached. ¡°Eve. I hate to ask¡ª¡±

    ¡°Never ¡®hate to ask¡¯ for what comes naturally to me.¡± Eve invoked [Life Endowment]. ¡°Wait, [Grevious Wounds]? How many bones did you break? New plan. We must cleanse the status effect first. But before that, I¡¯m sorry, I have a duty Sara gave me.¡±

    She turned and headed to the clansmen. ¡°Do you agree to repay your portion of the war-bounty in return for restored trading rights? We bring supplies.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hear the answer, but he saw it written in the smile on Eve¡¯s face as she returned. ¡°How is Sara?¡±

    ¡°Frozen. Drokor insists this isn¡¯t fatal,¡± Eve said. ¡°All we need¡ª¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t going to happen,¡± Trella answered. ¡°We scavenged dead domain beasts. I¡¯ve gotten to where I can keep Fire Essence from exploding for almost a minute. In no way is the potion stable, and we¡¯re out of essence.¡±

    Kaden handed her all the essence he¡¯d gathered.

    ¡°Well, that changes things. Somewhat.¡± Trella sounded more hopeful.

    ¡°This is for Sara.¡± Kaden drew the [Fire Soul] potion.

    Eve, Ashi and Trella gasped. Trella cradled it closer. ¡°Look at it. Just look at it, the essence core isn¡¯t shining as brightly. It¡¯s been dampened somehow, without it exploding. What did you do to get this?¡±

    ¡°I screwed their healer,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Go do her again and get another one.¡± Trella hadn¡¯t stopped staring at her potion. ¡°Seriously, go back right now. Why didn¡¯t you stay and get a second one?¡±

    ¡°They are running low, too. I have faith in your abilities,¡± Kaden said.¡°Keep practicing. I know how to survive in the Ice Domain if we need more.¡±

    Eve hadn¡¯t responded, using [Life Explosion] over and over. ¡°This is fiendish. I detest this status condition.¡±

    ¡°Take a break,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We really need some of your other skills.¡±

    One by one he produced the dead [Beserkers]. ¡°Sorry for the condition, it¡¯s been a rough journey.¡±

    Eve accepted a mana regen potion from Trella and set to work, resurrecting and healing beserkers to a minimal level before moving on to the next one. Soon a small crowd of confused beserkers stood around them.

    Ashi rushed to find Drokor and recruit help. ¡°Listen to Drokor. To raise a fist against her is to discover how well you burn. Test me on this if doubts plague you.¡±

    Drokor had been about to speak to the newly resurrected. Instead she choked slightly and addressed Kaden. ¡°You have made a journey that few survive. I¡¯m sure you have questions, but you will rest better back at our village. I would appreciate all of you going back. Eve, there will be time for negotiation, but that negotiation will go better if it begins with us.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Eve said. ¡°We should be able to restore Sara with the [Fire Soul] potion, but are there side effects?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll be cold in every way,¡± Drokor said. ¡°Warm her with fire and food and friendship. We¡¯ve brought back those who spent years embraced by the ice. Shouldn¡¯t you use it on yourself?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°Trella¡¯s going to make more.¡±

    ¡°The [Ulf]. It¡¯s tame?¡± Drokor asked.

    It was currently laying on its back so Ashi could scratch its belly. Kaden gave it a pat. ¡°It¡¯s hurt and has nowhere else to go. I¡¯ve currently got it soul-bound but it¡¯s less about that and more about trust.¡±

    ¡°The [Makur] handlers will not like it,¡± Drokor said. ¡°But they will keep their peace.¡±

    Trella clutched the [Fire Soul] potion. ¡°We¡¯ll see you back at the village then.¡±

    ###

    An older, foresworn Beserker met them when at last Kaden approached the Resyr village on foot. And the village hummed with so much activity. Everywhere, Resyr loaded sleds with goods and set off.

    ¡°I thought only two of the tribes had trading rights?¡± Kaden asked. The journey had taken the better part of the day, because [Grievous Wounds] required Eve to choose which bone she was healing at a time. And she refused to heal the [Ulf] because, in her words, ¡®Kaden could barely walk.¡¯

    Eve waved to a sled passing by. ¡°Two have agreed, but Sara set orders. It¡¯s easy to ignore what you don¡¯t have and can¡¯t see. On the other hand, a sled passing by, filled with potions and medicine and armor and food? That raises the memory of what was lost.¡±

    Guzan, as the old man was known, waved a stick for their attention. ¡°Drokor sent word. We already pulled back the soil, she is covered only with snow, now.¡±

    *Don¡¯t freak,* Trella sent in code. *When [Frost] takes hold, the safest way to keep victims intact is to bury them just below the surface.*

    Kaden would have sprinted, but for now he could only hobble out past the groundhouses. There, nestled in the snow, lay Sara¡¯s frozen body. ¡°Why is she naked?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the last stage of [Frost],¡± Guzan answered. ¡°As it takes over, their own body heat is unbearably hot. The snow is too hot. The frozen earth, barely bearable.¡±

    His wounded [Letydir] would have to do. Kaden held it ready as Trella kneeled, pouring first a drop, then a dribble of [Fire Soul] into Sara. Her lips, blue and frozen, changed first. Fissures opened in the flesh of her cheeks as she tried to speak.

    ¡°Quiet, quiet,¡± Guzan said. ¡°Drink the potion before you speak or move.¡±

    Inchy by inch the color spread downward until even her toes were pink and warm¡ªand shivering. The [Letydir] engulfed her, eager for body heat she barely had, while Sara¡¯s teeth chattered and she wept tears that froze on her cheeks.

    ¡°A moment, Sara.¡± Eve put her hand on Sara¡¯s cheeks and used [Life Endowment] to knit them back together. ¡°There you are, better now.¡±

    Kaden picked her up, cradling her as the Horror blossomed from her back, two green psuedopods which nibbled the snow and frozen earth before wrapping around Kaden¡¯s shoulders so he could carry her more easily.

    ¡°We brought heatstones by the hundred,¡± Trella said. ¡°The groundhouse is more of a greenhouse at this point.¡±

    When Trella opened the doors, the heat felt like a blast furnace.

    Kaden ignored it to carry Sara inside and nestle her in one of the beds, while Eve brought soup and fire-wine.

    Sara¡¯s gaze flitted across each of them. ¡°Ashi?¡±

    Kaden gestured up. ¡°Burning her mana on [Soaring Wind], hoping to gain another level.¡±

    A surge of excitement burst through him, and Kaden sprinted out of the groundhouse, looking wildly¡ªthen toward the [Makur] pen. ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t eat them!¡±

    The [Ulf] had hungered. The [Ulf] had seen prey.

    The [Ulf] had damn near attacked a young [Makur] Kaden thought looked awfully familiar. ¡°Here. Have a scorpion steak. Have four. Those are not food.¡±

    Under the withering glares of the Resyr, Kaden lead his [Ulf] back to the groundhouse and in. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s like, all my beasts are my children. And one of my children wants to eat another of my children.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s parenting,¡± Guza said. ¡°Whose children do not try to kill each other? It is always, ¡®Kristof, put away the knife,¡¯ and ¡®Alexi, is that a rock you held over your brother¡¯s head?¡¯ ¡®No, Popu, you said not to use a rock, it is only a block of ice.¡¯¡±

    Which was one of the reasons Kaden didn¡¯t want children.

    Now his thoughts turned to Basu.

    ¡°Trella finally succeeded,¡± Sara said.

    That ruined Trella¡¯s mood completely. She stood and dusted herself off. Her shadowblade outfit was lumpy where she¡¯d pulled it on over the [Letydir], which didn¡¯t mind at all. The poor beast simply thought it was being hugged. ¡°Trella did not. This particular Trella should be working in her lab. I¡¯d do it here but how many times did I lose my eyes?¡±

    ¡°Three,¡± Eve said. ¡°We¡¯ll check on you in a bit.¡±

    ¡°Bad news,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I asked Kai Fen to return his part of the debt. It¡¯s not happening.¡±

    Sara closed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll have to swear it before the System for the Quest to update.¡±

    ¡°I swear before the System, Kai Fen refused to repay his clan¡¯s portion of the debt,¡± Kaden said without fear.

    Oath heard and acknowledged. Entity Kai Fen was offered the chance to repay and declined.

    Sara smiled for the first time since she¡¯d been unfrozen. ¡°Good. That¡¯s all it takes for the Mercari Quest. They¡¯re fully aware some clans will not agree. It¡¯s the principle. The Skan have agreed to repay when¡ªand only when¡ªwe can provide them with more [Fire Soul] potions.¡±

    Eve prompted Sara to eat more. ¡°I did exactly as you instructed. We sent sleds to every clan, healing potions, utensils, cloth. The standards. With one exception. The Iro are suffering from an outbreak of [Mana Rot] and their healers were afflicted. Two cleansing potions seemed like a reasonable deviation.¡±

    Sara nodded vigorously as she slurped her soup. ¡°It¡¯s fine, fine. There¡¯s a fine line between withholding trade, dangling a carrot and surrendering leverage. I can sleep at night even if they refuse. How long was I frozen?¡±

    ¡°Nine days?¡± Eve asked, counting. ¡°Kaden had been gone forever. Days blend. Kaden, let¡¯s see if we can¡¯t purge more of those [Grievous Wounds].¡±

    With Sara present, her mana regen would surge.

    Half an hour later, Ashi returned. ¡°I do not yet know the balance of this spell. My Mana ran out miles from the village. Shall I warm your soul?¡±

    That sounded acceptable. Not great, but nothing really did. Nothing was terrible, nothing was great. ¡°I¡¯d rather you help me with an experiment. Trella¡¯s trying to control fire essence. Can you help her?¡±

    Ashi shook her head. ¡°We tried. The potion does not form. Alchemy requires the mana be shaped with care and if I blunt it, the result glows, but does not warm. Why have you not healed your [Ulf]? Why have you not demanded it of Eve?¡±

    Kaden understood Eve¡¯s reasoning.

    But also understood how to motivate her.

    With care, he sent warnings through the soul bindings¡ªand summoned Vip.

    The [Lightning Chevalier] dashed up the wall and past the [Ulf] to leap into Kaden¡¯s arm, filled with jealousy. She pushed herself up against his chest and tucked her tail.

    ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± Kaden said. He ran his fingers through Vip¡¯s silver fur and then reached to pet the Ulf, who could have swallowed his hand. There wasn¡¯t a need for jealousy. There wasn¡¯t a chance in all nine hells he¡¯d trade Vip or replace her, something he let [Beast Soul] relay.

    And to the [Ulf] he sent the acceptance and belonging any creature bereft its family would desire. This small dog was a friend. Kaden reconsidered the emotions from Vip. The small dog was not an enemy, that much was certain. Friends was probably stretching it. They were about as much friends as Kaden and the Ice Dragon.

    The true, pressing problem was that [Frost] would continue as long as Kaden stayed outside the domain, and the Ice Dragon would remember their battle if he went back in.

 Eighteen - Throw Down

    While his party waited to see what Kaden had planned, he considered all the different ways he could control Frost, and the one he truly wanted. ¡°I want to kill the Ice Dragon, but I¡¯m not going back in unprepared.¡±

    ¡°Restraint,¡± Ashi said with approval.

    After three helpings of soup, Sara slowed. Eve continued removing [Grievous Wounds], and explained to Sara all the things she¡¯d missed. The arrival of the ships. A negotiated docking fee that Eve felt was probably robbery but not worth risking the goods over. The eager first-trades and how lone runners from different clans had arrived over days, mostly looking for status cleanses, but a few [Life Affirment] potions used by pregnant women.

    ¡°Kaden, convince Trella to take a break,¡± Sara said. ¡°I doubt she¡¯s slept well in two weeks. Have her brew healing potions, or mana potions, or [Agony Cloud]. If [Fire Soul] really does require a breakthrough, I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll reach it exhausted.¡±

    The [Falcrow] willingly took his message.

    And Trella was less than charred when she arrived, though her face glistened with sweat. ¡°You need mana potions? Or agony clouds?¡±

    ¡°Neither.¡± Kaden lifted her over the sleeping [Ulf]. ¡°I need you at your best. I want to explain what happened. What I learned about Kai. How I wound up in the Ice Domain, and what I learned there.¡±

    And with the four listening, he launched into his tale. ¡°The problem with Kai Fen isn¡¯t that he¡¯s unreasonable. It¡¯s that what he wants he doesn¡¯t need from us. His own people dislike what he¡¯s become, but they¡¯re not willing to war with him.¡±

    ¡°May I speak?¡± Guzan, the old Beserker, had entered the groundhouse without Kaden even noticing, which didn¡¯t say a lot for the [Ulf¡¯s] future as a guardian.

    Kaden dipped his head.

    ¡°I am old, old enough to remember the discord before. We have a saying. Children born in war crave peace, and those in peace crave war. What Kai Fen has done is give a voice to the discontent. Even your hammer cannot end discontent.¡± Guzan sounded ashamed. ¡°It is a mark of pride to be a strong warrior. To hold up before others. To lead a clan and make a name so proud the ancesters hear and respond. But war is only one season.¡±

    ¡°How many are the discontent?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°It is hard to say. Peace favored the Resyr, so we listened to our own desires more than their needs. If we had not, perhaps the accord would be unbroken.¡± Guzak was a man drowining in regret, but regret didn¡¯t ward off blows or staunch wounds. ¡°We are traders and crafters, and our prosperity benefited many. But not all.¡±

    Crafters. That was what Kaden had ignored. He launched back into his story, of the bracers. Of the choice the System offered him, and the desperation that had led to entering the domain. Trella watched with amusement as Kaden spoke of the [Ulf] and the boss battle.

    But the real treasures he withheld, instead taking out the [Ulf Stalker] hides. ¡°Can your people make gear for Trella like mine? Something to make her shadow based stealth more effective in the snow?¡±

    Guzak took the hides. ¡°Perhaps. These are not the hide of an [Ulfen]. They will not contain the same power.¡±

    That was fine. ¡°Talk to me about what you can make, we¡¯ll work out a deal. By which I mean you¡¯ll be negotiating with Sara. I feel bad for you.¡±

    Once their host was gone, Kaden explained the rest of the story. ¡°So many scorpion steaks. And this.¡±

    The others studied the decapitated tail-lure, which still read garbage.

    ¡°Does your crafting skill tell you what it makes?¡± Eve asked. ¡°[Identify] glitches.¡±

    Trella examined it thoroughly. ¡°It¡¯s not a re-agent, it¡¯s definitely a crafting material, and I¡¯d bet it¡¯s shape-shifting weapon like the [Needful Cloak]. Sara can give you the loot-gen rundown, but it¡¯s powerful.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Sara asked. ¡°The what?¡±

    Trella looked to Ashi first. ¡°Ok. We were the first people to discover the black fairy challenge in the fire domain. Our reward was way, way more powerful because of that. Similarly, any dungeon that hasn¡¯t been run accumulates more powerful loot until it breaks. Domain monsters are most likely similar. It¡¯s going to hold bosses and treasures that no one¡¯s seen or gathered for a century or more.¡±

    ¡°And Fangwood,¡± Eve said. ¡°The first reward for the Fell Woodsman was an actual Vichorean Assistant. Did you know ours is tiny and weak? Theirs build structures, but our mana is too thin¡±

    ¡°Frost doesn¡¯t advance in the domain,¡± Kaden added. ¡°That¡¯s reason enough for me to go back.¡±

    That launched a whole different discussion, as Kaden explained about how the dragon had adopted a size and shape to make hunting the village a challenge, but that choice left it vulnerable, and it would probably err on the side of survival next time. ¡°The armor is impenetrable, but Thorn Caster does at least one point every time, and inflicts poison. And the [Levicon Blade] can¡¯t fail to cut. So it went from being the hunter to being prey and didn¡¯t enjoy the experience. I tried to cut scales off, but what I got wasn¡¯t what I expected.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Kaden showed the strip of actual scales he¡¯d cut, and the flesh. ¡°Only the thin one has the mana in it.¡±

    Sara sat up, looking at each. ¡°Lord Suridev would call this barely a dragon at all. Deadly, yes. Dangerous, yes. But clever like Suridev? Powerful like the fire dragon Alev? Majestic like Oceanus? No.¡±

    Trella listened to the story of the [Ulf], and the domain. ¡°Are you bringing him home?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. He¡¯s not built for hot summers. Our winters wouldn¡¯t even bother him, but our summars would be miserable.¡± Like Explodius, not every beast was meant for a holding, even one on the edge of the wilds.

    ¡°May I have the scorpion steaks?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I do love cooking them. I know you¡¯re probably tired of it.¡±

    Kaden wasn¡¯t so tired as unaffected. Nothing tasted great. ¡°I want everyone to rest tonight. I¡¯m going back to the Ice Domain to hunt. It lowers my [Frost] and it keeps me from worrying about what¡¯s going to happen when it runs out.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Trella said. ¡°If you¡¯re going in, I¡¯m going in. I already used five of your essences. I can usually avoid exploding, even if the potion doesn¡¯t stabilize. What if this Ice Dragon is waiting the moment you show up?¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t prove it wouldn¡¯t happen. But it wasn¡¯t likely. ¡°The domain is huge. There are dozens of entrances and exits. The dragon won¡¯t be waiting at all of them. And if he is, I¡¯ll kill him. This time, I¡¯ll use every option.¡±

    *Don¡¯t.* Trella tapped out. *Please. You¡¯ve been gone for two weeks, I had no idea if you were alive.*

    It was easy to give in to the dull cold. Easy to ignore her plea, but this was a coal in the depths of his soul that hadn¡¯t gone dark. Nothing blazed anymore, but that connection remained.

    Against the cold inside and out, Kaden swore an oath, not to the system, but to himself. It would be the ember he held on to until the end.

    ###

    Kaden woke before dawn and slipped out of the groundhouse with the [Ulf] at his side. Trella slept deeply, and she needed it. The sun filled the sky with red and orange streaks painted across thin clouds high above. The wind was warm and gentle, and Kaden loved every moment of sunrise. Except the part where people rose and joined him, ruining the isolation. Drokor arrived just after dawn, with a sled filled with crystaline antlers and ivory teeth a foot long. She spent half an hour giving orders to the traders, then with a glance, waved for him to join her.

    ¡°How do you like our mornings?¡±

    ¡°Can all your people shapeshift into [Ulf]? Ulf-Fen. [Ulfen].¡± Kaden had no patience for games. ¡°Did you know who it was I killed and skinned? Kai Fen recognized I was wearing his brother.¡±

    Drokor coughed. ¡°It¡¯s easy to forget when I look at you, that you were not born among us. You have the look of the Skan, their hair and chin. Did I ever think you would go to their village and bargain? They say a warrior challenged Kai Fen. That he walked out of the dark, looked Kai Fen in the eye and asked for more brothers. With every telling, the feats grow greater. He rode an [Ice Dragon] or killed it with a single arrow from his bow. He spoke with it as a friend, mastered it like a pet.¡±

    Lies were lies. Kaden didn¡¯t care. ¡°What clan did this ¡®warrior¡¯ come from?¡±

    ¡°Some say the Fen, others that he wore Yun armor, still others that he was son of the old Resyr chief, lost to the [Frost] a century ago. What do you say?¡±

    Such a legend had advantages. ¡°I don¡¯t know this man. Let Kai Fen find him. Let him worry about where he is and when he will return. My Quest, my Party, they¡¯re right here.¡±

    ¡°The resurrected have journeyed home. Their clans will be stronger. Their warriors more careful. Enemies Kai Fen discounted will no longer be weak enough to ignore, and eager for revenge. What do you want from this?¡± Drokor¡¯s voice revealed nothing, but [Read Emotion] showed worry.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the same thing I told Basu Fen: I don¡¯t want to rule anything or anyone. I want peace to settle in so heavy I can hunt in the Ice Domain without worry. I want Trella to learn a dozen new potions and Ashi to figure out how to fly and not fall. I want Eve to teach you new recipes and learn from you, and Sara can make a dozen new deals with every clan. That¡¯s all.¡±

    His answer took the tension out of Drokor. She smiled. ¡°Today, I want you to learn from us. Your lover works hard at [Fire Soul], but you can buy time. Your weapon is deadly, but if we fought with such weapons every time we fought, we would all be dead.¡±

    Beserkers truly were quick to battle. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s time we kindled your soul. Be ready after breakfast.¡±

    The truth was, Kaden was curious.

    ###

    Trella lay in the snow, stretched out, bleeding, while Eve worked to heal her, removing shards of crystal from Trella¡¯s face. ¡°Perhaps don¡¯t try that again?¡±

    ¡°Have to,¡± Trella said. ¡°My [Alchemy] skill doesn¡¯t work like the class. I get indications when I¡¯m close to doing something right, and I finally got that indication. I¡¯m making so much progress.¡±

    Kaden waited as a pair of Beserkers approached, a man and women, both shorter and wider than Kaden. The man smiled a toothless grin and held out a hand. ¡°Gunar Resyr. This is my little sister, Yrda. Drokor says you got no passion.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got plenty of passion. I control my urges, but I¡¯ve got mountains of passion.¡±

    The [Ulf] lay on its back beside him, but huffed disagreement.

    ¡°No dodge skills, no attack skills,¡± Gunar said. ¡°When we fight, it¡¯s to settle things, not tear the other person¡¯s jaw off or punch through their spine.¡± He flexed his fist, and ice spines errupted from the top and bottom of his fist. ¡°Think I can¡¯t kill with this? You¡¯re going to learn to fight with your fists. Or you¡¯re going to learn to be unconscious. Come.¡±

    For the first time since [Frost], Kaden smiled with true pleasure. He¡¯d always wanted [Brass Knuckles] and always had reasons to make other choices. ¡°I have a couple of talents I can¡¯t turn off. One of them makes it near impossible for you to regain health or mana. The other makes it damn near impossible to kill me in one hit.¡±

    ¡°Good for you.¡± Gunar didn¡¯t seem worried. ¡°How much experience do you have fighting like this?¡±

    ¡°None.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°How do we start?¡±

    Gunar looked to his little sister. ¡°Let¡¯s figure out where to start. No using mana skills, let¡¯s see you punch. Also we¡¯ll see you take a punch.¡±

    Kaden steeled himself for a blow. He¡¯d seen Trella fight and had no illusions about women being capable. Yrda let loose a short shout and drove her fist into his gut, then struck again, striking Kaden right in the chin.

    She winced and turned away, gripping her hand, while Kaden let [Fortress of Stone] absorb the pain.

    ¡°My turn.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t threaten, he simply punched. And winced as bones broke in his hand.

    ¡°Healer!¡± Gunar called, not laughing. ¡°Taking a punch, good. What did you do?¡±

    Eve came running and sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve barely got [Grievous Wounds] at bay and you¡¯re out here breaking your hand? Like this!¡± She made a fist, her thumb alongside the fist. [Life Endowment] repaired his bones and left him stronger. ¡°At least you have a teacher. Go on, I¡¯ll keep everyone on their feet unless there¡¯s a lab mishap.¡±

    ¡°Only bones,¡± Gunar said. ¡°Pain is part of the process. Now, stand like me. Make a fist like me. And let¡¯s see if we can make you not an embarrassement.¡±

 Nineteen - Punch Out

    [Brawling]

    You can throw an elbow, knee or punch, you can take a bunch of the same, and you have the most basic sense of unarmed battles around you. Brawling isn¡¯t just the act of beating your opponent, it¡¯s knowing how to beat them without killing them. If you kill them, they won¡¯t learn nothing.

    Kaden fell back, hitting the packed snow hard, and rolled right, careful not to use [Moment of Speed]. He shot forward, driving his shoulder into his opponent¡¯s stomach. The man brought his fists down on Kaden¡¯s spine and brought a knee up, aiming for his face.

    Instead, Kaden pushed against the knee and used the momentum to slam his forehead into the man¡¯s nose, then stepped right as another Beserker attempted to ensure Kaden would never raise a family. His kick hit Kaden in the thigh and he rewarded the man with an elbow to the nose.

    Kaden understood now, why the clan fought like this. Without the fear of his blows killing, he was free to embrace the battle, accept the pain, the adrenaline¡ªand at moments, pure joy. Somewhere just out of range, Trella was shouting encouragement. Ashi was shouting threats about what, exactly she¡¯d do to his opponents. That was probably Eve running interference, clutching Vip under one arm and holding Ashi back with the other.

    The moment of inattention cost Kaden as a boot caught him in the head and a knee landed in his back. ¡°Enough!¡± Kaden raised his hand¡ªand rolled over, spitting out blood and laughing.

    Two hands helped him stand. His chest hurt, his thigh ached, his back throbbed where the knee had struck, and Kaden wouldn¡¯t trade it for the world. He couldn¡¯t say when the sun had set, or when the Resyr had lit torches.

    He stumbled out of the fight box and held up a hand as Eve reached for him. ¡°Just the bones. And the kidneys.¡±

    The pain was real and the adrenaline left him shakey, but while he felt it, Kaden picked up Trella and kissed her. This wouldn¡¯t protect him against monsters or make him a better battler, but it left him freer. Lighter.

    And his [Frost] count had risen to nearly forty.

    Yet, he knew instinctively that climbing back into a fight wouldn¡¯t help. He¡¯d found a connection to something primal and deep. What Kaden assumed was impulsiveness among beserkers was embracing moments of opportunity.

    Winning would have been better but losing was still real.

    ¡°Your lip is bleeding,¡± Trella said.

    It was fine. Kaden picked her up again, this time with both hands. ¡°Bet you can¡¯t get away from me.¡±

    Trella gasped in mock shock. ¡°I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade]. It¡¯s dark.¡±

    ¡°So you don¡¯t think you can get away either?¡± He leaned down to kiss her¡ªand Trella was gone, just behind him.

    [Moment of Speed] let him spin and dive, bursting through her Dark Deception and leaping away as the Deception Echo tried to catch him. Fingers traced his neck¡ªand Kaden reached through a Portal just in front of him to grab Trella, who twisted from his grasp and [Shadow Stepped] away. ¡°Got to be faster than that!¡±

    ¡°I am!¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate, chasing her through the village, leaping through portals and dodging swipes, until he caught her hand¡ªand she twisted toward him, a grin of wild joy on her face, and the smile on her lips echoed in her eyes. ¡°Caught you.¡±

    ¡°Did you?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I think I did.¡± Instead of picking her up, he pulled, leading her downstairs to the groundhouse. ¡°We have time. The fights will go until midnight.¡±

    ¡°You need until midnight?¡± She asked, letting herself be pulled along.

    ¡°Yes, if I do it right.¡±

    ###

    He lay with his arms wrapped around Trella, letting her snooze up against him, a fur packed against his chest so the bitter cold in him didn¡¯t hurt her. Her breath came easy and slow, but she wasn¡¯t sleeping. ¡°I was afraid. When you were gone, I was so afraid. You only had to go because I can¡¯t make the [Fire Soul] potion. Not to save Sara. Not to save you. I was seriously contemplating taking [Alchemist] as another class just so I can make it.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t made it yet. If you have to try a thousand times, you try a thousand times.¡±

    Trella sighed in frustration. ¡°Purify, warm ambient mana, isolate essence, add essence, invert essence, explode essence, repeat. Guess which step doesn¡¯t belong? I can¡¯t repeat because I can¡¯t do it the first time.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    It wasn¡¯t time to be sad. ¡°I know something else we could repeat. How about I invert you over and over until you just explode¡ª¡±

    He was holding a shadow. Trella was on her feet, dashing to toss a shivering [Letydir] over her body and adding her cloak and boots. She dashed out, leaving the door open. Kaden dressed enough to not attract attention and tip-toed after her to find Trella hunched over beakers in her lab.

    One hand held long, thin tongs with red gemstone tips, the other adjusted the flame on a flask. ¡°Purify. Warm.¡± She looked back to the tongs. ¡°Now, isolate the essence and add it.¡±

    He¡¯d seen this step a dozen times. A spark of brilliant blue hung suspended in the flask.

    Trella leaned in dangerously close to the flask. ¡°Invert.¡±

    The spark of blue flashed to brilliant red and flickered.

    ¡°Repeat.¡± Trella said.

    The spark flashed back to blue, but this time, the color was less brilliant, more frosted.

    ¡°Repeat.¡± Now, it turned red but a warm glow that made Kaden want to clutch the flask and guzzle it.

    Trella cupped both hands around the flask. ¡°Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.¡±

    The spark of essense dissolved out, becoming tendrils of fire that touched the edges of the flask¡ªand dissolved.

    [Poor Quality Fire Soul Potion], [Identify] offered.

    Trella decanted it and offered it. ¡°I just raised my [Alchemy] skill. Drink this, I¡¯ll make another. The instructions were literal. So many of them end with ¡®make more for more money¡¯ or ¡®do it again to raise your skill,¡¯ I didn¡¯t even consider ¡®repeat¡¯ as a part of it.¡±

    The potion burned his lips, his tongue, his skin, and felt like heartburn, like he¡¯d swallowed [Wrath of the Furnace]. His limbs shook and every inch of him both felt joy and warmth and extreme cold.

    ¡°Put on your [Letydir],¡± Trella urged, helping him pull off the cloak and put on the warming sloth.

    Kaden¡¯s tongue felt frozen and thick, but the warmth inside him grew. ¡°Frost is at ninety five points. It¡¯s not gone, but that¡¯s only five points from max.¡±

    Trella was busy brewing, not speaking this time as she focused on the flask. This time, it took twenty inversions, but the resulting potion had an even glow, if not as bright. She didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°Low quality, that¡¯s at least better than poor.¡±

    This time, the potion felt like drinking burning coals that sank into his heart, causing Kaden to gasp. He couldn¡¯t help the way his legs jangled and jerked.

    You have purged the status condition: [Frost].

    Kaden would have grabbed her from behind and spun her around, but Trella was lost in her craft, her grin as real as any he¡¯d inspired. This was something she found joy in. The third potion flash-froze, turning into solid ice. Trella didn¡¯t even speak, just brewing again¡ªand again¡ªand again. Successes came more frequently, then somewhere along the line, failure became the random occurence.

    ¡°I¡¯m out. I¡¯m out of essence, but these last five are average quality,¡± Trella said. ¡°Even if it takes two of the others, we can trade these. I need more essences. We¡¯re going to have to go back to the Ice Domain. I¡¯ll bring my kit and brew there. We won¡¯t be fearing [Frost] this time.¡±

    Kaden had other plans. ¡°The Resyr have lost eight to [Frost]. Why don¡¯t we bring a few back? Or the Skan? We need [Fire Soul] to reach an agreement with them.¡±

    Together, Trella and Kaden searched through the Resyr village until they found Drokor asleep near a fire, still clutching a mug in each fist.

    ¡°Kaden?¡± Ashi called. ¡°Please, we have need of you.¡±

    Kaden spotted her across the village and dodged the Resyr who proudly enjoyed their beer and food. ¡°An attack?¡±

    ¡°Sara,¡± Ashi said. ¡°She is weak from her time in [Frost]. And a woman her size should not be so hard to lift.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the Horror,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°You haven¡¯t tried picking me up, but with Rocky and Trinity in my soul, it wouldn¡¯t be easy.¡±

    Sara had never left the fighting arena. She¡¯d laid back in the snow with her Horror crossed tightly about her, and her gaze was unfocused.

    Eve kneeled beside Sara. ¡°It¡¯s not a status condition. She should be resting. We¡¯re durable, all of us. She¡¯s more durable than Ashi or I, you¡¯re even moreso, but over time, the small wounds build up. Can you get her to the groundhouse?¡±

    Kaden kneeled and lifted Sara. Her Horrors knew what to do, and used themselves to steady her as Kaden carried her back. At the groundhouse, Eve hesitated. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay and celebrate. Just because I don¡¯t want to brawl doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t enjoy time with those who do. And a little healing goes a long way. And they adore my cooking.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got her,¡± Trella answered.

