Veigan muttered an incantation under his breath and the slot in the floor opened as the steel vault door shot upward, sealing it off. Afterwards, the mage walked from bandit to bandit, waking them with a mumbled spell as he roughly poked the center of their foreheads.

  "Cyprus, I'd like to dismiss everyone with Vocal Migration to avoid more unnecessary bloodshed. I have no doubt the Cellar is already in active revolt.”

  "Of course," I said. "Make sure you give me credit, though. It's important everyone knows."

  Wasting no time, he mumbled an incantation, closed his eyes and held his hand out in the air like he was trying to hail a cab.

  "Attention all ranks! Overseer Barret has been assassinated by Cyprus..."

  I mouthed, "A noble adventurer."

  "By Cyprus, a noble adventurer, who is also responsible for the brutal murders of several of our beloved captains, and the entire Elite Demon Unit."

  No, not like that.

  The verbiage of 'brutally murdered' was entirely too harsh.

  "Valiantly liberated," I whispered.

  Veigan paused his public service announcement. "Uh, sorry," he said, clearing his throat. "Cyprus, a noble adventurer, has valiantly liberated our beloved captains and the Elite Demon Unit. Withdraw to your quarters, hunker down, and await further instruction. This is not a drill. Do not needlessly engage with the enemy or the prisoners. Punishments for insubordination are still in full-effect. Good day."

  While the bandits slowly came to, Arthwin jogged in from the stairwell, nearly out of breath, carrying a rolled up sheet of parchment . As he entered the lobby Barret's severed head greeted him, laying sideways on the floor’s marble tile.

  I extended my hand and he approached with caution before handing over the paper. Then he saw Celina slumped on the ground behind me, still half-asleep, and he rushed past me.

  "Sweetbean, are you OK?"

  I nearly threw up in my mouth as he swooned over her, stroking her cheek with his fingers. In an effort to rid my brain of such sickening imagery, I skimmed through the contract in-hand.

  The paper basically outlined the terms of my capture and delivery to Pearl Banner. I wasn't surprised to find Westcott's signature at the bottom line, but I slapped my knee when I read he only paid 300 gold for Black Diamond's budget kidnapping package, and the addendum underneath it, where Black Diamond charged him an additional 400 gold after I usurped the dungeon key from them in the quarry, forcefully upgrading him to a mid-tier package.

  I rolled the paper up and stuffed it into my satchel as the bandits rose from the ground, regaining their senses.

  Celina pushed Arthwin off and defensively scanned her surroundings. "What happened?"

  "Barret diffused your mana," Veigan said.

  Celina, Gideon, Gustall, and Brythan finally saw Barret's head laying in the archway beside my feet. The bandits stared on in a shocked daze, while I gleamed over their statuses—a new scheme forming.

  Only sixteen hours and ten minutes remained on the clock for the Rockbound Quarry Dungeon quest. There simply wasn't enough time to make it to Ingcaster, form a proper raid party, and clear the dungeon. Besides, Eamon would never allow it with his beloved Xodoven still in the wind nor would he understand why I needed the dungeon cleared today.

  I'd fail the quest, giving Chaos exactly what he wanted, while opening myself up to potential trans-dimensional consequences from the system. But I would rather enter the dungeon alone and die than give him the satisfaction of knowing he made me sit it out.

  Yet, I didn't have to go alone.

  There was a level eight, two sixes, and three fives standing before me. If I took them and found Garik on the way out, I'd have a stronger group than what I had when I entered the Emerald Dungeon with the Twilight Rangers.

  "Quick, let's get into the vault, grab what we can, and get out of here," Celina commanded, then grabbed Arthwin's hand. "Love, I need you to rush over to the recruitment department and destroy the contract my fool of a brother signed."

  "But—"

  Celina shushed him, placing a finger on his lips. "We're almost through this craziness. Then it'll be just the two of us."

  She kissed him and like a dog with a bone, Arthwin was off to do her bidding.

  "Meet me at the rendezvous tomorrow night,” she called after him. “And be safe!”

  Brythan nudged Gustall who was blankly staring at the severed head, still in a complete daze.

  "What the hell's going on here? Lina, this is the man you wanted us to capture?" Gideon pointed at me and threw his hands up. "I'm so fucking confused! And why do you care about the vault? Let's count our blessings and get the fuck out of here for Galdir's sake."

