Leo pushed himself forward with the wall at his side, using it for support as the men still able to move rushed him. Ellie burst from his soul-space just as one of them swung a mace low, clearly aiming to shatter Leo’s legs. The weapon looked blunt at first glance, but earthen spikes had grown from the head, giving it a brutal, jagged finish.

The man cried out in shock when Ellie latched onto his arm instead. Her teeth sank deep, and Leo felt her anger surge through the bond as her jaw clamped down harder and harder.

Ellie has upgraded Bite (Common)

To Crushing Bite (Uncommon)

Bone gave way with a sickening bend.

“Fuck! Get this thing off me!” he shouted, flailing as he tried to swing the mace at her with his free hand.

“Ellie!” Leo called, more instinct than necessity.

She already had it handled.

With a sharp Wingbeat, she surged upward while still clamped onto him, wrenching his broken arm high enough to throw off his strike completely. His scream followed her movement. Then she let go, raked her claws across his face on the way down, and before he could recover, fire engulfed his head at point-blank range.

The man dropped limp before he even hit the ground.

You have slain: Human, Earthbound Bruiser - Level 32, Blacksmith - Level 18

Experience Gained

+1893 Store Credits

The entire encounter had been lightning quick, but it had been enough to inlay caution in the men about to attack, keeping a wary distance while also not letting him just escape. Those that were recovered from Leo’s Call of the Storm were heading towards Cain, who was pulling himself from the wall.

Time was running out, he’d bought all the time he could, he just hoped it was enough.

A Spark Dash warped him closer to his destination, which was just around the corner. His health was still dropping, whatever attack Cain had used was causing the bleeding to not be easily stopped by his Vitality, and health potions wouldn’t do a thing. Best bet was to use the crystal as soon as he was clear.

As he broached the corner, the portal came into view to his utter relief. No one dared finish Leo off out of fear of Cain’s wrath, which gave him enough time to make it closer.

As he did, a message he hadn’t seen in a while appeared.

Dungeon Discovered:

The Cinder Bastion

Maximum Party size: 5

Minimum level requirement: 35

Once entered, cannot be exited until 24 hours have passed or the dungeon is completed.

The party will be fully ejected after 7 days if the dungeon has not been cleared and will be unable to return for another 7 days.

First-clear reward: Available

Note: Due to this being a progression instance, only one party may enter at a time until first clear is awarded.

He let out a quick sigh. The thought of level requirements or potential changes hadn’t even crossed his mind. Seeing the warning also gave him an idea, one that would either go surprisingly well, or catastrophically badly.

Probably 50-50

Ellie darted ahead and planted herself in front of the instance portal, snarling at anyone who came too close. Leo only needed a few more steps to make it inside, but he held off for a moment. He could still buy his friends a little more time.

“You know what happens if I go in there, right?” Leo called to the men gathering at a cautious distance. “I can hide in that dungeon for a week, and all you can do is wait.”

He was baiting them, but more importantly, he needed them thinking.

“You go in, I kill your people,” Cain said. He was already back on his feet and mostly healed, walking toward Leo with slow, deliberate steps.

“Stay right there,” Leo warned. “Come any closer and I go in.”

Cain’s growl was almost animal in the shape it took. “Two choices. Die in there, I kill your people. Die out here, your people live.”

Leo gave a humourless laugh. “You attacked us when we were already leaving. Why would I trust a single word out of your mouth?”

“Enough. Choose.”

Leo smirked, though it was mostly to annoy him. “You really hate me, don’t you? Even when my friend was talking to you, your eyes kept coming back to me.” He tilted his head. “Must be rough… Finding someone stronger.”

Cain’s hatchets reappeared in his hands, their bone-white blades glowing red.

“You are not stronger.”

“Oh yeah?” Leo took one last step back toward the portal, arms spread wide. “Then come find out.”

Then he jumped through, Ellie vanishing into his soul-space an instant before he disappeared.

~

Cain looked on at the glowing blue portal. Snarling. He wouldn’t admit the pain he’d taken from this man, which still felt as if it lingered despite the healing. Pain was temporary.

But the blow to his pride was enough to question his own superiority, if only for a moment.

That could not stand.

He glanced at the message once more.

Leonidas Hawkins has invited you to a party

Accept?

Yes/No

“What should we do? Send more people after his and track down their base?” A mage asked, the one that had raised the barrier to negate Leo’s assault.

Cain said nothing and strode directly into the portal.

His men could only stand in shock. No idea what was happening.