    Kaden sensed the [Ulf] moving away from the fires and the people. It settled down in a snow bank near the edge of the village and dozed, keeping watch over the not-pack, and the confusion deep within it hurt. Unlike Trinity or Rocky or Vip, it longed for its own kind and yet feared to leave Kaden.

    ¡°She¡¯s shivering even with the [Letydir],¡± Trella said. ¡°I¡¯m going to turn up the heatstones and make this place an oven. Why didn¡¯t it affect you the same?¡±

    Theories were the only answers Kaden had. ¡°Hard to Kill has given me so many resistances. [Resist Cold,] [Resist Paralysis], plus, I have [Resist Status Effects] from the Rot. My guess is that [Frost] is a combination of more ordinary status effects.¡±

    Regardless, Kaden¡¯s priorities had shifted. Taking care of his party, fulfilling the mercari Quest and hunting the domain were what mattered. ¡°I feel like I just woke up from a fever dream. I¡¯ll take first watch.¡±

    ¡°Sara brought potion materials and hundreds of flasks for me. They¡¯re always needing [Status Cleanse] and healing. We¡¯ll watch together.¡± Trella set to work, brewing the [Status Cleanse] potions first since they rarely exploded. Kaden summoned Vip and held her until she demanded to lay beside him.

    The conversation flowed as Kaden spoke of the Ice Domain and the dragon. And Basu. ¡°I don¡¯t want to just spread children like status effects and never look back.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± She risked a moment of inattention to put her hand on his. ¡°I wish you¡¯d taken the potion yourself and let me brew one for Sara.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t something Kaden ever contemplated. ¡°I knew you would figure it out. Though it was my amazing skills in bed that brought you the clarity you needed.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you have to tell yourself,¡± Trella said with a laugh. ¡°Last time, I said ¡®Let¡¯s go hunting alone.¡¯ This time, we wait for everyone.¡±

    That, too, sounded like wisdom.

 Twenty - Not Negotiation

    The next morning, Kaden learned the celebration, to his dismay, hadn¡¯t been in honor of him learning [Brawling] but the mid-dark which signified a shift towards longer days. Eve stumbled back too early to be called late, obviously deep into the mead.

    ¡°If you have to spew, that way,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°You have to try this mead,¡± Eve said. ¡°I¡¯m the queen of the celebration! Here. I brought you some. Oh, what happened? It¡¯s all gone! I can go get more! More for the Queen!¡±

    ¡°Look over there!¡± Kaden shouted. ¡°Something distracting!¡±

    Eve spun to stare and almost fell.

    ¡°Oh no! The ceiling is spinning!¡± Trella pointed up, counting to herself. ¡°And¡­¡±

    Kade caught Eve. ¡°Can¡¯t go out there, the sky is all spinny. How about you lay down here and I tell you the sad story of the sad puppy that was sad. Here, hold Vip. The sad puppy looked just like Vip. But I¡¯m warning you, the story is very sad.¡±

    Vip sniffed Eve and looked away. *So slow.*

    ¡°Once there was a sad puppy. No one loved it,¡± Trella said.

    Eve began to weep, wiping her nose on Vip as she cried¡ªuntil she fell asleep, snoring with her mouth wide open.

    ¡°That was a terrible story,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°¡®Look, something distracting?¡¯ That¡¯s your idea of a distraction?¡± Trella answered. ¡°You put me on the spot, I need some warning to come up with sad stories. Especially about puppies. No one can just come up with a sad story about a puppy on demand.¡±

    *Slow, slower, slowest.* Vip said.

    ¡°Without ever tasting bacon?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°That¡¯s just¡­wrong. Also, Trella, you now owe Vip a piece of bacon. I don¡¯t make the rules, she does.¡±

    ¡°If Vip is such a good story-teller, she can tell the story to Eve when she wakes up and maybe Eve will make bacon for the poor, poor little puppy who the shadows told me ate an entire ham back at the holding.¡± Trella crossed her arms. ¡°Remember that week you thought she was sick and begged Eve for Status Cleanses? Oh, no. The puppy fell asleep. How convenient.¡±

    There were many great reasons not to provoke Trella. Kaden didn¡¯t need more.

    Eve didn¡¯t rise until long after sunup, when Kaden was making bacon, which was completely a coincidence and not a request from Vip that anyone could prove. Sara sat bundled in blankets and clutching a heatstone to her chest and scanning through Party Leader messages.

    Eve groaned and clutched her head¡ªthen glanced to Kaden and Trella. ¡°When did I come home?¡±

    ¡°Late,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°And you passed out without saying anything embarrassing,¡± Trella added. ¡°How¡¯s the [Hangover]?¡±

    Eve¡¯s groan was an answer. ¡°Why does [Life Explosion] not remove it? I¡¯m going to go stand in line for help.¡±

    Trella didn¡¯t even look as she removed a [Status Cleanse] potion. ¡°Or you can choke that down. It¡¯s not as fast as [Life Explosion] but it does work. Also I¡¯m told they taste like Vip¡¯s been bathing in them.¡±

    Eve sniffed¡ªand then drank, gagged, and drank more. ¡°Thank you, Trella. Frost! Kaden isn¡¯t showing [Frost]! How did you figure out the [Fire Soul] potion?¡±

    ¡°Teamwork.¡± Trella didn¡¯t elaborate, which was fine by Kaden. ¡°I need more essence. I have five low quality potions and more poor quality. I don¡¯t know if the low quality will thaw a victim or if we should trade these with the Skan. Sara! That¡¯s a request for you.¡±

    Sara startled from her focus. ¡°We need to test. I¡¯m sure our position with the Resyr is cemented, but if there¡¯s a chance of failure, they¡¯ll be more understanding. I¡¯ll send a message to Drokor explaining all the risks.¡±

    Ashi yawned and glanced over to Kaden. ¡°Truly, fortune smiles on us. Your skills are valuable, Trella. Do not give for free what you have earned with scars and devotion.¡±

    ¡°Not planning on it,¡± she answered.

    Sara cleared her throat. ¡°There¡¯s a meeting in five days between all the Adventurers brought here by the Mercari. The general consensus is that Kai Fen wasn¡¯t anticipating any of this. He¡¯s not impetuous and now doubts his understanding.¡±

    Such a meeting would be good.

    But Kaden already worried about consequences. ¡°Some of them will be assigned to the Skan or other potential allies. Do the Fen have a Party?¡±

    ¡°They were offered and declined, but both of the Fen¡¯s allied clans have full parties of higher level adventureres. My general assumption is that they will happily vouch repayment, but assumptions don¡¯t pay debts.¡± Sara set aside her Heatstone. ¡°I need to visit the Skan today. Trella, it would make sense to bring a pair of potions to give them back at least one victim of [Frost].¡±

    Trella shrugged. ¡°Those two together should purge anyone. I have to get more essence, so whatever we do, we plan on hunting Domain Beasts tonight, and depending on what spawns, we may even enter the Domain itself.¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°I need to ensure Drokor¡¯s trades are shipped back, and set cargo orders for a return trip. Ideally we¡¯ll never be more than a week from deliveries, and comfort is the best kind of pressure.¡± Trella stored the potions. ¡°Most predators here don¡¯t hunt by day. We¡¯re really a deterent to other clans, but right now, everyone is taking a breath and asking ¡®Do we want to do this?¡¯¡±

    ¡°The Resyr couldn¡¯t be much weaker,¡± Eve said. ¡°That will shift when they begin to trade. The key will be forming a three-clan alliance. The Skan are natural allies. Then we have the Kamuc, who are mead-makers, beekeepers, and medicine makers who send scouts afield. They¡¯re the only tribes to send scouts into the Ice Domain for herbs. We need tools to trade. Shovels, sheers, inventory bags.¡±

    Kaden had a better idea. He drew the honey from his giant honeybee colony. ¡°Lead with this. Where do they get their honey from normally?¡±

    ¡°Trade runs west, all the way to Bierost,¡± Sara said. ¡°Eve, you were enjoying the mead last night, weren¡¯t you?¡±

    Eve turned slightly green. ¡°I don¡¯t like what I remember, and that¡¯s in spite of not remembering much. Everything was spinning and I was so dizzy, and there was a sad, sad story about a puppy who never got bacon.¡±

    ¡°Sara, I wish to go with you,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I believed a second level in [Soaring Wind] would come easily. This is not so. I would practice in your presence.¡±

    A loud slam on the groundhouse door had Kaden on his feet, Remembrance in his hands. Already the [Ulf] sprinted his way.

    ¡°Peace,¡± a man called.

    ¡°Gunar?¡± Kaden asked as he opened the door. ¡°It¡¯s early for a brawl.¡±

    ¡°My wife is a [Crafter],¡± Gunar said. ¡°She was excited about the [Ulf Stalker] hides you brought back from the domain. She drives a hard bargain for her services, but they¡¯re worthwhile. The Sturm woo¡¯d her for a year with promises of a workshop and food for her family, but she chose me.¡±

    That was one aspect Kaden liked. The Resyr believed Crafters were worth their wages and should always be rewarded. The Mercari paid him to be here, and depending on what it was, Kaden might be willing to make a deal.

    The Resyr had few stone buildings above ground. The Makur pens sat above the ground houses, making for a constant whif of frozen cattle shit, but it made sense for a clan focused on crafting with the products of the Makur.Just beyond the makur pens sat flat tents of hide where the tanning pits had been laboriously hewn, and just past that, taller tents with stretching racks and sewing tables where men and women worked in groups.

    ¡°The wood for a rack is worth more than all the hide it¡¯ll work in a year,¡± Gunnar said as he lifted back a flap.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you get more shipped north?¡±

    ¡°Ice doesn¡¯t trade well, and we have much of what we need.¡± Gunar called out. ¡°Siggy! Stalker!¡±

    Gunar¡¯s wife was a reed-thin woman with large blue eyes and nearly no nose. She held her blond hair back with needles and knifes shoved into the bun so it wasn¡¯t clear what would happen if she needed to stitch, cut, and clamp at the same time.

    She looked Kaden up and down, in his [Ulfen] armor. ¡°That one. He¡¯s not a stalker. If I didn¡¯t see [Stealth] myself I wouldn¡¯t believe it.¡±

    ¡°Kaden Birch, meet Sigrun, the dawn in my dark,¡± Gunnar said. ¡°Sig, I¡¯m going goose hunting.¡±

    ¡°Get two,¡± she answered. ¡°Val is sick and so¡¯s her man, the whole crew will be coughing without goose stew. If three were to fall, there would be nothing wasted.¡±

    Goose stew for healing? That seemed wrong. Kaden summoned the [Falcrow] and dispatched it to Eve with a request. Purging illness was easier than most status effects. ¡°So, I brought you four [Ulf Stalker] hides, reaped myself, no [Field Harvest]. Gunar speaks highly of your skills.¡±

    ¡°Gunar is no fool.¡± Sigrun answered. She left the table where she worked and headed toward a table that was more boards on top of storage chests. ¡°Your armor was an effort of all. This, I have done myself. We have killed [Ulf] many times. But those of the Domain retain their magic.¡±

    She pulled out a set of furs Kaden wouldn¡¯t have called armor at all. White, almost void magic rippled in the fur the same way colors did in his at night. ¡°You share a bedroll with a Huntress. We saw her using [Tracking] on the [Ulfen] who plagued us.¡±

    ¡°Trella¡¯s a [Shadow Blade]. Her stealth is more powerful in the dark.¡±

    ¡°And if all the world were always dark, that would matter.¡± Sigrun motioned. ¡°Examine. You cannot bargain if you do not know what you bargain for.¡±

    [Snow Stalker - Ulf Gear]

    This set of gear grants constant low-level stealth in snow or ice. The type of bonus generated depends on if the wearer is still or in motion. While in motion, ranged attacks which are not linked to ENTITY have greatly reduced accuracy. The longer the wearer is still, the greater the stealth bonus. Stalk your prey.

    Kaden didn¡¯t just look, he held up the set, checking seams, looking for holes. Each of the [Ulf] had been speared by the [Lurpion], but he found no trace of the damage, and the craftsmanship was near perfect. ¡°How does this work with her [Letydir]?¡±

    ¡°Our furry friends are with us always, it will cover her completely. Though our hunters found her curious. She walks over her own tracks, and ignores the most basic of rules. Some say ¡®southerners cannot be understood. The heat has cooked their brains.¡¯ I doubt it.¡±

    ¡°Trella wasn¡¯t trained as a [Huntress],¡± Kaden said. Now came the part he dreaded. ¡°I¡¯d ask how much I owe you, but there were a stack of hides and I only see one outfit. So perhaps it¡¯s what you owe me.¡±

    [Negotiation] gave him a pat on the back. It was always better to go on the offensive. Knowing that the Resyr were short on gold didn¡¯t change the underlying problem Kaden faced. He liked crafters and wanted them to succeed.

    On the other hand, gold was nice and giving it away was an awful idea, no matter how much he liked crafters. So Kaden began to negotiate, starting with a single gold, which Sigrun believed was just too little and Kaden felt was a decent offer. Ten gold was highway robbery and Kaden had already illustrated what should be done to badgers and bandits by the roadside.

    The other crafters stopped to listen to them argue, as Kaden carefully backed Sigrun into a logical corner. If only two hides had been required then she was sitting on a gold mine of materials.

    ¡°I have sent for the [Huntress],¡± Sigrun answered.

    That was fighting dirty.

    Trella stepped out of the shadows under a table. ¡°Did you¡ªoh, Kaden! Look at this!¡±

    That sound was [Negotiation] whining and putting its tail between its legs, preparing to get beat. Instead of negotiating on price, Trella had launched into requests for changes. Could it have bigger loops for the [Ink Blades]. Could it have pockets? Could it have more pockets? Could the belt be wider to hide potion flasks? Could the cloak please not have the [Ulf] head attatched?

    This wasn¡¯t negotiation, it was capitulation.

    ¡°We will make fixes tonight,¡± Sigrun said. ¡°You should go with the hunting party hunting [Razor Geese]. They could teach you how not to ruin tracks. You are a terrible [Huntress].¡±

    ¡°Learned it in a Domain from a hidden boss,¡± Trella said, handing over a stack of gold.

    [Negotiation] almost made Kaden cry, but the smile on Trella¡¯s face almost made up for it. He watched her change her gear. [Shadow Blades] weren¡¯t required to wear black. It wasn¡¯t a cult, but it was usually a good decision based on how their skills operated.

    But Trella looked good in her [Snow Stalker] gear, and even more, the excitement on her face couldn¡¯t be fake. ¡°Be good. Don¡¯t start any wars. But if someone does start wars, I want you to kill every last one of them,¡± Trella said. She kissed him, then leaned back, falling into her own shadow.

    ¡°Now that was a negotiation,¡± Sigrun said.

    Kaden left before he started another [Brawl.]

 Twenty One - Hamburgers with Hooves

    [Makur] were boring beasts, and the only thing Kaden deeply enjoyed was that they let him work on [Beast Command] by trying to order several Makur at once. He wasn¡¯t sure if they were simply weak-willed, or if they were unable to tell which he was speaking to, but Kaden stood in a field of ice-crystals surrounded by [Makur] obeying the commands he gave them without [Soul Binding].

    The orphan Makur had grown stronger, healthier, though it kept wandering over to him.

    Beside him, the [Ulf]¡¯s emotions said it had actually been killed by the [Lurpion] and this was hell. It was surrounded by hamburgers with hooves and yet forbidden from eating beasts that were obviously meant to be eaten.

    Kaden left the [Makur] and headed back to the village, sending the [Falcrow] first to Sara, then Trella so they wouldn¡¯t be surprised.

    Sara¡¯s green messenger parrot returned almost immediately. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to take the FarPortal, we¡¯ll be fine for a few days. Bring more flasks for Trella, plus anything you think would be trade-worthy.¡±

    ¡°Bring me lamb skewers?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°Come on, big guy.¡± Kaden waited for the [Far Portal] to activate and stepped through, emerging in air so warm he was near sweating. Snow covered the city of Trunistan, home of the crafters, but it was wet snow, barely frozen, hardly worth noting.

    ¡°Sir, can I help?¡± A guard asked, staring at the [Ulf].

    ¡°Tell King Evander Kaden Birch found a treasure worth evaluating. I need to buy alchemy supplies.¡± He already knew where to go but letting the guard explain would give the man a reason to be out.

    The Alchemy House, as always, remained busy, filled with customers demanding the best from the hundreds of [Alchemists] who worked there. Kaden repeated his orders for three different attendants, each time explaining his lover was an Alchmist, and finally paid in gold.

    The [Ulf] panted and returned to lay in the snow outside until Kaden accepted his cargo¡ªand added a second request. ¡°Let¡¯s say my lover was making [Fire Soul] potions. Is there any gear you¡¯d use?¡±

    That started an argument that involved half the alchemists on duty¡ªthen those on their breaks¡ªand only ended when the master of the house himself broke it up, ordering everyone to their stations. ¡°Essence Inversion is trivial for Class Alchemists. For those cursed with only skill, it¡¯s a painful process. We stock gear recovered from gnomes which will do almost any operation. But for the lady, I suggest something simpler.¡±

    [Alchemist¡¯s Eye]

    This eyepiece will gauge three alchemical properties of your choosing. To monitor more properties simultaneously, buy better gear with the gold you rake in using this.

    It was a jewler¡¯s eye-piece with a gnarled leather band, but the eye-piece itself had only minor scratchings on the brass housing.

    ¡°Ten thousand gold,¡± the man commented drolly. ¡°As though love could be measured in gold.¡±

    Love had been measured in burnt sausage and spoiled ham when he and Trella lived in the Saint¡¯s Hall. [Negotiation] flagged the statement as a tactic for manipulation.

    A tactic that worked.

    ¡°Do you have a lower quality version that maybe costs half that?¡± Kaden asked.

    The cloud of smug from the [Alchemist] was choking. ¡°Every young [Alchemist] believes they can cheat on equipment. Every young one fails to understand it¡¯s a life and a life-time you measure the value over. There are six grades higher but none lower. Save gold for a few decades and come back. Ten thousand gold will be nothing to you in time.¡±

    Gold wasn¡¯t going to happen until Harrigan¡¯s ship sold. Alchemists were notorious for not taking trades. But for every rule, there was a rule breaker, and Kaden had one thing any sane person hated and Alchemists prized. ¡°Say I had some dragon shit. Ice dragon, from the Ice Domain. You might be tempted to say¡ª¡±

    ¡°Let us appraise.¡±

    Kaden handed over the inventory cube. Negotiation was already gearing up for Kaden. He waited as [Alchemists] gathered and spoke in hushed tones. Hushed to someone without [Echo Beetles]. Instead, he listened to them argue over how it would never, ever produce an attribute boost. And was six thousand gold too low?

    It was probably wrong to spy, but Kaden would say his apologies that night before bed. For now, he waited for the first offer¡ªseven thousand gold.

    ¡°Ten. Or an even trade for that eye piece.¡± Kaden saw it as an investment in Trella, and accepted the man¡¯s handshake. ¡°Thank you. I left my [Ulf] parked outside, I don¡¯t want to leave him unattended too long. He might eat one of your horses.¡±

    On the way back to the FarPortal, Kaden summoned Trinity¡ªwho hated cold even more than Rocky. The TriTerror hissed and rattled and rumbled as she lowered her head to greet Kaden.

    ¡°Sorry, girl. It¡¯s bitterly cold where I¡¯ve been. The cold would kill you before you could kill it.¡± Kaden put his arms around Trinity¡¯s center neck.

    Then a low growl had him on the defense. ¡°No. No. No. You¡¯re not going to bite, you¡¯re not going to spear, no one is going to kill anyone else.¡±

    With that he pulled the [Ulf] into his soul, depositing it in an endless snowstorm. ¡°I expected better from you, Trinity.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s barked response was *I expected you to stick with the dog you already have.*This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Beast Master!¡± A call came from down the street, and Kaden turned to see a man encased in bandages hobbling his way.

    The voice was familiar. Yituri, King Evandor¡¯s cousin and confidant. Who had not been bandaged so. He walked with the aid of twin canes, heading straight for Kaden.

    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I discovered an interaction with crafting skills that was completely unexpected. Mana-reinforced wounds take ages to heal but skin grows back and we know not to try warming taning vats with [Fire Crystals]. Logically it should work. Can you see the logic burned into my skin?¡± Yituri held out bandaged hands. ¡°You have a treasure. What kind?¡±

    ¡°The kind I can¡¯t even [Identify]. Loot from a boss in a domain that hasn¡¯t been run in ages.¡± Kaden wasn¡¯t sure this was the right place to discuss. ¡°I need somewhere more private, and I need a crafter I can trust. I don¡¯t know that I even want to sell this. I do know that won¡¯t happen until I know what it is and what it makes.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s bad news for me. Worse news for Evan, but you¡¯re definitely smarter than last time. Come, I¡¯ll have the King¡¯s personal advisor look at it. Vong recently categorized a literal dragon tongue for someone, I¡¯d trust him with your life. More importantly, I¡¯d trust him with my life.¡± Yituri quickly lead Kaden to the noble¡¯s quarter, and a crafting bazaar that didn¡¯t offer much crafting, as it was only for nobles. What it did offer was privacy and a heat-stone where Trinity began to char scorpion meat.

    Mana Screens activated, baring viewing. A few minutes later, a middle-aged Centurion Crafter deactivated a shield and stepped in. ¡°Vong Hurd, [Master Crafter]. How may I serve the King?¡±

    Kaden produced the [Lurpion] tail-lure. ¡°This boss lured in prey and then attacked it. I really like the armor options but this I couldn¡¯t even read the crafting tree for.¡±

    ¡°Neither can I.¡± Vong rushed to the table. ¡°I¡¯ve seen shapeshifting materials. Common rogue materials. This is different. A monster who shifted only a part of itself. I think it¡¯s a weapon. Or armor. Or maybe a tool, it¡¯s hard to say.¡±

    Yituri rubbed at his bandaged fingers. ¡°Vong, if the King were here¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d tell him the same thing. I can¡¯t appraise it, I can¡¯t make offers, I can¡¯t recommend assignments because I have no idea what it¡¯s supposed to be. And for my money, neither does the System.¡± Vong began to pace. ¡°I¡¯ve seen similar issues around Second Life idiots. Maybe this little boss of yours was once a companion, and so it became whatever its master desired.¡±

    Kaden produced the mouth spears and explained how it hunted, luring, ambushing, spearing and then killing.

    ¡°Now these, I know what to do with. Spears!¡± Vong ignored them. ¡°It is our right and our responsibility to find the best use for every material. And I can¡¯t begin to do that yet. I¡¯ll need time and assistance just to discover what it is.¡±

    ¡°Trella said she thought it would be shape-shifting armor,¡± Kaden offered.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure she did her best.¡± Vong grew more nervous with every moment. ¡°It could be a weapon. It could be armor. It might be a set of salad tongs, but if it is, it will make legendary salads.¡±

    ¡°Eve would love that!¡± Kaden said. ¡°What do I do? I could use legendary armor. I mean, salads aren¡¯t bad but when a Ice Dragon is attempting to kill you, you don¡¯t say ¡®Give me thirty seconds, lettuce, cheese, and bacon bits.¡¯¡±

    ¡°I wish I could tell you. What I can be certain of is that the Crafting Games run every year. There are dozens of centurion crafters who come to test themselves. The value of their opinion equals the prestige we¡¯d gain,¡± Vong said. ¡°Are you comfortable leaving it for a few months?¡±

    That would depend on others. Kaden looked to Yituri. ¡°I¡¯ve been burned on crafting deals before. The Fire Domain items I understand. This is different.¡±

    ¡°I swear before the System we will protect this treasure, appraise it during the games, and return it should you demand,¡± Yituri said. ¡°On the Kingdom itself, I swear this.¡±

    Oath heard and acknowledge. The Treasure __ERROR__ will be returned to Kaden Birch upon demand, or the kingdom will be unmade.

    The system had simplified Yituri¡¯s meaning. If it were stolen, it couldn¡¯t be returned. Kaden nodded. ¡°You have my permission. I want to know what it makes. Even if it¡¯s salad tongs.¡±

    ¡°That was just an example,¡± Vong said. ¡°I have no idea. And I can¡¯t tell you how exciting that is. The King will be so pleased!¡±

    Speaking of the King, Kaden was probably breaking a promise. ¡°I said I wouldn¡¯t be back for a few years.¡±

    ¡°I saw nothing,¡± Yituri answered. ¡°Oh, you know, your name actually did come up a week ago. Not your name, but a party member. Tell Evelyn Black the repairs to the home she bought were extensive, but her designs are impossible. She¡¯ll need to advise the architects and designers herself.¡±

    Easy enough. Kaden whistled for Trinity. ¡°I¡¯ll be watching for your bird.¡±

    ¡°Come see the games!¡± Yiturn said. ¡°Every type of crafting you can imagine, the greatest of all will come to prove it¡ªand prove it again. This year we have an open-air stone carving pit!¡±

    ¡°Very tempting,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯ll talk it over with Trella. I¡¯ve always got a Quest queue twenty deep.¡±

    ¡°Let me tell you a truth I wish I knew earlier: If you don¡¯t make time to watch leather cure, no one is going to do it for you,¡± Yituri said. ¡°You have to make your own time. I¡¯ll tell the King you stopped by, and more importantly, how eager you were to leave to keep your word. I do have a favor, not a transaction, just a request. If you see Jacqueline Scylla, I want to make it clear Trunistan is normally a safe place. I¡¯d hate to see any Centurion write us off due to the unsanctioned actions of an Assassin. We have an Assassin¡¯s Guild here. They, by agreement, never approve contracts. In return, we keep hay stacks all over the city and pretend like we don¡¯t see them if one dives in.¡±

    Moments like this, Kaden really wished he prepared better lies. ¡°I know Mistress Scylla very well. Her daughter is my party leader. One of the first things she said was ¡®You can¡¯t live your life in fear ofAssassins.¡¯ But I know she avoided Brunof for thirty years after an attack. Or was it fifty? It sounded like forever.¡±

    ¡°Spoken like a young man, and that¡¯s good advice. Just mention it for me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯d be a pleasure.¡± Kaden waited for them to drop the mana screens. ¡°I hate to run, but the longer I stick around, the greater the chance something goes sideways.¡±

    Yituri laughed, but he escorted Kaden back to the Far Portal.

    Kaden activated it and stepped through, arriving at the Holding, where late winter was bitter. Trinity hated the cold, though this cold was simply uncomfortable, where that up north was deadly. She lumbered for the farmhouse and pushed open the door.

    Kaden followed only because he needed time to make arrangements. The [Falcrow] carried his message to the [Portal Mage]¡¯s guild, where Kaden could carefully, clearly discuss what was and wasn¡¯t allowed.

    Transporting cargo through FarPortal was generally a matter of common sense. Cargo FarPortals had teams of mages. Anything that fit in Inventory was acceptable, as well as what you could carry on your own.

    Kaden once looted a town via a FarPortal and nearly killed the Portal Mage without even knowing it. Now he made arrangements and sent payment ahead of time. ¡°We¡¯re not staying,¡± he called to Trinity. He dumped the ulf out, drew her into his soul, and set off for FangWood, where Remembrance let him fell a fifty foot tree, then drag it to the FarPortal.

    His mage was ready, the agreement set, and Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate as he heaved the trunk onto his shoulders and threaded his way through the FarPortal¡ªand out into wind so cold it punched him in the gut. Twenty steps later, the FarPortal collapsed, and Kaden set down his tree, leaning back on the trunk as Resyr rushed to marvel at it.

    ¡°What is this?¡± Drokor asked, truly surprised.

    Kaden gestured to it. ¡°I call it opportunity. Can you get me Sigrun? She and I were negotiating. I¡¯d like to continue that negotiation.¡±

 Twenty Two - The Long Way of War

    Kaden lay back against the trunk of his tree, listening to fire crackle and enjoying the smell of roast goose, while Trella, pleased as could be, juggled daggers to entertain children, passing them off to her deceptions.

    ¡°See, here¡¯s the thing,¡± Kaden said to Sigrun through a mouth full of goose. ¡°I don¡¯t need a tree. I¡¯ve got a whole forest, and in fact, the magic of FangWood probably regrew this one in minutes. You do need a tree.¡±

    Sigrun had recognized her poor bargaining position from the start but that didn¡¯t stop her. ¡°But here is my thing. Your tree is in the middle of my village. I¡¯m going to charge you for storing it. For guarding it. For protecting it from [Ice Beavers].¡±

    ¡°I have an axe and a powerful need for a pile of woodchips,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°You don¡¯t want to aggravate me. I¡¯ve always wanted to tame an Ice Beaver.¡±

    Sara had watched the entire exchange, arms crossed, pseudopods arched over her head to protect her from the snow. ¡°Ice Beavers aren¡¯t an actual Beast.¡±

    Actually, they were, according to [Beast Knowledge]. Maybe that wasn¡¯t relevant. ¡°We¡¯ll think on it. We¡¯ll negotiate.¡±

    [Makur] meat was rich and strongly flavored and so gamey the film stayed on Kaden¡¯s tongue for hours after the meal, but [Razor Goose], that was a meal. He waved a nearly-gnawed wing to Trella. ¡°Which one did you shoot?¡±

    ¡°I tried to tell you I didn¡¯t shoot any of them,¡± she answered. ¡°They have a skill that projects an illusion of them a few feet away.I had my Deceptions slash everything in four foot circle.¡± She held up a feather. The sharpened edges gleamed in the firelight. The long, blue feathers were prized as work knives. They didn¡¯t rust, and about the time the enchantment let them dull, the feather disintegrated. Letting the Resyr claim them was an easy surrender.

    *What do you actually plan to do with the tree?* Sara asked via [Mind Speech]. Her range and control was so much better from years of practice at Dervish¡¯s Summoning Services.

    *I can¡¯t give it to them. That¡¯s not allowed and even if it were, I wouldn¡¯t,* Kaden replied. *Do they have anything we can trade?*

    *Mead. Verdant Vineyard will produce high quality mead. Theirs is better. This would be sought in the same way a [Phoenix Feast] is.* Sara¡¯s face didn¡¯t betray the conversation inside. *In a week, everything will change. Clans will want to trade for what we have¡ªand that¡¯s before Trella¡¯s [Fire Soul] potions.*

    That reminded Kaden. He drew the [Alchemist¡¯s Eye] from Inventory and tossed it through the air at Trella, who snatched it without even looking¡ªthen shouted as she slipped it on. ¡°How much did this cost? Whoops, I mean, probably not a ton. No reason to look at me. Just a woman celebrating some jewelry.¡±

    The shadows beside him bubbled as Trella rose and then sat beside him. ¡°Do any shopping today?¡±

    ¡°A little.¡± He took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to make inversions more manageable. Not ¡®easy.¡¯¡±

    Trella fiddled with the [Alchemist¡¯s Eye]. ¡°I can set it to show me reaction rate and both aspects, that will let me gauge the appropriate inversion point. I¡¯ve just been guessing and developing a good feel from the color. This lets me measure.¡±

    ¡°What about other potions? Anything you could use to raise your quality rating?¡±

    She closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll need to do a search. Actually, I¡¯ll just ask Nieman. Did you get the supplies?¡±

    ¡°Already stored. I had to take a break earlier. Sigrun was an inch from throttling me and Gunar was worried.¡± Kaden checked his inventory. ¡°You know how you brewed Attribute Potions from Cloud¡¯s manure?¡±

    ¡°Gryphon shit is the good shit,¡± Trella said. ¡°You¡­got more?¡±

    ¡°From the Ice Dragon. I traded it for the eyepiece.¡±

    She seemed lost in thought. ¡°It will be a good trade. Measured through the years of use I get from this? I¡¯ll make it such a good trade.¡±

    ¡°Never doubted it.¡± Kaden lay back and dozed until moonrise.

    Sara was already dressed, Trella wore her [Snow Stalker] gear, and Ashi had added white fur to her mana wraps, though she seemed distant and out of sorts. Kaden couldn¡¯t sense her emotions the way she could his, but he¡¯d seen her worried before.