  When Celina refused to acknowledge him, he turned to Brythan, who agreed with a slight nod, and then Gustall who was still zoned off in la-la-land.

  "If you acted like the leader you pretend to be, then you'd understand how close we are to not being able to feed ourselves."

  Did she rescue him just so she could yell at him?

  Snapping out of his stupor, Gustall jumped in between the siblings. "You're the one keeping secrets. When were you going to tell us about the vault? Or were you planning on running off with him?"

  Gideon smacked the back of Gustall's head. "Watch how you talk to the vice captain. Don't be a dummy." He wrapped his arm over his shoulder, then playfully patted the top of his hood, immediately diffusing the tension. "Don't fret, Lina always puts Moonsewn first, right sis?"

  "No shit." She pointed her curved blade at Veigan. "Open it."

  "He can't," I interjected, although I was incapable of producing a valid reason why.

  Thankfully, Veigan intervened. "Barret had just finished the vault's re-attunement when Cyprus killed him. It'll take hours of trial and error to open again."

  Desperation swirled in her eyes as she whipped her arm across the counter, launching ink and loose papers against the wall.

  I cleared my throat and she spun around, recomposed like the outburst never happened in the first place.

  "Seeing as we're all alive, and both of us only found half of what we came for, I have a proposition." With some sleight of hand and a flick of the wrist, I produced the jagged, coal-black quarry dungeon key between my fingers. "This key unlocks the dungeon in Waystone's quarry. With my healer in the wind, I'm in need of additional support. In return for your organization's assistance, I'll offer up all of the loot besides the chaos shard, if one appears."

  My offer left them speechless.

  "You have until we reach the bottom of the elevator shaft to decide," I said, heading for the exit.

  ***

  We backtracked through the Upper Tier of Anderhorn Spire, making much better time on the way back thanks to Veigan showing us a series of shortcuts. Eventually he guided us down a winding maintenance tunnel and out through a secret half-door that led to the Skywalk's entrance.

  The Moonsewn Bandits hadn't commented once on my offer. They all seemed too pissed off at each other. It was like a Mexican stand-off where no one dared break the silence, as if speaking first meant surrender.

  Not even the Skywalk’s brilliant sight of endless sweeping hills and vivid treetop canopies could brighten the icy atmosphere. The silence didn't break until we stepped onto the lift, which was still littered with the bodies of Veigan's colleagues.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  He grimaced and muttered, "My condolences."

  "You can't console the dead. Trust me, I've tried."

  I hit the lever and the chains cranked, beginning the lift's descent. I took a load off, sitting down on one of the undamaged stone benches. As the lift loudly churned, the bandits gathered out of earshot and presumably discussed my offer.

  Halfway down the shaft, they walked back over with Gideon taking the lead.

  "It's an interesting offer. We'd like to take the evening to discuss it further," he said with a massive grin.

  "I must meet certain obligations and the raid will take place this afternoon with or without your organization's assistance."

  Gideon's grin inverted, brow twisting. "My apologies, I don't understand."

  Head shaking, he giggled and lightly slapped my back like our relationship went way further back than the better part of an hour. "Whew, Lina didn't say you had a sense of humor."

  Gideon swept out his arm like a real estate agent showcasing a room, except instead of being impressed by a nice throw rug he was referencing the gore streaked stone, shattered benches, and lifeless corpses. "This is your work, right?"

  "Mostly."

  "Then you must be exhausted! It's never a good idea to enter a dungeon without a good night's rest and a full belly," Gideon spoke with more warmth in his voice than condescension. "Let me treat you to a night of hospitality as thanks for keeping my family safe. Then we'll proceed."

  "No, thanks. Is your decision final?"

  "It's not," Celina interjected. "I'm in, even if the others refuse."

  Her brother dropped his arm from my shoulder and palmed his forehead. "Lina, I'm sorry. I swear, if I could take it back I would. But your patsy is fixing it. Everything will be OK. Not everything can be your responsibility."

  "Don’t call him that. Our love is real."

  Like a bombshell, her words blew up her brother's cheeky facade and turned whatever was left of Gustall's heart into smithereens.

  The lift neared the first floor and their time was running out. Having extra bodies in the Emerald Dungeon, even if they only acted as distractions, proved priceless for getting the upper hand. But I buried my nerves deep, maintaining a strict poker-face.