~

Leo’s friends were all moving as quickly as they could through the inner city.

The path back was usually clear thanks to the many excursions, but there could still be antlings lurking on patrol. Antlings, they could handle.

Bjorn looked sick, like a father who had just been forced to walk away while his child was still in danger. Cecelia, on the other hand, was walking with that same closed-off expression Bjorn had seen before, the one that showed up whenever her pride had taken a hit.

He recognised it.

It was the same look she’d worn when Leo had first shown everyone just how far ahead he was before the Tower push. That bitter, simmering sense of inferiority.

And right now, after leaving Leo behind and Ashley being unconscious, it made Bjorn’s blood boil.

“If you don’t change that face, I swear, I’m gonna smack it off ya,” he said through gritted teeth.

Ron glanced his way, Ashley still slung over his shoulder, but kept his silence.

Cecelia only reacted after a moment, like his words had taken time to properly sink in. Then her face twisted into a glare sharp enough to cut.

“That’s better,” Bjorn said. “Now give us a plan.”

“Plan?” Cecelia scoffed. “Why would I have a plan? We lost. We were completely outmatched. Outnumbered. All we can do is scurry home with our tail between our legs.”

“Not good enough.”

Her head snapped toward him. “Then why don’t you lead us?” she shot back. “Or are you too busy coddling your wife? Too busy treating Leo like he’s your long-lost son?” Her lip curled. “That’s right. You can’t lead us. You’re a coward.”

Bjorn took that hit without flinching. “Aye,” he said. “I am afraid.” His voice stayed level, which somehow made it heavier. “I told you on the first day I don’t want to lead. Not because I’m lazy. Not because I’d rather hide behind someone else. Because I don’t trust myself with that kind of responsibility.”

His voice dropped lower after that.

“When I’m the one responsible, people get hurt.” He swallowed. “My family. My…” His mouth tightened, and for a second he looked like he might be sick. “My children.”

Cecelia didn’t let up.

“Your children aren’t here,” she said, her voice turning cold. “They’re in their own tutorial, and if you ever want to see them again, strength is what matters. That dungeon was strength. Power. A chance to close the gap between us and the monsters.” Her stare sharpened. “If you throw that away, then what are you even doing this for? Your children would be ashamed.”

Ron stopped so suddenly that both Bjorn and Cecelia were forced to halt with him.

“What is it?” Cecelia asked, instantly looking around. “Enemies? Wh—”

The crack of Ron’s hand across her face cut the question short.

It wasn’t a full-force blow. There was no blood, no staggering impact.

But the meaning behind it was crystal clear.

Cecelia just stared at him for a second, one hand slowly rising to her cheek. “What…”

Ron’s voice was flat. “Don’t speak on things you don’t understand.” His eyes didn’t waver. “You know better. Be better.”

Bjorn’s expression dropped at once. She’d gone too far, aye, but even then it was strange seeing Ron be the one to snap her out of it, and so aggressively.

Still, if anyone was suited to stand at her side and tell her when she’d crossed a line, it was him.

“What… do you think… you are doing?” Cecelia asked, the words coming out like they were dragged across broken glass.

“Correcting you before you go too far,” he said firmly. “You asked for my assistance. You have it.”

Cecelia straightened as though a bucket of cold water had just been thrown over her. The rage in her eyes dulled, her focus snapping back into place.

Ron’s head turned sharply at the sound of approaching footsteps. “Incoming.”

Weapons were drawn in less than a second as Ron set Ashley down carefully against the wall.

Three figures appeared a moment later from the street they had just passed through. Their armour was mostly uniform, and with their weapons hidden at first glance, it was hard to tell what kind of fighters they were meant to be.

Bjorn stepped forward first, reinforcing his armour and shield with earth until he looked more like a moving golem than man.

The first attacker was on him in a flash, spear thrusting straight for his head. It was quick, but Bjorn had felt strikes faster than that before.

His shield came up and knocked the spear cleanly into the ground. The man froze in surprise, clearly not used to having his opening attack turned aside so easily.

Bjorn brought his sword down in a heavy arc, aiming to split the other man from shoulder to torso, but while Bjorn had defense in abundance, raw killing power wasn’t his strongest suit. The spearman threw himself backward with a quick retreating step, narrowly escaping the blow.

Bjorn smirked beneath the stony shell of his armour.

He wasn’t the real threat here.

And this man had just used his escape tool.