    Trella was already preparing. ¡°Tonight, we¡¯re going to hunt domain creatures, and if we can, we¡¯ll do it without going in. There¡¯s plenty of time to hunt inside but tonight is about caution and making sure we gather more essences than we need for [Fire Soul]. That means I¡¯m using Deceptions, Sara¡¯s using a bow, Ashi and Eve are all ranged.¡±

    Kaden patted the [Ulf]. ¡°He can¡¯t get [Frost]. He and I will keep them off you. Sara, you can use Thorn Caster for poison.¡±

    Sara gladly accepted his bow. ¡°Tonight, we not only hunt, we harvest. Just so you understand, I submitted an alliance plan to the Mercari last night. My hatred for them doesn¡¯t extend to the gold they offer.If Eve can broker an alliance between three clans, we all receive a hundred gold. Four clans, two hundred gold. Five, five hundred gold. Each.¡±

    Eve¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°I asked¡ª¡±

    ¡°Gold is cheap, war is expensive. But you haven¡¯t recognized the cut-throat truth. They do not care who leads the clans. Only that the civil war ends. I assure you every party out here has received the same offer.¡± Sara¡¯s horrors pointed to the darkness. ¡°We have an advantage bought by each of you. Kaden brought back their dead. Trella holds the key to removing [Frost], Eve¡¯s status cleansing has made her a goddess. Let¡¯s press the advantage.¡±

    ###

    Six hours of hunting had them dozens of miles from the Resyr village. Between Trella and the [Ulf]¡¯s scouting, every domain gate except two had met the same fate¡ªan agony cloud, a [Moon Strike] Barrage, Ashi unleashing [Big Boom] and Sara relentlessly loosing arrows at the monsters. The two exceptions were an Ice Spider the size of a house and a living storm even Ashi wasn¡¯t sure how to damage.

    Better to leave those to dawn and the fading of the Domain¡¯s power. Instead, they pushed north east, where Trella had spotted set of domain gates so close a single [Agony Cloud] would send all three running.

    Ashi had taken to soaring up and then activating [Hover]. All spell costs increased while [Hover] was active but it made her death from above, firing precision blasts of fire and lightning to confused monsters who never knew if their enemy was the one before them or behind.

    ¡°Eve, the [Ulf] got hit hard by those [Polar Trolls].¡± Kaden felt the pain through the Soul Bond.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Eve pressed her hand to the [Ulf]¡¯s side. ¡°I prefer Vip, but there are definite advantages to size and ferocity. And thick fur.¡±

    The [Ulf]¡¯s emotions said it didn¡¯t understand this healing. The way of its kind was to fight and feel pain, to live with that pain until it dulled, and then fight again. It shook the blood from its muzzle and whined.

    Trella¡ªwas missing. Then again, she might be setting up for an [Agony Cloud].The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The shadows beside him warped into Trella¡¯s form, and spoke in her voice. ¡°We¡¯re not alone out here, and you can assume they¡¯re not here for hugs. They¡¯re stalking you, I don¡¯t think they¡¯ve spotted Sara and Eve.¡±

    Kaden relayed the warning to Ashi, Sara, and Eve. Then moved closer to the nearest domain gate, using the glowing blue to outline himself. The spawn here were like wyverns, walking on two legs, but without wings. Their stubby fore-legs ended in misshapen three-clawed hands, and only thick tails kept them balanced.

    [Identify] failed each time Kaden used it, showing garbage and _EXTINCT_ENTITY_. But their behavior said they were uncomfortable in the wide expanse and more concerned with defending the Domain Gate than hunting those at the edge of the gate¡¯s soft blue glow.

    ¡°Come on out and say hello!¡± Trella¡¯s voice behind him made Kaden jump. ¡°We¡¯re hunting Domain Beasts, but there¡¯s plenty for everyone. Of course, you were headed east toward that clan. Under really pitiful [Stealth].¡±

    ¡°Randal, you failed us. You¡¯re supposed to be our assassin, keeping us safe from all the others.¡± The voice was rich and hearty, and the man it was attached to materialized out of the darkness, a [Knight] in heavy polished silver plate, and beside him, a rotund [Paladin] wearing armor that might really be gold. Just behind them stood an [Archer] whose bow gave off a blazing red light, and a curious man with a bald head and brown robes whose [Identify] didn¡¯t seem right. Each time Kaden used it, it gave a momentary discription that flickered out.

    Randal was the assassin wrapped in white rags knotted up and down their arms, who dropped into the snow like he¡¯d been flying. ¡°We didn¡¯t see you there. [Stealth]?¡±

    Trella hadn¡¯t moved since she spoke.

    Kaden took the lead. ¡°My name¡¯s Kaden Birch, we¡¯re with the Resyr clan south. Lots of [Makur] to trade and also one tree. Sara said there¡¯d be a meeting next week, so it¡¯s good to meet you. Who¡¯s the party Leader?¡±

    The [Paladin] looked briefly unsure, exchanging glances with the knight. ¡°That¡¯s me. You¡¯re not marked as a leader, so I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯d want.¡±

    The Quest Panel and leader exchange was still available, and Kaden focused on him until [Identify] finally worked. ¡°Oh, there you are! Richard Run. Good to meet you, Richard. I just sent your contact information to Sara. She¡¯ll reach out.¡±

    ¡°You said no one would be able to [Identify] us,¡± the [Knight] whispered.

    [Keen Hearing] made it so he should have shouted it.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Sara¡¯s voice rang out at a distance. ¡°Kaden! Trella, where are you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s our Party Leader,¡± Kaden said. He didn¡¯t see Trella, but he felt her close and reached out with [Mind Speech]. *Their Assassin is gone. Don¡¯t know where he is.*

    Trella didn¡¯t answer, but Kaden didn¡¯t doubt she was aware, and the [Ulf] had stopped moving. It hid off to Kaden¡¯s left. [Pack Tactics] struggled because Kaden was human, but it worked just well enough through [Beast Soul] to say the [Ulf] would strike the mage, the [Vampire Healer].

    Kaden froze. [Identify] had briefly locked on and showed the right information. He shared the information to Sara. ¡°What¡¯s a [Vampire Healer] do? We have a [Transfusionist] who can burn three thousand health in one go. I bet it¡¯s similar.¡±

    The night wind howled, as the [Knight] and [Paladin] exchanged an unspoken conversation.

    ¡°Odd, I don¡¯t see you on the registry,¡± Sara said. ¡°I just relayed your information to the Mercari to have them fix it. You, [Archer], you¡¯re Jana Mel, correct? Which means the Eclipse Hunter must be here somewhere. I checked your Quest Logs, you¡¯ve always taken jobs together.¡±

    Kaden was counting steps to the [Knight] and planning to use the man¡¯s armor to crush him. There was still a chance this wouldn¡¯t end in blood, but the chance grew smaller by the second.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been out all night,¡± Richard-The-Paladin said. ¡°We need to get some sleep to be ready for tomorrow night.¡±

    ¡°Which clan are you working for? I¡¯d like to know where we can count allies.¡± Sara¡¯s question held the slightest threat.

    ¡°Our employers are concerned only for their safety,¡± Richard answered. ¡°You can understand hownervous everyone is. We have standing orders to attack any clan members who approach.¡±

    If it bothered Sara, she didn¡¯t show it. ¡°I understand. That said, I¡¯ll be visiting every clan by order of the Mercari. I¡¯d appreciate you not attacking me, since I¡¯m operating as the Mercari representatitive. By appreciate, I mean there won¡¯t be consequences as long as you mind your own business.¡±

    She didn¡¯t need to state there would be consequences if they did.

    This had obviously been planned as a sneak attack on another clan, but if it was a regular occurence or the first strike, Kaden couldn¡¯t say, but he did know how to find out. They¡¯d head east toward the clan that was being attacked and find out. And though Kaden wanted to label clans ¡®friends¡¯ or ¡®foes¡¯ there were arguments here that had carried for centuries. Friends might see this as a chance to settle old stores just as much as enemies.

    ¡°I said, we go.¡± Richard nodded to the others, then looked to Sara. ¡°Follow us and I¡¯ll assume it¡¯s an attack. You¡¯re not even level thirty, don¡¯t borrow trouble.¡±

    ¡°Of course not. Then again, the nice thing about higher level adventurers is the great loot they drop. We¡¯re going to hunt these Domain Beasts. You may want to move clear,¡± Sara said. ¡°Everyone, take the closest gate, full force.¡±

    ¡®Full Force¡¯ was a phrase Sara had never used, so Kaden took it as ¡°Be impressive.¡±

    An [Agony Cloud] exploded behind the closest of the three Domain Gates, sending the mutant [Wyverns] fleeing out into the night. Kaden met the closest one with [Moment of Speed], striking it in the knee. He twisted to avoid the mouth full of teeth that would have crushed his ribs and delivered a second blow.

    Brutal Blows has delivered a permanent injury!

    The monster¡¯s knee caved in backwards and it thrashed in circles.

    Kaden ignored it since Sara could use her range, and instead moved on the one which hadn¡¯t run toward the other gates. He unleashed the [Eldritch Shield] and [Shield Bashed] it for the minor stun. Ashi, Trella, and Eve hadn¡¯t attacked at all, but it was fine by Kaden.

    He dove out of the way as Sara loosed arrows. Every time the beast recovered, [Shield Bash] left it stunned for another arrow or three. It was the slowest way to kill a monster ever, but a very effective way to kill the idea that his party was an easy target.

    The second Domain Gate crawled with wasps the length of Kaden¡¯s arm. With no nest to defend and no direction to the nest, they¡¯d stuck close to the gate, as ¡®darkness¡¯ and ¡®wasp attack¡¯ were rarely terms that one used together. [Speeding Wind] added just the slightest edge, but Kaden appreciated every advantage.

    Now, Kaden needed them to make a point. *Use Anthem,* He sent via [Mind Speech], then used [Moment of Speed] to burst toward the wasp-gate and [Shield Bash] three of them. The other five¡ªmake that nine, would follow. A swarm erupted in the night air and Kaden dodged the fifteen that now attempted to land on him to bite and sting.

    All twenty¡ªthe damn things were emerging from the gate by the fistful knew only that they wanted him dead and that he was not yet dead. Nothing attacked the nest and survived.

    Kaden¡¯s mana burned away as he used [Moment of Speed] to dodge sting after sting.

    He wasn¡¯t ready when [Anthem of the End] struck.

    Sara¡¯s pseudopods had flared open their four-way jaws and now belted out a dirge for existence, for every drop of matter. Every star it would devour and even the empty space it would consume. This wasn¡¯t AOE damage, it was AOE destruction.

    Kaden activated [Destruction Aura] as he dodged wasps. Attacking was not an option, not when his opponents were numerous and fast, but as his vision turned red and Kaden spewed blood from his mouth, every second was an attack.

    [Anthem] ceased for the slightest moment, just enough to throw the wasps off balance, then blasted out again, a pattern that had the ground crawling and creaking with five foot wasps. Wasps who weren¡¯t flying. Wasps who were, in that moment, prey.

    Sara moved among them, using swords to mangle wings and letting her Horror feast as it saw fit, and Kaden, too, used boots and Remembrance to dispatch them, snatching each into Inventory as it died. His legs ached where a stinger had pierced the armor, and a wasp head hung from his arm, the mandibles still locked.

    Oh, and his health had dropped by eighteen hundred, which would be a real problem if the other party decided now was the right time to attack. Kaden drew a healing potion and swigged it, then tossed the remainder to Sara. ¡°We lost some wasps. They flew out into the darkness.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always a few random wasps somehwere,¡± Sara answered. ¡°Well, that was an invigorating hunt. Not challenging, but fun.¡±

    Kaden leaned on Remembrance and listed with [Keen Hearing]. *They¡¯re not speaking. I don¡¯t know where they are.*

    *Anthem has a way of disrupting plans,* Sara answered. *I don¡¯t want to reveal Eve or Ashi until we know if there¡¯s going to be full-contact negotiations.*

    Kaden began to dispense wasps and [Reap Materials] from them, collecting a poison that would slow the victim. Trella might be able to refine it further. The thought made him brave enough to return to the wasp-gate and smash the ones who clung to it, burned by the [Agony Cloud].

    The sun¡¯s first light banished the domain gates and the monsters it spawned.

    ¡°Good news!¡± Kaden called as he returned to where Sara stood. ¡°The wasps killed one of those deformed wyverns. Free essence!¡±

    A mount of snow shook and rumbled, and the [Ulf] rose up. Beneath it lay Eve, completely covered by its stealth. Trella faded into existence beside him as Ashi plumeted from the sky, dropping lightly to the ground.

    ¡°The last did not leave until dawn,¡± Ashi said. ¡°They watched and waited, and I do not know where the [Assassin] is.¡±

    ¡°I know where he is. We had a meet & greet when he went after Eve.¡± Trella answered. ¡°I threw the corpse through the Domain Gate, it will keep his party guessing. Did he run off? Did he get attacked by monsters? Let¡¯s get back to the village. I have [Fire Soul] potions to refine.¡±

    Kaden handed her wasp poison. ¡°Some kind of Slow?¡±

    Her laugh was musical. ¡°So slow Vip would puke. When we¡¯re back, I want to talk about what I learned from their assassin. He was the chatty kind, and it affects all of us.¡±

 Twenty Three - Odds and Ends

    While they made the long trip home, Trella laid out the short and bloody battle he hadn¡¯t even seen. ¡°Here¡¯s the hard part. Assassins are known to take advantage of opportunities. Did his party leader tell him to kill Eve? Did he just notice her and see easy experience? We know what the answer will be if we confront them, but finding the truth is near impossible.¡±

    Kaden¡¯s experience said Assassins enjoyed the XP.

    Also that they enjoyed killing.

    Neither facts contributed toward understanding. ¡°First off, how did Eve survive?¡±

    ¡°My bracelet. It¡¯ll be another twenty four hours before it functions again, but since it¡¯s like your [Resilient Constitution] it left me with one HP, which was all I needed to begin draining his health.¡± Eve¡¯s tone was grim. Then again, [Transfusionist] locked her HP at very low levels in exchange for mana and damage that made her a priority target.

    ¡°And that was all the time I needed to drag him through [Shadow Step],¡± Trella said. ¡°Like I said, chatty guy. He said they were being offered a hundred gold a month to prolong the conflict. And that we weren¡¯t even the first Adventurers to arrive.¡±

    Sara stopped cold. ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°I think there was a standing agreement among the parties here. There¡¯s always a few raids to make sure they¡¯re needed, but it never got into full blown final-death battles. They didn¡¯t trust us to keep quiet,¡± Trella said. ¡°Any of us. Kaden does what Kaden thinks is right. Sara never met a rule she didn¡¯t like. Eve, they suspect is a nobelman¡¯s daughter. I got the impression all of the other parties had been vetted or hired by a single individual.¡±

    ¡°Why would they agree?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Gold.¡± Trella¡¯s tone cut like a dagger. ¡°Everyone nurses the conflict. Everyone reaps gold. I don¡¯t mind being here but I don¡¯t want it forever. From their point of view, all they have to do is nothing, and they get gold. What happened to the parties before us? How many were there? Was any of this mentioned by your Mercari friends?¡±

    ¡°Not my friends,¡± Sara answered. ¡°I need to go see some of my contacts in person to learn things I should have been told at the start. Going clan to clan was easy. Acting as a deterrent was also fine. This is beyond the parameters of our Quest.¡±

    The Resyr village buzzed with activity as they approached. Three long sled-trains sat empty and everywhere, clan members bargained, arguing loudly in a way that would have meant bloodshed in any other culture.

    Now Kaden wasn¡¯t sure. ¡°Sara. Is there anything you need?¡±

    ¡°The truth. I¡¯m going to meet with several of my contacts and the Quest Broker and get the full story. This might have been a test, or perhaps it was an oversight. Centurions tend to view people at our level as interchangeable.¡± Sara handed him back Thorn Caster.

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. I do have a request for Trella. The negotiation for [Fire Soul] potions will be much, much easier if they observe her working and then the effect. I know, there¡¯s always a chance of failure. I¡¯d appreciate it.¡± Sara headed straight for the FarPortal.

    Kaden always considered that he could talk Trella into almost anything that didn¡¯t involve sex at night on the roof of the Saint¡¯s Hall. But as he relayed Sara¡¯s request, Trella shifted from relaxed to uneasy. ¡°I¡¯d rather brew the first few privately. Just a couple, so I know how the [Alchemist¡¯s Eye] works.¡±

    That was reasonable. Kaden sat with her as she began work. As she wondered and adjusted and tested, and finally began to brew.

    ¡°I was doing this all wrong. It¡¯s a miracle I succeeded at all,¡± she said. The first potion didn¡¯t explode, it dissipated, becoming a dim cloud of blue and red light. ¡°Can¡¯t invert that many times. It¡¯s a balance between quality and explody-ness.¡±

    The second potion was a success, if poor quality. The third came out low¡ªwhich was good enough for Trella. ¡°Let¡¯s take this upstairs. Get Drokor, have her dig out a test subject.¡±

    Kaden searched far and wide to find the ex-[Beserker] deep in discussions with three other elders. ¡°Trella wants to test her [Fire Soul] potions. Can you arrange it?¡±

    She might be old, but Drokor moved with shocking speed, barking orders to gather men and women. ¡°We¡¯ll bring two. I¡¯m not supposed to be the only elder, and restoring the others will give the Resyr confidence.¡±

    Outside, Kaden fought his way through a crowd to join Trella, who worked in near silence, the clink of flasks the only sound. She¡¯d shed her [Snow Stalker] gear for more comfort. Her hands moved with confidence, and the only betrayal of nerves was how she bit at her lip. ¡°There. Average Quality, which is above average for what I¡¯ve been making.¡±

    Through the crowd came Beserkers carrying the frozen figure of an elderly man. Trella dribbled [Fire Soul] into his lips a few drops at a time. ¡°Don¡¯t move, sir. Let the potion take effect.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Over the next few minutes, Kaden¡¯s chest ached and he appreciated [Resist Suffocation], because holding his breath seemed the right thing to do.

    The old man spoke, a whisper that Drokor leaned in to hear.

    ¡°He says his [Frost] is at forty points. He¡¯s been frozen for six years,¡± Drokor repeated.

    Trella handed over another potion and a second. ¡°Use this one first. Don¡¯t use the poor quality one if you can help it.¡±

    She set back to brewing, this time two at once, this time, working with calm acceptance until she decanted a pair. ¡°How is he?¡±

    ¡°Cold, but that¡¯s to be expected,¡± Drokor said. ¡°I had to use both to completely purge Frost. Our other Elder has only been in the ground a year.¡±

    This was a woman who had curled into a ball and frozen that way, which made getting the [Fire Soul] into her more difficult. Two potions and she lay in a shivering heap until others carried her to a groundhouse.

    The ruckus around Kaden became a roaring din as people shouted offers and threats.

    ¡°Calm down!¡± Trella shouted, slaming her fist on the table. ¡°Each of these takes an essence. I¡¯m brewing. I¡¯m going to be brewing. In fact, I¡¯m going back downstairs because I don¡¯t like people staring at me.¡±

    Sara had wanted enthusiasm.

    What she had now was damn near a riot, as Trella disappeared into her own shadow.

    Kaden sent the [Falcrow] to Eve with an urgent request. The best way to avoid a riot was to start a different riot. ¡°Listen,¡± Kaden called, using a shout meant to quell the arguments. ¡°We have here an entire tree brought from the south. Fifty feet of lumber. I have a [Builder] friend who could process it into boards, but that depends on an agreement. We are from Verona, where Eve Black is a councilwoman. She¡¯ll be negotiating the trade agreement between the Resyr and Verona, an agreement that will give them a portion of the wood.¡±

    ¡°A little warning would be appreciated next time,¡± Eve whispered as she approached. ¡°They¡¯ve got nothing anyone truly wants.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me once the amounts didn¡¯t matter?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°We¡¯ve got fresh lumber, they¡¯ve got¡­something. I want the [Makur] I rescued.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t actually want it, but you make an agreement with the Resyr, you make an agreement with the Skan, it gets easier to make an agreement with anyone else.¡± [Negotiation] said Kaden was right.

    Eve¡¯s entire demeanor changed. ¡°Excellent. Yes, thank you, Kaden. I¡¯d like to speak to representatives of all the clans. Drokor, do you have a moment?¡±

    If Kaden knew Eve, they¡¯d need all day.

    ###

    Nighttime had come, and the crowd outside still waited. If anything, it had grown. Kaden, Eve, and Ashi met with Trella, who hadn¡¯t stopped her work. ¡°I need more essence. If you see my lips moving, and I¡¯m unconscious, you can just assume what I¡¯m saying is ¡®I need more essence.¡¯¡±

    ¡°How are we going to distribute what you¡¯ve made so far?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I could broker an agreement, but understand that if not everyone buys in, we¡¯ll still have a bloodbath. This won¡¯t be a brawl. They¡¯ll kill for [Fire Soul].¡±

    Kaden sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll go back into the Ice Domain with Ashi and the [Ulf]. You and Trella stay here. I need you to manage the crowd until Sara gets back.¡±

    ¡°How many do we have?¡± Eve asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to show disdain, but my idea may be safer. There are representatives from six clans. We give a set number to each, with a bonus to the Skan, whose primary ask was [Fire Soul] potions.¡±

    Kaden shuffled through Inventory, finding that last wasp, and handed Trella the essence and poison. ¡°We¡¯re not going to solve this overnight. We¡¯re not even going to solve this in a week. We have to keep everyone calm and buy time.¡±

    ¡°Are you certain you don¡¯t have any more?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Before I setup and brew this, are you absolutely certain you¡¯re not hoarding some other corpse?¡±

    ¡°Pretty sure.¡± Hoarding corpses was a hobby.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got nineteen remaining potions, but you need two to purge Frost,¡± Trella said. ¡°Six clans, three potions each, the odd one we hold in case Kaden catches [Frost] hunting. Of course, we can¡¯t give them away. The System won¡¯t allow that.¡±

    Eve genuinely looked pleased. ¡°What if we trade them for promises? Four days of absolutely no attacks for each potion? It doesn¡¯t control the other clans but trust me, knowledge of your abilities will control them. You¡¯ve worked hard for this, it seems disrespectful to trade for nothing more than time.¡±

    ¡°Time lets me brew more,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Time lets people grow more comfortable with how things are. Time is very valuable. How will you get them to agree?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Eve. If you want careful plans destroyed in improbable ways you go to Kaden, as Oberix learned. I was born to this.¡± She took the potions and headed up. ¡°Gather around and listen, the decision is made. I¡¯m going to extract an oath and then I¡¯m going to give each of you a potion. The number of potions is directly related to how long you are willing to swear peace. Who is willing to trade days of peace for the return of their loved ones? Who is willing to rest and heal for a cure to the [Frost]? Speak up, fortune favors those who decide. If you cannot swear for your tribe, you will take only a single potion as proof of Trella¡¯s skill. One will not be enough, sadly, to purge [Frost] but it will be enough for you to speak among yourselves and decide.¡±

    For a brief moment, the night was silent, then someone spoke.

    ¡°I accept your oath. The Skan are naturally at peace with the Resyr, and I ask nothing else for now. Go in peace and may your loved ones find warmth.¡±

    Ashi listened and laughed. ¡°For a woman with no dream of ruling, she does so well. I do not fear for her.¡±

    Now was as good a time as any to ask. ¡°What¡¯s been bothering you? You talk constantly and today you have nothing to say. Help me understand. What do you need?¡±

    ¡°It is nothing¡ª¡±

    ¡°Lies,¡± Trella said without looking up. ¡°I noticed it, too, but you¡¯re a big girl and capable of speaking up when you need something. What is it¡ªor who is it?¡±

    If Kaden had cast [Halt Speech] it wouldn¡¯t have been so effective.

    ¡°What of the scrolls you took from the Emporium?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°I know Mother claimed the five, seven, and two by your permission. What of the others?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re in a safe in the Holding that¡¯s actually in another safe along with sixteen samples of different types of dung,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Thieves are inevitable, but the spell scrolls I stuck on top are all [Detect Magic Dung]. Everything else will ensure no one wants to look further. Why?¡±

    The cache of scrolls was hundreds of the most basic spells one would use to start down a [Mage] path. Also waiting a few decades for suspicion to die off because selling a few hundred that soon after the theft would be highly suspect.

    Ashi considered his answer. ¡°Because I have found something I wish to do. Look around. These people do not know magic. Fire spells would change their life and give them comfort. I wish permission to teach. I will train mages from every clan and teach them the joy of magic.¡±

    ¡°Some of them will use that magic to kill each other,¡± Trella said.

    ¡°Some of them will use that to try and kill you,¡± Kaden added.

    Ashi nodded, her face serene. ¡°They are welcome to try.¡±

 Twenty Four - Spelling Errors

    On her way out, Ashi explained about her plan. She would offer to teach one student from each of the clans. Each would earn a spellbook through service to their clans, and the spell that would combine with the equipment to grant them [Mage] as a class.

    Most would choose fire, but Ashi was certain Ice and Water would be viable choices too for the ability to reshape ice or form structures with water.

    The [Ulf] stayed beside Kaden, and it had shifted, happiest when someone touched it, happier when it was in his presence. It would be a problem to solve. The closest Domain gates glowed blue in the darkness as he approached¡ªand stopped. Beserkers surrounded the gate, armed with spears and bows, cheering as they shot and stabbed the monsters.

    ¡°Ay and Ay!¡± one of them shouted. ¡°This gate¡¯s taken for the Skan, find your own.¡±

    Everywhere they went, the gates lay surrounded and the monsters embattled.

    Except one gate, guarded by an Ice Golem. The tall monster had range, speed, strength and durability, meaning almost anything was easier.

    ¡°I can hurt it, but it will focus on me,¡± Ashi said.

    Kaden passed Thorn Caster to Sara. ¡°Keep your distance, I¡¯ll distract it. Mana Drain will only give me [Frost] so none of that. If things go Princess Pear-shaped, Ashi will open a portal away.¡±

    The [Ulf] knew its role. Harassing prey was a stalker¡¯s first task, and it looked forward to doing its part. The size of the monster didn¡¯t matter to it. The danger to the [Ulf] was not part of the calculation, the benefit to the group was.

    ¡°I have found doubt,¡± Ashi said.

    The golem looked larger. Much larger. Before its waist had not quite reached the top of the Domain gate. Now the carved belt around its waist cleared the top with room to spare.

    [Iceloch - Mirror Warrior]

    The Iceloch was once a great warrior, but lost for ages within the ice domain it forgot everything which made it an individual. Now it reflects the attributes of those it sees and uses those in battles. To face it is to face the essence of what you are, amplified by the power of a Domain.

    Skills: _ADAPTING_

    Talents:_ADAPTING_

    Kaden shared the status with Ashi. ¡°It¡¯s adapting to our presence.¡±

    ¡°Remember this monster and return,¡± Ashi said. ¡°You desire a challenge, but this challenge is one best faced with all all of us.¡±

    It rankled in his soul. Trinity would not approve, but Kaden had made mistakes before, so desperate to hunt Naski he¡¯d been headed to Hell on his own. ¡°We¡¯ll be back.¡± Even as he spoke, the world fell away around him. His eyes saw, but not anything before him. Everything was white and terror and split second moments of giant icy feet nearly smashing him. No matter how fast he ran, it was always just behind him. He saw the [Moment of Speed] end. The block of ice foot strike him. Bones broke and the world stank of copper and burning agony and a tongue that wouldn¡¯t stop licking his eyes.

    Each gasp drew in frozen air that stung his lungs, and Kaden couldn¡¯t see because of someone, someone with an [Ulf] tongue. He wasn¡¯t ready to say it was the Ulf yet but it sure seemed likely.

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Ashi spoke just above him. ¡°It was a vision, was it not? [Prophecy?]¡±

    Kaden rolled over and vomited. ¡°The [Iceloch] was chasing me. It caught me.¡±

    ¡°Then you have gained wisdom.¡±

    That was a difficult thing to say. In the months since he¡¯d accepted [Prophecy] as a Talent, it had only come on occasion and always left him with warnings that made no sense until hindsight. ¡°Remember the [Rabbit Dagnnos]?¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t forget. ¡°Remember how they were going to overrun Verona? And I spent three weeks hunting down the nest from my vision?¡±

    ¡°And you gained wisdom. You do not shout your visions from the street corners like [Prophets.] You watch and learn. So rise, walk, and learn.¡± Ashi helped him up. ¡°Trella will have her essence. They bring them, you do not need to risk yourself.¡±

    Except they did. ¡°Say the Skan come tomorrow and they bring eleven essence. Do you really think they demand less than ten potions? And if tomorrow, three more clans come, how will we offer them potions?¡±

    They passed domain gate after domain gate, all empty. Finally, Kaden made a decision. ¡°I¡¯m going in. I¡¯ll hunt smart.¡±

    ¡°Then you will not be alone.¡± Ashi headed straight for the gate. ¡°Should we be trapped, it will be together.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, with the [Ulf] on one side and Ashi on the other, he stepped through. This domain gate lay on the lake of ice that stretched far to the north. South lay a winding river mouth, east and west were staggering cliffsides. There should have been monsters. The entire domain was alive. ¡°Where are the monsters?¡±

    ¡°Be still.¡± Ashi¡¯s grip on his hand tightened. ¡°Do not move quickly. But look up.¡±

    High above the lake soared creatures with wings like wyverns, flesh stretched tight over thin bones, with long beakes filled with teeth that jutted out and scaley bodies. Their tails stretched, thin and flat, behind them, ending in a flat paddle. With twists and turns they used the tails to steer, gliding on the constant winds.

    [Stealth Aura] wouldn¡¯t engage, a mistake and a lesson he¡¯d remember now. ¡°Let¡¯s go back through the gate and use [Stealth],¡± Kaden said. ¡°As in, run. Now.¡±

    His [Ulfen] boots, and the [Ulf¡¯s] claws had no issue with the frozen lake, but Ashi¡¯s light shoes slipped as she tried to flee. Kaden picked her up and leaped to the gate right as a cry from high above said they¡¯d not only been spotted, but now had attention.

    For the briefest moment, Kaden found himself blind in the dark of the night, then he picked a side--left¡ªand darted for it. Thirty seconds later, one of the soarers heads poked through the gate. It crawled forward, using wing-tips like elbows, moving in stunted, stuttering ways. As a monster, it didn¡¯t understand there could be a difference between the Domain and the dark.

    ¡°Get it before it is airborne!¡± Ashi said, shoving him.

    Kaden burst forward with [Moment of Speed], aiming for the wing membranes with the [Levicon Blade]. The [Ulf], thorugh [Pack Tactics], had chosen the other side, and raked with claws, tearing the vulnerable wings.

    In that position and that moment, Kaden held the advantage. This was a monster born to fly, making itself smaller to fit through the gate. The [Ulf] snarled as it positioned itself on the monster¡¯s back, biting at the spine, while Kaden carved ruinous gashes in its wings.

    ¡°Flee!¡± Ashi called. Her skin shifted from deep blue to glowing red, and her hands glowed. In one hand, she held the thinnest spellbook Kaden had ever seen. The other hand wove patterns in the air. ¡°[Fire Lance!]¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    What emerged wasn¡¯t a gout of flame, but a spear of molten stone that Ashi threw.

    Her aim was not good.

    Her strength was abysmal.

    Her range left everthing to be desired, but the lance sank through the monster, spearing its leg to the earth.

    ¡°We¡¯ll work on that one,¡± Kaden said, drawing [Remembrance]. This was barely a battle against a wounded, trapped beast. The hammer felt lifeless in his hands. Which wasn¡¯t to say it didn¡¯t smash or cut, but only with his strength.

    The [Ulf] approved. Trapped, wounded, weak prey were the best prey. One could starve to death on a diet of honor. It chose to gnaw and scrape and dig at the monsters¡¯s spine until a combination of poison from Thorn Caster and gashes from Remembrance killed the beast.

