This rampaging creature needed to die, but Leo had no idea how much health it even had left.

He’d given it major hits to its insides, big hits to its plating, and a couple of small kicks out of frustration. None of it had a real visible effect on it.

Cain’s attacks were effective when he could land them, but there was only so long someone can stay attached to a flailing worm with nothing but a pair of bone-white hatchets and a stubborn toddler-like attitude.

Large enemies like this were tricky. He had the same troubles against the first Goliath he’d fought, unable to penetrate and not enough damage to really wound it.

Thousand cuts ended up being his method of assault more times than not, something that he’d need to consider if he should be going more into that. Or perhaps finding a way to inflict a lasting debuff or damage over time effect into his hits.

Consideration of such a thing, however, should perhaps be done when not running across a field of molten rock, dodging spewing flames from a giant worm.

He’d long run out of resonance, waiting for its recharge as he and Ellie fought and dodged together. She tried chomping through its plates but her teeth were barely enough to chip it, even after the bite upgrade. He was more worried she’d break her teeth.

Elemental Breath did a bit better, especially her lightning version. It cut lines into its thick shell like a laser through metal, some breaking right through. It was just so damn big that it barely cared.

The fight shifted when it opened up its vents again, standing tall. Leo took cover behind his walls again, surprised when Cain joined him. The roaring flames would muffle any kind of talking, but they looked at each other, clear exhaustion setting in.

Leo mimed with his hands, he pointed at Cain, then at himself. Then at the worm. Then he locked his hands together.

Cain snarled, his bestial form had faded. Then he nodded. They had to at least cooperate a little if they wanted to take this thing down. It was surprising there were no other worms showing up by now.

Probably afraid of the big boy. Leo assumed.

The flames stopped as the attack petered out and the trio exploded out with motion. The worm brought its head down, trying to snap up Leo in its gaping mouth with a crunch that reverberated the landscape. Cain appeared from the side out of thin air, twin hatchets slicing deep into the side of its head.

It caused it to veer off course as the large gouges were carved out. Leo took this chance to Wyrmstep, this time with Ellie out.

~
Ellie felt it like a draw of motion. She instinctively felt herself be pulled forward by the skill. It was a strange feeling, but she was already loving it.

Before she knew it she was on top of its head, next to Leo as he slammed a fist deep into its head, spiralling in motion. It cracked a hole into its plating, revealing flesh underneath.

In the hole, she knew what he wanted her to do. Her mana coalesced, breath rushing in. Cold washed over her as she expelled the frost, coating the worm’s insides with a biting chill. She kept it going until she had to stop, briefly praised by Leo as they held on tight.

Leo snapped his fingers, and the worm hated it. It impressed Ellie that he could do so much with just a snap of his fingers, she wondered if she could do something similar, but when she’d tried to snap her little claws it had been tricky. They were flung from its head, unable to keep hold.

Ellie tried clawing it as she descended but it was like cutting stone. It made her mad. If her claws couldn’t snap to make ice go boom, then they needed to cut. These were not good enough.

Power rushed through her as her determination rose. Her claws glowed with a dull red as Rend activated, but she wasn’t having that. They elongated further, sharper. Better.

The claws cut into the scales as she Wingbeat herself back onto it. They ripped with insane speed, cutting as well as Cain’s axes did for a brief moment while the skill was active.

“Jump off!” Leo shouted at her. That was fine. She did what she wanted to do.

She made it bleed.

~

Leo smiled at the notification as he dropped through the air.

Rend (Common)

Upgraded to:

Wounding Rend (Uncommon)

He’d check it out later, but for now he was proud of his little murder machine. The worm was on its last legs, figuratively speaking. At least he hoped so.

Leo took a deep breath, brought his hands together and felt Second Wind activate. He felt his stamina shoot from less than thirty percent, all the way up to half. A massive chunk. He’d been surprised when he’d first used the skill earlier in the day at just how much it gave him. When Cain had seen him make the stance, he’d given him a look that held suspicion.

Cain and Leo shared a look. Then moved.

“Left,” Leo said, running left. Cain took the opposite.

They met in the middle as the worm attempted to raise its head once again. Cain’s hatchet came up in a slice that formed a jagged red claw to manifest, made of pure energy. It ripped into it while Leo’s Volt Crash blasted a chunk from its other side.

After the combined strikes, the beast’s head was barely attached. It was more than enough to give them both a notification. About damn time too.