  "I may wretch," Veigan confessed as he stared over the lift's edge, spotting the gruesome remnants of the Elite Demon Unit at the bottom of the adjacent shaft.

  "Me too," Gustall added.

  "I'm in," Brythan said, shattering not only mine, but everyone else's expectations. "He said he only needs us in a support capacity. The proof of his capabilities will haunt me for some time. How much of our help will he even need? And Celina's right, Moonsewn is on the verge of collapse, we need this."

  The lift came to a stop and Garikhemas came flying out of the shadows, scaring the absolute Christ out of everyone on the platform besides me. He dropped onto the ground at my feet, prostrating himself.

  "Thank you for everything, Cyprus. I'll now dedicate my life in service to you."

  "Great," I said. "I need you to accompany us in raiding the dungeon at Waystone's quarry."

  His demeanor abruptly shifted from joyously grateful to painfully concerned. "Please, no. Boss, anything but that. I never wish to entangle myself with the terrors beyond this realm ever again."

  He lifted his eye patch, revealing a sunken scar and empty socket. "I can't... I'm sorry!"

  Garikhemas slammed his forehead into the ground, cracking the stone and drawing blood. "Forgive me... Boss, if this renders me useless to you, say the word and I'll..."

  He motioned with his thumb across his throat and mimicked the sound of a blade slicing.

  What the hell?

  Had he lost his mind in the Cellar? My excitement of having a capable level ten on the roster plummeted. I also didn't appreciate the sight of this massive, battle hardened brute nearly being brought to tears when I was still convincing the bandits to sign on.

  What a great review for dungeon raiding from someone who'd rather kill themselves than enter one...

  "It's fine, I only need minimal support, the bandits will suffice. Garik, you'll escort Veigan to the Gilded Boar Adventurer's Guild in Ingcaster and wait there. Prove yourself by keeping him alive."

  The massive warrior raised his head, clasped his hands together, and slightly bowed his head, accepting his mission.

  "Wait, who is he? And why does he look familiar?" Veigan asked as Garik strode over and picked him up in his arms, cradling him like a baby. "Huh? Stop, don't touch me."

  "I met him in the Cellar."

  "No harm will come to him. I promise," Garik said.

  "He's already hurting me! Don't squeeze so tight," Veigan choked. "Don't leave me with this brute! Put me down fucker, I can walk!"

  "This is faster."

  Despite only knowing Garik for such a brief stint of time, my gut trusted him. Although, his positive karma rating also factored into my decision making.

  Finally, I turned my attention back to the bandits. "So, what will it be? Are you interested or not?"

  Voice drenched in hesitation, Gideon said, "We accept."

  ***

  The bodies of freshly slain mercenaries and prisoners lay scattered throughout the lobby outside of the elevator shaft. The surviving prisoners were raiding the breakfast lounge, and looting the halls as we walked toward the exit.

  "Fools! Show some respect!" Garik whistled and dozens of heads swiveled in our direction.

  Prisoners came flooding out of the breakfast lounge, the halls, and side rooms arms full of everything that wasn't nailed down. Soon, clapping and cheers filled the great hall, serenading our exit.

  The main entrance's heavy iron doors were already propped open, and countless statuses flooded in across the horizon, revealing a scattering of mercenaries and former prisoners already crossing the bridge, leaving everything behind.

  A strong breeze carried the scent of cool water and damp stone tinged with the faint musk of algae as Veigan directed us to the stables on the north side of the spire.

  We secured the healthiest looking steeds and I set out across the bridge with the bandits, allowing Garik to lag behind with Veigan so he could gather a few personal belongings.

  Going from the Upper Tier to outside nearly took an hour, and crossing the bridge whittled away another, leaving me with just under 14 and a half hours to clear the dungeon. I imagined it would take another four or five to reach Waystone. My stamina partially recovered as we rode on, although the others lacked the same luxury. In spite of a night of non-stop activity, my energy levels remained elevated.

  "We still need proper supplies," Gideon said. "Our camp is only a few miles from the quarry."

  "We'll stop there briefly," I said.

  Our horses slowed as we hit an incline, trudging uphill toward the same towering woods I had eliminated several bandits in the previous night. However, as we crested the hill and entered the forest's cooling shade, I noticed their bodies and wagons had been cleared, except for two which had been tipped over and pushed together in the center of the path, nearly 100 feet ahead.

  A chilling uneasiness swept over me as I kept my head on a swivel, searching for a status.