    Kaden pulled the entire corpse into Inventory. ¡°Nine essence will have to do.¡±

    ¡°I am sorry. My spells are not yet fixed, my book does not know what I need. It tries to serve,¡± Ashi said. ¡°Burning that creature cost us Essence.¡±

    Perhaps.

    ¡°Nine is better than none. Nine gives Trella room to work. Nine buys Eve leverage to say ¡®Why not an alliance between us?¡¯¡±

    The [Ulf] approved of alliances. Wolf paws often joined together to kill larger prey in the Domain. Lost in thought, Kaden acted on instinct, slashing at the movement in the dark¡ªthrough a mana bird. Sara¡¯s green parrot landed on his arm. ¡°I met with the Mercari and asked the right questions this time. I¡¯m helping Eve with negotiations and would appreciate the backup if you¡¯re not deep in the Domain.¡±

    Ashi was already sending a mana-dragon in response. ¡°What do you believe, of my plan to train [Mages]?¡±

    ¡°You can do almost anything,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°Try it. If all it costs is scrolls and books we stole from the Emporium, then the cost is actually nothing. The question is, how do you get an equal exchange out of this?¡±

    The System penalized pure gifts most of the time, though starting someone toward a class was such a minor gift it rarely registered. Families and Party Members could bypass some of those restrictions, but this was different.

    ¡°I have a plan. Evelyn approves and will assist.¡± Ashi seemed quite sure of herself.

    The crowd at the Resyr village had, in fact, grown. Eve stood near a fire surrounded by a half-moon of beserkers, speaking in quiet, confident tones. Sara and Drokor were involved in a shouting match.

    Kaden headed for Trella¡¯s lab.

    She hunched over her table, a string of potions to one side. ¡°They¡¯re bringing essence in far faster than I can brew, and the expectations are ridiculous. It took ten of Drokor¡¯s clan to force one woman out of here and I¡¯m certain she stole a potion.¡±

    ¡°Here. These don¡¯t come with expectations.¡± Kaden gave her the Essence. ¡°How long has it been since you slept?¡±

    ¡°A while. I¡¯m fine.¡±

    No woman in the history of the world had been ¡®fine¡¯ when fine was claimed. Sara was a master businesswoman. Eve could negotiate with the Administrators themselves. Kaden knew how to take care of his family. He headed out, raising his voice to silence the crowds. ¡°Our [Alchemist] is exhausted. She¡¯s going to get some sleep, eat, and recover, because at this point, odds of a failure that waste your harvested essence are going up with every minute. Eve and Sara will handle distribution of what¡¯s been brewed.¡±

    The ugly undercurrent in conversation grew louder by the moment, but Sara¡¯s sharp nod said she approved, and Eve was already heading toward him to collect the available potions. She trotted down and appraised the situation, then returned. ¡°Gather and listen. I want one representative from each oathsworn clan. If you have yet to swear an oath of peace-by-the-day, I¡¯ll be happy to receive it afterwards.¡±

    As far as Eve was concerned, everything was already settled. The [Ulf] moved over to lay beside her, a silent support whose presence would lend weight to everything Eve said. Kaden summoned Vip and headed down into the groundhouse, where he found Trella asleep at the table, still clutching a fresh potion.

    He turned off the burner, bottled the potion and pulled a bedroll from Inventory. It wasn¡¯t asking too much to stay beside her. To lend her warmth. Looking at Trella brought a thousand feelings along with the memories. She wasn¡¯t an unclassed girl with fear as her foundation anymore.

    In fact, if anyone held the power here and now, it was Trella. Men would kill at her command, clans would go to war for her favor. And yet what she wanted was the experiences. He¡¯d make sure she got them.

    ###

    ¡°Where did you put my equipment?¡± Trella asked as she half chewed, half gulped fried [Razor Goose].

    Kaden tapped his ear. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t understand a word you¡¯re saying. Maybe after you¡¯ve eaten some more. Sara, did you see any Alchemy equipment?¡±

    ¡°I did not, but I¡¯m certain it will show up at some point,¡± Sara answered. ¡°How many hours were you awake and how many hours did you sleep?¡±

    Trella put a hand on Kaden¡¯s. *Where?*

    He shrugged. The [Rogue] code for *Hard to Say* was literally *Trap in Mouth*, but she knew what he meant. ¡°Where¡¯s Ashi?¡±

    ¡°She went to get equipment,¡± Sara said. ¡°As much as Trella wants to go back to being a potion slave day and night, I¡¯d like to explain what I learned from the Mercari.¡±

    She didn¡¯t hesitate, beginning with the original quest, to ensure beserker clans acknowledged their debts. That Quest remained active, and the Mercari weren¡¯t even remotely surprised or upset that some of the clans had refused to acknowledge debts.

    Also not surprised or impressed that Sara had extracted acknowledgements from the weaker ones, ones who owed little to begin with. What had impressed her Quest Broker was the knowledge that another group was paying parties to prolong the crisis.

    ¡°The Mercari aren¡¯t remotely interested in who winds up leading, they are interested in repayment as a general principle and reestablishing trading. Keep in mind, if other clans had FarPortals, and we had been assigned to, say, the Fen, the story would be told from their point of view,¡± Sara said.

    Eve pointed to Trella and then Trella¡¯s plate before commenting. ¡°From the Fen point of view, they were being sacrificed. Their warriors used to fight other people¡¯s battles for agreements the current generation never made or benefited from. Kai Fen may be a terrible leader but he¡¯s the man who broke the accords for his clan¡¯s benefit.¡±

    ¡°The clans must be allowed to work this out to whatever end they agree on. Stationing Adventurers here is to prevent genocide and make everyone pause before launching all-out war.¡± Sara sounded less happy about the first part. ¡°If they agree Kai Fen is the new leader, we depart. It wasn¡¯t our right to decide what happened in Xiao. It¡¯s not our right to decide here.¡±

    ¡°So do we surrender attempts to negotiate peace?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°No. Working to get clans to agree isn¡¯t taking their right to decide. The Mercari aren¡¯t ones to directly confront, and there are any number of Factions who might benefit from war. I frankly don¡¯t expect help. I absolutely expect them to honor the terms of our Quest, anything else would be bad business.¡±

    Trella stretched and stood. ¡°I need to go for a run before I do anymore alchemy. I¡¯m not built to sit still for days. Sorry, Kaden, you can¡¯t [Shadow Walk] and I honestly don¡¯t want to be with anyone. Alone would be good.¡±

    ¡°And if Kai Fen were watching? Waiting?¡± Eve asked.

    ¡°Please. I¡¯m a [Shadow Blade]. Even in the daylight I¡¯m hard to catch, and if Kai Fen were dumb enough to take me hostage? The other clans would march on him.¡± Trella slipped on her [Snow Stalker] gear. ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯m going to make the same speech to our friends.¡±

    Kaden went with her, ignoring how he wanted to keep her close so she¡¯d be safe. Trella¡¯s speech was brutally quick and went straight for the vital organs of the matter. She was going on a run. Following, harrassing, kidnapping, or murdering her wouldn¡¯t be tolerated.

    Several of the women volunteered to go with her.

    Kaden recognized the [Huntress] who Trella had trained with, but not any of the others. Most of them wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up. Kaden was built for distance, capable of speed and still struggled when Trella truly ran. And he suspected she¡¯d be going all-out.

    Trella¡¯s Deception appeared beside Kaden, pale in the bright light. ¡°We¡¯ll be back. I know you¡¯re worried. She knows you¡¯re worried. We all know. We¡¯ll be back.¡±

    In the blink of an eye it melted away¡ªand with it went Trella, sprinting, leaping over the snow like the world¡¯s largest, most deadly rabbit. A rabbit armed with [Ink Blades] and shadow skills and [Agony Cloud] potions. Generally speaking, the kind of rabbit one would avoid hunting because the line between you hunting it and it making a stylish and tasteful nest in your bones was razor thin.

    With her gone, Eve worked in a cold and efficient manner, distributing potions to be ferried back to the clans, and explaining to two more groups the rules by which everyone would operate. Days of no initial aggression in return for [Fire Soul] potions, and of course, a lengthy treatise on how the clan members were welcome to make their own decisions and welcome to find alternatives.

    Sara spoke with both, explaining the Mercari demands¡ªand who could vouch for a clan. Her patience exceeded Kaden¡¯s. Then again, she knew they¡¯d return.

    His worry was distracted by an urgent Quest Prompt, one on the Party Leader interface. Ydra had tagged him when she issued the Quest, and it was issued to him¡ªand only him.

    Quest: Monkey Business - Someone has been poaching crystalline cappuchins. Help the druids identify the culprit. Reward: 1x Naturi Faction Token, Faction Favor, 1x Crystal Cappuchin.

    Kaden accepted the Quest and headed for the FarPortal, gently directing the [Ulf] to protect Eve, protect Sara, or sleep. Preferrably not by tossing Sara and Eve into a pile and sleeping on them, but if that was what had to happen, he¡¯d understand. It was time to deal with some poachers.

 Twenty Five - Poached

    Kaden stepped through the FarPortal and struggled to breath. The hot, humid air refused to enter his lungs, and the bitterly cold edges of his armor gathered moisture that turned briefly to frost until Kaden stored his armor in Inventory. He¡¯d arrived in a shaded grove of wide-leafed palms whose tops joined together, and the FarPortal¡¯s crystal slab sat in rich, dark earth that smelled of rotting leaves and worms.

    ¡°Where have you been? You¡¯re dressed for the polar vortex.¡± Ydra asked. She lounged in the arms of a literal giant, a man who had to be nine feet tall, and most of his attribute points were in [Beard], which wasn¡¯t an attribute on anyone else, but on this man, it had to be. It was longer than Eve¡¯s hair, wild and bushy. Mana birds had probably attempted to nest in it and been devoured. His skin was the bronze that came from working in the sun, his pants heavy chaps of leather.

    She¡¯d mentioned her boyfriend being a large man and left a little out.

    ¡°Kaden, meet Marcus. He¡¯s a druid of the southern enclave who learned to love the jungle a little more than the forest.¡± Ydra patted Marcus¡¯s thigh.

    Marcus, despite his size, moved with a gentle grace that said he could and would use all that strength if needed, but stomping around just to show he had large feet was a waste. ¡°I hear you can communicate with Beasts that can¡¯t speak.¡±

    Kaden nodded and explained about [Beast Soul]. ¡°I can only pick up what they send. I want to help but if they don¡¯t know or have a way to tell me, I¡¯m not going to do any better than you.¡±

    ¡°Try, that¡¯s all I¡¯m asking.¡± Marcus took Ydra¡¯s hand and started into the jungle.

    Not until Trinity emerged from nearby brush did Kaden follow. ¡°This is better, isn¡¯t it, girl?¡±

    Trinity¡¯s three heads brushed the bottom of the canopy as she walked, but she exuded pride, and comfort in the dense tropical heat.

    If Marcus was surprised by the TriTerror, he didn¡¯t show it, but as they walked, he talked about his guardianship of the [Crystal Capuchin] colony. Every Druid, at level fifty, formed a bond with a species. His choice had been these monkeys made of living crystal who lived their entire lives in a tropical forest. The heat didn¡¯t bother him, the humidity was nothing, but what did was simple. ¡°There¡¯s fewer and fewer and at some point, there won¡¯t be enough to keep the species going. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s my [Nemesis] and I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not. We have no idea.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s too young to worry about a [Nemesis],¡± Ydra scolded Marcus. ¡°Just help us find out what is taking them. They don¡¯t bleed, but we haven¡¯t found body parts, so we think they¡¯re being abducted whole.¡±

    ¡°Stay here.¡± They¡¯d reached a clearing where shorter fruit trees mixed in with the taller canopy.

    Ydra shocked Kaden by heading straight to Trinity and bowing. ¡°Mother of Monsters. I¡¯m doing my best to care for your children. They¡¯re not easy. Some have killed each other. Some have fallen to other beasts. Very few lost to poachers.¡±

    Trinity lowered her blind head to touch Ydra on the top of hers and rumbled, [Beast Soul] translating it as *As long as they died angry and with their mouths full of flesh.*

    ¡°She says you¡¯re doing great,¡± Kaden added.

    ¡°I chose them. I chose the TriTerrors to bond with. They don¡¯t like me. They don¡¯t listen, they certainly don¡¯t obey, but I¡¯ll make sure they grow,¡± Ydra said.

    Trinity¡¯s emotions tended toward the harsh end of the spectrum. There was little she thought or felt that couldn¡¯t be expressed in blood, but this Kaden understood. ¡°She¡¯s grateful. Also, they didn¡¯t listen to or respect her, and she literally laid the eggs they came from.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Ydra gave Kaden a hug¡ªthen lurched into him as Trinity pushed him.

    ¡°No.¡± Kaden let go and faced Trinity. ¡°She¡¯s level fifty and I have Trella.¡±

    Trinity¡¯s serpentine head squealed, in essence *Back there. Right here you have this one. Never hurts to have a spare mate. Be quick, you could be done by the time the big one comes back.*

    Kaden declined to translate. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Trinity has her own set of ideas.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re beasts. They accept nature¡¯s way and expect us to,¡± Ydra said. ¡°Look, Marcus has three capuchins.¡±

    The monkeys would have fit in Kaden¡¯s hand, easily, and seeing the trio scamper over Markus, climbing up and down his beard almost made Kaden laugh.

    Marcus kneeled down and held out one.

    The creature¡¯s flesh wasn¡¯t transformed into crystal, more the monkey itself had been arranged from crystals. Small ones formed chains to make its tail, the beard was thousands of crystal spines, the eyes each singular crystals. They didn¡¯t so much flicker with mana as absorb surrounding mana and reflect it back.

    [Crystaline Capuchin]

    Once, tiny monkeys roamed the trees in grand groups, making the trees gleam alive with the movement of entire hordes, and ringing their crystaline cries across the jungle. Now, they live in fear of a call they cannot resist, a demand they can only obey that will take mother and brother. Every dawn is quieter, every moonrise darker. This one knows safety with its larger friend but also that its time will come.

    *Beast Knowledge: They¡¯re vicious, every last stinking one of them and we should¡¯ve burned down their forest. We hate them and will give ¡®em the finger when our finger grows back. Hope the artificers kill every last one.

    Kaden rarely disagreed with Beast Knowledge, but given that it was formed of the knowledge of previous [Beast Masters], it couldn¡¯t be absolutely correct. He carefully held out a hand, then [Soul Bound] the monkeys one by one. ¡°First off, they¡¯re terrified.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be terrified too, if more of your party were lost every night.¡± Marcus waited as the three Kaden had bound climbed onto his shoulders.

    ¡°Go get more. They¡¯re individual beasts, but there¡¯s definitely a social entity, and I think it¡¯s the whole that is intelligent. I¡¯ll try to communicate with these but we may need more.¡± He began to send questions over the Soul Binding. What was hunting them? When did it come? What did they see?

    Each one tried to answer. The problem was these were just barely beasts and just barely capable of individual thought. Night-time, the rustle of underbrush, a spike of terror through the entire troup. Over the course of hours, Marcus brought more and more. Kaden released the first ones and quizzed the newcomers. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a poacher. They have a term for people and what I¡¯m sensing is more like a predator.¡±

    Marcus and Ydra began to debate. ¡°The problem is, they¡¯re not edible. You could break all your teeth and not take a bite from one.¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t answer. With each moment he grew closer to understanding. ¡°Definitely a hunter. And they feel like they can¡¯t resist when it calls. They have to go.¡±

    If the monkeys truly were vicious, Kaden would be missing all his skin, as the troup crawled over him. Different combinations of capuchins gave him different fragments of thoughts, like the arrangement of the troup affected its ability to recall.

    The sun was dropping low when Marcus brought the last eight. ¡°This is the last of them. They have to be back in the tree by moonrise or they can¡¯t absorb enough moon mana.¡±

    Kaden continued to work. Bind, listen, release.

    Then he went back to one. Asking again. ¡°It¡¯s¡ªI can see it. They can see it. They just can¡¯t do anything about it. The image is right there and they¡¯re trying to share it. It¡¯s definitely a Beast.¡±

    The trees lit by moonlight.

    The pleasure of drinking it in.

    The crystal chimes of capuchins grooming and sharding and among that, an answering chime that sent a longing through the troop. Kaden shook his head, losing contact with the monkeys but gaining the ability to think. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is working. Their thoughts are images, and the moment I break the link with them, I can¡¯t see it any more than an individual monkey can.¡±

    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Ydra said. ¡°You¡¯ve used [Beast Form]. Your mind isn¡¯t ever the same afterwards. Maybe Marcus and I can use our skills to talk to you while you talk to them. Just focus on what they¡¯re telling you and let us coax it out of you.¡±

    Kaden restablished the link to the capuchins, an easy task, then to the troup, which required being less himself and more them. Recalled their moment and the glimpse. The brush of another mind against his felt like static shocks down his spine.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    *Show us.* The voice wasn¡¯t either Ydra or Marcus, but a blend of the two. Kaden brought back the moment, the moonlight, the call that resonated in crystal bodies. The fear that the tone was theirs, the combination of desire and panic.

    From others came similar memories of slightly different notes and a glimpse in the moonlight¡ª

    ¡°Gods damnit!¡± Marcus roared. ¡°I know what it is. I know and I should have known and I should have found it a year ago.¡± He leaped up, scattering the troop. ¡°Yrdra, it¡¯s going to take both of us. Kaden, the dizziness will pass, it¡¯s a common side effect. Keep the troop here. It¡¯s a [Reflactory]. It can eat them because it becomes attuned to its prey. And it¡¯s been eating them so long it¡¯s perfect. Calls out a chime that matches each one, and the capuchins can¡¯t help answering. Then it swallows them whole and goes back to sleep.¡±

    Ydra scowled as she summoned weapons from Inventory. ¡°The key to fighting one is to make it choose. Strong against one is weak against another. Will you hold the troop while we hunt?¡±

    ¡°I can probably do that.¡± Kaden sent the Falcrow to Sara, explaining that a quick Quest had turned long. ¡°Also, why do I feel like I got sucker punched?¡±

    ¡°Our skills are different than yours. You become more like them. We force them to become more like us, and the animals we talk with are usually dazed and weak for an hour afterwards.¡± Ydra held a bow and a maul, Markus a chain and spear.

    ¡°What¡¯s the odds this thing will skip you and head straight for me and the rest of the troop?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s not used to having to move. It calls, they come. But yes, in between it and you will be us.¡± Marcus bowed. ¡°This is a third tier beast, and we¡¯re treating it with the fear and respect it deserves. Its actual form will depend on what it¡¯s eaten, and I¡¯ve called for assistance from every [Battle Druid]. This is the preservation of a species at stake.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re coming. I¡¯ll bring them here.¡± Ydra sprinted off, while Trinity groaned in annoyance as [Crystal Capuchins] continued to treat her like a violent, angry tree.

    Moments later, the patter of feet and hooves accompanied the arrival of a swarm of druids, most with animals as companions.

    ¡°Kaden Birch, it¡¯s good to see you.¡± Kanli, the [Druid] who taught him control of [Beast Form] spoke softly. ¡°I did see that quest go out, I figured you¡¯d have a way to talk to the [Crystal Capuchins]. Shapeshift lately?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. It was hard to remain linked to the troup and yet speak. ¡°Been busy.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll talk.¡± Kanli turned and faced the others. ¡°It¡¯s a third tier beast, so that means I can¡¯t help. What I can do is offer containment and guidance. There¡¯s never a wrong reason to disengage in a battle with a [Reflactory]. Picked bad weapons? Pick again and start over. Don¡¯t like your approach? Back off. One of you is dead and the other mortally wounded? Good time to run and keep running. Everyone else will spread out around you. Fend it back to the center, this is their war.¡±

    Kanli spoke quietly to Marcus and Ydra.

    And Kaden took his turn, drawing potions from Inventory. ¡°These are [Bleed]. These are venom from ice wasps that will inflict [Slow]. I¡¯d love to take one of these on but I get the impression it¡¯s out of my range.¡±

    Marcus studied the potions and then applied them to each weapon, while Ydra opted only for [Bleed]. ¡°This is my land. It¡¯s part of me and I¡¯m part of it. These are my beasts. My life, my responsibility. You¡¯ve done everything I needed. Your quest is fulfilled.¡±

    Quest Master is active.

    Quest Completed: Monkey Business.

    You have gained 2x Naturi Faction Token

    You have gained Faction Favor (Naturi)

    You have a pending reward (Marcus, Druid).

    That¡¯s right, the quest promised him his own [Crystal Capuchin]. Which seemed like an odd reward, since the species was fighting for its survival. ¡°I¡¯ll still stay and convince the troop to remain out of the way.¡±

    ¡°This won¡¯t be a long battle. It dies or we do. The longer we let it survive the more dangerous it becomes. No matter what, that Beast won¡¯t be killing any more of these [Crystal Capuchins].¡± Marcus gave him a slap on the back.

    Kaden was still thinking. ¡°If it¡¯s a Beast, I could bind it. I could make it hold still while you kill it.¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not how [Druids] deal with nature. We meet it on its own terms.¡± Ydra sounded disappointed in him.

    It was definitely how [Beast Masters] dealt with nature. ¡°I¡¯ll be here.¡±

    ¡°A fast attack has the best chance of succeeding,¡± Kanli said. ¡°It¡¯ll adapt quickly. Do not underestimate it. I¡¯m a centurion and you never hear me say ¡®Let¡¯s go borrow trouble.¡¯¡±

    One last option Kaden could offer. ¡°Trinity¡¯s willing to go with you. On the plus side, she¡¯s like three level twenty five adventurers. On the downside, if it adapts to Trinity, it¡¯ll definitely kill you.¡±

    Marcus glanced to the TriTerror. ¡°Using Beasts against each other is not only allowed, it¡¯s the [Druid] way. Mine aren¡¯t battlers, as you can see. I can¡¯t guarantee her safety.¡±

    ¡°TriTerrors aren¡¯t concerned with safety,¡± Ydra answered. ¡°One day, your spawn will fight alongside me. It would be an honor for you to battle with us now. It is not a crime for the eater to eat, but destroying a species?¡±

    Trinity¡¯s serpentine head whistled. *It¡¯s not like they taste good.*

    ¡°She¡¯s delighted to help,¡± Kaden added.

    Marcus kneeled and touched his hand to the ground, and Ydra did the same.

    [Split Second] activated as they sprinted away, with Trinity stomping as fast as she could, all necks outstretched as she roared a battle cry.

    Trinity has used [Predator¡¯s Challenge]. Trinity¡¯s damage is increased.

    Kaden focused on the troop and enforcing the idea that none of them wanted to go up in the trees. Injecting fear through [Beast Soul] felt wrong, but was definitely the right move.

    Searing pain lanced through him as the [Soul Bond] let him feel what Trinity felt. Her roar echoed through the jungle, louder¡ªand louder, along with the bloodlust that drove her to battle. Every cry shook the trees a bit more.

    ¡°They¡¯re taking too long,¡± Kanli said, almost a whisper. ¡°By now it¡¯s already adapting.¡±

    Trees cracked and crashed, and a woman screamed in pain.

    The troop bristled with rage.

    Kaden hated using [Beast Command] on such peaceful creatures, but fear alone didn¡¯t overcome their desire to help Marcus. ¡°Stop!¡± He focused on the leaders, one by one, repeating the command over and over as the troop pleaded desperately to let them go. Let them help. Even let them die, if only so the [Druid] bonded to their species didn¡¯t die alone.

    With a crack and a snap, the soul bond told him Trinity was dead. The last echos of her emotions held clear and clean. Triumph. Then a low, rumbling wail of agony rose louder and louder and cut off.

    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Kanli said. ¡°Nature says the [Reflactory] is dead. Your TriTerror went down swinging. Marcus is dead, too, but a level for killing something like that is an even trade.¡±

    ¡°I need the corpse. Trinity will come back sooner that way.¡± Kaden released the troop, who swarmed up the trees, spreading out in the night to wait for the coming moon. Then he followed the connection between him and Trinity, all the way to warzone. Smashed tree trunks, craters in the soil, three dead leopards.

    Trinity¡¯s corpse lay split in two, her body literally torn along the spine, two heads on one side, the serpentine head on the other. Kaden drew it into his soul, where she dissolved.

    Kanli pointed to the leopards. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to anything here. Letting them rot is a crime worse than taking them.¡±

    Kaden worked with [Reap Materials] while Kanli worked to comfort Ydra.

    She cradled her lover¡¯s body, stabbed through with hooked barbs that had broken off. Kanli kneeled and put her hands on both. ¡°I¡¯ve got a healer on the way to resurrect him. This was the kind of sacrifice that is sometimes required. I¡¯m proud of you both.¡±

    ¡°I never¡ªI never saw anything like it,¡± Ydra said. ¡°It evolved during the battle to have no blood. It couldn¡¯t remove the slow, so it developed spear tendrils that fired at us.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a third tier Beast even Centurions avoid,¡± Kanli said. ¡°Kaden, you can go. I¡¯ll stay until there¡¯s a resurrection.¡±

    With Trinity reforming and the Quest complete, Kaden was ready to head north. ¡°Ydra, I¡¯ll see you some other time. Hopefully a happier time.¡±

    One of her eyes had exploded, but she wiped away blood and tears. ¡°The Quest says you get a [Crystal Capuchin]. Marcus had picked one out for you but you¡¯ll need to wait for him to resurrect and recover.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall the Quest saying when. Right now, I think we need all of them here, making little [Crystal Capuchins.] But they¡¯re beautiful.¡± Beasts were great. More Beasts were greater. But there was definitely a time and place. ¡°How many years do you think it¡¯ll take the population to recover?¡±

    ¡°Not long. Maybe a decade?¡± She didn¡¯t move, and Kaden didn¡¯t mind. Ydra had the right priorities.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got to get back to my Quest. I left a bunch of Beserkers waiting for Trella and I¡¯m worried about what will happen to them. Take care of my TriTerrors.¡± Kaden headed toward the FarPortal, and dispatched the FalCrow to notify a Portal Mage.

    ¡°Beast Man!¡± Kanli called. ¡°You forget something?¡±

    He didn¡¯t think so. Trinity. Yeah, that was the list.

    She carried something with both hands, the bloody head of a beast that was already losing its shape. ¡°You¡¯re the one with the crafter¡¯s harvesting skill. Most of the body was destroyed, since that¡¯s about the only way to kill one. Enjoy, it doesn¡¯t mean much to centurions, and the only thing that¡¯s going to matter to those two are each other.¡±

    Kaden accepted it and activated [Reap Materials]. Three of the material trees remained grayed out because of the condition of the corpse. His only option was an ¡®Naturi Skill Orb¡¯ made from the collapsed skull. Kaden harvested it. ¡°What am I supposed to do with this?¡±

    ¡°Reflactories are living weapons, I expected some kind of weapon crafting material,¡± Kanli said. ¡°Naturi means for beasts. It¡¯s a skill orb for one of your beasts. You might technically be the only class that could use them, too, but if it grants you the [Reflactory¡¯s] reflective skin, you might need a lot of points in Charisma before a woman will come near you.¡±

    Kaden quickly dressed in his [Ulfen Armor]. ¡°Where¡¯s the healer?¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t allow just anyone to resurrect him. I called in a favor from a Centurion Priest. You still upset you weren¡¯t allowed to fight it?¡±

    He couldn¡¯t deny his disappointment. ¡°If Trinity could do it, I could.¡±

    ¡°You need to get comfortable with owning your role. Your role was to keep Marcus¡¯s capuchins safe and every last one is fine. You found the [Reflactory]. Marcus¡¯s death here will bind him to the land even more.¡± She put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°How¡¯s the [Beast Form] going?¡±

    ¡°Sticking to one form. I changed a few months ago. It takes so long, I don¡¯t have many opportunities, and Minotaurs on snow and ice aren¡¯t the worst, but it¡¯s not the same.¡± Kaden clasped the [Ulfen Cloak] and felt the set bonus take hold.

    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to branch out. If you get stuck, don¡¯t panic. It¡¯s never as bad with the second form. Lizards are hard, birds are worse than lizards, fish are easy to shift to and even easier to drown as. I shifted into a [Giant Mantis] once and almost didn¡¯t make it back. I was a hundred and seventy years old at the time, don¡¯t risk it.¡±

    Kaden thought of Trinity. ¡°TriTerrors¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. Not even I would try that. If the part of your mind that can think and the part of your mind that can shift wind up in different heads, I¡¯m not sure how we¡¯d ever bring you back.¡±

    It was time.

    Kaden knew exactly what he¡¯d shift to. ¡°See you around. Tell Marcus I¡¯ll see him in a decade. The capuchin is still mine, I¡¯m just lending it to the troop.¡± With that, he stepped through the FarPortal. The cold sank into him, chilling his bones and his breath.

    No surprise, Trella, Sara, and Eve were arguing.

    No surprise, they were arguing over [Fire Soul] potions.

    But when Kaden pushed his way through the Resyr, it was his turn to be shocked.

    Trella stood face to face with Kai Fen.

 Twenty Six - Settled

    All around Kai Fen stood Fen clan members, and judging from the tones and how red-faced everyone was, the red wouldn¡¯t be heat, it would be blood. ¡°Problem?¡± Kaden turned his back on Kai Fen as he summoned Remembrance of Battle, fully aware and intendingthe message it sent.

    ¡°Let me try and handle this.¡± She glanced to Remembrance, then jerked her head back toward Kai Fen. ¡°If he needs to die, you can kill him, we can kill him together, or I¡¯ll do it myself. Lots of ways Kai Fen could wind up staring empty-eyed at the sky, but right now, he and I are working toward an agreement.¡±

    ¡°Do not disrespect me!¡± Kai said, his voice cold as a blizzard wind. ¡°I came as a token of respect. I gave you a chance to honor me. To honor the Fen.¡±

    ¡°You get what everyone else gets,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Three to start. More if you swear days of peace. All the clans are equal as far as I¡¯m concerned.¡±

    If she¡¯d struck Kai with a sledge hammer he wouldn¡¯t have been more stunned. ¡°They are not equal, because they are not strong. You do not belong here.¡±

    ¡°I could leave. Anyone else want me to leave?¡± Trella looked to the other clansmen. ¡°Tonight, go home and tell your mates, ¡®We could have had more potions. We could have revived more of our kin from the [Frost.] But Kai Fen said no. And why wouldn¡¯t he say no? Why would he want more of your brothers and sisters retured?¡¯¡±

    The crowd began to rumble louder and louder.

    ¡°Or I could stay and we do things my way. Eve, give him three potions, more if he swears the oath.¡± Trella turned and headed back down the stairs into the groundhouse. ¡°I have work to do.¡±

    The tension in the gathering was so thick Kaden needed Remembrance to cut it. And as Kai Fen turned back to Kaden, it began to boil up. ¡°What are you looking at, Southerner?¡±

    ¡°A man without enough potions to help his clan.¡± Kaden began to wonder more and more if the solution wasn¡¯t Remembrance. He¡¯d made the mistake with Jagi of thinking that they¡¯d find a way to coexist. Such mistakes couldn¡¯t be repeated.

    ¡°You stole from us,¡± Kai Fen said. ¡°You have a treasure of the clans. You can dress like us but you can¡¯t be like us because your heart is southern. Ask him!¡±

    Kaden produced the Bracers of Skorn. ¡°I was given a Quest by the System. And a choice by the System, a choice I have yet to make. They¡¯re [Beserker] gear. I have no plans of using them. But I¡¯m not turning them over to you.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Sara called softly. ¡°I could use your help, if you have a moment. Please.¡±

    Kaden reluctantly joined Sara downstairs. ¡°What do you need help with?¡±

    ¡°Not starting a battle. They arrived at noon and besides refusing to repay the Mercari, they¡¯ve been civil. The clans have to work this out, remember?¡± Sara sounded almost defensive of the Fen. ¡°Their healer has been working with Eve. They have persistent Status effects and Drokor and the others insist they deserve the same healing as everyone else.¡±

    Kaden left Sara and headed straight to Trella, whose Deception held up a hand. ¡°We¡¯re right in the middle of a tricky potion. Not [Fire Soul]. We¡¯ll hug and kiss later.¡±

    Most potions used a single reaction flask, but this had three running at once, with Trella making adjustments and drawing ingredients from her kit as she consulted a scroll.