You have slain: Magma Worm - Level 55

Experience increased for defeating a higher-level enemy

+1325 Store Credits

Your Elemental Adept class has reached level 44

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Your Elemental Adept class has reached Level 45

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Anchored Progression:

+2 All stats, +4 Free points

Ellie has reached Level 41

Stat points distributed

+3 Free points

Ellie has reached Level 42

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Ellie’s gains from race:

+10 Free Points

“You still have the Core?” Leo asked quickly.

Cain held the Core up, a small glassy orb that held a flickering flame within. He tucked it into a pouch he’d pulled out at some point. It didn’t bother Leo too much. This was Cain’s way of saying he was in charge—that he would decide when they progressed.

If he tried to blackmail him somehow… Leo wasn’t against breaking the truce. He wasn’t the naive boy he’d been a month ago. This man was still his enemy, no matter how many enemies they killed together.

“We should move,” Leo said. “It’s probably designed that no worms came for us during that fight, but with this big one dead it’s probably only a matter of time.”

Cain just started walking hastily away. Not rushed, less than a jog.

Ellie jumped into Leo’s soul-space after a quick head pat. Resting away as was her usual after a big fight. She loved to sleep. Something he’d discovered after prodding her from a nap whilst bored and getting a breath of cold to the face.

Leo followed along and the pair walked uninterrupted—and without speaking—until they hit the gates of the bastion once more.

He was expecting Cain to say something, goad him, hold something back so that Leo would agree to give him some loot or something in order to open the doors.

Never did he expect him to just walk straight up and put the orb into the slot.

Quest updated!

You have fought hard, earning enough shards to form a core. The Cinder Core has been used, opening the bastion within.
Your trials do not end here. They have only just begun. Find and slay the general within the keep to complete your mission.

The doors slowly opened. Dim orange light seeped through as more of the inside became visible. The pair patiently waited, preparing themselves for what was to come.

~

During the day Leo and Cain had spent inside the dungeon, things had been hectic in the camp.

After Ashley had found out about what happened to Leo, and the betrayal from Ron to drag her away against her will, she had barely spoken to anyone.

Unbridled rage coursed through her veins, coated in sadness. How could they just abandon him like that? After all he’d done for them, all he’d done for her.

She missed them terribly, knowing that he should have been back long before now. The only things she could guess happened was that he was held captive somewhere, hiding out, or…

It had to be one of the first two.

The lack of the boss coming to see them was proof something had happened. But they’d already suffered an attack out in the field.

Nolan’s group returned from an outing, several of them heavily wounded, including their healer who was basically on death’s door. Cecelia was initially worried they’d brought the enemies with them, but Nolan assured them that the enemies ran with heavy injuries of their own.

This raised Cecelia’s caution levels to maximum. No one was to go out, defenses were fortified. Ashley set up her Runebox, fully charged with mana in case of attack. But just sitting here was driving her nuts.

She stormed out of her office, no longer able to stomach it. The man they had brought back with them, Alex, she learned his name was, currently sat in building A. In moments she was inside, not surprised to see that prick Ron and Cecelia were chatting away to him.

They both clocked her the second she entered, standing in preparation.

“What have you learned then, huh?” Ashley demanded.

“Alex has been very helpful,” Cecelia said. “He has informed us about Cain’s group, their skills, the leadership and numbers.”

“Sounds great,” Ashley said, tone flat. “Do we have a plan to help Leo?”

Cecelia’s face took on a sombre one. “Ashley…”

“No, Cecelia! We don’t just give up because he isn’t here. He would move heaven and earth to find any of us. He’d fight against an army at the smallest inkling of hope that one of us was alive.” Her eyes began moistening, voice quivering. “We can’t just leave him…”

“I understand. Believe me, I want to help him, truly I do.” Cecelia’s hand rested gently on Ashley’s shoulder. Trying to help console her. It only made her angry but she didn’t voice it as Cecelia continued.

“I told you that Alex has informed us about his group. They have at least thirty capable fighters. The group of fifteen or so that had come out to that dungeon was only half. Based on who Nolan’s group encountered, they were also part of the thirty. You understand what this means.”

Ashley turned her head away.

“They heavily outnumber us when it comes to strength alone,” Cecelia said softly.

“I can’t just sit here and wait for them to come for us. I feel like I’m going to lose it. I’m going to walk out of the camp any second and just go find Leo. God I wish I’d taken a class that could fight,” Ashley cursed.

“I’ll go find out what happened,” Ron said, speaking up for the first time.

Cecelia turned to him, frowning. “No, you will not. You’re too strong to lose, I can't just let you leave.”