An arrow screamed through the air, wrapped in sunlight and heat. It flew like a phoenix, wings of fire unfurling around it as it crossed the distance faster than Bjorn could properly track. It slammed into the spearman’s chest, and flames engulfed him as he screamed.

Two more arrows followed immediately, but by then the other two had caught up. One raised a shield and caught the shots while the other pulled out a crossbow and fired large globules of water that curved through the air toward Ron.

Bjorn activated the skill on his shield. A shockwave rippled outward, sending the water crashing harmlessly into the walls around them.

Good.

He had their attention, and Ron had already shown enough to make them respect his damage.

That left one thing.

Their leader.

Cecelia moved.

Her sword came down on the shield-bearing knight in what looked like a simple overhead strike, the kind anyone would think to block. He did exactly that, raising his shield to catch the blow and prepare a counter.

His eyes widened when the blade sliced straight through the shield as if it wasn’t there.

The ethereal edge, coated in pale moonlight, carved through his shoulder and into his chest before Cecelia tore it free in one clean motion. She turned with the follow-through, and his head hit the ground a heartbeat later.

The spearman had been doused by his ally’s water, but the burns across his body were still savage, his skin blackened and split. Even so, system-enhanced vitality kept him moving.

His spear lashed toward Cecelia.

Then left his hand entirely.

It whipped around toward her back while a blade appeared in his other hand, the two attacks coming at once from opposite directions.

“Guardian!”

Bjorn activated his strongest skill without hesitation.

Guardian’s Aid (Rare)

A true guardian will do whatever it takes to save the ones he cares about. You have proven yourself a defender of the weak, a bastion of justice. Use that power to shield them from harm.

Teleport to a nearby ally, shielding them from an incoming attack.

Scales with Vitality and Toughness

Cooldown: 1 hour

He appeared at Cecelia’s back just before the spear struck, batting it aside with his shield as she turned and caught the swordsman’s follow up in an effortless parry.

The return strike killed him instantly, a flash of silver light cutting him down before he could recover.

That left only the crossbowman.

He stared at the bodies of his allies for a split second too long, shock plain on his face, then turned and ran. His crossbow vanished into his ring as he sprinted.

Cecelia used her dash skill to close the distance while Ron peppered him with arrows. He was fast and had a head start, but not enough.

One of Ron’s splitting arrows caught him in the leg and he went down hard.

Cecelia reached him first and raised her sword, but paused when the man curled in on himself, hands half raised in surrender.

“We should take him as leverage,” she said, considering.

“Do you think that bastard would even care?” Bjorn asked. “He cut down his own man for talking.”

“Are you willing to cooperate?” Cecelia asked the man on the ground.

He glanced between the three of them, clearly weighing whatever chances he thought he had left.

“I’ll tell you whatever you want,” he said quickly. “Just don’t kill me. I fucking hate being with that group.”

“An unlikely tale,” Cecelia said, “but perhaps enough to work with for now.”

“We can’t bring him back with us, Cece. You know that,” Bjorn said. “We need to move. Let’s just finish this.”

Bjorn’s sword descended, but Cecelia’s blade intercepted it and knocked it aside before it could fall.

He frowned at her, though without any real anger.

“I swear,” the man rushed out. “I can’t go back to them anyway. Cain’ll kill me for running. I’ll tell you all about them. They don’t deserve any favours from me. It was like living with a pack of animals.”

He shuddered.

“Then hand over your ring,” Cecelia said, holding out her hand. Her eyes hardened. “And if you try to pull anything from it or hide something, I’ll put your head on the floor before you can blink.”

The man pulled the ring from his finger without hesitation and handed it over. Cecelia couldn’t store it immediately, so she took out the pouch she normally used and dropped it inside before tying it at her hip.

“Good.”

“Are there more of you coming?” Bjorn asked quickly. “And what about Leo? The one who stayed behind?”

The man swallowed. “I don’t know much. I left after he killed Eric. Had to circle around the long way. What the fuck is up with him anyway? He’s like Cain.”

Bjorn let out a quick breath he didn’t realise he was holding. Leo wasn’t instantly killed. That was something at least.

“I doubt he could have held them for long,” Cecelia said. “If he’s still alive, he’s probably retreated into the city. We need to move. Up. Now.”

They headed back to where Ashley had been left, but instead of finding her unconscious on the ground, she was standing with her hands planted firmly on her hips, enough fury in her eyes to set the street on fire.

“Somebody better tell me why I woke up in the middle of nowhere before I fucking lose it.”

At that moment, Bjorn seriously began to wonder whether staying behind with Leo might actually have been the safer option.