    It didn¡¯t explode, and that was the best thing Kaden could say for it, as the center flask belched green smoke. The Deception didn¡¯t seem worried. It focused on keeping him from interfering as Trella used a dropper to add to the center flask.

    The smoke turned orange, then red, then black, and tasted of charred eyeballs, a flavor Kaden could never forget after Ashi roasted a swarm of flying eyes. Mana pulsed and Kaden¡¯s ears popped as Trella made a final adjustment.

    When the smoke cleared, she swirled a potion that kept itself separated in two halves, one blue, one green. The separation ran straight down the middle, not horizontal.

    ¡°Definitely room for improvement,¡± she said. ¡°I should be able to reach good quality, this is average. Or maybe my skill just isn¡¯t high enough yet for good with this potion.¡±

    [Status Stabilization Potion]

    Provides durable long term protection from minor status effects. You may also not gain bonuses or receive additional cleansing while the status lock remains in effect.

    ¡°That¡¯s not for one of us.¡± Kaden didn¡¯t need to ask, it would prevent [Speeding Wind], [Life Explosion] and any other positive effects, and negative effects could always be handed off to Eve.

    Trella tucked it into Inventory. ¡°I appreciate the backup but I had everything under control. And honestly, from the way Basu tells it, I understand how the clans wound up here. The Resyr hold a lot of power as the ones with the FarPortal.¡±

    ¡°Basu is here?¡± Kaden hadn¡¯t thought the Fen Healer would travel. She seemed busy.

    ¡°She brought two children cursed with [Status] afflictions. Eve can purge them but thirty minutes later, they get [Slow] or [Clumsy] or [Feeble] or [Fear]. So we purge and then we use this.¡±

    ¡°You had four formulas when you started,¡± Kaden said. ¡°How many do you have now?¡±

    ¡°Hundreds. Where do you think most of my gold goes?¡± Trella put away the eyepiece. ¡°This¡­was worth everything you paid. When I¡¯m negotiating, I need you to let me. Unless they attack, and then their deaths are their own decision. Did you finish that Quest and save the monkeys?¡±

    ¡°Sort of. The poacher turned out to be a tier three [Reflactory]. I got the tokens and the favor and in a decade, a [Crystal Capuchin].¡± Kaden took out the leopard skins and Naturi Orb. ¡°And these. The Resyr are masters of working with hide. Leopard skin doesn¡¯t have any magic properties but it does look nice.¡±

    ¡°Sara needs trade materials. Much as I want to kill Kai Fen, the clans can shed each other¡¯s blood and laugh about it. You and I can¡¯t.¡± Trella pulled three more potions from Inventory.

    Kaden offered her the [Fire Soul] he¡¯d bottled. ¡°You fell asleep with this spilling out of the flask.¡±

    ¡°Poor quality. If I give that out I¡¯ll start another argument. Come with me, I need to make sure this works, and if it doesn¡¯t, I need to make another one.¡±

    Kaden activated [Stealth Aura] and together, they slipped out of the groundhouse and the long way through the village. West of the [Makur] pen, a heavy, new tent stood, with clansmen and women milling about by the door.

    Inside, fairy lights clustered near the ceiling. Eve wore her deep red robes, which made her hair look pink in the fairy light as she tended to the ill and the wounded. ¡°What made this wound? This is mana-reinforced.¡±

    An older warrior lay back, cupping his hands to keep his entrails in.

    ¡°One of the Baranak have a flame-sword,¡± a young man said. ¡°We were foraging south of the blue ravine, it was our right to hunt. He wounded the stag and chased it into our range. Claiming it was the right thing to do.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Keeping your insides inside would be the right thing to do,¡± Eve answered. ¡°Stay here, I¡¯ll need to recover to keep healing that. Kaden, welcome back. Trella, potion?¡±

    Trella produced the potion and handed it over. ¡°I want to see it. If it fails, I can make another one. Where¡¯s Basu? These are hers.¡±

    ¡°Not mine.¡± Basu spoke from the entrance. ¡°My friend¡¯s sister¡¯s. But all children are our responsibility.¡±

    Eve hurried to pull back a side-tent, revealing a girl and boy not five years old. ¡°This won¡¯t hurt. Most of life will, but this won¡¯t. You¡¯re going to bleed a little from your eyes, and then drink this wonderful potion that tastes like chick-berries.¡±

    ¡°It tastes like ass¡ªa slice of cake.¡± Trella said, glaring at Eve. ¡°If someone wanted it flavored, someone should have mentioned it.¡±

    Eve glared right back. ¡°How many children have you been around? How many say ¡®Fecal Juice, please, it¡¯s my favorite flavor. I can smell that with the lid on. I didn¡¯t ask because I thought the request was implicit.¡±

    Basu took the potion and held it up. ¡°It¡¯s awful. But you¡¯re strong. A sip each is all it takes. You want to be stronger and be able to play in the snow and hunt and skin a rabbit, right?¡±

    One of the twins nodded, which was fifty percent better than neither of them agreeing.

    ¡°Him first,¡± Basu said.

    Eve activated [Life Explosion], and the boy sneezed, spraying blood out as the status effects left. Before he could even look up, Basu cradled the flask to his lips.

    Though the boy choked and gagged, he swallowed it down¡ªthen staggered back as a soft red glow enveloped him. ¡°I feel weird.¡±

    ¡°You feel healthy,¡± Basu said. ¡°That will last¡­¡±

    ¡°A week, maybe longer,¡± Trella said. ¡°Small sips work just as well as drinking the whole thing.¡±

    Basu pointed to the girl. ¡°Now, it is your turn.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± The girl said. It turned into a vomit of blood, but the girl clamped her mouth shut.

    Trella pointed as her Deception rose from the dark of her cloak. ¡°Look out! That shadow monster¡¯s here to drag you to hell! The only way to send it back is to drink the potion before it drinks your soul!¡±

    With a shriek of terror, the girl choked down her dose. By the time she opened her eyes, the Deception was miraculously gone.

    ¡°I was going to offer her jerky,¡± Basu said. ¡°Some people shouldn¡¯t have children. Alba, go find your brother and uncle.¡±

    The girl darted out of the tent.

    ¡°I want to punch you, but I also want to throw my arms around you and give thanks.¡± Basu¡¯s tone said she hadn¡¯t made up her mind.

    ¡°I prefer option three, ¡®neither,¡¯¡± Eve said. ¡°Kaden, can you boost my mana so I can try to close this wound?¡±

    He nodded, stepping up beside her as she invoked [Life Explosion] followed by [Life Endowment] over and over. When she was ready, he began to feed her mana, even though her mana stores dwarfed his.

    The split knit together from either end, closing until intestines barely peeked out in a gutsy smile.

    ¡°We¡¯ll both recover and try again,¡± Eve said to the man. ¡°You must stay still. I¡¯m going to take a break to regenerate mana. Remember my rules - resurrections come without cost to those who begin fights within my tent. So does death. Many of your clans have sworn days of peace to me. Do not break those oaths.¡±

    Basu caught Trella¡¯s arm. ¡°Thank you. There aren¡¯t words for what you¡¯ve done. I know, you have your own goals, and I would not see the Fen servants of everyone else, but there is good in this. When we reach an accord, I hope you would be willing to visit. It is unlikely we will be able to get another [Achemist] to come.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to have to explain to me why you don¡¯t have one of your clan members dual class as an [Alchemist],¡± Eve said. ¡°If Trella could learn it in months without taking the class, why on earth would you not send four or five to train?¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Trella said. ¡°It¡¯s expensive. Any good [Alchemist] will charge a fee in gold and service. Five thousand gold and five years of service. Compare that to Adventurers. Five gold. Five years.¡±

    ¡°Can you train someone?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°No. I¡¯m growing. I¡¯m learning. If my skill ever reaches level ten, I¡¯ll be able to, but right now it¡¯s not going to happen. I don¡¯t have the skill to share and I can barely brew potions like [Fire Soul].¡± Trella lost her focus for a moment. Then shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±

    Eve gently prodded them. ¡°We¡¯ll regenerate faster in Sara¡¯s presence. You¡¯re a mirror of each other, you know that, Kaden? Allies gain health and mana in Sara¡¯s presence. Enemies don¡¯t regenerate mana or health in yours.¡±

    Kaden hadn¡¯t considered that.

    Sara held negotiations in a groundhouse filled with pipesmoke, the smell of sizzling [Makur] meat, and the stench of sweat. As Kaden took a seat to rest in her presence, a prickling in his consciousness said the [Ulf Stalker] was on the move, heading out onto the tundra to hunt.

    With only a thought, Kaden had the [Ulf] turning and threading its way back through the village, where it met Kaden with pleasure. The Naturi Skill orb wasn¡¯t something Kaden would risk, and Trinity was too loaded with skills as it was. He presented it as a choice.

    One the [Ulf] made with pleasure, biting the skill orb and then falling to the side, stiff-legged as the skill took hold. The tremors passed, and it sniffed and huffed, then struggled to its feet. When it opened its mouth, Kaden was shocked.

    The [Ulf]¡¯s sharp teeth had mutated, becoming wide, blade-like serated edges that would carve hunks of flesh instead of piercing and holding.

    Your bound beast [Ulf Stalker] has become [Ulf Ravager].

    [Ulf Ravager]

    The Ulf Ravager is a champion among the hunters. Their bite cripples and maims, and with time will become septic. This one was an outcast, but has accepted its role in your pack.

    *Pride.*

    Level: 3

    HP: 1600

    Mana: 40

    Skills: Tracking, Keen Hearing, Stealth, Shredding Bite

    Talents: Pack Tactics, Ice Born

    Status Effects: Frost (33)

    [Shredding Bite]

    The damage this creature does causes crippling injuries to its victim in most cases, as well as healing a small amount of health on each attack.

    Ulf didn¡¯t believe in luck, but Kaden pushed the image of him finding giant hares, which caused a flush of pleasure. The Ulf wasn¡¯t that much larger or stronger, but the change in its mouth would make it a terror which could heal itself off the damage it did.

    Now, it dashed away into the night, desperate to find a victim for its hunger.

    Kaden slipped back to the groundhouse where Sara had been to find most of the clans gone. Ashi stood surrounded by children in robes, speaking with each before they departed with a man or woman.

    ¡°Six fire, three water, two ice, and a necromancer!¡± Ashi said. She looked to Kaden, a genuine smile. ¡°Of course, getting the [Class] is only the first step of a thousand miles. But I will work with them each. Two mages for each clan. May you keep a secret between us?¡±

    ¡°Always.¡±

    Ashi sighed. ¡°I do not enjoy teaching children. I love teaching magic but children are so¡­young. If they burn from a fireball, they cry. If their hand freezes solid, they cry. Drown, even a little? Cry. And I was sure Anda would be so happy to see her grandmother again. She was not.¡±

    Kaden sighed and put his arm around her. ¡°They get better. In ten years. Sometimes twenty. Some of them, never. But imagine them learning the craft of magic. Not just existing spells but new ones.¡±

    ¡°I will think on this.¡±

    Together they went down into the GroundHouse, where Sara still sat at a table, now with Trella, Eve, Drokor and three other clansmen.

    ¡°And there he is,¡± Sara said. She went around the table introducing clan leaders and their second in commands. Sometimes spouses and sometimes friends, the Skan and Ewir had come, and the Hvita, which were the clan who had almost been attacked. No coincidence, several of their members were corpses who Eve had resurrected after Kaden retrieved them. ¡°We were waiting for you to celebrate an alliance of four. Four who are ready to swear they will not turn on each other. Four who will found a new accord.¡±

    Eve stood. ¡°Then let it be made. You will not move in war against each other. You will resolve conflicts with words rather than weapons. If none can agree you will listen to a neutral party chosen by a majority. You will work in good faith for the advancement of your clan and the accord. Swear this to be true.¡±

    One by one, the leaders spoke, echoing, ¡°It is true.¡±

    Oathbinder Evelyn ¡®Black¡¯ has heard and accepted your oath.

    The Blom Accord is begun.

    All Accord members [Frost] increased by ten.

    All Accord members are now more resistant to [Frost].

    Join others to the Accord to increase its power.

    Kaden sensed the change, a shift like when he had formed a business with Sara. Now, the leaders boasted with each other, and the Skan leader in particular focused on Trella. ¡°The Tun are our neighbors to the north. They aren¡¯t affected as much by [Frost], but the Tun are carvers of bone. They¡¯ve not moved much north or south, but you should travel with us to see them. That you¡¯d take the time will make an impression.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll consider it,¡± Trella answered. ¡°I need to keep producing [Fire Soul] potions. Not even the Resyr are fully restored, right, Drokor?¡±

    ¡°Eleven. We will need to speak of housing when all are revived. You sleep in one, work in another, meet in a third.¡± Drokor didn¡¯t sound upset, just serious. ¡°Others are worse. The Fen have fifty in Winter¡¯s Embrace. The Skan? Eight?¡±

    ¡°Four,¡± the Skan leader answered. ¡°We only had seven to start.¡±

    ¡°I have no problem with you getting more. For that matter, I¡¯m the one producing the potions,¡± Trella spoke with clear authority. ¡°If I decided tomorrow that Accord members get a higher share, that¡¯s my decision.¡±

    ¡°Please do not.¡± Drokor said. ¡°We have a pattern established. Even if we are not in agreement with the other clans that does not make them our mortal enemies. You say you are interested in peace. This is a path to war.¡±

    A knock at the groundhouse door silenced the conversation.

    Basu Fen stood, highlighted by the setting sun. ¡°Kaden Birch, I wish to speak to you.¡±

 Twenty Seven - Fused

    Basu waited as Kaden rose. Her gaze didn¡¯t waver from the way he held Trella¡¯s hand, but she didn¡¯t comment on it. The setting sun cast orange and pinks wide across the sky, and stars shone in the east. ¡°There is an accord. That¡¯s good for all children. But don¡¯t think that because you have joined a handful of tribes, the other ten line up. The Fen will never again be the weapons of other clans.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here to protect the Resyr. Are you saying there will be an attack?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I am saying that Kai has the support of many of the Fen. He is weaker without his brother but not powerless. He will push his own accord now. He was never the type to pass the [Makur] bone to his brother, let alone his kin, let alone another clan.¡± Basu¡¯s voice filled with bitterness. ¡°His mother failed. Even the most violent heart can be guided, but his wandered far.¡±

    That seemed a bit harsh but Kaden thought he grasped what Basu was saying. ¡°The oaths the accord have sworn don¡¯t prevent self-defense. And if Kai raises a sword, the Fen will not be welcome here.¡±

    ¡°I know. I will hope for peace. I will work for healing. But part of healing is removing the rot that made the Fen footsoldiers. Remember that.¡±

    ¡°You want the Xorn bracers?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°I do. But I do not want Kai Fen to have them. I want their power for us, but I cannot see that painted in the blood of the clans.¡± Basu seemed about to speak, then looked away.

    Trella drew a pair of potions from Inventory. ¡°Take these with you. You traded Kaden a [Fire Soul] potion when we couldn¡¯t make them. I haven¡¯t forgotten. Two of these are as good as one of a real [Alchemist].¡±

    ¡°Traded.¡± Basu¡¯s mouth turned up in a smile. ¡°That is a way of saying it.¡±

    Kaden drew the poor quality potion and handed it over as well. ¡°I don¡¯t keep secrets from Trella. I told her the moment I got back, which was a while, since I went through the Domain.¡±

    ¡°I think my words were ¡®Go back and do her again, get another one.¡¯ We¡¯re grateful. Sara was affected by [Frost] within days. We still don¡¯t understand why,¡± Trella said.

    Basu thought. ¡°There are many kinds of strength. Kai is strong in one way, I am strong, too, in a different way. Your ¡®Sara¡¯ is strong when she works with others. Perhaps you are strong on your own. We don¡¯t judge how [Frost] claims its victims, we encourage them to fight it.¡±

    That didn¡¯t leave them any closer to answers. ¡°You should be safe to journey home tonight. My [Ulf] is out hunting. I¡¯ll ask it to watch over you¡± When had it become ¡®his¡¯ ulf? Kaden didn¡¯t question it.

    ¡°I will stay here tonight, and I have asked kin-watch for the twins, that they be kept here where their affliction can be controlled. After tomorrow, I will be with my clan, unless you call.¡± Basu stored the potions and left them there.

    ¡°Now I see why you only got one potion.¡± Trella leaned against Kaden. ¡°Was she like that when you were alone?¡±

    ¡°She wanted a child,¡± Kaden said sourly. ¡°I won¡¯t abandon my children, if I ever have them. I won¡¯t do to them what was done to me.¡±

    Trella¡¯s grip on him grew tighter. ¡°Your parents didn¡¯t abandon you. They were killed in a dungeon. I¡¯ve told you before, I don¡¯t want children. Not now. Probably never. If you do, you¡¯re going to have them with someone else.¡±

    ¡°We can talk about it later. Maybe next century.¡± Kaden said. Centurions had families. Many families. For now, he shook it off.

    Quest Master cannot effect this reward:

    You have received a Mercari Bonus: 100 gold.

    You have received a Mercari Bonus: 200 gold.

    Trella¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°Did you just get that notification?¡±

    ¡°Eve¡¯s bonus for clans. Remember what we get for the next clan? Five hundred gold, each.¡± Kaden knew what tomorrow¡¯s priority would be. ¡°I say we go see the Tun tomorrow. You can bring your lab and work there. Nothing says ¡®Join the accord¡¯ like receiving [Fire Soul] potions directly.¡±

    ¡°I like the feel of five hundred gold in my account at the Guild. I could definitely travel for five hundred gold!¡± Trella leaped up and wrapped her arms around him. ¡°I remember a day. A day when you came back early with half a roast duck. Do you remember?¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    It had been blackened on one side, and Kaden burned his hand snatching it from the embers. But it wasn¡¯t a preserved biscuit and his only thought had been how good it would taste together. ¡°I remember.¡±

    ¡°We could buy a whole duck each now. We could buy the whole flock. You could tame them. Do you have a duck for your dungeon?¡± Trella asked. ¡°Eve could cook a duck for everyone. I can¡¯t stand ducks, that¡¯s why I like eating them.¡±

    It seemed forever ago. ¡°Duck sounds good.¡±

    So did having [Razor Geese] for his Dungeon, though that would take effort. Getting a Domain Beast back alive seemed like a challenge that would take planning. Maybe the help of an [Ice Mage]. ¡°Duck. I am pretty sure Eve has duck in her cooking kit. If I ask nicely, she might make it.¡±

    They found Eve huddled near a heatstone, speaking with Ashi, while Sara sat back. One horror pointed at each of the two and she seemed to be listening by proxy.

    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Trella said. ¡°An accord of four, with a fifth likely. Does the sixth pay six hundred gold each?¡±

    ¡°It does. But after that, the pay is steady, two hundred each, because once you have half, the other half is easier.¡± Sara leaned forward to pat Eve gently. ¡°The real prize here is Eve gaining a Profession. Oathbinder isn¡¯t an easy one. It¡¯s not just accepting oaths, it¡¯s enforcing them when they¡¯re broken.¡±

    Eve looked up, her eyes wide. ¡°Believe me when I say I had no idea. I received a single prompt. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Eve¡¯s shared logs popped up for Kaden.

    Will you receive the Oath of the Skan? [Y/N]

    Kaden knew nothing of Oathbinders. ¡°I¡¯ve never even heard of one.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me,¡± Ashi said, ¡°But I would not expect you to. The power of an Oathbinder is a compulsion. To break an oath is to suffer pain, even death when the Oathbinder is powerful. Evelyn is not yet powerful. But she will become so.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re common in treaties,¡± Eve said. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t trying to become one. I was simply focused on settling this discord before it became a full war. I¡¯ll need to seek training when we return.¡±

    Trella quickly relayed Basu¡¯s warning. That the forming of an accord would spur opposing tribes to do the same, or worse. ¡°Kaden and I will travel to the Tun tomorrow. I¡¯ll brew potions in their presence. Sara, you can request repayment, Eve, you¡¯re the key.¡±

    ¡°I must attend my students,¡± Ashi said. ¡°A new mage can grow on their own, and many do, but the investment of time will be repaid a thousandfold in their progress.¡±

    Kaden focused on the [Ulf] and found it hunting, deep in stealth, near a Domain gate. Its belly was full, and it was considering burrowing deep in the snow to sleep, content. That was perfect. And here? He summoned Vip. ¡°Vip, Eve got a profession. She accepts oaths. Do you swear to love her as often as she gives you sausage?¡±

    *Fast* Vip danced around Eve¡¯s feet until Eve picked her up

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to believe this,¡± Eve said. ¡°It actually counted. The oath counted. As in, I felt the oath take hold. Vip¡¯s a Beast and yet Oathbinder holds her accountable.¡±

    Kaden checked Vip¡¯s status sheet.

    [Vip - Enlightened Beast]

    Level: 10

    HP: 140/140

    Mana: 65

    Class: Lightning Chevalier

    Skills: Triple Nip (9), Mighty Bite (9), Crackling Charge (8), Resist Poison (4), Leap of Love (1), Lightning Aura (4)

    Talents: Swift-footed, Acrobatic, Intelligent

    Few would choose a Lightning Chevalier, but this Lightning Chevalier chose you. Loyal to the death, faster than the wind, she trusts you implicitly. Do not betray that trust.

    ¡°She¡¯s reached Enlightenment. Vip, can you talk?¡± Kaden had heard stories of talking companions and couldn¡¯t wait to hear her snarky commentary on everything.

    *Yes.* Vip put her head down on Eve¡¯s shoulder.

    Kaden nodded, considering the emotions that came off Vip. ¡°Do you want to?¡±

    *No.* Vip wasn¡¯t a complex dog. Everything she needed to say could be summed up easily. Which brought up an interesting question. Kaden usually kept [Leader of the Pack¡¯s] notifications disabled because the constant spam about the size of the group became distracting. ¡°She counts toward [Leader of the Pack]. One day, my Beasts alone will trigger it.¡±

    Eve hadn¡¯t stopped stroking Vip¡¯s head, praising her. ¡°Who¡¯s a clever dog? Who¡¯s the smartest dog? Who¡¯s so much better than that stinky [Ulf]?¡±

    The ulf needed a name. Kaden rarely used [Beast Knowledge] on its own, but now he reached for the skill, delving into memories of wolves past. ¡°Garm. The [Ulf¡¯s] name is Garm.¡±

    You have named a bound Beast (¡®Garm¡¯).

    Your beast has accepted this name.

    Garm, like Explodius, might not be fit to live near Verona. Kaden reached for Vip¡ªand she leaned into Eve. He tried not to take it personally. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯ve been on three different continents, witnessed a battle with a tier three beast, tamed an entire troup of [Crystal Capuchins], and found outwhat I already knew, that Vip¡¯s the smartest dog in existence.¡±

    Trella went with him to the Groundhouse. ¡°I have prep to do for tomorrow, but I¡¯ll stay with you until you fall asleep. I can do the prep here, this kind of work almost never explodes.¡±

    He was almost asleep before his eyes hit his pillow.

    ###

    Kaden woke to a steady pressure on his arm. Trella gripped him, applying a pattern Kaden knew to communicate silently. *What¡¯s wrong?*

    She nodded toward Sara. *She¡¯s shaking and crying silently. I¡¯d try to comfort her but Sara¡¯s always been a little afraid of me.*

    Sara hunched over, arms clutched around her, rocking back and forth.

    Kaden moved quietly to rise and approach, using [Mind Speech] to avoid waking Ashi or Eve. *Sara?*

    She startled and froze. *I¡¯m fine.*

    There were many definitions to the word ¡®fine¡¯ and none of them seemed to fit. *Talk to me. What¡¯s going on?*

    Sara leaned back against him as her Horror dissipated. *It doesn¡¯t like emotion. It¡¯s tired of me feeling like this and forcing it to feel at all. And I¡¯m holding on the best I can.*

    *Tell me.* Kaden waited.

    *Do you really want to know?*

    He put an arm around her. *Didn¡¯t you tell me once it was fine to hurt and be sad but I shouldn¡¯t cut myself off?*

    Sara¡¯s quick glare made him smile. Then it melted away. *Then I¡¯ll tell you how the Mercari taught me the Lesson of the Strong.*

 Twenty Eight - The Strong

    The longer Sara spoke with [Mind Speech] the more it was like a regular conversation, and Kaden managed to not shout his responses mentally, insteach choosing to listen.

    ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be an honor. That I¡¯m not even level fifty and the Mercari would choose to spend the resources on me, to put on a personal trial. It¡¯s normally not even an option, and I was so excited I couldn¡¯t wait. The promise of skills. Of profession development. Of learning from the greatest merchants.¡±

    ¡°And that was a lie?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°It was all the truth. I went gladly with Flavius. I don¡¯t know what I expected, but when we emerged from the FarPortal, I was told it was the Zinder Kingdom. It¡¯s a beautiful place, thick forests and rolling plains as far as the eye can see, and so few monsters. Flavius handed me a coin pouch, showed me a trail, and said my task was to make ¡®them¡¯ strong.¡±

    She¡¯d followed the train with apprehension, not because of bandits or wildlife. The Horror devoured a puma and enjoyed it so much it continued to check for them constantly. She¡¯d followed it down from the mountains and into a rolling valley filled with derelict houses and a few negligible monsters, grahts.

    Not twenty minutes later, the FarPortal activated, and a stampeded of people came rushing through. Bloodied, wounded, exhausted, they just kept coming. ¡°At first, all I did was move among them, offering potions and salve and assurances that no matter what they¡¯d fled from, they were safe here. The first of my lies.¡±

    Within hours, Sara assessed the situation, ordering the refugees to houses, and largely become baffled about what, exactly she could offer. ¡°That¡¯s when the second wave arrived. This time, it wasn¡¯t just commoners. A [Mayor], a [Blacksmith], a [Healer] who was drunk most of the time. And I began doing exactly what I thought I should. I organized. I established a hierarchy and a rotation of guards and I personally stayed up to ensure the night spawns didn¡¯t eradicate them.¡±

    So far, Kaden tracked everything. ¡°So when did things go wrong?¡±

    ¡°Things were never right. The next morning, I woke to find we had a visitor. A traveling general store who would sell me almost anything. You¡¯ve experienced Trade-Rite. This was shocking. And with the vendor came a note, asking me why I wasn¡¯t making purchases to ensure they were strong.¡±

    Giving Sara purchasing privileges was an easy way to ensure she would buy anything. Everything. ¡°So you started simple? Or you went grand?¡±

    ¡°Simple. I invested in farming tools. Smithing tools, miner¡¯s axes for the open ore veins. My limit was a hundred gold a day. That week, there were no attacks. Within days we had crops planted, corn and wheat. I bought a [Blessing] to advance the harvest, because we were already at mid-summer. And I truly believed I¡¯d done well. A week in, we had our first night spawn.¡±

    A week was long, but then again, the village wouldn¡¯t have attracted much. ¡°What was it? Who died?¡±

    ¡°No one, that first attack. I slaughtered the [Acid Spider] and sold its corpse the next day. And bought spears and bows and materials for rudimentary walls. Within the second week I was running the most useless shop. I existed only to stock what they needed. I accepted trade against the coming harvest. The planning around that gained me a level in my business profession.¡±

    So far this sounded boring. Of course, there was a reason Kaden was a Dungeon Master, not a Business Manager. ¡°You wanted to train guards.¡±

    ¡°I did train guards. And builders, we had a young woman who had just gained the class. I worked alongside them. I harvested lumber from the forests where the pumas attacked. The Horror got to feed, I got lumber, it was an excellent trade. We built spike walls. We harvested. We traded and bought better supplies and new crops. A month in came the first attack.¡±

    ¡°What spawned?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°Not monsters. Raiders who came by night. The first one was a scout. I caught him myself. I fed him to the Horror in pieces, but I knew the moment I saw him, he wouldn¡¯t be the last.¡±

    ¡°And the people?¡±

    Sara choked back laughter or tears, or perhaps both. ¡°Oh, they believed me. If I offered a Class, I never heard no. If I stressed the importance of leveling archery or spears or even swords, they took it as key. We had one night when the Surge Wave came over. Sixteen spawns in eight hours, three of which were so dangerous I had to pick how I battled them. Ten guards who had been merchants before their town was overrun fought off thirteen Night Spawns.¡±

    ¡°And the raiders?¡±

    ¡°They came back the next night, this time, five. [Anthem of the End] left them crippled. The fifth was the only one who even got to attack. They brought better equipment. I traded it for what matched our skills and spent that day¡¯s gold on spell books, bombs, and traps. For two weeks, it worked. For two weeks, I bought more, I trained more. Eight weeks in, I lost the first townspeople. An [Assassin] attacked from one side, a squad of ten raiders from the other.¡± Sara¡¯s [Mind Speech came drenched in grief. ¡°After that, I demanded to talk to Flavius. He was so complimentary. He was so kind. He tested my guards and suggested improvements.¡±

    Flavius hadn¡¯t struck Kaden as the type to betray. The [Thief] was too much of a merchant these days. ¡°And then he exploited the improvements?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Sara shook her head. ¡°He asked why I wasn¡¯t getting stronger. I was spending on the villagers and not myself. I acted immediately. I bought [Hailstorm].¡±

    Sara had wanted that in Omnor.

    [Hailstorm]

    Summon a localized hailstorm that will impede enemy movement and inflict minor damage. The damage and debuff scales as this skill levels. Continuing [Hailstorm] will incur greater mana costs. Expanding the range of [Hailstorm] will greatly increase mana costs.

    ¡°And the first night, we not only defeated the raiders who came, I chased them all the way to their camp and used [Anthem of the End] combined with [Hailstorm] to utterly destroy those waiting on their comrades. All their equipment only served to increase our profit. We reinforced the wood walls with iron cable and stone enchantments.¡±If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Kaden was keeping notes. This would be invaluable when they resettled Eveille.

    ¡°The second night, our archers had [Nightsight]. We lost a few of raiders but made up for it with not even a scratch on our guards. And a second harvest produced so much corn we sold it. Our [Builder] replaced rotten wood with stone. Then the third night came.¡±

    ¡°They attacked in mass?¡±

    ¡°Everywhere. Not just raiders this time, Adventurers. [Rangers] who killed my guards before we even knew we were being attacked. [Shields] who bashed through our walls. A [Gravity Mage] who crushed traps and of course the [Rogues] who let them know where everything was.¡± Sara¡¯s voice shook as she spoke. ¡°But I caught the [Rogues], and the [Ranger] never expected a [Swordsman] optional class, and the [Mage]¡­I took out my frustration on him. I wanted to send a message and I wanted that message to be clear.¡±

    Good. Kaden was happy to hear that. ¡°And they killed all the townspeople?¡±

    ¡°Archers. Guards. They would have burned the village but my counter-attack left them retreating. The damned corpses disappeared.¡± Sara swore. ¡°I should have known. That should have been what told me.¡±

    It was good there wasn¡¯t a pop-quiz, because Kaden had zero idea what the Lesson of the Strong was at this point. But he had the sense to keep quiet.

    ¡°Flavius was waiting for me at dawn. He told me that for one day¡ªand one day only, I¡¯d have no limit. Anything the vendor stocked was mine to buy. And I bought everything. I even bought another [Hailstorm] scroll to upgrade the skill. And mana potions. And more importantly, I planned.¡±

    Sara was an implicit planner. ¡°You mean you came up with a second plan. And a third one.¡±

    ¡°I mean I stepped back and asked myself what I thought would happen. I recognized the pattern of pressure. And I made certain that if anyone set foot in that valley the purchase price would be their life. I trained another healer and two citizens volunteered to die and be resurrected to gain him levels.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°I anticipated the [Rogues] and the [Ranger]. I¡¯d bought [Burrow] for our [Builder] and moved all the townspeople underground. [Burrow] is criminally powerful combined with a [Geo Mage] and my ability to force mana regen. The traps I set killed their mage before he ever set foot in the village. Their [Healer] discovered I was waiting, and of course I let the man call for help.¡±

    Summoners didn¡¯t usually fare well against entire parties.