  Something's off.

  Hooves trampled through bloodied dirt, instinctively slowing to a trot nearly 50 feet from the blockade.

  "You see something?" Gideon asked.

  "No, and that's why I'm concerned," I said and raised my arm, bringing the group to a complete stop.

  Then I saw it. Light flickered off a mirror sitting inside the cart.

  An abrupt pain shot through my chest, and I choked on the words rising in my throat. My vision blurred, and I collapsed off the horse, hitting the ground as Karma's Gaze pinged Fisk's status as he rose out of the foliage in the distance beyond the carts.

  "Cyprus!" Celina shouted and unsheathed her sword.

  I tried warning them, but my words failed me along with my heart. It was like someone had their hand in my chest, squeezing the organ tight.

  A paralytic needle hit Celina in her neck and she dropped from her horse, landing beside me.

  "Where the—" Gideon got cut short, a second needle took him down right across from his sister.

  Gustall and Brythan went down two seconds later. I tried activating my abilities, finding the act impossible as I gasped for breath, staring upside down, watching Fisk's approach.

  He swayed in his gimp mask and a yellow striped collared dress shirt, white slacks, and spit-shined leather shoes. Fisk held a closed fist out in front of him as if he were squeezing my heart in his grasp.

  "We're clear, Fisk has him." Khaled emerged from the brush with an extra long needle in hand.

  Whitcomb joined him along with a woman I didn't recognize, dressed in a dull, green hooded cloak. Her status was too blurry to read, lost in the haze.

  "Quick, before he dies," she shouted.

  With all of his strength, Khaled pierced the side of my neck with the needle, then followed up with a second one. "Keep holding him," he said.

  "Is that really necessary?" Fisk asked, closing the 100 yard gap like a ghost.

  "It's good to see you again you son of a bitch." Whitcomb kicked me in the side of the head, stubbing his toe.

  He cursed and skipped over my body, taking a position between me and Celina. "These your friends?"

  Whitcomb bent down, and squeezed my cheeks together and forcefully turned my head aside. My eyes locked with Celina's paralyzed gaze.

  "This is for my fuckin' face."

  His steel tipped boots swung back, then forward like a sweeping pendulum. Steel toes cracked into Celina's face. Her head snapped back, then bounced off the dirt. She lay still, staring at me with one eye, while the other hung loosely out of her decimated orbital socket and collapsed cheek bones.

  Whitcomb wound back his foot again, but Gideon reached out grabbing onto the bandage taped to the back of his leg. The assassin yelped, and turned on the bandit.

  "You stupid fuck," Whitcomb screamed as he dropped his heel onto Gideon's jaw, sending blood and loose teeth flying.

  Either Brythan or Gustall let out a stilted cry from behind me as Whitcomb repeatedly stomped their leader's head into the ground until Fisk said, "Enough pettiness you overtly emotional buffoon. You've got blood all over my Goldochi's!"

  "Sir, with all due respect, look at what he did to me." Whitcomb pointed to his bandaged cheek.

  "With all due respect? These Goldochi trousers and summer collection loafers are worth more than your entire salary."

  "Sorry, sir."

  Life fleeting, I recognized the freezing embrace of the abyss wrapping around me.

  Not yet...

  "Now," Khaled said.

  Fisk opened his gloved hand and my heart and lungs resumed function, although a sharp pain lingered in my chest as the familiar paralytic ran through my blood, numbing my system.

  "What a mess." Fisk shook his head, then crouched down beside me and looked up at his three Soul Viper compatriots. "Are you idiots able to handle it from here? Or am I still needed to ensure you don't fuck this up?"

  "Yes, you're dismissed," the hooded woman snarled.

  Fisk ruffled my hair before standing up. "Great, I love the confidence! Forget about losing your promotions if you fail. Regardless of what Dear Leader says, I'll gut you all from taint to neck."

  Within the blink of an eye Fisk disappeared, like he had never been there in the first place. A long buried sorrow stirred within, and I was thankful the assassins had reminded me of my humanity, if only for a fleeting moment.

  Not that it ever lasted.

  As the sedative's effect dampened my consciousness, I found solace in having three new targets. None of them truly grasped what I was, or the storm of suffering they had unwittingly unleashed... That was, after I woke up from my nap.

  Time Remaining: 14:16:31

  Behind the VeilState of the Story