“She’s right. Leaving him out there doesn’t sit well with me either. I regret it,” Ron said.

Cecelia sighed in frustration. “I said no. Don’t bring it up again. We need to defend the people here.” She pointed downwards to make her point. “They need us right now. What do you think will happen if Cain’s men discover us and take this place? These people will be treated like cattle once again if Alex is to be believed.”

Ron said nothing. Simply glaring, eyes filled with disapproval.

Ashley appreciated that, even if it was far too late for him to make up for his actions. If Leo ended up being… gone. Then Ron would be dead to her. With Cecelia and Bjorn being close second.

Alex spoke up, voice quiet but confident. “That guy, Leo, right? He was scary as fuck. I’ve seen Cain mad, I’ve felt whatever it is he does when he gets all… animalistic. That feeling Leo gave off was way scarier.”

“What are you getting at?” Ashley snapped.

He hesitated under her fiery gaze, but spoke. “I’m saying, that instead of thinking about how to save someone like that, you should maybe consider that he’s already fucked them up, and is continuing to do so until he knows you guys are safe. You were the one who said he was selfless and would do anything for you guys.”

“A kind, but naive thought,” Cecelia said firmly. Then she let a small smile creep on her lips. “Although, if anyone was to do the impossible. It would be him.”

Ashley walked off before Cecelia even finished. She needed to go punch something. Hard. And right now it would be one of those three.

Maybe Bjorn.

~

Ron excused himself from Cecelia’s presence, claiming he wanted to work on his profession. She had just waved him off, fully expecting his loyalty as he’d promised. She’d given an order after all. And he always followed them.

Until now.

The sun was low in the sky. Time was running out to exact his plan. He needed to do it before night approached, knowing full well that ants would bombard them come nightfall.

The night raids had been less as of late as they cleared the city, but still enough to cause issues if no one was there to defend. It did help raise the levels of those less confident and at least give them a fighting chance. Ron’s own level of 37 didn’t feel like enough.

He thought that catching up on Leo was a great feat, something he had been striving towards each day. Like a goal he’d set himself. He participated in the nightly defenses as much as he could, getting as much experience as possible. Cecelia had praised him for his efforts. Called him one of their strongest.

But he felt weak.

If he had been at the same level as Leo, then they’d have been able to fight off Cain’s men with ease. That five versus fifteen would have felt like an even fight. He was confident in that being the case because he knew how strong Leo truly was.

If it had been Leo against the fifteen without Cain, Ron guessed he’d have won after a grueling battle. He was just that strong.

But when he felt Cain’s aura press down on him. That bestial presence that made his skin crawl… All he could think about was running.

So when Leo had given that command, he’d done what he thought was right at the time. Their best bet at surviving.

Now he regretted it, cursing himself and his own weakness.

So he’d make it right somehow, no matter the outcome.

He was able to leave camp with zero people seeing him, being in charge of the defensive scouting and sightlines came with that perk.

Using his Agility, Ron dashed across rooftops in the slowly setting sun. He moved as quickly as he could, making a beeline for the keep. He activated one of his skills as he got close, blending in with the shadows.

He was surprised to see some of Cain’s men still sitting outside the keep. There were two of them standing guard, but neither of them looked particularly aware.

He identified them.

Human - Level 29

Human - Level 30

Not weak, but not strong either.

Ron knocked an arrow in his bow, being careful to move slowly as he pulled the bowstring back towards his face. He took aim at the higher level enemy, focused, and fired without hesitation.

The arrow shot through the air like a bullet, barely making a sound as it went through the man’s head, instantly granting him a notification.

The other man gasped and fell over in shock, scrambling backwards away from the body. He spun his head around in panic as he looked for the attacker.

Ron dashed forwards quickly and quietly, standing above the panicked man and aiming an arrow straight at his head.

“What happened to my friend?” Ron asked sharply.

The man stumbled, eyes wide. “What? I don’t know who you are! Oh my god, you killed him!”

“Quiet,” Ron said sharply. “The man who was fighting your people. Where is he?”

“You mean the guy with the dragon?” the man asked, voice trembling.

“Him. Now speak.” Ron’s string grew tighter, the noise of the bow creaking in the empty plaza.

“He went inside the dungeon!” the man cried out.

He’s alive. Ron inwardly sighed in relief.

“What about your boss, was he killed?”

The man looked at him in confusion. “No…”

“Where is he then?” Ron demanded.

The man turned to look at the glowing blue portal before looking back at Ron.

“He’s in the dungeon too.”