    Summoners weren¡¯t usually Sara.

    ¡°And?¡± Kaden asked.

    ¡°The mana bomb killed their [Shield] and critically wounded the [Knights.] The darkness was blessedly silent. No screaming. No burning. No flaming meteors. For nearly two hours. Then the second party attacked¡ªand an hour after that, the third¡ªand just before dawn, four at once.¡± Sara spoke through tears. ¡°I killed as many as possible. I was forced to hide in tunnels and attack where I could. They stayed in groups of ten near the end. And killed everyone. Everyone except me.¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t find words for the horror. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Dawn came. You know I have [Rise]. I began resurrecting the healers first. Then everyone else. And it was late afternoon when Flavius showed up. He opened a portal and explained that anyone who abandoned the village would be given two gold. When they were all gone, he sat beside me. Eventually, he asked if I¡¯d made them strong.

    There was only so much any woman could do.

    ¡°I explained how I¡¯d budgeted. How we planned. How we cooperated. How I¡¯d spent every coin I had and every waking moment. And then I asked him, how could I possibly have made that village stronger?¡±

    ¡°Ulfs? No. TriTerrors! A whole horde of them? No. Two!¡± Kaden said.

    Judging from Sara¡¯s look, that wasn¡¯t the answer.

    ¡°He said I couldn¡¯t. That no matter what, the attacks would have grown more frequent, more deadly, and larger. That normally the Lesson takes half a year, but he couldn¡¯t afford Adventureres once word got out.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Kaden said out loud. ¡°What do you mean, Flavius couldn¡¯t afford them?¡±

    Sara¡¯s smile wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°Now you know the Lesson of the Strong. You haven¡¯t learned it the way I did, but you know it. The Lesson of the Strong is this: It doesn¡¯t matter how strong someone is, if the other person can afford to wear them down with cheap adventurers. The most powerful empire can be laid low by mercenaries. The best built village razed by nothing more than level twenty adventurers. The Lesson of the Strong is this: strength is no match for money.¡±

    Kaden held her, not a passionate embrace, but the gentle grip that said she wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°And the people?¡±

    Sara shook her head. ¡°As far as the Mercari are concerned, they were gifted classes. Professions. Skills. Any terror or lost levels or permanent deaths is a cheap trade. Now you understand why I hate them? It¡¯s not that their lesson is wrong. It¡¯s that they casually used people as props.¡±

    ¡°Next time I see Flavius¡ª¡±

    ¡°I kicked him in the crotch, hard as I could. And I kept the money pouch. It keeps dispensing gold and I keep taking it,¡± Sara said. ¡°I thought maybe I could see myself as one of them. Now I can see myself working against them.¡±

    ¡°By¡­taking their money for Quests. And pouch?¡± It was one way to work ¡®against¡¯ someone. Probably not as effective as a warhammer and probably also not something Kaden would call ¡®working against.¡¯ But a good friend didn¡¯t judge. A good friend would help you move a body. An even better friend had a TriTerror who would eat the body instead of moving it. ¡°What hurts worst about this? The way you were manipulated? Or the way you were broken?¡±

    ¡°That people trusted me and I failed them. If I had planned better, if¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡± Kaden blurted out, rousing everyone but Trella, who continued to snore. ¡°The Mercari were always going to win. I bet they never needed more than one Party. I bet they had people who have helped them run this Quest for years. I bet they don¡¯t have that now. The Lesson of the Strong isn¡¯t that strength doesn¡¯t matter, money does. The lesson is ¡®It¡¯s our responsibility to take care of the weak. Even if we lose. Even if we can¡¯t win.¡±

    Eve wiped her eyes and yawned. ¡°I suspected this was the ¡®Lesson. And I¡¯m sorry, Sara. It was a cruel way to try and enforce their worldview.¡±

    ¡°Has this not always been the way?¡± Ashi asked. ¡°Those with power believe they matter. Those without power, it does not matter what they believe.¡±

    Eve lay back down, and Vip turned in a circle to lay against her. Kaden, on the other hand, dressed quickly and headed out into the pre-dawn dark. Near the center of the village, several heatstones blazed, and around them stood different clansmen.

    Kaden ignored them, heading straight toward the edge of camp. Now that he was awake, the call was clear. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±

    The snow shifted not five feet away, and Garm materialized, his muzzle bloody and his razor teeth exposed. The Resyr behind him shouted in alarm, but none of them dared attack. Kaden kneeled down and rubbed Gamr¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Was it a good hunt?¡±

    *Full*. Gamr stepped forward, then dropped his head and began to gag, choking, until he puked up a pile of meat.

    And gleaming in the steaming mess, Essence. Kaden gathered the Essence and let Garm lap up his own half-digested meal. ¡°Good boy. Come with me, you can sleep in groundhouse.¡±

    When Kaden turned, the weight of stares fell heavy on his back.

    These people would be in awe of Trinity.

    Skully would leave them terrified.

    Garm pushed his head up under Kaden¡¯s hand as he appraised the clan men. No one moved as Kaden headed past, but the Fen men had a healthy air of fear. Garm sensed it. Kaden did, too, through him. Maybe it was better to enjoy the heat. ¡°I was sad about missing hunting, but Garm brought back eleven essence. And this claw that came from a [Razor Goose] boss.¡±

    The murmurs and stares were all he needed. They would keep the Fen in line, though Kai was different than his men. Kaden recognized the attitude that said the world had already taken what it could. Such men were difficult to turn aside.

    Kaden had been one.

    Now he wound his way through the Resyr camp with Garm in his shadow, seeking Drokor, seeking answers, and a solution that wouldn¡¯t leave the north stained with blood.

 Twenty Nine - Tun Up

    How a sun could shine so brightly and yet warm nothing was a mystery Kaden didn¡¯t understand, but he accompanied a trading sled with Trella by his side. Garm would run a few miles ahead and sleep, then join them when the sled caught up. Ashi remained with the Resyr, surrounded by a nest of baby mages, working on summoning mana orbs, while Eve and Sara came along.

    They traveled northeast, skirting the Skan village, which overlooked the harbor. A single ship sat in the harbor, one Kaden didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Did we expand and I didn¡¯t know it?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m near certain it¡¯s a training voyage,¡± Sara answered. ¡°It¡¯s hard to miss what you don¡¯t know you¡¯re missing, so the Mercari are sending light cargo shipments. Ours are still a week off, but I hope to buy bone tools from the Tun to trade with other clans.¡±

    For someone filled with hatred for the Mercari, Sara used their methods effectively. She didn¡¯t seem ¡®recovered¡¯ but perhaps a little less broken. Less broken was good. Eve looked regal atop the trading sled, but she kept her gaze on the horizon and more than once called out warnings when she spotted movement.

    In less than four hours, they reached the Tun village, a village protected by a wall of rib bones that arced outward, each taller than Kaden, and carved with runes that glinted purple in the daylight. The Tun themselves sent guards to meet the sled.

    Sara let the Resyr sled drivers exchange greetings and explanations, then followed them through the gates and into the Tun Village.

    Sevin and the other necromancers would love this place. The Tun carved bones not just for tools or weapons, but as art. They really appreciated a great bone. The village held few groundhouses, but rib-bone stacks formed walls where the snow could build up and shield the village from wind. Everywhere, Tun carved and cleaned and polished.

    Soon, the trading sled was the heartbeat of a dozen conversations¡ªand that is when Sara revealed special stock. ¡°Iron carving blades with enchantments. I had them made and shipped here in preparation.¡±

    A dozen conversations became three dozen, and with everyone occupied, Sara and Eve made their way to the clan leaders, while Kaden and Garm played guard for Trella, who wasn¡¯t used to being dismissed. ¡°See, I can use a Winter Essence to craft [Fire Soul] potions. Who has essence for me?¡±

    The conversation died.

    ¡°I do!¡± Kaden gave her all of Garm¡¯s harvest. ¡°Can you make some [Fire Soul] potions for me?¡±

    ¡°You bet I can.¡± Trella began working and speaking and talking about how [Frost] wasn¡¯t a threat with enough potions. She spoke mostly to herself, as the few clan members watching her had wandered off to marvel at Sara¡¯s knives.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kaden said quietly.

    ¡°I¡¯m not. This gives me a chance to brew ahead. If they don¡¯t face [Frost] much, I can use what I make to persuade someone else, or reward those who have joined the Accord.¡± Trella worked defltly, surely as she inverted the essence. ¡°It¡¯s essential I keep my hands clean or I¡¯d tell Garm what a good dog he is.¡±

    Kaden looked to Garm and used [Beast Soul]. ¡°He knows. And he¡¯s really happy you¡¯re happy, but also ready to sleep off a belly full of meat. Go on, boy.¡±

    Garm bounded toward a snow mound, burrowing in for warmth.

    Hours passed as Eve and Sara spoke, and at last, Sara gave up, joining Kaden. ¡°They¡¯re not quite so cooperative as believed. They refuse to accept any debt and swear before the System they never were paid. I¡¯ve had to ask the Quest Brokers how they want it handled.¡±

    ¡°Who did get paid?¡±

    ¡°I believe it was the Resyr who received the money and distributed it out. Most went to the Fen, Tal, and Urg, who of course have the most warriors. We call them [Beserkers] but they welcome other classses. Ashi¡¯s [Mages], for instance.¡± Sara stopped to listen to a messenger bird and answer.

    ¡°Tell your Mercari assholes that if they want stability, they need to pay twenty thousand gold up front and another four thousand, eight hundred and sixty four over ten years.¡± Trella didn¡¯t look up as she made her pronouncement. ¡°Tell them that¡¯s the real way to peace.¡±

    A new Accord has been formed.

    The Vor Accord now has three clans.

    Join this accord to increase your strength.

    Sara seemed unbothered. ¡°We knew this was going to happen. Basu even told us. I dislike Kai Fen¡¯s taste for violence, but while we can assist, the clans must have final say.¡±

    If they all melded into an accord¡ªeven an accord with Kai Fen as leader, so be it. Kaden was more curious about what could be controlled, not what couldn¡¯t. ¡°That was a very specific number,¡± he said to Trella. ¡°Almost like you¡¯d already done the math.¡±

    ¡°Because I did. The way to stabilize is to make everyone¡¯s lives better. [Frost] is a constant problem and even with an Accord, it¡¯ll still be a problem. The [Alchemists] aren¡¯t sending another one, I promise. It doesn¡¯t matter how he died, the story they¡¯ll tell is that he was killed.¡± Trella stopped her potion making to focus on Sara. ¡°So what really needs to happen is that they send their own clan members to learn as [Alchemists]. I got the profession in three months. The Class usually involves paying your teacher and serving as an apprentice for five years. The extra gold is for a shared lab.¡±

    ¡°You seem to misunderstand the Mercari. They are not kindly wizened men who dispense coins and wisdom with a smile.¡± Sara¡¯s tone was colder than the snow. ¡°They spend where it makes sense to spend and only what will be repaid to them a hundredfold. We¡¯re being paid heavily, true?¡±

    Trella dipped her head. ¡°Sure seems like it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because the cost of paying us is gradual, over weeks. You¡¯re proposing a large scale investment with no return for at least five years, in essence greatly increasing all costs for the chance. I think you¡¯re right about the solution. Do you want to pay for it?¡± Sara asked gently.

    Before Trella could answer, Eve called out. ¡°Kaden, I need some beasting. Someone to beast something. It sound a great deal like a task I¡¯d ask of a [Beast Master].¡±

    ¡°Need help, or am I clear to get a head start?¡± Trella genuinely stopped her work.

    He had to have some pride. ¡°At least let me try.¡±

    Eve stood beside the woman who led the Tun, a thick, strong woman wearing armor of bones with runes carved in them. ¡°Kaden, meet Dotira, Dotira is the temporary leader until the Tun agree. And she had a particular request. The Tun and the Leif have had a disagreement for nearly two centuries, one that has led to skirmishes and thefts¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not by us!¡± Dotira said. ¡°Our history goes back generations. Once, three thousand years ago, right after a cataclysm, the founding Tun mother was desperate and starving. She ventured into the Ice Domain, risking [Frost], and from it, captured a Beast which would be the foundation of our success. Until the Leif grew jealous and stole it.¡±

    ¡°And then,¡± Eve said, ¡°The Tun saved it. And the Leif re-stole it. Or saved it, I suspect, depending on who is telling the story. We¡¯re centuries removed¡ª¡±

    ¡°But the Beasts remember!¡± Dotira said. ¡°Come, meet them. You¡¯ll see.¡± Then she opened the door to a groundhouse.

    Kaden had worked in Beast Control. That was the only think keeping him standing when the stench punched him. Dotira lit a fair lamp and led them downward. Garm stopped at the stairs, choosing to guard against¡­having to smell that. Eve had apparently stayed to guard Garm.

    ¡°They do not do well in the open, but these [Skeledeer] are beasts of the Domain. They reproduce on nothing but Domain Essence.¡± The groundhouse stairs went down and down and down, ever lower. Her light lit up the darkness.

    In the flickering light, skeletal beasts moved. Not dead, these were deer with long, smooth, flat antlers that arced back over their heads, each as wide as Kaden¡¯s hand and easily five feet long. Their skin hung in tatters, revealing skeletons underneath, and a ribcage that bulged with yellow, greasy fat that oozed when they moved.

    [Skeledeer]

    These beasts aren¡¯t dead, but they¡¯re not far off. Created during a spawning glitch, they can¡¯t die, only reproduce each time the spawn timer counts down. This skeledeer is counting down the moments until it divides and its own agony is reduced for a period. *Beast Knowledge. I couldn¡¯t help myself. I killed it and then regretted not going back and eliminating the rest of them. Damned [Beserkers] chased me for a month.*

    Skills: [Perfect Preservation], [Gore]Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Talents: [Near Dead]

    Kaden watched the Beasts move back and forth, obviously worried about the light. ¡°You fought a war over these?¡±

    ¡°Speak with them. They¡¯ll tell you the truth. Every seven days, they divide. But the best bones are on those that divide from the first one. And the Leif don¡¯t even [Reap Materials] for the bone. You can only choose, bone or fat, and they render fat for soap and candles, while we carve.¡±

    Kaden had rarely met a beast he didn¡¯t truly want to tame or commune with.

    Until now.

    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±

    Dotira motioned. ¡°One of these is the original, but the problem is, the jewelry that marked it was taken off by a [Leif] bastard and now we can only hope we¡¯re not killing our best. Your Oathbinder says you can speak to beasts. Find us the original, mark the original, and the second best, mark that one for us to give the [Leif]. Then we can slaughter without fear. We¡¯ll join your accord then. And one¡ªany one you choose¡ªwill be yours.¡±

    With a sigh of regret, Kaden set to work, binding the nearest [Skeledeer]. To his complete shock, the beasts responded with images, memories. Excellent memories, near perfect memories that went back¡­centuries. When he bound the next beast, the memories were cloudy and incomplete. Another could barely remember yesterday. ¡°How do they reproduce?¡±

    ¡°When the respawn timer elapses at midnight, there will be four hundred instead of two hundred. Each divides, like a reflection, and the System spews warnings.¡± Dotira backed away. ¡°Do you need a torch?¡±

    Kaden mentally called for Wisp 71. ¡°You smell so much better than the [skeledeer.] Can you just stay with me so I have light?¡±

    Wisp 71 bobbed around his head, as Kaden began in earnest. ¡°Speak!¡± He shouted through [Beast Command], and the underground cave filled with the wheezing cries of [Skeledeer]. There was so much to do and so little time.

    ###

    Another [Skeledeer] staggered away from Kaden, moving to join a much larger group of its friends. Kaden put away the [Levicon Blade], which he¡¯d used to carve patterns in the bones of each as he classified them. Every inch of him reeked like the yellow fat that bubbled out of [Skeledeer] when they were wounded. Or touched.

    ¡°Come,¡± he said. Two followed, one on the left, one on the right, and a third stumbled, wheezing, behind them. The sky was dark and filled with stars. ¡°Eve. I need the Lief and Tun and a bath and you¡¯d all better stand upwind.¡±

    ¡°Appreciated,¡± Eve said quietly as she walked north. ¡°I anticipated conflict and had asked Gramsan of the [Leif] here to prevent that.¡±

    Kaden sat down in the snow as Garm approached, sniffed, then moved upwind to stand by Eve. ¡°So, your stories, they¡¯re stories. I¡¯m working with Beasts here, so the best I can do is try to explain what they remember. They are from the Ice Domain, a prey animal that evolved to be safe from other predators.¡±

    Dotira nodded with fierce satisfaction. ¡°As we have often said. And you now know who is the first?¡±

    Kaden held up his hand. ¡°So, they were from the Domain. And a man entered the domain and captured one, that¡¯s true, too. But that¡¯s where your stories¡ªall your stories¡ªdon¡¯t match. He was Vurm. I think I¡¯m translating that right. Burm? Vurm. And not long after he escaped the domain, he was challenged by an elder. The [Skeledeer] don¡¯t know which clan, but they were tall and strong and terrifying and dressed in leather with white fur. The elder slew this ¡®burm¡¯ warrior and claimed the [Skeledeer] for their clan.¡±

    ¡°I knew it!¡± said Dotira and Gramsan, then glared at each other.

    Kaden pointed to the left and right. ¡°These two are the best remaining. The original, I think it was eaten by an [Ulf] at night while the herd was being either stolen or recovered. Any minute now, they¡¯ll spawn and I¡¯ll prove it.¡±

    Any minute took nearly half an hour

    WARNING - ENTITY STATE INCONSISTENT AT RESPAWN

    WARNING - ENTITY RESPAW ACTIVATED

    WARNING - ENTITY STATE REMAINS INCONSISTENT

    Each [Skeledeer] stepped aside, as though they were emerging from a lake. Beside it stood a perfect copy. The limping one fell over, leaving a copy standing.

    Kaden struck with Remembrance, splitting one and the other, then [Reap Materials]. ¡°4x Skeledeer bone, 2x Skeledeer fat. Check the quality.¡±

    The Tun and Leif eagerly siezed Kaden¡¯s offered materials, and began to whisper. A few minutes later, Gramsan Leif headed to Eve. ¡°If that one is ours, then I¡¯m ready to join the Accord. It¡¯s a shame the Tun killed the original, but we¡¯re not the type to ignore brotherhood.¡±

    Eve clapped her hands. ¡°Dotria. We¡¯ve done our part. I¡¯m ready to accept your oath. Sara has granted me permission to forgive half your debt if you join the blom accord.¡±

    ¡°Pushy. Impatient,¡± Dotira said. ¡°But not wrong. We¡¯ll take the better [Skeledeer]. And give half the herd to the Leif, as our way of showing we hold no grudge for them stealing the original.¡±

    Eve gathered them close, administering the oath.

    The Tun have joined the blom accord.

    The Leif have joined the blom accord.

    All accord members have +1 stamina and constitution!

    Add clans to the accord to increase in power.

    Kaden approved. Five clan members was better than three. The gold bonuses were worth the effort. As an unclassed man, earning a hundred gold in a few hours had been impossible. The stuff of legends. Legends would be the stories about how he smelled.

    The crippled [Skeledeer] stumbled along behind Kaden, bubbling yellow fat from damage it inflicted.

    ¡°Well done¡ªoh gods, that¡¯s terrible.¡± Sara covered her nose and breathed through her mouth. ¡°Seriously, well done. Let me guess, they offered you a [Skeledeer?]¡±

    The shadows surged as Trella appeared beside Kaden¡ªthen activated [Dark Deception] to appear next to Sara. ¡°Did you have to say yes? It looks like the sort of beast you should let go. I bet it would be happier out on the plains. Please, don¡¯t bring it home.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the original,¡± Kaden said softly. ¡°It¡¯s ancient and crippled and not like the others. It doesn¡¯t need essence to split, but it¡¯ll only split every couple weeks at best. The fat is a Alchemical Reagent.¡± He handed a chunk to Trella.

    She studied it a moment. ¡°We could pen it out in one of the fields, right? Or dig a cellar and keep it there?¡±

    Kaden couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°I bet we can. Kiss?¡±

    ¡°Not yet.¡± Trella stepped away, just a bit. Just enough for the wind to cut between them.

    Your Quest has been completed (Mercari Quest Broker).

    Your time here is complete.

    Please depart to allow new Adventurers to contribute!

    Quest Master is Active

    You have completed a Quest: Checks and Balances.

    You have received 2x: Mercari Faction Bonus.

    Your favor with the Mercari has increased by 2 levels.

    You have unlocked Mercari discounts x2.

    Eve came rushing over, her blond braid flying behind her. ¡°What happened? I¡¯m not done! Five clans is better than none but there are still undecided. Sara, you need to fix this. You¡¯re the Party Leader.¡±

    Sara was busy dispatching messenger birds and pacing. And cursing. After nearly an hour she finally gathered them. Gathered being a loose term. ¡°I did warn you. I did say, the Mercari weren¡¯t benevolent grandparents doling out allowances.¡±

    ¡°How about you back up and explain why a Quest that should have taken months is suddenly done?¡± Trella asked.

    ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m frustrated,¡± Sara said. ¡°I believe we over-succeeded. The Mercari never expected such success. The goal was to get tribes to begin to agree, but the expectation was that most of the agreement would be done by the tribes themselves.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t want to pay for Eve to make agreements with all the tribes?¡± Kade asked.

    One of Sara¡¯s psuedopods went low, the other high. ¡°The rewards ramp up. Anything we accomplish draws the highest level rewards at this point. A new party would only be broking their first, if any at all. It¡¯s just smart business. Five clans are likely to persuade a sixth¡ªand a seventh and eighth.¡±

    It really did all come down to coins. ¡°I wasn¡¯t done hunting in the Ice Domain,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I have a score to settle with the ice dragon.¡±

    Eve gave a bitter laugh. ¡°Our Quest is done. We can certainly stay, but we won¡¯t be paid to do so.¡±

    Replaced by a lower-cost Adventurer wasn¡¯t what Kaden had expected at all, but part of life was adapting. ¡°I need to go someplace I can take a bath. And have my armor cleaned. And I know where I want to go.¡±

    The trip back to the FarPortal was a long one, made longer by the circumstances. The Resir had stayed to trade, but with an [Ulf Ravager] loping beside them, Kaden wasn¡¯t worried. They took a more direct route through low ridges of ice-covered stone. Kaden had bought a crude sled from the Tun for Eve to ride on, and dragged her, and a smaller sled for his [Skeledeer] which he would have left¡­except the Tun and the Leif both acted like it would be an afront.

    ¡°We¡¯ve got something hiding in the snow up ahead on the right!¡± Eve called out. She clutched her monacle that led her see heat patterns. ¡°Four close together, not human, a hundred paces off on the right, where the drift rises.¡±

    Trella was already gone, dropping into her version of [Stealth], and the [Ulf Ravager] split wide right to attack from behind, while Kaden headed straight for the ambush.

    Sara Scylla has used [Speeding Wind].

    Perfect. Kaden broke into a sprint, heading for the bank. The best way to meet an ambush was head on, exposing the ambushers to flank attacks, and keeping Eve behind front lines. Ten paces from the snow drift, the ground shook.

    Snow exploded upward as Eve¡¯s four signatures became a single creature. Made of pure ice, it reminded him of Trinity, of hydas in general. Every hot-spot was a head, every head large enough to crush a man¡¯s torso, and the body trailed away into the ground.

    [Moment of Speed] let Kaden rocket backwards, putting space between him and the creature, while he foused on [Identify].

    [Ice Gorger - Ambush Boss]

    The Ice Gorger makes a network of caves and works to expand its reach so it can move silently beneath the surface, striking and retreating when the time is right. When not hunting, it hibernates, leaving only tentacles to detect movement. Beast Knowledge * Fiercely territorial, we once watched on kill another for the cave. Probably for the meat too, but mostly for the cave.

    This Ice Gorger is young and impetuous and also frustrated because it was hiding and still got found.

    HP: 20,000

    Mana: 3,000

    Skills: Multitasker, Engorging Strike, Snow-Blind, Entangle

    Talents: Ice Born, Immovable, Limber

    Part of Kaden marveled at the beast. The other recognized the deadly combination of [Immovable] and [Limber] with a beast that made burrows underground. ¡°Stay back, if it gets a hold, it¡¯s near impossible to remove.¡±

    The [Ulf Ravager] stopped its slink and held position. Kaden trusted Trella to avoid an attack. He studied it, wishing but not receiving more information from [Beast Knowledge]. ¡°It¡¯s a dragger. Either it moves out and we keep it out of the burrow or it stays in and we punish it.¡±

    Kaden drew Thorn Caster and shot it three times in a row, as every head roared in pain and whipped back and forth. This was the type of battle he wanted, the kind where the boss was destroyed before he ever waded into range.

    The [Ice Gorger] slammed its heads into the ice and snow bank, throwing up a cloud of snow¡ªand disappeared. As the snow cleared, a clear sheet of ice a foot thick covered the previously hidden cave. Even as Kaden watched, flurries of snow began to stick. Soon the cave would be hidden.

    ¡°Thank the gods Eve was watching,¡± Sara said.

    ¡°I suspect I know why the Skan avoid this area,¡± Eve answered. ¡°Our chances of catching it a second time are low.¡±

    Kaden flinched as Trella dropped out of [Stealth].

    ¡°My chances are close to a hundred percent,¡± Trella said. ¡°I got [Huntress] as an optional class from the Fire Domain, and the second skill [Mark Prey]. I didn¡¯t attack, just marked it. Come back with Ashi and a set of [Agony Cloud] potions and we can kill this thing.¡±

    That was a plan.

    Warning: You have been asked to depart so that another Adventurer can participate. Failure to comply will result in favor and token penalties.Further failure to comply will result in penalties in payment.

    Killing another boss would be fun, but losing what they¡¯d earned was distinctly un-fun. It really was time to leave.

 Thirty -Last Resort

    Drokor was waiting for them when Kaden arrived, accompanied by a three other elders. ¡°You cannot leave. We did not ask for this, and do not understand why the Mercari would not let you finish what is begun.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Sara said. ¡°We have to hand over to the new party or give up everything we¡¯ve earned from the Mercari.¡±

    ¡°Unless,¡± Trella said. ¡°I do what I damn well please. If I wanted to come here, I would have. I did. For all anyone knows, I just discovered that [Skeledeer] fat is a reagent and I¡¯m coming back to get more. If I choose to make potions while I¡¯m here, that¡¯s my business. Where are you going to get potions?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an [Alchemist] in the party coming in,¡± Sara said. ¡°He or she will be able to brew [Fire Soul].¡±

    ¡°And they will put themselves at risk for our [Makur]? They will trade a tree for a mother with one beautiful calf and one hideous one? I doubt it.¡± Drokor seemed hurt. ¡°What will you do with the Xorn bracers?¡±

    ¡°Take them with me. The Quest doesn¡¯t have a time limit,¡± Kaden said. ¡°Basu said something. That Kai Fen was a different man when she had his child. Give him a decade or three, maybe he¡¯ll be different again.¡±

    ¡°A child by him. No child belongs to the father. But perhaps this is true.¡± Drokor went with them to the FarPortal. ¡°Your beasts will not be happy far from their home. At least not the [Ulf]. Who knows if a [Skeledeer] can be happy?¡±

    ¡°I have a plan.¡± Kaden dipped his head. ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t be able to wear my [Ulfen] armor except during winter, but I am grateful to the Resyr for making it. I want you to care for my [Makur]. Even the ugly calf. I¡¯ll pay for it to be raised well and come back to check on it from time to time.¡±

    ¡°They are not just livestock, they are our life style. You¡¯ll need to learn from us.¡± Drokur looked to Trella. ¡°There can not be words worth what you have done.¡±

    Trella quietly pulled out potion after potion, handing them to Drokor. ¡°It¡¯s your decision. But if you decide to cure the rest of the Resyr, I understand.¡±

    Eve spoke softly, carefully chosen words, then shook hands, while Sara spent thirty minutes explaining key deals and expectations, as well as cargo discussions.

    Kaden looked around. ¡°Where¡¯s Ashi?¡±

    ¡°I asked for more time for Ashi,¡± Sara said. ¡°She has chosen to remain and teach. I¡¯ve never seen someone who detests children be so passionate about teaching them. The Mercari don¡¯t care greatly about her presence, they want Eve, myself, and Kaden gone.¡±

    ¡°The mage will be welcome among us,¡± Drokor said. ¡°We have many who are sick in the mind and imagine what cannot be. She will have company.¡±

    The FarPortal flared to life, and a stream of Adventureres came out. They ignored the offered [Letidyr], activating bracelets that flared, surrounding them with a luminous aura of both fire and ice mana.

    *How much you think artifacts capable of holding off the cold cost?* Trella asked.

    *Too much.* Kaden preferred the Letydir, or his [Ulfen Armor].

    Sara waved as a man surrounded by orbiting crystals stepped through. The crystals formed rings about him, rotating and projecting information. ¡°Samuel?¡±

    ¡°Serious Sam,¡± He answered in an odd accent. ¡°We¡¯ll do handoff in a moment. Listen up! Everyone has their assignments. Move out, meet the clans, absolutely no fighting. We¡¯re here to spread civilization, not act like the barbarians. Quickly, report back.¡±

    ¡°[Barbarians] are different than [Beserkers],¡± Kaden said.

    Serious Sam had long black hair and wore a tunic with art painted on the front. The cat was recognizable, as was the [Unicorn], but no cat beast fired mana beams from its eyes. He gestured, and his crystal array swung around behind him to form a map that grew larger with more detail every second. ¡°Don¡¯t mind the map, as the [Rogues] move out, it¡¯ll get more up to date, and then Hal will be able to make recommendations on peace strategies. Any attacks will be seen before they even begin. And ended before a drop of blood is spilled.¡±

    Sara handed over a scroll. ¡°These are logs of current deals. We¡¯ve had difficulty convinving everyone to trade with the Resyr, but they¡¯ll come around given time.¡±

    ¡°Well, the solution to that is simple. [Junk in the Trunk!]¡± Sam reached into Inventory and drew out a club that rippled and blazed with mana, then tossed it to Drokor. ¡°You can trade that, right? For nuts, or maybe some squirrel meat or something? It¡¯s plus twenty to strength if your intelligence is below ten. Should be perfect.¡±

    Eve crossed her arms. ¡°It¡¯s not so simple. Long term stability requires agreements from each clan.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate people being uncivilized,¡± Sam said. ¡°That¡¯s why I volunteered to come. I don¡¯t want gold. I don¡¯t want loot or even experience. What I want is everyone to sit back, chill¡ªget it?¡ªand give up their shitty dreams of selling snowcones to the world in some interdimensional ice-cream truck.¡±

    Warning: You have exceeded your allotted time.

    Consequences will commence in five minutes.

    ¡°We have to be going,¡± Sara said.

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate. He knew exactly where he was headed. ¡°I¡¯m going to Samarna, there¡¯s the [Druid] Grove Marcus and Ydra belong to. I¡¯ll have my [Ulfen Armor] cleaned and it¡¯s not like I can even wear armor there. It¡¯s like being baked in an oven.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Trella took his hand and stepped through. Behind him, Garm slunk along, and the [Skeledeer] limped on three feet.

    A wave of heat like a Blast Furnce had Kaden stripping his Ulfen Armor as he stumbled off the FarPortal stone. And through the Soul bond, he performed the required juggling, summoning Trinity and dragging Garm into his soul so the poor [Ulf] wouldn¡¯t die of heatstroke.

    Trinity¡¯s scales flushed red in the warmth, and she stretched high, then flinched as she sniffed Kaden. ¡°I know!¡± He stored all his [Ulfen Armor] and put on coarse cloth shorts.

    Vip joined the party, dancing around Eve¡¯s feet as she coughed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, love, I need to change, and for that I need privacy.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mind heat or cold in normal extremes.¡± Sara¡¯s Horror nipped at branches that encroached over the FarPortal. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t this grove have someone present to greet us?¡±

    Kaden shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re in the Southern Islands. And trust me, we¡¯re being watched, it¡¯s just not by people. May as well show yourselves.¡±

    Two of the nearest palm trees rippled and rocked, roots waving as they tore up from the sand. What had looked like coconuts were now brown, husky eyes.

    [Palminder - Guardian Hybrid]

    The Palminder is a distant cousin of the Drydel, never quite as popular but far easier for tropical druids to tame and train as servants. Their utility as more than scouts has always been in question but their ability to blend perfectly even to those detecting stealth has saved more than one southern kingdom. These palminders are more plant than beast. Your skills will be less effective.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    *@AAA___#^$&*

    *Beast Knowledge. It ain¡¯t a beast.*

    Kaden waved to the nearest one. ¡°Marcus and Ydra know me. We just came from the north, with the Beserker clans and I was looking for a place to thaw out and clean up. Can you smell? Probably not.¡±

    ¡°Consider yourself fortunate,¡± Sara said.

    A bare path Kaden would hardly call a game trail split open, and a green vine poked up to wiggle like a finger, leading them on. ¡°Either it¡¯s a guide or it¡¯s a trap. One way we find rest, the other we get XP.¡± Kaden had barely spoken before Trinity lumbered down the path, pausing only for her serpent head to look back and whistle.

    For nearly ten minutes, Kaden made his way through the jungle with Trella just behind him. She gripped his hand. *Don¡¯t look back. Eve couldn¡¯t stand the heat and is changing.*

    *If I wanted someone to look at, I have you,* Kaden replied. *Say when we continue.*

    A few moments later, Eve spoke. ¡°Thank you. I have always cherished my robes. They were the first possession I received when I set out on my own. I was dressed for Egalion, not Verona¡¯s winter.¡±

    She¡¯d changed into a simple Healer¡¯s white, though as Kaden stared, the pristine white changed to a tinge of pink¡ªthen outright pink, then magenta.

    Sara gasped and shuddered as a crimson stain blossomed out from Eve¡¯s heart until the robes were the color of fresh blood.

    Eve shrugged. ¡°White isn¡¯t really my style anyway and Nurav doesn¡¯t want me mistaken for some loving healer of a lesser goddess.¡±

    A distant buzzing grew louder and louder. In a flash of vibrant green and blue, a dragonfly as long as Kaden was tall buzzed through the canopy, keeping its distance as it surveyed the group and then flitted away.

    ¡°Enemy?¡± Sara asked, drawing a bow.

    ¡°Not friendly,¡± Kaden answered. ¡°Insect emotions are hard to read.¡±

    The root-vine had burrowed back under the ground, which left Kaden undertain if this was the prelude to an attack or a case of ¡®otherwise-occupied.¡¯ A moment later, the trees shook and parted as a short woman strolled by. On one shoulder sat what was either a tiny tornado or a minature jaguar. The debris blown about by the storm formed the shape of a kitten. The woman¡¯s hair was an odd mix of black and white in patterns like zebra, and she kept it cut short above her shoulders. Like most druids, she wore loose tan robes that were less outfit and more a single flap of fabric cinched by a belt at her waist.

    Kaden had seen Eclipse as a kitten and the panther grew larger in the dark. He wouldn¡¯t underestimate the kitten-storm, and powerful people rarely needed to show their power.

    Behind the woman, the earth split open, and a swarm of vine-roots waved, some wrapping around her, others probing the air and others clearly pointed Kaden¡¯s direction.

    ¡°I told you there was a [Beast Master] scarred with metal,¡± the woman said to the vine. She glanced to them and strode forward, reaching to clasp Sara¡¯s hand. ¡°My third husband lives in the far north these days, he¡¯s mentioned you and your party. The [Beast Master], his [Assassin] love, the only [Transfusionist] for the last century. And of course, you have a reputation, Ms. Scylla. I¡¯m Warden Kemp, Druid of the Southern Isles.¡±

    Trinity rumbled deeply, in essence, *Not my island. Druid of all of them but mine.*

    ¡°Yes, the island where your terrors reign,¡± Warden Kemp answered. ¡°Ydra has been hunting poachers daily and she does so by my order. You and your kind are welcome here, Mother of Monsters, but you are welcome here by my decision, on my land.¡±

    For a split second, Kaden held his breath. Trinity wasn¡¯t the kind to accept others having control. Or to take into account power imbalances. But she looked away, bowing her armored head.

    ¡°I can understand you,¡± the Warden said. ¡°I understand almost all beasts, it was my chosen Class Evolution skill, but they need to speak. The cappucins don¡¯t. Ydra is very excited you¡¯re back, and you¡¯re welcome here, but please understand, this is a working Grove with so much to do every day. We don¡¯t have time to lounge. We don¡¯t offer exotic treaments, just the ones that keep our [Druids] on their feet. I can offer you peace and warmth and food.¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Sara said. ¡°We¡¯d like that.¡±

    ¡°One more thing, we don¡¯t allow undead beasts¡ªwait.¡± The Warden had focused on the [Skeledeer], which had just caught up. ¡°That¡¯s what the smell is. I was sure it was you. Wait. Maybe it is you, too.¡±

    ¡°Not a lot of hot baths in the frozen north,¡± Kaden said.

    The Warden laughed as she waved for them to follow. ¡°That, we can offer. For all of you. You¡¯re young and you look¡ªand smell¡ªexhausted. Groves are good for that. Have you experienced how peaceful life can be?¡±

    Eve answered first. ¡°No. What we¡¯ve experienced was demon invasions, demon daughters ambushing Kaden, grahts, trips to Hell, drunken feasts where Kaden slept with other party members and [Ranger¡¯s] apprentices getting their members torn off. Peaceful? Not precisely.¡±

    ¡°Olidar Kemmel¡­¡± The Warden spoke Olidar¡¯s name like a curse. ¡°That won¡¯t be happening here. The demon part. Or the dicks. My proteges are both women. Everything else is up to you.¡±

    ###

    Kaden tried not to scream as a hundred and eighty pound man used his body weight on Kaden¡¯s shoulder. [Fortress of Stone] didn¡¯t offer help, since the Warden had said it prevented the feedback senses people with the [Massage] skill used to ensure they were pushing the limits of the muscles. It was currently disabled, and Kaden missed it. ¡°I said I¡¯m good,¡± he wheezed. ¡°I said I was fine with somewhere quiet to sleep. I said¡ª¡±

    Pain became white-hot agony as a nerve Kaden hadn¡¯t known before screamed up and down his entire body.

    ¡°See? Damage from who knows when,¡± His torturer/attendant said.

    ¡°Stop whining!¡± Sara said. ¡°This is an honor. You should relax and enjoy it.¡±

    Kaden would have told her exactly where she could go and what she could do when she got there, but he couldn¡¯t breath.

    ¡°You had mana-burn on this hand. Practically the whole arm, and your body has been compensating. Just lay still like this, the worst is over for now.¡± The [Masseuse] stood and clapped his hands. ¡°Who is next? You, the lady with the snakes. Or are those some kind of Cosmic Horror?¡±

    Kaden could only bask in the deep satisfaction as Sara covered herself in a thin sheet and lay down¡ªonly to writhe at a part Kaden could only call mild stretching. ¡°She carries a lot of stress as Party Leader. Make sure to honor her extra well. There¡¯s ten silver in it for you if you do,¡± Kaden said.

    While they sat, Warden Kemp relaxed on a throne of vines, vines that pierced her skin at the shoulders and hips. The blood loss didn¡¯t seem to bother her, as she meditated, occasionally asking questions. ¡°Your Burning Dream Queen has moved deeper into the volcano range, so far only our fastest scouts have been able to find it. It built two nests and abandoned them.¡±

    That made Kaden happy. It was frightening boss. Dagger Dreams were terrifying to start, engulfing them in fire only made them more terrifying in every way. ¡°Any idea why it¡¯s abandoning nests?¡±

    ¡°We think it¡¯s becoming more dependent on Fire Mana. Is it true, you brought a Destruction Wyvern to the [Vivomancers] to modify?¡±

    In between short shrieks from Sara, Kaden explained. ¡°It can¡¯t even eat without its aura destroying its food. I have a question for you. The Druids near Verona hate the plate in my chest.¡±

    ¡°Ours will, too, except that two of the tier three druids owe you, we have three tier four druids, who have lived long enough to start sacrificing their ideals, and I understand the desperation of wanting to survive. Don¡¯t expect our younger set to be so kind.¡± The Warden rose and stretched. ¡°Come. Walk with me, [Beast Master].¡±

    Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate. Vip dashed to his side, while Trinity rose and stretched.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come too,¡± Trella said. ¡°Your massage looks too much like the Sister¡¯s stretching training. I don¡¯t need to rest, I need to do.¡±

    ¡°How. Many. Stop! Potions. Ow! Did you. Make?¡± Sara said between squirming. ¡°You need rest more than any of us.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to rest. If I stop moving, I¡¯ll never start again.¡± Trella¡¯s tone dropped with each word.

    ¡°How about training?¡± The warden waved her hand in a circle. Her throne dissolve into a nest of root-vines. ¡°Give us a thirty second head start. Rooty will try to entrap you. You have [Limber] so it¡¯s not easy at all. You can [Shadow Step.] You have probably a dozen Deceptions. If you can escape Rooty and catch up, you¡¯re welcome to come.¡±

    ¡°And if I don¡¯t?¡±

    The Warden pointed to Kaden¡¯s foot, where a vine burst up to encircle it. ¡°You¡¯ll either cooperate or Rooty will make you cooperate. It can make a nice hammock, but it could also choose to hang you by your ankle. I suggest cooperating.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a deal.¡± Trella crouched, focused on them. ¡°Your time just started.¡±

    Kaden looked back to find the diminutive Warden sprinting like [Terror Birds] chased her, and he followed, sending the [FalCrow] ahead to keep track of where he needed to be. Half a mile away, he ducked through wide leaves and slammed into the warden, which was like running into a brick wall.

    ¡°[Immovable] and seventy five attribute points,¡± She said without looking at him. ¡°Your love will discover something about Rooty momentarily. He covers this continent. Completely. Also, he has sap that can sedate victims. Not that he¡¯s interested in eating your love. Rooty¡¯s a cannibal. He only eats other plants.¡±

    Trella shrieked in frustration, followed by a sound that could have been many things, but if Kaden were to guess, it was someone being dragged by a root-vine.

    ¡°She needs to rest. She was the only Alchemist for all twelve clans,¡± Kaden said. ¡°What did you want to talk about?¡±

    ¡°Talk? Nothing. I wanted to show you. My title¡¯s not for nothing. When the Cataclysm destroyed this continent, it created thousands of islands. Each is a prison. Some prisons are more open than others. But there¡¯s one prisoner you¡¯ll want to see.¡± She stood on tip-toes so her head almost reached his shoulder and whispered. ¡°This is where the Life Dragon is imprisoned.¡±

 Thirty One - Imprismed

    At the thought of encountering another dragon, Kaden¡¯s heart leaped. The scales on his right hand burned in response, momentarily looking less like outlines and more like what they were, chunks of the living embodiment of mana. ¡°I have a Quest to obtain dragon scales. Oceanus is going to give me one. Could I get one from the Life Dragon?¡±

    The Warden stopped for a moment to look at his hand. ¡°You might be able to obtain one, but I¡¯m not sure you¡¯d be able to survive it. The dragon wasn¡¯t always imprisoned here. Once, it lived in the Linusal Mountain range. Thousands of years ago, the Death Dragon disappeared. When that happened, the Blight broke out.¡±

    ¡°Omnor,¡± Kaden said.

    ¡°Exists deep beneath the Linusal mountains, which Centurions cooperated to turn into a barren wasteland devoid of life. The Blight cannot spread because nothing can survive crossing the wasteland. Dragons can be killed but not destroyed.¡± The Warden spoke as they ran, crossing rock bridges and fording shallow rivers.

    ¡°They¡¯re return-al,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I¡¯m still going to kill the Ice Dragon. It¡¯s going to happen, it¡¯s just a question of when. I was in a bad situation when I ran into it the first time. I wasn¡¯t prepared. Next time, I¡¯ll go in planning to end him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t recall the Ice Dragon being particularly bright. Proud, yes. Intelligent, somewhat. Cunning? Hardly. When we enter the containment island, remain calm. I want to show you what happens when Nature is pulled out of balance.¡± The Warden cut west across small islands and stopped as she approached a literal metal gate. A gate without fences on either side, just standing alone.

    The Falcrow swooped to circle and came back, fading away.

    ¡°This door leads to another island. One you can¡¯t enter any other way. Much like your Tidal Key.¡± The Warden pressed her hand to the door. It warped, shrinking downward so Kaden had to duck, and the door itself fell to sand that blew inward. From the stone doorway, a gasp of air rushed out.

    Kaden hesitated. The sunlight on the other side looked identical, but the feeling was different, dangerous. Wild. Like the gentle tick of Sara¡¯s Herald of Life title, only a hurricane. ¡°Is this safe?¡±

    ¡°Hardly. It¡¯s furious at being captive here and eager to escape, and not even a Dragon can break free ofthis prison. I have an ulterior motive. I need to see if you¡¯ll be able to speak to it. I can, but it doesn¡¯t want to speak to me.¡± She stepped inside and gagged. ¡°You¡¯re second tier. This won¡¯t kill you but it¡¯ll be hard. Keep a small weapon handy. You¡¯ll need it, and the reason will become apparent immediately.¡±

    Kaden followed her.

    One step past the stone, the light grew sickly yellow, filled with spots that blazed brighter and dim areas like spores of the void. The ground lay white, sterile, covered in ash¡ªor bone dust, and every jungle tree as far as the eye could see was twisted and black.

    Kaden¡¯s health surged upward, the counter ticking.

    ¡°Quickly, through the wastes. When we reach the edge, do not enter, or it will be your end.¡± The Warden strode throughthe ruined forest. ¡°I can feel your emotions. You¡¯re somewhat Beast, due to that Class. This was a necessary sacrifice to contain the Life Dragon.¡±

    As she walked, she slashed her forearm with a dagger.

    Kaden mimiced the motion more carefully. The Levicon Blade wouldn¡¯t cut deep, but it could ruin the bones in his forearm. With a pattern of slashes healing of their own accord, Kaden followed. Five hundred steps in, simple cuts weren¡¯t enough, he had to slash at the veins, and a thousand paces in, the wounds healed as he drew back the knife blade.

    The sound of rushing water grew louder and louder, and a mist rose up, filling the air with foggy afterimages.

    ¡°Hold.¡± The Warden held up one hand. ¡°That¡¯s far enough. The water here is a gift of Mortis. To enter it is to be erased. The dragon knows we are here already.¡±

    The fog blowed a deep and dark green, billowing away from Kaden as a pair of black eyes emerged from the mist, framed in a skull the size of Oceanus¡¯s, with long dagger-teeth protruding from a short, rounded jaw.

    The Life Dragon¡¯s scales boiled, both brilliant green and reflecting a thousand possibilities as they darkened, grew tumerous, crusted and shed, then regrew. The scales twisted, losing their green and becoming white blobs that rose up temorarily.

    Blightlings.

    Kaden almost shrank back, but fear was the gatekeeper of power, and he¡¯d faced the Death Dragon. ¡°You. Why do you unleash blight? You should be the embodiment of growth and health. This is disease. This is cancer.¡±

    Only when he spoke did Kaden become aware that the dragon¡¯s focus had never been him.

    Until now.

    It raked over him, spiritual weight that pushed against his very soul and reverberated in his flesh, causing his skin to grow warts.

    Kaden activated [Destruction Aura], letting it seep out.

    The growth slowed but didn¡¯t stop, so Kaden drew an [Agony Cloud] potion and smashed it at his feet. ¡°Answer me!¡±

    *Power.*

    Beside him, the [Agony Cloud] barely affected the Warden. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Please!¡±

    *Power*, the dragon answered once more. *Overflowing.*Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    With the words came images. [Beast Soul] was barely capable of absorbing, let alone translating the flood of images and feelings. Kaden dropped two more potions, desperately needing their destructive power to keep the Life Dragon¡¯s power at bay. The dragon scales on his hand resonated with its strength, especially¡ª¡°I know what it is.¡± Kaden turned and limped away as growths swelled on his arms. ¡°I know what it needs, I just don¡¯t know if we can get it.¡±

    Speaking was harder now with his throat closing.

    Kaden gave up waiting and sprinted for the door. He slammed into the stone arches, sheering off warts and tumors that hung from his skin and rolled through the underbrush before Trinity whipped her tail around to catch him.

    ¡°Told you it would be hard,¡± The Warden said. ¡°Back off, monster. I¡¯m not going to hurt him. We need to cut off these tumors before they try and take over.¡±

    Kaden shook his head. The [Falcrow] didn¡¯t need him to use actual words. He knew what was truly needed, and what to do about it.

    ###

    The smell of his own flesh turning necrotic and dripping off always left Kaden hungry for chili. Specifically chili that didn¡¯t include him. Another growth turned black as Kaden watched. ¡°Thank you for coming.¡±

    Sevin, the [Necromancer] prodigy who¡¯d left Omnor, sat across from him. His skin was no longer pale, but the black stones embedded in his skull flashed in the dim firelight. Beside Sevin stood Kaden¡¯s skeletal monster, Skully. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely correct. This isn¡¯t quite blight, but the source of the problem is the same. The Death Dragon is the counterbalance and it¡¯s been gone for thousands of years.¡±

    Sara had turned her chair around because while she housed the end of the universe, she had limits. Even Trella couldn¡¯t watch as Seven destroyed the tumors. ¡°Of course Necromancers want a Death Dragon back.¡±

    ¡°Mortis is the god of Death. But he doesn¡¯t demand we seek followers. And none of us escape his court. It¡¯s a cycle. Life flows to Death, but energy isn¡¯t lost. It¡¯s purified and returned to begin the cycle again.¡± As Sevin spoke the underbrush rustled and skeletal creatures crawled out. ¡°You said you know where the Death Dragon is.¡±

    ¡°Vichor,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I have a scale from it, and I think that may be the only reason I lasted as long as I did. The King is a friend but there¡¯s ¡®a friend¡¯ and ¡®willing to give up his childhood pet¡¯ and I¡¯m not sure we¡¯re there.¡±

    ¡°And,¡± Trella added. ¡°Even assuming we brought the Death Dragon back, don¡¯t you think having it loose is going to wreak havoc? It¡¯s been imprisoned in Vichor for thousands of years.¡±

    ¡°My Sister could approach without fear, as can our Centurions. At least, without fear of the Death Mana. The Dragon itself will still be deadly. That¡¯s all the tumors on your head. Eve, would you be so kind?¡± Sevin had gained a lot of personality interacting with Verona¡¯s [Necromancers]. He no longer stared empty-eyed.

    ¡°There they are!¡± a woman shouted. Ydra came sprinting along a path, and behind her, her lover, Marcus, the man with the most magnificent beard ever, came striding. The [Druid] had survived resurrection, and something was different. Almost imperceptible, but the way he moved, the way he stepped and ducked through the underbrush was almost a dance.

    Kaden stood, wincing as tumors on his legs rubbed. ¡°Sorry, I got too close to the Life Dragon.¡±

    Marcus crushed his hand, then clasp Kaden¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I got too close to a [Reflactory] once with opposite results. I¡¯d take my death any day over that.¡±

    ¡°It is grotesque, is it not?¡± Sevin asked. The [Necromancer] rubbed his chin, probably out of envy. ¡°I was just telling my¡­friends¡­that the proper use of Death Mana is a cycle. Death should not consume all, life should not overwhelm.¡±

    Marcus looked him up and down. ¡°We don¡¯t get many [Necromancers] here, but any friend of Kaden¡¯s is welcome. Do you think you can restrain the Life Dragon?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Sevin choked with laughter. ¡°It¡¯s a dragon. The only counter is another dragon. I could probably kill it, but if I do, the only thing that happens is it returns. And then I personally have a problem.¡±

    ¡°I plan on killing the Ice Dragon,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I mean it, I have a plan and I¡¯m going to do it. Marcus, forgive me, but you look different.¡±

    In response the [Druid] bared his chest, showing the dozens of scars. ¡°I¡¯m third tier and this was my first death on land I¡¯ve sworn to tend. The land accepted my blood and replaced it with some of its mana. It would be a very different fight now.¡±

    At the words, Skully tromped around the fire to put a claiming claw on Kaden. ¡°Fight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s still creepy,¡± Trella said. ¡°Sevin, could you please kill the rest of the tumors? I love Kaden but sleeping next to him like that isn¡¯t going to happen. Three of them were moving on their own earlier.¡±

    While Eve and Trinity cooked and Vip helped (or, more honestly, begged for scraps), Kaden layed out his ask. ¡°I have the egg of a Solar Dragon. Eve¡¯s been keeping it for me, but I think this may be the right place to hatch one. Verona is too far north.¡±

    ¡°Egalion is warm and would welcome it, but also want to keep it,¡± Eve said, producing the golden egg from Inventory. ¡°Holding it in my soul is like having a warm spring day at all times, but there must come a time to leave it.¡±

    Ydra cupped her hands. ¡°How in all nine hells did you get a dragon egg? Dragons don¡¯t lay them, they make them. For decades people would beg for one. And you have one and are seriously talking about leaving it here?¡±

    Kaden accepted the egg. Warm to the touch, it almost burned his hands, and the scale on his right hand, the solar mana scale, brightened as Kaden clutched it closer. Then he handed it back to Eve. ¡°I need to talk to Suridev. He had to know I¡¯d take the egg. It¡¯s his hatchling. Eve, do you mind holding it for now?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Eve put it away. ¡°I would like to come when you visit the dragon. I¡¯ve heard stories of clever they are. Should you be bleeding like that? My sense as a Priestess of Nurav that this is the bad kind of bleeding. And I say that knowing that to Nurav, there is no such thing.¡±

    ¡°The excess life must die,¡± Sevin said. ¡°He¡¯s the one who challenged a Life Dragon. I would like to see this dragon¡¯s containment myself. Skully is not alive and is not subject to the dragon¡¯s influence. I¡¯ll direct him on any work to be done.¡±

    ¡°The Warden makes her rounds at night,¡± Marcus said. ¡°Speaking of which, she¡¯ll be escorting the crew. These are level twenty two druids. They¡¯re passionate about who¡¯s the most dedicated to Nature.¡±

    Kaden knew what that meant. ¡°I can survive a few low-level [Druids] being upset with me.¡± Then [Read Emotion] filled in the context. ¡°I¡¯m actually tired. Very tired. Where does someone sleep? Trinity is used to hunting at night.¡±

    Trinity roared an answer that was *Trinity is the best hunter on the continent.*

    Confidence really was her strong point.

    Ydra held out her hands, and vines descended to grasp her, pulling her to her feet. ¡°Thank you, Rooty. We have homes. They¡¯re not fancy, but they¡¯re comfortable. Rooty kills any night spawns and will point your TriTerror to islands where she can hunt Beasts that are her match or more.¡±

    A few minutes later, Kaden relaxed on a bed made of woven vines that let air pass underneath. ¡°Found another one,¡± he said. Then he grasped her hand. *Talk?*

    Trella had barely spoken. *I hate needing to rest. I hate needing sleep. I hate that a stupid plant was able to burst every single Deception, anticipate my [Shadow Step], fling me into the air so [Limber] didn¡¯t help and then drug me.*

    *Ouch.* Kaden sat up as a vine burst from the ground and reached over to tentatively tap on their palms.

    *World Boss. Centuries old. Tomorrow. Practice. Sleep first.*

    ¡°First off, it¡¯s creepy that the vine monster worldboss knows [Rogue] code,¡± Trella said. ¡°But thank you. If I¡¯m going to get schooled by a plant, at least let it be an epic one.¡±

    That truly did relax her, and that truly did relax him.

    Somewhere, Trinity was hunting, stalking a monster she knew was aware of her. And so delighted to be doing it. He couldn¡¯t help hoping¡ªor believing¡ªthat this could be a good place.

 Thirty Two - Growth

    The Priests at the Saint¡¯s Hall had always taught Kaden that a strong routine and sticking to it were the secret to having his soul fed and warm in the afterlife, particularly when that routine involved work that paid coins, and especially when those coins went to the [Priests].

    They would choke now to see him keeping no schedule beyond ¡®Come and see this¡¯ or ¡®Do you mind ordering the poisonous cyclops that fires mana blasts not to?¡¯ or even ¡®You¡¯ll never regret letting this toad lick you.¡¯

    Trella slept a good four days, rising only to eat and then relaxing in her root-hammock.

    Sara was spending a huge amount of time with Sevin, and Kaden understood why. The [Necromancer] had lost his pale complexion, grown lean and fit, and never missed a chance to eat a meal with the group and laugh.

    ¡°Skully is essential,¡± he said around the lunch fire. ¡°That Mortis-cursed dragon has been creating new life. Brand new life you can barely see, but that¡¯s all it takes to begin growing again. And he got you a present. Last night, the dragon tried to force his way across Mortis¡¯s river.¡±

    Skully had sat silently, staring with [Plague Crow] eyes at the fire, but he reached into his chest and pulled out a smaller skeleton, which carried a bottle around the fire. ¡°Gif-t.¡±

    Suspended in a crystal flask was a large, round chunk of flesh that, even now, tried to re-grow a dragon around it. Veins arched off into the bottle before turning black and drifting to dusk. ¡°A scale.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t use it yet.¡± Sevin spoke with dead seriousness. ¡°Right now that dragon is too strong. Every dragon has a balance to it, and that one doesn¡¯t. It needs a balance.¡±

    ¡°I sent word to Ashi,¡± Kaden said. ¡°We can only ask King Najur to give up his pet.¡±

    A storm of wind roved through the grove, as dust filled the air in a howling tornado. Trinity lay in one corner nursing wounds she didn¡¯t want Eve to heal. Eve had offered. Eve had insisted. Eve had gotten to heal her own set of wounds rather than Trinity¡¯s and that was the end of the discussion.

    As the air cleared, one of the [Druid] sworn stood, out of breath, probably out of mana. [Storm Flight] was a powerful second tier skill once developed, but righ now it looked like it took all the man¡¯s energy. He glared at Kaden, then looked to Sevin. ¡°The Warden requests your asisstance. You¡¯ve been allowed on the continent in spite of your stain for this.¡±

    ¡°What about me?¡± Kaden pulled back his tunic to remind them of the metal there. ¡°Carrying the artifacts of a mad necromancer. Embedded deep in my body for all eternity. So evil!¡±

    ¡°Hello?¡± Sara held up a hand. ¡°These aren¡¯t snakes, they¡¯re the end of everything in the universe. Want to see me devour a piece of Nature forever?¡±

    ¡°One of us is [Priestess] of a forsaken goddess and everyone else is not!¡± Eve protested. ¡°Please, if you must thump your chest and spit bile in someone¡¯s direction, at least acknowledge you¡¯d never survive my attacks.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shit, this potion¡¯s going to explode!¡± Trella shouted, then laughed as everyone dove for the ground. ¡°Just kidding, it¡¯s not going to explode. For the love of gods, it¡¯s an Attribute enhancement potion. It¡¯s not going to explode. And if you¡¯re all done pretending to be dangerous, the [Shadow Blade] in the room would like to remind everyone¡ªbut specifically you, druid¡ªif you lay a finger on my party you¡¯ll never see me coming and your corpse will never be found. Now, can we all settle down? Sevin, you want to see what this one is?¡±

    He gave a short bow. ¡°How could I ever refuse?¡±

    Trella didn¡¯t look, hurling the flask end over end.

    It wasn¡¯t clear to Kaden when Skully moved. One moment the behemoth was standing to the side, the next he was catching the potion. Then smoothly, almost sluggishly, turning to hand it to Sevin. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s fast. When did Skully get fast?¡± Trella asked.

    Sevin accepted the potion. ¡°So much of him was damaged I wound up re-doing all the bindings. Almost no bone here is original. The undead are, typically, sluggish. But what if they didn¡¯t have to be?¡±

    That sounded great to Kaden. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡±

    ¡°The faster he moves in bursts, the slower he has to move afterwards. But imagine ambush guards that move so fast [Triple Cut] can¡¯t get started!¡± Sevin swigged back the potion. Unlike others, Attribute enhancing potions had to be completely swallowed to take effect. And while everyone wanted the permanent boost, most of Trella¡¯s were neither permanent nor the attribute she targeted.

    ¡°Soul, plus eleven, duration of three minutes. My spells will hit so much harder,¡± Sevin said. ¡°Skully, we have work to do. Follow, catch up when you can.¡± He sprinted off into the jungle with a horde of re-animated rats, birds, and bats following.

    ¡°Such a pleasant man when you get to know him,¡± Sara said with a smile.

    ¡°And you got to know him very, very well. Good for you,¡± Trella said.

    For once, Eve kept any comments to herself. ¡°Why are you all looking at me? I¡¯m happy for Sara. I¡¯m happy for Sevin. I¡¯m happy they both left me and Vip out of it. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    *Love.* Vip crawled up into Sara¡¯s lap and sprawled, her legs flopping over each side of Sara, her head down. *Fast love.*

    ¡°Vip says you smell happy,¡± Kaden translated. In the days since she had reached Enlightenment, Kaden hadn¡¯t noticed many changes. Perhaps she watched things more, but Vip had always been clever. Definitely she clung to Eve more, but Vip had always had a special bond with Eve.

    He¡¯d sent a bird to Mr. Dervish asking for advice on how to handle her, and been pleased with the answer. She¡¯s half Midnight Chevalier, and they¡¯re smart to start. Tack on the levels and [Intelligent] and it¡¯s no surprise. You¡¯ll know what she needs better than I will. You might know it better than she does, thanks to that Soul Bond. Give her time and space, she¡¯s going to learn quick and make a ton of mistakes doing it.

    Kaden could give her time to learn and space to do it. Right now, he had the chance to see some of the most deadly beasts on the continent, the chance to tame them and gain talents from them. But first, he had a plan to get a boost of his own. ¡°Rooty?¡±

    The vine-monster burst up from the ground, shaking clods of dirt from its green tendrils.

    ¡°Just need you to hold still.¡± Kaden focused on [Identify], a supposedly basic skill he¡¯d probably never master.

    [Rooty - Monstera Mundi Continentia]

    This is the worldboss who presides over the southern continent¡ªeven the parts of it sunken and destroyed. Once a simple tangler vine, this is no longer plant or animal, Beast or Boss. It transcends normal categories like ¡®vegan¡¯ or ¡®meatatarian¡¯ to become far more. To truly destroy it, one would need to raze the entire Southern Islands, and even then, if a sprig survives, it would return with a vengeance. That it serves the Warden of the Southern Islands is its own choice, one monster recognizing others who must be contained. *Beast Knowledge - met it on the Shromland Valley mouth, a nest of thorns and vines we had to burn to ashes to pass. And again near the river delta, and when we sailed to sea, it was waving from the shore. There¡¯s eleven more continents and nine Hells, it can have that one.

    *Curious*

    You have encountered a mythic Beast.

    You have gained a Constitution Bonus.

    Oh, that hadn¡¯t been what Kaden expected, nor what he wanted. Soul would have let him store more Beasts. Constitution made him tougher in every way, but Kaden was mostly damage for the party. Strength, Agility, Soul, any of those would have been good. Still, a bonus was a bonus. ¡°Hey, Sara. Rooty was a tangle vine once.¡±

    ¡°I doubt that. Was it?¡± Sara pulled something from Inventory, a short length of tangle vine she kept as utility. The living vine would wrap around anything it encountered, then twist while piercing with thorns. Like most carnivorous plants, blood was as good as flesh.

    She gently set the vine down. ¡°I barely see a resemblence. Both are vines, but Rooty is intelligent. And fast. And mobile.¡±

    ¡°Not so mobile. Rooty¡¯s just everywhere,¡± Kaden said. ¡°I think it overgrew most of the continent.¡±

    The worldboss produced a vine which flicked the tangle vine, exploding it, then shrugged, a difficult task for a boss with no shoulders. Or arms.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sara said. ¡°My gardening skill isn¡¯t that high, and it¡¯s not like they sell World Boss seeds at the market.¡±

    The root tip swiveled to point at Sara, rubbing other roots together like fingers plotting. A moment later, three more root-vines errupted, ripping at the first until clumps of dirt flew and Vip hid behind Kaden. With a screech, the battle ended.

    The earth furrowed as a root-vine approached Sara, clutching a short second of white root that writhed.

    Sara accepted it. ¡°It¡¯s a cutting. One day it will grow, but [Gardening] says it could be years to establish a root network. In the mean time it will throw off shoots with different abilities I can harvest.¡±

    The root-vine whipped up in down in an expressive nod. Years for sure.

    ¡°What is this going to cost me?¡± Sara asked. ¡°You¡¯re surrounded by [Druids]. You hardly need me to spread your roots. What do you get from me planting you?¡±

    The roots swiveled and pointed at Kaden, then began to wave in patterns, patterns [Beast Soul] interpreted for Kaden, and he relayed. ¡°Growth. Rooty covers the southern continent. He¡¯s a World Boss. He¡¯s near indestructible, but he hasn¡¯t gained a level, talent, or skill in centuries. With you growing him, and me near him, he¡¯s hoping the new growth will gain talents and skills he¡¯s never had.¡±

    ¡°But the new plant won¡¯t be you. Won¡¯t you fight?¡± Sara asked.

    The root-wiggle was short and deliberate. Kaden understood. Trinity would approve. ¡°Rooty devours other plants to gain their abilities. May the best continent covering World Boss win.¡±

    Sara cradled the rootling. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll add it to my garden. In a few thousand years, if fortune favors it, you¡¯ll have a battle to the death. And in the mean time, I¡¯ll welcome a few new weapons.¡±

    Rooty gave off a deeply pleased feeling that came from all around Kaden. The World Boss was truly everywhere. He¡¯d need to speak with Sara about the wisdom of unleashing it on another continent.

    ¡°Anyone else worried about Ashi?¡± Kaden asked. ¡°She hasn¡¯t sent a dragon in days. Not at night, not during the day.¡± With that, he summoned the [Falcrow] and sent it to Ashi, along with the idea that if she were even remotely agitaged, it should feel free to harrass everything and everyone bothering her.

    Minutes passed.

    Almost an hour.

    Sevin returned with Skully clomping along behind him and headed straight to Trella. ¡°Whatever you did with that potion, don¡¯t ever do it again. When the potion wears off it¡¯s minus eleven. All my abilities are mana based, and if it weren¡¯t for Skully, I¡¯d have had a very hard time escaping.¡±

    ¡°Not what I intended, but these are experiments. Sara got permanent plus one to agility. Kaden¡¯s skin turned blue for four days. I¡¯ll get better with every success and eventually raise my [Alchemy] skill further.¡± Sara offered him another. ¡°Probably not the same. I hope.¡±

    He reluctantly accepted. ¡°The cooldown on attribute modification is twenty four hours. Eve?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Eve said with a small bow. ¡°My faith in Trella¡¯s skills is moderated by my memory of her track record. In fact¡ª¡± She stopped as a Messenger Dragon landed on her arm, then leaped up. ¡°Ashi¡¯s in trouble. The Resyr camp, the Tun, the Skan, all of them were attacked simultaneously this morning. She was teaching fire spells in the wasteland, but now they are huddled down in the wastes.¡±

    ¡°Kai Fen,¡± Kaden said, the name of a dead man, even if the dead man hadn¡¯t gotten word yet of his immenent demise. ¡°Sevin, can you tell the Warden I¡¯ll be back to help when she needs it?¡±

    ¡°I owe the [Polymage] a debt I will never repay in this life. Her [Fate] left Oberix a puppet for my sister to use,¡± Sevin said. ¡°If you go into a battle, then we go as one¡±

    Kaden was already dressing in his [Ulfen Armor], already preparing. ¡°I¡¯ll go first through the FarPortal. If the Fen are attacking, I¡¯ll clear the Portal and let you in.¡±

    ¡°We need to be careful,¡± Trella answered. ¡°Clear the FarPortal, but don¡¯t rush to bring more of them after us. The party that prepares is the party that survives.¡±

    Peace was the season he loved, but his armor, and the gentle hum of Remembrance said it was no longer the season for peace. It was time for war.

 Thirty Three - Growth

    Kaden leaped first through the FarPortal¡ªand emerged to an explosion of fire that took a quarter of his health. The [Mage] standing five feet away stood frozen by fear as Kaden stalked out of the FarPortal, drinking another fireball with the [Eldritch Shield]. Thick clouds of smoke blotted out the stars above.

    ¡°Someone got through before I could destroy the FarPortal! We¡¯ve got¡ª¡± The man drew a messenger bird and activated [Fire Shield] as Kaden charged ahead.

    The [Eldritch Shield] absorbed much of the shield and then crumbled in burning flakes. This was no first tier puffball, his mana made spells¡ªoh. [Mana Drain] caused the remaining shield to drop even as the man did, gripping his stomach as he tried to scream. The mana bird flitted into the darkness and perched on a charred post.

    Kaden caught the mage and slammed him to the ground. ¡°Who are you? Where are the Resyr? You know what? I don¡¯t need your answers. But I do need your bones.¡±

    ¡°Kaden.¡± Trella¡¯s voice held calm. ¡°Let me try. I just sent a bird, the others will arrive momentarily.¡± She drew a black potion from Inventory. ¡°This is not a poison. I want you to know this, Ivan Franz. It¡¯s a [Truth Potion].¡±

    Ivan clamped his mouth shut, so Trella sliced his cheek open and rammed the flask into place until the man choked and wheezed. ¡°What are you doing here, Ivan?¡±

    ¡°Destroying the FarPortal,¡± he answered, his voice shaking.

    Trella nodded. ¡°Excellent decision. If you don¡¯t, someone like Kaden might come through. Followed by someone like me. Who told you to destroy the FarPortal?¡±

    ¡°Serious Sammy.¡± Ivan once more clamped his mouth shut. The man wasn¡¯t going to have cheeks at this rate.

    ¡°Sammy. That¡¯s a name. What do you like best about Serious Sammy?¡±

    ¡°His loot. He¡¯s a second-lifer. His G\god told him to bring civilization to the North. Please. Don¡¯t tell him I told you.¡± Ivan began to weep as Trella drew an Inkblade. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to tell you.¡±

    ¡°I remember him, now that you mention it. Did any of the Resyr survive? Think, Ivan. Your death could be long and hard, or almost painless. There was a [PolyMage] and some children she was training. Do you know where they are?¡±

    Kaden rarely feared Trella, but the tone in her voice was darker than the Deceptions that served her. No malice. No anger. No fear. Colder than the winds that whipped through the destroyed shelter.

    Ivan¡¯s tears turned orange and burst into flame as they trickled down his cheeks. ¡°The Resyr somehow knew I was coming. There weren¡¯t enough of them to be worth sending a full Party, so the rest of mine mine went hunting the [Polymage]. I was just going to burn the village, slaugher the guards and kill the [Makur]. Stupid beasts stampeded at my first [Fire Tornado].¡±

    Remembrance felt right in his hands as Kaden drew it. He drained mana from the mage again. ¡°You¡¯re a fool. You¡¯d never make it on foot, alone, to another village, or even to meet up with your party. Or are they coming for you?¡±

    ¡°L-l-linked P-p-portal.¡± Ivan acted like the words were hammering at his teeth to get out no matter how he held them in. ¡°Sammy had a dozen of them. I can portal to one of the other villages. I¡¯ll kill you. I swear, I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    Kaden drained mana until Ivan¡¯s groans cut off his curses. ¡°How do I use it? I¡¯m going to kill this Samuel.¡±

    Ivan gasped as he recovered from the drain. ¡°You and what kingdom? His skill lets him create loot with any attribute. He has a dozen parties at his command. He¡¯s picked from the best, and trust me, for equipment that will last until level one hundred, a priestess of Varun would murder her own mother.¡±

    ¡°Varun is not worshiped by this party.¡± Eve spoke from behind Kaden. ¡°And I know better than any what her followers will or will not do. The potion is impressive but we must prioritize Ashi.¡±

    Sara stepped up beside Trella. ¡°Agreed. Getting information is good, now find her is the goal.¡±

    You have received a new Quest: Mistakes Were Made - Even the best employers occasionally choose the wrong personnel. Force Serious Sam to retreat before he further destabilizes the north. Reward: Your Choice of Vendor

    ¡°Choice of Vendor?¡± Kaden asked Sara.

    ¡°Mine says ¡®Choice of Business Venture,¡¯¡± she answered.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got ¡®Choice of Blood Spells,¡¯¡± Eve said.

    Trella stared into the distance. ¡°Oh, I want mine. I want that so badly. I wasn¡¯t even aware there skill scrolls for [Shadow Armor] existed. I¡¯ve never even heard of a [Shadow Blade] with it, though it makes sense. Why are we all getting custom quest rewards?¡±

    ¡°Because I refused the first quest offered,¡± Sara said. ¡°This mess was created by the Mercari. I needed to enforce the cost of failure was higher than allowing us to finish would have been.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    A stone on Ivan¡¯s belt glowed and a voice echoed out. A voice Kaden recognized as Serious Sam. ¡°Good news, everyone! The Yul have seen the error of their ways and become the first to embrace civilization. I¡¯m going to stay here and start building New Spokane, you all have your assignments. If anyone resists, kill them. Destroy their livestock, tools, and crops. We¡¯ll start again in a more civilized way once we¡¯ve wiped the etch-a-sketch clean.¡±

    Trella stabbed Ivan with both [Ink Blades], driving them clean through him, then repeating over and over. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of the [Skeledeer]. I could do without the cold, but I¡¯ll be damned if I stand by and watch this. Thanks for the level, Ivan.¡±

    ¡°Check out the spell book,¡± Sara held it up. ¡±They are ranked by the type of spell they hold. This one increases mana, offers soul bonuses, holds three additional spells and will become sentient.¡± She banished it to Inventory. ¡°If everyone we¡¯re facing is equipped like this, the clans don¡¯t stand a chance.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like our odds, either,¡± Eve said. ¡°Beserkers are deadly given time to build Rage, but against coordinated parties with this kind of equipment, we¡¯d need an army. We¡¯d need time to plan, and I assure you, this ¡®Serious Sam¡¯ won¡¯t give us that.¡±

    Kaden had become master of bad ideas, and this, too, was one of them, but he couldn¡¯t come up with one better. ¡°We need to gather the clans. We need to prepare for war. And I know where we can do that.¡±

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t say the Domain,¡± Sara said. ¡°You¡¯re going to say the Domain. I know it. You might as well say it, now.¡±

    ¡°We have someone who can brew potions. I¡¯ve been through it and know the patterns. This time I won¡¯t be alone. We have an [Ulf Ravager] to help detect threats. Healing. Protection from Frost. Sheer damage, once we get Ashi.¡± Kaden looked to each of them. ¡°Sevin, I¡¯m guessing anything we kill, you can re-animate. Is there an upper limit?¡±

    ¡°In theory, depending on what I¡¯m re-animating. Let¡¯s find out what that limit it is,¡± he said. ¡°My jungle skeletons are already swarming the village. He spoke the truth, there are only the dead here.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Trella said. ¡°After we get Ashi.¡±

    Sara dispatched ten separate messenger birds. ¡°How will we find Ashi?¡±

    ¡°I can find her.¡± Kaden couldn¡¯t explain it. A steady thrum in his soul told him exactly where she was. ¡°Is Skully safe in this cold?¡±

    Sevin shook his head. ¡°The [Dense] talent will let him fight, but he is not unstopable. Though he is unique, if it is a choice, let him take the mortal blow.¡±

    That matched Kaden¡¯s expectations. Skully could be reconstituted with nothing more than a few abandoned skeletons, and Adventurers were abandoning skeletons every day. ¡°Eve, can you resurrect anyone who can be? Anyone who can¡¯t belongs to Sevin.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Eve looked to Sevin. ¡°Would you mind having your servants bring the corpses?¡±

    ¡°It will be done,¡± Sevin said. ¡°We will guard you while Kaden retrieves your [Polymage].¡±

    Kaden summoned Garm and let the [Ulf Ravager] range ahead. Obviously Samuel hadn¡¯t seen the Resyr as a serious threat, not worth a whole party. But the fact that he¡¯d sent someone to destroy the FarPortal said even a Second-Lifer knew he could be overrun.

    The only sound was the cracle of burning shelter and the cries of frightened [Makur].

    Sara looked to the others. ¡°We¡¯ll gather as many of the clans as we can. I¡¯ll coordinate getting survivors to the Domain.¡±

    ¡°I need to start brewing [Fire Soul] potions, and I need to do it now,¡± Trella said. ¡°Kaden, are you ok going after Ashi by yourself? You don¡¯t have to kill that party, you just have to get past them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m never by myself.¡± Kaden turned and sprinted into the night, following a path that would lead him to Ashi. A path he felt in his soul. Why hadn¡¯t she sent a messenger dragon to him? Why Eve? The answers, he was sure, lay ahead.

    Garm circled back, his muzzle bloody. The emotions that surged off him spoke of lesser [Ulf] who hadn¡¯t respected a [Ravager¡¯s] strength. And others who would carry the blood-scent of the one back.

    With [Ulfen Boots], Kaden sprinted through the darkness, deeper into the icy wastes. [Stealth Aura] wrapped him tightly, and the steady pulse of mana in his soul said he was closer with every moment.

    A light snowfall became a heavy one, and a heavy one became a blinding storm, and yet Kaden pressed onward. Garm¡¯s emotions said the ulf would rather nestle down and wait out the storm, but if Kaden went on, so did Garm.

    Until the ravager stopped so suddenly it sent Kaden sprawling as he tripped over the Beast.

    A dome of light stood ahead, nearly covered in snow. One one side, Kaden made out the forms of Adventurers. He crept closer and closer. The voices within were muffled, too muffled for him to make out.

    He risked drawing an [Echo Beetle] and tossing it into the opening that let smoke out.

    Beetle 9774632 has perished (frozen).

    Again and again, he hurled echo beetles¡ªuntil one fell inside, momentarily stunned by the cold. The effect was instant.

    ¡°¡ªa fact, she¡¯s not moving, not in this. We wait. We heal what we can of Lissa¡¯s wounds. And when the storm clears, we kill drive the [Ice Gorger] back so it kills them all. I won¡¯t usually kill children, but accidents happen.¡±

    ¡°I can get behind that. That cave system is probably chock full of monsters. As far as I¡¯m concerned, they were probably killed by one of them,¡± a woman answered.

    The other murmurs of agreement, Kaden couldn¡¯t identify.

    ¡°If Lissa had [Tamed] it¡ª¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t. Be. Tamed. Anymore.¡± A woman spoke, her voice broken and wheezing. ¡°Just. Kill.¡±

    ¡°Lay still until we can get another healer. Zig¡¯s gone to get us better [Mage] hunting gear from Sammy. Something that¡¯ll turn spells to health, or reflect them, or something. She¡¯ll be back soon and once we¡¯re properly outfitted, we¡¯ll kill the bitch, feed her flock to the [Ice Gorger] and get someplace where we don¡¯t have to huddle in a dome to keep from freezing to death.¡±

    ¡°One of her messenger dragons got away. The [Mansquitos] have been eating them as fast as she can send, but one made it through,¡± a man said, his voice filled with trepidation.

    Now Kaden knew where he was, and where Ashi was. The [Ice Gorger] was deadly when allowed to ambush, but without that edge it was a boss with limited mobility and a host of weaknesses, including a vulnerability to fire. No surprise Ashi had exploited this, hiding in the caves with her students and using it as a shield.

    A shield that would be worthless soon.

    Kaden snuck off into the frozen night with Garm in his footsteps. Ahead, the narrow hills that formed the [Ice Gorger]¡¯s lair waited. ¡°Ok, good boy. You thinking what I¡¯m thinking?¡±

    It was unlikely. The [Ulf Ravager] was a survivor, while Kaden¡¯s plan involved heading straight into the lair of an ambush boss. It wasn¡¯t the best plan, but it would do to start.

 Thirty Four - Turnabout

    As the cave network loomed ahead, Kaden summoned the [FalCrow]. There wasn¡¯t any reason to take this risk if he didn¡¯t need to. The bird materialized before Kaden, holding its wings stiff against the gale to glide in place.

    ¡°I need you to tell Ashi I¡¯m here and not to roast or freeze me,¡± he said.

    But as he spoke the buzz of wings in the darkness grew louder than the wind. A glistening black mosquito with wings a man¡¯s height wide and all too human eyes swooped by¡ªand another¡ªand another.

    The Falcrow could, of course, phase out of existence, but the problem was, for the first time in his experience, it was filled with pure frustration, and far more interested in punishing these beasts¡ªit screamed in pain and disappeared, then re-appeared.

    [Mansquito - Created Beast]

    These hunters in the dark feed on mana beasts, and their ability to hunt down the otherwise invulnerable beasts is exactly what they were created for. They have neither history nor future as a created Beast. Beast Knowledge * None.

    Skills: Mana Drain, Devour, Phase

    [Moment of Speed] gave him the match to leap at one of the [Mansquitos], only to have it disappear, becoming as intangible as the mana beasts they feasted on. All around him, blurs of the [Falcrow] attempting to phase in¡ªonly to be attacked¡ªleft him no question why Ashi hadn¡¯t sent a message.

    ¡°Flee!¡± he shouted, sending the command through the soul bond.

    Then he drew a common mana bird from Inventory. He always kept a handful, but now he regretted not getting more. He clutched it tightly and raised his fist

    SNAP! It was gone before he realized the mansquito was coming.

    This time, Kaden held his hand out in front of him, constantly triggering [Moment of Speed]. The [Mansquito] swooped down, extending a probiscus that stabbed toward the mana bird in his fist¡ªand froze.

    You have bound a Created Beast (Mansquito).

    _ERROR_INCONSISTENT_ENTITY_.

    CONSISTENCY CHECKER OVERLOADED.

    ENTITY TERMINATED.

    The beast exploded into particles of mana before Kaden could drag it into his soul. Kaden didn¡¯t hesitate, raising the bird again and burned mana like blood to match the circling [Mansquitos].

    You have bound a Created Beast (Mansquito).

    You have bound a Created Beast (Mansquito).

    You have bound a Created Beast (Mansquito).

    You have bound a Created Beast (Mansquito).

    Over and over, the beasts disapeared as he bonded with them. The last one dodged, and Kaden applied [Beast Command]. ¡°Stop!¡±

    CONSISTENCY CHECKER INVOKED.

    _ENTITY_ REGENERATED FOR SKILL COMPATIBILITY.

    CONSISTENCY CHECKER ENDS.

    [Mansquito - Messenger Hunter]

    In the depths of the southern isles, many creatures have risen and gone extinct without ever seeing another soul. These creatures have evolved to isolate prey for greater predators, devouring the mana beasts that would let Adventurers call for help. Never coming alone, they are the harbingers of your doom. ADMIN_NOTE This flavor text is terrible. Seriously, all these things do is eat mana birds? We should totaly make these things mana vampires.

    Skills: Mana Drain, Devour, Phase

    Kaden quickly bound it and pulled into his soul. When only the sound of wind and falling snow remained, he sent his final mana bird off to Ashi.

    A moment later, a plain brown bird returned. ¡°Beware, this [Ice Gorger] is not vulnerable to [Taming] or [Binding]. I have kept the students safe, but at great cost of mana.¡±

    First step was getting Ashi and her students out, and at least Kaden had a plan there. The gorger was an ambush boss, meant to strike at unaware victims and then drag them back into the narrow tunnels of its lair.

    With a silent order to Garm to stay hidden, Kaden, turned and charged straight for the gorger¡¯s lair. It probably sensed vibrations, and Kaden relied on [Moment of Speed] to ensure he hit the narrow tunnel¡ªwith [Eldritch Shied] active¡ªjust as the boss reacted.

    But Kaden hit it inside the tunnel, where it couldn¡¯t expand, where it couldn¡¯t unfold its jaws and claws. With a crack, he collided with the gorger, a creature whose body was designed to give it leverage pulling back into a cave, not driving itself forward.

    The [Eldritch Shield] muffled the roars from all three heads, heads which normally worked together to grasp a target. Right now, it couldn¡¯t grasp the edges of the shield. Kaden braced himself and shoved. Foot by foot, he forced the beast back¡ªuntil a glow from the side drew his attention.

    ¡°Kaden!¡± Ashi called. ¡°This way, the beast may not pass.¡±

    Kaden [Shield Bashed] and leaped right, nearly crushing Ashi. Her wraps were disecheveled, almost all the mana stones dark. ¡°How did you get this far back?¡±

    ¡°I thought as you do,¡± Ashi said. ¡°I sought the beast¡¯s lair for protection, and while it grappled an illusion, we fled deep into the caves. But now we are hunted, and I was forced to seal exits.¡±

    Kaden followed her back to a smaller cave, where eight young [Mages] sat in a circle around a pale heatstone. Small mana orbs kept the cave lit.

    ¡°I have spoken to you, ¡®do not despair,¡¯¡± Ashi said. ¡°And you have held strong in spirit. Many times, enemies will seek to kill you. Fear, greed, and more. What is best in life?¡±

    A young woman raised her hand. ¡°To crush your enemies and see them driven before you, to hear the lamentations¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! Do not spoute such nonsense,¡± Ashi said. ¡°It is best to live.¡±

    Kaden focused on the spot he¡¯d memorized. A wobbly portal sprung into existence. ¡°Get them out. The Resyr village is safe. I¡¯ll follow along later, once I¡¯ve dealt with the Adventurers who meant to kill you and your students. They¡¯re coming prepared for you. They¡¯re not coming prepared for me.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Ashi stepped through and herded her students. ¡°Focus. Move quickly, move quietly. Escape into the night and leave your enemies to their fate. It will not be gentle or kind.¡±

    She smiled as Garm dropped [Stealth] and joined Kaden in the cave. ¡°I have nearly no mana. But I have enough to undo my defenses. [Stone Shape!] I will tell the others.¡±

    Three crevices expanded as thin sheets of rock dropped away.

    Kaden let the portal close and summoned his [Mansquito]. Killing an entire party was beyond even his abilities, if they were near matched in levels, but he really wanted to teach them what it was to be hunted. ¡°You¡¯ll help me with that, right?¡±

    Garm didn¡¯t answer, but the emotions said that he was always open to hunting prey, or anything remotely prey-like. Unlike Trinity, Gram had limits to what he considered reasonable. Kaden could work with that.

    In the darkness, the [Ice Gorger] moved, its scaley body whispering past the crevice as it strained to turn toward him. Kaden didn¡¯t blame it. Instead, he planned. It would have been better if he knew exactly who was coming. He listened to the [Echo Beetle], hoping for clues to their abilites, but all he could gather was that one of them was a [Knight], one a [Tamer], and a [Healer] who couldn¡¯t heal her party well enough.

    They boasted about new equipment that would reflect spells. Equipment that turned it to health, turned it to mana, gave boosts and more. And joked about what they¡¯d do with their new-found wealth.

    There were many different kinds of anger, Kaden had found through the years. Some anger burned white hot and came out in screams and fists and wild blows. And other anger simmered, clouding judgement. But the anger that turned ice cold and formed determination, that was the most dangerous kind.

    Every party wipe was one bad decision you just didn¡¯t see coming.

    They¡¯d never see him coming.

    It began with the enraged screams of the [Ice Gorger] as it attempted to ensnare prey. Its body, soft like snail or slug¡¯s trailed far behind it. Kaden squeezed through the crevice and made a snap decision, retreating further back into its lair by bracing his hands and feet. After all, the Beast would never expect prey to go that way.

    The winding tunnel glistened with shed scales as he worked his way deeper in, letting Garm¡¯s night vision keep him moving. Ah, there. A mound of bones and armor, crushed weapons and bent tools, all the cast off debris of victims, arranged in a nest. Kaden took them as a mater of course. The bones could be buried, loot could be sold, but what was most important was to enrage the [Ice Gorger].

    It backed down the tunnel, forced by a steady barrage of arrows and spellcraft.

    ¡°Shit! They¡¯re gone!¡± a man shouted.

    Kaden took in the location. The smell of not-quite-rotting flesh, the drift of air currents from other tunnels, the reek of its own filth. He¡¯d never be an expert in Portal, and juggling multiple portal locations could be deadly, so he surrendered all thoughts of the safe exit¡ªand opened one back to the side-cave. Small glowstones lit the cave, probably dropped by the first

    ¡°Let¡¯s start hunting,¡± a woman called from outside. ¡°Torger and Bal will drive it back so you can exit. Stay clear!¡±

    Kaden carefully collected glowstones, leaving only one, and engaged [Stealth Aura].

    A moment later, a [Knight] in green armor came stumbling back from one of the passages Ashi had opened. Snow clung to his beard and he swore as he entered the cave. ¡°Godsdamned stones-who¡¯s there? Torger? I said stay¡ª¡±

    You have acquired a flesh ram.

    Kaden struggled to lift the man an inch, but even an inch off the rock floor, the skill took over. He rammed the knight backwards into the stone.

    You have inflicted 600 points damage on the wall and on your ram.

    Like an enraged [Ice Gorger], perhaps one being constantly peppered with spells and arrows, or maybe one who had retreated far enough to discover its shit-and-bone nest had been stolen, Kaden charged from side to side, then took his real aim, bashing the knight out into the crevice that led to the gorger¡¯s ambush.

    The knight screamed as an errant spell hit him instead.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hit Zig! Hit the Beast!¡± the woman shouted.

    But if they stopped, the [Ice Gorger] would be free to surge forward. Free to find the man half protruding from the wall. Free to drag him back into its lair, crunching and tearing.

    You have helped kill the [Knight] Zigory Dane.

    You have gained experience.

    The cries of horror from outside told Kaden his party leader knew what had happened. At least, she knew he was dead.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get him back,¡± a deep woman¡¯s voice said.

    A man answered, the words garbled, lost to the wind, but the tone spoke of hopelessness.

    With a thought, he sent the only [Mansquito] into action, ordering it to circle just beyond the cave, hunting. And Garm lay hidden, deep in stealth, just as Kaden had asked. As an [Ulf Ravager] he knew how to select prey, and Kaden encouraged it. The Beast didn¡¯t know the concept of a [Healer] or [Mage] but it did know ¡®vulnerable¡¯ and its kind had long ago learned to maim prey and wait for the elements to finish them off.

    Kaden had his own plans. ¡°Help! Someone help. That damned [Knight] stabbed me. I need a status cleans for [Mortal Wounds].¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got your status cleanse!¡± the woman shouted. ¡°Torger, let¡¯s remove the status. And his head.¡±

    Kaden drank a stamina potion and crushed it underfoot. An enclosed area, no [Agony Cloud] potions and a hostile beast weren¡¯t ideal but he¡¯d make them work. His plans were evolving.

    Metal scraped on rock as the [Shield] charged into the [Ice Gorger¡¯s] lair. They¡¯d thought of the same weakness, and probably used it over and over to attack Ashi.

    Kaden activated [Destruction Aura] as the woman twisted sideways into the crevice that lead to Ashi¡¯s cave.

    [Mira Kan - Shield], Identify offered.

    ¡°Hello, Mira,¡± Kaden said, using the [Eldritch Shield] to block her in the crevice.

    ¡°Stay behind me,¡± Mira called to her helper. ¡°He¡¯s got AOE damage. Really shitty AOE damage.¡±

    Kaden let her push forward. Let her strength overmatch his as she forced her way out into the smaller cave. When she levered the [Eldritch Shield] up to punch him in the jaw, he rolled with the punch as [Brawling] commanded¡ªand activated Portal as he turned off [Destruction Aura.] ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have come in here.¡±

    ¡°Two one one,¡± Mira answered. ¡°You¡¯re not a [Shield] and you¡¯re not pure damage, which means you¡¯re totally screwed. Let¡¯s kill him, Choam.¡±

    Her helper was a [Hunter] who dashed forward¡ªas Kaden deactivated Portal. ¡°One on one.¡±

    Outside, someone¡ªa woman¡ªscreamed, a tortured wail that echoed in the cave, followed by snarling. Garm had struck.

    ¡°Choam?¡± the [Shield] called softly. ¡°What did you do?¡±

    ¡°I opened a portal to the [Ice Gorger]¡¯s den after you came through,¡± Kaden answered. He flinched as pain flowed through the soul bond with Garm. [Fortress of Stone] didn¡¯t help much with pain that bypassed his nerves. ¡°Choam is with your knight friend now.

    Your soul-bound beast may not be tamed.

    Oh. Their [Tamer] wasn¡¯t quite as dead as she¡¯d sounded. Well enough, at least, to attempt to take one of his beasts. Kaden needed only a thought to give Garm an idea. An idea the ulf embraced.

    Your soul-bound beast may not be tamed.

    Your soul-bound beast may not be tamed.

    Your soul-bound beast may not be tamed.

    A second set of screams rose up, dying down to whimpering.

    ¡°Good boy,¡± Kaden said, keeping his eyes on the [Shield]. ¡°That was your tamer. How many were in your party? That¡¯s probably four down. You must have a rogue. I¡¯m guessing your healer was who the [Ulf] killed.¡±

    Mira summoned a shiny metal shield engraved with vines. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly kill me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I need someone alive to take a message to Samuel. Tell him to leave. I¡¯ll let him go.¡± Kaden headed toward the crevice the knight had come from. ¡°And I can kill you. But for the moment, you¡¯re useful to me. Don¡¯t make me change my mind.¡±

    Was it bravado? Yes. But what mattered here was what she¡¯d tell everyone else. He activated [Moment of Speed], pouring mana into it like a leaking bucket¡ªand disappered into the crevice. After twisting and scraping his way through the passages, Kaden poked his head up through the snow.

    Garm waited a few hundred yards away, licking blood that leaked from a [Tamer] who lay in the snow, weeping. One leg was gone below the knee, both hands mangled.

    Healing potions lay scattered in the snow where she¡¯d summoned them from Inventory but been unable to open or drag them.

    Kaden kneeled down. ¡°You thought you could survive Ashi¡¯s spells. How?¡±

    ¡°Mana to Life gear.¡± Each word was a separate, wheezed gasp.

    Kaden studied the remains of her gear. ¡°Pretty bracelet.¡±

    [Spell Vampire]

    Translate one percent of incoming damage to health. This number will rise as you use this item, to a maximum of fifty percent. Overloading the spell vampire will destroy it.

    That was just broken. Fifty percent of spell damage would make him unkillable. Kaden collected it all, then uncorked a potion and forced it into her mouth. ¡°We¡¯re not going to kill you.¡±

    While the potion took effect, Kaden looted the healer, who also carried a [Spell Vampire], but one that would turn incoming damage to mana. The others probably carried one as well, but Kaden had descended into the [Ice Gorger¡¯s] den once and had no intention of doing it again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t leave me,¡± the Tamer said, while Garm licked his lips and sniffed the smooth, fresh skin on her stumps. ¡°I was just following orders. It wasn¡¯t personal.¡±

    Garm returned to Kaden¡¯s side as he again activated Portal, right in front of the [Tamer].

    Gorgers were not intelligent beasts. They understood tunnels. And openings. And ambushes. This one spun to face the unexpected tunnel and flared all three heads, dropping the corpse it had been gnawing to slither forward.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to try to [Tame] you,¡± Kaden said, focusing on [Beast Soul]. ¡°She did try.¡±

    The Ambush boss was almost timid, poking a single head out to sink teeth into the healer¡¯s abdomen. It tugged at her like a puppy with a new favorite screaming, crying toy.

    Kaden let the portal collapse, cutting off the screams and leaving only the whistle of wind and drift of snow.

    It was very personal.